SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Summit League released the 2023 preseason poll this week, with North Dakota being awarded 16 points. The Fighting Hawks won 14 games last season en route to being the six seed on the conference tournament. Madi Moore and Cassie Castaneda were named as players to watch by the conference.

Moore had an outstanding 2022 in which she was named to the Summit League First-Team. The Senior outfielder from Great Falls, Mont. led the team in batting average at .347, OPS at .733, hits with 58 and total bases with 61. She was second on the team with eight stolen bases and also drew eight walks and drove in seven runs. In the field she had six outfield assists and a .986 fielding percentage. She had a huge game against North Dakota State last season with a career best five hits as well as four runs scored and two RBIs.

Castaneda started all 47 games she appeared in behind the plate, notching a .989 fielding percentage and leading the Summit League with 16 runners caught stealing. At the plate she hit .276, racked up 37 hits, nine doubles and 14 RBI--all ranked third on the team. She was the lone Hawk named to the Summit League Tournament team after going 2-3 against North Dakota State with a pair of doubles and a run driven in. She had two three hit games (vs Tarleton State, at CSU Bakersfield) last season, which set a new career high.   
 

2023 Summit League Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1st)	2022 Record (SL)
1.	South Dakota State	48 (6)	41-13 (18-2)
2.	Omaha	41 (1)	32-14 (17-4)
3.	North Dakota State	40 (1)	30-23 (10-8)
4.	South Dakota	28	28-25 (11-10)
5.	Kansas City	25	13-34 (9-11)
6.	St. Thomas	19	14-36 (8-13)
7.	North Dakota	16	14-39 (4-17)
8.	Western Illinois	7	8-37 (4-17)

For the full Summit League release, click here.