Bears Tabbed Second in Preseason SoCon Poll
2/4/2021 2:00:00 PM | Softball
Mercer had the most first team selections with four
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Mercer softball team was selected to finish second in the Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll with five players being named to the all-conference preseason teams, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
Danielle Castleberry, Allie Jones, Micayla Rood and Kylie Helm all garnered first team honors, while Amber Byrd earned second team accolades.
Mercer finished with the second-most players represented on the preseason all-conference teams with five, while its four first team selections were the most among the seven schools.
The Bears were picked second in the preseason poll, earning 29 points and one first-place vote. The Bears finished just behind UNCG, who totaled 31 points and three first-place votes. Chattanooga was slated third with 28 points and two first-place votes, while Samford (22 points) and ETSU (16 points) rounded out the top-5. Furman was voted sixth and received the final first-place vote with 14 points, while Western Carolina closes out the poll with seven points.
Castleberry earned a spot on the first team for the second consecutive season after leading the Bears in batting average (.369), hits (31), doubles (7), runs scored (20), hit-by-pitches (8) while ranking second in total bases (41) and RBI (14). The Ellenwood, Ga., native led the SoCon in runs scored and doubles before the 2020 season ended prematurely while also ranking second in hits and fourth in batting average and on-base percentage (.448).
Jones was recognized on the conference's preseason teams for the second time in her career after being named to the second team prior to last season. The Calhoun, Ga., native was on pace for a breakout season as she hit .357 (30-for-84) with six doubles, three triples, 19 RBI and 16 runs scored in 27 games. Jones was one of the most dangerous players on the bases in 2020 as she led the nation in most stolen bases without being caught with 18 steals. In addition to an outstanding season on the diamond, Jones became the second player in program history to earn Academic All-American honors as she was named to the third team.
Rood was selected to the preseason all-conference first team for the third consecutive season after another strong season for the Bears. The Buford, Ga., native hit .311 (28-for-90) with 17 runs, 12 walks and 10 RBI while going 8-for-9 on stolen base attempts. She totaled six multi-hit games while being the only player on the team with multiple three-hit performances. Additionally, Rood compiled an eight-game hitting streak that tied for the longest on the team.
Helm collected her first preseason recognition from the conference as she was named to the first team after a stellar rookie campaign. The Anderson, Mo., native hit an impressive .370 (10-for-27) in her first collegiate season with four doubles and a home run. She added nine RBI, three walks and three runs scored while boasting a 1.063 OPS. Helm was a threat for the Bears off the bench as she hit .429 (6-for-14) as a pinch hitter.
Byrd earned her first preseason recognition from the SoCon by being Mercer's lone representative on the second team. The Jackson, Tenn., native was a welcomed addition to the rotation for the Bears last season as she quickly became one of the team's top arms in the circle. Byrd appeared in a team-high 13 games, tallying nine starts and seven complete games. She went 5-5 in her first season donning the Orange and Black with a team-best 3.80 ERA in 62.2 innings of work. Byrd made opposing hitters uncomfortable as her .248 opponent's batting average was the fifth-lowest in the conference.
The Bears will open their season in nine days when they host Eastern Kentucky for a doubleheader on Feb. 13 as part of a three-game series with the Colonels.
Preseason Poll
Preseason Player of the Year
Emily Coltharp, Chattanooga, Jr., IF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Abby Swaney, Samford, R-Fr.
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MUSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Danielle Castleberry, Allie Jones, Micayla Rood and Kylie Helm all garnered first team honors, while Amber Byrd earned second team accolades.
Mercer finished with the second-most players represented on the preseason all-conference teams with five, while its four first team selections were the most among the seven schools.
The Bears were picked second in the preseason poll, earning 29 points and one first-place vote. The Bears finished just behind UNCG, who totaled 31 points and three first-place votes. Chattanooga was slated third with 28 points and two first-place votes, while Samford (22 points) and ETSU (16 points) rounded out the top-5. Furman was voted sixth and received the final first-place vote with 14 points, while Western Carolina closes out the poll with seven points.
Castleberry earned a spot on the first team for the second consecutive season after leading the Bears in batting average (.369), hits (31), doubles (7), runs scored (20), hit-by-pitches (8) while ranking second in total bases (41) and RBI (14). The Ellenwood, Ga., native led the SoCon in runs scored and doubles before the 2020 season ended prematurely while also ranking second in hits and fourth in batting average and on-base percentage (.448).
