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This week, the Warriors, 12-3 on the season, received 472 vote points, tying them for the No. 1 ranking with Southern Arkansas (14-4). Cal State Stanislaus and Southern Arkansas were the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, respectively, in last week's Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. Lynn
University (Fla.), which held on to the No. 1 ranking for two weeks, fell to No. 13.
“This is a tremendous milestone for Warriors baseball and California State University, Stanislaus,” President Dr. Ham Shirvani said. “The baseball players and their coaches are to be congratulated for building a team that has won recognition from its peers at the national level. We wish them continued success this season.”
Warriors Head Coach Kenny Leonesio, in his seventh season after guiding the team to a school record of 37 wins last year, said the ranking is another step toward the club’s ultimate goal.
“It is an honor for our student athletes to get some recognition for all the hard work they have put in thus far,” Leonesio said. “Our goal though, like every other team, is to be ranked number one at the end of the season. We have a long way to go and we will continue to work hard to represent our University and our community.”
Athletics Director Dr. Milton Richards has high praise for the team’s accomplishments in the drive for its long-term goal.
“I am very excited that our baseball team is currently ranked number one in the nation,” Richards said. “However, I am more proud of the fact that Coach Leonesio, his staff, and players appreciate this recognition but realize the season has a long way to go and that all members of the team will not be satisfied until they finish the season ranked number one in the nation.”
The Warriors previously set a team best in Division II when they reached the No. 2 spot two weeks ago. CSU Stanislaus won back-to-back Division III titles in 1976 and 1977 before moving up to the Division II level.
On Saturday, the Warriors split a doubleheader with Sonoma State, the defending California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and West Region champion, dropping the opener 8-3 and bouncing back in the nightcap 3-0. The four game series was cut short, however, as rain postponed games three and four in Rohnert Park until a date to be determined.
The CCAA is well-represented in this week's poll, with four other teams ranked nationally. No. 16 Chico State rose from No. 19, No. 17 UC San Diego moved up all the way from No. 26, and both Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills made their season debut on the poll tied at No. 30 with two other teams.
The Warriors begin a four game weekend set at 2 p.m. Friday (March 6) in Turlock
against CCAA opponent San Francisco State.
For more information on Warriors baseball and athletics, go to the University’s Athletics Web site at http://www.warriorathletics.com/.