Softball 1/29/2019 2:00:00 PM LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

2019 Softball Preseason Poll

Softball 1/29/2019 2:00:00 PM LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

2019 Softball Preseason Poll

With the start of the 2019 softball season just a handful of days away, the American Southwest Conference has released the preseason poll and players to watch list for the upcoming campaign. Louisiana College was picked to finish fifth in the conference race following their 22-18 (19-11) mark from a year ago, the same conference mark as the two teams picked ahead of them, Concordia and UT Dallas.

The Wildcats, and first-year head coach Barry Roberts, will be tasked with finding replacements for two of the best players in recent years to put on a LC jersey, pitcher Savannah Settle and first baseman Mattie Stine. Both ended their careers last season at or near the top of multiple pitching and hitting categories. Fortunately for the Wildcats they will return the other eight all-conference players to the 2019 roster led by senior outfielder Shelby Bergeron and junior infielders Kaitlyn Moore and Sami Walters.

Bergeron was one of the three chosen as Wildcats players to watch as she will take the centerfield spot for a second straight year as one of the team leaders. She is also closing in on the career stolen base record, needing just 10 steals to eclipse Stephanie Jaeger's 77 career. She was the first player in LC history to have consecutive 30 plus steal seasons. The Morgan City native, is one of the best defensive players in the conference, and adds a spark in the lineup as a dynamic slapper.

Joining Bergeron on the list is junior Samantha Cetta, who picked up an all-ASC mention last year after finding her spot in right field. She hit .347 on the year with nine extra base hits and a .394 on-base percentage. Sophomore Briley Johnston was the final Wildcat selected for the watch list, and deservedly so, turning in a new single season record with 40 steals, the first player to steal 40 bases in a season for LC.

The Wildcats open the season with four games at Wildcat Park the weekend of February 8-9. LC hosts Schreiner University in a double header on the Friday and Millsaps College the following day. After two consecutive road conference series, the Wildcats return home for a weekend set with UT Dallas, picked just ahead of the Wildcats at four in the preseason rankings to open the 2019 ASC home schedule.

Stay connected to Louisiana College softball by following @LC_sftball on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Savannah Settle: P; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#23 Mattie Stine: IF; 5' 8"; Senior; L/L

#18 Shelby Bergeron: OF; 4' 11"; Senior; L/R

#16 Samantha Cetta: UTL; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#5 Briley Johnston: OF; 5' 0"; Sophomore; L/R

#24 Kaitlyn Moore: IF; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#10 Sami Walters: IF; 5' 4"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#21 Savannah Settle
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: P

#23 Mattie Stine
: 5' 8"; Senior; L/L
: IF

#18 Shelby Bergeron
: 4' 11"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#16 Samantha Cetta
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: UTL

#5 Briley Johnston
: 5' 0"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#24 Kaitlyn Moore
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#10 Sami Walters
: 5' 4"; Junior; L/R
: IF