Month: April 2026

Weather Forces Change of Tourney Schedule

MILTON, Fl. – The threat of rain in Northwest Florida over the course of the next several days has forced a change of schedule in the 2026 NSAC Baseball Tournament.

There will now be four games on Day One, Thursday, April 30, instead of the originally scheduled three, with game four now being slated for 8:00 pm Central time. Officials will reevaluate Friday’s schedule following play on Thursday to possibly complete play in two days instead of three.

All games will be played at East Milton Park, 8680 Randy Brown Road, Milton, Florida, and hosted by Lighthouse Christian College.

REVISED SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Game 1 – 11:00 AM
(4) Seed 4 vs. (5) Seed 5

Game 2 – 2:00 PM
(2) Seed 2 vs. (3) Seed 3

Game 3 – 5:00 PM
(1) Seed 1 vs. Winner Game 1

Game 4 – 8:00 PM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

FRIDAY, MAY 1 (TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Game 5 – 11:00 PM
Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 6 – 2:00 PM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Game 7 – 11:00 AM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Game 8 – 2:00 PM (Championship Game)
Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7

SATURDAY, MAY 2

Game 9 – TBD (If Necessary)
Same teams as Game 8

Vazquez Voted Coach of the Year

In a vote of the league’s coaches, Millennia Atlantic’s Willie Vazquez has been selected as the New South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Willie turned around the program in his first year at MAU, leading the Macaws to a 21-7 overall record and 12-4 in the NSAC, earning the Macaws the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. He also coached Sergio Hernandez to Player of the Year honors.

Prior to coming to Millennia, Willie served as the assistant athletic director and head baseball coach at Atlantis, overseeing personnel, evaluating systems, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with university regulations. His leadership resulted in the team excelling both on the field and in the classroom, achieving a GPA of 3.1.

Prior to Atlantis University, Willie served as the Head Baseball Coach at Miami Springs Senior High School, where he was named 2014 District Coach of the Year. During his tenure, the team achieved a 39-30 record, winning a District Title for the first time in seven years and making two regional appearances. Willie also placed 15 players in college for baseball, demonstrating a commitment to player development.

Complementing his experience in athletics, Willie has served as a firefighter and paramedic for the city of Miami since 2004, providing responsive fire rescue services essential to public health and safety.

Congratulations to Willie Vazquez, our NSAC Baseball Coach of the Year!

Hernandez, Hayes Lead All-Conference Selections

Millennia Atlantic’s Sergio Hernandez and Apprentice’s Brayden Hayes lead the 2026 New South Athletic Conference All-Conference Team as Hitter/Fielder and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, as selected by the league coaches.

Hernandez, from Venezuela and in his second season with the Macaws, put up impressive numbers with 42 hits in 97 at bats (.433 BA) including 28 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 34 runs scored.

Hayes anchored the pitching staff for the Builders. The freshman righty from Warsaw, Virginia had an eye-catching 1.65 ERA and an 8-0 record in 13 appearances and 55 innings.

Congratulations to the entire squad!

FIRST TEAM

  • Sergio Hernandez, Millennia Atlantic, Hitter of the Year
  • Brayden Hayes, Apprentice, Pitcher of the Year
  • Brandon Willaims, Lighthouse
  • Jassiel Valbuena, Atlantis
  • Jaeden Anderson, Apprentice
  • Matthew Lopez, Atlantis
  • Titus Bleckly, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Matthew Sobrino, Atlantis
  • Ethan Lopez, Lighthouse
  • Preston Branzelle, Virginia State
  • Rodrigo Ruiz, Millennia Atlantic
  • Adrian Astidillo, Atlantis
  • Trevor Walker, Lighthouse
  • Colin Langley, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Pablo Contreras, Millennia Atlantic
  • Hagen Marse, Lighthouse
  • Norman Jackson, Virginia State
  • Jackson Thomas, Apprentice

SECOND TEAM

  • Seth Harrison, Apprentice
  • Grant Stratton, Apprentice
  • Antonio Boone, Virginia State
  • Landon Turner, Apprentice
  • Cutter Williams, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Jacquan Tucker, Virginia State
  • Nate Yeary, Apprentice
  • Victor Velasquez, Millennia Atlantic
  • Travis Knowles, Atlantis
  • Patrick Tavarez, Millennia Atlantic
  • Jose Ruiz-Galves, Atlantis
  • Jordan Luckie, Lighthouse
  • Chris Pinales, Millennia Atlantic
  • Jamarkus Jefferson, Lighthouse
  • Gavin Stevens, Virginia State
  • Landen Miller, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • RJ Cabrera, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Lennox Munoz, Millennia Atlantic

