SC grand opening tomorrow!
New Myrtle Beach complex
ready for Wesley Wolverines!
The brand new Sports Parks and Recreation Complex in North Myrtle Beach, SC, where the Wesley Wolverines are scheduled to play a week long 9 of 10 games starting next weekend, is celebrating its GRAND OPENING tomorrow, Saturday, March 1. An animated preview of the spectacular park is posted at http://youtu.be/D6tgJ2Je44c
Wesley and 54 other college teams will visit the complex as part of the Fastpitch Dreams softball tournament, March 9 - 14.
As this blog has reported before, the new facilities feature ● 6 collegiate softball fields ● 8 batting tunnels ● misting fans in each dugout ● concessions areas/ picnic shelters/ 3 playgrounds ● walking & bike trails ● 3 acre dog park ● 10 acre meadow, and ● 25 acre lake for water-related activities.
Here is a news report about the grand opening...
Friday, February 28, 2014
COACH'S CHALLENGE
Teach, motivate, inspire
A coach's challenging job,
leading teams, individuals
The NCAA Softball Facebook page has posed the question: “What have you learned from your coach?” Over two thousand people have “liked” the query and almost 500 have responded to it. Here are just a few of the replies...
A coach's challenging job,
leading teams, individuals
The NCAA Softball Facebook page has posed the question: “What have you learned from your coach?” Over two thousand people have “liked” the query and almost 500 have responded to it. Here are just a few of the replies...
Thursday, February 27, 2014
FIRST HOME GAME
Arcardia, first home game
scheduled for next Thursday
Disappointed that the Beach Blast tournament was canceled? Well, wait another week for a flurry of games to run right through mid-April. As a matter of fact, there are eleven games scheduled with ten different schools over just the 9 days from March 6 – 14.
This Thursday, March 6, our Wesley Wolverines will host the Acardia Knights as they open their 2014 season with a doubleheader at 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM on our DuPont Field, 500 Mary Street, Dover, DE.
The Knights are expected to finish 5th in the Commonwealth Conference, tied with the Widener Pride, according to the Middle Atlantic Conferences (III MAC) preseason poll. There are eleven teams in the competitive Pennsylvania league. (Wesley will take on Widener at home on Wednesday, March 19.)
Arcadia is coming off a 2013 season that saw the Knights post an overall record of 16-22, which included a 6-12 mark in conference games. There's an impressive battery. Now senior P/ 2B Jessica Woods earned first-team all-conference last year, while behind the plate senior Leanda Helms batted .355 with 5 home runs. This season the Knights have five freshmen with 13 undergraduates returning, three of whom are seniors. Head coach Linda Detra is entering her 21st season leading the Knights.
Arcadia is coming off a 2013 season that saw the Knights post an overall record of 16-22, which included a 6-12 mark in conference games. There's an impressive battery. Now senior P/ 2B Jessica Woods earned first-team all-conference last year, while behind the plate senior Leanda Helms batted .355 with 5 home runs. This season the Knights have five freshmen with 13 undergraduates returning, three of whom are seniors. Head coach Linda Detra is entering her 21st season leading the Knights.
BEACH BLAST CANCELED
2014 Beach Blast tourney canceled,
NO games scheduled over weekend
Here is what's posted at the Beach Blast website...
NO games scheduled over weekend
Here is what's posted at the Beach Blast website...
SPEED OF SOFTBALL
ESPN analysis
Softball: bursts of speed, action,
forcing attention, fast reactions
According to ESPN (see video below), here is college softball by the numbers...
► SOFTBALL FIELD is (7,200 sq. ft.) 43% size of baseball field (16,700 sq. ft.) -- base paths 60 ft. vs. baseball's 90 ft. -- which means every player is constantly on the move, potentially being part of every play, while all the action is within easy purview of every spectator's seat.
► SOFTBALL PITCHING RUBBER is just 43 ft. from home vs. baseball's 60.5 ft., but a windmill pitcher releases the ball 37 ft. away to hurl a ball that can reach the plate as fast as 0.35 seconds later (faster than it takes a 100 mph baseball from its 55 ft. release point to reach its batter).
► SOFTBALL BATTER can have just 0.350 seconds to locate and identify a pitch, compared to 0.395 seconds for hard ball (and, then, she has as little as 0.025 seconds to decide whether to swing!)
