The Rattlers have had some incredible come-from behind
walk-off wins this season including a 9-run ninth-inning game tying 12-12 score
which went into extras before a 13-12 walk-off win against East Tennessee
State. FAMU received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large
school” division which is made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. Right behind Florida A&M is the defending
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bethune Cookman University (9-6).
In the “small school” division, made up of NCAA Division II and Division III schools as well as those in the NAIA, Harris-Stowe State University garners the top spot. Harris-Stowe started the season winning nine of its first 12 games including an eight game winning streak. The Hornets, from the American Midwest Conference (AMC), have had solid pitching and hitting while building a 17-5 record. Following Harris-Stowe State is Talladega College.
Black College Nines continues the tradition of ranking HBCU
baseball polls and is in its third year of existence and is a revitalization of
the only previous HBCU baseball rankings, last conducted in 2012 by Ruffin Bell
on his Black College Baseball website. The crowning of Black College Nines
National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 at 10 AM (EST)
on the Black College Nines’ website.
The Voting Committee of Black College Nines determines the
Top 10 rankings. The group includes college athletic administrators, educators,
college baseball writers and other mass media communication sports journalists
and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers from across the
nation. Overall records do not include ties.