SOFTBALL PREVIEW: COPAN LADY HORNETS START NEW ERA WITH COACH ASHLEIGH MCCAUSE
The Copan Lady Hornets softball team poses after a recent practice. The Lady Hornets enter a new era as Ashleigh McCause takes over the reins for retired coach Randy Davis.
Photo provided
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
July 29, 2025
By Mike Tupa
Copan High School’s softball program is motoring into a new era with its glorious tradition from the past few decades now reflected only in the rear view mirror
With the resignation after last season by legendary head coach Randy Davis — who during three-separate stints had guided the program to multiple state championships and other deep playoff runs, largely in the 1980s-90’s and first decade of the 2000s — Copan now turns to first-year head coach Ashleigh McCause.
McCause hails from Sperry and played college softball at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid and Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
McCause becomes at least the fifth Lady Hornet head coach since the revival of the program during the past decade.
Hopefully McCause will bring the traction of steady development to a program that won seven state championships during a 12-season stretch (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999).
As mentioned, Copan continued to rank among the state’s top small school programs well into the 2000s.
But the introduction in the 2000s of a fall volleyball team siphoned several of the school’s best girls’ athletes away from the diamond, reducing softball numbers and appeared to lessen the softball team’s quality of athleticism, although the volleyball team powered to some success.
Eventually, the volleyball team stopped operating but softball has struggled to regain the same status it previously enjoyed.
There’s one very promising sign for McCause — she’s had 16 girls show up for practice, whereas the number in some recent years has been much smaller.
Two veterans McCause will be counting on heavily are senior Zoey Secondine and junior Katie Donaho.
An experienced catcher, Secondine already has shown “some tremendous great things,” McCause said. “We’re expecting some of her leadership on the field to guide our younger girls.”
Donaho could play a variety of defensive roles as well as pitch.
“She’ll be huge in leadership, too,” McCause said.
McCause is developing a pitching rotation of Lexi Call, Amaya Barnes and Donaho.
Looking to put together the best team she can out of several veterans and some newcomers, McCause believes chemistry and effort will be the keys.
“Our strength is working hard,” she said. “They really do play for each other. … Team camaraderie will be our huge strength.”
The attitude that will make this a competitive group will be “just trusting the process,” McCause said. “I think we should have a good season. … Our program is growing. I’m super excited … for Copan softball.”
New beginnings always foster a celebratory time of anticipation. Destiny almost never develops overnight — but it always requires a first step.