Reigning #AESB Champion UAlbany Tabbed 2019 Preseason Favorite
BOSTON – With the goal of becoming the first #AESB program to win three-straight league titles in over a decade, UAlbany has been tabbed the America East softball preseason favorite in 2019. The Great Danes, who won their second-straight title and seventh in program history last year, were tabbed the preseason choice by the conference’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
The Great Danes received four first-place votes and 34 points to barely edge out second-place UMass Lowell, which reached its first-ever #AESB championship game last year. The River Hawks earned 32 points and the other three first-place tallies.
2019 America East Softball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. UAlbany 34 (5)
2. UMass Lowell 32 (3)
3. Stony Brook 24
4. Maine 21
5. Binghamton 18
6. Hartford 10
7. UMBC 8
Reigning Player of the Year Melissa Rahrich (Stony Brook), Pitcher of the Year Celeste Verdolivo (UAlbany) and Lovina Capria (UMass Lowell) headline a strong group of returnees.
The 2019 campaign begins the weekend of Feb. 8 with UMass Lowell kicking off its campaign. The other six programs start their seasons later in February. Conference play begins on March 30 and the top six teams in the final standings with qualify for the 2019 #AESB Championship to be played at the University of Hartford on May 8-11.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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