Jan.
24, 2005
LIVONIA, MI.
-
Madonna University is the pre-season favorite to take home
the WHAC softball championship in 2005 according to conference coaches in the
poll released today. Madonna received 34 total votes, including four first
place nods from the six conference coaches.
Aquinas College was picked just behind
the 2004 champion Crusaders with 27 votes including two first-place picks.
Madonna also saw
recognition for three players on the pre-season All-Conference team. The
team, selected by WHAC coaches and Sports Information Directors is the first
ever in WHAC softball history.
Senior's Kathy Day and Mary Warchuck and sophomore Shannon
Noder were named to the 12 player roster.
Day, a near unanimous pick at third
base returns for her fourth year as a starter after hitting .277 in 2004 with 46
hits, seven doubles and 15 RBI's.
Warchuck earned All-Conference honors
in 2004 and is one of three outfielders on the pre-season team. The senior
hit .270 last season with 29 RBI and a .970 fielding percentage.
Rounding out the
trio is sophomore hurler Shannon Noder. Noder established herself as a
player on the rise in 2004 going 11-6 with a 3.58 ERA as a true freshman.
In 125.2 innings of work, Noder recorded 68 strikeouts and a .240 opponents
batting average.
2005 WHAC Coaches Poll
|
Rk. |
School |
Votes |
1st Place Votes |
|
1. |
Madonna |
34 |
4 |
|
2. |
Aquinas |
27 |
2 |
|
3. |
Cornerstone |
24 |
|
|
4. |
Indiana Tech |
15 |
|
|
5. |
Siena Heights |
14 |
|
|
6. |
Concordia |
8 |
|
