BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball team was picked to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division in a preseason poll by the league’s coaches released Monday.
The Tigers earned 14 points for a first-place ranking in the SEC West. Alabama was picked to finish second with 15 points, followed by Auburn in third with 30. Arkansas ranked fourth with 37 points, followed by Mississippi State with 49 points and Ole Miss with 50.
Tennessee led the SEC Eastern Division with 10 points. Georgia ranked second with 21 points, while Florida was close behind in third with 26 points. South Carolina and Kentucky completed the division with 39 and 44 points respectively.
Tennessee was picked to win the overall SEC title with 10 championship votes, while Florida had one championship vote.
Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5 basis for the Eastern Division and 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Tigers resume their regular practice schedule on Tuesday. LSU will practice Tuesday through Friday at 3 p.m. before holding a scrimmage on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. The Tigers are hoping to get back outdoors during the week after spending last week in the Charles McClendon Indoor Practice Facility, but are at the mercy of the weather and will continue going indoors as needed.
LSU will open the season on Feb. 9 against Memphis at Tiger Park in the Tiger Classic at 3:30 p.m. The Tigers will then take on Centenary, Middle Tennessee and Missouri before beginning bracket play in the three-day tournament.
2007 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
WESTERN DIVISION
1. LSU 14
2. Alabama 15
3. Auburn 30
4. Arkansas 37
5. Mississippi State 49
6. Ole Miss 50
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Tennessee 10
2. Georgia 21
3. Florida 26
4. South Carolina 39
5. Kentucky 44
SEC CHAMPION: Tennessee (10), Florida (1)