Colby College softball coach Dick Bailey will field one of the youngest teams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference with 11 of the 13 players sophomores or younger.

Colby, which went 13-13-2 last year, will have four of its top five hitters back who saw considerable playing time. The Mules also return two pitchers who had a combined 10-3 record.

Bailey, back for his seventh year with Colby, returns sophomore second baseman Kate Hurd (Greely/Cumberland, Maine). She is the top returning hitter after batting .327 while playing in 24 of 28 games.

Sophomore third baseman Wendy Bonner (Lexington/Lexington, Mass.) hit .325, had a .390 slugging percentage, a .398 on-base percentage and led the Mules in doubles with five. Sophomore outfielder Shannon Emerson (Gleneig/West Friendship, Md.) hit .312 a year ago and pitched in 11 games.

The Mules should also get production out of junior outfielder Meaghan Shea (Doherty Memorial/Worcester, Mass.) and senior captain Carrie Morin (Cony/Augusta, Maine). Shea hit .311 last season, while first baseman Morin batted .291 and led the team in fielding percentage (.978).

Sophomore shortstop Michaelyn Bortolotti (Hanover/Hanover, Mass.) also returns in the infield. Sophomore pitcher Toni-Lynn Robbins (Camden Hills/Appleton, Maine) had a 6-1 record in nine starts and had a 2.12 earned-run average. Robbins, a right-hander, also led the team in innings pitched (59) and strikeouts (34).

Sophomore right-hander Annette Caswell (Bucksport/Bucksport, Maine) led the Mules in earned-run average (1.43) as opponents hit just .163 against her in eight starts. Caswell had a 4-2 record and pitched 44 innings. First-year pitcher Lauren Olmstead (Lexington/Lexington, Mass.) will also see time on the mound.

Sophomore catcher Elizabeth Riley (Thornton Academy/Saco, Maine) returns and will be pushed for playing time by first-year catchers Sarah Belden (Presque Isle/Presque Isle, Maine) and Kara Fagan (Connelly School of the Holy Child/Arlington, Va.). Belden also could play third base, while Fagan can be used in the outfield. Emily Allen (Loomis Chaffee/Suffield, Conn.) will be used in the outfield in her first season.

During this period of time, many outstanding women have taken to the Colby softball field to proudly represent their alma mater in what is one of the great traditions of collegiate life--athletic competition against other colleges and universities. For the past 26 years, the Colby Mules softball players have continually distinguished themselves both on and off the field. They have brought great credit to Colby. We reflect back on these times with tremendous pride and appreciation for what has been accomplished, and we look forward to the challenges the future brings.

Colby softball took on a different look during the 2002 season with the addition of eight new players. The Mules started off their season in Fort Myers, Fla., as usual. This is where some of the first-year players began to shine. Rookie pitcher Toni-Lynn Robbins '05, who underwent heart surgery eight days before the trip, amazingly won three games while down south. First-year pitcher Annette Caswell '05 also won her first college game while in Florida against a strong Union College team. Caswell and Robbins combined to win 10 of the team's 13 wins this season. Team MVP, senior Kim Chadwick '02, had another stellar year, leading the team in most offensive categories, including a .350 batting average. Team most improved player, sophomore Meaghan Shea '04, had an outstanding season, hitting well over .300 and playing near perfect defense in the outfield. Team defensive player of the year, first-year player Kate Hurd '05, was one of the team's crown jewels. While Hurd batted .327, third best on the team, her play at second base is what set her apart. She had tremendous range, diving for balls hit up the middle, and catching pop ups behind first base. Rookie catcher and third base player Wendy Bonner '05 also had a stellar year, batting .325.

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