RICHARDSON, TEXAS – UT Tyler softball has been selected #1 in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll as announced on Wednesday morning.
Angelo State's Tatiana Trotter and Oklahoma Christian's Jill Dickson were selected as preseason player and pitcher of the year.
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
The two-time defending national champions totaled 849 total points and 39 of 51 first place votes. West Texas A&M was selected second with eight first place votes, and Angelo State, Oklahoma Christian, and Lubbock Christian round out the top five.
The Patriots went 62-5 last season and 40-4 in LSC play on their way to the NCAA National Championship, their second straight and third as a program. The Patriots went 10-1 in the NCAA Tournament, including a perfect 5-0 at the World Series.
UT Tyler was also selected as number one in the NFCA/GoRout DII Top 25 Coaches Poll to begin the season, picking up all 16 first place votes to be the unanimous top ranked team.
Lauren Granger and Kendall Selitzky were named LSC Players to Watch. Granger is a transfer catcher/outfielder that hails from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Selitzky is a transfer utility pitcher, hailing from Henderson, Nevada.
The Patriots open their season at the DII First Pitch Invitational where they will see Saint Martin's to open their year. That tournament runs January 30
th-February 1
st in Conroe, Texas.
2026 LSC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL, AWARDS, PLAYERS/PITCHERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
UT Tyler |
39 |
849 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M |
8 |
817 |
| 3 |
Angelo State |
2 |
753 |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Christian |
1 |
715 |
| 5 |
Lubbock Christian |
1 |
665 |
| 6 |
Cameron |
|
551 |
| 7 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
537 |
| 8 |
St. Edward's |
|
489 |
| 9 |
St. Mary's |
|
445 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
416 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M International |
|
351 |
| 12 |
Texas Woman's |
|
322 |
| 13 |
Midwestern State |
|
285 |
| 14 |
Western New Mexico |
|
219 |
| 15 |
UT Dallas |
|
188 |
| 16 |
Sul Ross State |
|
101 |
| 17 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
100 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Tatiana Trotter, OF, Sr., Angelo State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jill Dickson, RHP, Sr., Oklahoma Christian
Preseason Players to Watch
| Name |
Team |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Tatiana Trotter |
Angelo State |
OF |
Sr. |
Intelligence and Analysis |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Madyson Boutwell |
Cameron |
1B |
Jr. |
Org Leadership in Business |
Aledo, Texas |
| Christina Meneses |
Eastern New Mexico |
1B/UTL |
So. |
Pre-Med |
Glendale, Ariz. |
| Kadin Vire |
Lubbock Christian |
C/OF |
Jr. |
Exercise Science |
Waxahachie, Texas |
| Chipper Mayorga |
Midwestern State |
INF |
Fr. |
Criminal Justice |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Marti Yaerger |
Oklahoma Christian |
C |
So. |
Family Science |
Dewar, Okla. |
| Sloane Hill |
St. Edward's |
C |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Paris, Texas |
| Gabriela Banda |
St. Mary's |
INF |
Jr. |
Biology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Elizabeth Clemente |
Sul Ross State |
INF |
Sr. |
Biology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Kennedy Griego |
Texas A&M International |
3B |
Sr. |
Biology |
Covina, Calif. |
| Alaunah Almarez |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
3B |
So. |
Psychology |
Calallen, Texas |
| Tamia Cherry |
Texas Woman's |
INF |
Fr. |
Kinesiology |
Aubrey, Texas |
| Claire Pollack |
UT Dallas |
UTL |
Sr. |
Biology |
League City, Texas |
| Keri Sanford |
UT Permian Basin |
SS |
Sr. |
Elementary Education |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Lauren Granger |
UT Tyler |
C/OF |
Sr. |
Communication Studies |
Minnetonka, Minn. |
| Cadence Colborn |
West Texas A&M |
INF |
So. |
Animal Science |
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Lauryn Carbajal |
Western New Mexico |
OF |
So. |
Kinesiology |
Tuscan, Ariz. |
Preseason Pitchers to Watch
| Name |
Team |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Ashleigh Dendas |
Angelo State |
RHP |
Sr. |
Applied Psychology |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Stormee Reed |
Cameron |
RHP |
Sr. |
English Education |
Shawnee, Okla. |
| Miranda Guillen |
Eastern New Mexico |
RHP |
So. |
Business |
El Paso, Texas |
| Ashlinn Hamilton |
Lubbock Christian |
RHP/OF |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Denison, Texas |
| Kayleigh Bowers |
Midwestern State |
RHP |
Jr. |
Biology |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Jill Dickson |
Oklahoma Christian |
RHP |
Sr. |
Marketing Management |
Edmond, Okla. |
| Kylen Padgett |
St. Edward's |
RHP |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Huffman, Texas |
| Emily Ayala |
St. Mary's |
RHP |
Sr. |
Law |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Larryn Rooks |
Sul Ross State |
RHP |
Jr. |
Kinesiology and HP |
Waco, Texas |
| Kylie Goad |
Texas A&M International |
RHP |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
Henderson, Texas |
| Esther Martinez |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
LHP |
So. |
Psychology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Randi Crawford |
Texas Woman's |
RHP |
So. |
Biology |
Blossom, Texas |
| Allison Koch |
UT Dallas |
LHP |
Jr. |
Visual & Performing Arts |
Colleyville, Texas |
| Jessica Cantrell |
UT Permian Basin |
RHP |
So. |
Chemistry |
Elgin, Texas |
| Kendall Selitzky |
UT Tyler |
RHP |
So. |
Management |
Henderson, Nev. |
| Laci Peskey |
West Texas A&M |
RHP |
Jr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Waller, Texas |
| Labraida Tenorio |
Western New Mexico |
RHP |
Sr. |
Marketing |
Rio Rancho, N.M. |
