Cleveland State Tabbed Favorite in Softball Preseason Poll

INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off a season in which they set school records for victories and set a new Horizon League record for wins, the Cleveland State Vikings were narrowly voted the favorite to capture their second League title in three years, receiving four first-place votes and 58 points in voting of the League’s head coaches.

The Vikings return 2010 Horizon League Player of the Year Tess Sito, but head coach Angie Nicholson will have to replace three-time defending League Pitcher of the Year Amanda Macenko.

UIC, who returns seven starters from last season’s squad that went 15-9 in League play, earned four first-place tallies as well, but finished a point shy of Cleveland State in taking second.

Defending Horizon Leauge champion Wright State, who won three straight tournament games to capture the 2010 crown, bring back five starters and earned the remaining first-place vote, tying with Butler, who is looking to build on an 11-11 League campaign from last year with League First Team pitcher Jenny Esparza toeing the rubber.

Valparaiso, who finished third in the 2010 tournament after a 12-9 record in League play, was selected to finish fifth, just behind the Raiders and Bulldogs.  First team outfielder Sara Strickland returns for the Crusaders, along with seven other starters and both pitchers.

All-League honorees Brooke Andresen and Jenna Grim lead Loyola, who was tabbed to take sixth in the League with 31 points.  Green Bay was in close pursuit with 28 points after a .500 showing a year ago, bringing back Katie Cooney and Danielle Peerenboom, among others.

Vicky Rumph will look to build on an all-newcomer campaign from 2010 for Youngstown State, which received 17 points in placing eighth.

Detroit rounded out the poll, picking up nine points.

The regular season gets going on Thursday, Feb. 10, with Cleveland State and Loyola each taking part in the Best Western Marina Grand Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.  The Horizon League Tournament will be held May 11-14, at the site of the regular-season champion.

2011 Horizon League Preseason Softball Poll:
1.    Cleveland State (4 first-place votes) -- 58 points
2.    UIC (4) -- 57
t-3.  Wright State (1) -- 43
t-3.  Butler -- 43
5.    Valparaiso -- 39
6.    Loyola -- 31
7.    Green Bay -- 29
8.    Youngstown State -- 17
9.    Detroit -- 9