The Holy Cross Crusaders softball team represents the College of the Holy Cross in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Patriot League (PL). From 1985 until 1990, the team was a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Crusaders are led by head coach Jon Ladino. The team plays its home games at Freshman Field located on the university's campus.
History The Crusaders have found minimal success since becoming a Division I program. The program has won the Patriot League regular season title twice, winning the title outright in 1998 and sharing it in a four way tie in 1999. The team won the conference tournament in 1998 after defeating Lehigh by a score of 4-3, their only championship in program history. Because 1998 was the final year before the expansion of the NCAA tournament, the Crusaders did not automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Holy Cross has won several individual awards during their time in the Patriot League. Pitcher Genoa Grosch was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Grosch, as well as catcher Michelle Fagnant, were named to the Patriot League 1990s All-Decade team. Former coaches Fran Dyson, Bob Neville, and Brian Claypool have each been named Patriot League Coach of the Year during their time with the Crusaders, with Dyson winning in 1995, Neville in 1998 and 2001, and Claypool in 2011.
Coaching history 1985 Sandy Gentile 6–21 1986 Kathy Feen 5–18 1987–1990 Laura McLain 46–77 1991–1992 Pete Royce 12–61–1 1993–1997 Fran Dyson 62–131–2 1998–2005 Bob Neville 129–219–2 2006–2007 Peter Maneggia 14–74 2008–2016 Brian Claypool 108–305 2017–2021 Jen Lapicki 49–127 2022–2024 Kimberly Stiles 50–100–1 2025–present Jon Ladino 18–71
Roster 2024 Holy Cross Crusaders roster Pitchers 11 – Maya Gallagher – Freshman 27 – Zoey McDonough – Freshman 19 – Sophia Roncone – Sophomore 10 – Avery Toddings – Freshman 9 – Jena Whipple – Junior 30 – Megan Yurchick – Senior
Catchers 6 – Emma Fong – Junior 4 – Morgan Jensen – Senior Outfielders 5 – Jenna Alesandrelli – Sophomore 23 – Morgan Kane – Sophomore 24 – Ali Sniegocki – Sophomore
Infielders 2 – Bailey Bates – Senior 18 – Anna Brait – Sophomore 2 – Ava Gambichler – Freshman 1 – Abbie Gold – Sophomore 20 – Caroline Higgins – Freshman 3 – Emma Pietrzak – Freshman
Utility 13 – Jessica Mott – Senior 12 – Callie Thibault – Junior Reference:
Season-by-season results
Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic
See also List of NCAA Division I softball programs
References
External links