RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Tuesday, the Great American Conference introduced the outcomes of its 2023 softball preseason coaches’ ballot. Southern Arkansas obtained seven first-place votes from the league’s head coaches to enter the season as the favourite.
The Muleriders shared the 2022 regular-season title with Arkansas Tech. They earned their sixth-straight journey to the NCAA Regional. Sydney Ward earned a spot on the All-GAC First Team as a freshman after she went 16-4 contained in the circle with 145 strikeouts in 142.0 innings pitched. Jaxynn Dyson, a Second-Tem choose at shortstop, led SAU with 45 runs batted in.
Harding collected two first-place votes and positioned second in the balloting. In her first yr on the helm, Ashley Reeves led the workforce to a 38-18 document. All seven of their 2022 All-GAC alternatives – Leigha Harris, Emma Curry, Chelsea Blankenship, Hanna Jones, Nicole Shano, Maegan Pistokache and Lily Tanski return for 2023. Harris, Curry, Blankenship, Jones and Shano made the First Team and Harris garnered the Freshman of the Year award after hitting .395 with a .460 on-base share. She added 9 house runs and a team-leading 55 RBI.
Arkansas Tech additionally claimed two first-place votes and took third in the vote, one level forward of Oklahoma Baptist. The Golden Suns gained their fourth-straight GAC Championship title and certified for the NCAA Regionals for the sixth time in the final seven years. Jordon Jones replaces Kristina McSweeney as head coach. Bailey Buffington, a Second-Team All-GAC pitcher, returns after posting a 13-6 document and a 2.28 ERA in 2022.
The Bison enter 2023 off of their greatest season in their Division II period as they went 33-22 final yr. Pitcher Kayleigh Jones and outfielder Reagan Ford every made the First Team in 2022. Jones completed as considered one of simply eight DII pitchers to document at the least 300 strikeouts. She went 21-13 with seven shutouts and 5 saves. Ford hit .367 with 18 stolen bases.
Southern Nazarene claimed the ultimate first-place vote en path to ending fifth in the ballot. Liana Heshiki posted a .389 common with a .471 on-base share and a .525 slugging share to earn First-Team All-GAC honors at catcher as a freshman.
Southeastern Oklahoma State took sixth. The Savage Storm additionally welcome in a first-year coach as Mackenzie Sher takes over after a four-year stint at Union University. The Savage Storm’s pitching tandem of Cheyenne Mahy and Amberlyn Walsworth return after they mixed for 30 wins. Mahy additionally hit .339 with a workforce main 35 RBI.
Arkansas-Monticello positioned seventh, adopted by Ouachita Baptist and East Central. The Blossoms’ Hannah Holdbrook earned Second-Team All-GAC honors after hitting .307 with stolen bases. ECU’s Taia Harris led the Tigers with 9 wins to put on the Honorable Mention workforce.
Henderson State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the ballot. The Bulldogs and Rangers every function first-year coaches as Jessica Boone takes over for the Bulldogs and Casady Webb succeeds Ryan Wondrasek as Rangers head coach.
The common season begins on Wednesday, February 1 when East Central takes on Newman in a doubleheader. The remainder of the league opens on the opening February weekend. Henderson State and Ouachita co-host the Hawkins-McGhee Invitational with Arkansas-Monticello and Northwestern Oklahoma State additionally taking part in the occasion. The Muleriders, Lady Bisons, Bison and Savage Storm all head to Louisiana for the Mardis Gras Invitational. Southern Nazarene and SWOSU journey to Lubbock Christian and Arkansas Tech participates in the UT Tyler occasion.
The 2023 Under Armour GAC Championships takes place from Thursday, May 4 by Saturday, May 6 in Bentonville, Arkansas on the Tiger Athletic Complex.
[my_adsense_shortcode_1]
submit credit score to Source link
[my_taboola_shortcode_1]
