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Ford, Kellner lead Oklahoma Wesleyan to first ever National Championship

05/21/2011
Oklahoma Wesleyan University - Baseball

BigUSports.com Staff Report

After giving up an early first inning lead, junior pitcher Thomas Kellner settled down, leading the Oklahoma Wesleyan baseball to the program’s first ever championship of any kind on Saturday afternoon.

Needing a third game in a best of two out of three championship series, the Eagles topped North Greenville (N.C.), 4-1, to secure the National Christian College Athletic Association Div. I National Championship. The Crusaders were the defending champions entering the tournament.

Both teams hold dual memberships while competing in the NCCAA. The Eagles are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, while the Crusaders are affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Div. II.

A three-year starter for the Eagles, Kellner throw a complete game to pick up his ninth victory of the season. He allowed seven hits, a run and struck out two Crusaders.

Down a run, Cory Ford was hit by a pitch to lead the game off for the Eagles. Several batters later, the Ford crossed the plate on a ground out to second by Mason Feeler.

Ford, the Eagles main offensive threat all season long, struck again with a double down the left field line, driving in senior Brett Hotie to take the lead, 2-1. Hotie had previously reached on a throwing error by the Crusaders catcher.

The Eagles tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. JD Nalder led the inning off with a walk, scoring a couple of batters later on another NGU throwing error. Dustin Phelps then stepped in and doubled down the left field line to drive in Feeler.

Ford was named the World Series Most Valuable Player, while Kellner was also placed on the All-Tournament team. Second year head coach Kirk Kelley was awarded the NCCAA Div. I Coach of the Year. 

In the NCCAA postseason run for the Eagles, their only loss came in the second game of the championship series with the Crusaders, 11-4. They began the World Series, held in Mason, Ohio, with victories over Southeastern (Fla.), Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Cedarville (Ohio) and Malone (Ohio).

All participants in the ten-team tournament had dual memberships with the NCAA or NAIA.

Oklahoma Wesleyan finished the championship season with a 38-28 overall record.

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