Oklahoma City University will be the team to beat according to a poll of the Sooner Athletic Conference softball coaches, released Monday.

Oklahoma City received the maximum nine first-place votes for 81 points. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own program. Lubbock Christian took the only other first-place vote and finished second with 68 points.

The Stars were 53-9 last season and Lubbock Christian was 54-7. The teams finished in a standings tie with LCU winning the regular season title on SAC winning percentage.

St. Gregory's is ranked third with 62 points, followed by Rogers State at 60, Oklahoma Christian at 44, Northwestern Oklahoma State at 39, Southern Nazarene at 38, Oklahoma Baptist at 25, USAO at 24 and Mid-America Christian at 10.

The Sooner Athletic Conference sent three teams - OCU, Lubbock Christian and St. Gregory's - to the NAIA Tournament last season and all three emerged from pool play with perfect records.

Oklahoma City finished fourth and St. Gregory's was second. Lubbock Christian was eliminated at the hands of the Stars and Lady Cavaliers.


1 Oklahoma City (9)         81
2 Lubbock Christian (1)    68
3 St. Gregory's                  62
4 Rogers State                   60
5 Oklahoma Christian        44
6 Northwestern OSU        39
7 Southern Nazarene         38
8 Oklahoma Baptist           25
9 USAO                            24
10 Mid-America Christian 10