Feb. 18, 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Six-time Defending Commonwealth Coast Champion Endicott College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2009 Commonwealth Coast Conference softball championship, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. Voting for the preseason poll was conducted among the league's head softball coaches.

Endicott College (41-6, 22-2) received 11 of the 13 first-place votes in the 2009 TCCC preseason poll. Western New England was selected by the coaches as the runner-up in the conference and received the remaining two first-place votes. Nichols was picked to finish third, while Curry and Salve Regina were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

Endicott moved onto the NCAA Regional Finals last season before losing to Cortland State in both games of the double-elimination tournament. The Gulls open their 2009 season on March 15th with a double-header in Orlando, Fla.

Teams received 13 points for every first place vote received, 12 points for second place votes, 11 points for third place votes, down to one point for a last place vote. First place votes are shown in parentheses.

2009 TCCC Preseason Softball Poll

Endicott - 165 (11)
Western New England - 154 (2)
Nichols - 137
Curry - 125
Salve Regina - 115
Univ. of New England - 112
Roger Williams - 99
Gordon - 70
New England College - 69
Eastern Nazarene - 51
Anna Maria - 44
Regis - 28
Wentworth - 14