Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Mackenna Kelly
Chippewa Softball 6th In MAC Poll
2/5/2020 2:10:00 PM | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan softball team finished sixth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll of league coaches, released today.
The Chippewas open the season next weekend with a trip to Clermont, Fla. They are scheduled to play two games, the first against Connecticut and the second against Stetson, on opening day, Friday, Feb. 14.
Those games will be the first for McCall Salmon as the Chippewas' coach. She replaced legendary Margo Jonker who retired after the 2019 season, her 40th in charge of the program.
The Chippewas finished 22-28-1 including 11-9-1 in the Mid-American Conference last season. They graduated seven seniors including three All-MAC selections in Rachel Vieira, Erika Underwood and Sara Hansen.
"We've graduated a lot, we have a lot of youth within the program, and we're going to have a lot of new people in new places," Salmon said. "We don't really take (the poll) too much to heart but use it as a baseline and work on continuing to get better every day."
Defending regular-season league champion Miami (Ohio) was selected to finish atop the poll, while Kent State was second. The RedHawks and Golden Flashes each received five votes as the MAC Tournament champion.
Ball State finished second in the poll, followed by Ohio, Toledo and the Chippewas. Northern Illinois finished seventh in the poll, followed by Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Akron and Buffalo.
The Chippewas open the season next weekend with a trip to Clermont, Fla. They are scheduled to play two games, the first against Connecticut and the second against Stetson, on opening day, Friday, Feb. 14.
Those games will be the first for McCall Salmon as the Chippewas' coach. She replaced legendary Margo Jonker who retired after the 2019 season, her 40th in charge of the program.
The Chippewas finished 22-28-1 including 11-9-1 in the Mid-American Conference last season. They graduated seven seniors including three All-MAC selections in Rachel Vieira, Erika Underwood and Sara Hansen.
"We've graduated a lot, we have a lot of youth within the program, and we're going to have a lot of new people in new places," Salmon said. "We don't really take (the poll) too much to heart but use it as a baseline and work on continuing to get better every day."
Defending regular-season league champion Miami (Ohio) was selected to finish atop the poll, while Kent State was second. The RedHawks and Golden Flashes each received five votes as the MAC Tournament champion.
Ball State finished second in the poll, followed by Ohio, Toledo and the Chippewas. Northern Illinois finished seventh in the poll, followed by Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Akron and Buffalo.
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