Softball Coaches Pick Augustana to Win 2008 CCIW Title

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The head softball coaches in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) picked Augustana to win the 2008 conference title in a preseason poll conducted Wednesday.

Augustana won the poll with 46 points, including four first place votes. The Vikings earned the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament last season, finishing 30-14 overall and 11-3 in conference play. Defending conference champion Illinois Wesleyan tallied 44 points with three first place votes after finishing 32-14, 13-1 last season. North Central (27-15, 8-6) was third with 38 points and one first place vote.

Carthage (21-18, 6-8) placed fourth in the poll with 28 points while Elmhurst (12-28, 6-8) was fifth with 22 points. Wheaton (19-20-1, 5-9), Millikin (14-19, 6-8) and North Park (13-20, 1-13) rounded out the poll with 19, 18 and nine points respectively.

Voting in the preseason poll is done by the softball coaches in the CCIW. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.