SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2020 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 for the second straight season, while Mocs senior pitcher Celie Hudson was named the preseason pitcher of the year.
 
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting.
 
Chattanooga collected five first-place votes and 35 points to take the top spot in the poll after winning the 2019 Southern Conference tournament championship. The Mocs, who went 11-7 in SoCon play last season, placed six on the preseason all-conference teams, including first-team selections Hudson, Allison Swinford, Emily Coltharp and Walker. Hudson, the 2019 SoCon Pitcher of the Year and a first-team selection a season ago, is joined by fellow pitcher Swinford, who led the conference with a 1.93 ERA in 2019. Coltharp, a sophomore infielder, was the 2019 SoCon Freshman of the Year, while Walker was honored after hitting .363 last year. Redshirt senior infielder Emma Sturdivant and senior outfielder Hayleigh Weissenbach were named to the preseason second team.
 
UNCG, which has won three straight regular-season championships, garnered one first-place vote and totaled 28 points to claim second in the poll. The Spartans, who finished with a 33-23 overall record and a 12-5 mark in conference play, placed three on the first team. Delaney Cumbie, a member of the 2019 All-Freshman team, was honored at catcher, while Jasmine Palmer, who played 17 games in 2019 before suffering an injury, was one of four infielders recognized. Kayleigh Willis was the first-team selection at designated player and outfielders Jordan Gontram and Makenna Matthijs, were named to the second team.  
 
ETSU and Mercer tied for third with 22 points apiece. The Bucs picked up the remaining first-place vote and placed four on the all-conference squads, led by infielder Nikki Grupp and outfielder Kelly Warren on the first team. Catcher Kelsey Brown and infielder Julia Fritz were members of the 14-member second team. Mercer joined Chattanooga with a league-high six players on the all-conference squads, placing infielder Danielle Castleberry, a 2019 first-team selection, and outfielder Micayla Rood, a 2019 second-team pick, on the first team. Pitcher Bailey Pattison, catcher Tori Ash, outfielder Allie Jones and designated player Abby Walsh were selected to the second team.
 
Samford checks in at fifth with 20 points. The Bulldogs placed three on the all-conference second team. Catcher Kathryn Jackson was one of three second-team catchers recognized and was joined by infielders Merritt Cahoon and Whitney Hinton.
 
Furman and Western Carolina tied for sixth with 10 points each. Furman, which finished 13-38 overall and 5-12 in conference action, looks to replace 2019 SoCon Player of the Year Marissa Guimbarda and second-team pitcher Emily DeMonte. Western Carolina’s senior pitcher Kinsey Liscio earned one of two second-team pitcher spots.
 
The 2020 softball season begins on Feb. 7 when ETSU, Mercer and Samford get underway. Furman, UNCG and Chattanooga kick off their campaigns the next day, while Western Carolina begins the season at Clemson on Feb. 12.
 
Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)    Points
1. Chattanooga (5)                   35
2. UNCG (1)                              28
3. ETSU (1)                               22
    Mercer                                 22
5. Samford                              20
6. Furman                               10
   Western Carolina                10

 
Preseason Player of the Year
Aly Walker, Chattanooga, Sr., OF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Celie Hudson, Chattanooga, Sr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P       Celie Hudson, Chattanooga, Sr.
P       Allison Swinford, Chattanooga, Jr.
C       Delaney Cumbie, UNCG, So.
IF      Nikki Grupp, ETSU, Sr.
IF      Danielle Castleberry, Mercer, R-Jr.
IF      Jasmine Palmer, UNCG, R-Sr.
IF      Emily Coltharp, Chattanooga, So.
OF     Kelly Warren, ETSU, Jr.
OF     Micayla Rood, Mercer, Jr.
OF     Aly Walker, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP    Kayleigh Willis, UNCG, Sr.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P       Bailey Pattison, Mercer, So.
P       Kinsey Liscio, Western Carolina, Sr.
C       Kelsey Brown, ETSU, R-So.
C       Tori Ash, Mercer, So.
C       Kathryn Jackson, Samford, Sr.
IF      Julia Fritz, ETSU, Jr.
IF      Merritt Cahoon, Samford, So.
IF      Whitney Hinton, Samford, Sr.
IF      Emma Sturdivant, Chattanooga, R-Sr.
OF     Allie Jones, Mercer, Jr.
OF     Jordan Gontram, UNCG, R-Jr.
OF     Makenna Matthijs, UNCG, Jr.
OF     Hayleigh Weissenbach, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP    Abby Walsh, Mercer, Sr.