WEEKLY HONORS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Janel Gamache, UNCW

Senior | Infield / Pitcher | Exeter, R.I. / Moses Brown School

Gamache led UNCW to a 4-0 start in 2022, hitting .462 (6-13) in the Seahawks’ opening tournament with three home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Four of her six hits went for extra bases, posting a 1.308 slugging percentage in addition to a .563 on-base percentage. In the season opener, the Exeter, R.I. native went 2-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, including a walk-off homer that lifted UNCW to a 6-5 win over Toledo. Additionally, she recorded three RBIs and two runs scored in the contest. Gamache capped the weekend with a 2-for-3 performance against Charleston Southern that included a home run, three RBIs and a run scored as the Seahawks concluded an unblemished weekend at the diamond. 

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Kara Hammock, UNCW

Freshman | Pitcher | Mechanicsville, Va. / Atlee 

In her first weekend of collegiate softball, Hammock tossed 14.0 innings, recording 19 strikeouts with just two earned runs to post a 2-0 record and 1.00 ERA. The freshman righty stepped into the circle for her collegiate debut and recorded a three-hit, complete-game shutout. She fanned nine as UNCW defeated Charleston Southern 5-0. She followed the performance, earning her second win of the season after a 7.0 inning outing against Toledo. Hammock scattered nine hits, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 10 before the Seahawks prevailed in extra innings.  

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Graceyn Frost, Delaware

Freshman | Pitcher | Newark, Del. / Delaware Military Academy

Frost pitched 10.0 innings, posting a 1-0 record with a 0.70 ERA, nine strikeouts, and picked up a save as Delaware went 3-1 in its season-opening tournament. The Newark, Del. native stepped into the circle for her first collegiate start and made an immediate impact throwing a complete game, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out eight in a 3-1 win over Stetson. She entered the circle in relief against Georgia State, picking up a 3.0 inning save, scattering two hits and recording one strikeout.  

NOTES:

• Charleston (2-3, 0-0 CAA): The Cougars opened the Tracey Lynch era 2-3 in their opening weekend of competition. Charleston picked up a 1-0 win over Troy, who was an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament last season and defeated Austin Peay 7-5 in the weekend finale. Carli McCants highlighted the weekend in the circle, posting a 2-0 record in 12.1 innings of work with a 1.70 ERA. McCants tossed a complete game shutout against Troy, scattering three hits and striking out five. At the plate, Jenna Helberg paced the Cougars hitting .357 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored. Helberg doubled her career home run total as she entered the weekend with one home run in each of the 2019 and 2021 seasons. The Cougars open their home slate this weekend, hosting the Charleston Invitational Friday through Sunday.

• Delaware (3-1, 0-0 CAA): The Blue Hens started the year 3-1 at the Stetson Lead-Off Classic, winning the first three before dropping the fourth, while the weekend finale was canceled. Delaware picked up wins over Indiana State and Georgia State and split a pair against Stetson. At the plate, Brooke Glanden and Halle Kisamore each hit .455, recording five hits in 11 at-bats. Glanden led the team with three home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored, while Kisamore had two solo home runs. Kisamore also recorded at least one hit in every game, starting the year on a four-game hitting streak. In the circle, three pitchers picked up wins. Graceyn Frost tossed 10.0 innings, picking up her first career win and save over the weekend. Frost threw a complete game, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out eight in her first collegiate start as Delaware topped Stetson 3-1. The Blue Hens head to Athens this weekend for the Red & Black Showcase, hosted by the University of Georgia.    

• Drexel (0-0, 0-0 CAA): Drexel posted its best winning percentage (29-12, .707) in program history last year and qualified for the CAA tournament for the second straight season. The Dragons will have to account for the loss of one of the most prestigious players in CAA history, Linda Rush, the 2021 CAA Player of the Year. Head coach Katie Jansson is tasked with this in her first season with Drexel. The Dragons return a pair of first-team all-conference honorees in Brooklyn Daly and Kristi DiMeo. Daly, the Dragons ace, posted a 10-3 record with a 2.57 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 2021. DiMeo, a storied career in her own right, was second in the conference last season in batting average (.429) and RBIs (53). Drexel starts the 2022 season Feb. 25-27, partaking in the FIU Invitational in Miami, Fla. 

• Elon (3-0, 0-0 CAA): The Phoenix opened the spring 3-0 in its home tournament, beating IUPUI twice and Saint Francis, while the final game against App State was canceled. Rebecca Murray led Elon in the batter’s box, hitting .571, pacing the team with four hits and four runs scored. Three players: Gabi Schaal, Kaitlyn Wells and Megan White recorded three RBIs, accounting for six of Elon’s seven runs over the weekend. Taylor Cherry led the Phoenix pitching staff, tossing 9.2 innings. She recorded 15 strikeouts, posted a 2.17 ERA, and earned her first collegiate win. Elon continues a 10-game homestand to begin the year, hosting North Carolina for a mid-week matchup on Wednesday. The Phoenix will host its second tournament in as many weekends, welcoming Providence, UMass Lowell and Morgan State for the Phoenix invitational Friday through Sunday.  

• Hofstra (0-0, 0-0 CAA): Hofstra has qualified for the CAA Tournament three of the past four years, including a CAA Championship run as recently as 2018. The Pride will be under the leadership of first-year head coach Adrienne Clark this season. Hofstra retains second-team all-conference catcher Devyn Losco behind the dish after hitting .364 with 22 runs scored and 12 RBIs. In the circle, Madison Burns is back after leading the CAA with 109.1 innings pitched last year. The Pride begin the season at THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. Feb. 18-20.

