WATCH: CAC Softball Preseason Webcast

Perennial contenders Salisbury and Christopher Newport each received four first-place votes to headline the 2017 CAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Sea Gulls, who captured last year's title, received 46 points, edging out CNU by one point for the top spot.

Frostburg State, which has collected a third-place regular season finish each of the past three seasons, was once again picked to finish third with 36 points. York tallied 29 points to secure fourth place in the poll, with Mary Washington one point behind in fifth with 28 points. Wesley was picked to finish sixth with 20 points, followed by Penn State Harrisburg (12 points) and Southern Virginia (8 points).

2017 CAC Softball Preseason Poll

Both Salisbury and CNU represented the CAC in the NCAA Tournament last spring, with both squads falling in the regional finals. The two squads once again enter this year as the favorites in the conference, with CNU ranked 16^th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason national rankings and Salisbury receiving votes.

Three CAC squads began their 2017 campaigns this weekend, with the majority of teams set to in late February.  

The regular season will culminate with the top five teams advancing to the home field of the regular season champion April 20-22 for the CAC Championship Tournament.

Here is a brief look at each team heading into the 2017 season:

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT has advanced to the NCAA Tournament and won at least 30 games in each of the last ten seasons, and the Captains open the 2017 campaign ranked 16th in the nation in the pre-season poll from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Keith Parr begins his 14th season leading CNU, and the Captains finished 35-9 in 2016, advancing to the CAC Championship before losing to Salisbury. Christopher Newport will likely rely on speed more than power for the first time in recent memory, and the Captains return five position starters and their top two pitchers from 2016.

Wes Landrum is entering his 12th year at the helm of the FROSTBURG STATE softball program and he has guided his Bobcats to the third seed in the CAC Tournament in each of the last six years. This spring, Landrum boasts the talent to compete for the league championship as he returns three of his top four hitters and all three starting pitchers. Hannah Tavik is entering her senior season after earning NFCA All-American honors last spring after posting a .444 batting average and leading the league in hits (64). In the circle, Tavik was 13-2 overall with a 2.88 ERA. Joining Tavik on the roster are 2016 All-CAC honorees Allison Short (junior), Sam Gatton (junior) and Emily Zengel (senior).

MARY WASHINGTON enters the season with several returnees expected to shine in 2017. The Eagles welcome back returning starters Malia Rogers (.388 a year ago), Brittnee Haynes(.350), Hannah Hautz (three home runs, seven doubles) to pace the offense, while senior Erin Stinson returns to the pitcher's circle (team-high 23 appearances, 10 CG, 54K), along with sophomore Kara Deppe (five wins, 3.61 ERA, 73 K). Other returnees include Lindsey Aylor, Emma Rakowski, Amy Sykes, Caroline Callahan, and Kaitlin Kean.

PENN STATE HARRISBURG, under the guidance of 12^th-year head coach Tonya Dengler, will look to build upon last season's 13-18 (4-10 CAC) record with her solid stable of returning upperclassmen.  The team's success will begin and end with senior starting pitcher Amanda Hartman. Hartman started 19 of the team's 31 matchups last season, and finished with a 9-9 record and a 4.86 era.  She's also coming off a season in which she finished with a .350 batting average, the highest of all returning players.  Jenna Rupakus (junior, .304 BA) and Kayla Seyfert (senior, .255 BA) will both return as the team's primary middle-infielders and lineup catalysts.  Also, look for junior Emily Parmer's role to increase as the behind the dish, in centerfield, and on the base paths.  Parmer, along with Seyfert, led last year's team in stolen bases.

SALISBURY, the defending CAC champion, heads into the 2017 season looking for the program's 20th conference title and 22nd trip to the NCAA tournament. The Sea Gulls bring back three All-CAC honorees from 2016, in senior Caitlin Lake, junior LeAnne Collins, and sophomore Brooke Mizelle. Lake was a first-team All-CAC pick, while Collins was named to the second team and Mizelle earned Rookie of the Year honors. Mizelle ranked ninth in the nation in earned-run average last season, while Collins was second in the CAC in stolen bases and Lake was fourth on the team in both batting average and slugging percentage and was the first player in program history to be named a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American.

Head coach Kortny Hall enters her third season at the helm of SOUTHERN VIRGINIA and is in search for the program's first win against a CAC opponent. Among the returners for the Knights are Mollie Gabbert, Tara Hilton and Rachael Moore, who led the team's offense last season.

WESLEY was on the cusp of making the CAC Tournament in 2016 and is looking for its first postseason appearance in the program's tenure in the CAC. The Wolverines return two All-CAC players in senior catcher Nina Marcano and sophomore infielder Samantha Burns. Marcano led the Wolverines last season in extra base hits, recording five doubles, four triples, and four home runs along with hitting for a .382 average. Burns shined during her freshman campaign, tallying the second-best on-base percentage in the CAC (.545) along with a .446 batting average to rank third in 2016. Burns notched a team-high 45 hits and 27 runs scored. Senior Lindsay Siok will pace the Wolverine pitchers after collecting seven wins and a save in 2016.

YORK enters the 2017 season with elevated expectations after the Spartans went 25-17 with a very young roster. The Spartans are again a young squad with two seniors, four juniors and a pair of sophomores in addition to nine freshmen who compose the 2017 roster. York welcomes back All-CAC honorees shortstop Katie Maloney, first baseman Carleigh Ruleman and pitcher Melissa Jurkiewicz headline the Spartans heading into the campaign. Other key returners to the Spartan line up include Savannah Zittle, Haley Hirn, Joanna Marmo, and Ashley Werner.