Oklahoma City leads the way with three members

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three members from Oklahoma City University highlight the 2009 NAIA Baseball Preseason All-America Team, announced November 7. The three members are the most of any NAIA school on the list. 2008 National Champion Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) places one player, catcher and World Series Most Valuable Player Brian Ward, on the squad.

Of the 17 players on the team, 15 stand-outs will enter the 2009 season as a senior. There are six players that were recognized on the 2008 NAIA All-America First Team. Only one player, senior Jesse Bachman from Spring Arbor (Mich.), was on the 2008 NAIA Preseason All-America Team. The 6-0 pitcher is a two-time First-Team All-American and went 8-2 with a 2.43 ERA last season leading the Cougars to the NAIA World Series. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor

Here’s a few that are out:

Lee: Last year’s runner-up starts the season on Feb. 6, hosting Illinois Institute of Technology. They play Auburn-Montgomery April 17-18, and Cumberland April 21. The Flames have picked up two D-I transfers, Tyler Roberts (Memphis) and Trey Burstrom (Tennessee). They have also added Julian Alvarez, who hit .419 and 26 home runs for Bacone last year, and two players drafted in 2006, Jeff Ramirez and Rashad Taylor. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2009 Schedules, Cal State San Marcos, Campbellsville, Embry-Riddle, Lee, Lubbock Christian, NAIA, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Trevecca Nazarene, U. of the Cumberlands, Wayland Baptist

Updated at 11:50 PM PDT.

Results from Day 5 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:

Lewis-Clark State 9, Spring Arbor 4 (Spring Arbor eliminated)

The Warriors opened the scoring in the third inning, when 2B Josh Ashenbrenner came in on a ground out by SS Brett Wyatt. They took over the game in the fourth with an RBI single by C Brian Ward, an RBI double by 1B Ikaika Lester, an an RBI single by RF Chris Valencia.

The Cougars did not go home without a fight. They got on the board in the fifth with an RBI single by starting pitcher Jesse Bachman. The Warriors added two in the top of the sixth on a triple by Valencia. The Cougars answered with a two-RBI single by C Lucas Rider in the bottom of the sixth, and an RBI single by SS Bradley Baker in the bottom of the seventh.

That made the score 6-4 after seven innings, but the Cougars couldn’t get any closer. Justin Mace pitched the last two innings for the Warriors, and retired all six batters that he faced. The Cougars hit into double plays in the fifth and seventh, and 2B Jeff Hollister was robbed of an extra-base hit in the eighth with a good catch by CF Paul Martin. Three of the Warrior runs were unearned.

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Tags: Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor

Updated at 11:55 PM PDT.

Results from Day 4 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:

Spring Arbor 8, Union 7 (Union eliminated)

Both teams were playing their fourth game in five days, and the coaches had to make some difficult decisions about pitching. Spring Arbor went with Andy Paulun, who had only two starts on the season and an ERA of 6.75. Union went with one of their regular starters, Lance Doughtery, who had a record of 7-1, 2.73 ERA.

Doughtery came to Union from Canyon, TX. He played for Seward County CC in Liberal, KS and Hutchinson CC in Hutchinson, KS. His career was interrupted by Tommy John surgery. He was recruited for Union while playing for the Newton Rebels of the Walter Johnson League in Wichita.

For eight innings, it appeared that Union made the better choice. Paulun was pulled after giving up five runs in three innings, and was replaced by Colin O’Connell, a starter who hadn’t made a relief appearance prior to today. O’Connell started on Saturday against Oklahoma City, and got a loss. He did better this time, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

The Cougars got back in the game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, on a two-RBI double by DH Eric Vojtkofsky, a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly by C Lucas Rider.

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Tags: Embry-Riddle, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

Updated at 1:05 AM PDT.

Results from Day 3 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:

Spring Arbor 11, Azusa Pacific 10 (Azusa Pacific eliminated)

Spring Arbor started off the Cougars vs. Cougars battle with five runs in the top of the first, chasing Azusa Pacific starter Matt Stone. APU came back with two runs in the second (home run by DH Chris Feicht), one in the third, two in the fourth (home run by RF Drew Evans), and one in the fifth. SAU got a run in the fourth on an RBI single by CF Jon Schaible, so the game was tied 6-6 going into the seventh inning.

