2023 NAIA baseball tournament
Collegiate baseball tournament
The 2023 NAIA baseball tournament was the 66th edition of the NAIA baseball championship. The 46-team tournament began on May 15 with Opening Round games across ten different sites and concluded with the 2023 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho that began on May 26 and ended on June 2.
The Westmont (CA) defeated host Lewis–Clark State in a winner-take-all championship game 7–6 to capture their first national title in program history.
Lewis–Clark State's Isaiah Thomas won tournament MVP honors. Thomas became the first player since Oklahoma City's Chris Bradshaw in 1998 to win the tournament MVP on a non-championship winning team.
The 46 participating teams were selected from all eligible NAIA teams. The World Series host and 31 teams were awarded automatic bids as either champions and/or runners-up of their conferences, and 14 teams were selected at-large by the National Selection Committee. Teams were then placed into one of ten pre-determined Opening Round sites, with six sites consisting of five teams and four sites consisting of four teams, each of which is conducted via a double-elimination tournament. The winners of each of the Opening Round sites participated in the NAIA World Series.
Tournament procedure
A total of 46 teams entered the tournament, with Lewis–Clark State receiving an automatic bid into the Opening Round as World Series host. 31 automatic bids were determined by either winning their conference's regular season championship, conference tournament, and/or conference tournament runner-up. The other 14 bids were at-large, with selections determined by the NAIA Baseball National Selection Committee.
Opening round hosts
On May 1, the NAIA announced the ten opening round host sites, which were played from May 15–18.[ 1]
Venue
Location
Host
Don Roddy Field
Bellevue, NE
Bellevue University
Estes Baseball Field
Fayette, MO
Central Methodist University
Doyle Buhl Stadium
Williamsburg, KY
University of the Cumberlands
Grizzly Baseball Complex
Lawrenceville, GA
Georgia Gwinnett College
Harris Field
Lewiston, ID
Lewis-Clark State College
Pilot Field
Shreveport, LA
Louisiana State University Shreveport
Winterholter Field
Upland, IN
Taylor University
Hunter Wright Stadium
Kingsport, TN
Visit Kingsport
Russell Carr Field
Santa Barbara, CA
Westmont College
Milton Wheeler Field
Hattiesburg, MS
William Carey University
Bids
Source:[ 2]
Automatic
At–Large
Opening Round
Source:[ 3]
Bellevue Bracket
Hosted by Bellevue (NE) at Don Roddy Field
First round
Semifinals
Finals
1
Bellevue (NE)
7
4
Grand View (IA)
0
1
Bellevue
6
Winner's bracket
3
Oklahoma City
3
3
Oklahoma City
5
2
Doane (NE)
2
1
Bellevue
13
–
3
Oklahoma City
3
–
4
Grand View
2
2
Doane
3
2
Doane
6
Loser's bracket
3
Oklahoma City
811
Fayette Bracket
Hosted by Central Methodist (MO) at Estes Baseball Field
Hattiesburg Bracket
Hosted by William Carey (MS) at Milton Wheeler Field
Kingsport Bracket
Hosted by Visit Kingsport at Hunter Wright Stadium
Lawrenceville Bracket
Hosted by Georgia Gwinnett at Grizzly Baseball Complex
Lewiston Bracket
Hosted by Lewis–Clark State (ID) at Harris Field
Santa Barbara Bracket
Hosted by Westmont (CA) at Russell Carr Field
Shreveport Bracket
Hosted by LSU–Shreveport at Pilot Field
Upland Bracket
Hosted by Taylor (IN) at Winterholter Field
Williamsburg Bracket
Hosted by Cumberlands (KY) at Doyle Buhl Stadium
First round
Semifinals
Finals
1
Cumberlands (KY)
13
4
Reinhardt (GA)
5
1
Cumberlands (KY)
18
Winner's bracket
3
Columbia (MO)
4
3
Columbia (MO)
10
2
Mobile (AL)
7
1
Cumberlands (KY)
8
–
3
Columbia (MO)
6
–
4
Reinhardt
5
2
Mobile
2
4
Reinhardt
6
Loser's bracket
3
Columbia (MO)
9
NAIA World Series
The NAIA World Series was held at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho .
Participants
Bracket
Source:[ 4]
Preliminary Bracket
First round Friday, May 26 First round Friday, May 26 Second round Saturday, May 27 Third round Monday, May 29 Winners to Championship Bracket Fourth Round Tuesday, May 30 1 Southeastern 5 8 Indiana Wesleyan 4 9 Lewis–Clark State 2 1 Southeastern 2 9 Lewis–Clark State 12 4 William Carey 10 4 William Carey 6 5 Bellevue 4 4 William Carey 3 3 Westmont 7 2 Georgia Gwinnett 7 7 Taylor 6 7 Taylor 23 7 Taylor 9 10 MidAmerica Nazarene 5 3 Westmont 15 3 Westmont 7 6 Cumberlands 3 First round Saturday, May 27 Losers eliminated Second round Monday, May 29 Losers eliminated Third round Tuesday, May 30 Winners to Championship Bracket 1 Southeastern 6 2 Georgia Gwinnett 10 8 Indiana Wesleyan 4 8 Indiana Wesleyan 511 8 Indiana Wesleyan 11 5 Bellevue 3 7 Taylor 3 9 Lewis–Clark State 16 9 Lewis–Clark State 8 10 MidAmerica Nazarene 4 10 MidAmerica Nazarene 7 6 Cumberlands 3
Championship Bracket
First Round Wednesday, May 31 Semifinal Thursday, June 1 Final Friday, June 2 3 Westmont 3 1 Southeastern 10 1 Southeastern 4 3 Westmont 6 3 Westmont 7 4 William Carey 6 9 Lewis–Clark State 6 9 Lewis–Clark State 15
Game Results
All game times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−07:00 ).[ 5]
Preliminary Bracket
Friday, May 26 8:35 am Game 1
(10) MidAmerica Nazarene
5–6
(7) Taylor
Harris Field Attendance: 1530 Umpires: HP: Skip Powe, 1B: Jason Tice, 2B: Cory Ray, 3B: Steve Sillers
LP : Bryce Brecklin (2–3)
Boxscore
WP : Jack Ross (7–0) Sv : Gabel Pentecost (3)
HR : Joshua Martinez (4)
HR : TJ Bass (19), Sam Gladd (7)
Friday, May 26 12:05 pm Game 2
(6) Cumberlands
3–7
(3) Westmont
Harris Field Attendance: 740 Umpires: HP: Jeremy Hosler, 1B: Torrell Poole, 2B: Daniel Rios, 3B: Jay Allen
LP : Cesar Avila (1–3)
Boxscore
WP : Zach Yates (3–1)
HR : Charlie Muniz (24)
HR : Bryce McFeely (6), Liam Critchett (4)
Friday, May 26 3:50 pm Game 3
(5) Bellevue
4–6
(4) William Carey
Harris Field Attendance: 435 Umpires: HP: Jason Tice, 1B: Cory Ray, 2B: Steve Sillers, 3B: Skip Powe
LP : Kenji Miller (2–1)
Boxscore
WP : Preston Ratliff (5–3)
HR : Mathieu Sirois (14)
Saturday, May 27 9:45 am Game 5
(6) Cumberlands
3–4
(10) MidAmerica Nazarene
Harris Field Attendance: 280 Umpires: HP: Cory Ray, 1B: Steve Sillers, 2B: Skip Powe, 3B: Jason Tice
LP : Hunter Rigsby (7–3)
Boxscore
WP : Zach Trevino (10–2) Sv : Reece Helland (4)
HR : Sean Maple (9), Dionathan Cornet (10)
Saturday, May 27 5:20 pm Game 7
(7) Taylor
23–7
(2) Georgia Gwinnett
Harris Field Attendance: 1695 Umpires: HP: Steve Sillers, 1B: Skip Powe, 2B: Jason Tice, 3B: Cory Ray
WP : Alec Holcomb (7–2) Sv : Gabel Pentecost (4)
Boxscore
LP : Jonathan Haab (2–1)
HR : Sam Gladd (8)
HR : Ajay Sczepkowski (31), Caden Smith 2 (5)
Saturday, May 27 9:30 pm Game 8
(9) Lewis–Clark State
2–5
(1) Southeastern
Harris Field Attendance: 2155 Umpires: HP: Jay Allen, 1B: Jeremy Hosler, 2B: Torrell Poole, 3B: Daniel Rios
LP : Alec Holmes (1–1)
Boxscore
WP : Reese Wissinger (5–0)
HR : Isaiah Thomas (15)
HR : Chayce Bryant (20)
Monday, May 29 8:35 am Game 9
(2) Georgia Gwinnett
10–11
(8) Indiana Wesleyan
Harris Field Attendance: 580 Umpires: HP: Torrell Poole, 1B: Cory Ray, 2B: Steve Sillers, 3B: Jeremy Hosler
