Moravian Picked To Win Landmark Softball Title

MADISON, N.J. - The Moravian College softball team has been chosen as the favorite in the first season of competition in the Landmark Conference as selected in the Landmark Preseason Softball Poll. The head softball coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsors the sport were polled for the preseason ballot.

Moravian was the unanimous choice for the top spot among the voters as the Greyhounds collected a total of 60 points. Susquehanna University finished in second place in the polling with 50 points. The Catholic University of America and the United States Merchant Marine Academy had a tight competition for the next two spots with Catholic placing third with 39 and USMMA finishing in the fourth spot with 36.

Moravian has ranked as one of the top programs in Division III in recent years and last season went 35-7 and earned its second appearance in the Division III Softball World Series in the past four years. Seven starters will be back in the fold from last year's team, including four All-Conference players. Among them is Maria DeBonis who was the conference Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore.

Susquehanna put together a solid 16-12 record in 2007 and welcome back 10 letterwinners from that team. One of those returnees was an All-Conference choice last season as a utility player and pitcher. Susquehanna has most of its pitching staff back, along with its top power hitter, but is missing five starters.

The Cardinals are coming off one of the best seasons in program history in which they earned a record of 19-17 and were 4-4 in conference play. The team fell in extra innings in the conference championship game. Four Catholic players were recognized as All-Conference performers last season, and all four will return this year. The team lost one starter in the field, and will also have to replace one of their top pitchers.

USMMA will be under the direction of a new coach in 2008, but there is plenty of talent to work with after an 18-16 campaign in 2007. The Mariners return three of their five All-Conference players from last season. Jesselyn LaValley is one of those returnees after she was an All-Region selection and claimed conference Rookie of the Year honors in her freshman season.

Drew University claims the fifth spot in the poll with 27 points. Head Coach Tammy Evans returns to the team after a year away, a year that saw the Ranger go 14-20 overall and 5-9 in conference play. She will have the benefit of a pair of returning All-Conference performers as well as the entire pitching staff from the 2007 team.

Juniata College was just two points behind Drew as the Eagles collected 25 points in the voting. A very young Juniata team with no seniors and just three juniors went 13-17 last season and virtually that entire roster will return this season. That includes the team's top hitter who was an All-Conference choice as a freshman, as well as a pitcher who claimed 12 wins in her first season.

Scranton rounds out the preseason poll having collected a total of 15 points in the vote. The Royals went 7-19 under a first-year coach in 2007 and boasted one of the top defensive teams in the conference. Mary Beth Vogel earned All-Conference honors last season for the Royals, and she returns along with both of the team's starting pitchers.

Nearly all the Landmark teams will begin the season with tournament play as part of trips to the south during Spring Break. Catholic will host Susquehanna on March 20 for the first Landmark contest.