Angelo State tops final NCBWA Division II Poll

PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) – A perfect run through the NCAA Division II National Championships cemented a No. 1 finish in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Top 25 as the Angelo State Rams raked in all 20 first-place votes to reign supreme in the final edition of the national ranking on Thursday.

National runner-up Rollins jumped 18 spots from the final regular season poll to No. 2 in Thursday’s ranking, while Cal State San Bernardino, North Greenville and Southern New Hampshire occupied the Nos. 3 to 5 spots, respectively. Thursday’s release also snapped the 18-poll reign at No. 1 for North Greenville.

Three teams – Indianapolis and Barry – both made their season debuts in the national ranking on Thursday. The Greyhounds, who advanced all the way through to the NCAA Division II Championships, are in NCBWA Top 25 for the first time since Marcy 28, 2018 (Week 6), while the Buccaneers are among the nation’s top 25 teams for the first time since March 3, 2021 (Week 3). It Le Moyne’s first appearance in the NCBWA Top 25 in the 23-year history of the poll.

Augustana (S.D.) leapt back into the poll for the first time since the preseason ranking, while Minnesota State re-entered the NCBWA Top 25 after a 6-poll hiatus.

2023 NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (FINAL)
Rk.School [1st place]LocationRecordPts.Pvs.
1. Angelo State [20] San Angelo, Texas 56-9 500 t1
2. Rollins Winter Park, Fla. 42-19 480 20
3. Cal State San Bernardino San Bernardino, Calif, 46-19 440 17
4. North Greenville Tigerville, S.C. 50-11 435 t1
5. Southern New Hampshire Manchester, N.H. 44-13 420 t10
6. Millersville Millersville, Pa. 46-10 404 7
7. Augustana Sioux Falls, S.D. 47-21 371 rv
8. Indianapolis Indianapolis, Ind. 39-21 333 nr
9. Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, Colo. 48-11 326 5
10. Tampa Tampa, Fla. 43-11 297 3
11. Quincy Quincy, Ill. 47-11 281 6
12. Central Missouri Warrensburg, Mo. 43-15 254 4
13. Seton Hill Greensburg, Pa. 48-13 224 13
14. Cal State Monterey Bay Seaside, Calif. 39-18 219 9
15. Belmont Abbey Belmont, N.C. 41-18 193 19
16. Newberry Newberry, S.C. 43-15 181 8
17. West Florida Pensacola, Fla. 39-17 167 12
18. Missouri Southern State Joplin, Mo. 45-17 142 t10
19. Minnesota State Mankato, Minn. 43-18 133 nr
20. St. Edward's (Texas) Austin, Texas 40-17 121 14
21. Barry Miami Shores, Fla. 35-19 108 nr
22. Illinois-Springfield Springfield, Ill. 36-15 79 16
23. Le Moyne DeWitt, N.Y. 34-22 58 rv
24. Montevallo Montevallo, Ala. 39-16 53 18
25. Southern Arkansas Magnolia, Ark. 40-18 51 15
Also receiving votes: East Stroudsburg (36-14) 36; Mount Olive (38-17) 34; Azusa Pacific (35-19) 28; UT Tyler (39-19) 28; Goldey-Beacom (37-20) 25; MSU Denver (42-14) 10; Maryville (Mo.) (36-20) 9; Point Loma (36-16) 8; Wayne State (Mich.) (42-13) 8; Valdosta State (33-20) 6; Charleston (W. Va.) (43-12) 3; Northwood (42-19) 3; UNC Pembroke (39-17) 1.
Dropped out: UT Tyler (21); East Stroudsburg (22); Mount Olive (23); Azusa Pacific (24); Maryville (Mo.) (25).

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.