The climb has been steady for the Mary Washington College softball program in its last four seasons. First, a search for respectability, which the Eagles attained in 1990 with its first winning season (18-13). Then came aspirations for regional honors, which came in a 20-12 campaign in 1991, climaxed by a trip to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region Tournament.
Head coach Dee Conway believes the next step maybe to national prominence, as the Eagles lose just one senior from a team which won the first Capital Athletic Conference Tournament in 1991. Conway welcomes back a pair of CAC All-Stars, fleet leftfielder Jennifer Wilson (So./Edwardsville, VA) and third baseman Cary Bender (Sr./Dale City, VA). Wilson ranked second (behind graduated All-CAC teammate Sheri Whited, who hit .358) in hitting at .349 with a CAC leading 12 stolen bases. Bender paced the conference with 32 RBI; she batted .297 and led the Eagles in doubles (5), triples (4), homers (4) and slugging percentage (.545).
Battling for starting outfield spots will be co-captain Janet Marshall (Sr./Sterling, VA), sophomore speedster Jackie Davis (Sandston, VA) and freshman Carrie Thompson (Vienna, VA). The left side of the infield will be capably filled by Bender at third and junior Melanie Haynie (Reedville, VA) at short. Returnee Sandra Phillips (So./Mathews, VA) vies for a starting job at second. Co-captain Amy Umberger (So./Elkwood, VA) is the top candidate for the catching chores. She'll handle a young pitching staff, led by freshman righthanders Kerri Endler (Linthicum Heights, MD) and Tasha Thomas (King George, VA). Thomas is more of a power pitcher, according to Conway, while Endler changes speeds well to keep opposing hitters off-balance.
According to Conway, this Eagle team will rely on a mixture of speed and timely hitting to manufacture runs. A concern for Conway is offensive production, as the Eagles failed to score in the ECAC Tournament last year. She promises a "new look" team, which will take more chances, be more aggressive and put opponents on the spot in the field. "Slap-bunting" and switch-hitting will be incorporated more freely in the Eagle offense. The 1992 Eagle schedule includes games against fine Division III programs such as Virginia Wesleyan, Christopher Newport, Methodist, Salisbury State, Glassboro State and Kean, as well as two dates with Division I George Mason. MWC looks to defend its CAC title and possibly challenge for a first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.