The HBCU Baseball “small school” season begins this weekend. Black College Nines addresses opening weekend storylines to start off the 2022 HBCU baseball season’s first pitch. A few non-conference matchups begin the weekend action. As stated many times before, college baseball is really about four seasons – the non-conference schedule, the conference schedule, the postseason including the conference tournament and if it is really good, a national tournament. HBCU baseball now has a national tournament and this weekend begins the road to the Black College World Series on May 10-15, 2022, in Montgomery, Alabama.
What’s in store for 2022?
Notable Storylines: A number of HBCU baseball programs in the offseason made conference moves. What’s in store with Bethune Cookman and rivals Florida A&M leaving the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Talladega College, who was affiliated with the Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference (GCAC) for nearly 15 years, will raise a new conference flag. The Tornadoes are now a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) joining Stillman College which made the move in 2018.
Paine College baseball had a two-year hiatus. The administration brought baseball back and it is no longer an NCAA Division II program. Paine College is now competing in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).
Edward Waters University, moving forward, starts its transitions from the NAIA to the NCAA Division and will be moving from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Bluefield State, the 2021 Black College World Series Champion bolts from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association and becomes a NCAA Division II Independent.
Xavier University of Louisiana becomes the fifth HBCU member joining the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) as its newest member. The Gold Rush will compete with Huston-Tillotson, Jarvis Christian, Texas College, and Wiley College.
Tuskegee University baseball returns to an on-campus facility full time in 2022 after nine years. Head coach Reginald Hollins, spearheading the effort, renovated Washington Field after spending nine years playing their own games on the road.
Huston-Tillotson’s Chase Almendarez will compete his first head coaching stint as an HBCU baseball head baseball coach.
Stanley Stubbs returns to coaching in the SWAC. Previously at Jackson State, Stubbs will lead Mississippi Valley State in the SWAC.
North Carolina A&T’s move to the Big South Conference, along with both Bethune Cookman and Florida A&M departing for the SWAC left the MEAC with four baseball-playing members, two less than is required for an automatic bid to the NCAA National Tournament. If the MEAC leadership committee can’t find its sixth member before the conclusion of the 2022 regular season, the league will lose its automatic bid status.
Opening Weekend 2022 Game Action:
*Wiley College opens the HBCU baseball season Friday, January 28th with a four-game series on the road in Fort Worth TX against Texas Wesleyan University, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25. Games can be followed on Live Stats.
1/28/2022 Wiley College vs Texas Wesleyan University DH Game 1 12:00pm CT/Game 2 3:00pm. CT Livestats
1/29/2022 Wiley College vs Texas Wesleyan University DH Game 3 12:00pm CT/Game 4 3:00pm. CT Livestats
*Jarvis Christian opens its 2022 baseball campaign at home hosting Tabor College in a three-game series in Hawkins Texas Friday January 28th.
1/29/2022 Tabor College vs Jarvis Christian DH Game 1 12:00p./Game 2 3:00pm. CT
1/30/2022 Tabor College vs Jarvis Christian DH Game 1 12:00p. CT
*Huston-Tillotson start its season with a four-game doubleheader tilt Saturday and Sunday January 29-30, 2022, hosting Bethany College at Downs Field – Austin, Texas.
1/29/2022 Bethany College vs Huston-Tillotson DH Game 1 1:00pm/Game 2 4:00pm.
1/29/2022 Bethany College vs Huston-Tillotson DH Game 1 1:00pm/Game 2 4:00pm.
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