ROCK HILL, S.C– The Anderson softball team has been picked to finish fifth, as the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll was released by the league office Thursday afternoon.
In addition, senior Cailah Niles earned preseason All-SAC first-team honors.
Niles ranked first in the league in RBI (55), tied for first in home runs (14) and 10th in batting average (.390). Niles also was named the SAC Statistical Champion in Slugging % (.787), Home Runs per game (0.29) and RBI per game (1.14) earning her All-SAC Second Team accolades.
The Phenix City, Ala. native started all 50 games behind the plate this past season pushing her consecutive start total to 155 games. As a junior, Niles has hit a career total of 47 home runs tying both the Anderson all-time career record and the SAC all-time career record.
The Trojans finished the 2017 season 34-16 overall and 12-8 in SAC play finishing 5th in regular season play.
Carson-Newman (106 points), last year's regular season co-champion with Lenoir-Rhyne was voted as the preseason favorite while Lenoir-Rhyne (102 points) captured four first place votes and was selected second just behind the Eagles. Coker (87 points) received one first-place vote and was slotted third.
Newberry (78 points) was picked fourth, followed by Anderson (76 points) in the fifth slot. Wingate (71 points) was picked sixth just below Anderson. Tusculum and Lincoln Memorial occupied the seventh and eighth spots, respectively. Queens, Mars Hill and Catawba rounded out the poll.
Anderson opens the season at home versus Southern Wesleyan on Friday, Feb.2. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3:30 p.m.
| Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Total |
|
1. |
Carson-Newman (6) |
106 |
|
2. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (4) |
102 |
|
3. |
Coker (1) |
87 |
|
4. |
Newberry |
78 |
|
5. |
Anderson |
76 |
|
6. |
Wingate |
71 |
|
7. |
Tusculum |
52 |
|
8. |
Lincoln Memorial |
48 |
|
9. |
Queens |
42 |
|
10. |
Mars Hill |
29 |
|
11. |
Catawba |
24 |
2018 South Atlantic Conference Softball
Preseason All-Conference
1st Team
OF – Erin Boone, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Naomi Sapp, Wingate
OF – Allie Jones, Lincoln Memorial
1B – Maria Williamson, Coker
2B - Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Kristen Toppel, Carson-Newman
3B – Casey Stanek, Mars Hill
DP – Haley Simonds, Newberry
UTL – Mindy North, Coker
C – Cailah Niles, Anderson
P – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman
P – Taylor Forehand, Coker
2nd Team
OF – Sammie West, Tusculum
OF – Elaina Frantellizzi, Queens
OF – Cacey Simmons, Coker
1B – Emily Hester, Tusculum
2B – Natalie Willis, Newberry
SS – Taylor Johnson, Tusculum
3B – Mackenzie Cates, Lenoir-Rhyne
DP – Taylor Wells, Wingate
UTL – Taylor Martin, Catawba
C – KaraLynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Brandi Parks, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Emily Marchbanks, Newberry