Seedings Set for ‘Beach Ball ’26’

MILTON, Fl. – With the conclusion of conference play on Saturday, the seedings and schedule are now set for the 2026 New South Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament:

  1. Millennia Atlantic
  2. Atlantis
  3. Mid-Atlantic Christian
  4. Virginia State
  5. Lighthouse Christian

Standings – NSAC Baseball

All times Central

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Game 1 – 11:00 AM
(4) Seed 4 vs. (5) Seed 5

Game 2 – 2:00 PM
(2) Seed 2 vs. (3) Seed 3

Game 3 – 5:00 PM
(1) Seed 1 vs. Winner Game 1

___

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Game 4 – 11:00 AM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

Game 5 – 2:00 PM
Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 6 – 5:00 PM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

___

SATURDAY, MAY 2

Game 7 – 11:00 AM (Elimination Game)
Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Game 8 – 2:00 PM (Championship Game)
Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7

Game 9 – 5:00 PM (If Necessary)
Same teams as Game 8

Builders Sweep Trojans to Wrap Up Regular Season

ETTRICK, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team wrapped up its New South Athletic Conference schedule with a three-game sweep of Virginia State this weekend. The fourth game of the weekend set was canceled due to inclement weather Saturday.

GAME 1 – AS 10, VSU 2
The Builders scored 10 straight runs to start off the weekend series. Seth Harrison’s sacrifice fly in the first got things going before AS added two in the second. Jaeden Anderson singled before Nate Yeary got a RBI groundout to make the score 3-0.

The third inning is where Apprentice did much of its work. Landon Turner started the scoring with a RBI single before Issac McCallister and Anderson both had RBI groundouts. That was after Turner scored on a throwing error by the Trojans.

Yeary again brought home another run in the fifth on a single to stretch the lead to 8-0 before Turner scored in the sixth and Austin Wert singled in the seventh to make it 10-0.

The Trojans added two in the final frame to get to the final score.

GAME 2 – AS 7, VSU 6 (8 inn.)
Again, the Builders were first to the scoreboard, scoring a trio in the second. Winslow started it with a RBI single, setting up McCallister and Yeary for RBI singles as well to make it 3-0. VSU answered with four stright runs, all in the third inning to take their first lead of the weekend.

Apprentice answered in the fifth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Harrison, but again the Trojans put more on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring two to retake the lead at 6-4.

With their backs against the wall, Winslow came through with a bases-loaded single to tie the game in the seventh before Turner got a RBI single in the eighth to take the lead, giving Grant Stratton the ball to shut the door in the bottom of the inning.

GAME 3 – AS 4, VSU 3
The final game of the series started the same as the first two: Builders putting first runs on the scoreboard. Bradshaw got a RBI groundout in the second to mark the only run scored before the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Yeary broke through with a RBI single to stretch the lead to 2-0, but VSU answered in the sixth with a RBI double to tie it up. The Builders came back in the seventh with a run on a fielder’s choice and a Lucca Pascarella RBI single to take a 4-3 lead and did just enough to keep the Trojans from tying the game up in the bottom of the inning to get the sweep.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitly Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Millennia Atlantic Rallies Past Atlantis 7-3

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fl. – Millennia Atlantic broke open a tie game with three runs in the sixth inning and went on to defeat Atlantis 7-3 on Wednesday.

Atlantis took a 1-0 lead in the second when Fransisco Bracho hit a sacrifice fly. Millennia answered in the third on an RBI groundout by Pablo Contreras.

MAU moved ahead 2-1 in the fourth after an Atlantis error allowed a run to score. AU tied it again in the sixth when Romel Guerrero singled down the left-field line.

The Macaws responded in the bottom half of the inning. RBI singles by Andrew Gonzalez and Sergio Hernandez, along with another run-scoring groundout from Contreras, gave Millennia a 5-2 lead.

