January 19, 2006
The defending Big 12 Champion Texas A&M softball team was picked to win the Big 12 title again in 2006 in the preseason coaches poll, the conference announced Thursday.
The Aggies (76 points) received four of the possible 10 first-place votes to edge out Texas, which tallied 75 points, including six votes for first place. Baylor ranked third followed by Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Missouri. Rounding out the preseason selections were Kansas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Iowa State.
?It?â„¢s obviously really nice to be respected by our conference opponents,? commented A&M head coach Jo Evans. ?It?â„¢s a huge honor for us to now be considered as one of the best in the Big 12. I am so proud to be able to coach in this conference and be a part of it because the strength of the Big 12, from top to bottom, is better than it has ever been. I think this honor is definitely a show of respect for what last year?â„¢s team was able to accomplish.?
A&M returns sophomore pitcher Amanda Scarborough, the 2005 Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Year. Scarborough is one of four All-Big 12 First Team honorees on the ?'06 Aggie roster. Megan Gibson, Sharonda McDonald and Rocky Spencer also earned first-team recognition last season, while Jamie Hinshaw and Lindsay Park were on the second team. During the ?'05 campaign, Big 12 Coach of the Year, Evans, and her squad claimed their first conference championship after posting an all-time best 14-4 league mark.
The Aggies will kick-off their season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. on Feb. 10 at 3:00 p.m. against Fresno State. Their home-opener is scheduled for Feb. 15 against Texas-San Antonio with the first pitch of the doubleheader set for 3:00 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Both national preseason softball polls will be released next week.
2006 BIG 12 CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Texas A&M (4) 76
2. Texas (6) 75
3. Baylor 61
4. Oklahoma 55
5. Nebraska 49
6. Missouri 43
7. Kansas 32
8. Texas Tech 28
9. Oklahoma State 22
10. Iowa State 9
**Points were awarded nine for first, eight for second, etc.**