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The first pitch of the 2024 softball season is almost here, and the SEC is looking like the deepest conference in the country again.
The SEC has nine teams in the NFCA preseason rankings, with Tennessee softball at No. 2, behind reigning national champion Oklahoma. After the way the top teams in the SEC reloaded in the transfer portal and several highly rated freshman classes, nothing is certain in the last season of the SEC as we know it.
Now, on to the preseason SEC power rankings:
1. Tennessee
Tennessee returns seven of its nine starters from the team that swept the SEC titles last season. But NFCA Pitcher of the Year Ashley Rogers graduated, so we’ll see if the Lady Vols’ pitching holds up to back up its offensive firepower.
2. Georgia
The Bulldogs finished only a few games behind Tennessee and didn’t get a chance to square off last year. But this season, with a few All-ACC additions, they’ll go to Knoxville and get a chance to show who the top team in the SEC is.
3. LSU
The Tigers return nearly all of their starters and brought in the No. 5 freshman class. Can the youngsters take LSU to the next level after it finished sixth in the SEC last season?
4. Alabama
Alabama scored one of the top pitchers in the transfer portal in Kayla Beaver and brought in highly regarded freshman Jocelyn Briski to help fill the Montana Fouts-sized hole in its pitching staff. But the Crimson Tide lost their two best hitters to graduation, and they’ll need a lot more firepower to return to the top of the SEC.
5. Florida
The Gators cleaned up in the portal to add to their No. 1-ranked freshman class. With reigning NFCA and SEC Player of the Year Skylar Wallace and a talented freshman pitching staff, Florida just might turn into a contender this season.
6. Auburn
Auburn’s roster saw a lot of turnover, but when you have Nelia Peralta leading off and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/sec-softball-power-rankings-reigning-010152463.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-02-06 01:01:52
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