SAC Softball is just around the corner and the Bulldogs are predicted to come out on top in 2024. Wingate has been picked as the 2024 South Atlantic Conference softball preseason favorites, the league office announced today. The Bulldogs received 11 first place votes and 143 points total.

Lenoir-Rhyne was voted in at No. 2 with 129 points, while Lincoln Memorial earned the No. 3 spot with 112 points and the remaining two first place votes. 

Carson-Newman placed fourth in the poll with 108 points, followed by Emory & Henry at No. 5 with 99 points and Anderson at No. 6 with 84 points.

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Catawba and Newberry tied for the No. 7 slot with 82 points each, while Limestone earned 53 points to land No. 9. Tusculum followed at No. 10 with 47 points and Coker claimed No. 11 with 37 points. Mars Hill and UVA Wise concluded the poll with a tie for No. 12, as both received 19 points in the poll.

In addition to the preseason coaches’ poll, the SAC announced its 2023 Preseason All-Conference Teams. The first team outfield positions consisted of Wingate’s Kaylee Hobgood and Lenoir-Rhyne’s Cassidy Wall and Kaylan Brown. The first team infield was represented by Santana Anderson of Limestone at first base, Savanna Brooks of Wingate at second base, Katelyn Rackard of Lenoir-Rhyne at shortstop and at third base Ragan Liles of Wingate. Also earning first-team honors was Wingate’s Raelynn Kramer at catcher. 

In the first team pitcher’s circle is Raechel Cutcher representing Wingate and Olivia Chestnut from Newberry.

Carson-Newman’s Macauley Bailey was voted first team designated player and Lenoir-Rhyne’s Lauren Rakes was voted the first team utility player. Macey Hughes of Carson-Newman was voted utility non-pitcher to finish off the All-South Atlantic Conference Preseason Team.

2024 Softball Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes) Score

1 Wingate (11) 143

2 Lenoir-Rhyne 129

3 Lincoln Memorial (2) 112

4 Carson-Newman 108

5 Emory & Henry 99

6 Anderson 84

T-7 Catawba 82

T-7 Newberry 82

9 Limestone 53

10 Tusculum 47

11 Coker 37

T-12 Mars Hill 19

T-12 UVA Wise 19 

2024 SAC Softball Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate

OF – Cassidy Wall, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Kaylan Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne

1B – Santana Anderson, Limestone

2B – Savanna Brooks, Wingate

SS – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne

3B – Ragan Liles, Wingate

DP – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman

UTL/Non-P – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman

UTL/P - Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne

C – Raelynn Kramer, Wingate

P – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate

P – Olivia Chestnut, Newberry

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Mackenzie Williams, Emory & Henry

OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial

OF – Ariana Fair, Coker

1B – Lora Beth Wood, Lenoir-Rhyne

2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne

SS – Heaven Maness, Wingate

3B – Riley Tucker, Catawba

DP – Mackenzie Turner, Newberry

UTL/Non-P – Katie Wilbur, Limestone

UTL/P - Riley Tucker, Catawba

C – Mackenzie Turner, Newberry

P – Alexandra Baquie, Catawba

P – Emma Frost, Carson-Newman

All-SAC Third Team

OF – Leah Evans, Newberry

OF – Claire Smeltzer, Tusculum

OF – Maddie Carpenter, Anderson

1B – Sierra Brogdon, Newberry

2B – Abigail Street, Emory & Henry

SS – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba

3B – Sterre den Duijn, Lincoln Memorial

DP – Katie Tuggle, Lincoln Memorial

UTL/Non-P – Hannah Stevens, Wingate

UTL/P - Carson Hobbs, Anderson

C – Sammy Jimenez, Tusculum

P – Sydney Kale, Wingate

P – Emily Sappington, Tusculum

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