LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Following a historic 2024 season that saw them finish as the NCAA Division III National Runners-Up, the Belhaven Softball team has checked in at No. 5 in the nation in the NFCA Preseason Poll, released on Tuesday. 

The Blazers are less than two weeks away from opening up the 2025 campaign and have high expectations after putting together their most successful postseason of the NCAA-era a year ago. It will be a new look team for Belhaven however with NFCA All-Americans Kennedy Carruth and Allie Gordon graduating as well as other experienced players who were mainstays in the lineup.

Belhaven does return key pieces to the team who are expecting to hold a high standard of success within the program. Catcher Anna Caime is back after her breakout postseason in 2024 which saw her hit the walkoff home run against Berry which sent the Blazers to their first ever Division III World Series.

Experienced players in Madi Miller and Ellie Jones will also continue to bolster the top end of the lineup which is hoping to continue their successes at the plate in recent seasons. In the circle, sophomore Macy Funderburk will join with second-year Blazer Belle West to front a Belhaven pitching staff entering their first year without Carruth since 2019.

The Blazers open their season on Friday, February 14th at LeTourneau before making the short trip from Longview, Texas to Shreveport, Louisiana for a doubleheader against Centenary on Saturday. Belhaven will also return to the NFCA Leadoff Classic this season where they will face No. 7 Case Western, No. 18 Pfeiffer and No. 22 Redlands.

The Leadoff Classic will not be the only major in-season tournament for the Blazers who also will play at The Spring Games in Orlando with No. 20 Calvin one of the teams on their six-game slate. Joining Belhaven in the Top 25 is CCS rival Huntingdon, who ranks No. 25 in the nation.

To view the full release from the NFCA click here. 

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