By Isabella Sansanelli
Elm Staff Writer
Lone senior Maddie Bennett has been chosen as captain to lead Washington College softball alongside junior Rachel Butler as the Shorewomen enter their 2019 season.
Bennett has garnered numerous accolades during her collegiate career, including 2016 Centennial Conference pitcher of the Year, 2016 Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year, All- Conference First Team and Second Team, as well as academic awards.
As she gears up for her last remaining season as a Shorewoman, Bennett said, “I am excited for the season to begin. Our team has been working hard during the off-season and it shows with how strong we look hitting, fielding, and pitching. We are looking forward to having more practice outside on the field before we have our first game in on the twenty-seventh.”
Butler has had an impressive collegiate career as well, as she was voted 2017 All-Centennial Conference second team and 2018 Team Most Improved Player.
Butler expressed her anticipation for the season.
“This season is looking good for us, because we brought in a strong freshman class to replace our lost seniors from last year and that we made many productive changes to the way we practice and cooperate as a team this year,” she said.
Both Bennett and Butler serve as members of the team’s leadership council alongside sophomore Grace Morey and freshman Cassidy Predale.
With the loss of five seniors in the class of 2018, the Shorewomen will have to work diligently to compensate for their loss. Among the 2018 graduating class were NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, a two-time Centennial Conference Player of the Year, all Centennial Conference placements, and all Centennial Sportsmanship placements.
In an effort to counteract the loss of these players, the Shorewomen have added five freshmen including Cristen Quillen, Megan Robbins, Cassidy Predale, Alyssa Vieira and Rachel Dimarcello hailing from as local as Denton and far as Mission Viejo, California.
The team ended their 2018 season with a 17-22 overall record and an 8-8 record in conference. However, in the 2017 year the Shorewomen finished 25-17 overall and 13-3 in conference. The team will have to elevate their play to be one of the top competing members of the Conference this year as they kick off their season at Wesley College on Wednesday, Feb. 27.