Kansas City, Mo. - The Central Methodist Softball program landed at No. 4 in the first edition of the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top Poll, which was announced by the national office last week.
The Eagles jumped four spots after being ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll back in November. The No. 4 ranking matches the highest ranking for the Eagles in program history. Central was previously ranked No. 4 in May of the 2021 season.
Other Heart programs ranked or featured in the Top 25 include No. 18 Grand View, (RV) Benedictine, and (RV) Baker.
Central will face Cottey College on Wednesday, March 13 for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Nevada, Mo.
To view the poll methodology and the complete Top 25 poll, please see below.
Rating Methodology
- The rating was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
- 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"
- For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.
| RANK | LAST TIME | SCHOOL [First Place Votes] | RECORD | POINTS |
| 1 | 7 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) [14] | 19-1 | 492 |
| 2 | 6 | Science & Arts (Okla.)[1] | 11-2 | 465 |
| 3 | 4 | Georgia Gwinnett [3] | 16-2 | 464 |
| 4 | 8 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 13-2 | 443 |
| 5 | 9 | Oklahoma City | 15-1 | 432 |
| 6 | 1 | Oregon Tech | 9-6 | 398 |
| 7 | 19 | Hope International (Calif.) | 19-2 | 389 |
| 8 | 2 | Southern Oregon | 13-4 | 373 |
| 9 | 3 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 14-4 | 370 |
| 10 | 5 | Marian (Ind.) | 6-0 | 362 |
| 11 | NR | Jessup (Calif.) | 16-2 | 348 |
| 12 | 10 | Midland (Neb.) | 13-2 | 333 |
| 13 | 12 | Mobile (Ala.) | 11-4 | 332 |
| 14 | 15 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 17-1 | 272 |
| 14 | 24 | Eastern Oregon | 9-3 | 272 |
| 16 | 14 | Indiana Wesleyan | 7-1 | 253 |
| 17 | 16 | Middle Georgia State | 11-5 | 231 |
| 18 | NR | Grand View (Iowa) | 13-2 | 217 |
| 19 | 18 | Coastal Georgia | 13-3 | 214 |
| 20 | 24 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 10-6 | 193 |
| 21 | 23 | William Carey (Miss.) | 13-5 | 156 |
| 22 | 13 | College of Idaho | 9-7 | 130 |
| 23 | 17 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 15-7 | 126 |
| 24 | NR | Concordia (Mich.) | 14-4 | 93 |
| 25 | 21 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 10-4 | 87 |
Dropped from Top 25: Southeastern (Fla.). Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Baker (Kan.)
Receiving Votes: Southeastern (Fla.) 85; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 79; Benedictine (Kan.) 71; Arizona Christian 60; LSU Alexandria (La.) 55; Rio Grande (Ohio) 42; Madonna (Mich.) 38; Vanguard (Calif.) 17; Baker (Kan.) 15; Campbellsville (Ky.) 9; Friends (Kan.) 5; British Columbia (B.C.) 5; Missouri Baptist 3
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