NORTON, MA- For the first time in nearly two decades, the Wheaton College softball program is under new leadership, as the Lyons welcome back one of their own with former all-region player Rachael Powers '03. Powers, who understands the program's rich tradition, played a significant role in helping lead Wheaton to three NCAA Tournaments – including a third-place mark at the College World Series in 2001 – a trio of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament titles and four regular season league championships.

Given those achievements under former 19-year head coach Gina Loudenburg, who racked up over 500 career wins during her tenure, it should come as no surprise that Powers has every intention of maintaining the standard of excellence that has afforded the team seven trips to NCAA Tournaments since 1997.

Serving as an assistant coach last spring, Powers witnessed the Lyons post a 29-14 record and capture second place in the NEWMAC standings with a 12-4 mark while advancing to the league tournament semifinal round. Powers wants to build on last year's success and put her team in position to win the NEWMAC Tournament crown that has eluded the program since 2004.

"Right now the team needs to focus on themselves individually on the field, but I don't think it's any secret of what the ultimate team goal is," said Powers. "We want to put ourselves in position to win NEWMACs. Reaching the championship game is our goal, with the expectation of winning it."

In order to attain those goals, Powers and her newly assembled coaching staff are conveying a message that underlines the importance of taking care of every extra detail, whether it be lifting in the early-morning hours, doing extra hitting, throwing six or seven days a week, or performing a drill properly in practice. And all the while a coach is with them every step of the way, as Powers ensures at least one member of the coaching staff is at each session.

"We want to stay on them without making them feel like they're walking on eggshells," said Powers. "They should understand that what they're doing and how they're doing it is a big part of what we hope to accomplish this year. Slowing the players down and having them work on the mechanics properly in everything they do should help prevent injuries, increase strength and gain confidence."

It also doesn't hurt receiving guidance from two of the more successful former players in Wheaton history in All-Americans Jill D'Arcy '01 and Jackie Demling '04, who will groom the infielders and pitchers, respectively. D'Arcy also served as a Wheaton assistant in 2004, when Demling as a senior helped lead the Lyons to a College World Series. Bob Roscoe returns for his 14th season and will work with the outfielders, while Greg Lamanna joins the staff after spending the last five springs at Division I Monmouth University. Lamanna will be involved in multiple facets of the team.

Powers has been impressed by her team's ability to hit thus far, and senior co-captains Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) and Stacey Kelleher (Brockton, MA/Brockton) are expected to lead the charge, as the tandem possessed the top two returning averages from last spring. Kelleher, who became the program's ninth National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American, is slotted to play first base after turning in a .384 average as a junior with 25 RBI, five homers and a .983 fielding clip. Seeing the majority of time as the designated player, Kelleher batted .405 and slugged .679 in 29 games as the DP. Benton is a mainstay in center field, where she started all 43 games last spring and will lead a young corps of players. Having served as Wheaton's starting center fielder in 88 of the last 89 games, Benton batted .369 in 2008 as one of only two players who started all 43 contests. She led the Lyons with 34 runs while adding 21 RBI, five home runs and seven steals.

Completing the Class of 2009 is catcher Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield), who is currently battling for a starting slot with sophomore Nicole DeRosa (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich Academy). After playing in 23 games behind the dish and in 31 overall as a junior, Cotto has committed just one defensive miscue in 299 career chances for a staggering .997 fielding percentage. According to Powers, DeRosa has made the transition to catcher after serving most of her freshman campaign in the outfield. DeRosa finished last spring one home run shy of the program's freshman record, as her seven dingers helped the class record the most long balls by a first-year group in school history. In 2008, she batted .333 and slugged .698 while driving in a team-high 28 runs and smacking four triples.

Arguably the biggest unknown for the Lyons is in the circle, as just one of four Wheaton pitchers returns. As one of four upperclassmen, lone junior Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) is looking to lead the three-hurler rotation following a highly successful field hockey season that saw the goalkeeper garner all-region and all-conference honors. Bagley went 8-7 last spring with a 2.65 earned run average and 67 strikeouts. Bagley is joined on the staff by first-year players Mary Fay (Stoughton, MA/Cardinal Spellman) and Lesley Warn (Portland, ME/Deering). A utility player, Fay will also be leaned on in both the infield and outfield, which could limit her innings pitched.

Three of Wheaton's starting infielders hail from the sophomore class, with Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law), Rachel Merrick (Methuen, MA/Central Catholic) and Katy Salka (Ayer, MA/Ayer) slated for third base, second base and shortstop, respectively. The versatile Hunt, who played all three positions a year ago and is one of women's volleyball's top defensive players, will most likely back up Kelleher at first, as well as see time at second and short. Hunt batted .298 in 40 starts during her freshman campaign, scoring 19 runs and driving in 16 while swiping six bags.

Merrick, who could provide relief for Salka at short, shared middle infield duties in 2008 and turned in a solid offensive season with a .318 average during 38 starts to go alongside 21 RBI and nine stolen bases. Salka was forced to battle through an injury last spring and appeared in just seven contests. Sophomore Marissa Hobocan (Shelton, CT/Saint Joseph) will vie for time at second base after picking up 12 starts in 21 games in multiple roles as a freshman.

In addition to Fay and Warn, the freshman class is comprised of Emily O'Connell (Kennebunk, ME/Kennebunk), Amanda Poplaski (North Reading, MA/North Reading), Staley Salazar (Lakewood, CO/Bear Creek) and Valerie Tratner (Forest Hills, NY/Saint Francis Prep). O'Connell and Tratner will both play third base, while O'Connell could also see time at second and Tratner at short. Poplaski and Salazar are outfielders by trade and could very well flank Brady in the corner spots.

The Lyons begin their 40-game regular season slate in familiar Fort Myers, Florida, where they have traveled in each of the last 17 years, at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic starting on March 7. Wheaton faces a 12-game southern swing before returning north to host Bridgewater State College on March 19. The Lyons begin their 16-contest league slate two days after that with a home twinbill against the United States Coast Guard Academy. The double-elimination NEWMAC Tournament gets underway on April 22.

Three squads on Wheaton's northern schedule are either nationally ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA's preseason poll, as the Lyons face 10th-ranked Tufts University on April 5, number-18 Rhode Island College on March 26 and Wellesley College on April 3. Wellesley is receiving votes in the poll.