Guerrero led the Atlanteans offensively, going 3 for 3 with a double, triple and single. MAU added insurance runs late and finished with nine hits.

Colin Jackson earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. Ethan Brito took the loss.

Rodrigo Ruiz and Lenonx Muñoz had two hits each for Millennia Atlantic, which stole six bases.

Image courtesy Millennia Atlantic Athletics

Apprentice Defeats MACU Twice to Finish Season Series

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Apprentice School baseball team finished off its season series against Mid-Atlantic Christian with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday afternoon, making the Builders 7-1 against their rivals this season.

GAME 1 – AS 11, MACU 0 (6 inn.)
The Builders got things going in the second inning when Lucca Pascarella singled in the first run of the game in his first start in nearly two months. AS doubled its lead in the fourth when Landon Turner snagged third and scored on a throwing error.

The offense really came alive in the fifth and sixth innings. Jackson Thomas and Pascarella each brought home two runs in the fifth on a single and double, respectively. Seth Harrison and Landon Turner doubled and tripled, respectively, in the sixth to score the final five runs of the game.

Brayden Hayes improved to 9-0 on the year with seven strikeouts, allowing just one hit.

GAME 2 – AS 9, MACU 4
MACU was first to the scoreboard in the second game of the day, scoring a pair in the second before the Builders tied it up in the third on another throwing error by the home team, allowing Baker Green and Jaeden Anderson to score after the former stole second to start the play.

After the Mustangs added two more in the fourth on another pair of singles, the Builder bats came alive in the sixth, starting with a Nate Yeary bases loaded double before Jordan Higgins hit a sacrifice fly to take a 5-4 lead. After Yeary came home on a wild pitch, Turner also hit a sacrifice fly to take a 7-4 advantage.

The Builders put insurance up in the seventh as McCallister and Yeary scored on wild pitches to get to the final score.

Charley Higginbotham (5-2) got the win in relief, tossing a one-hit inning.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitly Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Baseball All-Academic Team Announced

The New South Athletic Conference proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of its student-athletes with the announcement of the 2026 Baseball All-Academic Team.

“This year’s honorees exemplify the conference’s commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “Each student-athlete recognized has demonstrated a high level of academic success while competing at a high level in intercollegiate baseball, balancing the demands of athletics with a strong dedication to their studies.

The conference commends these individuals for their discipline, work ethic, and commitment to representing their institutions with integrity. Their accomplishments reflect the core values of the NSAC and serve as a model for future student-athletes.”

Each team member carries a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Congratulations to all members of the 2026 NSAC Baseball All-Academic Team on this well-earned recognition.

2026 NSAC Baseball All-Academic Team

THE APPRENTICE SCHOOL

  • Jaeden Anderson
  • Justin Bradshaw
  • Sean Condon
  • Baker Green
  • Aiden Henry
  • Isaac McCallister
  • Chase Mytrysak
  • Grant Stratton
  • Landon Turner
  • Jett Winslow

ATLANTIS UNIVERSITY

  • Travis Knowles
  • Walter Mamarella
  • Daniel Zayas
  • Matthew Sobrino
  • Romel Guerrero

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

  • Clay Allen
  • Trevor Medlin
  • Jamarkus Jefferson
  • Carlos Brown
  • Brandon Williams
  • Trey Hughes

MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

  • AJ Bailey
  • Titus Bleckley
  • RJ Cabrera
  • Aidan Guise
  • Dakota Inman
  • Landen Miller
  • Evan Price
  • Markell Simmons
  • Tristan Stinson

MILLENNIA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

  • Erick Garcia
  • Dylan Diaz
  • Sebastian Gomez
  • Macintyre Askins
  • Isaac Martinez
  • Aden Edwards
  • Nick Sparafora
  • Victor Velasquez
  • Alejandro Contreras
  • Pablo Contreras
  • Chris Sanchez

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Alexander Dayle
  • Luka Gilliam
  • Charles Jones
  • Gene Ligon
  • Joshua Mahan
  • Jerry Mitchell
  • DeCarlos Nora
  • Ralph Riviere
  • Nyle Shewmake
  • Jaquan Tucker
  • Julis Turner
  • Jaron Ward
  • Samuel Young
  • Antonio Boone

VSU Wins 3 of 4 from MACU

ETTRICK, Va. – Virginia State picked up a win in game one then swept Saturday’s doubleheader to claim an NSAC series win over Mid-Atlantic Christian.

