KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oregon Tech increased its first place votes by four, up to 16, in the latest edition of the NAIA Softball Top 25. The Owls stayed put, along with the four teams that followed from two weeks ago in Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Cumberlands (Ky.), Baker (Kan.) and Southern Oregon.
College of Idaho made strides this week, up four slots to No. 8, but the biggest positive movement was that of Marian, who checked-in with a six spot improvement at No. 12. Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) and Hope International (Calif.) were the lone newcomers this week.
British Columbia's (B.C.) snagged four first place votes and made a 10-spot jump to No. 3, while Baker moved up six positions to No. 4. Southern Oregon also climbed four slots to round out the top five. Truett McConnell (Ga.) was the lone newcomer of the week, checking in at No. 23.
Additionally, Columbia's (S.C) Madison Lee and Baker's Kira Baker earned NAIA Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors. (NAIA Release
)
-- Courtesy of NAIA
2023 NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
(April 5, 2023)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Oregon Tech [16] | 30-5 | 497 |
| 2 | 2 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) [2] | 32-4 | 482 |
| 3 | 3 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 30-3 | 463 |
| 4 | 4 | Baker (Kan.) | 25-3 | 454 |
| 5 | 5 | Southern Oregon | 24-6 | 431 |
| 6 | 7 | Texas A&M Texarkana | 26-3 | 399 |
| 7 | 8 | Oklahoma City | 26-6 | 398 |
| 8 | 12 | College of Idaho | 32-3 | 371 |
| 9 | 9 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 25-9 | 355 |
| 10 | 11 | Georgia Gwinnett | 25-6 | 347 |
| 11 | 13 | Middle Georgia State | 25-5 | 334 |
| 12 | 17 | Marian (Ind.) | 21-1 | 329 |
| 13 | 15 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 27-2 | 317 |
| 14 | 14 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | 15-6 | 294 |
| 15 | 10 | Mobile (Ala.) | 25-8 | 292 |
| 16 | 17 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 23-9 | 253 |
| 17 | 20 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 27-4 | 236 |
| 18 | 21 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 19-5 | 210 |
| 19 | 19 | William Carey (Miss.) | 28-8 | 202 |
| 20 | RV | Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) | 18-3 | 199 |
| 21 | 24 | Coastal Georgia | 26-5 | 163 |
| 22 | 6 | Indiana Wesleyan | 17-7 | 158 |
| 23 | 22 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 20-8-1 | 147 |
| 24 | RV | Hope International (Calif.) | 22-4 | 124 |
| 25 | 25 | Eastern Oregon | 20-10 | 120 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Grand View (Iowa), Truett McConnell (Ga.)
Others Receiving Votes: Indiana Tech 82, Oklahoma Wesleyan 80, Reinhardt (Ga.) 46, Evangel (Mo.) 32, Grand View (Iowa) 23, Madonna (Mich.) 18, Truett McConnell (Ga.) 16, Jessup (Calif.) 14, Midland (Neb.) 13, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 10, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 10, Missouri Baptist 7, St. Thomas (Fla.) 6, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 6.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 6,700 coaches today!
