Montana State Billings Narrow Favorite In 2012 GNAC Softball Race

MSUB's Lee is the top returning hitter in the GNAC

Montana State Billings won its last nine games and 13 of its final 15 contests last spring.

While that wasn't enough for the Yellowjackets to earn a NCAA Division II West Region softball playoff invitation, it did draw the attention of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference coaches who have anointed MSUB as the 2012 GNAC pre-season favorite.

Not by much of a margin, mind you. In fact, the poll was a three-team horse race as MSUB edged two-time defending champion Central Washington by just two points and Western Washington by four.

The three teams split the seven first-place votes with MSUB earning three and Central Washington and Western Washington, which each qualified for the NCAA playoffs last spring, garnering two.

The Yellowjackets, who went 22-9 under Lisa Allen after she replaced Anthony Stone early in the season, return four all-stars.

Among the four are three of the GNAC's top seven returning hitters from a team that ended up with an overall record of 28-20 finishing third in the conference.

Outfielders Bobbie Lee and Meg Harasymczuk are back after earning first team honors. Lee is the conference's top returning hitter finishing third a year ago with a .432 average.

Harasymczuk, who was the GNAC Newcomer-of-the-Year, finished 11th (7th among returning players) with a .353 average. She hit 14 home runs and 39 RBI.

Four other returning GNAC players were first team selections. Back for Central Washington is designated player Carrina Wagner, who hit .329 and had the best run-producing numbers among returning players with 15 home runs and 41 RBI.

Simon Fraser first baseman Kelsey Haberl was also a first team choice after hitting .358 and leading the Clan to the NAIA national tournament. She ranked ninth in hitting in the GNAC.

Saint Martin's returns two first-team all-stars in pitcher-first baseman Joslyn Eugenio and second baseman Lacey McGladrey, who was the GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year .

Eugenio ranked fifth in the GNAC with a .391 average and also posted a 5-14 record in the circle, while McGladrey ranked eighth with a .358 average.

Western Washington doesn't return any first-teamers, but does have a pair of second-teamers in catcher Jackie Rothenberger, who hit .344 to rank 13th, and outfielder Meghan Carrillo, who batted .315.

The only other returning players who ranked in the Top 15 in hitting were Central Washington second baseman Molly Coppinger and MSUB third baseman Nicole Colpron.

Both players were second team all-stars after finishing seventh (.360) and 10th (.355), respectively, in the conference batting race.

Six of last year's Top 10 hitters are back, but only five returning pitchers had ERAs below 4.00 and just two reached double-digit wins.

Cara Lukawesky of Simon Fraser, which is picked to finish fourth in the GNAC race, is the top returner in both ERA (3.26) and wins (16-9).

MSUB has two pitchers in that category (ERAs below 4.00). Kasie Conder ranked fifth (3.60) and Amanda Todd was eighth (3.85).

Jenna DeRosier of Western Washington, who made seven starts and eight relief appearances, finished sixth (3.63), while Chelsey Anderson, who led Northwest Nazarene to its best-ever conference record, ranked ninth with a 3.89 ERA as the Crusaders, who are projected to finish fifth this year, earned a fourth-place finish.

The Yellowjackets' Annaleisha Parsley, who had a 4.21 ERA, is the only double-digit winner returning in addition to Lukawesky. Parsley had a 10-9 record.

Western Oregon, which has a conference-low four returning starters and came in sixth in the coaches' poll ahead of Saint Martin's, also returns a quality pitcher in Brittany Reeves.

Reeves had a 7-3 record and a 2.60 ERA in 2010, before redshirting last season.

Central Washington opens defense of its conference title Feb. 17 when it begins a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene. Those will be the first of 36 conference games for both teams.

The GNAC non-conference schedule begins Friday as the Crusaders debut with a four-game series at UC San Diego. Saint Martin's is also scheduled to open its season hosting British Columbia Saturday

Western Washington, meanwhile, will compete in the Cal State Stanislaus Best of the West Invitational in Turlock, Calif. Saturday and Sunday.

The remainder of the GNAC schools will make their debut the following Friday in Las Vegas in the MSUB Stinger Invitational.

OTHER HEADLINES AND DAILY REPORTS
GNAC 2012 Season Preview