Jan. 23, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay softball team has been picked to place eighth in the Horizon League according to a polling of the League's head coaches. The Phoenix finished third in the conference standings a year ago with a 9-7 record in the circuit.

Green Bay, which went 17-23 overall, has finished in the league's top four each of the past three years. The Phoenix returns a trio of second-team all-conference selections - pitcher Anna Bluemel (Wind Lake, Wis.), infielder Katie Cooney (East Moline, Ill.) and utility player Mollie Kaebisch (Colgate, Wis.).

Bluemel, a senior pitcher, had a stout 2.22 earned run average and struck out 86 batters in 120 innings of work in 2007. Cooney, who started 39 of 40 games last year as a freshman, led the team in batting average (.333) and hits (39). Kaebisch batted .303 and paced the squad in home runs (4), RBIs (22), doubles (12) and slugging percentage (.508).

Following a 2007 campaign that saw Loyola claim its first regular season title since 2003 and post a 14-5 mark in League play, the Ramblers once again stand atop the Horizon League as the 2008 Preseason favorite. Loyola earned 60 points and five first-place votes.

The UIC Flames placed second in the poll with 53 points, and also received two first-place votes. The 2007 Horizon League tournament champion Wright State captured the third spot in the poll with 50 points and two top votes.

Cleveland State (41 points) was tabbed fourth in the poll, while Valparaiso collected 35 points and was picked fifth in the poll. Butler (34 points), Youngstown State (22 points), Green Bay (18 points) and Detroit (11 points) rounded out the picks.

--www.uwgbathletics.com--