Southwestern Christian To Open Play In NCCAA Championship

For some Oklahoma squads, just because their season is over in the main governing body they play in, doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have the opportunity to win a national championship. Southwestern Christian is such a team as they begin play today in the NCAA National Championship in Kansas City on Saturday.

What is the NCCAA?

The NCCAA is the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association. It is comprised of schools that are Christian based institutions of higher education. Most of these schools are affiliated with other governing bodies (mostly NAIA, but some NCAA D2 or D3) although there are some schools that are considered independents (Randal University in Moore is a example).

Here is “official” word on what the NCCAA is from themselves:

Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ.

The NCCAA holds championships in just about every major sport. It has a “power rankings” during the season that they use to determine who “qualify” for their regionals/championships.

Schools that play in another governing body that don’t make their postseason, are eligible to play in the NCCAA championships. MACU and Southwestern Christian are the two Oklahoma school that are doing so for baseball this year.

Oklahoma Schools Currently Affiliated with the NCCAA

MACU (Mid-America Christian University), NAIA
Oklahoma Wesleyan University, NAIA
Randall University, Independent
Southwestern Christian University, NAIA

History of Oklahoma Schools in NCCAA Baseball

Oklahoma baseball schools have had a pretty good run in the NCCAA.

Oklahoma Wesleyan were national champs in 2011
Oklahoma Baptist University were national champs in 2016 & 2017 when they were transitioning from NAIA to NCAA D2
Oklahoma Christian has played in the NCCAA National Tournament
Randall University was in the national tournament as recent as 2019
MACU won the national championship in 2023.
Southwestern Christian is making its 8th straight appearance this year and were runners up to MACU in 2023

Southwestern Christian Team Capsule

Record: 28-23
NCCAA Rankings: Coaches Poll: 7th; Power Rankings: 10th
Bid: At-Large

The Eagles had an up and down year finishing 27-23 overall and 9-15 in the Sooner Athletic Conference (NAIA). SCU finished 7th in the SAC and went 1-2 in the SAC Tournament.

Team Batting
AVG .280/OBP .401/SLG .382, 21HR, 246 RBI, 286 R

Team Pitching
ERA 5.62, WHIP 1.55, 261 R, 228 ER, 348 K, 190 BB

Team Leaders (Batting)
– Jhors Gomez: .404/.478/.628, 4 HR, 23 2B, 33 RBI
– Dario Paredes: .325/.436/.512, 7 HR, 10 2B, 36 RBI
– Matys Gagnon: .279/.472/.372, HR, 7 2B, 26 RBI

Team Leaders (Pitching)
– Henrry Ogando: (G/GS, 13/13) 7-4, 4.22 ERA, 43 R, 38 ER, 69 K, 31 BB
– Gabriel Figueroa: (G/GS, 14/13) 8-4, 4.54 ERA, 42 R, 38 ER, 72 K, 20 BB
– Alexis Hurens: (G/GS, 12/2) 2-3, 4.63 ERA, 21 R, 18 ER, 29 K, 12 BB

Eagles Record vs NCCAA Championship Teams

College of the Ozarks: 3-1
Wayland Baptist University: 0-3

Bracket

SCU Scoreboard

Saturday
– 2:30: SCU 9 Ft Lauderdale 5

Monday
– 2:30: SCU 9 Concordia 8

Tuesday
– 11:00: SCU 8 Oakland City 11
– 6:00: SCU 10 College of the Ozarks 0

Wednesday (Championship)
– 12:00: SCU 10 Oakland City 6
– 3:30: SCU 6 Oakland City 5

NCCAA National Champions: Southwestern Christian Eagles

Like this post? Don’t miss any posts. Enter your email in the box below and have Sooner State Baseball Report content delivered right to your inbox.