BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The 2016 Preseason Softball Poll has been taken, and the 2015 SWAC Softball Championship Game participants are predicted to claim division titles. Defending conference champion Texas Southern was pegged as the western division winner for the third straight season while Alabama State was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the eastern division title. The selections were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Alabama State, who finished second in the eastern division in 2015 before advancing to the tournament final, returns every starter from a lineup that led the league in virtually every offensive category in 2015. The Hornets received nine first-place votes and 74 points overall. Mississippi Valley State claimed 64 points, and three-time defending eastern division champion Jackson State earned 53 points, and Alabama A&M (40 points) and Alcorn State (24 points) rounded out the standings.
In the western division, Texas Southern received 15 first-place votes and 83 points overall, as the Lady Tigers eye their third-straight conference crown and fourth overall. Southern was tabbed to finish second with 63 points earned, followed by Prairie View A&M (44 points), Grambling State (35 points) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (30 points).
Jackson State’s Swanson, Alabama State’s King tabbed for top individual honors
Jackson State infielder Canessa Swanson (Houston, Texas/Galenda Park HS) was chosen as the preseason pick for Player of the Year. The senior who shared Co-Player of the Year honors last season, put up a triple slash line of .305 BA/.440 SLG%/.440 OBP while amassing 43 hits, 50 runs scored, six doubles, five triples and 38 stolen bases. Swanson ranked seventh in the country in stolen bases per game last year.
King enters her sophomore season as the projected Pitcher of the Year after a freshman campaign that ended with her earning that same accolade. The Lakeland, Fla. native put up a record of 8-7 with a 1.60 ERA and 51 strikeouts for the Hornets in her maiden season in the college ranks.
Alabama State leads the preseason honors list with six selections – four first-teamers – and five Jackson State players garnered a slot. Mississippi Valley State garnered four selections, and Southern placed three players on the All-SWAC teams. Texas Southern and Alabama A&M both saw two players earn an all-conference selection, and Prairie View A&M landed one all-SWAC nod.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Canessa Swanson (Jackson State)
PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Chelsea King (Alabama State)
PRESEASON ALL SWAC SOFTBALL - FIRST TEAM
1B Carly Evans (Alabama State)
2B Destinee Williams (Prairie View A&M)
3B Canessa Swanson (Jackson State)
SS Alicia Barajas (Southern)
OF Lyndsey Colvin (Jackson State)
OF Valerie Centeno (Alabama State)
OF Jenna Mae Thorne (Alabama State)
C Kiara Suttles (Southern)
P Chelsea King (Alabama State)
P Jasmine Fulmore (Texas Southern)
P Kayleigh Thomas (Southern)
PRESEASON ALL SWAC SOFTBALL - SECOND TEAM
1B Chelsea Smith (Jackson State)
2B Victoria Nelson (Jackson State)
3B Deja Talton (Mississippi Valley State)
SS Ane Pahulu (Mississippi Valley State) / Tiana Sanders (Alabama A&M)
OF Brianna Simpson (Texas Southern)
OF Brittney Wilson (Alabama State)
OF Jahcenda Garrett (Mississippi Valley State)
C Aleesa Yanez (Alabama State)
P Rebekah Clinton (Mississippi Valley State)
P Jordan Bradley (Alabama A&M)
P Sybil Lozano (Jackson State)
Courtesy: SWAC.org
Alabama State, who finished second in the eastern division in 2015 before advancing to the tournament final, returns every starter from a lineup that led the league in virtually every offensive category in 2015. The Hornets received nine first-place votes and 74 points overall. Mississippi Valley State claimed 64 points, and three-time defending eastern division champion Jackson State earned 53 points, and Alabama A&M (40 points) and Alcorn State (24 points) rounded out the standings.
In the western division, Texas Southern received 15 first-place votes and 83 points overall, as the Lady Tigers eye their third-straight conference crown and fourth overall. Southern was tabbed to finish second with 63 points earned, followed by Prairie View A&M (44 points), Grambling State (35 points) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (30 points).
Jackson State’s Swanson, Alabama State’s King tabbed for top individual honors
Jackson State infielder Canessa Swanson (Houston, Texas/Galenda Park HS) was chosen as the preseason pick for Player of the Year. The senior who shared Co-Player of the Year honors last season, put up a triple slash line of .305 BA/.440 SLG%/.440 OBP while amassing 43 hits, 50 runs scored, six doubles, five triples and 38 stolen bases. Swanson ranked seventh in the country in stolen bases per game last year.
King enters her sophomore season as the projected Pitcher of the Year after a freshman campaign that ended with her earning that same accolade. The Lakeland, Fla. native put up a record of 8-7 with a 1.60 ERA and 51 strikeouts for the Hornets in her maiden season in the college ranks.
Alabama State leads the preseason honors list with six selections – four first-teamers – and five Jackson State players garnered a slot. Mississippi Valley State garnered four selections, and Southern placed three players on the All-SWAC teams. Texas Southern and Alabama A&M both saw two players earn an all-conference selection, and Prairie View A&M landed one all-SWAC nod.
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Canessa Swanson (Jackson State)
PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Chelsea King (Alabama State)
PRESEASON ALL SWAC SOFTBALL - FIRST TEAM
1B Carly Evans (Alabama State)
2B Destinee Williams (Prairie View A&M)
3B Canessa Swanson (Jackson State)
SS Alicia Barajas (Southern)
OF Lyndsey Colvin (Jackson State)
OF Valerie Centeno (Alabama State)
OF Jenna Mae Thorne (Alabama State)
C Kiara Suttles (Southern)
P Chelsea King (Alabama State)
P Jasmine Fulmore (Texas Southern)
P Kayleigh Thomas (Southern)
PRESEASON ALL SWAC SOFTBALL - SECOND TEAM
1B Chelsea Smith (Jackson State)
2B Victoria Nelson (Jackson State)
3B Deja Talton (Mississippi Valley State)
SS Ane Pahulu (Mississippi Valley State) / Tiana Sanders (Alabama A&M)
OF Brianna Simpson (Texas Southern)
OF Brittney Wilson (Alabama State)
OF Jahcenda Garrett (Mississippi Valley State)
C Aleesa Yanez (Alabama State)
P Rebekah Clinton (Mississippi Valley State)
P Jordan Bradley (Alabama A&M)
P Sybil Lozano (Jackson State)
Courtesy: SWAC.org