| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
'00 Overall |
'00 NWC |
| Pacific Lutheran University |
(7) |
70 |
36-6-1 |
18-4 |
| Willamette University |
(1) |
57 |
25-10 |
15-6 |
| University of Puget Sound |
|
45 |
29-13 |
15-6 |
| Linfield College |
|
42 |
24-10 |
14-7 |
| Lewis & Clark College |
|
28 |
11-19 |
7-13 |
| Pacific University |
|
20 |
10-22 |
6-15 |
| George Fox University |
|
20 |
6-25 |
3-18 |
| Whitworth College |
|
14 |
6-27 |
5-15 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
NWC Coaches Select PLU Heavy 2001 Softball Favorite
Spokane, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran University is picked to win its third consecutive Northwest Conference fastpitch softball title in a vote of NWC coaches. The voting nearly matched the final 2000 standings.
The Lutes, who narrowly lost a hard fought NCAA West Regional to eventual national champion Chapman University, picked up seven first place votes and 70 total points. Shannon Fitzke, the 2000 NWC Player of the Year, will lead PLU again in 2001, along with All-NWC pitcher Melissa Korb. PLU has won five of the last six NWC titles.
Willamette University was given the other first place vote and finished second in the poll with 57 points. The Bearcats, who tied for second place with UPS last season, will look to All-NWC infielder Sherri Mabie to lead the attack.
The University of Puget Sound and Linfield College followed closely behind with 45 and 42 points, respectively. All-NWC player Heather Lovejoy will lead UPS. Linfield finished strongly last season, winning eight of its final 10 games, to finish in fourth place.
Lewis & Clark College was picked fifth with 28 points. Pacific University and George Fox University tied for sixth in the poll with 20 points. Whitworth College was eighth with 14 points.