PSAC Releases 2020 Softball Preseason Polls
PSAC Central Preseason Notes
PSAC East Preseason Notes
PSAC West Preseason Notes
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- No. 8 West Chester, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Gannon topped the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Preseason Softball Poll for their respective divisions, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon.
Central
Lock Haven and Bloomsburg both claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, receiving three first-place votes.
Lock Haven finished the regular season on a six-game unbeaten streak before claiming the 2019 PSAC Tournament title. The win marked Lock Haven’s sixth all-time PSAC Championship and its first in a decade. The Bald Eagles made a national tournament appearance for a second straight year as well. Returning for the Bald Eagles are all-conference performers Casey Carpenter and Rachel Gricoski.
Head Coach Susan Kocher enters her 10th season at Bloomsburg and needs 20 victories to reach 300 for her career. Kocher has led the Huskies to nine PSAC tournament appearances and six NCAA playoff berths. She boasts a pair of PSAC Central Division Coach of the Year honors, winning the award in both 2016 and 2019. Kocher returns six all-conference players, including PSAC Central Freshman of the Year and NFCA All-Region honoree Erin DelPierre.
IUP was tabbed third and return a pair of Athletes of the Year. Kaitlyn Beers claimed the honor in 2018 while Renee Wall earned the award in 2019. Wall was among the PSAC leaders in slugging percentage (.591), on-base percentage (.494), doubles (13) and runs scored (32).
Mansfield was slated fourth, Pitt-Johnstown fifth and Clarion enters at sixth.
Mansfield returns all but one starter from last season.
Pitt-Johnstown returns eight position players including all-conference players and top-hitters Kristie Radvan and Jade Stubblefield. The Mountain Cats return their top three pitchers in Alyssa Hileman, Kristen Coffay and Ashley Pagliei.
Clarion will be under the direction of first-year head coach Lis Fee, who spent the previous four seasons as the head coach at Bridgewater.
East
West Chester snagged five first-place votes while earning the top spot. The Golden Rams are ranked No. 8 in the NFCA Division II Preseason Poll after appearing in the NCAA DII World Series last year. Earning their sixth consecutive PSAC East Regular Season title, the Golden Rams made a deep run in the PSAC Championship and went on to win the Atlantic Region before falling to Young Harris in the DII Championship. Head Coach Diane Lokey earned her 500th win with West Chester last season against Chestnut Hill and returns all-conference performers Bri Garber, Annamarie Hartman, Maegen Kavanagh and Reilly Gearhart. Gearhart earned the Pitcher of the Year award last season. Gearhart went 17-8 with a 2.29 ERA and recorded seven shutouts to help the Golden Rams to a 11-5 conference record.
Kutztown claimed a first-place vote while being tabbed second in the poll. In her 33rd season, Judy Lawes sits at 977 career victories. The Golden Bears have finished above .500 in 33 of the last 34 seasons. Kutztown returns three all-conference representatives in Bridget Bailey, Jenna Lipowski and Kate Ostaszewski. Bailey was named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year.
Shepherd earned third in the poll in its first season of competition as a member of the PSAC. Coach Marissa Leslie enters her third season with a 76-38 (.667) overall mark as a former member of the Mountain East Conference.
Shippensburg was slated fourth while East Stroudsburg followed in the fifth spot.
Shippensburg finished in second last season in the division while East Stroudsburg returns 13 players from a team that set a single season record with 126 stolen bases last year.
Millersville rounded out the poll in sixth place and will return six position players including all-conference performer Faith Willenbrock. Willenbrock set the program record for home runs in just two seasons, entering this year with 25.
West
Gannon snagged the top spot in the poll with three first-place votes. The Golden Knights return seven all-conference representatives, including PSAC West Freshman of the Year Megan Dietrick. Dietrick finished the season batting .329 with a .482 slugging percentage. Madi Beining returns to the circle boasting a 77-41 career record. She enters her final season with 220 career strikeouts. Gannon has claimed the PSAC West title three consecutive years and looks to reclaim the throne as champions after falling to Lock Haven in the PSAC Championship game. Michelle Wiley enters her second season at the helm of the Golden Knights after earning her first Coach of the Year award in her first season.
Seton Hill was tabbed second in the poll and will return seven starters and one pitcher from last season’s team. Leading hitter Jenna Osikowicz returns to anchor the top of the lineup while Christina Skrabak adds power to the middle of the lineup. The Griffins have made three consecutive PSAC tournaments.
Cal U claimed third while receiving a first-place vote. The Vulcans return a two-time all-conference selection in junior catcher Brooke Wilson. Wilson boasts a .371 average and .441 on-base percentage in her career while serving as the team’s leadoff hitter over the last two seasons.
Slippery Rock was slated fourth and is returning seven starters from last season, including pitcher Camie Shumaker who compiled a 13-11 record with a 2.50 ERA along with a 1.36 WHIP and 108 strikeouts.
Edinboro was tabbed fifth while Mercyhurst rounded out the poll. The Fighting Scots return only three players from last year’s squad while the Lakers will bring back nine players and have all new pitchers this season.
Kutztown will be the lone team to open up the season on Friday, Jan. 31st against UNC Pembroke followed by a two-game series against West Virginia State on Saturday.
PSAC play begins Friday, March 27 while the Championship will be held April 29 - May 2 in Quakertown, Pa.
PSAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
Central (# of 1st-place votes)
T-1) Bloomsburg (3)
T-1) Lock Haven (3)
3) IUP
4) Mansfield
5) Pitt-Johnstown
6) Clarion
East
1) West Chester (5)
2) Kutztown (1)
3) Shepherd
4) Shippensburg
5) East Stroudsburg
6) Millersville
West
1) Gannon (3)
2) Seton Hill (2)
3) California (1)
4) Slippery Rock
5) Edinboro
6) Mercyhurst