SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2019 Southern Conference softball crown, as voted on by all seven of the league’s coaches. Chattanooga outfielder Aly Walker nabbed preseason player of the year honors, while UNCG senior pitcher Stephanie Bryden was named the preseason pitcher of the year.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting.
UNCG collected four first-place votes and 33 points to take the top spot in the poll after earning the 2018 Southern Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The Spartans, who went 13-3 in SoCon play last season, placed five on the preseason all-conference teams, including first-team selections Bryden, Marisa Sholtes, Jasmine Palmer and Jordan Gontram. Sholtes, a first baseman, and Palmer, a shortstop, were 2018 first-team selections, while Bryden was a second-team pick. Outfielder Makenna Matthijs was named to the preseason second team.
Mercer garnered one first-place vote and totaled 27 points to claim second in the poll. The Bears, who finished with a 33-19 overall record and an 11-5 mark in conference play, placed three on the first team. Stella Preston, a second-team selection in 2018, snagged one of two spots at pitcher, while Megan Lane, a first-team all-conference pick from a year ago, was honored at catcher. Micayla Rood, also a first-team selection in 2018, was one of three players recognized in the outfield.
Chattanooga earned 22 points and picked up one first-place vote to come in third in the poll. Chattanooga was one of three programs to place a league-high five players on all-conference squads, led by Walker, the preseason player of the year. Senior third baseman Devan Brown was also named to the first team, while pitcher Celie Hudson, first baseman Emma Sturdivant and utility Taylor Chadwick were members of the second team.
Samford checks in right behind the Mocs with 21 points. The Bulldogs received the final first-place vote and placed five on the all-conference teams. Madison Couch, a utility, was the lone first-team selection, while catcher Hannah Trombley, second baseman Whitney Hinton, and outfielders Ashlyn Barnes and Kelsey Royalty were all named to the second team.
Furman and ETSU followed Samford with 20 and 18 points, respectively. Furman, which saw Wally King named head coach after he posted a 41-15 record as the interim in 2018, looks to replace Lindsey Bert, the two-time SoCon pitcher of the year. Senior pitcher Emily DeMonte, shortstop Casey Bigham, and designated player Marissa Guimbarda were all named to the preseason second team. ETSU, which made it to the championship game last season despite being the No. 6 seed, also put three on the preseason teams. Second baseman Lauren Lee, an all-freshman pick a year ago, joins 2018 second-team selection Taylor Wright, a designated player, on the preseason first team. Third baseman Nikki Grupp was named to the second team.
Western Carolina received six points and rounded out the preseason poll.
The 2019 softball season begins on Feb. 7 when Samford travels to McNeese State as part of the Cowboy Classic. Furman, Mercer, UNCG and Chattanooga open the season a day later, while ETSU gets underway on Feb. 9. Western Carolina’s season kicks off on Feb. 15 against Fort Wayne in the Black and Gold Tournament, hosted by Alabama State.
Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. UNCG (4) 33
2. Mercer (1) 27
3. Chattanooga (1) 22
4. Samford (1) 21
5. Furman 20
6. ETSU 18
7. Western Carolina 6
Preseason Player of the Year
Aly Walker, Chattanooga, Jr., OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, Sr.
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P Stephanie Bryden, UNCG, Sr.
P Stella Preston, Mercer, Jr.
C Megan Lane, Mercer, Sr.
1B Marisa Sholtes, UNCG, R-Sr.
2B Lauren Lee, ETSU, So.
3B Devan Brown, Chattanooga, Sr.
SS Jasmine Palmer, UNCG, Sr.
OF Aly Walker, Chattanooga, Jr.
OF Micayla Rood, Mercer, So.
OF Jordan Gontram, UNCG, Jr.
DP Taylor Wright, ETSU, Sr.
UT Madison Couch, Samford, Sr.
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P Celie Hudson, Chattanooga, Jr.
P Emily DeMonte, Furman, Sr.
C Hannah Trombley, Samford, Sr.
1B Emma Sturdivant, Chattanooga, Sr.
2B Whitney Hinton, Samford, Jr.
3B Nikki Grupp, ETSU, Jr.
SS Casey Bigham, Furman, Jr.
OF Makenna Matthijs, UNCG, So.
OF Ashlyn Barnes, Samford, So.
OF Kelsey Royalty, Samford, Sr.
DP Marissa Guimbarda, Furman, So.
UT Taylor Chadwick, Chattanooga, Jr.
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