North Ga. softball picked second behind Armstrong in PBC preseason poll

The University of North Georgia softball team has been voted to finish runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference preseason coaches poll as announced Wednesday morning by the league office. UNG received 98 points, including seven second place votes and a single first place vote, and finished 11 votes behind preseason favorite Armstrong Atlantic State.

North Georgia finished seven points head of third-place Columbus State. Georgia College (77 votes) and Flagler (74 votes) rounded out the top five.

North Georgia is on the heels of a 2013 season in which the Nighthawks made their sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament after going 36-14 on the season. They finished third in the Peach Belt Conference after going 16-6 in PBC play.

For 2014, UNG returns three PBC All-Conference performers including pitcher Courtney Poole, the PBC Freshman of the Year last season and catcher Kim McMillan and outfielder Taylor Merritt.