Kent State Voted as Co-Favorite for 2016 MAC Softball Championship
2/10/2016 3:37:00 PM | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Defending Mid-American Conference regular season champion Kent State has been named co-favorite to win the 2016 MAC Softball Championship, which will be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron from May 11-14, by the conference's 12 head coaches. The Golden Flashes and Central Michigan received three votes each to earn the MAC's automatic bid to NCAA Regionals in the preseason coaches poll, which the league office announced on Wednesday (Feb. 10).
Despite being picked to finish third in the East Division, Kent State received four first-place votes. Ohio matched Kent State's four first-place nods, but Miami was projected to win the division and received three first-place votes. The RedHawks finished 3.5 games behind the Flashes for the division crown a year ago.
Ohio was chosen as the favorite to win the regular season title, receiving four votes. Central Michigan, which was tabbed as the MAC West favorite, received three votes and two coaches chose Kent State to repeat as champions.
Interim head coach Eric Oakley returns 12 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 41-13 overall with a 17-4 mark in conference play. Leading the way are NFCA All-Mideast Region selections Maddy Grimm and Michele Duffy. Grimm set program records for home runs (19), RBIs (54) total bases (1211) and slugging percentage (.852) while also leading the Golden Flashes in batting average (.373), doubles (11) and walks (21) last season. Duffy had a breakout year and batted .307 with 6 doubles, 6 home runs and 31 RBIs. Additionally, All-MAC Second Team selection Holly Speers returns after batted .328 with seven doubles and five home runs as the Flashes' cleanup hitter during her freshman campaign.
Oakley made a tremendous impact in his first season with the Golden Flashes as pitching coach a year ago, guiding the team to the third-best ERA in the country (1.55). Ronnie Ladines will move into the ace role of the Flashes' pitching staff. The junior went 12-6 with a 2.35 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 110.0 innings in the circle last season. Janel Hayes (2-0, 2.19 ERA) and Alyssa Frankenfield (4-1, 2.39 ERA) are expected to see more action this season.
The Flashes begin the season with five games at the Florida Gulf Coast Kickoff Classic this weekend. A challenging non-conference schedule includes three roads games against teams ranked in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls (UCF and Washington) in addition to eight games against teams that are receiving votes in at least one poll. A three-game series at the Diamond at Dix against Central Michigan on March 25-26 opens up both the home and MAC schedules for the Flashes. The regular season concludes with three games against rival Akron at the Diamond at Dix on May 6-7.
2016 MAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)
East Division
1. Miami (3)
2. Ohio (4)
3. Kent State (4)
4. Akron
5. Buffalo (1)
6. Bowling Green
West Division
1. Central Michigan (7)
2. Ball State (3)
3. Northern Illinois (2)
4. Western Michigan
5. Toledo
6. Eastern Michigan
MAC Regular Season Champion
Ohio - 4
Central Michigan - 3
Kent State - 2
Ball State / Buffalo / Northern Illinois - 1
MAC Tournament Champion
Kent State / Central Michigan – 3
Ohio – 2
Akron / Ball State / Buffalo / Toledo - 1
