Alabama Softball Third in Preseason SEC Coaches' Poll
1/18/2017 2:00:00 PM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball is third in this year's Southeastern Conference preseason coaches' poll, voted by the league's 13 head coaches.
Defending conference champion Florida earned the top spot with 141 points and nine first-place votes, followed by Auburn with 126 and Alabama and LSU tied for third with 118 points each.
Alabama has won five SEC regular season titles, including four over the last seven years, along with five SEC Tournament titles. The Crimson Tide owns winning all-time records over 11 of its 12 league opponents and an all-time record of 410-143 (.741) in SEC play. This year's senior class is 52-20 (.722) in SEC play since their 2014 freshman season, winning 21 of the 24 conference series played over those three years.
This season in conference play, Alabama will host Arkansas (March 10-12), South Carolina (March 24-26), LSU (April 7-9) and Auburn (May 5-7) while traveling to face Mississippi State (March 17-19), Missouri (March 31-April 2), Tennessee (April 15-17) and Ole Miss (April 29-May 1). The 2017 SEC Tournament will take place in Knoxville, Tenn. from May 10-13.
The Crimson Tide returns 14 players from last year's team, including All-American pitcher Sydney Littlejohn and SEC All-Freshman catcher Reagan Dykes. New additions to the team this season include freshmen Elissa Brown (Eclectic, Ala.), Gabby Callaway (San Diego, Calif.), Bailey Hemphill (Lafayette, La.) and Claire Jenkins (Cullman, Ala.).
Last season, Alabama made its 11th Women's College World Series appearance, finishing sixth nationally with a 51-14 record. The Tide coaching staff was named the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the 10th time in program history, led by head coach Patrick Murphy who enters his 19th season at the helm of the team this year.
The Tide opens its 2017 season at the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C. on Feb. 10-12, facing Towson, Coastal Carolina and Youngstown State. Alabama's home opener will take place the following Wednesday, Feb. 15 against South Alabama at 5 p.m. CT.
For the latest information on Alabama softball, follow the team on Twitter (@AlabamaSB) and Instagram (BamaSB) or like us on Facebook at Alabama Softball.
| Place | Team (First Place Votes) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida (9) | 141 |
| 2 | Auburn (2) | 126 |
| T3 | Alabama | 118 |
| T3 | LSU (1) | 118 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 98 |
| 6 | Texas A&M (1) | 83 |
| 7 | Georgia | 78 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 75 |
| 9 | Missouri | 53 |
| 10 | Ole Miss | 45 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 38 |
| 12 | Mississippi State | 28 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 13 |
