Grand Chute, Wisconsin - It is amazing what a team can achieve when destiny is on its side. Chapman University had the tough task Tuesday of winning two games against Christopher Newport University at Fox Cities Stadium to claim the title at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Series.
For the team of destiny from Chapman, beating previously unbeaten Christopher Newport twice would be just another feat in an amazing run to the national championship.
After pounding the Captains 15-2 in the first game Tuesday to force a second championship game in the double-elimination tournament, Chapman beat Christopher Newport 15-7 to win its first national championship. The Panthers became the third team ever, and the first since Montclair State University in 2000, to win two games on the final day to claim the title. “I don’t think anyone didn’t believe we couldn’t pull this off today,” Chapman shortstop Brian Sanders said.
First-year Chapman head coach Tom Tereschuk had already seen his team beat George Fox University twice on the final day of the regional just to get to the Championship Series. Then it was a superb performance in front of a record and highly partisan University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh crowd of 3,868 on Friday in a 6-1 win over the Titans. He then witnessed a fabulous comeback Sunday night against Emory University that saw the Panthers score four times, including three runs with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Eagles 6-5 in an elimination game. “We had complete confidence from the start,” Tereschuk said. “They never wavered in their faith, and they kept after it.”
The Panthers, which came into the Championship Series with one of the best pitching staffs in the nation, did the talking with their bats on Tuesday. In the two games, Chapman (39-12) scored 30 runs and pounded out 40 hits, all while getting solid pitching from a staff depleted by five days of play. The Panthers had 24 hits, a season high, in the title game. “For a team that supposedly pitches it pretty good, they hit it pretty good too,” Christopher Newport head coach John Harvell said.
After getting routed in the first game, it appeared as though the Captains had righted the ship. After falling behind 4-2, thanks to a four-run third inning by Chapman in which Matt Graves belted a two-run double, Christopher Newport rallied in the bottom half of the frame. Matt Turner led off with a homer, and the Captains got two more hits in the inning and took advantage of two walks to grab a 5-4 lead.
But the hits just kept coming for Chapman. The Panthers scored two more in the fourth and fifth, and Graves belted a solo homer in the sixth to give Chapman a 9-7 lead heading into the seventh. “It’s hard to play catch-up all the time,” Harvell said. “(Chapman) flat-out swung the bats today.”
The Panthers really broke the game open with five runs in the seventh. Chapman had five hits in the inning, including a two-run single by Shaun Donahoe and a two-run double by Sanders.
The Panthers added another run in the eighth to complete the scoring, and it was driven in on a double by second baseman Alex Taylor, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship Series.
“I thought we were loose as we can be. I think we had the advantage today. I think they were nervous,” Sanders said. “When you play that bad and win (against Emory), it does something for you. After that game, I didn’t think we were going to lose.”
After getting off to a rocky start, Chapman starter Scott Akamine settled down in the second half of the game. He didn’t allow a run in the final four innings and went the distance. He allowed nine hits, struck out six and walked five.
“We played in front of the largest crowd. We had the biggest comeback. We won the championship,” Taylor said. “I can’t think of any other team that could have experienced the scope of the tournament (more).”
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Vince Mancuso was voted the Position Player of the Year, headlining the Division III All American team. Mancuso led the Titans to a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament and a 33-6 overall record.
Mancuso has a .500 batting average, 1.030 slugging percentage, .629 on-base percentage, 68 RBIs, 67 hits and 17 home runs, 61 runs scored and four triples. Only once this season has Mancuso had his batting average dip below .500 and that occurred in his 186th at-bat. Mancuso has 21 multi-hit games, 16 multi-RBI games and he began the year with a 14-game hitting streak.
Mancuso becomes the second Titan in history to win the Position Player of the Year award, joining Tim Jorgenson (1994, 1995).
