WINGATE, N.C. (NCBWA) – The back-to-back defending national champion Tampa Spartans are still the top-ranked team in the NCBWA Division II top 25 poll, with the week four poll coming out Wednesday afternoon. Tampa was the preseason number one, while ranking first in each of the first three in-season polls. The Spartans are off to a 14-1 start, receiving all 14 of 20 first-place votes.
Pittsburg State remains number two this week, collecting six first-place votes thanks to its 17-0 start to the season. Catawba remains third, while Colorado Mesa jumps five spots, checking in at #4. Central Missouri moves up one spot, rounding out this week’s top five.
North Greenville, Cal State Monterey Bay, Grand Valley State, UT Tyler and West Alabama round out the top 10. West Florida made a big jump, moving up eight spots to rank 14th this week, with Emporia State moving up three spots to round out the top 15.
There are six new teams in this week’s poll, with Angelo State, Young Harris, Drury, Wilmington and Rollins ranking 16th through 20th. West Chester is the sixth new team, checking in at #23.
The NCBWA Region polls will be announced every Monday throughout the season, while national polls will come out every Wednesday.
| NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (MARCH 4) | |||||
| Rk. | School [1st place] | Location | Record | Pts. | Pvs. |
| 1. | Tampa [14] | Tampa, Fla. | 14-1 | 494 | 1 |
| 2. | Pittsburg State [6] | Pittsburg, Kan. | 17-0 | 484 | 2 |
| 3. | Catawba | Salisbury, N.C. | 13-3 | 445 | 3 |
| 4. | Colorado Mesa | Grand Junction, Colo. | 14-2 | 412 | 9 |
| 5. | Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Mo. | 15-2 | 404 | 6 |
| 6. | North Greenville | Tigerville, S.C. | 16-2 | 393 | 5 |
| 7. | Cal State Monterey Bay | Seaside, Calif. | 11-3 | 385 | 7 |
| 8. | Grand Valley State | Allendale, Mich. | 10-1 | 373 | 8 |
| 9. | UT Tyler | Tyler, Texas | 14-4 | 333 | 4 |
| 10. | West Alabama | Livingston, Ala. | 15-2 | 323 | 11 |
| 11. | Seton Hill | Greensburg, Pa. | 7-1 | 277 | 14 |
| 12. | Lenoir-Rhyne | Hickory, N.C. | 11-3 | 273 | 10 |
| 13. | Point Loma | San Diego, Calif. | 14-3 | 258 | 12 |
| 14. | West Florida | Pensacola, Fla. | 12-3 | 201 | 22 |
| 15. | Emporia State | Emporia, Kan. | 13-3 | 190 | 18 |
| 16. | Angelo State | San Angelo, Texas | 14-4 | 185 | RV |
| 17. | Young Harris | Young Harris, Ga. | 14-3 | 146 | RV |
| 18. | Drury | Springfield, Mo. | 8-2 | 139 | RV |
| 19. | Wilmington | Wilmington, Del. | 6-2 | 124 | RV |
| 20. | Rollins | Winter Park, Fla. | 13-4 | 102 | NR |
| 21. | North Georgia | Dahlonega, Ga. | 15-4 | 99 | 16 |
| 22. | Westmont | Santa Barbara, Calif. | 11-4 | 95 | 23 |
| 23. | West Chester | West Chester, Pa. | 5-1 | 80 | RV |
| 24. | Illinois Springfield | Springfield, Ill. | 9-4 | 46 | 19 |
| 25. | Francis Marion | Florence, S.C. | 15-3 | 42 | 21 |
| Also receiving votes: Minnesota State (9-3) 40; St. Mary's (12-6) 40; Southern New Hampshire (5-4) 39; Cal State San Marcos (9-2) 16; Millersville (6-4) 11; Wingate (14-4) 10; Trevecca (12-5) 9; Wayne State (10-2) 9; Delta State (11-4) 5; Augustana (8-4) 9; St. Edwards (11-6) 4; Felician (5-5) 3; UNC Pembroke (13-2) 2; MSU Denver (9-5) 1. | |||||
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.