LANCASTER, Pa. – With the season swiftly approaching, the Ursinus College softball team tied for sixth as the Centennial Conference released its preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon.

Gettysburg was the unanimous favorite of the conference coaches, receiving eight first-place votes for a total of 64 points. Washington College garnered the other first-place vote and 56 points, while McDaniel was third with 47 points. Defending champion Haverford, which advanced all the way to an NCAA Super Regional last year, was fourth with 41 points, followed by Franklin & Marshall (33), Muhlenberg and Ursinus (27), Dickinson (19), and Swarthmore (11).

With almost everyone back from a squad that exceeded expectations on the way to going 17-19 overall and 7-9 in CC play last season, the Bears appear to have the pieces in place to make a run at their first playoff berth since 2012.

Headlining the returning cast is junior pitcher Kaitlyn Willis, who earned second team all-conference honors after a spectacular campaign in which she led the CC in ERA (1.96). Willis, who finished with a 10-8 record, also topped the league in shutouts (4) and ranked second in complete games (14). The right-handed logged a 1.31 ERA in conference play and finished the 2016 season on a 27-inning scoreless streak.

Freshman Jennifer Hammons looks ready to take over a starting spot in the rotation, while senior Devan Cinalli has put together the best preseason of her career.

Sophomore Kayla Quinn, who played mostly shortstop but also made nine pitching appearances, will hope to build on an outstanding performance at the plate after leading the team in batting average (.380), hits (38), runs (28), doubles (7), and stolen bases (13).

Sophomore Callie Crouse, who hit .297 with two home runs and finished second on the team with 19 RBI last season, returns to man first base. Junior Rachel Hyman (.276, 7 RBI) spent much of the previous year at third base, and sophomore Brittany Gasser, still in the midst of indoor track and field season, gives Ursinus versatility in the infield and plenty of speed; she stole six bases without being caught a year ago.

Freshmen Isabella Dewes and Renee LeClerc and sophomore Rachel Matricardi are vying to be the Bears' starting catcher, and Dewes has demonstrated her utility by playing all over the infield in preseason. Another rookie, Marissa Beebe, has shown a big bat and is pushing for playing time as well.

Ursinus brings back its entire outfield in sophomores Gabrielle Manto, Samantha Garritano, and Sammi Donato. Garritano hit .287 with a double, a triple, and seven RBI last year, while Donato (.281) drove in 14 runs, smacked three triples, and scored 22 runs to rank second on the team. Garritano also went without an error in 42 total chances in center. Manto finished with a .179 average but still managed to record 13 RBI; also a member of the Bears' indoor track and field program, she has not practiced with the team yet.

Freshman Faith Carson has played well in preseason and gives Ursinus another option in the outfield.

The Bears open the 2017 campaign with eight games on their spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, starting with matchups against Medaille and Eureka on March 5. Ursinus plays its first 16 games away from Collegeville before hosting Moravian on March 23. Centennial Conference play begins at home on March 28 against Washington College.  

2017 Centennial Conference Softball Preseason Poll