WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College softball team enters the 2021 season with a young roster excited to return to the field after an abbreviated 2020 campaign. 
 
2020 Season Review: The W&J softball team entered the 2021 season with an experienced six-player senior class that was primed to lead the Presidents back to the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament for the first time since 2015.
 
The Presidents opened the 2020 campaign with a doubleheader sweep of Penn State Greater Allegheny before heading to Florida to compete in the PFX Spring Games.
 
In Florida, the Presidents played 10 games and posted a pair of wins over Penn State Brandywine and Wheaton (Mass.). However, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic marked the end of the Presidents' season on March 12 with a 4-8 overall record.
 
In the shortened season, W&J led the PAC in doubles (21), doubles per game (1.62) and hits (101). The Presidents ranked second in the conference in batting average (.294), walks (29) and home runs (5).
 
"It was heartbreaking to see a team work so hard, have such a strong team and for it to all be ended so quickly and unexpectedly," said fourth-year head coach Marissa Rush. "We were more than ready for conference play last season. I think we have even more drive now. I always tell the team to play every game like it's your last, and we now know what that could feel like!"
 
Returners: The Presidents bring back 10 players from the 2020 squad, including five of W&J's top seven hitters in terms of at bats last spring.
 
"The returners have a good amount of experience and have an awesome work ethic!" said Rush. "These 10 players truly do want whatever is best for the team and are willing to take on whatever role that may entail."
 
Infielder Brooke McCleester (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) is the lone senior on the roster and enters the 2021 season as a three-year starter. McCleester was in the midst of her best start to a season last spring, recording at least one hit in 10 of the Presidents' 12 games and posting a team-high .424 (14-for-33) batting average. She led the Presidents with 10 runs scored, six walks and a .537 on-base percentage.
 
"Brooke has been very consistent," said Rush. "She has molded into a great leader as well as a consistent player. The consistency that Brooke has at the plate gives the rest of the team more confidence when they get up to the plate. Brooke brings a great energy and is always having fun on the field."
 
Sophomore utility Peyton Eckenrode (York Haven, Pa./Northeastern) established herself as an impact player in just a dozen games as a freshman in 2020. Eckenrode was twice named the PAC's Rookie of the Week and was one of the Presidents' top threats at the plate. Eckenrode led W&J in hits (16), total bases (23), doubles and OPS (1.127). She posted five multi-hit games and reached base safely in 10 of 12 games. Eckenrode hit .417 (15-36) and used five walks to post a .488 on-base percentage.
 
"Peyton is one of the most overall athletic players that I have," said Rush. "She hit leadoff for us a majority of the games she played last year, which is pretty impressive as a freshman. The confidence she carries on the field is amazing and it's fun to watch her play."
 
Junior Alisha Kulka (Hanover, Pa./South Western) led the Presidents with 39.0 innings pitched in eight appearances. She recorded a team-best 2.69 ERA and 1.90 WHIP and collected wins over Penn State Greater Allegheny and Penn State Brandywine. At the plate, Kulka had five hits, two doubles, three runs and three RBI in 21 at bats.
 
"Alisha had an amazing start last year which is why it was so heart breaking when she didn't get to complete her sophomore season," said Rush. "She is extremely composed, no matter how the game is going, when she is on the mound and I think that quality is hard to find!"
 
Junior utility Sarah Labbe (Belgrade, Maine/Massalonksee) started 10 games at shortstop and hit .360 (9-25) with three multi-hit games in 2020.
 
Junior catcher Brooke Stout (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area Senior) caught four runners stealing in eight games last spring. She also logged three multi-hit games at the plate. She hit .259 (7-27) with a double and home run in the abbreviated season.
 
Junior Olivia Dewick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) made three starts at first base and two hits and two RBI.
 
Sophomore Mollie Charlton (North Apollo, Pa./Apollo Ridge) started six games in the outfield and had two hits against North Park. In the circle, Charlton had one appearance in which she allowed one earned run in 1.2 innings against Wittenberg.
 
Sophomores Kasey Scears (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) and Julia Hurwitz (Lorton, Va./Hayfield) each logged their first collegiate hits against Penn State Greater Allegheny.
 
Sophomore Kate Barone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) scored three runs and stole a base as a pinch runner.
 
Newcomers: The Presidents add an eight-player freshmen class in hopes its bolsters the 2021 roster.
 
"I'm really excited for this group and to see what they bring the next four years," said Rush. "This is a very talented group that I know will make a big impact here. Several of them will be in the lineup often."
 
IF - Taylor Carlisle (Washington, Pa./Washington)
P - Chloe Smith (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry)
IF/OF - Savannah Keough (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams)
P - Jordan Hinz (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial)
C/IF - Abby Fullem (Everson, Pa./Southmoreland)
P/UTIL - Sydney Petrowski (Lemont Furnace, Pa./Connellsville)
1B - Haylee Holman (Baden, Pa./Ambridge)
IF - Breanna Thomas (Baden, Pa./Ambridge)
 
Looking at the schedule: After being limited to a dozen games last spring, the Presidents are scheduled for a full 36-game, conference-only schedule for 2021.
 
The Presidents are to play home-and-home doubleheader dates with each of the other nine PAC institutions.
 
The PAC Tournament format has changed starting in 2021 with six teams qualifying for postseason play. The top three seeds qualify for the double-elimination PAC Tournament on May 6-9. The fourth seed hosts the fifth and sixth seeds on May 4 to determine the final team to be included in the weekend. The fifth and sixth teams will square off with the winner playing the fourth seed to determine who advances to the final four.
 
"This is a much different schedule than we are used to, but the team and I are just happy to be playing games and getting more than 18 games in!" said Rush. "We appreciate how serious the PAC is taking the guidelines and are appreciative that we are going to find a way to safely compete."
 
Last Word: "I have high expectations for this team," said Rush. "The amount of leadership and experience we have is setting us up for success. We have overcome the adversity of all of the COVID protocols in order to practice and be on campus safely. This team is a fun team with great energy and solid work ethic. The team I have right now is selfless and truly just wants this program to be successful and is willing to take on whatever roll that entails to help the team succeed."