Preseason expectations are set as ASUN softball unveils its 2026 coaches’ poll and preseason awards.
recently unveiled its preseason coaches poll and awards. All 12 head coaches in the league were of the same thought and selected the North Florida Ospreys as the preseason favorite, with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels coming in second.
North Florida's 2025 season ended with a 47-14 record and near perfect conference record of 22-2. ASUN Coach of the Yearand the Ospreys swept the conference titles last season, winning the regular season and the program's first conference tournament championship in history. Their historic run ended with an NCAA Regional Final appearance in Columbia, S.C. UNF returns redshirt junior outfielder Kalyn McCarthy, who was also voted as the 2026 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Eastern Kentucky Colonels were right there last season, finishing 38-16 and winning 17 of 20 home games during the season. The Colonels fell short in the ASUN Tournament, where they dropped two games to the champion Ospreys by two runs combined. Kennedy Drafton is back and ready to go. The 2025 First Team All-ASUN selection started all 53 games for EKU, slashing .356/.489/.610 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs, 10 doubles, and 52 runs scored with 12 stolen bases added. Drafton was also placed on the All-ASUN preseason team.In Conway, Ark., the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears were voted third after a 28-27 year in 2025. However, UCA Head Coach Kayla Lucas has some outstanding pieces that are looking to make a better go of it in 2026. Addie Graham and Kaitlyn Graham were voted to the Preseason All-ASUN, with Addie selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. Graham was a First Team All-ASUN selection last season and the ASUN Freshman of the Year. Kaitlyn was selected as a Third Team selection in 2025 and placed on the ASUN All-Freshman team.The conference coaches selected an 11-person Preseason All-ASUN team, with North Alabama placing three on the list in pitchers Emily Simon and Alivia Wilken, and infielder Briley Dover. Florida Gulf Coast, Austin Peay, and Central Arkansas placed two players each, with Eastern Kentucky and Stetson placing one each on the preseason list.Graham of the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears was a 2025 First Team All-ASUN selection as an outfielder and Freshman of the Year. Graham had a breakout freshman year, setting the standard with a .389 batting average with three home runs, 34 RBIs, 12 doubles, and one triple with 43 runs scored. In the field, Graham recorded 97 putouts with nine assists and eight errors for a fielding percentage of .930 in 114 total chances.Both North Alabama pitchers Emily Simon and Alivia Wilken earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors. Simon recorded a 2.18 ERA with a 9-4 record and 62 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched across 19 appearances. One of the best things on her stat sheet is that no home runs were given up last season.Congrats to both Alivia Wilken and Emily Simon on being voted the ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year!Wilken posted a 12-8 record with a 2.66 ERA and 104 strikeouts to 37 walks in 142 innings pitched in 2025. In 23 starts, Wilken tossed a complete game on 11 occasions, including against Detroit Mercy, where she notched 10 strikeouts in a complete game effort, allowing just two hits and two walks.Howard was a 2025 First Team All-ASUN selection and finished that season with a .354 batting average with eight home runs, 37 RBIs, seven doubles, three triples, and 38 runs scored. She recorded a hit in 38 games and recorded 18 extra-base hits on the year. On May 1, 2025, against Lipscomb, the Brighton, Tenn. native hit for the cycle, which was the first in program history. McCarthy was an every day centerfielder for the Ospreys in 2025 with 103 putouts, five assists, and just two errors in 110 total chances. That set her with a .982 fielding percentage."She has a chance to win a gold glove. She makes SportsCenter Top 10 catches daily in practice, as well as in games. She takes tremendous pride in that side of her game," said UNF Head Coach Jeff Conrad via Conference play begins on March 14 and will conclude with the ASUN Championship May 5-9 at the UNF Softball Complex in Jacksonville, Florida.Charles Mays is the owner of Mays SportsWire, LLC. Raised in Ridgely, Tenn., he currently resides in Knoxville, Tenn. He began his media career with Tomahawk Nation, part of SB Nation, where he covered Florida State athletics and also covered Clemson. In June of 2025, Mays launched Fastpitch Wire Softball to provide consistent coverage of the game at every level, an outlet that has consistently grown since its launch.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A Meaningful Return Is Fueling Momentum for FIU Softball in 2026Head Coach Mike Larabee is back in the Panther dugout this year after missing last season due to illness
Read more »
MaxPreps Names Best High School Softball Teams to Watch in 2026The 2026 spring high school softball season is on its way, and MaxPreps has announced who the best teams are in each state.
Read more »
Billboard 2026 Power 100 List RevealedBillboard’s 2026 Power 100 list has been revealed, including 2026’s executive of the year.
Read more »
America East Softball Announces 2026 Preseason Rankings, All-Conference TeamAmerica East Softball releases its preseason rankings and All-Conference Team, highlighting the league’s top programs and players entering the season.
Read more »
Peyton Bonds Gives Rutgers a Preseason All-Big Ten Presence for 2026Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds was named to Perfect Game’s preseason All-Big Ten Team.
Read more »
Louisville Baseball Picked to Finish Fourth in 2026 ACC Preseason PollThe Cardinals are coming off of a College World Series appearance last season.
Read more »