INDIANAPOLIS – With only two weeks to go before the composite schedule is scheduled to get underway, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour was released on Thursday morning.
Fourteen schools were considered by the league’s coaches in the balloting with eight teams ready to fight for postseason hopes. Five different schools received at least one first-place vote, a sign the race could be wide open once again.
Like other sports around the conference, Tiffin has also officially joined the mix in the standings as a first-year league member.
The grind of the spring makes the regular-season title that more coveted going into the Great Midwest Championship at the Athletes in Action Complex in Xenia, Ohio. Cedarville was able to do just that last season with a 19-5 record in the conference schedule and enters 2019 as the overall favorite.
The Yellow Jackets secured the No. 1 seed in the postseason tourney, but couldn’t quite translate the top billing into a championship run. Cedarville head coach Wes Rowe and his staff recruits among the best while annually adding positional depth, defensive versatility and keeping the cupboard stocked with talent.
That will still be the case this season with senior first-team all-conference workhorse Morgan Arbogast among the favorites for pitcher of the year consideration. All-conference corner infielder Heather Lord is also back along with super utility Kacey Smith, who was an honorable mention selection as a freshman.
The Yellow Jackets received five first-place votes and 157 total points to lead all teams in the balloting.
Preseason runner-up Ohio Dominican was not far behind with three first-place votes and 148 points. The Panthers had a conference-best 35 victories in the win column last spring and finished third in the league standings.
Findlay actually received one more first-place vote than ODU with four and landed third in the preseason coaches poll with 144 points. The Oilers went 29-22 during their first run in the conference and ended an impressive second in the regular-season standings.
Defending tourney title winner Hillsdale was able to finish as the last team standing for the prized NCAA Championship automatic qualifying bid. The Chargers saw their championship coach Joe Abraham depart for Toledo, but welcomed the offseason addition of new leader Kyle Gross.
The Chargers were polled fourth while Trevecca Nazarene, which led all teams with a .635 win percentage, rounded out the top five.
Kentucky Wesleyan and Tiffin each received one first-place vote, but the Panthers received a few more overall points for separation between sixth and seventh.
Lake Erie and Davis & Elkins also made the conference tournament last year. The Storm will start the season at No. 11 and D&E is starting eighth.
Great Midwest Softball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
| School |
Points |
| 1. Cedarville (5 first-place votes) |
157 |
| 2. Ohio Dominican (3 first-place votes) |
148 |
| 3. Findlay (4 first-place votes) |
144 |
| 4. Hillsdale |
129 |
| 5. Trevecca Nazarene |
125 |
| 6. Kentucky Wesleyan (1 first-place vote) |
118 |
| 7. Tiffin (1 first-place vote) |
92 |
| 8. Davis & Elkins |
79 |
| 9. Walsh |
69 |
| 10. Ursuline |
63 |
| 11. Lake Erie |
59 |
| 12. Malone |
49 |
| 13. Alderson Broaddus |
22 |
| 14. Ohio Valley |
20 |