General

Northwood (FL) C Carlos Contreras and British Columbia LHP Conor Lillis-White are the headliners of the 2015 NAIA Preseason All-America Team.

Contreras transfered from Northwood (TX), which shut down their athletic program. He hit .453 there, with a slugging percentage of .753, fourth-highest in the NAIA.

Lillis-White had the lowest ERA in the NAIA last season, 0.46. He is already 2-0, 0.82 ERA this season.

Southern Polytechnic State University, in Marietta, GA, announced that they are discontinuing all athletic programs, effective July 1, 2014. The decision was fallout from Southern Polytechnic's merger with Kennesaw State. Press release

This is the loss of a successful baseball program. The Hornets made three trips to the Baseball National Championship. The most recent one was this season, where they got a win over Georgetown College before being taken out by Lewis-Clark State. They were ranked #8 at the end of the season. They got into the Opening Round by winning the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament.

The Hornets has a record of 350 wins and 137 losses since 2007. They won four other conference tournaments.

Also, Virginia Intermont College in Bristol closed its doors in May. The Cobras were 29-18 in 2013, and and 21-30 in 2014.

Players for NAIA schools taken in the 2014 MLB draft:

RHP Julian Merryweather, Oklahoma Baptist, Indians, fifth round (#158) story

LHP Brad Wieck, Oklahoma City, Mets, seventh round (#205) story

RHP Chris Pike, Oklahoma City, Rays, ninth round (#277) story

RHP Daniel Poncedeleon, Embry-Riddle, Cardinals, ninth round (#285) story

RHP Jay Gause, Faulkner, Astros, tenth round (#286) story

LHP Thomas Dorminy, Faulkner, Padres, tenth round (#297) story

RF Matthew Page, Oklahoma Baptist, Nationals, tenth round (#304) story

LHP Emilio Ogando, Saint Thomas, Royals, 12th round (#363) story

C Darryl Knight, Embry-Riddle, Mets, 14th round (#415) story

LHP Brennan Henry, Bellevue, Royals, 17th round (#513) story

LHP Michael Nolan, Oklahoma City, A's, 18th round (#552) story

RHP Jacob Webb, Tabor, Braves, 18th round (#553) story

CF Blake Drake, Concordia-Portland, Cardinals, 18th round (#555) story

RHP Tyler Wilson, Tennessee Wesleyan, Padres, 20th round (#597)

SS Osvaldo Vela, Oklahoma Baptist, Dodgers, 21st round (#639) story

1B Bryan Muniz, Southeastern, Astros, 22nd round (#646) story

C John Fidanza, Georgia Gwinnett, Diamondbacks, 23rd round (#690) story

RHP Zeke McGranahan, Georgia Gwinnett,  Orioles, 23rd round (#691) story

RHP Gabriel Hemmer, San Diego Christian, Tigers, 24th round (#730) story

RHP Tyler Carpenter, Georgia Gwinnett, Angels, 25th round (#749) story

LHP Kyle Kinman, Bellevue, Braves, 25th round (#763) story

CF Cade Gotta, San Diego Christian, Rays, 26th round (#787) story

2B Trevor Sprowl, Auburn-Montgomery, Braves, 26th round (#793)

1B Ryan Jones, Arizona Christian, White Sox, 27th round (#797)

RF Cody Lavalli, Lewis-Clark State, Angels, 27th round (#809) story

RHP Evin Einhardt, Brewton-Parker, White Sox, 29th round (#858)

RHP Jacob Butler, Saint Francis (IL), Tigers, 29th round (#880)

SS Josciel Veras, Cumberland, Reds, 30th round (#905)

LHP Timothy Hill, Bacone, Royals, 32nd round (#963)

OF Edwin Medina, Saint Thomas, Astros, 33nd round (#976)

RHP Keegan Yuhl, Concordia-Irvine, Astros, 35th round (#1036)

RHP Joey Aquino, San Diego Christian, Blue Jays, 35th round (#1044) story

LHP Spencer Hermann, Fisher, Mariners, 36th round (#1071)

C Brandon Gildea, Westmont, Astros, 36h round (#1079) story

RHP Cody Chartrand, Lewis-Clark State, Rangers, 36th round (#1086) story

RHP Andre Del Bosque, Houston-Victoria, Mets, 38th round (#1142)

Oklahoma Baptist, Georgia Gwinnett, and San Diego Christian each had three players drafted.

