After the most successful season in program history last year, the Fort Hays State softball team was picked third in the MIAA Coaches Poll, released Friday as part of MIAA Virtual Media Day.

MIAA Virtual Media Day
 
Defending National Champion Central Oklahoma received 13 first place votes and 169 total points to top the poll, followed by Missouri Western's 156 points (and one first-place vote).  Though FHSU did not receive any first-place votes, the Tigers were given 138 voting points in third.  Emporia State (130 points) and Northeastern State (130 points) rounded out the top 5.  Sixth in the poll, Pittsburg State had 111 points, and Central Missouri was seventh with 95 points. 

Closing out the top 10 the rankings were Northwest Missouri State (93 points), Missouri Southern (73 points) and Lindenwood (63 points).  Washburn, which earned 51 points, was 11th with Nebraska-Kearney (40) 11 points behind.  Lincoln (25 points) and Southwest Baptist (15 points) were Nos. 13 and 14 in the rankings.
 
The Tigers went 47-12 (21-5 MIAA) last season, winning the MIAA Tournament as the second-seed and earning the top seed in the Central Region.  FHSU hosted the NCAA Regional, a program first, but fell to eventual National and Regional Champion Central Oklahoma FHSU returns 14 players from the 2013 squad and welcomes seven newcomers looking to make their mark.
 
Sophomore Paxton Duran will look for continued growth in her role as a starting pitcher after going 15-7 with a 3.09 ERA in 149.2 innings pitched.  Duran's 107 strikeouts were second highest on the team, behind 2013 All-American Maddie Holub.  Other returners in the circle are Jordan Jones (3-0, 2.33 ERA) and Katlyn Kern (0-1, 5.25 ERA).  New faces at pitcher for FHSU include junior transfers Kelsey Kimminau (University of Minnesota) and Sarah Cochran (Garden City Community College).  Kimminau had two saves at the Division I level last season, throwing 36 total innings.  Cochran, a left-hander, last played in 2012 and went 8-2 with 38 strikeouts and a 2.87 ERA in 61 innings pitched.  Cochran will see time in the batter's box as well this season, racking up five doubles and one home run in 33 plate appearances (.394 batting average) at GCCC.
 
Offensively, a team that hit 48 home runs, drove in 276 runs and hit .299 combined returns all but one hitter to the starting lineup.  Of the seven Tigers who started all 59 games last season, six return – Amanda Vaupel (Jr., Olathe, Kan.), Bianca Adame (Sr., El Paso, Texas), Danie Brinkmann (Sr., Foristell, Mo.), Tori Beltz (So., Rose Hill, Kan.), Courtney Dobson (So., Broken Arrow, Okla.) and Kellsi Olsen (Sr., Wickenburg, Ariz.). 
 
Vaupel was second on the team in average (.339) and RBI (47), while racking up nine doubles and six home runs.  Adame's speed was potent on the basepaths, as the outfielder player went 40-of-43 on stolen base attempts while hitting .325 (69-for-212).  Brinkmann, who hit .317, led the team with 13 doubles and was second with 38 walks.  Beltz had eight home runs, nine doubles and 44 RBI with a .300 average.  Dobson (.288 average) just missed the .300 mark, racking up 55 hits and 21 walks.  Jenna Lang, who appeared in 41 games, was the other Tiger to hit over .300, going 20-for-66 at the plate (.303) with nine RBI.
 
Newcomers expected to see playing time in the field and at the plate are freshmen Kylie Strand (Surprise, Ariz.), Samantha Villarreal (Loveland, Colo.) and Kelli Koehler (Humansville, Mo.) and sophomore Rilee Krier (Strasburg, Colo.).  Krier, a transfer from Northern Colorado, appeared in 29 games as a freshman with five stolen bases.
 
Defensively, the team committed just 47 errors for a .970 fielding percentage last season, ranking 11th nationally.  Callie Wright had 394 putouts, while Kellsi Olsen led the team with 82 assists.
 
Fort Hays State opens its season at the Arkansas Monticello 8-State Classic, Feb. 14-16, in Bentonville, Ark.  The Tigers' complete 2014 schedule is available here.
 
The complete 2014 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll is below…

2014 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st place votes)	Points
1. Central Oklahoma (13)	169
2. Missouri Western  (1)	156
3. Fort Hays State	138
4. Emporia State	130
5. Northeastern State	115
6. Pittsburg State	111
7. Central Missouri	95
8. Northwest Missouri	93
9. Missouri Southern	73
10. Lindenwood	63
11. Washburn	51
12. Nebraska-Kearney	40
13. Lincoln	25
14. Southwest Baptist	15