Ninth-year Head Coach Niki Cognigni-Pecora and the Pitt-Johnstown softball team has has been picked to finish eighth in the PSAC Western Division when the 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll was released by the conference office on Wednesday.

Mercyhurst received four of the nine first-place votes and was selected to win the PSAC Western Division, while East Stroudsburg earned five of the nine first-place votes and was picked by the coaches to win the PSAC Eastern Division.

Pitt-Johnstown finished seventh in the PSAC Western Division a year ago at 15-29 overall and 10-22 in conference-play.  The Mountain Cats return 13 letter-winners from last year's squad, including their top-three offensive players in Kayla Miehl (.386, 10 HR, 25 RBI), Julia Mooney (.351, 5 HR, 20 RBI), and Tori Radvan (.347, 4 HR, 29 RBI).  Pitt-Johnstown also welcomes back its top-two pitchers in Mia Smith (10-11, 111 K) and Radvan (5-12, 57 K).