Big 12 Coaches Select OU No. 4

NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma softball team was picked to finish fourth for the second straight year by the Big 12 coaches in the annual preseason poll, which was released by the league office on Thursday. The Sooners were one of three teams to receive a first-place vote and picked up 58 total votes while Texas A&M was tabbed the league favorite with 80 total points.

“These polls are great to use for motivation, but the preseason poll means nothing because it just matters where you finish at the end of the season,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “These polls are usually based on how well a team does in the prior season and every team is different from year to year. I'm excited to see what our team does this year.”

Gasso, the winningest coach in Big 12 history, returns eight position starters from last year's Oklahoma squad that finished as the Big 12 Championship runner-up last season and wrapped up the regular conference season in fifth place. Headlining the Sooner lineup in 2007 are two-time All-American Norrelle Dickson, All-Midwest Region selections Samantha Ricketts and Savannah Long and returning pitcher D.J. Mathis, last year's team leader in wins and ERA.

The defending Big 12 champion Texas A&M Aggies sit at the top of the preseason poll with the return of eight position starters and All-Americans Amanda Scarborough and Megan Gibson.

Texas A&M received eight of the 10 first-place votes to edge out second-place Baylor, which earned 69 points, including one first-place tally. Nebraska was ranked third followed by Oklahoma, defending-conference champion Texas, and 2006 postseason winner Kansas. Filling the remaining spots in the preseason poll were Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas Tech and Iowa State, respectively.

Oklahoma will kick off the 2007 season with its annual preseason banquet at the Sooner Legends Inn and Suites on Friday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets ($20) are still available for the ceremony that will begin at 6:30 p.m. For tickets please call Kaycee Clark at (405) 325-8377.

The Sooners will open the season against Louisville in the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic on Friday, Feb. 9 in Miami, Fla. OU will host its home opener the following weekend as it plays Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 in the OU/Nike Classic.

Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll

Rank/School (First Place Votes)	Points
1. Texas A&M (8)	80
2. Baylor (1)	69
3. Nebraska	62
4. OKLAHOMA (1)	58
5. Texas	53
6. Kansas	39
7. Oklahoma State	28
8. Missouri	27
9. Texas Tech	23
10. Iowa State	11

**Points were awarded nine for first, eight for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams.**

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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