The softball team looks to continue its dominance at the plate after leading in almost every offensive category in the NESCAC last season. Almost every player from last year's squad is returning, making the transition for the three-time defending NESCAC champs all the easier.
The 2003 Jumbo offense provided pop at the plate, leading the NESCAC in home runs with 27, 18 ahead of its next closest competitor, Williams College. The prolific attack also scored 187 runs last season with the Middlebury Panthers in a distant second at 148 runs. The Jumbos' .293 team batting average was second only to the Panthers' in the conference.
Senior tri-captain Julie Fox will return for her final season following a productive junior year at third base. She batted .382 with six home runs and 32 RBI in 2003; an effort good enough for an All-New England First Team selection. The new Jumbo catcher has her sights set on the best pitchers New England has to offer.
"We're looking to hit good pitching this year," said Fox. "Last year, and in years before, we crushed average pitching but haven't hit good pitching well at all, leading to our downfall in regionals."
Classmates Deana Davidian at second base and Maggie McClory in the outfield will join Fox as tri-captains.
Also among the team's returning starters is junior shortstop Courtney Bongiolatti, who hit .402 with seven home runs with 33 RBI last season. Infielder Katie Smith looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign in which she hit .328 with four home runs and 33 RBI. Both Bongiolatti and Smith earned All-New England Second Team selections for their efforts last season.
Graduation essentially left two major holes in the Jumbo lineup at the third base and right field positions. However, Milligan currently has six undisclosed prospects for both spots.
Freshmen Lindsay Evans, Lauren Ebstein, and Annie Ross, and sophomores Laura Spring and Sarah Conroy should all have numerous opportunities to make plays this season. Their combined efforts will be key in filling the void left by departed senior slugger and catcher Lis Drake, last season's NESCAC Player of the Year. The added depth will give Tufts the luxury to use multiple pinch hitters and pinch runners.
"Our strength is in our hitting, and while we lost Lis, Katie, Fox and Courtney can all put the ball out of the park regularly," coach Cheryl Milligan said. "We also have a lot of other girls that hit for contact and are very good at getting on base."
The newly appointed head coach brings with her a tradition of great offensive play to the Jumbos, her name appears multiple times in the Tufts softball all-time record book. If her players have any say in the matter, however, many of her records might be broken.
The Jumbo offense will certainly have to play a large role again this season to return as NESCAC Champions for a fourth time, but it certainly does not lack the necessary confidence.
"[Winning NESCAC's] is always a goal for us," Bongiolatti said. "And this year is no different."
"There isn't any pressure to repeat," said Fox. "We know that we are good enough to do it, and we just need to get out there and get the job done."
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