School	(1st)	Pts.	'03 Overall	'03 NWC
Pacific Lutheran University	6	68	32-3	25-1
Linfield College	1	56	27-11	21-5
Willamette University		43	18-16	16-10
Whitworth College	1	41	18-21	15-13
University of Puget Sound		36	13-20	9-17
Pacific University		24	17-22	11-17
Lewis & Clark College		19	12-26	9-19
George Fox University		9	5-31	2-26

(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).

 

Pacific Lutheran Heavy Favorite to Win Softball Title Again
 

Spokane, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran University is a strong favorite to win its sixth straight Northwest Conference softball title and the Lutes' 17th in the last 18 years. Six returning All-Northwest Conference selections will lead PLU in 2004, including 2003 NWC Player of the year Jewel Koury, a senior pitcher and utility player. PLU picked up six out of eight first place votes and 68 poll points. The Lutes finished 32-3 overall last season and 25-1 in the NWC before falling to eventual national champion Central College (Iowa) in the West Region Final.

Linfield College, last season's runner-up, picked up one first place vote and finished second in the poll with 56 points. The Wildcats welcome the return of a pair of All-NWC players, including junior pitcher Michelle Morris.

Willamette University and Whitworth College were third and fourth in the poll, respectively, separated by just two points. The Bearcats, who will be led by senior All-NWC infielder Marcie Hagen, picked up 43 points. The Pirates, who handed PLU its only NWC loss last season, got the final first place vote and 41 points in the poll.

The University of Puget Sound was fifth in the poll with 36 points. All-NWC infielder Maren Buck will lead the Loggers.

Pacific University, with All-NWC utility player Allison Hennes returning, was sixth in the poll with 24 points. Lewis & Clark College was seventh (19 points) and George Fox University was eighth (nine points).

George Fox kicks off the NWC softball season by hosting Western Baptist in a double header on February 14th.