Despite losing four seniors to graduation last year, Coach Jamie Smyth feels very optimistic about the 2006 softball season. The strong recruiting class of 2005 should help turn the softball program back into one of the top programs in the Northeast region.

The team opens its campaign with 10 games down in sunny Ft. Myers Florida on March 13 playing a strong schedule headed by Division III powers Wheaton (Mass.) and The College of Wooster (Ohio), which recorded 30 wins in 2005.

The Monks then return home and start their Northeast schedule playing Brandeis University (Mass.) on March 31 at home. Saint Joe's always plays some of the best teams around New England, and this season is no different with local competition being provided by Southern Maine, Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, and Plymouth State (N.H.) rounding out the Monks' schedule.

Saint Joe's return one senior, Leanne Morton (Gorham, Me./Gorham) to the lineup. She is the captain of this year's squad and will anchor third base for much of the season.

On the mound the Monks have junior Colleen Delahanty (Warren, Me./Medomak Valley) returning to the rotation along with newcomer Gabrielle Burrola (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian). Both pitchers will get the bulk of work on the mound, but could be relieved by freshmen Alysn Ludwig (Waldoboro, Me./Medomak Valley) and Kristi Albert (Farmingdale, Me./Cony)

Offensively, St. Joe's will look to several returning players to produce runs. Junior Jamie Morrison (Auburn, Me./Edward Little) and Sophomore Megan Farrell (Abington, Mass./Abington) should find themselvs in the middle of the lineup along with first-year Kim Bechard (Lewiston, Me./Lewiston).

Other returners include junior Amanda Roy (Winslow, Me./Winslow) and outfielder Deb Drown (Gorham, Me./Gorham) who will both see substantial time in the starting lineup. The Monks have added a great deal of speed at the top of the batting order with freshmen outfielders Kristi Albert and Alysn Ludwig. This mixture of speed and power should be a good combination to score more runs this season.

Behind the plate will be juniors Tessa Grindle (Brooksville, Me./George Stevens) and Jaime Daugherty (Bass Harbor, Me./Mt. Desert Island), who both split time last season. Both do a good job with the pitching staff and can provide help to the lineup as well.

The goals this season are to play well enough to make either the NCAA or ECAC tournament. Coach Smyth feels now is the time for the program to turn the corner and return to it's championship form of the early 2000's. "I think any team's goal starting out each season is to participate in postseason play," says Smyth. We have a good mixture of young talent and returners who are hungry for success. I am really looking forward to seing what this team can accomplish in 2006."