LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East softball season starts today for some programs as 15 teams look to capture the 2025 crown. Penn College topped Wilson in the Championship Final in 2024, but plenty of teams showed out during the postseason including newcomer Penn State Brandywine who join Division III after winning the National Championship at the USCAA level the last two years.
Postseason play will begin in the last week of April with the final four double-elimination portion taking place May 9-11.
Find the full schedule here: WOMEN’S SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Penn College (30-13, 15-5 UEC)
Last year’s champions are in search of the repeat as Penn College raised the conference trophy for the second time in four years in 2024. Angie Stackhouse enters her sixth season as the head coach and has scheduled the likes of Messiah and William Peace in order to prime her squad for conference action. The 2024 Championship MVP, Mackenzie Weaver, will return to the circle for the Wildcats, eclipsing the 400 strikeout mark last year and holding opponents to a 1.86 batting average. Offensively, Grace Larson was a National Freshman of the Year finalist and looks to add to her 42 runs scored from last season. Maddie Herriman also returns after a season that saw her hit .403 with 15 stolen bags.
Coach’s Outlook: “With several key returners and a mix of talented freshman, we will look to have another successful season in 2025! We have a large amount of non conference games, with several key match ups to prepare us for conference play. We are strong in the pitching circle and will rely on our veterans heavily. Our batting order should be stronger than ever as we hope to score a lot of runs this season.”
Wilson College (29-13, 13-3 UEC)
Wilson was just one game from the crown in 2024 and are hungry to get back into a position to hoist the trophy this season. Skipper Brett Cline has been with the Phoenix squad since its inception 25 years ago and has provided a tough non-conference schedule with the likes Wilkes and Dickinson. Lindsey Dalenberg was a stud for the Phoenix, collecting First Team All-Conference honors after hitting just a hair under .400 last season. Also returning is Payton Kendall who had 21 hits in 34 games, earning a Second Team All-Conference nod. On the rubber, Rylee Piper racked up a record of 19-4 while punching out 76.
Coach’s Outlook: “Wilson Softball's Team 25 is a young and hungry group of competitors eager to take the field this season and show the United East what they can do. We have a core group of returners ready to lead a talented rookie class back to the United East Championship series and earn back the conference crown.”
Penn State Harrisburg (28-14, 15-5 UEC)
Harrisburg took a big jump in 2024, earning the top spot in the tournament but are hungry for a Championship title in 2025. Mandi Baer enters her sixth season as the head coach of the Nittany Lions, scheduling the likes of Messiah, York and Dickinson to help them prepare for conference competition. Last year’s Divisional Player of the Year, Madelyn Lehigh will return as one of the biggest offensive threats as she led the entirety of Division III in Triples and triples per game. Fellow First Teamers Sierra Sims and Aspen Walker also rejoin the lineup as they combined for 71 hits and 54 RBI last season.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are excited to build on the success of the 2024 season. While we'll continue to rely on our key returners and experienced players, we're also thrilled to welcome a talented group of incoming athletes who will add depth and strength across all positions. This group of 22 student-athletes put in the work during the offseason and we can't wait to get back on the field this spring. With the foundation we've built, we're more ready than ever to take on new challenges and continue pushing ourselves to new heights.”
Rosemont College (16-18, 12-4 UEC)
Lou Viola takes over a squad that has made deep postseason runs in each of its last two years and has high hopes to repeat that in 2025. The team takes on some local opponents to prepare for conference play including Wilkes, Misericordia and a non-conference bout with the 2024 United East Champs, Penn College. Olivia Hamme batted .324 last season, earning a spot on the All-Conference Third Team. She’ll have help from Kylee Kubitschek and Kendyll Strohl who combined for 49 hits.
Coach’s Outlook: “The 2025 Rosemont Softball team will be led by the 3 returning seniors and a motivated/focused freshman class. We also will have some key transfer athletes who will help solidify the pitching staff. The goal is always to give ourselves an opportunity to play for a championship. The new coaching staff is dedicated and ready to take on the challenge and help guide the team to be a dominant force in the conference and throughout Division III. Go Ravens !!!”
