DALLAS –
East Texas Baptist headlined the 2025 American Southwest Conference Softball preseason poll as favorites to repeat as champions, after a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, announced by the league office on Thursday.
East Texas Baptist, the reigning NCAA DIII National Champions, unanimously secured the top slot in the preseason ranking with 50 points and all ten first-place votes. The Tigers went 48-3 overall last season with a 22-1 record in conference action. ETBU hosted each round of the NCAA Tournament, eventually earning the title after winning the National Championship series 2-1 against Belhaven in Marshall.
Mary Hardin-Baylor finished the poll in second with 37 points after finishing the 2024 season with a 24-15 overall record and 15-9 conference mark.
Hardin-Simmons followed in third with 27 points, ending last season 26-14 overall and 14-10 in ASC action.
LeTourneau, who went 14-10 in conference play and 24-19 overall, ranked fourth with 27 points while
Howard Payne came in fifth with 11 points.
UT Dallas will not count in the 2025 standings and are ineligible for both the ASC and NCAA Championships due to reclassifying to NCAA Division II.
In addition to the preseason poll, 18 players were named by their respective head coaches to the ASC Softball Preseason Watch List, including 15 players who earned ASC All-Conference awards in 2023. This includes ASC Player of the Year,
Tristen Maddox, who is a graduate student shortstop with ETBU. She was also named ASC Athlete of the Year and the 2024 NCAA DIII Honda Athlete of the Year.
2025 ASC Softball Schedule
2025 ASC Softball Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Pts. |
2023 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
East Texas Baptist (10) |
50 |
48-3 (22-1) |
| 2. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
37 |
24-15 (15-9) |
| 3. |
Hardin-Simmons |
27 |
26-14 (14-10) |
| 4. |
LeTourneau |
25 |
24-19 (14-10) |
| 5. |
Howard Payne |
11 |
14-25 (6-18) |
| $ - |
UT Dallas |
- |
17-20 (8-15) |
$ – Ineligible for ASC and NCAA Championships
2025 ASC Softball Preseason Players to Watch
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Jenna Carter* |
Jr. |
RF |
LeTourneau |
Keller, Texas |
| Maddie Flanery* |
Jr. |
CF |
LeTourneau |
Tyler, Texas |
| Bailey Frenzel* |
Sr. |
1B |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Orange, Texas |
| Madison Garza |
Fr. |
2B/C |
Howard Payne |
Poth, Texas |
| Haley Henson* |
Sr. |
OF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Maypearl, Texas |
| Cadence Hernandez* |
So. |
1B |
UT Dallas |
Little Elm, Texas |
| Avery Holland* |
So. |
LHP |
East Texas Baptist |
Fredericksburg, Texas |
| Madison Hubbard* |
Jr. |
3B |
Hardin-Simmons |
Frisco, Texas |
| Emily Jacobs* |
So. |
OF |
Hardin-Simmons |
Joshua, Texas |
| Allison Koch |
So. |
P |
UT Dallas |
Colleyville, Texas |
| Leighton Landreth* |
Sr. |
2B |
LeTourneau |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Tristen Maddox* P |
Gr. |
SS |
East Texas Baptist |
Mission, Texas |
| Julia Maniscalco |
Fr. |
LF |
UT Dallas |
Wantagh, N.Y. |
| Elise Munoz* |
Sr. |
CF |
Howard Payne |
Tuscon, Arizona |
| Lindsey Polleschultz * S |
Sr. |
SS |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cypress, Texas |
| Haylie Stum* F |
So. |
UT |
East Texas Baptist |
Cypress, Texas |
| Makayla Wesley* |
Sr. |
C/3B |
Howard Payne |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Eileigh Whyte* |
Sr. |
P |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Round Rock, Texas |
Players selected by their respective head coach
P 2024 ASC Player of the Year
F 2024 ASC Freshman of the Year
S 2024 Co-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year
* 2024 All-Conference
Rawlings is the official softball of the American Southwest Conference.