DC Softball Picked Third in HCAC Preseason Poll

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The 2010 HCAC Preseason Softball Poll was released by the league office on Wednesday, January 27. Defiance was picked third in the poll, garnering 60 total points, and trailing only Transylvania (79) and Bluffton (70) for the top spot. The Yellow Jackets also had a conference-high five players named to the HCAC Preseason Players-to-Watch list.

Transylvania earned the top spot, including eight first-place votes, after winning the 2009 regular season with a 13-3 conference record. Bluffton received the only other first-place vote after finishing second in the conference alongside Defiance with a 12-4 record in the HCAC last season. Anderson and Manchester rounded out the top five with 49 and 41 points respectively.

Defiance was selected in the top-three for the fourth consecutive year, dating back to 2007, when the Jackets were picked third in the preseason poll and ended up winning the HCAC regular season title. The Jackets have not been picked outside of the top-four since head coach Jodie Holava took over the program in 2006.

The Yellow Jackets return 16 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 30-16 during the regular season, and 12-4 in the HCAC, before winning the conference tournament and advancing to the regional semifinal game. Headlining this talented group of returners will be HCAC Players-to-Watch Aarika Davis, Mallory Faling, Marah Robinson, Kelly Schnipke and Tasha Stucke.

Davis is an extremely reliable third baseman that has started each of DC's 130 games since her arrival in 2007. The senior from Canton, Ohio, has amassed 109 hits and 56 RBI's while posting 263 assists in her three-year career with Defiance. Her .307 batting average last season is the best among returning players for the Yellow Jackets. Davis currently owns the school record for starts in a career, and is on pace to leave as one of the most productive players in school history.

Faling has been honored as an All-HCAC performer in each of her first two seasons behind the plate for the Yellow Jackets. She has recorded 80 hits, 57 RBI's and a .301 career batting average in 88 consecutive starts since her freshman campaign in 2008. Faling has also established herself as one of the best defensive catchers in the HCAC, hosing a conference-high nine base stealers last season while posting a perfect 1.00 fielding percentage.

Junior outfielder Marah Robinson enters the 2010 season as DC's all-time leader in home runs with 12 long balls in her first two seasons with the Jackets. However, Robinson is not your typical all-or-nothing power hitter; the outfielder has a .323 career batting average and was fourth on the team last season with a .371 on base percentage.

Schnipke is expected to be the ace of the Yellow Jackets' pitching staff this season after posting a 10-5 record with a .237 earned run average in 2009. The junior from Kalida, Ohio, held her opponents to a collective .274 batting average in just over 118 innings pitched last season. Schnipke finished her 2009 campaign tied for first in the HCAC in saves and tied for second, behind DC's Justine Johnston, in appearances.

Stucke leads all returning players on DC's roster with 47 hits, including a team-high 10 doubles, last season. The junior shortstop also led the conference with 140 put-outs in 2009, while posting a .965 fielding percentage on her way to becoming an All-HCAC selection. The dual-sport athlete has used her speed and athleticism to lead the Yellow Jackets in steals in each of her first two seasons.

 Defiance is set to begin the 2010 season on March, 5, when they travel to Danville, Ky., for their season-opening match against Centre College. Following the game against Centre, the Jackets will head further south, to Orlando Fla., to compete in the annual Rebel Spring games. DC's first home game is scheduled for March 17, when they host Findlay in a double header beginning at 3:00 p.m.