Notre Dame of Maryland University (22-19, 11-5 UEC)
The Gators made some noise in their first ever postseason visit and are looking to capitalize on the momentum going into 2025. Samantha Whiting heads the bench in her third year at Notre Dame, picking up games against McDaniel and Stevenson to help get the team ready for conference action. Julianna Leatherwood did a bit of everything for the squad, helping her earn a First Team All-Conference accolade last season. She will be aided by Anabelle Hafner and Charlene Torres who batted .309 and .379, respectively. Hafner also added 28 stolen bases.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are looking forward to another fantastic year, led by a strong group of upperclassmen. Last season marked a historic milestone with our first-ever playoff appearance and victory, and we are eager to build on that success by making another playoff run. Our challenging non-conference schedule will provide valuable preparation for our United East matchups.”
Penn State Berks (20-16, 13-7 UEC)
Penn State Berks is always in the postseason mix when it comes to softball and 2025 looks to be more of the same. Donna Ference enters her 12th year as the head coach of the squad and the team will kick off its season in Kissimmee, Fla. with battles against Lasell, DeSalesand Wheaton. Paige Brightwell returns as a two-way player for the Nittany Lions, hitting .380 while also picking up eight conference wins from the rubber. Adding to the offense are All-Conference members Naomi Fay and Peyton Vivian who both hit around the .350 mark a year ago.
Coach’s Outlook: "We enter this season with 7 first year players and some key returners. We are hopeful as the team continues to work together that we will be very competitive, participate in playoffs, and vie for the championship.”
Penn State Abington (21-20, 11-9 UEC)
A talented roster returns as Penn State Abington searches for a conference title in 2025. Caytlin Lihotz enters her eighth year as the head coach and has added the likes of Neumann, Stockton and Arcadia to the schedule in order to prime her team for conference competition. Gretchen Yannss will be back in the circle after becoming the program’s top hurler ever (337 strikeouts) and earning a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Marlena Hacker also rejoins the lineup after a season that saw her Rookie of the Year honors and Hailey Gamble is there to pitch as well as she completes the squads First Team All-Conference trio.
Coach’s Outlook: “This year we are returning the majority of our starting lineup from 2024, so we are looking to remain a competitive team in 2025. Our team has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming season, and we can not wait to face some solid competition early on to help prepare us for conference play.”
Penn State Brandywine (38-9 Overall)
Penn State Brandywine is coming off its second-straight USCAA National Championship but will enter its first year as Division III members in 2025. Mark Caserta has turned his program into a machine as he enters his 12th season at the helm and has scheduled tough non-conference foes such as Franklin and Marshall and Husson to begin the year. Kaylee Mushinski mashed 70 RBI en route to a USCAA National Player of the Year honor and Lexi Bussenger accrued 81 hits as both collected All-America nods. On the rubber, April Lewandowski was also named an All-American as she tossed 86 strikeouts while maintaining an ERA of just 1.62.\
Coach’s Outlook: “We've had a lot of success the last few years and are coming off two-straight USCAA national championships and nine-straight conference championships. We've got three-straight seasons of 35 or more wins. Really looking forward to a step up in competition beginning this year in the United East and with a much tougher non-conference schedule than in past years. Our team will be young - we only have one senior and 11 freshmen on a roster of 19 - and we graduated four of the best players to ever play here. With that said, we believe we will be competitive right away with players such as Kaylee Mushinski, Lexi Bussenger and April Lewandowski leading the way. We are hoping to use the fact that none of the other teams in the league have seen us play and we can surprise some people, especially early in the year.”
Keystone College (12-17, 9-7 UEC)
Keystone brings back some key components in 2025 and are looking to avenge an early exit from just a season ago. Mariah Kasperowski will begin her third year as the Giants head coach and has the team kicking off the year with a eight-game slate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. In the circle, Courtney Cienki returns after hitting the 100 strikeout mark for the first time in her career. Offensively, Isabella Benitez and Emily Schultz both batted over .300 in 2024 and both earned All-Conference nods along with Cienki.
Coach’s Outlook: “I’m excited for this season. If there is one word that I can use to describe this team, it is that they're resilient. Our college & team has dealt with adversity, but these players are proud to wear Keystone on their jerseys. We are coming into this season with 11 starters that are eager for success. We have a great group of senior leaders: Mara, Hanaje, & Isabella M that have done fantastic for us in past seasons. We have two freshmen Kiara & Sam that are going to be strong for us on both offense & defense. Along with two transfers, Julia & Rachael who are going to be key players for our success.”
