Category: JMU

Championship Day is Upon Us!

WILSON, N.C. – John Melvin (LA) got a walk-off double to defeat Apprentice 11-10 Friday and earn its way into Saturday’s NSAC Baseball Championship game.

The top-seeded Millers gave up seven runs in the second inning and appeared doomed to enter the losers bracket but methodically clawed its way back into the game, sealing it in the seventh.

Lighthouse Christian, John Melvin (FL) and Mid-Atlantic Christian were eliminated on Friday. Virginia State and Apprentice will meet Saturday morning at 10:30 Eastern for the chance to advance to the title game against JMU.

Livestream for all games is available at wilsontobs.com.

Day One in the Books at NSAC Championship

WILSON, N.C. – The first day of action at Fleming Stadium was marked by solid play and several big innings.

GAME ONE: #3 Apprentice 8, #6 Lighthouse Christian 6

GAME TWO: #5 Virginia State 11, #4 John Melvin (FL) 6

GAME THREE: #3 Apprentice 7, #2 Mid-Atlantic Christian 5

GAME FOUR: #1 John Melvin (LA) 12, #5 Virginia State 5

Play resumes Friday morning at 9:30 am Eastern time at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. All six teams are still in contention in the double-elimination tournament. You can watch each game via livestream at wilsontobs.com.

Graphic by WildCard Entertainment

JMU’s Musgraves Named NSAC Coach of the Year

After leading the Millers to the regular season title, John Melvin University (LA) baseball coach Rocke Musgraves has been named NSAC Coach of the year by a panel of veteran sportswriters and sportscasters.

In just the program’s third season, Musgraves guided the Millers to a 26-23 record including a pair of wins over 16th-ranked South Arkansas Community College and a victory over #15 Houston-Victoria. JMU also posted a 15-2 (.882) record in league action, the best winning percentage in NSAC baseball history.

Before his stop at JMU, Rocke coached at the NCAA Division I, Division 2, NAIA, and NJCAA levels including stops at NCAA Division 2 Northwest Nazarene University, where he led the Warriors to the Northwest Athletic Conference championship in 2016. Prior to that, Musgraves built Louisiana State University – Shreveport into one of the premier baseball programs in the NAIA.

Congratulations to Rocke Musgraves, the 2025 NSAC Baseball Coach of the Year!

Image courtesy Carla Walker/SportsPicsByCarla; WildCard Entertainment

Jones, Leblanc, Snell Lead 2025 All-Conference Selections

New South Athletic Conference baseball coaches have selected Gavin Leblanc (JMU-LA) as the 2025 Pitcher of the Year and Tobin Jones (JMCC-FL) and Travis Snell (MACU) as Co-Players of the Year.

Leblanc, a senior lefty, made 11 starts for the Millers with a 5-2 Record, threw for 63.1 Innings, giving up only 46 hits and 27 walks, with 85 strikeouts for a 2.84 ERA and .203 BAA.

Jones and Snell tied in the voting for Offensive POY.

Jones, a 6’3″ sophomore outfielder, had a batting average of .375 in 72 ABs, a slugging percentage of .819 for an OPS of 1.284, with 27 hits, 9 homers, and 24 RBIs.

Senior outfielder Snell also put up impressive numbers for the Mustangs, batting .447 with 129 PA’s, a slugging percentage .660, with 5 HRs and 28 RBIs.

“Congratulations to our players of the year as well as all of the outstanding student-athletes that make up the 2025 NSAC All-Conference Team,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “They have made this one of the most exciting campaigns yet in NSAC baseball, with more fireworks to come in Wilson.”

2025 All-Conference First Team

  • Zander Mizelle, P, Apprentice
  • Charley Higginbotham, P, Apprentice
  • Kevin Rodriguez, P, Atlantis
  • Dakota Jacobsen, P, MACU
  • Jeremiah Cabrera, P, MACU
  • Tobin Jones, OF, JMCC (FL)
  • Trevor Durr, C, JMU
  • Jaden Guthrie, 2B, Virginia State
  • Nate Yeary, OF, Apprentice
  • L. Valentin, Lighthouse
  • Jeremy Harmon, C, Apprentice
  • Travis Snell, OF, MACU
  • Thomas Ealey, OF, Virginia State
  • Braeden Morgan, 2B, JMU (LA)
  • Eduardo Perez, C, Atlantis
  • Justin Suarez, 2B, Atlantis
  • Landen Miller, C/DH, MACU
  • Gavin Leblanc, P, JMU (LA)

All-Conference Second Team

  • Dalon Arrington, P, MACU
  • Garrett Walker, P, JMU (LA)
  • Caleb Ougel, P, JMU (LA)
  • Cole Crocker, P, JMCC (FL)
  • Logan Fleming, P, JMCC (FL)
  • Eduardo Roque, P, Atlantis
  • Jesus Gonzalez, P, Atlantis
  • Kevin Rodriguez, P, Atlantis
  • G. Deroche, Lighthouse
  • H. Molina, Lighthouse
  • L. Villasana, Lighthouse
  • H. Ojeda, Lighthouse
  • Noah Watkins, OF, JMU (LA)
  • Sammy Maddox, 1B, JMU (LA)
  • Connor Pleasant, SS, JMU (LA)
  • Nick Redman, P, Apprentice
  • Josiah Collado, C/OF, MACU
  • Rafael (RJ) Cabrera, IF, MACU
  • Victor Johnson, OF, Virginia State
  • Jacquan Tucker, 1B, Virginia State
  • TJ McGowan, 3B, Virginia State
  • Marcos Medina, INF, Atlantis
  • Nathaniel Gomez, CF, Atlantis
  • Gianni Rodriguez 3B/DH, Atlantis
  • Hunter Johnson, IF, Apprentice
  • Camden Richardson, P, Apprentice
  • Jett Winslow, IF, Apprentice

Image courtesy Carla Walker/SportsPicsByCarla; WildCard Entertainment

Baseball All-Academic Team Recognized

The New South Athletic Conference is proud to honor the baseball players from its member institutions who have made academics a priority. “These young men are to be commended for their commitment to academic excellence as well as athletics,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “It is my privilege to congratulate them on a job well done.”

Each student-athlete must carry a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale to be recognized as an All-Academic Team Member.

The Apprentice School

  • Jaeden Anderson
  • Justin Bradshaw
  • Tommy Distler
  • Jeremy Harmon
  • Aiden Henry
  • Hunter Johnson
  • Isaac McCallister
  • Chase Mytrysak
  • Matt Phoebus
  • Bryce Post
  • Caleb Russwell
  • Jake Sanchez-Tiller
  • Camden Weston

Atlantis University

  • Alejandro Uribe
  • Jonathan Vassllo
  • Justin Suarez
  • Travis Knowles
  • Joshua Polanco
  • Matthew Lopez
  • Ozzyel Gabbarro 
  • Marcos Medina 
  • Eduardo Roque 
  • Alex Socarras
  • Jesus Ramos
  • Francisco Bracho
  • Walter Mamarella 
  • Jonathan Mustlier 
  • Diyer Schafer
  • Daniel Zayas 
  • Christian Olazabal

John Melvin Christian College (FL)

  • Zane Alford
  • Kyle Brealond
  • James (Tripp) Cameron
  • Braden Clark
  • Landon Cooper
  • Landon Glaesmann
  • Tate Glover
  • Reagan Grace
  • Daniel Hernandez
  • Raymond Missett
  • Dane Mallon
  • Preston Barnett
  • Cole Patrick
  • Logan Flemming
  • Brayden Plouffe
  • Logan Snowden
  • Cole Crocker
  • Isaiah Redfearn
  • Lane Kasper
  • Connor Rosenberg
  • Austin Holstein
  • Tobin Jones
  • Donovan Hawkins
  • Garrison Head
  • Jimmy Reynolds
  • Jordan Taylor
  • Zachary Barrientos
  • Kaden Fritter
  • Andrew Bailey
  • Timothy Lambert
  • Price Bowen
  • Avery Newton
  • Steele Marshall
  • Grant Belote
  • Brodie Dalton

John Melvin University (LA)

  • Andrew Ashby
  • Gavin Gary
  • Trevor Durr
  • Connor Pleasant
  • Willy Flynn
  • Gavin LeBlanc
  • Noah Watkins
  • Peyton Ford
  • Sammy Maddox
  • Sam Crowe
  • Garrett Walker
  • Josh Guidroz
  • Troy Morel
  • Gavin Walker
  • Taylor Walters
  • Bryce Oquinn 
  • Caleb Ougel
  • Jonah Callais
  • Lane Kratzer
  • Luke Primeaux
  • Braeden Morgan
  • Cabet Blanchard
  • JT Teuton
  • Cooper Chase
  • Zayne Earl
  • Tyler Knippers
  • Eli Musgraves
  • Josh Jones
  • Kohen LeJeune
  • Noah Berg
  • Brian Ellender
  • Jackson Day
  • Connor Molaison
  • Colt LeJeune
  • Trey Lagrange
  • Raylee Thomas

Lighthouse Christian College

  • Luis “Valentin” Diaz
  • James Andrew Davis 
  • Juan Pablo Finol 
  • Yhulman Ryhan Ortiz 
  • Trevor Jeremiah Medlin 
  • Dilan Veras 
  • Jose Alejandro Sanchez 
  • Quinton Renfroe 
  • Jean Carlos Quezada Sosa 
  • Gavin Neade 
  • Joshua Landis 
  • Trent Austin Knighten 
  • Robert-Isaac Gates 
  • Solomon Gant 
  • Carlos Brown 
  • Clayton “Clay” Allen 

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Dalon Arrington
  • Titus Bleckley
  • RJ Cabrera
  • Josiah Collado
  • Aidan Guise
  • Dakota Inman
  • Landon Miller
  • Travis Snell
  • Tristan Stinson

Virginia State University

  • Preston Branzelle 
  • Alex Dayle
  • Thomas Ealey
  • Jayden Guthrie
  • Andrew Jackson
  • Norman Jackson 
  • David Johnson
  • Charles Jones
  • Gene Ligon
  • Josh Mahon
  • TJ McGowan
  • Marquis Smith 
  • Jaquan Tucker
  •  Julius Turner

Photo by Harati Project on Unsplash

Millers Top Seed for NSAC Championship

WILSON, N.C. – With the conclusion of conference play on Thursday, John Melvin University (LA) clinched the number one seed for next week’s New South Athletic Conference baseball tournament.

