Alabama Huntsville Tops GSC Softball Preseason Poll
PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM | TOP NEWCOMERS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference softball coaches have selected the Alabama Huntsville Chargers as the conference favorites in the 2019 preseason poll.
The Chargers are coming off a late postseason run in 2018, advancing to the South Super Regional Final.
They lead the conference with six preseason All-GSC selections, all of which are returning All-GSC performers from last season, including the reigning GSC Co-Freshman of the Year Kiara Akles.
Coming in second behind UAH is the Valdosta State Blazers, who have won 40 or more games in 12 of their last 13 seasons.
The Blazers will have to make up for the loss of the 2018 GSC Player of the Year Jessica Mohl and will rely on the arm of Preseason All-GSC selection Kasie Johnson.
Mississippi College is pegged to finish third by the coaches, receiving two first place votes. The Lady Choctaws return two-time First Team All-GSC performer Carly Crawford and senior infielder Brianna Caldwell, who was the conference's co-leader in home runs (14) last season.
West Florida came in fourth and claimed two spots on the preseason All-GSC Team with Rhiannon Sassman and Rachel Wright.
The Lady Flames round out the top five. All-American Taylor Moran returns for Lee after leading the conference in RBIs (62) last year.
The complete preseason All-GSC Team, as well as a list of top newcomers for each squad, can be found at the top of the page, while the complete preseason poll can be found below.
2019 SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
| School |
Total Points |
| 1. Alabama Huntsville (7) |
138 |
| 2. Valdosta State (3) |
132 |
| 3. Mississippi College (2) |
117 |
| 4. West Florida (1) |
109 |
| 5. Lee |
89 |
| 6. Auburn Montgomery |
80 |
| 7. Delta State |
78 |
| 8. Montevallo |
71 |
| 9. West Georgia |
69 |
| 10. West Alabama |
50 |
| 11. Shorter |
41 |
| 12. Union |
27 |
| 13. Christian Brothers |
13 |
NOTES: The head coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 12 points for a first place vote, 11 for a second place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Number of first place votes in parenthesis.