La Salle Explorers
UniversityLa Salle University
Head coachSarah Prezioso (1st season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
LocationPhiladelphia, PA
Home stadiumWest Campus Field
NicknameExplorers
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
Conference Tournament championships
1987, 1989, 1990, 1992[2]
Regular Season Conference championships
1989, 1990, 1992
For information on all La Salle University sports, see La Salle Explorers

The La Salle Explorers softball team represented La Salle University in NCAA Division I college softball from 1973 until 2021. From 1986 until 1992, the team was a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). From 1993 until 1995, the team was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC). From 1995 until the school's final season in 2021, they were a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Explorers were most recently led by interim head coach Sarah Prezioso. The team formerly played its home games at West Campus Field, which is located on the college's campus.[3]

On September 29, 2020, it was announced that the school would be cutting seven athletic programs, including the softball team, citing enrollment and financial issues that were accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic.[4][5] The team played its final season in 2021.[6]

History

After joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1987, La Salle found significant success throughout their tenure, winning three regular season championships and four MAAC tournament championships. The Explorers defeated Fairfield to win the tournament in 1989, Army to win in 1990, and Canisius to win in 1992.[7] In 1990, head coach Rick Pohlig was named MAAC Coach of the Year.[8] In 1990 and 1992, pitcher Andrea Huck was named MAAC Player of the Year.[9] For her career accomplishments, Huck was named to the MAAC's 40th Anniversary softball team, along with former teammates Kelli McGahey, Kerri McGahey, and Mary McGrath.[10]

In 1991, it was announced that La Salle would be leaving the MAAC to join the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in an attempt to shift the conference from a regional one to a national one.[11][12] In 1995, it was announced that La Salle would again be switching conferences, this time to the Atlantic 10 Conference.[13] In 1997, catcher Debbie Klawiter was named A-10 Rookie of the Year. In the same year, head coach Ray Perri was named A-10 Coach of the Year, the team's only coaching award during their tenure in the Atlantic 10 Conference.[14] In 2001, infielder Amanda Clark was named A-10 Rookie of the Year.[15][16]

On September 29, 2020, it was announced that the school would be cutting seven athletic programs, including the softball team, citing enrollment and financial issues that were accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic.[4][5] The program cuts drew criticism from student-athletes in addition to threats of a Title IX lawsuit.[17][18][19]

Prior to the start of the program's final season in 2021, Brooke Darreff was replaced as head coach by interim Sarah Prezioso.[20] The Explorers finished their final season in 2021 with a 0–30 record, ending the softball program's 48 year history with three regular season championships, four conference tournament championships, and no appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1973–1975Elanor Snell2–17.105
1976–1991Rick Pohlig284–214–2.570
1992–1998Ray Perri182–171.516
1999–2002Carla Camino29–116.200
2003–2008Joe DiPietro87–171–1.337
2009–2012Brianne Brown36–127.221
2013–2017Ron Shoemaker85–132.392
2018–2020Brooke Darreff24–77.238[15]
2021Sarah Prezioso0–30.000[6]

Roster

2021 La Salle Explorers final roster
 

Pitchers

  • 8 – Sarah Dowalo – Junior
  • 2 – Morgan Orlowski – Senior
  • 77 – Regan Ware – Sophomore

Catchers

  • 10 – Mia Recenello – Sophomore
  • 7 – Casey Walker – Sophomore
  • 11 – Victoria Zatko – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 16 – Lauren Begg – Sophomore
  • 12 – Maddy Little – Sophomore
  

Infielders

  • 45 – Tessa Dodson – Freshman
  • 1 – Alyssa Fagans – Freshman
  • 14 – Ashley Mendenhall – Senior
  • 27 – Natalie Rios – Junior

