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