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College  | Rankings | 3/12/2025

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 12

Photo: Kolton Casson (Brian Miller)
One of the most thrilling aspects of college baseball is witnessing underdog programs rise from obscurity and challenge the sport’s traditional powerhouses. Unlike the predictable dominance seen in some other sports, baseball’s unpredictability allows for stunning turnarounds and Cinderella stories. Every season, teams that have long been relegated to the bottom of the standings suddenly catch fire—whether due to a dynamic new coach, a breakout freshman, or a group of overlooked veterans finally putting it all together. These unexpected success stories inject energy into the game, proving that in college baseball, history doesn’t dictate destiny. The excitement of seeing a once-struggling team take down nationally ranked opponents, earn a spot in the rankings, or even make a deep postseason run is what keeps fans coming back, reminding everyone that anything is possible on the diamond.

Along with the updated rankings this week is a look at a team who have made their debut in the Perfect Game rankings - not just of the season, but for the first time ever.



NCAA DII

Over the past fifteen years, if you were asked to predict how the Carson-Newman baseball team would finish a season, a safe bet would have been somewhere around the .500 mark. The Eagles have long been a solid, competitive team — consistently good, but not quite great. Over the years, they've produced some exceptional talent, including Steve Cishek, who recently retired after a 13-season career in the major leagues, and Kyle Koeneman, a first-team All-American who once led the nation in home runs. The Eagles have regularly notched wins, as well as series victories, over ranked opponents, but the program has not advanced to the NCAA Tournament since 2008, with its last World Series appearance dates all the way back to 1999.

This season, however, any notion of another middle-of-the-pack finish has been emphatically tossed out the window. The 2025 Eagles have stormed out of the gates as one of the winningest teams in the country. After opening the season with a scorching 10-0 start, they made a statement last weekend by taking a series from a red-hot Florida Southern squad. Those wins propelled Carson-Newman to a 16-5 record and earned them their first-ever spot in the Perfect Game Top 25 Rankings.

A major catalyst for the Eagles’ breakout season has been the dominant performance of sophomore pitcher Ryan Higgins. In high school, Higgins was a two-way standout, excelling both as a first baseman and a middle-of-the-order bat when he wasn’t on the mound. As a freshman last season, however, he strictly pitched — and the results were modest at best. He posted a 7.16 ERA over 32 ⅔ innings, striking out 31 batters but struggling with consistency.

This season, Higgins has been nothing short of sensational. In six starts, he has yet to allow more than one earned run in any outing and has pitched at least 5 ⅓ innings each time. Across 36 ⅔ innings, he has surrendered just 16 hits and 11 walks while racking up 37 strikeouts. His ERA sits at a microscopic 0.49, with an equally dazzling 0.74 WHIP. The only blemish on his record came in a narrow 2-1 loss at Newberry, where he still turned in a stellar performance. His  most electrifying outing came last month when he tossed seven no-hit innings against Emory & Henry.

But Higgins isn’t the only young arm making waves. Freshman Kolton Casson has matched Higgins stride for stride, winning all six of his starts and tossing two complete games. In 36 ⅓ innings, Casson has struck out 38 batters while allowing just 25 hits, holding opponents to a stingy .195 batting average. The Eagles also have a third promising starter in sophomore Angel Bransen, who has yet to hit his stride but possesses the raw talent to give Carson-Newman a truly formidable rotation once he does.

Behind the plate, a big piece of the pitching staff’s success can be credited to fifth-year senior catcher Nick Castellana. After seeing limited action in two seasons at Division I Niagara and one year at Niagara Community College, Castellana transferred to Carson-Newman last season. Now entrenched as the team’s starting catcher, his veteran presence and game-calling skills have helped accelerate the development of the Eagles’ young arms. Castellana has also found his rhythm at the plate, boosting his batting average from .267 last season to .316 this year, with five extra-base hits.

Offensively, the Eagles have been far from a one-man show. Senior outfielder Trey Miller has been on an absolute tear, slashing .444 after struggling to a .202 average in 42 games last season. Designated hitter Tanner Kilgore has provided the muscle in the lineup, pacing the team with four home runs and batting a solid .325.

