2014 Summer Update

If you have any sort of news, please email us at atlantic10softball@gmail.com. Please send recruiting updates and summer stats.

2015 Scheduling News
St. Bonaventure will have a challenging slate in 2015, as the Bonnies will head to tournaments at Tennessee State, Hawaii, Coastal Carolina, and Winthrop. At the Tennessee State tournament, the Bonnies will face Tennessee State, Miami, Bradley, Loyola Marymount, and Northern Kentucky. In Hawaii, the Bonnies will face Hawaii, Virginia Tech, Columbia, and Western Illinois. St. Bonaventure will also have non-conference matchups against Pitt, Canisius, Niagara, Youngstown State, Robert Morris, and Marist in 2015.

There will also be no A10 team at the Mary Nutter Classic in 2015.

Coaching Moves

Danielle Henderson was named head coach of UMass-Lowell

UMass great and 2000 Olympian Danielle Henderson accepted the head coaching position at UMass-Lowell. Henderson will do great work in building this young program up and this is a squad that's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

George Washington assistant and recruiting wiz Dan Sperl returned to Jacksonville University as an assistant coach. Sperl is responsible for many of the Colonials recruiting wins over the past few years and he definitely raised the bar for recruiting in the A10.

After Bob Baxter retired this offseason, Bridget Orchard completed her staff by adding Notre Dame great Laura Winter. Winter's experience with movement pitches and changing speeds will be huge for the Rams' talented staff of Michele Daubman, Rachel Gillen, Patti Maloney, and Lauren Quense.

Dayton hired Sarah Willis as its new pitching coach. Willis replaces Sarah Harman who left to become the head coach of Marion Military Institute. Willis comes from SEMO, where she served as an assistant after finishing her playing days at Texas Tech.

Former Temple coach Joe DiPietro landed on his feet at Hampton University. After an incredibly difficult final season at Temple, it's great to see him land on his feet.

Current Coaching Vacancies
Dayton Assistant Coach (to replace Katie Campbell)
George Washington Assistant Coach (to replace Dan Sperl)
George Washington Assistant Coach (to replace Stef Call)
UMass Assistant Coach (to replace Danielle Henderson)
St. Joseph's Assistant Coach (to replace Monica Aguilar)

New Players
Rhode Island's complete freshmen class has been announced, as Paige Julich, Bri Castro, Kylie Shivery, Madi Housel, and Jess Proia will be joining the Rams. In addition, Andrea Chiaradio and CW Post transfer Dana Moss will be joining the Rams.

Fordham softball has added two huge transfers in Lindsay Mayer and Ally Vergona. Bridget Orchard needs to replace Elise Fortier and Gabby Luety in 2015 and Mayer and Vergona will play big part in that. Mayer is an outstanding defensive shortstop who is no slouch at the plate either. Vergona is a solid catcher who figures to compete for time with Kayla Lombardo, Stephanie Ferri, and Claudia Law. The Rams are the deepest team in the league right now and are looking poised for another title.

La Salle has added Hartford transfer Mackenzie Obert. Obert is a talented player who started every game for the Hawks last season. She should definitely be an impact performer for the Explorers.

Leaving Players
Ashley Dumoulin will not be returning to URI in 2015. Dumoulin has transferred to Louisiana-Monroe.

Misc
Recent La Salle graduate Emily Moran was featured in the NCAA's Champion magazine for the speech she gave at La Salle's graduation. This Explorer has big things in her future.

Recruiting Update

With the biggest recruiting weekend of the year almost upon us, here is how the A10 currently looks in terms of recruiting:

Please message any updates via Twitter, Facebook, or email (atlantic10softball@gmail.com)

Dayton
Manda Cash P Ohio Nightmare 2014
Kailee Budicin IF New Lenox Lightning 2014
Kayla Haberstich SS New Lenox Lightning 2014
Jaclyn Kweder OF Indiana Shockwaves 2014
Kyle Davidson C Ohio Lasers Black 2015
Kelly Fitzpatrick OF Georgia Force 2015
Kayla Laquiere 3B Michigan Batbusters 2015
Aspyn Novak OF Beverly Bandits 2015

Fordham
Madison Shaw IF/C RI Thunder 2014
Morgan Figueroa OF WA Ladyhawks 2014
Jessica Hughes IF NJ Gators 2015
Kylie Michael C California Cruisers 2015
Skylar Johnston 1B/3B Virginia Legends 2016

George Mason
Jade Fleming IF Dallas Tigers 2014
Katie Holehouse 1B/3B Vienna Stars 2014
Lizzie Seymour IF Beverly Bandits 2014
Brooke Sullivan 2B/C Tri-State Thunder 2014 
Marina Vitalich P Firecrackers-Clarke 2015
Victoria Webster 1B/UT So Cal Breakers 2015

George Washington
Sarah Costlow P So Cal Athletics-Quarles 2014
Alana Anderson OF Arizona Storm 2014
Aiyana Leal-Robles C So Cal Athletics-Quarles 2014
Rochelle Draper 2B Jets Gold 2014
Morgan Rinehart OF Vienna Stars 2014
Ashley Pilcher P Texas Shockwave 2014
Chloe Braun P Gold Coast Hurricanes 2015
Ashley Schnarrs UT Vienna Stars 2015
Riley Tejcek IF Indiana Magic 2015
Kaitlin Bluff P So Cal Athletics-Richardson 2016
Raine Wilson UT Richmond Diamonds 2016

La Salle
Valerie Pineiro 3B NJ Gators 2014
Taylor Rohrbaugh P Krunch Gold 2014
Angelina Refice OF Lower South Liberty 2014
McKenzie Peace P Georgia Knockouts 2014
Marlo Roadcap P Rock 18 Gold 2015
Emma Schweigert IF East Coast Elite 2015
Meghan Nally 1B/OF Lower South Liberty 2016
Courtney Shupp C/1B Lower South Liberty 2016

