North Greenville Picked to Win 2020 Conference Carolinas Softball Title
GREENVILLE, S.C. – In an extremely close vote, North Greenville has emerged as the favorite in the 2020 Conference Carolinas Softball Preseason Poll.
The league office unveiled the preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.
North Greenville (110) with four votes received one less first-place vote than Erskine’s five, but the Crusaders earned the top spot by not having a vote for less than a fourth-place finish. Defending regular season champion Erskine received the most first-place votes with the five, but the Flying Fleet (108) had one fifth-place vote that made the difference in North Greenville earning the top spot.
King received one first first-place vote and a total of 103 points to grab the third spot followed by Southern Wesleyan (80) and Lees-McRae (79). Defending tournament champion Lees-McRae had the other first-place votes in the preseason tally with two.
Mount Olive (72) was sixth in the preseason poll followed by Limestone (66), Belmont Abbey (63), Emmanuel (44), Barton (28), Chowan (24) and Converse (15).
2020 Softball Preseason Poll
|
Team
|
1st
|
Total
|
|
1. North Greenville
|
4
|
110
|
|
2. Erskine
|
5
|
108
|
|
3. King
|
1
|
103
|
|
4. Southern Wesleyan
|
|
80
|
|
5. Lees-McRae
|
2
|
79
|
|
6. Mount Olive
|
|
72
|
|
7. Limestone
|
|
66
|
|
8. Belmont Abbey
|
|
63
|
|
9. Emmanuel
|
|
44
|
|
10. Barton
|
|
28
|
|
11. Chowan
|
|
24
|
|
12. Converse
|
|
15
|
Conference Carolinas Softball Players to Watch
(Submitted by Conference Carolinas head coaches)
Barton
Mikayla Rose, So., C/OF, Beaufort, N.C.
Belmont Abbey
Claire Doyle, Sr., C, Jacksonville, Fla. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Payton Whitley, So., 1B/3B, Albemarle, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Annabeth Watkins, Sr., RHP, Wendell, N.C.
Chowan
Lindsey Stigler, Sr., C, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (All-CIAA performer last year)
Brittany Parson, Sr., 3B, Reno, Nev. (All-CIAA performer last year)
Converse
Allison Plafcan, Jr., 3B, Maggie Valley, N.C.
Brooklyn McElrath, So., SS, Enoree, S.C.
Emmanuel
Caitlin Parks, Sr., C, Cumming, Ga. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Noelle Petty, Sr., INF, Buford, Ga. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Erskine
Hannah Houge, Jr., P, Boiling Springs, S.C. (2019 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection, All-Region selection)
Shi Cain, So., 3B, Rockwell, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Allison Neeley, Sr., OF, Duncan, S.C.
King
Casey Gilbert, Sr., P/UTL, Hendersonville, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Emma Hughes, Sr., P, Rogersville, Tenn. (2017 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Azlee Sells, Jr., IF, Blountville, Tenn.
Lees-McRae
Julie Gast, So., SS, Taylorsville, N.C.
Faith Cooke, So., C/U, Denver, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Caitlyn Ray, Sr., 2B/OF, Summerfield, N.C.
Limestone
Haley White, So., P, Union Mills, N.C.
Ruthie Jackson, So., SS/3B, Mooresville, N.C.
Audra Butler, Jr., 3B/1B, Cheraw, S.C.
Mount Olive
Eileen Barrera, Sr., 1B, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Mallory Ratcliff, Jr., P, Fredericksburg, Va.
Haley Brogden, Jr., P, Mount Olive, N.C.
North Greenville
Taylor Koon, Jr., C, Rutherfordton, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Jaelin Griffin, Jr., P, Belmont, N.C. (2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection)
Southern Wesleyan
Lydia Clanton, So., UT, Waynesboro, Miss. (2019 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas selection, All-Region selection)
Ashton Martin, Jr., P/INF, Six Mile, S.C.
Delaney Byers, So., INF, Lecanto, Fla.