The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Opening day has arrived for Long Beach State softball.
With the new season comes a new coach, a retooled roster and a fresh sense of purpose that has been building since summer workouts and fall practices. When the Beach opens the 2026 campaign Friday at the LBSU Invitational, it will mark the first chapter of the Kendall Fearn era.
Long Beach State will host the tournament at the LBSU Softball Complex and open with a doubleheader facing Oregon State at 1 p.m. before closing the day against Utah Tech. It is a quick test for a team eager to show that last season’s solid foundation can turn into something more.
A year ago, the Beach finished 27-22 overall and 17-10 in Big West play, tying for fourth before falling on the opening day of the conference tournament against Hawai’i. It was a respectable season, but one that ended sooner than the program hoped.
In the 2026 preseason conference coaches poll, Long Beach State was picked to finish third, a nod to a returning core mixed with impact transfers and an energetic freshman class. For a first-year head coach, it is both affirmation and expectation.
Fearn arrived knowing the task ahead was not about tearing things down, but about shaping what already existed.
“It’s been awesome to evolve from getting to know the players on a personal level to really understanding what type of players they are,” Fearn said. “We graduated a really strong class, but this group is hungry. They want to make a statement.”
That hunger has been consistent across the roster, regardless of class standing. Returners, transfers, and freshmen have all competed with the same edge, something Fearn said has accelerated the team’s growth.
“They all want to earn a spot on the field and succeed for this program,” Fearn added. “That shared mindset has been really refreshing.”
For the players, the transition has felt surprisingly seamless.
“I think it was a really quick and smooth transition,” said junior Avery Weisbrook. “We had a lot of new faces already, so everything felt new for everyone. We were all learning together, and that brought us closer.”
The word that keeps coming up around this team is “fresh.” New systems. New voices. New energy.
Lindsey Cowans, one of the team’s leaders, said the shift has created renewed excitement.
“This year feels super fresh,” Cowans said. “We’ve got new girls, a new coaching staff, and we’ve all been working toward one mission, which is winning the Big West championship. It starts small in practice, but you can feel it building.”
That sense of direction has been paired with a familiar backbone.
Accountability, energy, and connection remain central to the program’s identity. Cowans believes Fearn has simply sharpened those traits.
“She inspires us to chase our goals,” Cowans said. “The coaching staff is incredibly supportive, and they genuinely want to help us win.”
On the field, Long Beach State’s potential starts with its offense. Fearn did not hesitate when asked what stood out most during fall and preseason work.
“I think we can hit,” she said. “We’ve got hitters.”
That group includes Weisbrook, Lina Apodaca, Audree Mendoza, Brooklyn Lee, and Priscilla Iniguez, who is coming off a standout freshman season. Fearn believes those names can form the core of a lineup capable of doing real damage in the Big West.
Beyond power, the Beach also features athletes built for pressure situations. Speed, contact, and aggressive baserunning are expected to be part of the identity, creating a balanced attack that can manufacture runs as easily as it can hit for extra bases.
“I feel like we have serious tools,” Fearn said. “Now it’s about getting at-bats and seeing how we adjust in real games.”
In the circle, experience anchors the staff. Bella Alonso, Cowans and Kate Barnett provide veteran leadership, while three young pitchers bring depth and upside. The Beach plans to pitch by committee, using matchups rather than leaning on a single ace.
“We have a plan,” Fearn said. “Not just for this weekend, but for the next couple of weeks.”
That clarity has helped ease nerves as opening day approaches. Practices and scrimmages have been competitive, but the tone has shifted from preparation to trust.
“I told the team they’ve earned the right to be confident,” Fearn said. “They’ve worked really hard.”
Confidence, however, does not mean overlooking the process. Fearn has emphasized simplicity and presence. One pitch. One play. One game at a time.
“It’s about going 1-0 each game,” she said. “Free, loose, competing, and expecting victory.”
That mindset resonates with a young roster still discovering its ceiling. With only a couple of seniors, the team’s chemistry has formed quickly, aided by the shared feeling of starting something new.
“We’re all kind of freshmen right now,” Weisbrook said. “It’s new for everybody, and that’s made it fun.”
Projected Starters:
DP: Cowans, Barnett, Alonso
1B: Priscilla Iniguez
2B: Jiselle Hernandez
SS: Avery Weisbrook
3B: Nina Sepulveda
LF: Kali Su’e
CF: Erica Estrada
RF: Lina Apodaca
