TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler softball program has been selected as preseason favorites in the 2024 Lone Star Conference Softball Preseason Poll and
Courtney Plocheck the Preseason Player of the Year.
UT Tyler will begin the year no. 1 in the preseason poll for a third straight season as voted upon by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives. The Patriots received 25 first-place votes and 591 total votes to sit ahead of no. 2 ranked West Texas A&M, who garnered 576 points.
UT Tyler claimed a second-straight South Central Region Championship in 2023 and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Softball World Series for a second-consecutive season. The Patriots completed the year with a record of 62-6, setting the program record for wins in a single season, and claimed a third straight Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship with a record of 39-2 in conference play.
UT Tyler is 97-12 in four seasons of Lone Star Conference play and has accumulated a 161-25 overall record since beginning Division II play in 2020.
Oklahoma Christian came in at no. 3 in the preseason poll behind UT Tyler and West Texas A&M with 519 total votes. Lubbock Christian (500) and Cameron (412) rounded out the top five in the no. 4 and no. 5 slots. The complete 2024 LSC Softball Preseason Poll can be found below.
Plocheck earns a third straight Preseason Player of the Year accolade for the program after leading the LSC with a .400 batting average in 2023 and a league-best 86 hits. The Deer Park, Texas native was named to the NFCA All-America Second Team and has been named to the All-LSC First Team list in each of the last two seasons.
Texas Woman's Alyssa Leblanc was chosen as the LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Plocheck and graduate student Genesis Armendariz were the two representatives from UT Tyler on the 30-player players to watch list for the 2024 LSC softball season.
The Patriots will return the majority of their offensive production from a year ago in 2024, highlighted by the return of Plocheck and fellow NFCA All-American
JT Smith. Smith and Plocheck will join fellow All-Region selections
Michelle Arias and
Audrey Escamilla in a line-up that will be stocked full of talent in 2024.
UT Tyler will begin the 2024 season in Conroe, Texas on Feb. 2-4 at the DII First Pitch Invitational. The Patriots are set to take on MSU Denver, #17 Wingate, Colorado Mesa, Washburn and Regis over the course of the three days.
2024 LSC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS
Preseason Poll
as voted by head coaches, sports information directors and media
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
UT Tyler (25) |
591 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M (11) |
576 |
| 3 |
Oklahoma Christian (3) |
519 |
| 4 |
Lubbock Christian |
500 |
| 5 |
Cameron |
412 |
| 6 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville (2) |
386 |
| 7 |
Angelo State |
383 |
| 8 |
St. Mary's |
353 |
| 9 |
St. Edward's |
288 |
| 10 |
Texas Woman's |
254 |
| 11 |
Eastern New Mexico |
216 |
| 12 |
Texas A&M International |
175 |
| 13 |
Midwestern State |
127 |
| 14 |
Western New Mexico |
72 |
| 15 |
UT Permian Basin |
68 |
Preseason Player of the Year: Courtney Plocheck, UT Tyler, Infield, Graduate Student
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Alyssa LeBlanc, Texas Woman's, Pitcher/Utility, Senior
LSC Players to Watch in 2024 ++ Preseason Player of the Year
| Player |
Team |
Class |
Pos |
Major |
Hometown |
| Adlai Alvidrez |
Western New Mexico |
So. |
OF |
Psychology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Kaiden Boren |
Cameron |
Jr. |
C |
Biology |
Harrah, Okla |
| Keilei Garcia |
Angelo State |
Sr. |
C |
Coaching, Sport, Rec. Fit. Admin. |
Hemet, Calif. |
| Kayla Gonzales |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Sr. |
1B/3B |
General Studies |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Lauren Gonzales |
St. Mary's |
Sr. |
OF |
Marketing |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Kennedy Griego |
Texas A&M International |
So. |
3B |
Criminal Justice |
Laverne, Calif. |
| Vivica Hernandez |
Texas Woman's |
Jr. |
OF |
Criminal Justice |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Skylar Herrera |
Lubbock Christian |
Gr. |
INF |
Criminal Justice |
Odessa, Texas |
| Myranda Jimenez |
Midwestern State |
Jr. |
INF |
Criminal Justice |
Cathedral City, Calif. |
| Mikenzey Patterson |
Eastern New Mexico |
Sr. |
UTL |
Biology |
Roswell, N.M. |
| Courtney Plocheck ++ |
UT Tyler |
Gr. |
INF |
Marketing |
Deer Park, Texas |
| Brittni Rufus |
West Texas A&M |
Sr. |
OF |
MPA |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Keri Sanford |
UT Permian Basin |
So. |
INF |
Child and Family Studies |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Arianna Vidales |
St. Edward's |
So. |
OF |
Business |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Kristen Whitehouse |
Oklahoma Christian |
Sr. |
SS |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Moore, Okla. |
LSC Pitchers to Watch in 2024 ++ Preseason Pitcher of the Year
| Pitcher |
Team |
Yr. |
Pos |
Major |
Hometown |
| Carla Arellano |
Texas A&M International |
Sr. |
RHP |
Kinesiology |
Harlingen, Texas |
| Genesis Armendariz |
UT Tyler |
Gr. |
RHP |
Kinesiology |
Hobbs, N.M. |
| Madeline Bloom |
St. Mary's |
Jr |
P |
English Language Arts & Reading |
Poway, Calif. |
| Emilee Boyer |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
UTL |
Business |
Harrisburg, S.D. |
| Jocelyn Bright |
Cameron |
Sr. |
P |
Sports & Exercise Science |
Burkburnett, Texas |
| Kamerynn Cordova |
Western New Mexico |
So. |
P |
Elementary Education |
Fowler, Calif. |
| Cadie Belle Currie |
St. Edward's |
Sr. |
P |
Forensic Science |
Grapeland, Texas |
| Jill Dickson |
Oklahoma Christian |
So. |
P |
Business |
Edmond, Okla. |
| Cheyenne Floyd |
Angelo State |
Jr. |
P |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Liberty Hill, Texas |
| Alyssa LeBlanc ++ |
Texas Woman's |
Sr. |
P/UTL |
Sport Management |
Katy, Texas |
| Addison Lindemann |
Midwestern State |
Fr. |
P |
Nursing |
Holliday, Texas |
| Morgan McGaugh |
UT Permian Basin |
Fr. |
P |
Psychology |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Beth Montes |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
Sr. |
RHP |
Biology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Marissa Rodriguez |
Eastern New Mexico |
So. |
RHP |
Early Childhood Education |
Buena Park, Calif. |
| Maxine Valdez |
Lubbock Christian |
Gr. |
P |
Exercise Science |
