RICHARDSON, Texas — With a new head coach and a large incoming class, the St. Mary's University Softball team has been selected to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference standings in a vote by the league's coaches, sports information personnel and media.
The Rattlers, which finished in ninth place a season ago, received 445 points to be voted in the same position in the preseason poll.
Two-time defending national champions, UT Tyler, have been voted to win the conference title, with 849 points and 39 first-place votes, while West Texas A&M (817) was selected second, Angelo State (753) third, Oklahoma Christian (715) fourth and Lubbock Christian (665) fifth.
St. Mary's also had junior infielder
Gabriela Banda (San Antonio) and senior pitcher
Emily Ayala (San Antonio) named to the preseason watch list. ASU's Tatiana Trotter was voted the Preseason Player of the Year, while Jill Dickson from Oklahoma Christian was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Rattlers open the season at the annual DII First Pitch Invitational in Conroe, Texas, on Jan. 30 against Mississippi College.
Preseason Poll
Rank Team 1st Total
1 UT Tyler 39 849
2 West Texas A&M 8 817
3 Angelo State 2 753
4 Oklahoma Christian 1 715
5 Lubbock Christian 1 665
6 Cameron 551
7 Eastern New Mexico 537
8 St. Edward's 489
9 St. Mary's 445
10 Texas A&M-Kingsville 416
11 Texas A&M International 351
12 Texas Woman's 322
13 Midwestern State 285
14 Western New Mexico 219
15 UT Dallas 188
16 Sul Ross State 101
17 UT Permian Basin 100
