Kansas City, Mo. - The Central Methodist Softball team jumped one spot to No. 3 in the second edition of the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll, which was released by the national office Wednesday.
It marks the highest-national ranking for the Eagles in program history. Central's previous highest ranking was No. 4 on May 5, 2021.
The Eagles have raced out to a 19-3 overall record through their first 22 games. In addition, Central has posted a perfect 8-0 record at home.
Central opens up conference play with a doubleheader against Mount Mercy Friday, March 22 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.
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 WEEK | SCHOOL [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | RECORD | POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) [18] | 27-1 | 498 |
| 2 | 5 | Oklahoma City | 22-2 | 481 |
| 3 | 4 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 18-3 | 456 |
| 4 | 2 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 18-5 | 435 |
| 5 | 6 | Oregon Tech | 16-6 | 431 |
| 6 | 9 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 22-4 | 426 |
| 7 | 10 | Marian (Ind.) | 16-2 | 391 |
| 8 | 11 | Jessup (Calif.) | 20-4 | 388 |
| 9 | 3 | Georgia Gwinnett | 18-7 | 380 |
| 10 | 8 | Southern Oregon | 17-8 | 352 |
| 11 | 14 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 22-2 | 327 |
| 12 | 7 | Hope International (Calif.) | 24-7 | 314 |
| 13 | 13 | Mobile (Ala.) | 14-7 | 303 |
| 13 | 12 | Midland (Neb.) | 21-4 | 303 |
| 15 | 14 | Eastern Oregon | 15-5 | 259 |
| 16 | 18 | Grand View (Iowa) | 16-3 | 256 |
| 17 | 16 | Indiana Wesleyan | 15-3 | 252 |
| 18 | 19 | Coastal Georgia | 18-3 | 241 |
| 19 | 21 | William Carey (Miss.) | 17-7 | 210 |
| 20 | 17 | Middle Georgia State | 15-7 | 172 |
| 21 | 22 | College of Idaho | 17-7 | 157 |
| 22 | NR | Vanguard (Calif.) | 24-6 | 134 |
| 23 | 23 | Ottawa (Kan.) | 19-9 | 123 |
| 24 | NR | Madonna (Mich.) | 22-3 | 112 |
| 25 | 25 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 18-4 | 107 |
Dropped from Top 25: Saint Xavier (Ill.), Concordia (Mich.)
Receiving Votes: Saint Xavier (Ill.) 102; Benedictine (Kan.) 90; St. Thomas (Fla.) 62; LSU Alexandria (La.) 27; Missouri Baptist 26; Avila (Mo.) 21; Campbellsville (Ky.) 15; British Columbia 14; Baker (Kan.) 11; Concordia (Mich.) 8; Houston-Victoria (Texas) 8; Stillman (Ala.) 6; Southeastern (Fla.) 5; Arizona Christian 4
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