Off the heels of winning its first SLIAC regular-season championship in three years, Fontbonne University is the 2022 preseason favorites according to the league's coaches. The Griffins are followed closely by tournament champion Webster University with Spalding University, who advanced to the championship game, coming in 3rd on the poll.
#1
With 44 total points and 2 first-place votes, Fontbonne University is the coaches' preseason favorites. The Griffins were 19-18 last season, going 10-4 in the SLIAC, and head coach Casey Cromwell brings back all 9 starters. The Griffins will be led by senior All-Conference players Abby Richmond, Gracie Morris, Lexi Becker, and Grace Harlin. Richmond went 8-5 in the circle last season with a 1.98 earned-run average and will be the team's top arm. Morris, an infielder, was second on the team in both home runs (4) and runs batted in (22) while Harlin, an outfielder, hit .340 with 20 RBI finished with a .420 on-base percentage; walking more times than she struck out. Becker hit .393 with 36 runs scored while also going 3-4 in the circle. Grace Paez is back behind the plate after finishing in the top five in the SLIAC in batting average as a freshman. Top newcomers include Hailey Kutz, Abby Alonzo, and Madison Greco.
#2
With five first-place votes from the coaches, Webster University finished with 43 total points, placing them 2nd in the preseason poll. The defending SLIAC Champion Gorloks were 21-12 last spring under head coach Katie Griffith and return six starters. Coach Griffith has been pleased with the leadership growth of last year's freshmen and brings in 10 more talented newcomers to the roster. Impact sophomores include middle infielders Sidney Holtz and Kaelyn Kearney. Holtz earned All-Region honors last season after hitting .390 with 8 doubles. Kearney was the 2021 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, earning Third Team All-Conference honors. Other sophomores returning are pitcher Reese Waggoner, who went 7-3 with a 2.24 E.R.A., and catcher Jaelin Holdaway, a First Team All-Conference pick. Senior infielder Sheyla Iniguez is a two-time All-Conference selection that hit .308 last season. Newcomers include freshmen Katie Croxall and Aven Ragwar-Hayes and grad transfer Sarah Shepard.
#3
Spalding University was picked 3rd in the poll, picking up 33 points. The Golden Eagles were 15-13 overall last season but graduated a core of experienced All-Conference players that led the team to the conference tournament championship game last spring. Head Coach Art Williams will need to replace Olivia Carter, Grace Sweat, and Jennifer Peffley. Madison Loechle and Maranda Thomas were All-Conference players last spring and should form the base of the foundation for this year's team. Loechle, who can play multiple positions, hit .338 with 5 doubles and 4 triples while Thomas, an outfielder, hit .329 with 14 RBI last spring. Also returning are Bella Velez and Erica McMann to fill the pitching staff. Top newcomers include freshman Kori Calvert and transfers Rylee Phillips and Jessica Tucker.
#4
The Blue Jays picked up 29 total points in this year's preseason poll, placing them 4th in the rankings. Westminster is coached by Sara Stafford and went 15-18 overall last season. The Blue Jays graduated a strong group of players that had led the program over recent years that included Brooke Laidley, Mackenzie Myers, and Katie Price. That leaves a young team with 9 incoming freshmen and just four total upperclassmen. Among the returners is a trio of All-Conference players in Laney Rosson, Emily Esquivel, and Erin Carr. Rosson hit .309 and drew a league-leading 19 walks while Esquivel hit .330 with 17 RBI as a freshman. Carr meanwhile made 13 appearances, picking up 4 wins in the circle. Also back is sophomore infielder Eva Gannon, who played in 21 games as a freshman infielder. Among the large group of newcomers is a trio of freshmen (Raegen Dickinson, Raigan McKee, and Haley Miller) that are expected to compete.
#5
Greenville University was picked 5th with 28 points. The Panthers were 9-15 overall last season under first-year head coach Angela Sheets. Coach Sheets returns 20 players and five starters including All-Conference outfielder Jackie Belzer. The junior outfielder hit .290 with 4 doubles and 6 stolen bases last season. Also back are captains Alison Klaus, who made five starts and was 2-2 in the circle, and Morgan Wendling, who split time as a pitcher and outfielder last spring. Shortstop Desirae Yost was second on the team with 4 home runs and drove in 16 and Emma Funk is a valuable utility player for the team. Newcomers that could work their way into the lineup are Mia Boyd, Madison Case, and Juliana Guerrero.
#6
Finishing with 21 points on the poll, Blackburn College was picked 6th. The Beavers will be coached by first-year head coach Leslie Messina. She takes over a roster that returns six starters from last year's team, although they do lose a pair of All-Conference players in Brooke Daniels and Maddie Wichmann. The Beavers will look for Holly Heuerman, Chelsea Ashlock, and Josie Manar to step up in their absence. Heuerman shined as a true freshman last year, hitting .360 with 3 doubles in just 13 games played. Ashlock, a sophomore, hit .317 with a team leading 10 runs scored while Manar played in all 21 games for the Beavers. Freshman Grace Mackey should fit into the lineup from day one and can play either corner infield position.
#7
Eureka College received 19 points and are picked 7th in the poll. First-year head coach Juell Hodges takes over a program that was 8-16 last spring and brings back seven players. Among the returners is First Team All-Conference selection, shortstop Raelyn Payne. Payne hit a league-best .493 last spring with 11 doubles, 4 home runs, and 12 RBI. Also returning is pitcher Sidney Wightman, who appeared in 18 games including making 7 starts. Newcomers that should see time on the field are catcher Delaney Douglas and infielder Mackenzie Daniels.
#8
After sitting out the 2021 season Principia College returns with a new head coach in Ned Crecelius. The Panthers received 7 points from the coaches' poll. They were 5-27 in 2019 and have two returners from that team in Delaney Gatine and Madi Leslie. Gatine was an All-Conference outfielder, that hit .379 in her last full season on the softball field. Leslie will hold down the shortstop position and is an athletic player, that is a multiple-sport athlete at Principia. Newcomers include Avery Cobb and Victoria Columbus, two pitchers that should help in the circle.
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