Lady Sharks Softball Team Opens Season 8–3 Behind Standout Freshmen Class
The Miami Dade College softball team is off to a strong (8–3) start to open the 2026 season, fueled by an explosive offense, developing chemistry and immediate production from a talented freshman class.
Through the first eleven games, the Lady Sharks have showcased depth—and the numbers back it up.
As a team, the Sharks have scored 67 runs while posting a .362 batting average, a .406 on-base percentage, and a .502 slugging percentage, reflecting the lineup’s ability to consistently generate offense and pressure opposing defenses.
Freshmen Making Immediate Impact
Freshman outfielder Makayla Deleon has quickly emerged as one of the team’s most consistent offensive threats.
Deleon has a .471 batting average, a .474 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage — production that has made her a catalyst in the lineup.
“As soon as I committed here, I knew we could do something special,” Deleon said. “We have defense, offense, pitching — everything. This year is going to be special.”
Fellow freshman outfielder Jaylene Mieres has also stepped into a key run-producing role.
Mieres is batting .417, has a .833 slugging percentage with a home run and ranks third on the team with five RBI.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work at practice — really focusing on my swing and reading the ball,” Mieres said. “It’s exciting to see that work translate into games.”
Head coach Gina De Agüero credits the freshman class with elevating the team’s level of play.
“A lot of our freshmen have played at a higher level before they got here — in high school or travel ball — so they have that fight to win,” she said. “They’re working hard, and we’re working hard as a team.”
Veteran Production Leading The Way
Sophomore outfielder Sofia Eriksson has anchored the offense early.
Eriksson is batting .458 and is tied with the team lead in RBI with five. That offensive output has allowed her to set the tone on offense while anchoring the team’s defense in the outfield.
“My role is to communicate and keep everyone energized,” Eriksson said. “Energy is contagious — it sets the tone.”
Shortstop Caroline Mito, who was the Citrus Conference Player of the Year last year, continued her stellar play this season. She is batting .462 with a .517 on-base percentage and a .808 slugging percentage.
Sophomore Amanda Handa has been dominant on the mound, going 5–0 in five appearances with a 1.18 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched. She has recorded 20 strikeouts while posting a 1.06 WHIP.
“It’s a huge impact when our returners take on leadership roles,” De Agüero said. “They may not be the most vocal, but they lead by example. Once they set the tone, the freshmen follow.”
Offense And Fight Defining Identity
The team’s offensive output has been a consistent strength this year.
“We hit — we hit,” De Agüero said. “We’ve been able to put a lot of runs together, and we didn’t back down. We were never defeated. They picked each other up and played for each other, and it was nice to see it come together.”
That mentality has defined the Sharks’ early identity.
“They’re resilient. They weren’t going to bow down to anybody,” she added. “All of our wins have been good team wins. We’ve had different people step up in different moments. Even the dugout was in the game the whole time, talking and picking each other up. That’s the foundation for a winning product.”
Despite the strong 8–3 start, the Sharks’ goals extend far beyond early-season success.
“We want to be conference champs, win states, and win nationals — but we take it one step at a time,” De Agüero said. “It’s a long season, so it’s about taking care of your body and bouncing back from anything that happens.”
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