FULL ASC RELEASE

Richardson, Texas – Concordia University Texas has been chosen to finish third in the 2012 American Southwest Conference West Division Softball Poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, Jan. 17 after a vote of each division's head coaches and sports information directors. Sophomore hurler Teylor Schiefelbein also received preseason individual honors for the Tornados, who garnered 107 points in the poll.

Mary Hardin-Baylor, which went 28-14 overall and 21-3 in league play in 2010 to claim its fourth West Division title in five seasons, was tabbed to win its third straight crown by accumulating 15 of a possible 21 first-place votes and 139 points. Hardin-Simmons, which picked up the remaining six first-place votes, was picked to finish in the runner-up position with 123 points. Concordia was tabbed third, while Howard Payne, Texas Lutheran, Schreiner and Sul Ross State rounded out the poll.

Texas-Tyler, which went 40-13 overall and 17-7 in ASC action last season before placing third at NCAAs, was picked to capture the East Division by earning 16 first-place votes and 140 points. The Patriots were followed by East Texas Baptist, Mississippi College, Louisiana College, LeTourneau, Texas-Dallas and Ozarks. Four East Division teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2011.

Concordia, which will open its second season under the direction of Denise Lira on Feb. 11 at Trinity, returns nine letterwinners, seven players who have garnered ASC postseason recognition in their respective careers, seven starters in its regular batting order and both hurlers from last year's squad that finished 24-18 overall and made its second ASC Tournament appearance. The Tornados are the only team in the league to have two all-conference starting pitchers returning.

Schiefelbein was selected as the ASC West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year after being the only freshman to garner All-ASC West Division First Team laurels as a freshman at any position last spring. She finished her freshman campaign with a 2.15 earned run average and a 12-8 ledger. In addition, Schiefelbein registered four shutouts, which included throwing the first no-hitter in program history, and recorded 56 strikeouts while issuing only 32 walks in 130 innings of work. Junior Kat Moreno, who was an All-ASC West Division Second Team pick in 2011, completes what is arguably the best two-player rotation  in the division. She set a single-season school record for strikeouts with 90 last season while posting a 2.96 ERA and holding opponents to a .235 batting average.

Offensively, the Tornados most notably bring back Lauren Vansickle, Jordan Berry and Erin Duhon. Vansickle, a senior outfielder, has been honored by the ASC in each of her three seasons and has garnered all-region recognition by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association of America. Berry, an All-ASC West Division Second Team selection last year as a freshman outfielder, became Concordia's first student-athlete in any sport to garner national player of the week honors and is the team's top returning slugger. Duhon, a junior third baseman, is a two-time All-ASC West Division Second Team honoree. Meghan Ferrell, the team's starting first baseman the last two seasons, is another notable returner.

The 2012 ASC season – the 14th in league history – begins as early as February 11. The ASC First Pitch Tournament, featuring all 15 league teams and special guest Southwestern (Texas) in cross-divisional, non-conference action, is set for March 2-3 at Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch, Texas. The six-team, double elimination conference tournament is on tap for April 26-28 at a to-be-determined Lewisville, Texas, location with an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship on the line.
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2012 American Southwest Conference Softball Preseason Poll (West Division)
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (15) 139; 2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 123; 3. Concordia 107; 4. Howard Payne 76; 5. Texas Lutheran 61; 6. Schreiner 54; 7. Sul Ross State 28.

Preseason Player of the Year: Taylor Namey, C, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Teylor Schiefelbein, LHP, So., Concordia

2012 American Southwest Conference Softball Preseason Poll (East Division)
1. Texas-Tyler (16) 140; 2. East Texas Baptist (5) 127; 3. Mississippi College 109; 4. Louisiana College 79; 5. LeTourneau 63; 6. Texas-Dallas 45; 7. Ozarks 25.

Co-Preseason Players of the Year: Joey Cronin, 3B, Jr., Texas-Tyler & Brooke Smitherman, 1B, So., Mississippi College
Preseason Pitcher Player of the Year: Kim Mason, RHP, Sr., Mississippi College