Reinhardt

Results from the semifinal of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.

Tennessee Wesleyan 3, Reinhardt 2 (11 innings) – Reinhardt eliminated. A brilliant pitching effort by Eagle starter Andrew Herbert came to an end with one out in the bottom of the eleventh inning. The inning started with Evan Magill drawing a walk. He was bunted over to second by Cayle Webster. The next batter, Kruise Newman, hit a single to left field to score Magill and end it.

The Eagles nearly won this in regulation, with only three hits. They got a home run by Lance Dockery in the top of the third inning. The Bulldogs tied it in the bottom of the fourth; Magill hit a double that bounced off the center field fence, and scored on a single by Webster. The Eagles got their second run on their second hit in the top of the seventh, with an RBI double by Matty Maurer. They missed a chance to add an insurance run in the eighth when a bunt by Lance Dockery was misplayed by pitcher Blake Peyton, giving them runners on first and second. Peyton was relieved by Carter Gannaway, who struck out Nash Crowell. Tucker Zdunich then hit a line drive to second base that resulted in an inning-ending double play.

The Eagles missed another chance to get insurance runs in the top of the ninth. They loaded the bases with one out. The Eagles sent in Richard Castro to pinch-hit, and the Bulldogs sent in Jake Sergent to pitch to him. Sergent struck him out on three pitches. The next batter, Jarrett Burney, hit a ground ball to the mound, and Sergent threw to home for the out to end the inning.

So, it was 2-1 for the Eagles going into the bottom of the ninth. Magill opened it with a double. Herbert struck out the next two batters, and the Bulldogs were down to their final out. Daniel Stewart hit a single to score Magill and tie it. The next batter, Dante Leach, hit a single to right field, but Blake Hubble, the courtesy runner for Leach, tried to go to third base, and was out by 15 feet on a good throw from Zdunich.

Results from the fifth day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.

Hope International 15, Georgia Gwinnett 11 (Georgia Gwinnett eliminated). The was two different ball games. The Grizzlies totally dominated the first five innings. They scored in every inning except the fourth, and the first two Royals pitchers, David Rudd-Grow and Josh Landry, were unable to keep the Grizzlies off the base paths. The Grizzlies got five runs in the bottom of the second, capped with a two-RBI double by Henry Daniels. They added two runs in the third with a home run by Joe Quelch and a sacrifice fly by Braxton Meguiar. They got three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Meguiar and Daniels, and an RBI on a fielder’s choice by Jackson Cobb. However, the Royals brought in Chandler De Jong to relieve Landry after the single by Meguiar. He got out of the inning with the Grizzlies leading 11-5, but the Grizzlies didn’t score again. De Jong got two ground outs and a strikeout for a clean sixth inning, and turned the ball over to submariner Steven Ordorica, who went the rest of the way, allowed one hit, and didn’t walk a batter.

It was still 11-5 going into the eighth inning, but the Royals got some breaks. The eighth inning started with a home run by Derek Sims. Ryan Maciel followed with a single, but he was caught off first base after a popup, and there were two outs. Amari Bartee got the two-out rally started with a double, then scored on a double by David Rivera. The Grizzlies brought in Jeremiah Locklear to pitch. He walked the first batter he faced, Alex Moreno. The next batter, J.J. Cruz, hit a fly ball down the left field line that was touched by a fielder, and initially ruled a foul ball. After a longvideo review, the call was reversed; Cruz was awarded second base, Moreno third base, and Rivera a run. After Locklear got behind 3-0 to the next batter, Austin Testerman was brought in to pitch. He threw a wild pitch, and Moreno scored. The inning ended with the Royals trailing by only 11-9.

Results from the fourth day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.

Hope International 8, Arizona Christian 1 (Arizona Christian eliminated). The Royals, behind the pitching of Justin Drury, dominated this all-Golden State Athletic Conference matchup. Drury pitched eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out three, threw 113 pitches, and didn’t allow a run until the seventh inning.

