OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton softball will take aim at Missouri Valley Conference history this spring when it attempts to become the first program in league history to win four straight regular-season conference championships. The three-time defending champions have been tabbed preseason favorites as voted on by league coaches and announced by the conference office Wednesday. It was also announced Wednesday that three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year, All-American Tara Oltman has been named to the initial Watch List for the Ninth Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. These preseason accolades come one day after the Bluejays were listed among others receiving votes in the USA Today / NFCA Preseason Top-25 coaches poll.
The Bluejays, who went 35-16 overall last year, including their third straight first-place MVC finish with a 19-6 mark, return all but two starters from their 2009 team. Creighton earned eight of the 10 first-place votes and 97 of a possible 100 total points in the Valley’s preseason poll. Oltman and senior first baseman
Renae Sinkler, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, both represent the Bluejays on the all-MVC preseason team.
Southern Illinois followed CU in the preseason poll, with one first place vote and 85 total points. Northern Iowa was next with 77 points, while Drake garnered the other first-place vote and was pegged to finish fourth with 71 points. Illinois State’s 66 points round out the top half of the league.
Wichita State (47), Missouri State (36) and 2009 MVC Tournament champion Bradley (33) close out the projected 2010 MVC Tournament field. Indiana State (21) and Evansville (17) are picked to finish ninth and 10th, respectively.
Oltman, the only three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year in league history and already the winningest hurler in school and Valley history with 86 victories, is one of 50 players to be named to the preseason USA Softball National Player of the Year Watch List. The right-hander from Cortland, Neb., is the only MVC student-athlete on the list which features players from 35 schools and 14 conferences. Oltman can finish her career with conference records in appearances, starts, complete games, innings and strikeouts if she posts her three year averages in those categories.
Sinkler earned first-team all-region honors last year after leading the MVC in home runs (13), slugging percentage (.707), walks (32) and a school-record .492 on-base percentage. The Lincoln, Neb., native led the Jays also topped the team with 39 RBI, 51 hits and 99 total bases.
Senior
Michelle Koch is back for her fourth season as Creighton’s starting second baseman. The career .309 hitter was named first-team all-MVC last year after hitting a career-best .324, while using her glove to help the Jays set a school-record and rank ninth in the NCAA with a .975 fielding percentage.
Creighton received four votes in the preseason USA Today / NFCA Coaches Top-25 released on Tuesday. Three of Creighton’s first six opponents on the year are also receiving votes in the poll, including 15th-ranked Northwestern, while San Diego State and Notre Dame also picked up votes.
The Bluejays, who lost in the MVC Tournament title game in 2009 and narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament last year, have their sights set on the national postseason this year, returning 12 letterwinners and eight starters, while welcoming eight newcomers to the fold in 2010.
Creighton starts its season at one of the most competitive tournaments in the nation, the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Bluejays face San Diego State to open the year on Feb. 11, and will also do battle with Notre Dame, Oregon, Wisconsin, Oregon State and preseason No. 15 Northwestern at the four-day event hosted by Arizona State.
