Hillsdale Selected 4th in Preseason Softball Coach's Poll

2019 G-MAC Softball Preseason Poll

In 2018, the Hillsdale College softball team rose form the middle of the pack to dominate the G-MAC postseason tournament, ultimately winning the trophy and qualifying for the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament for the first time in 27 years.

Despite having tons of experience coming back, conference coaches do not see a repeat performance in the making for the Chargers. Coaches picked Hillsdale to finish fourth in thsi year's preseason poll, released by the conference office Thursday morning. The Chargers receivied no first-place votes in the poll and finished with 129 poll points.

Cedarville was picked first with 157 poll points, followed by Ohio Dominican (148) and Findlay (144).

The Chargers have a wealth of experience returning all over the diamond in 2019. All-American outfielder Katie Kish leads the returners after leading the conference in batting average last year. Kish and Amanda Marra are entering their fourth year starting in the outfield and at second base, respectively. Kish has a career batting average of .401 and Marra has a career batting average of .370.

Senior Jessica Taylor had her best season at 2018, and is in line to be the team's starting third baseman. Junior Sam Catron has fully recovered from surgery which kept her from playing in the field last year. She and her strong arm and bat will be in the lineup as the Chargers' starting shortstop. Sophomores Emma Johnson and Madison Rathbun will battle it out to start at first base, rounding out an experienced infield.

Junior Victoria Addis returns for her third year starting in the outfield. Sophomore Natalie Walters emerged with a strong bat in the second half of the season from her center field position. Walters will also be an essential part of the pitching rotation along with juniors Dana Weidinger and Erin Gordon, sophomore Julia Sayles and freshman Camryn Olson.

There's plenty of depth at the catcher position with junior Sydney San Juan and sophomore Madison Stoner. San Juan was an honroable mention All-GLIAC selection as a freshman.

Kyle Gross is the new head coach of the Chargers, coming to Hillsdale after Joe Abraham's successful seven-year run. Gross was an assistant coach at the University of Toledo and Kent State University as well as spending time at conference rival Walsh. 

Hillsdale opens the 2019 season at the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 8-10. The home opener is March 23 against Ohio Dominican and the 2019 G-MAC Tournament begins May 2 in Xenia, Ohio at the Athletes in Action complex.

POLL RESULTS