The Howard Payne University softball team was pre-season picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference West Division; it was announced by the league office on Wednesday after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and media members. Howard Payne’s Katie Poerner (pictured left) earned top preseason individual honors.
Howard Payne, who finished 19-21 overall and 13-11 in the ASC last season, and Texas Lutheran (19-19, 13-11 ASC) tied for the third-place position with 90 points and one first-place vote each to conclude what would be the division’s four ASC tournament teams.
HPU’s Katie Poerner, a senior outfielder, was named ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. She won player of the year honors last season with a .397 batting average and a conference-high eight triples. Poerner also had seven doubles and was 16-for-16 on stolen bases.
The 2013 ASC season – the 15th in league history – begins as early as Feb. 12. The ASC First Pitch Tournament, which features all 14 league teams in cross-divisional, non-conference action, is set for March 1-2 at Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch, Texas. The eight-team, double elimination conference tournament is on tap for April 25-27 also at Oran Good Park with an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship on the line.
2013 ASC PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record
1. Texas-Tyler (19) 145 38-9, 20-4 ASC (1st)
2. East Texas Baptist (2) 117 25-16, 14-10 ASC (T2nd)
3. Louisiana College 103 28-15, 14-10 ASC (T2nd)
4. Mississippi College 91 26-14, 13-11 ASC (4th)
5. Texas-Dallas 64 24-14, 12-12 ASC (5th)
6. LeTourneau 43 18-21, 7-17 ASC (6th)
7. Ozarks 25 11-29, 4-20 ASC (7th)
* Centenary (5-32, 0-0 ASC) is no longer member of the conference.
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (17) 140 26-17, 20-4 ASC (1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (2) 116 23-17, 16-8 ASC (2nd)
T3. Howard Payne (1) 90 19-21, 13-11 ASC (T3rd)
T3. Texas Lutheran (1) 90 19-19, 13-11 ASC (T3rd)
5. Concordia Texas 84 18-18, 12-12 ASC (5th)
6. Schreiner 39 14-24, 9-15 ASC (6th)
7. Sul Ross State 29 4-26, 1-23 ASC (7th)
2012 ASC SOFTBALL PRESEASON INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
EAST DIVISION
Preseason Player of Year Ashley Endlsey, 3B, Jr., Texas-Tyler
Preseason Pitcher of Year Heather Abshire, RHP, Sr., Texas-Tyler
WEST DIVISION
Preseason Player of Year Katie Poerner, OF, Sr., Howard Payne
Preseason Pitcher of the Year Rebekah Ragsdale, RHP, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor