Updates!

Former Charlotte great Tenaya Tucker led Caserta to the Italian League Softball Title. Tucker led Caserta to a 30-4 record in 2012 and was named MVP of the league. Tucker is currently an assistant coach at Delaware along with former St. Joseph's pitcher Lauren Cognigni.

Bradleigh Breland a 2013 OF from the Houston Power has verballed to George Washington. Breland is a speedy left handed hitter who will add some excellent speed to the Colonials lineup. Breland can also hit away and she could be a force at the top of the lineup. Breland will join Paige Ortiz of Fordham as the second Houston Power player in the A10. Breland joins an impressive George Washington 2013 recruiting class, which also includes Madi Myers-Cook, Paige Kovalsky, Jillian Galich, Megan Linn, Monica Macchiarulo, and Mary Wiley.

Alexia Faulkner a 2013 IF from the NJ Breakers has verballed to St. Joseph's. Faulkner had an excellent season for Mahopac HS in New York, hitting .397 with 18 RBI and 6 steals. Faulkner will add some great depth to the Hawks lineup and she should challenge for playing time right away. Faulkner is the second 2013 NJ Breakers to commit to an A10 school, as Caitlyn Hickey verballed to UMass. Faulkner joins the 2013 Hawks' recruiting class, which also includes Emily Rogers, Stephanie Chaiser, and Maddie Brunck.

Dakota Smith-Porter a 2013 P-1B from the Polar Crush has verballed to UMass. Smith-Porter is a talented P-1B from nearby Turners Falls, which is one of the best high school teams in Massachusetts year in and year out. While Smith-Porter has had great success in the circle, leading her team to a state championship, she projects to be a corner infielder at UMass. Smith-Porter picked up 30 hits, 2 HR, and 19 RBI and she went 13-1 in the circle with 120 SO in 94 innings. Smith-Porter is the latest Polar Crush athlete to head to UMass, joining Taylor Carbone, Emma Mendoker, Quianna Diaz-Patterson, Jess Serio, Carly Morin, Bailey Sanders, Amanda Morin, Jenna Busa, Michea Holness, and Karen LaFrenier.

Amanda Gatt a 2013 P from the East Coast Elite has verballed to Temple. Gatt is a talented pitcher and hitter from New York who is sure to bolster the Owls' staff. Gatt throws the ball with good pace and had an outstanding season last year for her high school, going 11-11 with a 1.34 ERA and 325 SO in 156.1 IP. Gatt will be the fifth East Coast Elite player to play in the A10, joining Cyndil Matthew of UMass and Jess Crowley of Fordham, as well as former Temple players Jess Hirschbuhl and Sarah Reynolds who subsequently transferred to Hofstra and Long Island.

Fall Scores Week 2

September 21
Charlotte 8 Spartanburg Methodist 0
Charlotte 9 Spartanburg Methodist 8
Katie Watkins and Chelsea Lisikatos picked up wins for the 49ers. Chelsea Stamey and Jessie Fennell each hit HR.

September 22
Georgetown 1 George Washington 0 (8 innings)
LP-Chelsey Pedley (3 IP 1 hit allowed)
Meg Rico started for GW, throwing 5 strong innings with 9 SO, while allowing just 1 hit. Pedley came one in relief and allowed just 1 hit. Georgetown scored its lone run in the 8th inning thanks to the ITB rule. 

George Washington 5  Georgetown 0
WP-Courtney Martin (4 IP 4 SO 1 hit allowed)
Courtney Martin led a strong staff outing for the Colonials, going 4 strong innings with 4 SO, giving up just 1 lone hit. Laura Thompson and Pedley combined to allow just 3 hits in the final 3 innings to keep the shutout in tact. Autumn Taylor and Tori Valos each clubbed 2-run HRs and Maura Murphy accounted for the other run with a RBI single.

UMass 13  Boston College 10
Bridget Lemire started the game before being relieved by Lindsey Webster. Webster led an offensive onslaught by hitting a towering grand slam. Tiffany Meeks also hit a solo shot to cement UMass' lead. Quianna Diaz-Patterson had a solid game, which saw her smack a couple RBI singles and score a couple runs. Cyndil Matthew and Katie Bettencourt were also standouts on offense, as they both hit doubles during the game. Diaz-Patterson made some highlight reel plays on defense, snatching line drives out of the sky and Bettencourt doubled a runner off of 2nd.

St. Joseph's 3  Rider 2
Taryn Ashway picked up the win for the Hawks, as she allowed just three hits to the Broncos. Dana Parks had a solid day at the plate going 2-2 with a RBI and Nicole Palase went 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI.

St. Louis 13 Jefferson 3

Butler beat and tied IUPUI (details needed)

St. Joseph's 8 Lafayette 0
Freshmen Anna Lauterbach and Liz Mendez combined on a 2 hit shutout against the Lions. Melissa Ruf had a huge game at the plate going 2-2 with 4 RBI. Morgan Earling also went 2-2 with 1 RBI, Rochelle Christman was 2-2, and Liz Mendez went 1-3 with a RBI double.

Sacred Heart 3 UMass 1
Webster started the game before being relieved by Lemire. The offense struggled to get going in this game. Taylor Carbone was able to pick up a single for the Minutewomen.

Charlotte beat Furman and St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Kalie Lang and Jessica Plemmons each hit HR.

St. Louis 8 St. Charles 0

September 23
St. Joseph's 8 Kutztown 8
Ashway and Mendez combined on a two hit shutout. The Hawks' offense was led by Dana Parks who went 2-4 with 1 RBI, Sarah Yoos who was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI, Morgan Earling who was 2-3 with a RBI, and Rochelle Christman who went 1-3 with a RBI double.

Fordham 4 Army 2
Michelle Daubman had another solid outing in the circle for the Rams going 7 strong innings, allowing just 1 ER. The Rams played excellent defense behind her, as they turned three DPs behind her. The Rams garnered 7 hits, including a HR and 2 RBI by Paige Ortiz and 2 RBI for Kayla Lombardo. Claudia Law also picked up 2 hits for Fordham. 

Fordham 4 Army 2
Jamie LaBovick started and went 4 innings for the Rams, allowing just 1 ER on 4 hits and Taylor Pirone went 3 innings, allowing just 2 hits. The Rams offense was led by Elise Fortier and Gabby Luety who each picked up 2 hits.

St. Louis 15 Mineral Area 0
St. Louis 10 Truman State 1

Providence vs. URI DH (details needed)

Week 1 Fall Ball Scores

September 15
Binghamton 2 Fordham 0 (8 innings)
Cornell 3 Fordham 1
Dayton 7 Northern Kentucky 6
Dayton 4 Miami 2
St. Bonaventure 12 Buffalo 11
Canisius 8 St. Bonaventure 4
Butler 6 Marian 0
Butler 3 St. Joseph's (IN) 2

September 16
Fordham 11 Colgate 0
Fordham 5 Le Moyne 0
Niagara 5 St. Bonaventure 1
Canisius 3 St. Bonaventure 2
Ball State 9 Butler 2
Butler 7 Lakeland 4

Update

Coaching

The greatest pitcher in Atlantic 10 history: Brandice Balschmiter will be returning to her alma mater UMass as an assistant coach. Balschmiter had a 126-33 career record for the Minutewomen, losing just twice to Atlantic 10 opponents, both in her freshman season. Of Balschmiter's career losses 26 of those took place against ranked opponents. Balschmiter did not lose to a single northeast opponent during her career, marking a true period of UMass dominance in the region. Balschmiter earned four Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year and Atlantic 10 Tournament Most of Outstanding Player awards. Balschmiter will have an important role in shaping UMass' young pitching staff, which only 74.1 innings of experience.

In conjunction with Balschmiter being named an assistant coach, Kristi Stefanoni has been elevated to the role of associate coach. Stefanoni has been on the UMass staff since 2007 and she has been a big part of the Minutewomen's success in recent year.

George Washington will also be adding a highly ranked pitcher to its coaching ranks, as Iona great Sarah Jackson will be coming on board. Jackson led Iona to three straight appearances at NCAA Regionals and brought the program to new heights. Jackson was a two-time MAAC Pitcher of the Year and three-time All-MAAC 1st Team selection.

Fordham is adding former Virginia Tech 3B Charisse Mariconda to its staff. Mariconda helped lead the Hokies to the WCWS in 2008, as well as a victory over the US National Team. Mariconda comes to the Rams from Radford, where she was on the staff last year.

Recruiting news:
Mary Wiles 2013 1B/OF Hudson Valley Hurricanes to George Washington

Erica Reis 2012 1B Holy Family University (The Sports Connection) to La Salle
Michelle Hagarty 2013 SS Delco Rage to La Salle
Tori Gollie 2013 P/OF/3B NJ Inferno Gold to La Salle
Christina Bascara 2013 3B Lower South Liberty to La Salle
Val Buehler 2013 P The Sports Connection to La Salle
Suzanne Swanicke 2013 C The Sports Connection to La Salle
Marissa Kineer 2013 2B The Sports Connection to La Salle

Jaime Conklin 2012 to UMass

Desiree Gonzalez 2013 IF Battery Lightning Gold to St. Bonaventure
Kiera Lorenzo 2013 IF Battery Lightning Gold to St. Bonaventure
Josie Borysevicz 2014 P/1B/OF Polar Crush Gold to St. Bonaventure

Maddie Brunck 2013 OF Cheetahs to St. Joseph's

Maddie Doane 2014 OF Beverly Bandits has decommitted from St. Louis and subsequently committed to Syracuse