NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Coming off a season in which the team went farther into the postseason than any other year, the Wilmington University softball team earned two first place votes and 176 total points to sit in second place in the 2018 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Wildcats are coming off a 36-21 season, finishing 17-9 and in fourth place in the CACC. For the fourth year in a row, the Wildcats earned a spot into the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, winning two games for the first time in program history.
In a vote of the league's head coaches, the Wildcats earned two first place votes and 176 total points to finish behind only the reigning CACC Tournament Champion and fellow NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament participant Caldwell. The Cougars earned 11 first place votes and 193 to sit atop the preseason poll.
Dominican picked up the final first place vote and earned 168 total points to place third overall. Jefferson earned 128 points for fourth while Holy Family earne 126 points for fifth. Post (114 points), Felician (100 points), and Goldey-Beacom (91), round out the top eight teams that are expected to advance to the 2018 CACC Tournament.
The rest of the 2018 CACC Preseason Coaches Poll finds Chestnut Hill (89 points) in ninth, Bloomfield (84 points) in 10th, and Georgian Court (71 points) in 11th. USciences (58 points), Concordia (44 points), and Nyack (27 points) round out rest of the preseason poll.
The Wildcats return three All-CACC performers from a season year, led by leftfielder Rosa'Lynn Burton and starting pitcher Caitlyn Whiteside who were named First Team. Second baseman Jazmeen Llamas also earned Second Team All-CACC honors for the second year in row. Burton was also a Second Team NFCA All-American as a freshman last season.
The goal is to be one of the top eight teams at the end of the regular season to advance to the CACC Tournament hosted by Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J., starting on May 3.
AGATE:
2018 CACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Caldwell University 193 (11)
2. Wilmington University 176 (2)
3. Dominican College 169 (1)
4. Jefferson 128
5. Holy Family University 126
6. Post University 114
7. Felician University 100
8. Goldey-Beacom College 91
9. Chestnut Hill College 89
10. Bloomfield College 84
11. Georgian Court University 71
12. University of the Sciences 58
13. Concordia College 44
14. Nyack College 27