2008 Woodie Awards
Softball picked to repeat as champs in OVC pre-season poll
Staff reports
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - The Jacksonville State softball team has been picked to win the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference softball crown by the league's coaches, the conference office announced on Thursday.
The Gamecocks received 79 total points, nine more than second-place Tennessee Tech, and seven of the 10 available first-place votes, making them the coaches' pick to repeat as the league's regular season champion, after a 42-16 record a year ago lifted them to their first outright league title since 1997.
"It is always nice to be respected by the other teams in your conference," JSU head coach Jana McGinnis said. "But preseason polls really don't mean a whole lot. Although we have a lot of good players coming back, we have a lot of young players that are going to have to step in and contribute for us. This is a completely different team from last year."
JSU does return the OVC's Player and Pitcher of the Year in outfielder Maigin Alexander and starting pitcher Carly Kellam. Also returning for JSU is first-team All-OVC outfielder Daniela Pappano, who led the league in home runs, runs scored and walks.
Including the three all-conference returnees, JSU returns five position starters and its top three pitchers from a year ago. However, the team has six newcomers on the roster that will be asked to come in and contribute in various roles.
"This is a new season," McGinnis said. "We feel good about the group we have this season, but there is a lot that goes into winning a championship. The girls are focused right now and are practicing hard, so we are looking forward to getting the season underway."
The Gamecocks won a school-record 17-straight games a year ago to claim the regular season title and host the 2005 OVC Tournament, but they fell in the final to Tennessee Tech, who swiped the league's bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Gamecocks received 79 total points, nine more than second-place Tennessee Tech, and seven of the 10 available first-place votes, making them the coaches' pick to repeat as the league's regular season champion, after a 42-16 record a year ago lifted them to their first outright league title since 1997.
"It is always nice to be respected by the other teams in your conference," JSU head coach Jana McGinnis said. "But preseason polls really don't mean a whole lot. Although we have a lot of good players coming back, we have a lot of young players that are going to have to step in and contribute for us. This is a completely different team from last year."
JSU does return the OVC's Player and Pitcher of the Year in outfielder Maigin Alexander and starting pitcher Carly Kellam. Also returning for JSU is first-team All-OVC outfielder Daniela Pappano, who led the league in home runs, runs scored and walks.
Including the three all-conference returnees, JSU returns five position starters and its top three pitchers from a year ago. However, the team has six newcomers on the roster that will be asked to come in and contribute in various roles.
"This is a new season," McGinnis said. "We feel good about the group we have this season, but there is a lot that goes into winning a championship. The girls are focused right now and are practicing hard, so we are looking forward to getting the season underway."
The Gamecocks won a school-record 17-straight games a year ago to claim the regular season title and host the 2005 OVC Tournament, but they fell in the final to Tennessee Tech, who swiped the league's bid to the NCAA Tournament.