WWW arkcity.net

Even with only nine players returning from last season's team that won the Region VI title and appeared in the NJCAA Division I World Series, the Cowley College baseball team will be one of the top junior college teams heading into the regular season.

The Tigers were ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll, released Friday.

Cowley is coming off a season in which it finished 47-18, won the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and had coach Dave Burroughs be named conference Coach of the Year and two former Tigers (Mike Dabbs and Lance Hoge) named NJCAA All-Americans. Dabbs, who was also named Jayhawk East Player of the Year, was a first-team All-American selection, while Hoge was an honorable mention.

Cowley opens the season Feb. 12 at Seminole State. The Tigers' home opener is Feb. 16 against Maple Woods.

Central Arizona is the top-ranked team in the preseason poll, followed by Grayson County College (Texas) and defending national champion Chipola College (Fla.).