Collegiate Baseball Association

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Finally! The offseason was over for Ephraim and the 1901 Collegiate Baseball season was ready to go. Ephraim had a range of emotions going on during the offseason. His oldest son, James, had transferred from UConn due to lack of playing time. James had played in 18 games as a freshman relief pitcher in 1899 and finished third in Reliever of the Year voting. But James had a falling out with the coaching staff after not seeing the field in 1900. James decided he needed a change of scenery and transferred to the University of Washington, who James felt valued him more than UConn. Ephraim wasn't sure what to think about James living so far away, but he trusted James' judgment on his collegiate baseball career. Unfortunately, the University of Washington had no road trips to the New York area so Ephraim could see him play.

In more exciting news, Ephraim's second son, Warren, had been a highly recruited player and was ranked as the #6 recruit. Warren, a center fielder, had signed on with Cornell. Warren is projected by scouts to be an elite hitter with plus speed and defensive skills. He is slated to hit #4 in the lineup for the Big Red. Ephraim was also excited to see Warren play when Cornell visits Fordham in New York City for a three-game set from March 15-17. The team is also scheduled to play Columbia in New York City from May 17-19, giving Ephraim three more chances to see his son in action. Warren is projected to be a Top 10 CBA hitter for the upcoming season. Exciting times indeed! Ephraim just hoped Warren could live up to the hype.

The preseason predictions by the CBA sportswriters are crazy this season with what appears to be more parity than Ephraim could remember. UConn (without James) is the favorite to win the New England Region. Holy Cross is expected to be the Huskies' only competition in the region. Strangely enough, Holy Cross is considered the preseason #1, while UConn is ranked #6 to start the year. Princeton and Columbia are the favorites to win the Northeast Region, with Princeton holding a slight edge.

Howard University is the preseason favorite to take the Atlantic Region, although they have a number of teams challenging them. Penn, Virginia Tech, Loyola Maryland, Virginia, and Virginia Military (VMI) are expected to be winning teams this season. In the Southeast Region, Mercer is a slight favorite over 'Ole Miss. South Carolina and Wake Forest are also expected to contend. Minnesota is predicted to be a slight favorite over Illinois State to win the Great Lakes Region, with challenges from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Central Michigan, and Loyola Chicago.

Northern Iowa is projected to take the Midwest Region, with Drake and Kansas expected to push the Panthers. The Pacific Region has Cal and Stanford neck-and-neck this season, with California being a slight favorite. LSU is the favorite to win the Southwest Region this season, while Michigan is expected to win the Western Conference over Illinois and Northwestern.

The preseason rankings appeared to be a mess to Ephraim and he had started to take them with a grain of salt. There was so much influence with how a team had performed the previous season that skewed the rankings in his opinion. He wasn't entirely convinced that Kansas State was done after two consecutive playoff appearances. Their pitching staff is solid, but they have three freshmen in the starting lineup, so there are unknowns with their hitting. And even though Tulane won the CBA title last season, Ephraim was certain that the Green Wave would not be competitive this season based on what he had heard. Regardless of what Ephraim thinks, there is still only one way to know for sure, and that is to play the games on the field.

[abell1198]

April 1, 1901— The phone rang late on the previous evening with the news. What he was told had put him in a foul mood, and as a result, he had not slept well. The lack of sleep just compounded his bad mood. Ephraim called Harvard President Rick Hickman before heading to the train station.

“Rick, I’m on my way to Cambridge on the first train. I expect a meeting with you, Athletic Director Trent Nejedlo, and Manager Ryan Allen upon my arrival.”

The weather was miserable and so was the train ride. Yes, it was April Fool’s Day, but Ephraim was in no mood for jokes. The other passengers on the train steered clear of the CBA commissioner, as the look on his face likely showed his disdain for the unplanned trip to Cambridge.

During the trip, Ephraim thought about how the first month of the 1901 season had gone. There was lots of good pitching. Then again, that was the norm these days. There had been a no-hitter thrown, the 12th in CBA history. And there had been plenty of injuries. The Top 25 also weighed heavily on his mind. There had been so much movement in the first month’s rankings, but again, that was normal early in the season. He had contemplated not releasing rankings until after the first month of the season but ultimately decided against it. “It keeps people talking about the CBA and gets them excited for their teams,” Ephraim thought to himself, “so, it is probably best to keep it the way it was.” And if everything was not crazy enough, one school had already fired their athletic director and manager.

The train finally arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ephraim did not care for Harvard, even though his younger brother, James Jr., had played for the Crimson. The atmosphere, and the people in his opinion, were smug and acted like they were better and smarter than others. When he arrived, Ephraim went straight to the campus offices.

“Commissioner Herring, what a pleasant surprise!”

Rick Hickman was smiling, but it was a nervous smile at best. He knew the CBA commissioner did not make unplanned visits to the member schools.

“Cut the crap, Rick,” Ephraim replied. “You know damn well why I am here.”

AD Nejedlo and Manager Allen looked away sheepishly. They all knew the reason for the visit.

“What the hell is going on with your program? You guys are making the CBA looks like a bunch of thugs. The professional ranks already have an issue with fights, but frankly, I expected better from a school with Harvard’s reputation!”

Trent Nejedlo replied, “It was an isolated incident, commissioner, I assure you.”

“Isolated?” Ephraim responded. “Isolated? Let me tell you something. I’ve had one program in my tenure fight two times in a season, but not in the span of a week and a half!”

“The other teams targeted my players,” retorted Ryan Allen. “I told my players that they should defend themselves when they are thrown at.”

“Well then, Mr. Allen, your CBA managing career will be a short one if that kind of mentality continues!” Ephraim said, the volume of his voice growing increasingly louder with each word.

Allen was in his first year at Harvard after two years at Mercer from 1897-98. If it were up to him, it would be his only year at Harvard and his last in the CBA.

Ephraim continued, “Let me make myself abundantly clear, gentlemen. If your team is involved in any further bench-clearing brawls, I will double the suspensions and implement sanctions against your program. The Collegiate Baseball Association will not tolerate this kind of behavior from its players.”

The men stood in the office in stunned silence.

“If there are no further questions or statements, I will bid you a good day.” And with that, the commissioner left the office to catch the next train home.

Regional Recaps

New England Region

#8 Yale (14-6) holds the region lead after one month of play, while #14 Dartmouth (13-7) and #16 UConn (13-7) find themselves a game back of first. The rest of the teams in the region have losing records. Harvard (8-12) had benches-clearing brawls on March 20th at Rhode Island and March 31st at Vermont which led to multiple suspensions. Against Rhode Island, Harvard freshman RF Travis Travis charged the mound after getting hit by a pitch in his first collegiate plate appearance, earning himself a four-game suspension. Rams freshman pitcher Brian Orgeron, who had just allowed a home run, was suspended for five games. Against the Catamounts, Crimson sophomore 1B Art Ingalls was plunked by freshman Tyler Meeker following a three-run shot. Ingalls was suspended four games and Meeker earned a five-game suspension.

Northeast Region

#15 Princeton (12-8) is the best team in the region and holds a two-game lead over Army (10-10) and Columbia (10-10). Cornell freshman CF Warren Herring, who is batting .341 so far in his young collegiate career, was the topic of negative headlines when he committed three errors in a single game on March 16th. In his first 20 games, Herring has 10 errors to his credit.

Atlantic Region

#17 Villanova (13-7) holds a slight lead over #9 Virginia Tech (12-8) and #7 Penn (12-8). Four other teams are 11-9, as this region looks to be competitive early on. VMI (11-9) had junior pitcher Jonathan Pinzon named as the March Pitcher of the Month. Pinzon went 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA and held opposing batters to a .218 batting average. Georgetown (10-10) lost sophomore 2B Sean Bumm for the season to a ruptured MCL. Bumm was hitting .288 through 16 games. Bucknell (9-11) lost junior SP Joe Pierson for the year with shoulder inflammation. Pierson went 24-11 in his first two seasons but was 0-3 this year with a 2.08 ERA in four games. Meanwhile, Lehigh (8-12) will be without the services of junior 2B Bryan Garabedian for the season, as he broke his kneecap sliding into third base on a triple. Garabedian hit .268 through 11 games.

Southeast Region

#1 Georgia Tech (17-3) is the surprise team of the year so far. The Yellow Jackets hold a two-game lead over #3 Mississippi (15-5). Mississippi freshman pitcher Jason Myers was named March Rookie of the Month. Myers was 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five starts. #21 Wofford (11-9) lost their top freshman for a month, as LF Aaron Arnold fractured his thumb. Arnold was making an impact for the Terriers, hitting .388 in 12 games. #24 Alabama (11-9) had freshman SP Kevin Stalnaker threw the 12th no-hitter in CBA history in a 3-1 win over Furman on March 24th. Stalnaker is 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA in three appearances with two starts. Speaking of Furman and bad luck, the Paladins (7-13) lost junior pitcher George Moneypenny for 15 months with a torn UCL. Moneypenny will miss the 1901 and 1902 seasons.

Great Lakes Region

#2 Illinois State (16-4) has jumped out to a three-game lead in the region over #5 Bradley (13-7) and #6 Minnesota (13-7). Michigan State (6-14) is at the bottom of the standings. If that was not bad enough, freshman 1B Joe Borders broke a bone in his elbow and is gone for the season. Borders was hitting .250 through 11 games.

Midwest Region

#4 Kansas (15-5) leads the region by two games over #13 Northern Iowa (13-7) and #18 Iowa (13-7). The Jayhawks boasted the March Batter of the Month, as junior shortstop Karl Ford earned the honor by hitting .506 with 1 HR, 22 RBI, and 18 runs scored. #22 Kansas State (12-8) is three games behind. The Jayhawks, however, lost their top freshman to injury for the season. Pitcher Sean Wise is gone with shoulder inflammation. The freshman was 1-2 with a 0.96 ERA in four games. Iowa freshman pitcher Dustin Dennis ended his season only two outs into his collegiate career when he ruptured the tendon in a finger on his throwing hand.

Pacific Region

#11 Santa Clara (13-7) leads the Pacific Region by two games over USC, Stanford, and Washington State. Preseason favorite Cal is underperforming at 8-12.

Southwest Region

#10 LSU (14-6) has returned to the top of the Southwest Region, at least for the time being. Defending champion and 19th ranked Tulane (11-9) and Texas (11-9) are three games back. Arkansas started the season 4-10 before firing Athletic Director Matt Fitzpatrick and Manager Roberto Cruz. Both had been with the program since 1897, but their teams were 103-150 over that time. Arkansas President David Pienkowski named newcomer Cameron Allen as the new athletic director. Allen wasted no time and hired veteran manager George Fletcher as the team’s new skipper. Fletcher, a two-time Manager of the Year, coached Dartmouth to eight playoff appearances and a national championship from 1881-1899. Fletcher’s teams were 583-502 during his tenure.

Western Conference

#12 Chicago (13-7) leads the conference in the early going by two games over Northwestern (11-9). Preseason favorite Michigan is in the cellar at 7-13, losers of their last four games.

[abell1198]

The month of April went much more smoothly for the commissioner's office. Teams had heard about the lecture Ephraim had given Harvard and no incidents occurred between any team. The month saw teams have ups and downs, as well as the usual shuffle of teams in the Top 25. Nine new teams joined the rankings after a slow start to open up the season and, of course, there is a new #1 team. Lots of teams faced injuries and a couple decided a change in leadership was necessary mid-season.

Regional Recaps

New England Region

#6 UConn (27-14) holds a three-game lead in the region over #17 Dartmouth (24-17) and #19 Yale (24-17). The Huskies are 1-2 against Yale and will face the Bulldogs for another three games in May. UConn won the season series over Dartmouth two games to one. The Huskies have a pretty easy schedule to close out the season, so they should be headed for the postseason. Yale took 2 of 3 from the Big Green early in the year and will travel to Big Green Ballpark for three more in May. The Bulldogs will have to manage without pitcher Lawson McIntyre (2-4, 4.02, 8 GS). The junior was lost for the season with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow on April 24th. Holy Cross (19-22) hasn't had a great year, but the Crusaders have a promising future with center fielder Jordan Goffe. The freshman had a 20 game hit streak and is hitting .354 in 41 games.

Northeast Region

The region is tight with Fordham (22-19) and Princeton (22-19) tied for the lead. Army (21-20) and Columbia (21-20) are only a game back. Fordham swept a three-game set against Princeton this month and face the Tigers for two more in May. The Rams also have three-game series scheduled against both Army and Columbia in the final month of the regular season. Fordham was 13-8 in April, while Princeton struggled at 10-11. Army and Columbia have been consistently playing .500 ball this year, so Fordham looks like the hotter team at the moment and the favorite to win the region. Syracuse (14-27) finds itself at the bottom of the standings (again). On May 12th, with the team at 8-19, school president Josh Bolden decided he had seen enough and fired athletic director Morgan Luecke and manager Jack McDonald. The 56-year-old McDonald was the bench coach for the team from 1889-96 before being promoted and serving as manager from 1897. McDonald's teams were 112-155 over his tenure. Bolden hired Tyler Johnson, 57, as the new AD, and Ray Goodin, 51, as the new manager. Johnson is new to the CBA while Goodin has a year of managing experience. Goodin managed Mississippi for the 1894 season where his team was 13-47.

Atlantic Region

#3 Virginia Tech (28-13) holds a two-game lead over #7 Virginia (26-15) and #10 Howard (26-15). The Hokies will host the Cavaliers for a three-game series to start the month but are not scheduled to play Howard this season. Virginia Tech is a dangerous team. They lead the CBA in runs scored and their pitchers are some of the best in the league. Sophomore second baseman J.D. Bonvissuto was named April Batter of the Month for hitting .402 in 21 games. Bonvissuto is hitting .354 on the season. Virginia is tops in the league in OBP and 3rd in runs scored, but their pitching isn't quite as good. What Howard lacks in offense, they make up for in pitching and fielding, so you can't count them out either. The Bison have not and will not face either Virginia Tech or Virginia in the regular season. Junior left fielder of #25 Penn was 6-for-6 on May 13th in a 13-8 victory over VMI.

Southeast Region

#8 Mississippi (27-14) and #9 Georgia Tech (27-14) are tied atop the standings in the region and hold a four-game lead over Wake Forest (23-18). The two teams are scheduled to play each other in the final three games of the season at the Field of the Yellow Jackets. The Rebels may have to face the Yellow Jackets without the services of third baseman Evan Underwood. The junior suffered a hamstring strain on April 14 and was expected to be out for six weeks. Barring any setbacks, Underwood could join the team in the playoffs. While Mississippi State and Furman may not see the postseason this year, their players are still making headlines. The Bulldogs' senior center fielder Matthew Adkins finished the month on a 21 game hit streak and Paladins sophomore center fielder Steven Burns finished on a 20 game hit streak. Adkins is batting .347 this season and Burns is hitting .327 on the year.

Great Lakes Region

#2 Illinois State (29-12) has a five-game lead over #15 Bradley (24-17) and #14 Minnesota (24-17). The Redbirds don't face either team in May. The Braves travel to the Golden Gophers for three games in the first weekend of May. Illinois State did lose junior pitcher Brad Boston for the season with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. Boston was 12-7 in his freshman year with a 1.40 ERA in 21 games. Since then, however, he has been battling injuries. When he has been healthy, Boston has gone 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA in his sophomore and junior years.

Midwest Region

#11 Kansas (27-14) leads #4 Drake (26-15) by a game in the Midwest Region. The two teams will play a three-game series in the third week of May that may very well decide the regional title. Drake will be without the services of junior center fielder Dennis Draper who suffered a torn thumb ligament on April 28th. If Draper returns this season, it will be late in the postseason, as he is expected to miss six weeks. Draper was hitting .343 in 40 games. On the bright side, freshman pitcher Emanuel Diaz was named April Rookie of the Month after posting a record of 5-0 in five starts with a 1.26 ERA. On the year, Diaz is 9-1 in ten starts with a 1.35 ERA. KU junior shortstop Karl Ford went 4-for-4 and hit for the cycle on April 5th in a 6-5 win over Iowa State in 10 innings. If that wasn't bad enough for Iowa State, the Cyclones lost last year's top recruit to injury the following day. Freshman center fielder Adrian Locke (.348, 24 G) went down with an oblique strain that is expected to keep him out 5-6 weeks. Nebraska (19-22) was already having a rough season when they lost junior pitcher Jim Germain to injury on April 7th. Germain is expected to be out six months with a torn rotator cuff. The junior was 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 games and 7 games started. Colorado State also lost a pitcher for the season as senior John Foard (3-3, 2.68, 6 GS) went out with shoulder inflammation on April 13th.

Pacific Region

#5 Stanford (27-14) surged from unranked to Top 5 after a 16-5 month in April. The Cardinal lead #12 Santa Clara (25-16) by two games. The two teams have already played six games against each other, with the Broncos winning four times. They are scheduled to play two more games at Stanford in the middle of May. California junior Marc Sermons was named April Pitcher of the Month after posting a 6-0 record in six starts with a 1.00 ERA. Sermons is 10-1 on the year with a 1.10 earned run average.

Southwest Region

#1 LSU (30-11) has all but clinched the regional title and leads #16 Texas (24-17) by six games. The Tigers have the best pitching staff in the nation, with three starters that have under a 2.00 ERA. The two teams have wrapped up their season series against each other, with LSU winning 5 of 6 games. TCU (16-25) president Sean Loranca finally lost his patience with the baseball program on April 4th and dismissed manager Jim Sanchez. The following day, AD Brandon Ford was fired as well. At the time the team was 5-17 on the year. Sanchez was the manager since 1897 and his teams were 104-158 during that time. Newcomer Francisco Morales, 61, was named the new athletic director. 57-year-old Steven Weegar was hired as the new skipper. Weegar had previously managed Mississippi State for ten years (1886-95), where his teams were a combined 328-272, posting seven winning seasons, and made four playoff appearances.

Western Conference

#13 Michigan (24-17) surged back in April with a 17-4 record after a poor March. The Wolverines lead #18 Northwestern (23-18) by a game in a tight region that is separated by only four games from top to bottom. Both teams have swept three-game series against each other this season and will not meet again in May. Michigan is 2nd in the CBA in runs against, but one of the worst teams in the league in runs scored. On April 3rd, Northwestern sophomore first baseman Javier Bravo went 4-for-6 and hit for the cycle in a 14-8 win at Mizzou. On April 13th, the Wildcats' junior shortstop Joel Lara saw his 21-game hit streak come to an end in a 3-2 loss against Chicago.

[StLee]

Glad to see LSU at the top! I hope they can make it two in a row for the state of Louisiana!

[abell1198]

The final month of the regular season finished with a flurry of activity. The 13th no-hitter in CBA history was thrown. Another program got frustrated and fired their athletic director and manager. Oh, and as always, the rankings got shuffled and we have yet another new #1 team going into the playoffs. Speaking of playoffs, some teams surged to make the postseason while others faded away and missed out. Ultimately, the regular season ended with seven teams vying for five positions. Extra games were played, bringing about the usual clamors from people to expand the playoffs. But when the dust settled, 16 teams found themselves with tickets to the postseason.

Washington State sophomore right fielder Craig Gilbert finished the season as the CBA batting champion, as he hit .412 this season in 48 games. Gilbert hit .343 in his freshman campaign.

Regional Recaps

New England Region

#8 UConn (39-21) won their 1st regional title on May 23rd and finished five games better than #19 Yale (35-27). The Huskies will host #13 Virginia in the opening round of the postseason. This is the first playoff appearance for UConn, whose program is only in its third year. Yale finished the season tied for the final four wildcard positions, but losses in Game 61 and 62 to Georgetown and Howard disqualified them from the playoffs.

Northeast Region

#22 Columbia and Fordham ended the season tied for the regional lead at 32-28. Fordham had taken four of six games during the regular season, but the only game that mattered was Game 61. On the road, the Columbia Lions pelted the Rams 11-1 to earn their 4th regional title. This is the Lions' 9th trip to the postseason in their program's 31-year history. It won't be an easy trip, though, as they are slated to start on the road against the new #1 team in the land. Columbia center fielder Wes Carpenter made headlines for the team on May 19th. The junior went 5-for-6 in a 12-6 win over Cornell.

Atlantic Region

#1 Virginia Tech (40-20) rode their powerhouse offense to the top of the rankings and the top of the Atlantic Region, winning the region by five games. The Hokies are tops in the CBA in runs scored (347) and batting average (.305). Only two hitters in their starting lineup are hitting under .300. Virginia Tech punched their ticket to the postseason on May 22nd and then clinched their 1st regional title three days later. Oddly enough, however, they were the victims of the no-hitter on May 3rd. On that day, Virginia senior Bobby Key threw the 13th no-no in CBA history on the road at Hokies Ballpark, leading the Cavaliers to a 5-0 victory. #13 Virginia played .500 ball in May and ended the season tied for a wildcard spot. In Game 61, the Cavaliers (36-25) squeaked by #15 Howard at Bison Ballpark with a 7-6 win, overcoming five errors. Howard went on to clinch a postseason berth with a 6-1 win at home against Yale in Game 62. The Bison (36-26) will begin the playoffs on the road against #2 Illinois State. #14 Georgetown also tied for the wildcard positions but was able to get to the playoffs for the 1st time in their program's five-year history by defeating Yale 5-1 on the road in Game 61. The Hoyas (36-25) will start the playoffs on the road against #5 LSU.

VMI sophomore first baseman Jake Longenecker went 5-for-5 on May 11th in an 8-2 win over Virginia Tech.

Penn president Daisaku Moriyama passed away on May 15th after a long illness. He was succeeded by his son Alexander Moriyama.

On May 26th, the final day of the regular season, Penn freshman right fielder Noe Mayoral thought it was a good idea to argue with the home plate umpire in his team's 5-1 loss to Lafayette. The argument occurred after a called third strike that was the final out of the 7th inning. Mayoral tapped the umpire's chest protector during the profanity-laced tirade, which according to press reports, could be heard by many parents and children seated near home plate. Ephraim issued a suspension as a result of the incident, citing that "Mayoral did not display the qualities of sportsmanship and good conduct expected of our players." Mayoral will miss the first two games of the 1902 season while serving the suspension.

Speaking of Lafayette, university president Nick Hooven had seen enough. With his team at 20-33 on the year, Hooven fired AD Bryan Dolan, who had been with the program since 1894. Manager Bill Moses, who had only been at the helm since last year, also got the ax. Moses' teams were 51-61 under his leadership. Newcomer Alex Rios, 56, was named the new athletic director while Ryan Summit, 54, was hired as the new skipper. Summit was the bench coach at Michigan State from 1888-1894 and managed the team from 1895-1898, finishing each season with a winning record. Summit managed his Spartan teams to a 152-90 record and two playoff appearances.

Southeast Region

#6 Mississippi (39-21) clinched their 1st Southeast Region title on May 23rd and finished the season five games ahead of their competition. The Rebels are the only team from the Southeast to make the playoffs as #16 Georgia Tech faded down the stretch. On May 15th, Alabama senior center fielder Justin Gonzales went 5-for-5 in an 8-1 win at Bradley. A week later, Georgia junior center fielder Josh Hugo went 5-for-5 in an 8-6 win at Butler.

Great Lakes Region

#2 Illinois State (40-20) punched their ticket to the postseason on May 19th but didn't clinch the regional title until the final day of the regular season. The Redbirds edged out #4 Minnesota (39-21) by one game for their 3rd Great Lakes Region title. Illinois State lost their final three games at home to Michigan State and are going to play Howard at home to start the playoffs. Minnesota has been on fire, posting a 15-4 record in May. The Golden Gophers have won 8 of their last 9 games. Minnesota begins the playoffs at home against #11 Northern Iowa.

Midwest Region

In another close regional race, #3 Drake (39-21) edged out #9 Kansas (38-22) by a game to earn their 1st regional crown. This is the second consecutive year the Bulldogs have made the playoffs and the third time in their program's eight-year history. The team lost to Tennessee last year in the quarterfinals. This year, the team will begin the postseason as home against #10 Stanford. The Jayhawks make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. They will start the playoffs at home against #7 Michigan. #11 Northern Iowa (35-25) ended the year tied for the wildcard positions but was granted a postseason spot for having the best run differential of the five teams who were tied. The Panthers travel to #4 Minnesota to start the postseason.

Colorado State sophomore center fielder Frank Kristufek hit for the cycle as he went 4-for-5 in an 8-7 win against Iowa State.

Pacific Region

It took until the final day of the regular season, but #10 Stanford (37-23) edged out #12 Santa Clara (36-24) for their 3rd Pacific Region title. The Cardinal travel to Drake to start the playoffs. The Broncos make the postseason for the first time in their five-year history but will have to manage without catcher Josh Matthews. The junior backstop suffered a concussion on May 5th and was lost for the season. Matthews hit .299 in 42 games for Santa Clara. The Broncos will travel to Mississippi to start the playoffs.

Cal junior third baseman Andy Jones suffered an oblique strain on May 14th and was lost for the remainder of the season. Jones hit .311 this year. On May 19th, Cal sophomore second baseman Allen Capps had his 26-game hit streak end in a 4-3 loss to USC.

Southwest Region

#5 LSU (39-21) faded in May by going 9-10, but it was still good enough to win their 4th regional title. The Tigers finished six games ahead of both Tulane and Texas. It is the team's first playoff appearance in three years when they lost in the 1898 semi-finals to Northern Iowa. LSU will be at home to start the postseason against Georgetown.

Western Conference

#7 Michigan (37-23) won the Western Conference by four games for their 3rd conference title. The Wolverines are slated to start the playoffs on the road against Kansas.

[abell1198]

#22 Columbia Lions (33-28) vs. #1 Virginia Tech Hokies (40-20)

Junior Jack Ballinger (7-6, 3.21) gets the start in Game 1 for Columbia. Sophomore ace Mike Smith (12-5, 3.31) is on the hill for Virginia Tech. The Hokies got on the board first in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to a leadoff triple and an error contributing to two runs being scored. The Lions responded in the top of the 4th by getting four base hits and scored twice to tie the game. But in the 5th and 6th innings, the Hokies showed why they are the top-scoring team in the nation. Virginia Tech put three on the board in the 5th and four more in the 6th as they cruised to a 9-3 win over Columbia.

Freshman Kevin Myers (7-6, 2.65) is on the mound for the Hokies in Game 2. Fellow freshman Ron Hager (7-9, 2.69) gets the start for Columbia. Both teams plated runs in the 1st inning. The game remained tied until an RBI double in the 5th gave Virginia Tech the lead. The Hokies hit a single, two doubles, and a triple in the 7th to put three more runs on the scoreboard for a 5-1 lead. Columbia mounted a comeback, scoring a run in the 8th and two more in the 9th to shrink the deficit to one, 5-4. The Lions had a runner on third with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Junior second baseman John Fleming stood at the plate. A .285 hitter on the season, Fleming is 1-for-4 in the game. He hits the first pitch thrown and grounds it to short, ending the game on a 6-4 fielder's choice. The Hokies hold on to win the game 5-4 and sweep Columbia in two games.

#7 Michigan Wolverines (37-23) vs. #9 Kansas Jayhawks (38-22)

Junior Alex Flores (10-4, 1.39) takes the hill for Michigan. Fellow junior John Cockerham (11-5, 2.67) is on the mound for Kansas. Sophomore Brad Yates hits a leadoff triple in the bottom of the 2nd and scores on an error to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 advantage. The game remains tight as both pitchers throw well. In the bottom of the 8th, Kansas manages three base hits off of Flores. Along with a hit by a pitch and another error, four runs scored. The Jayhawks win the game 5-0. Flores pitched well, as none of the five runs scored were earned. Cockerham is named Player of the Game as he holds the Wolverines to only two hits.

Sophomore Justin Carpenter (10-5, 2.66) gets the start for Kansas in Game 2. Junior David Reyna (10-5, 2.15) toes the rubber for Michigan. The game was tight until the 5th inning. Kansas hit a pair of singles and a double to score two runs. The Jayhawks plated another run in the 8th on a sac fly to go up 3-0. Alex Flores, who plays in right field when he is not on the mound, hit a 2-run, inside-the-park home run in the 9th to make it 3-2 with no outs. But the Wolverines record three straight outs as Kansas holds on to win the game 3-2 and take the series two games to none.

#14 Georgetown Hoyas (36-25) vs. #5 LSU Tigers (39-21)

Sophomore Justin Edwards (8-7, 2.88) gets the nod for Georgetown in Game 1. Fellow soph Chris Hood (11-4, 1.37) is on the mound for LSU. The Tigers score first in the 2nd inning, plating two runs on a single, double, and a walk. LSU added another run in the 6th to take a 3-0 lead. The Hoyas responded by scoring twice in the top of the 7th with a 2-run triple to make it 3-2. LSU holds on for the final two innings to take the game 3-2.

Junior Michael Waller (9-4, 2.05) is on the hill for LSU for Game 2. Georgetown counters with junior Matt Hout (10-6, 1.90), the team's ace. Both teams plate runs in the 2nd inning. LSU senior third baseman Jorge Gonzalez (.318, 3 HR, 24 RBI) leads the 4th off with an inside-the-park home run on a ball hit deep into left-center field. Four more base hits score two more runs for the Tigers as they take a 4-1 lead. Georgetown gets a run on the board in the bottom half of the inning and another in the 8th to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Hoyas get a man on base with one out in the 9th, but their pinch-hitter grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end it. LSU wins the game 4-3 and takes the series in a 2-0 sweep.

#13 Virginia Cavaliers (36-25) vs. #8 Connecticut Huskies (39-21)

Freshman Jared Johnson (5-6, 3.57) takes the mound for Virginia for Game 1. Sophomore Sergio Silva (9-5, 2.68) gets the start for UConn. The Cavaliers wasted no time, scoring a run in the 1st inning to take the early 1-0 lead. Virginia adds another run in the 4th on two Huskie errors, then scores three times in the 7th. UConn managed only two hits in the game as Virginia wins the game easily 5-0.

Sophomore Gordie Powell (10-6, 3.49) gets the nod for UConn in Game 2. Sophomore Gibson Didion (10-5, 3.03) is on the hill for Virginia. The Huskies come out swinging and tag Didion for three runs on three hits in the 1st inning. They would score twice more in the 4th for a 5-0 lead. But the tide started to turn, as the Cavaliers plate runs in the 5th and 7th innings. With the momentum turned in Virginia's favor, the Cavs score three more runs in the 8th to tie the game up. In the 9th, UConn plays small ball as junior second baseman Mario Carrera leads off with a walk, steals second, and is sacrificed to third. Carrera scores on a base hit to left to give the Huskies the lead once more. In the bottom of the 9th, the Cavaliers get a man on base with two outs and CBA home run leader Davy Jones at the plate. Jones only sees one pitch, a called strike, as Jeremy Gustafson drifts too far off the bag and is picked off by catcher Alex Alonso at first for the third out!! UConn wins the game 6-5 to force a deciding Game 3.

Johnson and Silva start for their respective clubs for a Game 3 rematch. Unfortunately for UConn, the result was the same. Virginia scores once in the 2nd, three times in the 6th, then again in the 8th and 9th to cruise to a 6-0 victory and a 2-1 series win.

#11 Northern Iowa Panthers (35-25) vs. #4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (39-21)

Sophomore Will Erickson (10-3, 1.67) gets the start for Northern Iowa in Game 1. Junior Jonas Rohrer (12-2, 1.76) is on the mound for Minnesota. The Panthers light up Rohrer with five straight hits in the 2nd to score four times for the early lead. Northern Iowa puts a pair of runs on the board in both the 7th and 8th innings to seemingly put the game out of reach. The Golden Gophers have other plans, however. Minnesota scores twice in the 8th with a 2-run homer and four times in the 9th on a single, a walk, and a pair of triples. But the rally falls short as the Panthers hold on to win the game 8-6.

Sophomore Abe Shanks (7-8, 2.69) is on the hill for Minnesota in Game 2. Freshman Erik Bullock (11-5, 2.12) toes the rubber for Northern Iowa. Minnesota scores four runs in the first four innings, but Northern Iowa responds with three runs in innings 5-7. But the Golden Gophers plate three in the 8th to put the game out of reach and win 7-3 to force a deciding Game 3. Senior third baseman John Boudreaux (.288, 2 HR, 29 RBI) is named Player of the Game with a 4-for-5, 5 RBI performance for Minnesota.

After committing eight errors total in the first two games, Northern Iowa has got to be worried about their chances in Game 3. Erickson and Rohrer return as the starters. Both pitchers gave it their all as the game was scoreless through six innings. With two outs and two on in the 7th, thanks to a walk and error, sophomore center fielder Mike Shorey (.257, 1 HR, 26 RBI) delivers a 2-RBI double to right-center to put Minnesota on the board. Rohrer is just too much for the Panthers as he shuts them down in the 8th and 9th innings to preserve a 2-0 win. Minnesota wins the series two games to one to advance!

#12 Santa Clara Broncos (36-24) vs. #6 Mississippi Rebels (39-21)

Sophomore Ryan Shields (9-7, 3.60) is on the mound for Santa Clara in Game 1. Freshman phenom Jason Myers (14-1, 2.18) gets the nod for Ole Miss. The Rebels got on the board quickly, plating two runs in the 1st. Ole Miss scores a run in the 6th and two more in the 8th to win easily by a 5-0 score. Myers allowed 10 scattered hits throughout the game and struck out five.

