OBU Softball selected fifth by coaches in the GSC West Division preseason poll

T he Ouachita Baptist University softball team was chosen to finish fifth in Tuesday’s Gulf South Conference West Division Coaches Poll.

The Lady Tigers garnered two third-place votes, two fourth, one fifth and one sixth for 17 points. Arkansas Tech was picked to win the West Division with 34 points. Following the Golden Suns were Arkansas-Monticello (31), Delta State (26) and Henderson State (19). Behind Ouachita was Christian Brothers (10) and Southern Arkansas (10).

Gulf South Conference West Division Freshman of the Year Kristen Rigsbee was the lone Lady Tiger player to make the All-GSC West Division Preseason Team.

Rigsbee, a native of Frisco, Texas, started and played in 55 games last season. She batted a team-high .384 with 66 hits, 41 runs scored, 35 RBIs, 11 doubles and three triples. She set a Ouachita single-season record for home runs with 12. On the mound, she went 10-8 with a 3.55 ERA, while recording 65 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings.

The Lady Tigers had three players selected as top newcomers in the GSC West Division – Monica Davis, Taylor Austin and Alexis Johns.

Davis, a 5-foot-9 native of Forney, Texas, will play in center field. Austin, a 5-10 native of Canton, Texas, will pitch and play first base. Johns, a 5-9 native of Arlington, Texas who graduated high school early, will play either behind the plate or at shortstop.

Ouachita opens the season Feb. 6-8 in Russellville, Ark., at the Arkansas Tech Classic. The Lady Tigers will play at the classic, Lincoln, Missouri-St. Louis and Southwest Baptist.