The Northwestern College softball team is picked to finish among the top five team in the 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) preseason coaches’ poll released earlier Saturday by the league office.
Northwestern totaled 83 points, fifth most among the 12 teams in the GPAC, and is one of four teams earning a first place vote. Morningside is the preseason favorite, earning six first place votes and 114 points, followed closely by Concordia (110pts, 3 1st place votes). Jamestown and Midland are third and fourth, respectively.
Head Coach Shane Bouman, in his third year in charge of the Raider softball program, returns nine starters and 11 players from a 2020 season where they went 14-6 in a CoVID-shortened season. Bouman guided the Raiders to an 18-25 record in 2019, placing fourth in the GPAC at 11-11.
Northwestern is off to a 13-5 start this season and will host Jamestown this weekend in the GPAC opener for both teams.
Morningside and Midland were co-regular season champions in 2019.
Here is the complete 2021 GPAC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll:
| Rank | Team | Points | 1st place votes |
| 1. | Morningside | 114 | 6 |
| 2. | Concordia | 110 | 3 |
| 3. | University of Jamestown | 99 | |
| 4. | Midland | 90 | 2 |
| 5. | Northwestern | 83 | 1 |
| 6. | Mount Marty | 67 | |
| 7. | Dordt | 63 | |
| 8. | Doane | 46 | |
| 9. | Briar Cliff | 44 | |
| T10. | College of Saint Mary | 28 | |
| Hastings | 28 | ||
| 12. | Dakota Wesleyan | 21 |