The Royals got all the runs they needed in the top of the first inning, with a two-RBI double by J.J. Cruz. In the top of the fourth, Amari Bartee hit a single, and Alex Moreno hit a double. The next batter was Cruz, and with two out, runners on second and third, and Cruz being dangerous throughout the tournament, the Firestorm intentionally walked him. Not a bad idea. Problem was, Firestorm pitcher Eli Elliott walked the next batter, giving the Royals their third run. Elliott then made a pickoff attempt to third base, but the throw ended up in left field foul territory, almost to the fence. All three baserunners scored, and the Royals led 6-0 after 3 1/2 innings.

The Firestorm missed a good chance to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth. With two out and a runner on second, Matthew Beckworth hit a hard line drive that appeared to be going into center field. However, Cruz, at second base, made a great catch to end the inning. The Firestorm finally ended the shutout in the bottom of the seventh, when Deshon Thomas came home from third base on a ground out. The Royals completed the scoring with Ryan Maciel scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, and David Rivera hitting an RBI double in the ninth.

Elliott got the loss, pitched four innings, allowed three earned runs on six hits, struck out five. Drury is now 10-0. Rivera and Moreno both finished 2-for-4. Beckworth had three of the Firestorm’s five hits, one of them a double. Box score

Results from the third day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID.

Southeastern 12, U. of the Cumberlands 5 (U. of the Cumberlands eliminated). The Fire led all the way, but it was close – 7-5 after six innings – until the Fire put it away with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, including two-RBI singles by Alfonso Villalobos and Chayce Bryant. Tommy Davis went 3-for-4 with two doubles for the Fire. Charlie Muñiz and Ben Snapp hit home runs for the Patriots. Starter Robb Adams got the win, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed four runs on five hits, struck out three. Jake Cohen, who allowed one hit over the final three innings, got a save. Starter Kailen Hamson got the loss. Box score

Hope International 12, Indiana Southeast 1 (Indiana Southeast eliminated). J.J. Cruz reached base every time he came to bat; 4-for-4 with two home runs, and a walk. David Rivera also hit two home runs, and Alex Moreno hit a home run. Trey Seeley pitched eight innings, allowed zero runs on three hits, struck out 11, threw 119 pitches. Box score

Players from NAIA schools taken in the 2025 Major League Baseball draft:

Here is how the NAIA players taken in the 2010 MLB draft did this summer.

Joseph Staley- C, Lubbock Christian, 8^th round, Giants - Played 33 games for the AZL Giants, batted .250, five home runs, 25 RBI. He will be spending the Fall in the Instructional League in Scottsdale, AZ.

Kawicka Emsley-Pai - C, Lewis-Clark State, 10^th round, Diamondbacks - Played 42 games with the Yakima Bears of the short-season Class A Northwest League, batted .167.

Tyler Knigge - RHP, Lewis-Clark State, 12^th round, Phillies - Pitched 30 1/3 innings for the GCL Phillies (ten appearances, four starts), had a record of 0-3, 5.04 ERA, 27 strikeouts. One of his teammates with the Phillies was Pat Murray(1B, Lewis-Clark State, 34^th round, Phillies). Murray played 52 games, batted .313, with two home runs, 26 RBI.

Schedule for the first two days of the 67th NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday-Saturday, May 24-31, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

Friday, 8:35 AM: #8 seed Kansas Wesleyan (48-10) vs. #9 Arizona Christian (36-19)

Kansas Wesleyan (Salina) is making their first trip to the Baseball National Championship. They won the regular season championship of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference by a four-game margin. Twitter: @KWUBaseball
Nickname:Coyotes
Rankings:#20 in coaches' poll
Quality wins:3-0 vs. Tabor, Concordia-Nebraska, LSU-Shreveport
Top position players:SS Jarrett Gable (.386, 19 HR, 76 RBI), C Tyler Favretto (Montreal; .358, 17 HR, 57 RBI), OF Kendall Foster (.353, 23 HR, 61 RBI), OF Jacob Williamson (.323, 17 HR, 58 RBI), 3B Reece Bishop (.315, 13 HR, 56 RBI)
Top pitchers:RHP Jarrett Brannen (11-1, 3.94 ERA, 77 K), RHP Brett Maddock (9-2, 5.35 ERA, 75 K), RHP K.T. Gearlds (2-0, 0.99 ERA, 40 K), RHP Ritter Steinmann (2-1, 1.99 ERA, 49 K)
Coach:Bill Neale, tenth season
Outlook:Will be fortunate to get a win. And if they get by Arizona Christian, their next game will be against Southeastern.

