NFCA Division III Preseason Poll 

Salisbury University, which finished second in the nation at the 2003 Division III national championships, was tabbed the No. 1 team for the 2004 season in the preseason NFCA Division III Top 25 poll, released Wednesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. 

Margie Knight’s squad returns a number of players from last year’s squad, including Louisville Slugger/NFCA second team All-American Lacey Lister who led the nation with 27 wins while posting a 0.79 ERA and 259 strikeouts. The Sea Gulls open the 2004 campaign Feb. 29 at Wesley. 

Defending Division III national champion Central College, who knocked off Salisbury in the championship game, opens the 2004 season ranked second in the preseason poll. Central finished two points behind top-ranked Salisbury in the poll. 

Emory, who finished fourth at last season’s national tournament, begins the season ranked third after finishing 38-6 last season. Muskingum, the defending Ohio Athletic Conference champion, starts the season ranked fourth. 

Illinois Wesleyan, who finished third at the 2003 national championship tournament, landed in the No. 5 spot, while Pacific Lutheran claims the sixth position. 

Cortland State is ranked seventh after winning the SUNYAC title last season, and Wartburg opens the campaign at No. 8 with seven position players and two pitchers returning from last year’s squad that finished second in the Iowa Conference. 

Wheaton (Mass.), who fell in the regional championship game, enters the season in the ninth position, while Moravian rounds out the top 10 with the nucleus of its NCAA regional team returning. 

Alma kicks off the 2004 season ranked No. 11, followed by Methodist, Montclair State, Ithaca, California Lutheran, University of Chicago and Keene State. 

William Paterson ranks in the 18th spot, while Western New England and Union round out the top 20. 

The last five teams in the poll are Capital followed by Simpson, Tufts, Coe and Western Connecticut State.