Players Reid, Arnold promise exciting season

DSU, Coppin State #1, #2 in MEAC north

PRESEASON POLLS: The Delaware State University (DSU) Hornets are predicted to win the  Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)  Northern Division title this year. 

Defending champion Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (posting a perfect regular season league of 12-0 last year) are expected to take the southern title.

Coppin State Eagles and Florida A&M Lady Rattlers are picked to finish second in the north and south. 

However, after DSU at the top, it was a tight race for the preseason position in the north. Coppin State received 195 points and 1 first place vote to secure second place.  Norfolk State grabbed 194 votes and 2 first places to nail down third.  Howard polled 193 points and three firsts for fourth place.

Delaware State University Hornets

MEAC PRESEASON POLL 

Northern Division

                          1.  Delaware State

                          2.  Coppin State

                          3.  Norfolk State

                          4.  Howard

                          5t. Hampton

                          5t. Morgan State

                          7.  Maryland Eastern Shore

Southern Division: 1. Bethune-Cookman  2. Florida A&M  3t. South Carolina State  3t. North Carolina A&T  5. Savannah State  6. North Carolina Central

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Jordan Reid (hometown: Accokeek, MD), a DSU Hornet's senior, has been selected as the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Jordan Reid

Reid was second in the nation with a .497 batting average last season, posting 77 hits, five triples (14th nationally), 98 total bases, and .551 on-base percentage (12th in the nation). She also was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Mid-Atlantic First Team. 

Full story at http://www.dsuhornets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=82319&SPID=5804&DB_OEM_ID=12900&ATCLID=205377609

ASIDE: See also story headlined “DSU Earns Nine on All-American Scholar Athlete List” at http://www.meacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=98138&SPID=12086&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205314134&DB_OEM_ID=20800

PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Paige Arnold, a Coppin State Eagle's senior, has been selected as the MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. As the 2010 Pitcher of the Year, she compiled a 16-11 record, 1.46 ERA. and 187 Ks. 

Full story at http://www.coppinstatesports.com/ssp/news?news_id=1709

Paige Arnold

ALL-CONFERENCE: 2012 MEAC Preseason All-Conference Team...

Paige Arnold, Coppin State

Stephanie Sarris, Delaware State

Kathy Cortez, Norfolk State

Stephanie Martello, Delaware State

Tera Gainer, Florida A&M

Whitney Holland, Norfolk State

Aurelia Gamch, Bethune-Cookman

Hope Fletcher, North Carolina A&T

Jordan Reid, Delaware State

Danielle Wright, Norfolk State

Detavia Kenan, North Carolina A&T

Rachel Carroll, Delaware State

All awards and preseason predictions above were voted on by the conference's head softball coaches and sports information directors.