PITMAN—After winning the 2016 NJAC championship and advancing to the NCAA National Championship Series, Rowan University has been selected as the 2017 preseason softball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs will be seeking their 10th 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 for the second consecutive season. The 2016 Profs won the NJAC regular season title with a 15-3 league record and then proceeded to win the rain-shortened NJAC Tournament by going 3-0 in league championship play. Rowan then won both the NCAA Cortland Regional and the NCAA Ithaca Super Regional to advance to the NCAA Division III National Championship Series in Salem, VA en route to a 42-11 record overall.
Now in her 21st year at the helm of the Rowan program, Kim Wilson has guided the Profs to an overall record of 664-225, while her career collegiate coaching record stands at 728-282. Rowan returns three all-conference players from its 2016 NJAC championship squad, including sophomore outfielder Gianna Genello, junior outfielder Morgan Smith, and the 2016 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore second baseman Carly Anderson.
The College of New Jersey, which earned an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament en route to a 30-16 overall record, was selected to place second. Led by 22nd-year head coach Sally Miller, TCNJ has produced an overall record of 553-285-2 during her tenure in Ewing. The Lions finished third in the 2016 NJAC regular season with a 13-5 mark in league play and advanced to the championship game of the rain-shortened NJAC Tournament. TCNJ returns a trio of all-conference players from its 2016 NCAA Tournament squad, including junior pitcher Sam Platt, sophomore first baseman Jess Santelli, and sophomore outfielder Gaby Bennett.
Stockton University, which finished as the 2016 NJAC regular season runner-up with a 13-5 record in league play, was selected to place third. Stockton head coach Mavreen Hering was selected as the 2016 NJAC Coach of the Year by her peers after leading the Ospreys to a 32-13 overall record and a berth in the ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament during her rookie campaign. Stockton returns three all-conference players from its 2016 ECAC Tournament squad, including junior catcher Danielle Lugo, senior outfielder Holly Arentowicz, and junior outfielder Chelsea Thomas.
Ramapo College, which finished 21-15 overall in 2016 after claiming the NJAC championship in 2015, was selected to place fourth. The Roadrunners notched a fourth-place finish in the 2016 NJAC regular season race with an 11-7 mark in league play. Fourth-year head coach Bridgette Quimpo has guided Ramapo to an overall mark of 67-46-1 during her tenure in Mahwah, giving her 202 career collegiate coaching victories. The Roadrunners return a trio of all-league performers from the 2016 season, including junior pitcher Christina Brizek, sophomore infielder Harper Patsko, and junior second baseman Ally Spellman.
William Paterson University, which finished 28-12 overall in 2016, was selected to place fifth and received one first-place vote. The 2016 Pioneers were 9-9 in NJAC play and finished seventh via conference tiebreaker. Now in her 23rd-year at the helm of the WPU program, Hallie Cohen has guided the Pioneers to a record of 592-304-4, while her career collegiate coaching record stands at 787-447-5. William Paterson returns a league-high four all-conference players from the 2016 season, including senior shortstop Rachel Wasilak, senior pitcher Allison Podmajersky, senior outfielder Salina Pellios, and senior catcher Kim Fryer.
Kean University, which posted a 20-22 overall record in 2016, was selected to place sixth. The 2016 Cougars earned a sixth-place NJAC regular season finish with a 9-9 record in league play. Now in her 18th-year at the helm of the Kean program, Margie Acker has guided the Cougars to an overall mark of 373-330-3. Kean returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2016 squad in senior outfielder Dana Knapp and senior second baseman Emily Sabo.
Rutgers University-Camden, which finished 21-19 overall in 2016, was selected to place seventh. The 2016 Scarlet Raptors finished fifth in the NJAC regular season race with a 9-9 conference record. Third-year head coach Michelle Schlichtig has guided Camden to a 42-32-1 overall record during her first two seasons. The Scarlet Raptors return one all-conference player from their 2016 squad in junior second baseman Taylor Nichols.
Montclair State University, led by the longest-tenured NJAC softball coach in Anita Kubicka, was selected to place eighth. Kubicka has guided the Red Hawks to an overall mark of 829-314-2 during her 26-year tenure, including a record of 20-18 in 2016. MSU returns one all-conference performer from the 2016 season in sophomore utility player Lia Stamile.
The coaches’ dark horse selection, Rutgers University-Newark was selected to place ninth. Second-year head coach Kristen Hunt guided the Scarlet Raiders to a 21-21 overall record and a berth in the ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament during her rookie campaign of 2016. Rutgers-Newark returns one all-conference player from its 2016 ECAC Tournament squad in junior pitcher/infielder Kelly Yusko.
New Jersey City University, under the leadership of second-year head coach Veronica Grant, was selected to place 10th. Grant guided the Gothic Knights to an 11-29 overall record during her rookie season of 2016. NJCU returns one all-conference player from the 2016 season in senior first baseman Brittany Paulikas.
The 35th season of NJAC softball will get underway on Sunday, February 26 when TCNJ travels to face Randolph-Macon in the first non-conference games of the season. NJAC league play will begin on Saturday, April 1 with all 10 league teams in doubleheader action.
The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2017 NJAC Championship Tournament which will feature a new format this season.
Tournament play will get underway with opening round games played at campus sites on Tuesday, May 2. The entire tournament field will then travel to Kean University where the remainder of the tournament will be completed at the pre-determined site of Kean’s Cougar Softball Field on Friday, May 5, Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7.
The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2017 Softball
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Rowan (9)
2. The College of New Jersey
3. Stockton
4. Ramapo
5. William Paterson (1)
6. Kean
7. Rutgers-Camden
8. Montclair State
9. Rutgers-Newark (dark horse)
10. New Jersey City
First Place Votes In Parentheses