Of the eight games played so far, four of them were decided by one run. Cumberland got two big wins. The fans saw excellent pitching performances by Julian Merryweather of Oklahoma Baptist and Anthony Gomez of Cumberland. Saturday night's game drew 4,175. Unless you're a fan of San Diego Christian or Georgetown College, this tournament is going well.

Dakstats page with results, box scores

NAIA Schedule and Results page with links to recaps

Live video from nmnathletics

Live radio from KOZE

A slide show of pictures taken by The Master's College photographer Tony Berru:

The Memorial Day prime-time game was a ten-inning barn burner. Cumberland's starter was pulled after giving up three runs and not recording an out. Clint Meadows took over, and made a ten-inning relief appearance, allowed four runs on nine hits. Richie Seaton singled in the winning run with two out in the bottom of the tenth. Story by Brian Adamowsky: Cumberland Continues Magical Run with Walk-Off Win

Top seed Oklahoma Baptist dodged a bullet. They gave up two runs in the first, and left the bases loaded. They held defending champion Faulkner off the scoreboard the rest of the way, but didn't put the game away until they scored five runs in the eighth inning. The Bison play Cumberland in a matchup of unbeaten teams at 6:30 PM PDT.

Lewis-Clark State stayed in the tournament with a 9-1 win over Southern Polytechnic, in a game that was close until the eighth inning. The Warriors play Faulkner in a loser-out game at noon PDT.

Tabor stayed in the tournament with another one-run win, 6-5 over Georgia Gwinnett. The Bluejays came up with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to do it. They tied it with an RBI double by Grant Silva. Silva stole third, then scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Seeger. The Bluejays were out-hit 13-6. They play Oklahoma Wesleyan in a loser-out game at 3 PM.

Dakstats page with results, box scores

NAIA Schedule and Results page with links to recaps

Live video from nmnathletics

Live radio from KOZE

The Opening Round tournaments are scheduled for May 12-15. Click here for the Dakstats schedule and results page. Click here for the NAIA's announcement.

Kingsport  Bracket
Hunter Wright Stadium | Hosted by Appalachian Athletic Conference

Host site

1. Missouri Baptist - ISR #13
2. Brewton-Parker (Ga.) - 12
3. Cumberland (Tenn.) - 15
4. Bryan (Tenn.) - 72
5. Culver-Stockton (Mo.) - 80

Jackson Bracket
Smith-Willis Stadium | Hosted by Belhaven University (Miss.)

Host site (includes video)

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan - 4
2. Oklahoma City - 23
3. Belhaven (Miss.) - 26
4. Sterling (Kan.) - 43
5. Houston-Victoria (Texas) - 107

Marion Bracket
Wildcat Field | Hosted by Crossroads League

Host site

1. Georgetown (Ky.) - 2
2. Point Park (Pa.) - 35
3. Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) - 42
4. Midland (Neb.) - 29
5. Spring Arbor (Mich.) - 74

Daytona Beach Bracket
Sliwa Stadium | Hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.)

Host site (includes video)

1. Southern Poly - 9
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) - 21
3. Talladega (Ala.) - 67
4. Tennessee Wesleyan - 44
5. LSU Alexandria (La.) - 37

Montgomery Bracket
Harrison Field | Hosted by Faulkner University (Ala.)

