The North Georgia College & State University softball team is ranked No. 3 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II preseason Top 25 Poll that was released Wednesday.

The Saints are the only team in the country to appear in each of the last three Division II National Championships, as they will look to continue with a fourth straight appearance in 2012.

North Georgia has put together a record of 154-19 over the last three years, including three straight trips to the Division II College World Series. The Saints have also dominated the Peach Belt Conference with three straight regular season and tournament championships, having won 12 consecutive Peach Belt Conference tournament games to capture those titles.

North Georgia opens its season playing host to Tusculum (Tenn.), North Greenville (S.C.) and Bellarmine University (Ky.) on Feb. 11-12 in the Loyal Blue Classic.