C2C Softball Preview: Defending National Champs CNU Favored in Preseason Poll
Reigning national champions Christopher Newport will lead the 2023 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Softball Preseason Poll following a survey of the C2C head coaches.
The 2023 season begins this Saturday (Feb. 18) and concludes with the double-elimination C2C Softball Championship taking place May 11, 12 & 13 hosted by Salisbury University. Teams will be seeded based on Massey Ratings and will be finalized the Monday before the tournament.
Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2023 season:
#1 Christopher Newport (15 pts, 3 First-Place)
Christopher Newport is coming off a National Championship last year, the first in program history. Keith Parr's squad was 47-1, and CNU returns a group of 18 from the title team. The Captains will likely be strong again in the pitching circle, as National Freshman of the Year and All-American Jamie Martin (22-1 record and 1.12 ERA last year) is back along with fellow sophomore Kate Alger (15-0 record and 0.97 ERA last year). The Captains' lineup will be vastly different with only two everyday starters returning. Junior third baseman Brooke Greaver (9 home runs and 37 RBI last year) and junior outfielder Katie Currin (.394 average and 9 home runs and 33 runs batted in despite being held to 94 at bats due to injury) are likely to lead the way as Parr and the Captains look to continue their amazing success.
#2 Salisbury (14 pts, 2 First-Place)
Salisbury returns an experienced lineup with the hopes of returning to the College World Series in 2023. The team will be led by its seven seniors, including NFCA Player of the Year finalists and First-Team All-Americans Abby Mace and Lindsey Windsor and Third-Team All-American Natalie Paoli. The team will also feature Maddison Lednum, Savannah Sheats, Lauren Meyers and Nicole Ortega who all earned All-C2C honors in 2022.
#3 Mary Washington (10 pts)
Mary Washington enters the season welcoming back two-time All-C2C pitcher Caitlyn Burch, as well as returning starters 3B Grace Drury, 1B Bridget Laychak, C Emma Schieda, and outfielders Hannah Steele, Brigid Ward, and Emma Dickson. In addition, the Eagles welcome back utility player Amina Shakir, who batted .342 before being injured last season, as well as an incoming class of 11 new players to bolster an attack that led to 18 wins a year ago.
#4 Mount Mary (6 pts)
Coming off a 2022 campaign in which they matched a program record for wins, head coach Perry Clark returns a strong nucleus and standout players both on the pitching staff and lineup. Second team all conference and Mount Mary record setting pitcher Brianna Lupa returns along with all conference infielder Micaela Gonzalez. Overall the Blue Angels return 16 players from last years team, many of whom are candidates to fill the offensive production from all-conference senior Aislinn Strusz.
#5 Finlandia (5 pts)
The Lions look to use experience in 2023 as nine players return. Chief among the returners is Melanie Torres who was All-C2C second team in 2021.