WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – For the first time since 2022, Hartford Hawks softball will be eligible to compete in conference tournament play after posting a 25-9-1 record in 2024, including a 15-3 record in Conference of New England (CNE) play. This season the Hawks have high hopes for success in 2025. 
 
NOTABLE RETURNING PLAYERS
15 players on the 2024 Hawks softball team are returning to the diamond in 2025, including senior outfielder and team captain senior Olivia Wolk (Sugarloaf, Pa.), who led the Conference of New England in batting average last season, batting .462 in conference play. 
 
"I see a lot of effort a lot of potential, everybody comes in, works hard every practice, puts in 100%. That's all we need to be doing to be successful throughout the season. I'm very excited because of everything I've been seeing, grinding before practice, after practice, putting in extra hours, not just within the field, so it's definitely exciting to see."
 
Catcher and team captain junior Taylor Fitch (Andover, Conn.) returns for her third season behind the plate, commanding the defense and providing a security blanket for pitchers, as she had a 1.000% fielding percentage and allowed just two passed balls last season.
 
"I feel like Hartford has a lot to prove. We have a really good chance of competing, we know our competition, and we know what we have to bring, and I think everyone is really excited to finally compete for something."
 
Junior Carly Mayhood (Newton, N.J.) is looking to repeat her performance from last year and help guide the Hawks to their first CNE Title following a dominant sophomore season where she pitched to a 1.97 ERA across 18 appearances, including 16 starts and seven complete games,
 
"My expectations are to come out strong every game. As a team, I'm always turning around on the pitcher's mound, and I hear everybody talking and communicating every pitch, and that's really important to come out strong every time."

Other notable returners include senior Sarah Serrano (Windsor, Conn.) who slugged .215 in 24 games with six RBI, five stolen bases, and .895% Fielding percentage. Senior Azya Walker (Oak Forest, Ill.) who slugged .272 avg, in 34 starts, with one home run, 11 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. And sophomore Alexis Sealey (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) who finished last year with a 2.50 ERA in 15 appearances, throwing 34 strikeouts, at the plate she finished with a .362 AVG, with four home runs and 15 RBI
 
FRESH FACES
The Hawks will bring in seven first-year players in 2025 looking to make an impact immediately.
 
Outfielders (4): Katrina Baran (Townsend, Del.), Liv Shulman (Pasadena, Md.), Eryn Coyle (Monroe, M.Y.), Holly Myers (Erving, Mass.)

Infielders (2): Lucy Lembo (Albany, N.Y.), Alyssa Edwards (Stoughton, Mass.)
 
Two-Way Players (1): Ella Zobel (Clarence, N.Y.)
 
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Hawks are led by Head Coach Mairin Dudek who enters her fourth season at Hartford with a 58-57-1 record overall, and 15-3 in CNE play.

"We should win it all, we have returning staff, we have new freshman... I think we're very deep. Playing a year in the conference, kind of knowing what the conference is like and our different opponents. I think we have the talent, we have the players that can get us, definitely, into the championship game, and we wouldn't be doing what we were trying to do for the last four years is that wasn't our ultimate goal for this year," said Dudek.

Hartford Softball opens up their season on March 8^th on the road against Framingham State University, games are expected to start at 12:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. The Hawks will play their first home game at the Hartford Softball Field on March 27^th, when they take on the local rival St. Joseph's Blue Jays. Hartford will play their first CNE games on March 29^th, when they battle Roger Williams University in a double-header, first pitch of game one is expected at 12:00 P.M. The Hawks season wraps up in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Hawks will face the Wentworth Leopards in a doubleheader on May 3^rd.
 
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