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Southern Conference

Coaches Tab Elon as Preseason Favorite Updated: February 08, 2011 09:36 a.m. (ET)

by Southern Conference

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Photo by: Southern Conference
http://www.soconsports.com/
The defending SoCon tournament champions Elon Phoenix are picked to repeat as conference champs in 2011


SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Elon Phoenix have been named the 2011 preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference softball championship in balloting conducted by the league's head coaches. Georgia Southern swept the preseason individual awards with senior utility player Megen Smith being named the preseason Player of the Year and senior pitcher Brianna Streetmon earning preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
The Phoenix earned five of the possible nine first-place votes and received 61 points overall to claim the top spot. Elon returns nine starters and four pitchers from last season's team that finished 38-21 and swept through the conference tournament.
Elon had a total of six student-athletes on the all-conference teams, including four first-teamers. Catcher Kaitlyn Piazzolla, second baseman Jackie Gonzalez and outfielders Emerald Graham and Tomeka Watson earned the first-team honors. Representing the Phoenix on the second-team were shortstop Danielle Lafferty and pitcher and designated player Erin O'Shea.
Defending regular season champion Chattanooga was selected to finish second in 2011, earning the remaining four first-place votes and 59 points overall. The Lady Mocs earned five all-conference selections.
Pitcher Kandice Irwin and outfielder Lyndsey Stiles were the two Lady Mocs named to the first-team, while first baseman Michelle Fuzzard, third baseman Tiffany Baker and utility player Kasey Tydingco earned second-team honors.
Georgia Southern, which was picked to finish third, had two preseason all-conference selections with Smith and Streetmon, the preseason player of the year and pitcher of the year, respectively. Both players earned first-team accolades.
Last season's tournament runners-up, UNCG placed fourth in the preseason poll. The Spartans had three first-team all-conference players in first baseman Alex Emeterio, shortstop Kaitlin Merkt and designated player Eileen Horsmon.
Coming in at No. 5 was Appalachian State, which is under the direction of new head coach Shae Wesley. The Mountaineers had one first-team all-conference selection with third baseman Katie Boyd. Representing Appalachian State on the second-team were pitcher Caitlin Wainright, catcher Michelle Lighton, second baseman McKenzie Phillips and outfielder Sarah Rappe.
Furman placed two players on the second-team with outfielders Stephanie Field and Katie Michaels. The Paladins were slotted seventh in the preseason poll.
Rounding out the poll was No. 8 Samford, with new head coach Stephanie VanBrakle, and No. 9 Western Carolina.
The season begins Thursday evening with Appalachian State taking on Oregon State at 6:30 p.m. in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
The 2011 Southern Conference Softball Championship is scheduled for May 11-14 in Statesboro, Ga.
Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes)
Points
1. Elon (5)
61
2. Chattanooga (4)
59
3. Georgia Southern
46
4. UNCG
39
5. Appalachian State
33
6. College of Charleston
32
7. Furman
24
8. Samford
21
9. Western Carolina
9
Preseason Player of the Year
Megen Smith, Utility, Georgia Southern
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
Preseason First-Team All-Conference

P
Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga
P
Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
C
Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Elon
1B
Alex Emeterio, UNCG
2B
Jackie Gonzalez, Elon
SS
Kaitlin Merkt, UNCG
3B
Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
OF
Emerald Graham, Elon
OF
Lyndsey Stiles, Chattanooga
OF
Tomeka Watson, Elon
DP
Eileen Horsmon, UNCG
UT
Megen Smith, Georgia Southern
Preseason Second-Team All-Conference

P
Erin O'Shea, Elon
P
Caitlin Wainright, Appalachian State
C
Michelle Lighton, Appalachian State
1B
Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga
2B
McKenzie Phillips, Appalachian State
SS
Danielle Lafferty, Elon
3B
Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga
OF
Stephanie Field, Furman
OF
Katie Michaels, Furman
OF
Sarah Rappe, Appalachian State
DP
Erin O'Shea, Elon
UT
Kasey Tydingco, Chattanooga

 

Great

Thanks Greg, Happy for Elon, nice job Sarah Rappe! Watch out for some additional kids to step it up this year and challenge for all-conference as there are some quality freshman and sophomores waiting to show what they can do.
Hope to see some of these teams play this year.