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In the HCAC Tournament, DC faced off against sixth-seeded Manchester in the first round, coming away with a 6-5 victory. After falling to Anderson 3-1, the Jackets' championship hopes were still alive in the double elimination tournament when they beat Bluffton 8-0 in the consolation bracket. Unfortunately for the team, Mount St. Joseph eliminated DC from contention with a 3-1 win.
This season, DC looks to repeat the success it had back in 2004 and 2005, when the team won back-to-back HCAC Tournament titles.
The poll has earmarked four Yellow Jackets to watch for this season, namely Melanie Bushman, Justine Johnston, Renee Steffen, and Kelsey Sugg. All four players were All-HCAC honorees last season and will be looked upon to make contributions to the team.
Sugg and Bushman finished first (.343) and second (.328) on the team in batting average, respectively, while Johnston lead the team in wins. Steffen was Defiance leading run scorer with 24, in addition to posting a team-best .408 on-base percentage.
Defiance's season opener will be March 9 when the team heads to Kentucky to take on Centre College. The first conference game will be a road contest against Manchester College on March 31, with the home opener on April 3 versus Tri-State University.
2007 HCAC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll
Team Points (first place votes)
1. Anderson 71 (4)
2. Transylvania 68 (3)
3. Defiance 66
4. Mt. St. Joseph 51 (1)
5. Rose-Hulman 45 (1)
6. Manchester 38
7. Bluffton 32
8. Franklin 22
9. Hanover 12
2007 Softball Players to Watch
Anderson: Kelly Thompson – P (Jr., Anderson, IN/H.S.), Lesli Randall – LF (Sr., Muncie, Ind. /Delta), Dawn Sanders – 1B (Sr., Pendleton, Ind. /Pendleton Heights)
Bluffton: Brooke Babcock – P/IF (Fr., Findlay, OH/H.S.), Katie Ammons – UTL (Fr., Findlay, OH/H.S.), Carrie Weisbecker – 2B (Sr., Okeana, Ohio/Ross)
Defiance: Justine Johnston –P (So., Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon), Melanie Bushman – 1B (So., Harrison, OH/H.S.), Renee Steffen – SS (Sr., Leipsic, Ohio/Miller City), Kelsey Sugg – C (Jr., Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon)
Franklin: Marlene Russo – C/OF (So., Clayton, IN/Cascade), Jen Pogue – SS/P (So., Louisville, KY/Collegiate), Kim Ridner – OF (So., Indianapolis, IN/Southport), Jeanetta Ford – C (So., Bedford, IN/Bedford N. Lawrence)
Hanover: Meredith Dewit – P/SS (Sr., Fowler, Ind. /Benton Central), Kristin Hollister – OF (Sr., Wheeler, Ind./Wheeler), Stephanie Elfers – 2B (Sr., Mason, OH/H.S.)
Manchester: Jenn Allen – 3B (Jr., Wheatfield, Ind. /Kankakee Valley), Lisa Heaton – C (Jr., Ellettsville,IN/Edgewood), Brittany Miller – P/SS (So., Spencer, IN/Leo)
Mount St. Joseph: Erin Brogan – OF (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton), Randi Yaeger – C (So., Harrison, OH/H.S.), Sheena Hundley – P (Sr., West Harrison, Ind. /Franklin Co.), Chelsea Rhodes – 2B (Jr., Cincinnati, OH/Wyoming)
Rose-Hulman: Nicole Sanders – 3B/C (Sr., Montezuma, IN/Riverton Parke), Amy Viles – CF (Sr., Mooresville,IN/H.S.), Ashley Montgomery – 2B (Jr., Plainfield, IN/H.S.), Katie Maggard – P/UT (Jr., Floyds Knobs, IN/Floyd Central), Katie Yiznitsky – C/3B (Jr., Hamilton, OH/Fairfield)
Transylvania: Andrea Fitzpatrick – SS (Sr., Bowling Green, Ky. /Greenwood), Jessica Broadhead – IF(Boonville, IN/H.S.), Jessica Holloman – 2B/OF (Sr., Louisville, Ky. /Mercy), Lyndsey Mayberry –P/OF (Sr., Villa Hills, KY/ Dixie Heights)
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