Jan. 24, 2006
WACO, Texas --- The Baylor softball team received the highest preseason ranking in school history as the Lady Bears are ranked No. 10 in the preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll released Tuesday. In addition, Baylor earned a No. 11 ranking in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Top 25.
"It is good to see this year's squad associated with some of the top programs in the country as we head into the season," head coach Glenn Moore said. "However, the team knows the ranking will mean nothing unless we go out and perform well once the season begins."
Baylor is one of six Big 12 Conference school ranked in the preseason polls as Texas (No. 4 ESPN.com/No. 4 USA Today) and Texas A&M (No. 6, No. 9) are ranked ahead of the Lady Bears in both polls. Oklahoma (No. 11, No. 13), Missouri (No. 18, No. 23) and Nebraska (No. 22, No. 21) are the other Big 12 schools ranked in the preseason poll.
Michigan, the defending national champion, opens the season as the top-ranked team in both polls.
Baylor returns four starters and four pitchers, including NFCA All-America selection Harmony Schwethelm, from last year's 51-14 squad that captured the NCAA Auburn Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional against No. 2 Cal. In addition to Schwethelm, Baylor returns all-conference selections Chelsi Lake, Tessa Lynam and Kelly Osburn.
Baylor will open the 2006 season when the Lady Bears host Tulsa to open the fifth-annual Getterman Classic on Friday, Feb. 10, at 3:00 p.m.
ESPN.com/USA SOFTBALL COLLEGIATE TOP 25 - PRESEASON
1. Michigan (16) 65-7
2. UCLA (3) 40-20
3. Tennessee 67-15
4. Texas (1) 49-13
5. Arizona 45-12
6. Texas A&M 47-10
7. Cal 52-15
8. Alabama 63-15
9. Stanford 43-16
10. Baylor 51-14
11. Georgia 55-15
12. Oregon State 43-16
13. Oklahoma 54-17
14. Washington 35-22
15. Northwestern 42-18
16. DePaul 45-21
17. Fresno State 43-12
18. Missouri 44-15
19. Iowa 49-14
20. Auburn 50-17
21. Louisiana-Lafayette 51-10
22. Nebraska 36-23
23. Florida 41-23
24. Georgia Tech 50-13
25. BYU 45-14
USA TODAY/NFCA DIVISION I TOP 25 - PRESEASON
1. Michigan (21) 65-7
2. UCLA (8) 40-20
3. T.ennessee 67-15
4. Texas 49-13
5. Arizona 45-12
6. Alabama 63-15
7. Stanford 43-16
8. California 52-15
9. Texas A&M 47-10
10. Georgia 55-15
11. Baylor 51-14
12. Oklahoma 50-17
13. Washington 35-22
14. DePaul 45-21
15. Oregon State 43-16
16. Northwestern 42-18
17. Auburn 50-18
18. Louisiana-Lafayette 51-10
19. Florida 41-23
20. Fresno State 43-12
21. Nebraska 36-23
22. Oregon 36-25
23. Missouri 44-15
24. Iowa 50-14
25. Georgia Tech
