BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball team was picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division in a preseason poll by the league’s coaches released Tuesday.
The Tigers earned 48 points and two first-place votes for a second-place ranking in the SEC West, tying LSU with Auburn in second. Alabama was picked to finish first with 57 points and seven first-place votes. Mississippi State ranked fourth with 38 points, followed by Ole Miss with 22 points and Arkansas with 20.
Tennessee led the SEC Eastern Division with 49 points and nine first-place votes. Georgia ranked second with 39 points and received one first-place vote. Florida was close behind in third with 37 points and one first-place vote. South Carolina and Kentucky completed the division with 23 and 14 points respectively.
Tennessee was picked to win the overall SEC title with nine championship votes, while Florida and Georgia each had one championship vote.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Eastern Division and 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Tigers will open the 2006 season on Feb. 10 against Stephen F. Austin at Tiger Park in the Purple & Gold Challenge at 3:30 p.m. LSU will then take on Northwestern State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and South Dakota State before beginning bracket play in the three-day tournament.
2006 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
WESTERN DIVISION
1. Alabama (7) 57
2. LSU (2) 48
3. Auburn (2) 48
4. Mississippi State 38
5. Arkansas 22
6. Ole Miss 20
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Tennessee (9) 49
2. Georgia (1) 39
3. Florida (1) 37
4. South Carolina 23
5. Kentucky 14