Softball Voted Tops In 2018 AAC Preseason Poll

The Brenau University softball team is the favorite to win the 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) softball championship, according to the AAC coaches' poll released Monday.

The Golden Tigers, newcomers to the AAC, finished 52-7 overall and an unprecedented 26-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2017. Head coach Devon Thomas' squad received seven of the 12 first-place votes to amass 126 total voting points.

The team returns 12 letter winners from last year's SSAC championship squad, including all conference selections Autumn Conaway, Shelton Kendrix and Kelsey Payne.

Reinhardt University, the reigning AAC champs, was voted second with 122 total points, including five first place votes. Tennessee Wesleyan College (98 votes), Union College (96) and Bryan College (95) round out the top five.

Here is the complete breakdown of the poll:

2018 Softball Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Brenau (7) - 126
2. Reinhardt (5) - 122
3. Tennessee Wesleyan - 98
4. Union - 96
5. Bryan - 95
6. Milligan - 86
7. Truett McConnell - 81
8. Point - 76
9. Montreat - 46
10. St. Andrews - 42
11. Bluefield - 36
12. Columbia - 20
13. Allen - 12

The AAC Tournament is set for April 25-28 at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.