Apr. 19– The Concordia University baseball team earned the No. 7 ranking as the NCAA Central Region ranking was released for the first time in 2007. The Bears, who had been ranked between third and fifth consistently throughout the season by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), are ranked fifth in the latest NCBWA Central Region Poll released earlier this week.

The top six teams in the final NCAA Central Region rankings will be invited to the NCAA Central Region Tournament with the top team earning the right to host. Currently, Minnesota State University, Mankato has the top ranking by the NCAA poll with Central Missouri State in second. Wayne State is the highest ranked NSIC team at third while Winona State is sixth.

The NCAA regional rankings can be found at http://www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/polls/divii

Rank	Team	Ovr. W-L	Reg. W-L
Central Region
1.	Minnesota State-Mankato	26-4	12-0
2.	Central Missouri State	36-6	24-4
3.	Wayne State (Nebraska)	25-10	18-4
4.	Fort Hayes State	24-14	17-11
5.	Emporia State	22-16	21-11
6.	Winona State	18-7	13-3
7.	Concordia-St. Paul	16-6	9-4
8.	Northwest Missouri State	20-16	18-10

The NCBWA Central Region Poll, which has no bearing on the NCAA rankings, can be found at http://rockathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/012007aaa.html

Central Region
1. Central Missouri (4)	36-6	58
2. Minnesota State (2)	26-4	56
3. Wayne State, Neb.	25-10	47
4. Fort Hays State	24-14	35
5. Concordia-St. Paul	16-6	33
6. Emporia State	22-16	31
7. Northwest Missouri State	20-16	27
8. Winona State	18-7	22
9. Upper Iowa	19-10	10
10t. Nebraska-Omaha	18-14	5
10t. Southwest Minn. State	14-10	5