WHAT’S INSIDE 02 PRESIDENT’S LETTER 03 HISTORY OF MACU ATHLETICS 06 BASEBALL PREVIEW 08 BASEBALL COACHING STAFF 10 BASEBALL ROSTER 16 SOFTBALL PREVIEW 18 SOFTBALL COACHING STAFF 20 SOFTBALL ROSTER 23 ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION 25 RECORDS 31 SAC HISTORY BACK COVER SCHEDULES 2 \\ MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY \\ MACUAthletics @MACUAthletics 2016-2017 // EVANGEL SPRING PREVIEW // 3 HISTORY OF MACU ATHLETICS MACU athletics started in the mid-1950s. Our humble beginnings included men’s basketball and baseball at the Texas campus then known as Gulf Coast Bible College (GBC). The early Evangels played in city leagues in the Houston area and occasionally competed against local community colleges. One of MACU’s very first basketball players, Marvin Middlebrooks, is now head of the Ministry Department. In the 1970s, we began to develop an intercollegiate program with games scheduled between community colleges and other Bible colleges around PRESIDENT’S LETTER Dallas and Houston. For the first time, students competed in tennis, table tennis, cross country, track and field, flag football, baseball and men’s and women’s basketball. Of this program was born the first conference, the Texas Christian College Conference, Composed of GBC, Southern Bible College, Southwestern Assembly of God College and Dallas Bible College, the Texas Christian College Conference DEAR EVANGEL FANS: officially formed in 1973. To kick off the grand legacy we know today, GBC won the first conference basketball championship, defeating Southern What does it mean to be an Evangel? That success is a reflection of the standard we Bible College in the first title game. Over the years, the conference was They are leaders, bold and humble. They are set for our university and for our student-athletes. rounded out by Bay Ridge Christian College, Dallas Christian College, messengers of eternity, sharing the Good News We are committed not only to athletics but also to Southwest Christian and Mid-West Christian College, and the name was while making a positive impact for the Kingdom of strong academic programs, spiritual vitality and changed to the Texas Christian College Athletic Conference (TCCAC). equipping servant-leaders for the 21st century. God as they venture into the world and their chosen A year after the conference formed, GBC joined the National Christian career/ministry. They wear the armor of God and I appreciate your support as you take time to cheer College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in the south, prompting other bear His sword and shield, symbols of our spiritual on, get to know and maybe even become one of our members of the TCCAC to follow their lead. victory in Christ. student-athletes. Our Evangels have trained hard In 1985, GBC moved to Oklahoma City and changed its name to Mid- for this moment and I am excited about the 2016- For these reasons and more, we chose the Evangel America Bible College. With the move to OKC, all sports were dropped 2017 season and the great things to come. Thank as our mascot. Here, athletics are about much more except for men’s and women’s basketball. As the years passed and student you for joining us. than winning a game. Whether it’s by the swing of a enrollment grew, more sports were added and facilities were built to house golf club or in the power of their kick on the soccer them. field, our Evangels bring God’s glory with them. In Christ, The Gaulke Activity Center was built in 1998. In the same year that the first The student-athletes you’re watching today are led on-campus basketball game was played, the Evangels won its first NCCAA by coaches who strive for excellence and have a National Basketball Championship. passion not only for sports, but also for the spiritual In 2007, MACU joined the NAIA and became dually affiliated with the development of these young men and women. They NCCAA, which is where we remain today. Our athletics program is built continue to prove their success in and out of the on a pillar of great tradition, where we never stop “Dreaming Bigger” and classroom, receiving multiple honors this year from “Doing Greater” for the Kingdom of God! the National Christian College Athletic Association, NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference. 