Lehigh University Athletics
Four Named Preseason All-League as Mountain Hawks Top Preseason Softball Poll
2/8/2017 12:14:00 PM | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In a tight voting, the Lehigh softball team sits atop the Patriot League Preseason Poll, announced Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks garnered 66 votes including six first place votes to edge out Army West Point for the top spot in the balloting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Lehigh has won the last five Patriot League regular season titles and will be vying for its sixth tournament championship in 10 seasons.
A league-high four Mountain Hawks were selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League team including three-time all-league honoree senior Vicky Lattanzio. Classmate Christine Campbell joins Lattanzio along with juniors Carolyn Wright and Nicole Yozzo.
Lattanzio picked up first team All-Patriot League honors her 2016 campaign as a designated player. She led the Mountain Hawks with 37 RBI and picked up eight multi-hit games during the year. She ranked second on the team in doubles (14) and walks (31).
Campbell put together a solid season in the circle last spring. The San Diego native went 8-2 with 0.95 ERA in 10 league appearances. Campbell notched five complete game shutouts and was tabbed the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week three times. Her season was highlighted by a 10-inning one-hitter against Holy Cross where she retired the final 25 batters she faced. Campbell is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning second team honors last season.
In her sophomore year, Wright started 27 games at catcher and ranked third on the team in with a .326 batting average. Behind the plate, Wright gunned down 7-of-24 base stealers. In addition to her first-team All-Patriot League selection, the accounting major was named to the Academic All-Patriot League team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.
The Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a second team All-Patriot League performer in 2015, Yozzo will look to bounce back after being limited by injuries last season. The Pleasanton, Calif. native led the league in stolen bases with 30 in 2015 and finished second in runs scored with 45 in 48 games played two seasons ago. Yozzo batted .308 with 11 runs scored in 25 games last season.
Army West Point received five first place votes and total of 64 votes to finish second in the poll. Defending tournament champion Boston University followed with a three first place votes and 55 total points. Bucknell was picked fourth in the poll, followed by Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette. Army West Point's Alee Rashenskas and Renee Pointer were named the preseason Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
The Mountain Hawks will open their 2017 season at the Citrus Classic in Florida with games against Morgan State (11 a.m.) and Ball State (3:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 24.
Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Lehigh (6), 66 points
Army West Point (5), 64 points
Boston University (3), 55 points
Bucknell, 43 points
Colgate, 29 points
Holy Cross, 21 points
Lafayette, 16 points
Preseason Player of the Year: Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point (Sr., 2B)
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Renee Poirier, Army West Point (So., P)
Preseason All-League
Renee Poirier, Army West Point (So., P)
Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point (Sr., 2B)
Moriah Connolly, Boston University (Sr., OF)
Jilee Schanda, Boston University (Jr., OF)
Brittany Younan, Boston University (Sr., SS)
Meghan Kovac, Bucknell (Jr., 1B)
Katie Bushee, Colgate (Sr. OF)
Brooke Wensel, Lafayette (So., SS)
Christine Campbell, Lehigh (Sr., P)
Vicky Lattanzio, Lehigh (Sr., 1B)
Carolyn Wright, Lehigh (Jr., C)
Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh (Jr., OF)
Story by Zion Olojede '18
A league-high four Mountain Hawks were selected to the Preseason All-Patriot League team including three-time all-league honoree senior Vicky Lattanzio. Classmate Christine Campbell joins Lattanzio along with juniors Carolyn Wright and Nicole Yozzo.
Lattanzio picked up first team All-Patriot League honors her 2016 campaign as a designated player. She led the Mountain Hawks with 37 RBI and picked up eight multi-hit games during the year. She ranked second on the team in doubles (14) and walks (31).
Campbell put together a solid season in the circle last spring. The San Diego native went 8-2 with 0.95 ERA in 10 league appearances. Campbell notched five complete game shutouts and was tabbed the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week three times. Her season was highlighted by a 10-inning one-hitter against Holy Cross where she retired the final 25 batters she faced. Campbell is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning second team honors last season.
In her sophomore year, Wright started 27 games at catcher and ranked third on the team in with a .326 batting average. Behind the plate, Wright gunned down 7-of-24 base stealers. In addition to her first-team All-Patriot League selection, the accounting major was named to the Academic All-Patriot League team and the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.
The Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a second team All-Patriot League performer in 2015, Yozzo will look to bounce back after being limited by injuries last season. The Pleasanton, Calif. native led the league in stolen bases with 30 in 2015 and finished second in runs scored with 45 in 48 games played two seasons ago. Yozzo batted .308 with 11 runs scored in 25 games last season.
Army West Point received five first place votes and total of 64 votes to finish second in the poll. Defending tournament champion Boston University followed with a three first place votes and 55 total points. Bucknell was picked fourth in the poll, followed by Colgate, Holy Cross and Lafayette. Army West Point's Alee Rashenskas and Renee Pointer were named the preseason Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
The Mountain Hawks will open their 2017 season at the Citrus Classic in Florida with games against Morgan State (11 a.m.) and Ball State (3:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 24.
Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
Lehigh (6), 66 points
Army West Point (5), 64 points
Boston University (3), 55 points
Bucknell, 43 points
Colgate, 29 points
Holy Cross, 21 points
Lafayette, 16 points
Preseason Player of the Year: Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point (Sr., 2B)
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Renee Poirier, Army West Point (So., P)
Preseason All-League
Renee Poirier, Army West Point (So., P)
Alee Rashenskas, Army West Point (Sr., 2B)
Moriah Connolly, Boston University (Sr., OF)
Jilee Schanda, Boston University (Jr., OF)
Brittany Younan, Boston University (Sr., SS)
Meghan Kovac, Bucknell (Jr., 1B)
Katie Bushee, Colgate (Sr. OF)
Brooke Wensel, Lafayette (So., SS)
Christine Campbell, Lehigh (Sr., P)
Vicky Lattanzio, Lehigh (Sr., 1B)
Carolyn Wright, Lehigh (Jr., C)
Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh (Jr., OF)
Story by Zion Olojede '18
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballMHT EP 12 - Softball
Friday, March 13
2026 Lehigh Softball Season Preview
Thursday, February 05
Lehigh Sports Central: Softball
Wednesday, April 30
2025 Season Preview: Softball
Thursday, February 06
