Information gathered is courtesy of UMaine Athletics:
The defending 2016 America East softball champion Maine Black Bears were chosen to finish in first place for 2017 Wednesday afternoon in the preseason America East coaches poll.
Maine was picked as the unanimous choice to repeat as conference champions receiving 36 points and six first place votes. Following Maine with the only other first place vote was Binghamton. Albany was third, Stony Brook fourth, and UMBC and UMass-Lowell tied for fifth. Hartford rounded out the poll at seventh.
Maine finished 28-21 a year ago, winning the America East title with a 14-1 win over Albany. Maine went on to play both Georgia and Oklahoma State in the NCAA regionals. The Bears return 19 of 20 players from last years championship team, including pitcher of the year Erin Bogdonavich and rookie of the year Alyssa Derek.
Maine opens up the season on February 10th when they meet Missouri-Kansas City in Nashville, Tennessee at 7:30 p.m.
