HARTFORD, Conn. - The Trinity College softball team, which played its way into the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC Semifinals last year, could not be more excited to embark on their annual spring break trip to Central Florida for the Spring Games. The Bantams will play their first games under new Head Coach Mackenzie Keyes beginning on Saturday, March 18 against Loras College and Ohio Wesleyan University. Keyes came to Trinity in the fall from conference foe Williams College, where she had been an assistant coach since 2017. This spring, Keyes has an experienced and versatile roster of 18 players, including eight juniors and seniors, as Trinity seeks to make another deep post-season run this year.  The Bantams will play 10 games in Florida over a seven-day stretch before opening its Northern slate with a home doubleheader against NESCAC rival Weslyan on April Fool's Day.
 
Trinity has the rare luxury of four experienced arms ready to tackle a challenging schedule in Florida and up North in April. Junior RHP Tiffany Stower (Burke, Va.) is a proven asset, having won seven games with a 3.97 ERA and 47 strikeouts in over 100 innings of work. Junior Erin Girard (Bristol, Conn.) looks to build on a promising first two years that saw her log 24 innings against top competition. Senior Madeline Recker (Sayville, N.Y.) gained valuable experience while starting seven games in 2022 and first-year Kaysen Shikar (Watchung, N.J.) rounds out the staff. Behind the plate, senior Alyssa Gazivoda (Poughquag, N.Y.) is a top-notch receiver who batted .277 last spring.  Junior Hannah Mullaney (Hebron, Conn.) and rookie Allyson Hourigan (Schwenksville, Pa.) are also available to catch.
 
Trinity has several experienced infielders who are ready to build one outstanding years in 2022. Junior Kennedy Rogers (Pomona, Calif.) is a two-year starter who finished with a .350 batting average, nine extra-base hits, three homers, and 22 RBIs at 1B a year ago. Classmate Gianna Tito Gianna Tito (East Hanover, N.J.) is slick middle infielder who hit .297 with 23 RBIs as a sophomore.  Taylor Mikolajczak (John's Creek, Ga.), who was one of ten finalists for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Rookie of the Year as a rookie SS in 2022, is one of the most dangerous and exciting players in the league.  Mikolajczak was stellar defensively with a steady glove and a rocket arm, while batting .385 with 28 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. First-year Rebecca Cassel-Siskind (Philadelphia, Pa.) is another middle infield option.

In the outfield, senior Scarlett Gillette (Andover, Mass.) has seen significant playing time in her career in multiple spots.  Mullaney hit .281 in her first collegiate season and sophomore Erin Steed (Orland Park, Ill.) started all 30 games in the outfield last year, belting six doubles and driving in 15 runs.  Another sophomore Alex Golz (Aberdeen, S.D.) showed promise in 2022, batting .375 in limited duty, while first-years Abigail Alper (Weston, Fla.) and Annika Haley (Marblehead, Mass.) give Coach Keyes numerous options among young players to choose from in the outfield.  Steed and first-year UT Lizzie Nelson (Rockville, Md.) are also among the candidates working who can play the hot corner.