UMass
Meg Colleran P East Coast Firecrackers 2014
Gianna Hathaway SS RI Thunder 2014
Emily Neal OF Pennsbury Gems 2014
Erin Stacevicz OF Delco Chaos 2015
Melissa Garcia OF American Pastime 2015

URI
Jessica Proia IF Concord Raiders 2014
Madison Housel C NJ Pride 2014

St. Bonaventure
Hailey Blencoe 2B TC Tremors 2014
Josie Borysevicz P East Coast Firecrackers 2014
Morgan Phillips C Battery Lightning 2014
Courtney Rogers UT East Coast Firecrackers 2014
Haley Majot P/UT 2014
Alissa Karjel SS Polar Crush 2015

St. Joseph's
Shannon Puthe 2B NJ Gators 2014
Nikki Alden 2B/P Newtown Rock 2014
Erica Nugent SS NJ Cheetahs 2014
Madison Clarke P Newtown Rock 2014
Taryn Grober 3B Newtown Rock 2015
Alyssa Herion SS Delco Chaos 2015
Stacey Mayer IF East Coast Firecrackers 2015
Abbey Stroud P NJ Cheetahs 2015
Ashley Ventura P NJ Cheetahs 2015
Sarah Ostaszewski C/3B Lower South Liberty 2016

St. Louis
Maddie Baalman P/IF 2014
Miranda Cotton IF St. Louis Academy Gold 2014
Josie Knesel OF St. Louis Chaos 2014
Allie Macfarlane IF Mac N Seitz 2014
Mackenzie Lawson 2B St. Louis Espirit 2015

Kristi Stefanoni has been hired as UMass' head coach

Kristi Stefanoni

After a long drawn out search, UMass hired Interim Head Coach Kristi Stefanoni. This is an excellent hire, as no one has put more blood, sweat, and tears into this program. To put it simply, Kristi is UMass softball.

Stefanoni played four years for Elaine Sortino and advanced to NCAA Regionals in each season and won the Amherst Regional in her senior season, advancing to Super Regionals. Stefanoni was not the star of those teams, but her leadership and poise was evident then. When Lehigh was a run away from advancing to the Regional Final and was threatening with a runner on third, Stefanoni showed calm under pressure and fielded a ground ball and fired home to cut down the runner. Those cool nerves under pressure have helped her become an incredible assistant and now head coach.

After graduating in 2006, Stefanoni stayed on staff and has been an integral part of UMass softball. She has been in charge of the UMass outfield and slappers, which have consistently been among the best in the conference. It will be interesting to see how her recruiting takes shape, but it would not be surprise to see this team built on speed and defense.

UMass brings back a talented group into the 2015 season, as just two starters from last year graduated. Caroline Raymond is back in the circle and she will have some depth around her in freshman Megan Colleran, the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, sophomores Tara Klee and Dakota Smith-Porter, and redshirt junior Emma Mendoker who sat out last season with an injury.

Quianna Diaz-Patterson and Jena Cozza are back to lead the offense and they will be joined by a pair of incoming freshmen who should crack the lineup in Gianna Hathaway and Emily Neal. All in all, the future of UMass softball is looking bright.

UMass Coaching Search

In late May, UMass announced its search for a new head coach. The big question is where Athletic Director John McCutcheon will go in his search. UMass is the premier program of New England, in terms of funding, tradition, and facilities and has likely attracted a great deal of attention, both inside and outside of the UMass softball family. Regardless of the selection, one needs to be made soon, as UMass is already behind the 8-Ball when it comes to recruiting. Many big recruiting camps are coming up and recruits aren't likely to commit to a school that does not have a staff in place.

These are by no means official candidates, just purely speculation.

The UMass Softball Candidates:

Kristi Stefanoni

Kristi Stefanoni has been on staff since 2007 after she graduated in 2006 and has done an outstanding job in her time on the UMass staff. She has helped lead UMass to Atlantic 10 titles in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. Stefanoni has worked a great deal with the UMass slappers and outfielders, both of which have been some of the best in the league. The past three seasons, Stefanoni has been pillar of strength for this program, as it dealt with Elaine Sortino's illness and death.

Danielle Henderson

Danielle Henderson served as Associate Head Coach this past season and has worked as an assistant coach off and on since graduating in 1999. She has also had stints at Ohio State and Stanford and is a renowned pitching instructor. Henderson is the most accomplished player in Atlantic 10 history, as she won the Honda Award in 1999, in addition to a gold medal with the United States at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She also had a distinguished professional career with the Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, and New England Riptide, in addition to racking up quite a few wins with the Brakettes. Henderson did a solid job this past season with the UMass pitching staff and "Harry" is most certainly a contender for this job.

Stacey Heintz

Stacey Heintz is a 1992 alum of UMass and has gone on to a lengthy coaching career. After serving as an assistant coach at Hofstra and UMass right out of college, Heintz has been on staff at USF for 14 of the past 17 years. Heintz has worked with three incredible coaches in Elaine Sortino, Bill Edwards, and Ken Eriksen. She is a fiery competitor and knows what it takes to win at the highest level.

Whitney Goldstein

Whitney Goldstein is a 2009 alum of UMass and she is a rising star in the coaching world. Goldstein was an accomplished player at UMass, garnering Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, and All-American honors, while at UMass. Ever since graduating, she has turned around both Amherst College and WPI. Goldstein took over this past season at WPI and the Engineers improved across the board. WPI finished with a 11-23 record in 2013, in 2014 the Engineers recorded a school record (not just in softball) 30-14 mark. WPI improved across the board on offense as the team batting average went from .241 to .326, home runs went from 3 to 19, runs went from 83 to 258, steals went from 11 to 46, and ERA dropped from 3.46 to 2.87. Did we mention that she is a stellar recruiter too? Her fearless nature on the recruiting trail brought a number of outstanding prospects to Amherst and she is doing the same at WPI. She might be the best recruiter of the candidates here. She should be the first candidate any AD in New England goes after.

Kathryn Gleason

Kathryn Gleason is another longtime assistant to Elaine Sortino who has served as Boston University's head coach for the past two seasons and led the Terriers to an appearance at Regionals in Tucson this season. Gleason spent time working as an assistant at UMass, Purdue, and Michigan State and knows what it takes to play at softball's highest level. Gleason is an aggressive coach who is not afraid to turn her team loose on the bases. The Terriers recorded 105 steals this past season, which is 40 more than the previous season's mark. Gleason is well respected nationally and she played a prominent role in UMass' 2012 Atlantic 10 Championship.

Rachel Lawson

Rachel Lawson is coming off of an appearance at the WCWS with Kentucky and would be an incredible hire for the Minutewomen. It is unlikely that Lawson would leave her program, especially since the have established themselves as one of the top programs in the nation with one of the nicest facilities. If for some reason, Lawson affinity for her alma mater is enough to bring her back, it would immediately put UMass back on the map nationally.

Outside the family:
It would be extremely surprising if anyone other than the candidates listed above is hired, that being said there are a few other coaches worth looking into.

St. John's Head Coach Amy Kvilhaug
Dartmouth Head Coach Rachel Hanson
Bryant Head Coach Shayne Lotito
Tufts Head Coach Cheryl Milligan

UMass will hopefully hire a candidate with strong ties to the program who will return to the program to its glory days.

A10 Standings 4/19

With conference play winding down, here is a look at the updated standings.

1. Fordham 29-16 (9-1)
2. La Salle 17-15 (9-3) 1 GB
3. St. Joseph's 16-16 (6-4) 3 GB
4. St. Louis 20-18 (6-5) 3.5 GB
5. George Mason 19-16 (5-5) 4 GB
   UMass 11-18 (5-5) 4 GB

Update on Temple recruits

Previously we had posted about the unfortunate situation that Temple's recruits found themselves in. Thankfully all of the recruits have found new schools.

Shelby Stracher was the first commit in this class for Joe DiPietro and she hails from Massachusetts. Stracher plays travel ball for the East Coast Firecrackers, which are one of the top, up-and-coming travel teams in the country. Stracher swings a powerful bat and is a great catcher behind the plate. For her high school last year, Stracher hit .508 with 5 HR and 32 RBI. She showed off her power on the big stage by hitting a homerun at the Premier Nationals. 
Stracher will play for Towson next year.

Isabel Hansbury was a real steal for Coach DiPietro. Hansbury is a talented third baseman and shortstop from Tuff-N-Tuffer Gold, known as TNT. Hansbury's athleticism will make her a real asset to any team at any of the infield spots. Hansbury picked Temple over Wagner and Haverford originally, hopefully she will get wonderful options again this time around.
Hansbury will play for Hofstra next year.

Devon Steiner is a talented third baseman and shortstop from Delaware who swings a powerful bat. Steiner plays for the Delco Chaos, which is one of the top travel programs in the Mid-Atlantic Region. For her high school, Steiner put up gaudy numbers in 2012, hitting .484 with 4 HR and 35 RBI. Needless to say, she would have been a natural fit for Temple's high octane offense.
Steiner will play for Coastal Carolina next year.

Jessica Hallett was a Temple signee from Arizona, who comes from the storied Lil Saints travel ball team in Arizona. Hallett is another very powerful infielder who would have fit in nicely with Temple's powerful offense. She hit .363 with 33 hits, 6 HR, and 29 RBI for her high school team. In travel ball she really shined, hitting 15 HR this past season for the Lil Saints. Temple was counting on Hallett for power and defense at the hot corner.
Hallett will play for FIU next year.

Michele Sykora is a legacy at Temple with her sister Christina, having played for four years under Joe DiPietro from 2009-2012. Christina Sykora also went on to become Temple's first ever player in the National Pro Fastpitch League this summer. Sykora is a second baseman and outfielder from the Jersey Fusion. Sykora's tenacity and athleticism were tailor made for the Owls.
Sykora will play for Stony Brook next year.

The Owls also had a verbal commitment from Amanda Kulp, a 2015 recruit. Kulp will have a little more time to recover, but she must also deal with the fact that a lot of the recruiting money is off the table. Kulp is a speedy, left handed hitting second baseman and outfielder who figures to be a solid top of the order hitter at the next level.
Kulp has verballed to UConn.

A10 Standings 3/30

After two weekends (well one weekend for most teams) of play, here is how the standings sit.

1. Fordham 17-15 (2-0)
1. St. Joseph's 11-10 (2-0)
3. St. Louis 16-13 (3-1)
3. La Salle 10-9 (3-1)
5. Rhode Island 7-19 (2-2)
5. Dayton 12-17 (2-2)
7. George Mason 10-13 (0-2)
7. George Washington 11-19-1 (0-2)
7. UMass 3-14 (0-2)
7. St. Bonaventure 3-17 (0-2)

Here is each team's remaining conference schedule:
Fordham
Home vs. George Mason, St. Louis, UMass, and St. Bonaventure
Away vs. URI, La Salle, and Dayton

St. Joseph's
Home vs. George Washington, La Salle, and St. Bonaventure
Away vs. URI, St. Louis, Dayton, and UMass

St. Louis
Home vs. St. Joseph's and La Salle
Away vs. Dayton, St. Bonaventure, Fordham, George Mason, and George Washington

La Salle
Home vs. George Mason, UMass, URI, and Fordham
Away vs. George Washington, St. Joseph's, and St. Louis

URI
Home vs. St. Joseph's, Fordham, and George Washington
Away vs. George Mason, La Salle, St. Bonaventure, and UMass

Dayton
Home vs. St. Louis, St. Joseph's, and Fordham
Away vs. UMass, St. Bonaventure, George Mason, George Washington

George Mason
Home vs. George Washington, URI, Dayton, and St. Louis
Away vs. Fordham, La Salle, and UMass

George Washington
Home vs. La Salle, St. Louis, and Dayton
Away vs. George Mason, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph's, and URI

UMass
Home vs. Dayton, St. Joseph's, Rhode Island, George Mason
Away vs. St. Bonaventure, La Salle, and Fordham

St. Bonaventure
Home vs. St. Louis, UMass, George Washington, Dayton, and URI
Away vs. Fordham and St. Joseph's

2014 Atlantic 10 Preview

Here are our projected standings:

1. Fordham
2. George Washington
3. UMass
4. St. Joseph's
5. St. Louis
6. Dayton
7. La Salle
8. St. Bonaventure
9. George Mason
10. Rhode Island

Atlantic 10 Player of the Year: Elise Fortier, Fordham
Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year: Liz Mendez, St. Joseph's
Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year: Paige Kovalsky, George Washington
Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year: Stacey Schramm, George Washington

Atlantic 10 First Team
P Liz Mendez, St. Joseph's
P Brianna Lore, St. Louis
C Gabby Luety, Fordham
1B Tiffany Meeks, UMass
2B Sarah Yoos, St. Joseph's
3B Kayla Lombardo, Fordham
SS Elise Fortier, Fordham
OF Kendra Heyer, La Salle
OF Lindsay Friedman, St. Louis
OF Natalie Mariano, Dayton
UT Michele Daubman, Fordham
DP Paige Ortiz, Fordham

Worth noting: the A10 is extremely strong at the shortstop position and it is unfortunate that more players cannot be honored. Victoria Valos, Quianna Diaz-Patterson, Nicole Palase, Megan Hodgson, and Emily McDonough are some of the the conference's outstanding shortstops.

Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team
P Tara Klee, UMass
P Lauren Quense, Fordham
P/UT Paige Kovalsky, George Washington
C Ashton Wince, UMass
2B Megan Linn, George Washington
2B Whitney Cooper, UMass
SS Alex Nickel, St. Louis
OF Bella Picard, St. Joseph's
DP Jillian Galich, George Washington

2014 Preview: Rhode Island

The Rams enter 2014 after an extremely disappointing 2013 season, which saw them finish 10-37 and 3-18 in Atlantic 10 play. Rhode Island will still be extremely young in 2014 and barring a surprise it will be hard to see them making the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

Sam Bedore

Pitching: The circle will be the strength of the Rams in 2014, as Sam Bedore is back for her senior season. Bedore went 6-16 with a 4.29 ERA and 94 SO in 127 innings. Bedore will the Rams ace in 2014 and they will go as far as she can take them. URI will also count on freshman Ashley Dumoulin and sophomore Caitlin Kennedy for valuable innings.

Jocelyn Mattison

Hitting: The Rams did not have a single .300 hitter in 2013 and lost the squad's top 3 hitters. Senior Jocelyn Mattison and Sophomore Taylor Archer will lead the way for the Rams in 2014. Mattison hit .263 with 35 hits, 4 HR, and 17 RBI, while Archer hit .259 with 30 hits, 1 HR, and 10 RBI. Coach Erin Layton will need to have Stacey Fox, Meg Kelly, Megan Congro, and Lauren Klepchick improve on their offensive output from a year ago. Rhode Island will also need some of its freshmen Marylynn Muldowney, Danielle Gariglio, Ali Summers, and Jenna Cubello to perform at the plate.

Defense: The Rams had an average defense in 2013 and will need some new performers to step up in the field. URI will bring back its entire outfield from 2013, but the Rams will be inserting new starters at shortstop and third base, as well as catcher.

Overall Prognosis: This is going to be a tough year for the Rams and they will have done very well if they advance to the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Rams could very easily finish last in the conference, which is something that they do not want to do again.

2014 Preview: Dayton

Dayton enters 2014 after its second Atlantic 10 Tournament appearance in the past three years. The Flyers return some talented pieces and should be a tough game every time out in 2014. The big question will be whether they can make that next step.

Emily Froment

Pitching: Dayton brings back its top pitchers from 2013 in Emily Froment and Kayla English, with Alysha Isaacson and Lyndsey Diggs also returning. Coach Cara LaPlaca also adds Gabrielle Snyder to the mix. Froment should lead the way for Dayton in 2014, after a strong freshman campaign, which saw her go 8-5 with a 2.50 ERA and 54 SO in 81.1 innings. Kayla English is the most prolific strikeout pitcher in the Atlantic 10, as she record 174 SO in 148.1 innings with a 9-11 record and 3.26 ERA. English could be a dominant force if can cut down on the walks and extra base hits that she allows.

Kasi Vasquez

Offense: Leading hitter Kasi Vasquez is back to lead the Flyer offense after a solid 2013 season, which saw her hit .333 with 39 hits, 8 HR, and 27 RBI. No other Flyer hit over .300 in 2013, but Natalie Mariano, Tiffany Ricks, and Dana Trotta are back after solid seasons. Mariano hit .289 with 53 hits, 3 triples, 2 HR, and 21 RBI. Ricks hit .288 with 30 hits, 6 HR, and 27 RBI, while Trotta hit .286 with 32 hits, 8 HR, and 28 RBI. The Flyers have some powerful bats and will look to put up some serious HR numbers in 2014.

Dana Trotta

Defense: One of the staples under Coach LaPlaca has been a solid defense and that should once again be the case in 2014. The Flyers return most of their infield from 2013, which should be the strength of the defense. Dayton does bring back both catchers, but they will need to work harder to control the running game, as opponents were almost automatic in stealing bases against the Flyers.

Overall Prognosis: Dayton should make the Atlantic 10 Tournament, but it is hard to see them cracking the top four. The Flyers will need to elevate their game all around the diamond in order to challenge for the regular season title.

2014 Preview: St. Louis

The Billikens come into 2014 after a solid 2013 season and they have high aspirations for this squad. St. Louis comes into 2014 with an experienced pitching staff that knows how to win. If the offense can step up, St. Louis could be a title contender.

Bri Lore

Pitching: St. Louis will count on the big lefty Bri Lore to lead the way in 2014, along with Laney Kneib. Lore had a great freshman season, which was capped off by an outstanding performance at the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2013. Lore finished the year with a 14-15 record and a 2.56 ERA with 120 SO in 213 innings. Kneib went 14-8 with a 3.14 ERA and 52 SO in 129.1 IP. This duo should once again see the bulk of work for the Billikens. Elizabeth Everingham may also see some innings in the circle.