Kurt Piantek of Trinity College (Conn) was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division III Player of the Year, while Marietta College's Matt DeSalvo (Sr., New Castle, Pa./Union Area) has been named NCBWA NCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year. Piantek, the New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a first-team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-American, batted .531 with 49 runs scored, 10 doubles, 18 home runs and 61 RBI. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
DeSalvo, a three-time Ohio Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and a three-time first-team ABCA All-American, went 13-2 with a 1.31 earned run average and 157 strikeouts in 96.0 innings. DeSalvo, who broke the NCAA all-divisions career record for pitching victories (53) and the NCAA all-divisions career record for strikeouts (603), signed a minor league free agent contract with the New York Yankees.
Damian Costantino's name now represents for college baseball what Joe DiMaggio's means in the big leagues. Costantino, who plays for Salve Regina College, broke third baseman Robin Ventura's NCAA record for consecutive games, singling against Mount Union College to extend his run to 59 on March 10, 2003. Damian Costantino would end his hitting streak two games later for an all-time NCAA record 60 consecutive game hit streak.
Costantino, a 24-year-old outfielder from Warwick, R.I., hit an RBI single over the second base bag with one out in the third inning. His teammates rushed the field to mob him as the play ended. The hit came on a 2-1 count with one out and cut Mount Union's lead to 5-1. Mount Union went on to win the game 13-2.
``As soon as the ball went over the pitcher's head, I knew it,'' Constantino said. ``There is no emotion right now. I think the emotion will come when I tell my dad. It hasn't sunk in yet.'' His father, Gary Costantino, has stomach cancer and could not make the trip to see his son break the record.
Damian Costantino said he has called his father nightly to tell him how he's hitting. ``I know how it makes him feel,'' he said. ``I can almost see him smiling over the phone. it's a warm feeling inside.''
Costantino almost had his streak snapped in the first game of the doubleheader, striking out in his first three at-bats. But he lined an 0-1 pitch just inside the first-base line for a one-out double in the seventh inning, extending his run to 57 games and keeping the record chase alive.
Costantino, who spent two years in the Army before starting college, tied the record Sunday with hits in both games of a doubleheader against Wesley College. The discipline he learned in the military helps on the diamond. "It gives you the edge and it allows you to concentrate a lot harder," he said.
Ventura set the old college mark when he hit in 58 straight games for Division I Oklahoma State in 1987. He didn't even know his record was in jeopardy until this weekend. ``I know his name now,'' Ventura said. ``I don't read a lot of newspapers now. I hope he does it. I just know how hard it is.''
Costantino's streak began April 1, 2001, against Rhode Island College with a 1-for-2 day. He had just two hits in the first eight games of his freshman year because an ear infection affected his balance and timing, Salve Regina coach Steve Cirella said. Costantino hit safely in the final 21 games of the 2001 season, then in all 35 games he played in 2002. Against Johnson & Wales last April, Costantino broke the NCAA Division III record by hitting safely in his 47th straight game.
"He's great friends with my son and he's almost part of my family," Cirella said. When the record fell, "I started tearing up because it was so emotional for me," he said. Costantino has natural ability, but is also a student of the game, said Eric Cirella, the coach's son who dubbed Costantino 'Joey D' in honor of DiMaggio. "He works hard. He reads all these books on hitting and mental stuff. "It's great for him, I'm happy for him and I'm proud of him," he said.
Marietta College veteran baseball coach, Don Schaly, announced his retirement at a press conference in the Board Room of the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center on the campus of MC on Friday. Schaly, who is entering his 40th year as the Pioneers head coach, will step down at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Associate coach, Brian Brewer, has been named as Schaly's successor and will take over the helm this summer.
"It has been a love affair that started back in the mid-1950s," said Schaly of his tenure as head baseball coach. "I can't think of anything else I would have rather done for the past 40 years or at another place. Marietta College is truly a special place to me and my family."
For the past 39 years, Schaly has worked tirelessly to build the best NCAA Division III baseball program in the nation, and the numbers speak for themselves. He has guided his teams to three NCAA Division III National Championships and seven National Runner-up finishes, including the past two seasons. He has also won 18 Mideast Regional Championships and 27 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships, including 13 consecutive titles from 1990 to 2002.