Saint Elizabeth University (14-17, 8-8 UEC)
The Eagles just missed postseason play in 2024 but have a squad that seems poised to make a run this year. In her second season as the skipper, Blake Saperstein has littered the schedule with some valiant opponents including Wilkes and Hunter that should provide a space for the team to prep for conference play. Jadyn Barker had a great first year on the squad, earning First Team All-Conference honors with a batting average of .451 and 41 hits. Fellow First Teamer Josliynn Garcia also looks to add to the offense as she notched 30 RBIs in 2024. In the circle, Kami DeGaetani registered 10 wins while punching out 61 batters.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are excited for the 2025 season as we bring together a strong mix of senior leadership, experience, and talented young players. With the evolving landscape of the conference, we look forward to competing against familiar opponents while embracing the challenge of facing new schools. Our focus is on building upon last season’s progress and continuing to strengthen our team culture along the way.”
Cairn University (9-25, 5-11 UEC)
Cairn is looking to reset this season but still has high expectations with some solid veterans in the lineup. Newly hired Brady Achuff will head the Highlander staff and a Spring Break trip sprinkled with contests against Dickinson and conference foe Notre Dame of Maryland will help the team prepare for conference play. The infielders bring the experience to the team as Julia Bruestle and Abbi Heacock both enter their senior years, averaging over .260 each. Myiah Petroro will also chip in as she maintained an on-base percentage of .358.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are in an exciting rebuilding year together as a team. Across the board, every player has been working extremely hard and putting in a lot of work both at practice and on their own time. This culture shift has allowed growth into the program both as young women and as softball players.
Some of our biggest goals this season are to play as a unit, pick each other up, and learn how to love our sport again.
We have a team verse this season of Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." We are actively striving to live out this verse each day and be a light on and off the field.
We have a strong core group of players and the team has been vastly improving each day. I am very proud of what they have accomplished individually and together. They have not had it easy as a team, and to see how far they have come is very exciting.
I cannot speak highly enough about this group of players and the effort they have put in this season. We are looking forward to a fun, competitive spring!”
Lancaster Bible College (14-24, 6-14 UEC)
Lancaster Bible has its sights set on the postseason as the team was barely edged out a season ago. John Clemens enters his fifth season at the helm and has put Stevenson, Albright and Valley Forge all on the schedule in mid-march to help his team prepare for the conference schedule. Phoebe Clemens returns for her fifth year, earning All-Conference honors in each of her first four. She ranked 13th nationally in batting average and her 35 stolen bases topped the conference. The Chargers also added Maddison Atkins from now closed Clarks Summit after she picked up Second Team All-Conference honors in 2024.
Cedar Crest College (4-24, 4-12 UEC)
With a brand new turf facility, the Falcons are looking to turn some heads this upcoming 2025 season. Kim Begley returns for her seventh season as the head coach and has scheduled a home doubleheader against Widener on February 26 to open up the season and the new field. She will lean on former Rookie of the Year Alexis Kline who enters her senior year averaging .341 across her first three seasons. Taylor Faw and Natalie Hasert return as the two All-Conference selections from last season's squad and Alex Mullins will provide leadership after being named a Captain.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am really excited for this season. We brought in 10 first years who I believe can make an immediate impact in our line up. Last year was a tough year but I’ve seen the work that the student athletes have put in over the last year and they’re ready.”
University of Valley Forge (7-21, 1-15 UEC)
With a season now under the belt, head coach Hayden Schigur is primed for a more experienced Patriot squad to enter the 2025 season. Some tough non-conference opponents should help tune up the team as they face off against Stevenson and Brooklyn in mid-march. Junior Harley Wakeman will be a great source of offense for the Patriots as she earned First Team All-Conference honors with an average of .387. Ava Page and Marissa Urner also helped aid the lineup as they combined for 31 RBI.
Coach’s Outlook: “Gearing up for the season, we've made a lot of progress and are excited for the upcoming season!”
Gallaudet University (4-28, 0-15 UEC)
After a down year, the Bison are encouraged by a young roster to help push them back into playoff contention. Head Coach Justen Burns will be just one year shy of a decade as the head of the Bison, hoping games against WPI and Nazareth will put his squad in good position for conference play. Outfielder Caitlyn Smith will provide some veteran leadership as she picked up All-Conference honors in 2023.