WINTER HAVEN – With the program in the middle of its best season in 10 years, Polk State Softball's sophomores will depart knowing they played a pivotal role in its ascension.

Eight sophomores will be celebrated prior to the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Hillsborough Community College. They will be celebrated at 11:40 a.m. for the program's annual Sophomore Day – 20 minutes before the first pitch of the first game.

"What stands out about this sophomore class is its versatility," second-year Head Coach Kevin Lewis said. "Their willingness to lead really stands out, too. They're very helpful and very good teammates. Every one of the sophomores has visited my office with questions, asking what they can do to get better, and asking me to make calls to other schools to help them get to the next level."

A program on the rise

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, Polk State already has 23 wins. That's the most for the program since 2015 and more than twice as many as last season.

"With the year we had last year, the struggles helped us grow and made us closer," infielder Natalie Hiles said. "We're so close. Coach Kevin helped us grow as people and as players and that hasn't stopped. From when we started the season at the JUCO Classic to where we are now, we've come a long way. It's amazing what we've accomplished."

With the team's improvement came improvement from several individuals. Just a .160 hitter last season, Hiles has raised her batting average this season by more than 100 points to a solid .271. Outfielder Veronica Fernandez hit just .141 a year ago and is now hitting .226 with a home run.

"I'm most proud of how I've stayed true to myself," Fernandez exclaimed. "In all aspects of myself – softball, my religion, in the classroom – I've stayed disciplined. I struggled early on with failures on the field. This year, I saw those failures as an opportunity to learn and get better. At the end of the day, that's what will make you grow as an individual."

Utility Jamie Reinhardt and Nayeli Hernandez, both team captains, were each All-Citrus Conference selections for Polk State last year during a disappointing 11-41 season. The two have continued to be key pieces of the program. Hernandez is .328 and is leading the team in stolen bases for the second year in a row with a career-high 18.

"We had a rough first year, but we've picked it up this year," Hernandez said. "It's been really fun to be able to beat good teams. We've shown how good we can be at times."

Reinhardt has played first base, outfield, catcher, and pitcher during her time at Polk State. In addition to hitting .305 with a career-high 18 RBIs, Reinhardt also has seven wins in the circle and leads the Eagles with 86.1 innings pitched.

"Things can start rough," she explained. "That doesn't define you as an individual or the program as a whole. I'm most proud of the leader and teammate I've become. It feels like I'm doing something for not just the softball team but the College and the community. I'm proud to have been part of a group that has rebuilt this program. This group started something that's going to be bigger than ourselves."

In addition to achieving the highest win total in 10 years, Polk State has shown it can play with and beat some of the nation's best. Five of the Eagles' wins have come against nationally ranked teams, including three over teams currently ranked in the top 10 in No. 3 Indian River State College and No. 7 Seminole State College of Florida, who they've defeated twice.

"Beating ranked teams on the field is something I'll never forget," infielder Savannah Jacobs, a co-captain, said. "We've all come together and bought in. It's fun to go out and show we can compete. I'm really proud of how we've produced and played together as a team."

Adversity on and off the field

While Polk State's sophomores were forced to face adversity on the field, there was plenty off of it. When they arrived at freshmen during the 2023 Fall Semester, they weren't sure who their head coach would be. Lewis wasn't hired until January 2024 – after the program's fall season and just three weeks before the regular season.

"I'll always remember the way they embraced me coming in as part of their family," Lewis reflected. "They trusted me and were so welcoming. Under circumstances like that, it doesn't always happen that way. It was like I had been here for years."

Jacobs and Chelsi Rae' Hebert were each forced to watch last season for the dugout with season-ending injuries. After starting her collegiate career at Webber International University, an NAIA program in Babson Park, it was the second season-ending injury in as many years for Jacobs at Polk State. While she couldn't play for those two seasons, Jacobs found a way to contribute as a de facto assistant coach.

"I made a family here," she said. "It's not about just you at Polk State; it's about the team as a whole."

After earning All-Suncoast Conference honors in 2023, Hebert missed all of last season with a knee injury. A native of Louisiana, Hebert has bounced back in a big way this season. For the year, she is batting .352 and leads the team with 50 hits, five triples, eight home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .634 slugging percentage. Her eight home runs are the most for a Polk State player since 2019.

