Results of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll for March 24, 2009, and Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Comments below:
| RANK | LAST WEEK | ISR | SCHOOL | 2009 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 5 | 7 | Lubbock Christian | 26-3 | 647 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | Oklahoma City | 28-3 | 612 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Point Loma Nazarene | 20-7 | 607 |
| 4 | 9 | 6 | Southern Polytechnic | 23-3 | 581 |
| 5 | 6 | 8 | LSU-Shreveport | 29-4 | 571 |
| 6 | 7 | 4 | Azusa Pacific | 23-6 | 529 |
| 7 | 8 | 26 | Union (KY) | 21-5 | 497 |
| 8 | 12 | 5 | Campbellsville | 21-3 | 494 |
| 9 | 4 | Spring Arbor | 7-3 | 467 | |
| 10 | 10 | 9 | Lewis-Clark State | 12-6 | 429 |
| 11 | 18 | 15 | Madonna | 21-2 | 428 |
| 12 | 21 | 21 | Berry | 21-5 | 422 |
| 13 | 11 | 29 | Embry-Riddle | 24-10 | 388 |
| 14 | 13 | 22 | Bellevue | 14-6 | 378 |
| 15 | 2 | 13 | Lee | 26-6 | 376 |
| 16 | 14 | 3 | British Columbia | 17-6 | 341 |
| 17 | RV | 28 | Warner | 21-10 | 306 |
| 18 | 15 | 10 | The Master’s | 22-9 | 285 |
| 19 | RV | 18 | Wayland Baptist | 24-8 | 274 |
| 20 | 22 | 16 | Lindenwood | 14-3 | 204 |
| 21 | 20 | 45 | Montreat | 16-6 | 189 |
| 22 | RV | 32 | Saint Francis | 14-4 | 186 |
| 23 | RV | 27 | Trevecca Nazarene | 18-12 | 137 |
| 24 | 23 | 12 | Fresno Pacific | 18-9 | 126 |
| 25 | RV | 11 | Malone | 13-3 | 113 |
| 14 | College of Idaho | 14-8 | |||
| 17 | Northwood (FL) | 23-6 | |||
| 19 | Biola | 16-13 | |||
| 20 | Auburn-Montgomery | 16-13 | |||
| 23 | Cal State San Marcos | 15-8 | |||
| 24 | William Penn | 18-7 | |||
| 25 | Southern Nazarene | 23-7 |
First-place votes: Lubbock Christian 17, Point Loma Nazarene 5, LSU-Shreveport 1
Larry Hayes
Lubbock Christian moved into the #1 spot by winning two of three against #2 Oklahoma City. The Chaparrals got a three-hitter from Rene Garcia in the second game, and the Stars got two home runs by 1B Brent Weaver and home runs by C Brandon Moss and 2B B.J. Wheeler to salvage the third game. The Chaps then lost to cross-town Texas Tech 4-3, but it was still a big night for both teams. The Chaps had the tying run on third base when the game ended. The jersey of former Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech coach Larry Hays was retired; Lubbock Christian’s ballpark is named after him. The game drew 4,075 fans, the largest crowd for a Texas Tech game in three years. It was the first time the Chaparrals and Red Raiders have met since 1993, but there is now hope that this will become an annual event. Story from Lubbock Christian site: Chaps Fall 4-3 to Tech, as Larry Hays Honored
The 26-4 Chaps will host Northwestern Oklahoma State March 27-28.
#2 Oklahoma City lost two of three to #1 Lubbock Christian, making their record 28-3. The Stars and Chaparrals are tied for the lead in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Brent Weaver leads the NAIA in home runs with 18. The Stars play Saint Gregory’s home and away March 26 and 28, and host Bacone March 31.
#3 Point Loma Nazarene lost to Vanguard, then split a double-header with #6 Azusa Pacific 1-3 and 2-0, retaining first place in the Golden State Athletic Coference. Andrew Bovich pitched the shutout in the second Azusa Pacific game. Bovich is 5-0, 1.87 ERA. The Sea Lions are 20-7. They play Concordia-Irvine away and home March 25-26, and visit Biola March 28.
The Sea Lions are #1 in Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Their strength of schedule ranking is #5; #16 British Columbia is #1 in strength of schedule, Lubbock Christian is #34, Oklahoma City is #29, and Southern Polytechnic is #27.
#4 Southern Polytechnic swept three games against Shorter. Jake Barrow is hitting .488 for the Hornets, Sean Teague is 3-0, 0.67 ERA, David Harden is 5-1, 1.38 ERA. They have a showdown with #15 Lee March 27-28.
Craig Westcott
#5 LSU-Shreveport swept LSU-Alexandria, after getting a big extra-innings win over Central Arkansas (now #5 in Division II), and dropping a game to Louisiana College. The Pilots are now 29-4. Andrew Brouillette leads the NAIA with 64 RBI, and Brent Lavalee is second with 60. Brouillette is batting .526. They host 24-10 Belhaven March 27-28, and Texas Wesleyan March 31. Belhaven has Craig Westcott, who has pitched two consecutive no-hitters, six innings and five innings.
#6 Azusa Pacific lost to Cal Baptist, and split with #3 Point Loma Nazarene. Brice Cutspec is batting .402 with 18 home runs and 45 RBI for the Cougars. They play #18 The Master’s home and away March 25-26, and host Concordia-Irvine March 28.
#7 Union (KY) defeated U. of the Cumberlands, and won two of three against Tennessee Wesleyan. The Bulldogs host Berea on March 25, and King March 28-29.
#8 Campbellsville swept four games against Pikeville, and won one and lost one against Union (TN). The Tigers visit Lindsey Wilson March 27-28, and host #23 Trevecca Nazarene March 31.
#9 Spring Arbor split with Mount Vernon Nazarene, and swept a double-header against #22 Saint Francis. The Cougars play Huntingdon home and away March 28 and 28.
#10 Lewis-Clark State didn’t play last week. They visit Corban March 26-27.
#11 Madonna is having their best start in school history. The Crusaders won three games at the College of the Ozarks last week. Ryan Morrow is batting .463 for the Crusaders, and Tom Hansen is 5-0, 1.74 ERA. The Crusaders play Davenport home and away March 28-29, and visit Indiana Wesleyan March 31.
#12 Berry shocked previously #2 Lee, winning two of three at Lee 0-6, 14-4 and 5-1. Matthew Gilson threw a six-hit shutout for the Flames in the first game. In the third game, both teams had only four hits apiece, but the Vikings won it with four unearned runs. They then lost two of three to Taylor. The Vikings hold first place in the Southern States Athletic Conference. They host Faulkner March 27-28, and #21 Montreat March 30.
Jared Arehart
#16 British Columbia lost three of four at the College of Idaho. In the second game of the series, a 4-2 seven-inning win for the Coyotes, Jared Arehart, a JUCO transfer who had been out of college baseball for four years, held the Thunderbirds to four hits, struck out five. The Thunderbirds host Concordia-Portland for five games (one of them a make-up from last month) March 27-29.
