NAIA Ball Team of the Week – Week 7

NAIA Ball Team of the Week – Johnson (TN)

Knoxville, Tennessee- The Royals of Johnson (TN) have had one of their best weeks of baseball in program history this past week going 3-1 with all three wins coming against top-10 opposition. The Royals led by Dave Serrano are off to a 16-4 start and have thrown themselves right into the mix of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Here is how the Royals earned team of the week- 

They had one game against #6 Cumberlands (KY) and walked away with a 10-4 victory. Brooks Bird would pick up the win and improve his record to 2-0. Travis Hobbensiefken had a three RBI game with two stolen bases, Johnson’s 7 run first inning helped propel them to a win in this high value midweek. 

Johnson (TN) would then play a three game series against #2 Tennessee Wesleyan. Johnson (TN) would take the series opener with a 6-3 victory, Braden Frank led the squad with two RBI’s, and Colby Reynolds earned a win in 7 hard fought innings. Game two saw a TWU 13-8 victory to even up the series. 

In the third game of the series, Johnson (TN) would defeat TWU 11-8 and secure the series win. Johnson (TN) trailed immediately by 6 runs after a half inning of play and then outscored the Bulldogs 11-2 the rest of the day. Nolan Cusey led the team with 4 runs batted in, and two doubles. Overall the Royals had a great week, they should find themselves inside the NAIA Ball Media Poll Top 25, and are on the right track to having one great season. They are this week’s NAIA Ball Team of the Week.

– Robby Gutierrez & Cooper Carter