FREELAND, Mich. - The Saint Mary's softball team was picked to finish fourth by league coaches as announced in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Preseason Poll.
Trine filled the top slot in the poll with 62 total points and six first-place votes. Hope was second (57 points, two first-place votes), and Alma took the third slot (49 points, one first-place vote). The Belles had 45 points to sit in fourth.
"We are excited to have been ranked fourth in the preseason poll this year," head coach Kelli Zache Martin said. "We have one of the toughest conferences in the nation. For us to be ranked fourth makes our team that much more motivated to play and compete with all of the tough teams in our conference."
Saint Mary's opens the season on March 3 at the Transylvania Pioneer Classic in Kentucky. The Belles' conference opener is slated for March 31 at Albion.
2018 MIAA Softball Preseason Poll
1. Trine - 62 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Hope - 57 points (2)
3. Alma - 49 points (1)
4. Saint Mary's - 45 points
5. Calvin - 36 points
6. Adrian - 25 points
7. Olivet - 21 points
8. Kalamazoo - 17 points
9. Albion - 12 points
