For Immediate Release: March 9, 2006

Contact: Janelle Feuz, SUNYAC Publicist

 

CORTLAND PICKED TO FINISH FIRST IN SUNYAC SOFTBALL POLL

 

FREDONIA, NY – The Cortland Red Dragons have been picked by the conference coaches to win the SUNYAC title this season. Cortland received ten first-place votes and 100 total points in the preseason poll.

In 2005, the Red Dragons finished first in the SUNYAC regular season with a 16-2 record with their only losses coming against Oneonta and Plattsburgh. Cortland went on to win the 2005 SUNYAC Championship with an 8-0 victory over Oneonta in the final game to qualify for the NCAA Div III playoffs for the third straight season.  The Red Dragons dropped a 2-1 game to Kings College (PA) before being eliminated by Misericordia, 2-1 in eight innings. Cortland returns several key players to the roster including junior shortstop Jamie Neuner (Brewster) who posted a .382 batting average with 36 runs and 17 RBI’s in 2005. Sophomore Shara Evanter (Commack) posted a perfect fielding percentage at first base last season, along with a .350 batting average including 22 RBI’s. Senior Stephanie Adamshick (Milton/Marlboro) returns to the mound for the Red Dragons after tossing 130 strikeouts with a 1.24 ERA.

Geneseo was selected second in the poll with 87 points. Last season, the Knights finished second with a 14-6 conference mark and a 26-15 overall record. Geneseo claimed their third ECAC title in six seasons in 2005. Junior Audrey Kuhn (Ballston Lake/Shenendehowa) returns to lead the Knights after posting an 18-7 mark and a 0.66 ERA on the mound with a .310 batting average with six homeruns and 30 RBI at the plate.  

Buffalo State was picked third after finishing last season with a 12-8 conference record. Oneonta was picked fourth in the poll with 70 points after advancing to the final round of the SUNYAC Tournament.

The first 2006 conference games begin March 31 with Buffalo State at SUNYIT, New Paltz at Geneseo, Oneonta at Brockport, Plattsburgh at Cortland, and Potsdam at Oswego.

 

2006 SUNYAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll

                                              1.           Cortland (10)              100

                                              2.           Geneseo (1)                87

                                              3.           Buffalo State               73

                                              4.           Oneonta                      70

                                              5.           Brockport                    65

                                                            Plattsburgh                  65

                                              7.           Fredonia                      44

                                              8.           New Paltz                   35

                                              9.           Oswego                      34

                                             10.           Potsdam                      18

                                             11.           SUNYIT                     14
                                               (First-place votes in parentheses)