GORHAM, Maine –   Led by two-time Little East Conference Coach of the Year Sarah Jamo (2021, 2015) the University of Southern Maine Huskies' softball team has been picked to finish first in the 2023 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.  The Huskies finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 24-16 and 13-2 in the Little East Conference – good for second place in the regular season. The Huskies' 2022 record included a 21-8 mark after a 3-8 start during its annual spring games in Florida.
The Huskies return a core group of accomplished returning student-athletes and welcome a strong recruiting class to the mix, and will look to offset the loss of all-conference third baseman Kaitlin Nelson (Guildhall, Vermont/White Mountains Regional). 

Included among the returning student-athletes for the 2023 season are National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) second team All-Region pitcher/utility player Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H.), two-time All-Conference first baseman Rona Scott (Beverly, Mass.), second team All-Conference outfielder Lauren Miller (St. George, Maine/Camden Regional) and second team All-Conference pitcher Lauren Merrill (Bethel, Maine/Oxford Hills). 

A first team All-LEC selection as a utility/pitcher, Snyder had a standout sophomore campaign in 2022.  Hitting .300 (24-for-80) with 24 runs scored, Snyder increased her productivity to .382 (13-for-34) against conference opponents.  Owning an outstanding on-base percentage of .649, Snyder's speed makes her a threat on the base path, and she was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts last season.  In the circle, Snyder was 9-for-5 with a pair of saves in 108.2 innings with a 2.24 earned run average.  She was 6-1 against LEC opponents, and held conference batters to an anemic .172 batting average with a 1.16 ERA.
 
Earning all-conference for the first time in her career in 2022, Merrill was named to the second team as a pitcher. Compiling a 13-6 overall record, Merrill was 7-2 against Little East Conference opponents with a 2.70 earned run average while holding her opponents to  .238 batting average against. Throwing a team-leading 125.1 innings, Merrill had four shut outs and struck out 76 batters. At the plate, she hit .299 with seven runs scored and 12 RBI.
 
A starting outfielder for the Huskies, Miller is also earned post-season honors for the first time in 2022.  Playing and starting in 40 games, Miller hit an outstanding .347 (42-for-121) as the Huskies' lead-off batter with 26 runs scored and five RBI.  Miller had 11 stolen bases in 11 attempts, and led the Huskies with nine sacrifice hits, and 15 base on balls. Manning right field, Miller was strong defensively with 36 putouts and an assist. 
 
A first-team selection in 2021, Scott picked up her second all-conference nod at first base as a member of the second team in 2022.  Playing in 40 games, starting 39, Scott hit .261 (30-for-115) with 21 RBI, including nine doubles, a triple and a home run.  Defensively, Scott led the Huskies with 296 put out and nine assists, helping turn eight double plays. Making just two errors in 307 chances, Scott fielded a strong .993. 

"We have a core group returning that have gained a great deal of tremendous experience during our 2021 and 2022 seasons. They know how to win and compete and have committed themselves to achieving team goals," noted Jamo.  "We will be tested early with a challenging Florida schedule as we continue to build our program's recent successes with top competition. I anticipate significant contributions and leadership from our established returners, and look forward to seeing our newcomers seize and opportunity to make their mark and help us achieve our goals."

Among the newcomers looking to make an impact are first-year catcher Mackenzie Renner (Alton, NH/Prospect Mountain); first-year pitchers Lexus McIntosh (Lancaster, NH/White Mountains Regional) and Alana DeLisle (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury), first-year infielder Kendall Migliorini (Salem, NH/Salem) and utility Olivia Levasseur (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury).
Levasseur completed her high school career as a MIAA Division IV State Champion and earned first team All-Star honors.  Delisle, a three-time CAL first team All-Star, was named the CAL Player of the Year, and helped lead her team to the 2022 MIAA Division IV State Championships.

Migliorini, a three-sport student-athlete in high school, is a four-year varsity letter winner and played for the New Hampshire Prospects and New England Fusion. A two-time New Hampshire State Softball Coaches Association All-State selection, McIntosh is a three-year varsity letter winner and a member of the National Honor Society.  Renner, a four-year varsity letter winner, was named the Division III New Hampshire Player of the Year as a senior and is a two-time All-State pick, earning first team honors in 2022. 
Southern Maine opens its 2023 season in Florida on March 13 versus Meredith College (9:00 am). 
 
2023 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place         Team (First Place Votes)                                                                               Points

1. Southern Maine (4)                                                                                                59
2. UMass Dartmouth (3)                                                                                            57
3. Eastern Connecticut (2)                                                                                        55
4. Castleton                                                                                                                  41
5. Rhode Island College                                                                                            31
6. UMass Boston                                                                                                        29
7. Plymouth State                                                                                                        26
8. Western Connecticut                                                                                             18
9. Keene State 8