Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team has been picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference West Division in the ASC’s annual Preseason Coaches and Media Poll. The Cru picked up one first-place vote and 104 total points in balloting of West Division coaches, sports information directors and selected media representatives. Hardin-Simmons was the pick to successfully defend its ASC West Division title with 17 first-place votes and 140 total points. Howard Payne was picked to finish second with two first-place votes and 111 total points. Schreiner University is the choice to finish fourth with 81 total points, Concordia Texas picked up 78 total points as the pick to finish fifth, Texas Lutheran University took the other first-place vote and 50 total points as the pick to finish sixth and Sul Ross State is picked to finish seventh with 24 total points.
UMHB pitcher Kelsey Greeson was voted ASC West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Greeson, a senior righthander from Belton High School, posted an 11-10 record and a 2.88 ERA for the Cru last season and also led the team with 94 strikeouts in an ASC-best 138.1 innings pitched. She is a two-time ASC All-West Division selection and also earned NFCA All-West Region honors as a sophomore.
Defending ASC East Division champion East Texas Baptist was picked to win the ASC East with 132 total points and nine first-place votes. Hardin-Simmons shortstop Courtney Clark was voted ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. U.T.-Tyler outfielder Whitney Wyly and East Texas Baptist pitcher Ayrika Henderson took East Division Preseason Player of the Year honors.
The UMHB softball team returns 13 letter winners, five starting position players and two pitchers from a team that finished 20-20 overall last season. The Cru went 13-11 in ASC play and narrowly missed out on a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament.