CHARLOTTE – Under the direction of 15th-year head coach Mark Carson, Northwest will open the 2020 baseball season ranked No. 15 in the nation, the NJCAA announced on Tuesday morning.

"We are extremely proud for our program to start 2020 in the preseason rankings," Carson said. "(But) preseason rankings are just that - preseason. The real work for us will begin on Feb. 11 when we have to go out on the field and produce the numbers that we need to stay in the national spotlight. Our team looks forward to that challenge that lies ahead."

In all, Northwest returns 15 players from last year's roster that finished 33-14 while advancing to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament and finishing with a No. 9 national ranking.

Some of the Rangers' primary leaders coming back are on the mound, with left-hander Dalton Fowler and right-hander Parker Stinnett expected to anchor pitching duties once again. Both Fowler and Stinnett have already signed to continue their careers at the Division I level, inking with Oklahoma and Mississippi State, respectively.

Colton Peel, Trent Bunting, Jackson Smith and a healthy Reed Logsdon are also expected to provide some depth on the mound. Newcomer Landon Zizmann (Delta State) will see ample time on the mound as well.

At the plate, the Rangers return a loaded lineup of Brayland Skinner, Kelton Hall, Hammer Franks and Tucker Richmond. Incoming freshmen Cade Bell (East Union) and Ty Leatherwood (Collierville, Tenn.) are also expected to highlight a talented unit of newcomers as well.

Region 23 nemesis LSU Eunice checks in at No. 2 in the nation behind top-ranked Northern Oklahoma-Enid. Pearl River, Jones College and Itawamba line up at Nos. 5, 6 and 7, respectively, while Hinds and Meridian round out MACJC representation at No. 17 and No. 20 overall.

Northwest will open the 2020 campaign with a non-conference 2/5 p.m. twinbill against Southwest Tennessee on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Jim Miles Field. 

NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll
1. Northern Oklahoma-Enid (4)
2. LSU Eunice (3)
3. Mesa (Az.)
4. Sinclair (Ohio)
5. Pearl River
6. Jones College
7. Itawamba
8. Kellogg (Mich.)
9. Western Oklahoma State
10. Brunswick (N.C.)
11. Northeast (Neb.)
12. Parkland (Ill.)
13. Lincoln Land (Ill.)
14. Pasco-Hernando State (Fla.)
15. Northwest Mississippi
16. Lansing (Mich.)
17. Hinds
18. Lackawanna (Pa.)
19. Meridian
20. Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa