AUSTIN, Texas -- The Concordia University Texas baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the American Southwest Conference West Division preseason poll as voted on by the conference's head coaches, sports information directors and media members, the league announced Thursday.

Defending ASC West Division champion Texas Lutheran is picked to finish first, receiving 13 first place votes.  McMurry was chose second, followed by Hardin-Simmons, Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia.  Howard Payne was picked sixth followed by Schreiner and Sul Ross State to round out the division.

"Being chosen fifth is no surprise," said first-year head coach Tommy Boggs.  "As a program we talk about it's not about about where you are picked to start, but about where you finish.  We have hopes to finish in the top four in order to be eligible for the playoffs."

Texas-Tyler was selected as the favorite in the East Division, securing eight first place votes.

Last season, under former head coach Mike Gardner, the Tornados went 22-18 overall and 11-10 in the ASC, finishing one game outside of a playoff spot.  The Tornados had a win over No. 12 Texas-Tyler and won six straight games to end the season.

CTX returns 11 letterwinners from the 2009 squad, including junior infielder #Justin Beasley#, who was named as one of "16 to Watch in the ASC West Division."  Beasley was second on the team in batting average (.371), runs scored (30), home runs (4) and toatl bases (77).  He is joined on the list by junior transfer #Scott Hays#, a left-handed pitcher who joins the Tornados after pitching for the University of Alabama last year.

Senior right-hander #Ben Whiteley# is the top returning pitcher for the Tornados.  Last season, Whitely posted a 4-3 record on the mound along with a 3.95 earned run average.  He struck out 49 batters and yielded 17 free passes in 10 starts.

The Tornados' pitching staff is without right-hander Michael Johnson, who left school early after being drafted by the New York Mets in the 24th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.  Johnson went 7-2 and posted a 2.38 ERA on the mound for the Tornados last season.  He struck out 109 batters and held opponents to a .206 batting average.

The 2010 season will begin on Feb. 6 when the Tornados travel to Georgetown for a three-game series with Southwestern University.  The first conference series is March 12-13 when CTX plays at Howard Payne.

American Southwest Conference Preseason Poll
West Division
Rk. Team (first)                       Points
1.  Texas Lutheran (13)         174
2.  McMurry (4)                         156
3.  Hardin-Simmons (3)        143
4.  Mary Hardin-Baylor (4)     142
5.  Concordia Texas               97
6.  Howard Payne                   68
7.  Schreiner                            55
8.  Sul Ross State                  29

East Division
Rk. Team (first)                       Points
1.  Texas-Tyler (8)                   132
2.  Mississippi College (10) 131
3.  Texas-Dallas (3)                113
4.  Ozarks                                  70
5.  Louisiana College             65
6.  East Texas Baptist            46
7.  LeTourneau                        31

American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch Lists
West Division
Position Players
Javier Arrieta, SS, Sr., Sul Ross State
#Justin Beasley#, 3B, Jr., Concordia Texas
Regan Dixon, C/DH, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Marcus Myhover, 2B, So., Schreiner
Jake Mullin, OF, Jr., McMurry
Ryan Nokelby, OF, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Joseph Villegas, OF, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Taylor Zambreski, OF, Jr., Howard Payne

Pitchers
#Scott Hays#, LHP, Jr., Concordia Texas
Colton Hermes, LHP, Sr., Schreiner
Jared Hopper, RHP, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Tim Kriegel, RHP, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Nathan Molina, RHP, Sr., Sul Ross State
Jonathan Morris, RHP, Fr., Howard Payne
Brad Orosey, RHP, So., Texas Lutheran
Dakota Smith, RHP, Sr., McMurry

Justin Beasley on how Concordia is preparing for the 2010 season: