Preseason Coaches Poll | Record Book
Madison Milaszewski, Dickinson
Dickinson (15-24, 8-8 CC, T-5th place)
Head Coach: Matt Richwine (Shippensburg '99), 17th season (255-318)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 468-600-3 (.438)
Centennial Titles (1): 2010
Playoff Appearances (4): 2007-08-10-11
Preseason Projection: 8th
Key Returnees: Nicole Torlincasi, Sr., OF, 2nd team All-CC, 296-3-22, 10 SB; Killian Kueny, Soph., P/OF, 203-0-9, 8-9, 1 sv, 4.49 ERA, 99.2 IP, 38 K; Michelle Orden, Sr., 2B, 269-0-8; Madison Milaszewski, Soph., RHP, 7-8, 2.57 ERA, 128.0 IP, 101 K; Marissa Ruschil, Soph., 298-0-7; Nicole Clayton, Jr., OF, 257-0-16.
Key Losses: Grace Edelson, 1B, 1st team All-CC, 415-8-33; Casey Ditzler, 3B, 2nd team All-CC, 252-1-9; Nicole Piet, OF/IF, 248-0-27.
Outlook: Dickinson struggled to a seventh-place finish a year ago and will have to find some run production to make a push for the playoffs in 2017. Torlincasi will be counted on to improve upon last season's 296-3-22 campaign, while Clayton is the other returning Red Devil to drive in 10+ runs. Milaszewski had a solid freshman season, fanning 5.52 hitters per seven IP.
Sam Burns, Franklin & Marshall
Franklin & Marshall (20-16, 7-9 CC, T-7th place)
Head Coach: Mike Cooperstein (Penn State), 10th season (155-153-2)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 487-522-2 (.483)
Centennial Titles (0)
Playoff Appearances (0)
Preseason Projection: 5th
Key Returnees: Erin Russell, Jr., C, 1st team All-CC, 351-2-16; Taylor Long, Soph., UT, 1st team All-CC, 338-2-12; Sam Clemens, Soph., SS, 2nd team All-CC, 339-0-21; Sammy Burns, Jr., OF, 2nd team All-CC, 326-5-15; Izzy Schaefer, Jr., RHP, 9-8, 2 saves, 3.44 ERA, 108.0 IP, 65 K; Katie Wenger, Jr., 295-4-25, 9-7, 2.79 ERA, 105.1 IP, 70 K;
Key Losses: Melissa Bollmeyer, OF, 286-0-5.
Outlook: The Diplomats fell short of qualifying for the Conference playoffs for the first time a year ago but have the nucleus returning to break through in 2017. Russell and Long earned first-team All-CC honors a year ago, while Clemens and Burns were second-team selections. Schaefer and Wenger combined for 18 wins, 213.1 IP and 135 strikeouts. F&M is poised to make its first Centennial tournament and could make some noise in the postseason.
Jamie Abell, Gettysburg
Gettysburg (26-13, 11-5 CC, T-1st, 1-2 in CC tournament)
Head Coach: Annette Hunt-Shepherd (Maryland '97), 4th season (76-43)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | 2015 Statistics
All-Time Record: 685-375-3 (.646)
Centennial Titles (3): 1994-99-2007
Playoff Appearances (11): 2001-02-03-04-05-07-09-10-12-15-16
Preseason Projection: 1st
Key Returnees: Aileen Reilly, Jr., P, 1st team All-CC, 16-7, 2.15 ERA, 164.2 IP, 112 K; Jamie Abell, Sr., SS, 1st team All-CC, CC Player of Year, 359-3-32, 10 SB; Mykaela Twitchell, Jr., DP, 1st team All-CC, 364-7-27; Wendy Folfas, Jr., 1B, 2nd team All-CC, 341-0-27; Sam Misurell, Sr., OF, 2nd team All-CC, 311-2-20; Meredith Taylor, Soph., C, 360-1-25; Stephanie Leonardo, Jr., 3B, 281-0-14; Morgan Clauser, Soph., RHP, 10-5, 1 save, 2.74 ERA, 97.0 IP, 47 K
Key Losses: Steph Zengel, OF, 1st team All-CC, 413-2-20; Meghan Hisgen, 2B, 282-0-16.
Outlook: The Bullets made the playoffs for the second straight season and look to three-peat in 2017. Abell is the returning Player of the Year, while Twitchell, Folfas and Misurell also earned All-CC recognition. The quartet combined for 12 HRs and 106 RBI. Taylor and Leonardo help comprise an experienced infield, while Reilly and Clauser are a potent 1-2 on the mound. It is not difficult to see why Gettysburg is the preseason favorite to win the Centennial title.
