Posted: Mar 04, 2021

Eureka Softball Tied for Second in SLIAC Preseason Poll

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Eureka softball team tied for the second-most votes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll.

The poll, which is voted on by league coaches and was released to the public Thursday, had Eureka and Westminster tied for second with Westminster with 37 points and two first-place votes each. Spalding was selected first with 41 points and two first-place votes, while Fontbonne was selected fourth with 30 overall points and one first-place vote.

Iowa Wesleyan was fifth with 30 points, followed by Webster with 22 points and one first-place vote. Greenville (20) and Blackburn (7).

The Red Devils are the defending SLIAC champions after a record-breaking 2019 campaign. They went 8-2 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last March before the season was halted due to COVID-19.

Eureka returns SLIAC Watch honorees Morgan Ledbetter (Hanna City, Ill./Elmwood) and Raelyn Payne (Lexington, Ill./Lexington), as well as senior veteran Allison Cagley (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central), junior Faith Bachtold (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central) and senior Bailey Tibbetts (Pekin, Ill./Pekin).

2020-21 Preseason SLIAC Softball Coaches Poll (First-place votes)

1. Spalding - 41 (2)

2. Westminster - 37 (2)

3. Eureka - 37 (2)

4. Fontbonne - 30 (1)

5. Iowa Wesleyan - 30

6. Webster - 22 (1)

7. Greenville - 20

8. Blackburn - 7

2021 SLIAC Watch List

Abby Burroughs, Webster

Olivia Carter, Spalding