American East Conference

Boston University is the preseason favorite to win its third-straight conference championship this year, according to a vote of the head coaches. The Terriers received all seven first-place votes and 49 points overall. University of Maine and Stony Brook University tied for second in the preseason poll with 32 points each.

University of Hartford was fourth with 27 points. Binghamton University followed with 25 points, with University at Albany (21), and University of Vermont (10) rounding out the poll.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship, held at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y., May 8-10, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

The Terriers (28-23 overall, 19-3 in America East) won their second straight America East title last year. Boston University advanced to the NCAA Regional in Minneapolis after defeating Hartford, 1-0, in the America East Championship game. The NCAA appearance was the first for the Terriers since 1997.

Third-year head coach Amy Hayes returns her three first-team all-conference selections, headed by SS Jamie Haas, the 2002 America East Player of the Year, who posted a .404 BA with 65 hits. Haas became the first rookie in America East history to win Player of the Year since the award was established in 1992. Also returning for Boston University is 2002 America East Pitcher of the Year Robyn Horrick (13-7 record, 0.93 ERA, 173 K in 151 innings), and 2002 America East Rookie of the Year Julie Henneke (.321 BA, 1.36 ERA, 9-5, 111 K in 97.2 IP). The Terriers also return second-team all-conference selections in P/OF Tiffany Finateri (2 HR, 7 2B, 13 RBI), and P/OF DeKenya Williams (11 R, 11 RBI, 15 BB).

Maine (26-31, 13-11) returns two of its six all-conference selections from last season; sophomore outfielder Jess Brady (first-team all-conference) who hit .302, with 48 hits, and pitcher Jenna Merchant (first-team all-conference, 17-11, 1.49 ERA and 145 K in 206.2 IP ). 2002 America East Coach of the Year Deb Smith has seven incoming freshman this year, but lost to graduation are 2002 all-conference selections 3B Leigh Ann Hlywak (.307 BA, 30 R, 55 H, 11 HR, 34 RBI), SS Erica Sobel (.313 BA, 17 R, 50 H, 26 RBI, .444 SLG%), 1B Katherine Churchill (11 runs, 37 hits), and OF Aliesha Rautenberg (23 runs, 44 H, 7 2B, 4 3B).

Head Coach Megan Bryant leads Stony Brook (25-27, 10-14), which returns five of its starters from last year's squad, and looks to make its first America East Championship. Bryant returns her top two hitters from last season in OF Stephanie DiBiase (.338 BA, 30 R, 6 HR, 16 RBI) and IF/OF Kristen Brust (.280 BA, 22 R, 4 HR, 17 RBI), but must try to fill the void left by graduated pitching ace Stephanie Poetzsch (19-15, 1.71 ERA, conference-best 282 K in 236.2 IP).

Hartford (24-15-1, 13-9) advanced to the championship game in its first ever trip to the America East Championships last season, and with head coach Todd Randall returning seven starters this year, the Hawks look to be right back in the hunt for the Conference Championship. The Hawks will need to replace all-conference pitcher Andi Miller (10-7, 0.94 ERA, 130 K in 126 IP), and two way threat Liz Nadeau (first-team all-conference, 9-8, 1.34 ERA, .377 BA, 15 RBI, 46 H). These two headed the staff which led the America East with a 1.08 ERA. Three all-conference selections are returning for Hartford in OF Monica Evrard (.286 BA, 8 2B, 19 RBI), 2B Mallory Rapoza (6 2B, 8 SB), and C Amy Sullivan (25 H, 17 RBI).

Eighth-year head coach Holly Brown lost only one all-conference player to graduation, the multi-purpose P/DP Margaret Yerdon (1.58 ERA, 122 K in 154.2 IP, .295 BA, 36 H, 7 2B, 14 RBI), while returning three all conference selections; C Jessica Chellis, the team's top hitter (.318, 20 R, 42 H, 13 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI), OF Leigh Ann Savidge (14 R, 31 H), and 3B Jennifer Richardson (41 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI). With four incoming freshmen, Binghamton looks ready to improve on its 2002 record (23-25, 11-13) and make a run at an America East Championship berth.

Albany (30-20, 12-12) lost SS Valerie Terry (second-team all-conference .306 BA, 29 R, 7 2B, 35 SB) to graduation. Head coach Chris Cannata returns six starters from 2002, including the Great Danes' only other 2002 all-conference selection, 1B/3B Megan Craft (17 R, 23 RBI).

The Catamounts (6-38, 4-20) return second-team all-conference selection 1B Megan Long (.260 BA, 32 H, 13 2B, 16 RBI). Leading the way for Vermont's pitching staff will be co-captain Angie Totaro and junior Kara Massey. Totaro and Massey will handle most of the pitching responsibilities for the Catamounts. Totaro has increased her strikeout totals each season and ranks second among Vermont's all-time leaders with 206 K’s. With seven upper-classmen, and two major contributors to their pitching staff, returning, head coach Pam Childs looks to move up the ranks in 2003.