SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Chattanooga Mocs have been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2015 Southern Conference softball championship by the league’s head coaches. Additionally, UNCG junior Lindsay Thomas was named the preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season, while Samford senior Mollie Hanson was named the preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Chattanooga earned six first-place votes for a total of 36 points to take the top spot in the preseason voting. The Mocs won the SoCon Championship last season as the No. 2 seed, winning four games at the SoCon tournament en route to the title.
Mercer totaled 27 points to come in second in the preseason poll. The Bears are set to begin their first season in the Southern Conference after finishing as the runner-up at the A-Sun tournament last season.
UNCG totaled 24 points to rank third in the preseason voting, followed closely by Samford in fourth with 23 points, including one first-place vote. Furman earned 19 points to claim fifth, with Western Carolina in sixth with 11 points and ETSU in seventh with seven points.
The league’s coaches also selected the preseason All-SoCon teams. UNCG, Chattanooga and Samford headlined the first-team squad with three players each. Mercer placed two players on the first team, while Furman rounded out the group with one player.
Overall, Chattanooga led all schools with six players over the two preseason All-SoCon teams. Samford was second with five players, while Mercer placed four players on the two teams. Furman, UNCG and Western Carolina each had three players make one of the two all-conference teams.
The season begins on Friday, Feb. 6, as four of the seven SoCon schools get their respective seasons underway on the opening weekend. Conference play begins on March 21 with a full slate of SoCon matchups.
The 2015 Southern Conference Softball Championship is scheduled for May 6-9 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The tournament will feature all seven teams, as they look to advance to the SoCon championship game on Sunday, May 9, at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
Preseason Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Points
1. Chattanooga (6) - 36 points
2. Mercer - 27 points
3. UNCG - 24 points
4. Samford (1) - 23 points
5. Furman - 19 points
6. Western Carolina - 11 points
7. ETSU - 7 points
Preseason Player of the Year
Lindsay Thomas, Catcher, UNCG
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Mollie Hanson, Samford
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P Mollie Hanson, Samford
P Katie Henderson, Chattanooga
C Lindsay Thomas, UNCG
1B Caroline Taylor, Mercer
2B Dominque Madruga, UNCG
SS Abby Adams, Samford
3B Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
OF Megan Dowdy, Samford
OF Nicole Osterman, Chattanooga
OF Taylor Miller, Mercer
DP Elise Smith, Furman
UT Nicole Thomas, UNCG
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
P Kirsten Stevens, Mercer
C Anyssa Robles, Chattanooga
1B Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina
2B Kaytlin Haney, Mercer
SS Sieara Bishop, Furman
3B Callie Brister, Samford
OF Courtney Price, Western Carolina
OF Sam Taylor, Chattanooga
OF Andrea Abbatiello, Furman
DP Shelby Scott, Samford
UT Kara Salvo, Western Carolina