NAIA Top 25 and Recap for April 21

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Results of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll for April 21, 2009, and Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Comments below:

First-place votes: Lubbock Christian 22

#1 Lubbock Christian’s victim of the week was Oklahoma Christian, by scores of 11-8 and 5-0. The second game was shortened to five innings by rain, and Rene Garcia got the shutout. A scheduled third game was rained out. They defeated U. Of Southwest 7-2 and 11-0 today. Next up for the Chaparrals is Rogers State (ISR ranking of #56) at home April 24-25, and a visit to #24 Wayland Baptist April 28.

The Chaparrals are also #1 in Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Their strength of schedule ranking is #20; Fresno Pacific is #1 in strength of schedule, Oklahoma City is #24, Southern Polytechnic is #18, and Point Loma Nazarene is #4.

#2 Oklahoma City swept Northwestern Oklahoma State 19-1 and 11-8. In this series, Landon Camp set a school record of 56 career home runs, and Brent Weaver hit his 27^th home run of the season, which ties the school record. The Stars play U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma away and home April 23 and 25, and host Texas Wesleyan April 26. They visit #19 Southern Nazarene April 28.

#3 Point Loma Nazarene defeated Vanguard 6-1 and 11-10, and split with #14 Fresno Pacific 2-10 and 3-1. The Sea Lions got a complete game from Andrew Bovich and a three-run home run from Travis McCleary in the 3-1 win. The Sea Lions visit Cal Baptist April 23, play a double-header at The Master’s (#17 in the ISR rating) April 28, and close their regular season at Cal Baptist April 28.

#4 Southern Polytechnic swept Emmanuel 20-5, 22-5, and 10-3. The first two games were mercy-ruled. The Hornets visit Reinhardt April 23-24. They are tied with #7 Berry for the lead in the Southern States Athletic Conference; the conference tournament is scheduled to start April 28.

#5 Union (KY) split a double-header with U. Of the Cumberlands, and swept three games against Milligan, 7-5, 18-6, and 6-0. The second-game was mercy-ruled, and Chaz Bargo pitched a shoutout in the third game. Bargo is 8-1, 3.79 ERA with 42 strikeouts on the season. The Bulldogs visit #10 Campbellsville April 22 and Virginia-Wise April 24-25, and close their regular season hosting Bluefield April 26. They trail #20 Tennessee Wesleyan by ½ game in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.

#6 Lewis-Clark State swept a four-game series against a good College of Idaho team. The first three games were not close, but they needed an RBI single by Ben Ornelas in the bottom of the 11^th to complete the sweep. The defending champions visit Concordia-Portland April 23-24, #8 British Columbia April 26-27, and Division I Washington April 28.

#7 Berry won two of three against Southern Wesleyan to remain tied with #4 Southern Polytechnic for the lead in the Southern States Athletic Conference. The Vikings complete their regular season with three games at Brewton-Parker April 23-24.

#8 British Columbia swept four games at Corban. The first game of the series was a pitching matchup between Mark Hardy of the Thunderbirds and Jason Braun of the Warriors, and it drew ten major league scouts. Hardy got the win, and is now 10-0, 2.01 ERA, and 61 strikeouts for the season. Scott Webster now leads the Thunderbirds in hitting with an average of .368. The Thunderbirds visit Division III U. Of Puget Sound April 22, and finish their regular season hosting #6 Lewis-Clark State April 26-27. They will then host the first-ever NAIA West tournament May 4-6.

#9 Embry-Riddle defeated Thomas, then won three close games against Saint Thomas. The Eagles have won the Sun Conference pennant, and they complete their regular season today against Division II Florida Tech.

#10 Campbellsville defeated Lindsey Wilson 11-0, and Division III Spalding 9-0. They lost today to Trevecca Nazarene (#20 ISR) 7-6. The Tigers host #5 Union (KY) April 22, and complete their regular season against Cumberland (#24 ISR) April 26.

#12 Azusa Pacific defeated Cal Baptist and swept Vanguard. 1B Brice Cutspec hit three home runs in the first game against Vanguard. He now has 26 home runs on the season, tying the school record. Two of the home runs were grand slams, and one was inside the park. Cutspec was named NAIA Player of the Week. The Cougars visit Westmont April 23, and Biola April 25. They host Cal State San Marcos April 27, and complete their regular season at Westmont April 28.

#13 Madonna split a double-header with Siena Heights, and swept four games against Concordia-Ann Arbor. Jeff Sonnenberg pitched his eighth complete game of the season against Concordia, setting a school record. His record is 9-1, 1.45 ERA, and 47 strikeouts. The Material Boys play Aquinas away and home April 24-25, and complete their regular season hosting #21 Spring Arbor on April 28.

#14 Fresno Pacific split two games with The Master’s. and split a double-header with #3 Point Loma Nazarene. The Sunbirds host Biola April 23, San Diego Christian April 25, and close their regular season hosting Biola again on April 28.