Troy University Athletics
Trojans Ranked Second in Preseason Poll, McCallum Named to Conference Team
1/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
As voted by the coaches, Troy is picked to finish the season behind nationally ranked and current Sun Belt Champions Louisiana-Lafayette. UL Lafayette has been the conference champion for the past six years and is currently ranked 18th nationally in the NFCA's preseason poll.
McCallum was selected to be on the preseason team because of her performance last season for the Trojans. McCallum had a record of 20-9 in 2005 with 36 appearances and 304 strikeouts.
McCallum will not be returning to Troy this spring, however; because she has decided to remain in Australia and pursue her lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics. McCallum is a member of the Australian national team that will have a chance to qualify for the Olympics at the ISF World Championships in Beijing, China, Aug. 27 through Sept. 5.
We have just learned that senior pitcher Jocelyn McCallum will be unable to return to Troy to continue her education and play softball this spring,” softball head coach Melanie Davis said. It's been Jocelyn's lifelong dream to represent her country in the Olympics and she is a leading candidate to do so in what could potentially be the final softball Olympics in 2008.”
Extensive measures were pursued to allow Jocelyn to compete for us as well as in events where she was needed in Australia, but it was determined that completely remaining in Australia to train and compete were in her best interests,” Davis said. She was torn regarding this decision because of her love for Troy University, our program and in particular our athletes and coaches. We will sorely miss Joss and wish her the very best in all of her personal and athletic endeavors.”
Troy will open the softball season on Feb. 11 when it will host the inaugural Trojan Classic at the Trojan Softball Complex.
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Louisiana-Lafayette (6) 36
2. Troy 27
3. Western Kentucky 23
4. Florida International 19
5. North Texas 13
6. Middle Tennessee 8
* First place votes in parenthesis
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team
P - Jocelyn McCallum (Troy, Sr.)
P - Adrienne Lathrop (Western Kentucky, Sr.)
C - Tabitha Embry (Florida International, Jr.)
1B - Lacey Bertucci (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr.)
2B - Brittany Bryant (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
SS - Bailey Rolfs (Western Kentucky, Sr.)
3B - Susan Waters (North Texas, Junior)
OF - Deomni Murray (Florida International, Jr.)
OF - Danyele Gomez (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
OF - Alana Towns (Western Kentucky, Jr.)
DP - Jennifer Powell (Florida International, Sr.)
Preseason Player of the Year: Danyele Gomez
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Adrienne Lathrop
