NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State Spartans were predicted to win the northern division in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the conference announced on Wednesday. Florida A&M was chosen to finish first in the southern division, as voted on by the conference’s head softball coaches and sports information directors.

Savannah State’s Torrian Wright was selected as the conference's Preseason Player of the Year, while Jailynn Jackson earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year accolades.

Wright was selected the 2013 MEAC Rookie of the Year after registering 51 hits, 37 runs and 21 walks. The three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week also had nine doubles. Defensively, Wright recorded 199 putouts. She led her team in slugging percentage (.861).

Jackson started 32 games as a sophomore, compiling a 2.62 ERA in 214.1 innings and a 26-12 (13-1 MEAC) record. Jackson was the 2013 MEAC Pitcher of the Year and selected to the All-MEAC Second Team. She led the MEAC with 250 strikeouts, 246 innings pitched, 25 complete games, and 26 wins.

Norfolk State was the 2013 MEAC Softball Tournament Runner-up. The Spartans finished the season with a 31-22 record.

Hampton was picked to finish second in the northern division, followed by Delaware State in third. Coppin State, Morgan State, Howard, and Maryland Eastern Shore complete the northern division predictions.

Florida A&M captured the second seed in the 2013 MEAC Softball Championship. The Lady Rattlers finished the 2013 season with a 10-4 MEAC mark and a 20-33 overall record. FAMU has won nine MEAC Softball Championships.

Bethune-Cookman was picked to finish second in the southern division, followed by Savannah State, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central.

Wright (SSU) and Jackson (Hampton) are joined by Jamie Schulle (NSU), Sabrina Edmonds (NCAT), Nicole Gazzola (DSU), Whitney Williams (NSU), Margaret Wilkins (Hampton), Heather Dunning (NSU), Raven Smith (NCAT), Jessica Madrid (DSU), and Rochelle Sablay (DSU) on the 2014 Preseason All-MEAC team.

The 2014 MEAC Softball Championship tournament is scheduled for May 8-10, 2014 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida.

 

 

 

Northern Division                                                                                   Southern Division                                  

 

School	Points	School	Points
Norfolk State (8)	243	Florida A&M (8)	223
Hampton (11)	218	Bethune-Cookman (8)	207
Delaware State (3)	186	Savannah State (6)	203
Coppin State (1)	151	North Carolina A&T	146
Morgan State	132	South Carolina State	129
Howard	115	North Carolina Central	119
Maryland E. Shore	111

 

First Team

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Ht.	Hometown
P	Jailynn Jackson	Hampton	Jr.	5-8	Virginia Beach, Va.
P	Jamie Schulle	Norfolk State	Jr.	5-7	Maxwell, Texas
C	Sabrina Edmonds	North Carolina A&T	Sr.	5-8	Riverside, Calif.
1B	Torrian Wright	Savannah State	So.	5-6	McDonough, Ga.
2B	Nicole Gazzola	Delaware State	So.	5-4	Coram, N.Y.
3B	Whitney Williams	Norfolk State	So.	5-6	Fort Oaks, N.C.
SS	Margaret Wilkins	Hampton	Sr.	5-10	Tustin, Calif.
OF	Heather Dunning	Norfolk State	So.	5-6	Virginia Beach, Va.
OF	Raven Smith	North Carolina A&T	Jr.	5-3	Raleigh, N.C.
OF	Jessica Madrid	Delaware State	Jr.	5-6	Santa Ana, Calif.
UTL	Rochelle Sablay	Delaware State	So.	5-5	La Mirada, Calif.

 

Second Team

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Ht.	Hometown
P	Rachel Meagley	Delaware State	Sr.	5-7	Spokane, Wash.
P	Vianny Gomez	South Carolina State	So.	5-4	Antioch, Calif.
C	Kathy Cortez	Norfolk State	Sr.	5-3	Pomona, Calif.
1B	Taylor McCoy	Hampton	So.	5-11	Riverview, Fla.
2B	Antonette Smith	Savannah State	So.	5-5	Ellenwood, Ga.
3B	Amber Hallman	Savannah State	Jr.	5-6	Kennesaw, Ga.
SS	Morgan King	Maryland E. Shore	Jr.	5-4	Danville, Ill.
OF	Morgan Boyd	Norfolk State	Jr.	5-3	Chesapeake, Va.
OF	Heather Josker	Coppin State	Sr.	5-1	San Jacinto, Calif.
OF	Calesha Shelley	Bethune-Cookman	Jr.	5-3	Suisun City, Calif.
UTL	Vanessa Gomez	Maryland E. Shore	So.	5-4	Belleville, N.J,