Softball Voted Second in NECC Preseason Poll

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College softball team claimed the second overall spot in the 2015 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll, announced by the league office Wednesday night. Elms received a pair of picks for first, second, third, and fifth and a single vote for sixth. 

The Blazers will return 14 players from a team who finished fifth in the conference standing with a 10-8 mark in NECC play, and a 12-16 overall record. Elms senior pitcher Beth Grimes (Terryville, Conn.) returns after her junior campaign where she earned NECC Pitcher of the Year and NECC Player of the Year honors. Grimes registered an NECC-best 1.43 earned run average from the mound with 13 complete games and 113 strikeouts in 88-plus innings of work, while batting a league-high .443 with 18 RBIs and eight doubles. Junior catcher Kierstan Skinner (South Windsor, Conn.) was named to the Second Team All-NECC after hitting .305, including a .351 clip in conference play, with 11 RBIs and seven doubles. Senior infielder Gina DiGiovanni (Springfield, Mass.) posted a .319 average last season and swiped 12 stolen bases, third-most in the conference.

Lesley University scored a 87 of a possible 90 points to capture the top spot in the New England Collegiate Conference 2015 Softball Coaches Pre-Season Poll.

The Lynx were named the number one team on six of nine coach's ballots and second on the three others. Lesley is the defending NECC Champion having finished 17-1 in Conference play a year ago. The Lynx were 21-15 overall and defeated Mitchell College 4-2 in the NECC Championship game.

Newbury College edged Mitchell College for the third spot. The Nighthawks earned 67 points on a first place ballot, two thirds, five fourths, and a fifth place. Mitchell was selected five times for third, twice fourth places, with one each fifth and eighth place picks.

The 2015 NECC Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll:

1. Lesley University (87 points, 6 first place votes)
2. Elms College (71 points, 2 first place votes)
3. Newbury College (67 points, 1 first place vote)
4. Mitchell College (63 points)
5. Becker College (58 points)
6. Regis College (49 points)
7. Southern Vermont College (39 points)
8. Bay Path University (34 points)
9. Daniel Webster College (16 points)
10. Wheelock College (11 points)