March 9, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - The Endicott College softball team returns to the field after claiming its fourth straight Commonwealth Coast Conference title last spring. The Gulls finished the 2006 season with an overall record of 28-15, advancing to the NCAA Division III New England Regional.
EC will once again be led reigning CCC Pitcher of the Year Robyn Savitske (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley). Savitske was an All-America selection as a sophomore and despite struggles with injury during her junior season she pitched her way to a 15-7 record and a 1.91 earned run average.
Savitske allowed just 120 hits while striking out 137 batters in 139 innings, with Savitske being fully recovered coach Mark Veilleux is looking for big things from his senior ace. Jackie Collier (Swampscott, MA/Bishop Fenwick) also saw significant time in the circle for the Gulls as she posted an 8-6 record, allowing 90 hits over 74.1 innings while striking out 49 batters.
Catchers Meghan Sargent (Salisbury, MA/Triton) and Rachel Pearson (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) will lead the Gulls offense in 2007. As a freshman Sargent was named CCC Rookie of the Year and was tabbed as a NFCA All-New England Selection. She hit .382 in 110 at-bats, slugging a gaudy .891 and driving in 45 runs. Her 15 home runs ranked fourth in Division III and her 24 walks led the team. Pearson will help bare the offensive load for EC as she is coming off a 2006 season in which she hit .291, with eight homers and 34 RBI.
The Gulls strong pitching staff only continues to improve in 2007 as Endicott welcomes Suffolk University transfer Jen Elwell (Tyngsboro, MA/Shawsheen Tech.). Elwell led the Rams to the GNAC Championship game in 2006. She finished the season with a 20-6 record in 26 appearances and struck out 172 batters in 164.2 innings of work.
Freshman Maria Mangine (Lockport, NY/Lockport) will also bolster the Gulls rotation. Mangine was a four time first team all league selection in high school and was twice named to the All Western New York team, totaling 604 career strikeouts.
The Gulls welcome rookie shortstop Jenna Lazar (Milton, MA/Milton) to the team in 2007. Lazar was voted Outstanding Female Athlete in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Patriot Ledger as a senior at Milton High School, she was also a three time Bay State League MVP and Batting Champion. Coach Veilleux says that her excellent speed and her all around defense at shortstop will add a great deal to the team.
Lazar will share time at short with fellow freshmen Sarah Spaziano (Norton, MA/Norton) who will also play second base and roam the outfield. Spaziano led the Norton High School softball team to a Division III Massachusetts State Championship in her senior season.
EC's biggest question mark entering the season is the return of two time CCC First Team outfielder Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical). The CCC Player of the Year in women's soccer suffered a season ending knee injury prior to the conference tournament in the fall, Veilleux hopes to have her back in the lineup by midseason.
Endicott opens its season in Kissimmee, FL on March 18, 2007 when they will play Washington & Jefferson and Illinois Wesleyan. The Gulls return to their new state-of-the-art stadium on April 1, 2007 to kick off CCC play with a double-header against the University of New England.
