FOREST, Va. --- Only 12 points separate the top four teams, with five squads receiving first place consideration, in the 2011 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.  Lynchburg College earned a pair of first place votes on the way to collecting 85 total poll points to head the annual survey of the league's coaches.  Roanoke College got one top nod and 80 tallies to place second.

The 2010 season saw a first in any sport in the ODAC as Eastern Mennonite won the conference tournament title from the No. 8 seed, marking the first time a tournament's bottom seed won an ODAC title.  The Royals took the shortest route to get there, posting a 4-0 record en route to the program's second conference crown.

Lynchburg welcomes back four of its five all-conference performers from a season ago as the Hornets go in search of their seventh league title.  Leading the way are a pair of All-ODAC First Team choices in pitcher Katie Bruce and shortstop Taylor Walker.  Bruce was second in the conference in wins (15) and innings pitched (146.2), third in earned run average (2.72) and appearances (29) and fifth in opponent's batting average (.250).  She also batted .339 with six homers and 29 runs batted in.  Walker hit at a .346 clip with three homers and 24 RBI.  All-ODAC Second Team selection Sarah Smith (.308, 13 RBI) returns to second base and is joined by All-ODAC Honorable Mention catcher/first baseman Meagan Fredenberg (.264, 3 HR, 18 RBI).  Also back for LC is catcher Ashley Hohenberger (.274, 18 RBI) and third baseman Rachel Gallagher (.250, 4 HR, 23 RBI).

Roanoke also features a quartet of all-conference returners, including a trio of first teamers.  Reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, Leona Rainey (Sandston, VA, Mills Godwin), placed in the top-five in the ODAC in several categories including stolen bases (1^st; 30), batting average (3^rd; .466) and on-base percentage (3^rd; .530).  Designated player Lisa Scruggs (Madison Heights, VA, Holy Cross)(.379, 4 HR, 26 RBI) and utility Hollee Warlitner (Clifton Forge, VA, Alleghany) (.371, 5 HR, 34 RBI) complete the first team group.  Second team pitcher Abigail Rexrode (Fincastle, VA, James River) also ranked highly in several areas including hits allowed (2^nd; 69), runs allowed (2^nd; 40), opponent batting average (3^rd; .225) and walks (3^rd; 23).  Shortstop Sara Caudle (Irvington, VA, Lancaster) led the team with eight homers in 2010.

 

Listed below is the complete 2011 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

2011 ODAC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes