Wilson picked first in CSAC Softball Poll
ROSEMONT, Pa. – Wilson College was the unanimous pick of the coaches to repeat as Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) softball champion, according to the preseason poll released on Wednesday afternoon.
The Phoenix, who captured their first CSAC title in their first year in the conference, received 81 points and all nine first-place votes. Coaches were permitted to vote for their own teams.
Keystone College was second with 62 points, followed by Cedar Crest College in third with 61 and Centenary University in fourth with 56 points. All three advanced to the CSAC championship series last season, with Cedar Crest finishing as runner up, while Centenary was third.
College of Saint Elizabeth, who is making its debut in the CSAC, was fifth with 50 points.
Rosemont College was sixth with 35 points, followed by Cairn University in seventh with 27 points, Notre Dame of Maryland University in eighth with 20 points and Clarks Summit University in ninth with 13 points.
Wilson, who went 27-8-2 last season and a perfect 14-0 in the CSAC, opens the 2020 campaign at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on March 15 against SUNY-Poly. The Phoenix CSAC opening series in Saturday, March 28, at Centenary University.
Keystone went 14-28 last season but had a 9-5 mark in CSAC play. The Giants are scheduled to open this weekend at Wesley weather permitting. Their CSAC open is Friday, March 27, as they host Rosemont.
Cedar Crest posted a 19-24 mark last season and went 9-5 in CSAC action. The Falcons will open the season on Sunday, March 1, at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic taking on Otterbein University. Cedar Crest will open CSAC play on Friday, March 27, hosting Notre Dame.
Centenary University went 16-21 in 2019, with a 9-5 mark in CSAC play. The Cyclones will open the season at the FastPitch Spring Dreams Classic on Monday, March 9. The CSAC opener for Centenary will be on Friday, March 27, at Clarks Summit.
The College of Saint Elizabeth, under first-year head coach Marc DellaVolpe, went 24-14 last season and 11-7 in the North East Athletic Conference (NEAC). The Eagles will open the season on Sunday, March 1 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., taking on Rivier. They will open CSAC play on Friday, March 27, hosting Cairn.
Rosemont, under first-year head coach Bill Relyea, went 16-24 last season and 7-7 in the CSAC, just missing the postseason. The Ravens open the 2020 campaign on Sunday, March 1, in Florida against York College of Pennsylvania. The CSAC opener for Rosemont is Saturday, March 28, hosting Clarks Summit.
Cairn, who went 12-20 last season and 5-9 in the CSAC, opens the 2020 season in Myrtle Beach, S.C., against Immaculata on Tuesday, March 10. The Highlanders open CSAC play on Friday, March 27, 2020, against the College of Saint Elizabeth.
Notre Dame of Maryland University posted a 10-16 mark and a 2-12 record in the CSAC. The Gators will open the season on Saturday, March 14, hosting John Jay. The CSAC slate starts on Friday, March 27, at Cedar Crest.
Finally, Clarks Summit University posted an 8-28 mark overall last year and was 1-13 in the CSAC. The Defenders, under first-year head coach Wes Uffelman, start the season on Saturday, March 7, at Gallaudet University. The CSAC opener is Friday, March 27, as the Defenders host Centenary.
Each team will play a doubleheader against their opponent, with the CSAC Championship featuring a five-team field. The one-game play-in will take place on Wednesday, April 29, with the fourth seed hosting the fifth seed. The winner of that game will join the three other teams in a double-elimination, two-day tournament at the highest seed, starting on Friday, May 1.
The winner of the tournament will receive the conference’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.