► SOFTBALL BATTED BALL can come off the bat at speeds up to 100 mph. A shortstop may have only 0.61 seconds to react.
► SOFTBALL INFIELDERS facing shorter base paths must get the batted ball to first in less than 3.2 seconds. That's more than a full second faster than how a typical major league must successfully perform to fire a baseball to first (4.3 seconds).
► SOFTBALL SLAP-HITTERS can reach speeds of 19 mph, racing home to first in as little as 2.66 seconds. A third base fielder can take no more than 1.5 seconds (or throw faster than 100 mph) to record that out.
► SOFTBALL BASE STEALERS -- despite softball rules against leading off -- can get from first to second in as little as 3 seconds. On average, a softball catcher must react 1/10 of a second faster than her major league counterpart.
► IS HITTING A SOFTBALL THE HARDEST THING TO DO IN SPORTS?
CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW FOR DEMONSTRATION...
Softball: bursts of speed, action,
forcing attention, fast reactions
According to ESPN (see video below), here is college softball by the numbers...
► SOFTBALL FIELD is (7,200 sq. ft.) 43% size of baseball field (16,700 sq. ft.) -- base paths 60 ft. vs. baseball's 90 ft. -- which means every player is constantly on the move, potentially being part of every play, while all the action is within easy purview of every spectator's seat.
 |
TOP ROW, L-to-R: #12 P/MI Lindsay
Siok, #21 C/3B Whitney
Dibb,
BOTTOM ROW L-to-R: #11 OF Brook
Creighton, #19 OF Casey
Beall,
#22 C/UT Morgan
Seymour
|
► SOFTBALL PITCHING RUBBER is just 43 ft. from home vs. baseball's 60.5 ft., but a windmill pitcher releases the ball 37 ft. away to hurl a ball that can reach the plate as fast as 0.35 seconds later (faster than it takes a 100 mph baseball from its 55 ft. release point to reach its batter).
► SOFTBALL BATTER can have just 0.350 seconds to locate and identify a pitch, compared to 0.395 seconds for hard ball (and, then, she has as little as 0.025 seconds to decide whether to swing!)
► SOFTBALL BATTED BALL can come off the bat at speeds up to 100 mph. A shortstop may have only 0.61 seconds to react.
 |
TOP ROW L-to-R: #25 1B Samantha
Mahoski, #16 3B Ashly
Bendorovich,
#6 MI Breanna
Hartman, BOTTOM ROW L-to-R: #8 OF Steph
Caracozza,
#99 OF Olivia
DeGraba, #42 P/1B Devin
Mackay
|
► SOFTBALL INFIELDERS facing shorter base paths must get the batted ball to first in less than 3.2 seconds. That's more than a full second faster than how a typical major league must successfully perform to fire a baseball to first (4.3 seconds).
► SOFTBALL SLAP-HITTERS can reach speeds of 19 mph, racing home to first in as little as 2.66 seconds. A third base fielder can take no more than 1.5 seconds (or throw faster than 100 mph) to record that out.
► SOFTBALL BASE STEALERS -- despite softball rules against leading off -- can get from first to second in as little as 3 seconds. On average, a softball catcher must react 1/10 of a second faster than her major league counterpart.
► FOR THE FULL STORY FROM ESPN, CLICK ON VIDEO BELOW...
► SEE ALSO “ESPN SPORT SCIENCE: HITTING A SOFTBALL"
VIDEO AT http://youtu.be/0aGTDGMBTEc
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
BEACH BLAST
Schedule changed
BEACH BLAST GAMES MOVED,
NOW HELD SATURDAY, SUNDAY
LINKS TO NEW SCHEDULE...
► TOURNAMENT: Beach Blast
► VENUE: Princess Anne Athletic Complex
► ADDRESS: 4001 Dam Neck Rd,
Virginia Beach, VA
► DATES: March 1, 2
► SATURDAY: Centenary @ 1:00 PM;
York @ 3:00 PM.
► SUNDAY : Rutgers-Camden @ 2:00 PM;
Va-Wesleyan @ 4:00 PM.
► FIELDS: SAT, Red 1; SUN, Green 1
BEACH BLAST GAMES MOVED,
NOW HELD SATURDAY, SUNDAY
Due
to frigid temperatures forecast for Friday (2/28) at the Beach Blast
tournament, that day's games have been moved to Saturday (3/1), while
Saturday's games will be played on Sunday (3/2).
CLICK
HERE for Virginia Beach weather reports.
► TOURNAMENT: Beach Blast
► VENUE: Princess Anne Athletic Complex
► ADDRESS: 4001 Dam Neck Rd,
Virginia Beach, VA
► DATES: March 1, 2
► SATURDAY: Centenary @ 1:00 PM;
York @ 3:00 PM.
► SUNDAY : Rutgers-Camden @ 2:00 PM;
Va-Wesleyan @ 4:00 PM.
► FIELDS: SAT, Red 1; SUN, Green 1
POSTS AT THIS BLOG: Report on teams played & Schedule for all games
(adjust any previously posted dates to new schedule of Saturday, Sunday, March 1 & 2.)
TOP 25 UPDATE
NFCA releases new
national D3 rankings
Of the three nationally ranked D3 teams that will face the Wesley Wolverines thus year, one remained unchanged, another moved up, and another drop down the list in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 Poll.
After winning all of its four games played so far, the Salisbury University Sea Gulls remained at No. 3. They are the ONLY team in the top five to have begun their season so far.
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins, a perfect 6-0 in this early season, moved up to #9 place from its #10 position last week.
The Christopher Newport Captains, much better than their 1-3 start indicates, having lost two to #3 Salisbury, dropped down to the #22 rank. They undoubtedly will rise higher as the season progresses.
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins, a perfect 6-0 in this early season, moved up to #9 place from its #10 position last week.
The Christopher Newport Captains, much better than their 1-3 start indicates, having lost two to #3 Salisbury, dropped down to the #22 rank. They undoubtedly will rise higher as the season progresses.
CAC UPDATE
Around the CAC#3 Salisbury undefeated,
#17 Christopher Newport experiences tough start
WESLEY WOLVERINES are among three teams in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) who have played softball this season.
Here's what has happened so far to the other two...
● SALISBURY SEA GULLS, ranked #3 nationally (D3), are off, as everyone expected, winning their first four games played this past Saturday and Sunday, February 22, 23.
On Saturday, the Sea Gulls handily beat Neuman Knights 11-0 in five innings, recording all 12 outs by strikeout. In a second game, the N.C. Wesleyan Battling Bishops briefly posed a challenge, though Salisbury eventually triumphed 3-1, scoring all three runs on a pair of home runs.
● CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT CAPTAINS, ranked #17 nationally (D3), started their season off with two losses to #10 ranked Virginia Wesleyan Marlins this past Sunday, Feb. 23, scoring just two runs total for both games. (Our Wesley Wolverines are scheduled to play the Marlins this Saturday at 4:00 PM in Virginia Beach, VA)
Yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Captains turned their ship around with a convincing 9-1 victory over the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets through five frames in the doubleheader's opener. BUT the Yellow Jackets stung back 8-0 in the nightcap, stingily allowing two singles, no walks, and only one VA Captain over the minimum at the plate.
COLD WEATHER GEAR
Ready for the weather?
Cold weather checklist
for the softball spectator
Cold weather checklist
for the softball spectator
The weather forecast for this weekend's Beach Blast tournament (Feb. 28 & Mar. 1, Friday & Saturday) warns of cold days -- especially Friday -- and possibly some rain.
CLICK HERE for the latest AccuWeather.com for Virginia Beach, VA.
If you are headed south for these games, you might want to throw a few extra pieces of cold weather protection in the car. Last year's home games in Dover, DE, were not particularity warm, either. The wind can whip around at DuPont Field! So, gathering cold weather gear now may prove useful for Wolverine fans attending still later games this season beyond this weekend.
√ HAND-WARMERS: Inexpensive and can last for hours. If you have no gloves, keep hands clutched to hand-warmers inside your pockets.
√ HOODED SWEAT OR WARM HAT: Most body heat is lost through the top of the head. You might need more than a baseball cap!
√ PROTECTION FROM RAIN: don't forget an umbrella and/or rain jacket.
√ SOCKS: ideal is two layers with thin fabric covered by wool socks.
If you are headed south for these games, you might want to throw a few extra pieces of cold weather protection in the car. Last year's home games in Dover, DE, were not particularity warm, either. The wind can whip around at DuPont Field! So, gathering cold weather gear now may prove useful for Wolverine fans attending still later games this season beyond this weekend.
