Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Tabbed To Defend Regular Season Title
2/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan softball team returns the key element that helped it earn an NCAA regional appearance a season ago, a talented and deep pitching staff.
The Chippewas are picked to defend their Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament titles in the 2002 coaches poll.
Central Michigan grabbed 76 points to claim the top spot in the West. Northern Illinois (55 votes) and Ball State (53) were separated by two points for second and third, respectively. Rounding out the West side were: Eastern Michigan, 40, Western Michigan, 28, and Toledo, 21.
Kent State was picked to take first in the East Division. The Golden Flashes finished with 85 points.
The preseason poll tabbed Central Michigan to take the tournament title as well. The Chippewas finished with five of the 11 votes. CMU has won three straight tournament titles and eight of the league's 10. Also receiving tournament title votes were: Kent State (2), Marshall (1), Northern Illinois (1), Ball State (1), and Eastern Michigan (1).
The softball season opens next week when the Chippewas toss out their first pitch at the UNLV Softball Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. , on Feb 15-17.
West Division School Points Central Michigan (5) 76 Northern Illinois (1) 55 Ball State (1) 53 Eastern Michigan (1) 40 Western Michigan 28 Toledo 21East Division Kent State (2) 85 Ohio 66 Bowling Green 63 Marshall (1) 59 Akron 48 Miami 27 Buffalo 16 votes received for winning MAC tournament in parenthesis
