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Vikings Picked Sixth in Preseason Horizon League Poll

Sara Shields
Sara Shields
Posted: Feb 06, 2013

Contact: Jeff Sattora

INDIANAPOLIS- As the 2013 softball season rapidly approaches the Horizon League announced its preseason poll this week, and the Cleveland State Vikings were picked to finish sixth out of eight teams.

The Vikings picked up 20 points in the poll, finishing ahead of Wright State and Detroit in the voting.

CSU, who finished last season at 17-39 on the year and 9-15 in Horizon League play, return a solid core of nine players from last year's squad, along with bringing in a strong class of eight newcomers.

Senior Dara Toman, a 2013 Horizon League first team All-League selection by CollegeSportsMadness.com, will be one of the Vikings' leaders this season. Toman led the CSU last season in batting average (.405), home runs (19), runs batted in (42), slugging percentage (.892), and on-base percentage (.553).

Junior Sara Shields was also honored by CollegeSportsMadness.com this preseason, tabbed as a second team All-League selection.

Shields performed both in the batters box and on the pitcher's mound for CSU last season. As a hitter she was second behind Toman in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.522), and on-base percentage (.372), as well as fourth in runs batted in (18). On the mound Shields also led CSU with 13 wins on the year.

Looking at the vote in total, Loyola leads the way with 48 points and six first place votes, they were followed by two other teams who received one first place vote each in UIC with 39 total points and Valparaiso with 37 points.

The rest of the list includes Youngstown State (30 points), Green Bay (22), Cleveland State (20), Wright State (19), and Detroit (9).

CSU will begin its 2013 season this weekend when they head to East Carolina University for the Pirate Classic. 

 
 
 


The Vikings will first take on Towson and East Carolina Friday, before then facing Towson again and Ohio Saturday, followed by a match-up with Rider on Sunday.

2013 Horizon League Preseason Poll

Team Points (First Place Votes)
1. Loyola- 48 (6)
2. UIC- 39 (1)
3. Valparaiso- 37 (1) 
4. Youngstown State- 30 
5. Green Bay- 22 
6. Cleveland State- 20 
7. Wright State- 19 
8. Detroit- 9