SEASON PREVIEW: Softball Opens Up Season This Sunday In Florida

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott softball team opens its 2025 campaign this Sunday, March 16, against Middlebury (11:30 AM) and Ripon (1:30 PM) in Clermont, Florida. Here's your inside look at this year's squad heading into the season.

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The Gulls were selected third in this year's Conference of New England (CNE) Coaches Preseason Poll with two first place votes and 84 points. Western New England received the most first place votes and total points (seven; 95), while Hartford was given one first place vote and received 86 points. The rest of the CNE field was as follows: Roger Williams (63), Wentworth (61), Nichols (58), Suffolk (39), UNE (31), Curry (19), and Gordon (14).
• Two-time defending conference pitcher of the year Jaylin Couto (Taunton, Mass.) returns to Coach Katie Bettencourt's team for a graduate season. Couto ranks fourth in program history in wins (42), fourth in opponent batting average (.213), T-fourth in starts (58), fifth in innings pitched (375.0), fifth in strikeouts (320), fifth in batters faced (1510), and ninth in ERA (1.79). She is accompanied by fellow graduate returnee, outfielder Christina Nowicki (Chelsea, Mass.). Nowicki was a member of the All-Conference First Team in 2024, and ranked second on the team in batting average (.337), on-base percentage (.422), and slugging percentage (.520) last season.
• Kristen Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) returns for her sophomore season. The right-handed pitcher was lights-out in her freshman season, as she ranked tops on the team and fifth in the CNE in ERA (1.83) last season. She also recorded eight wins in her 71.0 innings pitched last season.
• Chloe Shapleigh (Lynnfield, Mass.) enters her senior season after a dominant offensive junior season in 2024. Shapleigh's bat led the Gulls to a 10-2 start last season, before she sustained an injury that held her out of nine games in the middle of the season. The first baseman's batting average (.343), slugging percentage (.676), OBP (.425), and home run total (eight) all ranked first among the Gulls and top 15 in the CNE last season. All-time, the lefty slugger ranks third in program history in slugging percentage (.662) and fifth in home runs (18).
• The Blue and Green are in search of their 18th conference championship, which is the most of any Endicott varsity sport.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES TO WATCH

• No. 21 Wis.-Whitewater (3/21, 9 AM, Clermont, Fla.)
• vs. MIT (4/2, 3/5 PM, Home Opener) 
• vs. Roger Williams (4/5, 12/2 PM, CNE Home Opener)
• vs. No. 20 Tufts (4/23, 4 PM)
• vs. Hartford (4/26, 12/2 PM, Senior Day)

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott takes on Middlebury this Sunday, March 16 at 11:30 AM in Clermont, Fla. 

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(Photo Credit - Kaeli Talora '25)