Broome named to preseason All-SAC Second Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's 2019 preseason softball poll, the league office announced today. The head coaches gave the Bears 10 first-place votes and a total of 110 points.

Coker grabbed the No. 2 slot with 91 points, while reigning tournament champion Carson-Newman earned the final first-place vote for a total of 87 points and earned the No. 3 spot. Wingate placed fourth in the poll with 83 points and Anderson came in at No. 5 with 75 points. Queens landed at No. 6 with 69 points, followed by Newberry at No. 7 with 64 points. Lincoln Memorial's 45 points gave them the No. 8 spot and at No. 9 was Catawba with 32 points. Tusculum placed 10th with 31 points, while Mars Hill rounded out the poll with 28 points.

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team. The first-team outfield positions consisted of Lenoir-Rhyne's Erin Boone, Meghan Majeski of Anderson, and Carson-Newman's Haley Caldwell.

The first-team infield was represented from right to left on the diamond, at first base was Maria Williamson of Coker, at second base was Ty-Kella Goins of Lincoln Memorial, at shortstop was Natalie Willis from Newberry, and at third base Talon LaClair from Lenoir-Rhyne. Also earning first team honors was Queens's Jordan Hunt at catcher.

In the pitcher's circle, Emily Kenley represented Lenoir-Rhyne on the first-team. She was joined by Christine Carver from Coker and 2018 SAC Player of the Year Lacie Rinus of Carson-Newman.

Haley Simonds of Newberry was voted the first-team designated player and Carson-Newman's Abby Fiessinger was voted the first-team utility player.

The South Atlantic Conference softball season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 1.  The 2019 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 26-April 27 at Catawba's Whitley Softball Field.

2019 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll

2019 South Atlantic Conference Softball

Preseason All-Conference

1st Team

OF – Erin Boone, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Meghan Majeski, Anderson

OF – Haley Caldwell, Carson-Newman

1B – Maria Williamson, Coker

2B – Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial

SS – Natalie Willis, Newberry

3B – Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne

DP – Haley Simonds, Newberry

UTL – Abby Fiessinger, Carson-Newman

C – Jordan Hunt, Queens

P – Emily Kenley, Lenoir-Rhyne

P – Christine Carver, Coker

P – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman

2nd Team

OF – Tori Caldwell, Newberry

OF – Sara Ingoldsby, Queens

OF – Allie Jones, Lincoln Memorial

1B – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne

2B – Sydney Ditto, Queens

SS – Ragan Broome, Mars Hill

3B – Breanna Hagerty, Anderson

DP – Aubrey Reep, Wingate

UTL – Kelsie Hocutt, Lincoln Memorial

C – Taylor Wells, Wingate

P – Brandi Parks, Lenoir-Rhyne