It is just about playoff time for Hamilton’s spring athletic teams. As NESCAC and national tournaments approach, here is where each of the spring programs stand as they make their final push for the end of the season.
Baseball
The baseball team currently sits third out of five teams in the NESCAC West Division with a 6–4 conference record, but are only one game behind first-place Middlebury. With a significant lead over Williams and Amherst, who are in fourth and fifth place, respectively, the team is a lock for postseason play at this point. The NESCAC Championships will begin on May 7. Brady Slinger has led the way at the plate, hitting .431 with 28 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases on the season. Gavin Schaefer-Hood ’22 has battled through some tough outings on the mound and leads the team with 34.0 innings pitched and 25 strikeouts.
Men’s Golf
The men’s golf team will host the NESCAC Championships this coming weekend at Yahnundasis Golf Course in New Hartford, New York. The team looks to be squarely in contention for the team crown, having finished third among nine NESCAC schools this past weekend at the Williams Spring Invitational. Jack McKeon ’22, Billy Geach ’23, Jacob Zeng ’24, and Jack Habeeb ’22 will look to lead a deep lineup to a NESCAC crown, who only fell to host Williams and second-place Middlebury by ten strokes or fear over the two-day event.
Women’s Golf
The women’s golf team will head to the Amherst Golf Club this weekend for their NESCAC Championships. The team finished tied for fifth in a competitive, NESCAC-heavy field last weekend at the Jack Leaman Invitational, and should be capable of a finish on the podium this weekend. Olivia Strigh ’25 led the way last weekend, shooting an impressive 75 on Sunday to finish at 158 over the two-day event. Emily Moy ’22 has been a consistent number one all year, and will look to boost the team to a strong weekend performance.
Men’s Lacrosse
With some results yet to be determined, the men’s lacrosse team has likely locked up the #7 seed for the NESCAC Tournament, and will head on the road to face the loser of Wednesday’s showdown between Tufts and Bowdoin in the quarterfinals. The team lost to both of those potential opponents during the regular season but kept both games tight, falling 15–14 to Bowdoin early in the season, and 16–10 last weekend against Tufts despite a one-goal deficit with ten minutes to go. Britt Defeo ’22 and Rowan Brumbaugh ’23 lead the team with 21 goals apiece, while Marc Welch ’22 and goalie Seamus Fagan ’22 have anchored one of the NESCAC’s best defenses.
Women’s Lacrosse
The women’s lacrosse team will finish somewhere between fifth and seventh in the regular-season NESAC standings, and will hit the road for a NESCAC quarterfinal matchup. Facing high-quality opponents all season, the team has earned two ranked wins over Bowdoin and Trinity. Seniors Olivia Seymour and Eva Abel has been the driving force behind a potent offense, with 33 and 32 points on the season respectively, while Meghan Lane ’24 has dominated defensively all year, leading the team with 37 ground balls and 23 forced turnovers.
Men’s and Women’s Rowing
The men’s rowing team has had a tremendous spring, with two first-place and one second-place finish in its three meets. On the women’s side, the defending national runners-up earned a second place finish at the Hamilton Regatta last weekend, competing against Rochester, Smith, St. Lawrence, and Wellesley. Both teams will race at Ithaca this upcoming weekend, before their fate for nationals will be determined.
Softball
Currently sitting fifth in a competitive NESCAC West Division, the softball team will need a big weekend in a three-game series against Williams to keep its postseason hopes alive. The team has shown a balanced offensive punch this season, led by Ella Heftved ’25, Kiana Arcayena ’22, and Shelby McVey ’22, who each have 18 runs batted in on the year. Natalie Beebe ’24 has dominated as the team’s primary pitcher, with a 1.94 earned run average and 83 strikeouts over 90 innings; her record is 10–4 for the season.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
The NESCAC Outdoor Championships are coming to Clinton, as both men’s and women’s teams will compete this upcoming weekend on Pritchard Track. On the men’s side, top competitors will include Joshua Harmsen ’22, who broke 11 seconds in the 100m last weekend with a rapid 10.93 finish, taking down the entire field at the St. John’s Fisher Cardinal Classic, as well as Max Steffey ’22, whose 51.77 400m run was good enough for fifth place. For the women’s team, ace pole vaulter Andrea Shipton ’22 and mid-distance specialist Mia Schiel ’22, who also earned an individual last weekend with a 4:57.94 time in the 1500m, will look to score at the championships.