BIRMINGHAM – Defending SWAC champions Mississippi Valley State is the preseason favorites to win the 2013 title according to league coaches and SIDs. Meanwhile, the Devilettes also swept the preseason individual superlative awards as Alicia Lorenz was tabbed as top pitcher and catcher Nicole Burr was chosen preseason Player of the Year.
The Devilettes were the overwhelming pick to repeat as champions, garnering 155 points and 11 first place votes. The 2012 runners-up, Jackson State were picked second with 141 points (2 first place votes), while Texas Southern also received a pair of first place votes and 125 points overall.
Alabama State was picked fourth in the voting, followed by Prairie View, Alabama A&M, Grambling, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern and Alcorn State.
1 Mississippi Valley State (155 pts – 11 1st place)
2 Jackson State (141 pts – 2 1st place)
3 Texas Southern (125 pts – 2 1st place)
4 Alabama State (97 pts)
5 Prairie View (88 pts)
6 Alabama A&M (83 pts)
7 Grambling State (66 pts)
8 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (52 pts)
9 Southern (50 pts)
5 Alcorn State (23 pts)
BURR VOTED PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
After a stellar 2012 season, MVSU catcher Nicole Burr has been chosen Preseason SWAC Player of the Year. The 5-11 senior from Monterey, Calif. took the league by storm last season, especially in the conference tournament. She batted .285 in 2012 with eight home runs, a triple, seven doubles and 35 RBI. Her grand slam in the title game against Jackson State propelled the Devilettes to the 2012 title and earned her tournament MVP honors. Burr was second team All-SWAC and has been named to the 2013 College Sports Madness All-SWAC Second Team.
LORENZ VOTED PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Mississippi Valley State senior Alicia Lorenz has been voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The 5-7 hurler from Paradise, Calif. is coming off of a dominant campaign in 2012 where she smothered opposing batters, especially in SWAC play.
She finished the season with an ERA of 2.78, with a 19-10 record in 33 appearances and 29 starts. Lorenz had three shutouts and two saves in relief. Her efforts earned her NFCA All–Region honors in addition to being named SWAC Pitcher of the Year,
In addition, Lorenz was named first team All-SWAC, SWAC All-Tournament Team, 2012 College Sports Madness SWAC Pitcher of the Year, 2012 College Sports Madness First Team All-SWAC. To begin the 2013 season, Lorenz has been named College Sports Madness Preseason Pitcher of the Year and 2013 College Sports Madness First Team All-SWAC
Here is the complete listing of 2013 SWAC Preseason picks as chosen by the SWAC coaches and SIDs.(Returning first team All-SWAC selections from 2012 automatically earned spots on the Preseason All-SWAC first team.)
# – First team All-SWAC 2012
@ – Second team All-SWAC 2012
Preseason First Team All-SWAC team
P – #Alicia Lorenz, Mississippi Valley State (5-7, Sr., Paradise, Calif.)
P – #Rebecca Villareal, Texas Southern (5-3, Sr. | Houston, Texas)
P – @Breea Jamerson, Jackson State (5-5, Jr., Los Angeles,Calif.)
C – #Shontel Lopez, Prairie View A&M (C, 5-5, So., Las Cruces, NM)
INF – #Jasmin Riley, Alabama A&M (5-6, Sr., Ellenwood, Ga..)
INF – #Shawntall Steamer, Southern (5-9, SS, Jr., Freeport, Texas)
INF – #Kishta Kamaka, Mississippi Valley State (5-8, Sr., Kapolei, Hawaii)
INF – Sabeana Romero, Jackson State (3rd, 5-3, Sr., Tucson, Ariz.)
OF – #Brehanna Rodrigues, Alabama State (5-4, Centerfield, Sr., Redlands, Calif.)
OF – #Tayler Nave, Jackson State (Outfield, 5-7, Sr., Topeka, Kansas)
OF – Meagan Dixon, Alabama State University (5-8, Jr., Canyon Springs, Calif.)
Preseason Second Team All-SWAC team
P – Kimberly Spivey, Mississippi Valley State (5-7, P, Sr., Dallas, Texas)
P – @Anisa Britt, Alabama A&M (P, So., Montgomery, Ala.)
P – @Cally Falls, Prairie View A&M (P, 5-1, Jr., Needville, Texas)
C – @Nicole Burr, Mississippi Valley State (5-11, Sr., Monterey, Calif.)
INF – Amanda Vasquez, Jackson State (SS, 5-7, Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.)
INF – @Princess Daniels, Texas Southern (2B, 5-9, Jr., Clearlake, Texas)
INF – @Alexandra Sullivan, Mississippi Valley State (5-8, Sr., Crystal River, Fla.)
INF – @Alexandria Robertson, Mississippi Valley State (5-5, Jr., Cedar Park, Texas)
OF – Lauren Aikens, Jackson State (Outfield, 5-5, Jr., Columbia, Miss.)
OF – Jasmine Warren, Jackson State University (5-2, Sr., Gainesville, Fla.)
OF – Yasmin Battle, Mississippi Valley State (5-6, So., Boca Raton, Fla.)
– Courtesy: SWAC.org