4 \\ MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY \\ MACUAthletics @MACUAthletics 2016-2017 // EVANGEL SPRING PREVIEW // 5 BASEBALL PREVIEW Under the leadership of first-year head coach Adrian Moseley hit at the top of the lineup last year, batting Savedra, MACU’s baseball team made plenty of .340 and reaching base to the tune of a third-best positive strides in the 2016 season. .432 on-base-percentage. The Evangels capped off the year with 20 wins, The Evangels also welcome back a pair of senior including their first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference outfielders in Aaron Conway and Chevin Noone. tournament victory. That matchup included five Conway enjoyed a breakout season at the plate in home runs, their most in a game since the 2011 2016, posting career-highs in batting average (.262), season and equaling their most as an NAIA school. home runs (3) and RBIs (22). Noone hit .256 last Heading into the 2017 campaign, the Evangels season and tied for the team lead with 11 doubles. return plenty of firepower – meaning the upcoming Other veterans returning this are junior first season will serve as another giant step forward for baseman Riley Branum and Trey Henley, senior the program. infielder Brandon Schoelkopf, sophomore catcher “WE ARE VERY EXCITED GOING INTO THIS Dylan Queen and junior outfielders Daxton Marley SEASON,” SAVEDRA SAID. “WE HAVE A LOT and Abdiel Quinones. OF KEY PIECES FROM LAST YEAR’S TEAM Madison Spencer returns looking to lock down RETURNING AND WE’VE ADDED SOME NEW a spot in the rotation after leading the staff last PIECES THAT MAKE US VERY OPTIMISTIC season in innings pitched (82.2) and tying for the FOR THIS YEAR’S SUCCESS.” team-lead with five victories and 49 strikeouts. A huge cog in the Evangels’ lineup this season is Other returners include junior pitcher Brandon senior infielder Colt Pickens, who hit a team-high Johnson and senior hurlers Zach Carley, Chayse .371 last year, the highest in a single season for Pittman, Blake Conner and Roger Mena. MACU since 2012. He also slammed seven homers and drove in 35 runs while slugging a team-best Savedra also welcomed five new players, including .614 and tying for the team lead with a .462 on-base- offensive transfers Jacob Martinez and Aaron Davis. percentage. The Evangels threw out the first pitch of the season Senior outfielder Jerry McNew, who last year hit against Texas College on Feb. 3. Conference play the most homers (12) since 2012 and recorded 49 began March 3 with a three-game series against RBIs, will solidify the offense alongside Pickens and Texas Wesleyan University. senior second baseman Ryan Moseley. 6 \\ MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY \\ MACUAthletics @MACUAthletics 2016-2017 // EVANGEL SPRING PREVIEW // 7 COACHING STAFF COACHING STAFF ADRIAN SAVEDRA, Head Coach Adrian Savedra enters his second season leading the Mid-America Christian University baseball program. In his first season at the helm, Savedra guided the Evangels to 20 victories and the program’s first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference tourney LARRY NATION, Assistant Coach LUKE SANDOVAL, Assistant Coach win. Larry Nation is in his second season as assistant Savedra comes to MACU after a five-year coach for the Mid-America Christian University Luke Sandoval is in his first season as the pitching stint as assistant baseball coach at Southern baseball program. coach for the Mid-America Christian University Baseball program. Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla. Nation coached baseball at Southeast High School At SNU, Savedra was involved in every and U.S. Grant from 1971 – 1999 and after retirement, Before coming to MACU, Sandoval served one year aspect of recruiting, along with developing he volunteered for several years at Southeast as an as the assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian High and implementing in-season and off-season assistant baseball coach and is now beginning his School. defensive practice plan and playbooks for seventh year coaching baseball with the Oklahoma Sandoval’s collegiate playing career included four infielders and outfielders. City Ambassadors. seasons for the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles. He attended Oklahoma Baptist University before Sandoval was a starting pitcher for four seasons at transferring to Central State College, receiving his OC, helping the Eagles to three NCCAA World Series Bachelor of Sciences degree in 1971. appearances and also setting the school single- Nation and his wife, Merry have two daughters season record with 38 wins in 2014. Savedra also has seven years of head coaching (Jennifer and Synthia) and four grandchildren He prepped at Weatherford (Okla.) High School, where experience at the high school level, with the most (Merriah, Zachary, Brayden and Parker). They all he was part of a Class 4A state championship squad recent occurring at Putnam City HS in Oklahoma attend First Baptist Church in Newcastle, Okla., in the 2010 season. City. where Nation serves as a Deacon. Sandoval is a 2015 graduate of Oklahoma Christian In 2004, Savedra started the baseball program at University. Santa Fe South High School in Oklahoma City. After the 5 seasons spent at Santa Fe South, he spent 2 seasons as the head coach at 6A Putnam City High School. In 2008, while serving as the Santa Fe South head coach, Savedra helped form “A Life Worth Following SAM CHANDLER, Student Assistant Coach (ALWF)” ministry in Oklahoma City. Through the ALWF ministry, a summer baseball team TRENT DANIELS, Assistant Coach was created called the OKC Ambassadors, which Trent Daniels is in his second season as assistant Savedra served as the head coach from 2008-13.