NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. - The La Roche softball team was picked to finish 9th in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conferernce Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the conference Monday afternoon.
Mount Aloysius College, who has one three straight AMCC titles, was picked to continue their reign this spring. Penn State Behrend, last year's regular season champion, was voted into second place. Franciscan University and Pitt-Bradford, which tied for third place in last season's standings, were selected third and fourth respectively.
La Roche took ninth place in this year's preseason poll after finishing ninth in the AMCC standings last spring. The Redhawks posted an overall record of 9-25 (AMCC: 4-14) last season. Head Coach Orie Gentile, who will be entering his 23rd season with La Roche in 2020, will be working with eight returnees and six newcomers.
Named as "Players to Watch" for LRU in the poll were junior pitcher Alexa Young (Altoona, PA/Altoona) and junior infielder Alexis Medva (Cairnbrook, PA/Shade).
In 2019, Medva led the Redhawks in batting average (.406), hits (39), slugging percentage (.500) and RBI (18). Her batting average ranked fifth in the AMCC. She also contributed four doubles, a triple, a homerun and four stolen bases on the offensive side of the ball.
Young pitched 113.2 innings (6th in AMCC) last season, posting a 3.14 ERA (8th in AMCC). She accumulated 94 strikeouts (T-3rd in AMCC).
To view the 2020 AMCC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, click HERE.
La Roche softball plays their home opener on Saturday, March 21st in a double-header against conference opponent, Hilbert. Game one is set to start 1:00 p.m. at the Baierl Athletic Complex on La Roche's campus.