Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks perched atop PL preseason poll
2/17/2009 2:30:00 PM | Softball
 |
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League announced its preseason softball poll on Tuesday afternoon and the Mountain Hawks have once again been tabbed as preseason favorites. Lehigh, winners of the last ten regular season championships and four of the last five tournament crowns, tops the 2009 poll with 50 points and 10 out of a possible 12 first place votes. The preseason poll is voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Lehigh is coming off of a 39-17-1 campaign in 2008, which culminated in a Patriot League championship and a return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus. The Mountain Hawks return 13 players from last year’s team, including senior Lisa Sweeney, who set numerous records both in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate last year en route to becoming the first player to win the Patriot League’s Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards in the same season.
Joining Sweeney as captains for the 2009 season will be senior outfielder Alisha Gonzales and second baseman Whitney Lowe. Gonzales garnered first team All-League honors last season with a .326 batting average and 34 runs batted in. Lowe shook off early season injuries to rank among the team leader’s with a .323 average in her junior campaign. Lehigh’s returning nucleus will also be bolstered by the addition of five freshmen to the program. Overall, Lehigh has won nine Patriot League tournament titles and 15 regular season crowns.
Title contenders Lafayette and Bucknell split the remaining two first place votes. The Leopards were picked second in the poll with 40 points, while the Bison were picked third with 32. Colgate (28 points), Army (18) and Holy Cross (12) round out the poll.
The Mountain Hawks will open their 2009 season on Friday at the GWU Tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C. Lehigh will face Howard at 10 a.m. followed by host Gardner-Webb at 1 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will face off against both teams again Saturday afternoon.
2009 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
|
Team (# First Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. LEHIGH (10) |
50 |
|
2. Lafayette (1) |
40 |
|
3. Bucknell (1) |
32 |
|
4. Colgate |
28 |
|
5. Army |
18 |
|
6. Holy Cross |
12 |
