Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
SB | Gaels Picked to Finish Tied for Second in WCC, Four on Preseasons All-Conference Team
2/1/2024 2:01:00 PM | Softball
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Coming off of their first 20 win season in seven years, Saint Mary's Softball caught the attention of its fellow WCC programs, as the Gaels have been picked to finish tied second in the conference. The Gaels received 15 votes, tied for San Diego for second most, and trailing preseason conference champion pick LMU by just five votes. Saint Mary's also received one of the conference's five first place votes, with LMU receiving the other four. Since the 2014 season, the Gaels have never finished higher than third place (2014) in the WCC. The Gaels have also never been picked to finish higher than third place (2015) in the preseason WCC Polls.
A big reason as to why the Gaels were picked so high is there heavily talented group of returners, four of which were named to the preseason All-WCC Team:
Pitcher Avrey Wolverton is back for her third season of competition after earning first team All-WCC honors a year ago. The Brighton, Michigan native was incredible returning from an injury that cut her 2022 season short. Amassing a 6-6 record, Wolverton led the WCC with a 2.07 ERA and held opposing batters to a .237 batting average. She tossed three complete game shutouts, including one in the regular season finale that secured the Gaels their first ever series win over BYU.
First baseman Taylor Lane will look to continue her "iron-horse" like play at first base after not missing a start in 2023. Lane was the Gaels lone hitter to bat over .300, while also leading her team with 43 hits, eight doubles, two home runs, 10 extra-base hits and 15 walks. After redshirting in 2022, Lane was named a second team member of the All-WCC team in her first season of competition.
Senior second baseman Marissa Montelongo primed and ready to build off of her strong junior campaign. A jackrabbit on the basepaths, Montelongo finished ranked second on the Gaels and fifth in the conference with 13 stolen bases. She also proved to be a vacuum at second base with a .969 fielding percentage, the best amongst Gael infielders, and amongst WCC infielders with at least 100 chances. Montelongo was an honorable mention member of the 2023 All-WCC team, and will hope to kick that up to first team for the 2024 season.
Rounding out the group is center fielder Hannah Ferguson, who put together one of the best true freshman campaigns to date for the Gaels in 2023. Stepping into the role of leadoff hitter for the Gaels, Ferguson got on base and did even more damage on the base paths. She led the Gaels with 32 runs scored (t-9th most in a single season in program history) and 18 stolen bases (t-8th most in a single season in program history). She became just the fourth ever Gael to be named to the All-WCC team (2nd) as a true freshman, joining SMC greats Hailey Spracino, Nikki Alexander and Kimiko Zapanta.
First pitch of the 2024 softball season will be on February 9 at 12 PM at UC Davis as part of the NorCal Kickoff Tournament.
#GaelsRise
A big reason as to why the Gaels were picked so high is there heavily talented group of returners, four of which were named to the preseason All-WCC Team:
Pitcher Avrey Wolverton is back for her third season of competition after earning first team All-WCC honors a year ago. The Brighton, Michigan native was incredible returning from an injury that cut her 2022 season short. Amassing a 6-6 record, Wolverton led the WCC with a 2.07 ERA and held opposing batters to a .237 batting average. She tossed three complete game shutouts, including one in the regular season finale that secured the Gaels their first ever series win over BYU.
First baseman Taylor Lane will look to continue her "iron-horse" like play at first base after not missing a start in 2023. Lane was the Gaels lone hitter to bat over .300, while also leading her team with 43 hits, eight doubles, two home runs, 10 extra-base hits and 15 walks. After redshirting in 2022, Lane was named a second team member of the All-WCC team in her first season of competition.
Senior second baseman Marissa Montelongo primed and ready to build off of her strong junior campaign. A jackrabbit on the basepaths, Montelongo finished ranked second on the Gaels and fifth in the conference with 13 stolen bases. She also proved to be a vacuum at second base with a .969 fielding percentage, the best amongst Gael infielders, and amongst WCC infielders with at least 100 chances. Montelongo was an honorable mention member of the 2023 All-WCC team, and will hope to kick that up to first team for the 2024 season.
Rounding out the group is center fielder Hannah Ferguson, who put together one of the best true freshman campaigns to date for the Gaels in 2023. Stepping into the role of leadoff hitter for the Gaels, Ferguson got on base and did even more damage on the base paths. She led the Gaels with 32 runs scored (t-9th most in a single season in program history) and 18 stolen bases (t-8th most in a single season in program history). She became just the fourth ever Gael to be named to the All-WCC team (2nd) as a true freshman, joining SMC greats Hailey Spracino, Nikki Alexander and Kimiko Zapanta.
First pitch of the 2024 softball season will be on February 9 at 12 PM at UC Davis as part of the NorCal Kickoff Tournament.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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