On May 4, 2002, Schaly became only the third coach in NCAA Baseball history to amass 1,400 career victories, and his record now stands at 1,412 wins and 316 losses. His .817 winning percentage also ranks him as the winningest baseball coach in the NCAA (all divisions).
"Marietta College is fortunate to have had Don Schaly as its head baseball coach. An alumnus of the College, he has demonstrated to us and to the Division III world that concern for student-athletes, high personal and academic standards, and deep knowledge of and passion for the game of baseball are a winning combination," said MC President Jean Scott. "
Current players and alumni describe Don as a demanding and caring coach. He exemplifies the spirit of Division III athletics, and Marietta College is better because he is a part of it. All of us will miss Coach Schaly when he retires, and I know that the entire College community joins me in wishing him great happiness in the next phase of his life."
In addition to the victories and championships, Schaly has gathered an outstanding collection of coaching awards during his career. In 1995 he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame. He has been named the National Coach of the Year four times (1975, 1981, 1983 and 1986), and in 2000 he was named Coach of the Century by Collegiate Baseball. Schaly has also been named the OAC's Coach of the Year 17 times and the Mideast Regional Coach of the Year 21 times. Last year, Schaly guided the Pioneers to a 41-9 overall record and their second consecutive NCAA Division III National Runner-up finish. After going 31-7 in the regular season, Schaly's squad swept the competition in the OAC and Mideast Regional Tournaments to advance to the NCAA Division III World Series in Appleton, WI, where they dropped the championship game, 8-0, to Eastern Connecticut University.
Schaly has not had a losing season in his 39 years at MC. His best season came in 1981 when his squad posted a 59-5 overall record and captured MC's first NCAA Division III National Championship.
A number of talented athletes have also come through the ranks under Schaly's tutelage. He has had 100 players named All-American and 37 have gone on to play professionally. The most famous of Schaly's players include former Pittsburgh Pirate, Kent Tekulve,current Los Angeles Dodgers manager, Jim E. Tracy and Cleveland Indians pitcher, Terry Mulholland.
Schaly's success with the Pioneers can be credited to the countless hours he spends recruiting and preparing for the upcoming season, but he is quick to give credit to the people around him. "All of the folks - players, coaches, fans and community - are what I tell recruits the reason I've stayed at Marietta College for so long," said Schaly. "My time at Marietta College has been very special and I have too many people to thank for why it was so special."
"I believe he is the cornerstone figure in the Marietta College Athletic Department and the cornerstone figure at Marietta College," said associate baseball coach Brian Brewer, who will take over for Schaly at the end of the 2003 season. "It has been a privilege, an honor and an incredible learning experience to work with Coach Schaly. It has been very rewarding both professionally and personally."
Schaly has been a part of the MC family for a long time. He earned his bachelor's degree from the College in 1959 and during his undergraduate days played both baseball (catcher) and football (center and linebacker). He earned his master's degree from Penn State University in 1960 and coached at Midview High School from 1960 until he returned to Marietta as head baseball coach in September 1963. Schaly also served as an assistant football coach for the Pioneers for 17 years.
Jose Cortez, playing in his final collegiate game for Pomona-Pitzer (30-11), hit his Division III career record-tying 70th home run in the first inning off of Chapman pitcher Jairo Ochoa. Cortez stands with University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Tim Jorgensen atop the all-time HR list. It was also Cortez’s 20th home run this season. Cortez's record tying homerun was in a losing effort as Pomona-Pitzer was eliminated by the eventual West region winner, Chapman University.
Jose Cortez is a four time Division III All American, earning first team honors the last three years.
Marietta College, right-handed pitcher, Matt DeSalvo, set the NCAA all-divisions career strikeout record with his his 603rd career strikeout at the 35th Annual Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships. Earlier in the year, DeSalvo set the all-time career victories leader in NCAA Division III.
