Bears Place six on SLC Preseason Softball Teams, Picked to Finish 2nd

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

The Southland Conference released its preseason polls and honors today, and the Central Arkansas Bears were well represented. Central Arkansas had the second-most honorees in the conference, placing six players on the teams, a total only Sam Houston State could best. The Bearkats had seven players honored.

Central Arkansas evenly distributed its honorees between the first and second teams, with utility player Melissa Bryant, outfielder Stephanie Lasley, and pitcher Kelsie Armstrong being named to the first team, while catcher Melanie Bryant, third baseman Tiffany Roby, and first baseman Ashley Boswell were named to the second team. The group gives the Bears a solid nucleus, as they attempt to build on the success they experience last season, when they finished third in the Southland Conference and made their first appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament.

That success, and the return of 11 letterwinners, is reflected in the preseason polls, where the Bears were picked to finish no worse than third. In the Coach’s Poll, Central Arkansas received one first-place vote, giving them a total of 65 points, which was good for third place behind Sam Houston State and McNeese State. In the Sports Information Director’s Poll, the Bears fared a bit better, receiving three first place votes and 73 points, falling behind only Sam Houston State.

 

2013 Southland Preseason Softball Polls

Coaches’ Poll SID Poll

1. Sam Houston State (7) 78 pts. 1. Sam Houston State (5) 74 pts.

2. McNeese State (2) 72 pts. 2. Central Arkansas (3) 73 pts.

3. Central Arkansas (1) 65 pts. 3. McNeese State (2) 69 pts.

4. Texas A&M-CC 56 pts. 4. Texas A&M-CC 53 pts.

5. Stephen F. Austin 44 pts. 5. Nicholls State 47 pts.

6. Northwestern State 42 pts. 6. Northwestern State 41 pts.

7. Nicholls State 39 pts. 7. Stephen F. Austin 36 pts.

8. Houston Baptist 21 pts. 8. Southeastern Louisiana 24 pts.

Southeastern Louisiana 21 pts. 9. Houston Baptist 22 pts.

9. Lamar 12 pts. 10. Lamar 11 pts. 

Central Arkansas head coach David Kuhn was excited by what the honors and polls represented, but wanted to focus on the upcoming season, saying “I look at preseason awards as a look at the past. The preseason all-conference awards are based on the previous year. This season is a new year, so those ladies are hoping to continue to play at a high level.” Kuhn’s outlook on the polls was similar: “The team ranking is based on the previous year, history, and players returning. I like the direction of our program, but I just want to see our program compete for championships on a yearly basis.” 

The Bears open the season on the road, traveling to Nashville, Tennessee for the Belmont/Hampton Inn-Brentwood Spring Kickoff. They then visit Pine Bluff, Arkansas for the first game of a home-and-home series with the UAPB Golden Lions before traveling to Mobile, Alabama for the Mardi Gras Invitational, hosted by South Alabama. Central Arkansas’ first home game comes on February 20, when the Bears play host to Mississippi Valley State in a tune up for the tournament that will take place at Farris Field the weekend of February 22-24. During the tournament Central Arkansas will play 6 games, as part of a weekend that will feature a total of 14 games played.

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