Greenville, SC – Conference Carolinas announced the 2025 Softball Preseason Poll on Friday with the Francis Marion Patriots being picked as the preseason favorite.
The Patriots of Francis Marion, who have won the past two conference championship titles, were picked first with 195 points and 13 of the 15 first place finish votes. Last season, Francis Marion finished with a 47-13 overall record and were 20-4 in conference play. They took down the Barton Bulldogs 9-3, the Young Harris Mountain Lions 9-1 and North Greenville Trailblazers 8-0 to advance to the Championship game. They fell in the first game to the Emmanuel Lions 7-5, but came back in game two to take down the Lions in a 7-5 final score and claim the Conference Carolinas title. Francis Marion advanced to the NCAA DII Southeast Regional where they defeated the Columbus State Cougars 8-0 and the University of North Georgia Nighthawks 2-1 to move on to the championship game. However, the Patriots dropped the final two games to the Nighthawks in the Championship to conclude their 2024 campaign.
Picked second in the preseason poll are the North Greenville Trailblazers. The Trailblazers totaled 177 points and the remaining two first place finish votes. North Greenville finished the 2024 season with a 36-20 overall record and were 17-7 in conference play. They won their first two games in the conference tournament, but then fell to the Francis Marion Patriots and the Emmanuel Lions to conclude their season.
The Young Harris Mountain Lions picked up the third slot in the poll with 166 points after going 29-24 overall and being 15-9 in conference action. The Mountain Lions advanced to the championship tournament where they took down the Emmanuel Lions in the first round. However, they fell to the Francis Marion Patriots and Barton Bulldogs in the next two rounds to conclude their season. Following them in the polls are the King Tornado who collected 130 points after going 27-24 overall last season and finishing 13-11 in conference. The Tornado fell in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament to wrap up their season.
Wrapping up the 2025 Conference Carolinas field are the UNC Pembroke Braves (124 points), Barton Bulldogs (117 points), University of Mount Olive Trojans (112 points), Belmont Abbey Crusaders (101 points), Emmanuel Lions (97 points), Southern Wesleyan Warriors (97 points), Lees-McRae Bobcats (83 points), Converse Valkyries (57 points), Erskine Flying Fleet (50 points), Chowan Hawks (44 points) and Shorter Hawks (25 points).
Southern Wesleyan finished last season with a 21-28 overall record and were 10-14 in conference play. The Warriors advanced to the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament where they took down the UNC Pembroke Braves in the first round play-in game in a 6-5 final score. Southern Wesleyan then fell to the North Greenville Trailblazers and Emmanuel Lions to conclude their 2024 campaign.
The Warriors are excited to return both their home run leaders in pitcher and utility player Amberly Way (11) and first baseman Avery Mercer (10). Way also had seven doubles and a triple last season, while Mercer attached nine doubles to her name. Joining them is pitcher and outfielder Olivia Haag. Haag posted a .304 AVG at the plate with nine doubles, three triples and three home runs last season. On the mound, Haag led the Warriors last season as she struck out 88 batters over 126 innings pitched. Outfielder Talissa Cannady will look to help the Warriors on the stolen base front.
Southern Wesleyan will open up the 2025 season on the road as they travel to Albany, GA on January 31 to take on the Albany State Golden Rams. They will compete in the USCB Tournament on February 15 as they take on the Allen Yellow Jackets and the USC Beaufort Sand Sharks. The Warriors will host their home opener on February 17 as they host the Bluefield State Big Blue. Southern Wesleyan will open up Conference Carolinas action on March 12 as they travel to Young Harris, GA to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions. They will host their first conference game of the season ten days later on March 22 as they welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Varsity Field. The Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament will once again be played at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, SC from April 24-27.
