The Colby softball team finished its 2006 season with an 11-20 record. The team faced a difficult spring break schedule down in Fort Myers, Fla., losing some very close games to powerhouses Luther College and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. However, Colby battled back to take wins over the University of Southern Maine and Oberlin before heading back to Maine.

The brightest spot of the Florida trip was the return of senior pitcher Lauren Olmsted ’06, who missed nearly her entire junior season with a broken thumb from the 2005 Florida trip. On the 2006 trip Olmsted took a 2-1 win over Southern Maine. Her most rewarding win came in the final game of her college career when she posted a nine-inning 3-2 victory over Tufts and gave up no earned runs. Olmsted’s 2006 earned run average was the best in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) at 1.01.

The 2006 team took on a new look from the previous year. Nine members of the 2006 team were first-year players, with five of them in the starting line-up. Even though Colby struggled offensively and defensively at times, every player gave her very best. In the games where the Mules came out on top, superior pitching, key hitting, and outstanding defense were the reasons for success.

Another key injury, however, also plagued Colby. In an early conference game against Trinity, junior right fielder Miki Starr ’07 tore here ACL and was out for the rest of the season. Starr was a NESCAC all-conference selection in her first two years and led the Mules in hitting in 2005.

Throughout the season pitching kept Colby in most games, and by the end of the year the bats started to come alive. In addition to the win over Tufts, the Mules also had a 1-0 win over Bowdoin. Olmsted pitched a gem of a game and first-year third baseman Carlie Minichino ’09 blasted one over the left field fence for Colby’s only run.

Recognized for their major contributions to the 2006 team were first-year first baseman and Rookie of the Year Tory Starr ’09, sophomore second baseman and Best Defensive Player Mollie Puskar ’08, junior outfielder and Most Improved Player Amy Palmer ’07, and senior pitcher and Most Valuable Player Lauren Olmsted ’06.

Head coach Dick Bailey will not have much trouble coming up with pitchers for the numerous doubleheaders the Colby softball team has to play in April. The Mules should have one of the better pitching staffs in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

The key for Colby will be at the plate and in the field. The Mules, 11-15 last year, need to get consistent with the bats and improve on last year's effort in the field.

Senior tri-captain Lauren Olmsted (Lexington, Mass.) had a rough spring trip last year, injuring her thumb and missing nearly the entire season. She is back on the mound along with junior Lindsay Toomey (Wellesley, Mass., 4-2 record, 1.52 earned run average) and sophomore Amanda Roehn (Tampa, Fla., 4-6, 2.10).

First-year pitcher Alyssa Crowell (Gilford, N.H.) should make an immediate impact in Florida. She was the Gatorade Player of the Year in New Hampshire during her junior season of high school softball. Crowell also will play at shortstop when she is not pitching and could be a top hitter for the Mules.

Crowell will play alongside fellow first-year Carlie Minichino (Stratford, Conn.), who takes over at third base and could hit either third or fourth in the lineup. On the other side of the infield, sophomore Mollie Puskar (Pittsburgh, Pa.) takes over second base and first-year Tory Starr (Dunbarton, N.H.) will see time at first base and in the outfield. Starr, the younger sister of junior teammate Miki Starr, brings a left-handed bat to the lineup. Also looking for time in the infield will be first-years Michelle Presby (Buxton, Maine), Sarah Whitfield (Wiscasset, Maine), Randi Aresenault (South Paris, Maine) and Katie Wight (South Hero, Vt.).

Miki Starr (Dunbarton, N.H.), a NESCAC all-conference selection the past two years and a tri-captain, led the Mules in hitting last year at .319 and returns to the outfield. First-year players Christine Fitzgerald (Medfield, Mass.) and Alyssa Charsky (Sudbury, Mass.) will see significant playing time in the outfield. Alaina Clark (Casco, Maine), who hit .467 in limited at-bats a year ago, and junior Amy Palmer (Quispamsis, New Brunswick) also will vie for time or start.

Essie Widlanski (New York, N.Y), tri-captain Kara Fagan (Arlington, Va.) and Tory Starr will all see time at catcher. Widlanski hit .268 last year and was not credited with an error. Fagan led the team in RBI with 11.

Program Overview
For the past 29 years Colby softball players have continually distinguished themselves on and off the field. Over the years 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. These players 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.

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