The following is an excerpt from an article May 10 entitled at www.hsusports.com entitled “Reddie Baseball Departs for Minnesota to play in NCAA Regional.” The Henderson team includes five former Bryant Hornets Hayden Lessenberry, Jordan Taylor, Hayden Daniel, Landon Pickett and Hunter Mayall.
“It has been a season of firsts for the Henderson State baseball team.
The Reddies played in their first conference tournament championship game since becoming a NCAA Division II member in 1993.
On Thursday, May 14, Henderson State will experience another first as the Reddies play a NCAA postseason game in baseball.
The Reddies earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Central Region in St. Cloud, Minn., after finishing as the Great American Conference Tournament runners-up.
Henderson State enters the postseason tournament as the No. 6 seed and will face No. 1 seed and host St. Cloud State on Thursday with the first pitch set for 7 p.m.
The NCAA Central Region includes Minnesota State, Emporia State, Missouri Southern, and Southern Arkansas along with the Reddies and the Huskies.
The Reddie offense enters the tournament with a .289 team batting average and averages 5.5 runs per game.
Taylor leads the team offensively with a .363 average which includes 10 doubles and 28 runs batted in. Taylor hit for a .391 average during conference play. The sophomore has compiled 18 multiple-hit games and enters the tournament having reached base safely in 23 straight games.
Also hitting above .300 is Mayall, who sports a .329 average with nine doubles and 23 RBI. The junior first baseman has also reached base in 29 straight games.
The NCAA Central Region may be considered the toughest region as four of the six teams are ranked in this week’s Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll with Emporia State just outside the top 30 at No. 31.
St. Cloud State has the best record in NCAA Division II baseball with at 50-3 and is ranked No. 1 nationally in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. The Huskies have won 21 straight games entering NCAA Region play.
THE REST OF THE FIELD
- NO. 2 MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS • 41-7
- NO. 3 EMPORIA STATE HORNETS • 39-14
- NO. 4 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MULERIDERS • 39-16
- NO. 5 MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE LIONS • 40-12
Fans can watch the NCAA Central Region Tournament through video streaming courtesy of St. Cloud State. Links to live audio and video streaming as well as Live Stats are available on the Henderson State Athletics web site at www.hsusports.com.
Special thanks to Annette Garner for submitting this information and J’Ann Lessenberry for the photo.
