With a 4-3 victory last Tuesday, the CMU Eagles secured their second consecutive Heart tournament championship which allowed them to move on to the NAIA national tournament. The Eagles were unable to ride that tide, however, as they lost the first game of the opening round on Monday. (See full story on Page 8). CMU played again on Tuesday in an elimination game after The Advertiser went to press.

In the Heart championship game on Tuesday, the Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.

Central came right back in the bottom of the fourth when junior shortstop Robbie Merced singled up the middle. The Heart Player of the Year then advanced to third when freshman Tanner Sears singled to right. After MidAmerica changed pitchers, junior Cole Luedeking struck out leaving Central with runners at first and third with one out. The Pioneer pitcher then unleashed a wild pitch allowing Sears to advance to second while Merced crossed the plate to cut the Pioneer lead in half. Senior catcher Jeff Vance drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. Sophomore Josh Green then entered the game as a courtesy runner for Vance before senior Grant Victor was hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring sophomore Designated Hitter Khalil Thrasher to the plate. Thrasher hit a sharp grounder to second advancing Victor and Green and scoring Sears to knot the score at two.

MidAmerica and Central were unable to score in the fifth and sixth. The Pioneers were also scoreless in the top of the seventh. The two teams entered the Eagle half of the seventh still tied when Victor led off with a single to left. CMU coach Nate Breland then used Josh Green as a pinch-runner for Victor before Thrasher fouled out to the catcher. Junior Logan McDonald doubled down the left-field line to score Green. 

Sophomore Bobby Nichols followed with a single to right to drive in McDonald and give Central a 4-2 lead going into the eighth. Neither team could muster a run in the eighth, leaving Central with a two-run lead going into the ninth. 

MidAmerica quickly got two outs before pinch hitter Joshua Martinez singled to right then gave way to pinch-runner Drew Woodley who re-entered the game. Pioneer shortstop Brycen Sherwood doubled down the right-field line to drive in Woodley and cut the CMU lead to one with a runner on second with two outs. Pinch hitter Will Morris reached first on an error allowing Sherwood to advance to third giving MidAmerica runners at first and third.

Senior Beau Atkins, who had entered the game as a reliever in the eighth, then struck out the Pioneer cleanup hitter to strand the two runners and end the game with Central taking home the championship 4-3.

Senior Nick Merkel took the mound to start the game for Central and went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up only four hits to pick up the win. Merkel gave way to Atkins to start off the eighth inning and finished the game to earn the save and striking out two.

Central was only able to gather six his on the day as MidAmerica used four pitchers against the Eagles. Sophomore second baseman Tommy Giarola and left fielder Logan McDonald each notched doubles while Nichols, Merced, Sears, Victor, and Thrasher each registered singles.

The win marked the second consecutive Heart tournament championship for the Eagles and raised their season record to 42-13 on the year.

For their efforts in the tournament, Merced, Giarola, Nichols, Atkins, and Merkel were named to the 2022 Heart Baseball All-Tournament Team. Merced and Merkel were also named Heart Tournament Co-Most Valuable Players. 

By virtue of winning the Heart tournament, Central earned a trip to the opening round of the 2022 NAIA Baseball National Championship. Central garnered the No. 2 seed in the Bellvue Bracket of the tournament set to take place May 16-19 in Bellevue, Nebraska. Six of the opening round sites around the country will feature a five-team, double-elimination tournament. The final four brackets will sport only four squads.

The winners of all 10 opening round sites will head to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) for the 65th annual Avista NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho from May 27 through June 3. 

Joining CMU in the Bellevue Bracket is No. 1 Bellevue (Neb.), No. 3 Tabor (Kan.), No. 4 Concordia (Neb.), and No. 5 Judson (Ill.). 

Host school Bellevue is the top-seeded team in the Bellevue Bracket, qualifying by winning the North Star Athletic Association Tournament. Bellevue enters the tournament with a 45-10 overall record, going 25-2 in NSAA play. The Bruins are ranked No. 6 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Poll.

Tabor received votes in the final NAIA Coaches Poll, and earned an at-large bid into the Opening Round. The Bluejays posted a 37-17-1 overall record including a 22-11 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference play. Tabor placed third in the conference during the regular-season and reached the KCAC Tournament Championship Game.

Concordia also received votes in the final NAIA Coaches’ Poll. The Bulldogs won the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament championship to secure their bid, posting a 36-15-1 overall record (20-8 GPAC). Concordia was the second seed in the conference tournament, but won five-straight elimination games to take home the tournament crown.

Judson secured its spot by reaching the championship game of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. After splitting the first two games of the conference tournament, the Eagles ran off three-straight elimination game victories to reach the final. Judson will serve as the No. 5 seed. 

CMU began championship play against Tabor Monday, May 16 at 2:30 p.m. For full story on that game, see article elsewhere on this page.

Fans can watch all games of the Bellevue Bracket bracket, free of charge, portal.stretchinternet.com/bellevue/.