Preseason Coaches Poll | Record Book

Grace Edelson, Dickinson

Dickinson (14-20, 6-10 CC, 6th place)
Head Coach: Matt Richwine (Shippensburg '99), 14th season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 438-556-3 (.441)
Preseason Poll Projection: T-8th
Centennial Titles: 1 (2010)

Key Returnees: Grace Edelson, Jr, IF, .398, 32 RBI, 4 HR; Becca Garlinger, Sr, IF/OF, .323, 14 RBI; Stacie Maring, Jr, OF, .398, 10 SB, All-CC Second Team; Nicole Piet, Jr, IF/OF, .310, 18 RBI.

Key Losses: Chelsea Homa, P, 10-9, 3.03 ERA, 99 SO.

Outlook: Dickinson will look to pick up where they left off last year, ending the 2014 season on a six-game winning streak. The Red Devils will be strong at the plate with Edelson, Maring, Garlinger, and Piet returning to the lineup. In the circle, the Red Devils will need to replace Homa. If Dickinson sorts out the pitching situation, they will be a formidable Conference opponent this spring.

Justine Lohrey, Franklin & Marshall

Franklin & Marshall (25-14, 10-6 CC, 5th place)
Head Coach: Mike Cooperstein (Penn State), 8th season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 444-495-2 (.473)
Preseason Poll Projection: 6th
Centennial Titles: 0

Key Returnees: Justine Lohrey, Sr, P, 12-5, 1.62 ERA, 47 K, All-CC Honorable Mention; Megan Ryan, So, P/IF, .276, 11 RBI.

Key Losses: Sam Denoville, IF, .395, 25 RBI, All-CC First Team; Rachel Laufer, OF, .347, 27 RBI, All-CC Honorable Mention; Malorie Sassaman, C, .455, 20 RBI, 7 SB, All-CC First Team; Kaitlin Zampino, DP, .275, All-CC Second Team.  

Outlook: Franklin & Marshall enters the 2015 season with a very young squad. After graduating a trio of All-Conference selections, including 2014 Player of the Year Sassaman, the Diplomats will look for their 10 freshmen to have an immediate impact. With Lohrey in the circle to steady the defense, the Dips could contend for a spot in the playoffs if the newcomers can help Ryan power the offense.

Jamie Abell, Gettysburg

Gettysburg (20-16, 5-11 CC, 7th place)
Head Coach: Annette Hunt-Shepherd (Maryland '97), 2nd Season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 629-348-3 (.643)
Preseason Poll Projection: 5th
Centennial Titles: 3 (1994-99-2007)

Key Returnees: Jamie Abell, So, SS, .391, 19 RBI, 11 SB, 2014 Rookie of the Year, All-CC Second Team; Emily Hall, C/1B, Sr, .424, 30 RBI; Meghan Hisgen, Jr, 2B, .345, 32 RBI, All-CC Second Team; Melissa Tighe, Sr, OF, .368, 16 SB, All-CC First Team; Steph Zengel, Jr, OF, .445, 39 RBI, 4 HR, All-CC First Team.

Key Losses: Abby Ferguson, IF, .205, 12 RBI; Brooke Kalman, C, .228, 7 RBI, All-CC Second Team; Maggie McGuire, IF, .311, 25 RBI.

Outlook: With the core of last year's team returning to the lineup, the Bullets are positioned to make a postseason appearance in 2015. Gettysburg led the Conference in runs scored last season (221) and will be strong on offense again this year. Hall, Hisgen, and Zengel all had over 30 RBI last year and Abell and Tighe were both top five in the Conference in stolen bases. Their combination of power and speed gives the Bullets the capability of putting a lot of runs on the board.

Jill Schnall, Haverford

Haverford (29-11, 12-4 CC, T-1st place, d. Muhlenberg in CC final; lost to Montclair State in NCAA first round)
Head Coach: Erin Brooks (Fordham '04), 1st season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 263-388-2 (.404)
Preseason Poll Projection: 1st
Centennial Titles: 2 (2006-1414)

Key Returnees:  Dayle Comerford, Sr, IF, .250, 26 RBI; Jill Schnall, Sr, 2B, .376, 29 RBI, All-CC First Team; Kristin Tatum, Jr, C, .276, 12 RBI; Sara Tauriello, Jr, P, 12-2, .89 ERA, 86 K, All-CC Second Team; Emily Winesett, Jr, P, 11-3, 1.55 ERA, 70 K, All-CC Second Team.

Key Losses: Jen DiCandilo, 3B, .295, 18 RBI, All-CC First Team; Elizabeth Newman, OF, .393, 18 RBI, All-CC Second Team.

Outlook: Haverford will have its sight set on capturing their second straight Conference title this year. The Fords will have excellent pitching with Tauriello and Winsett both returning to the circle. At the plate the team will be led by Schnall, Comerford, and Tatum, who combined for 67 RBIs last season. With strong pitching and productive bats in the lineup, the Fords are equipped to defend their title.

Caroline Brehm, McDaniel

McDaniel (29-17, 11-5 CC, T-3rd, lost to Muhlenberg in CC semifinal)
Head Coach: Phil Smith (Pfeiffer '86), 12th season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 585-384-1 (.604)
Preseason Poll Projection: 4th
Centennial Titles: 6 (1994-95-98-2002-04-12)

Key Returnees: Caroline Brehm, Sr, P, 26-13, 1.41 ERA, 396 K, 2014 CC Pitcher of the Year, All-CC First Team; Taylor Fletcher, Jr, P/1B, .299, 17 RBI; Caitlin Justice, Jr, C, .231, 10 RBI; Olivia Kipe, So, IF, .255, 9 RBI.

