Westfield, Mass.— The Bridgewater State Bears have been selected to win the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Championship as voted on by the coaches from around the league.

Bridgewater State collected six first place votes for 47 points. The Bears were the 2014 regular season and tournament champions behind MASCAC Pitcher of the Year Amber White. Having lost White to graduation, Bridgewater State will look to Jocelyn Bettencourt and Tara McCann. Last season Bettencourt had a .302 batting average with 42 hits, including six doubles and a triple plus 13 RBI while McCann hit .303 with 46 hits, including eight doubles, a triple and three home runs while tallying 29 RBI which was the third best in the league.

Earning a first place vote for 40 points is MCLA. The Trailblazers return First Team All-Conference pitcher Rachel Quackenbush from last year’s squad who helped the team to a 9-5 record in league play. She closed out 2014 with a conference best 158 strikeouts, fourth best earned run average at 1.91 and was tied for second with nine wins on the season. 

Landing the final first place vote is Salem State for a total of 36 points. During the 2014 season, Salem State ended the regular season with eight MASCAC victories. Coming back this season the Vikings is All-Conference honoree Jenn Toussaint. She was first in the MASCAC in doubles (16), third in batting average (.385) and tied for third in RBI (29). 

Sharing the fourth spot are Fitchburg State and Worcester State with 28 points. The Falcons finished with six wins in conference play last season. Marissa Gemma is back for Fitchburg State after batting . 340, team best, with 35 hits, including six doubles, three triples and 12 RBI on her way to earning Second Team All-Conference accolades. The Lancers tallied nine wins in MASCAC play last season. All-Conference Team member Courtney Salisbury returns for Worcester State. During the 2014 season, she was fifth in the MASCAC in batting average (.372) on 45 hits, including nine doubles and three triples.

Framingham State is up next in sixth with 21 points. The Rams tallied eight conference wins last season behind MASCAC Rookie of the Year Tiffanie Marsh. Last season, March led the league in batting average at .413 with 50 hits, including 11 doubles and a conference best five triples.

Westfield State and Massachusetts Maritime close out the poll in seventh and eighth, respectively. The Owls earned 17 points while the Buccaneers finished with seven points. Westfield State returns All-Conference honoree Breanne Bisceglia who batted .329 last season with 27 hits, including four doubles, three triples and 14 RBI. Back for the Buccaneers is senior Meghan Weir who returns as a two-year starter at third base.

The MASCAC kicks off their 2015 schedule this weekend with non-conference play down in Florida.