PITMAN—After claiming the 2015 NJAC regular season championship en route to an NCAA Tournament at-large berth, Rowan University has been selected as the 2016 preseason softball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs will be seeking their ninth league title since the inception of softball as an NJAC championship sport back in 1983.
Rowan received 9-of-the-10 first-place votes cast by the league head coaches. The 2015 Profs won the NJAC regular season title with a 14-4 league record and garnered an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament Alfred Regional to finish 38-8 overall. Now in her 20th year at the helm of the Rowan program, 2015 NJAC Coach of the Year Kim Wilson has guided the Profs to an overall record of 622-214, while her career collegiate coaching record stands at 686-271. The Profs return three all-conference players from their 2015 NJAC regular season championship squad, including senior pitcher Beth Ann Hyland, the 2015 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore outfielder Mia Baldassari, and the two-time reigning NJAC Player of the Year in senior shortstop Shilah Snead.
Ramapo College, which claimed its first NJAC championship in program history in 2015, was selected to place second and received one first-place vote. The 2015 Roadrunners finished second in the NJAC regular season with a 13-4-1 league mark, but claimed the conference crown by going 4-1 in NJAC Tournament play. As the recipients of the NJAC automatic bid, the 2015 Roadrunners participated in the NCAA Tournament Newport News Regional en route to a 28-14-1 overall record. Third-year head coach Bridgette Quimpo has guided Ramapo to an overall record of 46-31-1, giving her 181 career coaching victories. The Roadrunners return a league-high five all-conference players from their 2015 NJAC championship team, including senior catcher Melissa Moreno, sophomore pitcher Katrina Buczkowski, junior outfielder Grace Brennan, senior designated player Melanie Walling, and senior outfielder Danielle Saporito.
The coaches’ dark horse selection, The College of New Jersey was selected to place third. Led by 21st-year head coach Sally Miller, TCNJ has produced an overall record of 523-269-2, including a record of 20-12 in 2015. The Lions finished fourth in the 2015 NJAC regular season with a 12-6 mark in league play. TCNJ returns four all-conference players from its 2015 squad, including senior pitcher Ashtin Helmer, senior catcher Jamie Purcell, sophomore second baseman Bria Bartsch, and senior designated player Deanna Utter.
William Paterson University, which earned an at-large bid to the 2015 NCAA Tournament en route to a 30-13-1 overall record, was selected to place fourth. The 2015 Pioneers finish third in the NJAC regular season race with a 13-5 league record. WPU advanced to the final game of the NCAA Tournament Union Regional before falling in extra-innings to NJAC rival Kean. Now in her 22nd-year at the helm of the WPU program, Hallie Cohen has guided the Pioneers to a record of 564-292-4, while her career collegiate coaching record stands at 759-435-5. William Paterson returns a pair of all-conference performers from its 2015 NCAA Tournament team, including junior pitcher Allison Podmajersky and junior shortstop Rachel Wasilak.
Kean University, which advanced to the NCAA National Championship Series in 2015 en route to a 31-15-1 overall record, was selected to place fifth. The 2015 Cougars posted a fifth place showing in the NJAC regular season with an 11-6-1 mark in league play and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Kean then proceeded to produce six NCAA Tournament victories while winning both the Union Regional and the Union Super Regional to advance to the NCAA Championship Series in Salem, VA. Now in her 17th-year at the helm of the Kean program, Margie Acker has guided the Cougars to an overall mark of 353-308-3. The Cougars return one all-conference player from their 2015 NCAA Tournament squad in junior second baseman Emily Sabo.
Montclair State University, led by the longest-tenured NJAC softball coach in Anita Kubicka, was selected to place sixth. Kubicka has guided the Red Hawks to an overall mark of 809-296-2 during her 25-year tenure, including a record of 13-22 in 2015. MSU returns one all-conference performer from the 2015 season in senior pitcher/outfielder Brooke Powers.
Rutgers University-Camden, which posted an overall record of 21-13-1 in 2015 under first-year head coach Michelle Schlichtig, was selected to place seventh. Schlichtig led the 2015 Scarlet Raptors to a sixth place regular season finish and an NJAC Tournament berth with an 11-7 record in league play. Rutgers-Camden returns one all-conference player from its 2015 squad in senior pitcher Brittany Scott.
Stockton University, which will be led by new first-year head coach Mavreen Hering, was selected to place eighth. Hering inherits an Ospreys squad that finished 17-18 overall in 2015 and returns one all-conference player in senior first baseman Dominique Dorris.
Rutgers University-Newark, which will be led by new first-year head coach Kristen Hunt, was selected to place ninth. Hunt inherits a Scarlet Raiders squad that finished 18-20 overall in 2015 and returns one all-conference player in sophomore designated player Kelly Yusko.
New Jersey City University, which will be led by new first-year head coach Veronica Grant, was selected to place 10th. Grant inherits a Gothic Knights squad that finished 5-33 in 2015.
The 34th season of NJAC softball will get underway on Friday, February 26 when Rowan travels to Raleigh, NC to face William Peace University in the first non-conference games of the season. NJAC league play will begin on Saturday, April 2 with all 10 league teams in doubleheader action.
The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2016 NJAC Championship Tournament which will take place during the week of May 3-8.
The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2016 Softball
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Rowan (9)
2. Ramapo (1)
3. The College of New Jersey (dark horse)
4. William Paterson
5. Kean
6. Montclair State
7. Rutgers-Camden
8. Stockton
9. Rutgers-Newark
10. New Jersey City
First Place Votes In Parentheses