Jan. 22, 2013

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Reining Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Champion Massachusetts has been predicted to win the 2013 A-10 Championship once again, according to the preseason poll conducted by the league’s 12 head coaches.

The Minutewomen finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 38-13 and a perfect conference record of 19-0. UMass has won the league title 17 out of the last 20 years and look to take the 2013 conference title. Returning for the Minutewomen are sophomore shortstop Quianna Diaz-Patterson, who was the 2012 Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-Rookie Team, along with First Team All-Conference senior outfielder Cyndil Matthew. Matthew led the league and ranked 37th nationally with a .409 batting average, while also ranking among the nation’s leaders in steals, triples, and runs per game.

The Rams, who placed second in the preseason poll, will return seven starters from last season, which includes three players, senior Jamie LaBovick, junior Elise Fortier, and sophomore Paige Ortiz, who were named to the 2012 First Team All-Conference squad.

George Washington took the third spot on the preseason poll, followed by Saint Joseph’s (fourth), Temple (fifth), Charlotte (sixth), Butler (seventh), Saint Louis (eighth), Dayton (ninth), St. Bonaventure (10th), Rhode Island (11th), and La Salle (12th).

Hosted by the Minutewomen of Massachusetts, the 2013 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship will be held on May 8-11 at the UMass softball complex in Amherst, Mass.

2013 Softball Predicted Order of Finish
(2012 Overall Finish; A-10 Record in parentheses)
1. Massachusetts (38-13; 19-0)
2. Fordham (32-26; 14-6)
3. George Washington (25-30; 11-9)
4. Saint Joseph’s (22-29-1; 9-10-1)
5. Temple (27-22; 12-6)
6. Charlotte (29-26; 10-10)
7. Butler (25-32; 13-11 Horizon League)
8. Saint Louis (23-33; 9-11)
9. Dayton (22-29; 9-10)
10. St. Bonaventure (17-27; 6-14)
11. Rhode Island (21-32-1; 5-14)
12. La Salle (9-40; 3-17)