The NSAC coaches elected to use a weighted formula for this year’s seeding due to unbalanced schedules, granting a 60 percent weight to NSAC games and 40 percent to non-conference contests, but the calculated result aligned with the conference standings anyway. With only a handful of non-conference games still to be played, no team can overtake another.

Tournament play gets underway Thursday, May 1 at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina.

SEEDINGS:

  1. John Melvin (LA)
  2. Mid-Atlantic Christian
  3. Apprentice
  4. John Melvin (FL)
  5. Virginia State
  6. Lighthouse Christian

JMU’s Walker, Durr Take Weekly Honors

A pair of John Melvin (LA) Millers rose to the occasion last week to be named the NSAC Pitcher and Player of the week.

Sophomore RHP Garrett Walker threw six innings of shutout baseball, allowing one hit and marking four strikeouts against rival John Melvin (FL). Walker needed just 57 pitches to clear six innings. 

Junior Catcher Trevor Durr went 4-of-7 at the plate vs JMCC for a .571 average with a triple, three runs, four RBIs, three walks and one HBP.

Kudos to Garrett and Trevor!

Images courtesy Carla Walker/SportsPicsByCarla

Millers Claim Third Series Sweep of Rival Mohawks

After dropping game one of their final series with rival John Melvin Christian College (FL) on Friday 5-4, the John Melvin University (LA) Millers bounced back for a Saturday sweep of the Mohawks on Senior Night 10-1 and 4-1.

Game one was a classic pitcher’s duel that didn’t go the way of the Millers. In the final home start of his college career, JMU ace Gavin LeBlanc gave his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season (three more nine-strikeout games as well), on his way to a stellar six-inning, four-hit, ten-strikeout, two-earned-run performance. Caleb Ougel entered the game in relief to throw the remaining three innings of the game, allowing just one hit, striking out two, and allowing one run. Unfortunately, it was the one hit that JMCC needed to win their first game of the season against JMU as it was a triple to score the eventual game-winning run. It was a difficult day for the Miller offense, finding a way to get runners on base throughout the game but struggling to find the big hit they needed. Andrew Ashby came up big with a two RBI double in the 5th inning to tie the game in the 5th inning, but the offense was never able to break the tie.

Game two of the series was all Millers from the start. Making the final home start of his career, senior pitcher Troy Morel was spectacular, throwing a five-inning complete game shutout, allowing just two baserunners all game and punching out seven Mohawks. Two Millers picked up multi-hit games in the contest, led by Taylor Walters going two for three with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the offense. Standout performances on offense also include Connor Pleasant going two for two and Trevor Durr and Payden Wysong each going one for one.

Game three of the series may have been closer on the scoreboard but the dominant performance by sophomore pitcher Garrett Walker ensured that the game was never truly in doubt. Walker needed just 57 pitches en route to a 6-inning shutout performance, allowing just 1 hit and striking out four. Senior pitcher Willy Flynn entered the game in the 7th inning and needed just 11 pitches to slam the door shut and close out the Miller series victory. Junior catcher Trevor Durr was the key offensive piece in the victory, picking up two hits and two RBIs in the winning effort.

The Millers finish the season with an 8-1 record over rival John Melvin Christian College and finish the NSAC regular season with a 15-2 conference record.

Story courtesy JMU Athletics; image courtesy Carla Walker sportspicsbycarla

Tournament Seedings Taking Shape with One Week to Go

WILSON, N.C. – With just a little over one week left in the 2025 NSAC baseball regular season, we’re seeing the seedings fall into place.

Prior to the season, league coaches voted to base the seedings on a weighted formula granting a 60 percent weight to conference games and 40 percent to non-conference matchups. Yet as of today, that calculation has made no difference: the results are the same. However, with a few series left and several positions in contention, that could change in the home stretch.

TeamNSAC Pct.Overall Pct.Weighted Pct.
1. John Melvin (LA).867.511.725
2. Apprentice.714.647.687
3. Atlantis.667.618.647
4. Mid-Atlantic Chr..571.526.553
5. John Melvin (FL).400.368.387
6. Virginia State.385.310.355
7. Lighthouse Chr..227.194.214

The tournament gets underway at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina at 9:30 am on Thursday May 1.

Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash