Lee Climbs to No. 2 in Third Edition of NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
April 6, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the fourth consecutive poll of the 2010 season, including preseason, California Baptist is the unanimous No. 1 in the third edition of the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The defending national champions received 23 first-place nods for 653 points. As in the three previous polls, the top-five teams rearrange rank with Lee (Tenn.) taking over at No. 2, followed by third-ranked Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), fourth-ranked Bethel (Ind.) and fifth-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas).
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.
Lee's move to No. 2 marks the fourth poll in which a different team has occupied that spot. In fact, other than California Baptist, the top-five teams have shuffled rank in each of the 2010 polls.
No. 19 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) fell seven spots from last week, while No. 13 Saint Gregory's (Okla.) dropped back six. Shorter (Ga.) suffered a five-spot loss, falling to No. 18 in the poll.
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. Sixth-ranked Concordia (Ore.) sports a 19-1, 8-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference mark. 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).
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.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences. The next poll will be announced on April 13.
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2010 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | California Baptist University (23) | 45-1 | 653 |
| 2 | 3 | Lee University (Tenn.) | 36-3 | 620 |
| 3 | 4 | Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) | 21-5 | 595 |
| 4 | 5 | Bethel College (Ind.) | 23-2-1 | 587 |
| 5 | 2 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) | 36-4 | 585 |
| 6 | 6 | Concordia University (Ore.) | 19-1 | 550 |
| 7 | 9 | Belhaven University (Miss.) | 33-3 | 533 |
| 8 | 8 | Dickinson State University (N.D.) | 12-7 | 492 |
| 9 | 11 | Concordia University (Calif.) | 33-13 | 459 |
| 10 | 10 | Simon Fraser University (B.C.) | 13-6 | 456 |
| 11 | 17 | Oklahoma City University | 19-7 | 441 |
| 12 | 25 | Brenau University (Ga.) | 23-6-1 | 390 |
| 13 | 7 | Saint Gregory's University (Okla.) | 26-7 | 378 |
| 14 | 14 | William Carey University (Miss.) | 26-9 | 376 |
| 15 | 16 | Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) | 26-9 | 348 |
| 16 | 23 | California State University-San Marcos | 27-9 | 331 |
| 17 | 14 | University of Houston - Victoria (Texas) | 24-11 | 316 |
| 18 | 13 | Shorter College (Ga.) | 28-10 | 291 |
| 19 | 12 | Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) | 25-12-1 | 285 |
| 20 | 19 | Union University (Tenn.) | 23-9 | 269 |
| 21 | 19 | Madonna University (Mich.) | 17-6 | 217 |
| 22 | 22 | McKendree University (Ill.) | 19-9 | 209 |
| 23 | 20 | Saint Xavier University (Ill.) | 19-7 | 203 |
| 24 | 21 | Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) | 27-10 | 163 |
| 25 | 23 | University of Mobile (Ala.) | 26-13 | 146 |
Others receiving votes: Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 96; Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 87; Simpson University (Calif.) 74; Evangel University (Mo.) 46; Mount Mercy College (Iowa) 41; Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) 39; Reinhardt College (Ga.) 37; Williams Baptist College (Ark.) 20; Texas Wesleyan University 14; William Penn University (Iowa) 13; Campbellsville University (Ky.) 12; Davenport University (Mich.) 7; Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) 5; Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) 3; Marian University (Ind.) 3; Montreat College (N.C.) 3; Columbia College (Mo.) 3; Missouri Valley College 1; College of Idaho 1; Morningside College (Iowa) 1; Friends University (Kan.) 1; Indiana University Southeast 1; Central Methodist University (Mo.) 1; Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) 1.
