NM State Picked to Win 2019 WAC Softball Title
NM State Picked to Win 2019 WAC Softball Title
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DENVER – NM State is the preseason favorite to win the 2019 Western Athletic Conference softball title in a vote of the league's seven head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
The coaches also voted preseason award winners and NM State's Kelsey Horton was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and teammate Kayla Green was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Aggies took the top spot in the preseason poll with 35 points and five first-place votes, while Grand Canyon was just behind in second with 32 points and the other two first-place votes. Seattle U was selected to finish in third place with 25 points, just ahead of Utah Valley in fourth place with 21 points. League newcomer California Baptist and Kansas City tied for fifth place with 13 points, while CSU Bakersfield (8) rounded out the poll.
NM State and Seattle U placed the most players on the Preseason All-WAC team with four, while Grand Canyon had three.
The 2019 season begins Thursday, Feb. 7. The 2019 WAC Softball Tournament will be held May 8-11, at the GCU Softball Stadium in Phoenix and will include all six eligible teams.
2019 WAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Teams (1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
NM State (5) |
35 |
| 2. |
Grand Canyon (2) |
32 |
| 3. |
Seattle U |
25 |
| 4. |
Utah Valley |
21 |
| T-5. |
California Baptist |
13 |
| T-5. |
Kansas City |
13 |
| 7. |
CSU Bakersfield |
8 |
2019 Softball Preseason All-WAC Team
| Player |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Brianna Aguilar |
Grand Canyon |
Jr. |
P |
| Peyton Angulo |
Utah Valley |
So. |
UTL |
| Nikki Butler |
NM State |
Jr. |
C |
| Victoria Castro |
NM State |
Sr. |
OF |
| Madison Cathcart |
Seattle U |
Jr. |
INF |
| Ally Choate |
Seattle U |
So. |
OF |
| Kayla Green |
NM State |
Sr. |
P |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Sr. |
UTL |
| Andie Larkins |
Seattle U |
Sr. |
P |
| Carley Nance |
Seattle U |
So. |
P |
| Shea Smith |
Grand Canyon |
Sr. |
INF |
| Sierra Smith |
Grand Canyon |
Sr. |
INF |
| Lyndsay Steverson |
Utah Valley |
Jr. |
INF |
Preseason Player of the Year: Kelsey Horton, NM State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kayla Green, NM State