2011 Empire 8 Preseason Coaches' Poll

Utica, NY – The Utica College softball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2011 Empire 8 Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll released Thursday. The Pioneers finished their 2010 campaign with a 13-27 overall record, including a 4-10 mark in the Empire 8 Conference.

Ithaca College (34-15, 16-1 Empire 8), who won the conference title last year and made their ninth NCAA Division III World Series appearance in the last 15 years, was picked to finish first. Alfred University (37-8, 14-2 Empire 8) was chosen to finish second and is returning seven starters from last year. St. John Fisher (27-10, 8-8 Empire 8), who won back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009, was picked to finish third. Nazareth (17-21, 5-9 Empire 8) and RIT (17-21, 6-9 Empire 8) were selected to finish fourth and fifth in a close race. The Golden Flyers are returning the 2010 Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year. Elmira (16-10, 6-8 Empire 8) was picked sixth, ahead of Utica, and Stevens (8-28, 1-13 Empire 8) was chosen to finish last.

UC will be led by senior center fielder Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) who batted a stellar .411 last season with 60 hits. Martin led the team in at-bats (146), runs scored (37), and was tied for first in doubles (seven) and steals (seven). She has received All-Conference First-Team Conferencerecognition in her first three seasons.

Sophomore captain Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) returns to the clean-up spot after posting a .368 batting average to go along with her team leading six home-runs and 40 RBI's. Plummer, who earned first team conference status, started in all 40 contests while recording a .971 fielding percentage and also tallied an impressive 13 RBI's with two outs. The first-baseman led the team with 15 extra-base hits. (7 2b, 2 3b, 6 HR).

The Pioneers open up their 2011 season at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fl during Spring Break (Mar. 13-Mar. 18). UC will play five doubleheaders (10 games) starting against Anderson University (IN) on Sunday, Mar. 13 at 3 p.m.