With dominant young pitching, a steady veteran presence behind the plate, and an offense firing on all cylinders, the 2025 Carson-Newman Eagles are making it clear: this is no longer a middle-of-the-pack program. If their current trajectory continues, a return to the NCAA Tournament — and perhaps even a deep postseason run — could very well be in their future.


Rank School State Record Last Wk Prev Rk
1 Tampa Spartans FL 16-3 3-1 1
2 Central Missouri Mules MO 14-3 3-0 2
3 North Greenville Trailblazers SC 20-3 4-0 7
4 Westmont Warriors CA 20-3 3-1 8
5 Angelo State Rams TX 18-5 1-2 3
6 Point Loma Sea Lions CA 15-7 1-3 4
7 Texas Tyler Patriots TX 19-4 2-1 9
8 Catawba Indians NC 16-6 3-1 6
9 East Stroudsburg Warriors PA 11-2 1-2 5
10 Augustana Vikings SD 7-3 2-0 12
11 Millersville Marauders PA 7-3 2-2 10
12 Florida Southern Moccasins FL 16-4 2-2 11
13 West Chester Golden Rams PA 9-3 3-1 13
14 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears NC 18-3 4-0 18
15 Young Harris Mountain Lions GA 15-7 3-1 16
16 Minnesota State Mavericks MN 9-1 1-1 15
17 Chico State Wildcats CA 15-6 3-1 17
18 Cal State Monterey Bay Otters CA 12-7 2-2 14
19 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 10-7 3-0 20
20 North Georgia Nighthawks GA 15-7 4-1 23
21 Carson-Newman Eagles TN 16-5 2-1 NR
22 Missouri Southern St. Lions MO 12-6 2-1 21
23 Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils AR 13-8 3-1 22
24 Grand Valley State Lakers MI 12-4 4-2 24
25 UNC Pembroke Braves NC 14-8 1-3 19

Dropped: Ashland

NAIA

One of the NAIA’s biggest shockers this season has been the meteoric rise of the Johnson Royals. Until last year, the Royals were, in a word, dreadful. Season after season, they languished at the bottom of the standings, earning a reputation as one of the worst teams in the NAIA.

Their struggles seemingly hit rock bottom in 2021 when they stumbled to a brutal 0-12 start, suffered a humiliating 63-0 series sweep, and wrapped up the year with a dismal 9-39 record. The following season, their first in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, offered only a slight improvement at 17-35. Any glimmers of progress faded in 2023 as the Royals endured a catastrophic collapse, losing 12 of their final 13 games to finish with a ghastly 5-44 mark.

But then, in the summer of 2023, Johnson University pulled off a game-changing move. Athletic director Brandon Perry orchestrated a stunning coup by luring renowned coach Dave Serrano out of retirement to take the helm. Serrano’s decorated résumé boasts head coaching stints at UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Tennessee, and Cal State Northridge. He orchestrated UC Irvine’s first-ever College World Series appearance in 2007, earning Baseball America’s National Coach of the Year honors. His pedigree extends to Team USA, where he served as an assistant in 2010 before taking over as head coach in 2012. Serrano’s influence in the baseball world is undeniable—he has coached and recruited an astounding 190 players drafted by MLB teams, including 45 who reached the majors and 12 first-round picks.

His impact on the Royals was immediate. In his first season at the helm, Johnson skyrocketed to a 24-21 record, a jaw-dropping turnaround that included a statement win over a powerhouse Cumberlands squad—one that lost only six games in the regular season and went on to play in the NAIA World Series.

And this year? The Royals are on fire.

They have blasted out of the gates with a scorching 16-4 start, turning heads across the NAIA. While some early wins came against fledgling programs like Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Defiance College (which is transitioning to a full NAIA schedule), the Royals have also notched marquee victories over elite competition. Not only did they replicate last season’s upset over Cumberlands, but they also stunned second-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan, taking two of three games from the national powerhouse. Those wins catapulted Johnson into the prestigious Perfect Game Top 25 rankings for the first time in program history.

