For senior co-captains Miya Warner and Rachel Hoerger, their final season of Amherst softball is remarkable for a number of reasons. They're playing under a new head coach-former assistant Lynn Hersey replaces Sue Everden, who is undertaking co-interim athletic director duties this year. They're aiming to qualify for the NESCAC playoffs for the first time with eight returning starters and a sextet of talented first-years on the roster. They're traveling to their home state of California rather than Florida for their Spring Break trip. And, like all senior athletes, they're filled with mixed emotions at leaving behind their teammates and sport at season's end. However, Warner and Hoerger won't merely be abandoning a four-year bond. This season marks the end of a nine-season tenure as teammates for the two Bay Area natives and four-year starters at Amherst-"unless we get drafted," joked Hoerger.

Warner, Hoerger and classmate Laura Trigeiro have been the backbone of Jeff softball for the past three seasons. Star pitcher Warner has appeared in 63 of 81 games in that time, holding opponents to a batting average of .184 while maintaining a 1.40 ERA. Hoerger has anchored the outfield and had a breakout offensive season in 2005, batting .301. First baseman Trigeiro hit a team-leading .386 as a first-year, and her .335 career average leads all active players. Under their leadership, Amherst has compiled a 39-41-1 record, just under the .500 mark. Narrow misses have been the Jeff calling card the past few seasons, and in particular last year, when they lost five one-run games and again missed qualifying for the NESCAC Tournament.

However, Amherst has every reason to believe that this is the year. In addition to the senior trio, the Jeffs return 2005's top hitters, second baseman Ralina Shaw '08E and third baseman Caroline Polales '07, who batted .312 and .337, respectively. Also returning are shortstop Annalise Rodli '07, who will see time in the middle infield and outfield, starting catcher Elizabeth Neckes '08, outfielder and catcher Kelly King '08 and pitcher Samantha Miller '08.

Competing with the upperclassmen are six first-years, all of whom Hoerger and Warner predict will see significant time. Three of them-Lindsey Harrington, Julia Cummings and Emily Bularzik-will compete for time in the middle infield, while Alexa Princi and Holly Trace will see time in the outfield. Maddie Tamagni will back up Warner on the rubber alongside Miller. All of this, of course, is liable to change, but even in the pre-season they have proven themselves to be a formidable class. "The first-years look really good," said Hoerger. "They've been hitting like crazy, especially Holly, and all of them have gotten really nice hits. Emily is just a sparkplug, whatever she's doing, and Lindsey is a wall."

The Jeffs' schedule leaves little time for adjustment to collegiate softball, as the season kicks off in Orange County, Calif., at Chapman University on March 19 with a doubleheader that includes defending Div. III national champion University of St. Thomas.

"California's going to be a lot more competitive than Florida," said Warner. "We are playing five nationally-ranked teams as well as Simon Fraser University, one of Canada's top programs."

Back in the Northeast, Amherst will be gunning for its first NESCAC doubleheader on April 1 at Wesleyan University; the Cardinals and the Jeffs split last year, which made Amherst's attempts at a playoff spot an uphill climb from the get-go.

The Jeffs look forward to the tough competition, however, and to settling the score with Wesleyan as well as with their other NESCAC foes. Their season goals? "I believe, 'Win NESCAC' was number one," said Warner. "Closely followed by, 'Beat Williams.'"

NESCAC Notes

The team to beat in the NESCAC West will once again be two-time conference champion Williams College. The Ephs return pitcher of the year Clara Hard and NESCAC batting champion Alana Frost. Amherst split doubleheaders with division foes Wesleyan University and Bates and Middlebury Colleges last year and will need to sweep at least one of these opponents in order to qualify for the post-season.