Here is a capsulized look at the University of Bridgeport Softball team:
Coach/Years: Dawn Stearns/17th year
Last year’s record: 33-16 (19-3 in CACC play)
2025 Postseason: Advanced to NCAA East Regional tournament.
2026 Current Record: 0-0 (Season Opens Friday, Feb. 27, vs. Davenport, in Florida.
Key Players Returning: Mya Jones, Sr., IF; Vise Zarate, Sr, P; Sydnee Perreault, Jr., OF; McKenzie Morgan, Jr., C-IF; Samantha Ledger, Jr., P; Breanna Pelaez, Soph., OF; Paityn Thibodeaux, Soph., IF.
Top Newcomers: Isabella Benjamin, Gr., IF (Transfer from SUNY-Corning); Georgia Burr, Jr., IF; (Transfer from Monroe University); Alyssa Castillo, Fr., C-IF; Grace DuBrava, Fr., Util.; Sienna Lucas, Fr., IF; Maerin Lyon, Fr., Util; Samantha Sponder, Fr., P;
Outlook: With just two seniors on the roster, it will be a young University of Bridgeport softball team taking the field in Dawn Stearns’ 17th year in charge of the Purple Knights. The biggest question mark coming into the season is who will replace the graduated Katie Burawski (18-7, 1.94 ERA, 188 Ks in 159 innings). The answer could be Zarate, who was 11-9 with a 2.84 ERA a year ago, and appears poised to become a front-line pitcher. Five of UB’s top seven hitters also return, though with the Knights having graduated five seniors from a year ago and two rising seniors opting not to return, others will have to step up as leaders for the program, with is a perennial favorite in the CACC. Bridgeport, which won the league last season, was picked second in the preseason coaches’ poll this season. Connecticut players on the roster include: Castillo (Monroe/Masuk), DuBrava (Salem/East Lyme); Lyon (Groton/Fitch), Lucas (Seymour/Oxford HS), sophomore Melanie Martin (Waterford), and junior pitcher Hailey Smith (Bozrah/Norwich Free Academy).
(Editor’s Note: Cover photo courtesy of University of Bridgeport Athletics)
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