Three PBC Softball Teams Ranked in Preseason Top 25

Three Peach Belt Conference softball teams have been ranked among the top 25 teams in the country in a preseason poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).  Columbus State will begin the 2008 season as the #3 team in the nation while North Georgia is 16th and GCSU is 23rd.  Augusta State and Armstrong Atlantic State also received votes in the poll.

CSU set a school record in 2007 with 58 wins and finished third at the NCAA national championship in Akron, OH. The Lady Cougars have won the PBC regular season title the last two years and won the PBC tournament title the last three years. CSU was picked to finish first in the PBC in a conference coaches poll released last week.

North Georgia enters their first season of full NCAA membership, but served notice that they would compete with a 36-19 record last year, including a 12-8 conference mark. Eight players return for the Saints, but the team will be very young with lone senior Krista Bess coming back to center field and Jessica Skeels, who hit .352 last season, in left.

GCSU finished third in the PBC standings in 2007 with a 13-7 conference mark and 35-21 overall record. Returning for the Lady Bobcats is All-Conference pitcher Mandy Chandler, who already owns the GCSU record for wins and strikeouts despite just two seasons under her belt. GCSU will have to replace three starters, including two-time All-American Deidra Baitey.

Defending national champion SIU Edwardsville is ranked #1 in the nation while national runner-up and CSU nemesis Lock Haven is second.  The NFCA will release polls weekly beginning in mid-February. 

Others receiving votes: Shippensburg 8, Augusta State 7, Armstrong Atlantic 7, Georgian Court 5, Minnesota State Mankato 5, Bryant 4, Barry 3, Caldwell 1, St. Edwards 1