Ryan McCrary, Senior Director Communications – West Coast Conference
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Softball makes its debut as a West Coast Conference-sponsored sport Thursday, February 6 and BYU was picked to win the inaugural championship in a poll of the league’s six head coaches.
BYU captured the 2013 Pacific Coast Softball Conference championship last season and advanced to its ninth consecutive NCAA postseason. The Cougars earned all 25 possible points and five first place votes in the preseason poll and will be powered by sophomore All-American outfielder Gordy Bravo, who was one of three BYU student-athletes named to the preseason All-WCC list.
Pacific, a member of the Big West Conference last season, was picked second in the survey, collecting 19 points, including the remaining first-place vote. The Tigers placed a pair on the preseason All-WCC squad. Pacific qualified for the NCAA postseason in 2011.
Four charter members of the PCSC complete the poll. Loyola Marymount collected 16 points with four preseason All-WCC selections. San Diego picked up 14 points with two representatives on the preseason team. Saint Mary’s (11) and Santa Clara (5) rounded out the preseason prognostications. The Gaels qualified for the 2010 NCAA postseason.
All six West Coast Conference teams open the season next weekend. For a complete interactive schedule, please visit WCCsports.com, and follow @WCCsports on Twitter for in-game updates throughout the season.
2014 WCC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote) Pts.
1. BYU (5) 25
2. Pacific (1) 19
3. Loyola Marymount 16
4. San Diego 14
5. Saint Mary’s 11
6. Santa Clara 5
2014 All-WCC Preseason Softball Team
Position Players
Gordy Bravo BYU OF So.
Stephanie Fisher Santa Clara OF Sr.
Megan Foglesong Pacific OF Sr.
Meghan Harman Loyola Marymount IF Sr.
Hannah Montalban Loyola Marymount OF So.
Caitlin Rooney San Diego IF Jr.
Brittany Sabatini Saint Mary’s OF Sr.
Kelly Scribner Santa Clara IF Sr.
Sterling Shuster Loyola Marymount IF Jr.
Coco Tauali’i BYU IF So.
Pitchers
Cassidy Coleman San Diego Sr.
Sydney Gouveia Loyola Marymount So.
Utility / Pitcher
Katie Manuma BYU Sr.
Utility / Non-Pitcher
Alex Steinmehl Pacific Jr.
