Abilene Christian is the preseason favorite to win the Lone Star Conference baseball title in 2008, according to the league's annual preseason polls announced Wednesday.

      The 2008 season starts in early February and the LSC has 12 teams ready to compete.  After using a North-South divisional alignment, LSC teams will play an 11-week, single round-robin schedule with a four-game series against every other team.  The series consists of three 9-inning games along with one 7-inning contest. 

      The regular season champion will be the team(s) with the best winning percentage in conference games, while the winner of the Postseason Tournament shall be the overall Conference Champion.  The tournament will be played May 3-6 in Abilene, Texas.

      ACU claimed 17 of the 28 first place votes on the ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives for 324 total points.  The Wildcats set a school record for wins with a 47-13 mark last year and won the LSC South Division crown. 

      Angelo State garnered nine first-places votes and tallied 309 points to finish second in the voting after a memorable 51-20 campaign in 2007.  The Rams advanced to the World Series for the first time in the history of the three-year program by virtue of winning the LSC and NCAA South Central Regional Championships.

      Central Oklahoma's Breck Draper was tabbed LSC Preseason Player of the Year.  The senior was the South Central Region Player of the Year and a second-team All-American at catcher last year after hitting 20 home runs with 70 RBI.

      ACU's Trey Watten was the choice for LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year acclaim.  Watten, who also plays third base, was 10-0 in his first full season as a pitcher last season.

      UCO was picked third with 286 points, while Texas A&M-Kingsville was fourth with 224, Southeastern Oklahoma fifth with 215, Tarleton State sixth with 167, Northeastern State seventh with 155 and Southwestern Oklahoma eighth with 148.

      Cameron (139), Eastern New Mexico (107), West Texas A&M (77) and East Central (33) rounded out the poll.

      Here's a closer look at the voting breakdown for the conference:

2008 LSC Baseball Preseason Poll		1st	Total
1	Abilene Christian	17	324
2	Angelo State	9	309
3	Central Oklahoma	1	286
4	Texas A&M-Kingsville		224
5	Southeastern Oklahoma		215
6	Tarleton State		167
7	Northeastern State		155
8	Southwestern Oklahoma		148
9	Cameron		139
10	Eastern New Mexico	1	107
11	West Texas A&M		77
12	East Central		33