The Pac-12 looks pretty tough again this coming season in softball.
Of course, that’s nothing new with some of the nation’s top talent gracing diamonds out west. And once again, Oregon State has its work cut out to try to break into the conference’s upper echelon.
The Pac-12’s preseason coaches poll was released Wednesday and Arizona State is the pick to take the conference crown. The Sun Devils were the top choice of six of the nine schools that field softball programs.
California got two first-place votes and was second. Arizona got the other first-place vote and was third.
The Beavers ended up eighth in the voting just ahead of conference newcomer Utah.
Oregon was picked to finish seventh.
All but one Pac-12 school will participate in the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by ASU in Tempe Feb. 9-11. OSU will face BYU, Idaho State, Georgia Tech, McNeese State and Nebraska.
Here’s a rundown of the preseason coaches poll:
1. Arizona State 61
2. California 58
3. Arizona 48
4. UCLA 40
5. Stanford 38
6. Washington 30
7. Oregon 26
8. Oregon State 14
9. Utah 9