Picked in the preseason poll to finish third in the Northeast Conference, Central Connecticut State University Blue Devil softball appears poised for another good season.
Led by reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year Kaylee Whittaker and coached by the reigning NEC Coaching Staff of the Year, the Blue Devils turned a rough 2022 season that resulted in a ninth-place finish into a 2023 season that saw them place second and compete in the Northeast Conference Tournament.
The Blue Devils return all six of their all-conference selections, including Whittaker, senior Paige Stringer, who led the team with a batting average of .381, and senior Meg Gorman, who led the conference with 17 stolen bases.
CCSU also had three players selected for the Northeast Conference’s All-Rookie team, including freshmen Ashlynn Desaulniers, Grace Lawton and sophomore Ava Cino. Desaulniers was also named Second Team All-Northeast Conference.
In addition to the returning players, this year’s Blue Devils squad includes some additions poised to add some juice to the team.
Junior Abby Meehan, a transfer from Hofstra University, felt that CCSU gave her the perfect opportunity to succeed both on and off the field.
“My process was fairly simple,” Meehan said. “After being in the transfer portal, Coach Pat [Holden] and I spoke on the phone and were able to set up a visit. It all seemed a good fit right from our first phone call. A huge part of my decision to come here came from their Art Education program as well as the culture and outlook on softball.”
The first-year class has already made a mark on this young season, including Reagan Vunak, who tallied her first home run in her first collegiate game against Saint Peter’s.
“I was really happy,” Vunak said. “I was looking forward to playing at the collegiate level for a long time, so it was just really nice to be out there and to have some success in just my first game.”
Expectations are high for the Blue Devils this season, and the players are undoubtedly aware of it.
“I think our goal as a team is to win the NEC Tournament this year,” Vunak said. “We have been working really hard and want to show it on the field and throughout the season.”
Meehan shares a similar sentiment.
“I think we can expect a lot of good softball from the Blue Devils this year,” she said. “I think we have a lot of depth and talent that can help us succeed in a multitude of ways. We have a great group that is super excited to get after it this season.”
The Blue Devils are on the road for the first two weeks of March before returning to New Britain on March 16 to open Northeast Conference play against the Fairleigh Dickinson Unversity Knights.
