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Sports News: Spring 2005

Friday, June 3, 2005

MORAVIAN SOFTBALL SQUAD TIED FOR 15TH IN FINAL NFCA DIVISION III TOP 25 POLL OF 2005 SEASON

STARKVILLE, MS --- The Moravian College softball team, which participated in the postseason for the 11th straight season this spring, finished the 2005 season tied for 15th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Final Poll released Thursday.

Eight NCAA Division III head coaches representing the eight NCAA regions vote on the NFCA Division III Top 25 poll.

The Greyhounds, who were tied for 19th at the beginning of the postseason, received a total of 81 points and are tied with Keene State (NH) College. The University of St. Thomas (MN) holds down the top spot with 200 points and all eight first-place votes after the Tommies won their second straight NCAA Division III National Championship.

Moravian, which was second in the NFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll back in February, played three nationally ranked teams this season, falling to second-ranked Salisbury (MD) University, 3-1 in nine innings and 6-2 in the NCAA Regional finals, and to #8 William Paterson (NJ) University, 3-0 & 5-4 in a non-conference doubleheader. The Greyhounds split a pair of games with #20 Roanoke (VA) College during Moravian’s eight consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament berth, falling 2-1 in nine innings and winning 5-0.

Moravian, under the direction of head coach John Byrne, was 37-8 overall and 13-1 in Commonwealth Conference action this season. Coach Byrne has a career record of 370-125 in his 12th season at Moravian. The Greyhounds have also won five straight Commonwealth Conference Tournament Championships and six consecutive Commonwealth Conference titles.

The highest the Greyhound have ever been ranked in the poll was last season when Moravian held the top spot in the country for four weeks before finishing the 2004 season as the NCAA Division III National Runner-Up.

2005 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll
Records as of May 25, 2005

Rank School (First Place votes) Record Points Previous
1 University of St. Thomas (MN) (8) 43-6 200 T12
2 Salisbury (MD) University 44-6 192 2
3 Chapman (CA) University 36-9 183 3
4 Ithaca (NY) College 31-13 173 NR
5 Muskingum (OH) College 42-7 165 5
6 Alma (MI) College 33-10 158 T19
7 Washington University in St. Louis 47-3 150 1
8 William Paterson (NJ) University 37-11 148 14
9 Williams (MA) College 28-14 142 NR
10 Aurora (IL) University 40-6-1 115 24
11 University of Rutgers-Camden 35-8-1 114 4
12 University of Redlands (OR) 31-8 100 9
13 Louisiana College 34-11 95 NR
14 Western New England College 39-6 83 15
T15 Moravian College 37-8 81 T19
T15 Keene State (NH) College 34-8 81 NR
17 St. Mary’s (MN) University 37-12 68 NR
18 North Central (IL) College 36-12 64 T12
19 Trinity (TX) University 28-20 50 NR
20 Roanoke (VA) College 33-12 48 21
21 Mount Union (OH) College 30-9 45 18
22 Coe (IA) College 37-6 31 6
23 Endicott (MA) College 35-4-1 25 7
T24 King’s (PA) College 34-12 20 NR
T24 SUNY Cortland 31-11 20 22

Others receiving votes:
Linfield (OR) College 14; Union (NY) College 12; University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 11; Emory (GA) University 5; Babson (MA) College 3; Ursinus (PA) College 2; Cal State East Bay 1; Ferrum (VA) College 1

Dropped out:
No. 8 Union (NY) College; No. 10 Emory (GA) University; No. 11 Linfield (OR) College; No. 16 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; No. 17 Babson (MA) College; No. 23 Tufts (MA) University; no. 25. College of St. Scholastica (MN)