The Hive Sports

by James Tate

2025 record: Overall (15-13) Region (6-4)

Head coach: Kristy Knight – 1st year

Syracuse softball enters 2026 with a fresh voice at the helm, but the competitive fire that has defined the program for years remains firmly intact. After serving as an assistant under longtime head coach Kelly Anderson, Kristy Knight steps into the lead role this spring, bringing with her a lifetime of softball experience, a championship pedigree, and a clear vision for the future.

For Knight, the game has never been just a pastime; it’s been a constant. A three‑sport standout at Spanish Fork High School, she helped guide the Dons to both Region and State softball championships, earning two Region 6 MVP awards and the 4A State MVP honor as a junior. Her playing career continued at Utah Valley University, where she helped the Wolverines finish second nationally at the Junior College National Championships, before moving on to Southern Utah University as both a player and, later, a student and graduate assistant coach.

“I have had great mentors and leaders throughout my coaching and teaching career that have helped guide me through their leadership styles and expectations they set in their programs,” Coach Knight said. “What I have learned over the years is to build a strong foundation and to show the athletes you care about them on and off the field. They need support, confidence, and to know their worth. To become a program leader, you have to be confident in yourself, trust your athletes, and believe they can accomplish their goals. I am very competitive and don’t like to lose. I have been around a lot of great talent and know what it takes to be great. Athletics are hard. You have to have grit and perseverance and push through the hard times.”

Oaklee Derrickson

Replacing stars, reasserting identity

Syracuse graduated a significant core of talent last spring, but the returning group is far from inexperienced. Knight inherits a roster eager to prove that the program’s success wasn’t tied to a single class; it’s part of the culture.

Leading that charge is junior Oaklee Derrickson, who emerged as one of the Titans’ most reliable hitters in 2025. Derrickson batted .419, collected 36 hits, and earned Standard‑Examiner All‑Area Honorable Mention recognition. Her late‑season surge hinted at a player on the verge of stardom, and Knight expects her to anchor the lineup in 2026.

Another key returner is senior Olivia Brown, who committed to continue her career at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Brown has appeared in more than 50 varsity games and has delivered in big moments, none bigger than her performances against Farmington last season, when she went 5-for-7 with four RBI across two Titan victories. Her leadership and consistency will be essential for a young roster.

New talent to lead pitching

If Syracuse is going to make noise in Region 1, they will get a boost in the circle with talented freshman Abby Jensen and Sophia Knight.

Behind the plate, junior Eryn Hamblin returns after an excellent 2025 campaign. Her defensive instincts, game management, and leadership with the pitchers will give Syracuse a stabilizing force at one of the sport’s most important positions. For a young team, Hamblin’s experience is invaluable.

Olivia Brown

Depth, development, and the next wave

“It will be nice to step into the head coaching role already knowing a lot of the girls and their potential,” Coach Knight said. “I have a couple of older girls who will need to step up and be leaders on and off the field. We will have many young girls stepping into big positions that will have to perform. I have confidence in my players, and I know they can do big things.”

While the Titans’ stars will draw attention, the program’s long‑term success may hinge on the growth of its emerging contributors. Coach Knight will have a team with several underclassmen who have athleticism and upside, including Paizlee Prathan, Nineveh Franco, Zayley Melaney, Kenlee Jensen, Breanna Holbrook. Each brings a different skill set, and all are expected to compete for meaningful innings.

Prathan, a sophomore, is a confident left-handed-hitting outfielder with tremendous upside. Melaney is a player who was mainly used as a pinch runner last year and understands running the bases. Holbrook had time in the circle, adding pitching depth. Franco can play multiple positions for Coach Knight for additional depth.

This group represents the next wave, the players who will define the Knight era as it takes shape.

A program ready for its next chapter

The 2026 Titans may look different than last year’s squad, but the expectations remain high. Knight’s background, from state championships to collegiate success to years of coaching, gives her instant credibility, and her familiarity with the program ensures continuity where it matters most.

Syracuse enters the season with a blend of proven talent, rising stars, and a head coach whose competitive spirit mirrors the identity the Titans have built over the past decade.

Coach Knight shared her outlook for the season.

“We are going to compete and play to our ability,” Coach Knight said. “It is going to be a learning year, but I know what each girl is capable of, and it is my job to get them to play to their potential. They will be pushed and will have to step up and compete, but I am confident they will meet their own goals and our team’s expectations.”

photos courtesy of James Tate