Two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion UT Tyler is the favorite to win its sixth consecutive Lone Star Conference softball title according to the 2026 preseason poll, it was announced on Wednesday (Jan. 21). Angelo State’s Tatiana Trotter and Oklahoma Christian’s Jill Dickson claimed preseason player of the year honors.
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
UT Tyler totaled 849 points and collected 39 of the possible 51 first-place votes in the poll. The Patriots went 62-5 overall and 40-4 in league play last season. They won a share of the league title and also claimed the LSC tournament crown. UT Tyler closed out its national championship season on a 24-1 run, including a 5-0 showing at the national finals. The Patriots, which led the league in pitching (1.33 ERA) and tied for tops in fielding (.978) last year, enter the season unanimously ranked No. 1 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
West Texas A&M was picked as the runner-up with 817 points and eight first-place votes. The Lady Buffs went 56-8 overall and 40-4 in LSC play en route to a share of their second consecutive and sixth overall conference title. They led the league with a .362 average and 98 home runs and reached the NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional. WT, which won national titles in 2021 and 2014, is ranked No. 8 in the preseason national poll.
Angelo State was the third-place selection with 753 points and two first-place votes. The Rambelles went 47-14 overall and 34-10 in conference last year. They reached the NCAA regional and tied for the league lead in fielding percentage. ASU won the national title in 2004 and has collected a league-high eight conference championships. The Rambelles are ranked No. 13 in the preseason national poll.
Oklahoma Christian was selected in the fourth spot with 665 points and one first-place vote. The Eagles went 38-21 overall and 29-15 in conference play last season. They reached the NCAA regional. OC is ranked No. 25 in the preseason national poll.
Lubbock Christian was predicted to finish fifth with 665 points and the final first-place vote. The Lady Chaps went 36-22 overall and 26-18 in LSC play. They reached the NCAA regional.
Cameron was the sixth-place selection with 551 points. Eastern New Mexico (537 points) was seventh, followed by St. Edward’s (489 points) and St. Mary’s (445 points) to round out what would be the potential nine teams to qualify for the LSC Championship.
Two-time league champion Texas A&M-Kingsville (416 points) was predicted to finish 10th, followed by Texas A&M International (351 points), 2013 LSC champion Texas Woman’s (322 points), two-time conference champion Midwestern State (285 points) and Western New Mexico (219 points). New league member UT Dallas (188 points), Sul Ross State (101 points) and UT Permian Basin (100 points) rounded out the LSC’s 17 softball teams.
Trotter was named LSC Preseason Player of the Year. The senior outfielder from Lubbock, Texas hit .326 with 14 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 48 RBI. She also scored 54 runs, walked 33 times and stole 14 bases. Trotter was a LSC Softball Golden Glove winner in the outfield.
Dickson was named LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The senior right-hander from Edmond, Okla. went 21-11 with a 3.08 ERA and five shutouts. Dickson struck out 189 batters – a league best 54 looking – over 168 1/3 innings of work. Opponents hit just .212 off her.
Both Trotter and Dickson were All-LSC First Team selections in 2025.
Additionally, 34 players – 17 position players and 17 pitchers including Trotter and Dickson – were selected for the LSC Softball Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.
Notes:
- The LSC softball season begins as early as Jan. 30 (Saturday). To see the league schedule, click here.
- Due to being NCAA Division II provisional members, UTD and SRSU are not eligible for the LSC softball tournament but are able to win the LSC regular season title and postseason awards.
- The LSC softball tournament is scheduled for May 6-9 (Wednesday-Saturday) at the site of the league’s No. 1 seed.
- All LSC softball regular season and tournament games can be viewed live on FloCollege. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available.
- The NCAA Division II South Central Regional is scheduled for May 14-16 with the Super Regional following on May 21-22. The campus sites are TBD.
- The NCAA Division II Softball Championship is set for May 28-June 3 at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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. |
