Rowan #2 in NJAC Preseason Poll

[jonriv]

PITMAN, NJ — The Rowan University softball team was picked to finish second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Preseason Coaches Poll released today. The 2014 season begins on Friday, February 28 against Wilkes University at the Virginia Wesleyan College Beach Blast in Virginia Beach, VA.

After claiming both the 2013 NJAC championship and the NCAA Montclair Regional en route to its second consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship Series, Montclair State University was selected as the 2014 preseason softball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Red Hawks will be seeking their fifth league title since the inception of softball as an NJAC championship sport back in 1983.

Montclair State was the unanimous choice to finish first on all 10 of the ballots cast by the league head coaches. The 2013 Red Hawks posted a 46-5 overall record while placing second in the NJAC regular season race with a 15-3 league mark. MSU then proceeded to win four consecutive NJAC Tournament games to claim its fourth league championship in program history. The Red Hawks then went 4-0 over the course of four straight days to capture the championship of the NCAA Montclair Regional en route to their second straight NCAA National Championship Series appearance.

Now in her 24th year at the helm of the MSU program, head coach Anita Kubicka has guided the Red Hawks to an overall record of 754-266-2 during her tenure, including a record of 90-14 over the past two seasons. Kubicka's squad returns the reigning NJAC Pitcher of the Year in senior Alex Hill. Hill garnered the league's top pitcher award in each of her first three seasons. Montclair State also returns three additional all-conference performers from its 2013 NJAC championship squad, including senior catcher Alisha Cumberton, senior third baseman Dana Amato, and junior first baseman Tara Petrucelli.

Rowan University, led by the 2013 NJAC Coach of the Year in Kim Wilson, was selected to place second. Now in her 18th season at the helm of the Profs, Wilson has guided Rowan to an overall record of 547-194, while her career collegiate coaching record stands at 611-251. The 2013 Profs claimed the NJAC regular season championship with a league-best 16-2 conference record. Rowan earned an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament Babson (MA) Regional en route to a 41-9 overall record. The Profs return a league-high five all-conference performers from their 2013 NJAC regular season championship squad, including sophomore designated player Ashley DeYoung, senior catcher Meagan Lee, junior third baseman Jess Phillips, senior outfielder Jennifer Arcella, and the 2013 NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year in sophomore shortstop Shilah Snead.

The College of New Jersey, which earned an at-large selection to the 2013 NCAA Tournament Ithaca (NY) Regional en route to a 26-15 overall record, was selected to place third. The 2013 Lions finished third in the NJAC regular season race with a 12-6 league mark. Led by 19th-year head coach Sally Miller, TCNJ has posted an overall mark of 493-233-2 during Miller's tenure in Ewing. TCNJ returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2013 NCAA squad, including sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell and the 2013 NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year in sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer.

Kean University, which earned an at-large selection to the 2013 NCAA Tournament Montclair Regional, was selected to place fourth. The 2013 Cougars finished 28-19-1, including a sixth place finish in the NJAC regular season race with a 10-8 league record. Led by 15th-year head coach Margie Acker, the Cougars have accumulated an overall record of 287-280-2 during her tenure. Kean returns four all-conference players from its 2013 NCAA squad, including senior outfielder Sandra Binkiewicz, senior outfielder Megan Cegielski, junior pitcher Courtney Yard, and senior shortstop Kelly Moorehead.

William Paterson University, which finished 19-21 overall while placing fourth in the 2013 NJAC regular season race with a 10-8 league mark, was selected to finish fifth. Now in her 20th season at the helm of the Pioneers, head coach Hallie Cohen has guided WPU to a record of 503-268-3, while her overall career collegiate coaching record stands at 698-411-4. William Paterson returns one all-conference player from its 2013 squad in senior shortstop Katelyn Miele.

Richard Stockton College, which claimed the championship of the 2013 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 33-11 overall record, was selected to place sixth. The 2013 Ospreys posted a fourth place finish in the NJAC regular season race with an 11-7 league mark. Led by the longest-tenured league softball coach in Val Julien, Stockton has produced an overall record of 496-478-2 during her 27 seasons in Galloway. The Ospreys return a pair of all-conference players from their 2013 ECAC championship squad, including senior pitcher Michelle Pietrocola and junior catcher Nicole Scanlon.

Rutgers University-Camden, which earned a berth in the 2013 ECAC Metro Tournament en route to a 21-19 overall record, was selected to place seventh. Led by seventh-year head coach Brian Wolverton, the Scarlet Raptors have accumulated 110 victories during his tenure in Camden.

The coaches' dark horse selection, Ramapo College, led by new head coach Bridgette Quimpo, was selected to place eighth. New to Ramapo but not to the NJAC, Quimpo accumulated 135 victories during her career at NJCU prior to being named head coach at Ramapo. Quimpo inherits a Roadrunners squad which finished 19-17 in 2013 and returns three all-conference players, including junior infielder Kim LaPenta, sophomore designated player Erin Witherspoon, and junior outfielder Jaclyn Lima.

Rutgers-Newark was selected to place ninth. Seventh-year head coach Patty Clarke led the 2013 Scarlet Raiders to 10 victories, giving her 58 career wins during her tenure in Newark.

New Jersey City University, which will be led by new first-year head coach Kelli Rehm, was selected to place 10th. Rehm inherits a Gothic Knights squad that recorded 14 wins in 2013 and returns one all-conference performer in senior outfielder Casey Perez.

The 32nd season of NJAC softball will get underway on Friday, February 28 with Kean, Rowan and Rutgers- Camden all in non-conference action in Virginia Beach, VA. NJAC league play will begin 29 days later with the first conference doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday, March 29.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the double-elimination 2014 NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin at campus sites on Tuesday, April 29. All six of the participating teams will then travel to the site of the top-seed where the remainder of the tournament will be conducted from Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference's automatic qualification to the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2014 NJAC Softball Preseason Poll
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Montclair State (10)
2. Rowan
3. The College of New Jersey
4. Kean
5. William Paterson
6. Richard Stockton
7. Rutgers-Camden
8. Ramapo (dark horse)
9. Rutgers-Newark
10. New Jersey City