Baseball/Softball Media Center

Four Mizuno Sponsored NCAA Division I Softball Programs Ranked in NFCA Preseason Top 25

The NCAA Softball season is underway, with most teams beginning their season today. For Division I programs across the nation, it is a new opportunity to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, with a shot at playing in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The NFCA Preseason Top 25 rankings are out, and currently there are four Mizuno Sponsored Division I programs that are ranked in the NFCA Preseason Top 25.

The Louisiana State University Tigers enter the 2009 season ranked 19th in the land. The Tigers are coming off an impressive 2008 season, in which they finished 44-18 overall, with a 17-11 Southeastern Conference record. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Regionals last season, before being eliminated. Head Coach Yvette Girouard hopes to have the Tigers back in the postseason in 2009.

The Washington Huskies are preseason # 21 in the NFCA. The Huskies, behind Head Coach Heather Tarr, have high hopes after a strong 2008 campaign, in which they went 30-25-1, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Softball Houston Regional. Washington is expected to be a contender in the Pac-10 Conference this season, and should compete for the conference title.

Coming in at number 23 is the University of Nevada-Reno Wolfpack, coached by Matt Meuchel The Wolfpack, who finished 44-18 in 2008, are expected to be at the top of the Western Athletic Conference again in 2009, as they try to defend their 2008 WAC Title. Nevada made it to the NCAA Regionals last season, losing in the championship game of the NCAA Softball UCLA Regional. The Wolfpack did win two games in the regional, the school's first ever wins in an NCAA tournament.

The Long Beach State 49ers are ranked 24th in the nation to start 2009. The 49ers finished 40-17 in 2008, and earned a spot in the NCAA Softball Iowa City Regional. LBSU, coached by Kim Sowder, will be a force to be reckoned with in the Big West Conference this season. In 2008, the 49ers had a 15-6 conference record.

For a full list of all Mizuno Sponsored NCAA Softball Programs, please check out the "Our Roster" page of the Mizuno USA website. Each team has weblinks which lead directly to the official softball homepage of these schools and universities.

Click here to see "Our Roster" page