LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The West Liberty University softball team made history on Tuesday when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) put the Hilltoppers at No. 24 in its annual NCAA Division II preseason poll.
While the West Liberty softball program has been listed among teams receiving votes multiple times over the past few seasons, this marks the first time the Hilltoppers have been ranked among the nation’s Top 25 teams.
Fresh off back-to-back Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year awards, veteran head coach Herb Minch has built the Black and Gold into a perennial Atlantic Region power. He picked up his 500th career win last spring as WLU rolled to a second straight MEC title and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament run.
This year’s Black and Gold must replace NFCA All-America and NCAA Division II Academic All-America catcher Kat Donzella but the cupboard is far from bare for Coach Minch.
A trio of returning first-team All-Atlantic Region selections leads a deep and talented returning core for the two-time defending MEC champs. Topping the list is NCAA Division II All-America ace Makenzie Amend, the MEC and Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year who fired two postseason no-hitters and finished the season ranked among the Top 10 nationally in several statistical categories.
She's joined by fellow All-Region standouts in senior centerfielder Katie Beeman, a three-time All-MEC selection and former MEC Tournament MVP, along with hard-throwing lefty pitcher/first baseman Annie Paterson, who led the MEC in strikeouts during the regular season while swinging a potent bat in the middle of the WLU batting order.
Perennial Top 10 power Texas-Tyler received eight first-place votes to earn the No. 1 spot in the poll, edging out 2019 national champion Augustana (S.D.). Biola (Calif.), defending national champion West Texas A&M and North Georgia rounded out the top five.
West Liberty was one of only two Atlantic Region squads to earn a Top 25 ranking. Defending regional champion West Chester slotted in at No. 9 on Tuesday. Fellow PSAC member Kutztown (Pa.) was among teams receiving votes.
The Hilltoppers are scheduled to open the 2022 season at home on Feb. 20 with a non-conference doubleheader against Clarion (Pa.).
SOFTBALL
2022 NFCA Division II
Preseason Top 25
January 25, 2022
2021 2021
Team Pts W-L Rank
1 UT-Tyler (8) 386 33-7 17
2 Augustana (5) 371 49-8 3
3 Biola (3) 365 26-16 2
4 West Texas A&M 360 43-12 1
5 North Georgia 348 43-8 4
6 Grand Valley State 318 45-10 5
7 Valdosta State 310 38-11 6
8 Saint Anselm 266 33-7 7
9 West Chester 248 34-16 8
10 Concordia-Irvine 240 34-13 12
11 Minnesota State 230 40-10 13
12 Indianapolis 223 46-8 11
13 Lincoln Memorial 218 38-8 10
14 Auburn-Montgomery 196 40-7 21
15 Oklahoma Christian 192 38-9 14
16 Southern Arkansas 139 29-10 18
17 West Florida 136 33-16 15
18 Angelo State 131 33-14 RV
19 Georgian Court 130 38-6 19
20 Central Oklahoma 77 36-14 22
21 Colorado Mesa 75 39-5 23
22 Texas A&M-Commerce 58 33-18 9
23 Alabama-Huntsville 44 32-14 25
24 WEST LIBERTY 28 37-17 RV
25 Central Missouri 22 38-14 RV
Also receiving votes: Western Washington 20, Anderson 19, Texas A&M-Kingsville 15, Tampa 12, Rollins 7, Northwest Nazarene 6, Rogers State 6, Kutztown, 3, Adelphi 1.