Kendall Chambers, Haverford
Haverford (28-22, 9-7 CC, 4th place, CC champion, lost to Messiah in NCAA super-regional)
Head Coach: Erin Brooks (Fordham '04), 3rd season (53-32-1)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 318-420-4 (.430)
Centennial Titles (3): 2006-2014-16
Playoff Appearances (7): 2006-08-09-13-14-15-16
Preseason Projection: 4th
Key Returnees: Jessica Koshinski, Jr., 3B, 1st team All-CC, 285-5-33; Julia Blake, Soph., 2B, HM All-CC;, 331-1-13, 13 SB; Kendall Chambers, Sr., DP, HM All-CC, 277-6-31, 9-5, 5 saves, 2.49 ERA, 106.2 IP, 55 K; Kaitlyn Guild, Soph., 1B, 294-1-25; Rachel Wolfson, Soph., SS, 313-3-16, 11 SB.
Key Losses: Sara Tauriello, LHP, 2nd team All-CC, 9-8, 3 saves, 113.1 IP, 126 K; Kristin Tatum, C, 2nd team All-CC, 281-8-30; Miwa Wenzel, OF, 223-0-12, 10 SB; Emily Winesett, Sr., 10-9, 1 save, 3.31 ERA, 112.0 IP, 73 K.
Outlook: Haverford captured its second Centennial crown in three seasons, winning three games on the final day of the tournament. Koshinski was a first-team All-CC selection, while Blake and Chambers also received All-CC recognition. Wolfson and Guild had solid rookie campaigns. With only seven players returning from that squad, the Fords will need immediate contributions from the newcomers to return to the playoffs.
Lindsey Miller, McDaniel
McDaniel (24-18, 10-6 CC, 3rd place, 0-2 in CC tournament)
Head Coach: Phil Smith (Pfeiffer '86), 12th season (248-231)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 638-414-1 (.606)
Centennial Titles (6): 1994-95-98-2002-04-12-15
Playoff Appearances (11): 2001-02-03-04-05-06-12-13-14-15-16
Preseason Projection: 3rd
Key Returnees: Lindsey Miller, Sr., OF, 1st team All-CC, 413-4-22, 15 SB; Jamie Weisser, Sr., DP, 2nd team All-CC, 322-4-29; Payton Lewis, Jr., UT, 2nd team All-CC, 333-0-20; Valerie Lamb, Jr., HM All-CC, 8-4, 1 save, 85.2 IP, 42 K; Carly Deichman, Jr., 3B, HM All-CC, 331-3-24; Olivia Kipe, Sr., SS, 350-1-28; Tayler Hishon, Jr., 3B, 327-2-27, 7 SB; Stacie Maring, Gr, OF, 0.296, 19 RBI, All-CC 2nd Team (2015); Fiona Johnson, Soph., RHP, 8-9, 4.12 ERA, 105.1 IP, 72 K
Key Losses: Taylor Fletcher, 1B, 300-2-20; Caitlin Justice, C, 239-0-11.
Outlook: McDaniel welcomes back most of the nucleus from a squad that reached the Centennial playoffs last spring. Miller is a first-team All-CC outfielder who was second in the CC in hitting in 2016. Weisser, Lewis and Deichman also earned All-CC honors in the field, while Lamb picked up All-CC recognition in the circle. The return of Maring from an injury adds to an experienced outfield, while Hishon and Kipe contibute with the bat and the glove in the infield. The Green Terror will be back in the playoff conversation again this spring.
Haley Peterson, Muhlenberg
Muhlenberg (15-23, 8-8 CC, T-5th place)
Head Coach: Molly Rathbun (Eastern Connecticut '12), 1st Season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 604-537-2 (.529)
Centennial Titles (5): 2000-01-03-09-11
Playoff Appearances (9): 2001-02-03-04-09-11-13-14-15
Preseason Projection: T-6th
Key Returnees: Hanna Caiola, Jr., OF, 2nd team All-CC, 327-2-13; Amelia Shelley, Jr., C, HM All-CC, 232-0-9; Karissa Astrella, Jr., 2B, HM All-CC, 310-1-19; Paige Seitz, Jr., 1B, 262-0-5; Hayley Peterson, Jr., RHP, 9-9, 3.57 ERA, 111.2 IP, 49 K; Kristina Qualben, Soph., SS/C, 242-6-15; Haley Fedak, Jr., RHP, 6-10, 1 save, 3.49 ERA, 106.1 IP, 63 K.
Key Losses: Taylor Trifiolis, 2B, 1st team All-CC, 40-4-21; Amie DeFeo, OF, 272-0-12.
