February 4

Jackets Picked to Finish Second in HCAC Preseason Poll
GREENWOOD, Ind. – After winning its first HCAC Championship in school history with a 13-2 conference mark in 2007, the Defiance College Softball team has been selected to finish second in the 2008 HCAC Preseason Poll.

The Jackets received 69 points with one first-place vote, finishing five points behind 2007 HCAC tournament champion Anderson University and two points ahead of 2006 HCAC Champion Transylvania University.

The Defiance College Softball team enters the 2008 campaign looking for its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The reigning regular season HCAC champion, Defiance will look to defend its title despite losing three starters from a year ago. The Yellow Jackets finished the 2007 campaign with a 23-19 record overall and a 13-2 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. DC saw five Lady Jackets earn All-HCAC honors, while setting school records in hits (383), doubles (72) and total bases (498).
Jackets looking for second-straight HCAC title.
Five Lady Jackets were named to the 2008 HCAC Preseason Player to Watch List as Amanda Auzins, Melanie Bushman, Aarika Davis, Robin Diers and Justine Johnston each earned mention.

One of two seniors on the team, Robin Diers is looking to finish out her career at DC strong. The senior pitcher has helped Defiance to 80 wins over the past three seasons. Diers is coming off a great season on the mound for the Jackets, going 10-6 with a team-leading 3.65 ERA.

Auzins is the top returning hitter for the Jackets after hitting .381 a year ago with 28 RBI’s. The junior anchors the outfield for coach Holava and will be counted on to have another big season.

Bushman, an All-HCAC performer in 2006, started 40 games at first base last season for DC. The junior hit .339 with 17 RBI’s, while finishing second on the team in plate appearances.

Johnston will begin her third season as the Yellow Jackets ace after the she went 12-9 with a 3.80 ERA, while leading the HCAC in innings pitched (138.1) and strikeouts (119) and earning all-conference honors a year ago.

Davis, an All-HCAC performer, returns for her sophomore campaign after hitting .333 and leading the team with three home runs. The third baseman also led the team with 18 walks and finished second on the team with 12 doubles.

Defiance will open the 2008 season on March 7, when they travel to Danville, Ky. to face Centre College before heading further south to compete in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.