Entering its fourth year of existence at Mary Washington College, the softball program has now carved a niche and looks to continue building into increased regional and national status. After a pair of building seasons in 1988 and '89 in which MWC suffered losing seasons the Eagles of head coach Dee Conway bounced back with an exciting 18-13 campaign in 1990.

Armed with four returning .300 hitters, a starting pitcher with a glistening ERA and a number of talented returnees and recruits, the Mary Washington College softball team gears for a landmark season. In just its third year of existence, the program reached a lofty perch in 1989, as MWC went 18-13 on a team without seniors. That team narrowly missed the post-season playoffs, but the Eagles seem poised to challenge for a post-season tournament berth.

Paced by senior first baseman Sheri Whited (Annandale, VA, who led MWC in hitting for the third straight year with a .378 average, the Eagle lineup may be formidable. Whited a standout defensive player as well, also topped the Eagles in runs scored (33) and was second in RBI with 26. Third baseman/designated hitter Cary Bender (So./Dale City, VA) was the team's surprise performer out of the cleanup spot, hitting .318 while leading MWC in RBI (27), doubles (8), triples (6) and home runs (1).

Shortstop Kristen Stabile (So./ Alexandria, VA was a third infielder (.324) who batted over .300 in 1989.Returning veterans in the infield include two-year starter Tracy Childers (Jr./Troutville, VA) and "platoon” second basemen Melanie Haynie (So./Reedville, VA) and Allison Stiegler (Sr./Sykesville, MD). Outfield depth was thin last year, but the starting trio of Colleen Crowley (Jr./Georgetown, Cayman Islands}, Janet Marshall (So./Sterling, VA) and Lisa George (Sr./Sterling, VA) proved to be a consistent defensive unit last year. Crowley and Marshall are legitimate base-stealing threats, while George hit .303 to rank fourth among MWC regulars in '89.

Probably the most consistent performer for MWC was pitcher Kim Glover, who went 11-9 with an excellent 2.38 ERA Glover, who twice won both ends of a doubleheader in 1990, walked just 24 batters while pitching 132.1 innings in appearing in 21 of the team's31 games. Lefthander Sherrice Johnson (So./Partlow, VA) - who pitched the first shutout in MWC history- went 7-4 to provide depth on the mound. Sophomore Darlene Forst (Concord, NH) shared the catching duties last season, and will be pushed by incoming recruits for playing time, according to Conway.