BOSTON— Six-time America East Champion Boston University has been chosen to win the conference championship in a vote of the softball coaches. The Terriers received five of a possible eight first-place votes and 61 points overall.
Complete Poll
The defending America East Champion, University of Maine, was picked to finish second, garnering one first-place vote with 50 points, while University at Albany was just one point behind the Black Bears in third with two first-place nods and 49 points. Stony Brook University was also grouped in the upper-echelon of teams with 47 points in the fourth spot. Binghamton University (32), University of Hartford (20), UMBC (17) and University of Vermont (12) fill out spots five through eight.
The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship, held at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y. on May 12-14, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Championship.
The 2002 and 2003 America East Champion Terriers (26-32 overall, 11-7 in America East) have lost only one player from a season ago and add four newcomers to the mix. First-year head coach Shawn Rychcik inherits three first-team all-conference selections from 2004 and two second-teamers. Senior shortstop Jamie Haas, the 2002 and 2003 America East Player of the Year, led her team in batting average (.350), hits (63), doubles (seven), on-base percentage (.398) and stolen bases (18), while also tallying an impressive .959 fielding percentage last season. Pitcher and utility specialist DeKenya Williams, one of only four seniors on the Boston U. roster, and pitcher Ashlee Freeman are the other two returning first-teamers along with Haas.
The Black Bears (28-23, 12-8), like Boston University, are under a new coach for the 2005 season and are without only one player from the previous campaign. Interim head coach Michelle Puls welcomes back three first-team all-conference selections, highlighted by the reigning America East Pitcher of the Year Jenna Merchant. In 2004, the senior right-hander boasted a 1.56 earned run average, a .205 opposing batting average, while allowing just 81 hits in over more than 112 innings pitched. Senior Jess Brady and junior Brittany Cheney are returning first-team all-leaguers, while the Most Outstanding Player of the 2004 America East Championship, Lauren Dulkis, is also back for her final year of eligibility.
The 2004 regular season champion Albany Great Danes (34-18, 17-2) are coming off their best season in America East since joining the conference in 2002. The Danes will take the field this year without pitcher Andee Lindgren, the 2004 America East Player of the Year and second-team all-conference selection Jen Nolette. Eleventh-year head coach Chris Cannata, the 2003 and 2004 Coach of the Year, welcomes back a host of proven underclassmen (Ashley Rios, Katrina Dunning, Maegan Larsen, Kelly Ogden and Casey Halloran) with four all-conference and two all-rookie picks from last year.
Fifth-year head coach Megan Bryant returns all but one letterwinner from a season ago to Stony Brook (30-33, 13-7). Senior Kristen Brust is coming off one of the most impressive offensive seasons in league history. Brust hit .423, slugged .794, tallied a .488 on-base percentage, knocked in 50 runs, and recorded 80 hits, 23 doubles, 150 total bases and 15 home runs – all of which ranked either first or second in America East. Hayley Durham and Jane Stein, along with Brust, are all returning first-team all-conference choices.
Binghamton (17-23, 8-11) returns three all-conference second-team selections from 2004, while losing seven letterwinners. Senior center fielder Jessica Dima and juniors Nicole Vitello and Rose Barre will anchor the Bearcats under 10th-year head coach Holly Brown.
Last season, Nikki Thompson became the first player in Hartford (14-24, 7-12) history to win the America East Rookie of the Year award. Thompson is back this season for the Hawks along with Mallory Rapoza and Liz Borawski, both returning all-conference choices.
Coming of their first season in America East, the UMBC Retrievers (27-34, 3-17) will look to improve upon their eighth-place finish a year ago. Senior outfielder and second-team all-conference selection Amanda Bile and classmate Kristie Pickeral are both back for fourth-year head coach Joe French.
The Vermont Catamounts (9-34, 6-13) lost six letterwinners from a year ago, but add seven newcomers for 20th-year head coach Pam Childs.