WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State softball team was selected fourth in the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by the eight coaches from around the conference.
The Owls finished the 2021 campaign with a 9-19 overall record and a 2-8 record in the MASCAC. The Owls started the season with an even .500 record (8-8) before struggling down the stretch, losing 11 of their last 12 games.
Reigning MASCAC champion Bridgewater State was selected as the MASCAC preseason favorites, receiving six first-place votes and a total of 48 points, edging out last year's MASCAC regular season champions Framingham State which tallied two first place votes and 44 points. Fitchburg State checked in at third place with 33 points followed by the Owls with 27.
Westfield State, led by newly hired head coach Skania Valencia, returns a few key pieces to the offense including last year's MASCAC Rookie of the Year, Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.). Clark hit .325 and tied the league lead in home runs with five, while recording six doubles, 23 runs, and 15 runs batted in as the team's starting shortstop. The Owls also return utility catcher and outfielder Lindsay Cordopatri (Walpole, Mass.) who hit .371 and led the league in stolen bases by swiping 24 bags last season. Cordopatri was also named to the MASCAC All-Conference First Team last year.
On the pitching side, the Owls bring back senior Brenna Welch (Halifax, Mass.) and sophomore Stephanie Scoville (Northfield, Mass.). Welch returns with the most experience on the team, starting in nine games last year and hurling 54 innings. Scoville was off to a solid start last season before missing the majority of the season due to injury as she appeared in five games, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.08 earned run average in 25 innings pitched.
Westfield State opens the regular season in Clermont, Florida on the week of Spring Break as the Owls face-off against UMass Dartmouth on Sunday, March 6 at 10:15 A.M.
For complete MASCAC preseason softball rankings, visit MASCAC.com