2026 AMC Softball Tournament Preview

2026 AMC Softball Tournament Preview
April 28, 2026

BRANSON, Mo. - (Tournament Page) The 2026 American Midwest Conference (AMC) Softball Tournament is set for April 28-May 1 at Branson Rec Plex in Branson, Missouri.

Participating in the eight-team double-elimination tournament are Central Baptist College, Columbia College, Cottey College, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Mission University, Stephens College, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, and Williams Baptist University.

#1-Williams Baptist University Eagles

  • Williams Baptist University won the AMC regular-season title with a 39-11 overall record and a 17-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles enter the tournament as the top seed and will face eight-seeded Stephens College.
  • Emberlin Caldwell has been named AMC co-Pitcher of the Year. The 2024 AMC Freshman of the Year, Caldwell posted a 20-4 record in the circle with a 2.01 ERA, including 18 complete games. She recorded 117 strikeouts in 153.1 innings pitched and leads the AMC in wins while ranked second in strikeouts.
  • Addison Foster was named AMC Freshman of the Year. She is hitting .372 with a .432 on-base percentage with a .641 slugging percentage. Foster has tallied 58 hits, including 13 home runs, while driving in 50 runs and scoring 29 times. She both her team and the AMC in RBIs and home runs.
  • Jessica Nutt was named AMC Coach of the Year for first time in her career. She led the Eagles to the regular-season title with a 39-11 overall record and 17-1 mark in conference play.
  • The Eagles swept the Stars, winning 9-1 in game one and 8-5 in game two.

#2-Cottey College Comets

  • Cottey College enters the tournament with a 32-9 overall record and a 15-3 conference mark. The team are the No. 2 seed and will face seventh-seeded Hannibal-LaGrange University.
  • Amelia Gassman has been named AMC Player of the Year. She is batting .411 with a .426 on-base percentage and a .735 slugging percentage. Gassman has recorded 62 hits, including 19 doubles and 10 home runs, while driving in 35 runs and scoring 24 times. This marks the second time a Cotty player has earned the honor.
  • Alma Garcia earned AMC Newcomer of the Year. She is batting .336 with a .459 on-base percentage and a .692 slugging percentage. Garcia has recorded 36 hits, including six doubles, one triple and 10 home runs, while driving in 26 runs and scoring 33 times. This marks the first time a Comet wins the award.
  • The Comets swept the Trojans in the regular season, winning 4-1 in game one and 10-0 in game two.

#3-Columbia College Cougars

  • Columbia College enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed with 23-13 overall record and a 13-5 mark in AMC play. The Cougars will face sixth-seeded University Health Sciences and Pharmacy.
  • Ella Schouten has been selected AMC co-Pitcher of the Year. She previously earned AMC Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year honors in 2022 and was co-Pitcher of the Year in 2023. A two-time NAIA All-American, Schouten leads the conference in ERA (1.19), strikeouts (154) and strikeouts per seven innings (K/7).
  • The Cougars split their two-game series with the Eutectics, as UHSP won game one 4-1 and CC took game two 5-1.

#4-Central Baptist College Mustangs

  • Central Baptist College is the fourth-seeded and enters the tournament with an overall record of 27-21 and 12-6 in AMC play. The Mustangs take on fifth-seeded Mission.
  • Kinley Johnson places third in the AMC in runs batted in with 40 and fourth in batting average with .408.
  • The Mustangs split the regular season series with the Patriots, with MU taking game one 2-1 and CBC winning game two with a score of 6-2.

#5-Mission University Patriots

  • Mission University is the No. 5 seed and enters the tournament with a 25-17 overall record and a 10-8 mark in conference play. The Patriots will face the No. 4 seed Central Baptist College.
  • Courtney Merrell leads the team in hits with 43.
  • The Patriots split the regular-season series with the Mustangs winning game one 2-1 before falling 6-2 in game two.

#6-University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy Eutectics

  • University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed and will face the No. 3 seed Columbia College. The Eutectics finished the regular season 18-18 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
  • Alicia Kimble leads the conference in batting average (.464).
  • The Eutectics split the regular-season series with the Mustangs, winning game one 4-1 before losing game two 5-1.

#7-Hannibal-LaGrange University Trojans

  • Hannibal-LaGrange enters the tournament with a 12-22 overall record and a 6-12 mark in AMC play. The No. 7 seed Trojans will face No. 2 Cottey College.
  • Emily Hochstatter leads the team in several categories including batting average (.382), runs (22), hits (42) and RBI (14).
  • The Comets swept the Trojans in the regular season, winning 4-1 in game one and 10-0 in game two.

#8-Stephens College Stars

  • Stephens College enters the championship as the eighth-seeded with an overall record 10-30 and 5-13 in conference play. The Stars face the top seed Williams Baptist.
  • Kyndal Vincent leads the AMC in stolen bases with 16.
  • The Eagles swept the Stars, winning 9-1 in the first game and 8-5 in game two.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.amcsportsonline.com/tickets. Single-day tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for 12 and under. All-Tournament passes can be purchased for $50 for adults and $25 for 12 and under.

Students from AMC schools are free with valid school ID (must show ID at the gate, no ticket purchase necessary)