MIAA Media Relations
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending National Champion Central Oklahoma has been selected by the MIAA coaches to finish atop the league. The Bronchos got 13 first place votes as they were picked unanimously atop the poll.
The Bronchos won the regular season crown, and though eliminated in the MIAA Tournament, defeated Kutztown 5-2 in the National Championship game. Missouri Western has been picked in the second spot after going 38-16 during the 2013 campaign and finished 20-8 in league play. Fort Hays State, who won the MIAA conference tournament, has been picked in the third spot after going 21-5 in league play last season.
Just eight points behind Fort Hays State is Emporia State who has been picked fourth in the league after going 18-10 and finishing fourth in the league last season. Northeastern State has been picked fifth in the poll coming in just four points ahead of Pittsburg State who is picked sixth overall. Central Missouri is in the seventh spot, just two points ahead of Northwest Missouri is picked eighth.
Missouri Southern has been picked in the ninth spot by the coaches with Lindenwood just ten points behind and picked to finish tenth. Washburn earned 51 points to be picked to finish eleventh by the coaches in 2014. Nebraska-Kearney takes the twelfth spot with 40 points and Lincoln is picked thirteenth with 25 points. Southwest Baptist rounds out the poll picked it he fourteenth spot.
Lincoln will hit the road for Arkansas on Feb. 1 with most other teams slated to get going the following weekend.
2014 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Oklahoma (13) 169
2. Missouri Western (1) 156
3. Fort Hays State 138
4. Emporia State 130
5. Northeastern State 115
6. Pittsburg State 111
7. Central Missouri 95
8. Northwest Missouri 93
9. Missouri Southern 73
10. Lindenwood 63
11. Washburn 51
12. Nebraska-Kearney 40
13. Lincoln 25
14. Southwest Baptist 15