AUSTIN, Texas — Lone Star Conference officials released the 2026 Softball Preseason Poll, slotting St. Edward's Hilltoppers eighth in the 17-team league and naming seniors SLOANE HILL and KYLEN PADGETT as the Hilltoppers' Player and Pitcher to Watch.
The preseason poll and honors were voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors, and media members.
St. Edward's is coming off a 27–28 campaign in 2025, including a 21–23 mark in conference play, earning a berth in the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Hill started all 54 games behind the plate, batting .325 with 15 doubles, two home runs, 42 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Padgett anchored the pitching staff with a 9–9 record and a 3.76 ERA, striking out 65 batters and recording three shutouts.
Two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion UT Tyler Patriots was picked to claim its sixth straight LSC title. Angelo State Rams outfielder Tatiana Trotter was selected as the LSC Preseason Player of the Year, while Oklahoma Christian Eagles pitcher Jill Dickson earned Preseason Pitcher of the Year honors.
St. Edward's opens the 2026 season on Friday, January 30, at 3:30 p.m. against Maryville University Saints at the Lone Star DII College Classic in Mansfield, Texas.
2026 LSC SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL, AWARDS, PLAYERS/PITCHERS TO WATCH
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
UT Tyler |
39 |
849 |
| 2 |
West Texas A&M |
8 |
817 |
| 3 |
Angelo State |
2 |
753 |
| 4 |
Oklahoma Christian |
1 |
715 |
| 5 |
Lubbock Christian |
1 |
665 |
| 6 |
Cameron |
|
551 |
| 7 |
Eastern New Mexico |
|
537 |
| 8 |
St. Edward's |
|
489 |
| 9 |
St. Mary's |
|
445 |
| 10 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
416 |
| 11 |
Texas A&M International |
|
351 |
| 12 |
Texas Woman's |
|
322 |
| 13 |
Midwestern State |
|
285 |
| 14 |
Western New Mexico |
|
219 |
| 15 |
UT Dallas |
|
188 |
| 16 |
Sul Ross State |
|
101 |
| 17 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
100 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Tatiana Trotter, OF, Sr., Angelo State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jill Dickson, RHP, Sr., Oklahoma Christian
Preseason Players to Watch
| Name |
Team |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Tatiana Trotter |
Angelo State |
OF |
Sr. |
Intelligence and Analysis |
Lubbock, Texas |
| Madyson Boutwell |
Cameron |
1B |
Jr. |
Org Leadership in Business |
Aledo, Texas |
| Christina Meneses |
Eastern New Mexico |
1B/UTL |
So. |
Pre-Med |
Glendale, Ariz. |
| Kadin Vire |
Lubbock Christian |
C/OF |
Jr. |
Exercise Science |
Waxahachie, Texas |
| Chipper Mayorga |
Midwestern State |
INF |
Fr. |
Criminal Justice |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Marti Yaerger |
Oklahoma Christian |
C |
So. |
Family Science |
Dewar, Okla. |
| SLOANE HILL |
St. Edward's |
C |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
Paris, Texas |
| Gabriela Banda |
St. Mary's |
INF |
Jr. |
Biology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Elizabeth Clemente |
Sul Ross State |
INF |
Sr. |
Biology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Kennedy Griego |
Texas A&M International |
3B |
Sr. |
Biology |
Covina, Calif. |
| Alaunah Almarez |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
3B |
So. |
Psychology |
Calallen, Texas |
| Tamia Cherry |
Texas Woman's |
INF |
Fr. |
Kinesiology |
Aubrey, Texas |
| Claire Pollack |
UT Dallas |
UTL |
Sr. |
Biology |
League City, Texas |
| Keri Sanford |
UT Permian Basin |
SS |
Sr. |
Elementary Education |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Lauren Granger |
UT Tyler |
C/OF |
Sr. |
Communication Studies |
Minnetonka, Minn. |
| Cadence Colborn |
West Texas A&M |
INF |
So. |
Animal Science |
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Lauryn Carbajal |
Western New Mexico |
OF |
So. |
Kinesiology |
Tuscan, Ariz. |
Preseason Pitchers to Watch
| Name |
Team |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Ashleigh Dendas |
Angelo State |
RHP |
Sr. |
Applied Psychology |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| Stormee Reed |
Cameron |
RHP |
Sr. |
English Education |
Shawnee, Okla. |
| Miranda Guillen |
Eastern New Mexico |
RHP |
So. |
Business |
El Paso, Texas |
| Ashlinn Hamilton |
Lubbock Christian |
RHP/OF |
Sr. |
Exercise Science |
Denison, Texas |
| Kayleigh Bowers |
Midwestern State |
RHP |
Jr. |
Biology |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Jill Dickson |
Oklahoma Christian |
RHP |
Sr. |
Marketing Management |
Edmond, Okla. |
| KYLEN PADGETT |
St. Edward's |
RHP |
Sr. |
Business Administration |
Huffman, Texas |
| Emily Ayala |
St. Mary's |
RHP |
Sr. |
Law |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Larryn Rooks |
Sul Ross State |
RHP |
Jr. |
Kinesiology and HP |
Waco, Texas |
| Kylie Goad |
Texas A&M International |
RHP |
Jr. |
Kinesiology |
Henderson, Texas |
| Esther Martinez |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
LHP |
So. |
Psychology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Randi Crawford |
Texas Woman's |
RHP |
So. |
Biology |
Blossom, Texas |
| Allison Koch |
UT Dallas |
LHP |
Jr. |
Visual & Performing Arts |
Colleyville, Texas |
| Jessica Cantrell |
UT Permian Basin |
RHP |
So. |
Chemistry |
Elgin, Texas |
| Kendall Selitzky |
UT Tyler |
RHP |
So. |
Management |
Henderson, Nev. |
| Laci Peskey |
West Texas A&M |
RHP |
Jr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
Waller, Texas |
| Labraida Tenorio |
Western New Mexico |
RHP |
Sr. |
Marketing |
Rio Rancho, N.M. |
