Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Brett Newcomb
Popella Lands on Preseason All-League Team; Softball Picked to Finish Fourth
1/29/2026 1:02:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Patriot League released its annual preseason poll and team on Thursday as voted upon by the coaches. Bucknell is projected to finish fourth out of the seven teams and junior shortstop Brooke Popella earned selection to the Preseason All-League Team. The conference coaches do not expect Bucknell's leadership change, to derail the Orange & Blue's tournament presence. Bucknell has made the Patriot League Tournament the last three years and has beaten Lehigh the past two seasons. New head coach Angela Stackhouse aims to not only continue that trend but improve the Bison's tournament finish.
Popella, a hard-slugging middle infielder, has served as the heart and in the heart of the Bucknell's lineup as the team's main RBI threat during her first two seasons on the banks of the Susquehanna. The junior enters 2026 with a number change from 19 to Mickey Mantle's 7 and a career stat line of a .279 batting average, 76 hits, 16 doubles, three home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .345 on-base percentage (OBP).
Last year, she received Second Team All-Patriot League honors while slashing a career-high .286/.346/.429 and setting new personal bests in hits (40), doubles (9), home runs (3), and RBIs (27). Displaying improved a batting eye, she lowered her strikeout total from 22 to a minuscule nine.
Bucknell edged Colgate for fourth place by one point (18-17) - a thematically fitting outcome - as the Bison have nudged out the Raiders for the final tournament slot in two of the past three years. The two teams finish their conference schedule this year with a three-game clash in Hamilton, and if the 2026 season follows the footsteps of previous campaigns, the series could be for the final tournament slot.
Reigning champion and top dog Boston University finished first in the poll, followed by last season's regular season titleholder Army. The Terriers received five first place votes and the Black Knights notched the remaining two. Perennial league power Lehigh slotted third. Bucknell was the aforementioned fourth with Colgate in its wake. Holy Cross and Lafayette filled the final two spots.
The major awards were a senior affair. Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, Army infielder Ashton White, received the preseason version. Boston's ace pitcher Kasey Ricard, a two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, repeated as Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Boston's senior infielder Brooke Deppiesse received Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the same honor that Bucknell's Haley Speicher earned in 2025.
Ten of the 12 Preseason All-League Team members are upperclassmen. Army and Boston tied with four honorees. Lehigh received two and Bucknell and Colgate each plated one.
2. Army West Point – 32 (2)
3. Lehigh – 26
4. Bucknell – 18
5. Colgate – 17
6. Holy Cross – 10
7. Lafayette – 9
2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason All-League Team
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P
Annie Christana, Army West Point, So., UTL
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Sr., INF
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
Brooke Popella, Bucknell, Jr., INF
Annalisa Raffelli, Colgate, So., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Kelly Fricker, Lehigh, So., OF
Popella, a hard-slugging middle infielder, has served as the heart and in the heart of the Bucknell's lineup as the team's main RBI threat during her first two seasons on the banks of the Susquehanna. The junior enters 2026 with a number change from 19 to Mickey Mantle's 7 and a career stat line of a .279 batting average, 76 hits, 16 doubles, three home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .345 on-base percentage (OBP).
Last year, she received Second Team All-Patriot League honors while slashing a career-high .286/.346/.429 and setting new personal bests in hits (40), doubles (9), home runs (3), and RBIs (27). Displaying improved a batting eye, she lowered her strikeout total from 22 to a minuscule nine.
Bucknell edged Colgate for fourth place by one point (18-17) - a thematically fitting outcome - as the Bison have nudged out the Raiders for the final tournament slot in two of the past three years. The two teams finish their conference schedule this year with a three-game clash in Hamilton, and if the 2026 season follows the footsteps of previous campaigns, the series could be for the final tournament slot.
Reigning champion and top dog Boston University finished first in the poll, followed by last season's regular season titleholder Army. The Terriers received five first place votes and the Black Knights notched the remaining two. Perennial league power Lehigh slotted third. Bucknell was the aforementioned fourth with Colgate in its wake. Holy Cross and Lafayette filled the final two spots.
The major awards were a senior affair. Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year, Army infielder Ashton White, received the preseason version. Boston's ace pitcher Kasey Ricard, a two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, repeated as Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Boston's senior infielder Brooke Deppiesse received Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, the same honor that Bucknell's Haley Speicher earned in 2025.
Ten of the 12 Preseason All-League Team members are upperclassmen. Army and Boston tied with four honorees. Lehigh received two and Bucknell and Colgate each plated one.
2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1.Boston University – 35 (5 first-place votes)2. Army West Point – 32 (2)
3. Lehigh – 26
4. Bucknell – 18
5. Colgate – 17
6. Holy Cross – 10
7. Lafayette – 9
2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason All-League Team
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P
Annie Christana, Army West Point, So., UTL
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Sr., INF
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
Brooke Popella, Bucknell, Jr., INF
Annalisa Raffelli, Colgate, So., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Kelly Fricker, Lehigh, So., OF
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
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