Butler softball remained atop the NJCAA Division I rankings for the seventh consecutive week, as the poll was released Tuesday.
The top-ranked Grizzlies (42-0 overall, 18-0 conference) had six run-rule victories since the last poll. Butler swept Dodge City 8-0 and 17-0 on Wednesday, then beat Pratt 18-0 and 8-0 on Thursday. The Grizzlies handled runner-up Seward County 10-2 and 10-1 to clinch their seventh straight Jayhawk Conference West Division title and 13th overall in the program's history.
Butler's offense currently leads the NJCAA in runs scored per game (11.1), batting average (.421) on-base percentage (.495) and slugging percentage (.750). The Grizzlies set a new team single-season home run record of 90, which ranks third in the nation. Butler also is third in runs scored (468) and runs batted in (438). In pitching, Butler is second overall with a team 1.04 team earned-run average and lead the nation with 8.54 strikeouts per seven innings.
Salt Lake, Utah (30-5), Chipola, Fla. (49-4), and Florida Southwestern State (48-5) remained 2-3-4 in the rankings for a second straight week. Moving up three spots into fifth was Yavapai, Ariz. (42-5).
The only remaining undefeated team in the Division I ranks, Butler has won 80 straight games and has won 41 conference games in a row. The Grizzlies also extended their school-record winning streaks in overall home (40) and regular-season home conference (33) games.
Butler finishes out the regular season conference schedule this week, beginning with a Wednesday doubleheader in Garden City at 2:00 p.m. The Grizzlies will also play at Seward County on Friday before returning home to host Barton on Saturday in the regular season home finale. Butler ends the regular season with a Monday doubleheader at Cowley, who is ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA Division II rankings.
| 2017 NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings | |||
| April 18, 2017 | |||
| Rank | Team | Record | Prev |
| 1. | Butler | 40-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Salt Lake, UT | 34-5 | 2 |
| 3. | Chipola, FL | 52-5 | 3 |
| 4. | Florida Southwestern State |
52-5 | 4 |
| 5. | Yavapai, AZ | 42-5 | 8 |
| 6. | Seminole State, OK | 37-9 | 5 |
| 7. | Seminole State, FL | 46-7 | 6 |
| 8. | Northwest Florida State | 42-12 | 11 |
| 9. | Weatherford, TX | 36-9 | 10 |
| 10. | Tyler, TX | 40-13 | NR |
| 11. | Midland, TX | 30-11 | 12 |
| 12. | Central Arizona | 41-8 | 13 |
| 13. | Wabash Valley, IL | 38-6 | 15 |
| 14. | Chattanooga State, TN | 37-7 | 17 |
| 15. | Indian River State, FL | 39-14 | NR |
| 16. | Howard, TX | 36-11 | NR |
| 17. | Daytona State, FL | 34-16 | 16 |
| 18. | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M | 29-5 | RV |
| 19. | Crowder, MO | 44-6 | RV |
| 20. | Blinn, TX | 31-13 | 19 |
Other schools receiving votes: Lake Land, IL (38-11); Odessa, TX (30-13)l San Jacinto-South, TX (35-17); Shelton State, AL (36-9); Southern Idaho (29-13); Walters State, TN (14).
Dropped from rankings: Central Florida (7); Odessa, TX (9); Walters State, TN (14); San Jacinto-South, TX (18), Iowa Western (20).