ENMU's Burks tabbed LSC preseason player of the year

RICHARDSON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University senior outfielder Matthew Burks has been chosen the Lone Star Conference preseason player of the year in baseball.

Burks led the LSC in slugging percentage (.627) and home runs (10) in 2014 while hitting .384 with 71 hits, 50 runs, 32 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. A first-team All-LSC choice, he also finished in the top 10 in school single-season history in home runs, total bases and hit-by-pitches.

As a team, the Greyhounds were picked for fifth place out of six with 42 points, ahead of only Cameron. ENMU posted a 26-24 record last season (15-20 to tie for fourth place in the LSC) under first-year coach David Gomez.

Defending champion Texas A&M-Kingsville garnered eight of 17 first-place votes to finish with 83 points and edge West Texas A&M, which had 80 points and four first-place tallies.

Kingsville reached the NCAA South Central Region championship game last season for the second year in a row, going 38-20 overall and 24-11 in the conference.

LSC squads begin a 10-week season on Jan. 31 with seven games — four at one site, three at the other — against each of the other five teams. The four-game sets will consist of nine-inning games on Friday and Sunday and two 7s on Saturday, while the three-gamers begin with a nine-inning game on Friday and seven and nine-inning contests on Saturday.

The regular-season champion will be the team with the best LSC winning percentage and host the conference tournament from May 7-9.

Softball — Defending LSC and NCAA Division II champion West Texas A&M was a near-unanimous choice to win the league in the preseason poll, posting 21 of 23 first-place votes and finishing with 205 points to 174 for Angelo State. The Rambelles and Texas A&M-Commerce, picked for seventh in the nine-team circuit, each collected one first-place tally.

WT went 60-7 in 2013 (23-4 LSC), just the fourth team in NCAA Division II history to win 60 games in a season.

The Lady Buffs also claimed preseason player and pitcher of the year awards in senior outfielder Renee Erwin and senior left-handed pitcher Rita Hokianga.

ENMU was picked for last place with 47 points, 11 behind No. 8 Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Zias were last a year ago, going 15-40 and 3-24 in the LSC under first-year coach Kristen Soukup.

The softball schedule also starts on Jan. 31. Teams play a four-game series against each conference opponent, consisting of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.