Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked Second in West Division
February 09, 2005 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2005
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference softball coaches have made their predictions for the 2005 season, and the Bowling Green State University Falcons have been picked to finish second in the West Division. The poll, released Wednesday (Feb. 9), is the result of voting by the league's 13 head coaches.
The Falcons of head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw return 12 letterwinners, including eight positional starters, from last year's 34-30 squad. BGSU placed third in the West Division with a 13-11 league record in 2004, but won the MAC Tournament to advance to NCAA Regional play.
The 2005 edition of the Falcons will open the season on Feb. 25, heading to Chattanooga, Tenn., for six games in the Frost Classic. BGSU will play in three other tournaments, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, UNLV and Virginia, before the MAC schedule commences on March 25.
Miami and Central Michigan will lead their respective divisions, according to the league's coaches, with Miami capturing the 2005 MAC Tournament. The RedHawks return 2004 All-MAC second-team selections in senior pitcher Jackie Poggendorf (13-9, 1.38 ERA, .276 BA) and junior infielder Bianca Paz (.329 BA, 0 HR, 14 RBI), heading a total of 10 letterwinners to a team that finished as the runner-up in the MAC Tournament. Head coach Angie Jacobs guided the RedHawks to an overall record of 25-26-1 (14-9 MAC) and finished second in the East Division during the regular season.
CMU head coach Margo Jonker returns 11 letterwinners from last year's 32-19 team that won the West Division with a 21-3 league mark. Eight starters are back, including 2004 All-MAC first-team selection Christin Sobeck (.322 BA, 7 HR, 23 RBI) and second-team pick Christan Dhondt (.284 BA, 4 HR, 19 RBI). CMU joined BGSU in the NCAA Regionals last year, earning an at-large bid.
Marshall and Kent State were tabbed by the coaches to place second and third in the East Division, respectively. The Thundering Herd and head coach Shonda Stanton finished last season with a 31-27 record (12-12 MAC) and will have a total of 13 letterwinners returning. Among those returning will be All-MAC first-team and NFCA All-Region selection Amanda Williams (.357 BA, 4 HR, 45 RBI) and 2004 All-MAC first-teamer Jessica Williams (.304 BA, 0 HR, 7 RBI).
KSU's Karen Linder, the 2004 MAC Coach of the Year, welcomes back 11 letterwinners from a Golden Flashes team that finished as East Division champs with a 27-20 record (15-6 MAC) last season.
BGSU, as mentioned, returns 12 letterwinners, headed by two-time All-MAC and All-Great Lakes Region first-team selection Gina Rango (.372 BA, 9 HR, 42 RBI) and all-league second-team picks Liz Vrabel (15-16, 1.46 ERA, 170 K), Jeanine Baca (.304 BA, 5 HR, 22 RBI) and Lindsay Heimrich (.293 BA, 4 HR, 29 RBI).
Western Michigan, picked to finish third in the West, has nine returnees, including 2004 Freshman of the Year and All-MAC first team selection Kristi Strange (.357 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBI). The Broncos were 32-26 overall and 17-7 in the MAC last spring.
Marshall kicked off the 2005 season last weekend, posting a 4-1 record at the UNLV Rebel Kick-Off Classic. The Herd (Auburn Invitational), Ball State (Ole Miss Rebel-Easton Classic), Buffalo (Arizona State Kajikawa Tournament) and Toledo (UNC Triangle Classic) all will be in tournaments this weekend.
The MAC Tournament will be May 11-14 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
The 2005 poll follows (the MAC announces only the top-three selections in each division)...
2005 MAC PRESEASON POLL
West Division 1. Central Michigan 2. Bowling Green 3. Western MichiganEast Division 1. Miami 2. Marshall 3. Kent State
Projected tournament winner: Miami
(Portions of this release courtesy MAC office)
