Northern Kentucky University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky University softball team was picked third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division preseason poll, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Two-time defending GLVC champion Lewis was tabbed to take the East Division, while a resurgent Missouri-St. Louis squad was chosen as the favorite in the West Division.

On the east side, Lewis captured 12 first-place votes and 116 total points. Indianapolis was selected second with 101 points and two first-place votes. The Norse took the other two first-place votes and finished with 98 points in the voting.

Last season, NKU finished with a 29-17 record and qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional for the third consecutive season. The Norse will look to replace the offensive output of Ashley Gates, who led the GLVC with a .423 batting average and a .510 on-base percentage.  Her nine home runs were also tops on the team.

Additionally, the Norse will seek answers in the circle after graduating the talented pitching tandem of April Ehlers, NKU's all-time strikeout leader with 876, and Chelsie Roy, who ranks second all-time at NKU with 101 pitching appearances.

Emily Schwaeble returns for her junior season with the Norse after knocking in 44 runs last season to lead the team and ranked second in the conference.  She also claimed a team-best 13 doubles and hit .340 on the season to lead all returning players.

Jessica Farris will anchor the infield for the fourth year running after posting a .322 average and scoring 37 runs from the leadoff spot.  Farris also stole a team-high 11 bases on the year.

Head coach Kathy Stewart will look to freshman pitcher Alex Caudill to bear the workload in the circle.  Caudill was a two-time All-Ohio selection at Lakota West High School, where she struck out 752 batters and maintained a 1.04 ERA during her prep career.

Newcomer Kaylin Steinmetz will also be a big part of the Norse lineup this season after posting a .551 batting average with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs during her senior season at Glen Este High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Steinmetz was named the Fort Ancient Valley Conference co-Athlete of the Year and a second-team All-Ohio selection last year.

The Norse open the 2012 regular season on Feb. 17 at the Charger Chillout tournament in Decatur, Ala.

2012 GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL

EAST
Team Total Points  (First-place votes)
1. Lewis  116 (12)
2. Indianapolis 101 (2)
3. Northern Kentucky 98 (2)
4. Bellarmine 76
5. Southern Indiana 66
6. UW-Parkside 48
7. Saint Joseph's 39
8. Kentucky Wesleyan 24

WEST
Team Total Points  (First-place votes)
1. Missouri-St. Louis 115 (12)
2. Drury 105 (4)
3. Missouri S&T 79
4. Quincy 78
5. Rockhurst 74
6. Maryville 43
7. Illinois Springfield 42
8. William Jewell* 32