MANSFIELD, Mass. – The New England College softball team has earned the third spot in the 2023 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Preseason Poll. The Pilgrims compiled four total points. Head coach Ben Master enters his eleventh year for the Pilgrims. First team All-NECC selection Emily Gagne (Portsmouth, N.H.) headlines the 'Grims returners, as she comes back from a season in which she hit .373 and was the league's greatest threat on the bases, with 23 thefts. Also returning to the lineup is graduate student Destiny Helmedach (Middlefield, Conn.) after recording 39 hits, six doubles, 30 runs batted in, with a .379 batting average, and broke the program record for runs scored last season. 

The 2023 NECC Softball Championship will be held Friday, May 5- Sunday, May 7. 

2023 NECC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll 

1. Eastern Nazarene – 8 (2) 

1. Mitchell – 8 (2) 

3. Lesley – 4 

3. New England College – 4 

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