Breakthrough Poll Sets Pace: Pace Edges NE10 Softball Favorites for 2026
Table of Contents
- 1. Breakthrough Poll Sets Pace: Pace Edges NE10 Softball Favorites for 2026
- 2. Context and Outlook
- 3. >
- 4. NE10 Softball Coaches’ Poll 2026: Pace Setters Crowned Repeat Champions
- 5. How the NE10 Coaches’ Poll Determines the Rankings
- 6. Pace Setters: What Made Them a Two‑Year Powerhouse?
- 7. 1. Consistent Offensive Production
- 8. 2. Pitching Dominance
- 9. 3. Defensive Efficiency
- 10. 4. Coaching Innovation
- 11. Benefits of repeating as NE10 Champions
- 12. Practical Tips for Opposing Teams
- 13. Case Study: 2025 Season – The Blueprint for 2026 Success
- 14. Outlook: What to Expect from the Pace Setters in 2026‑27
Coaches across the Northeast-10 have XI named Pace as the team to beat in 2026, rewarding the Setters with 78 votes and six first-place tallies as they bid to defend their conference title.
Pace opens the spring with a notable gap in the pitching staff, following the graduation of Gisselle Garcia, one of the league’s most prolific pitchers and all-time strikeout leader. The club responds by returning frontline arms Alyssa Smart and priscilla Del Toro, while the offence brings back key contributors Willa Poplawski and Riley Jenkins, both recognized as all-conference performers, along with catcher katerina Luna.
Assumption,the 2025 NE10 Championship runner-up,brings back a potent trio on offense—outfielder Kaitlyn Cahill and infielders Maddy Bland and Grace Heim—who helped fuel a championship push down the stretch last year. the Hounds received the second-most first-place votes in the poll.
Southern new Hampshire secured a 26-19 record last season (12-8 NE10) and enters 2026 as the wait-list contender.Seniors Abby Lineman and Peyton Feldman are expected to anchor the lineup, supported by a veteran pitching duo in Charlotte Donovan and Julianna Colbert.
Franklin Pierce sits among the near-top contenders, riding a youthful but talented roster. Veterans Kennedy Morris and Georgia Clough are back in the circle, while Charlit Hartenstein remains a standout behind the plate, after hitting .372 last spring.
The conference also welcomes two new head coaches, with Brook Capello guiding bentley and Alyssa Williamson leading Saint Anselm. Both programs were listed in the poll’s upper half, reflecting optimism for fresh leadership in 2026.
Below are the full results from the 2026 NE10 Softball Coaches’ Poll.
| Place | Team | Votes | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pace | 78 | 6 |
| 2 | SNHU | 65 | 1 |
| 3 | Assumption | 61 | 3 |
| T4 | Franklin Pierce | 52 | — |
| T4 | Bentley | 52 | — |
| 6 | adelphi | 46 | — |
| 7 | Saint Anselm | 37 | — |
| 8 | Saint Michael’s | 23 | — |
| 9 | Southern Connecticut | 20 | — |
| 10 | American International | 16 | — |
Context and Outlook
The NE10 spans 10 institutions across 24 NCAA Division II sports, cultivating opportunities for nearly 4,500 student-athletes who compete for conference championships each year. The conference emphasizes excellence in competition and academics, aiming to deliver a well-rounded collegiate athletic experience.
As the 2026 season unfolds, Pace’s blend of returning talent and fresh rotation depth will be watched closely. Offensively, the team relies on proven contributors to carry the scoring load while the pitching staff seeks consistency behind a new ace in development.Other programs bring established stars and promising newcomers who could reshape the standings as the year progresses.
What player matchup or team turnaround do you predict will shape the NE10 race this season? Which club has the clearest path to dethroning Pace?
Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for week-by-week updates as teams begin spring play.
Stay connected for ongoing analysis on roster development, schedule highlights, and key matchups that define the 2026 NE10 softball season.
What’s your take on the race entering spring ball? Which breakout star could redefine the NE10 standings in 2026?
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NE10 Softball Coaches’ Poll 2026: Pace Setters Crowned Repeat Champions
Key poll highlights
- Top‑ranked team: Pace Setters (NE10 Coaches’ Poll,Jan 2026)
- Overall record: 32‑3 (2025 season) → 33‑2 (2026 to date)
- Conference win‑percentage: .962, highest in teh league for two consecutive years
- Coach of the Year: Coach Marcus “Mack” Daniels (Pace Setters)
How the NE10 Coaches’ Poll Determines the Rankings
- Survey distribution – Every head coach in the New England 10 (NE10) conference receives a confidential questionnaire each February.
- Criteria weighting –
- win‑loss record (40 %)
- Strength of schedule (25 %)
- Head‑to‑head performance (20 %)
- Statistical efficiency (15 %) (ERA, OPS, fielding %).
- Data verification – The NE10 analytics team cross‑checks submitted data against NCAA official stats before finalizing the poll.
Result: The Pace Setters secured the top spot by excelling in all four weighted categories,outpacing the second‑place mount Vernon Lions by a 3.2 % margin.
Pace Setters: What Made Them a Two‑Year Powerhouse?
1. Consistent Offensive Production
| Player | 2025 AB | 2025 AVG | 2026 AB | 2026 AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenna Torres (OF) | 210 | .388 | 215 | .401 |
| Mia Patel (3B) | 190 | .365 | 192 | .378 |
| Samira “Sam” Lee (C) | 175 | .352 | 180 | .359 |
AB = At‑bats; AVG = Batting average; *2026 stats reflect games through Jan 15.
- Team OPS: 1.062 (2025) → 1.087 (2026) – the highest in NE10 history.
- Slugging percentage: Consistently above .650, driving run production in clutch situations.
2. Pitching Dominance
- Starting rotation ERA: 1.71 (2025) → 1.58 (2026).
- Bullpen WHIP: 0.94, reflecting elite command and low walk rates.
- Notable ace: Grace “G-Force” Kim posted a 0.89 ERA with 12 complete games across two seasons.
3. Defensive Efficiency
- Fielding percentage: .987 (league‑leading).
- Double‑play conversions: 28% increase from 2025 to 2026, largely due to infield coordination drills introduced by Coach Daniels.
4. Coaching Innovation
- Data‑driven game planning: Adoption of statcast metrics for swing analysis and pitch sequencing.
- mental‑performance program: weekly sessions with sports psychologist Dr. Elena Ortiz, credited with reducing on‑field errors by 13 %.
Benefits of repeating as NE10 Champions
- Recruiting edge: The back‑to‑back titles attract top high‑school prospects, raising the talent pool by an estimated 22 % in the 2027 recruiting class.
- Scholarship allocation: Increased conference revenue allocates an extra $15,000 per sport, allowing the Pace Setters to offer additional tuition‑waiver scholarships.
- Media exposure: Live‑stream viewership grew 38 % year‑over‑year,boosting the program’s social‑media following to 45k followers across platforms.
Practical Tips for Opposing Teams
- Neutralize the top‑order swing: Deploy a mixed‑fastball‑curveball approach against Torres and Patel; their swing rate drops 7 % when faced with breaking pitches in the 2‑3 zone.
- Exploit bullpen fatigue: Pace’s relievers log an average of 5.2 innings per series; late‑innings scouting reports suggest a slight rise in walk rate after the 4th inning.
- Defensive alignment adjustments: Shift the outfield 2 spots deeper against Lee’s power hitting; this reduces extra‑base hit frequency by 12 %.
Case Study: 2025 Season – The Blueprint for 2026 Success
- Mid‑season turnaround: After a 6‑3 start, the Setters implemented a revamped conditioning regimen (HIIT + plyometrics) that lowered team fatigue injuries by 30 %.
- Key series win: Sweeping the rival Boston College Bears (3‑0) in March 2025,clinching the first half of the conference schedule. The series featured a combined 28 runs scored, highlighting the offense’s early-season potency.
- Learning moment: A loss to the Hartford Hawks exposed defensive lapses on bunt plays; the coaching staff responded by integrating a “swift‑hit” drill, resulting in a 0.42 reduction in bunt‑error rate for the following season.
Outlook: What to Expect from the Pace Setters in 2026‑27
- Projected conference record: 35‑1, based on current win trends and upcoming schedule difficulty.
- Emerging talent: Freshman shortstop Kayla “K-flash” Moreno already boasts a.340 batting average in limited at‑bats, indicating a potential breakout.
- Strategic focus: increased use of “small ball” tactics (hit‑and‑run, stealing bases) to complement power hitting, aiming for a more versatile offensive profile.
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