North Carolina A&T University tops the first edition of our Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season Top 10 baseball poll in the large school division as announced by Black College Nines (BCN) on March 12, 2019.
The Aggies, who began the year ranked No. 1 in the BCN Preseason Top 10 have won games with pitching and hitting. After a 3-1 week, won their weekend games and won the series against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival North Carolina Central to improve to 9-6 received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division which is made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. NC A&T started the season winning its first 3 games.
Southern University ranks No. 2 for the first poll, with Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman and Coppin State rounding out the top five. Big movement in the ranking has Grambling State in at No. 6. Delaware State is the new entrant into the Top 10 at No. 7 followed by No. 8 North Carolina Central, No. 9 Florida A&M and Jackson State rounding out the Top 10.
Kentucky State grabs the top spot in the “small school” division, made up of NCAA Division II schools as well as those in the NAIA and USCAA. Since the start of the season, the Thorobreds have thrown two no-hitters which includes winning 9 of the teams first 10 ball-games. KSU from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), has had solid pitching building a 10-2 record and enters the HBCU baseball No 1 spot for the first time in the program’s history.
The following rest of the small school poll includes No. 2 Winston-Salem State who started the season winning it’s first 10 games, No. 3 Jarvis Christian College, No. 4 Claflin University, No. 5 Florida Memorial University, No. 6 Selma, No. 7 Wiley College, No. 8 Talladega College top NAIA baseball program across the nation strength of schedule, No. 9 Harris Stowe State and No. 10 Benedict College.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools. Records indicated are through March 10.
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leads all conferences with 6 teams in the Top 10 while in the small school the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference follows with three representatives.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) This Past Week: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 227 | 9 | 6 | 3 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (MEAC) This Past Week: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 173 | 7 | 8 | 4 | |
| Coppin State University (MEAC) This Past Week: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 221 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
| Delaware State University (MEAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 250 | 5 | 7 | 7 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) This Past Week: 2-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 278 | 6 | 14 | 9 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 249 | 7 | 8 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 283 | 6 | 12 | 10 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) This Past Week: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 192 | 9 | 6 | 1 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) This Past Week: 1-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 280 | 6 | 10 | 8 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) This Past Week: 4-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 214 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... None
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedict College (SIAC) This Past Week: 1-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: Not Indicated | 3 | 2 | 10 | |
| Claflin University (CIAA) This Past Week: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 177 | 12 | 7 | 4 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) This Past Week: 4-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 237 | 14 | 10 | 5 | |
| Harris Stowe State University (AWC) This Past Week: 3-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 286 | 11 | 11 | 9 | |
| Jarvis Christian College (RRAC) This Past Week: 6-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 201 | 16 | 9 | 3 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) This Past Week: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: Not Indicated | 10 | 2 | 1 | |
| Selma University (USCAA) This Past Week: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: Not Indicated | 5 | 2 | 6 | |
| Talladega College (GCAC) This Past Week: 1-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 116 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| Wiley College (RRAC) This Past Week: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 260 | 13 | 10 | 7 | |
| Winston Salem State University (CIAA) This Past Week: 3-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 195 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
Teams Dropped From Top Ten... none
2019 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 12, 2019)
Week 2 (March 26, 2019)
Week 3 (April 9, 2019)
Week 4 (April 23, 2019)
Week 5 (April 30, 2019)
Week 6 (May 7, 2019)
Week 7 (May 14, 2019)
Week 8* (May 21, 2019)
*Final Poll
The voting committee is made up of an informed and impartial group of individuals who follow college baseball on all levels, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) baseball. Included in the group are college athletic administrators and educators, college baseball writers and other sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers and above all else… college baseball enthusiasts who have an interest in promoting HBCU baseball.
As the college baseball season concludes, champions will be named in two divisions… the “large school” division will be composed of the 19 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 31 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and independent status.
The crowning of Black College Nines National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 on the Black College Nines’ website, Twitter and Facebook pages.