James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Madison Selected as CAA Preseason Favorite
2/6/2019 11:12:00 AM | Softball
RICHMOND, Va. - For the fifth straight season, James Madison softball was selected as the unanimous favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) softball championship, as announced by the league on Wednesday morning.
Â
The preseason poll was composed of votes from the league's eight head coaches and the Dukes received seven votes for a total of 49 points. The College of Charleston was selected to finish second (39), followed by UNCW in third (33) while Hofstra and Towson were tied for fourth with 28 points apiece. Rounding out the poll was Elon (21), Delaware (14) and Drexel (12).Â
Â
James Madison posted a 43-14 record in 2018 and made a sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Led by 2018 CAA Coach of the Year Loren LaPorte, the Dukes return 14 from last year's team and are ranked No. 23 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 and No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.
Â
The Dukes will begin their 2019 campaign at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational next weekend, Feb. 15-17, where they will play Cal, No. 25 Oregon, Florida Atlantic, No. 8 Tennessee and No. 13 Kentucky.
Â
2019 CAA Softball Coaches' Predicted Order to FinishÂ
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)Â
1.   James Madison – 49 (7)Â
2.   College of Charleston 0 39 (1)Â
3.   UNCW – 33Â
T4. Hofstra – 28
   Towson – 28Â
6.   Elon – 21Â
7.   Delaware – 14Â
8.   Drexel – 12Â
Â
Â
The preseason poll was composed of votes from the league's eight head coaches and the Dukes received seven votes for a total of 49 points. The College of Charleston was selected to finish second (39), followed by UNCW in third (33) while Hofstra and Towson were tied for fourth with 28 points apiece. Rounding out the poll was Elon (21), Delaware (14) and Drexel (12).Â
Â
James Madison posted a 43-14 record in 2018 and made a sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Led by 2018 CAA Coach of the Year Loren LaPorte, the Dukes return 14 from last year's team and are ranked No. 23 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 and No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.
Â
The Dukes will begin their 2019 campaign at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational next weekend, Feb. 15-17, where they will play Cal, No. 25 Oregon, Florida Atlantic, No. 8 Tennessee and No. 13 Kentucky.
Â
2019 CAA Softball Coaches' Predicted Order to FinishÂ
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)Â
1.   James Madison – 49 (7)Â
2.   College of Charleston 0 39 (1)Â
3.   UNCW – 33Â
T4. Hofstra – 28
   Towson – 28Â
6.   Elon – 21Â
7.   Delaware – 14Â
8.   Drexel – 12Â
Â
JMU Softball | Dukes Advance to 2025 Sun Belt Title Game
Saturday, May 10
JMU Softball | Recap vs. Texas State
Monday, June 03
JMU Softball | Weiler Orthodontics Invitational Recap
Monday, June 03
JMU Softball | Recap vs. Marshall
Monday, June 03
