Waterville, Maine: The SUNY Cobleskill women's softball team has been ranked tied for second among the five teams in the 2022 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Western Division Coaches Poll. The Fighting Tigers are coming off a 2021 season that saw them finish with a 7-7 overall record including a 5-5 record in NAC play.

With a veteran laden roster Cobleskill Head Coach Liz Neubinski sees great possibilities for the upcoming season and believes the team has the experience and offensive firepower to make a run at the NAC play-offs this year.
"We have a big offensive team which is something that which has been a hallmark of our teams since I've been here. We have the line-up that can be a big long-ball team with lots of doubles. Our goal is to get to the play-offs and to make it to the championship game this year. We are hoping to build on our senior class and have them go out on a high note by leaving another stamp on the record books."

The Orange & Black will be led by a pair of All-NAC selections as senior centerfielder Jillian Nitchman, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, a First Team All-NAC selection returns after a 2021 season that saw her bat a team high of .478 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 14 games and junior catcher Ashley Covert, Castile, N.Y., Letchworth High School, who earned Second Team All-NAC honors after hitting .447with 13 runs scored and seven RBI in 13 games.

Cobleskill will also receive additional help offensively from senior infielder Maya Davies, Binghamton, N.Y., Chenango Valley High School/Onondaga Community College, who batted .412 on the year with six doubles and 13 RBI in 13 games and senior outfielder Alyssa Villielm, Rifton, N.Y., Kingston High School, who batted .302 with 13 runs scored and six RBI in 14 games during the campaign. Sophomore utility player Alexis Miranda, Nashua, N.H., Nashua High School, will also be counted on for more productivity this year after batting .259 with five runs scored and two RBI in 10 games last season. 

On the mound the Fighting Tigers will be depending on senior Victoria Decker, Stone Ridge, N.Y., Rondout Valley High School, who went 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA allowing opposing hitters only a .247 batting averaged and sophomore Marissa Wheeler, Kinderhook, N.Y., Ichabod Crane High School, who went 1-2 overall with an 8.29 ERA. First-year hurler Olivia DeMott, Sidney, N.Y., Sidney High School, will also be counted on to solidify the rotation and provide extended innings.

Cobleskill will open the 2022 season on Sunday March 20 when they meet Carleton College at the 2022 Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m.    

2022 NAC WOMEN'S SOFTBALL PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
WESTERN DIVISION:

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Cazenovia College (4) *	21
T-2.	SUNY Delhi (1) *	17
T-2.	SUNY Cobleskill	17
4.	SUNY Polytechnic Institute	13
5.	SUNY Canton	7

*First Place Votes
 
EASTERN DIVISION:

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Husson University (6) *	36
2.	Thomas College	28
3.	University of Maine Presque Isle	24
4.	University of Maine Farmington	18
5.	Northern Vermont University-Lyndon	12
6.	Northern Vermont University-Johnson	8

*First Place Votes