Eureka Softball Selected Seventh in SLIAC Preseason Poll

EUREKA – The Eureka softball team has been selected to finish seventh in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll.

The poll, which is voted on by league coaches and was released to the public on Tuesday, featured Fontbonne at the top of the league with 44 points and two of seven first-place votes. Webster was one point behind at 43, despite receiving five of the seven first-place votes.

Spalding was third at 33 points, followed by Westminster and Greenville at 29 and 28 points, respectively.

Blackburn was right above Eureka with 21 points, while the Red Devils received 19. Principia rounded out the poll with seven points.

Eureka is coming off an 8-16 season in which a lot of familiar faces from the program moved on, including nine-year head coach Debi Neff. First-year head coach Juell Hodges takes over and returns seven players from last year's team, including senior shortstop and First Team All-SLIAC choice Raelyn Payne (Lexington, Ill./Lexington) and senior pitcher Sidney Wightman (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault Catholic).

The Red Devils' season begins with the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from March 6-9.

2021-22 Preseason SLIAC Softball Coaches Poll (First-place votes)

1. Fontbonne - 44 (2)

2. Webster - 43 (5)

3. Spalding - 33

4. Westminster - 29

5. Greenville - 28

6. Blackburn - 21

7. Eureka - 19

8. Principia - 7