The SUNY Cortland softball team is ranked sixth nationally in Division III in the preseason poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Cortland finished 42-5-1 last season and competed in the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season. Cortland advanced to the NCAA Div. III World Series for the seventh time overall and third time in the last four years. The Red Dragons finished fourth nationally – the best finish in school history. Cortland also won its second straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title and 11th overall.

Under 18th-year head coach Julie Lenhart, Cortland opens the season March 4-8 with eight contests at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Among the Red Dragons’ Florida opponents will be 15th-ranked Coast Guard Academy. Cortland will travel to long-time rival and 21st-ranked Ithaca for a doubleheader April 3.


2012 NFCA Div. III Preseason Poll
(2011 final record in parentheses)

1) Linfield (Ore.) (51-3)
2) Texas-Tyler (40-13)
3) Christopher Newport (Va.) (38-12)
4) Eastern Conn. St. (35-7)
5) Luther (Iowa) (41-6)

6) CORTLAND (42-5-1)
7) Emory (Ga.) (41-4-1)
8) Salisbury (Md.) (36-6)
9) DePauw (Ind.) (32-11-1)
10) Coe (Iowa) (38-11)

11) Redlands (Calif.) (36-11)
12) Central (Iowa) (39-9)
13) Messiah (Pa.) (39-7)
14) Louisiana College (30-12)
15) Coast Guard (Conn.) (38-4)

16) Wisconsin-Whitewater (28-12)
17) St. Thomas (Minn.) (42-6)
18) Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) (35-12)
19) East Texas Baptist (36-9)
20) Moravian (Pa.) (37-9)

21) Ithaca (27-12)
22) Wisconsin-River Falls (28-15)
23) Wisconsin-Eau Claire (29-16)
24) Rowan (N.J.) (31-13)
25) Virginia Wesleyan (29-11)