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The University of Kentucky is ranked in both major college softball pre-season polls released Tuesday, the first time ever the Cats have been voted into a pre-season top 25.

Kentucky is ranked No. 13 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and No. 18 in the ESPN.com/USA SoftballCollegiate Top 25 Pre-season poll.

Kentucky, led by fifth-year head coach Rachel Lawson, was one of six Southeastern Conference schools ranked in both polls.

Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana State joined Kentucky in the top 25. Missouri and Texas A&M, which will join the SEC next season, also earned recognition in both polls.

"We are very appreciative of the early recognition," Lawson said. "It is our program's intention to not only live up to this expectation, but to also build throughout the season in the hope of exceeding it."

Kentucky ended last season No. 12 and No. 13 in the two polls after a run to the NCAA's super-regional round of 16, also a first for the UK program.

Fifteen letter winners will return from that squad, including the entire pitching staff. Seniors Chanda Bell and Rachel Riley form the winningest pitching tandem in UK history.

Senior Brittany Cervantes already owns the Wildcats' career home-run record with 35 in three seasons and is on pace to shatter the school's RBI record.

Junior Kara Dill and sophomore Emily Jolly were All-Southeastern Conference performers last season.

Kentucky opens the 2012 season Feb. 9 at UCLA in the Stacy Winsbery Memorial Tournament.

The Wildcats' home opener is March 9 vs. Alabama.




Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/24/20410...rylink=cpy
1. Arizona State (19) 497 1

2. Alabama 438 3

3. California 425 5

4. Florida (1) 420 2

5. Missouri 411 6

6. Oklahoma 408 7

7. Baylor 372 4

8. Arizona 331 11

9. Tennessee 316 16

10. Stanford 314 10

11. Oregon 252 14

12. Georgia 239 9

13. UCLA 235 20

14. Washington 232 15

15. Texas A&M 228 13

16. Michigan 211 17

16. Oklahoma State 211 8

18. Kentucky 203 12

19. Texas 195 19

20. LSU 106 22

20. Nebraska 106 21

22. Houston 72 18

23. Georgia Tech 62 24

24. Louisiana-Lafayette 52 25

25. Notre Dame 40 23

Others receiving votes: Syracuse 37, Ohio State 18, Tulsa 15, BYU 8, North Carolina 8, San Diego State 6, DePaul 6, Texas Tech 6, Auburn 3, Fresno Sate 3, South Florida 3, Florida State 2, Lipscomb 2, Northwestern 2, Louisville 2, Massachusetts 1, Fordham 1, UNLV 1.


National Fastpitch Coaches Association pre-season poll

Team (first-place votes) Pts. Pvs.

1. Arizona St. (30) 750 1

2. Florida 690 2

3. Alabama 675 3

4. California 651 5

5. Oklahoma 603 7

6. Missouri 594 6

7. Baylor 567 4

8. Arizona 515 11

9. Stanford 467 10

10. Georgia 455 9

11. Oklahoma St. 444 8

12. Washington 402 12

13. Kentucky 360 13

14. Tennessee 348 18

15. Michigan 324 17

16. Oregon 309 15

17. Texas A&M 297 14

18. Texas 278 20

19. UCLA 247 19

20. Houston 185 16

21. Nebraska 173 21

22. LSU 119 22

23. La.-Lafayette 95 23

24. Tulsa 45 24

24. Louisville 32 —

Others receiving votes: DePaul 23, Syracuse 18, Georgia Tech 17, Notre Dame 12, Fresno State 10, East Carolina 8, Hawaii 7, Hofstra 7, San Diego State 6, North Carolina 5, Texas Tech 5, Florida State 2, Massachusetts 2, BYU 1, Fordham 1, New Mexico St. 1.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/24/20410...rylink=cpy