Monday, January 30, 2006

SAINTS PICKED FIFTH IN 2006 PBC PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL

Augusta, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University was a tie to finish fifth this season, according to a poll of the league’s 10 head coaches released by PBC officials. The USC Upstate Spartans are the preseason favorite to win the 2006 Peach Belt Conference softball championship.

The 2006 season will be different in many ways for the Peach Belt Conference. Gone are long-time powers North Florida and Kennesaw State to the Division I level, and new to the league is North Georgia. The Saints are moving up from the NAIA and will not play in the PBC Tournament, but should fit right in the PBC after going 45-18 in 2005 and winning the SSAC championship for the second straight year. North Georgia returns NAIA All-Region standouts Lynsey Thompson and Lara Seamon who look to lead the Saints to great success during their senior season.

The Spartans captured six of a possible nine first-place votes in the poll to finish with 78 points, six ahead of second-place Columbus State. Francis Marion was third with 63 while GC&SU was fourth. A tie between Augusta State and North Georgia, another tie with UNC Pembroke and USC Aiken, Armstrong Atlantic State and Lander round out the voting.

USC Upstate won a record 46 games in 2005, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. The 2006 Spartans return six of nine position players and all four of their pitchers, but will have to replace All-Conference catcher Allie Cyrill and All-American center fielder Krista Altom.

Columbus State turned on a switch midway through 2005, winning 20 of their final 24 games, winning the PBC tournament title and advancing to the NCAA regional. The challenge will be to continue that success into 2006 which is quite possible with the return of all four pitchers. However, the Cougars lost half their starters and will have to find hits in a new lineup.

Francis Marion welcomes back six position starters and two pitchers from last season’s 36-14 team and are looking for their first NCAA bid in 2006. The Patriots will rely on All-Region shortstop Allie Aleman, who hit .404 last season with 33 RBIs. 20-win pitcher Jessica Johnson also return.

2006 PBC Preseason Softball Poll
No.	Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Total
1.	USC Upstate	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	78
2.	Columbus State	4	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	72
3.	Francis Marion	0	3	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	63
4.	GC&SU	0	0	2	3	2	1	1	0	0	49
t5	Augusta State	0	0	1	2	3	0	1	1	1	40
t5	North Georgia	0	1	1	0	2	2	1	2	0	40
t7	UNC Pembroke	0	0	1	1	0	2	3	1	1	33
t7	USC Aiken	0	0	0	1	1	4	1	1	1	33
9.	Armstrong Atlantic	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	2	1	30
10.	Lander	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	12

 

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