Friday, February 22, 2008

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL TEAM SELECTED AS UNANIMOUS FAVORITE IN LANDMARK CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

MADISON, N.J. --- The 2008 Moravian College softball team has been selected as the unanimous favorite to win the Landmark Conference Championship during the inaugural season in a preseason poll selected by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Greyhounds sit atop the poll with 60 points followed by Susquehanna University with 50 points.  The Catholic University of America was chosen to finish third with 39 points while The United States Merchant Marine Academy was fourth with 36 points.  Rounding out the poll were Drew University in fifth with 27 points, Juniata College in sixth with 25 points and The University of Scranton is seventh with 15 points.

Expectations are high once again for the 2008 Moravian squad as the Greyhounds return seven starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's 35-7 team, which made the program's tenth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament and also made it to the NCAA Division III World Series in Salem, Virginia for the second time in four years.  Head coach John Byrne enters his 15th season with a team that was ranked sixth in the 2008 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.

The Greyhounds are scheduled to start their 2008 season on Friday, February 29th with a pair of games at the Beach Bash in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  The Greyhounds will play Methodist (NC) College at 1:00 p.m. and Messiah College at 3:00 p.m.  Moravian’s first Landmark Conference doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, March 29th at The United States Merchant Marine Academy at 1:00 p.m.

2008 Landmark Conference Softball Preseason Poll