RICHARDSON, Texas –– Texas Lutheran University and Mississippi College have been predicted to win 2011 American Southwest Conference baseball division titles, it was announced by the ASC office on Wednesday (Jan. 26) after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members. A total of 30 players – 16 from the West Division and 14 from the East Division – were named to the players to watch lists by nominations from head coaches.

Texas Lutheran, which went 32-13 overall (15-6 ASC) last year, totaled 177 points and collected 14 of the 24 possible first-place votes in the annual poll to be the favorite for a repeat of its West Division title. Head coach Greg Burnett’s Bulldogs, who have won five of the last six West crowns and eight overall, led the division with a 4.54 ERA and .966 fielding percentage in 2010. TLU won three straight ASC titles from 2005-07.

Hardin-Simmons University wrapped up the second place position with 152 points and four first-place votes. Head coach Steve Coleman’s Cowboys (23-21, 13-8 ASC) led the West with a .341 batting average last year. Four-time ASC champion McMurry University (140 pts.) was predicted for a third-place finish and tallied two top-spot votes. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor came in the fourth spot with 128 points and three first-place votes to round out what would be the division’s four teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament Series.

Sul Ross State University was predicted to finish fifth in the West with 104 points and the final first-place vote. Concordia University Texas (80 pts.) was sixth, followed by Howard Payne University (53 pts.) and Schreiner University (30 pts.).

Mississippi College, which went 39-11 overall (14-3 in ASC play) last season and reached the NCAA West Regional title game, totaled 142 points and 17 of the 21 first-place votes available to be the favorites in the East Division. Head coach Brian Owens’ Choctaws, who also reached the ASC championship game in 2010, hit .347 as a team and scored a league-high 456 runs. MC, which claimed its only ASC title in 2003, also led the conference with a 4.06 ERA.

Back-to-back ASC champion University of Texas at Tyler claimed the second-place spot, totaling 120 points and two first-place votes. The Patriots (36-12, 15-2 ASC) are under the direction of first-year head coach Paul Wyczawski. The University of Texas at Dallas was picked to finish third with 108 points and one top-spot vote. Louisiana College totaled 82 points to claim the fourth-place position and round out what would be the East’s four teams to qualify for the ASC tournament.

The University of the Ozarks totaled 51 points to be the fifth-place selection in the East, followed by East Texas Baptist University (49 pts.) and LeTourneau University (36 pts.), which picked up the final first-place vote.

Making up the “16 To Watch in the West Division” list is senior utility infielder Justin Beasley and sophomore right-hander Colin Butschek of Concordia Texas; senior shortstop Brian Weeks and senior left-hander Sam Walker of Hardin-Simmons; senior outfielder Taylor Zambreski and senior right-hander Billy Ray Cruz of Howard Payne; senior outfielder Jake Mullin and junior right-hander Zack Hewitt of McMurry; junior third baseman Josh Frederick and sophomore right-hander Chance Ryan of Mary Hardin-Baylor; sophomore catcher Chase Valdez and senior right-hander J.P. Garcia of Schreiner; sophomore third baseman Brennyn Smith and junior left-hander Royce Selvera of Sul Ross State; and junior catcher Evan Curtis and junior right-hander Brad Orosey of Texas Lutheran.

Landing on the “14 To Watch in the East Division” list is junior outfielder Cory Gummelt and junior right-hander Pete Fitzsimmons of East Texas Baptist; sophomore outfielder Logan Smith and sophomore left-hander Garrett Methvin of LeTourneau; senior outfielder Cody Laprarie and junior right-hander Greg Uzee of Louisiana College; senior outfielder Andy Smith and senior right-hander Daniel Cowart of Mississippi College; sophomore shortstop Mitchell Powers and senior left-hander Travis Conner of Ozarks; senior outfielder Joe Kilgore and junior right-hander Marvin Prestridge of Texas-Dallas; and senior first baseman Justin Juneau and senior right-hander Matt Schimpf of Texas-Tyle

Orosey (10-1, 3.15 ERA, 104 Ks in 97.0 IP) has been named a preseason First Team All-American by D3baseball.com. Mullin (.462, 11 HRs) and Schimpf (5-0, four saves, 1.82 ERA) received honorable mention for All-American status.

The 2011 ASC season – the 15th in league history – begins as early as January 30. The eight-team conference tournament’s first round, which is played in a best-of-three series format at sites of the top two seeds from each division, is set for April 29-30. The four victorious teams will advance to the double-elimination championship round, set for May 6-8 at the home field of the top remaining seed from the East Division. The ASC champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

2011 ASC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]

2011 ASC PRESEASON WATCH LISTS

[One position player and pitcher nominated by each ASC head coach]