The Eagles enter the 2010 with high hopes of continuing the winning tradition.  Last season Eagle head coach Ryan Howard led his team to within a win of the national tournament. Since Coach Howard taken over the Eagle program, Eagle teams have won 2 conference championships, participated in 3 regional tournaments, and 7 Conference Tournaments. Seven out of Nine seasons that Coach Howard has been at the helm, the Eagles have been nationally ranked in the NAIA top 25. Coach Howard also stresses his teams to succeed academically. The Eagles Baseball Team has received Avila 's Fred Geer Academic Cup as the male athletic team with the top grade point average. The team has also had two members receive honors for the highest male individual GPA within the athletic department.

The 2010 version of the Eagles will feature an explosive offense and strong defense, as well as some new faces since Coach Howard landed one the conference's top recruiting classes. The pitching staff lost 3 out of its 4 starters from last season and will need strong contributions from Juniors Rob Cline and Nate Adamson. Competing for the other 2 starting positions will be Seniors Taylor Monjo and Sean Belknap, Juniors Oscar Rodarte and Jason Bell, and Sophomore Nathan Bacon ( Lee's Summit , MO ). The bull pen will be led by either Sean Belknap or Taylor Monjo who will be joined by Junior Nick Nichols ( Kansas City , MO ), Sophomore Dustin Mauer ( Gardner , KS ), and Freshman Ryan Kendall ( Leawood , KS ).

The infield will be the defensive strength for the Eagles in 2010. All four starters return from last season which includes 2009 2 nd Team All Conference Selections Senior short stop Eric Prickett (Peculiar, MO), Senior 3 rd baseman Andy Velarde, and Senior 1 st baseman Mario Ausiello. Joining Eric, Mario, and Andy in the infield will be last years starting 2 nd baseman, Sophomore Chet Harvey (Leawood, KS), Senior utility player Austin Speer (Harrisonville, MO) , Juniors Cory Stuefer (Jefferson City, MO) and Jorge Gonzales, and Freshman Matthew Ricketts (Shawnee, KS).

The Eagles may have the best hitting outfield since Coach Howard has been leading the baseball program. The outfield is the deepest position on the roster for the baseball team and includes Senior Tim Matson, Juniors Oscar Rodarte, Joey Scott, Matt Homstad, Matt Saragusa (Liberty, MO), Ryan Herrig (Mulvane, KS), Sophomore Tyler Herring (Elsberry, MO), and Freshman Alex Funkhouser (Overland Park, KS).

Senior Brandon Peal ( Grandview , MO) and Junior Josh Betkea will be sharing time behind the plate for the Avila University Eagles in 2008. Conor Ronan will be backing up Pearl and Betkea while filling in as a utility player.

The first pitch of the Eagles season will be on February 9th at home versus St. Mary's University. 

Good Luck Eagles