DELAWARE FAVORED IN CAA SOFTBALL RACE, HESS CHOSEN AS PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1/31/2025 2:00:00 PM

Dylan Smith

RICHMOND, Va. – Delaware has been selected as the league’s favorite in CAA Softball as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches. Blue Hens’ senior pitcher/outfielder Morgan Hess was chosen as the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Delaware is fresh off a 39-win season, the most victories by a CAA team last season. Of the 39 triumphs, Hess went 14-6 in the circle with a 2.33 ERA, 66 strikeouts, six complete games and a pair of shutouts across 126.0 innings of work. The NFCA All-Northeast and All-CAA First Team selection also swung a heavy bat with a .300/.327/.521 slash line, logging 24 RBIs, 19 runs scored and five homers. The Blue Hens will also turn to fellow preseason All-CAA Team selections Gianna Costaro, Katie Scheivert, Sydney Shaffer and Billie Kerwood.

Reigning CAA Champion UNCW checked in at No. 2 in the preseason poll following a remarkable run as the tournament’s fourth seed. Producing 18 of its 33 wins in league action, the Seahawks gathered two first-place votes heading into 2025. Outfielder and 2024 All-CAA Rookie Team pick Cassidy Relay will look to build on her dominant first campaign that featured a .380 batting average and a .463 on-base percentage, both top 10 in league action. She also swiped a conference-best 15 bags in CAA play.

Campbell matched UNCW with two top votes and was selected third by the conference’s coaches. Last season’s regular season champions at 22-5, the Camels will welcome new head coach Emily Carosone, a three-time All-American and former assistant coach at Auburn. All-CAA First Team honoree Tyra Parker returns for her senior season and earned a spot on the preseason squad. The speedy outfielder led the conference with 25 stolen bases and ranked fourth with a .355 batting average. Fellow conference First Team selection Kyra McFarland and Stony Brook were tabbed fourth in the preseason poll. The league’s batting leader with a .389 mark and 68 hits a season ago, McFarland helped the Seawolves to 35 wins last season, including 19 in league action.

Hofstra edged out Elon for fifth as both teams received a first-place nod following a pair of 23-win seasons that featured 17 victories apiece in league play. The Pride welcomes back All-CAA Second Team selection Olivia Malinowski, who also received preseason recognition from the league’s coaches. Elon will turn to a pair of 2024 all-conference selections, first-team honoree Mauri Murray and second-team recipient Gabi Schaal, and standout hurler McKenna McCard to front the load in 2025.

Towson was picked to finish seventh in the coaches’ poll, followed by Monmouth in eighth. The Hawks will be led by first-year Head Coach Morgan Royer, who held previous stints at Marist and UMass. She will rely on Savannah Simons to make an impact this season after the third baseman earned a spot on the preseason conference squad. Drexel, North Carolina A&T, Hampton and Charleston round out the final four spots. The Pirates will be guided by first-year Head Coach Cat Tarvin, who makes her way North after a four-year stint at North Carolina Central.

2025 CAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st)                                           Points
Delaware (6) 113
UNCW (2) 106
Campbell (2) 96
Stony Brook 87
Hofstra (1) 83
Elon (1) 82
Towson 55
Monmouth 47
Drexel 36
North Carolina A&T 31
Hampton 31
Charleston 25

Preseason Player of the Year: Morgan Hess, Delaware

2025 Preseason All-CAA Team
Name School Cl. Position                Hometown
Olivia Malinowski                       Hofstra Sr. C Mount Ephraim, N.J.
Gianna Costaro Delaware So.                   1B Bellmore, N.Y.
Gabi Schaal Elon 5th 1B Lakeland, Fla.
Katie Scheivert Delaware                   Jr. 2B Leesburg, Va.
Savannah Simons Monmouth Jr. 3B Kapa’a, Hawaii
Kyra McFarland Stony Brook Gr. SS Greeley, Colo.
Tyra Parker Campbell Sr. OF Humble, Texas
Mauri Murray Elon Jr. OF Marvin, N.C.
Cassidy Relay UNCW So. OF Colts Neck, N.J.
Sydney Shaffer Delaware Jr. UT Ashland, Va.
Morgan Hess Delaware Sr.                   UT/P South Riding, Va.
McKenna McCard Elon Sr. P Ashburn, Ga.
Billie Kerwood Delaware                  Sr. P Prospect Park, Penn.

Honorable Mentions: Hannah Leierer, Campbell (P) / Madison Ford, Campbell (C) / Mary Beth Cahalan, Delaware (C) / Naiah Ackerman, Stony Brook (2B) / Allee Seering, Elon (3B) / Chloe Blantz, Delaware (SS) / Carmynn Bonner, Hampton (OF) / Alyssa Costello, Stony Brook (OF) / Ashlyn Porter, Campbell (UT) / Gabriella Sultan, Hofstra (UT)