Softball Tabbed Third in Big 12 Preseason Poll
1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 19, 2006
DALLAS, Texas --- In a pre-season vote conducted by league coaches, the Baylor softball team has been picked to finish third in the Big 12 Conference the conference office announced Thursday. The third-place preseason prediction marks the highest the Lady Bears have appeared in the league preseason vote.
"Considering the number of players we lost from a year ago, I think the poll shows the amount of respect the program has gained over the last few years," head coach Glenn Moore said. "We have a lot of young and talented players on this year's team. Hopefully, we can meet; and, even exceed, the pre-season expectations."
Baylor returns four starters and four pitchers, including NFCA All-America selection Harmony Schwethelm, from last year's 51-14 squad that captured the NCAA Auburn Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional against No. 2 Cal. In addition to Schwethelm, Baylor returns all-conference selections Chelsi Lake, Tessa Lynam and Kelly Osburn.
Defending Big 12 Conference champion Texas A&M was picked to repeat as league champion while Texas was selected to finish second.
Both national preseason softball polls will be released next week - the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 on Tuesday, January 23, and the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association rankings on Wednesday, January 24.
Baylor will open the 2006 season when the Lady Bears host Tulsa to open the fifth-annual Getterman Classic on Friday, Feb. 10, at 3:00 p.m.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
1. Texas A&M (4)-76
2. Texas (6)-75
3. Baylor-61
4. Oklahoma-55
5. Nebraska-49
6. Missouri-43
7. Kansas-32
8. Texas Tech-28
9. Oklahoma State-22
10. Iowa State-9
