Baseball returns for the 2022 HBCU collegiate season for the MEAC and SWAC programs. It’s a new season and hopes are high in both conferences. There is plenty to watch this season for large school HBCUs.
The HBCU baseball large school division season begins this weekend February 18th-20th. A bevy of non-conference and conference matchups begins the weekend action which includes the annual Major League Baseball (MLB) Andre Dawson Classic with Alabama State and Southern kicking off the NCAA Division I HBCU collegiate baseball season. This year’s tournament returns to New Orleans for seven Division I baseball programs from the SWAC. No teams from the MEAC are playing in the MLB Classic.
The Andre Dawson Classic, formerly the MLB Urban Invitational, is the annual collegiate baseball tournament spearheaded by legendary Southern baseball coach Roger Cador with Major League Baseball to highlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their baseball programs.
The Urban Invitational was first started in 2008 hosted by the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, California until 2012 when the tournament moved to Houston, Texas. The Houston Astros hosted the event at Minute Maid Park in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the tournament was relocated to New Orleans, where it continues.
This year’s tournament (Feb. 18-20, 2022: New Orleans Youth Academy) will feature seven HBCUs: Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana), University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Arkansas), Alabama State University (Montgomery, Alabama), Prairie View A&M (Prairie View, Texas), Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida), Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi) and Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). They will be joined by the University of New Orleans.
Since the tournament’s inception, more than 25 HBCU baseball players who have played in the tournament have been selected in the MLB Draft.
One opening weekend matchup to be excited about?
Florida A&M the newest SWAC member plays in the Andre Dawson Classic for the second time. The first was as a MEAC member opening the 2019 season against the SWAC.
Which team will reign supreme in HBCU Baseball 2022?
Last season, Southern won the SWAC and made the NCAA tournament, its second straight appearance. Will the 2022 season mark a regional trip? Expect Jackson State to get over the hump. Do not count out Alabama State or Delaware State from the MEAC. We could possible witness three HBCUs entering regional postseason tournaments.
Which teams will reign supreme in the SWAC?
Alabama State or Jackson State. Keep an eye on Southern, Florida A&M, and Prairie View A&M.
Who will win a stacked SWAC Eastern Division?
Alabama State… they have plenty of pieces to compete.
Which team from the MEAC will reign supreme?
Delaware State… unless you’re a Norfolk State fan.
Can Norfolk State win back to back MEAC Championship/Regional appearances?
Norfolk State offensively is in a rebuilding year, but they have arms as starters and in the pen.
Who’s a SWAC dark horse?
Those Florida teams. My gut feeling is that Bethune Cookman head coach Jonathan Hernandez has done some really good recruiting after the program shut down in 2021 because of the pandemic. Florida A&M has some hurlers on the mound, especially in the pen.
What’s in store for 2022? Follow Black College Nines’ coverage of HBCU Baseball the entire season…
Friday, February 18, 2022
MEAC Schedule:
Marist vs Norfolk State 3:00 P.M. Norfolk, Va.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs Longwood 4:00 P.M. Farmville, Va.
Coppin State vs California Baptist 9:00 P.M. Riverside, Calif.
SWAC Schedule
Alabama State vs Southern 11:00 A.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA
Rust vs Mississippi Valley State 12:00 P.M. Itta Bena, Mississippi (DH) Game 2 3:00 P.M.
Arlington Baptist vs Texas Southern 1:00 P.M. Houston, Texas
Univ. of Milwaukee vs Alabama A&M 1:00 P.M. Huntsville, Ala.
Prairie View A&M vs Florida A&M 3:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La.
Arlington Baptist vs Texas Southern 4:00 P.M. Houston, Texas
Youngstown State vs Bethune-Cookman 6:00 P.M. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs New Orleans 7:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA
Grambling State vs Jackson State 7:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
MEAC Schedule:
Marist vs Norfolk State 1:00 P.M. Norfolk, Va.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs Longwood 2:00 P.M. Farmville, Va.
Coppin State vs California Baptist 8:00 P.M. Riverside, Calif.
SWAC Schedule:
Rust vs Mississippi Valley State 11:00 A.M. Itta Bena, Mississippi (DH) Game 2 2:00 P.M.
Prairie View A&M vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La.
Milwaukee vs Alabama A&M 1:00 P.M. Huntsville, Ala.
Arlington Baptist vs Texas Southern 1:00 P.M. Houston, Texas
Southern vs Jackson State 1:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA TV: MLB Network
Grambling State vs New Orleans 4:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La.
Arlington Baptist vs Texas Southern 4:00 P.M. Houston, Texas
Youngstown State University vs Bethune-Cookman 5:00 P.M. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Alabama State vs Florida A&M 6:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA TV: MLB TV
Sunday, February 20, 2022
MEAC Schedule:
Marist vs Norfolk State 12:00 P.M. Norfolk, Va.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs Longwood 1:00 P.M. Farmville, Va.
Coppin State vs California Baptist 3:00 P.M. Riverside, Calif.
SWAC Schedule:
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs Grambling State TBA Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA
Milwaukee vs Alabama A&M 11:00 A.M. Huntsville, Ala.
Southern vs Florida A&M 11:00 A.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA
Youngstown State vs Bethune-Cookman 11:00 A.M. Daytona Beach, Fla.
Prairie View A&M vs Jackson State 12:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La
Alabama State vs New Orleans 1:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, LA
Grambling State vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3:00 P.M. Andre Dawson Tournament New Orleans, La.