Trailblazer trio to play next season at IU-Kokomo

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University baseball sophomores Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) and Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) announced their plans to continue their athletic and academic careers next season at NAIA Indiana University-Kokomo.

Bradyn Douglas has served as a constant presence in the Trailblazer lineup this season, playing in 61 of VU's 62 games as the Trailblazers everyday second baseman and leadoff hitter.

Douglas closed out his Trailblazer career with an outstanding sophomore season, finishing the year with 76 hits, a .355 batting average and a .428 on-base percentage.

Douglas came away with nine doubles on the season, one triple and proved to be a tough out by only striking out 19 times in 253 plate appearances.

Douglas was a constant on the base paths for the Trailblazers this season, recording a hit in 17 of his last 18 games played, including going four for four in a game one victory over Spoon River College.

Douglas finished his two seasons in the Blue and Gold with a total of 114 hits, including 17 doubles, two triples and one home run with a .329 batting average and a .432 on-base percentage.

"Knowing that Coach Honaker is a well known coach across the state gives me the confidence that we will have success both as a team and personally," Douglas said. "Being able to get an IU degree all while getting to continue to play baseball is hard to beat. Plus, it will b nice to be back closer to home as IUK is only 50 minutes from my hometown."

"I would say my favorite memory would be my parents being able to be there when I got my 100th career hit against Danville Area," Douglas added. "Athletically, I have learned a lot about the game from Coach Barney. He has gotten me a lot more at bats than I would have gotten anywhere else. Academically, I have learned a ton about business. All of the professors have made sure I understand the concepts and how it relates to real world scenarios."

VU sophomore Nate Montgomery was another constant presence in the Trailblazer lineup, serving as Vincennes' left fielder and batting third in 60 games this season for the Blazers.

Montgomery closed out an outstanding sophomore season with 59 hits, including seven doubles and 39 runs batted in with a .309 batting average and a .424 on-base percentage.

Montgomery finished his Trailblazer career with 85 hits, eight doubles, 51 runs batted in, a .317 batting average and .438 on-base percentage.

"I really enjoyed visiting their campus and hearing about the academic opportunities they offer," Montgomery said. "I also have heard great things about the Head Coach and know that he is leading the program in the right direction."

"My favorite memory at VU is going three for three in my first career start at home," Montgomery said. "Athletically and academically, Vincennes University has allowed me to understand that I can take on anything that comes my way and make it to the other side."

Corbin Napier played in 56 games this past season for the Trailblazers as a first baseman, third baseman or designated hitter.

Napier recorded 58 hits, 40 runs batted in with a .317 batting average, .373 on-base percentage with nine doubles, one triple and one home run as a sophomore.

Over his two seasons with the Trailblazers, Napier finished with 83 hits, 57 RBIs, 13 doubles and two home runs.

Together, this trio of Trailblazers helped the Blazers to their most successful season in a decade, finishing the season with a final record of 28-34, the most wins by a VU baseball squad since 2016, capturing VU's first Region Championship since moving to Region 24 in 2016 and winning the first Mid-West Athletic Conference Championship in VU Baseball history.

Douglas, Montgomery and Napier join teammate Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) as the first Trailblazers to announce their plans for next season, with Gross announcing he will be joining Brescia University in the fall.

The trio of Douglas, Montgomery and Napier will be joining an IU-Kokomo squad coming off of a 24-29 season, including an 12-11 record in River States Conference play.

The Cougars earned the No. 4 seed in the River States Conference tournament under Interim Head Coach Jeremy Honaker and were able to pick up a pair of wins in the RSC tournament.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Bradyn Douglas, Nate Montgomery and Corbin Napier on their commitment to continuing their education at Indiana University-Kokomo and wishes them good luck as they continue their baseball careers next season.