A quick checklist...
√ WARM HANDS: Mittens work better than gloves, because they can share body heat & hand-warmers fit more easily inside them.
√ HAND-WARMERS: Inexpensive and can last for hours. If you have no gloves, keep hands clutched to hand-warmers inside your pockets.
√ HOODED SWEAT OR WARM HAT: Most body heat is lost through the top of the head. You might need more than a baseball cap!
√ LAYERED CLOTHING: Instead of the last layer, focus on the first layer closest to your skin. Avoid cotton, because it retains moisture, which attracts the cold. Wool excellent first layer, but may irritate skin. Polypropylene (e.g. “Under Armor”) can be expensive, but works the best.
√ LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING: second and third layers, like sweaters or coats, not be so tight as to hinder good insulation.
√ PROTECTION FROM RAIN: don't forget an umbrella and/or rain jacket.
√ FOOTWEAR: Hiking boots best, especially if waterproof to block any moisture
√ SOCKS: ideal is two layers with thin fabric covered by wool socks.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
BEACH BLAST OPPONENTS
Beach Blast tournament
Cyclones, Cardinals, Raptors, Marlins
challenge our Wolverines this weekend
Looking ahead to this weekend's Beach Blast tournament, Virginia Beach, VA...
1:00 PM, Friday, Feb. 28,
Wesley vs. Centenary (NJ)
CENTENARY COLLEGE CYCLONES first game of the season will be played earlier Friday morning at the Beach Blast tournament before facing the Wesley Wolverines at 1:00 PM. The Cyclones are predicted to finish third in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) in a preseason softball poll. Centenary posted a 17-5 CSAC record (20-14 overall) last season and earned a bid to the ECAC Tournament. The 2014 squad returns six letter winners and features 12 newcomers.
3:00 PM, Friday, Feb. 28,
Wesley vs. York (NY)
YORK COLLEGE CARDINALS (NY) will be playing their second game of the new season when they meet the Wesley Wolverines at 3:00 PM, Friday, after recording their first game earlier in the day. Part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNY), the Cardinals held an 0-12 CUNY (6-22 overall) record last season. For this season, York has lost its sole senior from 2013, but now five experienced juniors may return for 2014.
2:00 PM, Saturday, March 1,
Wesley vs. Rutgers-Camden (NJ)
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-CAMDEN SCARLET RAPTORS (NJ) also opens their season at the Beach Blast, but will have completed three scheduled games before facing the Wesley Wolverines at 2:00 PM, Saturday. The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) picks the Raptors to finish seventh this year. Their NJAC record last season was 4-14 (but 21-19 overall). Head Coach Brian Wolverton enters this season with 110 career wins.
4:00 PM, Saturday, March 1,
Wesley vs. Va-Wesleyan (VA)
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE MARLINS (VA) will bring a tough challenge to the Wesley Wolverines early in this new season. D3 ranked #10 in the nation, the Marlins are already 4-0, including a doubleheader sweep against the #17 ranked Christopher Newport Captains this past weekend. They have more games this week and will be playing their 10th schedule contest this year when they step to the plate against our Wesley Wolverines at 4:00 PM, Saturday. Va-Wesleyan is part of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) where the polls unsurprisingly expect a #1 finish for them. The Marlins host the Beach Blast tournament.
Cyclones, Cardinals, Raptors, Marlins
challenge our Wolverines this weekend
Looking ahead to this weekend's Beach Blast tournament, Virginia Beach, VA...
1:00 PM, Friday, Feb. 28,
Wesley vs. Centenary (NJ)
Wesley vs. York (NY)
YORK COLLEGE CARDINALS (NY) will be playing their second game of the new season when they meet the Wesley Wolverines at 3:00 PM, Friday, after recording their first game earlier in the day. Part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNY), the Cardinals held an 0-12 CUNY (6-22 overall) record last season. For this season, York has lost its sole senior from 2013, but now five experienced juniors may return for 2014.