In the opener, VSU rallied late to secure a 3-2 victory. After falling behind 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Trojans broke through in the sixth with a three-run frame. Johnathan Smith delivered an RBI single to tie the game before Jaquan Tucker lifted a sacrifice fly to give VSU the lead. Antonio Boone followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 3-1.

Mid-Atlantic Christian attempted a comeback in the seventh with a solo home run, but the Trojans held on for the one-run win. VSU’s offense capitalized on key opportunities in the sixth inning to provide the difference.

On the mound, Preston Branzelle tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out five to earn the win.

Game two proved to be a defensive battle, with Mid-Atlantic Christian edging VSU 1-0. The lone run of the game came in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a Trojan miscue to plate the eventual game-winner.

Virginia State threatened throughout the nightcap but was unable to convert, stranding runners in multiple innings. Norman Jackson and Hector Rivera paced the offense with strong performances at the plate.

Gavin Stevens delivered a strong outing despite taking the loss, pitching a complete game while allowing just one unearned run and striking out eight.

In Saturday’s first game, A walk-off left Mid Atlantic Christian Univers on the wrong end of a 6-5 defeat to Virginia State University on Saturday at Virginia State University. The game was tied at five in the bottom of the twelfth when an error scored one run.

Virginia State University got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Luka Gilliam doubled to left field, AJ Boone hit a sacrifice fly, and Hector Rivera singled to center field, each scoring one run.

Mid Atlantic Christian Univers tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to a double by Dakota Inman, a single by RJ Cabrera, and a single by Jack Wecht.

A single by Luka Gilliam gave Virginia State University the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the seventh inning, Mid Atlantic Christian Univers went back into the lead after Landen Miller doubled to left field, and Brian Sanchez singled to center field, each scoring one run.

Charles Jones singled down the right field line, which helped Virginia State University tie the game at five in the bottom of the seventh.

Charles Jones earned the win for Virginia State University.

In Saturday’s first game, the teams traded leads before VSU prevailed in extra innings. The Trojans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a double by Luka Gilliam, a sacrifice fly by Boone and an RBI single from Hector Rivera.

MACU responded with three runs in the fourth to tie the game, then regained the lead in the seventh on RBI hits from Landen Miller and Brian Sanchez. Virginia State answered in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Charles Jones to even the score at 5.

The game remained tied until the 12th, when Virginia State scored the winning run on an error. Jones earned the victory

In the nightcap, Virginia State overcame an early deficit to secure the win. Mid-Atlantic took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a Trojan error and a hit by pitch to Aidan Guise that forced in a run. State answered in the bottom half, tying the game at 2-2 with two bases-loaded hit batters.

The Trojans moved ahead in the second on RBI singles from AJ Boone and Jaquan Tucker, then added another run in the third after a Mustang error to build a 5-3 lead. Virginia State held on late to complete the 7-5 victory.

The series pulled the Trojans within one game of the fourth-place Mustangs in the NSAC standings.

Friday games story courtesy Virginia State Athletics; image courtesy Christ Waugaman @waugtography

Apprentice Quiets Camp on Senior Day

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team scored early to put the game away Tuesday as they took down Camp CC 10-2 on Senior Day.

The Builders put up three runs in the bottom of the first, scoring on a Seth Harrison RBI single, a Jett Winslow RBI single and a Hurricane error to take an early 3-0 lead.

Two more unearned runs came across in the fourth before another three spot in the fifth. The Builders loaded the bases up as Jaeden Anderson took a walk, Nate Yeary got an RBI groundout and Baker Green scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 8-0.

After an Isaac McCallister RBI single in the sixth, the Hurricanes finally scratched a pair on a two-run homer in the eight, but the Builders got one of them back on a McCallister infield single to get to the final score.

Brayden Hayes was credited the win with three innings of work, fanning five. Nick Redman got the start and went two scoreless and struck out two.

Prior to the game, Yeary, Anderson, Winslow, Redman, McCallister, Justin Bradshaw and Aiden Henry were all honored as the senior class of 2026.

The Builders will jump back into NSAC play next week in a Tuesday twinbill with MACU starting at noon on the road.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn