RELEASE DATE: 3/30/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountie Softball Opens PSAC East Season at Millersville on Saturday – Picked to Finish 5^th in PSAC East in Coaches Poll

MANSFIELD – Off to a 14-3 start, the Mansfield University softball team will kickoff the most important part of its 2006 schedule when it opens PSAC East conference play in a doubleheader at Millersville on Saturday.

Despite the fast start, the Mountaineers are picked to finish fifth in the seven-team PSAC East in the conference preseason coaches poll released by the PSAC office today.

Defending PSAC Champion Shippensburg is picked to finish first again in the East followed by Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg and Kutztown. West Chester and Millersville are projected to finish behind Mansfield.

In the PSAC West, Lock Haven, IUP and California are the top three picks.

The top three teams in each division will qualify for the league's postseason tournament, scheduled for May 4-6.  The top seed from the Western Division will host this year's postseason tournament.

All seven teams in the PSAC have been playing well during their pre-conference schedule winning with the least successful team winning 56.0% of its games.

Edith Gallagher is in her 15^th season as head coach of the Mountaineers. Her 251 career victories are the most for any women’s coach in school history.

The Mountaineers play their home opener Wednesday April, 5 when they host East Stroudsburg in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Helen Lutes Field. The games will be broadcast live on WNTE 89.5 FM and carried live on the internet at www.gomounties.com.

2006 PSAC East Preseason Poll
1. Shippensburg
2. Bloomsburg
3. East Stroudsburg
4. Kutztown
5. Mansfield
6. West Chester
7. Millersville

2006 PSAC West Preseason Poll
1. Lock Haven
2. IUP
3. California
4. Slippery Rock
5. Edinboro
6. Clarion