The LaGrange softball team was picked sixth in the USA South coaches preseason poll announced by the conference Wednesday.
The Panthers are entering their 12th season under Jennifer Claybrook. They were third in last season's USA South Championship Tournament and were 20-22 overall. The Panthers return All-Conference perfomers Courtney Beshel, Danielle Newbern and Kalin Oglesby.
Piedmont College was picked in the poll to win the 2014 USA South softball title. Last season, the Lions earned a share of the conference regular season championship. Piedmont is currently ranked 13th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Preseason National Top-25 Poll.
Piedmont received 10 of 13 first place votes and 142 points as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Ferrum College, who shared last season's regular season title with Piedmont, finished second in the balloting with 133 points and the final three first place votes. Placing third in the poll with 109 points was conference newcomer Huntingdon while Methodist University came in at fourth with 105 points. Meredith College ranked fifth with 97 points and was followed by the Panthers who grabbed 90 points.
The 2014 season also marks the first in the USA South for Covenant College. Huntingdon and Covenant are former members of the Great South Athletic Conference.
The softball regular season gets underway during the weekend of February 7-9 as four teams are in action. The Panthers open their season Feb. 19 when they host Berry for a doubleheader.
The 2014 USA South Softball Tournament will be played April 11-13 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex as a part of the USA South Spring Sports Festival in Rocky Mount, N.C.
|
2014 USA South Softball Preseason Coaches Poll |
||
|
Rank |
Institution (1st Place Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Piedmont (10) |
142 |
|
2. |
Ferrum (3) |
133 |
|
3. |
Huntingdon |
109 |
|
4. |
Methodist |
105 |
|
5. |
Meredith |
97 |
|
6. |
LaGrange |
90 |
|
7. |
Greensboro |
85 |
|
8. |
N.C. Wesleyan |
72 |
|
9. |
Averett |
64 |
|
10. |
William Peace |
41 |
|
11. |
Covenant |
31 |
|
12. |
Maryville |
29 |
|
13. |
Mary Baldwin |
16 |
