BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team was well-represented Monday as the Patriot League unveiled its preseason poll, major award winners and All-League team. The Mountain Hawks were tabbed to win a third consecutive league title and posted a league-leading four student-athletes on the preseason All-League team including seniors Liz Lucas and Becca Bliss who were named Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively.
Lucas and Bliss were joined on the preseason All-Patriot League team by senior outfielder Rosie Roessel and sophomore pitcher Emily Bausher.
A first team All-Patriot League selection in 2012, Lucas will be counted upon to produce runs for the Mountain Hawks, following the graduation of four-time All-League run producers Jen Colquhoun and Julie Fernandez. Lucas, a career .343 hitter, batted .348 as a junior with six home runs and 40 RBI, including a three-run home run to account for Lehigh’s only runs in its NCAA Regional loss at Oklahoma. She enters her senior season with 22 career home runs, one shy of the Lehigh career record.
Bliss was named the league’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year after dominating league opponents in 2012. She was 19-7 with a 2.08 ERA overall last season, but was an impressive 10-0 with a 0.57 ERA against Patriot League opponents. In the Patriot League tournament, Bliss fired a four-hitter and a two-hitter in shutouts of Army in consecutive days to earn tournament MVP honors for the second straight year. As a team Lehigh became the first Patriot League squad to not allow a run in tournament play.
Lucas and Bliss are joined on the preseason All-League team by Roessel, a first team All-League selection a year ago, who batted .345 with 36 runs scored as Lehigh’s leadoff hitter and starting centerfielder, and Bausher who earned second-team All-League honors after going 17-11 with a league-leading 1.78 ERA and team-best 195 strikeouts in 2012.
Lehigh captured its second straight Patriot League tournament title and 12th overall in 2012, posting a 40-19 overall record and an 18-2 mark in Patriot League games. The Mountain Hawks advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the seventh time in nine seasons, dropping games against Oklahoma and Oregon State in Norman, Okla.
The Patriot League’s preseason poll was tightly contested, with Lehigh edging Army by a mere two points, 47-45. The Mountain Hawks garnered seven of a possible 12 first place votes in the poll, which is voted on by the league’s coaches and sports information directors, while the Black Knights garnered the other five first place votes.
Colgate was picked third with 34 points, followed by Lafayette (22 points), Bucknell (17) and Holy Cross (15).
Preseason practice is already underway for the Mountain Hawks, who will open the 2013 season at the ECU Pirate Invitational; February 22-24 in Greenville, N.C. Lehigh will open up with Liberty, February 22 at 10 a.m. before taking on the host Pirates at 2:30 p.m.
2013 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
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Team (# first place votes)
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Points
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1. LEHIGH (7)
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47
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2. Army (5)
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45
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3. Colgate
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34
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4. Lafayette
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22
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5. Bucknell
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17
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6. Holy Cross
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15
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