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College  | Rankings  | 5/15/2024

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: May 15

Nick Herfordt     
Photo: Brent Francisco (DAVE JANOSZ)
The postseason tournaments for each of the three small school divisions have been announced and seeded, and play is already underway in the NAIA to determine who is headed to its division’s national finals. As a result, these are the penultimate Perfect Game rankings with the final release set to be made on the Wednesday following the crowning of the NCAA DIII champion. 

Along with this second-to-last look is the naming of the top players from each of the three divisions. For each both a player and pitcher of the year are named, as well as an MVP. The MVP isn’t so much the top player in the county, but a player who’s personal prowess has contributed substantially to his team’s overall success. 



NCAA DII 

Rk School State Record Lst Week Prev Rk
1 Tampa Spartans FL 43-7 1-2 1
2 Central Missouri Mules MO 47-8 2-2 2
3 UNC Pembroke Braves NC 42-12 1-0 3
4 Point Loma Sea Lions CA 40-10-1 4-1 4
5 North Greenville Crusaders SC 41-12 0-0 5
6 Missouri Southern St. Lions MO 42-13 5-0 8
7 Young Harris Mountain Lions GA 39-13 0-0 7
8 West Chester Golden Rams PA 43-7 4-0 10
9 Augustana Vikings SD 45-8 4-0 11
10 Lubbock Christian Chaparrals TX 41-14 3-0 13
11 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 38-16 4-0 15
12 Mount Olive Trojans NC 37-16 0-0 12
13 St. Leo Lions FL 38-11 1-2 9
14 Angelo State Rams TX 36-18 2-2 6
15 Millersville Marauders PA 37-14 0-1 14
16 East Stroudsburg Warriors PA 41-12 3-2 18
17 Catawba Indians NC 40-14 0-0 17
18 Seton Hill Griffins PA 36-14 0-1 16
19 Lander Bearcats SC 38-15 0-0 19
20 Lee Flames TN 37-16 0-0 20
21 Georgia College Bobcats GA 34-20 5-0 NR
22 Charleston Golden Eagles WV 43-8 4-0 NR
23 Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes GA 35-18 0-1 22
24 Ashland Eagles OH 40-13 2-2 24
25 West Texas A&M Buffs TX 37-16 0-0 25
DROP Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters      


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial - Boles has made exponential strides at the plate in each of his three seasons at LMU. After batting .290 as a freshman, his average jumped to .358 last in 2023, and somehow skyrocketed yet again this spring as he finished with a .475 mark (currently second in DII) along with 24 doubles (also second nationally), one triple and 15 home runs. He also had 40 walks (11th in DII) with only 18 strikeouts to amass an incredible .572 OB%. He was named the South Atlantic Conference player of the year and almost single-handedly powered the Railsplitters into the national tournament as he had eight hits in 13 at bats (four of which were home runs) to lead them into the SAC Championship against Wingate. 

Runner-Ups: Joey Rezek, UNC Pembroke; David Lewis, North Greenville, Carson Ogilvie, Lubbock Christian; Hayden Jatczak, Saginaw Valley State

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Brent Francisco, East Stroudsburg - The 6’7” redshirt senior has rewritten the ESU record book with a sensational season to cap a first-class college career. He was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Pitcher of the Year as he helped the Warriors earn their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and a 41-12 record headed into the postseason. His 1.97 ERA is the school’s lowest in over a decade and currently fourth in DII nationally. In 82 ⅓ innings he has only allowed 51 hits (only nine of which were for extra bases) with just 10 walks for a 0.74 WHIP which easily tops the nation. He also has earned 74 strikeouts, thrown five complete games (three of which were shutouts) and has a 11-1 record which matches the school’s best mark.

Runner-Ups: Luke Lashutka, St. Leo; Cole Gayman, Missouri Southern State; Jacob Kroeger, Maryville; Reece Fields, North Greenville

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Saginaw Valley State’s success has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season, and their winning ways have been spearheaded by senior Hayden Jatczak. He was named the GLIAC Player of the Year after earning first-team conference honors as both a designated hitter and a pitcher. At the plate he is batting a DII leading .476 with 25 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs. He also has 40 walks to compile a .560 OB% which also ranks among the national leaders.  On the mound he has made 10 starts in which he has earned a 2.53 ERA over 46 ⅓ innings. He accumulated 44 strikeouts while only allowing 34 hits as opposition is batting .198 against him.

