BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2016 Softball Tournament finalists have been pegged to win their respective divisions, as Texas Southern (Western) and Alabama State (Eastern) were chosen as Preseason favorites as part of the league's 2017 Preseason softball awards. The All-SWAC Preseason Teams and order of finish were each chosen in a vote by the league's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors.
For Texas Southern (86 points), this is the fourth-straight season the Lady Tigers have been chosen as favorites to win the Western Division. TSU, which looks to return much of its league-leading pitching staff and defense, received 16 first-place votes. Southern was tabbed to finish second with 61 points. Prairie View A&M (59 points), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (37 points) and Grambling State (27 points) rounded out the projections for the Western Division.
Defending champion Alabama State earned 79 points (11 first-place votes) and is expected to return the majority of the league's best offense. Mississippi Valley State claimed 67 points (four first-place votes), and Alcorn State (49 points), Jackson State (38 points) and Alabama A&M (37) followed in the projections.
Texas Southern's Rodriguez tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Rodriguez (pictured above) went 11-7 in the circle last season and was the lone SWAC pitch to record a sub-3.0 ERA (2.99). Her ERA and opponent's batting average (.263) led the conference. The junior earned first-team accolades to close the season and also garnered preseason first-team honors this season.
Texas Southern leads the preseason honors list with five selections – three first-team selections – and four Alabama State players garnered a slot. Mississippi Valley State and Prairie View A&M each placed three players on the All-SWAC teams. Alabama A&M, Alcorn State and Southern each saw two players earn an all-conference selection, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State each landed one all-SWAC nod.
The full team is listed below.
Preseason Player of the Year
Kendall Core (Alabama State)
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Lauren Rodriguez (Texas Southern)
Preseason All-SWAC First Team
1B Taylor Hughes (Alcorn State)
2B Laura Aguilar (Alabama State)
3B Kendall Core (Alabama State)
SS Tiana Sanders (Alabama A&M)
OF Krystalani Yockman (Texas Southern)
OF Tonnay Hawkins (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
OF Sydney Andrews (Southern)
C Kiara Suttles (Southern)
P Lauren Rodriguez (Texas Southern)
P Rebekah Clinton (Mississippi Valley State)
P Jasmine Fulmore (Texas Southern)
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
1B Chanler Powell (Texas Southern)
2B Miranda Rodarte (Texas Southern)/Sametria Collins (Alcorn State)
3B Deja Talton (Mississippi Valley State)
SS Briana Knowles (Prairie View A&M)
OF Imani Largin (Alabama A&M)
OF Valerie Centeno (Alabama State)
OF Shelby Williams (Prairie View A&M)
C Amanda Ford (Prairie View A&M)
P Sybil Lozano (Jackson State)
P Charlene Castro (Alabama State)
P Monica Rivera (Mississippi Valley State)
Western Division Predicted Order of Finish Points (First-Place votes)
1. Texas Southern 86 (16)
2. Southern 61 (2)
3. Prairie View A&M 59 (0)
4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 37 (0)
5. Grambling State 27 (0)
Eastern Division Predicted Order of Finish Points (First-Place votes)
1. Alabama State 79 (11)
2. Mississippi Valley State 67 (4)
3. Alcorn State 49 (1)
4. Jackson State 38 (2)
5. Alabama A&M 37 (0)
Courtesy: TSU Athletics