DENVER – Four members of Seattle University softball have been named 2019 Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the conference announced Wednesday morning. Madison Cathcart, Ally Choate, Andie Larkins, and Carley Nance were voted on to the team.
In the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, SU was picked to finish third. Defending WAC champion New Mexico State was first with 35 total points, while Grand Canyon was next with 32 points. The Redhawks received 25 points to take third in the poll. Utah Valley was fourth, with new WAC member California Baptist and Kansas City tied for fifth. CSU Bakersfield rounded out the rankings.
Cathcart, a junior from Longview, Wash., put together a fantastic campaign in 2018. She batted .444 with a .596 on-base percentage and a .992 slugging percentage, leading the WAC in all three categories. The first baseman was the first Redhawk to ever be selected NFCA All-Region and set eight school records.
Choate is a Yelm, Wash., product. As a freshman, she hit .344 and tied Cathcart for the team lead with 67 hits. The All-WAC First Team outfielder set a single-season school record with 42 runs scored. Choate tied for the WAC lead in regular-season hits.
Larkins was also an All-WAC First Team choice in 2018. The native of Tucson, Ariz., went 10-9 with a 3.03 ERA. She pitched 136.1 innings in 31 appearances. Larkins tallied 76 strikeouts in her junior season.
Nance earned All-WAC Second Team honors last year. In her redshirt freshman campaign, she led the WAC with 123 strikeouts, setting a Division I program record. Nance pitched a team-high 164.1 innings, going 14-12 with a 3.07 ERA in 39 appearances.
Coach Geoff Hirai guided SU to its most successful Division I season in program history. The Redhawks won 33 games and played for the WAC regular-season title on the final day of the season.
Seattle U opens the 2019 season on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona.