W&J Softball Selected To Finish Eighth In PAC Preseason Poll
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team was picked eighth in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference preseason poll released on Wednesday. The voting was conducted by the league’s head coaches.
Westminster was chosen to win the conference after receiving two first-place votes and a total of 77 points. Three teams tied for second as defending-champion Geneva, Bethany and Thiel all garnered 74 points. Thomas More (73) was fifth followed by Grove City (71), W&J (33), Waynesburg (31) and Chatham (12).
The Presidents earned 15 victories last spring, their most since winning 17 games during the 2009 season, and posted a seven-win improvement in conference games, a feat matched only by regular-season champion Saint Vincent.
2008 PAC Coach of the Year Nicole Vitello enters her sixth season at the helm with 10 letter winners returning to the team. Headlining that group are a pair of all-conference performers, senior second baseman Stephanie Zur (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and pitcher Madison Rotto (Sarver, Pa./Freeport).
W&J opens the season with four games at the Salisbury (Md.) Tournament on March 8 and 9. The Presidents face Scranton and the host Sea Gulls during day one and conclude the tournament with contests against Frostburg State and Virginia Wesleyan the following day.