Sophomore Alex Serrano (7-7, 3.21) gets the start for Ole Miss in Game 2 of this series. Santa Clara counters with junior Jim Coleman (11-5, 2.48). The Broncos open the scoring with a run in the 2nd. But the Rebels counter in the 3rd with three singles and two doubles. Combined with two Bronco errors, the Rebels score five times. Coleman allows two more Mississippi runs in the 6th and doesn't return in the 7th inning. Ole Miss cruises to a 7-2 win and sweeps the series 2-0.

#10 Stanford Cardinal (37-23) vs. #3 Drake Bulldogs (39-21)

Junior Shawn Blackmon (11-3, 1.52) is on the hill for Stanford. Sensational freshman Emanuel Diaz (11-3, 1.28) toes the rubber for Drake in Game 1. Drake gets on the board first by scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd inning. The Cardinal return the favor with two runs of their own in the 3rd. The game remains tied 2-2 until the 6th when the Bulldogs use four hits and an error to score three runs and take the lead 5-2. Stanford freshman catcher Dave Fullington (.324, 5 HR, 26 RBI) swats a 426 foot home run over the right-center field wall to pull to within a run. But Diaz shuts Stanford down in the 9th as Drake holds on to win 5-4.

Sophomore Seth Joyner (9-7, 2.54) gets the nod to start Game 2 for Drake. Stanford starts freshman Nick Higuera (7-8, 3.06). Scoring starts for both teams in the 1st, with Drake plating two runs and Stanford answering with one of their own. The Cardinal bats strike again in the 3rd for four base hits and three runs as Stanford takes the lead 4-2. The Cardinal add a run in both the 5th and 6th innings to extend their lead. Drake tries to rally in the 9th but falls short as Stanford wins the game 6-4 to tie the series.

Blackmon and Diaz return as the starters for Game 3. Drake scores a run in the 1st to take an early lead. Stanford grabs a pair of runs in the 3rd to take the lead back 2-1. The Cardinal built up their lead with an RBI double in the 6th and then exploded for four hits in the 7th to score three more times to chase Diaz out of the game. The Bulldogs score two runs of their own in the bottom of the 7th, but they can't muster anything else. Stanford wins the game 6-3 and takes the series two games to one.

#15 Howard Bison (36-26) vs. #2 Illinois State Redbirds (40-20)

Senior Mike Anthony (8-7, 2.05) gets the start for Howard in Game 1. Stud freshman Curt Hill (13-2, 1.57) is on the mound for Illinois State. Anthony battled with Hill and no-hit the Redbirds for the first five innings. Hill allowed his first and only hit of the game in the 5th inning. Illinois State's bats came to life in the 6th as they smashed three hits and scored five times. It was all Illinois State would need as they manhandle the Bison to win 5-0.

Freshman Andy Campbell (9-5, 2.95) is on the hill for Illinois State in Game 2. Howard decides to go with a freshman of their own in Victor Garcia (10-5, 2.00). The game was scoreless until the 4th when Howard plated a run. The Bison would add another run in the 6th to extend their lead to 2-0. But Illinois State erupts in the 7th for four runs on four hits and a pair of free passes to take the lead. Howard makes a solid effort, but can't seem to score again. Illinois State wins the game 4-2 and takes the series in a sweep 2-0.

Quarter Final Matchups

#9 Kansas vs. #1 Virginia Tech
#13 Virginia vs. #5 LSU
#6 Mississippi vs. #4 Minnesota
#10 Stanford vs. #2 Illinois State

[abell1198]

#9 Kansas Jayhawks (40-22) vs. #1 Virginia Tech Hokies (42-20)

Virginia Tech lost a two-game series on the road to the Jayhawks in March by scores of 5-1 and 3-0 after starting the season 9-1. Junior John Cockerham (1-0, 0.00) takes the hill for Kansas while sophomore Mike Smith (1-0, 3.00) is on the mound for Virginia Tech. The Jayhawks opened the scoring in the 2nd inning, plating a run on two hits and a pair of errors. The Hokies came back in a fury, pounding out five hits and scoring five times to retake the lead. Virginia Tech added two more runs in the 6th on their way to an easy 7-2 victory. The Hokies had 18 hits in the game. Junior shortstop Caleb Cannon and freshman center fielder Justin Alfano each had three hits.

Freshman Kevin Myers (1-0, 2.00) gets the start for Virginia Tech in Game 2. Kansas pins their hopes on sophomore Justin Carpenter (1-0, 2.00). The Hokies pick up right where they left off in Game 1 in a sloppy game by both teams. Virginia Tech scored five times to start the game as they smashed five hits, with Kansas contributing four errors. The Jayhawks would add two more errors in the course of the day. The Hokies weren't immune either, making five fielding errors in the contest. Virginia Tech added a run in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings to take an 8-0 lead. Kansas attempted to come back by scoring runs in the 6th, 7th, and 9th, but it wasn't enough. Virginia Tech wins the game 8-5 and takes the series in a sweep!

#13 Virginia Cavaliers (38-26) vs. #5 LSU Tigers (41-21)

Sophomore Gibson Didion (0-1, 6.00) is the starter for Virginia in Game 1. LSU decides to go with sophomore Chris Hood (1-0, 1.00). The Tigers warmed up their bats early and used a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly to score two runs in the 1st inning. The Cavaliers came back to tie the game with runs in the 3rd and 5th innings. LSU countered with two runs in the bottom of the 5th only to watch their lead evaporate once more as Virginia scored a pair in the 6th. In the 7th, junior second baseman Justin Harris hit the go-ahead RBI single for LSU, as the Pasadena, California native smashed his third base hit of the game for the Tigers. Not bad for a kid who hit only .230 in the regular season! Hood shut down the Cavaliers in the 8th and 9th frames as LSU holds on to win it 5-4! Harris was named Player of the Game for his 3-for-4 performance with two RBI and a run scored.

Junior Michael Waller (1-0, 3.00) is on the hill for LSU in Game 2, while Virginia counters with freshman Jared Johnson (2-0, 0.00). This was another back and forth game between these two teams. The Cavaliers scored in the 1st to take an early lead, only to have the Tigers take the lead in the 2nd with two runs. Virginia tied the game in the 4th and re-took the lead in the 5th by a run. Of course, LSU tied the game in the 6th with a score of their own. The Tigers would take the lead once more in the 8th thanks to Justin Harris. The Game 1 MVP singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout to second. A sac fly scored Harris and gave LSU a 4-3 lead. The Tigers added two insurance runs in the 9th that they would end up needing. The Cavs rallied late, but could only get one run across home plate, as LSU holds on to win the game 6-4 and take the series in a sweep!

