Chattanooga named favorite to win SoCon softball title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga has been tabbed the favorite to claim the 2025 Southern Conference softball crown, as voted on by all eight of the league’s coaches. ETSU infielder Cameron Young was voted preseason player of the year, while Chattanooga junior Peja Goold was named the preseason pitcher of the year.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players in the balloting. The second team features an additional designated player due to a tie in the voting.
 
Chattanooga collected six first-place votes and 48 points to take the top spot in the poll after winning the SoCon regular-season and tournament titles in 2024. The Mocs, who went 42-16 overall and 16-5 in conference play a season ago, placed five on the preseason all-conference teams. Goold, who was the 2024 SoCon Pitcher of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and outfielder Camryn Cernuto represented the Mocs on the first team. Goold was second in the conference in strikeouts (128) and wins (12) last season, while Cernuto was in the top five in the league in batting average (.356) and stolen bases (18). Infielders Olivia Lipari and Kailey Snell, along with outfielder Baileigh Pitts were second-team selections.

UNCG had one first-place vote and a total of 39 points to claim second in the poll. The Spartans finished the 2024 season with a 33-26 overall record and 13-8 mark in conference games. The Spartans were represented on the first team by outfielder Grace Loftin, who hit .331 with 13 home runs a season ago. UNCG put a pair on the second team with catcher Betsy Eatmon and designated player Jorde Chartrand making the squad.

Mercer finished third in the preseason poll for the second consecutive season, receiving 30 points. Infielder Tori Hedgecock made the first team for the Bears. Hedgecock led the SoCon in home runs (19), walks (50) and on-base percentage (.503) in 2024. Pitcher Grace Taylor made the second team for Mercer.

Samford received 28 points in the preseason poll to finish fourth. The Bulldogs tied Chattanooga for the most preseason all-conference team selections with five. Catcher Logan Champion and designated player Olivia Shaw were voted on to the first team. Samford was represented on the second team by pitcher Jordyn Partain, infielder Sarah Squillace and outfielder McKayla Cothran.

Wofford was fifth in the preseason poll with 25 points after going 11-10 in league play and 23-24 in 2024, which was the first year the school participated in softball. Pitcher Margaret Axelson and infielder Kate Platte made the first team for the Terriers. Last season, Axelson led the conference in ERA (2.15), while Platte batted .450 in SoCon games.

Infielder Lily Bell earned a first-team all-conference selection for Western Carolina, which amassed 23 points and the final first-place vote to finish sixth. In 2024, Bell led the SoCon in stolen bases (34) and was second in batting average (.387) and hits (72).

 
Furman checks in at seventh with 19 points. The Paladins placed outfielder Caitlin Goldwait on the first team and designated player Slyvia Burroughs on the second team.

ETSU rounded out the poll with 12 points. Young rounded out the first team selections, while infielder Riley Nayadley and outfielder Brylee Mesusan were second-team picks. Young led the league in batting average (.394) and doubles (17) a season ago.

The 2025 softball season begins on Feb. 6 with Furman hosting South Carolina State and UNCG taking on North Carolina Central. Each of the other six teams will open their season on the following day.

Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points

Preseason Player of the Year
Cameron Young, ETSU, Sr., IF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Peja Goold, Chattanooga, Jr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Peja Goold, Chattanooga, Jr.

P          Margaret Axelson, Wofford, Jr.
C          Logan Champion, Samford, Sr.
IF         Cameron Young, ETSU, Sr.
IF         Tori Hedgecock, Mercer, Sr.
IF         Lily Bell, Western Carolina, So.
IF         Kate Platte, Wofford, R-So.
OF       Caitlin Goldwait, Furman, Sr.
OF       Grace Loftin, UNCG, Sr.

OF       Camryn Cernuto, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP       Olivia Shaw, Samford, So.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Grace Taylor, Mercer, Jr.
P          Jordyn Partain, Samford, Sr.
C          Betsy Eatmon, UNCG, So.
IF         Riley Nayadley, ETSU, Sr.
IF         Sarah Squillace, Samford, Sr.
IF         Olivia Lipari, Chattanooga, Sr.
IF         Kailey Snell, Chattanooga, Gr.

OF       Brylee Mesusan, ETSU, Jr.
OF       McKayla Cothran, Samford, Sr.

OF       Baileigh Pitts, Chattanooga, Jr.
DP       Sylvia Burroughs, Furman, Jr.

DP       Jorde Chartrand, UNCG, Sr.