Hofstra is the unanimous pick to capture its fifth consecutive Colonial Athletic Association softball championship in 2006, according to a poll of the CAA's eight head softball coaches. Hofstra is coming off a year in which it posted a 43-16-1 record.
The Pride, who have won all four CAA softball championships as a league member, received all seven possible first-place votes and a total of 49 points, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. James Madison received the remaining first-place vote and was picked to finish in second place with 40 total points. Towson tallied 34 points and was picked to finish in third, while Delaware followed with 30 points. Newcomer Georgia State was voted to finish in fifth with 23 points, followed by Drexel (22 points), UNC Wilmington (14 points) and George Mason (11 points).
Hofstra returns a roster with four first team all-conference performers, including 2005 CAA Player of the Year and second baseman Lisa Wambold (Hatboro, PA - pictured), who batted .291 with 13 home runs last season. Also highlighting the Pride's roster are junior catcher/outfielder Ashley Lane (Westbury, NY), who hit a league-leading .379 with eight home runs and 31 RBI, senior third baseman Tara Ulrich, a first-team All-CAA pick, and sophomore outfielder Pam Dreslinski, who hit .321 and was named first-team All-CAA as a freshman.
Hofstra has won eight straight conference tournament championships, dating back to its last four seasons in the America East Conference. It has also reached the NCAA Regional finals in each of the last two seasons, while falling one win shy of the Women's College World Series in 2004. The Pride is one of only 12 teams in the nation to win at least two games in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments, joining six Pac-10 schools (UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State, California, Washington), as well as defending national champion Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma.
James Madison is picked to finish second after posting a 28-27 overall mark last season. The Dukes return senior hurler Briana Carrera who registered a 13-12 record and a 1.81 ERA. She also posted a .328 batting average and led the team with 59 hits. Senior second baseman Kelly Berkemeier and junior shortstop Katie George (.285, 47 H, 20 RBI) also return for the 2006 season.
Towson completed the 2005 season with a 38-19 record, good for second place in the conference. The Tigers fell to the Pride in the championship game, 6-3, last spring. Sophomore righthander Jessica Fisher posted a 16-8 record and a 1.48 ERA, while assisted the pitching staff that lead the conference with a 1.90 team ERA. Fisher will be joined by senior outfielder Jillian Fraser (.270, 13 RBI), junior catcher Jen Hastings (.236, 18 RBI) and sophomore designated player Nina Navarro (.241, 7 HR, 25 RBI).
2006 CAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Hofstra - 49 (7)
2. James Madison - 40 (1)
3. Towson - 34
4. Delaware - 30
5. Georgia State - 23
6. Drexel - 22
7. UNC Wilmington - 14
8. George Mason - 11
