ANGELO STATE TOPS NCBWA DIVISION II POLL

DALLAS (NCBWA) Shuffling was rampant in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Top 25 this week, but Angelo State stood atop the poll when the dust cleared for the second-straight week after grabbing 19 of a possible 20 first-place votes.


The Rams (42-7) tacked up 39 runs amid a series sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville over the weekend and ran the nations longest win streak out to 17 games in the process. The NCAA Division II scoring leaders (10.1 runs/game) are one of just four teams nationwide to have already cracked the 40-win plateau this season. The other three teams (North Greenville, Newberry, Catawba) hail from the southeast.


Four teams re-entered the top 25, including Central Missouri who clambered all the way up to No. 11 after registering four wins last week, including a three-game sweep of Fort Hays State. Illinois-Springfield (No. 12) is back in the poll after a five-week absence thanks to series sweeps of both Missouri-St. Louis and Indianapolis.


Cal State Monterey Bay (No. 21) is back in the NCBWA Top 25 for the first time since the preseason ranking after posting a trio of wins last week, while Lubbock Christian (No. 23) re-enters the poll after a one-week hiatus.


Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.