Release courtesy of Jeff Ligney, GLIAC Media Relations
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BAY CITY, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) softball coaches selected Grand Valley State University to win the league title in the 2013 GLIAC Softballl Preseason Poll. The league expands to 14 teams for the 2013 season with the addition of Walsh University and Malone University.
The league's head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team.
GVSU finished on top of the 2013 GLIAC Preseason poll after claiming the 2012 GLIAC regular season title with a 45-15 overall record. The Lakers tallied 168 points and twelve first-place votes.
Wayne State University grabbed second in the poll with 150 points and the final two first-place votes. WSU was the 2012 GLIAC Tournament Champion and earned a spot in the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional Tournament last year. Ashland University placed third in the poll with 138 points, followed closely by Ferris State University with 137 points to come in close fourth.
Tiffin University collected 104 points just edging out Ohio Dominican University with 101 points for fifth place. Hillsdale College grabbed seventh place and tallied 93 points, followed by Saginaw Valley University with 90 to finish in eighth place.
Northwood University grabbed 81 points to finish the poll in ninth place. The University of Findlay tallied 71 points to finish 10th in the poll while Walsh University would finish 11th with 60 points. Malone University finished 12th with 28 points, followed by Lake Superior State in 13th (26 points) and Lake Erie College in 14th with 23 points.
Saginaw Valley Preview
OVERVIEW: The Cardinals are ready to move forward after going 21-25 overall and 14-18 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals will be led by first year head coach Todd Buckingham.
INFIELD: 1B is set with junior Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) being named the starter. 2B will see time split between redshirt freshman Kaitlyn McBride (Brampton, Ont./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), sophomores Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler HS) and Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) and freshman Shelby Weeks (Warren, Mich./Woods Towers HS). All four play well enough to warrant playing time among the infield positions. SS is secured well into the future with senior Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) starting and Weeks playing backup and grooming for the starter role next year. Both Happ and Weeks have quick releases and cannon arms. 3B underwent a shakeup as Medina, who was the preseason favorite to start coming off injury, moved primarily to 2B. This means that starter minutes will now be distributed to Kimes, senior Devon Eley (Centreville, Mich./Centreville HS) , and sophomore Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp., Mich/Clinton HS), with Medina seeing minutes as needed.
OUTFIELD: There will be many combinations used throughout the year. The top starting frontrunners are Randall, sophomore Mackenzie Rousse (Bay City, Mich./Western HS) and senior Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.). Seniors Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) and Katie Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) should see a lot of minutes in their final years with the Cardinals. Senior Samantha Sutton (Armarda, Mich.) and redshirt freshman Chelsea Adcock (Pinconning, Mich.) round out the list of outfielders, giving the Cardinals a very deep and talented pool to choose from. Rouse has great leadership qualities, tracks the ball well with a quick first step and is the clear choice for centerfield. Kenyon is a great contact hitter and exhibited explosiveness at the plate in the fall. Holmes and Smith are two of the best on the team at putting every ball in play. And, Sutton and Adcock will put constant pressure on the defense with their speed. Who plays will come down to matchups and who is hot at the plate at the time.
CATCHER: Senior Ashley Beal (Milan, Mich.) is the frontrunner to manage the pitchers this season. She has a great knowledge, blocks well and possesses quick release. Redshirt freshman Kari Knight (Walled Lake, Mich. /Northern HS) and sophomore Haley Niedzwiecki (Freeland, Mich.) will see action as well this season. Knight has tremendous power and may also see action at DP.
PITCHING: Four pitchers look to make an impact this season. Senior Jillian Williamson (Unionville/Sebewaing, Mich.) is the only pitcher on the staff with any game experience and will be counted on to be the leader. Redshirt freshman Chelsea Davis (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) will also get an opportunity to help the team with her control and movement on the ball. True freshmen Sarah Appold (Bay City, Mich./Valley Lutheran HS) and Sarah Vrabel (Canfield, Ohio) will also be counted on to fill starter spots. The amount of success the Cardinals have this year will come down to how well these three develop and perform.
COACHING: Todd Buckingham enters his first season as head coach of the SVSU softball team after being hired in June of 2012.
The Cardinals will open their season on March 2nd when they travel to Kissimmee, Fla. to play in the Rebel Spring Games.
This season, the GLIAC Softball Tournament will be played at Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, Ohio on May 3-5.
For more information about GLIAC softball please visit the GLIAC softball web page at: www.gliac.org.