KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2014 NAIA Baseball All-America teams, selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association (NAIA-BCA) All-America Selection Committee. Player of the Year Jose Ruiz of Oklahoma Wesleyan headlines the group of 34 players named to the first and second teams. An additional 34 individuals received honorable mention recognition.
Ruiz, a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, was named the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the Eagles to a program record 58 victories this season, including the club’s first-ever appearance at the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. The senior outfielder led the NAIA in runs scored (82) and RBIs (91), while also ranking among the top 10 nationally in total bases (2nd; 169), home runs (4th; 15), slugging percentage (5th; .744) and hits (6th; 92). Ruiz, who was also a member of the all-tournament team at this year’s World Series, ended the year with a 10-game hitting streak. He recorded multi-hit performances in 26-of-66 games. Ruiz is the first player from Oklahoma Wesleyan to receive the honor.
World Series qualifier Oklahoma Baptist led all institutions with five All-Americans – Matt Page (OF; first team), Julian Merryweather (P; first team), Steven Knudson (1B; second team), Ivan Vela (SS; second team) and Jordan Morales (P; second team). The Bison set a new program record with 55 wins in 2014.
Page, who was named the Player of the Year in 2013, is the only repeat selection. The senior outfielder/first baseman ended the season with a .381 batting average. The two-time Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year ranked second in the NAIA in doubles (26) and runs scored (76).
2014 NAIA Baseball All-America Teams
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FIRST TEAM |
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Position |
First |
Last |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
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C |
Darryl |
Knight |
Jr. |
Embry Riddle (Fla.) |
Orlando, Fla. |
|
C |
Carlos |
Contreras |
Jr. |
Northwood (Texas) |
Carrollton, Texas |
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1B |
Martin |
Lemus |
Sr. |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
Lawndale, Calif. |
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2B |
Sam |
Lind |
Sr. |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Hartford, S.D. |
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SS |
Riley |
Swanson |
So. |
Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) |
Mount Vernon, Ohio |
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3B |
Jeff |
Lusardi |
Sr. |
San Diego Christian (Calif.) |
Kansas City, Mo. |
|
UT |
Forrest |
Smith |
Sr. |
Oklahoma City |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
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DH |
Jake |
Shirley |
Sr. |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
West Covina, Calif. |
|
OF |
Orlando |
Olivera |
Jr. |
Missouri Baptist |
Miami, Fla. |
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OF |
Jose |
Ruiz* |
Sr. |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
Barquisimeto, Venezuela |
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OF |
Matt |
Page |
Sr. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
Redwood City, Calif. |
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OF |
Cody |
Lavalli |
Sr. |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
Apple Valley, Calif. |
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SP |
Gabe |
Hemmer |
Sr. |
San Diego Christian (Calif.) |
Yuma, Ariz. |
|
SP |
Koby |
Gaddis |
Sr. |
Evangel (Mo.) |
Springfield, Mo. |
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SP |
Derek |
Moore |
Fr. |
Shawnee State (Ohio) |
Wheelersburg, Ohio |
|
SP |
Julian |
Merryweather |
Sr. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
Berkley, Calif. |
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RP |
Tyler |
Akins |
Sr. |
Belhaven (Miss.) |
Madison, Miss. |
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SECOND TEAM |
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Position |
First |
Last |
Year |
School |
Hometown |
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C |
Hank |
Stewart |
Sr. |
Brescia (Ky.) |
Cartersville, Ga. |
|
C |
Connor |
Lynch |
Jr. |
Oklahoma City |
Marietta, Ga. |
|
1B |
Steven |
Knudson |
So. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
South San Francisco, Calif. |
|
2B |
Paul |
Pickerell |
Jr. |
Belhaven (Miss.) |
Elizabethtown, Ky. |
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SS |
Ivan |
Vela |
Jr. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
West Hills, Calif. |
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3B |
Mitchell |
Osnowitz |
Sr. |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
Bloomington, Ill. |
|
UT |
Ricky |
Coleman |
Sr. |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Nashville, Tenn. |
|
DH |
Jeff |
Ricker |
Jr. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
San Bernardino, Calif. |
|
OF |
Chris |
Hall |
So. |
Cumberland (Tenn.) |
Lebanon, Tenn. |
|
OF |
Taylor |
Eads |
Jr. |
Spring Hill (Ala.) |
Slidell, La. |
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OF |
Dusty |
Davis |
Sr. |
Reinhardt (Ga.) |
Chapel Hill, Ga. |
|
OF |
Mith |
Peschon |
Jr. |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
Spirit Lake, Iowa |
|
SP |
Junior |
Mustain |
Sr. |
Tabor (Kan.) |
Camdenton, Mo. |
|
SP |
Jacob |
Kopra |
Sr. |
Corban (Ore.) |
Gresham, Ore. |
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SP |
Jordan |
Morales |
Sr. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
Hatillo, P.R. |
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SP |
Daniel |
Poncedeleon |
Sr. |
Embry Riddle (Fla.) |
LaMirada, Calif. |
|
RP |
Travis |
Tarleton |
Sr. |
Point (Ga.) |
Conyers, Ga. |
*denotes Player of the Year
Honorable Mention
|
First |
Last |
School |
|
Tim |
Hill |
Bacone (Okla.) |
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Kyle |
Kinman |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
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Chris |
Van Brandt |
Brewton-Parker (Ga.) |
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Conor |
Lillis-White |
British Columbia |
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Grant |
Zawadski |
Bryan (Tenn.) |
|
Keegan |
Yuhl |
Concordia (Calif.) |
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Corey |
Murphy |
Davenport (Mich.) |
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Elliott |
Engle |
Doane (Neb.) |
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Robert |
Liera |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
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Davidson |
Peguero |
Fisher (Mass.) |
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Tyler |
Arthur |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
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Tyler |
Carpenter |
Georgia Gwinnett |
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Justin |
Kalusa |
Indiana Tech |
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Tommy |
Muhlethaler |
Jarvis Christian (Texas) |
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Josh |
Raymond |
Judson (Ill.) |
|
Ryan |
Sells |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
|
Jordan |
Eckley |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
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Brandon |
Zywicki |
Missouri Baptist |
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Cody |
Groskreutz |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
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Chris |
Pike |
Oklahoma City |
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Jeff |
Butler |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
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Aaron |
Marshall |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
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Davon |
Poole |
Saint Mary (Kan.) |
|
Cade |
Gotta |
San Diego Christian (Calif.) |
|
Jaime |
Gurroloa |
Science & Arts (Okla.) |
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Bryan |
Muniz |
Southeastern (Fla.) |
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J. |
Golden |
St. Ambrose (Iowa) |
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Edwin |
Medina |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
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Ricky |
Rodriguez |
Sterling (Kan.) |
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Kirk |
Rocha |
Tabor (Kan.) |
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Jacob |
Webb |
Tabor (Kan.) |
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Steve |
Karkenny |
The Master's (Calif.) |
|
Brady |
Anderson |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
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Russell |
Harmening |
Westmont (Calif.) |
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