Texas State Favored to Win 2012 Southland Conference Softball Title
FRISCO, Texas - Texas State, the 2011 Southland Conference Tournament champion, was picked to repeat in 2012 in a vote by both the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, the league announced Thursday.
Texas State received 92 points in the coaches' poll and 93 points in the SID poll. The Bobcats, who have claimed five regular-season and five tournament championships, received 10 first-place votes overall with four first-place marks from the coaches and six from the SIDs. Texas State returns 13 letterwinners, six starters and three pitchers. Key returners for the Bobcats include preseason all-conference first baseman Haley Lemons, a junior from Rockwall, Texas, and preseason all-conference pitcher Anne Marie Taylor, a junior from Houston, Texas.
Defending regular-season champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was tabbed second by the coaches and third by the SIDs. The Islanders received 87 total points, including five first-place nods, in the coaches' poll and 80 total points with four first-place votes from the SIDs. A&M-Corpus Christi will be under the direction of first-year head coach Stephanie Hughes. The Islanders, who lost in the championship game of last year's tournament, return eight letterwinners, four starters and three pitchers this season.
UT Arlington was picked third by the coaches and second by the SIDs. The Mavericks received one first-place mark in both polls and earned 82 total points from the coaches and 88 from the SIDs. UTA returns 12 letterwinners, eight starters and two pitchers from last season's team which finished second in the regular season. The 2011 Southland Pitcher of the Year in sophomore Callie Collins headlines the returners for the Mavs this season. A sophomore from Rusk, Texas, Collins recorded 18 wins last year with a 1.60 earned run average and looks to be a vital part of the UTA defense in 2012.
McNeese State, UTSA and Northwestern State were picked to finish fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively in both polls. The Lady Demons picked up the final first-place vote in the coaches' poll,
According to the coaches, Sam Houston State was tabbed seventh, followed by Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin and then Southeastern Louisiana.
The SID poll varied slightly from the coaches with spots seven through 10. The SIDs predicted the Bears to finished seventh with the Bearkats in eighth. The Lady Lions were tabbed in the ninth position followed by the Ladyjacks at 10th.
Nicholls State was picked as the 11th place finisher in both polls. Lamar does not play softball, but will restart its program in 2013.
Southland teams open the season Feb. 9 with conference play beginning March 7. The conference tournament will be hosted by UTSA in San Antonio, Texas, May 10-12 at Roadrunner Field.
2012 Preseason Southland Softball Polls
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Coaches' Poll
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1. Texas State (4)
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92
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2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (5)
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87
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3. UT Arlington (1)
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82
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4. McNeese State
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75
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5. UTSA
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68
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6. Northwestern State (1)
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58
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7. Sam Houston State
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42
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8. Central Arkansas
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40
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9. Stephen F. Austin
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24
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10. Southeastern Louisiana
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21
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11. Nicholls State
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17
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Sports Information Director's
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1. Texas State (6)
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93
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2. UT Arlington (1)
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88
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3. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4)
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80
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4. McNeese State
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69
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5. UTSA
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67
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6. Northwestern State
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56
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7. Central Arkansas
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45
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8. Sam Houston State
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39
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9. Southeastern Louisiana
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32
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10. Stephen F. Austin
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23
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11. Nicholls State
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13
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