Roanoke, Eastern Mennonite Pick Up First Place Votes
SALEM, Va. --- Bridgewater College and
Lynchburg College sit tied at the top of the 2008 ODAC Softball
Coaches Poll. Both squads earned 91 total votes with
Bridgewater receiving four first place votes and Lynchburg picked
up three top nods. Roanoke College was picked third in the
survey with 84 votes and two first place selections, and Eastern
Mennonite holds the fourth spot with 70 votes and one top
tally.
Bridgewater (40-8, 17-1 ODAC) picked up an at-large bid into the
2007 NCAA Division III Tournament after falling to Lynchburg in the
ODAC championship. Bridgewater led the league in several
statistical categories last season including, batting average
(.357), runs scored (407), hits (503), RBIs (358) and homeruns
(50). The Eagles return three All-ODAC first team selections
in seniors Laura Barry and Jennifer Hall and junior Caity Butler,
but they have a hole to fill on the mound with the graduation of
ODAC Pitcher of the Year, Lisa Rhodes. The Eagles start this
season off ranked No. 19 in the NFCA Division III softball
poll.
Lynchburg (36-13, 14-4 ODAC) earned the ODAC's automatic bid into
the NCAA tournament with its fourth overall league title and first
since 1996. The Hornets will have to replace the production
of two-time ODAC Player of the Year, Caroline Cubbage, in order to
make a return trip to the national tourney. LC was second in
the league in batting average (.340), runs scored (329), hits
(428), homeruns (48), and stolen bases (62). The Hornets also
return two All-ODAC second team selections in senior Elizabeth
Perkins and junior Brittany Allsop. Lynchburg kicks off its
season ranked No. 11 in the NFCA Division III softball poll.
Roanoke (29-9, 15-3 ODAC) led the league in hits allowed (161),
runs allowed (86) and field percentage (.967) last season.
The Maroons return two All-ODAC first team selections in seniors
Loren Messick and Hillary Hudgins, one second team selection in
Tamara Poles and the 2007 Rookie of the Year, Kelsey
Ruitenberg.
Eastern Mennonite (25-14, 10-8 ODAC) finished with a 2.33 team
earned run average, good enough for third in the league.
All-ODAC first team selection, Natasha Viafora (12-5, 1.56 ERA),
and Jamie Fraysher (11-6, 2.46 ERA) return to lead the Royals'
pitching staff.
Listed below is the entire 2008 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.
For more information, visit the ODAC on the Internet at
www.odaconline.com.
2008 ODAC Softball Coaches Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes
School |
Votes |
1. Bridgewater |
91 (4) |
2. Lynchburg |
91 (3) |
3. Roanoke |
84 (2) |
4. Eastern Mennonite |
70 (1) |
5. Randolph-Macon |
52 |
6. Virginia Wesleyan |
50 |
7. Emory & Henry |
46 |
8. Guilford |
26 |
9. Sweet Briar |
26 |
10. Randolph |
14 |