LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has rolled out its softball Skye Division preview for the 2024 season. The Skye Division consists of nine teams, with each program squaring off against one another in a 16-game conference season.
The top five teams will earn a bid to the postseason which begins on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The 4-seed will host the 5-seed in a single elimination game to advance to the weekend’s four-team double-elimination tournament hosted at the overall 1-seed. The double-elimination tournament begins on Friday, May 3, 2024 and will conclude on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The Skye Division Champion will then advance to a three-game series against the Volt Division champion beginning on Friday, May 10, 2024. The winner of that series will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
Cairn University
Head Coach Michelle Ogborn begins her second seat leading the Cairn University softball program in 2024. Though the Highlanders lost two All-Conference players to graduation, an experienced core returns after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023. Sophomore Myiah Petroro had an impactful first season hitting .327 with four doubles, two triples and a homerun. Junior Abbi Heacock hit .320 with 10 doubles while senior Adriana Shannon started all 30 games and had 30 hits, including 7 doubles and 2 triples. Cairn opens the 2024 season with spring break games in Myrtle Beach, S.C. before returning home for non-conference matchups against Gwynedd Mercy, Lancaster Bible, and Gallaudet throughout the spring. United East play begins on March 27th with a doubleheader against Rosemont College.
Coach’s Outlook:
Cedar Crest College
Head Coach Kim Begley begins her ninth season (6th as Head Coach) with Cedar Crest softball after a 2023 season where the Falcons won the CSAC regular season championship. Returning in the circle is senior Corinne Mundy who was the conference Pitcher of the Year after throwing 212.2 innings, 31 complete games, 81 strikeouts and led the conference in wins, complete games, and innings pitched. Junior shortstop Alexis Kline was a First Team All-Conference honoree after hitting .424 with 9 doubles, 18 RBI, 47 total bases, and 21 runs scored. Sophomore outfielder Natalie Hasert earned a Second Team All-Conference nod after playing in all 34 games as a first-year leading the team with 15 stolen bases, hitting .294, driving in 29 runs, and scoring 26 runs. The Falcons open up the 2024 season in Myrtle Beach, SC with eight spring break games before returning home for non-conference matchups with Sarah Lawrence and John Jay College. United East play begins on March 30th with a doubleheader at Keystone College.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am really excited for this year. This group of student athletes are hardworking, eager, and so much fun to be around. We graduated a lot of talent and experience in the last year but they also left their legacy and mark on the program. The 2024 Falcons are excited to continue to grow, learn, and compete together.”
Clarks Summit University
Head Coach Bill Higley begins his 25th season (20th as Head Coach) with Clarks Summit softball in 2024 coming off of a successful season in which Coach Higley was named Coach of the Year. A strong pair of seniors lead the Defenders this season led by INF/C Rebecca Serfass and C/DP Sara Castillo. In ‘23, Serfass hit .373 with 3 inside the park HR’s and 15 stolen bases while earning Honorable Mention in ‘22 and ‘23 while Castillo hit .362 with 8 doubles and 24 RBI’s. Sophomore Maddison Atkins was the Rookie of the Year in 2023 and picked up a Second Team All-Conference honor with a 9-8 record and 98 strikeouts in the circle. At the plate, Atkins hit .308 with 6 triples and 8 doubles. The Defenders head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for spring break and have non-conference games with Lancaster Bible College, Wells College, and SUNY Morrisville before United East play begins on April 4th against Wilson College.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are looking to build on our success from last season, with the core of our team returning and some promising new players.”
Keystone College
Mariah Ford begins her second season at the head of Keystone College Softball and has an experienced team looking for a repeat on 2023’s playoff appearance. Seniors Brooke Staple, Elle Olivero, and Courtney Cienki lead the Giants into 2024. Staple returns after hitting .387 with 20 RBI and a Fielding Percentage of .977 while Olivero led the team with a .432 Batting Average, 41 hits, and 20 RBI. In the circle, Cienki had 14 starts with 93 strikeouts and picked up 200th career strikeout in 2023. The Giants have non-conference matchups with Penn State Harrisburg (March 23rd), Wilkes University (April 16th), and Marywood University (April 22nd) as United East Skye Division play begins on March 30th with a DH vs. Cedar Crest.
Coach’s Outlook: “I believe this year is going to be a great year for Keystone Softball. We have key returners that have bought into the program & our team culture. Not only have they bought in, but they display great leadership to our underclassmen. We have a solid freshman class & transfers that are going to be great assets to our 2024 season. I look forward to the growth and development of our program as it ensues this Spring season.
