by jonriv » Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:42 pm
March 10, 2014
BABSON PARK, Mass.—After making a run to the conference title game while posting the third-most victories in program history and advancing to its third NCAA Tournament last year, the Babson College softball team is primed to continue its success this spring. Under the direction of 15th-year head coach Dave Canan, the Green and White, which was picked first in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) preseason poll, returns 14 letterwinners after going 34-14 a season ago.
Leading the Beavers' pitching staff will be senior Kathleen Conway (Simsbury, Conn.), who earned both NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) second-team All-America honors last spring after setting nine single-season program records. The hard-throwing lefthander went 22-7 with four saves and 257 strikeouts in 36 appearances, all of which set new program marks, while allowing just 32 walks and posting a conference-best 1.06 ERA in 197 1/3 innings.
Senior Tess Rubega (Norwich, Conn.) returns after going 5-1 with a career-best 2.08 ERA in 12 appearances, as does junior Meghan Hayes (Robbinsville, N.J.), who was 1-0 with one save and a 3.82 ERA in 25 2/3 innings in 2013.
Despite the loss of two-time conference player of the year and 2013 All-American Catie Funk '13, Babson returns seven players that started at least 26 games last season. Sophomore catcher Caitie Benoit (Williamstown, Mass.) hit .346 with 13 extra-base hits and 39 RBI on her way to earning second-team all-league accolades, while junior outfielder Lindsey Schmid (New Canaan, Conn.) hit .339 with 21 runs scored and 18 RBI in 41 games.
Sophomore Maya Lacy (East Mill Creek, Utah) started 43 games in centerfield last spring hitting .318 with 12 extra-base hits and 28 runs scored, while classmate Emily Morris (Wolcott, Conn.) had 13 extra-base hits and was third on the team with 27 RBI. Senior third baseman Christa Shorette (Southington, Conn.) started 47 games at third and was second on the squad with 12 doubles in addition to driving in 22 runs.
Senior Kelly King (Kennebunk, Maine), a 2012 All-NEWMAC performer, and sophomore Madison Dinaso (Ardsley, N.Y.) started 26 and 23 games last season, respectively, and should once again vie for the starting first base job. Senior Ashley Hamilton (Northfield, N.J.) will compete for time in the infield, while the trio of seniors Katie Guido (Middleton, Mass.) and Christina Miquel (Emerson, N.J.) and junior Nicole Ravetier (Cranford, N.J.) provide depth in the outfield.
The Beavers also welcome 10 first-year players, and according to Canan are excited for the upcoming season. "The team has a mindset that they want to improve every day," he said. "They come to practice eager to get better, work hard, and improve individually as a group."
Babson, which is currently ranked 20th in the NFCA Division III poll, opens its season with the first of 11 games in Clermont, Fla., on Friday. In addition to a challenging 18-game NEWMAC slate, the Beavers will play three games against defending national champion Tufts and eight games overall against 2013 NCAA Tournament participants.