Cimino announces Raburn as first 2026 signing
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University softball coach Michala Cimino announced today the signing of pitcher Isabel Raburn (Holdrege, Neb.) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2026.
Raburn, a 5-4 right-hander, comes to BU by way of Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb. where she plays for former Bruin standout Erin Sharpe. She will have two years of eligibility when she arrives on campus.
She was the top pitcher for the Hawks last season, earning second team all-Region honors after compiling a 13-14 record and 3.59 ERA while striking out 219 batters across 171.2 innings of work. Opponents hit just .232 against her as she posted a 1.33 WHIP and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.53.
Among her season highlights was a program-record 16-strikeout game, in which she allowed just two hits in a 7-1 victory over Mid Michigan College. In total, she posted eight double-digit strikeout games on the season and helped the Hawks to the Region XI B Tournament. A two-way player, Raburn also batted .212 with five extra-base hits, 24 RBI, and 11 runs scored over 94 plate appearances.
Prior to attending Northeast, Raburn earned a bevy of athletic honors at Holdrege High School and played club softball for Force Softball where she was coached by her father, Russell. She struck out 141 batters across 111.1 innings as a senior for career totals of 338 strikeouts in 298 innings pitched. She was equally potent at the plate, batting .464 with three home runs, 29 RBI, and 33 stolen bases as a senior while putting up a .599 average, 14 home runs (among 74 extra-base hits), 123 RBI, and 94 stolen bases over her scholastic career.
Among her many honors, Raburn was a two-time first team all-Southwest Conference selection, three-time first team all-Central Conference choice and second team as a freshman, while also earning Hastings and Grand Island All-Region honors as a senior. She was twice named a captain of her high school team. Also, a standout student, Raburn was named Academic All-Region and to the Dean's List at Northeast. She was an honor roll student every quarter of her high school career earning first team Academic All-State three times, and named honorable mention in the other season.
Bellevue returns nine letterwinners and seven starters from last season's squad that posted a 29-21 overall record and a 12-8 mark in the North Star Athletic Association. The 2026 campaign marks Bellevue's first as a member of the Frontier Conference, which will feature eight softball programs competing in a 28-game conference slate beginning the weekend of March 20-21.
The 2026 Frontier Conference Softball Tournament will be hosted by Dickinson State at Bravera Field in Dickinson, N.D., from April 30–May 2. The tournament champion earns an automatic berth to the NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round, scheduled for May 11–14, 2026. The NAIA Softball World Series is set for May 21–27, 2026, in Columbus, Ga.