At the heart of their success is a relentless, high-powered offense. The Royals are hitting a blistering .321 as a team and have swiped an eye-popping 71 bases in just 20 games. Freshman phenom Luke Wilson, a prized recruit from Irvine, has wasted no time making his mark. He leads the team with a scorching .438 average, six doubles, and 15 stolen bases. Bryson Shown, now in his third season, has made a dramatic leap—after hitting .278 last year, he’s currently batting .403 with four doubles and three homers. Another SoCal import, shortstop Nolan Cusey, has been a disciplined force at the plate, posting a .300 average and an impressive .451 on-base percentage while leading the team in walks and hit-by-pitches.

On the mound, junior ace Colby Reynolds, a Knoxville native, has been lights-out. The Royals have emerged victorious in five of his six starts as he’s carved up opposing lineups with a 3.06 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 35 ⅓ innings. Out of the bullpen, Garrett Borst has been nothing short of dominant. In five appearances, he has a microscopic 1.23 ERA, a win, and three clutch saves to his name.

What was once a program stuck in perpetual failure has now transformed into one of the most electrifying teams in the NAIA. With Serrano at the helm and a roster bursting with talent and energy, the Royals are proving that their resurgence is no fluke.

From the depths of despair to the national spotlight, Johnson’s Cinderella story is just getting started.

Rank School State Record Last Wk Prev Rk
1 LSU Shreveport Pilots LA 22-0 3-0 1
2 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies GA 20-2 4-0 4
3 Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs TN 19-5 3-2 2
4 Cumberlands Patriots KY 17-4 3-2 3
5 Webber International Warriors FL 19-3 2-1 5
6 Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles OK 22-2 3-0 9
7 Reinhardt Eagles GA 17-4 3-1 7
8 Faulkner Eagles AL 16-4 2-1 10
9 Missouri Baptist Spartans MO 13-5 5-2 6
10 Southeastern Fire FL 21-1 5-1 13
11 Loyola Wolf Pack LA 18-5 2-1 11
12 Taylor Trojans IN 15-4 4-0 12
13 Hope International Royals CA 18-4 4-0 16
14 Ottawa Braves KS 20-3 4-0 17
15 Arizona Christian Firestorm AZ 16-8-1 -0-4-1 8
16 Keiser Seahawks FL 17-0 4-0 18
17 Houston-Victoria Jaguars TX 22-3 3-1 19
18 Mid-America Christian Evangels OK 18-7 2-2 14
19 William Carey Crusaders MS 18-4 3-0 20
20 Cumberland Phoenix TN 19-4-1 4-1 23
21 USAO Drovers OK 15-8 3-0 21
22 Johnson Royals TN 16-4 3-1 NR
23 Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes KS 14-9 2-1 22
24 Ottawa (OUAZ) Spirit AZ 16-8 1-5 15
25* Concordia Bulldogs NE 11-6 2-3 24
25* Central Methodist Eagles MO 11-7 4-0 25

NCAA DIII

As the DIII baseball season gets underway, no new teams have cracked the rankings—yet. It’s still too early to determine whether certain hot starts signal a breakout season or are merely fast starts that will fade over time. However, a few programs are already turning heads and could soon force their way into the national conversation.

Rutgers-Camden has surged out to a strong 7-1 start, highlighted by a statement win over perennial powerhouse Cortland. This week, the Raptors face their biggest test yet as they head south for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. There, they’ll battle top-ranked Johns Hopkins and No. 12 Babson, matchups that will reveal whether Rutgers-Camden is a true contender.

Rhodes appeared to be a rankings-worthy squad after opening the season at 12-2, but their momentum came to a screeching halt over the weekend when they were convincingly swept by No. 18 Centre. The Lynx will look to bounce back as they also take on Babson in Florida during their Spring Break slate.

Meanwhile, the Gettysburg College Bullets have stormed to a flawless 10-0 start. However, they have yet to face a true test, and they won’t see elite competition until next month when they square off against Johns Hopkins.

Out west, Redlands has shown flashes of potential with solid wins over Pomona-Pitzer and East Texas Baptist. But consistency remains a concern—they also suffered lopsided defeats, falling 8-23 and 4-23 to Whitworth, as well as a 4-15 drubbing at the hands of the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats this past weekend. If Redlands can steady the ship, a strong showing in their upcoming series against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps could propel them into the rankings in the coming weeks.

