January 20, 2011

Patriot Softball picked third in PBC Preseason Poll

With nine letterwinners returning from last year’s squad that reached the title games of both the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and the NCAA Division II Dahlonega Southeast Regional, Francis Marion University has been picked to finish third in the 2011 race for the PBC crown, according to the annual preseason coaches’ poll announced Thursday.

For the third consecutive season, North Georgia has been selected as the preseason favorite. The Saints were a unanimous pick for the top spot, receiving all 10 first-place votes they were eligible for. Armstrong Atlantic State University ranked second in the poll with 81 votes and Francis Marion, which received one first-place vote, was third with 73 votes. Augusta State University (70) placed fourth, followed by Flagler College (66), UNC Pembroke (54), USC Aiken (50), Columbus State University (42), Lander University (37), Georgia College (19), and Georgia Southwestern State University (13).

Seventh-year FMU head coach Stacey Vallee welcomes back five position starters and one starting pitcher from the 2010 squad that finished 36-16 and earned the program’s second NCAA National Tournament invitation in three seasons. Leading the returnees is All-Region outfielder Chelle Phillips (.349, 47 runs, 2 HRs, 31 RBI), All-Conference second baseman Ashley Jaramillo (.323, 5 HRs, 43 RBI), and All-PBC centerfielder Destinea Schneider (.350, 11-15 SBs). Senior right-hander Cea Knox (14-6, 3.33 ERA) returns on the mound.

Knox, sophomore catcher Olivia Ferguson, and sophomore outfielder Tristan Faile were among six players from last year’s squad to earn NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition in 2010, and the Patriots received an NFCA All-Academic Team award for 2010, the fifth consecutive year FMU has earned that honor (and seventh time in the past 11 years).

The 2011 Patriot squad includes 12 newcomers: nine freshmen and three transfers.

Francis Marion has won at least 30 games in 12 of the last 14 campaigns. The Patriots’ 51-game schedule includes nine home doubleheaders and the annual Patriot Invitational Tournament and the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, both to be hosted at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex.

FMU opens its 2011 season on Feb. 5-6 at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken, while the Patriots’ home opener is Feb. 13 against Lenior-Rhyne University.

Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

 
2011 Peach Belt Conference Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
No.         Team (1st-place votes)                                  Total
1.            North Georgia (10)                                        100
2.            Armstrong Atlantic St.                                    81
3.            Francis Marion (1)                                          73
4.            Augusta State                                                70
5.            Flagler                                                            66
6.            UNC Pembroke                                                54
7.            USC Aiken                                                       50
8.            Columbus State                                              42
9.            Lander                                                            37
10.          Georgia College                                                19
11.          Georgia Southwestern                                     13