Emerson Softball Earns First National Ranking

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emerson College softball team, coming of its second appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in the past three seasons, has been ranked 19th in the nation in the 2010 National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Preseason Poll.  This is the first national ranking ever for the team.

Emerson compiled a 33-11 record in 2009, winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conferenceregular season and championship tournament titles.  Emerson is one of four teams from New England ranked in the poll led by the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at number 11.  Rhode IslandCollege is 18th and TuftsUniversity is 20th. After beating host Endicott College in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, the Lions lost to Tufts in extra innings and to Rhode IslandCollege 1-0 to be eliminated. Tufts went on to capture the Regional and was among the final four teams in the country.

Emerson lost four players to graduation but only two starters, shortstop Catie McDonough '09(North Adams, Mass.), and left fielder Megan Kaye '09 (Miami, Fla.). The Lions return all-region players pitcher Kelsey Tuthill '12 (Middlefield, Conn.), outfielder Bridget Farago '10 (Oneonta, N.Y.), and first baseman Kendal Peiguss '12 (Suquamish, Wash.). Tuthill was the GNAC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and Emerson coach Phil McElroy was selected as the Conference's Coach of the Year.  In all, seven different players were named to one of the three GNAC All-Conference teams.

Emerson will open the 2010 season at the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic in Panama City, Florida on March 9 against MethodistCollege.  The Lions will play a 10 game schedule in Florida before returning north and opening their GNAC Schedule at AlbertusMagnusCollege on March 20.

*Emerson College Athletic Communications