[Softball] Vikings Selected to Finish First in Heart Coaches' Preseason Poll

Kansas City, MO - Grand View softball has been selected as the favorite to capture the conference title in the 2020 Heart of America Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll. 

The Vikings, who made history with a run at the Opening Round last season, collected four first-place votes in the poll. At the conclusion of their season, GVU was ranked 2nd in total doubles (115), 4th in home runs per game (1.138), 7th in total runs scored with (390), and 8th in total runs batted (357). 

Returning for the Vikings is sophomore, Alyx Witt (SO/Norwalk, IA), who collected NAIA 1st Team All-American honors as a freshman. Witt was a force for the Vikings throughout the entire 2019 season. At the completion of the 2019 season, she garnered numerous individual national rankings including No. 1 in field percentage (1.000), No. 3 in home runs, No. 4 in home runs per game, and No. 8 in total bases (135).

Other returners include all-conference players Lexi Merritt (SR/Waukee, IA) and Kaylee Watson (JR/Stockport, IA). Merrit and Watson have collected all-conference honors each year competing for the Vikings. 

Head Coach Lou A. Yacinich is proud of his Viking team, "We are very honored to represent the Heart conference in softball as the preseason favorite. This honor is a tribute to the players, both past and present. Our players are looking forward to competing in the highly competitive Heart conference."