East Carolina Picked Seventh In C-USA Preseason Poll
January 21, 2004 | Softball
As a freshman, Sheridan also earned first-team all-conference accolades. She led ECU in numerous offensive categories, including batting average (.357), hits (50), RBI (30) and stolen bases (23). Sheridan played and started in 54 of the Pirates' 55 games last season at shortstop.
Nationally ranked and NCAA Tournament regular, USF, has been selected to win the 2004 Conference USA Softball Championship. The Bulls' Leigh Ann Ellis has been named preseason Pitcher of the Year while DePaul's Sarah Martz has been chosen as the preseason Most Valuable Player.
DePaul, who claimed the regular season and championship titles last year, has been picked as the preseason runner-up. The Demons closed the 2003 season with a 48-7-1 record (22-2 C-USA). It marked the eighth straight year the team has won at least 40 games. Last year marked the seventh straight year that the Blue Demons qualified for an NCAA Regional and won an NCAA Tournament game.
Coming off a 36-win season, Houston has been chosen to finish third in the upcoming season followed by Louisville, Southern Miss and UAB. Charlotte was tabbed eighth, while saint Louis rounds out the poll.
ECU opens its season at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh on Feb. 13.
2004 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL
PRESEASON POLL
(2003 Overall, Conference Records)
1. USF (54-19, 17-6)
2. DePaul (48-7-1, 22-2)
3. Houston (36-24, 15-9)
4. Louisville (24-26, 12-11)
5. Southern Miss (28-30, 12-12)
6. UAB (28-28, 10-14)
7. East Carolina (24-31, 5-19)
8. Charlotte (14-31, 4-19)
9. Saint Louis (21-18, 9-14)
2004 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL
PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
C: Arelis Ferreris, Houston
IF: Kattrina Dowd, USF
IF: Kristen Glowacz, Houston
IF: Carmela Liwag, USF
IF: Saskia Roberson, DePaul
IF: Christine Sheridan, East Carolina
IF: Aja Sherman, Louisville
OF: Heather Bell, Southern Miss
OF: Holly Groves, USF
OF: Shannon Nord, Louisville
OF: Shelly Riker, USF
P: Leigh Ann Ellis, USF
P: Jamie Falco, Houston
UT: Sarah Martz, Jr., DePaul
DP: Jenilee Skender, Houston
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Sarah Martz, DePaul
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Leigh Ann Ellis, USF
