Endicott Softball 2016 Season Preview

SOFTBALL 2016 SEASON PREVIEW VIDEO

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team opens up its 2016 season this Sunday, March 13 in Clermont, Fla. against William Paterson at 9:00 a.m as the Gulls will play 10 games over Spring Break. Here's a look at the full schedule and the upcoming season for the Gulls.

RETURNING CAST (2016 ROSTER): The team returns offensive juggernaut in 2015 All-CCC Third Team junior second baseman Julia McNeill (Smithtown, N.Y.), who paced the squad in hits (42), batting average (.404), and RBIs (26), as well as a strong senior class featuring 2015 All-CCC Second Team outfielder Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.), three-time All-CCC First Team third baseman/utility Samantha DiBella (Danvers, Mass.), 2014 All-CCC First Teamer Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) and 2015 All-CCC First Team pitcher Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) in the circle.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR (2016 Schedule): 

When Endicott returns from Florida, the team will open conference play with a doubleheader at North Shore rival Gordon College (7-23, 4-12 CCC) on March 23, followed by home twinbills the next week with the home opener on March 31 vs. Thomas (16-23, 8-4), who lost in the NAC Championship a season ago, as well as Nichols (11-19, 7-9 CCC) on April 2. A doubleheader at Curry (13-18, 8-8 CCC) on April 3 rounds out the first week back.

A road doubleheader with No. 9 NCAA New England regional power Babson (23-18, 9-9 NEWMAC) will be held on Tuesday, April 5, before Endicott hosts Lesley (13-19, 10-8 NECC) the next day. Visits to the University of New England (20-20, 8-8 CCC) on April 9 and last spring's CCC champion Western New England (30-9, 14-2 CCC) on April 10 close out a busy eight games in five days for the Gulls.

Home doubleheaders with the 2015 MASCAC championship runners-up Salem State (22-17, 8-6 MASCAC) on April 12 and reigning NEWMAC champion Wellesley (23-16, 10-8) on April 13, who is coming off its second consecutive NCAA regional appearance, are part of a six-game home stand for the Gulls. Endicott will also host Eastern Nazarene (1-5, 0-0 CCC) on April 15 before heading to Salve Regina (20-20, 12-4) on April 16.

Endicott then returns home on April 20 when the Gulls host the three-time defending NCAA national champion Tufts University Jumbos (51-0, 12-0 NESCAC) at 3/5 p.m. before concluding the regular season with home dates on April 23 and 24 against Roger Williams (14-17, 8-8 CCC) and Wentworth (4-22, 0-16 CCC), respectively.

Note: All team records/regional rankings are from the 2015 season. 

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GAMES TO WATCH

March 23 – Gordon vs. Endicott, 3:30/5:30 PM
NOTE: First games back from Florida

March 31 – Thomas (Maine) vs. Endicott, 3/5 PM
NOTE: First home games of the season

April 5 – Babson vs. Endicott, 3/5 PM
NOTE: The Beavers finished the 2015 season ranked No. 9 on the NCAA New England Regional rankings

April 10 – Western New England vs. Endicott, 12/2 PM
NOTE: Western New England is the defending CCC champion

April 13 – Wellesley vs. Endicott, 3/5 PM
NOTE: The Blue, who are the defending NEWMAC champions, have made the NCAA Tournament two years in a row entering 2016

April 16 – Salve Regina vs. Endicott, 1/3 PM
NOTE: Salve Regina finished second in the CCC regular season standings last year

April 20 – Tufts vs. Endicott, 3/5 PM
NOTE: The Jumbos are the three-time defending NCAA national champion

BOLD = Home games

PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Endicott enters the 2016 season slated second in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Poll. A full release on the CCC Preseason Poll can be found here.