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St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Morris softball team has been picked for a third place finish in the 2011 season, in the annual preseason poll of the league coaches.

Picked to repeat as Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) champion was St. Scholastica, who earned six first place votes and 48 total points. Northwestern came in a close second with the other two first place votes, and 44 total points, with Morris rounding out the top-three with 33 points.

Bethany Lutheran came in fourth with 31 points, just ahead of Northland in fifth with 29. Martin Luther with 19, Presentation with 12 and Crown with eight points wrap up the preseason poll.

The Cougars finished in a tie with Northland for third in UMAC play last year with a 13-8 league mark, while St. Scholastica cruised to the regular season title with a 19-1 conference record. Northwestern was second a season ago at 14-6.

Morris has advanced to the UMAC Tournament in each of the last two seasons, and returns seven starters off last year's team. Leading the way will be senior Diane Blommel (Grey Eagle, Minn.), a returning Honorable Mention and All-Defensive Team member, as well as Emily Mehr (Aitkin, Minn.) who returns to the circle after leading the team in ERA and opponents' batting average in her freshman campaign.

The Cougars open up play on the 2011 season this weekend, with a pair of games on Mar. 5 in St. Cloud. Playing in the St. Cloud State Husky Dome, Morris will play Gustavus Adolphus at 5:00 p.m. and Valley City State at 7:00 p.m.

2011 UMAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. 48 Points - St. Scholastica (6 First Place Votes)
2. 44 Points - Northwestern (2)
3. 33 Points - Minnesota Morris
4. 31 Points - Bethany Lutheran
5. 29 Points - Northland
6. 19 Points - Martin Luther
7. 12 Points - Presentation
8. 8 Points - Crown