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Bates College

Bates College Lewiston, ME 04240
Division 3 Maine Northeast
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Kat McKay

Kat McKay begins her first season in 2022-23 as the sixth head coach of the Bobcat softball program.


McKay joined Bates as an assistant coach in the spring of 2022 after spending five years (four seasons) as the head coach of the University of Maine-Farmington's softball team.


"This is a dream," McKay said. "I grew up 20 minutes down the road so I know Bates softball. You can't grow up in this area without knowing Bates. I never thought I would have the opportunity to do what I love in my own backyard at such a great school. I am most excited about the team and the amazing amount of potential here. I look forward to building upon what has already been built and I couldn't be more excited about it."


In 2017, her first year leading the UMF softball program, McKay helped the Beavers increase their win total by four games from the year before. UMF continued to improve during her time at the helm of the program, posting a 6-6 conference record in 2019, one of the team's best marks of the past decade. The 2020 season got wiped out due to the pandemic but after a slow start to 2021, the Beavers ended their campaign on a six-game winning streak.


During McKay's time in Farmington, she coached seven All-NAC selections and won 41 games.


Before McKay took the helm for the UMF Beaver softball program, she coached at the high school level for more than ten years. McKay spent four of those years building a program as head softball coach at Poland Regional High School. Prior to that, she coached at St. Dominic Academy as the head coach for two years and JV coach for three. During the off-season, McKay played other roles such as JV soccer coach, ninth grade basketball coach, JV basketball coach, and varsity assistant for basketball. She also spent a few seasons coaching at the middle school level in baseball and soccer.


McKay is a 2006 graduate of Central Maine Community College where she played basketball and softball. She graduated Phi Theta Kappa with an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Sports Management. In 2014, McKay returned to school attending the University of Southern Maine to complete her four-year degree. She enrolled as a full-time student while managing a family with two young boys, working full time as an assistant athletic director as well as transportation director at Saint Dominic Academy, and starting for the USM softball team at first base. McKay graduated from USM with a bachelor's degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies.

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Ally Plafcan

Bates softball head coach, Kat McKay, is pleased to announce the addition of Ally Plafcan to her staff as an assistant coach.


"I am thrilled to welcome Coach Plafcan to the Bates softball program," said McKay. "I was immediately impressed with her mindset and approach to the game, which fall in line with our overall goals here at Bates. I am excited about what Ally can bring to the team with her playing experience at the NCAA Division II level, as well as her past coaching positions and recruiting background. This profession is all about the people you work for and with. When you have great people who are focused on a common goal, like Coach Plafcan, a program will be very successful."


Plafcan joins the garnet and white after serving as a graduate assistant since July 2021 with the softball program at William Penn University (NAIA) in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Responsibilities with the Statesmen included the creation of hitting, defensive, and conditioning programs for the team while also assisting with recruiting efforts, specifically at local and regional camps and showcases.


"I am excited to be here at Bates and have the opportunity to work with Coach McKay and the team," said Plafcan. "I am looking forward to getting on the field and contributing to the program in anyway that I can. Coach McKay has a great vision for Bates Softball and I am grateful for the chance to be a part of it."


A 2021 graduate of then-Converse College (S.C.) with a Bachelor of Arts in both psychology and child and family studies, Plafcan batted .311 during her time with the Valkyries. The former corner infielder led her squad in batting average, on-base percentage, and RBI three times. Ally, an academic all-conference selection her junior and senior seasons, also served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) while at Converse.


Currently working towards a master's degree in sports management at William Penn, Plafcan anticipates to graduate this May.

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