Stevenson’s softball team is excited to begin their 2018 spring season with their eye on a Middle Atlantic Commonwealth Conference (MAC) Championship.  The team’s season started on March 3, 2018, with a doubleheader against Wesley College in Delaware.

Last season the team finished with a 9-25 regular-season record, and were 2-14 in conference games.  This was not an ideal season for the team, or for second year head coach Julia Culotta.

Culotta is not messing around this season. The team’s pre-season started shortly after players returned from winter break.  College-level athletes are expected to work out and condition over break, but the hard work does not stop there.  Culotta said that their preseason consists of practice six days a week.

The Mustangs split with Wesley College on March 4, losing 13-5 in the six-inning opener but taking the second game 8-2. During the game, sophomore Morghan Fulton earned the win.

The team’s spring break jaunt will take them to Florida March 10-14 where they will face eight teams during the week. Their MAC season begins with a doubleheader against Widener University on March 17 at the Weinberg-Fine Stadium, located at 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, Md. 21117. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.

Culotta has focused on the team’s attitude and has seen improvements in both mental and physical maturity in her players.  Culotta added that she is proud of individual improvements as well.

This season the team has been picked to finish No. 9 in the conference.  “This is where we should have been picked,” said the coach, and she is not disappointed with it, because this leaves plenty of room for improvement.  Culotta hopes to see her team finish .500 overall, for both the regular season and conference play.

Like all teams at Stevenson, their goal is to qualify for and win the MAC playoffs.  But before they can do that, they have to stay competitive for 38-plus games.  Culotta wants a MAC championship, but also said she wants her team to have a great overall experience together.

In addition, Culotta would like to see her team’s power numbers improve alongside with their stolen bases, and hopes for this year’s seniors to go out with a bang.  Other than the team’s athletic goals, she also wants the players to maintain a high GPA and participate in community service events.

With a positive outlook on the season, the coach believes the team should have a successful season.