Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (2/29/2024) – With the first pitches of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic just a couple weeks away, Head Coach Dave Hoch and the Gwynedd Mercy University softball team are "On the mile." "We have a great mix of upperclassmen, who have a great attitude about the game." He continued, "I believe our pitching staff and defense are our strengths. We are always working hard to get better individually and as a team. I really enjoy coaching this group and I believe we can achieve special things in the years to come."
 
Gwynedd Mercy University opened the 2023 season with their best start in program history thanks to six straight wins at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. A 17-18 overall record and a 4-8 league mark led to the #6 seed in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Softball Championship Tournament. A 12-3 five-inning victory over #4 Neumann University advanced the Griffins to the second day of Championship Pod Play, but a lack of offense against the eventual league champion, #1 Cabrini University ended Gwynedd Mercy University's first double-digit win season under Coach Hoch.
 
Senior infielder/pitcher Grace Scally (Philadelphia, Pa.) was an All-AEC Second Team selection for the second straight season and returns as team captain alongside junior middle infielder/outfielder Carly Maw (Bensalem, Pa.), junior catcher Kaylee Colantano (Clinton, N.J.), and sophomore infielder/catcher Camryn Kinney (East Stroudsburg, Pa.). Scally has been exceptional at the plate and in the field for Gwynedd Mercy University. In 2023, she anchored the lineup with team-highs in hits (39), doubles (10), total bases (52), slugging (SLG) (.545), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.976), while ranking among the AEC Top-10 in triples (T10^th, 1), batting average (9^th, .394), OPS (9^th), hits (T9^th), total bases (8^th), SLG (8^th), doubles (T8^th, 10), and sacrifice flies (T3^rd, 2). Maw batted .286 (16-for-56) with seven runs scored and 14 runs-batted-in (RBI) in 2023. Meanwhile, Colantano provided quality defense behind the plate (71 putouts, 5 caught stealing, .975 fielding percentage) and Kinney displayed versatility in the field with appearances at second base (9), catcher (4), shortstop (2), and designated player (1).
 
Additional returnees include senior pitcher/second baseman Jocelyn Baumeister (Willow Grove, Pa.), senior utility Shylynn Cordero (Allentown, Pa.), senior pitcher/infielder Ashley Focht (Harrisburg, Pa.), senior pitcher/infielder Ashley Haggerty (East Norriton, Pa.), junior outfielder Ally McDaid (Maple Glen, Pa.), junior catcher/infielder Shannon McLaughlin (Haddon Heights, N.J.), sophomore outfielder Kiersten Reeser (Warminster, Pa.), and sophomore shortstop Hannah Smith (Levittown, Pa.).
 
Baumeister, Focht, and Haggerty pitched a bulk of Gwynedd Mercy University's innings in 2023. Baumeister made a team-high 19 appearances (13 starts) and struck out a team-high 56, while Focht led the staff with nine wins (9-8) and innings pitched (94.2). At the plate, Baumeister batted .361 (26-for-72) with 13 runs scored and 17 RBI, while Focht scored 18 runs and knocked in a team-high 23 runs with a .324 (33-for-102)/.330/.343 (AVG/OBP/SLG) slash line. Cordero was also a major contributor in the lineup with team-highs in runs (33), walks (12), and stolen bases (10-of-11, .909).
 
New to the roster are junior transfer Emily Murphy (Philadelphia, Pa./Wilkes University) and six freshmen; pitcher/first baseman Grace Carney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), catcher/third baseman Maya Hellyer (Quakertown, Pa.), first baseman/outfielder Caitlyn Kleinfelter (Newmanstown, Pa.), catcher Izzy LaPerry (Beachwood, N.J.), middle infielder Avery Schwartz (Collegeville, Pa.), and second baseman/first baseman Cailin Via (West Deptford, N.J.). Murphy pitched 12.2 innings for the Colonels in 2023, posting a 1-1 record and a 4.97 ERA with 19 walks and seven strikeouts.
 
"We will rely on our experience to help us through the season, but our under classmen will continue to grow and improve," said Coach Hoch. "I think we can play some pretty awesome softball when we're running on all cylinders."
 
Gwynedd Mercy University opens their season on Sunday, March 10, with a 3:00 p.m. Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic contest versus The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and will officially open Frank O. Genuardi Legends Softball Field on Wednesday, March 20, when they host Cairn University for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.