Cal Softball: Makena Smith Taken in Pro Draft; Excited For Weekend Set at Stanford

In the wake of being selected this week in the Women’s Pro Fastpitch draft, Makena Smith’s summer softball schedule is set.

In the meantime, the Cal senior is determined to stretch out her college career as long as possible.

That means getting back to the NCAA tournament, something that has eluded the Golden Bears since 2018 after earning bids every season but one since 1986.

“Right now we’re in a good position for postseason but nothing’s guaranteed,” Smith says in the video at the top of this story. “We have to make ourselves undeniable for the (selection) committee. Our hunger is a lot more sustainable because we want it.”

Cal (29-12-1, 6-8-1 Pac-12), which ranks No. 27 in the current RPI computer ratings, visits fourth-rated Stanford (32-9, 8-7) for a three-game set on Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.).

The Bears are coming off a spectacular 9-8 comeback victory over Santa Clara on Wednesday, when Smith tied the score with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning, then doubled home the winning run in the 13th.

Cal trailed 8-4 entering the bottom of the 11th but survived to improve to 88-0 all-time vs. the Broncos of the West Coast Conference.

After this weekend, the Bears close the regular season with a three-game home series vs. Oregon, then three at Arizona before the first-ever Pac-12 tournament, May 10-13 at Tucson.

“We’re all itching to get to Friday,” Smith said. “We know how good it felt last year to take the series (2-1) from them. We’re looking to get it again.”

Smith noted Stanford’s pitching, which has a conference-best earned run average of 1.48. Freshman NiJaree Canaday is 9-0 with an NCAA-leading 0.12 ERA, having allowed just one earned run with 102 strikeouts in 52 innings. She had 18 strikeouts in a no-hitter vs. Villanova.

“They’re a really good team this year,” Smith said. “We are also a really different team, way better than we were last year. We’re a scary team. It’s going to be a dogfight, for sure.”

The two offenses stand in stark contrast: Cal leads the Pac-12 with 58 home runs - 12 of them by Smith - while Stanford is last in the league with just 14.

“Just like any rivalry game, it’s going to be probably a little heated, probably a little tense,” Smith said. “We are Cal — we love that type of situation. We love to be with our backs against the wall because there’s only one way to go, that’s forward, straight through the opponent. That’s what we’re going to do. I’m really excited to see how we perform.”

This weekend’s series could have significant impact on Cal’s dreams of returning to the NCAAs. Smith, now tied for fifth all-time at Cal with 42 career home runs, said the Bears are motivated by what they’ve missed.

“We know what it feels like not to make postseason, to watch the World Series, super regionals and regionals from our house. It’s not a good feeling,” she said. “I’ve been here for five years and I haven’t made it. It means a lot to me because that’s been my goal since I got here.

“It’s going to be a really proud moment when our name gets called on Selection Sunday.”

Whenever her Cal season ends, Smith has more softball on her calendar. She was picked No. 15 by the Smash It Sports Vipers in the WPF draft on Monday and will be headquartered in Oxford, Alabama this summer.

She watched the draft online with teammates. “It was cool to have them there, celebrating with me,” Smith says, alluding to the video above. “I’m so grateful for the team that I have and the teammates that I have.”

The Vipers, who played an exhibition schedule in 2022, are part of the four-team WPF, with the season running from June 15 and through mid-August.

Smith grew up dreaming of a career in sports, something even older brothers Jake and Nick didn't achieve. “Nope. I’m the only professional in the family,” she said.

So this isn't something she's likely to use to tease her siblings?

“They’ve held a lot less over my head. I don’t know, it might have to be a little trickle here and there," Smith said. "That’s definitely something that I’m going to have in my back pocket.”

Cover photo of Makena Smith by Kelley L. Cox, KLC fotos

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo