University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Picked Sixth in CAA Softball Preseason Poll
1/26/2017 11:30:00 AM | Softball
John Seneca, returns eight letterwinners and five starters for the 2017 season. The Blue Hens went 30-21 last season, their second consecutive 30-win season, and advanced to the CAA Tournament with a 9-9 league mark.
Delaware set a school record with 101 stolen bases on the year, which led the CAA and ranked 15th in the nation. Additionally, the Blue Hens' 255 runs scored and 33 homers were both second most in program history.
Delaware should feature a strong lineup led by junior Mariah Kondravy, who earned first team All-CAA and second team All-Northeast Region honors a year ago. Kondravy tied for third in the CAA with 14 doubles, ranked fourth with a .382 batting average, and was fifth with 63 hits and 46 RBI, all team-highs. She will be joined by fellow junior and starting shortstop Leanna Gearhart, who stole 44 bases a season ago, shattering the UD record and ranking eighth in the nation. Gearhart, a second team All-CAA selection last year, set a UD single season mark and led the CAA with 54 runs scored.
Sophomore catcher Anna Steinmetz will look to build on her stellar freshman campaign in which she was named the CAA Rookie of the Year. Steinmetz belted 15 home runs, which tied for the CAA lead and tied the Delaware single season record, en route to earning second team All-CAA and third team All-Northeast Region accolades.
Juniors Alyshia Dellatore and Mattie Nuccio also figure to return to the starting lineup, while redshirt junior Giovanna Kolofer is also back after suffering an elbow injury early last season.
Jordan Cargile and Taylor Curran return to the Blue Hen pitching staff, and will be joined in the circle by freshmen Maddi Marsh and Kat Morris.
Delaware kicks off its 2017 campaign on Feb. 10-12 at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla., which includes games against national powers Michigan and Florida. The Blue Hens open their home schedule with a doubleheader against Villanova on Mar. 15, and start CAA play on Mar. 25-26 with a three-game home series against Towson.
2017 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Preseason Poll
1. James Madison - 49 (7 first place votes)
2. Towson - 41 (1)
T3. College of Charleston - 32
T3. Hofstra - 32
5. Elon - 27
6. Delaware - 19
7. UNCW - 17
8. Drexel - 7
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Delaware set a school record with 101 stolen bases on the year, which led the CAA and ranked 15th in the nation. Additionally, the Blue Hens' 255 runs scored and 33 homers were both second most in program history.
Delaware should feature a strong lineup led by junior Mariah Kondravy, who earned first team All-CAA and second team All-Northeast Region honors a year ago. Kondravy tied for third in the CAA with 14 doubles, ranked fourth with a .382 batting average, and was fifth with 63 hits and 46 RBI, all team-highs. She will be joined by fellow junior and starting shortstop Leanna Gearhart, who stole 44 bases a season ago, shattering the UD record and ranking eighth in the nation. Gearhart, a second team All-CAA selection last year, set a UD single season mark and led the CAA with 54 runs scored.
Sophomore catcher Anna Steinmetz will look to build on her stellar freshman campaign in which she was named the CAA Rookie of the Year. Steinmetz belted 15 home runs, which tied for the CAA lead and tied the Delaware single season record, en route to earning second team All-CAA and third team All-Northeast Region accolades.
Juniors Alyshia Dellatore and Mattie Nuccio also figure to return to the starting lineup, while redshirt junior Giovanna Kolofer is also back after suffering an elbow injury early last season.
Jordan Cargile and Taylor Curran return to the Blue Hen pitching staff, and will be joined in the circle by freshmen Maddi Marsh and Kat Morris.
Delaware kicks off its 2017 campaign on Feb. 10-12 at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla., which includes games against national powers Michigan and Florida. The Blue Hens open their home schedule with a doubleheader against Villanova on Mar. 15, and start CAA play on Mar. 25-26 with a three-game home series against Towson.
2017 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Preseason Poll
1. James Madison - 49 (7 first place votes)
2. Towson - 41 (1)
T3. College of Charleston - 32
T3. Hofstra - 32
5. Elon - 27
6. Delaware - 19
7. UNCW - 17
8. Drexel - 7
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
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