When the Wallace Govs open the 2024 baseball season in just over a week, they will do so as the ninth ranked team in the nation in this year's first NJCAA Division II baseball poll.

"It's nice to be ranked and it's good to get the exposure for our team," Wallace coach Ryan Ihle said. "But it's really sort of an insult to the other teams who have been playing in Division II. There are some really good teams in the division.  I think a lot of this is based on our record from last season."

That number nine ranking will be tested immediately. The Govs first game of the season is against Meridian Community College in the PCB College Baseball Classic on February 2. Meridian is ranked #13 in the same poll.

Wallace is the only junior college in Alabama to receive any votes. Heartland Community College of Illinois is at the top of the poll followed by LSU-Eunice (a team the Govs played last year in Dothan) and Pearl River Community College comes in third.

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This week marked the first time since the Govs returned from winter break that the team has been able to practice on their field for several consecutive days.

"It's been great," Ihle said. "We've been able to get a lot accomplished. Just look at how the guys are moving around."

And Ihle said there is something else about playing outside. "It's showing the guys the season is almost here. It's so close we can taste it.

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Finally, short stop Corey Berry had successful hernia last week. Berry said he is feeling better and now he's working to get back on the field. His expected return is mid-March.