Softball Voted 10th in NE10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Skyhawks open the 2020 season with 12 games in Florida

Theilgard led the team in batting average and RBI, earning NE10 All-Conference second team honors

Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Release

EASTON, Mass. (January 23, 2020) – The Stonehill College softball team has been voted to finish 10^th in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, as voted on by the coaches, announced by the Conference on Thursday.

Stonehill is coming off a 15-24 season, including an 11-16 mark in NE10 play, its best marks since the 2016 season when the team went 23-17 overall and 19-8 in NE10 play. Head coach Ken LeGrice enters his 11th season leading the Skyhawks and under his leadership, Stonehill has reached the NE10 Tournament five times , including four times in the past eight years. In the last decade, the Skyhawks have reached the 20-win mark six times.

Stonehill was picked 10th in the NE10 Preseason Poll with 61 points, as Saint Anselm College was voted to take the Northeast Divisional title with 162 points and seven first-place votes. Adelphi was voted as the runner up with 153 points and five first-place votes, while Southern New Hampshire University followed close behind in third place with 151 points and two first-place votes. The University of New Haven and Pace University rounded out the top five with 136 and 112 points, respectively.

Twelve return from last years' squad, including five seniors, while eight join the team this season. Junior co-captain Michelle Theilgard led the team with a .350 batting average, as she was tabbed on the All-Conference second team last season and third team and All-Rookie Team freshman year. Junior Genna Hartman was second on the team with a .287 batting average, as the classmates led the team with 16 RBI.

Rayner totaled career best numbers last season on the mound

On the mound, senior co-captains Kazi Walker and Katherine Rayner, will lead the way for the pitching staff, as Hartman and Julia Perrone also will make appearances. Rayner was dominate on the mound as she tossed 166.0 innings and struck out 112 for a career best 2.83 ERA, which ranked 15^th in the NE10.

Stonehill is scheduled to open its 2020 campaign with 12 games in Florida. They kick off the trip with a doubleheader on Friday, March 6 against Clarion University and Wheeling Jesuit University at 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively. The Skyhawks continue the Florida trip with five more doubleheaders throughout the week, and will open NE10 play on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, as they host two home series against the College of Saint Rose and Le Moyne College, respectively, on Fr. Gartland Field.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.

Northeast-10 Conference Softball 2020 Preseason Poll