Beginning the season with their annual spring break trip to Florida and a double-header against Husson College, the women of the Colby softball team are off and running toward what they hope will be another winning season. Working this year with new Head Coach Kristina Katori, whose experience includes her own outstanding collegiate career at Nichols College and a head coaching position at the State University of New York-New Paltz, the women hope that a successful year is in the cards. Hopefully, with thehelp of a roster loaded with skilled veterans and a crop of capable first-year players,  the Mules can fulfill such high expectations.

Facing off against Western Connecticut State University on March 22 to open the season, the women tallied an 8-0 loss under less than ideal playing conditions. Although the game began at 11:30 a.m., rain delays postponed the last few innings until late in the evening. Upsetting the flow of the game and certainly the concentration of the athletes, the Mules suffered an unfortunate loss at the hands of Western Connecticut.

Following these games, the women moved on to the next leg of their Florida tour with two matches on March 23. Battling against Lawrence College in the morning and Wellesley College in the evening, the women sadly lost 10-2 and 10-0 to each team, respectively. Christine Gillespie '10, Barbara Santos '11, Alyssa Lepore '11, and Lizzi Fort '11 had hits for Colby in the loss to Lawrence. Gillespie and Jennifer Goldman '12 had the lone hits in the loss to Wellesley.

In the last stretch of the spring break trip, the women were still unsuccessful in placing themselves in the win column, but the Mules nevertheless showed a great spurt of improvement in their games against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Allegheny College. Losing 6-4 and 8-4 respectively, Colby still managed to expand their offense and score more in each game than in all of their previous matches combined. Leading the way were Allana Sanborn '13, with a triple against MIT, and Lepore, who added a double and a single to the Mules' efforts against Allegheny. Other games during the trip included matches against the University of Chicago, Middlebury College, Plymouth State University, and Cornell College.

Upon returning to Maine at the end of spring break, the Mules were disheartened but not defeated. Determined to make a good showing in a double-header versus Husson College, the women lost in the opener but fought back to produce their second win of the season in the last half of the double-header. Dropping the first match in a tough 9-8 loss, the Mules were directed by Lepore, who had two hits and three RBI, Gillespie, with two hits and an RBI, Santos, with two hits and two runs and Alex Essman '11 with two hits. First-year Lauren Becker pitched the Mules to a 1-0 shutout win in the second match, and Santos scored on a hit from Lepore.

Although this season's results have not yet lived up to the Mules' expectations, the women move into regular season play with great experience under their belts, hoping that it will translate into a set of strong wins.