Eagle Softball makes debut in FCSAA rankings

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 26, 2014) – Winners of eight straight games, Tallahassee Community College is one of the hottest softball teams in the state of Florida. 

On Wednesday, the Eagles garnered some recognition for their strong play of late, entering the FCSAA Softball Coaches' Poll for the first time this season at No. 7. 

Tallahassee, unranked in the season's first three polls, essentially made the biggest jump of any team in the rankings. No. 9 Seminole State College of Florida is the only other newcomer in the poll. 

Indian River State College continues to lead the way at No. 1 followed by the College of Central Florida, Chipola College, Polk State College and Northwest Florida State College. 

St. Petersburg College is ranked sixth, followed by Tallahassee, Miami Dade College, Seminole State and State College of Florida. 

Tallahassee will resume play on Friday at the annual NFCA Leadoff Classic. This year's event is being held in Columbus, Ga., and the Eagles will open pool play at noon against Southern Union State (Ala.) Community College. 

Tallahassee will also play Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Georgia Perimeter College at 12:30 p.m. Saturday before moving into bracket play. 

Meanwhile, Tallahassee's stay atop the FCSAA Baseball Coaches' Poll ended after just one week. The Eagles, who dropped four of five games last week, fell to No. 4. 

Tallahassee is one of four Panhandle Conference teams in the top ten. Chipola is No. 2, Gulf Coast State College is No. 5 and Northwest Florida State is No. 9. 

State College of Florida, who swept three games from Tallahassee last weekend, is the new No. 1. 

St. Petersburg is ranked third. St. Johns River State College leads the second half of the poll at No. 6 and is followed by Eastern Florida State College, Palm Beach State College, Northwest Florida State and Hillsborough. 

Tallahassee's tough non-conference slate will continue on Friday when it hosts NJCAA No. 5 Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) Community College in game one of a three-game weekend series.