DeSalvo, who recorded 19 strikeouts in the Pioneers first round victory over Baldwin-Wallace College, was only three strikeouts away from the record going into today's games. He took the mound in the eighth inning of Marietta's elimination game versus Heidelberg and struck out the side to break the record. DeSalvo surpasses John Powell of Auburn University, who recorded 602 career strikeouts from 1991-94 with the Tigers.
Matt DeSalvo added one more accomplishment to his career resume this year as he recorded his 48th career victory, surpassing former Marietta pitcher, Jim Katschke, as the all-time career victories leader in NCAA Division III. DeSalvo led the Pioneers to a 4-2 win over Baldwin-Wallace in the first game of an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) double header at Pioneer Park.
DeSalvo, unwilling to surender his pin stripes signed a free agent contact with the New York Yankees following this, his senior season. DeSalvo, a three time first team All-American came back this year as a fifth-year senior having suffered a season ending injury early in the 2001-2002 season.
The Houston Astros had to wait until the 59th pick to make their first selection in the 2003 draft, but apparently, it was worth it. The Astros selected right-handed pitcher Jason Hirsh out of Cal-Lutheran University in Burbank, CA, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound junior who was recently named first team to both the All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) team and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III All-West Region team this spring.
Hirsh listened to the draft on MLB.com with his family in Burbank. "I heard my name and it was really exciting," he said. "(Family members) were all screaming and clapping. I just kind of took a step back and said 'Wow, I've done it. I'm here.'" Director of Scouting David Lakey was pleasantly surprised that Hirsh was still available when it was finally time for the Astrosto make their first pick. "At 59, I was surprised that this guy would still be there, but you know how the draft goes," Lakey said. "Anything's possible. "He's got a power fastball and a power curveball. His fastball is anywhere from 90-97 (mph) and his slider is anywhere from 80-85. He's one of those guys who seems to throw better in the later innings. He gets stronger as the game goes on."
Hirsh was 9-1 with a 3.68 ERA for the Kingsmen this year. He appeared in 15 games (12 starts) and threw six complete games. He allowed 41 earned runs over 100 1/3 innings with 22 walks and 126 strikeouts. On April 4, Hirsch threw a one-hitter against division-rival Occidental College and set a school record with 18 strikeouts en route to a 16-0 win. Hirsh, who had a no-hitter until the eighth inning, surpassed the previous CLU strikeout record of 17, set in 1993.
A complete list of Division III baseball players drafted follows
No. Player, School, Position, Drafted by (round drafted) 59. Jason Hirsh, Cal Lutheran, rhp, Houston (2) 351. James Paduch, Concordia (Ill), rhp, Cinncinati (12) 415. Jose Cortez, Pomona-Pitzer, c, Philadelphia (14) 434. *Jordon Timm, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, lhp, Baltimore (15) 449. Robert Edmiston, Mississippi, rhp, Houston (15) 462. Bryan Graham, William Paterson, of, Kansas City (16) 512. Ryan France, Chapman, rhp, Oakland (17) 532. Cory Haggerty, Cortland State, 2b, Chicago, AL (18) 536. James Hyman, Rust, ss, Seattle (18) 599. Brian Skaug, Cal Lutheran, 2b, Houston (20) 691. Taylor Slimak, Cal Lutheran, c, Los Angeles (23) 695. Matthew Blanton, Hendrix, lhp, St. Loius (23) 705. Joshua Sharpless, Allegheny, rhp, Pittsburg (24) 786. Travis Van Zile, Wisconsin-Whitewater, of, Arizona (26) 993. Eric Macha, Case Western Reserve, 3b, Oakland (33) 999. Dan Grybash, Carthage, rhp, Milwaukee (34) 1111. Mike Ludwig, St. Olaf, 1b, Los Angeles (37) 1268. Brian Santo, Mount St. Mary, rhp, Detroit (43) 1296. Kurt Piantek, Trinity (Conn), 1b, Detroit (44) * did not sign
Updated June 2003