GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines softball head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk has announced the addition of seven student-athletes for the 2026 season. The class is comprised of players from four different states including some of the top local talent from Colorado, and is laden with pitching, featuring a trio of arms who can also play the field in addition to an infielder, outfielder and a pair of catchers who can also contribute at other positions.
 
"I'm absolutely thrilled about our incoming class!" said Echo-Hawk. "This exceptional group brings the perfect combination of athletic talent and academic excellence that defines our program. This class truly represents the bright future of Mines softball!"
 
Kylie Bickford // Infielder // Littleton, Colorado // Chatfield Senior HS
A second-generation Oredigger, Bickford comes to Mines following a two-sport prep career at Chatfield Senior High School in nearby Littleton and follows in the footsteps of her mother Angela in joining the softball program at Mines. A three-year letter winner in basketball and four-year winner on the diamond, she earned All-Conference honors three times in her career including First Team honors as a junior and senior in addition to Honorable Mention All-State laurels. Bickford batted .393 and a .466 on-base percentage and fielded .960, primarily holding down the hot corner during her career. She is a member of the Colorado Stars on the club circuit. Off the field, Bickford is ranked 78th in her graduating class and was twice named First Team All-State Academic and is a two-time NASA HUNCH finalist. She intends to major in Mechanical Engineering at Mines.
 
Rylee Church // Pitcher/Infielder // Angleton, Texas // Angleton HS
Church is the first of two Texas natives in this year's signing class and comes to Mines following a four-year career at Angleton High School. A two-way standout, she posted a 1.27 ERA in the circle and held opponents to a .185 batting average while as the plate, she batted .421 with a 1.057 OPS. As a senior, Church was named First Team All-Brazonia County at pitcher as well as First Team All-District and District 18-5A Pitcher of the Year. As a junior she was named a First Team All-District selection as an infielder and as a sophomore also earned First Team All-District and Pitcher of the Year honors from District 17-5A. Church also earned a trio of Academic All-District selections her final three seasons. On the club circuit, Church plays for Athletics Mercado Herrera/Reyes. Off the field, she is a member of the National Honor Society and is a two-time recipient of the AP Scholar Award. Church plans to study Civil Engineering at Mines.
 
Ariana Hughes // Pitcher/Infielder // Houston, Texas // James E. Taylor HS
The second of two Texans in this year's signing class, Hughes will arrive in Golden following a decorated career at James E. Taylor High School. In 2022 she earned Honorable Mention honors and was named an All-District selection as a sophomore and junior, taking home First Team honors in 2024. Hughes has also been twice named Defensive Most Valuable Player as well as Academic All-District in her career. On the club tour, she played for Bombers Academy Lonestar 18U Dees. Off the field, Hughes is ranked in the top 20% of her class and is a member of the National Honor Society. She has been the recipient of several awards including the Engineering Award of Excellence and the AP 3D Art Award of Excellence and is also a member of SALT, the Student Athletic Leadership Team. Hughes plans to study Mechanical Engineering at Mines.
 
Madyson Ortiz // Pitcher/Infielder // Commerce City, Colorado // Riverdale Ridge HS
Another local product, Ortiz comes to Golden after a stellar prep career at Riverdale Ridge High School which culminated in a CHSSA Class 5A State Championship during her senior season in the fall of 2024. A four-year letter winner, Ortiz posted a line of .515/.557/.825 at the plate while recording 92 strikeouts in the circle. In addition to the state title last fall, she was named a First Team All-State selection, Class 5A Rocky Mountain League Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-conference and First Team Academic All-State. As a junior, she led RRHS to a Class 4A runner-up finish and was named Longspeak First Team All-Conference and again was First Team Academic All-State. As a freshman and sophomore, she earned Honorable Mention and First Team All-Conference honors. On the club tour, Ortiz plays for Triple Crown. Off the field, Ortiz earned a quartet of High Honors in the classroom and was a four-year academic letter winner. She plans to study Mechanical Engineering at Mines.
 
Sydney Pendowski // Outfielder // Colgate, Wisconsin // Catholic Memorial HS
From the Midwest to the Mountains, Pendowski comes to Golden after starring as a three-sport athlete in softball, basketball and rugby during her time at Catholic Memorial High School. On the rugby pitch, she was a two-time All-State selection and led her team to State Championship honors as a wing and fullback. On the diamond, she has twice earned All-Conference honors including Second Team distinction as a sophomore. On the club circuit, Pendowski plays for Velocity MKE. Off the field, she is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society and a four-year honor roll recipient. She intends to study either Mechanical Engineering or Biomechanics at Mines.
 
Morgan Stewart // Catcher/Infielder // Littleton, Colo. // Mullen HS
Another local product, Stewart will join the Orediggers after prepping at Mullen High School where she was a two-sport athlete in softball and soccer and won a combined eight varsity letters. A career .454/.554/.652 hitter, Stewart also brought speed to the table on the bases, stealing 70 bases in her prep career with a pair of 20-steal seasons. Last fall, she ended her career by serving as captain and being named Mullen's Most Valuable Player by swiping a career-best 27 bases and batting .578/.625/.953 on her way to All-Centennial League First Team and Honorable Mention All-State honors. In her first two seasons, she earned an additional pair of All-League honors along with a second All-State selection and team MVP award while also being named a First Team All-State selection on the pitch. She currently plays for Colorado Softball Academy 18U Gold on the club scene and previously played for the Colorado Stars Roberts. In 2024, she batted .434/.500/.629 with 26 stolen bases. Off the field, Stewart earned a trio of Academic All-State honors and was a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Spanish National Honor Society and National Music Honor Society. She served as an award-winning student ambassador and is a three-time recipient of Mullen's Torch Award and earned individual awards in a variety of subjects in the classroom. Stewart plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at Mines.
 
Miquela Tammaro // Catcher/Infielder // Chandler, Arizona // Corona Del Sol HS
A two-sport athlete in flag football and softball, Tammaro comes to Mines after a stellar career at Corona Del Sol High School. A two-year letter winner in each sport, she batted. 375 as a junior with a .432 on-base percentage with 26 RBI. Currently she is in the midst of her senior season and is batting .417 with 11 RBI and two doubles as of the time of writing. Tammaro earned postseason honors on the diamond as well as the gridiron, being named a Second Team All-Region honoree in flag football this season. As a junior, she collected Tempe All-City and 6A Central All-Region accolades at designated player along with NFCA High School All-Region IV Second Team laurels. On the club circuit, she played for the Arizona Storm Sheehan, where she batted .450 with a 1.249 OPS, belting six home runs with eight double and driving in 40 while being an on base machine with 34 walks. Off the field, Tammaro is a member of the National Honor Society and was named the math department's Pre-Calculus Student of the Year in 2023-24 and has twice been named an Easton/NFA High School Scholar All-America selection. She intends to study Mechanical Engineering at Mines.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines softball on X at @MinesSoftball and on Instagram at @mines_sb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.