Jones was recognized on the conference's preseason teams for the second time in her career after being named to the second team prior to last season. The Calhoun, Ga., native was on pace for a breakout season as she hit .357 (30-for-84) with six doubles, three triples, 19 RBI and 16 runs scored in 27 games. Jones was one of the most dangerous players on the bases in 2020 as she led the nation in most stolen bases without being caught with 18 steals. In addition to an outstanding season on the diamond, Jones became the second player in program history to earn Academic All-American honors as she was named to the third team.
Rood was selected to the preseason all-conference first team for the third consecutive season after another strong season for the Bears. The Buford, Ga., native hit .311 (28-for-90) with 17 runs, 12 walks and 10 RBI while going 8-for-9 on stolen base attempts. She totaled six multi-hit games while being the only player on the team with multiple three-hit performances. Additionally, Rood compiled an eight-game hitting streak that tied for the longest on the team.
Helm collected her first preseason recognition from the conference as she was named to the first team after a stellar rookie campaign. The Anderson, Mo., native hit an impressive .370 (10-for-27) in her first collegiate season with four doubles and a home run. She added nine RBI, three walks and three runs scored while boasting a 1.063 OPS. Helm was a threat for the Bears off the bench as she hit .429 (6-for-14) as a pinch hitter.
Byrd earned her first preseason recognition from the SoCon by being Mercer's lone representative on the second team. The Jackson, Tenn., native was a welcomed addition to the rotation for the Bears last season as she quickly became one of the team's top arms in the circle. Byrd appeared in a team-high 13 games, tallying nine starts and seven complete games. She went 5-5 in her first season donning the Orange and Black with a team-best 3.80 ERA in 62.2 innings of work. Byrd made opposing hitters uncomfortable as her .248 opponent's batting average was the fifth-lowest in the conference.
The Bears will open their season in nine days when they host Eastern Kentucky for a doubleheader on Feb. 13 as part of a three-game series with the Colonels.
Preseason Poll
| Team (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. UNCG (3) | 31 |
| 2. Mercer (1) | 29 |
| 3. Chattanooga (2) | 28 |
| 4. Samford | 22 |
| 5. ETSU | 16 |
| 6. Furman (1) | 14 |
| 7. Western Carolina | 7 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Emily Coltharp, Chattanooga, Jr., IF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Abby Swaney, Samford, R-Fr.
Preseason First-Team All-SoCon
| P | Kelly Schmidt, ETSU, R-Sr. |
| P | Abby Swaney, Samford, R-Fr. |
| C | Delaney Cumbie, UNCG, Jr. |
| IF | Danielle Castleberry, Mercer, R-Sr. |
| IF | Samantha Lagrama, UNCG, Jr. |
| IF | Whitney Hinton, Samford, R-Sr. |
| IF | Emily Coltharp, Chattanooga, Jr. |
| OF | Kelly Warren, ETSU, Sr. |
| OF | Allie Jones, Mercer, Sr. |
| OF | Micayla Rood, Mercer, Sr. |
| DP | Kayleigh Willis, UNCG, R-Sr. |
| DP | Kylie Helm, Mercer, So. |
Preseason Second-Team All-SoCon
| P | Amber Byrd, Mercer, Sr. |
| P | Morgan Scott, UNCG, So. |
| C | Kylie Toler, ETSU, R-Sr. |
| IF | Julia Fritz, ETSU, Sr. |
| IF | Natalie Morgan, Furman, Jr. |
| IF | Timberlyn Shurbutt, Samford, R-Jr. |
| IF | Jasmine Palmer, UNCG, R-Sr. |
| OF | Andrea Sarhatt, ETSU, Jr. |
| OF | Makenna Matthijs, UNCG, Sr. |
| OF | Hayleigh Weissenbach, Chattanooga, R-Sr. |
| DP | Emily Bartlett, Furman, Jr. |
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MUSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballMercer v Furman VB Highlight Reel: 11/1/2025
Sunday, November 02
Men’s Basketball Preview | Head Coach Ryan Ridder
Monday, October 27
Women’s Basketball Preview | Head Coach Michelle Clark-Heard
Monday, October 27
Mercer Football Press Conference (Week 9 vs Furman)
Monday, October 27
