Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Picked to Win East Division
January 25, 2006 | Softball
Jan. 25, 2006
MAC Office Release in PDF Format
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference office has released the 2006 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, and Bowling Green State University has been tabbed to win the league's East Division. The poll, the result of voting by the league's 12 head softball coaches, was released by the conference office Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 25).
The Falcons of head coach Leigh Ross received 66 points in the poll, finishing just ahead of defending league tournament champion Miami (59 points). Central Michigan was chosen to win the league's West Division crown in 2006. The Chippewas received six votes to capture the MAC Tournament crown, while the Falcons earned three votes and Eastern Michigan, Miami and Northern Illinois one apiece.
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East Division
1. Bowling Green 66 2. Miami 59 3. Kent State 48 4. Buffalo 35 5. Akron 27 6. Ohio 17
West Division
MAC Tournament
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The following is the official release by the MAC office ...
Central Michigan is the preseason favorite to win the 2006 MAC softball championship this season, the conference office announced Wednesday as voted on by the league's head coaches. Bowling Green was the favorite in the East Division, while the Chippewas were picked to capture the West division and postseason MAC Tournament championships.
The Falcons return 14 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's 29-30 team that went 12-10 in MAC play. Seniors Gina Rango and Liz Vrabel, the 2005 MAC Player and Pitcher Of The Year, respectively, will look to lead Bowling Green to its second MAC Championship in the last three campaigns. The Falcons also return junior second baseman Megan McPherson and sophomore outfi elder Allison Vallas, who were both elected to the All-MAC second-team last season. McPherson ranked 19th in the league in individual batting last season, compiling a .297 batting average with 52 hits and 10 runs-batted in. Vallas ranked fourth in the MAC with 34 RBI. Bowling Green opens the season at the Panera Challenge in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Feb. 24.
Central Michigan was picked to win its third consecutive West division title. The Chippewas finished the 2005 campaign 29-16 with a 16-6 MAC slate, and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Head Coach Margo Jonker, beginning her 27th season at CMU, welcomes back 13 letterwinners, including nine starters. The Chippewas will be led by two 2005 All-MAC selections. Sophomore Amy Hudson, a reigning first-teamer, hit a MAC fourth-best .354 last season. Hudson led CMU in RBI (21), hits (45) and total bases (69) in 44 total appearances as the team's third base starter. Senior first baseman Christin Dhondt, a second-team All- MAC selection in 2005, also returns for the Chippewas. Dhondt tallied a team-best five home runs and nine doubles to go along with a team second-best 20 RBI last season. Dhondt was also a 2004 All-MAC second-team selection. CMU opens the 2006 campaign on Feb. 17 against Kansas at the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.
Defending league champion Miami was picked to finish second in the East Division. The RedHawks return nine letterwinners from a team that captured the program's first-ever conference title. Miami will be led by 2005 All-MAC second-teamer Christine Bills, who had nine multiple-hit games and six multi-RBI efforts last season. The RedHawks graduated pitcher Jackie Poggendorf, an at-large selection to the All-MAC first-team in 2005. Tabbed third in the East division was Kent State, who finished 25-27 (10-11 MAC) last season. The Golden Flashes return eight starters from a team that advanced to the second-round of last year's MAC Tournament. Kent State will be led by 2005 All-MAC second-team selection Whitney Lebowitz, who had 25 hits and 12 RBI in her freshman campaign. Picked fourth in the East Division was Buffalo, a 2005 MAC Tournament participant. The Bulls will be led by Marcy Hansen, a 2005 at-large selection to the All-MAC second-team. Akron and Ohio were tabbed fifth and sixth in the division, respectively.
The league's 12 head coaches tabbed Western Michigan second in the West division. The Broncos return 15 letterwinners from a team that nearly knocked off top-seeded Marshall in the winner's bracket of last year's MAC Tournament, eventually dropping a 13-12 decision to the Thundering Herd. WMU will be led by seniors Katie Niemi (OF) and Tricia VanDerSlik (P/UT), both first-team All-MAC honorees in 2005. Picked third in the West division was Eastern Michigan, who appeared in their first postseason MAC Tournament since the 1999 campaign last season. The Eagles lost key seniors Lauren Allen and Liz Flack, but return senior pitcher/utility player Nikki Denman, a 2004 All-MAC selection, and junior shortstop Lauren Clark, who hit a MAC seventh-best .328 last season. Tabbed fourth in the West was Northern Illinois. The Huskies return nine letterwinners from last year's squad, and will be led by pitcher Lindsey LaChiana (1.91 ERA), a second-team All-MAC selection last season. Toledo was picked to fi nish fifth in the West division, followed by Ball State, who was tabbed sixth.
The 2006 MAC Softball Tournament will be held at Currie Stadium in Midland, Mich. from May 10-13.
