LSC softball rankings released

Staff report

Defending Lone Star Conference softball champion West Texas A&M was a comfortable choice to repeat in the conference’s annual preseason poll.

The Buffs, who went 22-6 in LSC play and claimed both the regular season and tournament titles, claimed 17 first-place votes from a mix of 25 LSC coaches, sports information directors and media representatives. Their 211 points put them well ahead of second-place finisher Angelo State (173).

Eastern New Mexico, which finished 3-25 in conference and lost 30 of its final 34 games in 2015, was picked for ninth and finished with 37 points.

Other teams ranked in the poll included Tarleton State (161), Texas Woman’s (159), Cameron (142), Texas A&M-Commerce (101) and Midwestern State (54). The eight remaining first-place votes were split between Angelo State (five) and Tarleton state (three).

The Buffs’ Lacey Taylor was named the conference’s preseason player of the year, while Angelo’s Brandy Marlett was preseason pitcher of the year.

Taylor, a senior catcher, led the LSC with a .458 batting average and posted a 1.397 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) with 26 extra base hits and 63 RBIs. Defensively, she had 271 putouts and 22 assists and committed just two errors.

As a freshman, Marlett went 18-6 with a no-hitter among her six shutouts. Batters hit an LSC-worst .231 against Marlett, who finished second in ERA (2.52) and strikeouts (164).

The season, which begins Friday, will feature each team playing a four-game series against the other eight, with four series at home and four on the road. Each series will consist of Friday and Saturday doubleheaders.

The team with the best record in LSC play will host the single-elimination tournament April 29-30, with the tournament winner receiving the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament bid.

The Greyhounds’ season begins Feb. 9 at home, with a noon doubleheader against Oklahoma Panhandle State.