Runner-Ups: Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial; Darrien McDowell, West Florida; Jack Hines, Augustana; Scott Anderson, Point Loma; Carson Ogilvie, Lubbock Christian

NAIA

Rk School State Record Lst Week Prev Rk
1 Southeastern Fire FL 48-6 4-0 1
2 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies GA 46-6 1-0 2
3 Cumberlands Patriots KY 48-6 0-0 3
4 Missouri Baptist Spartans MO 39-10-1 0-0 4
5 Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs TN 37-16 0-0 5
6 Webber International Warriors FL 42-12 0-0 6
7 William Carey Crusaders MS 34-14 0-0 7
8 William Jessup Warriors CA 39-9 0-0 8
9 LSU Shreveport Pilots LA 42-9 0-0 9
10 Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes KS 45-10 0-0 10
11 Central Methodist Eagles MO 43-9 0-2 11
12 Mid-America Christian Evangels OK 40-11 2-0 12
13 Bellevue Bruins NE 39-12 1-0 13
14 Lewis-Clark State Warriors ID 37-11 0-1 14
15 Taylor Trojans IN 41-14 1-0 15
16 Faulkner Eagles AL 35-15 0-0 16
17 Hope International Royals CA 37-14 0-0 17
18 Reinhardt Eagles GA 38-16 0-0 18
19 Concordia Bulldogs NE 41-13 1-0 19
20 Oklahoma City Stars OK 35-16 0-1 20
21 Doane Tigers NE 38-13 0-1 21
22 Loyola Wolf Pack LA 36-17 0-0 22
23 Point Park Pioneers PA 41-13 0-0 23
24 Ottawa (OUAZ) Spirit AZ 34-17 0-0 24
25 USAO Drovers OK 34-16 0-1 25


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Charlie Muñiz, Cumberlands - The Patriots catcher has been one of the NAIA’s top players since he arrived on campus. He earned NAIA First-Team All-American honors in 2022 and 2023, and absolutely, positively will once again this spring. He has helped propel the Cumberlands’ program to new heights as the team has been in the top ten the entire season, has set a program single-season record for wins and is one the precipice of advancing to the NAIA World Series for the second straight season. Muñiz was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and is batting .388 with an NAIA leading 34 home runs. He also has 10 doubles and a combined 46 BB/HBP for a .480 OB% 

Runner-Ups: Blaze O’Saben; Georgia Gwinnett; Drew Flemming, Concordia (MI); Carlos Negron, Central Methodist; Trey Furrey, Jessup 

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Darien Smith, Southeastern - Smith won the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year honors each of the past two seasons. This season he has dominated opposition with a 1.81 ERA over 89 ⅓ innings of baseball. He has struck out more than twice as many batters he has issued to, with 126 K’s and only 56 hits allowed. He has also demonstrated uncanny control with only 19 walks issued on the season. He has a 11-0 record with four complete games and is holding opposition to a dainty .172 batting average with only 12 extra base hits allowed. Even more impressively, he has not been racking up his numbers against cupcakes. Nine of his 15 starts were against teams which advanced to the NAIA Opening Round.

Runner-Ups: Isaac Rohde, LSU Shreveport; Blayne Huter, Webber International; Andrew Herbet, Reinhardt; Blake Peyton, Tennessee Wesleyan; Luke Schafer, Indiana Southeast

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Trey Furrey, Jessup - The Jessup Warriors improved from 18-22-1 a year ago to 39-11 an inclusion in the top ten of the national rankings thanks in large part to the addition of Trey Furrey. In his first season with the Warriors after transferring from Oklahoma Baptist, he batted .489 with 12 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs. With 31 walks he pushed his on base percentage to a lofty .566. He also stole 17 bases. With Furrey in the lineup the team won the GSAC Tournament for just the second time in school history and he was named the conference’s Player of the Year.

