CHARLOTTE, NC (February 1, 2023) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) announces the 2023 All-CIAA preseason softball team, as voted on by the CIAA Softball Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association, and the predicted order of finish as selected by the head coaches.

10 of the 11 players on the 2023 preseason team were on the 2022 All-CIAA team, including six first-team honorees.
 
Claflin leads the preseason team with four selections (Alexandria Beavers, Brenay Howard, Kennedy Baskerville, and Jaelyn Jackson),  followed by Elizabeth City State (Isabel Mugaas and Zeta Brown) and Bowie State (Kayla Evans and Shanya Gordon) two each. 

Claflin was picked to win the Southern Division title and Bowie State was selected to win the Northern Division crown. The Panthers, after winning the 2022 crown, were also voted by league coaches to finish atop the CIAA standings. 

Claflin, led by 2022 CIAA Coach of the Year Jose Gonzalez, finished 21-13 overall and 15-1 in CIAA action last season. The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs in the conference championship and earned a seven-seed and a berth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region.

The Bulldogs, led by coach Ed Powell, finished with a 24-21-1 overall record and an 11-5 mark in conference play in 2022.

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2023 All-CIAA Preseason Softball Team

Pitcher                                 Alaijah Pratt, Virginia State
Catcher                                Isabel Mugaas, Elizabeth City Stat
First Base                             Alexandria Beavers, Claflin
Second Base                        Zeta Brown, Elizabeth City State 
Third Base                            Kayla Evans, Bowie State
Shortstop                              Moya Jones, Johnson C. Smith
Outfield                                 Shanya Gordon, Bowie State
Outfield                                 Brenay Howard, Claflin
Outfield                                 Kennedy Baskerville, Claflin
Designated Player                Jaelyn Jackson, Claflin
Utility Player                         Malia Simmons, Winston-Salem State
 
2023 CIAA Softball Predicted Order of Finish
 
1. Claflin
2. Bowie State
3. Fayetteville State
4. Virginia State
5. Elizabeth City State
6. Winston-Salem State
7. Virginia Union
8. Lincoln (PA)
t-9. Johnson C. Smith
t-9. Shaw
11. Saint Augustine's
12. Livingstone

Northern Division

1. Bowie State
2. Virginia State
3. Elizabeth City State
4. Virginia Union
5. Lincoln (PA)
6. Shaw

Southern Division

1. Claflin
2. Fayetteville State
3. Winston-Salem State
4. Johnson C. Smith
5. Saint Augustine's
6. Livingstone