North Greenville (31-4) tops NCBWA Division II Poll

PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) – A road series loss was not enough to knock defending national champion North Greenville out of the top spot in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25, but Angelo State closed the gap at the top by picking up five first-place votes in Wednesday’s Week 8 edition of the poll.

The Crusaders, who dropped the last two games of its road series with Mount Olive on Saturday, still managed to rake in 15 of the available 20 first-place votes this week, but saw their lead at the top significantly whittled down to just 15 points. Tampa fell one spot to No. 3 in the listing, while Missouri Southern State and Millersville rounded out the top 5.

Lenoir-Rhyne (No. 15), West Georgia (No. 17) and Point Loma (No. 24) returned to the national ranking after short hiatuses, while Minnesota State (No. 25) jumped back into the Top 25 for the first time since the preseason edition of the ranking.

Young Harris (No. 23) made an appearance in the NCBWA Top 25 for the first time in the 21-year history of the poll.

2023 NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (APRIL 5)
Rk.School [1st place]LocationRecordPts.Pvs.
1.North Greenville [15]Tigerville, S.C.31-44941
2.Angelo State [5]San Angelo, Texas30-44793
3.TampaTampa, Fla.24-64622
4.Missouri Southern StateJoplin, Mo.27-84314
5.MillersvilleMillersville, Pa.25-43896
6.NewberryNewberry, S.C.29-53818
7.Cal State San BernardinoSan Bernardino, Calif.23-83765
8.St. Edward'sAustin, Texas27-63469
9.QuincyQuincy, Ill.20-63417
10.Southern ArkansasMagnolia, Ark.24-931410
11.RollinsWinter Park, Fla.22-929911
12.Wayne StateDetroit, Mich.19-324417
13.Colorado MesaGrand Junction, Colo.23-822716
14.East StroudsburgEast Stroudsburg, Pa.22-422115
15.Lenoir-RhyneHickory, N.C.29-8218RV
16.New HavenNew Haven, Conn.18-520822
17.West GeorgiaCarrollton, Ga.25-7184RV
18.Central MissouriWarrensburg, Mo.24-917424
19.Cal State Monterey BaySeaside, Calif.18-913725
20.Illinois-SpringfieldSprinfield, Ill.22-812521
21.MontevalloMontevallo, Ark.27-711324
22.Franklin PierceRindge, N.H.16-77112
23.Young HarrisYoung Harris, Ga.25-1058NR
24.Point LomaSan Diego, Calif.19-935NR
25.Minnesota StateCrookston, Minn.19-634NR
Also receiving votes: Valdosta State (20-9) 28; Mount Olive (24-8) 27; UT Tyler (24-12) 22; Southern New Hampshire (19-8) 17; Arkansas Tech (23-12) 12; Seton Hill (18-7) 12; Grand Valley State (16-6) 6; MSU Denver (26-8) 6; Azusa Pacific (20-14) 5; Florida Southern (22-9) 4.
Dropped out: Columbus State (13); Arkansas Tech (18); Azusa Pacific (19); UNC Pembroke (20); Valdosta State (23).

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.