Guilford Tabbed Eighth in ODAC Softball Poll
Greensboro, NC (2/1/07) -- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) softball coaches picked Guilford College eighth in their preseason poll, which the league office released Thursday. The Quakers received 26 points, 10 behind seventh-place Randolph-Macon. Three-time defending league champion Roanoke earned five of nine first-place votes and the poll's top spot with 84 points. Bridgewater placed second with 82 points and three first-place votes. Guilford head coach Dennis Shores did not vote in the poll since he was hired last Thursday.
Shores has seven six letter winners from last year's club that went 9-31 (5-13 ODAC). Three of the returners started last season, including sophomore catcher/outfielder Kelly Guarnieri, who is the Quakers' top returning hitter after batting .290 in 2006 with nine doubles and a 12 runs batted in (RBI). Guarnieri received honorable mention All-ODAC recognition last season. Sophomore Taryn Pulvermuller is Guilford's top returning pitcher after compiling a 3-11 record with a 6.22 earned run average in 21 appearances last year. She also hit .180 with three doubles.
The Quakers open the 2007 season Feb. 17 against visiting Christopher Newport at 1:30 p.m.
2007 ODAC Softball Preseason Poll
Place Team Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Roanoke 84 (5)
2. Bridgewater 82 (3)
3. Lynchburg 74
4. Eastern Mennonite 59 (1)
5. Virginia Wesleyan 55
6. Emory and Henry 47
7. Randolph-Macon 36
8. Guilford 26
9. Sweet Briar 22
10. Randolph-Macon Woman’s 10