Cavs Remain in Sixth in NAIA Softball Poll
NAIA SOTBALL POLL - APRIL 6, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—After having their slate of games cancelled last week due to rain, Concordia remained in sixth place in the Third Edition of NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll which was released on Tuesday by the national office.
The Cavaliers received 550 total votes, a 46-vote increase over last week’s result, as the lone Cascade Collegiate Conference school to break into the top 25. The College of Idaho received one vote to tie for 43rd in the poll as seven institutions recovered a single vote.
For the fourth consecutive poll of the 2010 season, including preseason, California Baptist was the unanimous No. 1 in the top-25 poll. The defending national champions received 23 first-place nods for 653 total points. As in the three previous polls, the top-five teams rearranged rank with Lee (Tenn.) taking over at No. 2 spot, followed by third-ranked Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), fourth-ranked Bethel (Ind.) and fifth-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas).
California Baptist's stranglehold on the poll dates back to March 24, 2009. During that stretch, the Lancers have been the unanimous pick on seven occasions and have yet to share a first-place vote during the 2010 campaign. Head coach Mike Smith's squad is 45-1 overall and 15-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.
The Lancers are the only Top 25 team to rack up over 40 wins and are one of two clubs with just one loss on their record. Concordia sports a 19-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 record in Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Four teams have surpassed 30 wins on the season: Lee (36-3), Lubbock Christian (36-4), No. 7 Belhaven (Miss.) (33-3) and No. 9 Concordia (Calif.) (33-13).
There were no new additions to the poll, but plenty of teams changed rank. Brenau (Ga.) began the season unranked, but has ascended through the poll and obtained its highest ranking of the season by checking in at No. 12. The Tigers sport a 23-6-1 record. Oklahoma City and California State-San Marcos were the other big movers, improving six and seven spots, respectively. The Stars (19-7) opened at No. 3 in the preseason poll, but dropped to 17th in the second poll, while the Cougars (27-9) earn their highest spot in the poll during the 2010 season at No. 16.
The Southern States Athletic Conference leads all leagues with four ranked teams: Lee, Brenau, Shorter and Auburn Montgomery. Four conferences each boast a trio of ranked teams, while the TranSouth Athletic Conference has two listed teams. The remainder of the poll is represented by seven conferences.