SAU got the lead back on a two-run home run by 1B Jim Baker in the top of the seventh. APU got one back in the bottom of the seventh on a home run by 1B Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and the game went into the ninth with SAU hanging on to an 8-7 lead.

SAU scored three runs in the top of the ninth on a two-RBI double by Eric Vojtkofski, and an RBI single by RF Jonathan Herbig. They needed all three of them. APU responded with an RBI double by Feicht, and a two-RBI single by Evans. However, SAU reliever Joseph Myers struck out Carlos Maddox to end the game and APU’s season.

This was a well-played game despite the batting-practice run totals. APU out-hit SAU 18-12. There were several good defensive plays, including a diving catch of a bunt attempt by Nieuwenhuis in the top of the seventh, and a catch of a fly ball in right-field foul territory by Herbig in the bottom of the seventh. SAU got a couple of double plays in the early going to make the APU comeback more difficult.

Myers got the win, and Garrett Hodges got the loss. Herbig finished the game 3-5 with 3 RBI. 2B Grant Beyer went 3-3 with a double for APU.

Box score Play-by-play

Story from NAIA site: No. 7 Spring Arbor Wins Offensive Display 11-10 Against No. 4 Azusa Pacific

Embry-Riddle 6, Bellevue 1 (Bellevue eliminated)

Jordan Roberts recovered from a didn’t-finish-
the-first-inning performance on Friday to pitch a complete game for the Eagles, holding the Bruins to five hits. He struck out seven, walked two, and threw 120 pitches.
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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Embry-Riddle, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

Updated at 11:55 PM PDT.
Results from Day 2 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:

Azusa Pacific 9, Ohio Dominican 2 (Ohio Dominican eliminated)

Jonny Bravo pitched a complete game for the Cougars, and held the Panthers to eight hits, struck out 11, and walked two. He threw 145 pitches.

The Cougars got a run in the first inning on an error. They got two runs in the second on an RBI double by RF Drew Evans, and an RBI single by 3B Ryan Dowell; the Dowell RBI was the winning run.

Evans was 2-4 with a home run, and 1B Brice Cutspec was 2-3 with a double and two RBI.

Box score Play-by-play

Story from NAIA site: Bravo Pitches Azusa Pacific Past Ohio Dominican, 9-2

Embry-Riddle 10, Jamestown 5 (Jamestown eliminated)

The Eagles recovered from the thrashing they received from Lewis-Clark State by out-hitting the Jimmies 12-6. The game was tied 3-3 going into the sixth inning, but the Eagles got four runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single by 3B Colin Gray, a run scored when C Eric Ogden was hit by a pitch, and a run walked in, with RF Alex Guzman drawing the walk.

Chris Maloney went eight innings for the Eagles, allowed five earned runs on six hits, struck out six, and walked two.

Ben Cairns and Jeremy Burgard hit home runs for the Jimmies.

Box score Play-by-play

Story from NAIA site: Embry-Riddle Stays Alive, Wipes out Jamestown 10-5
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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Embry-Riddle, Jamestown, Lewis-Clark State, Ohio Dominican, Spring Arbor, Union

Results from Day 1 of the NAIA Baseball National Championship in Lewiston, ID:

Spring Arbor 7, Jamestown 5

A methodical win for the Cougars, who scored runs in the first and second innings on RBI singles by 1B Eric Vojtkofsky and C Lucas Rider. The Jimmies tied it at 2-2 in the third on a two-RBI double by 1B JordanDusanj, and took a brief lead on a run scored on an error in the fourth.

The Cougars went ahead for good on RBI by SS Bradley Baker and Vojtkofsky in the fifth, and got the winning run in the eighth on an RBI single by Rider.

Starting pitcher Jesse Bachman had a big day for the Cougars. He went seven innings, threw 129 pitches, allowed three earned runs on nine hits, and struck out six. He was also 3-4 at the plate, and drew a walk.

