Rounding Third Softball

NCAA has released the first RPI for 2021. The Rating Percentage Index is used to rank teams based upon a team’s wins and losses and its strength of schedule. The RPI is mostly importantly used to help select at-large teams for postseason play.

Oklahoma (22-0) continues its stranglehold on the No. 1 spot in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Sooners are once again unanimous in the top spot receiving all 32 first-place votes.

New to Poll: None

Dropped Out: None

Receiving Votes: Northwestern (41), Iowa State (22), Baylor (19), Illinois (12), Liberty (12), Southern Illinois (9), James Madison (7), Texas State (6), Wichita State (6), South Alabama (5), Texas A&M (4), Fresno State (3).

RTS will be in Orlando tomorrow for a Top 25 matchup between No. 5 ranked Florida and No. 20 Central Florida. First pitch between the Gators and Golden Knights is set for 6 pm EST Wednesday at the UCF Softball Complex. Follow RTS on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB for real-time in game updates.

The Japan Women’s Softball League announced that Toshimasa Shimada has been appointed as the new chairman of the league. The JSL one of the top softball leagues that draws players from throughout the world opens their season in April 3 and will have their mid-season break during the Tokyo Olympic Games. The JSL is preparing to launch a reformatted league in 2022 which will replace the current format.

Occidental College recently removed the interim tag for head coach Kelliner Croushore making the position permanent. Croushore has been on the softball staff at OC for three seasons and served the pandemic shortened 2020 season in the interim capacity. Before coming to LA she worked on coaching staffs at Georgetown and Rhodes College.

RTS is saddened to report the passing of former longtime Indiana Wesleyan University Softball Coach Sue Bowman. The veteran coach led the softball program at IWU for 24 seasons compiling a career record of 585-407. Bowman spent 41 seasons in all coaching numerous sports at IWU including volleyball, field hockey, and tennis. She resigned as softball coach in 2011 but continued as a full-time faculty member in the Health and Human Performance Division.

33 year coaching veteran Jeff Hankins will be named to the coaching staff of new Olivet College Head Coach Jennifer Cassell RTS has learned. The journeyman Hankins has worked at the high school and collegiate levels during his career. Along with numerous assistant assignments, he served as head coach at both Jackson College and Owens Community College.

East Texas Baptist (10-0) remained a unanimous No. 1 in this weeks NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Tigers have also extended their unbeaten streak to 25 games dating back to the shortened 2020 season.

Others receiving votes:  Tufts 4, Mount Union 2, Illinois Wesleyan 1, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1.

Oklahoma (22-0) keeps rolling atop the Softball World and it’s now unanimous. The Sooners stayed firmly at No. 1 in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. OU received all 32 first-place votes.

New to Poll: None

Dropped Out: None

Receiving Votes: Baylor (62), Northwestern (37), Southern Illinois (13), Iowa State (12), Illinois (11), Liberty (3), South Alabama (3), Texas State (3), Fresno State (1), James Madison (1), Ole Miss (1).

Division II has a new No. 1 in this week’s NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll. After holding tight to the No. 2 spot, undefeated North Georgia (12-0) finally moved into the top spot. The Nighthawks took 12 of 16 first-place votes while new No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce landed the other four votes.

Dropped Out: None.

Receiving Votes: Anderson (10), Western Washington (10), St. Cloud State (9), Shepherd (6), Northwest Nazarene (4), Auburn Montgomery (2), Minnesota State (1).