Feb. 15– Concordia University edged out the University of Mary by one point, being picked third by league coaches in the NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll. Southwest Minnesota State was picked at the top for the second straight season, receiving seven of ten first place votes and 87 points. The Golden Bears open the 2008 season with a non-conference game against the Marauders tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The other three first place votes went to Winona State, who finished with 84 points in the poll. Concordia, in third, received 67 points to the Marauders' 66.

The league coaches were torn on the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, picking SMSU's Erin Dickhausen, a senior catcher, and U-Mary's Meghan Ward, a junior second baseman as the preseason co-players of the year.

SMSU's Amanda Johnson was picked as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The junior right handed hurler was the NSIC Pitcher of the Year after her sophomore campaign.

Last year, the Golden Bears went 27-31 overall and 10-8 in the Northern Sun, tying for fourth in the league standings with U-Mary.

They hit the diamond this weekend when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. where they open the season with four games at the Husky Dome Invitational. They face NSIC rivals U-Mary and Northern State tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. before playing NCC foes North Dakota and St. Cloud State at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.