| Leanne Risberg | Rudi Cantu |
FRISCO ? The UTSA softball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference by both the coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Tuesday. Additionally, junior Leanne Risberg and sophomore Rudi Cantu were voted to the Preseason All-SLC First and Second Teams, respectively.
Sam Houston State, the defending SLC Tournament champion, was the top vote-getter in both polls, followed by defending regular season champion UT Arlington and Texas State. Nicholls came in fifth behind the Roadrunners, followed by McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas.
On the preseason teams, 21 of the 22 players were named All-SLC last year. Sam Houston State placed a league-best six on the preseason squads, two on the first team and four on the second, while Nicholls had four, three on the first team. Southeastern Louisiana placed three players on the preseason first team, UTSA put two, while UT Arlington, McNeese State and Texas State, Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State each placed one on the preseason team.
Risberg, a center fielder from New Orleans, La., earned first-team all-conference accolades last season after hitting .317 with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 42 RBIs, 39 runs, a .653 slugging percentage and a .415 on-base percentage. Cantu, an Alvin native, picked up third-team honors in the outfield after posting a .325 batting average, six doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
UTSA opens the season with a three-game series at No. 22 Texas on Feb. 9-10. A doubleheader is scheduled for noon on Saturday, followed by a single game at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
2008 Southland Conference Preseason Polls
Coaches
1. Sam Houston State ? 93 (5)
2. UT Arlington ? 88 (4)
3. Texas State ? 83 (2)
4. UTSA ? 76
5. Nicholls State ? 64
6. McNeese State ? 51
7. Southeastern La. ? 45
8. Northwestern State ? 41
9. Stephen F. Austin ? 40
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ? 20
11. Central Arkansas ? 11
(#) denotes first-place votes
Sports Information Directors
1. Sam Houston State ? 92 (5)
2. UT Arlington ? 85 (4)
3. Texas State ? 81 (2)
4. UTSA ? 76
5. Nicholls State ? 70
6. McNeese State ? 53
7. Southeastern La. ? 45
8. Northwestern State ? 41
9. Stephen F. Austin ? 37
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ? 17
11. Central Arkansas ? 13
(#) denotes first-place votes
2008 Preseason Southland Conference Softball Teams
First Team
Casie Everitt -- Sr. -- C -- Sam Houston State
Amy Thibodeaux -- Sr. --1B -- Nicholls State
Arica Rodriguez -- Sr. -- 2B -- Southeastern Louisiana
Heather Sherrill -- Jr. -- 3B -- Southeastern Louisiana
Kat Harrell -- Sr. -- SS -- Nicholls State
Kodi Butler -- Jr. -- OF -- Nicholls State
Katie Jones -- Sr. -- OF -- UT Arlington
Leanne Risberg -- Jr. -- OF -- UTSA
Mandy Huckabee -- Sr. -- DP -- Sam Houston State
Ragan Blake ? Sr. ? P -- Texas State
Rachel Ray -- Sr. -- P -- Southeastern Louisiana
Second Team
Jenny Clay -- Sr. -- C -- McNeese State
Amanda Jameson -- So. -- 1B -- Northwestern State
Danielle Clayton -- Jr. -- 2B -- Nicholls State
Briana Bishop -- So. -- 3B -- Stephen F. Austin
Tanya Hooser -- Sr. -- SS -- Sam Houston State
Lauren Burns --So. -- OF -- Sam Houston State
Rudi Cantu -- So. -- OF -- UTSA
Kristin Moore -- Jr. -- OF -- UT Arlington
Rachel King -- Jr. -- DP -- McNeese State
Brandi Crnkovic -- Jr. -- P -- Sam Houston State
Morgan Mikulin -- So. -- P -- Sam Houston State