Arizona Christian (Glendale) is making their first trip to the Baseball National Championship. They finished third in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Twitter: @ACUBaseball1
Nickname:Firestorm
Rankings:Unranked in coaches' poll
Quality wins:Tennessee Wesleyan, Oklahoma City, Lewis-Clark State, British Columbia
Top position players: OF Marques Titialii (.384, 24HR, 83 RBI), OF Andrew Ivy (.344, 8 HR, 43 RBI), 1B/LHP Trey Tarver (.343, 12 HR, 44 RBI, and 0-6, 5.18 ERA, 43 K on the mound), OF/IF Kane Klaunis (.330, 12 HR, 54 RBI), OF/1B Jared Anderson (.326, 5 HR, 41 RBI). Titialii's 24 home runs are eighth-best in the NAIA.
Top pitchers:RHP Adrian Santa Cruz (9-4, 4.09 ERA, 100 K), RHP Eli Elliott (7-4, 3.20 ERA, 99 K), RHP Chay Esqueda (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 47 K), RHP Jackson Hohensee (4-2, 6.04 ERA, 73 K in 44 IP). Santa Cruz pitched a complete game shutout vs. Lewis-Clark State in the Opening Round.
Coach:Joe McDonald, sixth season
Outlook:After an OK season in a strong conference, the Firestorm got here by winning the strongest opening round bracket. They could do some damage.

11:35 AM: #4 Hope International (40-15) vs. #5 Reinhardt(41-16)

Hope International (Fullerton, CA) is making their second appearance in the Baseball National Championship. The first one was in 2017. They won the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season championship. Twitter: @HIURoyals
Nickname:Royals
Rankings:#10 in coaches' poll
Quality wins: 7-0 vs. Ottawa-Arizona, 1-1 vs. Westmont, 2-1 vs. Arizona Christian, 3-3 vs. Jessup, Central Methodist
Top position players:IF J.J. Cruz (.408, 12 HR, 70 RBI), IF David Rivera (.389, 12 HR, 53 RBI), IF Alex Moreno (.387, 6 HR, 43 RBI), OF Dean Tolgo (.353, 12 HR, 44 RBI)
Top pitchers:RHP Justin Drury (9-0, 3.41 ERA, 61 K), RHP Trey Seeley (9-3, 3.95 ERA, 116K), RHP Steven Ordorica (2-1, 2.88 ERA, 40 K), RHP Boom Ward (0-0, 2.60 ERA, 29 K)
Coach:Larry Mahoney, third season
Outlook:The Royals are the champions of a strong conference, and had the best strength of schedule coming into the opening round. They are a contender.

Schedule for the first two days of the 62^nd NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday-Saturday, May 25-June 1, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

8:30 AM: #8 seed Antelope Valley (44-12-1) vs. #9 Reinhardt (41-18)

Antelope Valley (Lancaster, CA) is making their first appearance at the Baseball National Championship, in only the third season of their program. They won both the regular season and tournament championships of the California Pacific Conference.
Nickname:Pioneers
Rankings: #17 in coaches' poll, #29 in ISR. Strength of Schedule: #93
Quality wins:2-2 vs. Lewis-Clark State, Middle Georgia State, 2-1 vs. William Jessup
Top position players:IF Michael Pereznegron (.398), IF Tyler Pittmon (.376, 9 HR, 64 RBI), OF Adam Maciel (.410, 57 RBI), C/1B Nathaniel Broaddus (.318, 8 HR, 42 RBI)
Top pitchers: RHP Clayton Rabiej (11-0, 3.28 ERA, 93 K), RHP Jacob Castillo (11-0, 4.75 ERA), RHP Jesse Garcia (7-4, 5.30 ERA, 77 K), LHP Chris Gutierrez (3-0, 2.61 ERA)
Coach:Jacob Garsez, third season
Outlook:The Pioneers should win this one, but if they do, Saturday night's game against Faulkner will be a challenge.

