THE NAIA BALL BIG SERIES OF THE WEEK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SHO-ME LEAGUE
Fullerton,CA- We are in for a good one as we head out west for a matchup between #8 Hope International Royals and #9 Arizona Christian Firestorm. Both teams are having a phenomenal season and look to improve on already a great season as we start off GSAC Conference Play.
History
These two teams are a part of a very talented GSAC conference so they are no strangers to each other. The Royals have had the upper hand as they are 24-12 versus the Firestorm. The Royals won 8-1 in their last matchup last season at the World Series in Lewiston
Schedule(All times local)
Friday, March 7th at 2:00pm
Friday, March 7th at 5:00 pm
Saturday, March 8th at 12:00pm
Saturday, March 8th at 3:00pm
How to Watch
TEAMS:
Hope International (14-4/0-0) – The defending national champions are once again primed to make another run at the national title and have started off 2025 with a 14-4 record as reigning NAIA Coach Of The Year Larry Mahoney has put together another talented club in Fullerton. This Royals team currently sits tied for 6th in the country with a team average of .351 and are also 6th in the country with 32 HR as a team. Amari Bartee has a team-leading 6 of those home runs and can send a baseball into orbit at any time he’s in the batters box, which is dangerous considering he hits in the leadoff spot. Tabor transfer Trotter Boston has come over from the KCAC and has fit in seamlessly in a Royal uniform, as him and Bartee are tied for the team lead with 40 total bases as the shortstop is hitting .361 with 4 home runs of his own. On the mound is where this group is really impressive as they return their top 2 arms from their national championship run in Trey Seeley and Josh Landry. Seeley has been one of the best arms in the country throughout his HIU career and comes in with 40 strikeouts and 1.86 ERA. Landry sits just ahead of Seeley with a 1.76 ERA as this duo has been mentioned in all of our podcast episodes this season, and that will only be even more recognized if they can do their thing again this weekend.
Arizona Christian (16-4-1/0-0) – The Firestorm made a magical run to the NAIA World Series last season and have picked up right where they left off in 2025. There will be multiple high-level arms on the mound from both teams in this matchup, and that is exactly where we will start with ACU as they currently lead the country in strikeouts with 252 as a staff. ACU features arguably the best two-way player in the entire country in LHP/DH Trey Tarver, who leads the staff with a 1.23 ERA along with 50 strikeouts to just 8 walks. Tarver also leads the team with 7 home runs and 28 RBI as he is well on his way to an All-American season while hitting .357 on the year. Fellow LHP Frank Wierman has been very impressive along with Tarver with a 2.16 ERA and 47 strikeouts. ACU also features who some are saying is the best closer in the country in Jackson Hohensee out of the bullpen, who is tied for the lead in saves in the nation with 6 and holds a 0.66 ERA using a fastball that reaches 96mph. The RHP has been lights out in the 9th and has struckout 22 hitters in just 12.2 innings of work this season, and you will surely see him with the ball in the late innings. San Jose State transfer Kimo Fukofuka has come in and provided a huge spark so far on offense, leading the team with a .378 average and 21 RBI along with 12 stolen bases. Jaylen Edmonds is right behind him with an average of .370 and will need to continue his hot start in order for the Firestorm to go earn this series victory on the road.
Staff Picks –
Tyler HIU
Conner HIU
Taylor ACU
Robby ACU
-Tyson Wallace & Taylor Thomas
