RICHARDSON, Texas –
East Texas Baptist has been picked to win the 2022 American Southwest title after a vote of the league's head coaches and directors of sports information, announced by the conference office Wednesday (January 26).
The Tigers made their ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship after going 33-7 in 2021 and 22-5 in conference play. They won the ASC championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Belhaven (219/6) were picked second after being co-East Division champions and qualifying for the program’s first NCAA Championship. The Blazers were 31-12 overall and 22-5 in conference play.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (201), the West Division champions and runner-up in the ASC tournament after going 27-14 overall and 19-8 in league play, were picked third.
Rounding out the poll were
Concordia Texas (155/1),
McMurry (146),
Sul Ross State (124),
Hardin-Simmons (114),
LeTourneau (111/1),
UT Dallas (76),
Howard Payne (44) and
Ozarks (30).
In addition to the preseason poll, 33 players were named to the ASC Softball Preseason Watch List by the head coaches. Among the players on the list are 21 all-conference selections and two award winners from 2021.
The 2022 softball season is the 24th for ASC softball. Action begins on Friday, February 4.
The 2022 ASC Softball Championship Tournament is scheduled for May 5-7 at the top seeded team’s site.
Rawlings is the official softball of the American Southwest Conference and is used by the league’s 11 members and during the ASC Championship Tournament.
2022 ASC Softball Preseason Poll
| |
Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Pts. |
2021 Record (ASC) |
|
| |
1. |
East Texas Baptist (14) |
229 |
33-7 (22-5) |
|
| |
2. |
Belhaven (6) |
219 |
31-12 (22-5) |
|
| |
3. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
201 |
27-14 (19-8) |
|
| |
4. |
Concordia Texas (1) |
155 |
22-16 (16-11) |
|
| |
5. |
McMurry |
146 |
18-14 (14-12) |
|
| |
6. |
Sul Ross State |
124 |
13-13 (12-10) |
|
| |
7. |
Hardin-Simmons |
114 |
18-21 (11-11) |
|
| |
8. |
LeTourneau (1) |
111 |
14-16 (13-14) |
|
| |
9. |
UT Dallas |
76 |
7-24 (5-19) |
|
| |
10. |
Howard Payne |
44 |
13-18 (8-16) |
|
| |
11. |
Ozarks |
30 |
4-25 (2-21) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
2022 ASC Softball Preseason Players to Watch
Players selected by their respective head coach
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometow |
| Kennedy Carruth * P N |
So. |
P |
Belhaven |
St. Francisville, La. |
| Allie Gordon * |
So. |
3B |
Belhaven |
Macon, Ga. |
| Marlee Blackwell * |
Sr. |
OF |
Belhaven |
Montrose, Miss. |
| Bailey Tisdale * |
Jr. |
P |
Concordia Texas |
Santa Fe, Texas |
| Erica Riley * |
So. |
SS |
Concordia Texas |
League City, Texas |
| Ashley Hallmark * |
Sr. |
OF |
Concordia Texas |
Burnet, Texas |
| Corley Carpenter |
Sr. |
OF |
East Texas Baptist |
La Vernia, Texas |
| Ashley Croft * |
So. |
P |
East Texas Baptist |
Cypress, Texas |
| Tauryn Cummings * F |
So. |
DP |
East Texas Baptist |
Houston, Texas |
| Karis Hessert * |
Sr. |
C |
Hardin-Simmons |
Royse City, Texas |
| Kaylen Washington * |
Jr. |
P |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Peyton Newman * |
Sr. |
IF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Bedford, Texas |
| Brianna Lopez |
So. |
OF |
Howard Payne |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Deandra Longoria |
So. |
IF |
Howard Payne |
Edinburg, Texas |
| Tori Muro |
So. |
IF |
Howard Payne |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Bailey Richey * |
Sr. |
P |
LeTourneau |
Humble, Texas |
| Madelyn Tannery |
Sr. |
OF/P |
LeTourneau |
Conroe, Texas |
| Callie Poore |
Jr. |
C |
LeTourneau |
Whitney, Texas |
| Bailey Wagner |
Sr. |
1B |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Brock, Texas |
| Bailey Eggleston * |
So. |
OF |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Spring, Texas |
| Milly Cesare * |
Jr. |
SS |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Frisco, Texas |
| Kelsey Ahart * |
Sr. |
C |
McMurry |
Angleton, Texas |
| Emily Michki * |
Sr. |
3B |
McMurry |
Mission, Texas |
| Jenna Lewis |
Jr. |
P |
McMurry |
Hearne, Texas |
| Mack Lucio |
Fr. |
P/SS |
Ozarks |
Bedford, Texas |
| Kaylyn Soria |
So. |
C/3B |
Ozarks |
Angleton, Texas |
| Blaise English * |
So. |
1B |
Ozarks |
Clarksville, Ark. |
| Jodie Vaughn * |
Sr. |
P |
Sul Ross State |
Andrews, Texas |
| Annika Canaba * |
Sr. |
SS |
Sul Ross State |
Alpine, Texas |
| Payslee Sims * |
Sr. |
C |
Sul Ross State |
Greenwood, Texas |
| Devyn Yanello |
Jr. |
P |
UT Dallas |
Houston, Texas |
| Celeste Soliz |
Jr. |
C |
UT Dallas |
Lucas, Texas |
| Avery Markley * |
So. |
OF |
UT Dallas |
Plano, Texas |
* 2021 All-Conference
P 2021 Pitcher of the Year
N 2021 Newcomer of the Year
F 2021 Freshman of the Year |