2:00 PM, Saturday, March 1,
Wesley vs. Rutgers-Camden (NJ)
4:00 PM, Saturday, March 1,
Wesley vs. Va-Wesleyan (VA)
Monday, February 24, 2014
PITCHERS' FIRST WINS
Many years pitching
Hard work, practice
pays off in first game
Two Wesley Wolverine freshmen pitchers won their first college game on Sunday (2/23), limiting the Gallaudet Bison to just four hits and two runs over 12 innings. They are #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) and #9 P/OF Lily Engel (Dover, DE).
Both have been hurling a softball for many years. Pictured below are Lindsey and Lily five years ago in 2009 – just before high school & already comfortable in the circle -- throwing at the 14U club ball level juxtaposed to a shot of each playing yesterday, starting off 2014 now 1-0 on the collegiate field.
Hard work, practice
pays off in first game
Two Wesley Wolverine freshmen pitchers won their first college game on Sunday (2/23), limiting the Gallaudet Bison to just four hits and two runs over 12 innings. They are #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE) and #9 P/OF Lily Engel (Dover, DE).
Both have been hurling a softball for many years. Pictured below are Lindsey and Lily five years ago in 2009 – just before high school & already comfortable in the circle -- throwing at the 14U club ball level juxtaposed to a shot of each playing yesterday, starting off 2014 now 1-0 on the collegiate field.
SUNDAY'S KEY HITS
HR, two triples,
and four doubles
While the whole Wesley Wolverine team performed extremely well on Sunday, February 23, against the Gallaudet Bison, here is a quick look at a few of yesterday's key contributors. (The photo of Nina, top center, is the actual home run swing that dropped the ball over the 220' dead center field fence.)
Pictured above, left-to-right, top row, sophomore #2 P/OF Sarah Saunders (Wayne, NJ), freshman #18 C/3B Nina Marcano (Middletown, DE), junior #11 OF Brook Creighton (Rock Hall, MD); bottom row, freshman #12 P/MI Lindsay Siok (Milford, DE), sophomore #6 MI Breanna Hartman (Red Bank, NJ), freshman #42 P/1B Devin Mackay (Bangor, PA).
OPENER PHOTOS
Two wins in season opener
Wolverines 11
Gallaudet 2
Wolverines 15
Gallaudet 0
CLICK HERE for recap
CLICK HERE for box score (game 1)
CLICK HERE for box score (game 2)
CLICK HERE for team/ individual stats
CLICK ON ARROWS BELOW for slideshow of 95 photos from the two games.
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO (then click on it again on the second page) to enlarge it.
Gallaudet 2
Wolverines 15
Gallaudet 0
CLICK HERE for recap
CLICK HERE for box score (game 1)
CLICK HERE for box score (game 2)
CLICK HERE for team/ individual stats
CLICK ON ARROWS BELOW for slideshow of 95 photos from the two games.
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO (then click on it again on the second page) to enlarge it.
Friday, February 21, 2014
BISONS, SUNDAY, 2/23
Washington DC bound
WOLVERINES READY,
BISON ON SUNDAY!
First games of the 2014 season...
CONTEST: Wesley College Wolverines
vs. Gallaudet University Bison
DATE: Sunday, February 23
TIMES: Doubleheader/ 12:00 noon & 2:00 PM
FIELD: Gallaudet Softball Complex
ADDRESS: 800 Florida Avenue NE,
Washington, DC 20002
WOLVERINES READY,
BISON ON SUNDAY!
vs. Gallaudet University Bison
DATE: Sunday, February 23
TIMES: Doubleheader/ 12:00 noon & 2:00 PM
FIELD: Gallaudet Softball Complex
ADDRESS: 800 Florida Avenue NE,
Washington, DC 20002
AMBER FREEMAN
Focus on “next pitch”
Slow down & breathe says
ASU catcher Amber Freeman
Quoted from Amber Freeman's ESPN blog...
“Finally! College softball is finally here. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be back on the field again and to get this year started....
“As a team, we realized how important it is to slow yourself down and breathe, whether that's before getting in the batter’s box or after the umpire makes a bad call on you. Breathing is an awesome way to slow your mind down and to stay in the present....
“Think about it like this: If you are successful three out of 10 times as a batter, you are considered a 'great hitter.' So how do you deal with the seven times you fail?
“As a team, we came up with the saying, “So what, next pitch.” It is even in big letters in our dugout as a reminder to always stay in the moment.”
◊◊◊ CLICK HERE for the full story ◊◊◊
Slow down & breathe says
ASU catcher Amber Freeman
Quoted from Amber Freeman's ESPN blog...
 |
| Amber Freeman |
“Finally! College softball is finally here. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be back on the field again and to get this year started....
“As a team, we realized how important it is to slow yourself down and breathe, whether that's before getting in the batter’s box or after the umpire makes a bad call on you. Breathing is an awesome way to slow your mind down and to stay in the present....
“Think about it like this: If you are successful three out of 10 times as a batter, you are considered a 'great hitter.' So how do you deal with the seven times you fail?
“As a team, we came up with the saying, “So what, next pitch.” It is even in big letters in our dugout as a reminder to always stay in the moment.”
–Amber Freeman | ESPN.com (catcher/ ASU Sun Devils) from her 2/6/14 article titled “One game, one pitch at a time” that's posted at her espnW blog.
 |
From a post at ESPN.com, a photo
courtesy of ASU Athletics
|
Thursday, February 20, 2014
PRESEASON POLL
Wesley ranked #6
2014 preseason
CAC coaches' poll
Conference preseason review of the Wesley Wolverines...
“WESLEY is even younger this season with just one upperclassman - the rest of the roster includes just freshmen or sophomores. However, don’t confuse that with a lack of experience as every Wolverines sophomore saw full time action as freshman. Leading the bunch is outfielder Steph Caracozza, who hit .412 last year and was an All-Conference performer, as well as classmate Sarah Saunders, who led the team in offensive power categories and was also the Wolverines No. 2 pitcher. The corner infield positions look strong as well with senior Ashly Bendorovich and Kayla Fromal, who both hit well over .350 in 2013 and combined for 41 RBIs. With that solid nucleus returning, as well as a talented freshman class, Wesley is primed to improve on last seasons' 12-23 mark.”
◊◊◊ CLICK HERE for the full story ◊◊◊
CAC Softball
Preseason Poll
VOTES/ TEAM
49- 1. Salisbury
43- 2. Christopher Newport
36- 3. Frostburg State
30- 4. Mary Washington
25- 5. York (PA)
17- 6. Wesley College
15- 7. Southern Virginia
6- 8. Penn State Harrisburg
"With that solid nucleus returning, as well as a talented freshman class, Wesley is primed to improve..."
2014 CAC Softball Preseason Webcast
To go directly to Wesley Wolverines' Head Coach Juli Greep's assessment, please skip ahead (near the end) to the 26:09 minute mark.
2014 preseason
CAC coaches' poll
Conference preseason review of the Wesley Wolverines...
 |
| Kayla Fromal |
“WESLEY is even younger this season with just one upperclassman - the rest of the roster includes just freshmen or sophomores. However, don’t confuse that with a lack of experience as every Wolverines sophomore saw full time action as freshman. Leading the bunch is outfielder Steph Caracozza, who hit .412 last year and was an All-Conference performer, as well as classmate Sarah Saunders, who led the team in offensive power categories and was also the Wolverines No. 2 pitcher. The corner infield positions look strong as well with senior Ashly Bendorovich and Kayla Fromal, who both hit well over .350 in 2013 and combined for 41 RBIs. With that solid nucleus returning, as well as a talented freshman class, Wesley is primed to improve on last seasons' 12-23 mark.”
 |
| Steph Caracozza |
 |
| Sarah Saunders |
 |
| Ashly Bendorovich |
 |
| Senior Ashly Bendorovich |
CAC Softball
Preseason Poll
VOTES/ TEAM
49- 1. Salisbury
43- 2. Christopher Newport
36- 3. Frostburg State
30- 4. Mary Washington
25- 5. York (PA)
17- 6. Wesley College
15- 7. Southern Virginia
6- 8. Penn State Harrisburg
"With that solid nucleus returning, as well as a talented freshman class, Wesley is primed to improve..."
2014 CAC Softball Preseason Webcast
To go directly to Wesley Wolverines' Head Coach Juli Greep's assessment, please skip ahead (near the end) to the 26:09 minute mark.
GALLAUDET TURF
Synthetic playing field
FieldTurf DoublePlay Classic
takes center stage on Sunday
Wesley Wolverines will not be playing on dirt for this Sunday's first game of the season. Of course, they will not be indoors, either.
