For the sixth straight year and the 12th time in the past 13 years, the Butler softball team is ranked in the top 10 of the annual NJCAA Division I preseason national rankings.
The rankings were released Tuesday, with Butler sitting in fourth. Defending national champion Temple (Texas) is ranked first. Chipola (Fla.) is ranked second, followed by Florida Southwestern. Butler is coming off a third-place finish at the 2018 national tournament in St. George, Utah. The Grizzlies defeated Florida Southwestern, but lost to Temple (5-3) and Chipola (5-4 in eight innings) in the tournament last May.
The ranking is the lowest in the past three seasons for Butler. The Grizzlies were the preseason No. 1 team a year ago, and were ranked No. 2 to start the 2017 season. Butler has been in the preseason rankings for seven straight years and has been ranked in 12 preseason polls in the last 13 years under head coach Doug Chance. Butler has been ranked in the top 10 in seven different seasons – 2008 (6th), 2014 (6th), 2015 (10th), 2016 (6th), 2017 (2nd), 2018 (1st) and 2019 (4th).
Butler has gone 164-11 over the past three years, winning national titles in 2016 and 2017 before finishing third last year.
Butler's preseason national rankings
2019 – No. 4
2018 – No. 1
2017 – No. 2
2016 – No. 6
2015 – No. 10
2014 – No. 6
2013 – No. 11
2011 – No. 11
2010 – No. 18
2009 – No. 14
2008 – No. 8
2007 – No. 16