SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For the first time in program history, the Drury Panthers softball team is receiving votes in the NCAA-II coaches' poll. Drury is unranked, but received one point in the preseason poll released today by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the NCAA. It marked the first time ever the Panthers had a showing of any points in the Top 25 poll.
The Panthers are coming off of a season that saw them break a program record in wins with 37 and reach the NCAA-II Tournament for the first time in history. Drury went 37-17, 21-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2022 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II Tournament.
The Panthers return 16 letter winners, including 2022 NCAA-II Midwest Region and GLVC Pitcher of the Year
Kristina Bettis. Three other All-GLVC selections also return, including OF
Rylee Kolb, 1B
Lauren Beier, C/UTL
Sydney Sneed. Head coach
Jerry Breaux will enter his sixth year leading the program at Drury and his 30
th season as a collegiate head coach.
Defending national champion Rogers State is number one in the preseason poll, with California State-Dominguez Hills ranked number two and Texas-Tyler is third. Indianapolis, from the GLVC, is ranked 16
th in the preseason poll.
Drury opens the 2023 season Feb. 3-5 in the Mardi Gras Tournament, held in LaFayette, Louisiana.
2023 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll
January 24 (Preseason)
| Rank |
School |
Points |
2022 Final Record |
2022 Final Ranking |
| 1 |
Rogers State (16) |
400 |
58-10 |
1 |
| 2 |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
379 |
45-24 |
2 |
| 3 |
UT Tyler |
370 |
49-9 |
3 |
| 4 |
Auburn Montgomery |
349 |
49-13 |
4 |
| 5 |
North Georgia |
342 |
49-18 |
5 |
| 6 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
298 |
50-12 |
8 |
| 7 |
Seton Hill |
282 |
42-12 |
7 |
| 8 |
Central Oklahoma |
278 |
48-13 |
9 |
| 9 |
Adelphi |
262 |
47-15 |
10 |
| 10 |
Grand Valley State |
252 |
43-8 |
14 |
| 11 |
Cal State San Marcos |
245 |
45-14 |
11 |
| 12 |
Valdosta State |
243 |
38-14 |
12 |
| 13 |
Augustana |
212 |
50-10 |
13 |
| 14 |
Anderson |
165 |
40-10 |
17 |
| 15 |
Kutztown |
153 |
40-15 |
15 |
| 16 |
Indianapolis |
150 |
48-10 |
19 |
| 17 |
Tampa |
145 |
38-13 |
16 |
| 18 |
Angelo State |
129 |
39-12 |
21 |
| 19 |
Concordia Irvine |
118 |
46-10 |
20 |
| 20 |
Lincoln Memorial |
105 |
39-20 |
23 |
| 21 |
Lubbock Christian |
89 |
39-12 |
18 |
| 22 |
Washburn |
54 |
45-15 |
RV |
| 23 |
UAH |
48 |
41-17 |
25 |
| 24 |
Wilmington |
27 |
38-20 |
24 |
| 25 |
Sonoma State |
26 |
42-18 |
RV |
Receiving Votes: Southern Arkansas (22), Oklahoma Christian (17), West Virginia Wesleyan (10), Minnesota State (8), Wingate (7), Nova Southeastern (5), Rollins (4), Lenoir-Rhyne (3), Chico State (2),
Drury (1).
#allweDUiswin