• James Madison (0-0, 0-0 CAA): JMU had a historic season in 2021, becoming the first CAA team to advance to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) following its second straight conference title. The Dukes will look much different this season as eight players departed from last year’s team, including seven starters. JMU will turn to last season’s Rookie of the Year, Alissa Humphrey, for leadership on a roster with only five upperclassmen. Humphrey posted a 14-0 record with a league-best 1.56 ERA and 141 strikeouts during her freshman campaign. JMU begins the season on Feb. 19 and 20 at the Charlotte Invitational.  

• UNCW (4-0, 0-0 CAA): The Seahawks started the year 4-0 at the CSU Invitational, defeating Toledo and Charleston Southern twice. Janel Gamache paced UNCW at the plate, hitting .462 for the tournament. Five of her team-high six hits went for extra bases with three home runs and two doubles, including the walk-off home run in the first game against Toledo. She led the team with seven RBIs and added four runs scored. Tayler Vitola also had six hits and scored a team-best five runs for the Seahawks. In the circle, a freshman Kara Hammock went 2-0, tossing a team-high 14.0 innings, including a complete-game shutout in her first collegiate start. Hammock allowed just two earned runs in her work, posting a 1.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts. The Seahawks return to Wilmington for their first of two home weekends, hosting Buckell and Marist Friday through Sunday.

• Towson (0-4, 0-0 CAA): The Tigers dropped their first four games this season at the Spartan Classic, falling to NC Central, Umass and host USC Upstate twice. Briana Ramirez had a team-best six hits in 11 plate appearances to hit .545. Sydni Byers made the most of her opportunities, recording four hits in six at-bats with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. Nicole Kidwiler and Mackenzie Lake also recorded four hits over the weekend. Towson will look to get back on track as the Tigers head to Rock Hill, S.C. for the Winthrop Eagle Invitational.  

2021 SEASON IN REVIEW 

• 2021 was a historic year in CAA Softball as James Madison become the first team in conference history to win an NCAA Super Regional, advance to the WCWS and win a game at the WCWS. 

• JMU won its second consecutive CAA Tournament title following a 17-1 CAA regular season. 

• James Madison’s Odicci Alexander was named the Softball America Player of the Year, in addition to the D1 Softball Women of the Year and was a second-team All-American.

• The JMU coaching staff earned NFCA and D1 Softball Coaching Staff of the Year accolades, while Associate Head Coach Jennifer Herzig was named NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year. 

YEAR FOR THE RECORDS 

• Two of the most storied athletes in CAA Softball history battled each other in the CAA record books throughout the 2021 season.

• Drexel’s Linda Rush finished her career ranked first in the CAA record books in batting average (.426), runs scored (210) and RBIs (245), while she was second in home runs (68) and hits (269). 

• JMU’s Kate Gordan, a three-time conference champion, ended her career as the conference’s all-time leader in home runs (71). Additionally, Gordon ranks second in CAA history in batting average (.407), runs scored (201) and RBIs (200).  • Rush and Gordon are the only two players in CAA history that have recorded over 200 runs scored, 200 RBIs and 65 home runs. 

NEW MEMBERS COMING 2023

• The Colonial Athletic Association announced Hampton, Monmouth, and Stony Brook will join the conference as full members in 2023. Subsequently, CAA Softball will grow from eight teams to ten.  

• Half the league will get a 2023 preview facing the newest members of the CAA this spring. Drexel will face Hampton twice at Hampton’s Pirate Invitational, and see Stony Brook at the Rutgers tournament. Towson will host Monmouth for a pair of games at Towson’s TU Tiger Clash. Hofstra will face Long Island rival Stony Brook in a home-and-home, while Delaware will host Monmouth in a mid-week non-conference matchup.  

DUKES RANKED IN NFCA POLL

• In the season’s first edition of National Top 25 polls, James Madison ranked 22nd in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25, while the Dukes received votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. 

NEW FACES AROUND THE LEAGUE 

• Three CAA teams enter 2022 under new leadership in their head coach position.

• Tracey Lynch takes over at Charleston, where she was an assistant coach during the 2013 season. For the past six years, Lynch served as an assistant Coach at UNCG.

• The Katie Jansson era of Drexel softball starts in 2022. Jansson arrives at Drexel after three seasons of head coaching duties at her alma matter Iona.

• Adrienne Clark returns to Hofstra after an illustrious career as a student-athlete and assistant coach. During her time as a Player and Assistant Coach, Clark won five CAA Championships and 14 NCAA Tournament games. 

2022 PRESEASON RUNDOWN

• We return to a traditional 21-game round-robin format in conference play, with each team playing one three-game series against all conferences teams throughout the season.  

• James Madison was picked atop the CAA preseason poll with six first-place votes and 48 total points. Delaware received one first-place vote and 42 points, while Elon collected the final first-place vote and 35 points to finish second and third, respectively. Fourth through sixth were separated by just six points, as Hofstra tallied 28, Drexel totaled 24, and UNCW accumulated 22. Charleston and Towson rounded out the field with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

• The 2022 CAA Softball Championship is set to take place May 12-14 at Hunt Softball Park on the campus of Elon.