Canisius College is the Team to Beat in 2008 MAAC Softball Season
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. ? Canisius College is the team to beat going into the 2008 MAAC softball season, according to a preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Canisius finished with 76 points in the poll, 12 points ahead of second-place Niagara University (64). Marist College placed third with 59 points. Fairfield University took fourth (53), followed by Saint Peter’s College (51), Siena College (33), Iona College (30), Manhattan College (20) and Rider University (19).
Canisius’ Katie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) was chosen as the 2008 MAAC Softball Preseason Player of the Year. Miranto earned All-MAAC honors after leading the Griffs with her .371 (52-for-140) batting average. She recorded nine doubles, seven homers, five triples and 27 RBIs. Miranto also set a school record with 44 runs scored.
Eight of the MAAC’s nine schools are represented on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Fairfield’s Erin Frank (Scottsdale, Ariz.) is the catcher. The infield includes Miranto, Melissa Giordano (Stamford, Conn.) from Marist, Tory Healy (Las Vegas, Nev.) from Niagara, Chrissy Gannon (Langhorne, Pa.) from Saint Peter’s and Jennifer Granato (Clifton Park, N.Y.) from Siena. In the outfield are Canisius’ Jenny Maheu (Hollister, Calif.), Fairfield’s Julia Jacoby (San Diego, Calif.), Niagara’s Kristin Kill (South Portland, Maine) and Rider’s Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif.). Manhattan’s Danielle Just (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) is the designated player, and Canisius’ Cameron Norton (Las Lomas, Calif.) is the utility player. Marist’s Megan Rigos (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was chosen as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
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2008 MAAC Softball Preseason Poll |
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2008 MAAC Softball Preseason Team |
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1. |
Canisius |
76 |
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Erin Frank |
Catcher |
Fairfield |
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2. |
Niagara |
64 |
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Katie Miranto |
Infield |
Canisius |
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3. |
Marist |
59 |
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Melissa Giordano |
Infield |
Marist |
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4. |
Fairfield |
53 |
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Tory Healy |
Infield |
Niagara |
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5. |
Saint Peter’s |
51 |
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Chrissy Gannon |
Infield |
Saint Peter’s |
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6. |
Siena |
33 |
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Jennifer Granato |
Infield |
Siena |
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7. |
Iona |
30 |
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Jenny Maheu |
Outfield |
Canisius |
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8. |
Manhattan |
20 |
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Julia Jacoby |
Outfield |
Fairfield |
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9. |
Rider |
19 |
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Kristin Kill |
Outfield |
Niagara |
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Tiffany Day-Neutill |
Outfield |
Rider |
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Danielle Just |
Designated Player |
Manhattan |
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Cameron Norton |
Utility Player |
Canisius |
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Megan Rigos |
Pitcher |
Marist |
2008 Preseason Player of the Year: Katie Miranto, Canisius