Lubbock Christian Fall Report: Fresh Faces and Postseason Ambitions

The Lubbock Christian Chaparrals enter the 2026 season looking to maintain their status as a perennial powerhouse in the South Central Region after a 2025 campaign that saw them finish with a 34-23 overall record and a 30-18 mark in the Lone Star Conference. Finishing fourth in a grueling LSC, the Chaps secured their third consecutive regional appearance and their sixth since transitioning to Division II in 2014. Under the steady hand of Head Coach Nathan Blackwood, who enters his 23rd season with a staggering 836-390 record, the program remains one of the most consistent winners in the country, boasting the 11th highest winning percentage among active head coaches.

While the 2025 season concluded with appearances in both the Lone Star Tournament and the South Central Regional, it followed a 2024 season where the Chaps reached the Super Regionals as conference champions. As the team transitions to 2026, they face the monumental task of replacing a historic level of production, with only 24.9% of offensive plate appearances and 39.9% of innings pitched returning to Hays Field. Nathan Blackwood notes that while there are many new faces and some "studs" have departed, he is encouraged by the work ethic of this current group.

The Offense

The Chaparral lineup will feature a dramatically different look this spring, anchored by a few veteran returners who must shoulder the load left by departing stars. Kyle Lewis returns to center field as a primary catalyst after a 2025 season where he earned Third Team All-LSC honors. In 166 ABs, Lewis hit .373 with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 4 HR, and 49 RBI, while also showcasing his speed with 10 stolen bases. Joining him in the outfield is Brock Tijerina, who in 178 ABs hit .343 with 12 doubles and 36 RBI.

To bolster the scoring output, Coach Blackwood has brought in a haul of high-impact transfers from the junior college ranks. Carlos Mauldin arrives from El Paso CC with an eye-popping resume; last season in JUCO, he slashed .449/.505/.850 with 22 doubles, 15 HR, and 55 RBI. Dylan Marx is expected to take over at shortstop after transferring from Feather River, where in his previous season he slashed .394/.480/.503 with 16 doubles and 34 RBI. Adding further power to the grass is Freddie Nolen, a transfer from Kansas City Kansas CC who slashed .332/.444/.616 with 20 doubles, 12 HR, and 63 RBI, complemented by 12 stolen bases.

The Pitching Staff

The mound corps faces similar reconstruction, though the return of Logan Moore, who posted a 4-2 record with a 5.85 ERA in 32.1 IP, is a key piece coming back to west Texas. To address the departures, the Chaps have turned to the transfer portal for experienced Division I talent. Caden Cline joins the rotation from UT Arlington, bringing a live arm that produced 10 strikeouts in just 10 innings of work last season despite a 7.20 ERA. Also arriving is Aaron Rubio from Southern Indiana, who finished last year with a 1-1 record and a 5.19 ERA across 17.1 innings. This group will need to find its identity early to compete in a conference known for high-octane offenses.

Key Departures

The roster turnover is highlighted by the loss of some of the most decorated players in program history. Brevin McCool departs as a D2 Baseball First Team All-American and the LSC Player of the Year. McCool put up staggering numbers, hitting .406 in 219 ABs with 31 HR and 84 RBI, leading the conference in batting average, home runs, RBI, and OPS. The pitching staff loses its ace in Ryan Markwardt, the LSC Pitcher of the Year and an ABCA First Team All-South Central Region selection. Markwardt posted a 7-5 record with a 3.53 ERA in 86.2 IP, striking out 89 batters before transferring to Texas State. Other significant losses include Jacob Gutierrez, who hit .408 in 218 ABs, and Nicklaus Baumbach, a Second Team All-LSC selection who hit .384 in 237 ABs. Shea Bowen also moves on after a Second Team All-LSC season where he hit .355 with 11 HR and 57 RBI in 211 ABs.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 road to Cary begins with a heavyweight clash as Lubbock Christian travels to Tyler, Texas, on January 30th for a three-game set against the University of Texas at Tyler. The Patriots are coming off a dominant 49-13 season in which they captured the South Central Regional title and made their first DII World Series appearance. This opening series will be an immediate litmus test for the new-look Chaparral rotation. The home slate at Hays Field opens on February 6th against Sul Ross State University.

A particularly intriguing matchup arrives in late February when the Chaps host UT Dallas starting February 27th. The Comets are in their first year of Division II competition after a stellar 32-6 finish in their final D3 season. As the calendar turns to March, the intensity ramps up with a trip to San Angelo on March 6th to face Angelo State University. The Rams were the class of the conference last year, posting a 48-10 record and hosting the Super Regional. Other critical series include a home stand against St. Edward’s University (37-23 in 2025) in late March and an April road trip to West Texas A&M University (31-21 in 2025). The Lone Star Conference post-season is scheduled to begin on May 1st, where the Chaps hope their blend of veteran returners and high-upside transfers will have coalesced into a championship contender. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball