Senior Miller Highlights DC Softball HCAC Watch List Honors

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Five members of the Lady Jackets softball program have been selected for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Players-to-Watch List. Those receiving honors include senior Katie Miller, junior Macy Farrell, junior Kailea Holbrook and freshmen Katie Patchin and Makayla McAvoy.

For the upperclassman, Katie Miller highlights the group, as the only senior to make the HCAC Watch List. The Archbold, Ohio, native has been a fixture in the DC lineup by starting 111-of-113 games in her first three seasons. Miller had a strong start to the 2012 softball season, but cooled off during the end of March. Fortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the senior utility player had a stellar April where she raised her batting average from .214 all the way up to .282 and hopes to continue that momentum into this upcoming spring.

Next up are the junior duo of Macy Farrell and Kailea Holbrook. Much like Miller above, Farrell has been busy for the Purple and Gold in her first two seasons by making starts in 78-of-80 contests. The Memorial High product is the top returning Jacket in walks, triples and hit-by-pitches, while being second highest in doubles, runs batted in and total bases.

For Holbrook on the other hand, a Defiance, Ohio, native, has done most of her work from the mound. After receiving five starts and 41 innings of action in her freshman campaign, Holbrook was a workhorse for the DC pitching staff during her sophomore season. She posted team highs in appearances, starts, innings pitched and wins and will be looked at to shoulder the load again in 2013.

Lastly, the two newcomers of Kate Patchin and Makayla McAvoy, round out the Lady Jacket softball members to earn player-to-watch honors. Patchin comes to Defiance from West Farmington, Ohio and pitches and plays second. McAvoy is a catcher and first baseman from Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

In the preseason picks for the conference, the reigning conference champion Anderson Ravens received 80 points for the top choice of a first-place finish. They were followed by a close group of Bluffton (66), Manchester (60) and Transylvania (59) who were second through fourth. Defiance was selected for the fifth-place spot in the HCAC, receiving 39 points.

The Purple and Gold softball team open up the 2013 season in Orlando, Florida. DC will be playing its first game of the spring break trip against Roger Williams University on Sunday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m.