May 4: Regional Playoffs in Two Weeks
On May 17, the Division III baseball playoff field will be set for the regionals to be played May 20-23. The first team to qualify was #29 Methodist (27-17) and the Monarchs have waited nearly a month to see who would join them. Babson (24-16) and #3 Trinity (Texas) (35-8) were in two weeks ago and over the last two weeks 24 conference champions have been determined.
The first bids to be earned are the Pool A bids, those awarded to the conference champions. This coming weekend will feature 7 tournament championships that will have a profound effect on those teams who were unable to capture an automatic bid. The Little East Conference, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference feature a tournament field with at least two teams ranked in the Division III Poll.
Surprises always are part of the conference championships. Trinity (Conn) (27-9) and Williams (30-12) have battled for the New England Small College Athletic Conference regular season title but it is the Lord Jeffs of Amherst (19-16) who comes out with the automatic bid forcing Trinity (Conn) and Williams to look for one of the Pool C bids. Aurora (21-17) also needed the late season charge as the Spartans, fourth in their conference, captured the Northern Illinois-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference championship.
Pool B bids will come from the independent teams and conferences with fewer than 8 teams. #2 Emory (40-4) and #6 Ithaca (30-5) are two independent teams who should walk into the Playoffs. #18 Chapman (28-11) and Hayward State (29-11) are looking to join the playoffs in the west region. Two Capital Conference teams are hoping for a playoff nod. Tournament winner, #11 Salisbury State (33-11), regular season champ, #19 Mary Washington (29-10) have legitimate shots at a Pool B bid.
The most competitive of the three bid pools is the Pool C Bid. Only three teams will get one of these bids and the number of teams looking for one is slowly growing. #23 Denison (31-7), loser to #10 Wooster (35-8) in their conference championship game joins Trinity (Conn) and Williams in the list of quality teams to chose from. #15 Cortland State (28-13), and at least one team in the Little East Conference, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference are currently ranked in the top 30 team and will be without an automatic bid. George Fox will also be considered with a 31-9 record.
As of 12 May, 24 or 32 automatic bids have been awarded. The NCAA awards an automatic bid for 32 conferences and reserves 7 bids for the remaining Division III schools. To round out the field of 42, 3 bids are awarded to to best remaining teams. A list of conference winners is shown below.
List of Conference Champions with Automatic bids to the Division III Regional Playoffs If no champions is listed, the dates of the Conference Tournament is listed New England CCC - ENDICOTT GNAC - WESTERN NEW ENGLAND LE - 12-15 May MASCAC - 15 May NESCAC - AMHERST NEWMAC - BABSON New York Skyline - ST JOSEPH (NY) SUNYAC - BROCKPORT STATE UCAA - RENSSELAAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUE Mid-Atlantic CCC - JOHNS HOPKINS CC - JUNIATA FC - DESALES NJAC - ROWAN PAC - ARCADIA South USA SAC - METHODIST ODAC - VIRGINIA WESLEYAN Mideast HCAC - 12-14 May MIAA - ALBION NCAC - WOOSTER OAC - 13-15 May Central CCIW - 14-16 May IIAC - 13-15 May NIIC - AURORA SLIAC - BLACKBURN Midwest Region LMC - CONCORDIA (WISCONSIN) MC - 14-15 May MIAC - 14-16 May WIAC - 14-15 May West Region ASC - MCMURRY NWAC - LINFIELD SCIAC - LAVERNE SCAC - TRINITY (TEXAS)
May 4: Linfield
With the Northwest Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs riding on the outcome, Linfield (31-9, 20-4 NWC) showed it was the team of destiny Sunday, shutting down Pacific 11-0 in front of a sun-drenched crowd of 300 at Roy Helser Field. The Wildcats, ranked No. 23 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association poll, ended the regular season tied with George Fox atop the NWC standings - both with 20-4 records. While the two teams are considered co-champions, Linfield will receive the conference's automatic playoff berth.
The offense is what brought Linfield to the playoffs. Leading the Wildcats in batting is Junior catcher JJ Stolsig (.397, 28 R, 36 RBI). Following Stolsig in batting are versatile senior first baseman/pitcher Alex Justice (.394, 18, 20) and junior third baseman David Moore (.391, 40, 38) . Junior outfielder Tommy Paterson (.386, 46, 50) lead the Wildcats in doubles (13), triples (2), home runs (6) and stolen bases (17) as well as in runs scored and RBI.
