Lady Jackets Tabbed Third in SB Poll (1/30/06)

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings softball team has been picked to finish third in the Heartland Conference in a poll of head coaches and sports information directors.  The Yellowjackets, who will be competing in their first season in the Heartland, trailed St. Mary’s University and St. Edward’s University in the poll.

St. Mary’s received 13 of 14 first place votes and finished well ahead of St. Ed’s. St. Mary’s will be trying for its sixth Heartland Conference championship.  The Rattlers won the South Central Regional last year and advanced to the NCAA National Tournament, where they lost to San Francisco State.  SF State knocked Montana State-Billings out of the NCAA West Regional in the semifinals.

Shortstop Tiffani Craft of St. Mary’s was selected as the preseason Heartland Player of the Year.  A second team All-America last year, Craft led the Heartland in batting with a .401 average.  Malissa Magee, also of St. Mary’s, was chosen as the preseason Pitcher of the Year.  Incarnate Word’s Melissa Perez was named the preseason Utility Player of the Year.

The Heartland Conference champion will be determined at the conference tournament held April 27-29 in San Antonio, TX.  St. Mary’s will host the conference tourney by virtue of winning last year’s tournament.  The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA South Central Regional.

The Yellowjackets begin their regular season at a tournament in Phoenix, AZ, February 10-13.  They will also compete in the Triple Crown Leadoff Classic in Phoenix February 16-18.  The Lady Jackets’ first home game will be March 11 when they host Dickinson State.

Heartland Conference Preseason Softball Poll (Points)
1. St. Mary’s (97)
2. St. Edward’s (71)
3. Montana State-Billings (69)
4. Incarnate Word (61)
5. Western New Mexico (42)
6. Panhandle State (30)
7. Lincoln (22)