Emerson Tops Women's Softball GNAC Pre-Season Poll

Last Year’s GNAC Champion, Emerson College, has been chosen as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Softball preseason favorite in a vote conducted by GNAC coaches.  Emerson was ranked 19^th in the NCAA Div. III National Poll for the first time in school history. Last season they made it to the first round of NCAA tournament and Co-SIDA recognition for their academic achievements. In this year’s coaches’ pre-season poll the lions were only one point away from a perfect score of 144 points. St. Joseph’s College (ME) came in second place, with Rivier and Lasell finishing out the top four places.

Rounding out the remaining four teams in the 2010 preseason poll are fifth seed Pine Manor, a tie for sixth place with both Norwich and Simmons and concluding the top eight is Suffolk.

1.       Emerson (143)

2.       St. Joseph’s Maine (129)

3.       Rivier (103)

4.       Lasell (93)

5.       Pine Manor (89)

6.       Norwich (84)

            Simmons (84)

7.       Suffolk (83)

#1 Emerson

Coming off of a 33-11 season, the Lions have al l of their top players returning. Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Tuthill will start this season on the mound after achieving much success in the 2009 season. Tuthill was named GNAC Player and Rookie of the Year and selected to the NCAA D.III New England Region All-Tournament Team. Tuthill was ranked nationally for several of her statistics including 23^rd for ERA (1.06), 26^th Strikeouts per 7 inn. (9), 27^th Victories (19), 39^th Saves (2), 45^th for Walks (1.06), and 32^nd for hits allowed per 7 inn. (4.67). Leading the team offensively is senior Bridget Farago who is a three time NFCA All-Regional selection and was has also been named to the NESCA second team. The centerfielder was nationally ranked in 2009 for her offensive statistics including a ranking of 39^th for triples per game (.14) and 70^th for runs per game (1). Sophomore first baseman Kendal Peiguss, GNAC 1^st Team All-Conference and NFCA Northeast All-Region Third-Team selection, will return at first base this season. Senior Nikki Battaglia (GNAC 2^nd Team all conference) will anchor the infield at third base and Sierra Wood (GNAC 2^nd Team All-Conference) will continue behind the plate. Sophomores Sara Murray  (GNAC 2^nd Team )and Junior Jilisa Rawding (GNAC 3^rd Team) will bring great strength their defense with Murray sharing the mound and Rawding in right field.   

The Lions begin their season March 9 vs. Methodist College in Panama, Florida. Emerson will have their home opener on March 27 vs. Norwich.

#2 St. Joseph’s Maine

In 2009 the Monks went 29-14 overall and 19-6 in the conference, finishing 2^nd in the GNAC and making an appearance to the ECAC Championship. The Monks look to complete for the championship again after battling a one run game with Emerson in the second game of the Championship last season. They have many key players returning to make it a possibility. Returning for the Monks is sophomore powerhouse Emily Leverone who was honored as having the 2^nd highest batting average (.547) in the nation for all of Division III in 2009. The third baseman received GNAC All-Conference First Team honors, NFCA All-Northeast Region Second Team and ECAC Second Team honors as a freshman last season.  All three pitchers will be returning including senior Christy Wezowicz and junior Kiera Walsh (GNAC 2^nd Team) who was a top pitcher in the league with a 1.58 ERA in 2009. Alyssa Dunn who earned GNAC All-Conference Third Team with a .391 batting average and 33 RBIs will return to first base. At short stop, Liddy van der Linden, who  had .319 batting average and only committed 4 errors last year at short.

The Monks begin their season  March 8 vs. Ohio Wesleyan in Fort Myers, Florida. Their home opener will be March 26^th vs. Mount Ida College. 

# 3 Rivier

Rivier will return this year with their seniors leading the Raiders. Captain Monica White has been honored as three-time GNAC All-Conference First team selection and has been ranked 27^th nationwide for her ERA (1.27), 5^th for saves (4/7inn.), 13^th for strikeouts (13/7inn.) will take the spot on the mound. White is also a force offensively, leading the team last year with runs scored (24) and a perfect 16-16 in stolen bases. Captain Brenna Campbell will be a leader offensively as well after having 27 RBIs, 5 homeruns and a slugging percentage of .576 in 2009. Captain Alexa Feener, will add to the pitching staff, coming off of a season with 112 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.29. Joining the six returners will be nine new faces including several dual-sport athletes.

The Raiders will begin their season March 7 vs. Mt. St. (NY) in Orlando, Florida. Their home and conference opener will take place on March 20 vs. Simmons College at 1pm.

