Softball Picked Fourth In NECC Preseason Poll

Brianna Napoleone
Brianna Napoleone

NECC Release

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Regis (Mass.) softball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference poll, announced Thursday by the league office.

The Pride, picked to finish sixth in last season's poll, closed the season in the final round of the NECC Tournament to close its season at 17-14 and fourth overall in the NECC at 11-7. Regis garnered a total of 69 points with Becker taking the top spot followed by Lesley and Newbury who each tallied a first-place vote.

Regis returns 13 players from the 2016 squad but loses three all-NECC performers in pitcher Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.), infielder Alyssa McKinnon (Rowley, Mass.), and infielder Michaela Nejaime (Sandisfield, Mass.).

Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Grimard (Pelham, N.H.) returns as Regis's top hitter, batting a team-high .463 in 2016. Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) returns to anchor the infield after a successful campaign last season that saw her lead the team in extra base hits (11) and RBI (22) and earn her NECC all-conference honors.

Regis begins the season next week with the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Pride will play eight games in five says with its home opener set for Saturday, Mar. 25 against Newbury.