Kansas City, Mo. – The Central Methodist University softball team jumped one spot in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 poll, landing at No. 6.
The No. 6 ranking is now the second-highest ranking in program history, as Central climbed as high as No. 5 during the 2016 season.
The only other Heart program mentioned in the poll is (RV) Grand View University. Grand View handed Central their only two losses of conference play this season, as both programs currently sit at 14-2 atop the conference standings.
Central is ranked in the Top 10 in the NAIA in 11 different statistical categories, including No. 1 in strikeouts (263). Kelli Gorman is No. 3 in total RBI (14), and Keighlan Cronin is No. 5 in opposing batting avg (0.128) and hits allowed per nine innings (3.02).
The Eagles will be back in action Sunday, April 11 to face Culver-Stockton in Fayette, Mo. The first pitch of game one is slated for 1:00 p.m.
To view the poll methodology and the complete poll, please see below.
Poll Methodology
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions.
- The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place, and so on through the list.
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
- Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered "receiving votes"
- The frequency of the polls is bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) prior to the 2016-17 academic season. This change allows raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work between rating periods.
- For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.
2021 NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 - Poll 3 (April 7, 2021)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1ST PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Southern Oregon [19] | 30-2 | 529 |
| 2 | 2 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 30-2 | 506 |
| 3 | 3 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 31-3 | 499 |
| 4 | 4 | Oklahoma City | 21-3 | 478 |
| 5 | 5 | Oregon Tech | 26-4 | 459 |
| 6 | 7 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 28-3 | 430 |
| 7 | 6 | Marian (Ind.) | 24-8 | 429 |
| 8 | 10 | Georgia Gwinnett | 20-8 | 385 |
| 9 | 9 | Hope International (Calif.) | 17-1 | 377 |
| 10 | 11 | Indiana Wesleyan | 24-4 | 364 |
| 11 | 19 | Columbia (Mo.) | 19-5 | 339 |
| 12 | 13 | William Carey (Miss.) | 26-7 | 329 |
| 13 | 22 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | 24-6 | 323 |
| 14 | 16 | Morningside (Iowa) | 28-3 | 322 |
| 15 | 20 | Truett McConnell (Ga.) | 23-7 | 312 |
| 16 | 17 | Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) | 10-2 | 249 |
| 17 | 8 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 30-8 | 247 |
| 18 | 18 | Warner (Fla.) | 20-8 | 227 |
| 19 | 21 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 13-0 | 206 |
| 20 | 13 | Central Baptist (Ark.) | 18-8 | 198 |
| 21 | NR | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 29-11 | 187 |
| 22 | 13 | Mobile (Ala.) | 16-13 | 176 |
| 23 | 25 | College of Idaho | 26-8 | 149 |
| 24 | 12 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 24-10 | 148 |
| 25 | 23 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 23-5 | 139 |
Dropped Out: Southeastern (Fla.)
Receiving Votes: Grand View (Iowa) 87, Southeastern (Fla.) 87, Indiana Southeast 46, Texas A&M Texarkana 32, Concordia (Neb.) 26, Valley City State (N.D.) 25, St. Francis (Ill.) 23, William Jessup (Calif.) 10, Simpson (Calif.) 9, Vanguard (Calif.) 8, Milligan (Tenn.) 7, Webber International 5, Midland (Neb.) 4, Aquinas (Mich.) 3, Cottey (Mo.) 3, Mid-America Christian 3
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