Texas A&M-Kingsville was selected to repeat as Lone Star Conference baseball champions according to the preseason poll announced by league officials on Thursday.
TAMUK collected eight of the 17 first-place votes on the ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives for 83 total points. The Javelinas, who advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship game for the second consecutive season, finished 38-20 overall and 24-11 in conference games last season.
West Texas A&M totaled 80 points with four first-place nods to finish right behind TAMUK in the voting. Tarleton State ranked third with 69 points and one first-place vote, followed by Angelo State (64 and the remaining four top votes), Eastern New Mexico (42), and Cameron (19).
ENMU’s Matthew Burks was tabbed LSC Preseason Player of the Year, while ASU’s Blake Bass garnered LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors.
Burks, a senior outfielder from Vacaville, Calif., led the league in slugging percentage (.627) and home runs (10) last season in addition to hitting .384 with 71 hits, 50 runs, 32 RBI and 11 stolen bases. The All-LSC first teamer also finished in the top 10 in school history for a season in home runs, total bases and hit by pitches.
Bass, a senior right-handed pitcher from Lubbock, Texas, posted a 2.72 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 76 innings of work in 2014. An All-LSC first-team and Daktronics second-team selection, finished with a 4-4 record in 12 starts and 13 appearances.
The 2015 season starts January 31 with LSC teams playing a 10-week schedule with a four-game series and three-game series against every other team. Each four-game series shall consist of a 9-inning game Friday, a 7x7 doubleheader Saturday and 9-inning contest Sunday, and each three-game series shall consist of a 9-inning game Friday and a 7x9 doubleheader Saturday.
The overall LSC Champion will be the team(s) with the best winning percentage in regular-season conference games, while the winner of the postseason championship will be recognized as LSC Tournament Champion and receive the league’s automatic qualification into NCAA postseason. The championship will be played May 7-8-9, at the No. 1 seed.
Here’s a closer look at the voting breakdown for the conference:
|
Rank |
LSC Baseball |
1st |
TOTAL |
|
1 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
8 |
83 |
|
2 |
West Texas A&M |
4 |
80 |
|
3 |
Tarleton State |
1 |
69 |
|
4 |
Angelo State |
4 |
64 |
|
5 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
42 |
|
6 |
Cameron |
|
19 |