"I'm proud of the way I've come back and how we've performed as a team," Hebert explained. "Last season as I was injured, I enjoyed watching a team of mostly freshmen begin their college journey. Injuries are tough, but this place has always felt like home. The girls and the coaches made it worth it. We can still make a run (at the postseason) this year and change the perception of Polk State. There is a lot of talent on this team and coming in for next year."

The lone sophomore who wasn't on the Polk State roster last season, outfielder Karyna Lewis was an All-Conference performer at Hocking College in Ohio in 2023. Following a redshirt season last year, Lewis made the decision to follow her father, Head Coach Kevin Lewis.

"There's no person I would have rather spent my last junior college year with," she explained. "He's been there for me since I was young. We started this journey together and we're going to finish it together."

 After an outstanding freshman season at Hocking, Lewis hasn't let the higher competition level bother her. The Eagles play in a Citrus Conference that currently has seven nationally ranked teams and five of the top 10. She has responded by hitting a team-best .394.

"There's more talent and it's much more competitive down here," Karyna Lewis noted. "My confidence has grown. I've learned how to manage the pressure."

Strength in numbers

In addition to improvements from the sophomores, part of Polk State's success can be attributed to depth. At times last season, the Eagles were playing with just nine or 10 healthy players.

"I'm happy to have had this group of teammates," Hernandez said. "We support one another. These freshmen have really helped us and made us better. When they're not in the game, they cheer us on and support us."

At the plate, Polk State has 11 different players who have at least 10 hits, but the most significant change has been with the pitching staff. Last season, Reinhardt and Dee Allen combined to throw 92% of the team's innings from the circle. This season, eight different pitchers have seen action.

"We have the manpower this year that we didn't last year," Allen said. "We've saved our arms and been able to give teams a lot of different looks. I know I can do my job, and the next person will come in, do her job, and finish it for us."

In Lewis' second year, the coaching staff has also grown exponentially with three assistant coaches in Tate McClellan, Holly Jones, and Madison Edwards. All three have experience as college softball players. Mike Evans also serves as the team's recruiting coordinator.

"Coach Tate has helped me a lot in the field and as a hitter," Hiles explained. "The coaches care about us as people. They keep us accountable on and off the field."

"They all bring different characteristics," Fernandez said of her coaches. "Coach Holly and Coach Tate have given me insight they learned from their playing days and what their mindset was. I've learned how to persevere. Coach Lewis preaches how important the little things are – like accountability and being a good teammate."

Reflections

As Polk State's sophomores try to finish the season strong and move on to whatever is next, their experiences at the College transcend softball.

"I'll remember the fun times we had – not just on the field but in the shared space of our apartment," Allen reflected. "As a person, I've come out of my shell. I've made a lot of friends over these two years. I've become a smarter player and have learned to be easier on myself. Softball is a big part of our lives. I'm excited to see where everyone goes after this. Being around these girls so much, we've become a family."

"I'll always remember the bond and how close our team was," Reinhardt added. "This has shown me that a team can become a family. I don't think I would be who I am without the team I played with. I've gained more confidence – on and off the field. I've become more sure of who I am and who I'll become. This place allowed me to transition from a teenager to a young adult."

The 2025 roster for Polk State features players from four states and four countries. Several players saw getting to know their teammates as a learning experience.

"The friendships I've made and being able to interact with the girls daily, on and off the field and living together, has made this a sisterhood," Fernandez concluded. "Getting to learn about people and their different upbringings is something I'll never forget."

"Growing up in a small town in Michigan, we didn't have many people of different backgrounds," Karyna Lewis explained. "I've learned more about different cultures in my one year down here than I ever did back home."

Hebert offered advice for future Polk State players.

"Give it your all," she urged. "Play every game like it's your last and have fun. The more fun you make it, the better season you'll have."

With 12 freshmen on the roster and a strong recruiting class coming in, sophomores are optimistic about the future of the program.

"These next couple of years, people need to watch out for Polk State," Hiles concluded. "We've been overlooked a little bit because of years past. This program is going to give people a run for their money."