(May 9, 2022) Mena, Arkansas - In season two of Bucks Baseball, the team improved their overall record to 35-16 with a league leading 27-5 record, getting the #1 seed in the tournament. The Bucks highest national ranking came in today's poll at #9. In region play, the Bucks never lost a one of their eight series this season, sweeping three of them. The Plains District Tournament is an automatic qualifier for the winner to the NJCAA DII World Series, also held at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, OK.
First Round Matchups
Game 1 (10 am) - #3 East Central Missouri vs. #6 NOC-Enid - East Central is the Region 16 winner, joining the tournament as the #3 seed. NOC-Enid and East Central did not play each other this season.
Game 2 (1 pm) - #2 Western Oklahoma vs. #7 Carl Albert - The Pioneers took 3 of 4 games this season against the Vikings, all games being played in Poteau.
Game 3 (4 pm) - #4 Murray State vs. #5 National Park College - The Aggies and Nighthawks split on the season in very competitve games.
Game 4 (7 pm) - #1 UA Rich Mountain vs. #8 South Arkansas College - The Bucks took all four games against the Stars in their 4-game regular season series. The Bucks were 17-3, 17-6, 3-2, and 15-2 winners in the series with all starting pitchers picking up wins. South Arkansas makes the tournament in their first season of baseball.
If the Bucks win in the first round, they will be matched up with the winner of Game 3: Murray State and National Park College. The game would be at 7 pm on Friday. If the Bucks lose, they will be the 1 pm game against the loser of the same matchup.
Here are the Bucks stat leaders in region play this season:
Average - Luke Rice (Scott, AR) - .485
Home Runs - Chase Webb (El Dorado, AR) and Luke Rice - 7
RBIs - Luke Rice - 42
Runs - Daniel Taylor (Rogers, AR) - 40
Walks - Daniel Taylor - 25
Stolen Bases - Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) - 9
OBP - Luke Rice - .580
SLG - Luke Rice - .883
OPS - Luke Rice - 1.464
Wins - Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) - 7
Saves - Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) - 6
Strikeouts - Drake Fontenot - 48
ERA - Randy Little Jr. - 1.328 (7 appearances and 2 starts)
BAA - Daegan Covington - .184 (12 appearances)
WHIP - Cade Shrum (Greenwood, AR) - .865 (8 appearances and 1 start)
Before the Bucks game on Thursday, the Region II All-Region Team will be announced prior to first pitch.
#GOBUCKS