The 55th NAIA baseball season started yesterday, with Wayland Baptist splitting a double-header at Arizona Christian. On Tuesday, Simpson visits Azusa Pacific and La Sierra is at Vanguard. On Wednesday, Webber International is at Warner. On Thursday, Simpson visits Cal Baptist. On Friday, it's Vanguard at Cal State San Marcos, Northwood (TX) at Houston-Victoria, Patten at The Master's, Brewton-Parker at Edward Waters, and U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at Texas College. On Saturday, Brescia visits Loyola-New Orleans. On Saturday and Sunday, Auburn-Montgomery hosts a six-team event; LSU-Shreveport plays Savannah College of Art and Design and Faulkner, and Auburn-Montgomery plays Milligan and Lindenwood on Saturday. On Sunday, Auburn-Montgomery plays LSU-Shreveport and SCAD, LSU-Shreveport plays Milligan, and SCAD plays Lindenwood.
Here is an evaluation of the top 10 teams according to the pre-season coaches' poll:
#1 – Cumberland: The defending champions had major graduation losses. However, RHP Aaron Wilkerson, who got 14 wins for the Bulldogs last year, is returning, as well as two key position players, 1B Greg Appleton (.361, 17 home runs) and C David Fanshawe (.342). The Bulldogs have added an impressive group of Division I transfers: LHP Will Locante (Tennessee), IF Tommy Winegardner (Coastal Carolina), and OF Cory Farris (Kentucky). They have a fighting chance at repeating as national champions. Games to watch: at Belhaven Feb. 19, at LSU-Shreveport March 9, Embry-Riddle March 21-22, Union U. (TN) April 1-2, at Lee April 19
#2 – Lee: The Flames also have an impressive list of transfers: RHP Maxx Catapano (2.98 ERA at Bellevue last year), 1B/C Travis Anderson (Oregon State's top hitter), LHP Shay Crawford (12 starts at Alabama-Birmingham), and RHP Matt Passauer (18 appearances at Maryland). Coach Mark Brew has a record of 219-52, and the Flames have been national runners-up two of the last three seasons. This could be the year that they get their first national championship. Games to watch: at Tennessee Wesleyan Feb. 8, 15, Rio Grande Feb. 21, Tennessee Wesleyan April 6, at Brewton-Parker 8-9, Cumberland April 19, at Southern Polytechnic April 22-23.
#3 – Cal Baptist: The Lancers are the defending champions of the Golden State Athletic Conference, and three pre-season All-Americans are coming back; C Sharif Othman (.386, 16 home runs, 67 RBI), IF Brian Sharp (.395), and LHP Taylor Siemens (11-1, 2.62 ERA). Also returning is RHP Drew Madrigal (11-3, 4.13 ERA, 96 strikeouts) and OF Matt Marnati (.360). They've added OF Zach Esquerra and RHP Patrick Smith. Games to watch: at Cal State San Bernardino Feb. 3, 5, Cal State San Bernardino Feb. 4, British Columbia Feb. 18-19, Fresno Pacific March 16, at Fresno Pacific March 19, Point Loma Nazarene April 27-28, at Point Loma Nazarene April 30
#4 – Lewis-Clark State: The Warriors were good enough last season to have seven players drafted, but they had their second straight early exit from the National Championship tournament. The problem was, while Cumberland, Lee et al were playing their conference tournaments and Opening Round tournaments, the Warriors had a three-week layoff. In the first year of the Gary Picone era, they have tried to address this problem by scheduling a tournament with Division III teams May 6-8, and Division I Seattle U. May 17. (Seattle is the only D-I team they play this season.)
