CCC Preseason Poll Video
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The top-seed in last year's Commonwealth Coast Conference Softball Tournament, Western New England, claimed four of a possible 10 first-place votes and 92 total points in the 2017 CCC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll to be named the favorite in the upcoming season.
Voting for the preseason poll was conducted by the 10 head softball coaches.
Endicott, the No. 2 seed in last year's CCC Championship Tournament, was selected second in the poll garnering 88 points, including three first place votes. Reigning champion Salve Regina was selected third in the poll after claiming the CCC title as the No. 3 seed a year ago. The Seahawks earned 83 on this year's ballot, including two first place selections.
The University of New England claimed the last first place vote in this season's poll and earned 75 points for the fourth spot. 2016 CCC Tournament runner-up, Roger Williams, earned 61 points to round out the top five.
The bottom half of the ledger included Eastern Nazarene (41 points), Nichols (39), Curry (32), Gordon (28), and Wentworth (11).
With eight players returning from last season's squad, second-year head coach Alexandra Campione and the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team looks to improve on last season and make a run at a berth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.
At the plate, junior Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) returns after leading the team with a .346 batting average (27-for-78) with three doubles and 13 runs batted in. Classmate Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) hit .262 (22-for-84) with four doubles, two triples, and a home run a season ago and fellow junior Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) – an All-CCC selection during her freshman season – returns after hitting .244 (20-for-82) with four doubles, 10 RBI, and a team-high six stolen bases. In the circle, sophomores Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) and Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) both return for the Leopards. Norquist appeared in 25 of Wentworth's 29 games last season (16 starts) and led the squad with three wins.
Wentworth opens the 2017 season at the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic on Tuesday, March 7. The Leopards will play six games before heading north.
2017 CCC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
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|
Team |
Points (First Place Votes) |
|
1. |
92 (4) |
|
|
2. |
88 (3) |
|
|
3. |
83 (2) |
|
|
4. |
Univ. of New England |
75 (1) |
|
5. |
61 |
|
|
6. |
41 |
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|
7. |
39 |
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|
8. |
32 |
|
|
9. |
28 |
|
|
10. |
11 |
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With eight players returning from last season's squad, second-year head coach Alexandra Campione and the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team looks to improve on last season and make a run at a berth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.
At the plate, junior Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) returns after leading the team with a .346 batting average (27-for-78) with three doubles and 13 runs batted in. Classmate Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) hit .262 (22-for-84) with four doubles, two triples, and a home run a season ago and fellow junior Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) – an All-CCC selection during her freshman season – returns after hitting .244 (20-for-82) with four doubles, 10 RBI, and a team-high six stolen bases. In the circle, sophomores Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) and Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) both return for the Leopards. Norquist appeared in 25 of Wentworth's 29 games last season (16 starts) and led the squad with three wins.
