NAIA Top 25 and Recap for April 28

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Results of the NAIA Coaches’ Poll for April 28, 2009, and Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Comments below:

First-place votes: Lubbock Christian 22

#1 Lubbock Christian got lop-sided wins in their first two games against Rogers State, but they lost the third game of the series by 18-8. LF Zach Hamby did the most damage for Rogers State; 3-5 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI. The was the first loss for the Chaparrals since March 23, and it ended a 16-game winning streak. The Chaparrals finish their regular season against #23 Wayland Baptist away on April 28, home on April 30, and away on May 1. The Chaparrals still need one more win, or a loss by #2 Oklahoma City, to clinch the Sooner Athletic Conference pennant. The Sooner Athletic Conference tournament starts May 4, in Shawnee, OK.

#2 Oklahoma City won two of three high-scoring games against the U. of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and defeated #11 Bellevue 18-8. Brent Weaver leads the NAIA with 32 home runs for the Stars, and Landon Camp has 19. The Stars finish their regular season against #17 Southern Nazarene, away April 28, home April 30, and away May 1.

#3 Point Loma Nazarene defeated Cal Baptist, and split a double-header with #24 The Master’s. They lead Cal Baptist 7-0 after six innings in the final regular-season game. The Sea Lions won the Golden State Athletic Conference pennant, and will host the conference tournament, which starts May 4.

The Sea Lions are #1 in Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. Their strength of schedule ranking is #3; Fresno Pacific is #1 in strength of schedule, Lubbock Christian is #26, Oklahoma City is #25, and Berry is #29.

#4 Berry swept three games against Brewton-Parker, and needed all three wins to clinch the Southern States Athletic Conference pennant on the last day of the season. Matt McCalley is 4-0, 1.64 ERA, and four saves for the Vikings. Their first game of the SSAC tournament in Columbus, GA will be April 29 against the same Brewton-Parker.

#5 Lewis-Clark State won two of three at both Concordia-Portland and #13 British Columbia. The loss to Concordia was 1-0, and Ben Rue got the complete game shutout for the Cavaliers. He allowed five hits, and struck out five, threw 137 pitches. Story on the wins vs. British Columbia. The Warriors visit Division I Washington April 28. Division II Dixie State May 1-3.

#6 Southern Polytechnic completed their regular reason winning two of three against Reinhardt. Sean Teague pitched a perfect game in a 9-0 win; he struck out 12. Story from Southern Polytechnic sports information office. The loss was 2-1, and Jarrod Willis hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to win it for Reinhardt. Teague is 6-0, 1.27 ERA. They will play Southern Wesleyan in the first round of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament in Columbus, GA on April 29.

#7 Embry-Riddle defeated Division II Florida Tech 9-3. Justin Zinkovich is 11-0, 1.74 ERA, and 81 strikeouts for the Eagles. The Eagles will play Webber International in the first round of the Sun Conference tournament in Fort Myers, FL May 3.

#8 Lee mercy-ruled Cumberland, and won two of three against Southern Wesleyan. The Flames will play Reinhardt in the first round of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament on April 29.

#8 Campbellsville has won their first two games in the Mid-South Conference tournament, defeating West Virginia Tech 16-2 and U. of the Cumberlands 19-12. The Tigers will play Georgetown College in the final on May 1.

#10 Tennessee Wesleyan won the Appalachian Athletic Conference pennant. They defeated Cumberland 6-4, and swept three games against King. Their next game will be May 2, at the AAC tournament in Kingsport, TN.

#13 British Columbia lost two of three to #5 Lewis-Clark State. The Thunderbirds were mercy-ruled in the first game, and lost a very well played game 3-2. The Thunderbirds won the third game 11-2; they scored all 11 runs in the first inning, and chased Warrior starter Tyler Knigge without recording an out. Nic Lendvoy hit a grand slam double for the Thunderbirds, and had four RBI total. Story from tbirdbaseball.net. Lendvoy has been used primarily as a DH this season, is batting .315 with 19 RBI. The Thunderbirds are hosting the first-ever NAIA West tournament May 4-6; their first game is against Oregon Tech on May 4.

#16 Madonna split four games with Aquinas, which was enough to win the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference pennant. A scheduled game with #21 Spring Arbor was rained out, for the second time. Jeff Sonnenberg is 10-1, 1.71 ERA. The Crusaders are hosting the W-HAC tournament, and will play either Davenport or Concordia-Spring Arbor in the first round on April 30.

The final poll of the season will be released May 8, and the makeup of the sectional tournaments will be released later the same day.