It is that time yet again! After what seemed like maybe a couple weeks of off-season, we are back on to the diamond for another season of exciting baseball. Here, in our first post of the year, we look at the PerfectGame Top 25 to start the season and let you know when they kick off their year, as well as point out a couple names of teams to look out for.
Again, just to remind everyone, we use the PerfectGame rankings on this blog as they are, in my opinion, the most educated and knowledgeable rankings year after year of all the Division II polls.
First, we will take a look at the pre-season Top 25 rankings from PG, and we'll let you guys know when they kick off their seasons. To view the full PerfectGame Top 25 preview in its entirety, make sure to click here.
1. Tampa (41-10): The perennial powerhouse begins their year this weekend with a three-game series against Bentley at home, with one game each on Friday (Feb. 3), Saturday (Feb. 4) and Sunday (Feb. 5).
2. Nova Southeastern (44-16): Your defending national champions have a very busy opening week on tap. The Sharks open the year with a game against Tusculum on Friday (Feb. 3), followed by a doubleheader against Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday (Feb. 4), a game against fellow Sunshine State Conference foe Barry on Sunday (Feb. 5) in a non-conference game, and a tilt against NAIA powerhouse St. Thomas on Tuesday (Feb. 7), with all games at home. We will get a peek real early on if NSU will be running roughshod over their competition yet again.
3. West Florida (36-17): The Argos kick off their season at home with a three-game series against Florida Southern on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 3-4), then follow that up with a single game at Spring Hill on Wednesday (Feb. 8).
4. Cal Poly Pomona (42-19): CPP will attempt to stay atop the West region yet again this year, as they begin their campaign with three games against UC Colorado Springs on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 2-3), along with a doubleheader against Concordia on Saturday (Feb. 4).
5. USC Aiken (40-18): The Pacers will open their season against a fellow Top 25 opponent when they face Lincoln Memorial at home for three games this weekend, one on each day (Feb. 3-5). They'll also face Wingate on the road on Wednesday (Feb. 8).
6. Lubbock Christian (37-19): LCU is heading to the DII AirHogs Classic, being played at the site of this year's national finals tournament, to kick off their season this weekend. They'll face East Central (Feb. 2), Missouri Western (Feb. 3), Newman (Feb. 4) and Southern Arkansas (Feb. 5).
7. Minnesota State (36-18): The Mavericks won't hit the field until February 25th, when they take on Minnesota-Crookston at U.S. Bank Stadium.
8. Colorado Mesa (43-13): Another set of Mavericks, this time from the RMAC, will have one more open weekend before beginning their season on Feb. 10-12 with a series at Dixie State.
9. Dixie State (40-14): Meanwhile, their opponent, the Trailblazers, kick their season off this weekend in California, as they face Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series, Feb. 3-5.
10. Belmont Abbey (39-16-1): Belmont Abbey did not get off to the start they hoped for, taking a 6-1 loss in their season opener on Wednesday against Lenoir-Rhyne. They're back in action this weekend with a three-game split series against Newberry, and a Tuesday (Feb. 7) tilt against Catawba.
11. Point Loma (32-16): The Sea Lions, an up-and-coming squad on the West coast, began their season with a 7-5 loss to Chico State on Thursday (Feb. 2) afternoon, but they have three more games on the docket against Chico the rest of this weekend.
12. North Georgia (32-20): UNG opens their season this weekend (Feb. 3-5) with a three-game series against Carson-Newman at home. They'll also face Southern Wesleyan for a single game contest on Wednesday (Feb. 8).
13. Emporia State (39-19): The Hornets, who are sure to mash yet again this year on offense, face stiff competition to begin the season with a three game series at Colorado State-Pueblo (Feb. 3-5).
14. Franklin Pierce (48-9): As one of the dreaded non-Southern or non-Western teams, the Ravens will have to wait until the weekend of Feb. 23-26 for their first competition, when they head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Ripken Experience against Felician, Queens (N.Y.), Wilmington and LIU Post.
15. Southern Indiana (38-21): Just like the last few seasons, the Screaming Eagles will begin their season down South against Tampa, when they take on the Spartans in a three game series, Feb. 17-19.
16. Mercyhurst (43-14): The Lakeshow will have a couple more weeks to think quietly among themselves, as they begin their season on Feb. 18 with a doubleheader against West Virginia State.
17. St. Mary's (32-21): The Rattlers will begin their season with seven straight home games as the beneficiary of living in the South. They'll begin their season this weekend with three games against Arkansas Tech (Feb. 3-5) before facing Our Lady of the Lake on Tuesday (Feb. 7).
18. Millersville (53-7): After putting together a gaudy season in 2016, it looks like the Marauders will have to prove themselves yet again. They face Winston-Salem State on the road this weekend (Feb. 3-5) for three games to begin the year.
19. Wayne State (Mich.) (28-24): One of the GLIAC favorites, the Warriors will begin their season in Nashville on Feb. 17 and 18 with three games against Trevecca Nazarene.
20. Florida Tech (29-21): FIT gets their season started with a pair of doubleheaders against Mississippi College this weekend (Feb. 3 and 4).
21. Angelo State (39-22): Another national finalist from last season, the Rams face Regis this weekend to begin the year, with a single game on each day (Feb. 3-5).
22. Augustana (37-17): The Vikings are in the midst of one of the best trips a team from middle America can take. They are currently in Hawaii taking on Hawaii Pacific in a five-game series. They dropped the first two games to HPU on Wednesday, 3-2 and 6-1, but have two more on Friday (Feb. 3) and one on Saturday (Feb. 4).
23. Azusa Pacific (30-20): APU, trying to make a splash in a loaded West region, got off to a good start with an 8-0 shutout of Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday (Feb. 2). They have two more games against the Otters to finish the weekend (Feb. 3 and 4).
24. Henderson State (31-25): The Reddies are taking part in a tournament this weekend (Feb. 3 and 4), where they'll face Pittsburg State in a pair of games, sandwiched around a single game against host Arkansas-Fort Smith.
25. Lincoln Memorial (28-21): As mentioned with the USC Aiken preview, the Railsplitters open their season this weekend with three games against the Pacers on the road (Feb. 3-5). They'll also face Claflin on Monday (Feb. 6) afternoon in a single game.
As for my own person opinion...some teams I will be keeping an eye on this season will include Central Missouri, St. Edward's, Indianapolis, St. Cloud State, Quincy, UC San Diego, Chico State, West Georgia, Lander, Ashland, Trevecca Nazarene, Fresno Pacific, Lee, and Grand Valley State. I expect most of these teams, if not all, to challenge for spots in their respective regional fields.
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