DII SOFTBALL
Phoenix comes in at No. 3 in the 2024 NJCAA Preseason Softball poll. The Bears are coming off another 50-win season, going 50-12 and 39-9 in ACCAC play, falling to South Mountain in the Region I tournament. The Bears led the nation in doubles last season and had a top-5 offense along with a pitching staff that recorded 15 shutouts, eighth most in the country.
South Mountain checks in just two spots behind Phoenix at No. 5. The Cougars won 54 games last season and dropped just five conference games, posting a 43-5 record in conference play. The Cougars represented Region I at the NJCAA DII Softball Championships, beating Jackson before falling to Jones. South Mountain was eliminated by Des Moines Area Community College, going 2-2. This season, the Cougars will be led by first-year head coach, Kelley Montalvo.
DI BASEBALL
Central Arizona opens the season ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA DI Baseball Preseason poll. The Vaqueros are looking to rebound after seeing their 2023 season end in the Region I semi-final round to Arizona Western. The Vaqueros had the nation’s top pitching staff last year, leading the country with a 2.30 earned run average and a .186 opponent batting average. John Howie takes over the Vaqueros program after serving as an assistant.
Pima received votes in the preseason rankings after going on a run to win the Region I title last season. The Aztecs went 46-18 last season and beat both Cochise and Arizona Western to win the Region I title. Pima advanced to the district tournament and beat McCook before falling to both Salt Lake and Southeast.
DII BASEBALL
Chandler-Gilbert will start the 2024 season ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA DII Baseball Preseason poll. The Coyotes are coming off a season in which won 33 games, posting a 33-27 record and 18-20 in ACCAC play. Chandler-Gilbert was 5th in the nation last season in stolen bases with 170.
Glendale received votes in the preseason poll and went 33-30 last year, going on a late season run to win the Region I title, sweeping Chandler-Gilbert in the Region I finals. The Gauchos went 1-2 in Enid, picking up a win over the No. 4 seed Madison.
Phoenix is also receiving votes in the preseason rankings. The Bears won 21 games last season under a new coaching staff and finished the regular season with a series split of the eventual Region I champion Glendale.
