Lions Softball Selected Ninth In Preseason Coaches Poll: Lail and Stanek Headline Preseason All-Conference

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's softball annual preseason poll, it was announced today by the league office. The head coaches gave the Bears nine first-place votes and a total of 130 points.

Carson-Newman grabbed the No. 2 slot with three first-place votes and 117 points, while Wingate was selected at No. 3 with 109 points. Catawba placed fourth in the poll with 93 points and Anderson came in at No. 5 with 91 points. Lincoln Memorial landed at No. 6 with 90 points, followed by Newberry at No. 7 with 68 points. Queens' 66 points was good for the No. 8 spot and at No. 9 was Mars Hill with 52 points. Coker placed tenth with 47 points, while Tusculum received 43 points at No. 11. Brevard rounded out the poll with 19 points.

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team. The  first-team outfield positions consisted of Catawba's Kristen Stinnard and Lenoir-Rhyne teammates Erin Boone and Christina Walker.

The first-team infield was represented by four Lenoir-Rhyne student-athletes. At first base was Sydney Landreth, at second base was Madison Poe, at shortstop was Madison Carter and Sarah Kenley represented the Bears at catcher. Also receiving the first team Honors was Wingate's Misty Doran at third base.

In the pitchers circle, Allison Webster represented Carson-Newman on the first-team as she was joined by Augie Pena from Anderson.

Taylor Lail of Mars Hill was voted the first-team designated player and Wingate's Katie McLaurin was voted the first-team utility player.

The South Atlantic Conference softball season gets underway on Wednesday, Feb. 1.  The 2017  South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 27-April 30 at Byerly Park in Hartsville, S.C.

Rk    Team (first-place votes)               Points

1.     Lenoir-Rhyne (9)                                 130

2.     Carson-Newman (3)                            117

3.     Wingate                                                109

4.     Catawba                                                  93

5.     Anderson                                                91

6.     Lincoln Memorial                                  90

7.     Newberry                                               68

8.     Queens                                                   66

9.     Mars Hill                                                  52

10.  Coker                                                       47

11.  Tusculum                                                43

12. Brevard                                                   19

2017 South Atlantic Conference Softball

Preseason All-Conference

1st Team

OF – Erin Boone, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Christina Walker, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Kristen Stinnard, Catawba

1B – Sydney Landreth, Lenoir-Rhyne

2B  - Madison Poe, Lenoir-Rhyne

SS – Madison Carter, Lenoir-Rhyne

3B – Misty Doran, Wingate

DP – Taylor Lail, Mars Hill

UTL – Katie McLaurin, Wingate

C – Sarah Kenley, Lenoir-Rhyne

P – Allison Webster, Carson-Newman

P – Augie Pena, Anderson

2nd Team

OF – Christina Linton, Newberry

OF – Naomi Sapp, Wingate

OF – Riley Morris, Coker

1B – Ashton Whitaker, Queens

2B – Taylor Barcomb, Coker

SS – Kristen Toppel, Carson-Newman

3B – Casey Stanek, Mars Hill

DP – Katherine Shumaker, Catawba

UTL – Mackenzie Cates, Lenoir-Rhyne

C – Cailah Niles, Anderson

P – Rachel Weidner, Wingate

P – Lauren Rudesheim, Anderson