ThunderWolves picked to finish high in RMAC poll

Tyler, Aldrich earn preseason all-RMAC honors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The CSU-Pueblo softball team received a fair amount of respect in the 2009 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll, picked to finish fifth.  Two Pack players, Janine Tyler (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) and Ashley Aldrich (Sr., Sahuarita, Ariz.), were also picked as preseason all-RMAC selections, the RMAC announced Tuesday.

The ThunderWolves' fifth place selection is one better than the sixth-place finish they had in 2008.  The ThunderWolves, who went 22-18 last year, were picked to finish third in the West Division, behind Mesa State and Adams State, each of which also received one first-place vote.  Colorado School of Mines was selected to win the RMAC, receiving 10 first-place votes.

Tyler, a senior shortstop, led the ThunderWolves in stolen bases in 2008 with 24, and was fourth on the team with a .354 batting average.  Her .587 slugging percentage and eight home runs were the second most on the team.  She was an honorable mention all-RMAC selection in 2008.

Aldrich, a second-team selection with the Pack in 2008, hit nine home runs with 46 RBI, tops on the team in both categories.  She also hit .357 and boasted a slugging percentage of .671, the team's highest mark. 

To view the RMAC's preseason softball release, click here.