FRISCO, Texas – In their first season in the Southland Conference, the Houston Baptist softball team was picked to finish tied for 8th in the 2013 SLC Coaches' Poll and 9th in the SLC Sports Information Directors' poll, the conference office announced earlier today.
The 2012 SLC runner-up, Sam Houston State, was picked to win it all in 2013, as the Bearkats were atop both polls. SHSU, who went 29-21 last season, earned 78 points and seven first-place votes in the coaches' poll, and 74 points and five first-place votes in the SID poll.
McNeese State (34-21 in '12) was picked to finish second in the coaches' poll, earning 72 points and two first-place votes. Central Arkansas (36-22) was chosen to finish in third, with 65 points and the final first-place vote.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (18-23) was chosen fourth, with 56 points, followed by Stephen F. Austin (16-33) and Northwestern State (19-31) with 44 and 42 points, respectively.
Nicholls State (14-31) was picked to finish in seventh place with 39 points, while HBU (16-33) and Southeastern Louisiana (15-34) were tied for eighth, with 21 points each. Lamar, who has resurrected its softball program after a 26-year hiatus, was picked to finish in 10th place with 12 points.
The Preseason Conference teams were also announced. Two award winners from a season ago return in 2013: Sam Houston State's Kim Damian (SLC Hitter of the Year) and Nicholls State's Ashley Bertot (SLC Newcomer of the Year).
The two preseason polls and preseason teams are below:
Coaches' Poll (First-Place Votes):
1. Sam Houston State (7) 78 points
2. McNeese State (2) 72 points
3. Central Arkansas (1) 65 points
4. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 56 points
5. Stephen F. Austin 44 points
6. Northwestern State 42 points
7. Nicholls State 39 points
8. Houston Baptist 21 points
Southeastern Louisiana 21 points
10. Lamar 12 points
SID Poll (First-Place Votes):
1. Sam Houston State (5) 74 points
2. Central Arkansas (3) 73 points
3. McNeese State (2) 69 points
4. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 53 points
5. Nicholls State 47 points
6. Northwestern State 41 points
7. Stephen F. Austin 36 points
8. Southeastern Louisiana 24 points
9. Houston Baptist 22 points
10. Lamar 11 points
The 2013 Preseason All-Conference Teams:
First Team
Pos. Name University Class Hometown
1B Kim Damian* Sam Houston State Sr. Angleton, Texas
2B Ashley Bertot* Nicholls State Sr. League City, Texas
3B Shelbi Tucker* Sam Houston State Sr. Montgomery, Texas
SS Tara McKenney* Northwestern State Jr. Red Oak, Texas
C Hillary Adams* Sam Houston State So. Elgin, Texas
UT Melissa Bryant* Central Arkansas Sr. Hernando, Miss.
DP Ashley Modzelewski* McNeese State So. Sour Lake, Texas
OF Tori Benavidez* Sam Houston State Sr. Midlothian, Texas
OF Alanna DiVittorio* McNeese State Jr. Harahan, La.
OF Stephanie Lasley* Central Arkansas Sr. Enola, Ark.
P Kelsie Armstrong* Central Arkansas Sr. Hot Springs, Ark.
P Meagan Bond McNeese State Sr. Lumberton, Miss.
Second Team
1B Ashley Boswell* Central Arkansas So. Tahlequah, Okla.
2B Megan McCollum Southeastern La. Jr. Lafayette, La.
3B Tiffany Roby* Central Arkansas So. North Little Rock, Ark.
SS Sarah Allison* Sam Houston State Jr. College Station, Texas
C Melanie Bryant* Central Arkansas Sr. Hernando, Miss.
UT Elizabeth Arana* Stephen F. Austin Jr. The Woodlands, Texas
DP Ashley Isbell* Sam Houston State Sr. Katy, Texas
OF Michelle Duhe Southeastern La. Sr. Lutcher, La.
OF Mickayla Cochran A&M-Corpus Christi So. Peoria, Ariz.
OF Lauren Langner McNeese State So. Pearland, Texas
P Shelby Lancaster Sam Houston State Jr. Tomball, Texas
P Carlie Thomas Stephen F. Austin Jr. Huntington, Texas
*Returning all-conference selection
