ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Brenau University (Ga.) is the slight favorite to win the 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) softball championship, according to the AAC coaches' poll released Monday.
Brenau, which is in its first year as a member of the AAC, went 52-7 overall and 26-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2017. The Golden Tigers received seven of the 12 first-place votes to amass 126 total voting points. Reinhardt was second with five first-place votes and 122 points.
The Lady Eagles won a share of the 2017 AAC regular-season crown with Bryan as both posted a 15-5 league mark. Reinhardt won the conference tournament and ended the year with a 41-14-1 overall record.
Rounding out the top five are Tennessee Wesleyan (98 points), Union (96 points), and Bryan (95 points).
The Lady Knights were picked 10th in the 13 team league coming off a 17-31 overall record last season which saw them finish 8th in the conference at 7-13 and drop two close one-run games in the conference tournament. The Knights are returning 11 from last year's team while bringing in 9 newcomers.
Here is the complete breakdown of the poll:
2018 Softball Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Brenau (7) - 126
2. Reinhardt (5) - 122
3. Tennessee Wesleyan - 98
4. Union - 96
5. Bryan - 95
6. Milligan - 86
7. Truett McConnell - 81
8. Point - 76
9. Montreat - 46
10. St. Andrews - 42
11. Bluefield - 36
12. Columbia - 20
13. Allen - 12
The AAC Tournament is set for April 25-28 at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.