While no new teams have officially cracked the Top 25 just yet, the next few weeks will be crucial in separating the true contenders from the early-season pretenders. Keep an eye on these programs as the season unfolds.

Rank School State Record Last Wk Prev Rk
1 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays MD 9-0 4-0 1
2 Endicott Gulls MA 4-1 2-1 2
3 UW-Whitewater Warhawks WI 3-0 0-0 3
4 Denison Big Red OH 7-2 2-1 4
5 Salve Regina Seahawks RI 7-0 2-0 5
6 Lynchburg Hornets VA 12-1 3-0 6
7 Salisbury Seagulls MD 7-2 1-1 7
8 La Verne Leopards CA 12-1 4-0 8
9 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens CA 10-4 3-0 12
10 Penn State Harrisburg Lions PA 9-1 4-1 10
11 Babson Beavers MA 3-0 3-0 15
12 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets OH 4-3 2-1 14
13 UW LaCrosse Eagles WI 2-2 2-2 11
14 Trinity Tigers TX 12-1 4-0 16
15 Cortland State Red Dragons NY 5-5 0-3 9
16 Case Western Reserve Spartans OH 4-4 1-1 13
17 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags CA 10-3 4-0 19
18 Centre Colonels KY 11-1 3-0 20
19 East Texas Baptist Tigers TX 9-7 4-0 24
20 Rowan Profs NJ 4-1 2-0 23
21 Eastern Connecticut St. Warriors CT 3-2 2-1 21
22 Coe Kohawks IA 2-1 2-1 22
24 Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets VA 5-4 1-2 18
25 Christopher Newport Captains VA 9-6 2-3 17
25 Misericordia Cougars PA 8-4 3-2 25

 

College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tucker Rice (27 MS) bumping up to 91; living hi-80s from real fast arm. Good SL @ 77-79 w/ depth & sold w/ intent. Loads of traits & strikes. #WWBA @PG_Uncommitted @PG_DeepSouth pic.twitter.com/DEjFqRcsIY — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 6, 2025 Tucker Rice, RHP, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Alabama has continued to stay red hot in the recruiting trail ever since August 1st rolled around on the calendar and have continued to stack major pieces in their ’27 class. They dip into Mississippi to land one of the premier arms and one that’s stood out on the circuit for quite some time. It’s a fast arm and the athleticism certainly shines working down the slope. The velocity has continued to tick up over the last calendar year and reached into the low-90s towards the end of the summer. He’s confident in his changeup and the breaking ball is...
Tournaments | Story | 12/17/2025

15u Tourney All-American Team

Jason Phillips
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Hitter of the Year: Landon Bonner The 2028 class saw many players from across the country take the next step in their development as they entered the High School ranks. There were huge performances from highly ranked players on the PG circuit as well as some under-the-radar guys who burst onto the scene. Landon Bonner came into Sophomore National as a Top 500 ranked player and after an impressive showing, left with all eyes on him as a rankings riser in the class. The left-handed hitting shortstop from The Colony, Texas, had a summer to remember with All-Tournament Team selections in three of his next four events culminating with a historic performance at the 2025 PG 15U WWBA National Championship. The Hebron High School prep went 20-for-24 in nine games for 5 Star Mafia 15U Black with four homeruns and 12 runs batted in. He also scored 17 runs and finished with a mind-boggling 2.500...
Tournaments | Story | 12/16/2025

16u Tourney All-American Team

AJ Denny
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Hitter of the Year: Koa Romero is the Hitter of the Year for the 16u group, as he would come to every premier event of the summer and earn All-Tournament honors (Beast of the East, 16/17u WWBA, Jupiter) in every single one. Over 82 plate appearances, Romero would pump ten homeruns with forty two RBI and sixteen walks, good for a .378 average and 1.339 OPS. The performance on volume at the best events of the year pushed Romero over the edge here, as he’d hit a pair of homeruns in Jupiter (one of them at 112 EV) as an underclassmen and collect double digit hits in BOTH WWBA events with a combined six jacks over the two tournaments. It was a summer that combined performance and winning on the biggest stages for Romero. It’s a quiet left-handed swing that packs a punch. He would reap the benefits of his performances, earning a commitment to LSU and jumping to the #74 prospect in...
Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2029

Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
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