Although the Linfield Wildcats no longer play baseball as a member of the NAIA, the ‘Cats two NAIA World Series titles are celebrated at the perennial NAIA World Series site in Lewiston, Idaho. During the NAIA event -- held in late May and early June -- pennants for all NAIA baseball title teams are on display. See photos taken in May 2010.
For the Wildcats, pennants represent the 1966 Linfield national title team, coached by Roy Helser, and the 1971 Linfield national title team, coached by Ad Rutschman. Neither of those teams won their championships in Lewiston (at Lewis Clark State College’s Harris Field).
The Helser Cats got their victory in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Rustschman Cats won in Phoenix, Ariz. There is, however, a Lewiston connection to Linfield baseball via Rutschman. In 1988, in Lewiston, in conjunction with that year’s NAIA World Series, he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as a baseball coach.
Cumberland University (Lebanon, Tenn.) won the 2010 NAIA World Series. It also won the World Series title in 2004. According to the Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, Cumberland is the “sixth school to win at least two NAIA baseball titles.” Wildcat fans know Linfield is one of the six schools.
