The Teams:
Converse (2023 Record: 15-33, 6-18 Conference Carolinas)
Limestone (2023 Record: 24-24, 12-12 South Atlantic Conference)
Lynn (2023 Record: 21-31, 9-21 Sunshine State Conference)
Mars Hill (2023 Record: 18-25, 6-18 South Atlantic Conference)
St. Thomas Aquinas (2023 Record: 32-18, 15-5 East Coast Conference)
2024 Valkyrie Classic Tournament Central
GoValkyries.com Live Stats
Conference Carolinas Digital Network Live Video

Converse University Athletics is excited to host the softball teams of: Limestone University, Lynn University, Mars Hill University and St. Thomas Aquinas College for our annual Valkyrie Classic Tournament. Fans attending in person can purchase tickets here. Live video of field one will be streamed through the Conference Carolinas Digital Network. Streaming for field four will be available through the HiCast Sports Network and an additional purchase is required.

Converse Notes:

• Converse was selected to finish 12th in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
• The Valkyries return their top batter sophomore Karleigh Crabill. Amongst qualified batters, she had the highest batting average and slugging percentage, .336 and .495 respectively.
• Converse also returns their most effective pitcher, sophomore lefty Victoria Dichio. She posted a team-best 4.58 ERA and the second-most inning in the circle, 81.0, in 2023.
• Converse adds eight new additions to the roster from last season. Two of those additions, junior Riley Lingerfelt and freshman Madison Sheadel, were named Conference Carolinas Players to Watch. Dichio was also named a Player to Watch.

Limestone Notes:

• The Saints were selected to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll.
• First baseman Santana Anderson was a First Team All-SAC selection for the 2024 season. Utility player Katie Wilbur was a Second Team All-SAC selection. Among qualified batters, Anderson led the team in average in 2023 and Wilbur posted the second-highest average, .416 and .359 respectively.
• The Saints return no awards-qualified pitchers from the 2023 season and only two overall.

Lynn Notes:

• The Fighting Knights were selected to finish ninth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Sunshine State Conference does not release preseason all-conference selections and the Fighting Knights had no selections to the 2023 all-conference teams.
• Lynn returns their top batter, senior Josey Sumpter, who posted team-highs in both batting average and slugging percentage, .287 and .525 respectively.
• They also return their top pitcher, senior Haley Fardanesh, who threw the most innings for the Fighting Knights, 142.2, and posted the second-lowest ERA, 3.14.

Mars Hill Notes:

• The Lions were selected to finish last in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll. They tied for the spot with UVA Wise.
• Mars Hill had no preseason All-SAC selections.
• The Lions return their top batter from the 2023 season, junior Farley Park who posted a team-high .375 batting average amongst qualified batters.
• Mars Hill also returns their top pitcher from 2023, sophomore Rebekah Howard. She tossed 80.2 innings last season and a team-best 2.86 ERA.

St. Thomas Aquinas Notes:

• The Spartans were selected to finish first in the East Coast Conference by the league's preseason poll. They tied with Molloy State for the top-spot, with each team receiving three first-place votes.
• The East Coast Conference does not release preseason all-conference selections but the defending ECC Champions did have six selections last season, four first-team and two second-team. Among those selections were the player and pitcher of the year, neither of whom returned for the 2024 campaign. They do return three All-ECC selections: sophomores Elyse Marcano and Adriana Coira (both first team selections) and Eliana Raposo (second team).
• Marcano posted the team's highest batting average in 2023 at .308 while Coira posted the third-highest average at .299.

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