Loyola Tabbed Softball Favorite

INDIANAPOLIS -- The 2012 Horizon League Tournament finalist, Loyola has been voted the favorite to capture the title in 2013, receiving six of eight first-place votes and 48 points in voting of the League’s head coaches.

Led by the 2012 Pitcher of the Year, Brittany Gardner, Loyola returns eight starters from last season’s 26-23 squad.

That Ramblers team advanced through the winner’s bracket in the Horizon League Tournament before dropping consecutive walk-off losses to Valparaiso.

With Gardner in the circle, Loyola will turn to First Team All-League pick Brooke Andresen to help carry the offense. The outfielder hit .325 last year with five home runs and 24 RBI.

Nearly two years removed from reaching the 2011 NCAA Tournament UIC received one first-place vote in taking second in the poll. The Flames will rely on Melissa Preish and Coryn Schmidt for offense, while the 2011 Pitcher of the Tournament, Devin Miller, returns for UIC.

Valparaiso, which captured the first Horizon League title in school history last spring, notching a program-record 42 wins. The Crusaders will have to replace a highly-successful senior class, but 2012 Newcomer of the Year Brittany Duncan will key Valpo’s offense.

Youngstown State reached the second day of the Horizon League Tournament last spring before running of out gas, and head coach Brian Campbell brings back his battery of Casey Crozier and Vicky Rumph. Behind the plate, Rumph was a Second Team All-League selection.

Green Bay earned 22 points to edge Cleveland State for fifth in the poll. The Phoenix boast Second Team All-League pitcher Alli Goecks, while All-Newcomer pick Hailey Mohrfeld will lead Green Bay on the field.

Dara Toman and Sara Shields will lead an explosive Cleveland State offense; Toman slugged 19 homers in 2012, earning First Team All-League honors. Shields collected Second Team and All-Newcomer accolades after hitting .321 with seven home runs.

The regular season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 8, with five teams taking the fields in tournaments. The Horizon League Tournament will be held May 8-11, at the site of the regular-season champion.

2013 PRESEASON VOTING
Rank   School (1^st)                   Points
1.        Loyola (6)                      48
2.        UIC (1)                           39
3.        Valparaiso (1)              37
4.        Youngstown State       30
5.        Green Bay                     22
6.        Cleveland State           20
7.        Wright State                  19
8.        Detroit                            9