Vojtkofsky was 3-5 for the game. RF Cam McLachlan was 4-5 with a double for the Jimmies. Graham Campbell got the loss.

Box score Play-by-play

Story from NAIA site: No. 7 Spring Arbor Wins Opening Game of 2008 AVISTA-NAIA World Series

Bellevue 15, Ohio Dominican 3 (mercy-ruled after 8 innings)

It took three hours and 40 minutes to play this one. It was close for the first five innings, but the Bruins broke it open with five runs in the sixth on an RBI doubles by CF Dave Powell and RF Nick Damas, and a grand-slam double by 2B Andy Brown. The game was taken into mercy-rule territory in the eighth with an RBI single by Damas and a three-run pinch-hit home run by William Slade; it was Slade’s second home-run of the season.
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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Embry-Riddle, Jamestown, Lewis-Clark State, Ohio Dominican, Spring Arbor, Union

Schedule for the first day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship, Friday, May 23, Harris Field, Lewiston, ID (all times PDT):

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8:30 AM: #7 seed Spring Arbor (37-7) vs. #10 Jamestown (32-18)

Spring Arbor, located in Spring Arbor, MI, is last year’s runner-up.

Significant wins: Bellevue, Madonna, Saint Xavier (2)
Top position players: Jim Baker (.528, 8 HR, 50 RBI), Jonathan Herbig (.385, 1 HR, 31 RBI), Brad Baker (.368, 7 HR, 39 RBI). Baker’s average is the best in the NAIA.
Top pitchers: Colin O’Connell (9-1, 1.95 ERA), Jesse Bachman (8-2, 2.43 ERA), Cody Sharp (7-1, 3.99 ERA)
Coach: Sam Riggleman, 4^th season
Outlook: The Cougars won’t repeat last year’s runner-up performance.

Jamestown (Jamestown, ND) is making their first appearance in the Baseball National Championship since 2004.

Significant wins: Saint Xavier (2), Bellevue (2)
Top position players: Ben Cairns (.399, 8 HR, 37 RBI), Cam McLachlan (.383, 6 HR, 37 RBI)
Top pitchers: Steve Hirchert (4-0, 2.78 ERA), Graham Campbell (9-4, 4.66 ERA)
Coach: Tom Hager, 9^th season
Outlook: The Jimmies are looking for their first-ever win in this tournament. They should get it this time.

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11 AM: #8 Bellevue (51-15) vs. #9 Ohio Dominican (40-14)

Bellevue (Bellevue, NE) is making their twelvth appearance in the national championship tournament. They finished fourth last year.

Significant wins: Jamestown
Top position players: Matt Anderson (.421, 7 HR, 43 RBI), Nick Damas (.419, 11 HR, 44 RBI)
Top pitchers: Ulysses Roque (12-1, 1.87 ERA), Jon Ganzen (8-0, 2.47 ERA)
Coach: Mike Evans, 20^th season
Outlook: The Bruins will get a win against Ohio Dominican.

Ohio Dominican (Columbus, OH) is making their first national championship tournament appearance since 2005.

Significant wins: Embry-Riddle, Missouri Baptist, Saint Xavier (2)
Top position players: Joe Janusik (.425, 3 HR, 50 RBI), Matt Shiring (.371, 4 HR, 22 RBI)
Top pitchers: David Colopy (11-1, 1.98 ERA), Jonathan Kountis (6-2, 3.26 ERA)
Coach: Paul Page, 21^st season
Outlook: The Panthers are happy to be here.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Embry-Riddle, Jamestown, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Ohio Dominican, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

West Coast Super Regional - At Harris Field, Lewiston, ID:

Lewis-Clark State 4, Azusa Pacific 3
Matt Fitts pitched a complete game for the Warriors, allowed six hits, struck out nine. Ikaika Lester hit a home run, and singled in the winning run in the seventh inning.

Lewis-Clark State wins their second straight West Coast Super Regional, and Azusa Pacific gets an at-large berth in the national championship tournament.

