Wednesday, March 2, 2011

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL SQUAD SELECTED TO REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS IN LANDMARK CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

MADISON, N.J. --- The 2011 Moravian College softball team has been selected to win its fourth straight championship in the Landmark Conference season in a preseason poll selected by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Greyhounds topped the poll with 52 points while Susquehanna University was second with 48 points.  The Catholic University of America earned the third spot with 36 points while Juniata College and The University of Scranton tied for fourth with 32 points.  Rounding out the poll are Drew University in sixth with 20 points and The United States Merchant Marine Academy with 11 points.

Moravian, under the direction of 18th-year head coach John Byrne (544-173), returns 13 players and ten starters from last year’s 34-15 squad that won its third straight Landmark Conference Championship.  The program also made the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 12th time in 13 seasons last year, winning its third NCAA Regional Championship and making its third trip to the NCAA Division III World Series.  Coach Byrne has added another nine players to the roster this year.

The Greyhounds begin their 2011 season with a trip to the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida with ten total games between March 7th through 12th.  Moravian was ranked seventh in the 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 Poll and was tied for ninth in last week’s first regular season poll.

2011 Landmark Conference Softball Preseason Poll