LANCASTER, Pa. – Washington College leads a contingent of four teams that received first-place votes in the 2022 Centennial Conference Softball Preseason Poll. The Shorewomen received two first-place votes and six second-place votes to earn top billing in the preseason prognostication with 58 points.
Defending champion Gettysburg collected the most first-place votes of any team with four, and finished second in the vote among CC head coaches with 51 points. McDaniel was selected third with one first-place nod and 39 points, followed closely by Swarthmore (37), which received the remaining two first-place tallies.
Haverford (33) edged Muhlenberg (32) and Ursinus (31) for the fifth spot, with Franklin & Marshall (23) and Dickinson (20) rounding out the poll.
The 2022 campaign begins this weekend for McDaniel and F&M, while most teams are slated to open up play in early March. Centennial competition will commence on Saturday, Apr. 2 and continue through the end of the April. The top four teams will advance to the Centennial Tournament, which will take place on May 3-6-7.
2022 Schedule | 2021 Results | 2021 Statistical Leaders | 2021 All-Centennial Team
Gettyburg captured its fifth Centennial Conference championship in program history last spring, compiling a 7-3 conference record to edge out Washington College (8-4) for the crown based on CC regular season winning percentage. The traditional four-team, double-elimination CC tournament was not held last spring, as schedules were condensed and regular season play determined the conference champion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bullets went on to represent the Centennial in the NCAA Tournament at the Virginia Beach Regional hosted by Virginia Wesleyan. The Bullets went 2-2 at the regional, falling to TCNJ in their first and final games to conclude the year with a 13-5 overall record.
A total of 24 All-Centennial performers will once again step foot on the diamond this spring, including at least one from seven of the nine CC teams. Gettysburg leads the way with five returning all-stars, followed by Washington College (4), McDaniel (4), Ursinus (4), Muhlenberg (3), F&M (3) and Swarthmore (1). Two returning players received all-region accolades from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) last spring - Washington College's Lexi Barnhart and Gettysburg's Olivia Moser.
Two-time all-conference returners include Washington College second baseman Megan Robbins, McDaniel catcher Megan Horsey, Muhlenberg catcher Genna Cicchetti, and Ursinus outfielder Mackenzie Brennan. Reigning Pitcher and Rookie of the Year Lexi Barnhart of Washington College is also back for the Shorewomen this season. Cicchetti is also a two-time Gold Glove of the Year recipient at catcher.
Returning All-CC players for the defending-champion Bullets are pitchers Megan Hughes and Jasmin Herrera, shortstop Jess Campana, third baseman Olivia Moser, and outfielder Giovanna Komst. In addition to Barnhart and Robbins, Washington College welcomes back outfielder Alyssa Vieira and third baseman Hannah Solge.
Horsey headliness a quartet of Green Terror players with All-CC experience along with shortstop Makayla Calamita, utility Meg Cappadora, and first baseman Paytyn Hazelton. Ursinus' Brennan is joined by pitchers Alexis Miller and Kayla McTamney, and utility Ally St. Jean as players with all-conference honors throughout their careers.
Cicchetti, third baseman Sarah Karmazyn and pitcher Cora Bridgers return for Muhlenberg. F&M's All-CC trio includes outfielder Jamie Belfer, second baseman Sam Martin, and first baseman Abi Buell, who was a first-teamer back in 2019. Swarthmore's Gwen Glatz was also a first-team pick in 2019 at the utility position as the lone returning all-star for the Garent.
2022 Centennial Conference Softball Preseason Poll
Rank | Institution (First-Place Votes) | Points |
1. Washington College (2) | 58 |
2. Gettysburg (4) | 51 |
3. McDaniel (1) | 39 |
4. Swarthmore (2) | 37 |
5. Haverford | 33 |
6. Muhlenberg | 32 |
7. Ursinus | 31 |
8. Franklin & Marshall | 23 |
9. Dickinson | 20 |