Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State softball team was picked to finish second in the 2010 Big West preseason poll as voted on by the league's eight head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday.

In a tight race, the 49ers claimed one first-place vote and picked up 51 total points, putting them just behind defending Big West champion Cal Poly, which received 56 points, including four first-place nods.

The Beach was followed by Cal State Fullerton, which earned 50 points (two first-place votes), while UC Santa Barbara (43 points) and Cal State Northridge (28 points, one first-place vote) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. UC Davis (25), Pacific (19) and UC Riverside (16) rounded out the poll.

LBSU, which was receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball national preseason poll, returns 13 letterwinners from a 2009 squad that compiled a 35-21 overall record and made the program's 19th NCAA tournament appearance.

Leading the way in 2010 will be junior All-American pitcher Brooke Turner, who was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Preseason Top 50 Watch List. Turner, a two-time all-conference selection, currently ranks among the 49er career leaders in strikeouts (3rd, 394), shutouts (8th, 23), wins (9th, 45) and complete games (10th, 53). Also back in the circle is reigning co-Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-league selection Taylor Petty.

Senior Ashley Weber is the 49ers' top returner on the offensive end as she posted a career-high .317 batting average last year. Weber, who garnered first-team All-Big West honors in 2009, also established an LBSU single-season record 26 sacrifice hits.

Long Beach State will kick off the 2010 campaign at the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., next weekend. The 49ers open the tournament with a doubleheader against Loyola Marymount and Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 13.

2010 Big West Conference Softball Preseason Poll

February 2, 2010

No.            Team (1st place votes)        Points

1.            Cal Poly (4)                             56

2.            Long Beach State (1)               51

3.            Cal State Fullerton (2)              50

4.            UC Santa Barbara                    43

5.            Cal State Northridge (1)             28

6.            UC Davis                                 25

7.            Pacific                                     19

8.            UC Riverside                            16