(May 6, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Bucks Baseball wrapped up their season on Saturday at Benton High School. The Bucks split the doubleheader with SAU Tech, giving the Bucks the season series win over the Rockets. The win also helped the Bucks solidify the NJCAA Region 2 East Division Championship with a 22-8 record in region play. The East Division includes the DII Baseball Arkansas schools of Region II.
Season Highlights
- The men started the season 2-14 and have now won 25 of their last 34 games to have an overall record of 27-23.
- The Bucks avenged an early season loss to Seminole State and won 6-5 at home over the tradition rich NJCAA DI Trojans.
- The Bucks won every 6-game region series of the season, except for splitting the series with ASU Mountain Home (3-3).
This season, the Bucks have several multiple season and career records.
- Trace Watkins (Sheridan, AR) and Aiden McGinnis (Jasper, AL) broke the season record of hit-by-pitches. Both are currently tied at 25 in 2024.
- Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR) is currently tied with the season record for stolen bases at 22 this season. He does hold the new record for career stolen bases with 32 in his career at UARM.
- Austin Rainey (Conway, AR) is on pace to set a new season ERA record for the Bucks. He currently has a 2.68 ERA heading into the tournament.
- With a strong showing in the tournament, Ethan Diaz (Minneola, FL) could break the strike out record currently held at 79 in a season. He has 73 this season.
Tournament Preview
- With the #1 seed in the tournament, the Bucks will face off in the opening round against #4 Carl Albert State College on Thursday at 7 pm. Earlier this season, the Bucks dropped a mid-week contest against the Vikings 8-6 at Union Bank Field.
- The Bucks will match-up with the winner/loser of the #2 NOC-Tonkawa versus #3 ASU Mountain Home matchup on Friday. The tournament is double elimination.
- The winner of the region tournament will then host the NJCAA DII Baseball West District Championship against a school from Region 1 (Arizona). This will be a 3-game series to determine who advances to the DII Baseball World Series.
- First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm against Carl Albert at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, OK.
- Livestreaming for the tournament can be found at www.tsbnsports.com.
Tournament Bracket & Times
Thursday, May 9th
Game 1 - 10 am - #2 South Arkansas vs. #3 NOC-Enid
Game 2 - 1 pm - #1 Western OK State vs. #4 National Park
Game 3 - 4 pm - #2 NOC-Tonkawa vs. #3 ASU Mountain Home
Game 4 - 7 pm - #1 UA Rich Mountain vs. #4 Carl Albert
Friday, May 10th
Game 5 - 10 am - G1 Loser vs. G2 Loser
Game 6 - 1 pm - G3 Loser vs. G4 Loser
Game 7 - 4 pm - G1 Winner vs. G2 Winner
Game 8 - 7 pm - G3 Winner vs. G4 Winner
Saturday, May 11th
Game 9 - 10 am - G5 Winner vs. G8 Loser
Game 10 - 1 pm - G6 Winner vs. G7 Loser
Game 11 - 4 pm - G7 Winner vs. G8 Winner
Game 12 - 7 pm - G9 Winner vs. G10 Winner
Sunday, May 12th
Game 13 - 3 pm - G11 Loser vs. G12 Winner
Championship Game - 6 pm - G11 Winner vs. G13 Winner
Monday, May 13th
If Neccessary - 3 pm - G14 Winner vs. G14 Loser
#DefendTheMountain