UCCS Picked to Finish First in RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs softball team and coach Scott Peterson believe that they will be very good in 2008. The coaches of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference apparently agree.

The Mountain Lions were chosen to finish first in the RMAC preseason coaches' poll, which was released Wednesday. UCCS received five first-place votes and 23 points overall. Western New Mexico, which was tabbed to win the RMAC West Division, also got five first-place votes and a total of 25 points.

Mountain Lion coach Scott Peterson, not the biggest fan of preseason polls, reacted predictably.

"Does it come with a trophy? Do we get a parade?" he laughed. "If it doesn't come with those, it doesn't mean a whole lot."

This is the first year RMAC softball is using divisions.

Each of the conference's 12 coaches ranked the teams from 1-11, omitting their own team.

UCCS center fielder Stacy Haney was chosen as the preseason player of the year. The senior from Littleton led the nation with 1.66 RBIs per game and won the conference triple crown (.497 average, 19 home runs and 93 RBIs) in 2007. She also led the RMAC in slugging percentage (.959), on base percentage (.578), runs scored (73), hits (84), doubles (17) and walks (36).

Haney's teammate, Sierra Green, was also named to the preseason All-RMAC team. The sophomore from Longmont hit .400 with 21 stolen bases this past season and played spectacular defense in left field.

Nebraska-Kearney was picked to finish second behind UCCS in the East Division, followed by Regis and first-year program Metro State. Mesa State was selected to finish second in the West, followed by Colorado State-Pueblo and Fort Lewis.

The RMAC Championships will be played at the site of the regular-season champion May 1-2. The top eight teams qualify for the double-elimination tournament.

2008 RMAC Softball Preseason Poll
# School (1st Pl. Votes), Points
East Division
1. (1) UC-Colorado Springs (5), 23
2. (4) Nebraska-Kearney, 38
3. (5) Regis, 58
4. (7) Metro State, 67
5. (8) Colorado Mines, 72
6. (10) Chadron State, 103

West Division
1. (2) Western New Mexico (5), 25
2. (3) Mesa State (2), 33
3. (6) CSU-Pueblo, 64
4. (9) Fort Lewis, 77
5. (11) Adams State, 105
6. (12) New Mexico Highlands, 121

2008 RMAC Softball
Preseason All- Conference Team
Pos Name, School, Year
C Molly Langerak, Nebraska-Kearney, Sr.
1B Antoinett e Estrella, W. New Mexico, Sr.
2B Nicole Zuniga, Mesa State, Sr.
3B Jacki Martinez, Regis, Jr.
SS Heather Ebert, Adams State, Sr.
OF *Stacy Haney, UC-Colorado Springs, Sr.
OF Rebecca Reynolds, W. New Mexico, So.
OF Sierra Green, UC-Colorado Springs, So.
OF Christine Gardella, Regis, Sr.
UT Sara Eickelman, Colorado Mines, Jr.
DP Ashley Guyle, Nebraska-Kearney, Jr.
P *Amanda Bell, Nebraska-Kearney, Sr.
P Brianne Grommon, W. New Mexico, Sr.
*- unanimous selection.