NAPERVILLE - The Carthage College softball team has been ranked fifth (35 points) in the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Preseason Poll, the CCIW announced Friday.

The Firebirds enter the 2025 season coming off a 20-21 season in 2024. Carthage finished fifth place in the CCIW last season with a conference record of 8-8.

Head coach Amy Gillmore returns for her 28th season with the Firebirds. Coach Gilmore enters the season with a career record of 584-425-1 over 27 seasons with the Firebirds. The rest of the coaching staff is set to include Madison Ganir, Teri Green, and Ron Gillmore.

Clare Rettler, a junior from Appleton, Wis., returns to the Firebirds lineup in 2025 after leading the team in OPS (1.350), hits (79), total bases (84), slugging percentage (.609), batting average (.572), runs scored (45), on base percentage (.609), and stolen bases (42). Gwen Hendrick, a junior from Appleton, Wis., also returns to the lineup after topping the Firebirds stats in triples (9) and runs batted in (29). After leading the team in home runs (2), Izzy Hernandez enters her senior season. 

Senior Maddie Conway, from Midlothian, Ill., returns to the pitcher circle for the Firebirds in 2025. Conway posted a 3.46 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 26 appearances in the 2024 season. Olivia Hristov, Emma Faubel, and Hana Adler also return to the circle.

The Firebirds will open the season on Saturday, March 8, as the team will take on WIT and Northwestern in Winter Haven, Fla. CCIW play begins on Thursday, April 3, as the Firebirds travel to Wheaton, Ill. to take on the Wheaton Thunder. For more information visit our athletics.carthage.edu.