Carson-Newman Earns Top Spot in South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Carson-Newman has been chosen first in the South Atlantic Conference's 2018 preseason softball poll, the league office announced today. The head coaches gave the Eagles six first-place votes and a total of 106 points. 

Lenoir-Rhyne grabbed the No. 2 slot with four first-place votes and 102 points, while Coker earned the final first place vote for a total of 87 points and earned the No. 3 spot. Newberry placed fourth in the poll with 78 points and Anderson came in at No. 5 with 76 points. Wingate landed at No. 6 with 71 points, followed by Tusculum at No. 7 with 52 points. Lincoln Memorial's 48 points gave them the No. 8 spot and at No. 9 was Queens with 42 points. Mars Hill placed tenth with 29 points, while Catawba rounded out the poll with 24 points.

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team. The first-team outfield positions consisted of Lenoir-Rhyne's Erin Boone, Naomi Sapp of Wingate and Lincoln Memorial's Allie Jones.

The first-team infield was represented from right to left on the diamond, at first base was Maria Williamson of Coker, at second base was Ty-Kella Goins of Lincoln Memorial, at shortstop was Kristen Toppel from Carson-Newman and at third base Casey Stanek from Mars Hill. Also earning first team honors was Anderson's Cailah Niles at catcher.

In the pitchers circle, Lacie Rinus represented Carson-Newman on the first-team; she was joined by Taylor Forehand from Coker.

Haley Simonds of Newberry was voted the first-team designated player and Coker's Mindy North was voted the first-team utility player.

The South Atlantic Conference softball season gets underway on Thursday, Feb. 1.  The 2018 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 26-April 29 at Anderson University's Softball Complex.

2018 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll

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 – Kara Lynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Brandi Parks, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Emily Marchbanks, Newberry

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