UD Softball & Baseball Both Picked 4th in A-R-C Preseason Poll
Feb 13, 2020
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference announced the preseason polls for the 2020 softball and baseball season this week, with UD’s softball and baseball squads both being picked fourth for the upcoming season.
In head coach Jeff Lamb’s first season with the UD softball program in 2019, the Spartans finished fifth and qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2015. In the first round of the A-R-C Tournament UD upset Luther, before falling to the top seed Central Dutch in the semifinals. The Spartans return a majority of their production with six of eight position starters returning, as well as all four pitchers. Highlighting the returners are all-conference selections in senior outfielder Kaylin Featheringill and sophomore pitcher Abby McBee.
Coming off a school-record back-to-back 26 wins season, the Spartans were tabbed fourth in the preseason A-R-C rankings, coming in behind NCAA Tournament qualifiers Coe and Buena Vista, as well as Luther. The Spartans will have a lot of talent to replace after the graduating class tallied 96 wins, the most in a four year span in program history. The Spartans still return a wealth of talent, with six position starters and four pitchers returning. All-Conference returners are pitcher Jordan Nelson and outfielder JJ Valenica. UD will also return Kellen Mitchell, who led the team in 2019 with a .347 batting average
The baseball team opens up their season on Friday, Feb. 21st in Louisville, Ky., while softball will begin the season on Saturday, Feb. 29th in Rochester, Minn.
2020 American Rivers Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (1st votes) Points 2019 Record
1. Central College (5) 58 27-10, 12-4 (A-R-C Regular Season & Tournament Champion)
2. Wartburg College (2) 56 27-13, 11-5
3. Luther College (2) 48 30-10, 10-6
4. Univ. of Dubuque 44 26-13, 8-8
5. Coe College 42 33-11, 11-5
6. Nebraska Wesleyan 26 22-14 OA, 7-9
7. Simpson College 25 21-19 OA, 7-9
8. Buena Vista 14 19-17 OA, 5-11
9. Loras College 11 10-27-1, 1-15
2020 American Rivers Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (1st votes) Points 2019 Record
1. Coe College (7) 63 37-8, 22-2 (A-R-C Regular Season Champions)
2. Buena Vista (2) 58 26-19, 15-9 (A-R-C Tournament Champions)
3. Luther College 46 23-20, 15-9
4. Univ. of Dubuque 37 26-15-1, 12-11
t-5. Central College 33 24-16, 11-13
t-5. Wartburg College 33 13-26, 9-15
t-7. Loras College 23 16-20, 10-14
t-7. Simpson College 23 13-23, 5-19
9. Nebraska Wesleyan 8 10-25, 8-15
