Lenoir-Rhyne Earns Top Spot in South Atlantic Conference Preseason Softball Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Lenoir-Rhyne comes in at No. 1 in the 2021 South Atlantic Conference's softball preseason poll, the league office announced today. The head coaches gave the Bears seven first place votes and a total of 146 points.

Lincoln Memorial, who placed first in last year's preseason poll, now sits at the No. 2 slot with three first place votes and 140 points, while No. 3 Carson-Newman earned one first place vote for a total of 134 points. Anderson placed fourth taking the final two first place votes and a total of 126 points. Following closely behind in the No. 5 spot was Wingate with a total of 105 points and Newberry at No. 6 with 102 points. Coker came in at No. 7 with 77 points, while No. 8 Queens garnered 72 points and Limestone with 66 points landed at No. 9. Tusculum placed tenth with 58 points, Catawba came in at No. 11 with 55 points, UVa-Wise took the No.12 slot with 42 points and rounding out the poll with 34 points is Mars Hill.

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-South Atlantic Conference team. The first team outfield positions consisted of Lenoir-Rhyne's Savannah Moorefield, Newberry's McKenzie Barneycastle and Coker's Chloe Pelham. 

The first team infield was represented by Haley Simonds of Wingate at first base, Lincoln Memorial's Ty-Kella Goins at second base, Talon LaClair from Lenoir-Rhyne at shortstop and at third base Hannah Davis from Newberry. Also earning first team honors was Lenoir-Rhyne's Kylee Leonhardt at catcher.

In the first team pitcher's circle is, Morgan Beeler representing Lenoir-Rhyne and joining her is Isabelle Mullen from Coker. 

Anderson's Kayson Boatner was voted the first team designated player and Wingate's Aubrey Reep was voted the first team utility player.

The South Atlantic Conference softball season will kick off on Saturday, Jan. 30.  The 2021 South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship will take place April 23-April 24 at Tusculum University's J.C. Red Edmonds Softball Field. 

2021 South Atlantic Conference Softball Preseason Poll  

2021 South Atlantic Conference Softball Preseason All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

OF – Savannah Moorefield, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – McKenzie Barneycastle, Newberry
OF – Chloe Pelham, Coker
1B – Haley Simonds, Newberry
2B – Ty-Kella Goins, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Talon LaClair, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Hannah Towery, Newberry
3B - Kaylee Jones, UVA Wise
DP – Kayson Boatner, Anderson 
UTL – Aubrey Reep, Wingate
C – Kylee Leonhardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Isabelle Mullen, Coker

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Haley Caldwell, Carson-Newman
OF – Anna Alloway, Tusculum
OF – Sam Hogan, Wingate
1B – Alexis Grampp, Tusculum
2B – Brittney Franse, Tusculum
SS – Sierra Hucklebee, Lincoln Memorial
3B –  Emma Webb, Lincoln Memorial
DP – McKenzie McCullen, Queens
UTL – Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman
C – KaraLynne Levi, Carson-Newman
P – Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – McKenna Falwell, Virginia-Wise

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