Times Observer File Photo by Mark Evans ALLIESUN WOODIN

Warren softball is excited to get back on the field.

Under new head coach Samantha Mott, the Lady Dragons are setting their sights on success. Mott is excited about the 2026 season and what the girls have shown her so far.

“What excites me the most is the competitiveness that these girls are showing,” she said. “The kids that were here last year were told early on you’re not guaranteed what you had last year and they’ve taken that and run with it. I am a new coach to them and this program, so to see them going out every day competing for their spot and pushing one another to get better is amazing.”

Mott brings a lot of experience to the table. Being a Frewsburg, New York native and a member of the Bears’ 2013 state championship team, she plans to bring plenty of intensity and a culture of winning to Warren.

“I want this team to be built on ownership and accountability,” stated Mott. “The good teams hold themselves and their teammates accountable, on and off the field. If they want to put in extra work to get better, that’s up to them to take ownership of their situation. I told them nothing is guaranteed. I know everyone is at a different playing level, but if they want to be on the field they will earn it and put in the work. Even with the girls that played last year I made it a point to say if you want that position you played last year or want a different one, show me, and work for it.”

Mott said that some goals this season for the Lady Dragons are to be above .500, make playoffs, see a team batting average around the .300 mark, and a sub-3.00 earned run average. She is also aware that goals and successes are more than just statistics.

“I define success as constant improvement,” Mott said. “If we play one game and make a mistake, let’s correct it so when it happens again, we don’t make the same mistake twice. Softball is a game of failure. Batting .300 gets people in the hall of fame, but that means that player ‘failed’ seven times. It’s what we do after the struggles and failures that will define our team’s success.”

Returning experienced players such as Alanna Warrior, Emma Gray, Alexis Jones and Malysia Sorensen will be leading the charge for the Dragons in 2026.

“They’ve all played this game at a high level and don’t panic in the bigger moments,” Mott said. “They will ground us in a lot of the chaos that comes with this sport. My one personal goal is to maximize the team’s talent/abilities and to get them better from where they started. That starting point could be from last season or just the start of open gyms this winter.”