Three KJCCC baseball teams appear in NJCAA D-I Preseason Poll

Three Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference(KJCCC) baseball programs are represented in the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Preseason Poll released Jan. 23. 

Defending Region VI champion Cowley College is ranked fifth and defending East Jayhawk Conference champion Neosho County Community College appears at No. 12. Hutchinson Community College is listed among the other schools receiving votes for the preseason poll. 

Cowley finished the 2016 season with a 44-14 and look to advance to the JUCO World Series for the eighth time the program's history. The Tigers, under the direction of coach Dave Burroughs, are the only KJCCC program to capture a World Series title, winning consecutive national championships in 1997 and 1998.  

Neosho County posted a 51-11 record last season, won the East Division conference title and finished ranked sixth in the final NJCAA season poll.  The held the No. 1 ranking on the April 27 poll.  The Panthers and head coach Steve Murry have appeared in three World Series, including back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013. 

Hutchinson was runner-up in the West Division race last season and finished 39-20 overall. The Dragons have two World Series appearances, first in 2005 and again in 2010, placing third overall.