NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Returning its key cornerstone for the 2012 season, the Wilmington University softball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2012 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced the conference office on Tuesday.
The Wildcats finished fourth in both the regular season and the CACC tournament with a 17-9 conference record last season, completing the year with a 29-21 mark. The team lost a 7-2 contest against Caldwell on the second day of the CACC Tournament, ending the Wildcats season.
The team has high hopes again this year, as head coach Erin Harvey welcomes back the reigning CACC Pitcher of the Year to the roster in Katie Warrington. As a sophomore Warrington totaled 167.2 innings in the circle, amassing a 15-9 record and a miniscule 0.96 earned run average. Of the 22 games she started, Warrington completed 19 and had six shutouts.
Harvey, entering her sixth season at the helm of the Wildcats, has accumulated a 131-103-1 record as a head coach, all with Wilmington University. She will lean on her four seniors to help her manage the team that will look from production from its four juniors and four sophomores as well. Along with Warrington, junior Brooke Berger and senior Jessica Hassman have been named team captains for the 2012 season.
Coming off its second straight CACC Softball Championship, Dominican again rules the rankings as it picked up eight first place votes and totaled 189 points to be voted as the favorite in the preseason poll. Caldwell College picked up five first place votes and 179 points after finishing third in the CACC Tournament a year ago. Georgian Court, last season's runner-up, tallied the remaining first place vote and finished third in the poll with 152 points. Wilmington placed right behind Georgian Court, finishing with 150 points and in fourth place.
The point totals dip following the Wildcats, as Bloomfield was picked to finish fifth with 136 points. Concordia claimed sixth with 128 points after sharing the league regular season title in 2011 with a 20-6 record in the CACC.
Post (117 points), Felician (89), Holy Family (82), Philadelphia (72), Goldey-Beacom (63), USciences (58), Nyack (33), Chestnut Hill (20) round out the rest of the preseason rankings.
Wilmington will embark on a 24-game non-conference trip to Clermont, Fla., starting on February 25 to open the 2012 campaign. Upon returning home on March 10, the team will start its CACC season with a doubleheader at crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom on March 20. The Wildcats' first home contest is on Saturday, March 24 as they welcome Felician to Asbury Field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
AGATE:
2012 CACC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Dominican (8 first place votes) – 189 points
- Caldwell (5) – 179
- Georgian Court (1) – 152
- Wilmington – 150
- Bloomfield – 136
- Concordia – 128
- Post – 117
- Felician – 89
- Holy Family – 82
- Philadelphia – 72
- Goldey-Beacom – 63
- USciences – 58
- Nyack – 33
- Chestnut Hill - 20