Seattle U Picked to Win 2020 WAC Softball Title
DENVER – Seattle U is the preseason favorite to win the 2020 Western Athletic Conference softball title in a vote of the league's seven head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
The coaches also voted preseason award winners and NM State's Nikki Butler was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and Grand Canyon's Ryan Denhart was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Redhawks took the top spot in the preseason poll with 35 points and five first-place votes. Grand Canyon was selected second with 30 points and the other two first-place votes while NM State was just behind in third with 28 points. California Baptist finished with 17 points to put them in fourth place. Utah Valley was picked to finish fifth with 16 points followed by Kansas City in sixth with 13 points. CSU Bakersfield rounded out the poll, garnering eight points.
Seattle U led the way with five players selected to the Preseason All-WAC team, followed by Grand Canyon with three selections. Utah Valley and California Baptist each claimed two spots while NM State earned one selection.
The 2020 season begins Thursday, Feb. 6. The 2020 WAC Softball Tournament will be held May 6-9, at the GCU Softball Stadium in Phoenix and will include all six eligible teams.
2020 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Teams(1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Seattle U (5) |
35 |
| 2. |
Grand Canyon (2) |
30 |
| 3. |
NM State |
28 |
| 4. |
California Baptist |
17 |
| 5. |
Utah Valley |
16 |
| 6. |
Kansas City |
13 |
| 7. |
CSU Bakersfield |
8 |
2020 Softball Preseason All-WAC Team
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Brianna Aguilar |
Grand Canyon |
Sr. |
P/UTL |
| Nikki Butler |
NM State |
Sr. |
C |
| Madison Cathcart |
Seattle U |
Sr. |
INF |
| Ally Choate |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
OF |
| Ryan Denhart |
Grand Canyon |
Jr. |
P |
| Abby Doughty |
Utah Valley |
So. |
OF |
| Brittany Galvez |
California Baptist |
Sr. |
INF |
| Caitlyn Lloyd |
California Baptist |
Sr. |
OF |
| Carley Nance |
Seattle U |
RJr. |
P |
| Shianne Smith |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
P |
| Lyndsay Steverson |
Utah Valley |
Sr. |
INF |
| Bailey Thompson |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
C |
| Savannah Tourville |
Grand Canyon |
So. |
INF |
Preseason Player of the Year: Nikki Butler, NM State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Denhart, Grand Canyon