COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Butler softball team will open the season ranked sixth in the nation, as the National Junior College Athletic Association released the Division I Top 20 national rankings Monday.
Butler (54-4 last season) capped its most successful season in program history by reaching the final four of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the first time last season. The Grizzlies set program records for both most wins and fewest losses in a season. Butler also claimed the Jayhawk West and Region VI titles for the third straight season and also won the District E title to qualify for nationals.
Four preseason Top 20 teams highlight the Grizzlies' schedule, as Butler will face #3 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, #7 Galveston (TX), #12 Iowa Western and #13 Navarro (TX). The Grizzlies will play Galveston twice during the season, giving Butler five games against ranked competition.
Butler is the only KJCCC Division I team to be ranked in the Top 20 poll, which has Wallace State-Hanceville (AL) ranked No. 1. Indian River (FL), Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Pima (AZ) and Howard (TX) round out the top five.
The Grizzlies will open the season at home with a doubleheader against Friends University on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.
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NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TOP 20 NATIONAL POLL |
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| January 27, 2014 | ||
| Rank | College | 2013 Record |
| 1 | Wallace State-Hanceville (AL) | 55-12 |
| 2 | Indian River (FL) | 42-10 |
| 3 | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M | 44-11 |
| 4 | Pima (AZ) | 50-19 |
| 5 | Howard (TX) | 53-11 |
| 6 | Butler | 54-4 |
| 7 | Galveston (TX) | 42-17 |
| 8 | Chipola (FL) | 45-10 |
| 9 | Southern Idaho | 50-11 |
| 10 | Odessa (TX) | 46-21 |
| 11 | Lake Land (IL) | 50-7 |
| 12 | Iowa Western | 42-14 |
| 13 | Navarro (TX) | 29-19 |
| 14 | Gulf Coast State (FL) | 43-19 |
| 15 | McLennan (TX) | 38-15 |
| 16 | Salt Lake (UT) | 53-11 |
| 17 | North Central Texas | 51-16 |
| 18 | Eastern Arizona | 41-17 |
| 19 | Georgia Perimeter | 23-16 |
| 20 | Spartanburg Methodist (SC) | 41-15 |
