The Washington & Jefferson College softball team brings back a veteran-laden group that looks to lead the Presidents to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Presidents begin their 2020 campaign at home against Penn State Greater Allegheny on Feb. 29.
 
2019 Season Review: The W&J softball team posted a 17-21 overall record with a 7-9 mark in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play in 2019. The Presidents finished in a three-way tie for fifth with Grove City and Bethany, two games out of a top-four finish and PAC Tournament spot.
 
The Presidents swept second-place finisher and PAC title game participant Thiel in regular-season play. The Tomcats were the only conference opponent that the Presidents beat twice last spring as W&J split with Bethany, Westminster, Waynesburg and Chatham.
 
We have been able to take a lot of learning points from last season," said third-year head coach Marissa Rush. "We have seen what hard work and discipline can do and the success it can lead to."
 
W&J earned several notable non-conference wins in 2019, including over North Atlantic Conference champion and NCAA Regional-qualifier Husson (4-3). The Presidents also downed Catholic (3-2) who finished as the regular season runner-up in the Landmark Conference.
 
Then-senior Rachel Johnson led the PAC in batting average (.472) and on-base percentage (.552) and earned FastPitch News and CoSIDA Academic All-American awards for the second-straight season. She's transitioned from the field to the President coaching staff for the 2020 season.
 
"Rachel was a one of a kind athlete," said Rush. "She was a threat every time she was up to bat. She is bringing her playing experience to the team and giving me a different point of view during practices that I haven't had prior."
 
 2019 Preseason Poll:
 

1. Saint Vincent - 61 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Westminster - 55 points (3)
3. Thiel - 50 points (1)
4. Geneva - 45 points
5. Washington & Jefferson - 33 points
6. Grove City - 27 points
T7. Bethany - 27 points
T7.  Chatham - 27 points
9.    Waynesburg - 13 points
 
PAC Players to Watch: Brooke Lapia, Kristen Fuertes and Peyton Eckenrode
 
Key Returners: The Presidents return everyday players all over the diamond, including a six-player senior class.
 
"I'm really looking for my senior class to continue to put their leadership to work on and off the field with the younger players," said Rush. "They have a lot of experience and have seen what can happen when we aren't playing at our best. I am hoping that the returners will continue to work hard and push themselves as well as the freshman."
 
Infield - Senior Brooke Lapia (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley) collected All-PAC Second Team honors at third base last spring after posting a .356 batting average and a team-best four home runs and 26 RBI. She tied for the PAC lead in home runs and was fifth in the conference in runs batted in. Lapia knocked a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning of a 6-4 win over Thiel during a doubleheader sweep of the Tomcats.
 
"Lapia is a hard worker and definitely is a vocal person on the field which is very helpful," said Rush. "She is also a strong bat in the lineup who can be a home run threat."
 
Senior Laura Ryder (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) returns at first base and in the middle of the President lineup. She tied for second on the roster with 21 RBI and was third in runs (22) and doubles (6).
 
Junior Brooke McCleester (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) made a home at second base last spring and was one of four players on the roster to start at least 38 of the Presidents' 38 games last season. She was second on the team in runs scored (25) and home runs (2).
 
Sophomore Sarah Labbe (Belgrade, Maine/Massalonksee) saw time all over the field in her debut season for the Red and Black. She posted a .303 batting average and was third on the squad with 12 walks and a .415 on-base percentage. Labbe and newcomer Peyton Eckenrode (York Haven, Pa./Northeastern) look to lockdown the Red and Black shortstop spot.
 
"We are fortunate to have experience in the infield," said Rush. "The infield has done well with becoming cohesive and communicating well with each other. We also have quite a bit of confidence in the infield because of the experience."
 
At the catcher spot, sophomore Brooke Stout (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area Senior) and senior Lexie Creyer (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood) shared duties as the President backstop in 2019. Stout hit .314 with one home run and 21 RBIs while also getting at bats as the designated player when not catching. Creyer did not commit an error in 2019.
 
"My two catchers are very different from each other, but both have strengths that I think they take advantage of," said Rush. "I know they have trust in the pitchers and the pitchers reciprocate that feeling."
 
Sophomore Olivia Dewick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) joins the mix after missing the 2019 season with injury.
 
Outfield - Senior Dana Parker (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) returns as the Presidents' center fielder after starting 98 games over her first three seasons for the Red and Black.
 
Junior Addy Helffrich (Sewickley, Pa./Avonworth) settled into a spot as the Presidents' everyday right fielder by the end of 2019. In 36 games (34 starts) she batted .290 with 15 runs and 13 RBI.
 
Senior Brooke Shuck (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) started 16 games and went 14-for-43 (.326) at the plate last season.
 
Sophomore Brooklynn Miller (Martins Ferry, Ohio/Buckeye Local) started a dozen games and scored eight runs in her debut season.
 
"The outfield has been a challenge for us in the past, but I'm feeling very confident with them this year," said Rush. "We didn't lose anyone in the outfield, so we have experience returning which is very exciting and has given them confidence."
 
In the Circle - The Presidents return two pitchers from last year's squad, including senior Kristen Fuertes (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East), the team's leader in innings, wins and ERA.
 
Fuertes tossed 120.2 innings and posted a 3.54 ERA in her most productive season to date. She finished third in the PAC with 11 victories to her credit. At the plate, Fuertes hit .339 with 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 59 at bats.
 
"Kristen is a team player who is willing to throw as much as she needs to help the team to succeed," said Rush. "She really stepped up her game last season, and I know she is putting in the work to make sure she is stronger than last season."
 
Sophomore Alisha Kulka (Hanover, Pa./South Western) made 10 appearances and three starts in the circle as a freshman, allowing 21 earned runs in 18.2 innings pitched.
 
Newcomers: The Presidents add five newcomers, all freshmen, into the fold for the 2020 season.
 
Peyton Eckenrode (York Haven, Pa./Northeastern)
Mollie Charlton (North Apollo, Pa./Apollo Ridge)
Kate Barone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon)
Julia Hurwitz (Lorton, Va./Hayfield)
Kasey Scears (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston)
 
"We have a very talented freshman class and they are pushing themselves and working hard," said Rush. "Peyton will be a utility player for us. I hope that Mollie and Kate will see some time on the mound and they also play in the outfield. Julia has potential and is going to be willing to play wherever is best of the team. Kasey will be helping out the catchers as well as working on the corners."
 
Looking at the Schedule: The Presidents begin the 2020 season with trips to Franciscan (Feb. 29) and Carnegie Mellon (Mar. 3) before a spring break trip to Florida.
 
In Florida, the President will play 10 games, four of which are against teams that qualified for their respective conference tournaments (Montclair State, UMASS Dartmouth, Catholic and Becker).
 
W&J begins PAC play on Mar. 28 against Westminster. The Presidents play doubleheaders against the other seven teams in the PAC with the top four teams qualifying for the conference's postseason tournament.
 
The Presidents host Chatham (Apr.7), Grove City (Apr. 18), Waynesburg (Apr. 21) and Geneva (Apr. 25) in league play at Brooks Park.
 
"We have a tough Florida schedule as well as regular season schedule," said Rush. "However, I think it will benefit us to play tough competition to prepare us for the challenges of our conference."
 
Last Word: "This is one of the seasons I have been most excited for as a head coach," said Rush. "We have a lot of potential, and we have set a standard of not accepting less than being in the conference tournament. We have been putting in the work and this is just a fun group to coach!"