Endicott ranked second in CCC Softball Preseason Poll

2013 CCC Softball Presason Poll Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) announced today that the Endicott softball team was voted by the league's head coaches to finish second in the conference standings according to the CCC Softball Preseason Poll.  The Gulls received two first place votes and was ranked behind last year's champion University of New England.

Rounding out the top five in the preseason poll were Salve Regina, Western New England, and Roger Williams.  

The 2012 Endicott softball season saw a 14-year run of consecutive conference finals appearances where the Gulls won 11 titles, including nine straight from 2003-11, come to an end with an exit in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals.  There was some disappointment in the hearts of the Endicott softball team that had routinely looked forward to going to the NCAA DIII Regional Tournament.

"We are looking forward to the challenge of getting back on top," said 19^th-year head coach Mark Veilleux.  "We know that every team in the conference brings their A-game when they come to play Endicott.  It is a good thing.  It shows respect for your program."

In the double-elimination CCC Tournament, the Gulls found themselves in an early hole after a 3-0 loss to the University of New England.  Victories over Eastern Nazarene and Western New England kept Endicott's hopes for a 10^th straight conference championship alive, but CCC finalist Salve Regina handed the Gulls their second loss in the tournament to end the program's long-time dominance.   The loss also meant a berth into the ECAC DIII New England Tournament which Endicott had not been a part of since the 2002 season. 

"The team was excited to get back on the field after losing in the CCCs and they beat a very solid program in Brandeis to capture the ECAC Championship."

A two-RBI double in the top of the sixth by then sophomore Kelley Michael proved to be the game-winning hit as Endicott toppled the top seed in the tournament, Brandeis, 7-6 to win their first ever ECAC DIII New England Championship.  Endicott ended their season with a 26-18-1 overall record and another piece of hardware for the softball program's trophy case.

Heading into the 2013 spring season having graduated no seniors from last year's roster, the Gulls are intact with solid leadership with the motivation to return to CCC Championship glory.  That leadership starts with second-year captain, senior Byrne Katz, as well as fellow captains senior Jocelyn Russo and junior Jesse Bilafer, three players who have been starters for the majority of their careers.

While Endicott returns the majority of their starting lineup from 2012, Veilleux will look to move some key pieces around the diamond to maximize the talent on this year's roster. 

Starting behind the dish, freshmen Sam DiBella and Emily Hoffman along with returners junior Alli Noyes and sophomore Sam Cila will all battle for playing time.  Noyes has started in 20 career games and Cila appeared in 14 games a freshman while DiBella and Hoffman come from strong high school programs from Danvers and Malden, respectively, as well as summer leagues.

Former catcher, senior Krista Fales will move to first base considering the extreme depth at the catching position with freshman Alexis Page, a Suffield Academy product who knocked five homeruns in fall ball, looking to contribute at both first base and the designated player spot.  Fales is a career .308 hitter who drove in 16 runs last season.

Also expected to make major contributions between the first base and designated player positions is NEISCA and All-CCC Honorable Mention senior Colleen Martin.  Martin led all Endicott players with 16 extra base hits including a team-high eight homeruns.  She drove in 24 base runners, scored 22 times, and swiped eight bags. 

Second base features junior captain Jesse Bilafer who Veilleux boasts as a "very good, all-around player."  Bilafer, two-time All-CCC honoree with a career .378 batting average, is able to play small ball (15 sacrifice bunts in 2012), she can hit behind the runner, knows how to get on base (.422 OB%), and plays solid defense (.953 FLD%). 

Milford native Lindsey Read will compete for time at shortstop as junior Kelley Michael could possibly shift over to third base this season.  In her second season, Michael elevated her game with a .365 batting average, 10 extra base hits including two homeruns, 24 runs batted in, and 20 runs scored.  She was named to the All-CCC First Team for her efforts on the field. 

Two-time All-CCC winner and senior captain Jocelyn Russo, a staple at third base for much of her career, will be asked to go to the outfield this spring and join a veteran group that includes All-CCC Second Team senior captain Byrne Katz and junior All-CCC First Teamer Alexandra Moise.  Russo hit .341, drove in 15 runs, and crossed the plate a team-high 33 times last spring.  Katz led all Gulls hitters with 30 RBI while knocking a career-high five homers.  Moise took a step forward in her sophomore campaign, increasing his batting average by 33 points to .333 and showing some speed on the base paths with 11 stolen bases in 14 attempts. 

Sophomores Jess Linden and Amanda Campbell and freshman Julia Marra and Jamie Corda will also be in the mix for playing time in the outfield.  Linden and Campbell started in 36 and 13 games last season, respectively. 

Endicott's pitching staff is deep with six pitchers expected to log innings in the circle this spring led by junior Nell O'Connor and sophomore Cameron Sprague.  O'Connor went 10-7 with a miniscule 2.01 earned run average over 115.0 innings pitched.  She struck out 53 batters and held opposing hitters to a .248 batting average.  Sprague, in her freshman season, was 7-6 with a 3.86 earned run average.  In just 69.0 innings on the mound, she struck out 55 batters to lead the Gulls pitching staff.

Junior Danielle LaRocque, sophomore Meg Donegan, and freshmen Courtney Blake and Katherine Clark will all contribute and allow the coaching staff to be flexibility with their pitching strategy. 

Endicott begins their season as they normally do at the Rebel Spring Games down in Kissimmee, Florida where they will face off against some tough NCAA Division III competition including three NCAA Regional qualifiers.  The non-league schedule remains difficult when the Gulls return north with games against Elite Eight finalist Tufts, Babson, Brandeis, Salem State, and Wellesley.   In the CCC, Endicott first hosts North Shore rival Gordon on Wednesday, April 3^rd before taking on the defending conference champions, University of New England, on Sunday, April 7^th at home.