OTAHKIANS PICKED TO RECAPTURE TOP SPOT

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team had its string of five consecutive regular-season Ohio Valley Conference championships snapped last year.

But the Otahkians are expected to be back on top this season as they have been picked to win the OVC title in the league's preseason poll that was released Monday. Voting was done by the conference's head coaches.

The Otahkians received four of a possible seven first-place votes.

Tennessee Tech garnered two first-place votes and was picked to finish second while Eastern Illinois received the other two first-place votes and was tabbed for third.

Rounding out the predicted order of finish were Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State and Austin Peay.

Southeast returns 10 letterwinners, including five starters, from last year's squad that went 31-24 overall, finished third in the OVC at 17-7 and was the runner-up in the conference tournament.

"The ranking shows that the other coaches in the league have great respect for our program," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "But as close as the vote of one through four is concerned, that should be an indication of how competitive the league will be this year."

The Otahkians open the season March 2 by hosting the third annual Southeast Softball Classic.