CLEVELAND, OH – The North Coast Athletic Conference softball coaches have selected DePauw as the 2026 favorite based on voting for the annual preseason poll.

The Tigers, who own six NCAC titles, topped the 2026 NCAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll with 48 points and six first-place votes. Denison, the defending co-champion with DePauw, earned second with 43 points and the final two first-place votes, while Wittenberg followed in third with 37 points. Wooster claimed fourth with 30 points, while Ohio Wesleyan (24), John Carroll (21), Kenyon (13) and Oberlin (8) rounded out the eight-team field.

DePauw returns two all-conference first-team selections from last season that helped lead the Tigers to a 25-15 overall record and a 12-2 mark in league play to capture their sixth-consecutive NCAC title and second-straight conference tournament title. Senior right-hander pitcher/infielder Alex Romero-Salas (Paranaque City, National Capital Region (NCR)/Calvert Academy), the 2024 NCAC Pitcher of the Year, returns after an impressive season at the plate and on the mound. At the plate, Romero-Salas hit .391 (34-for-87), producing 19 RBI, eight runs, five doubles and two home runs. In the circle, she posted a 9-4 record with a 2.48 ERA, while striking out 69 batters through 93.0 innings of work. Junior outfielder Libby Minobe (Fort Wayne, IN/Homestead) recorded a .310 batting average last season, going 35-for-113 and tallying 25 runs, 11 RBI and three doubles and going a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases. Minobe was also flawless in the field, posting 49 putouts and two assists on 51 chances.

The 2026 season begins on February 21, while the first league games are slated for March 28. The NCAC Tournament will be held Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9, at the top seed.
 

2026 North Coast Athletic Conference Softball Coaches' Poll
Place	Institution (1st Place Votes)	Total Points
1	DePauw (6)	48
2	Denison (2)	43
3	Wittenberg	37
4	Wooster	30
5	Ohio Wesleyan	24
6	John Carroll	21
7	Kenyon	13
8	Oberlin	8