SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference softball coaches chose Georgia Southern as the preseason pick to win the regular season league title.  The eight coaches also selected the 2007 preseason softball All-Conference team.  Coaches were not eligible to vote for their own team or players.

                                                                                                                          

The defending SoCon Tournament champions, Georgia Southern, under the direction of six-year head coach Natalie Poole, will be looking for its third SoCon title in the school’s history this 2007 season.

 

The Lady Eagles earned 46 total points including five first place votes.  Chattanooga claimed the second spot with 37 points, edging out the 2006 regular season champions Western Carolina by one point.  The Lady Catamounts also garnered one first place vote to land in third.

 

College of Charleston was selected to finish fourth and grabbed the final two first place votes.  Appalachian State was chosen to finish fifth and Elon, with 19 points, was tabbed sixth.  Furman was picked seventh, while UNC Greensboro landed in the eighth position.

 

All eight teams are represented on one of the two preseason all-conference teams, with Appalachian State, Chattanooga, Elon and Western Carolina earning the most spots with four each between the two teams. Western Carolina placed the most players on the first team, as three Lady Catamounts were named to the top 12, including pitcher Mendy McKenzie, outfielder Ashley Adams and utility player Heather Pritchard.

 

Preseason league favorite Georgia Southern placed three players on the two teams, while Furman and College of Charleston landed two players and UNC Greensboro had one player honored.

 

Predicted Order of Finish

Georgia Southern (5)                  46

Chattanooga                              37

Western Carolina (1)                  36

College of Charleston (2)            34

Appalachian State                     24

Elon                                         19

Furman                                    17

UNC Greensboro                       11

 

Preseason All-SoCon Softball First Team

P          Melissa Laliberte, Georgia Southern

P          Mendy McKenzie, Western Carolina

C          Kristyn Hurt, Appalachian State

1B        Heather Smith, Georgia Southern

2B        Paige Goss, Elon

3B        Lindsey Glover, Appalachian State

SS        Tara Tembey, Chattanooga

OF        Jeannie Cochran, Chattanooga

OF        Amber Kiser, Furman

OF        Ashley Adams, Western Carolina

DP        Shannon Howard, College of Charleston

UT        Heather Pritchard, Western Carolina

 

 

Preseason All-SoCon Softball Second Team

P          Keri Blackwelder, Appalachian State

P          Ashley Frizell, Chattanooga

C          Megan Jaudon, Furman

1B        Jennifer Bonilla, UNC Greensboro

2B        Brittney Whittier, Chattanooga

3B        Maria Laurato, Georgia Southern

SS        Tracey Dahlen, Elon

OF        Natalie Willis, Appalachian State

OF        Izmena Cabrera, College of Charleston

OF        Rebecca Rijavec, Elon

DP        Savannah Filley, Western Carolina

UT        Debbie Ziegler, Elon