(Logo courtesy IWUsports.com)
By WJBC Staff
NAPERVILLE – Illinois Wesleyan was picked to defend its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin softball title in 2015 according to a preseason coaches' poll, while the Titan baseball team was picked for second in the CCIW.
Softball
The Titan softball team (41-7 overall, 12-2 CCIW), coming off its 12th regular season conference title and eighth CCIW tournament title, won the poll with 46 points and four first place votes after they advanced to the 2014 Super Regional in the first year of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship's new format. It was IWU's third straight NCAA Division III appearance and the school's 13th overall.
North Central (33-13, 9-5) was second with 42 points and three first place votes. The Cardinals made their second-straight trip to the CCIW Tournament and their fourth NCAA postseason appearance in the last five years in 2014. Like Illinois Wesleyan, North Central also advanced to the 2014 Super Regional last season.
Augustana (35-13, 10-4) finished third with 37 points and one first place vote. The Vikings earned an NCAA postseason berth in 2014 and fell one victory short of a regional title. It was their third NCAA appearance in the last five years.
Carthage (23-14, 8-6) was fourth with 35 points, followed by Wheaton (20-18, 5-9) in fifth with 23 points, Elmhurst (15-15, 5-9) in sixth with 15 points, Millikin (17-20, 1-11) in seventh with 14 points and North Park (18-18, 4-8) in eighth with 12 points.
Last month, Illinois Wesleyan was ranked in a tie for No. 8 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Top 25 preseason poll. As a team the in 2014 Titans set school records for doubles (84), home runs (37), wins (41), pitcher strikeouts (387) and had a school-record 21-game winning streak.
The Titans open their 2015 season with a pair of games in Orlando, Fla., on March 7 to start a nine-game set in the Rebel Spring Games.
Baseball
Illinois Wesleyan (24-20, 14-7) earned 43 points and got two first place votes to finish second behind Augustana. The Titans won the CCIW tournament title last season and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship for the fifth-straight season and seventh time in the last eight years.
Augustana (29-12 overall, 15-6 CCIW) was picked to defend its CCIW baseball title, winning the poll with 48 points and six first place votes after capturing their first conference regular season title in 40 years last season.
North Park (23-17, 13-8) placed third with 34 points after the Vikings qualified for the CCIW Baseball Tournament for the fifth-straight season in 2014.
North Central (27-15, 12-9) was fourth with 31 points as the Cardinals finished second in the CCIW Baseball Tournament last season. Ed Mathey, who coached the program from 1994-2002, returned in November to again lead North Central.
Wheaton (23-17, 11-10) was fifth with 25 points, followed by Carthage (20-19, 9-12) in sixth with 19 points, Elmhurst (15-22, 9-12) in seventh with 15 points and Millikin (9-31, 1-20) in eighth with nine points.
Voting for the preseason poll is conducted by the CCIW's head baseball coaches. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches do not vote for their own teams.
The Titans open their 2015 season against Blackburn at 5 p.m. on March 7 in Jackson, Miss.
