Full Centennial Conference Release
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team has been picked ninth in the annual Preseason Centennial Conference Softball Poll, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. Haverford received 13 total points in the voting.
The Fords enter 2025 with a group poised to re-enter the Centennial Conference Championship tournament for the first time since 2019, when they finished as runners-up in the Centennial. Leading the charge for the Fords will be head coach Kate Gatti, who will be entering her eighth season with the team.
Returning for her sophomore campaign with the Fords is 2024 Rookie of the Year and All-Centennial Conference First Team member Lauren Martin. Patrolling right field, Martin hit a whopping .358 in her first year as a Ford. She appeared in all 34 games, logging 39 hits, 23 runs scored, nine doubles, three triples, one home run, and 11 RBIs while striking out just nine times. She also walked seven times and stole nine bases. Martin ranked ninth in the CC for batting average and in the top 15 for hits, OPS, and slugging percentage.
Leading a young pitching rotation, Haverford ace Rachel McQueen returns to the pitching circle for her senior season. McQueen made 21 appearances for Haverford, including 17 starts. She collected three wins and 30 strikeouts in 80 ⅔ innings.
2024 Centennial Conference champion Gettysburg topped the Preseason Poll, garnering eight first-place votes and 64 total voting points. Swarthmore, which was crowned Centennial Conference champion in 2023, was tabbed second in the predictions with the final first-place vote and 53 total voting points. Muhlenberg slid into the third spot with 50 total voting points, while Washington College (fourth, 43 total voting points) and Ursinus (fifth, 31 points) rounded out the top five.
Voted sixth was Dickinson with 30 total voting points, followed by McDaniel in seventh with 21 total voting points. Franklin & Marshall was chosen eighth with 19 total voting points, while Haverford completed the 2025 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll with 13 total voting points.
Softball will begin the 2025 season at Arcadia on March 1 before hosting Widener in the home opener at Class of '95 Field on Tuesday, March 4, at 2 p.m.