Coach: Ted McDaniel, 10th year.
Last year: 3-17.

Key losses: Amanda Morrison, P; Carly Lewis, 2B; Lauren Zitsch, OF/2B.
Top returning players: Whitney Dennis, Sr. C; Morgan McCarthy, Sr. 1B; Erin McCarthy, Jr. 3B/P; Morgan Baker, Jr. OF; Morgan Sykes, Soph. 2B/SS; Megan Christian, Soph. 3B.

Top newcomers: Felicity Eiland, Sr. SS; Lauren Myers, Sr. P; Rachel Largent, Fr. OF; Charlotte Viands, Fr. 1B/UTIL; Heather MacPherson, Sr. OF; Amanda Higgins, Soph. UTIL; Dana Holzaphel, Jr. OF

Outlook: Coming off a 17-loss season, the Colonels are focusing on defense in an attempt to turn things around.
McDaniel said his team made too many costly mistakes in the field last year.

“We made 95 errors in 20 games and the year before that we made 55,” McDaniel said. “That’s about four more errors per game, and you can’t do that and win. We’ve taken measures to shore up our defense. We lost four games last year in the [opposing] team’s last at-bat and that was mainly due to errors.”

Wood does have leadership returning with second-team All-Northwestern District infielder Morgan McCarthy (.365, 11 RBI) and outfielder Erin McCarthy (11 RBI, 9 runs), who played six different positions for the Colonels last season.

The biggest holes will be at pitcher and second base, where four-year varsity players Morrison (78 strikeouts) and Lewis graduated.
McDaniel plans for Erin McCarthy and senior Lauren Myers —who have just two varsity starts between them — to handle the pitching duties.

“Pitching is really a key position we have to get straightened out,” McDaniel said. “We could use a two-pitcher rotation.”

If the defense improves and the team can get quality innings from McCarthy and Myers, McDaniel thinks the Colonels can improve.

“They’ve shown a lot of promise so far, and I think they’ve got a chance to really surprise some people,” he said. “We’ve got to play better than last year, and that’s our focus.”

First game: Wednesday vs. Loudoun County, 6.