Host site (includes audio)

1. Faulkner (Ala.) - 3
2. LSU Shreveport (La.) - 25
3. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) - 31
4. Judson (Ill.) - 53
5. Point (Ga.) - 85

Lawrenceville Bracket
Grizzly Baseball Complex | Hosted by Georgia Gwinnett College

Host site (includes video)

1. Georgia Gwinnett - 5
2. Southeastern (Fla.) - 17
3. William Woods (Mo.) - 16
4. Westmont (Calif.) - 7
5. St. Francis (Ill.) - 77

Shawnee Bracket
OBU Baseball Complex | Hosted by Oklahoma Baptist University

Host site (includes video)

1. Oklahoma Baptist - 8
2. Bellevue (Neb.) - 22
3. Northwestern (Iowa) - 30
4. Friends (Kan.) - 82
5. Bacone (Okla.) - 52

Hutchinson Bracket
Hobart-Detter Field | Hosted by Tabor College (Kan.)

Host site (includes video)

1. Tabor (Kan.) - 18
2. Doane (Neb.) - 20
3. Jamestown (N.D.) - 34
4. Mayville State (N.D.) - 79
5. Viterbo (Wis.) - 49

Santa Clarita Bracket
May 12 - 15 | Reese Field | Hosted by The Master's College (Calif.)

Host site (includes video)

1. San Diego Christian (Calif.) - 10
2. The Master's (Calif.) - 14
3. Davenport (Mich.) - 24
4. Vanguard (Calif.) - 19
5. British Columbia - 6

The 58^th NAIA baseball season is already under way, and six games were played in California last weekend. The Golden State Athletic Conference is already playing conference matchups, with #9 Concordia-Irvine at Arizona Christian, Biola at The Master's, and San Diego Christian at Westmont. Ave Maria and Southeastern play Edward Waters and Calumet College of Saint Joseph in Lakeland, FL, Bryan hosts Lindenwood, Cal State San Marcos visits Vanguard, Doane visits Houston-Victoria, and Warner visits Webber International.

Here is an evaluation of the top 10 teams according to the pre-season coaches' poll:

#1 – Faulkner: The defending champions will have returning position players OF Michael Cruz (.355, 13 HR, 68 RBI; he led the Eagles in all three categories, and is a Pre-season All-American), C/IF Sergio Sanchez (.363, 65 RBI), IF Luis Sanchez (.344) and IF Dauris Holguin (.291). Their returning pitchers are RHP Julian Esquibel (11-2, 2.71 ERA), LHP Labradford Griffis (5-0, 2.11 ERA), and RHP Jeremy Holcombe (4-0, 3.19 ERA). They will have three key transfers; OF Willie Allen (Western Oklahoma State), C T.C. Mark (Arizona), RHP Kurt Lipscomb (Jacksonville State), and OF Omar Gomez (New Mexico Junior College). Games to watch: Missouri Baptist Feb. 7-8, Lindsey Wilson Feb. 7, Cumberland Feb. 8, at Tennessee Wesleyan March 5 Live Video

#2 – Lewis-Clark State: The Warriors have Cody Lavalli (.373, 10 HR), who was drafted in 37th round by the Rangers, and is a Pre-season All-American. Other returnees are OF/C Jake Shirley (.340), RHP Michael Noteware (missed most of 2013 with a medical redshirt), RHP Steve Thompson (5-5, 2.49 ERA), and RHP Dave Murillo (5-0, 3.02 ERA, 38 K). Their most impressive recruit is IF Michael Sexton, a freshman drafted in the 38th round by the Mariners. They also have RHP Gunnar Swanson (transfer from Everett CC; he was 9-2, 1.63 ERA with 8 complete games and 88 K there) and OF Raymond Pedrina. Games to watch: British Columbia Feb. 7, Concordia-Portland Feb. 8 and April 4-6, Western Oregon Feb. 21-23, at British Columbia March 7-9, at Western Oregon May 2, 4, at Linfield (Division III champion) May 3 Live Audio

The 2013-14 NAIA Coaches' Preseason poll, released November 12:

First-place votes: Faulkner 18, Lewis-Clark State 1

NAIA press release

1B Matt Page of Oklahoma Baptist leads the team. Two players from Northwood (TX) and DH Michael Cruz from defending champion Faulkner.

NAIA press release