WINGATE, N.C. (NCBWA) – The national champion University of Tampa Spartans capped a dominant year by winning the eighth NCAA Division II baseball title in school history, and earning the unanimous top spot in the final NCBWA top 25 poll of the 2024 season. Tampa was the top-ranked team in every poll during the regular season, after checking in at #3 in the preseason poll.
Angelo State jumps to number two in the final poll. The 2023 national champions put up an impressive title defense in 2024, finishing as the national runner-up. Catawba moves up six spots to end the season at number three after advancing to the national semifinals, while Point Loma and Central Missouri round out the top five.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania checks in at number seven in the final poll after their magical run all the way to the national semifinals. Southern New Hampshire jumps from 21 to number eight after another appearance in Cary, while Indianapolis moves from #16 to ninth after their trip to Cary. Missouri Southern rounds out the top 10.
Embry-Riddle jumped up seven spots after a run to the Super Regionals, checking in at #13 in the final poll. Three new teams help round out the poll, with Seton Hill at #20, Georgia College at #21 and Arkansas Monticello at #22. All three of those teams advanced to the Super Regional in their region.
This marks the final NCBWA poll of the season. Next up will the preseason poll for the 2025 season, which will be released in January of 2025.
FINAL 2024 NCBWA DIVISION II POLL (JUNE 12) | |||||
Rk. | School [1st place] | Location | Record | Pts. | Pvs. |
1. | Tampa [20] | Tampa, Fla. | 52-8 | 500 | 1 |
2. | Angelo State | San Angelo, Texas | 44-21 | 480 | NR |
3. | Catawba | Salisbury, N.C. | 46-17 | 447 | 9 |
4. | Point Loma | San Diego, Calif. | 46-13-1 | 427 | 4 |
5. | Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Mo. | 52-10 | 417 | 2 |
6. | Lubbock Christian | Lubbock, Texas | 45-16 | 366 | 5 |
7. | Indiana (PA) | Indiana, Pa. | 41-18 | 349 | NR |
8. | Southern New Hampshire | Manchester, N.H. | 37-19 | 336 | 21 |
9. | Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Ind. | 41-21 | 307 | 16 |
10. | Missouri Southern | Joplin, Mo. | 44-15 | 289 | 6 |
11. | North Greenville | Tigerville, S.C. | 41-14 | 272 | 3 |
12. | Saginaw Valley State | Saginaw, Mich. | 41-18 | 250 | 10 |
13. | Embry-Riddle | Pensacola, Fla. | 35-22 | 242 | 20 |
14. | Saint Leo | Saint Leo, Fla. | 38-13 | 208 | 7 |
15. | Molloy | Rockville Centre, N.Y. | 42-14 | 202 | 14 |
16. | Cal State Monterey Bay | Seaside, Calif. | 39-21 | 193 | 17 |
17. | West Chester | West Chester, Pa. | 43-9 | 182 | 8 |
18. | Augustana (S.D.) | Sioux Falls, S.C. | 47-10 | 167 | 11 |
19. | UNC Pembroke | Pembroke, N.C. | 43-14 | 135 | 13 |
20. | Seton Hill | Greensburg, Pa. | 41-17 | 121 | NR |
21. | Georgia College | Milledgeville, Ga. | 37-22 | 114 | NR |
22. | Arkansas Monticello | Monticello, Ark. | 35-24 | 92 | NR |
23. | Colorado Mesa | Grand Junction, Colo. | 38-18 | 76 | 12 |
24. | West Texas A&M | Canyon, Texas | 37-19 | 64 | 18 |
25. | Mount Olive | Mount Olive, N.C. | 39-18 | 58 | 19 |
Also receiving votes: East Stroudsburg (43-14) 49; Lee (39-18) 45; Young Harris (41-15) 35; Northwest Nazarene (36-15-1) 16; Maryville (40-19) 14; Ashland (42-15) 13; Arkansas Tech (38-20) 8; Nova Southeastern (28-18) 8; UT Tyler (29-23) 4; Millersville (37-14) 3; Lander (38-15) 3; Westmont (33-15-3) 3; San Francisco State (32-24) 2; Cal Poly Pomona (32-24) 1; Thomas Jefferson (33-17) 1; Wingate (34-25) 1. | |||||
Dropped out: East Stroudsburg (15th); Arkansas Tech (22nd); Northwest Nazarene (23rd); Millersville (24th); Young Harris (25th). |
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.