Weber State softball, the frequent trophy-winners they are, have been picked to win the Big Sky Conference for the 2022 season, according to the league’s coaches poll released Monday.

Weber State received four of a possible six first-place votes to land at the top of the poll (there are seven teams in the conference, but coaches don’t vote for their own teams).

Portland State received two first-place votes and is second. Sacramento State is third, with one first-place vote. Following them, Southern Utah, Montana, Northern Colorado and Idaho State round out the order of the poll.

The Wildcats went 25-19 last season, including a first-place 15-3 conference record that won the regular-season title — that also grants WSU rights to host this year’s conference tournament — before being stunned by PSU and Sac State in consecutive games to get bounced out of last year’s tournament without a win.

WSU returns nearly all of its production from last season, with first baseman Ashlyn Visser, pitcher Kate Donaldson and infielder Hailey Fisher as graduates who moved on from the team.

Those returners include last year’s Big Sky Conference player of the year, catcher and utility player Lauren Hoe. The senior hit .330 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles and 34 RBIs in 2021.

It also includes reigning pitcher of the year in senior Mariah Ramirez. She posted a league-best 3.23 ERA and, in 104 innings, struck out 76 batters. She also hit .344 with five homers, five doubles and 18 RBIs at the plate.

Also returning: reigning conference freshman of the year, outfielder Mia Rushton. She led Weber State at the plate last season, batting .388 with four doubles, five triples and 19 RBIs.

Chloe Camarero, Faith Hoe, Katelyn Whiting, Emily Ruhl, McKell McCuiston, Makayla Donahoo, Noelle Foster and Amanda Sink are also key returners from 2021.

The Wildcats have also added an experienced, honor-winning arm to the circle. BYU senior graduate transfer pitcher and first baseman Arissa Henderson will play at WSU this season. Henderson was the 2019 West Coast Conference pitcher of the year and played in 152 games at BYU, starting 139.

Weber State begins its season in Arizona at a five-game tournament hosted by Grand Canyon University from Feb. 11-13, in which it will play host GCU, Kansas, Fordham, and Bradley.

The Wildcats play three nonconference home games at Wildcat Softball Field. The home opener is March 22 against Utah Valley, and WSU also hosts Utah on March 27 and April 19. WSU plays home conference series against Southern Utah (April 8-9), Montana (April 15-16), and Sacramento State (April 29-30) before hosting the conference tournament May 11-14.

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