49ers Picked to Win Big West
LBSU Returns all Nine Starters from Last Year's Squad
January 14, 2004 IRVINE, CA -- The Long Beach State softball team was picked to win the Big West Conference crown this season, according to the 2004 Big West Coaches Poll released on Wednesday by the league office.
Long Beach State received four first place votes, and a grand total of 59 points for the No. 1 selection. The Beach finished the 2003 campaign with a 30-19 mark, which was highlighted with a post-season appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 2003 Big West Coach of the Year, Pete Manarino has all nine starters returning from last year's squad, including Co-Conference Pitcher of the Year, Meredith Cervenka. Cervenka, who ranked second in the league with a 1.28 ERA, was also an NFCA Second Team All-West Region selection last season.
Cal State Fullerton, the four-time defending Big West champion, grabbed three first place votes for 56 points and a second place finish. The Titans lost a majority of their production from last year's 41-15 team that finished No. 10 in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, including All-Americans Jenny Topping, Jodie Cox and Gina Oaks. Cal State Fullerton welcomes 11 newcomers to join five returners to the 2004 club.
In third place with 47 points and the remaining first place vote is Cal State Northridge. Junior pitcher Kia Fennell returns after being named as a 2003 NFCA Second Team All-American. She ranked fifth in the Big West with a .333 batting average and posted a 17-12 record. Her efforts helped the Matadors to a 27-23 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Cal State Northridge also returns senior Christen Bedwell, a NFCA First Team All-West Region pick.
Pacific, the fourth Big West school to reach the post-season in 2003, came in fourth place in this year's poll with 41 points. The Tigers notched a 34-22 record and return their starting pitching duo of Natalie King and Jennifer Dacre, who combined for 28 victories last season.
The fifth place team was UC Santa Barbara with 32 points and sixth place went to Cal Poly, who finished with 24 points. UC Riverside and Utah State rounded out the poll, respectively.
2004 BIG WEST SOFTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
1. Long Beach State (4) 59
2. Cal State Fullerton (3) 56
3. Cal State Northridge (1) 47
4. Pacific 41
5. UC Santa Barbara 32
6. Cal Poly 24
7. UC Riverside 17
8. Utah State 12
First-place votes are in parentheses |
