CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team is picked to defend its 2024 regular season title in the 2025 Southern Conference Preseason Poll, the league office announced today. Junior pitcher Peja Goold is the SoCon coaches' pick for Preseason Pitcher of the Year and is joined by four on the preseason teams.
 
Chattanooga claimed its 15^th regular season title in 2024. The Mocs received six first place votes and 48 points in the voting. UNCG was second with one vote and 39 points followed by Mercer with 30 points. Samford (28 points) is fourth, Wofford (25) is fifth in the voting, Western Carolina, receiving the final vote, is sixth with 23 points while Furman finished seventh in the voting with 19 points and ETSU eighth with 12.
 
Goold, the 2024 SoCon Pitcher of the Year is expected to repeat by the league coaches. She is joined on the first team by teammate, senior outfielder Camryn Cernuto.
 
On the second team, UTC placed infielders Olivia Lipari and Kailey Snell along with outfielder Baileigh Pitts.
 
UTC has claimed 15 SoCon regular season titles in 30 years along with 16 SoCon Championship crowns and 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Chattanooga starts the season Friday, Feb. 7 against Fairleigh Dickinson at the Stetson Frank Griffin Classic at 9:30 a.m., in DeLand, Fla.
 
Come out tonight to meet the team at "Meet the Mocs". The event, free and open to the public, begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Mocs Indoor Hitting Facility located at Warner Park.
 
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Preseason Poll Team (First-Place Votes) Points 1. Chattanooga (6) 48 2. UNCG (1) 39 3. Mercer 30 4. Samford 28 5. Wofford 25 6. Western Carolina (1) 23 7. Furman 19 8. ETSU 12

Preseason Player of the Year
Cameron Young, ETSU, Sr., IF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Peja Goold, Chattanooga, Jr.
 
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
P          Peja Goold, Chattanooga, Jr.
P          Margaret Axelson, Wofford, Jr.
C          Logan Champion, Samford, Sr.
IF         Cameron Young, ETSU, Sr.
IF         Tori Hedgecock, Mercer, Sr.
IF         Lily Bell, Western Carolina, So.
IF         Kate Platte, Wofford, R-So.
OF       Caitlin Goldwait, Furman, Sr.
OF       Grace Loftin, UNCG, Sr.
OF       Camryn Cernuto, Chattanooga, Sr.
DP       Olivia Shaw, SAM, So.
 
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
P          Grace Taylor, Mercer, Jr.
P          Jordyn Partain, Samford, Sr.
C          Betsy Eatmon, UNCG, So.
IF         Riley Nayadley, ETSU, Sr.
IF         Sarah Squillace, Samford, Sr.
IF         Olivia Lipari, Chattanooga, Sr.
IF         Kailey Snell, Chattanooga, Gr.
OF       Brylee Mesusan, ETSU, Jr.
OF       McKayla Cothran, SAM, Sr.
OF       Baileigh Pitts, Chattanooga, Jr.
DP       Sylvia Burroughs, Furman, Jr.
DP       Jorde Chartrand, UNCG, Sr.