DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 17th year with its 2014 weekly surveys. Polls will be circulated from Feb. 17-June 26 (weekly through June 10) following the 68th annual NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., at TD Ameritade Park.
Louisiana-Lafayette was ranked No. 1 for the first time ever in the NCBWA survey on May 26, holds down that same location this week and joins Virginia (eight weeks), Oregon State (four weeks - Feb. 17, May 5-12-19), Florida State (March 17), South Carolina (March 10), and Cal State Fullerton (preseason No. 1) as top of the pole sitters after 17 weeks of surveys in 2014. This tops last seasons five total teams at No. 1 during the entire January-June NCBWA compilations with six different top-ranked schools held that distinction. ULL also is the first Sun Belt Conference school ever to gain placement atop the rankings.
The poll voters come from 44 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. This week's poll has representation by a season-tying-most 13 different conferences among the 302 baseball-playing schools in the 2014 NCAA Division I ranks, and there have been 18 circuits and independents in the surveys this season. Last year there were 12 different DI loops in at least one set of rankings after a record 22 different leagues (from 30 in NCAA Division I) were rated among the Top 30 polls in 2012.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.