PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) A majority of the Top 10 remained relatively unchanged as Angelo State raked in 14 first-place votes to retain its perch atop the NCBWA Division II Top 25 on Wednesday afternoon, while Tampa and Missouri Southern nabbed first-place votes of their own to stay on the heels of the Rams.
It is the 10th-straight week dating back to last season that Angelo State has been penciled into the No. 1 spot the longest stay atop the poll for any team since Tampa held the No. 1 position for 19 consecutive polls during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. The Spartans were awarded a pair of first-place votes in Wednesday·s release of the national ranking to nestle into the No. 2 spot, while Missouri Southern picked up two more first-place votes to climb one spot to No. 3.
Four teams made their season debut in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 on Wednesday, including Seton Hill who jumped in at No. 17 after adding three more victories to their season-opening six-game win streak. It is the first time in the 19-year history of the ranking that Bloomsburg (No. 25) has been included among the nations top 25 teams.
It is the first appearance in the national ranking for the Griffins since March 7, 2018 (Week 3). Tusculum (No. 22) made its first appearance in the national poll since March 29, 2016 (Week 7), while Florida Southern (No. 21) is in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 for the first time since Week 2 (February 26) of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
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.