Jan. 31, 2008

Starkville, Miss. - Grand Valley State University was picked as the No. 13 team in Division II heading into the 2008 season. The Lakers, who closed out last season with a loss in the Great Lakes Regional Championship game, are the highest-ranked GLIAC team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll.

Grand Valley State returns eight starting position players and their top two pitchers. Senior Kristin Moleski, a senior infielder, is the top returning offensive returner. Moleski started in all 54 games last season and batted .383 with nine home runs and 42 runs batted in. Elizabeth Smith, another senior returning infielder, hit .366 with 10 homers and 49 runs batted in.

On the mound, the Lakers are led by junior Lori Andjelich and senior Stephanie Cole. Andjelich went 17-7 in 33 appearances, tallying an earned-run average of 1.51. She struck out 181 batters and gave up just 128 hits in 189.2 innings pitches. Cole appeared in 28 games and went 17-8 with a 2.54 ERA. She struck out 99 battersand gave up 150 hits in 146.1 innings pitched.

As a team last season, the Lakers posted a record of 36-18 with a conference mark of 11-2. The team posting a batting average of .300 and an ERA of 2.06.