NAIA coaches' poll for March 7, 2017, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

Duane Monlux is the Head Coach of the Bellevue University Bruins. The Bruins finished third at the NAIA Baseball National Championship last season His record at Bellevue over seven seasons is 256-97-3. He was selected as Coach of the Year by the North Star Athletic Association for the 2016 season. This interview took place on February 12, 2017, after the Bruins split a double-header with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers.

Bob Broughton, courtesyrunner.com: I hadn’t originally planned on talking to you about today’s games [vs. Science and Arts of Oklahoma], but USAO’s got some pitching.

Duane Monlux: Yeah, they do. They had some good arms in both games, and not only that, in the games they played previously. They have some really good starting pitchers, they have the ability to strike people out. They’re a good team. They hit the ball well today, and they’re going to beat a lot of teams, that’s for sure.

BB: We had a lot of balls bobbled by the infielders,but they came up with a couple of big defensive plays in the outfield when they needed them [by RF Randy Ventura]. I’m thinking specifically of the sixth inning of the first game. The right fielder robbed you guys of an extra-base hit, at a point when it really mattered.

DM: Well, we got it back to 4-2, and that would have changed that inning. That was a heck of a play. They played a clean game. They’re a very good baseball team, with good pitching, good hitting, and pretty good defense. They went through the whole nine-inning game with no errors, and they’re absolutely a World Series-caliber team.

The Bellevue Bruins (3-1, ranked #3 pre-season) and the Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers (7-4, ranked #7 pre-season) split a double-header with a stiff wind blowing, at USAO. The Drovers won the first game 7-2, and the Bruins won the second game 1-0. Both games were scheduled for seven innings, but it took nine innings to decide the second game.

First game: The Drovers jumped on starter RHP Todd Nicks for four runs on six hits and three walks in the first two innings. The scoring started with an RBI single by 3B Christian Perez in the bottom of the first. RF Randy Ventura scored on a double play ball, and Frankely Gonzalez hit an RBI single. Nicks walked in a run in the second inning.

The Drovers got an excellent pitching performance from RHP Stephen Wright. He went the seven-inning distance, allowed six hit, struck out nine, and didn’t allow an earned run. The Bruins didn’t get on the board until the fifth inning, when C Jake Browne walked, then scored on an error after a single by 2B Blake Macdonald. Macdonald scored when 3B Matt Evans reached on an error.

The Texas Wesleyan Rams (5-2) swept a double-header (two eight-inning games) at home against the Jarvis Christian Bulldogs (7-6) by identical scores of 8-7.

First game: The Rams took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by 1B Julio Ibarra (Caracas, Venezuela) and a two-RBI single by C Aidan Laurini. They led the rest of the way. The Bulldogs got one back in the top of the second on an RBI single by DH Chase Martinez, and another in the fourth on a solo home run by C Carlos Andrade. The Rams added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by SS Casey Moses, and two more in the sixth on an RBI single by DH Dylan Measells (Stuttgart, Germany) and Ibarra scoring on a wild pitch. The Rams led 6-2 after six innings.

The Bulldogs got back into it with three runs in the top of the seventh. CF DeAndre McGuire hit a single into left field with two runners on base. The left fielder lost track of the ball. McGuire came all the way around to score, and it was a one-run ball game. The Rams answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh; LF Blake Seaton hit an RBI double, was bunted over to third, then scored on a sacrifice bunt by C Garett Crook.

DH Robert Cummins hit a walkoff RBI single with two out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Midland Warriors a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over the LSU-Shreveport Pilots. The game was part of a tournament hosted by Dallas Christian College.

A stiff wind blowing throughout the game made every fly ball an adventure, and Cummins’ game-winning hit was no exception. It was a high popup that dropped between the first baseman and right fielder.

The Pilots led 8-6 going into the bottom of the seventh, and Pilots reliever LHP Pat Day struck out the first two batters. LF Buddy Balsino walked to keep the Warriors alive. RF Nathan Virgen doubled, then pinch-hitter Chris Foster hit a two-RBI single to tie the game, and he went to second on a wild throw. He was then batted in by Cummins.

The Jarvis Christian Bulldogs (6-4) and the Tabor Bluejays (2-1, ranked #10 pre-season) split two seven-inning games. The Bulldogs won the first game 9-7, and the Bluejays won the nightcap 6-3.

First game: The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. RF Christopher White got it started with a one-out single. 2B Alex Garcia walked, then CF DeAndre McGuire laid down a good bunt. So good that Tabor 3B Kyle James had to rush the throw to first. It was off-target, and the result was, McGuire got two RBI on the bunt. McGuire then scored The next batter, 1B Carlos Andrade, walked. DH C.J. Tyler hit an infield single, then LF Spencer Thomas hit a three-run home run.

The Bluejays got two back in the top of the fourth, on RBI singles by DH Blake Standiford and James. C Braxon Byfield hit a sacrifice fly on a good turn at bat in the top of the fifth. The Bulldogs got a run in the bottom of the first when McGuire singled, then scored when a fly ball hit by Thomas was dropped. That made the score 7-3 for the Bulldogs.

The Bluejays tied it in the top of the sixth. 1B Colton Flax hit a leadoff double, and scored when CF Brent McClure hit another double. McClure scored on a single by James. James stole second, then scored on a single by SS Abdiel Alicea (San Juan, Puerto Rico). He scored on a single by RF Jordan Harris, on a good at-bat.

The Tabor Bluejays (ranked #10 pre-season) got a win in their season opener, and the Wiley Wildcats are still looking for their first win. This was the Wildcats’ home opener.

