The College of Staten Island Softball Team opens the 2024 season later today as they hit the road to face Goldey-Beacom College. Like last season, the team has grown in numbers significantly in their second season of eligibility for the East Coast Conference playoffs. Tracey Garofalo will enter her third season as the team's head coach this year after winning the 300th game of her coaching career last season. That victory was among the high points for a Dolphins team that failed to make the East Coast Conference playoffs last season. Following doubleheaders both today and tomorrow, the Dolphins will have a week off before opening a 10-game trip to The Spring Games in Florida. The Dolphins will return home to the CSI Softball Complex in mid-March for a matchup with Georgian Court, and the team will open conference play nine days later at home against D'Youville. The Saints are now postseason eligible this year placing another team between the Dolphins and a playoff spot. Last season, the Dolphins were the only eligible team in the ECC to miss the postseason, but there is still plenty of optimism surrounding the program entering 2024. Following last season, the team graduated just a single player, and the Dolphins return nearly their entire roster of position players and pitching staff. This gives the team the benefit of continuity with many players and their head coach entering a third season together. The 2023 season saw the team set a program record in games-played with 48, and barring cancelations, that record will be broken again this season. Regardless of how many games the team plays, fans of the program hope to see postseason games return to CSI for the first time since the team established a dynasty at the Division III level in the 2010's.
KEY RETURNERS
Anissa Acosta - Jr. | Los Angeles, CA
Acosta was once again a force at the plate last season finishing second on the team in batting and leading the team in walks, OPS, doubles, home runs, RBI, and slugging. If the junior continues her current pace, she is poised to break the all-time program home run record held by CSI Athletics Hall of Famer Kaitlynn Flynn. Though her work in the circle was more limited than in 2022, Acosta was still a valuable piece of the CSI rotation and struck out batters at a higher rate than any other Dolphins pitcher.
Elizabeth Moore - Sr. | Los Angeles, CA
Moore is currently among the longest tenured Dolphins and still figures to be a significant piece in the CSI lineup despite a down season last year. After hitting nearly .300 in 2022, she hit just .190 last year. Defensively, 2023 was Moore's best season as she spent her third season at the hot corner for the Dolphins. The Dolphins hope to see her return to her 2022 form at the plate and factor in during her senior season with the program.
Mariah Carcano - Jr. | La Habra, CA
Carcano got off to a tremendous start during the 2023 season batting near the top of the CSI lineup, but a late-season slump saw her batting average dip below the .300 mark. Despite this, she still finished the season hitting .294 and led the team in both hits and runs-scored. In addition to her numbers at the plate, Carcano continued saving many runs with her defense patrolling center field last season.
Alyssa Acosta - So. | Los Angeles, CA
A part of the ECC All-Conference First Team last year, Acosta joined her sister Anissa for her first season with the Dolphins in 2023. She would proceed to lead the team in batting and was second in on-base percentage trailing only her sibling. Acosta was also one of the only Dolphins who looked to steal bases alongside fellow outfielder Carcano. Her defense was also important to the team last year, and a step forward could mean big things for the sophomore in 2024.
Aileen Balderas - So. | Los Angeles, CA
Balderas made an immediate impact in her first season with the Dolphins connecting on a home run in her first game with the team. As a freshman, she went on to hit .270 with four home runs on the year. Along with Acosta, she was one of two Dolphins with multiple home runs, and she spent much of the season in the middle of the lineup. The second in a group of impressive freshman from last year's team, Balderas is sure to factor in this season.
Victoria Whalen - Sr. | Brooklyn, NY
Whalen was arguably the most-improved Dolphin last season as she posted a career-high .299 batting average in 2023. Despite just 67 at-bats on the year, Whalen delivered 20 hits, seven going for extra bases. Her .403 slugging percentage and .368 on-base percentage were both third on the team, and she also drew seven walks in her limited plate appearances.
Alexandra Frenza - So. | Brooklyn, NY
Frenza led the Dolphins in nearly every pitching category last season including appearances, wins, complete games, saves, innings-pitched, and strikeouts. Equally effective both as a starter and reliever, she excelled in whatever role she was call upon to fill in 2023. Forced to work plenty of innings as a freshman, Frenza should expect a lighter workload this season. However, the valuable experience gained last year combined with fewer innings should benefit her greatly during sophomore campaign.
Alexis Miramontes - Jr. | Corona, CA
No Dolphin started more games than Miramontes last season and the junior finished second on the team with four wins. She also tossed a complete game last year, but like much of the Dolphins pitching staff, workload became an issue later in the season. The team hopes to alleviate this concern during the upcoming season as Miramontes will continues to be an important piece of the CSI rotation.
Kelsey Strayer - Sr. | Dillsburg, PA
After leading the Dolphins in starts during the 2022 season, Strayer was among CSI's most used relief pitchers during the 2023 season. As a junior, she led the team in ERA and was called upon as a change-of-pace arm out of the Dolphins bullpen. Capable both of starting and providing relief out of the bullpen, Strayer has proven to be a versatile piece for the CSI pitching staff.