The Pitt-Johnstown softball team, led by second-year Head Coach Niki Cognigni, have been picked to finish fifth in the Central Division when the 2017 PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Friday... (Full PSAC Release) ... Central Division Preseason Notes ... Western Division Preseason Notes ... Eastern Division Preseason Notes

Pitt-Johnstown is coming off of a 10-23 overall record and a 7-13 mark in the PSAC Central in 2016.  Sopohmore outfielder and 2016 All-PSAC selection Morgan Cannin will lead a group of 15 letter-winners, including eight starters, who return.  In addition, the team's top two pitchers, Melissa Wagner and Emily Moore, are also back for Coach Cognigni.

For the second consecutive season, Bloomsburg, California and West Chester have been selected to win their respective softball divisions, the league office announced Friday afternoon.

Bloomsburg, the defending PSAC Champions, received all six first-place votes and tops the PSAC Central. The Huskies return five all-conference representatives, including PSAC Central Freshman of the Year Taylor Winkelman. BU looks to ride the talent of PSAC Central Athlete of the Year Taylor Parker to another 45-win season. Parker posted a 13-2 record and 1.83 ERA from the circle while hitting .372 and 14 homeruns. Winkelman impressed with a .409 average and eight stolen bases.

Coach Susan Kocher is one win shy of 200 while the team returns nine starters.

Lock Haven was selected second. The Bald Eagles sport PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year Bekah Slattery and two-time all-conference athlete McKenna Garlock. Slattery led the league with 22 wins while boasting a 1.62 ERA and 187 strikeouts. Garlock started all 55 LHU games in 2016 and hit .345 with 16 doubles.

IUP sits third and returns two-time all-conference honoree Hannah Mercer. The Crimson Hawks return all-conference member Lauren Zola, who posted a 2.43 ERA and 117 strikeouts.

Mansfield, Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion rounded out the Central Poll.

West Chester earned a trio of first-place votes in the East and return five all-conference players. Coach Diane Lokey is seven wins away from 400 while senior outfielder Sarah Walasavage looks to repeat as PSAC East Athlete of the Year. Junior Brooke Harner will lead the charge from the circle after earning the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year and posting a 19-3 record and 1.33 ERA.

Kutztown swiped two first-place votes and return PSAC East Freshman of the Year Sara Keeny. Coach Judy Lawes is six wins shy of 900 and returns seven starters.

Millersville was selected third while Shippensburg claimed fourth will be under the direction of first-year coach Alison Van Scyoc.

East Stroudsburg was picked fifth.

California received three first-place votes in the PSAC West and will lean on the PSAC West Freshman of the Year Taylor Robblee. Robblee posted a 1.35 ERA with a 6-0 record while hitting .342.

Slippery Rock claimed a first-place vote while being selected second.

Seton Hill earned two first-place votes while being picked third and returns Abby Suhoski, who finished the 2016 campaign with the second highest batting average in the league (.421). She led the Griffins with 53 runs score, five homeruns and 30 RBI.

Edinboro, Mercyhurst and Gannon rounded out the poll.

League play begins Saturday, March 18 while the tournament is slated to begin May 3 in Quakertown, Pa.


PSAC Preseason Poll
EAST
1. West Chester(3)
2. Kutztown (2)
3. Millersville
4. Shippensburg
5. East Stroudsburg

CENTRAL
1. Bloomsburg (6)
2. Lock Haven
3. IUP
4. Mansfield
5. Pitt-Johnstown
6. Clarion

WEST
1. California (3)
2. Slippery Rock (1)
3. Seton Hill (2)
4. Edinboro
5. Mercyhurst
6. Gannon