Reinhardt (Waleska, GA) is one of five teams making their first appearance at the Baseball National Championship. The Eagles and Freed-Hardeman are tied for fourth in the NAIA in team fielding, with a .971 average.
Nickname:Eagles
Rankings: Unranked in coaches' poll, #14 in ISR. Strength of Schedule: #24
Quality wins:1-1 vs. Middle Georgia State, 2-1 vs. Campbellsville
Top position players: OF Kaleb Swayze (.356, 10 HR, 45 RBI), 1B Sherman Graves (.316, 10 HR, 55 RBI), IF Jacob Cagle (.256, 12 HR, 49 RBI)
Top pitchers: RHP Heriberto Casasola (Panama City, Panama; 6-2, 2.25 ERA, 48 K), RHP Dylan Powers (11-3, 2.62 ERA), 80 K), RHP Jason Gifford (9-3, 3.32 ERA, 85 K)
Coach:John Harris, first season
Outlook:The Eagles are happy to be here.

Oklahoma City (15-4, 6-1 SAC) defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan12-4, and swept Northwestern Oklahoma State, 10-5, 3-0, and 10-2. 2B Brian Fisher went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI against Oklahoma Wesleyan. C Chad Carman hit a solo home run for the winning run in the first game against Northwestern Oklahoma State. Rich Hawkins pitched the shutout in the second game, allowed four hits. C/RF Dane Phillips hit a three-run home run in the third game, and got another RBI on a ground out. The Stars visit Southern NazareneMarch 6, host Mid-America Christian March 8 and 10, and visit Mid-America Christian March 9.

Concordia-Irvine (13-5, 7-1 GSAC) swept four games against Vanguard, 9-7 , 20-6, 10-9, and 14-4. Pinch-hitter Matt Taylor hit a two RBI double in the top of the ninth to win the first game. 1B Tony Harkey, Jr. hit two home runs and went 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored in the second game. LF Kyle Konicek when 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI in the third game, and 3B Ryan DiMascio went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the fourth game. The Eagles visit non-conference Cal State-San Marcos March 9, and visit Cal State-San Marcos March 10. The Eagles lead the Golden State Athletic Conference; The Master'sis second with a 6-2 record.

Lee(21-2, 9-0 SSAC) swept Milligan10-1 and 13-0. SS Edmanuel Rivera and 1B Roberto Reyes hit home runs in the first game. Dustin Lawson, Kyle Briner, and Joe Fabre combined for a two-hit shutout in the second game. The Flames then swept three games against Truett McConnell, 8-1, 3-2, and 14-4. Kris Hall went seven innings in the first game, allowed one run on three hits, struck out 12. The Flames were out-hit 5-4 in the second game, but 2B Blake Barber singled in a run in the bottom of the seventh to win it. LF Mike Moore went 3-for-4with a home run in the third game. The Flames visit BryanMarch 7 and Tennessee TempleMarch 8, then host Loyola-New OrleansMarch 9-10. Barber is batting .507 for the Flames.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for April 16, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking. Recap below the fold.

NAIA coaches' poll for April 19, 2016, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

The NAIA Coaches' Poll for April 22, 2014, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking.

