King, Mount Olive Tied Atop the Softball Preseason Poll

King, Mount Olive Tied Atop the Softball Preseason Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – King and Mount Olive were picked to share the regular season title for the second straight season by league softball head coaches in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll released on Jan. 25.

King, the reigning tournament champion, and Mount Olive, who shared the regular season title with the Tornado last season, each received 132 points in the poll while King garnered 6-of-13 first-place votes while the Trojans collected four such votes. Francis Marion was picked third with 112 points and one first-place vote while Emmanuel was chosen fourth with 100 points and a first-place nod. Belmont Abbey rounded out the top five with 94 points.

Barton was picked sixth with 88 points and UNC Pembroke was seventh with 82 points and the final first-place tally. Lees-McRae was eighth with 75 points followed by North Greenville (74), Erskine (44), Southern Wesleyan (35), Chowan (29) and Converse (17).

The regular season begins on Wednesday, Feb. 1 with the conference championship slated for April 27-30 at Tyger River Park in Duncan, South Carolina. 
 
2023 Conference Carolinas
Softball Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
King 132 (6)
Mount Olive 132 (4)
Francis Marion 112 (1)
Emmanuel 100 (1)
Belmont Abbey 94
Barton 88
UNC Pembroke 82 (1)
Lees-McRae 75
North Greenville 74
Erskine 44
Southern Wesleyan 35
Chowan 29
Converse 17

2023 Conference Carolinas Softball
Players to Watch

Barton
  • Emily Bell, Sr., 2B, Bunn, North Carolina (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Savannah Branch, Sr., OF, Shallotte, North Carolina
  • Lindsey Massengill, Sr., 3B, Pine Level, North Carolina 
Belmont Abbey
  • Alannah Brown, Sr., RHP, Suwanee, Georgia 
  • Mackenzie Sprinkle, Sr., C, Salisbury, North Carolina 
  • Hallie Mele, Jr., IF, Denver, North Carolina
Chowan
  • Serena Riley, Gr., UTL, Tracy, California 
  • Haleigh Reid, Sr., IF, Colonial Heights, Virginia 
Converse
  • Makenna Hill, So., IF, Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada 
  • Victoria Dichio, Fr., LHP, Crawfordville, Florida 
  • Ayellad Howard, Fr., OF, Santa Clarita, California
Emmanuel
  • Mackensie Hogan, Sr., 1B/3B, Canton, Georgia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Kaitlyn Pickens, Jr., P, Buford, Georgia
  • Gabby Buffington, So., SS/3B, Hartwell, Georgia
Erskine
  • Kyndall Chandler, Jr., OF, Asheville, North Carolina 
  • Kaley Ingle, So., RHP, Stoneville, North Carolina 
  • Brooke Patterson, So., 1B, Hanahan, South Carolina 
Francis Marion
  • Danielle Karacson, Sr., OF, Bartow, Florida 
  • Savana Rosson, Sr., 1B/DP, Gilbert, South Carolina
  • Rachel Davis, Sr., RHP, Mechanicsville, Virginia
King
  • Rikkelle Miller, Sr., C/IF, Fayetteville, Georgia (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Defensive Team, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team, Conference Carolinas All-Academic, NFCA Second Team All-America, D2CCA Second Team All-America, NFCA First team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA First team All-Southeast Region; 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team,  Conference Carolinas All-Academic) 
  • Carly Turner, Sr., P/1B, Springfield, Ohio (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Lauren Lawson, Sr., IF, Knoxville, Tennessee
Lees-McRae
  • Hannah Foster, Sr., UTL, Orange Park, Florida (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Jada Wilson, Sr., P, Valle Crucis, North Carolina 
  • Megan Powell, So., P, Eden, North Carolina
Mount Olive
  • Kylie Emanuele, Jr., 3B/UTL, Corona, California (2022 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, D2CCA First Team All-American, NFCA Second Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region, NCAA Statistical Champion in RBIs and RBIs/game; 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, D2CCA Third Team All-American, D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region) 
  • Courtlynn Cooney, Jr., OF, Mechanicsville, Maryland (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, D2CCA Third Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA First Team All-Southeast Region; 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team, NFCA Second Team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Southeast Region) 
  • Hannah Killough, Jr., RHP, Pageland, South Carolina (2022 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, NFCA Second Team All-Southeast Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Southeast Region) 
North Greenville
  • Brianna McRae, Gr., C, Simpsonville, South Carolina (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Lexis Wilkinson, So., OF,  Indian Land, South Carolina
  • Madison Pride, Jr., SS, Gilbert, South Carolina 
Southern Wesleyan
  • Addi Johnson, Jr., SS, Williamston, South Carolina 
  • Emma Jo Wolfe, Sr., 3B/RHP, South Hill, Virginia 
  • Andi Grae Wingate, Fr., RHP/UTL, Sumter, South Carolina 
UNC Pembroke
  • Samantha Allred, So., UTL, Vass, North Carolina (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team) 
  • Lauren Hilbourn, Sr., C/OF, Chadbourn, North Carolina (2022 Conference Carolinas All-Academic) 
  • Marijo Wilkes, So., OF, Pembroke, North Carolina