FLORENCE, S.C. – For the second consecutive year, the Francis Marion University women’s softball team has been picked to finish sixth during the upcoming Peach Belt Conference season, according to the annual preseason poll by the conference’s coaches.

Columbus State University picked up six of a possible nine first-place votes, totaled 73 points, and is the preseason favorite to win the conference crown. North Georgia College & State University is picked to finish second with 67 points, followed by Georgia College & State University (63), Augusta State University (59), Armstrong Atlantic State University (54), FMU (48), USC Aiken (35), UNC Pembroke (22), Lander University (20), and Georgia Southwestern State University (9). Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams in the preseason poll.

Fourth-year head coach Stacey Vallee welcomes back 14 letterwinners, including six position starters, the designated hitter, and one starting pitcher, from the 2007 squad that finished 34-16, spent five weeks in the Top 25 poll, and for the fourth straight year, narrowly missed earning a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament. FMU tied for fifth during the PBC regular season.

Leading the returnees is two-time All-PBC middle infielder Allie Aleman (.355 avg., 9 HRs, 43 RBIs); 2006 All-PBC and first-team All-Region selection Shannan Tyson (.380, 1 HR, 21 RBIs); and senior first baseman (2007 pre-season All-PBC pick) Monica Wofford (.345, 2 HRs, 24 RBIs). Aleman, who will likely move from shortstop to second base this season, owns career totals of 19 home runs and 105 RBIs in 127 games. Tyson has fanned only eight times in 324 career at bats, while Wofford is third all-time in NCAA II history with 42 hit-by-pitches. 

Returning on the mound is sophomore left-hander Michael Wolf, who as a freshman became only the second Patriot hurler in the past 18 years to win 20 games.  She compiled a 21-10 record with a 2.26 earned run average and a school-record 193 strikeouts in 216.2 innings.

Three junior college transfers and one freshman comprise the squad’s newcomers for 2008.

FMU opens its season on Feb. 9 with a pair of games at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken, S.C. The Patriots' 45-game schedule includes eight home doubleheaders, the annual Patriot Invitational Tournament (a three-day 32-team event at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex), and the inaugural Eastern Carolina Softball Classic. Francis Marion will also host the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, April 18-20, at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex.

Francis Marion has won at least 30 games nine of the last 11 campaigns.