Yellow Jacket Softball Selected Fourth in HCAC Preview

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Defiance College softball team was picked fourth in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll for softball. DC finished with 59 total points, trailing third-place Bluffton by just two points. The Purple and Gold also placed five members from the upcoming 2012 squad on the players-to-watch list.

In the poll, Anderson was selected as the favorite to win the HCAC, as they received 76 points. Following Anderson is Transylvania with 73 points , Bluffton (61), Defiance (59). Rounding out places six through nine are Rose-Hulman (34), Mount St. Joseph (29), Hanover (15) and Franklin (14).

DC's lone senior that has been selected as a player-to-watch is outfielder Aubrie Ridinger, who started 30 games for the Jackets last season. The senior posted a batting average of .298 over the course of the 2011 season.

Outfielder Katie Miller is the only junior from the Jackets that is on the player-to-watch list. Miller hit three homeruns as a sophomore and totaled 19 runs batted in. The junior posted a batting average of .273 and started 40 games a season ago.

Three newcomers to the DC softball team were also placed on the team. Sophomore utility player Jordan Sawmiller, freshman pitcher Lauren Dicke and freshman shortstop Tori Plummer also received player-to-watch honors. Each player will look to have a significant impact on the upcoming season.

The Jackets open up the 2012 season at Centre College in Danville, Ky. on Friday, March 9 at 5:00 p.m. This will be the first game on their spring break trip down to Orlando, Fla.