Softball Southern Conference

Chattanooga Picked to Win Softball Championship

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? After winning its ninth Southern Conference regular season title a season ago, Chattanooga has been selected by the league’s coaches as the favorite to win the SoCon championship in 2008. The coaches also selected first and second team preseason all-conference squads.

 

The Lady Mocs, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Frank Reed, received six of a possible eight first place votes to go along with 48 total points. College of Charleston and Georgia Southern tied for second place in the balloting with 38 points apiece. The Cougars also garnered one first-place vote. Charleston finished 2007 in second place during the regular season while Georgia Southern was the tournament runner-up.

 

Elon received 23 points and placed fourth, while defending tournament champions Furman earned 21 points and one first-place vote to grab the fifth spot. Western Carolina (20), Appalachian State (19) and UNC Greensboro (17) rounded out the poll. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team.

 

Chattanooga, Elon and Western Carolina each had four players selected to the all-conference teams while Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Georgia Southern and UNC Greensboro each had three players earn preseason all-SoCon honors. Furman had two players selected

 

Georgia Southern is the first SoCon team to hit the diamond in 2008, kicking off the season with a doubleheader at Savannah State on Thursday, February 7 at 4:00 p.m. The conference portion of the schedule begins on March 16 when Western Carolina travels to Appalachian State for a three-game weekend series.

 

Coaches’ Preseason Poll

1.   Chattanooga (6)                   48

2t.  College of Charleston (1)       38

2t.  Georgia Southern                 38

4.   Elon                                    23

5.   Furman (1)                          21

6.   Western Carolina                 20

7.   Appalachian State                19

8.   UNC Greensboro                  17

 

Coaches’ Preseason All-Conference

First Team

P      Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga

P      Terri Mesko, College of Charleston

C      Jaimie Rao, Elon

C      Leslie Furness, UNC Greensboro

1B    Lauren Ross, Western Carolina

2B    Amber Shifflett, College of Charleston

SS    Tracey Dahlen, Elon

3B    Abby Robertson, Furman

OF    Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga

OF    Lindsey Hopkins, Georgia Southern

OF    Brittany Ausley, UNC Greensboro

OF    Mary Greenway, UNC Greensboro

DP    Shannon Howard, College of Charleston

UT    Debbie Ziegler, Elon

 

Second Team

P      Lana Mackey, Furman

P      Lauren Ross, Western Carolina

C      Jenny Side, Georgia Southern

1B    Samantha Russo, Georgia Southern

2B    Brittany Gaston, Appalachian State

SS    Tia Blosser, Chattanooga

3B    Stephanie Beatty, Western Carolina

OF    Ashley Gaston, Appalachian State

OF    Natalie Willis, Appalachian State

OF    Brandi Jones, Elon

DP    Mollie Fowler, Western Carolina

UT    Tara Tembey, Chattanooga