The Howard Payne University softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the American Southwest Conference West Division; it was announced by the league office after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Howard Payne University was picked fourth in the West with 76 points, followed by Texas Lutheran (61 pts.), Schreiner (54 pts.) and Sul Ross State (28 pts). The Lady Jackets finished 15-23 overall and 13-11 in conference action last season. HPU returns their entire starting lineup except for four-year starter Ashley Silva. The Lady Jackets will also gain back Evangelina Tellez whose season was cut short last year due to a wrist injury. At the time, Tellez was leading the team in hitting.
Howard Payne will start their season on Feb. 14th at home with a double header against the University of Texas at Dallas.
2012 ASC PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Texas-Tyler (16) 140 40-13, 17-7 ASC (2nd)
2. East Texas Baptist (5) 127 36-9, 17-5 ASC (1st)
3. Mississippi College 109 33-15, 16-8 ASC (3rd)
4. Louisiana College 79 30-12, 15-9 ASC (4th)
5. LeTourneau 63 22-18, 9-15 ASC (5th)
6. Texas-Dallas 45 18-20, 7-15 ASC (6th)
7. Ozarks 25 7-33, 1-23 ASC (7th)
*Centenary 5-36, 2-22 Summit League (9th)
*Ineligible for the conference and division title as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships.
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (15) 139 28-14, 21-3 ASC (1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 123 24-19, 17-7 ASC (2nd)
3. Concordia Texas 107 24-18, 15-9 ASC (3rd)
4. Howard Payne 76 15-23, 13-11 ASC (4th)
5. Texas Lutheran 61 18-22, 11-13 ASC (5th)
6. Schreiner 54 13-25, 7-17 ASC (6th)
7. Sul Ross State 28 5-35, 0-24 ASC (7th)
The Howard Payne University baseball team has been preseason picked to finsh seventh in the American Southwest Conference West Division, it was announced by the ASC office on Wednesday after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
The Yellow Jacket baseball team received 66 points in the ASC preseason poll. HPU finished 15-20 overall and 10-11 in conference play last season. The Jackets return the majority of their starting lineup and look to make a push for an ASC playoff spot.
Howard Payne will start the season on February 10-11 at the Concordia University Texas tournament in Austin. The Jackets will take on Trinity University, LeTourneau University and host Concordia.
HPU first baseman, Ben Butler and pitcher Jonathan Morris were named to the ASC West Division players to watch list. A total of 32 players – 16 from the West Division and 16 from the East Division – were named to the players to watch lists by nominations from head coaches.
2012 ASC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Concordia Texas (17) 181 32-17, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 166 31-14, 15-6 ASC (T1st)
3. Texas Lutheran (1) 140 24-19, 13-8 ASC (3rd)
4. McMurry 111 17-27, 11-10 ASC (4th)
5. Mary Hardin-Baylor 97 19-20, 9-12 ASC (6th)
6. Sul Ross State 71 15-21, 7-14 ASC (7th)
7. Howard Payne 66 15-20, 10-11 ASC (5th)
8. Schreiner 32 8-29, 4-17 ASC (8th)
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Texas-Tyler (9) 129 33-8, 14-4 ASC (1st)
T2. Texas-Dallas (5) 114 29-18, 11-7 ASC (T2nd)
T2. Mississippi College (3) 114 24-18, 11-7 ASC (T2nd)
4. Louisiana College (4) 102 26-17, 11-7 ASC (T2nd)
5. LeTourneau 51 19-21, 7-11 ASC (T5th)
6. East Texas Baptist 45 14-26, 7-11 ASC (T5th)
7. Ozarks 33 8-32, 2-16 ASC (7th)
*Centenary 12-31, 9-18 Summit League (8th)
*Ineligible for the conference and division title as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships.
2012 ASC PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
[One position player and pitcher nominated by each ASC head coach]
16 To Watch in the West Division
Position Players
Ben Butler, INF, Jr., Howard Payne
Josh Fredrick, 3B, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Collin Janssen, C, Sr., Concordia Texas
Brian Mata, DH, Sr., Sul Ross State
Troy Tarrant, OF/1B/DH, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Brad Thomas, OF/INF, Sr., Schreiner
Matt Thompson, 1B, Sr., McMurry
Daniel Yancelson, SS, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Pitchers
Luke Fry, RHP, Sr., Sul Ross State
Scott Hays, LHP, Sr., Concordia Texas
Justin Martinez, RHP, Sr., Schreiner
Jonathan Morris, RHP, Jr., Howard Payne
Brad Orosey, RHP, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Chance Ryan, RHP, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
James Simmons, RHP, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
Spencer Smith, RHP, Jr., McMurry
16 To Watch in the East Division
Position Players
Chase Brown, OF, Sr., Texas-Dallas
Spencer Brunson, 3B, Sr., Mississippi College
Hayden Chick, C, Sr., Texas-Tyler
Cayden Cunniff, C, Jr., East Texas Baptist
Jordan Marks, 2B, Sr., Louisiana College
Kyle Morton, 1B, Sr., Centenary
Mitchell Powers, SS, Sr., Ozarks
Nate Tomaszewski, INF, Sr., LeTourneau
Pitchers
Bo Craig, RHP, Sr., Mississippi College
Derek Dallas, RHP, Jr., Texas-Dallas
Tyler Erickson, RHP, Jr., Ozarks
Pete Fitzsimmons, LHP, Sr., East Texas Baptist
Travis Norris, RHP, Sr., LeTourneau
Cole Thompson, RHP, Jr., Centenary
Greg Uzee, RHP, Sr., Louisiana College
Chance Williams, RHP, Sr., Texas-Tyler
