Posted: Jan 30, 2013
FULLERTON, Calif. - Led by 2012 All-Big West Conference picks Ashley Carter and Leesa Harris, the Cal State Fullerton softball team was picked to finish sixth in the Big West Conference in 2013 as selected by the nine head coaches in the annual preseason poll Wednesday.
Cal State Fullerton received 33 points overall, as the program looks to improve on a 20-31 record from a year ago. The Titans return six position starters and three pitchers from 2012 including Carter, a first-team selection, who batted .325 with 55 hits and 27 runs. The 2013 season will also be the first for head coach Kelly Ford, who returns to Cal State Fullerton after nine seasons at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
Hawai'i, who returns to the Big West after 16 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, collected four first place votes and 76 points overall to edge out defending champion Long Beach State who garnered four first place votes and 73 overall. Pacific (one first-place vote) was third with 58 points, UC Santa Barbara was tabbed fourth with 52 points, while UC Davis rounds out the top five at 51 points.
Hawai'i, who returns to the Big West after 16 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, collected four first place votes and 76 points overall to edge out defending champion Long Beach State who garnered four first place votes and 73 overall. Pacific (one first-place vote) was third with 58 points, UC Santa Barbara was tabbed fourth with 52 points, while UC Davis rounds out the top five at 51 points.
Cal State Fullerton officially opens the 2013 season on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader against Southern Miss at Anderson Family Field.
2013 BIG WEST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Hawaii (4) - 76
2. Long Beach State (4) - 73
3. Pacific (1) - 58
4. UC Santa Barbara -52
5. UC Davis - 51
6. Cal State Fullerton - 33
7. Cal Poly - 24
8. UC Riverside - 22
9. Cal State Northridge - 16