Softball Grabs Second in CCC Preseason Poll
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 3, 2023) – The Western New England softball team will look to return to the top of the Commonwealth Coast Conference this season after being selected to finish second in the 2023 CCC Preseason Poll as selected by the ten CCC coaches.
Western New England softball is projected to make a deep run into the postseason this year, returning multiple familiar faces to their lineup. Graduate student Dina DiBlasio (Norwalk, Conn.) will return for another season with Western New England after belting six home runs and collecting 34 RBIs on the year while hitting .449 on the season. DiBlasio was named CCC Player of the Year to go along with NFCA All Region First Team and NFCA All-American status one season ago. Seniors Cori Rizzo (Methuen, Mass.), Kailey Carrano (West Haven, Conn.), and Paige Baca (Loma Linda, Calif.), will help guide WNE on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Pitchers Megan Beebe (Ellington, Conn.) and Ava Blanchard (New Hartford, Conn.) are set to headline the Golden Bears in the circle this season after combining for 36 of the 43 starts last season. Beebe won 16 games for WNE, throwing 137.1 innings in the circle, collecting 123 strikeouts while posting a 1.99 ERA. Blanchard guided the Golden Bears to ten wins, tossing seven complete games, striking out 78, while securing a 3.48 ERA.
WNE softball plays their first 12 games in Florida for their annual spring break trip, beginning on Saturday, March 11. WNE will open their home slate on Friday, March 31 for their conference opening double header with Gordon College at 2:30 pm.
CCC Preseason Poll
1. Endicott…..........................................................98 (8 First Place Votes)
2. Western New England….......................................92 (2)
3. University of New England….................................70
4. Salve Regina…................................................... 63
5. Wentworth…...................................................... 57
6. Suffolk…............................................................56
T-7. Nichols….........................................................40
T-7. Roger Williams…..............................................40
9. Gordon…........................................................... 23
10. Curry…............................................................ 11
