Jan. 26, 2005
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
For the third straight season, the San Diego State Aztecs have been selected to win the Mountain West Conference softball title in a vote by the league coaches released today. SDSU, BYU and <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Colorado State each received two first place votes.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
San Diego State, winners of two of the last three regular-season championships (2002, 2003), collected 22 points to capture the top spot in the poll. Mountain West Conference 2004 regular season champion Colorado State, and BYU tallied 20 points apiece to place second in the poll, followed by 2004 MWC Tournament champion Utah (12 points), New Mexico and UNLV (eight points each).
The Aztecs, coming off a 37-23-0 overall record (14-6-0 MWC) and a second-place finish in the MWC Championship, return 10 letterwinners this season, including 2004 Pitcher of the Year Celena Velasquez. This season's edition of SDSU softball includes the return of Velasquez, all-MWC shortstop Megan Hartung, senior pitcher Cori Janelli, senior catcher Danielle Touhey, senior first baseman Lacey Craft, senior outfielder Erin Mahoney and one of the strongest softball recruiting classes to step foot on Montezuma Mesa.
SDSU opens the 2005 season Friday, Feb. 4, against Saint Mary's in the Aztec Invitational, set for 4:30 p.m. at the SDSU Softball Field.
2005 Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll
Pl. Team (1st place votes) Points
1. San Diego State (2) 22
2. BYU (2) 20
Colorado State (2) 20
4. Utah 12
5. New Mexico 8
UNLV 8