Entering the 1992 campaign, MWC head coach Dee Conway knew that the road to national success passed through New Jersey. The state is perennially powerful in small-college softball, and Conway's troops aimed to reach the level of those strong regional teams in order to attain national exposure.
The 1992 Eagles established a few roots for "Southern softball" in a record-breaking 28-10 campaign, including a first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Although falling 4-3 to Kean (NJ) and 3-0 to host and eventual national champion Trenton State in NCAA competition, MWC proved it had a national caliber team, even though it had just one senior on the roster.
Included in a streak in which Mary Washington won 23 of 25 games after a 3-4 start, with two impressive wins in defending its Capital Athletic Conference (CAC)crown, as well as a twin bill sweep of Division I George Mason and a 2-1 victory over Kean.
Six first-team All-CAC players, combined with dependable role players, keyed the Eagles' flight to prominence in '92. Tasha Thomas (So./King George, VA) went 19-3 with a 1.11 ERA in route to first team All-Region honors. The hard throwing righthander displayed excellent control, walking just 12 batters in 152 innings while striking out 107. Thomas teamed with Kerri Endler (So./Linthicum, MD) - a second team All-CAC choice with a 9-7 mark and a 2.44 ERA to give MWC a dependable pitching tandem.
A key to the pitching success was sophomore catcher Amy Umberger (Jr./Elkwood, VA; Culpeper County H.S.), a second team All-Region pick who led MWC in hitting at .353. Umberger - like Thomas a first team All-ECAC choice - drove in a team-best 30 runs with four triples. Joining Umberger on the All-CAC First Team were left fielder Jay Wilson (Jr./Edwardsville, VA), a repeat selection who hit .331, Bender, also a repeat selection after pacing MWC in doubles (eight) and triples (six); first baseman Kristen Payne (Jr./ Chesterfield, VA; Clover Hill H.S.) and DH Darlene Forst (Sr./Concord, NH), who batted .301.
Except for Bender, all of those players return as do second-team All-Conference players Sandra Phillips (Jr./Mathews, VA) at second base, Mel Haynie (Sr./ Reedville, VA) at shortstop and Carrie Thompson (So./Vienna, VA) in the outfield. Co-captain Janet Marshall (Sr./Sterling, VA) provides excellent defense and leadership in center field and speedy outfielder Jackie Davis Jr./Sandston, VA) hit .307 in '92.