Linfield Picked to Win Fourth Straight NWC Softball Crown

Willamette was picked to finish 5th.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

Spokane, Wash. - Three-time defending champion Linfield College, which survived eight elimination games to finish fourth in last year's NCAA Division III tournament, has been picked on six of eight ballots to win its fourth straight Northwest Conference softball championship.

Six returning First or Second Team All-Northwest Conference selections will lead the Wildcats in 2007, including junior outfielder Stephanie Rice, senior infielder Meredith Brunette, and junior utility players Amanda Attleberger and Erica Hancock.

Linfield picked up 68 poll points to outdistance Whitworth College by nearly 20 points in the poll.

Wildcat head coach, and three-time NWC Coach of the Year, Jackson Vaughan will have to replace NWC Player of the Year Shelly Steinke, who graduated last spring.

Whitworth, which earned its first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament last season as an at-large participant, is second in the poll with one first place vote and 49 points.

The Pirates will need to replace 2006 NWC Pitcher of the Year Jo Sonnett, but welcome back All-NWC infielder Heather Case and catcher Lindsay Davis.

Pacific University is third in the poll with the final first place vote and 46 points.

The Boxers return All-NWC catcher Caitlin Matenbroek and sophomore outfielder Kristen Croxford.

Pacific Lutheran University, which won 16 out of 17 conference titles between 1987 and 2003, is fourth in the poll with 43 points, followed by Willamette University with 39 points.

The Lutes had four First Team All-NWC selections in 2006, but only senior catcher Jen Swope returns.

The Bearcats welcome back All-NWC infielder Molly Barnes, a senior.

The University of Puget Sound is sixth in the poll with 28 points.

The Loggers have back sophomore All-NWC utility player Katie Sabol.

Lewis & Clark College was seventh (14 points) and George Fox University was eighth (10 points).

The Pioneers and the Bruins have the distinction of kicking off the 2007 NWC season when they host Northwest Christian College and Concordia University, respectively, in double headers on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10th).

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