Elliott: Roth is Doane's best hitter at NAIA World Series

Former Ontario National Carter Roth (Stratford, Ont.) helped Doane to the Avista NAIA WOrld Series.

May 30, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The Doane Tigers went two and out at the 2026 Avista NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

But no one can blame Carter Roth.

Roth (Stratford, Ont.) was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in a 7-3 loss to 18th-ranked Mid-America Christian.

And in a 10-8 loss to No. 1 ranked Taylor, the former Ontario National was 3-for-5 again with a double and an RBI.

Four Canucks were wearing Doane uniforms during the tournament, the majority of them fared better against Taylor:

-Jordan Bond (Victoria, BC) had two hits, including a two-run homer, and knocked in three runs.

-Johnny Vulcano (Cloverdale, BC) had a pair of hits.

-Ethan Merk (Regina, Sask.) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless, with three strikeouts, in Doane’s loss to Mid-America Christian.

On the season, at the plate Roth batted .455 with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 74 RBIs. He had a 1.113 OPS in 58 games.

Bond batted .297 with 13 doubles, a triple, six homers and 40 RBIs. He also carried a .871 OPS in 58 games.

Jimmy Vulcano (Cloverdale, BC) hit .328 with 11 doubles, a triple, two homers and 42 RBIs. He carried a .806 OPS in 51 games. Brother Adam Vulcano hit .267 with five doubles, a triple, three homers and 15 RBIs. He had an OPS of .876 in 47 games.

And on the mound, Merk was 4-3 with five saves and a 3.24 ERA. He fanned 38 in 41 2/3 innings in 19 games.

In addition to the four Doane Tigers, four others made it to the NAIA World Series.

_ Florida Southeastern, who knocked out the UBC Thunderbirds, started 2-0 beating the Johnson Royals 14-13 and Indiana Southeast 16-4. Next came a 17-7 loss to William Carey and an 8-5 loss to Tennessee Wesleyan.

RHP John McDonald pitched in seven games with a 2.44 ERA. McDonald (Mississauga, Ont.) was 1-0, striking out nine in seven innings.

_ Two Canucks were with the Mid-America Christian University Evangels, who beat Doane 7-3, then were edged 14-13 by Southeastern and eliminated in an 11-0 decision to Tennessee Wesleyan.

Ned Ceklic had a pinch-hit single in the second loss. On the season, Ceklic (Okotoks, Alta.) batted .261 with a double, two homers and five RBIs. He had a 1.051 OPS in 20 games. Jordan Hartley (Whitby, Ont.) had one at-bat.

_ RHP Ryan Dexter (Ottawa, Ont.) was with Johnson but did not pitch.