Francis Marion has been picked to finish second in the fight for the 2009 Peach Belt Conference softball crown, this according to the annual preseason coaches’ poll, released on Wednesday.

Francis Marion softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of one junior college transfer and the signing of five high school seniors during the recent early signing period: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., left-handed pitcher Murphy McConnell of Milton, Ga., utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral, Fla., and right-handed pitcher Brittany Scoggins of Boiling Springs.

The Francis Marion University women’s softball team is one of 57 NCAA Division II squads to earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic Team recognition for the 2008 season, while seven Patriot players were named NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes.

8U players needed to play in USSSA tournament at Freedom Florence that features the Baseball Youth Road Trip, a free baseball interactive experience.

Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that first baseman Tamela Bell of Covington, Ga., and right-handed pitcher Emily Dean of Edmonds, Wash., Fla., will transfer to FMU and play for the Patriots next spring.

As a senior softball standout at Hannah-Pamplico High School, Brittany Owens looked at Coker as one of her choices to continue her athletic career. Instead, she chose to play at Florence-Darlington Tech.

Francis Marion softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the signing of right-handed pitcher/first baseman Lauren Bubeck of Tequesta, Fla., and infielder/catcher Ashley Jaramillo of Canyon Country, Calif., to national letters of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots next spring.

The day after the Lady Falcons brought home the first-ever state championship for Darlington High School, three of their players signed letters of intent to play for the new team at Columbia College.

HOUSTON — Despite having a base runner in every inning, Francis Marion University could not manage the big hit needed to drive in a run as the Patriots fell to sixth-ranked Emporia State University 1-0, on Friday in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball National Finals.

The varsity softball team at Darlington High School won the school’s first-ever state championship with a 3-1 victory over J.L. Mann in extra innings Wednesday night.

HOUSTON — Right-hander Sarah Mueller tossed a four-hit shutout to lead Ferris State to a 2-0 win over Francis Marion on Wednesday in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball National Finals.
Francis Marion drops to 38-15 and falls into the losers’ bracket where the Patriots will face Barry at 11 a.m. today. Barry lost to St. Edward’s 5-4 on Wednesday. Ferris State (35-16) faces St. Edward’s in the winners’ bracket today.

LAKE VIEW — As Leigh Ann Shelley reached back to touch the plate, Lake View softball coach Chad Huggins said he could barely believe what he had just seen.
Huggins probably wasn’t the only one, either.
Capped by Avonlea Cooke’s two-run double, the Wild Gators managed three straight two-out hits in the bottom of seventh inning for a come-from-behind 5-4 win Wednesday against Chesterfield to knot the Class A state championship series at 1-1.