Katie Kroeger

Offense: There are some major questions regarding the St. Louis offense, as a number of key contributors graduated and left. Lindsay Friedman will lead the way at the plate, as she can hit for power, average, and speed. Friedman hit .290 with 36 hits, 8 HR, 30 RBI, and 14 steals. Kelsey Biggs and Katie Kroeger should also be key contributors in 2014. Coach Christy Connoyer will need freshmen and returnees to step up for this team to be successful.

Olivia Roback

Defense: The Billikens are strong at the corners with Elizabeth Everingham and Kelsey Biggs both returning. Lindsay Friedman is also back in the outfield. Elsewhere though, St. Louis has quite a few holes to fill, as the Billikens will need a new shortstop, catcher, and two outfielders. There will definitely be a lot of new faces out there for St. Louis.

Overall Prognosis: St. Louis will make the Atlantic 10 Tournament, but it is hard to see the Billikens snagging the title, unless the offense steps up. St. Louis will score quite a few wins in 2014, but it's non-conference schedule will be a drain on the conference's RPI.

2014 Preview: UMass

UMass

The Minutewomen enter 2014 after an extremely difficult 2013 season on and off the field. On the field, UMass had its first losing season since 1976. The Minutewomen got off to a rough start in non-conference play, going 2-16 to start the year, but did end the year on a better note, going 16-9 over the final 25 games. UMass struggled with its health, defense, and pitching in 2013, missing the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time. Then in August, long time head coach and NFCA Hall of Famer Elaine Sortino lost her battle with cancer.

Kristi Stefanoni

Long time assistant coach Kristi Stefanoni was named interim head coach and Olympian Danielle Henderson returned to Amherst as the associate coach. Stefanoni, Henderson, and new assistant Staci Ramsey have been pushing this young squad, which has the potential to be something special. UMass has a lot to prove and a lot to play for in 2014 and they should be in the mix for the title once again in May.

Caroline Raymond

Pitching: Caroline Raymond was an absolute workhorse for the Minutewomen in 2013, pitching the lion's share of innings and she will once again be counted upon to throw key innings in 2014. Raymond went 15-14 with a 3.97 ERA and 95 SO in 181.2 IP. Raymond has the potential to be one of the top pitchers in the A10, especially if she cuts down on the free passes. Freshmen Tara Klee will likely be UMass' number two pitcher and she will give Raymond some much needed rest this season. Dakota Smith-Porter and Bridget Lemire also figure to see some significant time in the circle. Sophomore Emma Mendoker will redshirt the 2014 season due to an injury.

Lindsey Webster

Offense: The great news for the Minutewomen is that most of their dynamic offense is back and poised for breakout seasons. Quianna Diaz-Patterson will lead the way for the Minutewomen, as the left-handed hitting shortstop put together another solid campaign in 2013, hitting .357 with 46 hits, 3 HR, 24 RBI, and 8 steals. Tiffany Meeks also had a breakout season, hitting .352 with 44 hits, 9 HR, and 40 RBI. Sophomore Taylor Carbone is back after a solid rookie campaign, which saw her hit .305. Speedy slappers Cyndil Matthew and Christine Della Vecchia have graduated, but the Minutewomen will still be potent at the plate and on the bases. Lindsey Webster has hit 18 HR in her career and she seems to be poised for a double digit output in 2014. Whitney Cooper missed all of last year due to injury and she is back in 2014 and is going to hit quite a few balls out of Sortino Field.

Defense: UMass' defense was it's Achilles' heel in 2013, as the Minutewomen committed 88 errors. In 2014, some players will be in different spots and the Minutewomen should be one of the better defensive squads. One of the great strengths and great challenges for Coach Stefanoni is all of the depth that she has. Sophomore Olivia Godin and Freshman Ashton Wince are competing for the catching position and they will likely split time to start the year. UMass' depth will give Coach Stefanoni many options and can allow her to make many situational choices.

Overall Prognosis: While there is a bit of an unknown surrounding this team, UMass has the potential to return to its dominating form and re-establish itself at the top of the conference. If the freshmen deliver as expected, UMass will be contending for the A10 title and an at-large bid.

2014 Preview: George Washington

George Washington

The Colonials enter 2014 with a young, but extremely talented squad. Coach Stacey Schramm and Assistant Dan Sperl have killed it on the recruiting trail the past few years and 2014 is shaping up to be the year that they finally breakthrough. The Colonials have the experience and the talent to bring the program to the next level.

Meghan Rico

Pitching: The strength for the Colonials will once again be in the circle. Courtney Martin and Meghan Rico both return after solid 2013 seasons. Martin went 14-13 with a 2.10 ERA and 170 SO in 193.2 IP and Rico went 13-10 with 3.06 ERA and 139 SO in 135 IP. Martin did an excellent job of keeping opposing hitters off balance, while Rico got the job done with power. Rico seems poised for a breakout season. George Washington has also added an extremely talented freshman pitcher in Paige Kovalsky. Kovalsky should see some key innings for the Colonials and should provide a different look in the circle. Martin, Rico, and Kovalsky are a terrific trio and have the potential to lead GW to an Atlantic 10 Championship and beyond.

Offense: George Washington returns Tori Valos and Carlee Gray on offense and they will once again be counted upon to lead the way at the plate. Valos hit .363 with 57 hits, 11 HR, 53 RBI, and 5 steals, while Gray hit .310 with 45 hits, 1 HR, and 28 RBI. The Colonials will need help from their extremely talented freshmen class to provide enough firepower to take this team to the next level. Megan Linn figures to start at second for George Washington and Jillian Galich, Marissa Mangini, and Bradleigh Breland also figure to play major roles for the Colonials.

Tori Valos

Defense: Samantha Dos Santos is the Colonials' rock behind the plate and she is the conference's top blocker behind the plate. Dos Santos keeps just about everything in front of her, which a huge asset to her pitching staff. In the infield, Valos returns at shortstop and Gray is back at first and both are solid defenders. George Washington will also likely have three new outfielders in 2014.

