2007 Marietta College softball preview
Lady Pioneers ready for another run at an OAC title

Feb. 28, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — Expectations are high for the Marietta College softball team in 2007. Under the direction of Jeanne Arbuckle, who begins her 20th season as the head coach of the Pioneers, Marietta is looking to build off a record-breaking, 33-11 campaign, which ended with a second place finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

With a roster that features two pitchers and nine everyday starters from last year and 10 overall lettermen, Marietta has the tools needed to make another run at an OAC title this spring. One of the main ingredients that Arbuckle is counting on this season is senior leadership.

"We have a great group of seniors," said Arbuckle. "They have been great leaders throughout the fall and winter and we look for that to translate into success on the field this spring. We will go as far as our seniors can carry us this year."

Senior Kristen Quintana will anchor the pitching staff for one final year. The John Wells OAC Pitcher of the Year, All-OAC and All-Region selection, rewrote the Pioneers' record book in 2006. Quintana, who went 20-6 with a 1.11 ERA, established new single-season standards for appearances (34), games started (24), complete games (24), victories (20), innings pitched (189 2/3), shutouts (11) and strikeouts (214). She will most likely make a run at each of these, as well as many of the career records before the spring is over.

Marietta also has senior leadership in the field with a trio of players—Jenny Carroll, Jessy Hutchison and Lindsey Romick—ready to end their Pioneer careers with an OAC title run. Carroll earned All-OAC and All-Region honors after leading the Pioneers with a .381 batting average in 2006. The shortstop also had a team-best 51 hits to go along with 24 runs scored, eight doubles and 24 RBI. Hutchison, who split time in the outfield and behind the plate, batted .268 with eight doubles, while Romick, an outfielder, batted .316 and led the squad in doubles (10) and runs batted in (27) last year.

Underclassmen returning as starters include junior outfielders Brandy Jacob and Krista Huffman, sophomore second baseman Nikki Driscoll, sophomore first baseman Emily McComb and sophomore third baseman/pitcher Christina DeMoss. Each provided solid contributions in 2006, and they will need to have productive years if Marietta wants to accomplish its goals this spring.

Marietta will open the 2007 season in Kissimmee, Florida, at the Rebel Spring Games March 11-16. Its home opener is scheduled for March 21 against Denison. The Pioneers will play seven doubleheaders at home on Marietta Field this spring. Their OAC home opener is against Muskingum on April 3.