ATLANTA - Piedmont softball has been picked to finish fourth, as the Collegiate Conference of the South released its 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll Thursday afternoon.

The Lions are coming off of a fourth-place finish in 2024 after going 10-6 in the league and 18-21 overall against a difficult non-conference schedule.

Defending CCS Champion and preseason NFCA National Poll No. 5 Belhaven has been picked to repeat as league champions, garnering 62 total points and six first-place votes. Huntingdon finds itself in second-place and No. 25 in the NFCA Preseason Poll. The Hawks tallied 57 total points and the remaining three first-place votes.

Maryville slots in at third-place votes with 51 points, ahead of the Lions at 43 points in fourth.

LaGrange (34) took fifth place while newcomer to the CCS Asbury is in sixth at 30 points. 

Covenant (18), Agnes Scott (17) and Wesleyan (12) round out the listing.

Although Piedmont must replace departing seniors Kara Taylor and Kaitlin Isley from its infield, the team returns a good portion of the production from 2024's team. 

Sophomore shortstop Maddi Spieks returns at the top of the lineup while two-time All-CCS performer Jasmine Lowery is back after another solid campaign in 2024. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Megan Steinmeyer returns to anchor the pitching staff after leading the team with over 100 innings pitched last season.

The Lions are slated to open their 2025 season at home in tournament action against Mount St. Joseph and Emory next weekend.


2025 CCS SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Belhaven 62 pts (6)
2. Huntingdon 57 pts (3)
3. Maryville 51 pts 
4. Piedmont 43 pts
5. LaGrange 34 pts
6. Asbury 30 pts
7. Covenant 18 pts
8. Agnes Scott 17 pts
9. Wesleyan 12 pts