SFA Softball picked first in Southland Conference preseason poll SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE (Source: SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE) By Southland Conference | February 5, 2021 at 10:58 AM CST - Updated February 8 at 1:00 AM FRISCO, Texas (News release) - Stephen F. Austin is the preseason favorite heading into the 2021 Southland Conference softball season, the league announced Friday morning. The 2021 preseason softball poll is presented by Ready Nutrition and was voted upon by head coaches and sports information directors from around the conference. Voting for one’s own school is not permitted. The Ladyjacks concluded preseason voting with 235 points and 17 first-place votes to claim the top spot on the preseason poll. SFA returns a league-best five preseason all-conference selections, headlined by first-team pitcher Kassidy Wilbur. Although the 2020 season was shortened, the Ladyjacks’ pitching staff accrued a league-best 1.61 earned-run average, limiting opponents to a .161 batting average. Shaylon Govan returns for SFA after leading the conference with six home runs and nine doubles through 24 games in last season. Alex Hedspeth and Govan also claimed preseason all-conference honors after leading the ‘Jacks at the plate last year with a .412 and .406 batting average, respectively.