Westfield State Softball Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass.  – Westfield State University softball has been picked to finish fourth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference's 2021 preseason coaches' poll.

The Owls are set to start the season this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against local rival Western New England.

Westfield posted an 8-6 mark in conference play in 2019, and had the 2020 season cut short before conference play began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Defending champion Framingham State was picked to finish first with 47 points and five first place votes, Bridgewater State was second with 44 points and the other three first place votes. Worcester was third with 35 points, followed by the Owls with 31 and Fitchburg State with 26.  MCLA, Salem State and Mass Maritime rounded out the ballots.

The Owls graduated just one regular starter from last season's lineup, and  return a strong nucleus which is anchored by seniors Emily Arredondo, Jordyn Carpenter, Kayla Castellano,  Lindsay Cordopatri, Sarah Meunier, Madison Philbrook, Jackie Reynolds and graduate student Alexandra Czarkosky.

Westfield advanced to the conference championship game in both 2017 and 2018.