Outlook: The Mules missed out on a fourth straight trip to the CC playoffs but return the talent to get back to the postseason in 2017. Caiola hit over .300 on her way to All-CC OF honors a year ago, while the infield welcomes back All-CC selections in Astrella and Shelley behind the plate. Qualben hit six homers last season as a rookie and looks for more this spring. Peterson and Fedak provide experience in the circle. Don't sleep on the Mules.
Elizabeth Curcio, Swarthmore
Swarthmore (10-26, 1-15 CC, 9th place)
Head Coach: Renee Clarke (Rutgers '88), 14th season (196-270)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 360-609-1 (.372)
Centennial Titles (0)
Playoff Appearances (4): 2006-07-08-10
Preseason Projection: 9th
Key Returnees: Marit Vike, Soph., SS, HM All-CC, 374-0-8, 26 SB; Elizabeth Curcio, Soph., 3B, 309-0-17; Amanda Lopez, Soph., OF, 310-0-4, 19 SB; Sara Planthaber, Sr. OF, 279-1-11; McKenzie Ward, Soph., RHP, 5-7, 3.29 ERA, 89.1 IP, 52 K; Mary Olesnavich, Jr., RHP, 1-10, 3.37 ERA, 74.2 IP, 33 K; Emily Bowman, Jr., RHP, 4-8, 5.08 ERA, 60.2 IP, 72 K.
Key Losses: none
Outlook: The bad news - the Garnet finished with just one CC win a year ago. The good news - the youngsters learned from that experience and are looking for better things in 2017. Vike earned All-CC recognition as a rookie SS, while classmates Curcio and Lopez also hit over .300 in their inaugural collegiate campaigns. Swat welcomes back a veteran pitching staff, headed by Ward. Swarthmore may not make the Centennial playoffs but will cause problems for contenders this spring.
Kaitlyn Willis, Ursinus
Ursinus (17-19, 7-9 CC, T-7th place)
Head Coach: Samantha Campo (McDaniel '04), 11th season (156-160-2), 5th at Ursinus (55-82)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 628-375-2 (.629)
Centennial Titles (5): 1995-96-97-2005-08
Playoff Appearances (12): 2001-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12
Preseason Projection: T-6th
Key Returnees: Kaitlyn Willis, Jr., RHP, 2nd team All-CC, 10-8, 1.96 ERA, 107.1 IP, 79 K; Callie Crouse, Soph., 1B, 297-2-19; Kayla Quinn, Soph., UT, 380-0-10, 13 SB; Samantha Garritano, Soph., OF, 287-0-7; Sammi Donato, Soph., OF, 281-0-14; Rachel Hyman, Jr., IF, 276-0-7.
Key Losses: Zoe Heinke, 303-0-21, 5-7, 2.81 ERA, 77.1 IP, 37 K; Alexa DelMonte, 320-0-4.
Outlook: Ursinus has missed out on the Conference playoffs in each of the past four seasons but looks to return to the postseason in 2017. Willis earned second-team All-CC honors in the circle a year ago. Garritano and Donato had strong rookie campaigns and headline the outfield. Quinn is the table-setter at the top of the order, while Hyman handles the hot corner. The Bears will be in the hunt come May for a playoff berth.
Maddie Bennett, Washington College
Washington College (22-20, 11-5, T-1st Place, 2-2 in CC tournament)
Head Coach: Lacey Lister (Salisbury '06), 9th season (161-151-2)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule | Last Year's Statistics
All-Time Record: 343-524-4 (.396)
Centennial Titles (1): 2013
Playoff Appearances (6): 2005-11-12-13-14-16
Preseason Projection: 2nd
Key Returnees: Maddie Bennett, Soph., RHP, 1st team All-CC, CC Pitcher of Year, 333-1-23, 12-3, 2.25 ERA, 102.2 IP, 90 K; Taylor Harcum, Jr., UT, HM All-CC, 261-1-10, 9-12, 2 saves, 2.39 ERA, 123.0 IP, 83 K; Elaina DiPrimio, Jr., OF, 359-1-24.
Key Losses: Clare Hofstedt, OF, 1st team All-CC, 404-0-14, 15 SB; Trish Langley, SS, 2nd team All-CC, 267-0-9; Paige Briganti, OF, HM All-CC, 295-0-12; Hannah Spohn, Jr., 1B, 250-2-20.
Outlook: The Shorewomen came within five outs of capturing their second Centennial title, but fell short of their ultimate goal. Washington's strength is in the circle with the return of Bennett, the Conference Pitcher of the Year, and Harcum. DiPrimio is the top returning hitter. The Shorewomen will need some new names to step up if the championship trophy will come to Chestertown this spring.