KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Cumberland University (Tenn.) head coach Woody Hunt has been named the 2010 Rawlings-NAIA National Baseball Coach of the Year. This honor is Hunt's second in his career as he garnered the 2006 hardware. Hunt and his Bulldogs recently won the 2010 Avista-NAIA World Series title after going 58-9 on the year.

The award will be presented to Hunt at the 2011 Rawlings-NAIA Awards Luncheon in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 7. The luncheon is part of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Convention which runs from Jan. 6-9 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

"This is a very prestigious honor, but it's really a team accomplishment," said Hunt. "Everything we get as coaches reflects on our team. We were such a singular unit as a team this season and I'm more proud of our team than any individual accomplishments."

Mike Evans has resigned after 22 seasons as Bellevue University's baseball coach, school officials announced Monday.

The Bruins plan to start the search for a new coach immediately.

The successful program was rocked just before the postseason this spring when it had to forfeit most of its wins because of using an ineligible player.

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- Former All-State pitcher and Kentucky Wildcat Sean Bouthilette has committed to Campbellsville University for the 2011 season. Bouthilette, a week day starter and reliever at UK, is the 23rd signee for the Tigers' recruiting class and first NCAA Division I transfer.

"I don't think I've ever been as anxious to get them all together," CU head coach Beauford Sanders said of his recruiting class. "(Sean's) a good athlete. He's definitely going to be a big plus and positive impact for us … When we talked to the staff at Kentucky, they had nothing but good things to say about him."

Former Blue Hawk Dan Morari signed a pro contract to play for Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League. He has become the 5^th Blue Hawk to sign a pro contract since 2002. Morari was a standout left handed pitcher for the Blue Hawks during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He helped lead the Blue Hawks to regular season and conference tournament titles in 2006 and 2007. The Blue Hawks had an overall record of 67-32 during his two seasons.

Morari was a 2^nd team All Dakota Athletic Conference selection following the 2007 season after ending the year with a 4-0 record with an ERA of 2.62 in 79.0 innings. He holds the DSU single season record of 96 strikeouts. His final season as a Blue Hawk, he held opponents to a .226 average while issuing just 19 base on balls. He started 11 games on the mound and had three complete games and two shutouts during the 2007 season.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that California Baptist University has been approved for the Division II membership process. The association notified Dr. Micah Parker, CBU Director of Athletics, in a phone call Monday.

"Pursuing NCAA Division II status is another building block in our long term effort to build a premiere comprehensive Christian university," said Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU President. "Since 1994, the institution's enrollment has grown five-fold, revenues have increased nearly ten-fold, and the depth and breadth of our academic offerings and resource base have significantly increased as well. This has resulted in a university profile that is more similar to the majority of NCAA Division II members than it is to the majority of NAIA members. As CBU continues to grow and develop in many areas, we are excited about the opportunities and new horizons opening to us with this move to NCAA Division II."

Ed Cheff, who led the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team to an unprecedented 16 NAIA World Series title and is the NAIA's all-time leader in victories at one school, announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down after 34 years at the Warrior helm.

The veteran coach will be replaced by Gary Picone, who will also keep his duties as athletic director, incoming LCSC interim president J. Anthony (Tony) Fernandez announced. Picone, however, will relinquish his duties as Tournament Director for the Avista NAIA World Series to LCSC assistant athletic director Brooke Cushman.

The changes officially begin on Sept. 1.

NEW YORK -- The 2010 Major League Baseball Draft wrapped up on Wednesday as 38 overall players from the NAIA ranks were selected over the three-day event. The first NAIA player to get picked was Joe Staley, a senior catcher from Lubbock Christian University (Texas). He went in the eighth round to the San Francisco Giants and was overall pick No. 258.

Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), a team ranked No. 1 during the entire regular season, took home the most draftees with eight players. Kawicka Emsley-Pai was the highest drafted Warrior in the 10^th round (No. 301).