Long Beach State University Athletics
Softball Picked To Finish Second In Big West Preseason Poll
2/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. - The Big West Conference announced the results of the 2017 Preseason Big West Coaches poll, and Long Beach State was picked to finish in second place, just behind Cal State Fullerton in the annual ranking.
Cal State Fullerton received four first-place votes and 57 total points, while the Beach picked up three first-place votes and 55 total points in a close battle for the top spot. The Titans won the 2016 Big West championship, while Long Beach State advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 23rd time.
CSUN was picked third by the coaches, while Cal Poly received the final first place vote while finishing in fourth place. Hawai'i was picked fifth, just in front of UC Santa Barbara who were slated to finish in sixth. UC Riverside and UC Davis rounded out the final two spaces.
Long Beach State returns seven starters and two starting pitchers from last season's 33-win team. Senior Christina Clermont leads the 49er pitching staff following her second straight first-team All-Big West selection. The Beach also brings back a trio of players who missed the 2016 campaign due to medical issues in 2015 first-team All-Big West selection Lauren Lombardi, pitcher Cielo Meza, and outfielder Summer Pohl.
Also returning are a pair of offensive conference honorees from 2016, as second-team selection Julia Lombardi and sophomore honorable mention pick Kelli Finan join five other returning offensive starters in Nichole Fry, LT Torres, Lauren MacLeod, Hannah Cookson and Tierra Falo.
Long Beach State opens the 2017 campaign by hosting the Beach Kickoff Classic at the LBSU Softball Complex beginning on Thursday, February 9.
2017 Preseason Softball Coaches Poll
1. Cal State Fullerton (4) – 57
2. Long Beach State (3) – 55
3. CSUN – 49
4. Cal Poly (1) – 40
5. Hawai'i – 30
6. UC Santa Barbara – 27
7. UC Riverside – 17
8. UC Davis – 13
