Runfola and Trotta Earn First-Team Honors
Christine Runfola and Jen Trotta were named first-team All-CAC in softball. Runfola, a first-team All-CAC selection in 1997, led the Cardinals in RBI (15), triples (5), total bases (41) and slugging percentage (.641). The senior was 12-for-12 in stolen bases and struck out just twice in 64 at-bats. She and Trotta tied for the team high in batting average (.438), hits (28) and runs (20).
Trotta, who started all 22 games, was a perfect 23-for-23 in stolen bases to lead the CAC. The sophomore also paced the Cards in walks (14) and was second in total bases (31) and slugging percentage (.484). A two-sport athlete, Trotta is a reserve guard for the women's basketball team.
The Cardinals, who entered the season with a 28-game losing streak, finished with a record of 7-15 under first-year coach Dean Ferington. The former Langley (Va.) High coach also led Catholic to its first CAC victory in two years and its first win in the CAC Tournament since capturing the conference crown in 1994.
Outlook
The women's softball team returns six starters as it looks to re-capture the form it displayed in winning the CAC championship and ECAC Southern Region title in 1994.
"There is an abundance of talent here, more than enough to be successful," said Coach Dean Ferington, who takes over the program after a highly successful prep coaching career. "The players have a great work ethic, and it has helped them to understand what we are trying to accomplish. I couldn't be more pleased with their effort on and off the field."
With the return of Second-Team All-CAC junior shortstop Jennifer Quinn (.344 in 1998), sophomore center fielder Jennifer Trotta (.355) and sophomore catcher Meagan Schiavone (pictured), the nucleus is set for a successful 1999 season. One of the biggest additions to this year's squad is senior catcher/third baseman Christine Runfola, who was one of CUA's top players in 1997. Runfola, the only senior on the preseason roster, sat out the last season with arm problems, but is fully recovered and expected to make an immediate impact. A trio of juniors - second baseman Christa Hirleman, outfielder Thea Bertoni and first baseman Emily Crocker (.375) - will be counted on to help steady the young team.
Incoming freshmen expected to make immediate contributions are infielder Eileen Horn (Lenexa, Kan.), utility player Beth Arway (Grover Mo.), pitcher Caitlin Gremminger (Wallingford, Pa.) and outfielder Stephanie McDevitt (Pelham, N.Y.)
Results (7-15, 1-7 CAC)
| Date | Opponent | Result | Notable |
| March 20 | at Villa Julie | W, 9-1 | Runfola 3-for-3, two RBI, three runs scored |
| March 20 | at Villa Julie | L, 6-5 | Horn 1-for-3 with 1 RBI |
| March 23 | vs. Gallaudet * | L, 7-4 | Catholic stole 10 bases |
| March 23 | vs. Gallaudet * | L, 6-1 | Runfola 2-for-3, 1 RBI |
| March 28 | Christopher Newport | L, 13-9 | Runfola 3-for-4, 2 runs, triple, 2 SB |
| March 28 | Christopher Newport | L, 12-5 | Arway 1-for-3, 2 runs, 1 SB |
| March 29 | at Washington (Md.) | L, 3-2 | Trotta 3 SB |
| March 29 | at Washington (Md.) | W, 8-4 | Gremminger 5-hitter. Meagan Schiavone 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Beth Arway 2-for-4, 2 RBI |
| March 31 | at Mary Washington * | L, 8-2 | Runfola 2-for-3 |
| March 31 | at Mary Washington * | W, 5-3 | Blanchfield 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Runfola 2-for-4 |
| April 1 | at Gettysburg | ppd. | April 27 makeup date |
| April 8 | Columbia Union | W, 6-4 | Gremminger two-hitter |
| April 8 | Columbia Union | W, 11-3 | Quinn 2-for-3, 4 RBI |
| April 11 | at Swarthmore | ppd. | |
| April 13 | Salisbury State * | L, 8-1 | Trotta, Schiavone 2-for-3 |
| April 13 | Salisbury State * | L, 5-2 | Quinn 1-for-2, run |
| April 17 | at York (Pa.) * | L, 7-6 | Runfola 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs |
| April 17 | at York (Pa.) * | L, 3-2 | Horn 1-for-3 |
| April 18 | at Haverford | L, 13-4 | Bertoni 2-for-3, 2 RBI |
| April 18 | at Haverford | W, 8-5 | Runfola 3-for-5, 3B, SB, 2 runs |
| April 24 | Gallaudet # | W, 5-3 | Blanchfield 2-for-4, 2 RBI |
| April 24 | Salisbury # | L, 13-2 | Schiavone 2-for-2, 1 run |
| April 27 | at Gettysburg | L, 11-3 | Trotta 3-for-3, run |
| April 27 | at Gettysburg | L, 14-5 | Runfola 2-for-2, run, RBI |
* Conference games
# Conference tournament
Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | B/T | Yr. | Hometown/High School |
| 5 | Eileen Horn | 2B/3B | 5-5 | R/R | Fr. | Lenexa, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas |
| 6 | Liz Carson | OF | 5-4 | R/R | Fr. | North Hills, Pa./Abington |
| 8 | Caitlin Gremminger | P | 5-1 | R/R | Fr. | Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven |
| 9 | Meagan Schiavone | C/1B | 5-4 | R/R | So. | Lanham, Md./Elizabeth Seton |
| 10 | Luisa Blanchfield | 1B | 5-8 | R/R | Fr. | Chatham, Mass./Chatham Jr-Sr |
| 11 | Thea Bertoni | OF | 5-3 | R/R | Jr. | Rockville, Md./Montrose Christian |
| 13 | Somer Heinle | OF | 5-4 | R/R | So. | Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South |
| 15 | Liz Tracy | C/SS | 5-2 | R/R | Fr. | Holland, Mich./West Ottawa |
| 18 | Meghan Scheuermann | OF | 5-3 | R/R | So. | Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Acad. |
| 20 | Beth Arway | 3B/SS | 5-5 | R/R | Fr. | Grover, Mo./Eureka |
| 21 | Jessica Hughes | OF | 5-6 | R/R | Fr. | Merrimack, N.H./Bishop Guertin |
| 22 | Jen Trotta | OF | 5-5 | S/R | So. | Millersville, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame |
| 23 | Christine Runfola | UT | 5-3 | R/R | Sr. | Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove |
| 24 | Jen Quinn | SS | 5-7 | R/R | Jr. | Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy |
Head Coach: Dean Ferington (First season)
Assistant Coaches: Cindy Ritter, Bob Beese
Captains: Christine Runfola, Jen Quinn, Jen Trotta
