Lewis-Clark State's Reign As NAIA Power At Stake With Oklahoma City, LEE Ranked 1-2
In
the 27-year period from 1981 to 2008, Idaho’s Lewis-Clark State won
16 NAIA World Series championships and finished second six more
times. It never went more than three years in that stretch without
winning at least once.
The
Warriors have again gone three years since winning their last NAIA
World Series title in 2008, a relative drought by that school’s
historically-relevant standard of success. But there are questions
whether one of the greatest dynasties in college sports may be coming
to an end, especially with the retirement prior to the 2011 season of
the mastermind of the team’s success, long-time coach Ed Cheff, who
went 1,705-430 in 34 seasons.
Under
new coach Gary Picone, a long-time Cheff assistant, the Warriors
(38-17) failed to win at least 40 games for the first time in 32
years in 2011 and bowed out of the NAIA World Series with just a 1-2
record for the second straight season.
If
a changing of the guard is in order at the NAIA level, the
most-logical candidates to replace Lewis-Clark State at the top of
the pack are perennial powers Oklahoma City and Lee (Tenn.). Between
them, those schools have won only one national title (Oklahoma City
in 2005), but have a combined five second-place finishes in the last
decade.
As
the 2012 NAIA baseball season sets to open on a number of fronts this
weekend, Oklahoma City and Lee are 1-2 in Perfect Game’s ranking of
the nation’s Top 10 NAIA teams (see below). Coincidentally, those
schools also boast the top two prospects in the NAIA ranks for the June draft in Oklahoma City junior
catcher Dane Phillips and Lee junior righthander Kris Hall.
Oklahoma
City already projected as the nation’s No. 1 team prior to landing
Phillips in December after he was denied a waiver by the NCAA that
would have made him eligible to play at Arkansas in the 2012 season.
Phillips had transferred to Arkansas from Oklahoma State late last
summer. By transferring again to an NAIA school, he is eligible to
compete immediately for Oklahoma City.
Phillips
projects as a second- to fourth-rounder in this year’s draft, with
his stock likely to fluctuate depending on his ability to shore up
some of the acknowledged defensive deficiencies in his game. His
ability to hit has never been questioned.
He
spent his first two college seasons at Oklahoma State, hitting
.337-3-34 as a freshman and a near-identical .337-4-34 as a
sophomore. Last summer, he appeared to elevate his worth by hitting
.349-4-34 in the Cape Cod League, while narrowly missing winning a
batting title.
The
6-foot-3, 215-pound Hall, meanwhile, went 4-1, 3.46 with eight saves
for a 51-14 Lee team in 2011, but was passed over in last year’s
draft as a 21-year-old sophomore. He significantly elevated his stock
for this year’s draft, though, by leading Gastonia to a Coastal
Plain League championship last summer with a fastball that reached 94
mph. The pitch subsequently peaked at 96 in the fall.
Phillips
augments an Oklahoma City roster that returns catcher Chad Carmon
(.323-4-41), first baseman Miguel Beltran (.346-13-66) and lefthander
Rich Hawkins (10-5, 2.04), and welcomes several other prominent
transfers, notably senior righthander Blake Schwarz, who went 10-2,
2.18 last spring for Division II Minnesota State-Mankato and later
was selected the Northwoods League’s pitcher of the year during the
summer.
Hall’s
supporting cast at Lee is nearly as impressive as Phillips’ at
Oklahoma City. Lee also returns a power-hitting first baseman in
Roberto Reyes (.321-13-64), and its roster has been bolstered by a
number of prominent transfers from four-year schools and junior
colleges.
Lewis-Clark
State begins the 2012 season at No. 4, and can’t be counted out as
it has historically gained a significant home-field advantage as the
host team in the NAIA World Series, which has been played in
Lewiston, Idaho, from 1984-91 and 2000-present.
The
Warriors have traditionally thrived by annually bringing in a wave of
transfers, and two of their key newcomers this year are power-hitting
first baseman Eric Peterson and righthander Terik Gofinch, both
former University of Washington players.
California’s
Concordia College (43-19) was a surprise winner of the NAIA World
Series in 2011 and should be in the hunt again with the return of
righthanders Blake Harrison (8-1, 2.74) and Brent Clapper (9-4,
4.32). Outfielder/lefthander Aaron Gates, a transfer from Pepperdine
and former West Coast Conference all-star selection, is a key
addition.
Scouts
will get an early opportunity to view many of the top NAIA prospects
over the next 2-3 weeks, especially those playing for traditional Sun
Belt schools, as their counterparts in the more powerful Division I
ranks won’t kick off their 2012 season until Feb. 17, the uniform
starting day for D-I teams.
