BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The seventh ranked LSU softball team, the defending Southeastern Conference champions, was picked to repeat as league champs in the 2000 SEC pre-season coaches poll released Monday by the league office.
The Tigers were the unanimous choice to win the overall SEC crown and the Western division title. Eighteenth ranked South Carolina was chosen to finish first in the Eastern Division.
In the divisional race, LSU tallied 66 points and all 11 first-place selections. Following the Tigers in the West, Alabama earned 47 points for second place, Mississippi State placed third with 43 points followed by Arkansas in fourth place with 41 points. Ole Miss was fifth with 19 points and Auburn sixth with 17.
South Carolina paced the Eastern Division vote tally with 54 points and all but one first-place vote. Tennessee was second with 40 points and received one first place vote. Florida finished third with 32 total points. Georgia, with 30 points, and Kentucky, with 13 points, rounded out the SEC East.
The Tigers will host the Tiger Classic at Tiger Park on February 12 and 13 to begin their 2000 season. Conference play will begin at home against Auburn on March 17 and 18.