Ladyjack Softball Picked as Conference Favorites in Preseason Coaches Poll
2/5/2021 11:15:00 AM | Softball
Southland Preseason Coaches Poll
FRISCO, Texas -- The 2021 softball season is fast approaching, and the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin no doubt have some wind in their sails with Friday's announcement from the league office that they have been picked to win the Southland Conference. SFA's top spot in the Coaches Preseason Poll came as a result of 235 total votes and 17 of a possible 24 first-place votes cast in SFA's favor.
The 2021 preseason softball poll was voted upon by head coaches and sports information directors from around the conference. Voting for one's own school was not permitted.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in 2021 thanks to the sacrifices of everyone who has made sacrifices to help us have a season", said SFA head coach Nicole Dickson. "As a staff and program we are humbled by this news and will reaffirm our commitment to working hard to reach our full potential this season."
The Ladyjacks were one of the hottest teams in the nation last spring in the pandemic-shortened season, racking up a 19-4 record and a 13-game winning streak without even playing a true home game during that stretch. Returning a veteran crew that tied for the league lead with five Preseason All-Conference selections entering the 2021 campaign, fifth year head coach Nicole Dickson returns all the key players from an offense that ranked 27th in batting average (.319), 15th in doubles (44), 30th in OBP (.404) and 21st in scoring (6.52 runs/game) among Division I programs last season.
Junior pitcher Kassidy Wilbur headlines the Ladyjack pitching staff that will be looking to replicate last season's dominant numbers, where the Ladyjacks ranked fourth nationally in shutouts (10) and 19th in earned run average as a staff (1.84). Overshadowed at times by the dominance of teammate Ashley Kriesel last season, Wilbur nonetheless put together a dominant campaign of her own, racking up a 7-2 lead with a 1.73 ERA and 81 strikeouts. She pitched five complete games and held opponents to a .174 batting average. The Ladyjacks also have a capable group of underclassmen pitchers who will gain experience and continue to compete throughout the preseason to prepare for conference play.
The Ladyjacks open the 2021 campaign at the Texas A&M Tournament on Feb. 13-14 before returning home to Nacogdoches to face Texas Southern in the home opener on February 16. All told, the Ladyjacks' schedule features 20 non-conference matchups.
FRISCO, Texas -- The 2021 softball season is fast approaching, and the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin no doubt have some wind in their sails with Friday's announcement from the league office that they have been picked to win the Southland Conference. SFA's top spot in the Coaches Preseason Poll came as a result of 235 total votes and 17 of a possible 24 first-place votes cast in SFA's favor.
The 2021 preseason softball poll was voted upon by head coaches and sports information directors from around the conference. Voting for one's own school was not permitted.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in 2021 thanks to the sacrifices of everyone who has made sacrifices to help us have a season", said SFA head coach Nicole Dickson. "As a staff and program we are humbled by this news and will reaffirm our commitment to working hard to reach our full potential this season."
The Ladyjacks were one of the hottest teams in the nation last spring in the pandemic-shortened season, racking up a 19-4 record and a 13-game winning streak without even playing a true home game during that stretch. Returning a veteran crew that tied for the league lead with five Preseason All-Conference selections entering the 2021 campaign, fifth year head coach Nicole Dickson returns all the key players from an offense that ranked 27th in batting average (.319), 15th in doubles (44), 30th in OBP (.404) and 21st in scoring (6.52 runs/game) among Division I programs last season.
Junior pitcher Kassidy Wilbur headlines the Ladyjack pitching staff that will be looking to replicate last season's dominant numbers, where the Ladyjacks ranked fourth nationally in shutouts (10) and 19th in earned run average as a staff (1.84). Overshadowed at times by the dominance of teammate Ashley Kriesel last season, Wilbur nonetheless put together a dominant campaign of her own, racking up a 7-2 lead with a 1.73 ERA and 81 strikeouts. She pitched five complete games and held opponents to a .174 batting average. The Ladyjacks also have a capable group of underclassmen pitchers who will gain experience and continue to compete throughout the preseason to prepare for conference play.
The Ladyjacks open the 2021 campaign at the Texas A&M Tournament on Feb. 13-14 before returning home to Nacogdoches to face Texas Southern in the home opener on February 16. All told, the Ladyjacks' schedule features 20 non-conference matchups.
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