BALTIMORE – UMBC Softball Head Coach Joe French has announced the team will have a Captains Council this season with one member of each class serving as team captains for the season.

"I feel that the following four people will do a great job leading our team as we strive for an America East Championship," said French.

Senior Bridget O'Malley (Baltimore, Md./Seton Keough), junior Kaelin Jackson (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional), sophomore Carly Lesko (New Milford, N.J./New Milford) and freshman Chelsie Delperuto (Syracuse, N.Y./Solvay) will serve on the committee.

"The voting by the team was very competitive and we had a selection of great choices in all four classes," explained French.

O'Malley is a three-year starter for the Retrievers and a member of the National College Honor Society. The shortstop appeared in 49 games in her junior campaign and posted a .348 on-base percentage.

Jackson, a two-year starter at third base, was named to the America East All-Academic Team in 2015. On the field, Jackson tied for fifth in the league in doubles (10) and walks (25). She posted 10 multiple-RBI games and ranked second on the team with a career-best 28 runs batted in.

Lesko appeared in 41 games in her rookie campaign and made 30 starts at first base. She registered a .440 slugging percentage, tallying five home runs and driving in 13 runs.

Delperuto enters her first season with the Retrievers after concluding her career as a three-sport athlete at Solvay High School in New York. The Syracuse, N.Y., native was a three-time OHSL Liberty National Player of the Year.

French returns 16 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad, including three America East All-Conference Second Team honorees. The Retrievers open the season at the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Tournament on Feb. 12-13.