Coach Liz Garthright's Clarke College softball team will open its 2010 season with a 10-game stint at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The Crusaders will get their first taste of completion on Sunday, Feb. 28, when Garthright's squad faces St. Xavier University at 9 a.m. and Ferrum College at 1 p.m.

Clarke returns 10 players from last year's squad that finished 17-28 overall and 12-19 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.

"I expect us to be a team that is fun to watch this year," said Garthright. " We have a good mix of returners and newcomers who can make an immediate impact on the field. "

Heading the list of returning players is senior first baseman Colleen Dansart, of Oaklawn, Illinois. Dansart earned MCC first-team all-conference honors last year, leading Clarke in batting average (.392), doubles (15), total bases (79), slugging percentage (.552), hits (56), and on-base percentage (.418). She also led the team in multiple hit games (16) and multiple RBI games (5).

Clarke's pitching staff will be anchored by returning juniors Nicky Newhoff, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Caitlin Woods, of Maryville, Missouri. Newhoff was 10-13 overall with a 3.27 ERA last year. She struck out a team-high 115 batters while issuing 39 bases-on-balls. Woods was 6-2 overall with a 5.02 ERA.

Also back from a year ago are seniors Lacey Dole (OF/C, Dubuque, Iowa) and Anneliese Lange (3B, Grand Junction, Colo.); junior Samantha Johnson (OF, Rockford, Ill.); and sophomores Liz Behnke (2B, Dubuque, Iowa), Abby Nauman (P, Dubuque, Iowa), Becky Shady (C, Worthington, Iowa), and Laura Zelinskas (1B/P, Dubuque, Iowa).

Heading the list of newcomers is junior shortstop Amanda Balough, of Yorkville, Ill., and freshman outfielder Katie Philipp-Guerra, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Balough came to Clarke from Waubonsee Community College, where she was a two-time first-team all-conference performer. She garnered first team all-regional honors in 2008 and second-team all-region honors in 2009.

Philipp-Guerra prepped at Oak Park High School, where she was a member of three district championship softball teams and competed in three state tournaments.

Also joining the Crusaders this year are freshmen Rebecca Brosnan (OF, Algona, Iowa), Rachel Fischer (P/UTL, Cascade, Iowa), and Morgan Fitzgerald (UTL/P, Dyersville, Iowa).

Clarke's Rebel Springs Games slate also includes games on Monday (Walsh University, Ursuline College), Wednesday (Indiana Wesleyan University, Rochester Institute of Technology), Thursday (College of St. Rose, Lake Superior State University) and Friday (Beloit College, Ursuline College).

Clarke will open the home portion of its 2010 schedule on March 16 when the Crusaders host the University of Dubuque at Veterans Park.

Clarke will open Midwest Collegiate Conference play at an MCC challenge weekend is in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Crusaders will play Waldorf College and Mount Mercy College on Saturday, March 27, and William Penn University and Grand View University on Sunday, March 27.

"The team has worked extremely hard in the off-season," said Garthright. " I am proud of the time and effort that they have put in to improve individually."