MIAA TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
Photos from Missouri Athletics
The Missouri Southern baseball team celebrates after winning the MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship on May 11, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. Left: The team poses with the MIAA Championship banner and trophy. Right: Then senior Sam Ryan rounds the bases after his walk-off home run.
As last year’s final semester came to a close, most students were headed back to where they call home, but the Missouri Southern baseball team took a turn toward the postseason, a run that lead all the way to Kansas City, Mo., with a MIAA Tournament Championship on the line.
The Lions found themselves in a place they could easily call home, the baseball diamond, and as the tournament unfolded it was clear this was a diamond that would forever be significant. The Lions went on to win the MIAA Tournament in dramatic fashion.
“It’s something you really can’t put into words,” said Drew Noble as he attempted to describe the thrill of winning. “It means we have established ourselves as one of the top teams in our conference.”
After the title victory in Kansas City, the Lions were given another opportunity as they advanced to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament in Mankato, Minn.
The Lions opened against Minnesota State University, Mankato, the fifth ranked team in the tournament, where they eventually fell 1-0 after a 14-inning battle. Former senior starter Brett Abell threw 11 shutout frames, striking out 11. A powerful performance that helped him increase his single-season strikeout record to 116.
The opening game loss made the second contest against Central Missouri a must win for the Lions, but once again the Southern squad fell short, losing 7-3.
“Of course it wasn’t what any of us wanted,” said Ryan Bates, “but we had a really good year.”
In the end Southern finished with a 34-22 record, and a MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship along with a trip to the NCAA Tournament, something the Lions haven’t seen here at MSSU since 1992 and 2001 respectively.
Still, with a team looking to compete year in and year out, the Lions are more than willing to roar about this upcoming season’s potential.
“This program is still looking for mor,e a NCAA Regional Tournament Championship for starters,” said Noble, a feeling that the baseball team seems to share. The Lions look to continue their success this year.
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