By: Bryan Schwartz
Snow is in the forecast as February begins to roll around, though bright and sunny skies await the Quinnipiac softball team in the coming weeks.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tabbed the Bobcats as the eighth place team in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the league Tuesday.
Fairfield, coming off a conference championship, was picked to win the MAAC, with Monmouth, Marist, Iona and Manhattan right behind. The Bobcats finished just ahead of Niagara, while Rider and Saint Peter’s rounded out the MAAC deep in the cellar.
Quinnipiac finished in that same spot (eighth) last season, though there were many bright spots.
Arguably the biggest bright spot was Rebecca Drake.
After leading all MAAC players with a .407 batting average and topping all Bobcats with 28 RBIs in 2017, the infielder was named to the 2018 Preseason All-MAAC squad. She is the only Bobcat on the list, and the first since Nikki Barba and Jordan Paolucci were selected for the 2015 season.
Drake will hold down the left side of the infield with shortstop Miranda Magana full-time for the second straight season. Magana was second on the team in hits with 56, only behind Drake (66 hits). Magana led the Bobcats with 30 runs scored. The duo started all 50 of Quinnipiac’s ballgames, respectively.
In the circle, Casey Herzog and Abby Long will split the pitching duties. Long was an All-MAAC rookie selection in 2017, while Herzog impressed as well. Herzog tossed 156.2 innings with a 3.44 ERA, and Long threw 128 innings, pitching to a 3.39 ERA.
Quinnipiac has made the MAAC postseason just once (2016) since joining the league for the 2014 season.
It all begins Friday, Feb. 16 as the sun will shine down on the Bobcats in Florida at the D9 Orange Blossom tournament. Quinnipiac’s first home game is a doubleheader against Wagner Mar. 24, and its first MAAC game is Mar. 31 when it travels to Rider.
For full coverage of the Quinnipiac softball team, follow Q30 Sports softball beat reporters.
Follow @MikeJDalton5
Follow @BryanSchwartz15
Follow @Q30Sports
