2007 Softball Outlook

Guilford’s softball team enters its fifth season with a new head coach at the helm. Dennis Shores begins his first year as the Quakers' head softball coach after taking over for Ty Cook, who resigned in December. He inherits a squad that returns only six letter winners and posted a 9-31 record in 2006.

After meeting with the veterans, Shores is excited about bringing a new attitude, structure and discipline to the softball program. Guilford finished the 2006 season as the seventh-place team in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and missed a spot in the six-team ODAC Tournament.

Shores plans on creating an emphasis on the team's fundamentals and hitting. The 2007 roster may be shorter compared to last year's unit, but Shores expects the squad's competitiveness to be much stronger. Guilford will have to overcome the loss of four-year student-athletes and team captains Carla Cain '06, Jennifer Evans '06, Jennifer King '06, and Cara Patillo '06 to graduation. However, the Quakers do return three of their top-five hitters from 2006. Five new student-athletes join the Quakers lineup this year, all of whom will add to Guilford's depth.

Here’s a preview of the Quakers by position:

CATCHER: Junior Kelly Guarnieri, a 2006 honorable mention All-ODAC pick, leads the way as the Quakers' top offensive threat. She started every game in 2006 and was Guilford's top run producer. Guarnieri will start behind the plate on defense, but can also play in the outfield.

INFIELD: Veterans Kelly Hale and Zenovia Hogure will field the corners at first base and third base, respectively. They will be joined by newcomers Micki Boulineau and Emma Shew at second base and shortstop, repectively.

OUTFIELD: Guilford boasts experience at two of the three outfield positions with Ciara Locklear patrolling center field and Sara Vaisvilas in left field. First-year student-athletes Dana Small and Charissa Duncan will vie for the starting spot in right field. Duncan is also slated to back-up Guarnieri at catcher.

PITCHER: Second-year starter Taryn Pulvermuller will be joined by rookie DeNina Eldridge to handle the majority of the pitching duties for Guilford. However Vaisvilas, Hogue and Hale may also be asked to throw some relief innings this year. Pulvermuller replaces four-year starter Evans and looks to be the Quakers' top hurler on the mound.

The ODAC coaches voted the Quakers eighth in the 10-team preseason poll. Guilford’s tough non-conference schedule should prepare the young Quakers for challenging ODAC games later in the year. Guilford opens the season at home against Christopher Newport before embarking on a six-game road trip against Peace, Greensboro, and Methodist. The Quakers return home for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders against Meredith and Averett before traveling to play in the sixth annual Atlantic versus East Challenge, March 2-3 in Virginia Beach, Va. Guilford opens its ODAC schedule on the road March 15 against three-time defending ODAC Champion Roanoke.