JOPLIN, Mo. – Three members of the Missouri Southern baseball team earned 2026 NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) All-Central Region honors. Brayden Luikart was named to the First Team while Will Doherty and Owen Schneider were named to the Second Team.
 
The NCBWA All-Region teams are voted on by members of the organization's regional committees, composed of sports information directors and athletic communications specialists. Luikart advances to the national ballot for All-America consideration as a First Team selection.
 

 
2026 NCBWA All-Central Region First Team: Brayden Luikart, Outfield
Brayden Luikart, a 2026 All-MIAA First Team and 2026 MIAA Gold Glove Team selection, led the Lions in 2026 offensively with a .377 batting average with 58 runs, 78 hits, 23 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, 46 RBI, 140 total bases, 43 walks, and 15 stolen bases. He slugged .676 with a .496 on-base percentage for 1.172 OPS.
 
Luikart ranked seventh in the MIAA for batting average, fourth for slugging percentage, eighth for on-base percentage, fourth for OPS, fifth for hits, first for doubles and eighth for walks this season.
 
In the field, Luikart notched 139 putouts and three assists on 142 chances with 0 errors for a 1.000 fielding percentage. He started in all 53 games in center.
 
The St. Joseph, Missouri, leadoff hitter, paced the Lions with 24 multi-hit games. Luikart also has 11 multi-RBI games. He went on a 44-game reached base streak (eight-game hitting streak).
 
 
2026 NCBWA All-Central Region Second Team: Owen Schneider, Starting Pitcher
Owen Schneider, a 2026 All-MIAA First Team pick, led the Lions pitching staff with an 8-2 mark (6-0 MIAA) over 16 starts in 2026. He notched a 3.48 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP with 72 strikeouts over 95.2 innings.
 
The lefty from St. Louis, ranked third in the MIAA for ERA and was sixth for opposing batting average (.232). He also was second for innings pitched, third for strikeouts and fifth for wins.   
 

2026 NCBWA All-Central Region Second Team: Will Doherty, Third Base
Will Doherty, a 2026 All-MIAA First Team selection, has started in 52 games for the Lions at third base in 2026. He batted .301 with 43 runs, 66 hits, eight doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 64 RBI, 19 walks and 117 total bases. He slugged .534 with a .379 on-base percentage.
 
He ranked second on MSSU with 20 multi-hit games and is the team leader in multi-RBI games (17). Doherty went on a 16-game reached base streak in 2026 (12-game hitting streak).



 
2026 NCBWA Central Region
First Team
C - Jackson Fliflet, Minnesota-Crookston^
C - Grant Nottlemann, Pittsburg State^
1B - Carter Olson, Southeastern Oklahoma
2B - Logan Myers, Emporia State
3B - Landon Meyer, Southwestern Oklahoma^
3B - Troy Berg, Augustana^
SS - Nate Cunningham, Wayne State
OF - Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State
OF - Camden Tanner, Arkansas-Monticello
OF - JJ Bush, Southeastern Oklahoma
OF - Brayden Luikart, Missouri Southern
DH - Josh Bay, Southern Nazarene
UT - Louis Magers, Minnesota State
SP - Colby Deaver, Emporia State
SP - Mariano Gomez, Augustana
SP - Logan Sandoval, Northwestern Oklahoma
SP - Sawyer Allen, Central Missouri
RP - Eric Woodley, Arkansas Tech
RP - Cole Smith, UMary
^ - tie in voting
 
Second Team
C - Eli Marvin, Arkansas-Monticello
1B - Noah Steele, Emporia State
2B - Ryan Kirk, Southeastern Oklahoma
3B - Will Doherty, Missouri Southern
SS - Jake Berkland, Minnesota State
OF - Isaac Webb, Pittsburg State
OF - Cole Yearsley, Minnesota State
OF - Tui Amosa, Oklahoma Baptist
OF - Ian Luce, Washburn
DH - Drake Lee, Central Oklahoma
UT - Derek Woolwine, Fort Hays State
SP - Zach Voss, Pittsburg State
SP - Ethan Roark, Henderson State
SP - Kyle Lane, Harding
SP - Owen Schneider, Missouri Southern
RP - Grant Huffman, Emporia State
RP - John White, Arkansas-Monticello
 
Player of the Year | Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State
Pitcher of the Year | Colby Deaver, Emporia State
Coach of the Year | Chris Klimas, Rogers State 
 
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