Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012

ST. LOUIS--The Drake softball team is picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference as voted on by the league's coaches. Illinois State, 2011's regular season champion, has been picked as this year's pre-season favorite. The Redbirds earned 96 points and seven first-place votes. UNI took two first-place votes and second-place (87 points) with Southern Illinois earning the remaining first-place vote (81 points) and third-place.

Drake received 54 points in the coaches' poll voting. Returning MVC All-Conference second-team member, Torey Craddock, will provide leadership for the Bulldogs along with seniors Rose Magaddino and Jaimie Duffek. Craddock was tied for the most doubles in the Valley with 14 last season. In Division I, Drake ranked No. 18 in stolen bases per game with Sam West leading her team and the Valley with 21 stolen bases. Sophomore Jordan Gronewald will spend a lot of time on the mound  this season after the graduation of aces Jenna DeLong and Brynne Dordel.

The Bulldogs finished 34-21 overall in 2011 and second in the Missouri Valley to Illinois State at 18-6. Drake advanced to the MVC tournament championship game before being defeated by Missouri State on their home field in a wild 7-4 affair.

Seven of the 10 Missouri Valley Conference softball teams begin action the second weekend of February, with tournament play and non-conference games. League competition will heat up starting Friday, March 16.

Drake will open play February 11 in Cedar Falls against Western Illinois in the UNI-Dome Tournament.

For the full Missouri Valley Conference press release and team-by-team preview, click here.