Overall Prognosis: George Washington has the talent and experience to go far in 2014 and this team has the potential to contend for an Atlantic 10 title and at-large bid in 2014. The Colonials have an incredibly talented freshmen class, which will be the key to their success in 2014.

2014 Preview: St. Joseph's

St. Joseph's

The Hawks come into 2014 as the defending regular season champions and the runners-up from the 2013 Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Hawks lost a number of key contributors from 2013, but some keys cogs are back and they will once again be a force in 2014. Coach Terri Adams is offsetting the big losses to graduation with an eight member freshman class and one junior transfer. The Hawks may take their lumps early on, but Coach Adams will have them right in the mix at the end.

Losses: Taryn Ashway, Monica Aguilar, Dana Parks, Rochelle Christman, Deanna Stinner, Juliette D'Ambrosio
Additions: Ashley Alden, Emily Rogers, Alex Dominici, Niki Carillo, Bella Picard, Alexis Bush, Alexia Faulkner, Maddie Brunck, Stephanie Chaiser

Liz Mendez

Pitching: The Hawks have lost 2013 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year Taryn Ashway, but with Liz Mendez back, St. Joseph's is in great shape. Mendez had a breakout weekend at the Atlantic 10 Tournament and frankly deserved Most Outstanding Player, despite the fact that the Hawks did not win it all. Mendez was lights out and if she can recapture that form, there will be no stopping the Hawks in 2014. Mendez went 11-6 with a 2.02 ERA and 114 SO in 124.2 IP. Mendez will need help, so Terri Adams will be looking for Emily Rogers, Niki Carillo, Anna Lauterbach, or Alex Dominici to step up and provide quality innings for the Hawks.

Nicole Palase

Offense: The Hawks dynamic duo up the middle of Sarah Yoos and Nicole Palase will lead the way in 2014. Yoos was the 2013 Rookie of the Year, hitting .375 with 45 hits, 3 HR, 33 RBI, and 2 steals. Palase hit .329 with 48 hits, 3 HR, 33 RBI and 7 steals. For St. Joseph's to be successful, Yoos and Palase will need to lead the way. Maria Ficca, Brandi Harkness, Morgan Earling, and Melissa Ruf will determine how far this team goes. If they can step up and improve their offensive numbers from last year, the Hawks will fly past the competition. Freshman Bella Picard is going to be one to watch for the Hawks and she will likely hold down a key spot in the St. Joseph's lineup.

Sarah Yoos

Defense: Palase anchors the defense at shortstop and she forms a great double play combo with Yoos at second base. Earling looked very sharp at third in Atlantic 10 Tournament, so she'll play an important role once again. Harkness split time at first last year, so she should figure into the mix over there once again. Ficca and Ruf also return in the outfield. The big question mark for 2014 is the catching position. St. Joseph's will need one of its young players to step up and be a wall behind the plate.

Overall Prognosis: The Hawks have a great shot of winning their first Atlantic 10 Championship in 2014, but that will only happen if multiple freshmen and returning players step up.

2014 Preview: Fordham

Fordham

2014 Fordham Rams (Tom Wasiczko)

The Rams come into 2014 as the defending champions and they have won 2 championships in the past three years. Bridget Orchard will once again have the Rams at top of the conference and in the national conversation. Fordham loses three starters from their 2013 NCAA squad, but some talented freshmen and a key transfer should help offset those losses. Jamie LaBovick was one of the top two-way players in the country and will be missed, but the Rams are not short on firepower in the circle or at the plate.

Losses: Jamie LaBovick, Chelsea Palumbo, Sammi Smith, Jess Crowley,  Taylor Pirone
Additions: Lauren Quense, Amy Van Hoven, Sydney Canessa, Stephanie Ferri, Rachel Gillen

Michele Daubman (Tom Wasiczko)

Pitching: Michele Daubman returns to anchor the pitching staff after a breakout 2013 season, which saw her go 18-8 in the circle and she also hit .318 with 6 HR and 31 RBI. Patti Maloney got off to a slow start in 2013, recovering from injuries, but she finished the season on a high note in postseason play. Transfer Rachel Gillen and freshman Lauren Quense will also play major roles in the circle and at the plate for the Rams. Fordham's depth in the circle should be second to none in 2014.

Elise Fortier (Tom Wasiczko)

Offense: The Rams hit .306 with 69 HR in 2013 and those numbers should be even better in 2014. Elise Fortier leads the way, coming off of one of the best power seasons in Atlantic 10 history. Fortier .362 and blasted a conference record 20 HR to go along with 54 RBI. Fortier is not alone as she is protected in the Rams' lineup by Atlantic 10 Tournament MOP Paige Ortiz who hit .272 with 6 HR and 30 RBI in 2013, Gabby Luety who hit .351 with 13 HR and 51 RBI, and Kayla Lombardo who hit .293 with 7 HR and 39 RBI. Fordham isn't going to outrun anyone in 2014, but they will run through teams. The Rams are built on power and look poised to set school and potentially conference records at the plate in 2014.

Gabby Luety (Tom Wasiczko)

Defense: The Rams didn't have the best defense in 2013, compared with previous Fordham squads, but they will return to top form in 2014. Gabby Luety anchors the defense at catcher and her arm helps hold opposing defenses in check. Luety threw out 16 runners attempting to steal in 2013. Most of the infield returns as Elise Fortier is back at shortstop, Kayla Lombardo at third base, and Brianna Turgeon at second base. The Rams will be looking at newcomers to fill holes at first base and in the outfield.

Overall Prognosis: This team is going to be something special and it has the potential to compete with any team nationally. The offense for Fordham is going to being ridiculous and if an ace emerges in the circle, they will be unstoppable. If the Rams can get it done in non-conference play, then they should have a great shot at an at-large bid.