The Wildcats had a chance. They took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth (of a seven-inning game) when Jerry Johnson, pinch-running for 3B Ruben Hancock, scored on a squeeze bunt by SS Trevor Spear. Hancock opened the inning with a double. A failed bunt attempt left him at second. He went to third on a single by 2B James Richey, and was replaced by Johnson. The inning ended when C Oswaldo Palacios grounded out, stranding runners at second and third.

The wheels came off in the top of the sixth. The Wildcats brought in reliever RHP Tre’von Thomas. He walked the first batter he faced, SS Abdiel Alicea (San Juan, Puerto Rico). The next batter flied out, then a pickoff throw from the catcher to first base went over the head of the first baseman, and nearly all the way to the right field fence. Alicea scored all the way from first, tieing the game 3-3. C Braxton Byfield, who was at bat, doubled, and was replaced by courtesy runner Kyle James, who went to third on a bad pickoff attempt by Thomas. James scored on a single by 2B Jacob Jones, giving the Bluejays a 4-3 lead. Jones ended up going to third on a passed ball, then scored when a ground ball by CF Brent McClure was bobbled by the shortstop. The inning ended with the score 5-3, and the Bluejays added two more runs in the top of the seventh, when Alicea scored on a wild pitch, and 1B Colton Flax hit an RBI double.

Players from NAIA schools taken in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft:

Schedule for the first two days of the 60^th NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday-Saturday, May 27-28, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

9 AM: #7 seed Sterling (48-14) vs. #10 Point (33-25)

Sterling (Sterling, KS) is making their second appearance at the Baseball National Championship. Their previous appearance was in 2013, and they went 0-2. They won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
Nickname: Warriors
Rankings: #9 in coaches' poll, #21 in ISR. Strength of schedule: #14
Quality wins: 2-1 vs. Missouri Baptist, 5-2 vs. York
Top position players: 1B Andrew Dorado (.417, 15 HR, 53 RBI), 2B Beau Kallas (.415, 18 HR, 66 RBI), RF Kendall Radcliffe (.376, 19 HR, 64 RBI). Radcliffe was tied for seventh in the NAIA in home runs. Kallas was tied for ninth in home runs.
Top pitchers: LHP Kade Wagner (11-2, 1.53 ERA, 79 K), LHP Brad Williams (from Perth, Australia; 10-3, 2.09 ERA, 115 K), RHP Ryan Pope (3-1, 2.14 ERA, 59 K, 15 saves). Wagner has the sixth-lowest ERA in the NAIA.
Coach: Adrian Dinkel, fifth season
Outlook: The Warriors will win a game.

Point (West Point, GA) is making their first appearance at the Baseball National Championship.
Nickname: Skyhawks
Rankings: Unranked in coaches' poll, #33 in ISR. SoS: #11
Quality wins: Faulkner, 4-1 vs. Bryan, South Carolina-Beaufort, 2-1 vs. Campbellsville
Top position players: 3B Omar Smith (.341), C Juan Reyes (from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; .336, 7 HR, 25 RBI), CF Riliani Familia (also from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; .322, 10 HR, 44 RBI)
Top pitchers: RHP Payne Kosobucki (7-1, 2.39 ERA, 70 K), RHP Josh Nestlehutt (8-6, 3.14 ERA, 89 K), RHP Dylan Griffin (9-2, 4.09 ERA, 115 K)
Coach: Jeremy Christian, second season
Outlook: The Skyhawks did well to get this far, but they're in tough here.

#1 Georgia Gwinnett swept through the Association of Independent Institutions tournament, defeating Fisher 13-3, Mount Mercy 9-1, and Clarke 6-3 and 14-1. In the first game against Clarke, CF Josh Merrigan hit an RBI single for the winning run. RHP Nikolay Uherek got the win, pitched seven innings, allowed two earned runs on nine hits, struck out six. Story

Zac Rinehart is second in the NAIA in hitting with a .476 average. The Grizzlies are hosting an Opening Round bracket May 17-20. video

#2 Bellevue won the North Star Athletic Association tournament. They hit eight home runs in the final against Mayville State, and won 14-1. LF Joe Moran hit two of the home runs. RHP Ben McKendall had a shutout going into the eighth inning before giving up a home run by LF Aaron Miller. The Comets had to play an "if necessary" game to get to the final, and ran out of pitchers in the seventh inning, when the Bruins scored ten runs. Story None of the games the Bruins played in the tournament were close. RHP Todd Nicks and RHP John Timmins combined for an 11-0 shutout over Waldorf; Nicks struck out 14. Story

McKendall is now 11-1, 1.53 ERA (ninth-best in the NAIA), with 111 strikeouts (tied for sixth-best in the NAIA). The Bruins now wait to learn their Opening Round location.

#3 Lewis-Clark State won the NAIA West tournament, without giving up a single run. The defending champions defeated Corban 7-0, British Columbia 3-0, and C. of Idaho 5-0. RHP Kevin Hamann, RHP Noel Gonzalez (in relief), and RHP Connor Brogdon got the wins; Hamann went the distance. The game against British Columbia was probably the best of the three. It was scoreless until the eight inning, and a good pitching duel between RHP Curtis Taylor of the Thunderbirds (6 IP, 4 hits, 10 strikeouts, no walks) and RHP Quin Grogan of the Warriors (7 2/3 IP, 3 hits, seven strikeouts, three walks). The Warriors got the only run they needed on an RBI double by CF Logan Griffin, off reliever RHP Christian Botnick. LF Jacob Zanon completed the scoring with a solo home run. Story 1B Tyler McDowell went 4-for-4 with two triples and a stolen base in the game against C. of Idaho. Story

The Warriors are idle until the Baseball National Championship tournament May 27-June 3. Both the Thunderbirds (ISR #9, #1 in strength of schedule) and C. of Idaho (ISR #12) will be playing in the Opening Round.