The softball season has started here at IU South Bend, and our players have taken to the diamond to fight for a chance at becoming conference champions. With the new season approaching, Softball Coach Annie Dehnke offered some insight into the season before us.
First, Dehnke reflected on lessons and takeaways from the 2025 season.
“The biggest takeaway was getting the girls acclimated to how I wanted the program to be run and getting them to buy into what they’re capable of doing. Getting them bought into that allows them to expect what is to come and be able to grow on it. Since last year, it’s already grown so much and they know what to expect. The biggest take away is change. Change sucks but as long as we can adapt to it it’s a really good thing,” Dehnke said.
Next, Dehnke shared her plans for the team in the coming season.
“We have a really young team this year. We lost seven seniors last year and brought in quite a bit, so getting everybody comfortable playing together is a big thing. The biggest goal is for us to go out there and compete in games and have fun. We know we’re not gonna go out there and win every single game, but being able to go out there and play together as a team is what we want,” Dehnke said.
Looking forward to the season ahead, Dehnke laid out her expectations and image for the team.
“I expect us to go out there, competing in every single game, being able to make the conference tournament and take a good run. There are a lot of good teams in our conference, but with how the year’s played out so far, our girls are capable of doing a lot, so being able to make it into and go for a good conference run in the tournament is what I’m looking forward to,” Dehnke said.
Finally, Dehnke spoke of her excitement and optimism for the coming season.
“This team, they’ve been a fun team, watching them grow together from the start of the year. To this point, we’ve come a long way and I’m really excited to see what the remainder of the season looks like,” Dehnke said.
That sentiment is one that can be shared across campus as our IU South Bend Softball team pushes on through the coming season. With high hopes for the young team, it’s hard to tell what the 2026 Titans have in store.
See the Titans play against the Judson Eagles tonight at 3 p.m. in Elgin, IL.
