SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Chattanooga has been selected as the preseason favorite to win its fourth consecutive Southern Conference regular season softball championship in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. Appalachian State catcher/third baseman Katie Boyd was named preseason player of the year, while Georgia Southern's Brianna Streetmon earned preseason pitcher of the year honors. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes.

The Lady Mocs received eight of the possible nine first-place votes and 64 points overall. Three-time coach of the year Frank Reed returns nine starters, including his three top pitchers, to a team that finished 30-27 in 2009.

UTC had a total of seven student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including six first-teamers. Pitcher Brooke Loudermilk, catcher Brittany Eason, first baseman Michelle Fuzzard and second baseman Tiffany Baker, along with outfielders Lyndsey Stiles and Laci Upchurch, received first team nods. Representing the Lady Mocs on the second team was Kaiti Kelley in the outfield.

Georgia Southern, last season's tournament runner-up, was tabbed to finish second in 2010, garnering the final first-place vote and 56 overall points. The Eagles earned five all-conference team selections.

Preseason pitcher of the year Brianna Streetmon, the 2009 pitcher of the year, was joined by shortstop Nina Iduate and outfielder Marie Fogle on the first team. Third baseman Jenny Side and designated player Megen Smith were named to the second team.

Picked to finish third, College of Charleston was represented by three student-athletes on the all-conference team. Third baseman Kristie Shifflett, the 2009 player of the year, made the first team, while teammates Amber Shifflett, at second base, and Katie Forbes, in the outfield, received second team honors.

Preseason player of the year Katie Boyd and Appalachian State were picked to finish fourth. Boyd garnered the first-team utility player selection, while teammate Sarah Rappe, an outfielder, was named to the second team.

Coming in at No. 5 was Samford, which is entering its second year in the conference and had two second teamers in pitcher Stephanie Royall and utility player Robyn Harmon.

UNC Greensboro followed at No. 6 with first baseman Alex Emeterio and shortstop Kaitlin Merkt being named to the second team.

Rounding out the preseason poll was No. 7 Furman with one second-team selection, No. 8 Elon also with a second-team representative and No. 9 Western Carolina, which garnered a first-team nod with designated player Amber Hawkins.

The season begins Friday with five teams in action. Chattanooga kicks the season off in a Noon matchup with Florida Atlantic in the NTC Elite Invitational.

The 2010 Southern Conference Softball Championship is scheduled for May 13-14 and will be hosted by the team which finishes with the best league record in the regular season.

Preseason Poll 

Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1. Chattanooga (8)	64
2. Georgia Southern (1)	56
3. College of Charleston	47
4. Appalachian State	43
5. Samford	35
6. UNC Greensboro	27
7. Furman	25
8. Elon	14
9. Western Carolina	13

Preseason Player of the Year

Katie Boyd, C/3B, Appalachian State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern

Preseason First-Team All-Conference 

P	Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga
P	Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
C	Brittany Eason, Chattanooga
1B	Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
2B	Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga
SS	Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern
3B	Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston
OF	Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern
OF	Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga
OF	Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga
DP	Amber Hawkins, Western Carolina
UT	Katie Boyd, Appalachian State

Preseason Second-Team All-Conference 

P	Lana Mackey, Furman
P	Stephanie Royall, Samford
C	Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Elon
1B	Alex Emeterio, UNC Greensboro
2B	Amber Shifflett, College of Charleston
SS	Kaitlin Merkt, UNC Greensboro
3B	Jenny Side, Georgia Southern
OF	Katie Forbes, College of Charleston
OF	Kaiti Kelley, Chattanooga
OF	Sarah Rappe, Appalachian State
DP	Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
UT	Robyn Harmon, Samford