Avista NAIA World Series Preview
LEWISTON, Idaho – [SCHEDULE | BRACKET | CHAMPIONSHIP APP] The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is set to kick-off play in the Avista NAIA World Series where the first champion in two years will be crowned. The 64th annual series will take place May 28 – June 4 at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.
The World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination tournament where the winner will be crowned either June 3 or June 4 depending on if the eventual national champion drops one of its earlier round games.
Seeds were determined by the NAIA Baseball National Selection Committee (NSC). The NSC consists of one representative from each geographic area, a representative from the National Administrative Council (NAC) Postseason Selection and Ratings Committee, the president of the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.
Game one will feature No. 8-seeded Keiser (Fla.) whom will face No. 9-seed LSU Shreveport (La.) at 8:30 a.m. PT. The winner of this contest will face No. 1 seeded Southeastern (Fla) on Saturday, May 25th.
In game two, No. 4-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan will face No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett at 11:30 a.m PT. The winner will move-on to play on Monday against the winner of the aforementioned Southeastern game on Saturday.
In the 3:00 p.m. PT tilt on Friday, it will be a pair of teams making their first trip to the spring classic as No. 7 IU Southeast (Ind.) takes-on No. 10 Concordia (Neb.). That winner will advance to play No. 2 Central Methodist (Mo.) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. PT.
In the nightcap, it will be No. 6-seeded Faulkner (Ala.) against No. 3-seeded Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT. The winner will advance to the 6:30 p.m. game on Monday to face the winner of Saturday’s Central Methodist game.
NAIANetwork.com, the NAIA’s official video-streaming platform of NAIA national championship events powered by Stretch Internet, will be broadcasting all 19 games of the 2021 World Series. The All-World Series package can be purchased for $34.95 or the day package for $14.95. Game 16 – 19 will also be delivered on ESPN3.
| Institution | Conference | 2021 Record | Appearances | Last Time | WS Titles | WS Record | Consecutive |
| Central Methodist (Mo.) | Heart of America Athletic Conference | 46-6 | 1 | N/A | 0 | 0-0 | 1 |
| Concordia (Neb.) | Great Plains Athletic Conference | 42-10 | 1 | N/A | 0 | 0-0 | 1 |
| Faulkner (Ala.) | Southern States Athletic Conference | 38-10 | 9 | 2019 | 1 | 18-14 | 8 |
| Georgia Gwinnett | Association of Independent Institutions | 46-10 | 4 | 2019 | 0 | 5-6 | 3 |
| IU Southeast (Ind.) | River States Conference | 48-14 | 1 | N/A | 0 | 0-0 | 1 |
| Keiser (Fla.) | The Sun Conference | 36-16 | 2 | 2017 | 0 | 1-2 | 1 |
| Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | Cascade Collegiate Conference | 41-4 | 39 | 2019 | 19 | 145-50 | 22 |
| LSU Shreveport (La.) | Red River Athletic Conference | 44-14 | 3 | 2012 | 0 | 8-6 | 1 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan | Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference | 48-9 | 3 | 2017 | 0 | 3-4 | 1 |
| Southeastern (Fla.) | The Sun Conference | 50-7 | 3 | 2019 | 1 | 7-2 | 3 |