The Linfield Wildcats pitching core was led by sophomore Jordon Rasmussen (2.41, 8-1, 65 SO). Rasmussen also lead the team with 3 CG and 2 SO. Complementing Rasmussen is Alex Justus (2.75, 10-1, 64) who has three CGs and a shutout of his own.. Both pitchers have combined for nearly half of the innings pitched. The success of the Wildcats will relied on their third starter, the pitcher who got Linfield into the playoffs - Brant Shilliam (4.76, 6-4, 50)
Linfield improved to 31-9, setting a new single-season record for victories in one season. Linfield next game is in the Division III tournament. Tournament seedings are expected to be announced Monday, May 17.
April 27: Cortland State
In 1993 Cortland State (23-11) made their second appearance in the Division III Championship Series. For ten years they made the trip an annual event. But for the last two years the Red Dragons had to sit at home while others advanced in the New York Region. Ranked second in the New York region to the Ithaca Bombers, Cortland State has the incentive needed going into the SUNYAC Baseball Tournament to join Methodist, Trinity (Texas) and Babson in the Division III Playoffs.
#18 Cortland State has for the seventh time in a row since moving from a two-division conference to one, claimed the SUNYAC conference regular-season title. In the SUNYAC Baseball Tournament they will see familiar faces as all teams in the 2003 tournament have advanced to the 2004 tournament. The venue will be familiar as Cortland State will host the tournament. The Red Dragons finished the 2004 conference campaign 13-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Red Dragons of Oneonta.
Pitching is the strength of the Cortland State Red Dragons. Matt Miller (5-1, 1.40, 51SO), Mike Burnett (7-0, 1.57, 58) and Jason Chyr (4-0, 2.06, 33) have combined for 2/3 of Cortland State's wins. The bad news for Cortland State's opponents is that last years top pitcher in the New York region is still with the team. Mike Hubbs (4-3, 3.32, 31) is having a sub par year but has shown that he is capable of winning the big game.
The Red Dragons offense is solid. The pitchers may have the sparkling stats but the Red Dragon's lineup produces from the top to the bottom. The top batters are part-time starter Will Groff (.373, 18R, 5 RBI), Josh Horner (.368, 24, 28), and Neal Heaton (.358, 22, 20). Josh Young (.310, 30, 17) leads the team in runs scored and Nate Gagon (.292, 18, 21) lead the Red Dragons with 5 HR. 2003 second team regional All-American, Andy Mead (.289, 24, 19) has the lowest batting average of the starters and is a productive part of the Cortland State machine.
The Red Dragons start their SUNYAC title defense on April 30 when they meet Plattsburgh.
April 20: Eastern Conn State
Last year Eastern Conn State ended ranked third in the nation. Over two days they showed why they are the top team in the New England Region with victories over #12 Trinity (Conn) and #24 Suffolk. Fourth ranked Eastern Conn State defeated Trinity (Conn) on Sunday in a 4-3 thriller and on Monday defeated Suffolk 16-3. Eastern Conn State in 22-7 and 7-0 in the Little East Conference.
On Sunday, Senior left-handed pitcher Jeremy Hall recovered after allowing a first-inning home run to record his first complete game of the year and an outfield error on Scott Hayward's ninth-inning single provided the Warriors with a 4-3 win over Trinity (Conn). Eastern Conn State erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to defeat Trinity for the fifth straight time and snap the Bantams' 11-game winning streak. Eastern Conn State tied the game 3-3 on senior rightfielder Dwight Wildman's tenth home run of the season -- a solo shot over the scoreboard in left-center in the sixth inning -- and won it with none out in the bottom of the ninth when sophomore third baseman Marc Garofalo scored from first base on Hayward's single to center. After giving up a two-run home run to Trinity second baseman Jeff Natale in the first inning, Hall (6-0) settled down to shut down the Bantams on four hits and one run the rest of the way.
In Eastern Conn State's 13-6 win over Suffolk, Senior rightfielder Dwight Wildman continued his assault on the program recordbooks with his second five-hit game of the year and extended his hitting streak to 30 games. In a confrontation of the No. 1 and No.3-ranked teams in the New England region, Eastern Conn State broke open a tight game by batting around in the sixth and seventh innings and scoring seven runs to defeat Suffolk for the fourth straight time. For the second time this year, Wildman was 5-for-5 in a game. Among the hits were his 12th double of the season and 11th home run -- fourth in six games. He hiked his average 24 points to .451 and slugging percentage to .820. His five RBI give him 50 in 28 games this year. Wildman has hit safely in all 28 games this year after hitting in the final two games of 2003 to pull to within one of tying Joe Funaro's program-record 31-game hitting streak, set in 1995. The top four hitters in the lineup combined for 11 of the team's 16 hits, eight runs and nine RBI. Leadoff hitter Jason Pekrul was 2-for-6 with a triple and run scored; No. 2 hitter Eugene Julien was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI; No. 3 hitter Scott Hevenor was 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI and Wildman was 5-for-5 with three runs scored. Junior righty Joe Riley gained his first win of the year against a loss, leaving with a 10-5 lead.