Instead, Wolverine spikes will be gripping a “FieldTurf DoublePlay Classic” synthetic field, which has been dubbed “ industry-leading engineering”. Its surface was installed from 2011-12 and completely covers the infield and outfield at the Gallaudet softball complex.
FieldTurf DoublePlay Classic
takes center stage on Sunday
Wesley Wolverines will not be playing on dirt for this Sunday's first game of the season. Of course, they will not be indoors, either.
Instead, Wolverine spikes will be gripping a “FieldTurf DoublePlay Classic” synthetic field, which has been dubbed “ industry-leading engineering”. Its surface was installed from 2011-12 and completely covers the infield and outfield at the Gallaudet softball complex.
 |
| Gallaudet softball complex FieldTurf DoublePlay |
The Gallaudet University Bisons made this renovation as part of a move toward creating a world-class venue for improving recruiting and retention levels, decreasing games canceled by rain, and establishing a superior field for use in other endeavors.
The FieldTurf has been praised as being a covering that looks and feels real, while enjoying the benefits of significantly reduced water consumption as well as the environmental-friendly elimination of fertilizer and pesticides.
Gallaudet softball complex is perfectly symmetrical, extending 190’ down the lines and 202’ in straightaway center field. There's also a 20’-wide scoreboard and a double-pitcher bullpen. In the future, plans are to add sport lights, dugouts, a concession stand and a press box.
These first games of the season for both teams are on Sunday, February 23, at 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM at the Gallaudet University softball complex, 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002 .
The FieldTurf has been praised as being a covering that looks and feels real, while enjoying the benefits of significantly reduced water consumption as well as the environmental-friendly elimination of fertilizer and pesticides.
 |
| Gallaudet softball field, 800 Florida Avenue, Washington, DC |
Gallaudet softball complex is perfectly symmetrical, extending 190’ down the lines and 202’ in straightaway center field. There's also a 20’-wide scoreboard and a double-pitcher bullpen. In the future, plans are to add sport lights, dugouts, a concession stand and a press box.
These first games of the season for both teams are on Sunday, February 23, at 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM at the Gallaudet University softball complex, 800 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002 .
| Gallaudet provides a double-pitcher bullpen |
BEACH BLAST GAMES
Beach Blast tourney fields
impressive two-day schedule
For those who can't get enough collegiate softball from Wesley Wolverines' four games at the Beach Blast, next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1, there's another 54 games being played before, after and during the Wolverines' contests. All are within a short walk of each other.
There will be four ranked DIII teams on the Princess Anne Complex fields. They are #3 Salisbury, #10 Virginia Wesleyan, #17 Christopher Newport (CNU), and #20 Rowan.
Our Wesley Wolverines will play their first games on the Red 1 field, beginning at 1:00 PM, Friday Feb. 28 versus Centenary College followed by a 3:00 PM start against the York College Cardinals. (NOTE: these Cardinals from York College, Jamaica NY, are a different school than Wesley's CAC opponents, the York College Spartans of York, PA, who the Wolverines will play later this spring.)
Wesley's Saturday games on the Green 1 field, March 1, are at 2:00 PM versus #10 Virginia Wesleyan and, one of the last contests of the tournament, at 4:00 PM versus Rutgers-Camden.
Here is the complete schedule for the two-day tournament...
● Home team is listed second and sits in the 3rd base dugout EXCEPT for teams, like Wesley, playing back to back. ● Games may start 15 minutes prior to scheduled start time. ● Extra innings may delay start times. ● International tie breaker will be used if game tied after seven innings.
The Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) will have good representation at the Beach Blast, too, from Wesley, Salisbury, CNU as well as Mary Washington and Frostburg State. (These CAC teams – except Wesley -- are highlighted in blue on the chart below.)
Our Wesley Wolverines will play their first games on the Red 1 field, beginning at 1:00 PM, Friday Feb. 28 versus Centenary College followed by a 3:00 PM start against the York College Cardinals. (NOTE: these Cardinals from York College, Jamaica NY, are a different school than Wesley's CAC opponents, the York College Spartans of York, PA, who the Wolverines will play later this spring.)
Wesley's Saturday games on the Green 1 field, March 1, are at 2:00 PM versus #10 Virginia Wesleyan and, one of the last contests of the tournament, at 4:00 PM versus Rutgers-Camden.
Here is the complete schedule for the two-day tournament...
Princess Anne Complex softball fields...
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