Alabama Softball Selected As Preseason Favorite To Win SEC

Alabama Softball received seven first-place votes in an SEC coaches poll released on Monday, marking the program's third consecutive selection as favorites in the annual preseason ranking.

SEC coaches, who aren't able to vote for their own program, give each school a ranking on a 1-13 scale. The Crimson Tide came away with 138 total points and more than doubled No. 2 Florida for first place votes (3). No. 3 Arkansas received two first-place votes (124 pts) and No. 4 Tennessee (103 pts) managed pick up a first place vote as well.

Seasoned coach Patrick Murphy and staff are returning 11 members from 2021's 'Team 25,' a team which garnered the program's 13th appearance at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Notably, new Team USA member and NFCA Pitcher of the Year Montana Fouts returns for her senior season after being named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2021, the sharing of a title many SEC softball fans weren't satisfied with no matter their fandom.

Three time All-American Kaylee Tow, on her final year of colliegiate eligiblity, also returns to the Tide in hopes to sustain the offensive production lost in the offseason. Tow was second on the high-octane Alabama offense in OPS (1.001) and started all 61 games for the Crimson Tide en route to the 2021 SEC tournament championship.

Alabama's opening game of the 2022 season is officially under two weeks away as they'll start with a weekend tournament, the Candrea Classic, out in Tuscon, Arizona, on Friday, February 11.

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'Team 26' will take on Southern Utah, Oregon State, Arizona, and New Mexico during the three-day roadtrip before coming back to Tuscaloosa to open home play against Evansville on Friday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m. CST.

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