PEMBROKE, N.C. (NCBWA) – After spending the final four weeks of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season in the No. 1 position, Angelo State will assume its perch atop the national rankings heading into the 2021 campaign. The Rams raked in a dozen of a possible 19 first-place votes to nestle back into the top spot of Wednesday’s NCBWA Division II Preseason Top 25.

Angelo State captured its first 16 games of the 2020 season, but finished the season with a 19-3 record after splitting a four-game road series at St. Edward’s (Texas). The Rams return a slew of offensive juggernauts, including all-American Josh Elvir who finished the pandemic-shortened season with a .438 batting average that complemented 11 home runs and 30 RBI. It is the first time in the 18-year history of the NCBWA Top 25 that Angelo State will begin its season with the No. 1 ranking.

Perennial national powerhouse Tampa locked in the remaining seven first-place votes to settle into the No. 2 position, while Central Missouri, North Greenville and Colorado Mesa rounded out the top 5.

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