The
10-team 2012 NAIA World Series will be contested May 25-June 1 in
Lewiston.
NAIA Top 10 Teams
RK |
School |
ST |
2011 Record |
Top Prospect (previous school) |
1 |
Oklahoma City |
OK |
47-12 |
Dane Phillips, c (Oklahoma State) |
2 |
Lee |
TN |
51-14 |
Kris Hall, rhp |
3 |
Faulkner |
AL |
48-15 |
Cooper Moseley, 2b/rhp (Georgia) |
4 |
Lewis-Clark State |
ID |
38-17 |
Eric Peterson, 1b (Washington) |
5 |
Azusa Pacific |
CA |
|
Jordan Leyland, 1b (UC Irvine) |
6 |
Concordia |
CA |
43-19 |
Aaron Gates, of/lhp (Pepperdine) |
7 |
Embry-Riddle |
FL |
51-11 |
Ben Kline, ss (Creighton) |
8 |
Belhaven |
MS |
45-18 |
Geoff Thomas, rhp (Southern Miss) |
9 |
Fresno Pacific |
CA |
32-21 |
Michyael Rivera, rhp (None) |
10 |
British Columbia |
BC |
31-17 |
Keaton Briscoe, 2b (None) |
NAIA Top 50 Prospects
RK |
Player |
POS. |
YR |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
School |
Hometown |
ST |
Last Drafted |
Previous School |
1 |
Dane Phillips |
C |
JR |
L-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Oklahoma City |
Nacogdoches |
OK |
Mariners '09 (49) |
Oklahoma State |
2 |
Kris Hall |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-3 |
215 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Strongsville |
OH |
Never drafted |
Cleveland State (Tenn.) CC |
3 |
Geoff Thomas |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Belhaven (Miss.) |
Stone Mountain |
GA |
Astros '09 (12) |
Southern Mississippi |
4 |
Cooper Moseley |
RHP/SS |
JR |
L-R |
5-11 |
185 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
Montgomery |
AL |
Cardinals '11 (45) |
Central Alabama CC |
5 |
Blake Schwartz |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
Oklahoma City |
Rosemount |
MN |
Never drafted |
Minnesota State-Mankato |
6 |
Jordan Leyland |
1B |
SR |
R-R |
6-4 |
240 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
San Dimas |
CA |
Rays '11 (44) |
UC Irvine |
7 |
Aaron Gates |
LHP/OF |
SR |
L-L |
6-1 |
190 |
Concordia (Calif.) |
Villa Park |
CA |
Rockies ’08 (33) |
Pepperdine |
8 |
Chuck Ghysels |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
5-11 |
200 |
Truett McConnell (Ga.) |
Springboro |
OH |
Reds '10 (36) |
Maryland |
9 |
Vince Spilker |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-4 |
220 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Raytown |
MO |
Dodgers '11 (20) |
Johnson County (Kan.) CC |
10 |
Michael Rivera |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-0 |
225 |
Fresno Pacific |
Berkeley |
CA |
Never drafted |
|
11 |
Travis Burnside |
OF |
JR |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Tennessee Wesleyan |
Waterloo |
SC |
Dodgers '11 (25) |
Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) JC |
12 |
Andrew Morris |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Auburn-Montgomery |
Prattville |
AL |
Brewers '10 (16) |
Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC |
13 |
Corey Black |
RHP/SS |
JR |
R-R |
5-10 |
160 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
San Diego |
CA |
Never drafted |
San Diego State |
14 |
Eric Peterson |
1B |
JR |
L-R |
6-5 |
215 |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
Renton |
WA |
Royals '09 (28) |
Washington |
15 |
Ryan Gibson |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-4 |
230 |
Oklahoma City |
Yukon |
OK |
Marlins '09 (48) |
Oklahoma |
16 |
Derek Vaughn |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-1 |
185 |
Texas Wesleyan |
Edmond |
OK |
Rays '11 (47) |
Oklahoma |
17 |
Zach Sterling |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
Lima |
OH |
Never drafted |
Western Illinois |
18 |
Ben Kline |
SS |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) |
Omaha |
NE |
Never drafted |
Creighton |
19 |
Michael Vaughn |
C |
SO |
|
6-2 |
185 |
Fresno Pacific |
Peoria |
AZ |
Never drafted |
Colorado Mesa |
20 |
Blair Moore |
SS |
SO |
L-R |
6-3 |
210 |
Cal Baptist |
Riverside |
CA |
Never drafted |
San Diego State |
21 |
Derek Benny |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-5 |
215 |
Fresno Pacific |
Roseville |
CA |
Athletics ’08 (45) |
Fresno State |
22 |
Vladimir Camacho |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
5-11 |
210 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Jamaica Plain |
MA |
Never drafted |
Western Oklahoma State CC |
23 |
