JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern baseball standout Brayden Luikart earned 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Central Region honors, the organization announced this week. Luikart was named to the All-Region team after putting together another standout season for the Lions. It marks his third All-Region recognition this season after previously earning honors from both the D2CCA and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Region teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and select coaches from each region. First Team selections advance to the ABCA/Rawlings All-America ballot for national consideration.
2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region Second 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).