The Aftermath of Temple's Decision to Cut Softball: Recruits

Temple recruits are put in a terrible situation as well particularly the recruits who had signed their letters of intent just days earlier. Now Shelby Stracher, Isabel Hansbury, Jessica Hallett, Michele Sykora, and Devon Steiner are forced to reopen their recruiting process very late in the game, when the vast majority of scholarship money has been spoken for already. Each of these players deserves a shot from another school if Temple is not able to salvage its program. In a perfect world, the program would be saved, but the Temple administration seems to have made up its mind.

Shelby Stracher was the first commit in this class for Joe DiPietro and she hails from Massachusetts. Stracher plays travel ball for the East Coast Firecrackers, which are one of the top, up-and-coming travel teams in the country. Stracher swings a powerful bat and is a great catcher behind the plate. For her high school last year, Stracher hit .508 with 5 HR and 32 RBI. She showed off her power on the big stage by hitting a homerun at the Premier Nationals.

Isabel Hansbury was a real steal for Coach DiPietro. Hansbury is a talented third baseman and shortstop from Tuff-N-Tuffer Gold, known as TNT. Hansbury's athleticism will make her a real asset to any team at any of the infield spots. Hansbury picked Temple over Wagner and Haverford originally, hopefully she will get wonderful options again this time around.

Devon Steiner

Devon Steiner is a talented third baseman and shortstop from Delaware who swings a powerful bat. Steiner plays for the Delco Chaos, which is one of the top travel programs in the Mid-Atlantic Region. For her high school, Steiner put up gaudy numbers in 2012, hitting .484 with 4 HR and 35 RBI. Needless to say, she would have been a natural fit for Temple's high octane offense.

Jessica Hallett was a Temple signee from Arizona, who comes from the storied Lil Saints travel ball team in Arizona. Hallett is another very powerful infielder who would have fit in nicely with Temple's powerful offense. She hit .363 with 33 hits, 6 HR, and 29 RBI for her high school team. In travel ball she really shined, hitting 15 HR this past season for the Lil Saints. Temple was counting on Hallett for power and defense at the hot corner.

Michele Sykora is a legacy at Temple with her sister Christina, having played for four years under Joe DiPietro from 2009-2012. Christina Sykora also went on to become Temple's first ever player in the National Pro Fastpitch League this summer. Sykora is a second baseman and outfielder from the Jersey Fusion. Sykora's tenacity and athleticism were tailor made for the Owls.

The Owls also had a verbal commitment from Amanda Kulp, a 2015 recruit. Kulp will have a little more time to recover, but she must also deal with the fact that a lot of the recruiting money is off the table. Kulp is a speedy, left handed hitting second baseman and outfielder who figures to be a solid top of the order hitter at the next level.

A10 Players Getting it Done Outside of the Field and the Classroom

While sometimes it seems as though there is no time for softball players other than school and softball, two Atlantic 10 players have been productive in that remaining free time.

Jocelyn Mattison

Rhode Island senior Jocelyn Mattison coordinated a community service project for URI softball with Operation Santa. Read more about Mattison and URI softball's involvement with the project here.

Kayla Lombardo (Photo by Tom Wasiczko)

Fordham junior Kayla Lombardo is not only a force on the field, where she hit .289 with 50 hits, 7 HR, and 39 RBI, while holding down the fort at the hot corner for the Rams. Lombardo is also an excellent sports writer and has written a number of pieces this fall for Laker Nation. In addition, she wrote an excellent piece in December on how the success over Fordham female athletes has been overshadowed recently. Lombardo has a bright future in sports journalism and hopefully soon she will be writing for ESPN or Sports Illustrated and who knows, perhaps even the Atlantic 10 Softball Blog.

Atlantic 10 Verbal Commitments

Dayton
2015 Aspyn Novak OF Beverly Bandits

Fordham
2015 Jessica Hughes IF NJ Gators
2016 Skylar Johnston 1B/3B Virginia Legends

George Mason
2015 Marina Vitalich RHP Firecrackers-Clarke
2015 Victoria Webster 1B/UT So Cal Breakers

George Washington
2015 Riley Tejcek 3B Indiana Magic
2015 Chloe Braun RHP Gold Coast Hurricanes
2015 Ashley Schnarrs UT Vienna Stars

La Salle
2015 Marlo Roadcap LHP Rock 18 Gold
2015 Emma Schweigert  OF East Coast Elite

UMass
2015 Erin Stacevicz OF Delco Chaos

Rhode Island

St. Bonaventure

St. Joseph's
2015 Taryn Grober 3B Rock 18 Gold
2015 Stacey Mayer 2B/SS East Coast Firecrackers
2015 Abby Stroud P/IF NJ Cheetahs

St. Louis
2015 Mackenzie Lawson 2B St. Louis Espirit

2014 Roster Analysis

2014 Atlantic 10
207 Players
20.7 Average
43 Pitchers
4.3 Average
168 Right handed hitters
39 Left handed hitters
199 Right handed throwers
8 Left handed throwers
61 Freshmen
59 Sophomores
47 Juniors
40 Seniors
23 States: Arizona (2), California (15), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), Florida (4), Georgia (1), Illinois (12), Indiana (4), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (1), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (17), Missouri (8), New Hampshire (3), New Jersey (32), New York (34), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (27), Rhode Island (2), Texas (8), Virginia (18), Washington (2)
8 Teams have a player from New York.
8 Teams have a player from New Jersey.
8 Teams have a player from Pennsylvania.
7 Teams have a player from California.
5 Teams have a player from Texas.
4 Teams have a player from Massachusetts.
4 Teams have a player from Illinois.
3 Teams have a player from Florida.
3 Teams have a player from Connecticut.
3 Teams have a player from New Hampshire.
2 Teams have a player from Virginia.
2 Teams have a player from Ohio.
2 Teams have a player from Arizona.
George Mason has the largest roster with 24 players.
St. Louis has the smallest roster with 16 players.
La Salle has the most pitchers on the roster with 6.
George Washington and St. Louis have the fewest pitchers with 3.
La Salle has the most freshmen with 9.
Fordham and St. Bonaventure have the fewest freshmen with 4 each.
George Washington has players from 11 different states.
St. Louis has players from 3 different states.

