Softball Picked Fourth In Pre-Season Poll
FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball team was recently picked fourth overall in the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Pre-Season Coaches Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday morning.
Falcons notch 28 points in 2015 MASCAC Softball Coaches Poll
FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball team was recently picked fourth overall in the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Softball Pre-Season Coaches Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday morning.
The Bears of Bridgewater State University are the pre-season pick to win the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball championship in a vote of the league's coaches. After winning the regular season and tournament crowns last year behind MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Amber White. Having lost White to graduation, Bridgewater State will look to Jocelyn Bettencourt and Tara McCann. Last season, Bettencourt batted .302 with 42 hits, six doubles and one triple, while McCann posted a .303 batting average to go along with 46 hits, eight doubles, one triple and three homeruns.
Following in second place is MCLA with a total of 40 points, including one first place ballot. The Trailblazers return First Team All-Conference pitcher Rachel Quackenbush from last year's squad, who helped the team to a 9-5 record in league play. Quackenbush closed out the 2014 season with a conference-leading 158 strikeouts, while ranking fourth in earned run average with a 1.91 ERA as well as ranking second in wins with nine.
Landing the final first place vote is Salem State to amass a total of 36 points. During the 2014 season, the Vikings concluded the regular season with eight MASCA victories. Leading the way offensively for Salem State is All-Conference honoree Jenn Toussaint, who ranked first in the MASCAC with 16 doubles, third in batting average (.385) and third in runs batted in with 29 RBI.
Sharing the fourth spot are Fitchburg State and Worcester State with 28 points each. The Falcons finished with six wins in conference play, led by All-Conference shortstop Marissa Gemma. Gemma posted a team-best .340 batting average with 35 hits, including six doubles, three triples and 12 RBI. Worcester State tallied nine wins in MASCAC play last season as All-Conference member Courtney Salisbury returns for the Lancers. Salisbury concluding the 2014 season, ranking fifth in the conference with a .372 batting average on 45 hits, nine doubles and three triples.
Framingham State is next in the sixth spot with 21 points. The Rams registered eight conference victories last season, led by MASCAC Rookie of the Year, Tiffanie Marsh. Last season, Marsh led the league in batting average at .413 with 50 hits, including 11 doubles and a conference-best five triples.
Westfield State and Massachusetts Maritime close out this year's pre-season poll in seventh and eighth respectively. The Owls earned 17 points, while the Buccaneers finished with seven points. Westfield State returns All-Conference member Breanne Bisceglia, who batted .329 last season with 27 hits, four doubles, three triples and 14 RBI. Returning for Mass. Maritime is Brittany Driscoll, who concluded the 2014 season with a .194 batting average with six hits and an RBI for the Buccaneers.
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in the sport of football for the 2013-14 academic year.
COURTESY OF MASCAC SID OFFICE