The defending Southeastern Conference champion Alabama softball team is the preseason favorite for the 2020 title, as the SEC released its annual preseason coaches’ poll Wednesday.
The Crimson Tide received 11 of a possible 13 first-place votes, ahead of second-place Tennessee (2). Alabama returns 13 players from its 2019 championship team, including SEC Pitcher of the Year Sarah Cornell, SEC Freshman of the Year Montana Fouts and All-SEC honorees Elissa Brown, Bailey Hemphill, Maddie Morgan and Skylar Wallace.
The Crimson Tide opens its 2020 season at the Joanne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., Feb. 7-8. There, Alabama will play two games each against North Carolina and host Florida State.
