A Houston High School graduate helped Central Methodist end a 37-year conference championship drought and clinch a berth in the NAIA Baseball World Series.
Kyle Poynter, a junior outfielder, and the Eagles beat Culver-Stockton on Sunday to clinch the program’s second-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference baseball championship and first since 1975.


Poynter, who in April was named the conference’s player of the week, had a three-run home run in the historic victory. He finished the regular season with a .287 batting average while ranking second on the team in home runs (five) and RBIs (27).
Central Methodist (23-11, 19-7 HAAC) will compete next week in the conference tournament as the top seed before the May 9-13 opening round of the 57th Annual Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series.