This Week in WAC Softball - Feb. 5 2/5/2014 12:00:00 AM SEATTLE U TO HOST 2014 WAC TOURNAMENTSeattle U will host the 2014 WAC Softball Tournament. The five eligible teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament, which will be held at Logan Field May 8-10. It is the first time the Redhawks have hosted the event.NEW MEXICO STATE PICKED TO WIN 2014 WAC TITLEIn a preseason vote of the six WAC softball coaches, who could not vote for their own team, New Mexico State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the title. The Aggies took the top spot in the preseason poll with 25 points and five first-place votes, followed by Seattle U in second place with 19 points and the other first-place vote. Utah Valley was third with 14 points, just ahead of Bakersfield in fourth place with 13 points. Kansas City and Grand Canyon rounded out the poll with 10 and nine points, respectively.LETTERWINNER/STARTER CAPSULEAll six teams return at least nine letterwinners from a year ago. Bakersfield returns the most with 13, while New Mexico State returns 12 letterwinners and Grand Canyon returns 11. Grand Canyon returns all of its starters from last year, while Bakersfield returns 10. New Mexico State and Utah Valley return six apiece, while Kansas City and Seattle U each return seven.The following is a list of the number of letterwinners returning and lost and starters returning and lost for all six teams. Team LR LL SR SL Bakersfield 13 2 10 1 Grand Canyon 11 1 10 0 Kansas City 10 7 7 5 New Mexico State 12 6 6 4 Seattle U 9 6 7 3 Utah Valley 9 7 6 5 RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERSThree of the first team All-WAC players from last year return for the 2014 season in New Mexico State’s Staci Rodriguez, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, and Seattle U’s Bubba Morrow and Isabella Geronimo. New Mexico State’s Emma Adams and Malena Padilla are the lone returners from the second team.Bakersfield’s Shay Fryer and Karissa Veiga were named first team All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) last year, while Amber Mills was named to the second team and Kelsie Monroe was an honorable mention honoree. Utah Valley’s Amanda Robinson was named first team All-PCSC, while teammate Jamie North was named to the second team and Kelli Fox and Josi Summers were honorable mention honorees.Katie Kelley of Kansas City was named first team All-Summit League. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon’s Stephanie Pesqueira, Kayla Henry and Claire Zampini were named first team All-PacWest, with Pesqueira also earning Pitcher of the Year honors. Teammates Kiki Sepulveda, and Kailey Regester were named second team All-PacWest, while Lauren Regester and Nicole Newbury were third team selections.TOP RETURNING STAT LEADERSThe top returning stat leaders in the WAC from last year include: Category Name, School Statistic/’13 Rank Batting Average Staci Rodriguez, NMSU .357/5th Slugging Pct. Staci Rodriguez, NMSU .780/1st On Base Pct. Staci Rodriguez, NMSU .437/6th Runs Staci Rodriguez, NMSU 36/6th Hits Staci Rodriguez, NMSU 60/3rd RBI Staci Rodriguez, NMSU 63/1st Doubles Kelsey Dodd, NMSU 14/T-1st Triples Isabella Geronimo, SU 3/T-3rd Home Runs Staci Rodriguez, NMSU 20/1st Wins Richelle Ashburn, SU 11/6th Saves Mandie Sugita, SU 2/T-6th Strikeouts Richelle Ashburn, SU 89/8th Innings Pitched Richelle Ashburn, SU 143.2/9th