SUNYAC announces 2018 softball coaches preseason poll

Posted: Jan 27, 2018

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has released its 2018 softball preseason coaches poll. The Cortland Red Dragons have been voted as the number one team for the upcoming season, totaling 96 points. In second place, the Plattsburgh Cardinals have tallied up 88 points by the coaches. The Oswego Lakers have placed third with a total of 72 points.

The Cortland Red Dragons had a spectacular 2017 season, placing first in the regular season and winning the SUNYAC Championship, making history as the first team to win three SUNYAC Championships in a row. The team went 33-15 (.688) overall, with a conference record of 14-4. The Red Dragons, who fell early to Buffalo State in the conference tournament, came back to defeat Oswego and Plattsburgh once, and Oneonta twice - once in the opening game and once the championship game, to claim the title for the third straight year. The Red Dragons then hosted the NCAA Regional where they defeated Johnson and Wales and Messiah once, and Widener twice in a four-game win streak after falling in the first game to the Pride. The team then advanced to the NCAA Super Regional hosted by St. John Fisher College, where they fell to the Cardinals, first 0-1 then 2-4, to end their season. The Red Dragons ended the season ranked 16th nationally, and produced five First Team All-Conference selections and one Second Team All-Conference selection including Player and Pitcher of the year. The team also had four Third Team All-Region selections, one First Team All-ECAC selection, and two All-ECAC Honorable Mention selections. The team is determined to have another successful season under head coach and NFCA Hall of Famer Julie Lenhart in her 24th season with the Red Dragons.

The Red Dragons will kick off their season in Kissimmee, Florida against Ramapo College on March 11th.

The Plattsburgh Cardinals had a triumphant run in the 2017 season, finishing with an overall record of 25-19 (.568), and a conference record of 11-7. The team placed third in the regular season, and had an undefeated performance in the SUNYAC Championship tournament going into their third game, claiming victories over Buffalo State and Oswego, before falling to Cortland and Oneonta to ultimately be sent home. Head coach Stephanie Conroy produced two First Team All-Conference selections and three Second Team All-Conference selections, including Co-Rookie of the Year. Conroy also produced one Second Team All-Region and one Third Team All-Region selection as well. Having only lost one senior, the Cardinals will return to the 2018 season seeking to pursue a successful run in the postseason.

The Cardinals will face Alfred University in their first game of the season on March 10th in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Oswego Lakers had a successful 2017 season, qualifying for the SUNYAC Championship tournament for the first time since the 2013 season. With a 17-20 (.459) overall record and an 11-7 conference record, the team earned the second place seed entering the conference tournament. The team opened the tournament with a spectacular seventh inning come-from-behind victory over New Paltz, but ultimately fell to Plattsburgh, 1-2, and Cortland, 7-8, to conclude their season. The team produced two Second Team All-Conference selections, as well as Coach of the Year honors for head coach Abby Martin in only her second season with the Lakers. Martin improved the Lakers' in-conference wins by 4 in the 2017 season in comparison to the 2016 season. The Lakers will return fourteen of seventeen players for the 2018 season, and are poised to build off of the success of their previous season.

The Lakers will open up their season with a game against The College of New Rochelle in Norfolk, Virginia on March 10th.

2018 Softball Coaches Poll