LP : Cameron Repetti (12–1)
Boxscore
WP : Grayson Knight (4–3) Sv : Jake Engelkes (1)
HR : Ajay Sczepkowski 2 (33), Caden Smith (6), Devin Warner (14)
HR : Ty Mathews (11), Jeff Morton (14)
Monday, May 29 12:05 pm Game 10
(10) MidAmerica Nazarene
7–16
(9) Lewis–Clark State
Harris Field Attendance: 3410 Umpires: HP: Jason Tice, 1B: Skip Powe, 2B: Daniel Rios, 3B: Jay Allen
LP : Ryan Wilwers (2–6)
Boxscore
WP : Jace Hanson (2–1)
HR : Sean Maple (10), Noah Castillo (12), Joey Calamaio (2)
HR : Charlie Updegrave (11), Isaiah Thomas (16), Dominic Signorelli (11)
Monday, May 29 3:05 pm Game 11
(3) Westmont
15–9
(7) Taylor
Harris Field Attendance: 315 Umpires: HP: Cory Ray, 1B: Steve Sillers, 2B: Jeremy Hosler, 3B: Torrell Poole
WP : Aidan Holly (5–1) Sv : Lucien Wechsberg (3)
Boxscore
LP : Nick Crabtree (5–2)
HR : Ryan DeSaegher (6)
HR : TJ Bass (20), Sam Gladd 2 (10)
Monday, May 29 6:35 pm Game 12
(1) Southeastern
4–13
(4) William Carey
Harris Field Attendance: 870 Umpires: HP: Skip Powe, 1B: Daniel Rios, 2B: Jay Allen, 3B: Jason Tice
LP : Robb Adams (7–2)
Boxscore
WP : AJ Stinson (8–2)
HR : Isaac Nunez (18)
HR : Jake Lycette (13), Patrick Lee (15)
Tuesday, May 30 11:05 am Game 13
(7) Taylor
3–8
(9) Lewis–Clark State
Harris Field Attendance: 1505 Umpires: HP: Daniel Rios, 1B: Jason Tice, 2B: Torrell Poole, 3B: Cory Ray
LP : Gabel Pentecost (6–6)
Boxscore
WP : Greg Blackman (3–1) Sv : Alec Holmes (2)
HR : TJ Bass (21)
HR : Dominic Signorelli (12)
Tuesday, May 30 3:05 pm Game 14
(8) Indiana Wesleyan
4–6
(1) Southeastern
Harris Field Attendance: 205 Umpires: HP: Steve Sillers, 1B: Jay Allen, 2B: Jason Tice, 3B: Skip Powe
LP : Caleb Olson (2–1)
Boxscore
WP : Andrew Long (8–0) Sv : Reese Wissinger (6)
HR : Ty Mathews (12)
HR : Chayce Bryant (21), David Castillo (9)
Championship Bracket
Wednesday, May 31 3:05 pm Game 16
(4) William Carey
6–15
(9) Lewis–Clark State
Harris Field Attendance: 2175 Umpires: HP: Torrell Poole, 1B: Jay Allen, 2B: Steve Sillers, 3B: Skip Powe
LP : John Snyder (2–2)
Boxscore
WP : Jake Green (5–0)
HR : Bobby Lada (11)
HR : Carter Booth (12), Nick Seamons 2 (17), Isaiah Thomas 2 (18), Jakob Marquez (14)
Wednesday, May 31 6:35 pm Game 17
(1) Southeastern
10–3
(3) Westmont
Harris Field Attendance: 770 Umpires: HP: Cory Ray, 1B: Steve Sillers, 2B: Skip Powe, 3B: Daniel Rios
WP : JJ Sanchez (2–2)
Boxscore
LP : Carlos Moreno (1–1)
HR : Chayce Bryant (22), Jose Marcano (7), Nick Block 2 (11)
Thursday, June 1 6:35 pm Game 18
(3) Westmont
6–4
(1) Southeastern
Harris Field Attendance: 1195 Umpires: HP: Jay Allen, 1B: Cory Ray, 2B: Daniel Rios, 3B: Jason Tice
WP : Bryan Peck (10–1) Sv : Lucien Wechsburg (4)
Boxscore
LP : David Mata (4–1)
HR : Chayce Bryant (23)
Championship Game
Friday, June 2 6:35 pm PDT at Harris Field
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Lewis–Clark State
0
1
0
0
3
0
2
0
0
6
11
5
Westmont
0
2
1
2
0
1
0
0
X
7
9
3
WP : Gabe Arteaga (3–1) LP : Drake George (1–4)Home runs :LCSC : Charlie Updegrave (12), Isaiah Thomas (19)WC : NoneAttendance: 4498Umpires: HP: Steve Sillers, 1B: Daniel Rios, 2B: Torrell Poole, 3B: Cory RayBoxscore
See also
References