RICHARDSON, Texas (January 23, 2025) – The Lubbock Christian baseball team was picked second in 2025 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday.
 
The Chaparrals received 457 points in the poll, including five first place votes. First basemen Brevin McCool was named one of the league's Players to Watch, and Ryan Markwardt was named a Pitcher to Watch.
 
Angelo State led the poll with 483 points and 29 first place votes. West Texas A&M is right behind LCU in third with two first place votes, followed by UT Tyler with one first place vote. Texas A&M International was the only other team to receive first place votes with two, but was picked eighth in the poll. The full ranking of teams can be viewed below.
 
McCool's selection as a Player to Watch comes after a stellar junior season where he was named a Second Team All-American by the NCBWA and D2CCA, a consensus All-Region First Team member and the All-LSC First Team, along with being named the LSC Academic Player of the Year. The New Mexico native hit .377 with a .723 slugging percentage and a team-leading 14 home runs.
 
Markwardt was a key part of LCU's starting rotation in 2024, going 12-1 on the mound with an ERA of 6.10 in 82.2 innings of work. His 81 strikeouts were the second-most in the Lone Star Conference and opponents hit just .286 against him. He was named to the NCBWA All-American Honorable Mention team and All-Region First Team, along with the All-Region Second Team from the D2CCA and ABCA.
 
Lubbock Christian is coming off its most successful season in the Division II era. The Chaps were 45-16 in 2024, including a 35-16 showing at Hays Field. They won the LSC regular season title as well as the league's postseason tournament. LCU hosted and won the regional and advanced to the super regional for the first time in school history.
 
1          Angelo State                        29              483
2          Lubbock Christian                5                457
3          West Texas A&M                  2                411
4          UT Tyler                               1                386
5          St. Edward's                                           311
6          Texas A&M-Kingsville                             268
7          UT Permian Basin                                  266
8          Texas A&M International        2               234
9          St. Mary's                                                205
10        Eastern New Mexico                               200
11        Cameron                                                 143
12        Oklahoma Christian                                119
13        Sul Ross State                                        66