University of Georgia Athletics
GEORGIA FAVORED FOR SEC EASTERN DIVISION TITLE
January 22, 2003 | Softball
Jan. 22, 2003
ATHENS, Ga.-----The Georgia Bulldogs are the Southeastern Conference Softball Coaches' favorite to win the league's Eastern Division in 2003. LSU is picked to win the Western Division and conference title in the 2003 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll announced by the league Tuesday.
LSU tallied five out of 11 first-place votes capturing the SEC regular season and tournament titles last season. Georgia garnered three votes for the title, while Alabama, Florida and South Carolina all had one vote apiece.
Georgia paced the Eastern Division votes with 47 points and seven first-place votes. South Carolina came in second with 38 points and two first-place votes. Florida was tabbed for third, tallying 35 points and two first-place votes. In the Western Division, LSU led with 58 points, followed by Alabama with 51 and Auburn with 42.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Eastern Division (due to only five teams in the division) and on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division. Coaches' were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Georgia gets its season underway next weekend as it travels to the Florida International campus in Miami for the Fun 'n Sun Classic. The Bulldogs will hold their season opener on February 14 with the first of three home tournaments and will open the conference portion of the schedule on March 8. Georgia will start SEC play at home with Auburn and will host LSU, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama in Athens this season.
The 2003 SEC Softball Tournament is slated for May 8-11 at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla.
Here are the results from the 2003 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll:
Eastern Division Team Points 1. Georgia (7) 47 2. South Carolina (2) 38 3. Florida (2) 35 4. Tennessee 26 5. Kentucky 14
Western Division Team Points 1. LSU (8) 58 2. Alabama (2) 51 3. Auburn (1) 42 4. Mississippi State 30 5. Arkansas 27 6. Ole Miss 17 ()-first-place votes in parentheses
SEC Champion: LSU (5), Georgia (3), Alabama (1), Florida (1), South Carolina (1)
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