WT picked to capture LSC softball crown; ENMU ninth

RICHARDSON, Texas — West Texas A&M is expected to win its fourth-straight Lone Star Conference softball championship, according to the conference’s preseason poll announced Tuesday.

The Lady Buffs, who went 59-5 and also won the South Central Regional title, were picked first on 26 of 30 ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

The other first-place votes went to second-place Texas A&M-Commerce (three) and Texas Woman’s (one).

Eastern New Mexico University was ninth in the 11-team poll, beating out new LSC members Western New Mexico and Texas-Permian Basin.

The Greyhounds, in their first season under Katie Welborn, were 13-39 overall last season, and went 4-24 in LSC play to finish last in league play for the third straight season.

WT claimed the individual awards, with Ashley Hardin (.392, 23 HRs, 82 RBIs) the preseason player of the year and Kilee Halbert (27-4, 2.11 ERA, 145 strikeouts) the preseason pitcher of the year.

The season begins on Friday and includes a 30-game conference season — one three-game series against the other 10 LSC opponents consisting of a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.

The top finisher hosts the single-elimination LSC tournament May 5-6, with the tournament winner earning the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division II tournament.

PRESEASON POLL

(1st-place votes in parentheses)

Team Pts

1. West Texas A&M (26) 324

2. Texas A&M-Commerce (3) 269

3. Texas Woman’s (1) 268

4. Angelo State 263

5. Cameron 176

6. Tarleton State 167

7. Midwestern State 161

8. Texas A&M-Kingsville 144

9. Eastern New Mexico 80

10. Western New Mexico 79

11. Texas-Permian Basin 49

Preseason player of the year: Ashley Hardin, West Texas A&M, Jr. OF.

Preseason pitcher of the year: Kilee Halbert, West Texas A&M, Jr. LHP