The returnees for the Warriors include 1B Brian Gaylord (.357), OF Gino Casini (.270), OF Jason Hague (.319), RHP Cody Fassold (6-0, 3.14 ERA), RHP Tyrell Poggemeyer (4-1, 2.28 ERA), RHP Seth Haehl (3-0, 2.01), and RHP Zach Clanton (2-1, 3.79 ERA).They've added LHP Zach Arneson (transfer from Cal State-Bakersfield, 21st round draft pick in 2010) and OF Kyle Knigge. Games to watch: College of Idaho Feb. 12, Western Oregon Feb. 19, at British Columbia March 11-13, College of Idaho March 25-27, at Western Oregon April 8-9, British Columbia April 15-17, at College of Idaho April 30-May 1, at Seattle U. May 17
#5 – Lubbock Christian: OF Richard Bohlken (.364, 26 home runs, 76 RBI) returns for the Chaparrals, and they've added 1B Karl Seiter, RHP Duncan McGee, LHP Lucas Whitmore, RHP Mike Marshall (transfer from Stanford), and C Nate Peterson. Marshall is the son of the Dodgers outfielder of the same name. Games to watch: LSU-Shreveport (at Cedar Hill, TX) Feb. 3, Bellevue Feb. 11-12, at Oklahoma City March 4-5
#6 – Embry-Riddle: The Eagles have Preseason All-American RHP Philip Reamy (5-0, 0.24 ERA, 10 saves), RHP Barrett Bruce (0-0, 1.80 ERA), IF Steve Sabins (.347), IF Tyler Robbins (.321), and RHP Steve Ortman (0-1, 0.75 ERA). Games to watch: at Brewton-Parker Feb. 14-15, Bellevue March 6, at South Carolina-Beaufort March 11-12, Union U. (TN) (at Lebanon, TN) March 21, at Cumberland March 21-22, Daytona Cubs April 6, at Tampa April 12, Savannah College of Art and Design April 22-23.
#7 – Oklahoma City: The top returnees for the Stars are Preseason All-American C Chad Carman (.412), MLB draft pick OF/LHP Terrence Jackson (.338, and 6-2, 6.83 ERA on the mound), and Gold Glove SS Kirk Walker (.392). Games to watch: LSU-Shreveport (at Cedar Hill, TX) Feb. 4, at Lubbock Christian March 4-5
#8 Point Loma Nazarene: IF Tyler Kuehl (.359), OF Allen Boyer (.350, 19 home runs), OF Rashad Taylor (.322, 16 home runs), and RHP Kenny Houser (2-4, 5.52 ERA) are returning for the Sea Lions. They have an impressive list of newcomers: RHP Ryan Sharpley (transfer from Notre Dame), UTL Shain Stoner (transfer from Southern Nazarene, batted .480), IB/OF Edgar Molina (transfer from Lee, batted .349), and two freshmen with impressive high school records, OF Kendall Konopka and RHP/IF Brett Carlile. During Joe Schaefer's two seasons as Head Coach, the Sea Lions have been to the final four twice. Games to watch: at Fresno Pacific March 23, Fresno Pacific March 26, at Cal Baptist April 27-28, Cal Baptist April 30.
#9 Southern Polytechnic: The Hornets had major graduation losses. Their returnees include C/IF Edmund Sparks (.355) and RHP Tucker Stone (8-3, 2.87 ERA). Games to watch: Brewton-Parker March 18-19, Lee April 22-23.
#10 – British Columbia: The Thunderbirds again have strong pitching: Dan Britton-Foster (5-1, 2.04 ERA), Sheldon McDonald (9-2, 2.94 ERA, 65 strikeouts), Shawn Hetherington (1-2, 3.33 ERA), and Brandon Kaye (7-3, 3.42 ERA). For fielding, they have Gold Glove CF Blake Carruthers (.335). Their top returning hitters are 1B Andrew Firth (.351) and 3B Keaton Briscoe (.342). To make their second trip to the National Championship tournament, the Thunderbirds must either figure out a way to beat Point Loma Nazarene, or get sent to a different Opening Round tournament. Games to watch: at Fresno Pacific Feb. 10, at Cal Baptist Feb. 18-19, at College of Idaho Feb. 26-27, Lewis-Clark State March 11-13, at Lewis-Clark State April 15-17, College of Idaho April 23-24.
#18 – South Carolina-Beaufort: The Sand Sharks are loaded with talent: LHP Adam Miller (10-2, 3.73 ERA), RHP Kyle McCullough (3-2, 2.77 ERA), RHP Dexter Price (transfer from Auburn), IF Gabe Torres (.458), IF Brandon Collins (.413), OF Spencer Jackson (.410), and OF Ty Main (transfer from James Madison). Games to watch: at Union U. (TN) Feb. 5, Brewton-Parker Feb. 9, Embry-Riddle March 11-12, at Savannah State March 16, Savannah College of Art and Design April 8-9, Savannah State April 26
The NAIA's National Championship Opening Round will take place at nine locations (to be announced in late April) May 12-16. The Baseball National Championship will, as usual, be in Lewiston, ID May 27-June 3.