U of Delaware Softball Team Picked Sixth in Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll The University of Delaware softball team was picked sixth in the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll announced by the conference this week.
Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell - UD will be led by sophomore outfielder Jenny Richards (pictured), an All-CAA First Team and CAA All-Rookie Team selection last season when she led the Blue Hens with a .354 batting average, 63 hits and seven doubles.
The University of Delaware softball team was picked sixth in the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll announced by the conference this week.
Hofstra, last year’s conference champion, was picked first with 49 points and seven first place votes. Georgia State received the other first place vote and was picked second with 40 points, while James Madison was selected third with 36 points.
Towson was picked fourth with 32 points, followed by Drexel (26), Delaware (21), George Mason (12) and UNC Wilmington (8).
Delaware, which will be led by first-year head coach Jaime Wohlbach, returns nine letterwinners including seven starters and welcomes six newcomers for the 2010 season. The Blue Hens went 20-30-1 overall last year and finished sixth in the conference standings with an 8-13 league mark.
UD will be led by sophomore outfielder Jenny Richards (at right), an All-CAA First Team and CAA All-Rookie Team selection last season when she led the Blue Hens with a .354 batting average, 63 hits and seven doubles. Junior Amanda Stacevicz batted .273 a year ago, while classmate Rachel Jones hit .254 on the season. Senior infielder Michelle Grap belted a UD single-season record 13 home runs while leading the squad with 30 runs batted in during the year.
Stacevicz also paced Delaware in the circle a year ago, going 11-13 with a 3.20 earned run average, 137 strikeouts and six shutouts. Senior Anne Marie Pagano finished 7-13 with a 3.85 ERA in the circle for the Blue Hens.
Delaware opens its 2011 campaign on Friday, February 18 when the Blue Hens take on Miami (Ohio) and Notre Dame at the University of Central Florida Tournament. Delaware hosts Villanova in a doubleheader on March 29 in its home opener, and plays its first home CAA series on April 9-10 when the Blue Hens host James Madison.
2011 Colonial Athletic Association Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Hofstra - 49 (7)
2. Georgia State - 40 (1)
3. James Madison - 36
4. Towson - 32
5. Drexel - 26
6. Delaware - 21
7. George Mason - 12
8. UNC Wilmington - 8