Pat Merkling |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-1 |
185 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Woodstock |
GA |
Orioles '11 (44) |
West Georgia |
24 |
Kyle Hardy |
3B |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
220 |
Missouri Baptist |
Miami |
FL |
Giants '10 (31) |
Missouri State |
25 |
Edmanuel Rivera |
SS |
JR |
R-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Cidra |
PR |
Never drafted |
Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC |
26 |
Terik Gofinch |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-3 |
170 |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
Tacoma |
WA |
Never drafted |
Washington |
27 |
Patrick Goelz |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-3 |
175 |
Oklahoma City |
Palm Bay |
FL |
Never drafted |
Bethune-Cookman |
28 |
Ricky Holm |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-3 |
210 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Marysville |
WA |
Never drafted |
Everett (Wash.) CC |
29 |
Andy Hillis |
RHP |
SO |
R-R |
6-7 |
215 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Brentwood |
TN |
Cardinals '09 (49) |
Tennessee |
30 |
Joey Leftridge |
OF |
SR |
R-R |
6-1 |
180 |
Texas Wesleyan |
Dallas |
TX |
Braves '09 (27) |
Angelo State (Texas) |
31 |
Brett Blaise |
LHP |
SR |
L-L |
6-5 |
190 |
Belhaven (Miss.) |
Columbus |
MS |
Never drafted |
Pearl River (Miss.) JC |
32 |
Tristan Heckerl |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Menlo College (Calif.) |
Seoul |
KO |
Never drafted |
Trinity (Calif.) |
33 |
Roberto Duran |
3B |
JR |
R-R |
6-1 |
215 |
Lee (Tenn.) |
Brooklyn |
NY |
Never drafted |
Western Oklahoma State CC |
34 |
Sean Bouthilette |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-2 |
210 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
Elizabethtown |
KY |
Never drafted |
Kentucky |
35 |
Chipper Smith |
LHP |
JR |
R-L |
6-2 |
200 |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Valencia |
CA |
Never drafted |
CC Southern Nevada |
36 |
Devyn Rivera |
RHP |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Cal Baptist |
Higley |
AZ |
Never drafted |
Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC |
37 |
Taylor Eikenberry |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-1 |
200 |
Union (Ky.) |
Rock Falls |
IL |
Never drafted |
Iowa Western CC |
38 |
Keaton Briscoe |
2B |
JR |
L-R |
6-0 |
180 |
British Columbia |
North Vancouver |
BC |
Never drafted |
|
39 |
Michael Revell |
OF/1B |
JR |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
Havana |
FL |
Rangers '09 (16) |
Chipola (Fla.) JC |
40 |
Hunter Ovens |
OF |
SR |
R-R |
5-11 |
210 |
Webber International (Fla.) |
Bradenton |
FL |
Padres ’07 (25) |
Manatee (Fla.) JC |
41 |
Michael Finnigan |
LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-4 |
215 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
San Bernardino |
CA |
Orioles '11 (25) |
San Bernardino Valley (Calif.) CC |
42 |
Casey Shiver |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-3 |
170 |
Southern Poly (Ga.) |
Loganville |
GA |
Never drafted |
Gordon (Ga.) JC |
43 |
Chris Page |
1B |
SR |
L-R |
6-5 |
240 |
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) |
Batavia |
NY |
Reds '09 (50) |
Genesee (N.Y.) CC |
44 |
Devon Zenn |
OF |
JR |
L-L |
5-11 |
190 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
Benicia |
CA |
Angels '09 (27) |
JC of Marin (Calif.) |
45 |
Tyler Carter |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-2 |
210 |
Lubbock Christian (Texas) |
Flower Mound |
TX |
Never drafted |
Navarro (Texas) JC |
46 |
Blake Carruthers |
OF |
SR |
R-R |
5-11 |
185 |
British Columbia |
Calgary |
AB |
Never drafted |
Central Washington |
47 |
Jordan Reid |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
Auburn-Montgomery |
Dothan |
AL |
Never drafted |
Auburn |
48 |
Alan Garcia |
RHP |
JR |
R-R |
6-4 |
210 |
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) |
Hermosillo |
MX |
Giants '11 (40) |
Eastern Arizona JC |
49 |
Robert Shipman |
1B/LHP |
JR |
L-L |
6-2 |
230 |
Edward Waters (Fla.) |
Quitman |
GA |
Never drafted |
Chattahoochee Valley (Ala.) JC |
50 |
DeMarcus Tidwell |
OF |
SR |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Southern Poly (Ga.) |
Grenada |
MS |
Indians '10 (28) |
Yavapai (Ariz.) CC |