The Delaware State Hornets and the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers were predicted to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) softball northern and southern divisions, respectively, the conference announced today.
All preseason honors were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Savannah State’s Cortni Jones was named the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year, while Florida A&M’s Kenya Pereira earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year accolades.
Jones started all 46 games for the Lady Tigers and led the team in runs scored (38), runs batted in (42) and home runs (9) last season. A three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week honoree, she finished second in the MEAC in home runs and RBI and third in slugging percentage (.662). Jones was selected as the 2016 MEAC Rookie of the Year and was named All-MEAC (First Team) as a third baseman.
Pereira was selected as the 2016 MEAC Pitcher of the Year after appearing in 38 games for the Lady Rattlers and registering 14 wins, including two shutouts, in 193.2 innings pitched last season. She ranked first in the MEAC in opposing batting average (.237), second in innings pitched, strikeouts (138) and wins, and third in earned run average (3.36).
Delaware State, the 2016 MEAC Northern Division champions, finished with a 30-18 overall record and a 16-2 MEAC mark.
Norfolk State was predicted to finish second, followed by Hampton, Morgan State, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State to complete the Northern Division predictions.
Defending MEAC Softball Tournament Champions Florida A&M finished last season with a 11-5 MEAC record and 27-30 overall mark.
Bethune-Cookman was predicted to finish second, followed by Savannah State, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and South Carolina State to close out the Southern Division predictions.
Jones (SSU) and Pereira (FAMU) are joined by Annie Bakenhus (B-CU), Tia Bolden (SSU), Whitney Farris (FAMU), Raven Gray (NCAT), Brianna Harris (SSU), Kayla McNair (NSU), Tara Tursellino (DSU), Danielle Velez (DSU), Vanessa Washington (DSU) and Iesha Waters (B-CU) on the 2017 Preseason All-MEAC First Team.
The 2017 MEAC Softball Championship Tournament is scheduled for May 11-13 at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Fla.
2017 MEAC Softball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
NORTHERN DIVISION
|
School
|
Points
|
|
Delaware State (18)
|
163
|
|
Norfolk State (3)
|
134
|
|
Hampton (2)
|
133
|
|
Morgan State (1)
|
86
|
|
Howard (1)
|
74
|
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
57
|
|
Coppin State
|
53
|
SOUTHERN DIVISION
|
School
|
Points
|
|
Florida A&M (15)
|
136
|
|
Bethune-Cookman (2)
|
120
|
|
Savannah State (8)
|
115
|
|
North Carolina A&T State
|
72
|
|
North Carolina Central
|
50
|
|
South Carolina State
|
32
|
2017 Softball Preseason All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Preseason Player of the Year: Cortni Jones, Savannah State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kenya Pereira, Florida A&M
First Team
|
Pos.
|
Name
|
School
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
P
|
Kenya Pereira
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
Kissimmee, Fla.
|
|
P
|
Tara Tursellino
|
Delaware State
|
Sr.
|
Moreno Valley, Calif.
|
|
C
|
Tia Bolden
|
Savannah State
|
Sr.
|
Decatur, Ga.
|
|
*1B
|
Iesha Waters
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Jr.
|
Riverside, Calif.
|
|
*1B
|
Kayla McNair
|
Norfolk State
|
Sr.
|
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
|
2B
|
Danielle Velez
|
Delaware State
|
Sr.
|
Chino Hills, Calif.
|
|
3B
|
Cortni Jones
|
Savannah State
|
So.
|
Snellville, Ga.
|
|
SS
|
Brianna Harris
|
Savannah State
|
Jr.
|
Jacksonville, Fla.
|
|
OF
|
Annie Bakenhus
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
So.
|
Yucaipa, Calif.
|
|
OF
|
Whitney Farris
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
Coral Springs, Fla.
|
|
OF
|
Raven Gray
|
North Carolina A&T State
|
Jr.
|
Forest City, N.C.
|
|
UTL
|
Vanessa Washington
|
Delaware State
|
Jr.
|
Elk Grove, Calif.
|
*Indicates tie
Second Team
|
Pos.
|
Name
|
School
|
Cl.
|
Hometown
|
|
P
|
Sabrina Anguiano
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Sr.
|
Hacienda Heights, Calif.
|
|
P
|
Mohagony Headen
|
North Carolina A&T State
|
So.
|
Greensboro, N.C.
|
|
C
|
Korynna Lara
|
Morgan State
|
Sr.
|
Las Cruces, N.M.
|
|
1B
|
Toni Anderson
|
Florida A&M
|
Jr.
|
Dothan, Ala.
|
|
2B
|
Seana Moriarty
|
Norfolk State
|
Jr.
|
Chesapeake, Va.
|
|
3B
|
Amber Fullwood
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
Land O’Lakes, Fla.
|
|
SS
|
Briana Sanders
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
So.
|
San Marcos, Calif.
|
|
OF
|
Alexis Singleton
|
Savannah State
|
Sr.
|
Sarasota, Fla.
|
|
OF
|
Tashayla Irvis
|
Florida A&M
|
Sr.
|
Lake Wales, Fla.
|
|
OF
|
Chasney Jenkins
|
Savannah State
|
Sr.
|
East Moline, Ill.
|
|
UTL
|
Megan Przeslawski
|
Norfolk State
|
Jr.
|
Tampa, Fla.
|