Sam Houston tabbed as favorites in 2008 Southland softball
1/29/2008 1:00:00 AM | Softball
FRISCO, Texas - Sam Houston State is the choice of the league's head coaches to win the Southland Conference softball title this spring according to the 2008 preseason announced by the SLC office.
The Bearkats are coming off a 38-26 year in 2007 that saw them win the SLC Tournament and claim a victory in the NCAA Tournament. Sam Houston State received five first place votes in both the coaches and sports information directors poll.
UT Arlington, the 2007 SLC regular-season champion, got four first place votes to rank second, while Texas State-San Marcos received two votes to stand third. UTSA is fourth, followed by Nicholls State, McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana. Northwestern State placed eighth in the preseason polls, while Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas round out the poll.
The Southland Conference also announced its 2008 preseason All-Southland Conference squad.
Sam Houston State placed a league-best six on the preseason squads, two on the first team and four on the second, while Nicholls State had four, with three coming on the first team. Southeastern Louisiana placed three players on the preseason first team, while UT Arlington, McNeese State and UTSA each placed two members on the preseason teams. Texas State-San Marcos, Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State each placed one on the preseason team.
Sam Houston State placed catcher Casie Everitt and designated player Mandy Huckabee on the first team, while 2007 SLC Tournament MVP Brandi Crnkovic, who was second in the league in ERA (1.83) and third in wins (20) and Morgan Mikulin return in the circle for the Bearkats. Mikulin led the league in saves (five), while ranking No. 5 in wins (17), while Everitt and Huckabee hit .315 and .313, respectively. Shortstop Tanya Hooser and outfielder Lauren Burns are also on the second team for the Bearkats, hitting .265 and .305 respectively.
The league's softball season gets underway on Feb. 8.
2008 Southland Conference Preseason Coaches Softball Poll
Rank Team Votes (First Place Votes)
1. Sam Houston State ? 93 (5)
2. UT Arlington ? 88 (4)
3. Texas State-San Marcos ? 83 (2)
4. UTSA ? 76
5. Nicholls State ? 64
6. McNeese State ? 51
7. Southeastern La. ? 45
8. Northwestern State ? 41
9. Stephen F. Austin ? 40
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ? 20
11. Central Arkansas ? 11
2008 Preseason Southland Conference Softball
First-Team
Name -- Class -- Pos. -- University
Amy Thibodeaux -- Sr. --1B -- Nicholls State
Arica Rodriguez -- Sr. -- 2B -- Southeastern La.
Heather Sherrill -- Jr. -- 3B -- Southeastern La.
Kat Harrell -- Sr. -- SS -- Nicholls State
Casie Everitt -- Jr. -- C -- Sam Houston State
Katie Jones -- Sr. -- OF -- UT Arlington
Kodi Butler -- Jr. -- OF -- Nicholls State
Leanne Risberg -- Jr. -- OF -- UTSA
Mandy Huckabee -- Sr. -- DP -- Sam Houston State
Ragan Blake ? Sr. ? P -- Texas State-San Marcos
Rachel Ray -- Sr. -- P -- Southeastern La.
Second-Team
Name -- Class -- Pos. -- University
Amanda Jameson -- So. -- 1B -- Northwestern State
Danielle Clayton -- Jr. -- 2B -- Nicholls State
Briana Bishop -- So. -- 3B -- Stephen F. Austin
Tanya Hooser -- Sr. -- SS -- Sam Houston State
Jenny Clay -- Sr. -- C -- McNeese State
Kristin Moore -- Jr. -- OF -- UT Arlington
Lauren Burns --So. -- OF -- Sam Houston State
Rudi Cantu -- So. -- OF -- UTSA
Rachel King -- Jr. -- DP -- McNeese State
Brandi Crnkovic -- Jr. -- P -- Sam Houston State
Morgan Mikulin -- So. -- P -- Sam Houston State