Eastern Conn State continues their season Wednesday against Bridgewater State
April 13: Wisconsin-Oshkosh
After returning to the Division III championship last year for the first time in five years, the Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans were expected to compete for the championship this year. The Titans are not disappointing their fans as Coach Lechnir has guided his team to a 20-2 (9-1 in WIAC) record and a number two ranking in the latest national poll.
The Titan offense is batting at a .349 clip with all but two regulars batting above .350. Leading the Titans is junior second baseman Jeremy Jirschele (.424, 39R, 34 RBI). Jirschele is also leading the team with 14 doubles. The next three top batters are all seniors. Catcher Korey Feiner (.420, 34, 40) leads the team with 5 HR, outfielder Lucas Lechnir (.380, 28, 27) player of the week in the WIAC last week, and outfielder Kyle Heckendorf (.382, 21, 24) are all contributing to the success of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Senior right-hander Jordon Timm (2.41, 3-2, 37SO) coming off a 11-0 campaign last year was to be the ace of the staff but junior Ben Huffman (0.55, 5-0, 41) is the ace of the staff in 2004. Huffman garnered WIAC pitcher of the week award last week and has been nearly unhittable leading the team in many categories. Freshman Jon Ganzen (2.48, 3-0, 27) shows the Titan faithful that Wisconsin-Oshkosh will continue to be one of the perennial favorites for the Division III Championship run.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh continues the WIAC season at Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Wednesday afternoon.
April 6: Marietta
Unranked at the beginning of the year and with the retirement of long time coach Don Schaly, there were many questions on the path the Marietta Pioneers would take this season. The questions are answered as Brian Brewer has steered the Pioneers to a 17-3 record.
The Pioneers are winning games with their offense and pitching. Marietta finished a doubleheader sweep over conference rival Ohio Northern last Saturday by scores of 14-5 and 15-2 to move to 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Two weeks earlier, junior pitcher, Mike Mooney no-hit Ohio Wesleyan as he faced just 31 batters on his way to his second no-hitter of his college career. The next game, Sophomore Mike DeMark struck out nine Theil Tomcats for the second no-hit game in as many game. Marietta on Tuesday split a doubleheader at 19th ranked Denison
With the graduation of Matt DeSalvo big shoes needed to be filled. Midway through the season, the trio of DeMark, Mooney and Papania have filled those shoes and have propelled the Pioneers to a Mideast regional favorite. Juniors Mike Mooney (1.84, 7-0, 45 SO) and Justin Papania (2.35, 3-0, 27) and Mike DeMark (1.58, 5-0, 52) have 7 complete games and 4 shutouts among them.
The Marietta offense is lead by a mix of upperclassmen and freshman. Freshman infielder John Sciullo (.446, 18 R, 20 RBI) leads the team in batting average. Second in batting average and leading the team in slugging percentage, RBIs and stolen bases (16) is junior outfielder Chris Sidick (.389, 25, 20). Freshman infielder Ryan Eschbaugh (.397, 15, 15) and senior shotstop Andy Coble (.400, 33, 19) are also making a contribution to the Pioneer offense. Coble leads the team in runs scored and homeruns. Marietta is batting .360 as a team.
Marietta continues their season with a game against Shawnee State on Thursday.
March 30: Trinity (Texas)
When the preseason Division III baseball poll came out Trinity University (Texas) (25-3, 13-2 SCAC) was nowhere to be seen. Riding the bat of Jason Armstrong, the Tigers have roared into fourth in the latest Division III baseball Poll released on Monday.
Over the weekend, Trinity swept three games from the Rhodes Lynx. On Saturday Trinity overcame five errors and a three-run first inning in the first game to pull out a tough 12-9 win, and then exploded with the lopsided shutout victory with 26 runs and 23 hits in the second game. Trinity's Andrew Findlay and Jason Armstrong both hit for the cycle in the team's 20-11 win over Rhodes College on Sunday afternoon, finishing a season sweep of the Lynx. Findlay hit two doubles, a triple, a homer, and two singles in the game, completing the cycle with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. Armstrong completed his cycle with a home run in the eighth inning, though his was a solo shot to lead off the inning. Armstrong extending his hit streak to 23 games.
The Trinity pitching staff has started well this season with an ERA of 2.44 and allowing a .225 batting average against. Three pitchers have an ERA under 2.00 - Mike Frost (1.74, 6-0, 47 SO), Adam Frey (1.78, 4-0, 47) and Brian Oates (1.87, 4-0, 53). A fourth Tiger pitcher, Forest Meyer (2.78, 4-0, 53) is tied with Oates with the lead in strikeouts.
The Trinity Tigers are batting .368 on the season. Team Captain, Senior Jason Armstrong (.512, 47 R, 47 RBI) leads the Tigers in most offensive categories. batting average. The Tiger's shortstop has a .909 slugging percentage and patience at the plate. Armstrong has only 1 SO in 121 AB. Huston O'Conner (.421, 34, 45) and Andrew Findlay (.412, 15, 23) are both batting above .400 and Chase Tettleton is leading the team with 10 HR.
Trinity continues with a home game against Hardin-Simmons on April 6.
March 23: John Hopkins University
When the first Division III baseball poll of the season comes out next week, Johns Hopkins University will certainly move up in the rankings. The sixth-ranked Blue Jays capped its Florida trip with a 17-4 victory over No. 24 Wheaton last Saturday (20 March) and started the Centennial Conference schedule with a 5-3 come from behind win on Tuesday. The Blue Jays improved to 14-0 on the season.
In the win against Wheaton, junior Paul Winterling went 3-for-3 with seven runs batted in and Junior Mike Durgala went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and two singles. Winterling and Durgala also hit home runs in the Centennial season opened on Tuesday to pace the Blue Jays. Durgala was rewarded for his play last week with Player of the Week in the Centennial Conference and an honorable mention in the NCBWA Player of the Week. Durgala hit a team-best .529 last week as the Blue Jays went 7-0 in Clearwater, FL, leading the team with four doubles and 16 total bases.
The Johns Hopkins pitching staff has started well this season with an ERA of 2.25 and allowing a .210 batting average against. The ace of the Blue Jay pitching staff is the 2003 Centennial Pitcher of the Year, Senior Jeremy Brown. Brown (1.64, 3-0, 28SO) leads the team in wins and strikeouts. Junior Ryan McConnell (3.75, 3-0, 14) is also tied with Brown with 3 wins and is having a fine season. Senior Sven Stafford (0.00, 0-0, 12) has five of the teams seven saves. Jason Thayer (0.00, 1-0, 10) is making a contribution as a spot starter.
The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays are batting .356 on the season. Senior Rob Morrison (.486, 9,7) leads the Blue Jays in batting average. Paul Winterling (.344, 7, 19), last years Centennial Player of the year, started the season slowly but is hitting the ball hard lately. His 19 RBI leads the team. Although Dave Montegari (.375, 5, 7) has only played five games, he is making the most of his chances and leads the team with 3 HR. Mike Durgala (.424, 9, 11) also has 3 HR.
Johns Hopkins continues their Centennial Conference schedule on Friday when they play Gettysburg on the road.
March 16: Emory University
Last year Emory University's baseball team finished fifth at the NCAA Division III College World Series, its best result ever. The Eagles' are looking to improve on that finish as they start the 2004 season with nineteen straight wins.
During the streak, Emory came closest to stopping the streak just as it was starting. In just their second game, Emory found themselves down one run in the 15th inning against Washington and Lee. The Eagles escaped with a 4-3 win as the General pitching staff was unable to find the plate, allowing 4 walks, and a wild pitch in the last inning. Emory has not been challenged since, winning their games by more than five runs a contest.
The Eagles went 6-0 last week in the University Athletic Association (UAA) tournament winning the conference title. Rob Segear led all conference players in hitting with a .550 batting average in the annual tournament. For the week, Segear was first among all UAA participants in hits (11) and runs scored (8), and second with a .591 on-base percentage, third in doubles (3), and fifth with a .700 slugging percentage.
Third baseman Andrew Pinckney leads the Eagles with a .494 batting average 28 RBI, and a .805 slugging percentage. Josh Barrett leads the team with 25 stolen bases with Pinckney second at 15 SB. Three other regulars are batting .400 or above . The Eagle pitching staff has a superb 2.14 ERA with a 2/1 SO/BB ratio. Will Carr leads the pitching staff with a 5-0 record and Keith Meizler has converted all three save opportunities for Emory this year. Emory goes for win number 20 on Wednesday against Iowa Wesleyan.
Updated April 2004