PRINCETON, W.Va. - First year head coach Ray Loeser has his team primed and ready for the 2012 campaign as the Golden Eagles were selected to finish seventh in the 14 team West Virginia Conference, as selected by the conference coaches.

Coming off a 27-23 record last season the Golden Eagles return a solid core of fielders led by last year's leading slugger Logan Tretick (Round Hill, VA). In 2011, Tretick led the team in most offensive categories with a .318 batting average that included 11 doubles and six home runs. She also accounted for a team-high 27 runs scored, while driving in 31 RBIs.

Defensively at first Charleston returns Janeen Vazquez (Cincinnati, OH) who booked a .983 fielding percentage in 2011 and finished as one of the best defensive players in the West Virginia Conference. Ashlea Wallace (Winfield, WV) returns for UC to provide a reliable glove in the middle of the field and bringing a power option to the top of the lineup offensively. Wallace was second on the team last season with four homeruns from the leadoff spot.

In the circle, Charleston has to replace four-year pitching phenom Stefanie Rossman who paced NCAA Division II for the last two seasons in strikeouts. The pitching torch will be passed down to a handful of new faces with veteran Kelsee Blackwell (New Castle, IN) showing the ropes to newcomers Emily Fultz (Germantow, OH), Bethany Cera (Bellaire, OH), Courtney Fain (Urbana, OH) and Elizabeth Rich (Pataskala, OH).

"We have a great group with a solid mix of freshman and veterans." stated Loeser "I think we can make some noise in the conference this season, we certainly have the talent to win a lot of games."

Loeser and crew will be one of the first conference teams to hit the diamond this season as they open on Saturday, Feb. 4 at noon with a double-header against regional opponent Virginia State.


2012 Softball Preseason Poll

Place	School	Points
1.	WV Wesleyan (7)	184
2.	Shepherd (2)	180
3.	WV State (4)	176
4.	Fairmont State	134
5.	Alderson-Broaddus (1)	123
6.	Glenville State	114
7.	Charleston	112
8.	Davis & Elkins	106
9.	Seton Hill	100
10.	Wheeling Jesuit	73
11.	Concord	64
12.	West Liberty	50
13.	Ohio Valley	38
14.	Bluefield State	16