The Lady Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Preseason Poll.

Lock Haven received six of 16 first place votes and 388 of 400 possible points.

Behind Lock Haven sits Humbolt State (374 pts.), who received the other 10 first-place votes and St. Edwards (358 pts.) rounds out the top three.

Two other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools are in the top-20 with Kutztown ranked 12th and Bloomsburg sitting at No. 15

LHU head coach Kelley Green is pleased with the honor of the No. 1 ranking and excited to begin the new season.

“We certainly appreciate the recognition, but all 23 of our student-athletes and coaches know it’s not where we are at the beginning of the year, but at the end of the year that truly matters,” Green said. “Our players are committed to the process of improving each day and we are looking forward to putting our best out on the field each day.”

The Lady Eagles will travel to the Aloha State to kick off the 2009 season. LHU is set to take on the University of Hawaii at Hilo on Saturday, Feb. 28.

– Courtesy LHU Athletics

FULL POLL

This one, however, may be remembered forever.

Trailing in the final two holes, the Argos rallied to force a three-team playoff, then won the NCAA Division II men’s championship in dramatic fashion, defeating North Alabama and St. Edwards at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston.

“I think I just aged 10 years,” said UWF coach Steve Fell, who also guided the Argos to the 2001 national title. “It was such an emotional day, with all the ups and downs.”

UWF had a four-shot lead and all the momentum going into the final round, but North Alabama and St. Edwards outplayed UWF on the back nine to take over the lead.

UWF freshman Kyle Scott birdied the 17th hole to help force the playoff, then birdied his first playoff to win the title. In the playoff, all five players from each team played separate holes and the best cumulative score decided the champion.

The national golf championship was part of the NCAA Division II Spring Festival in Houston, with championships decided in track, tennis and golf.

–Courtesy Pensacola News Journal