Casie Hill of Buchanan has been named to the 2017 James Madison softball roster, as announced by Head Coach Mickey Dean.

The Dukes of James Madison are coming off the best season in program history with a program-best record of 50-6 over the 2016 season while claiming both the Colonial Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles. JMU not only hosted but won the NCAA Harrisonburg Regional advancing and hosting a NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history.

James Madison will begin the 2017 slate with the Wingate by Wyndham Invitational hosted by Charleston Southern. The Dukes will face Southeastern Conference powerhouse Missouri on Friday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. in their season opener. The 2017 schedule features two conference champions from a season ago as well as seven 2016 NCAA Tournament participants and two national seeds highlighted by two road contests against 2016 Women’s College World Series runner up Auburn.

The 56-game schedule also features five non-conference tournaments and 21 CAA contests. For the fourth consecutive season, James Madison will host the 2017 CAA Championship inside the friendly confines of Veterans Memorial Park.

The 2017 roster features 16 returning letter winners, including six starters, and 11 newcomers. Dean is in his fourth season at the helm of the Dukes, amassing a 185-48 record at JMU.