SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNC Greensboro has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2022 Southern Conference softball crown, as voted on by all seven of the league’s coaches. Spartan outfielder Makenna Matthijs nabbed preseason player of the year honors, while UNCG junior Morgan Scott was named the preseason pitcher of the year.
 
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting. The first team features an additional outfielder due to a tie in the voting, while the second team features an extra pitcher.
 
UNCG collected five first-place votes and 35 points to take the top spot in the poll after winning four straight regular-season championships and the 2021 SoCon Championship. The Spartans, who went 14-4 in SoCon play and 34-17 overall in 2021, placed five on the preseason all-conference teams. Scott, the 2021 SoCon Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, earned one of the two spots at pitcher and was joined by catcher Delaney Cumbie, who led the league in walks a season ago (42), on the first team. Infielder Maycin Brown, who hit .352 a season ago, and outfielder Matthijs rounded out the league-best four first-team selections, while infielder Brooklynn Maxwell was named to the second team. In 2021, Matthijs led the league in runs scored (44), hits (61), RBIs (43), total bases (114), at bats (172) and total place appearances (196).
 
Western Carolina garnered one first-place vote and totaled 30 points to claim second in the poll, ahead of Chattanooga, who snagged the final first-place vote and finished with 25 points. The Catamounts, who finished 27-26 overall and 12-5 in league play in 2021 en route to a SoCon championship appearance after being picked last in the preseason poll, also placed five players on the preseason all-conference teams, including three on the first team. Junior pitcher Jayme Eilers, senior infielder Bailey Huneycutt, the 2021 SoCon Player of the Year and league leader in batting average (.364) and on-base percentage (.497), and sophomore outfielder Jeralynn Wells earned spots on the first team, while junior pitcher Savannah Rice and designated player Anna-Paige Pelfrey, a junior, were recognized on the second team.
 
Chattanooga, 13-25 overall and 8-8 in SoCon action a year ago, placed a league-best four players on the second team as junior pitcher Hannah Wood, infielders Emily Coltharp and Liz Rodebaugh and outfielder Gracey Kruse were honored.
 
Mercer and Samford tied for fourth in the preseason poll with 18 points each. The Bears, who finished 24-23 on the season and 8-9 in conference play in 2021, placed junior outfielder Elise Rosado, who led the league in triples a year ago (3), on the preseason first team, while sophomore infielder Annie Potter earned a nod on the second team. Samford, which amassed an 18-27 overall mark and went 7-11 in SoCon play in 2021, placed infielder Timberlynn Shurbutt on the first team. Shurbutt, a senior, was the league leader in assists (119), doubles (13), and sac flies (5) last season. 
 
Furman checks in at sixth with 12 points. The Paladins, who went 19-28 a year ago and totaled an 8-9 mark in league play, placed two on the preseason all-conference first team and three on the second team, tying UNCG and Western Carolina for most overall honorees (five). Junior infielder Riley Ludlam and senior designated player Emily Bartlett were recognized on the first team and joined by sophomore pitcher Sierra Tufts, senior catcher Natalie Morgan and sophomore outfielder Ashlee Lykins on the second team.
 
Redshirt senior outfielder Kelly Warren earned a spot on the first team for ETSU, which amassed nine points to finish seventh in the preseason poll after finishing 2021 at 15-22 overall and 3-14 in SoCon action. Senior outfielder Andrea Sarhatt was named to the second team.  
 
The 2022 softball season begins on Feb. 11 with all seven teams in action.
 
Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)  Points

1. UNCG (5)	35
2. Western Carolina (1)	30
3. Chattanooga (1)	25
4. Mercer	18
Samford	18
6. Furman	12
7. ETSU	9

Preseason Player of the Year
Makenna Matthijs, UNCG, Gr.
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Morgan Scott, UNCG, Jr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Morgan Scott, UNCG, Jr.
P          Jayme Eilers, Western Carolina, Jr.
C         Delaney Cumbie, UNCG, Sr.
IF         Riley Ludlam, Furman, Jr.
IF         Maycin Brown, UNCG, Jr.
IF         Timberlyn Shurbutt, Samford, Sr.
IF         Bailey Huneycutt, Western Carolina, Sr.
OF       Kelly Warren, ETSU, R-Sr.
OF       Elise Rosado, Mercer, Jr.
OF       Makenna Matthijs, UNCG, Gr.
OF       Jeralynn Wells, Western Carolina, So.
DP       Emily Bartlett, Furman, Sr.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Sierra Tufts, Furman, So.
P          Hannah Wood, Chattanooga, Jr.
P          Savannah Rice, Western Carolina, Jr.
C         Natalie Morgan, Furman, Sr.
IF         Annie Potter, Mercer, So.
IF         Brooklynn Maxwell, UNCG, So.
IF         Emily Coltharp, Chattanooga, Jr.
IF         Liz Rodebaugh, Chattanooga, So.
OF       Andrea Sarhatt, ETSU, Sr.
OF       Ashlee Lykins, Furman, So.
OF       Gracey Kruse, Chattanooga, Jr.
DP       Anna-Paige Pelfrey, Western Carolina, Jr.