The Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball team represents Dallas Baptist University, which is located in Dallas, Texas. The Patriots are an NCAA Division I college baseball program that competes in Pac-12 Conference. They began competing in Division I in 2004 and joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2014 after only one season with the Western Athletic Conference. They are the only Dallas Baptist program in Division I and the Pac-12. All other Dallas Baptist programs compete in Division II's Lone Star Conference. DBU is also the only D-II member that competes in D-I baseball.
The Dallas Baptist Patriots play all home games on campus at Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark. Under the direction of Head Coach Dan Heefner, the Patriots have played in nine NCAA tournaments and hosted their first regional in 2015. Over their six seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, they have won three MVC regular season titles and four MVC tournaments.
Since the program's inception in 1970, 18 Patriots have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 3-time All-Stars Freddy Sanchez and Ben Zobrist. Under current head coach Dan Heefner, 52 Patriots have been drafted, including Vic Black who was selected in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.
Conference membership history (Division I only) Dates reflect baseball seasons, which take place in the calendar year after a conference change takes effect. 2004–2012: Independent 2013: Western Athletic Conference 2014–2022: Missouri Valley Conference 2023–2026: Conference USA 2027–future: Pac-12 Conference
Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark
Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark is a baseball stadium on the Dallas Baptist campus in Dallas that seats 3,492 people. It was opened on February 15, 2013 with a 9–11 loss to Creighton. A record attendance of 3,242 was set on May 31, 2015 during an NCAA tournament game against Texas.
The ballpark's (and the university's) location adjacent to the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery has led to a unique tradition during evening ball games: at 7PM local time, when "Taps" is played at the Cemetery, the game will stop and all in attendance will face the American flag in remembrance of those buried there.
Head coaches (Division I only) Records taken from the 2020 DBU baseball media guide. 2004 Mike Bard 1 44–16 .733 2005–2007 Eric Newman 3 95–72 .569 2008–present Dan Heefner 18 693–344–1 Totals 3 coaches 22 seasons 832–432–1
Year-by-year NCAA Division I results Records taken from the 2020 DBU baseball media guide.
NCAA Division I Tournament history The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947. The format of the tournament has changed through the years. Dallas Baptist began playing Division I baseball in 2004.
YearRecordPctNotes 2008 0–2 .000 Eliminated by UIC in College Station Regional 2011 3–3 .500 Eliminated by California in Santa Clara Super Regional 2012 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Baylor in Waco Regional 2014 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Siena in Fort Worth Regional 2015 3–2 .600 Eliminated by VCU in Dallas Regional 2016 3–2 .600 Eliminated by Texas Tech in Lubbock Regional 2017 2–2 .500 Eliminated by TCU in Fort Worth Regional 2018 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Arkansas in Fayetteville Regional 2019 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Texas Tech in Lubbock Regional 2021 4–3 .571 Eliminated by Virginia in Columbia Super Regional 2022 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Air Force in Austin Regional 2023 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Oral Roberts in Stillwater Regional 2024 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Grand Canyon in Tucson Regional 2025 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Little Rock in Baton Rouge Regional Totals 25–30 .454
Awards and honors (Division I only)
Over their 20 seasons in Division I, 20 Patriots have been named to an NCAA-recognized All-America team. Over their 6 seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, 24 different Patriots have been named to the all-conference first-team.
All-Americans
2006OFDrew Holder1stABCA2ndCB3rdNCBWA2009SSRyan Goins3rdBACBNCBWADHJason Krizan3rdABCA2010OFRyan Enos3rdABCA2011OFJason Krizan1stABCABACBNCBWA2BTyler Robbins2ndABCA2012OFBoomer Collins3rdABCANCBWASSJoel Hutter2ndNCBWA20133BDuncan McAlpine3rdABCA2015RPChance Adams2ndNCBWARPBrandon Koch2ndCBNCBWA2016UTDarick Hall1stCB2ndABCA3rdNCBWASPColin Poche2ndCB20171BAustin Listi2ndCB3rdABCA2018RPTrevor Conn3rdCBOFDevlin Granberg1stABCACBNCBWA2ndBA2019DHBryce Ball1stNCBWA2ndABCA2023RPKyle Amendt1stNCBWADHEthan Mann2ndCB3rdNCBWACGrant Jay3rdNCBWASPRyan Johnson3rdNCBWA
Freshman First-Team All-Americans
2007SSAustin KnightCB2008RPChris HaneyCB2010SSAustin ElkinsCBDHDuncan McAlpineCB2013OFAustin ListiCB20142BCamden DuzenackCBOFDavid MartinelliCB2015RPDalton HigginsCB2016OFJameson HannahCB2018SPLuke EldredCBSSJimmy GlowenkeBACBNCBWA
Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year
2016UTDarick Hall2018OFDevlin Granberg
Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2017IFCamden Duzenack2018SSJimmy Glowenke
Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year 2023 CF Nathan Humphreys 2025 CF Nathan Humphreys
Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year 2016LeftColin Poche2018RightTrevor Conn
Conference USA Pitcher of the Year 2024 Right Ryan Johnson
Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year 2016Dan Heefner
Conference USA Coach of the Year
2023 Dan Heefner 2024 Dan Heefner
Conference USA Assistant Coach of the Year
2023 Micah Posey 2024 Cliff Pennington
Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year
2016UTDarick Hall2018RPKody Funderburk
Conference USA Newcomer of the Year
2023 DH Ethan Mann 2024 3B Michael Dattalo
Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year 2016OFJameson Hannah2018SSJimmy Glowenke
Conference USA Freshman of the Year 2023 C/OF Grant Jay 2024 SP Luke Pettitte
Taken from the 2020 DBU baseball media guide. Updated February 25, 2020.
Patriots in the Major Leagues
= All-Star = Baseball Hall of Famer
Les Lancaster1987–1993Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis CardinalsBilly Brewer1993–1999Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia PhilliesDarren Hall1994–1998Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles DodgersJason LaRue1999–2010Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis CardinalsScott Mullen2000–2003Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles DodgersJ. J. Trujillo2002San Diego PadresFreddy Sanchez2002–2011Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco GiantsLew Ford2003–2007, 2012Minnesota Twins, Baltimore OriolesBen Zobrist2006–2019Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Chicago CubsBrandon Harper2006Washington NationalsLance Broadway2007–2009Chicago White Sox, New York MetsBrandon Bantz2013Seattle MarinersVic Black2013–2014Pittsburgh Pirates, New York MetsRyan Goins2013–presentToronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White SoxDrew Smith2018–presentNew York MetsChance Adams2018–presentNew York Yankees, Kansas City RoyalsColin Poche2019–presentTampa Bay RaysCy Sneed2019–2020Houston AstrosSeth Elledge2020–presentSt. Louis CardinalsRyan Johnson2025–presentLos Angeles Angels Taken from the 2020 DBU baseball media guide. and the 2021 DBU baseball media guide Updated June 9, 2021.
See also List of NCAA Division I baseball programs
References