The Troy Trojans softball team is gearing up for the start of the 2019 season. Late last week they learned the news that they were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference this season.

The predicted third-place finish is the best since the 2011 season.

In addition to the predicted finish, the league announced that infielder Katie Webb and pitcher Annie Willis were selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team.

Willis adds to her list of accomplishments. After last season, Willis was named Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference. Willis finished with a team-high 117 strikeouts in 166 innings of work. Her 2.57 ERA was fourth-best in the conference. She was a two-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week.

Webb was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after last season. She started all 60 games for the Trojans and recorded the highest batting average on the team at .349. She led the team in RBI with 38 and her 14 doubles led the league.

Troy was picked to finish third in the conference behind Louisiana and Texas State. The Ragin Cajun’s finished with eight first-place votes. The Trojans were six voting points behind the second-place Bobcats.

Texas-Arlington, Georgia State, South Alabama, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe and Appalachian State round out the top-10.

The Trojans will begin their season on Friday when they host a tournament that includes Alabama, Maryland and Murray State.

The Trojans will play Maryland at 3 p.m. and Alabama at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.