SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - University of New England, the defending Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Champion, has been selected as the favorite to win the 2013 CCC softball championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.

Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head softball coaches.

University of New England (27-14 overall, 13-5 CCC) garnered seven of the 10 first-place votes in the 2013 CCC preseason poll. Endicott College (26-18-1, 14-4) was selected by the coaches as the runner-up in the conference and received two of the first-place votes. Salve Regina University (24-17, 14-4) collected the remaining first-place vote and was picked to finish third, while Western New England University (17-23, 9-9) and Roger Williams University (19-23, 11-7) were slotted fourth and fifth, respectively.

The University of New England, coming off the programs second CCC title and appearance in the NCAA Championship, lost conference Player of the Year Ashley Gott to graduation. However, the Nor'easters bring back the rest of their top seven bats in the lineup, including senior second baseman Erin Grover (.313 average, 24 runs) and junior shortstop Amanda Vaudreuil (19 runs batted in, 22 runs). Vaudreuil, along with sophomore third baseman Gabrielle LaRoche (.337 average) and junior catcher Ali Stanley (.426 average before injury), were all-CCC picks last season. UNE has averaged 27 wins in the three seasons under head coach Dan Letellier.

One season after seeing their nine-year run of consecutive conference championships end, the Endicott softball team is excited and determined to return to the top of the CCC standings. After capturing the 2012 ECAC DIII New England Championship last May, the Gulls suffered zero losses to graduation from last year's roster and with the NCAA's newest 500-victory club head coach, Mark Veilleux, the Blue and Green are poised to make another run at a conference title. Endicott welcomes back several All-CCC honorees in seniors Byrne Katz, Colleen Martin, and Jocelyn Russo as well as juniors Jesse Bilafer, Kelley Michael, and Alexandra Moise. As captains, Bilafer, Katz, and Russo will look to lead the returning core and a talented crop of seven freshmen looking to improve upon Endicott's 26-18-1 overall record and early exit from the CCC Tournament last spring.

After capturing their first regular-season title since 1999, the Salve Regina Seahawks return five all-conference players including the 2012 Pitcher of the Year, Jen Cruver. The 2012 CCC Coach of the Year Kerri Scroope earned her 100th career victory during the season that brought the Seahawks to the CCC finals for the first time since 2003 and their second ECAC tournament appearance in four years. In addition to Cruver, Scroope's senior class provides tremendous leadership and experience with Megan Jakiela, Ali Muehlbronner, and Jillian Quintana. The Seahawks have several newcomers ready to step into the pitcher's circle, but expect Cruver to get the nod more than 50 percent of the outings.

Junior All-CCC outfielder Maria Francese (.339, 24 runs, 15 RBI) leads a group of seven starters among 14 returnees for a Western New England squad that fashioned a 17-23 overall record, but went 9-9 in the CCC, last season. Utility player Hannah Hill had a breakout freshman campaign last spring and is the Golden Bears' top returning hitter with a .347 batting average. Senior co-captains Jeana Longo and Laura Madaio offer the leadership necessary to guide a young squad that includes a freshman recruiting class of seven and nine sophomores. Despite the youth movement, head coach Lori Mayhew's Golden Bears will look to be in the thick of the CCC race if they can get off to a fast start (11-3 record when leading after 3 innings) and by learning from last seasons close conference games that were decided by 3 runs or less (5-6 in such situations).

The Roger Williams softball team concluded their 2012 season with a 19-23 overall record, clinching the number four seed in the CCC Tournament and advancing to the opening round of the elimination bracket. Head coach Joyce Maudie will look to sophomore outfielder Caroline Atkinson, who received All-CCC Honorable Mention honors last season, and senior captain Lauren Tierney to help aid the Hawks to another successful season.

Curry College (20-20, 8-10) head coach Bruce Weckworth embarks on his 18th season at the helm in 2013. Offensively, the Colonels will be led by senior shortstop Amanda Felzmann (.301, 16 RS, 7 RBI), and junior third base Megan Flaherty (.287, 29 RS, 12 RBI). Curry will rely heavily on its top two starting pitchers, both of whom enjoyed outstanding 2012 campaigns. Sophomore Taylor Ahearn was 10-8 with a 1.70 ERA in 111 innings pitched, while junior Jennifer Lundstrom went 5-6 with a 2.73 ERA in 74.1 innings pitched.

Nichols College (15-20, 10-8) head coach Kristan Mallet returns two of her top three hitters from last season in juniors Amanda Broughton and Emalee Watkins. Broughton batted .329 in 76 plate appearances while Watkins hit .318 and led the team in both runs (23) and RBI (21). Sophomore Avery Orszulak earned All-CCC Honorable Mention honors in her first season in the black and white. In the circle, junior Rebecca Waszczuk and sophomore Taylor Ferrazzi return after appearing in a combined 18 games (11 starts) in 2012.

Eastern Nazarene College (15-24, 6-12) is led by third-year head coach Leah Hampton. The Lions will look to return to the CCC Championship Tournament after earning a berth to the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Nichols in the play-in game last season. Carissa Cicolini headlines the Lions' returners after garnering All-CCC honorable mention a year ago. Kori Sorensen will be a key contributor to ENC's pitching staff in 2013 after pacing the squad with a 1.90 ERA and 157 strikeouts last season.

Having graduated six seniors, two of which were named to the 2012 All-CCC team, and with no seniors on this year's roster, Gordon College (9-26, 4-14) head coach Joy Huseland will look to the leadership of the sophomore and junior classes to guide the Scots' effort. Sophomore outfielder Kara Pepper returns after a successful 2012 rookie debut in which she hit .325 in the leadoff spot with a .412 slugging percentage and .364 on-base percentage en route to landing a spot on the All-CCC Honorable Mention squad. Fellow classmate Rachel Ryder, who led the team in hits (47) and batted .409 with a .940 fielding percentage in 35 games-played, will return to her post at second base, while junior captain Kendall Bukuras will anchor shortstop after posting a .961 fielding percentage and .347 batting average in 2012.

Wentworth Institute of Technology (10-25, 1-17) veteran head coach Bob Long welcomes back seven players from a squad that posted an increase of nine wins from the 2011 campaign. While the 2012 team finished with 10 wins, five of their losses were by a single run, including four in conference play. Leading the way among returning players is sophomore catcher Liz Glavin, the 2012 CCC Rookie of the Year. Glavin batted .402 with 13 doubles, five home runs, 28 runs scored, and 27 RBI during an impressive first collegiate season. Sophomore shortstop Sam Curran returns after batting .340 with nine doubles, one triple, one home run, 24 runs scored, eight stolen bases, and 13 RBI. Junior first baseman Haylee Bacik had five doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 21 RBI during her sophomore season and will be looked upon to help the Leopards improve. In the circle, sophomore Sam Burgner is coming off a freshman season that saw her collect six wins, throw two shutouts, toss a pair of no-hitters, and strike out 133 batters in 156 innings of work.

(Release Courtesy of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Ofice)

2013 CCC PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
Teams received 10 points for every first place vote received, nine points for second place votes, eight points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote.

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