Plains Super Regional - At Jamestown, ND:

Jamestown 12, Bellevue 6
Cam McLachlan batted in the winning run in the top of the fifth. Nick Damas and Matt Anderson hit home runs for Bellevue.

Jamestown qualifies for the national championship tournament. Bellevue will get an at-large berth if Oklahoma City wins the Mid-South Super Regional.

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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Cumberland, Embry-Riddle, Jamestown, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

West Coast Super Regional - At Harris Field, Lewiston, ID:

Lewis-Clark State 4, Azusa Pacific 3
Sean Halton went 4-4 with a home run for the Warriors. Michael Guerrero went seven innings, got the win. Warrior Coach Ed Cheff was ejected in the second inning.

Next game: Thursday, May 15, 6 PM PDT.

All Lewis-Clark State games are webcast by KOZE. Both teams have already qualified for the national championship tournament.

Plains Super Regional - At Jamestown, ND:

Jamestown 6, Bellevue 5
Ben Cairns hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to win it for the Jimmies.

Next game: Thursday, May 15, 1 PM CDT.

Live play-by-play is available from Jamestown.

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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Cumberland, Embry-Riddle, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

Region I: At Nat Bailey Stadium, Vancouver, BC:

Lewis-Clark State 14, College of Idaho 4
The #2 Warriors got all the runs they needed in the first inning, and won their second straight Region I championship.

Region III - At Comet Field, Mayville, ND:

Jamestown vs. Northwestern
Postponed due to weather.

Region IV - At Hobart-Detter Field, Hutchinson, KS:

Bellevue 16, Park 7

Bellevue 9, Park 4
#11 Bellevue wins their 11^th straight regional title. Story from Park University site: Bellevue Outs Park in Region IV Baseball Title Series

Region V – At Lindenwood University, St.Charles, MO:

Lindenwood 3, Avila 2 (Avila eliminated)

Missouri Baptist 5, Lindenwood 5 (tie)
The final ended in a tie due to unplayable field conditions. The game was stopped with two out in the bottom of the ninth. #24 Missouri Baptist advances to the super-regional against Oklahoma City because they were the highest remaining seed.

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Tags: Bellevue, Cumberland, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Union

Region I: At Nat Bailey Stadium, Vancouver, BC:

British Columbia 8, Concordia-Portland 6 (Concordia-Portland eliminated)
Grand slam home run by Mike Styrna wins it for the Thunderbirds. Story from tbirdbaseball.net: UBC 8, Concordia-Portland 6

Lewis-Clark State 11, College of Idaho 0
Matt Fitts went eight innings, allowed one hit.

College of Idaho 6, British Columbia 2 (British Columbia eliminated)
The Thunderbirds failed to solve C of I’s Pat Lyon, who scattered seven hits over eight innings. Story from tbirdbaseball.net: College of Idaho 6, UBC 2

Saturday, May 10 (all times PDT):

noon: #2 Lewis-Clark State vs. College of Idaho
If C of I wins, the final game will start immediately afterward.

All Lewis-Clark State games are webcast by KOZE.

Region II - At Azusa Pacific University:

Azusa Pacific 8, Concordia-Irvine 5

#4 Azusa Pacific wins the Region II championship.

Region III - At Comet Field, Mayville, ND:

Mayville State 12, Dickinson State 6 (Dickinson State eliminated)

Northwestern 6, Briar Cliff 3 (Briar Cliff eliminated)

Jamestown 16, Mayville State 3 (Mayville State eliminated)

Saturday, May 10 (All times CST):

1 PM: Jamestown vs. Northwestern
4 PM: Jamestown vs. Northwestern, if necessary
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Auburn-Montgomery, Bellevue, British Columbia, Cumberland, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, LSU-Shreveport, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor

Region II - At Azusa Pacific University:

Concordia-Irvine 4, Cal Baptist 3 (10 inn.) (Cal Baptist eliminated)
Cameron Bayne hit a two-run home run and got a save for the Eagles. Enrique Lechuga, who had only two hits this year, batted in the winning run. Steve Goins pitched 10 innings for the Lancers, struck out 15.

Azusa Pacific 9, Point Loma Nazarene 6 (Point Loma Nazarene eliminated)

Fresno Pacific 8, Biola 5

Thursday, May 8 (see http://www.gsacsports.org/gsacbase.html for times):

#4 Azusa Pacific vs. #10 Fresno Pacific
Concordia-Irvine vs. #20 Biola

Region III - At Comet Field, Mayville, ND:

Dickinson State 18, Morningside 10

Jamestown 12, Northwestern 1 (mercy-ruled after 7 innings)

Mayville State 10, Briar Cliff 5

Thursday, May 8 (All times CST):

10 AM: Morningside vs. Northwestern (loser out)
1 PM: Dickinson State vs. Briar Cliff
4 PM: Mayville State vs. Jamestown
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Tags: Azusa Pacific, Bellevue, Biola, Cumberland, Embry-Riddle, Fresno Pacific, Lee, Lewis-Clark State, Lubbock Christian, Madonna, Oklahoma City, Spring Arbor, Wayland Baptist

Region II - At Azusa Pacific University:

Azusa Pacific 13, Concordia-Irvine 3 (mercy-ruled after 8 innings)

Fresno Pacific 15, Cal Baptist 5 (mercy-ruled after 8 innings)
Jacob Burns 5-5 for the Sunbirds.

Biola 10, Point Loma Nazarene 2
Complete game for Brian Albert of the Eagles, held the Sea Lions to six hits.

Wednesday, May 7 (All times PDT):

11 AM: Concordia-Irvine vs. Cal Baptist (loser out)
2:15 PM: #5 Azusa Pacific vs. Cal Baptist
5:30 PM: #10 Fresno Pacific vs. #19 Biola

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Tags: Auburn-Montgomery, Azusa Pacific, Biola, Cal Baptist, Cumberland, Embry-Riddle, Fresno Pacific, Lee, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma City, Point Loma Nazarene, Spring Arbor, U. of Mobile, U. of the Cumberlands, Wayland Baptist

Results of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll for April 30, 2008. Comments below.

Rank	Apr. 23	School (Region)	Record	Total Points
1	1	Lubbock Christian (TX) (VI)	45-2	499
2	2	Lewis-Clark State (ID) (I)	44-4	480
3	3	Lee (TN) (XIII)	53-7	488
4	4	Oklahoma City University (VI)	48-7	440
5	5	Azusa Pacific (CA) (II)	40-8	429
6	7	U. of the Cumberlands (KY) (XI)	43-11	374
7	8	Embry-Riddle (FL) (XIV)	38-13	369
8	6	University of Mobile (AB) (XIII)	40-12	358
9	T9	Spring Arbor University (MI) (VIII)	29-5	348
10	12	Fresno Pacific University (CA) (II)	34-11	299
11	T9	Tennessee Wesleyan College (XII)	37-15	289
12	11	Wayland Baptist (TX) (VI)	41-12	288
13	13	University of St. Francis (IL) (VII)	40-8	274
14	15	Bellevue (NE) (IV)	41-11	255
15	14	Union College (KY) (XII)	37-12	218
16	18	Auburn-Montgomery (AL) (XIII)	41-19	191
17	16	Trevecca Nazarene (TN) (XI)	33-12	180
18	19	Texas Wesleyan (VI)	37-12	137
19	17	Biola University (CA) (II)	33-16	117
20	21	LSU-Shreveport (XIII)	41-14	115
21	22	Avila (MO) (V)	32-11	112
22	20	Malone College (OH) (IX)	33-11	77
23	23	Warner Southern (FL) (XIV)	33-22	71
24	25	Madonna (MI) (VIII)	32-12	43
25	24	Southern Polytechnic (GA) (XIII)	38-15	20

First-place votes: Lubbock Christian 19. Lewis-Clark State 1

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Tags: Azusa Pacific, CBB Column, Embry-Riddle, Fresno Pacific, Lewis-Clark State, Lubbock Christian, Spring Arbor, Tennessee Wesleyan, U. of Mobile, U. of the Cumberlands, Wayland Baptist