Alva Review-Courier -

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University softball team will begin the 2019 season picked No. 12 overall according to the Great American Conference preseason poll, despite the team returning two of nine starters from last season.

The Rangers bring back sophomores Kalie Johnson and Abby Detar, the only two players to start all 52 games for the Rangers last season. Other notable returners include sophomores Lindsey McElroy, and Morgan La Neve, as well as senior Alexus Bailey.

Northwestern is coming off a 9-43 overall record, earning all nine of their wins in conference play with a 9-28 mark in GAC play. The 2020 season will be Head Coach Jill DeVries’ third season.

The Rangers, with 14 points, are just 13 points below 11th ranked Oklahoma Baptist.

Southern Arkansas is the preseason favorite with 120 points and 10 of the 12 first place votes, followed by Arkansas Tech with 105 points and one first place vote in second.

Harding sits in third with 105 points with the final first place vote, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma State in fourth with 84 points. Southern Nazarene is just six points below them at 78, while East Central is ranked sixth with 61 points.

Henderson State and Southwestern Oklahoma State are seventh and eighth respectively while Arkansas-Monticello and Ouachita Baptist sit at ninth and tenth in the preseason poll.

Northwestern softball begins the season with a home opener in Alva against Southwest Baptist on Feb. 4. The doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. with the next game to begin at 4 p.m.