Jackson, Miss. — Belhaven University baseball has been ranked second in the 2026 Collegiate Conference of the South preseason poll, announced by the league office Monday. The Blazers received 31 points and two first-place votes from CCS coaches.
Belhaven finished last season with a 34-15 record, reaching the NCAA Division III Super Regional for the first time in program history. The team also made its inaugural appearance in the NCAA Tournament after defeating Huntingdon, Piedmont, and Maryville in the CCS Tournament to secure a No. 2 seed. The Blazers then swept through the Webster Regional before falling in the Super Regional round.
Under first-year head coach Patrick Robey, Belhaven returns a veteran core led by all-conference players JD Weed, Nick Thornton, and Blake McCarthy. The team is also ranked 22nd in the ABCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
Maryville College was chosen as the top team, earning 34 points and four first-place votes. The Scots finished last season with a 33-14 record. LaGrange, Piedmont, Huntingdon, Covenant, and Asbury also appeared in the preseason rankings.
The Blazers open their 2026 campaign on Feb. 17, hosting MUW at Trustmark Park at 6 p.m. Conference play begins March 14. The CCS Baseball Championship is scheduled for April 29 through May 2 in Pearl, Mississippi.
