By Jim Henry
The 2025-26 MIAA sports year came to a close this week when Missouri Southern softball and Central Missouri baseball bowed out of their respective World Series.
The Lions went 1-2 in the World Series in Chattanooga, Tenn. They defeated Glenville State 5-3 in their first game before losing to McKendree 3-2 and West Texas A&M 6-3 in nine innings.
Both were tough losses for the Lions as McKendree scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the comeback victory, and West Texas A&M socked three solo home runs in the top of the ninth to snap a 3-3 deadlock.
This was the Lions’ third NCAA Division II World Series appearance and first since winning the national championship in 1992.
The Lions finished with a 54-10 record, setting a school record for victories in a season. The former record was 52 victories in 2001.
During the season, the Lions won the MIAA regular season and postseason tournament championships, the Central Region Bracket 1 title and the super regional crown.
MSSU coach Hallie Blackney reached not one but two career milestones, getting career victory No. 200 in January and No. 250 in May. She is 253-140 in eight seasons as the Lions’ coach.
Central Missouri also went 1-2 in the baseball World Series in Cary, N.C.
The Mules lost their opening game to UT-Tyler 8-3, walloped UIndy 23-8 in the next game before losing again to UT Tyler 11-7.
In the victory over UIndy, the Mules’ 23 runs were the most in a game since the World Series was moved to Cary in 2009. The 32 combined runs are another World Series record since it relocated to Cary.
The Mules made their third consecutive World Series appearance and 22nd in program history. They lost to Tampa in the best-of-3 championship series in 2025.
Coached by Kyle Crookes, Central Missouri finished 40-17 and won at least 40 games for the seventh straight full season. They were 20-3 when the 2020 season was stopped by COVID-19 in mid-March 2020.
SALUTE TO CHAMPIONS
During the school year, nine of the 14 MIAA schools won at least one regular season or postseason tournament championship.
Three teams captured NCAA Division II championships – Pittsburg State men and women in indoor track and field and Nebraska Kearney in wrestling.
An MIAA championship review:
Cross country – Pittsburg State women, Northwest Missouri men;
Football – Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri co-champions;
Women’s soccer – Pittsburg State regular season, Missouri Western tournament;
Men’s soccer – Fort Hays State (league play also includes Great American Conference schools);
Volleyball – Nebraska Kearney regular season and tournament;
Wrestling – Central Oklahoma (league play also includes Great American Conference schools);
Indoor track and field – Pittsburg State women and men;
Women’s basketball – Central Missouri regular season, Washburn tournament;
Men’s basketball – Washburn regular season and tournament;
Men’s golf – Central Oklahoma;
Women’s golf – Nebraska Kearney;
Women’s tennis – Central Oklahoma;
Men’s tennis – Washburn;
Outdoor track and field – Pittsburg State women and men;
Softball – Missouri Southern regular season and tournament;
Baseball – Pittsburg State regular season and tournament.
It was a great year for the MIAA, and August will be here before you know it.
See you then.
JIM HENRY is sports editor of the Morning Sun and receives correspondence at jhenry@morningsun.net. Follow him on X at @Jim_Henry53.