Runner-Ups: Drew Flemming, Concordia (MI);  Drew Barragan, Embry-Riddle (AZ); Peeko Townsend, Blue Mountain Christian; AJ Fritz, LSU Shreveport

NCAA DIII 

Rk School State Record Lst Week Prev Rk
1 Endicott Gulls MA 41-2 3-0 1
2 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays MD 32-9 1-0 2
3 Denison Big Red OH 39-6 4-1 3
4 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets OH 36-8 3-1 4
5 East Texas Baptist Tigers TX 36-8 0-0 5
6 UW-Whitewater Warhawks WI 35-8 3-0 9
7 Salisbury Seagulls MD 28-9 0-1 6
8 Case Western Reserve Spartans OH 31-9 0-0 8
9 Misericordia Cougars PA 33-9 2-0 12
10 Salve Regina Seahawks RI 33-8 1-2 7
11 Cortland State Red Dragons NY 30-12-1 2-2 11
12 Rowan Profs NJ 27-13 0-0 10
13 Christopher Newport Captains VA 26-9 1-0 15
14 Trinity Tigers TX 31-12 0-0 14
15 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens CA 32-11 3-0 21
16 Penn State Harrisburg Lions PA 34-9 1-2 13
17 Lynchburg Hornets VA 30-15 3-0 23
18 Babson Beavers MA 30-11 5-1 24
19 Benedictine Eagles IL 32-12 4-1 NR
20 UW LaCrosse Eagles WI 31-13 2-2 18
21 Aurora Spartans IL 34-11 4-2 20
22 Arcadia Knights PA 31-12 0-2 16
23 La Verne Leopards CA 27-13-1 1-2 19
24 Eastern Connecticut Warriors CT 29-13 2-2 17
25 Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets VA 28-13 0-2 22
DROP Shenandoah Hornets      


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Kell, Salisbury - Kell was a bench player in 2023 who was a starter in only two of his 25 games played. He was penciled in for a defensive relief role once again this spring and made appearances off the bench in four of his first five games played. Nonetheless, he impressed his coaches with his tremendous work ethic and they gave him an opportunity to play everyday. He responded by becoming DIII’s top hitter. On the season Kell is batting .509 which is 40 points higher than anyone on any roster. His 57 hits in 112 at bats include 15 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He has 37 BB/HBPs to raise his OB% to .599 headed into the NCAA postseason tournament. The leadoff hitting center fielder also has 11 stolen bases and Kell was named the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year.  

Runner-Ups: Eric Colaco, Denison; Sam Angelo, Montclair State; Tyson Bass, North Carolina Wesleyan;  Isaac Kim, Pomona-Pitzer; Landon Morkis, Greenville

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Sayers Collins, East Texas Baptist - Collins is not only one of DIII’s best pitchers in 2024, he is one of the division’s top pitchers of all time. To cap off an amazing career for the Tigers, Collins has a 0.84 ERA over 75 ⅓ innings. He has only allowed 39 hits for a measly .147 batting average against him, and struck out 81 batters while only issuing 17 walks. He has been awarded the American Southwest Conference Pitcher of the Year award for the third year in a row as ETBU aims to head back to the DIII CWS where they finished as one of the final four teams.

Runner-Ups: Dylan Weber, Christopher Newport, Michael Hilker Jr., Wisconsin-Whitewater; Luis Misla, Cortland; Jackson Teer, Trinity; Sam Slevin, Randolph Macon

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Connor Maryniak, Misericorida - The Cougars are having one of their best seasons in their storied history and junior Connor Maryniak has been a huge part of that success. Misericorida’s junior utility player has excelled both as a shortstop and a pitcher. At the plate he is batting .373 and leading the team with 12 home runs. He also has 10 doubles, four triples and 13 stolen bases.  On the mound he has appeared in 11 games with nine of them being starts. He has a 1.97 ERA over 59 ⅓ innings in which he is limiting opposition to a .242 batting average. He had 54 strikeouts with only 15 walks and was named toe MAC Freedom conference Player of the Year.  

Runner-Ups: Eric Colaco, Denison; Trent Youngblood, Transylvania; Eric Prough, Pomona-Pitzer; Eli Frank, Wisconsin-Whitewater; Andrew Mazzone, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
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