The University of North Alabama softball team has been selected to finish fifth in the Gulf South Conference according to the 2012 pre-season release. In the poll voted on by head coaches from around the league, the Lions received three votes for fourth place, two votes for fifth place and two votes for sixth place for 22 total points.
Defending GSC champion and 2011 national runner-up Alabama-Huntsville enters the 2012 campaign as the league favorite. The Chargers received 48 total points after getting six first-place votes and one second-place vote. Valdosta State (44 points), West Alabama (34 points) and West Florida (31 points) rounded out the top four in the poll, while Delta State (20 points), West Georgia (13 points) and Christian Brothers (12 points) closed out the predicted order of finish.
With the departure of the six Arkansas schools from the league at the conclusion of last season, division play was eliminated, leaving an eight-team conference race. All eight schools will qualify for the GSC Tournament, held April 27-29 at the Greenbrook Softball Complex in Southaven, Miss.
UNA's Kathryn Young was also named a pre-season All-GSC selection. The senior from Florence batted .294 for the Lions last season with 21 runs, 40 hits, two homeruns and 10 RBI. She was a second team All-GSC pick in 2011.
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