Carson-Newman Earns Top Spot in South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll
Carson-Newman has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's 2018 preseason softball poll, the league office announced today.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Carson-Newman has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's 2018 preseason softball poll, the league office announced today. The head coaches gave the Eagles six first-place votes and a total of 106 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne grabbed the No. 2 slot with four first-place votes and 102 points, while Coker earned the final first place vote for a total of 87 points and earned the No. 3 spot. Newberry placed fourth in the poll with 78 points and Anderson came in at No. 5 with 76 points. Wingate landed at No. 6 with 71 points, followed by Tusculum at No. 7 with 52 points. Lincoln Memorial's 48 points gave them the No. 8 spot and at No. 9 was Queens with 42 points. Mars Hill placed tenth with 29 points, while Catawba rounded out the poll with 24 points.
The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team. The first-team outfield positions consisted of Lenoir-Rhyne's Erin Boone, Naomi Sapp of Wingate and Lincoln Memorial's Allie Jones.
The first-team infield was represented from right to left on the diamond, at first base was Maria Williamson of Coker, at second base was Ty-Kella Goins of Lincoln Memorial, at shortstop was Kristen Toppel from Carson-Newman and at third base Casey Stanek from Mars Hill. Also earning first team honors was Anderson's Cailah Niles at catcher.
In the pitchers circle, Lacie Rinus represented Carson-Newman on the first-team; she was joined by Taylor Forehand from Coker.
Haley Simonds of Newberry was voted the first-team designated player and Coker's Mindy North was voted the first-team utility player.
The South Atlantic Conference softball season gets underway on Thursday, Feb. 1. The 2018 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 26-April 29 at Anderson University's Softball Complex.
2018 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Total |
1. |
Carson-Newman (6) |
106 |
2. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (4) |
102 |
3. |
Coker (1) |
87 |
4. |
Newberry |
78 |
5. |
Anderson |
76 |
6. |
Wingate |
71 |
7. |
Tusculum |
52 |
8. |
Lincoln Memorial |
48 |
9. |
Queens |
42 |
10. |
Mars Hill |
29 |
11. |
Catawba |
24 |
2018 South Atlantic Conference Softball
Preseason All-Conference
1st Team
OF – Erin Boone, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Naomi Sapp, Wingate
OF – Allie Jones, Lincoln Memorial
1B – Maria Williamson, Coker
2B - Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Kristen Toppel, Carson-Newman
3B – Casey Stanek, Mars Hill
DP – Haley Simonds, Newberry
UTL – Mindy North, Coker
C – Cailah Niles, Anderson
P – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman
P – Taylor Forehand, Coker
2nd Team
OF – Sammie West, Tusculum
OF – Elaina Frantellizzi, Queens
OF – Cacey Simmons, Coker
1B – Emily Hester, Tusculum
2B – Natalie Willis, Newberry
SS – Taylor Johnson, Tusculum
3B – Mackenzie Cates, Lenoir-Rhyne
DP – Taylor Wells, Wingate
UTL – Taylor Martin, Catawba
C – Kara Lynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Brandi Parks, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Emily Marchbanks, Newberry
-#makeSACyours-