Oakland softball picked eighth in Summit League preseason poll
ELMHURST, Ill. — The Oakland softball team earned 18 points and was tabbed to finish eighth in the 2012 Summit League Softball Preseason Poll, voted on by the league’s nine coaches and announced by the league office. The Golden Grizzlies return three All-Summit League selections from the 2011 team.
“This is just a ranking and just because we were picked low doesn’t mean it will affect the way we prepare for the season,” said head coach LaDonia Hughes. “We will use it as motivation as we get ready for a great 2012 season.”
UMKC, the 2011 Summit League regular season softball champion, was picked to win the 2012 Summit League Softball Championship receiving 61 points and five out of the nine first-place votes, edging out North Dakota State who received 60 points and the other four first-place votes.
IPFW was tabbed to finish third with 46 points, followed by Southern Utah with 44 and Western Illinois with 38 points. IUPUI and South Dakota State tied for sixth with 22 points followed by Oakland while South Dakota rounded out the poll with 13 points.
Oakland is returning three players who received All-Summit League honors last season: Shelby Gott (1st team), Erika Polidori (2nd team) and Erin Galloway (2nd team). The Golden Grizzlies finished 2011 with a 17-29 with an 8-16 record finishing eighth in The Summit League.
Oakland will begin the 2012 season on Feb. 19 as they take on Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the PC Softball Complex.
2012 Summit League Softball Preseason Poll
| Place | Team | Points (1st) | 2011 Record |
| 1. | UMKC | 61 (5) | 37-17 (18-5) |
| 2. | North Dakota State | 60 (4) | 30-25 (17-7) |
| 3. | IPFW | 46 | 29-14 (16-8) |
| 4. | Southern Utah | 44 | 25-34 (14-10) |
| 5. | Western Illinois | 38 | 19-27 (15-10) |
| T6. | IUPUI | 22 | 15-32 (9-14) |
| T6. | South Dakota State | 22 | 13-41 (9-15) |
| 8. | Oakland | 18 | 17-29 (8-16) |
| 9. | South Dakota | 13 | 21-30 |
Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Oakland University
