St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Ranks Third in BIG EAST Softball Coaches’ Preseason Poll
1/13/2020 12:00:00 PM | Softball
The Red Storm was picked third for the second consecutive season
QUEENS, N.Y. (Jan. 13, 2020) – For the second-consecutive season, the BIG EAST coaches have selected the St. John's softball team to finish third in the preseason poll released on Monday.
The reigning BIG EAST Regular Season Champions, who return four of its six All-Conference First Team selections, earned 34 points. The Red Storm trailed DePaul, who had 48 points, including six first-place votes, and Villanova's 43 with two first-place tallies. Creighton checked in behind the Red Storm with 30 points, followed by Seton Hall (25), Providence (22), Butler (14) and Georgetown (8).
Among the four All-BIG EAST First Team returners is 2019 Co-Freshman of the Year Peyton Cody, who will look to improve upon a rookie campaign that showcased a .377 batting average and 45 RBIs. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native tore through conference action, leading all players with 23 knock-ins and 10 doubles.
The senior trio of Gretchen Bowie, Laura Delgado and Marissa Rizzi will also look to reclaim, not only their spot on the league's top team, but atop the conference as well.
Bowie, who was named to the 2019 All-Tournament Team, has the chance to become the first player in program history to capture four All-BIG EAST First Team picks with a conference nod this season. The New Jersey native ended her junior campaign with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs to rank second among the ladies in red.
Delgado tasted her first conference accolade last season after joining Cody and Bowie on the league's top squad. The senior out of Hesperia, Calif., recorded a trio of walk-off hits to go along with a career-best .341 batting average and 31 hits.
Rizzi is expected to provide a pop in the lineup for her final campaign, looking to jump out to a similar start in 2020. The Long Islander racked up eight home runs in non-conference play before finishing the 2019 season with the program's seventh-best total of 12. The Johnnies' first baseman concluded her junior slate with a team-leading .403 mark at the plate with 56 hits, 24 of which went for extra bases.
Head Coach Bob Guerriero also added a pair of pitchers in Erin Brown and Mia Faieta to help fill the void left by 2019 conference ace of the year Madison Morris. Brown dominated California's Tri-Valley while attending La Reina High School, earning three top pitcher awards. Faieta made national headlines after tossing a 21-strikeout perfect game in her sophomore year at Cedar Grove.
The Red Storm's 2020 campaign will open up in less than a month when St. John's heads down to Orlando for the UCF Black and Gold Tournament. The Johnnies will kick off its slate against Clemson Tigers, who will kick off its inaugural season on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.
2020 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. DePaul (6) – 48
2. Villanova (2) – 43
3. St. John's – 34
4. Creighton – 30
5. Seton Hall – 25
6. Providence – 22
7. Butler – 14
8. Georgetown – 8
The reigning BIG EAST Regular Season Champions, who return four of its six All-Conference First Team selections, earned 34 points. The Red Storm trailed DePaul, who had 48 points, including six first-place votes, and Villanova's 43 with two first-place tallies. Creighton checked in behind the Red Storm with 30 points, followed by Seton Hall (25), Providence (22), Butler (14) and Georgetown (8).
Among the four All-BIG EAST First Team returners is 2019 Co-Freshman of the Year Peyton Cody, who will look to improve upon a rookie campaign that showcased a .377 batting average and 45 RBIs. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native tore through conference action, leading all players with 23 knock-ins and 10 doubles.
The senior trio of Gretchen Bowie, Laura Delgado and Marissa Rizzi will also look to reclaim, not only their spot on the league's top team, but atop the conference as well.
Bowie, who was named to the 2019 All-Tournament Team, has the chance to become the first player in program history to capture four All-BIG EAST First Team picks with a conference nod this season. The New Jersey native ended her junior campaign with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs to rank second among the ladies in red.
Delgado tasted her first conference accolade last season after joining Cody and Bowie on the league's top squad. The senior out of Hesperia, Calif., recorded a trio of walk-off hits to go along with a career-best .341 batting average and 31 hits.
Rizzi is expected to provide a pop in the lineup for her final campaign, looking to jump out to a similar start in 2020. The Long Islander racked up eight home runs in non-conference play before finishing the 2019 season with the program's seventh-best total of 12. The Johnnies' first baseman concluded her junior slate with a team-leading .403 mark at the plate with 56 hits, 24 of which went for extra bases.
Head Coach Bob Guerriero also added a pair of pitchers in Erin Brown and Mia Faieta to help fill the void left by 2019 conference ace of the year Madison Morris. Brown dominated California's Tri-Valley while attending La Reina High School, earning three top pitcher awards. Faieta made national headlines after tossing a 21-strikeout perfect game in her sophomore year at Cedar Grove.
The Red Storm's 2020 campaign will open up in less than a month when St. John's heads down to Orlando for the UCF Black and Gold Tournament. The Johnnies will kick off its slate against Clemson Tigers, who will kick off its inaugural season on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.
2020 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. DePaul (6) – 48
2. Villanova (2) – 43
3. St. John's – 34
4. Creighton – 30
5. Seton Hall – 25
6. Providence – 22
7. Butler – 14
8. Georgetown – 8
Players Mentioned
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