Hall Sixth in BIG EAST Preseason Softball Poll
1/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
NEW YORK - The Seton Hall University softball team was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Thursday it was announced by the league office.
The Pirates went 15-34 overall last year but were 9-12 in the BIG EAST, competing for a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament until the final series of the regular season.
Seton Hall returns five positional starters, three pitchers, and 18 letter winners overall to this year's squad, including a pair of First-Team All-BIG EAST Honorees from a year ago in senior pitcher/designated player Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) and junior outfielder Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.).
"We know we didn't do what we needed to last season, and the team came back hungry," said third year head coach Paige Smith. "Our team has turned a corner and learned what it takes to raise to a challenge. We are in a great position; we get to be the spoilers for a majority of the season and we relish the underdog label."
Defending BIG EAST Champion DePaul was tabbed as the conference favorite to repeat, picking up six first-place votes and 68 points to sit at the top of the poll. St. John's garnered a first-place tally and 42 points to come in second, while Georgetown grabbed the final first-place vote and totaled 36 points to settle into the third position.
From there, it is clear the coaches see a tight race for what could be the fourth and final position for the BIG EAST Tournament, with only nine points separating the fourth and seventh place teams. Butler picked up 26 votes to place fourth, followed by Creighton with 23 points and Seton Hall at 20. Villanova, 17 points, and Providence, 12 points, round out the poll.
Once again this year, the BIG EAST Tournament will be held at the Ballpark at Rosemont just outside of Chicago in Rosemont, Ill. This year's single elimination championship with an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line will be played May 8-9.
DiPietro had a breakout year for the Pirates in 2014, leading to All-Conference honors. She started in 44 games and led The Hall with a .338 average, scoring 19 runs with 11 RBI and seven steals.
DeStaso was a leader in the batter's box and in the pitcher's circle. Her .302 average was third on the team, and her power numbers were impressive, finishing with eight home runs, nine doubles and 29 RBI while slugging .579. DeStaso also led the team with 18 starts at pitcher, striking out 88 batters in 108.2 innings.
The start of the regular season is just over three weeks away, with this year's first pitch coming up at the University of North Texas Round Robin on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 6-8, in Denton, Texas. Seton Hall opens the year against Boise State on Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. (ET).
Following trips to San Diego, North Carolina and Clearwater, Fla., Seton Hall will host Stony Brook for a doubleheader in its home opener on Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m.
BIG EAST play will get underway at Providence on Saturday, March 21, and the Pirates' conference home opener follows with a three-game midweek set against DePaul on Tuesday-Wednesday, March 24-25.
BIG EAST COACHES PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
1. DePaul (6) - 48
2. St. John's (1) - 42
3. Georgetown (1) - 36
4. Butler - 25
5. Creighton - 23
6. SETON HALL - 20
7. Villanova - 17
8. Providence - 12
