Thanks to seven returning GNAC all-stars among 13 letterwinners back from the 2007 squad that reached the regional final, the softball team has been picked as the preseason favorite to win its first conference title, as the GNAC softball coaches’ poll was released Thursday.
Seattle University received four first-place votes and 49 points overall in the balloting, ahead of defending GNAC champion Western Washington, which received the other three first-place votes and 39 points overall. Western Oregon finished third with 34 points, followed closely by (30 points) and GNAC newcomer Montana State Billings (27 points). ’s finished sixth with 14 points, and Northwest Nazarene earned ten points for seventh place.
Coming off a school-record 36-win season and a program-best #18 national ranking at the end of the year, Seattle University brings back eight starters, including first team All-GNAC players Erin Martin (Valencia, Calif.), Megan MacIsaac (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Katie Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.), and Brenda Stice (Poulsbo, Wash.). Outfielder Katie Antich (, ) was a second team All-GNAC selection in 2007, while catcher Kaha Weir (, ) and second baseman Jane Purdy () were honorable mention selections.
Also returning for the 2008 season are juniors Heather Hansen (, ) and Cassie Cueto (, ) and sophomores Kelsey Reynolds (, ), Sandra Hernandez (), Lauren Berin (Lacey, Wash.), and Cassi Sharp (Glendale, Ariz.). With six talented newcomers joining the program this year, competition for playing time should be intense, which will get the team prepared for the upcoming season.
Of the 50 games presently on the schedule, 10 are against teams that appeared in the NCAA West Regional last season, including two against perennial power , two against , and one against defending regional champion Cal State Stanislaus. With the addition of Montana State Billings to the conference, 24 games will be GNAC counters, with at least 25 more directly affecting the regional rankings.
The 2008 softball season kicks off next week with the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational hosted by Cal State Stanislaus in , on Feb. 1-3. The home opener will be a doubleheader on Saturday, March 8, against GNAC newcomer Montana State Billings.