OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has been picked by league coaches to finish second in the Sooner Athletic Conference in the preseason baseball coaches poll.
Lubbock Christian (Texas) is the unanimous preseason selection to win the conference baseball title according to the poll.
OCU has won eight league crowns. The Stars captured the regular-season championship and tournament title in 2007.
The Stars went 53-9 and finished tied for third in NAIA World Series last season while nailing an NAIA single-season record 161 home runs.
OCU won 50 games for the 11th consecutive year. OCU stands tied for the most wins in college baseball since 1991 with Florida State (973).
The Stars begin the year Feb. 5 against Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth, Texas. OCU hosts the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on May 10-13 at Jim Wade Stadium.
The coaches’ poll has the Chaps with all 11 first-place votes. Lubbock Christian, the defending NAIA champions, was also ranked atop the NAIA preseason coaches poll.
Oklahoma City was ranked second with all 11 second-place votes in the poll. Wayland Baptist (Texas) was ranked third, followed by Southern Nazarene, Oklahoma Baptist, USAO, Rogers State, Northwestern, Oklahoma Christian, Mid-America Christian and St. Gregory’s.
The first games of the season in the SAC are scheduled for Jan. 23 when Wayland Baptist visits Texas-Brownsville.
Sooner Athletic Conference
Preseason Baseball Poll
Rank School (1st place votes) Total points
1. Lubbock Christian (11) 11
2. Oklahoma City 22
3. Wayland Baptist 36
4. Southern Nazarene 48
5. Oklahoma Baptist 57
6. Science & Arts of Oklahoma 63
7. Rogers State 71
8. Northwestern Oklahoma State 79
9. Oklahoma Christian 95
10. Mid-America Christian 107
11. St. Gregory's 121