COLUMBUS, Ga. — The College of Idaho softball team will open play at the NAIA World Series against Cascade Conference opponent British Columbia, continuing a postseason run that has already rewritten the program record book. The game will take place on Thursday, May 21 at 5pm MT.
The Yotes (37-20) earned an at-large berth to the NAIA championships after finishing as the Cascade Conference Tournament runner-up, then broke through at the NAIA Opening Round in Chickasha, Oklahoma. College of Idaho went 3-0 at the site, defeating LSU Alexandria twice and Science and Arts to secure the program's first trip to the NAIA World Series since 2021.
College of Idaho enters the World Series playing its best softball of the season, winning seven of its last nine postseason contests across the CCC Tournament and NAIA Opening Round.
The Yotes have leaned on one of the most productive offenses in the NAIA this season, hitting .334 as a team with 51 home runs and 371 runs scored across 57 games. That production has carried into the postseason, where the Yotes have plated 43 runs in nine games.
Leading the lineup is Kina Watts, who is batting .405 on the season with nine home runs and 51 RBIs, while also serving as a key piece in the circle. Madelyn Powell has been equally impactful, hitting .390 with 12 home runs and a team-high 64 RBIs, including a .379 average in postseason play.
Chloe Flerchinger (.343) and Kamryn Ham (.355) add depth to a lineup that features multiple hitters above the .300 mark, giving the Yotes a balanced offensive attack.
In the circle, Watts has anchored the postseason effort, going 6-0 with a 1.63 ERA in eight appearances during the playoff run. Drew Williams has also provided key innings throughout the year, leading the staff with 14 wins.
That momentum was especially evident in Chickasha, where the Yotes hit .304 and scored 23 runs over three games, while the pitching staff combined for a 1.67 ERA. Powell and Watts each hit .500 during the opening round, leading the offensive surge.
Awaiting the Yotes is a familiar opponent in British Columbia. The two teams met five times during the season, with College of Idaho winning three matchups, including a 5-2 victory in the Cascade Conference Tournament.
College of Idaho has already seen plenty of British Columbia this season, winning three of five matchups in a series that was consistently competitive. The Yotes hit .319 across those games and outscored UBC 24-19, but none of the wins came easy, with multiple games decided late. Success against the Thunderbirds has come from timely hitting and limiting free passes, as UBC capitalized on mistakes to stay in games. For the Yotes, the keys will be continuing their balanced offensive production, getting ahead early in counts and leaning on their in-form pitching staff to control the middle innings against a lineup that has proven it can respond quickly.
The matchup also underscores the strength of the Cascade Conference, which placed three teams in the NAIA World Series final site, all landing on the same side of the bracket.
With a high-powered offense, a surging pitching staff and confidence from a historic opening round, the Yotes now turn their focus to Columbus, looking to extend their postseason run against a familiar foe on the national stage. For more information on NAIA World Series schedules and scores click here.
