SoCon Coaches Pick Eagles Softball Second in 2010
2/8/2010 4:53:00 PM | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Georgia Southern was picked second behind preseason favorite Chattanooga for the 2010 championship in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. Georgia Southern's Brianna Streetmon earned preseason pitcher of the year honors and Appalachian State catcher/third baseman Katie Boyd was named preseason player of the year. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
The Lady Mocs received eight of the possible nine first-place votes and 64 points overall. Three-time coach of the year Frank Reed returns nine starters, including his three top pitchers, to a team that finished 30-27 in 2009.
Georgia Southern, last season's tournament runner-up, was tabbed to finish second in 2010, garnering the final first-place vote and 56 overall points. The Eagles earned five all-conference team selections.
Preseason pitcher of the year Brianna Streetmon, the 2009 pitcher of the year, was joined by shortstop Nina Iduate and outfielder Marie Fogle on the first team. Third baseman Jenny Side and designated player Megen Smith were named to the second team.
Picked to finish third, College of Charleston was represented by three student-athletes on the all-conference team. Third baseman Kristie Shifflett, the 2009 player of the year, made the first team, while teammates Amber Shifflett, at second base, and Katie Forbes, in the outfield, received second team honors.
Preseason player of the year Katie Boyd and Appalachian State were picked to finish fourth. Boyd garnered the first-team utility player selection, while teammate Sarah Rappe, an outfielder, was named to the second team. Coming in at No. 5 was Samford, which is entering its second year in the conference and had two second teamers in pitcher Stephanie Royall and utility player Robyn Harmon.
UNC Greensboro followed at No. 6 with first baseman Alex Emeterio and shortstop Kaitlin Merkt being named to the second team. Rounding out the preseason poll was No. 7 Furman with one second-team selection, No. 8 Elon also with a second-team representative and No. 9 Western Carolina, which garnered a first-team nod with designated player Amber Hawkins.
Georgia Southern begins its season with the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic at Eagle Field Friday, February 19-Sunday, February 21.
The 2010 Southern Conference Softball Championship is scheduled for May 13-14 and will be hosted by the team which finishes with the best league record in the regular season.
Preseason Poll
|
Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. Chattanooga (8) |
64 |
|
2. Georgia Southern (1) |
56 |
|
3. College of Charleston |
47 |
|
4. Appalachian State |
43 |
|
5. Samford |
35 |
|
6. UNC Greensboro |
27 |
|
7. Furman |
25 |
|
8. Elon |
14 |
|
9. Western Carolina |
13 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Katie Boyd, C/3B, Appalachian State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
Preseason First-Team All-Conference
|
P |
Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga |
|
P |
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern |
|
C |
Brittany Eason, Chattanooga |
|
1B |
Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga |
|
2B |
Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga |
|
SS |
Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern |
|
3B |
Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston |
|
OF |
Marie Fogle, Georgia Southern |
|
OF |
Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga |
|
OF |
Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga |
|
DP |
Amber Hawkins, Western Carolina |
|
UT |
Katie Boyd, Appalachian State |
Preseason Second-Team All-Conference
|
P |
Lana Mackey, Furman |
|
P |
Stephanie Royall, Samford |
|
C |
Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Elon |
|
1B |
Alex Emeterio, UNC Greensboro |
|
2B |
Amber Shifflett, College of Charleston |
|
SS |
Kaitlin Merkt, UNC Greensboro |
|
3B |
Jenny Side, Georgia Southern |
|
OF |
Katie Forbes, College of Charleston |
|
OF |
Kaiti Kelley, Chattanooga |
|
OF |
Sarah Rappe, Appalachian State |
|
DP |
Megen Smith, Georgia Southern |
|
UT |
Robyn Harmon, Samford |
