Morningside College, champions of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) postseason in 2008, is the coaches' choice to win the 2009 GPAC softball title. The Mustangs garnered 139 points and seven first place votes in the preseason poll. Morningside posted a 40-12 record last spring. Midland Lutheran is picked second with 128 points and five first place votes. The final first place vote went to Concordia, champions of the GPAC regular season last spring. The Bulldogs are picked third in the balloting with 115 points. Dana, who claimed the final NAIA Region III Championship last year, is picked fourth in the 13 team league poll.
The GPAC softball season will once again consist of 24 games (12 doubleheaders) and conclude with the GPAC Postseason Tournament on Apri1 29-May 1 at the SYA Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa.
Points were assigned on a 12-1 basis and coaches' could not vote for their own team.
Here is the complete GPAC Softball 2009 preseason coaches' poll:
Team | Points | First Place Votes |
1. Morningside | 139 | 7 |
2. Midland Lutheran | 128 | 5 |
3. Concordia | 115 | 1 |
4. Dana | 105 | |
5. Doane | 100 | |
6. Northwestern | 84 | |
7. Briar Cliff | 77 | |
8. Nebraska Wesleyan | 75 | |
9. Hastings | 73 | |
10. Sioux Falls | 37 | |
11. Dakota Wesleyan | 35 | |
12. Dordt | 28 | |
13. Mount Marty | 18 | |