Colorado School of Mines and Metro State shared the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season softball crown one season ago.
This year, the conference coaches voted the Orediggers the preseason queens of the hill.
Colorado Mines received seven first-place votes in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll and 22 overall points, 20 points better than preseason runner-up Regis.
Regis received one first-place vote.
Metro State received two first-place votes and 51 total points for third place.
Colorado Mesa received one first-place vote and 52 points.
Adams State received two first-place votes and 54 points for fifth place.
CSU-Pueblo received one first-place vote and 63 points.
Western New Mexico, UC-Colorado Springs, Chadron State and Nebraska-Kearney rounded out the top 10.
Fort Lewis College and first-year softball program Colorado Christian were picked to finish 11th place.
N.M. Highlands was picked to finish 12th, and associate member Black Hills State was picked to finish 14th. Black Hills State is not eligible for the conference tournament this season.
Katelyn Lovato, a 5-9 junior outfielder at Adams State, is the Preseason Player of the Year.
Kelly Unkrich, a 5-10 junior at Colorado Mines, is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Together with Nikki Haberkorn, a 5-8 senior utility player at Regis, the three players were the only unanimous picks for the preseason All-RMAC team.
FLC, shut out from the preseason team, will open its season at the Desert Stinger this Friday through Sunday in Las Vegas, Nev., against Upper Iowa, Mary (N.D.), Cameron (Okla.), St. Cloud State (Minn.) and Minot State (N.D.).
FLC will open RMAC play at home against Black Hills State on Feb. 25.
