Patriot Softball tabbed for second in PBC preseason poll

Francis Marion University has been selected to finish second in the race for the 2010 Peach Belt Conference softball crown according to the PBC's annual preseason coaches' poll.

North Georgia College & State University was tabbed as the preseason favorite, receiving nine of a possible 10 first-place votes to finish with 99 points.  Francis Marion was second with 72 points (including one first-place vote), followed by Augusta State University (70) and Georgia College & State University (70), Armstrong Atlantic State University (68), USC Aiken (67), Columbus State University (53), Flagler College (47), UNC Pembroke (29), Lander University (18), and Georgia Southwestern State University (12).

Francis Marion welcomes back six letterwinners, including three position starters, the designated hitter, and one start­ing pitcher, from the 2009 squad that finished 32-19. Starting pitcher Michaela Wolf is back for her senior season after winning 20+ games for the third time in her career. Already the school's winningest pitcher (70-34 record), she enters the 2010 campaign seventh on the PBC's all-time wins list. Also returning is All-Peach Belt Conference left fielder Jessica Birchmeier (.324 average in 2009), three-year infield starter Kat Beauvais (.311), and second baseman Ashley Jaramillo (.324), who led the squad in home runs (5) and runs batted in (32) as a freshman.

FMU opens its season Feb. 6-7 at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken.

The 2010 season is the first for conference newcomer Flagler. The PBC tournament format has also changed, with only the top eight teams advancing to the championship, April 16-18, at the Freedom Florence Recreational Complex.

Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.