Key Losses: Jaclyn Liebowitz, 2B, .277, 20 RBI; Stephanie Maring, 1B, .371, 34 RBI; Rachel Sidney, OF, .379, 14 RBI, All-CC First Team; Emily Sneeringer, 3B, .300, 21 RBI, All-CC Second Team.

Outlook: McDaniel is seeking its seventh Conference championship in 2015. The Green Terror has the top pitcher in the Conference in Brehm, who collected an impressive 26 wins and 396 strikeouts in 2014.  At bat, the team will look to Fletcher, Justice, and Kipe to put runs on the board.  If the Green Terror has success at the plate, they will be in the title hunt come May.

Kelsey Jones, Muhlenberg

Muhlenberg (25-13, 12-4 CC, T-1st, lost to Haverford in CC final)
Head Coach: Marisa DeStasio (Binghamton '05), 5th Season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 573-496-2 (.536)
Preseason Poll Projection: 3rd
Centennial Titles: 5 (2000-01-03-09-11)

Key Returnees: Brittany Dzieciolowski, Jr, C, .289, 10 RBI, All-CC Honorable Mention; Nicole Iannarone, Jr, OF, .329, 8 RBI, All-CC Second Team; Kelsey Jones, Sr, P, 14-4, 1.39 ERA, 62 K; Alyssa Schnell, Sr, OF, .306, 14 RBI; Taylor Trifiolis, Jr, IF, .344, 34 RBI.

Key Losses: Kelly Kline, 1B, .415, 34 RBI, All-CC First Team; Erica Wenzel, 2B, .315, 9 RBI.

Outlook: After making it to the Conference championship last year, Muhlenberg will look to return to the title game this season. The Mules batting order features a trio of .300 hitters in Iannarone, Schnell, and Trifiolis. Defensively, Dzieciolowski will catch for standout pitcher Jones. Muhlenberg has all the pieces in place to be a title contender.

Chelsea Matzko, Swarthmore

Swarthmore (11-22, 3-13 CC, 8th)
Head Coach: Renee Clarke (Rutgers '88), 12th season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 345-572-1 (.376)
Preseason Poll Projection: T-8th
Centennial Titles: 0

Key Returnees: Emma Madarasz, C, .300, 5 RBI; Chelsea Matzko, Sr, OF, .355, 12 RBI, All-CC Honorable Mention; Clara Obstfeld, Jr, IF, .309, 7 RBI; Laurie Sellars, Sr, IF, .300, 5 RBI.

Key Losses: Nicole Aaron, UT, .299, 8 RBI; Sarina Lowe, P, 53.1 IP, 30 K; Melissa O’Connor, P, 9-9, 4.05 ERA, 86 K; Rose Pitkin, IF, .306, 13 RBI.

Outlook: After graduating a strong senior class in Aaron, Lowe, O'Connor, and Pitkin, Swarthmore has some holes to fill in the lineup. Matzko will lead the offense and get help from Obstfeld and Sellars. Madarasz will anchor the defense from behind the plate. It may be another year before Swarthmore is back in the hunt for the playoffs.

Delia Mercurio, Ursinus

Ursinus (10-24, 2-14 CC, 9th place)
Head Coach: Samantha Campo (McDaniel '04), 3rd
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 598-336-2 (.640)
Preseason Poll Projection: 7th
Centennial Titles: 5 (1995-96-97-2005-08)

Key Returnees: Ellen Goldstein, Sr, 1B/2B/OF, .286, 6 RBI; Zoe Heinke, Jr, P/OF/2B, .324, 16 RBI; Delia Mercurio, Sr, OF, .336, 12 RBI.

Key Losses: Caitlin Whelan, P/OF, 76.1 IP, 30 K, Hit .266.

Outlook: The Bears have a young team for the upcoming season. Ursinus will look to seniors Goldstein and Mercurio to lead the nine underclassmen. Heinke will help Goldstein and Mercurio power the offense. The Bears will also look to Heinke to dominate in the circle. Ursinus will continue to improve and move up in the Conference standings.

Kristin Cooper, Washington College

Washington College (26-13-1, 11-5 CC, T-3rd place, lost to McDaniel in CC semifinals)
Head Coach: Lacey Lister (Salisbury '06), 7th season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
All-Time Record: 321-504-4 (.389)
Preseason Poll Projection: 2nd
Centennial Titles: 1 (2013)

Key Returnees: Christine Anderson, Sr, P/OF, 2.30 ERA, Hit .261, All-CC Honorable Mention; Kristin Cooper, Sr, P/OF, 15-11, 98K, Hit .340, 21 RBI, All-CC First Team; Caitlyn Kirby, So, 3B/C, .260, 16 RBI, All-CC Honorable Mention; Suzanne Patinella, Sr, SS/2B, .331, 34 RBI.

Key Losses: Lauren Dockrill, 1B, .403, 23 RBI, All-CC Second Team; Claire Mattox, SS/2B, .351, 11 RBI; Kylie Nottingham, C, .310, 20 RBI, All-CC First Team.

Outlook: Washington College will look to make its fifth consecutive playoff appearance in 2015. The Shorewomen have one of the Conference's top all-around players in Cooper. She and Anderson will share the pitching duties and get help at the plate from Patinella and Kirby. If the Shorewomen can have productive bats to replace Dockrill, Mattox, and Nottingham, they will contend for the title again this season.