Utility

  • 13 – Makie Paxson – Freshman
  • 9 – Kaylee Piven – Junior
  
Reference:[21]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
La Salle Explorers (Independent) (1973–1985)
1973 Elanor Snell 0–5
1974 Elanor Snell 0–7
1975 Elanor Snell 2–5
1976 Rick Pohlig 5–1
1977 Rick Pohlig 5–3
1978 Rick Pohlig 7–5
1979 Rick Pohlig 13–1
1980 Rick Pohlig 9–2
1981 Rick Pohlig 23–13
1982 Rick Pohlig 19–11
1983 Rick Pohlig 18–11
1984 Rick Pohlig 23–19
1985 Rick Pohlig 29–22
La Salle Explorers (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1986–1992)
1986 Rick Pohlig 16–22–1[N 1][N 2]
1987 Rick Pohlig 22–203rd
1988 Rick Pohlig 14–272nd
1989 Rick Pohlig 23–241st
1990 Rick Pohlig 29–15–11st
1991 Rick Pohlig 29–183rd
1992 Ray Perri 33–161st
La Salle Explorers (Midwestern Collegiate Conference) (1993–1995)
1993 Ray Perri 25–256–6T–4th
1994 Ray Perri 25–232–8T–5th
1995 Ray Perri 26–356–126th
La Salle Explorers (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1996–2021)
1996 Ray Perri 23–269–74th
1997 Ray Perri 31–1811–53rd
1998 Ray Perri 19–285–118th
1999 Carla Camino 11–325–117th
2000 Carla Camino 9–461–159th
2001 Carla Camino 9–385–16T–7th
2002 Carla Camino 12–363–18T–7th
2003 Joe DiPietro 15–285–97th
2004 Joe DiPietro 10–312–108th
2005 Joe DiPietro 12–32–12–109th
2006 Joe DiPietro 12–332–1811th
2007 Joe DiPietro 16–238–117th
2008 Joe DiPietro 22–248–128th
2009 Brianne Brown 9–296–139th
2010 Brianne Brown 13–302–1811th
2011 Brianne Brown 5–382–1610th
2012 Brianne Brown 9–403–1711th
2013 Ron Shoemaker 16–313–1912th
2014 Ron Shoemaker 18–249–9T–5th
2015 Ron Shoemaker 15–229–115th
2016 Ron Shoemaker 16–287–149th
2017 Ron Shoemaker 20–277–169th
2018 Brooke Darreff 12–343–1910th
2019 Brooke Darreff 12–335–17T–9th
2020 Brooke Darreff 0–100–0

Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 Sarah Prezioso 0–310–2010th
Total:729–1,055–3 (.409)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[15][22][23]

Notes

  1. ↑ Conference records are unavailable as MAAC records are incomplete and La Salle records do not include conference win/loss or standings.
  2. ↑ Conference records are unavailable as MAAC records are incomplete and La Salle records do not include conference win/loss or standings.

See also

References

  1. ↑ La Salle Brand Standards Manual (PDF). July 29, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Softball Standings 1986-2022". maacsports.com.
  3. ↑ "Facilities". La Salle University Athletics.
  4. 1 2 "La Salle cutting 7 sports at end of school year". ESPN.com. September 29, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Jensen, Mike. "La Salle is cutting seven sports to better align with comparable athletic programs". www.inquirer.com.
  6. 1 2 "2021 Softball Schedule". La Salle University Athletics.
  7. ↑ "Softball Championship History". maacsports.com.
  8. ↑ "The La Salle Explorer, Vol. 8 No. 6". digitalcommons.lasalle.edu.
  9. ↑ "Softball Individual Awards". maacsports.com.
  10. ↑ "MAAC Announces 40th Anniversary Softball Team". maacsports.com.
  11. ↑ "LA SALLE, DUQUESNE JOIN MCC – Chicago Tribune". www.chicagotribune.com.
  12. ↑ "MAAC loses a big name in La Salle Change leaves Loyola pondering switch, too – Baltimore Sun". www.baltimoresun.com.
  13. ↑ Brady, Jim (1995-02-10). "VA. TECH, DAYTON, LA SALLE JOIN A-10". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  14. ↑ "The Explorer Update Vol. 1 No. 3". digitalcommons.lasalle.edu.
  15. 1 2 3 "La Salle Softball Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). La Salle University Athletics.
  16. ↑ "Curcio Named Second-Team All-A-10". La Salle University Athletics.
  17. ↑ Jensen, Mike. "A La Salle freshman was excited she could help rebuild the softball program. Not anymore. | Mike Jensen". www.inquirer.com.
  18. ↑ "Student-athletes react with 'shock and anger' to La Salle's sudden call to cut sports". September 29, 2020.
  19. ↑ Bellair, Hope (July 13, 2021). "La Salle University Agrees to Add Opportunities for Female Student Athletes to Avoid Title IX Lawsuit".
  20. ↑ "La Salle makes coaching changes ahead of final season". January 15, 2021.
  21. ↑ "2021 Softball Roster". La Salle University Athletics.
  22. ↑ "2022-23 #HLSB Record Book (PDF) - Horizon League" (PDF). horizonleague.org.
  23. ↑ "SOFTBALL RECORD BOOK THROUGH 2016-17 SEASON (PDF) - Atlantic 10" (PDF). static.atlantic10.com.
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