UT Permian Basin selected 9th, Sul Ross selected 14th in LSC Baseball Preseason Poll

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - The Lone Star Conference released its preseason baseball rankings and players of the year Thursday as the season approaches.

Permian Basin teams in the Lone Star Conference

Coming off a ninth-place finish in 2025, the first year under head coach Justin Phillips, the UT Permian Basin Falcons are projected to finish ninth once again in 2026.

UTPB’s players to watch are infielder Gael Bernal, a junior who transferred in for this season, and sophomore pitcher Timmy LaChappa. LaChappa started 12 games as a freshman for the Falcons last year and was player of the week for the first week of April.

Sul Ross was selected to finish 14th in the conference. The Lobos finished 13th in 2025, which was last place. It was a tough first year in Division 2.

Junior first baseman and outfielder Leo Salas is tabbed as the Lobos’ Player to Watch, and junior Jack Topolski is the team’s Pitcher to Watch.

Preseason Standings and Honors

UT Tyler finished first in the preseason poll, edging Angelo State by just four votes.

The Patriots enjoyed their winningest season ever in 2025 and finished second in the conference to Angelo State. The Patriots jumped the Rams in the preseason rankings. The teams each received 20 first-place votes.

Lubbock Christian is third in the preseason poll, followed by St. Edwards and West Texas A&M to round out the top five.

UT Dallas is the newcomer this year. The Comets, in the final year of their Division 2 transition, were selected to finish 11th in their debut season. The addition of UT Dallas brings the conference to 14 teams.

UT Tyler shortstop Drew Schmidt was named the preseason LSC Player of the Year and UT Tyler’ Caden Copeland was named the preseason LSC Pitcher of the Year.

Former Midland Pitcher named Pitcher to Watch

Angelo State’s Pitcher to Watch for the season is former Midland Bulldog Josh Reed. Reed appeared in 19 games of relief in 2025 and earned three saves.