Taylor Ranked No. 17 in Final NAIA Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Taylor baseball team (41-14, 30-6 CL) is the 17th-ranked team in the final NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top-25 Rating of the 2023-24 season, which was released Wednesday.
No. 17 TU has won 13 of its past 14 games – a stretch that includes clinching a Crossroads League Regular Season Title and the Crossroads League Tournament Championship. TU finishes the season as the only CL team in the NAIA Top 25, with RV Indiana Wesleyan (34-15, 27-9) clinging to its status.
The Trojans’ success this season has come from a collective effort. TU’s lineup has produced the 12th most runs in the NAIA, and its pitching staff has limited opponents’ opportunities with a 1.42 WHIP that ranks 20th in the nation.
Having already received recognition for being the Crossroads League Player and Pitcher of the Year, Mason David and Gabel Pentecost have served as cornerstones to Taylor’s efforts. David and Pentecost lead a team that had three other players named to the CL All-First Team in Camden Knepp, Kaleb Kolpien and Brayden Manning, in addition to Second-Team players that have come up big in Nick Crabtree and Sam Gladd.
The Trojans’ key players seek to come through again as No. 17 Taylor prepares to host the 2024 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round beginning Monday, May 13. The NAIA announces the full list of participating teams in each bracket Thursday, May 9, at 5 p.m. eastern on the NAIA’s YouTube channel.