Francis Marion picked for third straight Conference Carolinas Softball title in preseason poll

1/24/2025 3:00:00 PM

GREENVILLE, S.C. – In the 2025 Conference Carolinas Softball Preseason Poll, Francis Marion University is picked as champions by the league’s softball coaches, the conference office announced on Friday.

The Patriots have won the last two Conference Carolinas Tournament titles and won the east division in 2024 as they sit atop the poll with 195 points and 13 first place votes. North Greenville University follows with the final two first place votes and 177 points while Young Harris College is third with 166 points. King University and UNC Pembroke round out the top five with 130 and 124 points, respectively.

Barton College is sixth with 117 points and are followed by the University of Mount Olive’s 112 points and Belmont Abbey College’s 101 points. Emmanuel University and Southern Wesleyan University round out the top 10, each receiving 97 points.

Lees-McRae College (83), Converse University (57), Erskine College (50), Chowan University (44) and Shorter University (25) round out the poll.

The 2025 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship is scheduled to take place from Thursday, April 24-Sunday, April 27 at Tyger River Park in Duncan, South Carolina.

The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
 

2025 Conference Carolinas
Softball Preseason Poll
 
School Total (First Place)
1 Francis Marion 195 (13)
2 North Greenville 177 (2)
3 Young Harris 166
4 King 130
5 UNC Pembroke 124
6 Barton 117
7 Mount Olive 112
8 Belmont Abbey 101
T9 Emmanuel 97
T9 Southern Wesleyan 97
11 Lees-McRae 83
12 Converse 57
13 Erskine 50
14 Chowan 44
15 Shorter 25
 

2025 Conference Carolinas Softball
Players to Watch
Barton
  • Gracelyn Massey, Sr., RHP/1B, Princeton, North Carolina (2024 All-America, 2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Mary Lindsey Harris, Sr., 2B, Robersonville, North Carolina
  • Makenzie Cyzick, Jr., OF, Dayton, Virginia
Belmont Abbey
  • Sage Farmer, So., OF, Clayton, North Carolina
  • Lily Hartsell, Fr., P, Oakboro, North Carolina
  • Casey Laing, So., 3B, Bluffton, South Carolina
Chowan
  • Mckenzie Misenheimer, Jr., OF, Rockwell, North Carolina
  • Kyra Helton, Jr., OF, Elon, North Carolina
  • Ava Mizell, So., UTL, Washington, North Carolina
Converse
  • Sydney Watson, Sr., Utility/RHP, Plant City, Florida, (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Riley Lingerfelt, Sr., RHP, Welcome, North Carolina
  • Kiarra Thomas, So., IF/RHP, Blythewood, South Carolina
Emmanuel
  • Gabby Buffington, Sr., Hartwell, Georgia
  • Ellee Varner, Sr., Bold Springs, Georgia (2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Jaryn Gibson, Sr., Lawrenceville, Georgia. (2023 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
Erskine
  • Gabby Burroughs, Jr., C, Greenville, South Carolina
  • Brooke Patterson, Sr., IF, Hanahan, South Carolina
  • Kennedy Crouch, Fr., IF, Granite Falls, North Carolina
Francis Marion
  • Alyssa Poston, Jr., LHP, Hartsville, South Carolina (2024 NFCA All-Southeast Region Team first team, 2024 D2CCA All-Southeast Region Team first team, 2024 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, 2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Emily Konz, Sr., OF, Lantana, Florida (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Jenna Walling, Jr., RHP, Johns Island, South Carolina (2023 first team All-Conference)
King
  • Jessica Campbell, Gr., OF, Graysville, Tennessee (2023 second team All-America by NFCA and D2CCA, 2023 first team All-Region by NFCA and D2CCA, 2023 first team All-Conference Carolinas, 2023 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament team)
  • Savana Luper, Jr., P/1B, Salem, Virginia (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas, 2023 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament team,)
  • Tori Ryan, Sr., OF, Bristol, Tennessee (2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas, 2024 second team NFCA All-Region)
Lees-McRae
  • McKenzie Presson, Sr., C/3B, Wakefield, Virginia (2024 All-Conference Carolinas defensive team)
  • Brooks Eaddy, Jr., Infield, Johnsonville, South Carolina
  • Allie Johnston, So., Infield, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Mount Olive
  • Laci Best, So., DP/1B, Pikeville, North Carolina (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Emily Saw, Fr., SS/UTL, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
  • Samantha Taylor, Jr., OF, Winterville, North Carolina
UNC Pembroke
  • Chloe Locklear, r-So., C, Pembroke, North Carolina (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Summer Bullard, Jr., P, Pembroke, North Carolina
  • Alex Serbio, Fr., UTL, Fayetteville, North Carolina
North Greenville
  • Karley Green, Jr., Cowpens, South Carolina
  • Emily Blackwell, So., Starr, South Carolina
  • Maddie Stone, Jr., Williamston, South Carolina
Shorter
  • Alana Loyd, Sr., P, Centre, Alabama
  • Alex Hollingsworth, Jr., C, Loganville, Georgia
  • Ashton Stevens, Jr., OF, McDonough, Georgia
Southern Wesleyan
  • Olivia Haag, Jr., RHP/OF, Buford, Georgia
  • Amberly Way, So., 3B/RHP, Sumter, South Carolina
  • Avery Mercer, Sr., 1B, Watkinsville, Georgia
Young Harris
  • Gracie Hughes, Jr., P/IF, Woodstock, Georgia (2024 second team All-Conference Carolinas, second team All-Peach Belt Conference)
  • Grace Young, Sr., P/UTL, Snellville, Georgia, (2024 first team All-Conference Carolinas, NFCA second team All-Southeast Region)
  • Shelby Duncan, Jr., IF, Concord, Georgia