ECC RELEASE
WEST BABYLON, N.Y. – Coming off a runner-up finish in last year's conference tournament, the LIU Post softball team tied for the top spot in the 2018 East Coast Conference Preseason Poll, while juniors
Julia Seader and
Hannah Olshevski were selected as Preseason Co-Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, the league office announced Jan. 26.
The Green and Gold share a three-way tie at the top of the coaches' poll, earning three first-place votes and 40 total points. Defending champion Mercy College and Molloy College shared the top spot with the Pioneers, earning two first-place votes apiece.
The Pioneers return most of their lineup in 2018 and will look to capture their first ECC title since 2014. LIU Post finished the 2017 campaign with a 27-26 overall record, reaching the championship round of the ECC Tournament despite entering as the fourth seed.
After earning Co-Player of the Year accolades last season, Seader gets the same nod during the preseason poll, tying for the preseason favorite with Mercy's
Morgan Lloyd, last season's fellow Co-Player of the Year. Seader led the ECC with 49 runs batted in, while finishing second with 12 home runs and third with a .406 batting average in 2017, earning All-East Region honors as well.
Olshevski also earned preseason player of the year honors from the league coaches, as she was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year after earning second-team All-ECC accolades a year ago. The junior ranked fourth in the conference with 14 wins and a 2.00 earned run average.
The Pioneers kick off the 2018 season in Clermont, Fla. when they take on Ferris State University on Sunday, Mar. 4.
| 2018 ECC Preseason Poll |
| 1. |
LIU Post (3) |
| 1. |
Mercy College (2) |
| 1. |
Molloy College (2) |
| 4. |
New York Institute of Technology |
| 5. |
University of Bridgeport |
| 6. |
Queens College |
| 7. |
St. Thomas Aquinas College |