McNeese predicted to win 2023 softball race; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced
FRISCO, Texas – Defending champion McNeese is predicted to win the 2023 Southland Conference softball title and is featured prominently in the preseason all-conference teams, which were released by the conference office Thursday.
The Cowgirls received every available first place vote (teams are not allowed to vote for themselves) and have seven preseason all-conference selections, with six on the first team. This is the second consecutive season McNeese has been picked to win the league as the Cowgirls look to build on their conference record seven regular season and eight tournament titles.
Southeastern is picked to finish second in the polls with 113 points and two first place votes. The Lady Lions have five preseason all-conference picks, with four on the first team.
Northwestern State is predicted to finish in third in the league with 91 points, ahead of A&M-Corpus Christi in fourth with 85 points. The Lady Demons have five overall preseason all-conference selections, with two on the first team, while the Islanders have two picks.
HCU has two preseason all-conference players and is predicted to finish in fifth place with 58 points. Lamar is picked sixth in its return to the Southland with 49 points, just ahead of conference newcomer A&M-Commerce with 47 points in seventh, and UIW with 45 points in eighth. Nicholls rounds out the poll with 32 points in ninth. Nicholls has two preseason all-conference selections, while UIW has one.
The preseason poll is voted on by head coaches and sports information directors in the conference, with coaches selecting the preseason all-conference team.
The 2023 softball season begins two weeks from today on Thursday, February 9, with Lamar playing Virginia at 3 p.m. in the Houston Invitational and Nicholls hosting New Mexico at 5 p.m. UIW, McNeese, and Southeastern are all hosting tournaments in the opening weekend as well, with most conference teams starting their season on Friday, February 10.
The 2023 Southland Conference Softball Championship tournament will be held on May 9-12 at McNeese’s Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles, La., with the tournament champion claiming the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
All nine teams will play a 24-game round robin conference schedule against the other eight teams, with the top seven teams in the conference qualifying for the double-elimination conference tournament.
2023 Southland Conference Softball Preseason Poll
| Pl |
School |
1st |
Pts |
| 1 |
McNeese |
16 |
128 |
| 2 |
Southeastern |
2 |
113 |
| 3 |
Northwestern State |
|
91 |
| 4 |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
|
85 |
| 5 |
HCU |
|
58 |
| 6 |
Lamar |
|
49 |
| 7 |
A&M-Commerce |
|
47 |
| 8 |
UIW |
|
45 |
| 9 |
Nicholls |
|
32 |
2023 Southland Conference Softball Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Crislyne Moreno * |
McNeese |
So. |
Converse, Texas |
| 2B |
Caleigh Cross * |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Forney, Texas |
| 3B |
Jil Poullard * |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Moss Bluff, La. |
| SS |
Maddie Watson * |
Southeastern |
So. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| C |
Bailey Krolczyk * |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| UT |
Kaylee Lopez * |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Indian Bayou, La. |
| DP |
Audrey Greely * |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Geismar, La. |
| OF |
Laney Roos * |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Aubrey, Texas |
| OF |
Alayis Seneca * |
McNeese |
Sr. |
The Woodlands, Texas |
| OF |
Cam Goodman * |
Southeastern |
Jr. |
Marrero, La. |
| P |
Ashley Vallejo * |
McNeese |
Jr. |
New Waverly, Texas |
| P |
Bronte Rhoden * |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Plano, Texas |
Second Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Sydney Hoyt * |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
Beach City, Texas |
| 2B |
Madison Rayner * |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Stringer, Miss. |
| 3B |
Haylie Savage * |
HCU |
So. |
Angleton, Texas |
| SS |
Ryleigh Mata * |
UIW |
So. |
Santa Fe, Texas |
| C |
Tristin Court * |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| UT |
Melise Gossen * |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Rayne, La. |
| DP |
Chloe Gomez |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Spring, Texas |
| OF |
Alexa Poche’ |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| OF |
Makenzie Chaffin * |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Bossier City, La. |
| OF |
Bailie Ragsdale * |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Lone Oak, Texas |
| P |
Lyndie Swanson * |
HCU |
Jr. |
Katy, Texas |
| P |
Siarah Galvan * |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
So. |
Rockport, Texas |
*-2022 Southland All-Conference Selection
---###---