Behrend Softball Picked to Finish in Second in AMCC Preseason Poll

The Penn State Behrend softball team has been picked to finish second in the AMCC conference this year behind Pitt-Bradford. The recently released poll is voted on by AMCC coaches.
 
Last year Behrend finished the regular season in third place behind Pitt-Bradford, with La Roche claiming the AMCC title.  The women went on to play in the ECAC tournament, where they would round out the tournament with losses to La Roche and Kean.  The blue and white won the AMCC title in 2006 when they defeated Pitt-Bradford 5-0.  With an impressive 34-8 record after conference play, the women received a bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Julie Koman (McKees Rocks/Montour) was named the Preseason Pitcher of the year while teammate Nikki Kaschauer (South Park/South Park) was picked  to be named the Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.  Koman had an impressive 7-1 record in AMCC play last season, with an 0.75 ERA and limited league opponents to .181 average.  In 32 games she made a 19-6 mark and completed 20 total games.  She was the AMCC Player and Newcomer of the Year in 2006. 

Team captain Kaschauer led her team last year with a .438 batting average, 11 doubles and 39 RBI's.  Nikki batted at .607 in conference play with 16 RBI's.  She was named the AMCC Player of the Year last year as well as earning the ECAC Division III Southern Player of the Year
award in 2007.

The blue and white will travel to Clermont, FL for spring training March 9 through the 14, where they will play ten games in five days.  The women will then open up AMCC conference play by hosting a double header against Medaille college on Wednesday, March 26 at 3:00 p.m. The winner of the AMCC conference tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. 
 

2008 AMCC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Pitt-Bradford (2)
2. Penn State Behrend (3)
3. La Roche (1)
4. Medaille (4)
5. Lake Erie (6)
6. Frostburg State (5)
7. Pitt-Greensburg (7)
8. Penn State Altoona (8)
9. Mount Aloysius (10)
10. Hilbert (9)

 

  * Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2007
 
 
For full story on AMCC website click here:
http://www.amcconf.org/sbpoll2008.htm



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Updated March 3, 2008
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