Poirier, Rashenskas Land Preseason Honors

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Army highlighted the Patriot League preseason softball honors on Wednesday, as senior Alee Rashenskas was named Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year and sophomore Renee Poirier was selected as Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The Black Knights were also picked to finish second in the seven-team conference.

A team co-captain, Rashenskas batted .386 and slugged .455 during the 2016 season, while starting in all 59 games at second base. Rashenskas had 22 multi-hit games and finished with nine doubles and a team-high two triples. She was selected to the All-Patriot League first team last season.

Poirier appeared in 38 games in the circle last year and led Army with a 2.06 ERA, while finishing with an 11-6 overall record. She also set an Academy single-season record with 11 saves and led the NCAA in the category. Poirier garnered Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors in 2016.

Rashenskas and Poirier were among 12 Preseason All-Patriot League Selections.

Army earned 64 points, and five first-place votes, to come in second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, while Lehigh (66 points, six first-place votes) led the conference. Boston University (55 points, three first-place votes) was slotted third, followed by Bucknell (43 points), Colgate (29 points), Holy Cross (21 points) and Lafayette (16 points).

Army opens its 2017 season on Friday at Southeastern Louisiana's Lion Classic in Hammond, La. The Cadets are in action on Friday against Nicholls State at 4 p.m. ET before playing Tennessee-Martin and Southeastern Louisiana at 2 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, respectively, on Saturday. Army closes out competition at the event with two more games on Sunday, as it takes on Southern Illinois at 10 a.m. ET and Nevada at noon.

Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. Lehigh, 66 points (6)
2. Army, 64 (5)
3. Boston University, 55 (3)
4. Bucknell, 43
5. Colgate, 29
6. Holy Cross, 21
7. Lafayette, 16

Patriot League Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Alee Rashenskas, Army (Sr., 2B)
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Renee Poirier, Army (So., P)

Preseason All-Patriot League
Renee Poirier, Army (So., P)
Alee Rashenskas, Army (Sr., 2B)
Moriah Connolly, Boston University (Sr., OF)
Jilee Schanda, Boston University (Jr., OF)
Brittany Younan, Boston University (Sr., SS)
Meghan Kovan, Bucknell (Jr., 1B)
Katie Bushee, Colgate (Sr., OF)
Brooke Wensel, Lafayette (So., SS)
Christine Campbell, Lehigh (Sr., P)
Vicky Lattanzio, Lehigh (Sr., 1B)
Carolyn Wright, Lehigh (Jr., C)
Nicole Yozzo, Lehigh (Jr., OF)

Army West Point Athletics

Poirier, Rashenskas Land Preseason Honors

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