#6 Mississippi Rebels (41-21) vs. #4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (41-22)

These two teams played each other in a two-game series at the beginning of April at Ole Miss. The Rebels took the first game 3-0, but Minnesota won the second game 3-2 in 10 innings. Freshman Jason Myers (1-0, 0.00), the CBA wins leader in the regular season with 14 victories, gets the starting nod for the Rebels. Sophomore Abe Shanks (1-0, 3.00) takes the mound for the hometown Golden Gophers. Game 1 was a close one, with both teams missing opportunities to score. Minnesota used an RBI double to break a scoreless tie in the 4th. A wild pitch in the 7th allowed the Gophers to score a second time in the game. Mississippi recovered a run in the 8th but could do nothing in the 9th as Minnesota ekes out a 2-1 victory.

Junior Jonas Rhorer (1-1, 4.41) is on the hill for Minnesota in Game 2. Ole Miss puts sophomore Alex Serrano (1-0, 2.00) on the mound. The Rebels seemed right at home in the 91 degree temperatures and a home crowd of nearly 1700 fans. The Rebels scored twice in the 1st and never looked back. Senior center fielder Billy Althof went 3-for-4 in the game and Serrano held the Golden Gophers to only four hits. Mississippi wins it easily 4-1 and sends the series back to Minnesota for a deciding Game 3.

Myers and Shanks return for a rematch in Game 3. Ole Miss still has the Mississippi heat from Game 2 on their bats, as they rip into the ball to start the game. Four runs scored in the 1st on four hits and a Minnesota error. The Rebels added a run in the second and cruised to a 5-2 win over the hometown Gophers. Although the win gave the series to Mississippi two games to one, the victory was bittersweet as the Rebels lost junior third baseman and cleanup hitter Evan Underwood to injury. Underwood crumpled on the infield after throwing a ball he had fielded in the bottom of the 1st inning. Ole Miss feared the worst and their fears were confirmed. Underwood's season was over with a torn UCL that will require seven months to recover from.

#10 Stanford Cardinal (39-24) vs. #2 Illinois State Redbirds (42-20)

Stanford decided to put freshman Nick Higuera (1-0, 3.00) on the mound for Game 1, while Illinois State started their own freshman, Curt Hill (1-0, 0.00). The Cardinal opened up the scoring in the 1st with an RBI double. The Redbirds scored twice in the bottom half of the frame behind a single and a pair of triples. A sac fly in the 2nd gave Illinois State a 3-1 lead and the Redbirds skated from there. Hill dominated Stanford and allowed only five hits. The Modesto, California native threw 140 pitches in the complete game win.

Freshman Andy Campbell (1-0, 1.00) got the nod for Illinois State to start Game 2. Stanford put junior Shawn Blackmon (1-1, 2.12) on the mound. Illinois State was first on the board when they plated two runs in the 3rd inning on a 2-RBI double by senior left fielder Chris Garner. An RBI base hit in the 6th gave the Redbirds a 3-0 lead. The Cardinal finally got on the scoreboard behind junior shortstop Tim Rizzuto's inside-the-park home run in the 7th. An RBI single in the 8th scored another run for Stanford. The Cardinal would load the bases with only one out, but couldn't get the tying run across home plate. But they had another chance in the 9th. After two fly outs, Stanford had their back against the wall. Freshman left fielder Kevin Edwards battled Campbell in a ten pitch at-bat. Edwards fouled off five pitches before stroking a full count base hit past the second baseman. Sophomore Bernie Camacho, a .331 hitter in the regular season, smashed the first pitch over the center fielder's head. Edwards advanced to third as center fielder Chris Villarreal fields the ball and throws it in. Edwards is waved past third and is headed home. Second baseman Brian Wicklander takes the throw from center and rifles it home to the catcher. Daniel Brackett makes the catch at the plate....the slide by Edwards....the tag by Brackett....and Edwards is.....OUT!!!! What a throw to end the game!!! Illinois State wins it 3-2 and takes the series from Stanford in a sweep!!

Semi-Final Matchups

#5 LSU vs. #1 Virginia Tech
#6 Mississippi vs. #2 Illinois State

[abell1198]

#5 LSU Tigers (43-21) vs. #1 Virginia Tech Hokies (44-20)

Sophomore Chris Hood (2-0, 2.50) gets the start in Game 1 for the visiting LSU Tigers. Fellow sophomore Mike Smith (2-0, 2.00) is on the hill for Virginia Tech. This game was a pitcher's duel from the beginning. Hood and Smith combined to hold both teams to a combined eight hits. The game was scoreless through seven innings. Junior center fielder Paul Cava singles into left field to start the 8th for LSU. Cava moves to second on a sacrifice and to third on a groundout to second. After issuing a walk, Smith throws a 1-1 pitch to LSU senior shortstop Jordan Huey. Huey connects and sent the ball right back to Smith. But Smith can't handle the comebacker and it hits his glove and bounces toward the third baseman. Cava breaks for home and Huey is able to leg out an infield single as he beats the throw to first. Cava scores the game's only run. Hood shuts down the Hokies on a 3-hit, 8 K performance and LSU wins it 1-0.

Virginia Tech looks to even the series on the road while LSU wants to end the series with Game 2 at home. On the mound for the Hokies is freshman Kevin Myers (2-0, 2.00). Getting the start for the hometown Tigers is junior Michael Waller (2-0, 2.50). The game is scoreless for two innings before a familiar name gets things going in the 3rd. Paul Cava of LSU singles to start the bottom of the inning, steals second base, then moves to third on a groundout to first. Junior second baseman Justin Harris lines the ball into right and Cava scores to give LSU an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers held the lead until the 7th inning when Virginia Tech junior right fielder Shane Herrera lined an RBI double into right field. Herrera would later come home on a sac fly as the Hokies take the lead 2-1. LSU responds in the bottom half of the 7th with a pair of base hits, but they get nothing across as three batters record strikeouts. The Tigers have another chance in the 8th inning as Harris leads off the inning with a double. Harris is sacrificed to third but gets stranded by a shallow fly ball and a groundout to second. Virginia Tech adds a pair of insurance runs in the 9th and wins Game 2 by the score of 4-1.

Smith and Hood get the starting nods again for Game 3. Virginia Tech strikes first in this one as they score a run in the 2nd inning to take the early 1-0 lead. The score remained the same until the 6th when the Hokies smashed three hits off of Hood and scored twice to make it 3-0. LSU finally got on the board in the 7th to cut the score down to 3-1. The Tigers would close the gap in the 8th with a run scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2. The Hokies respond in the bottom of the 8th with four hits and three runs to put the game away. LSU poses no challenge in the 9th as Virginia Tech wins the game 6-2 and takes the series two games to one.

