Titans Picked to Win Fourth Straight Title Jan. 17, 2003 – Fullerton, Calif.
The Cal State Fullerton softball team was picked to win its fourth consecutive
Big West Conference title, according to a poll of the league's eight head
coaches released on Friday evening.
The Titans received six of the eight first-place votes and 61 points overall,
to finish seven points ahead of Pacific. The Tigers also received a first-place
vote, as did Cal State Northridge, which was picked to finish fourth.
Pacific received 54 points while Long Beach State was picked third with
44 points. The Matadors finished with 38 points, followed by UC Santa
Barbara (36), Cal Poly (22), UC Riverside (17) and Utah State (16).
Cal State Fullerton has won or shared in six conference titles, including
back-to-back-to-back crowns in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Titans are tied
for first all-time in league championships with Fresno State, which won
six-straight Big West titles from 1987-92.
Coming off of a year in which Fullerton won 32 consecutive games and advanced
to the NCAA Regional championship game (losing to eventual National Champion
California, 1-0), the Titans are primed for a run at the Women's College
World Series in May.
Fullerton returns 11 letterwinners from last year's 53-13 squad, including
five position starters and the team's top two pitchers. The Titans also
welcome back a pair of first-team All-Americans in senior catcher Jenny
Topping and senior pitcher/infielder Gina Oaks.
The Titans open their season with an exhibition doubleheader against the
Spanish National Team on Tuesday (Jan. 28) at 5 p.m. at the Titan Softball
Complex.
2003 BIG WEST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL 1. Cal State Fullerton (6) – 61
2. Pacific (1) – 54
3. Long Beach State – 44
4. Cal State Northridge (1) – 38
5. UC Santa Barbara – 36
6. Cal Poly – 22
7. UC Riverside – 17
8. Utah State – 16
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