The conference softball coaches have picked Pitt-Johnstown to finish fifth in the Central Division when the 2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Poll was released, Wednesday afternoon.
No. 8 West Chester, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Gannon topped the PSAC Preseason Softball Poll for their respective divisions, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Head Coach Niki Cognigni-Pecora's Pitt-Johnstown squad finished the 2019 season at 19-19 overall and fifth in the PSAC Central at 9-11.
The Mountain Cats return 15 letter-winners from a year ago, including junior first baseman
Kristie Radvan and junior outfielder
Jade Stubblefield, who both earn spots on last year's All-PSAC Central Team. Stubblefield led Pitt-Johnstown in hitting (.407), base hits (46), slugging percentage (.628), and on-base percentage (.485) and tied with Radvan for the team-lead in homeruns (3) and RBI (29). Radvan was second on the team in batting average (.330) and slugging percentage (.496).
Pitt-Johnstown also returns it Top-3 pitchers in
Alyssa Hileman (6-4, 2.33 ERA, 23 K),
Kristen Coffay (8-9, 2.70 ERA, 61 K), and
Ashley Pagliei (4-5, 4.93 ERZ, 19 K).
PSAC play begins Friday, March 27 while the Championship will be held April 29 - May 2 in Quakertown, Pa.
Â
Central (No. of 1st place votes)
T-1) Bloomsburg (3)
T-1) Lock Haven (3)
3) IUP
4) Mansfield
5) Pitt-Johnstown
6) Clarion
 East
1) West Chester (5)
2) Kutztown (1)
3) Shepherd
4) Shippensburg
5) East Stroudsburg
6) Millersville
Â
West
1) Gannon (3)
2) Seton Hill (2)
3) Cal U (1)
4) Slippery Rock
5) Edinboro
6) Mercyhurst
Â
Â
