Keene State 2, WNEC 1
Wisconsin-Superior 9, WNEC 0
Sunday, March 14, 2004
WNEC 3, Salem State 2
Montclair State (N.J.) 2, WNEC 1
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE LOOKS TO "THREE-PEAT" AS GNAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS IN 2004
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. â€" Western New England College will look to challenge for its third consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament title this spring with 14 returning players.
WNEC, ranked 19th nationally in the pre-season coaches poll, opens its 26th season by meeting Salem State College and Montclair State University on Sunday (March 14) at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. The Golden Bears will play eight games in the Sunshine State during their spring break.
Western New England College enjoyed its second straight 30-win campaign last year, finishing with a 32-7 record while repeating as GNAC Tournament champions. The Golden Bears made school history by capturing their first NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship title while making their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division III Final Eight Championship.
Coach Lori Mayhew's team was ranked 10th in the final 2003 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III poll, the highest ranking ever by a WNEC team in any sport.
WNEC starts the 2004 season without four All-Star players from last year's regional championship team, two-time GNAC Pitcher-of-the-Year Marcie Bruder (61-20 career record, 1.41 ERA, 535 strikeouts), outfielder Ashley Koch (.357 career average), and twins, catcher/designated player Joyce Blake (.353 career average) and shortstop June Blake (.289 career average).
Heading the list of returnees are a pair of All-New England selections, junior second baseman Sarah Moisao (Harwinton, CT) who hit .389 last year, and sophomore first baseman Erin Whitcomb (Bellows Falls, VT) who hit .379 with nine homers (second best in school history). Whitcomb also was the GNAC Rookie-of-the-Year and an All-GNAC honoree.
The Golden Bears also have three other returning .300 hitters in sophomore outfielder Jen Piorkowski (Trumbull, CT), .329; senior third baseman Becky McHugh (Ballston Spa, NY), .323, and sophomore utility player Kristy Kehoss (Cheshire, CT), .308. Piorkowski, who hit a dramatic two out walk-off three-run homer against Wheaton in the NCAA Regional Tournament, also made the All-GNAC Team as a rookie.
McHugh, senior second baseman Sara Cavolo (Centerport, NY), and junior catcher Michelle Boss (Fremont, NH) will serve as the team captains this spring.
There are seven freshmen on the roster this season led by shortstop Stephanie Gildart (Portland, ME) and Meredith Reilly (Fairport, NY).
"We're excited about the start of the season," said Mayhew. "Although we lost several key players from last year's Final Eight squad, we still hope to challenge for our conference title and return to the national tournament."
A member of the WNEC Downes Athletic Hall of Fame, Mayhew is in her eighth season as head coach at her alma mater. She has a 146-84-1 record for a 63.4 winning percentage.
