Opening the 1993 season with starting positions open at shortstop, first base, third base and center field, MWC head softball coach Dee Conway had choices to make. She had several veterans ready to step into starting roles after serving as understudies in MWC's 28-10 NCAA Tournament season of 1992. But some surprising newcomers were poised to play as well.

Rather than settling on an everyday starting lineup, Conway mixed and matched her way to an 18-11 season in '93. While her Eagles did not hit well through much of the season, they did capture a third straight Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship and made the finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region Championships by successfully employing two fundamental concepts crucial at any level  - pitching and defense.

Righthander Tasha Thomas (Jr./King George, VA) was named CAC Player of the Year for the second straight year after an 11-5 season in which she registered a 1.68 ERA. She walked just 11 and struck out 68 in 108.3 innings. Defensively, MWC posted a solid .946 fielding percentage, with first baseman/pitcher Thomas pacing the squad with a .984 average.

Timely hitting came from the middle infield, as senior second baseman Mel Haynie - an All-CAC selection - led the team with 12 RBI while hitting .293 with six steals in seven attempts, and shortstop Tasha Stancill (So./Falls Church, VA) hit .338 with eight RBI and a team-high 14 runs scored. After missing the entire preseason because of women's basketball, outfielder Jay Wilson (Sr./Edwardsville, VA) came on strong to hit .407 with 11 RBI and six steals in as many attempts. She led MWC in doubles (five), on-base percentage (.424) and slugging percentage (.559).

Outfielder Jackie Davis (Sr./Sandston, VA) hit .250 with four steals in making the All-CAC team. She was joined by two-time All-Conference catcher Amy Umberger (Sr./Elkwood, VA), who drove in 10 runs. Thomas was one of the team's top offensive threats, batting .277 with 13 runs scored and four doubles. Conway hopes for improved production from veterans Carin Gsellman (So./O F/Reston, VA), who helped solidify the outfield late in the season, Pam Williams Jr./3B/Millersville, MD), who started at third in '93.

Erin McGintee (So./OF/E. Hampton, NY) and Tracy Phillips (So./OF/Poquoson, VA). Newcomers perennially battle for starting spots at MWC, and this spring's team welcomes a number of promising candidates.