DAHLONEGA — For the third consecutive year, the University of North Georgia softball team has been picked to win the Peach Belt Conference in the preseason coaches' poll as announced by the league office Thursday morning. The Nighthawks received nine of a possible 10 first-place votes, claiming 99 points.
North Georgia will attempt to win their fifth straight PBC regular-season championship in 2018 which would become the longest streak in league history. The Nighthawks have also won the last four PBC Tournaments in a row which is tied with the 1995-98 Kennesaw State Owls for most consecutive titles. The 2018 Nighthawks return nine players from last year's squad including All-Conference pitcher Kylee Smith, utility infielder Kaylyn Anthony, outfielder Lexi Duncan, infielder Alishia Frierson and infielder Sydney Sprague. UNG is ranked No. 7 in the nation in the NFCA preseason Top 25.
Flagler was picked to finish second, followed by Young Harris, Georgia College and Columbus State. The Saints and Mountain Lions each picked up a first-place vote each.
Teams were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second-place and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.
UNG will start the 2018 season on February 2 at the Gulf Coast Invitational. First pitch will be at 3:30 p.m. against North Alabama.