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Samantha (Kastner) Whiting begins her 5th season at Notre Dame of Maryland University and second season as Head Coach with a group of experienced returners looking for a postseason appearance in 2024. Jessie Leatherwood was a First Team All-Conference member and returns for a 5th season after a 2023 in which the program’s all-time leader in strikeouts and wins recorded 115 strikeouts in 84.0 innings pitched as well as hitting .415 with 39 hits and 11 extra base hits. Bethani Newbold, junior, was a Second Team All-Conference member in 2023 in the outfield after hitting .383 with 31 hits and 15 RBI’s. Lilyian Hafner (sophomore, infielder) was a Second Team All-Conference team member after driving in 27 runs and picking up 29 hits with two home runs. The Gators head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. over spring break for eight games before returning to face off against McDaniel and Gallaudet in non-conference play. United East play begins on March 28th with a doubleheader against University of Valley Forge.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am really excited for this upcoming season. We build a strong foundation with last season’s performances and return a talented core of experienced players that should provide great leadership. I am also excited about our incoming group of players, several of whom I expect to make an immediate impact and raise our team to the next level.”
Rosemont College
Bekah Good enters 2024 as the Interim Head Softball Coach for Rosemont College after being an assistant coach since 2021. An experienced group of players return after a successful 2023 where the Ravens made the NCAA Tournament and won the Regular Season championship. Graduate student Lauren Begg (P/OF) returns after hitting .603 in conference play with an 8.28 Slugging Percentage en route to a Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection. Begg also stole 40 bases on the season: good for 7th in the nation. Analisa Yoder (1B/OF) returns for a graduate year as well after a First Team selection in 2023 and a career batting average of .326 with 100 hits and 75 RBI’s. Junior OF/3B Olivia Hamme was a Third Team selection in 2023 and led the squad with 11 2B’s on the season. Rosemont opens the 2024 season in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on March 2 and has non-conference matchups with Eastern University, Immaculata, Rowan, Gwynedd Mercy, and Misericordia throughout the spring. United East play begins on March 27th with a doubleheader against Cairn University.
Coach’s Outlook:
Saint Elizabeth University
Blake Saperstein takes over the Saint Elizabeth University softball program for 2024 after the Eagles won the final CSAC Championship in 2023. Sophomore pitcher Kami DeGaetani ( 1.55 ERA, 2.57 Opp BA / .413 BA, .587 Slugging Percentage) returns after a 2nd Team All-Conference nod in her first season while senior Aimee Vega (Utility / .595 Slugging Percentage, 39 H, 31 RBI, 13 Doubles, 4 HR) holds down the lineup after a 2nd Team All-Conference honor in 2023. Isabell Edwards (Sr. / 1B) hit .408 with a .978 Fielding Percentage en route to a 2nd Team All-Conference honor as well. The Eagles open up the season in Myrtle Beach, S.C. before United East play begins on March 30th with a DH at Wilson College.
Coach’s Outlook: “Excited for the opportunity to defend our conference title in the 2024 season.”
University of Valley Forge
Head Coach Hayden Schigur begins his first season at the helm of Valley Forge Softball with a veteran team looking to take a step forward in 2024. Senior Caitlyn Fisher patrolled the outfield and hit .321 with 25 hits, 18 RBI’s and 15 stolen bases while classmate Morgan Bieler hit .212 with 11 hits, 9 walks, and 7 stolen bases in a utility role. Senior pitcher Laura Medio threw 9 complete games with 77 strikeouts and a shutout. Medio also hit .329 with 23 hits and 15 RBI’s. The Patriots have non-conference matchups with United East partners Gallaudet University and Lancaster Bible College before conference play begins on March 28 with a doubleheader against Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Coach’s Outlook: “It's going to be a fun season! Looking to be competitors and be better than last year.”
Wilson College
Beginning his 25th season with Wilson College Softball, Brett Cline is looking to bounce back from the 2023 season with an experienced squad buoyed by a large incoming class. Senior OF Alyssa Wenger leads the offense fresh off her third-straight First Team All-Conference honor in 2023. The 2021 Rookie of the Year hit .333 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 16 stolen bases, 34 Runs Scored, a .500 Slugging Percentage, and .429 On-Base Percentage. Senior INF Haiden Brookens hit .305 with 29 hits and 6 doubles in league play while starting 37 of 38 games at shortstop. After missing the 2023 season, senior Taylor Barker returns after a 2022 season where she was named First Team All-Conference hitting .364 with 12 doubles and a .533 slugging percentage. The Phoenix open the 2024 season with a non-conference matchup against Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. before embarking on the spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. United East play begins on March 30th with a doubleheader against Saint Elizabeth University.
Coach’s Outlook: “Wilson Softball has a very promising season ahead. We return a core group of seniors who have experienced a championship win while also going through heartbreaking defeats that have so much wisdom to give to a young, hungry team. Last season was our program's first losing season since 2007, and we don't intend to repeat that this time around. Last season's record does not define us; it only drives us. We are adding 10 incredibly talented first-year athletes along with 2 transfer players that only add to our championship mentality. Adding to our experienced returners and determined rookies, we have a young pitching staff looking to take care of business in the circle. With our dedicated coaching staff and hard working players, I anticipate a championship-contending season to add to the Wilson Softball legacy.”
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram - gounitedeast | Twitter - @GoUnitedEast
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.