#4 Lasell

After posting a 21-19 record and 14-10 in the GNAC, the Lasers are looking forward to the 2010 season with their key players returning. The team will be lead by veteran players and tri-captains Kelly Barden, Kelly Silvia, and  Tricia Culver (GNAC 3^rd Team) who was ranked nationally as the 25^th most difficult to strike out.  Ashley Laramie (GNAC 1^st Team) will look to lead the team offensively after finishing the 2009 season with a .327 batting average with six homeruns, 21 RBIs and 17 runs. Kristen Mammola and Jennie Beaton will both return to the mound for Lasell.

The Lasers softball season begins on March 14 vs. Fredonia State in Fort Myers, Florida. They open on their home field March 27 vs. GNAC foe Suffolk.

#5 Pine Manor

The Gators return from a record of 16-8 in the GNAC with a new head coach Kristi Lyman. Catcher Courtney Wallace will bring her elite bat after coming off of her third consecutive season of .400 at the plate. Wallace has been a three time GNAC 1^st Team selection and two time NFCA/Louisville Slugger all-region selection. When Wallace wasn’t behind the plate, sophomore utility Kayla Nielsen (GNAC 3^rd Team) took the spot. Senior Michelle Myers will return as the main slapper for the Gators after having 28 hits in 2009. Taking the mound for Pine Manor is senior Siobhan Raymond, who pitched in 2007 and achieved a record of 11-6.

The Gators will begin their season on March 7 vs. Philadelphia’s Haverford College in Clermont, Florida. Their home opener will take place on March 27 vs. GNAC opponent Lasell.

#6 Norwich

After battling two hard fought games with the Simmons Sharks in the 2009 GNAC tournament, the Cadets tied with their GNAC rival in the pre-season poll. The Cadets are coming off of an 18-17 record and 15-9 in the GNAC. Norwich’s 2010 season is led by senior Whitney Grennon (GNAC 2^nd Team) who was ranked 32^nd nationally in Div. III in homeruns (.26), 57^th for slugging percentage (.739) and 18^th in runs per game (1.18). Sophomore Jackie Donahue (GNAC 2^ND Team) led the team last season with a .409 batting average with 36 hits and 8 homeruns. Junior Lindsay Carey was a GNAC third team all-conference selection in 2009 and was ranked nationally in slugging percentage, toughest to strike out, and on base percentage.

Norwich will start their season on March 15 vs. Stevenson in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Cadets home opener will occur April 3 vs. GNAC foe Suffolk.          

#6 Simmons

The Sharks finished the 2009 season with a 16-23 overall record, and 12-12 in the GNAC. Regardless of the record, the Sharks peaked at the right time and upset several teams en route to the GNAC playoffs. After being seeded eighth in the post-season playoffs, Simmons defeated fifth seed Norwich and third seed Suffolk to finish fourth overall in the conference. Pitching duo senior captain Sammi Letizio and junior Courtney Collier will return to the mound. Letizio was ranked 78^th in Div. III for ERA (1.77), 71^st for strikeouts and 74^th for walks allowed per 7 inn. (1.23). Collier, a GNAC 3^rd Team selection, took 2^nd in the GNAC for victories (11) and was ranked nationally in several categories. At short stop is junior captain Annie Thompson (GNAC 2^nd Team), who topped the GNAC in homeruns and earned a national ranking of 33^rd (.26) and 85^th for slugging percentage (.712). Joining Thompson in leading the infield is senior captain Leah Derderian at first base and junior Emily Nalband behind the plate.

The Sharks will open the 2010 season March 7 vs. Sage Colleges in Clermont Florida. Their home opener will take place on March 27 vs. Mount Ida.

#7 Suffolk

After graduating standout Jessica Ferreira, the Rams look to her assistant coaching guidance to continue with the success they had last season. In 2009 the Rams finished 22-18 overall and 17-7 in the GNAC conference. Junior Monica Cioffi (GNAC 2^nd Team) will lead Suffolk after playing all 40 games with a .369 batting average and achieving a rank of 9^th in Division III for stolen bases (.83). Senior Valerie Liberator and Karina Bolster will both be an offensive force for the Rams after achieving national rankings for their appearances at the plate. Elizabeth Galvin will return to the mound for Suffolk after tying for 2^nd place in the GNAC for earning 11 victories.  

The Rams will begin their season March 12 vs. Wheaton (Ill.) in Orange, California. They will place at home on March 20 vs. St. Joseph’s (CT).

The top eight teams will earn a spot in the GNAC Playoffs which will begin on Tuesday, April 20th.

*All 2009 National Statistics and Rankings from NCAA