#6 Mississippi Rebels (43-22) vs. #2 Illinois State Redbirds (44-20)

Sophomore Alex Serrano (2-0, 1.50) is on the mound for Ole Miss in Game 1. Freshman Curt "Crash" Hill (2-0, 0.00) gets the start for Illinois State. The Rebels get on the board first by plating a run in the 2nd to take the early lead. Junior third baseman Dean Drake ties the game up with one swing in the bottom of the 2nd, sending a solo shot over the left-field wall. A double, two singles, and two Rebel errors later, the Redbirds scored three more times to take a 4-1 lead at the end of two innings. Illinois Stated added another run in the 3rd to make it 5-1. The Rebels weren't going away, however. Ole Miss scored a run in the 5th to make it 5-2, then went off on Hill in the 7th with four hits. Coupled with a pair of Redbird errors, the Rebels scored four times to retake the lead 6-5! In the 8th inning, Drake struck again, smashing a 2-RBI double to give Illinois State the lead once more, 7-6. Hill keeps Ole Miss at bay in the 9th and the Redbirds hold on to win Game 1.

Illinois goes with freshman Andy Campbell (2-0, 1.50) for the Game 2 start. Mississippi puts freshman Jason Myers (2-1, 1.04) on the mound. The Rebels get on the board first with an RBI double in the 2nd inning by senior catcher Mark Lombardo. The score would remain 1-0 until the 7th when Ole Miss senior first baseman Daniel Vidal led the inning off with a triple. The next batter hit a sac fly to center and Vidal strolled home to make it 2-0. The Rebels scored again in the 8th to make it 3-0. Illinois State tried to rally in the 9th and Ole Miss tried to give the game away. The Redbirds managed a pair of hits and the Rebels contributed an error, a hit-by-pitch, and a passed ball. But in the end, Illinois State can't pull it off and Mississippi wins the game 3-1 and ties the series up at a game apiece.

Serrano and Hill return for a Game 3 rematch. Mississippi likes scoring in the 2nd inning and put a pair on the board for the early 2-0 lead. Illinois State responds in kind by scoring two runs of their own in the 3rd to tie the game. A triple and sac fly in the 5th give the home team Redbirds the lead 3-2. Illinois State roughs up Serrano in the 8th, putting men on the corners to start the inning, then hitting another sac fly to push their lead to 4-2. Vidal strokes a triple to start off the 9th for the Rebels and later comes home on a ground out. But Ole Miss can't score again, as Illinois State holds on to win the game 4-3 and take the series two games to one!!!

#2 Illinois State Redbirds (46-21) vs. #1 Virginia Tech Hokies (46-21)

Amazingly enough, the two top teams in the nation have survived to face each other in the Collegiate Championship Series. Freshman Andy Campbell (2-1, 2.08) is on the hill for Illinois State. Fellow freshman Kevin Myers (3-0, 1.67) gets the start for Virginia Tech. The game was a pitcher's duel and scoreless until the 3rd. Junior center fielder Chris Villarreal leads off and gets on base due to a Hokie fielding error. Two batters later, he's heading for home and scores, beating the throw from center. The Redbirds would add to their lead in the 4th behind an RBI double by junior shortstop Jessie Aldrich. Campbell cruised in this one but got a lot of help from his defense. Campbell held the Hokies to six hits and allowed one walk. But he struck out none and the Redbirds committed zero errors. Virginia Tech committed three errors in the contest and ended up falling in Game 1 as Illinois State wins it 2-0.

Sophomore Mike Smith (3-1, 1.50) is on the hill for Virginia Tech as the series shifts to Redbirds Stadium. Freshman Curt Hill (4-0, 1.50) gets the start in Game 2 and looks to close out the series at home. As expected, this one was another pitcher's duel. Virginia Tech sophomore second baseman J.D. Bonvissuto stroked an RBI double in the 3rd to put the Hokies on the board. Bonvissuto would add an RBI triple in the 8th to give Smith all of the run support he would need. Smith tosses a two-hitter and shuts down the Redbird bats as Virginia Tech takes Game 2 by the score of 2-0.

Campbell and Myers come back for a rematch and as all championship games should be, all came down to the 9th inning. As expected, the two pitchers duked it out and the game was scoreless through five innings. Jessie Aldrich broke the scoreless tie by hitting an inside-the-park home run to start the 6th, giving Illinois State the 1-0 lead. A Dean Drake RBI double in the 7th made it 2-0 Redbirds. Virginia Tech finally got to Campbell in the bottom of the 7th, tagging him for three hits. The Hokies scored twice to knot the game up at two. After a scoreless 8th, the teams moved on to the 9th. After a one-out triple by senior left fielder Chris Garner, Illinois State had runners on the corners with two outs and Drake stepping up to the plate. Drake takes an 0-1 pitch and grounds hard to second. Bonvissuto fields the ball and throws off balance. The throw is wild and past first base!! Drake reaches base on an error and Garner scores!! In the bottom of the 9th, Bonvissuto tries to make amends for his bad throw and leads the bottom half of the 9th with a single. Herrera steps up and misses the bunt attempt twice before grounding into a 4-6-3 double play!! The final batter flies out and Illinois State holds on to win the game 3-2 and takes the series two games to one for their second national championship title!!!

[StLee]

Good ride by LSU to take the #1 team to the brink. Congrats to Illinois State on winning it all!

[abell1198]

LSU could return to the playoffs next season, but they are losing their #4 pitcher and the left side of their infield to graduation. The pitcher isn't a huge loss, but they don't have much depth at third and shortstop. They will probably be challenged next year by Tulane and Texas. Tulane is losing their catcher, left fielder, and center fielder, but they return their entire pitching staff. Texas isn't losing any starters unless someone transfers, so they are poised to improve next season. Then again, any of them could improve if they can get a top-notch recruit to come in.

[abell1198]

[abell1198]

[abell1198]

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[abell1198]

The offseason was another long and busy time for Ephraim. Most of it was self-inflicted, however, as he thought up a new project which took up more time than he could have imagined.

"What if," he told his staff, "I put together a season preview for the Collegiate Baseball Association?"

"Of all 92 teams?" his wife, Irene, asked.

"Yes! That way fans of every team would be able to read about their favorite team. Wouldn't that be great? And if the fans really take to it, we could do it every season!!"

Irene could tell her husband was excited, but one of his biggest flaws was not realizing the amount of work that would go into the projects that he thought of. He was already busy enough with the next season's schedule, meetings with the board, and handling the day-to-day business of the CBA.

"Don't you think it would take a lot of time?" Irene inquired. "There are a lot of teams, Ephraim, and from what you tell me, that number is only going to grow in the future. This sounds like a huge project that will only get bigger every year."

"Good point," Ephraim replied, sounding a bit dejected. "Well, let's see what the fans think of it and go from there."

And so Ephraim went to work, putting in many late hours of researching each CBA team and most of its players and staff. Maybe his wife had been right after all. Regardless, Ephraim managed to finally complete his project and waited to see what the fans of the Collegiate Baseball Association thought of it. He could hardly contain his excitement when the publisher handed him a copy of his 1902 CBA Season Preview.

[abell1198]

[abell1198]