Dayton
22 Players
5 Pitchers
17 Right handed hitters
5 Left handed hitters
21 Right handed throwers
1 Left handed thrower
5 Freshmen
7 Sophomores
5 Juniors
5 Seniors
8 States: California (1), Georgia (1), Illinois(3), Indiana (4), Kentucky (1), New York (1), Ohio (7), Texas (4)

Fordham
19 Players
4 Pitchers
14 Right handed hitters
4 Left handed hitters
1 Switch hitter
18 Right handed throwers
1 Left handed thrower
4 Freshmen
4 Sophomores
7 Juniors
4 Seniors
9 States: California (1), Connecticut (1), Delaware (1), Maryland (1), New Jersey (6), New York (6), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Texas (1)

George Mason
24 Players
4 Pitchers
20 Right handed hitters
4 Left handed hitters
24 Right handed throwers
0 Left handed throwers
6 Freshmen
9 Sophomores
6 Juniors
3 Seniors
6 States: California (2), Florida (1), Illinois (1), New Jersey (2), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (17)

George Washington
18 Players
3 Pitchers
12 Right handed hitters
6 Left handed hitters
15 Right handed throwers
3 Left handed throwers
8 Freshmen
4 Sophomores
3 Juniors
3 Seniors
11 States: Arizona (1), California (4), Connecticut (1), Florida (2), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), New Jersey (3), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (1), Washington (1)

La Salle
23 Players
6 Pitchers
19 Right handed hitters
4 Left handed hitters
23 Right handed throwers
0 Left handed throwers
9 Freshmen
5 Sophomores
5 Juniors
4 Seniors
6 States: California (1), New Jersey (6), New York (2), Pennsylvania (12), Texas (1), Washington (1)

UMass
20 Players
5 Pitchers
16 Right handed hitters
4 Left handed hitters
20 Right handed throwers
0 Left handed throwers
6 Freshmen
5 Sophomores
4 Juniors
5 Seniors
9 States: Arizona (1), California (3), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (8), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (1)

Rhode Island
22 Players
4 Pitchers
20 Right handed hitters
2 Left handed hitters
22 Right handed throwers
0 Left handed throwers
5 Freshmen
6 Sophomores
4 Juniors
7 Seniors
9 States: Connecticut (1), Maine (1), Massachusetts (7), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New York (5), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Texas (1)

St. Bonaventure
21 Players
4 Pitchers
16 Right handed hitters
5 Left handed hitters
20 Right handed throwers
1 Left handed thrower
4 Freshmen
6 Sophomores
7 Juniors
4 Seniors
4 States: New York (15), New Jersey (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (3)

St. Joseph's
22 Players
5 Pitchers
21 Right handed hitters
1 Left handed hitters
21 Right handed throwers
1 Left handed thrower
8 Freshmen
8 Sophomores
4 Juniors
2 Seniors
7 States: California (2), Florida (1), Massachusetts (1), New Hampshire (1), New York (2), New Jersey (9), Pennsylvania (6)

St. Louis
16 Players
3 Pitchers
12 Right handed hitters
4 Left handed hitters
15 Right handed throwers
1 Left handed thrower
6 Freshmen
5 Sophomores
2 Juniors
3 Seniors
3 States: Illinois (6), Kansas (2), Missouri (8)

Class of 2014 Signees

If you know of anymore please email atlantic10softball@gmail.com

Dayton
Kailee Budicin IF/C New Lenox Lightning
Manda Cash P Ohio Nightmare
Kayla Haberstich SS New Lenox Lightning
Jaclyn Kweder OF Indiana Shockwaves

Fordham
Madison Shaw IF/C RI Thunder
Morgan Figueroa OF WA Ladyhawks

George Mason
Jade Fleming IF Dallas Tigers
Katie Holehouse 1B/3B Vienna Stars
Lizzie Seymour IF Beverly Bandits
Brooke Sullivan 2B/C Tri-State Thunder

George Washington
Sarah Costlow P So Cal Athletics-Sota
Alana Anderson OF Arizona Storm
Aiyana Leal-Robles C So Cal Athletics-Sota
Rochelle Draper 2B Jets Gold
Morgan Rinehart OF Vienna Stars

La Salle
Valerie Pineiro 3B NJ Gators
Taylor Rohrbaugh P Krunch Gold
Angelina Refice OF Lower South Liberty
McKenzie Peace P Georgia Knockouts

UMass
Meg Colleran P East Coast Firecrackers
Gianna Hathaway SS RI Thunder
Emily Neal OF Pennsbury Gems

URI
Jessica Proia IF Concord Raiders
Madison Housel C NJ Pride

St. Bonaventure
Hailey Blencoe 2B TC Tremors
Josie Borysevicz P East Coast Firecrackers
Morgan Phillips C Battery Lightning
Courtney Rogers UT East Coast Firecrackers

St. Joseph's
Shannon Puthe 2B NJ Gators
Nikki Alden 2B/P Newtown Rock
Erica Nugent SS NJ Cheetahs
Madison Clarke P Alberta, Canada

St. Louis
Maddie Baalman P/IF
Miranda Cotton IF St. Louis Academy Gold
Josie Knesel OF St. Louis Chaos
Allie Macfarlane IF Mac N Seitz

Travel teams with more than one signee
East Coast Firecrackers 3
RI Thunder 2
Vienna Stars 2
NJ Gators 2
So Cal Athletics-Sota 2
New Lenox Lightning 2

Coaching News: UMass hired Staci Ramsey

A long overdue posting.

Staci Ramsey

UMass hired former Alabama All-American Staci Ramsey as an assistant coach. Ramsey won three SEC titles and played in three WCWS for the Crimson Tide. She was a mainstay at the hot corner for Alabama and she was a feared hitter in the lineup. In 2006, Ramsey hit .304 with 11 HR and 57 RBI and was named an All-American. She is going to work primarily with the UMass offense and infield, which should be much improved in 2014.

Ramsey joins Kristi Stefanoni and Danielle Henderson on the UMass staff.