Behrend Softball Teams Selected to Repeat as AMCC Champions
Defending champion Penn State Behrend is the coaches' choice
to win their fourth AMCC championship and third in four years. The Behrend
Lions earned seven of 10 first place votes. Frostburg State, the 2008
tournament runners-up, are expected to challenge in the #2 spot, while last
season's regular season champion Medaille College was ranked third.
The Behrend Lions Julie Koman (McKees Rocks, PA/Montour HS) was selected as
the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The senior righthander is a three-time
first team all-conference selection. She was a key component of the Behrend
Lions AMCC championship seasons in 2006 and 2008. In 2008 Koman led the
league in all major pitching statistics, finishing the year with a 1.60 ERA
with 156 strikeouts in 161.2 innings pitched, and was nationally ranked in
wins and hits allowed. She posted a record of 20-6 while completing 14
games.
The blue and white will return eight seniors from the 2008
championship team. Three time first team all-AMCC member Katie Whitby
(Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) brings back .388 batting average with 57 hits, seven
triples and two homeruns. Nikki Kaschauer (South Park, PA/South Park)
was a second team all-conference selection in 2008. She led the team
with a .405 batting average and started last season with a 20 game hit
steak. Kaschauer would also led the AMCC in hits with 60 while scoring
34 runs and knocking in 34 RBI.
The Behrend Lions will begin play on March 8 in Clearwater, Florida.
The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, March 21, and the
championship will be May 1-3 at the site of the top seed. The winner of the
tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA
tournament.
The full story can be found on the AMCC site by clicking
here:
http://www.amcconf.org/sbpoll2009.htm
AMCC
SOFTBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*
1 - Penn State Behrend (3)
2 - Frostburg State (5)
3 - Medaille (1)
4 - Pitt-Bradford (4)
5 - Pitt-Greensburg (6)
6 - Mount Aloysius (6)
7 - La Roche (8)
8- Penn State Altoona (10)
9 - Hilbert (9)
10 - Franciscan (N/A)
* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2008