First place votes:Oklahoma Baptist 18, Faulkner 2, Lewis-Clark State 1
#7 San Diego Christian is #1 in Strength of Schedule

#1 Oklahoma Baptist swept Southwestern Assemblies of God, 17-0, 6-2, and 14-0. Jordan Morales, Tallen Parker, and Jeff Gunter combined for the shutout in the first game. Morales got the win (he is 10-0, 1.96 ERA for the season), pitched five innings, allowed three hits, struck out six. Jinny Parra got the win in the second game. RHP Julian Merryweather and Andrew Millner got the mercy-rule-shortened shutout in the third game. Merryweather pitched six innings, allowed two hits, struck out six. 3B Garrett Roberts went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

The Bison have won ten straight, and lead the Sooner Athletic Conference by 2½ games over #14 Oklahoma City and Wayland Baptist. The Bison visit Saint Gregory's April 24 and 26, end their home season against Saint Gregory's April 25 ( Live video), and end their regular season against now-Division II Rogers State April 29 in Tulsa.

#2 Faulkner completed their season sweep of #6 Georgia Gwinnett, winning the third game of the season 5-4. The defending champions led 3-0 after four innings, and 5-1 after seven, but the Grizzles scored three runs in the top of the ninth to make it interesting. The Grizzlies had the tying run on third, but Kurt Lipscomb got a strikeout to end it. Jay Gause got the win, pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowed a run on four hits, struck out 11.SS Dauris Holguin went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

The Eagles won two of three at Southern Wesleyan, 5-3, 8-1, and 6-7. In the first game, each team scored three runs in the first inning, but Jeremy Holcombe and Patrick McGrady held the Warriors off the board the rest of the way. RF Michael Cruz scored the winning run on a ground out; he was 1-for-4 with three RBI for the game. Thomas Dorminy got the win in the second game, pitched five innings, allowed no runs on two hits. The Eagles led the third game 6-1 going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Warriors came up with six runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it. The comeback was led by a bases-loaded triple by CF Michael Hyman. Two hit batters and a walk tied it, and 1B Stephen Wyatt scored the winning run on a bunt single by SS J.J. Julian. Matt Craig Went the distance for the Warriors, recorded seven strikeouts.

Robert Llera is batting .442 for the Eagles. The Eagles lead the Southern States Athletic Conference by 1 1/2 games over #15 Southern Polytechnic, and two games over #10 Brewton-Parker. The Eagles host Martin Methodist April 24-25. Live video

#3 Lewis-Clark State won three of four against Corban(ISR #21), 0-5, 4-3 (13 innings), 5-2, and 12-4. Jacob Kopra pitched the shutout for Corban in the first game. He allowed five hits, struck out one, and walked three. He is 9-0, 1.44 ERA, 64 K, and this was his third shutout of the season. 1B Daniel Orr hit a sacrifice fly for the winning run in the first inning, went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI for the game. Corban led the second game 3-1 after five innings, but were kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way by Gunnar Swanson (4 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 8 K) and David Murillo (3 2/3 IP, 3 hits, 7 K); Murillo got the win. Two of his strikeouts came after he entered the game with one out in the top of the tenth, and runners at second and third. L-C State tied it with two runs in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by C Jake Shirley and a sacrifice fly by CF Ryan Sells. Sells scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Corban won a 15-inning game against British Columbia the previous weekend. Story Corban out-hit L-C State in the third game 8-7, but three of L-C State's hits were two home runs and a triple by RF Cody Lavalli; he batted in two runs, and scored two more. Beau Kerns got the win in relief, pitched four innings, allowed no runs on two hits. Sells went 2-for-3 in the fourth game with a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored.

Lavalli has 11 home runs, which ties him with four other players for fifth-best in the NAIA. (Forrest Smith of Oklahoma City leads the NAIA with 15.) L-C State visits Division II Northwest Nazarene April 24-26, and plays a non-league game at nearby C. of Idaho (ISR #23) April 27. Corban finished in a three-way tie for third place with C. of Idaho and Concordia-Portland in NAIA West; the NAIA West tournament will be in Vancouver May 2-5.

NAIA coaches' poll for April 7, 2015, with Boyd Nation's ISR. Recaps below.

The NAIA Coaches' poll for May 5, with Boyd Nation's ISR ranking. Recap below.