Collegiate Baseball Association

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

Another season of the Collegiate Baseball Association had arrived, and James was perusing the newspaper to see what this year's predictions looked like. With the last two seasons arguably being the best in the association's history, James was hoping that trend would continue. It looked to be another three team race in the New England Region, with Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale all competing for the regional title. Brown only lost three players, but two of them was the starting rotation, with the other being third baseman Jonathan Fry (.278, 0 HR, 35 RBI). Dartmouth, last season's surprise team, lost five starters, including SP Ken Biddison (16-13, 2.22) and 1B Charlie Comiskey (.299, 3 HR, 28 RBI). Yale lost four starters, two of which will be hard to replace in SP Chris Weirick (16-10, 2.48) and 2B Robbie LeNoble (.359, 0 HR, 38 RBI). The odd man out this year looked to be Harvard. After competing in 1883, it looked as though the Crimson would have some growing pains this year, as they lost five starting fielders.

In the Northeast Region, Rutgers looked to be favorite over Syracuse, who many reporters believed could challenge for the Wild Card. Rutgers made big news in the offseason, signing the top player and making themselves a competitor. The Scarlet Knights had to do something, as they lost their entire infield to graduation, along with a starting pitcher's spot. Defending Northeast Region champ Cornell lost starting pitcher Rich Bounds (15-10, 2.37) and catcher Ed Whiting (.323, 0 HR, 40 RBI) to graduation, along with two other positional players. Most sportswriters felt these losses were too great for the Big Red and they would struggle this season compared to last.

In the Atlantic Region, Lafayette was deemed the favorite to win the region. Defending regional champ Villanova lost six starters, including both of their starting pitchers. Defending national champion, Penn, lost four key starters and were considered now to be an average team. Most sportswriters considered Lehigh to be an improving program, but not good enough to rise to the top.



The season started with much fanfare, as teams played with all of the enthusiasm a new season brings, with hopes of championships in the player's heads. It was an especially rough month for the Atlantic Region, however, as Villanova, Penn, and Lafayette all suffered injury losses. Just over a week into the season, 'Nova second baseman, senior Paul Bieman, suffered a strained hamstring on March 12th in a 4-3 loss at Dartmouth. Bieman's injury occurred in the 1st inning, as he was trying to turn a double play in the field, which was broken up by a hard slide. Bieman landed awkwardly and had to be helped off the field. Bieman was struggling in the young season, hitting only .182 in seven games. His injury will cost him five weeks. Sophomore Lee Colclazier took over duties at second, but has also struggled, hitting only .179 for the month. The same day, Penn senior right fielder David Scott's season and collegiate career came to an end, as he fractured his ankle turning at second base after hitting a double. Scott had hit .353 in five games. Senior Juan Luna took over in right, but it just isn't the same, as Luna only hit .154 the rest of the month.

On March 18th, Lafayette senior starting pitcher Alex "Burger" Carroll suffered a torn elbow ligament and is lost for the season, as his collegiate career ends. Carroll had a history of sore elbow over his career, a warning sign of what was to come. Carroll was 4-0, with an ERA of 1.33 in six starts. Sophomore Billy Serad takes over for Carroll on the mound, but it's obvious he isn't ready. In four starts, Serad was 1-3, with a 2.51 ERA. Big offseason recruit Charlie "Buck" Geggus, a junior transfer for Rutgers, was placed on the DL on March 26th, with shoulder inflammation. Geggus is expected to miss six weeks. He posted a record of 2-4 and 2.72 ERA in nine starts. Sophomore Hardie Henderson takes over the starting position, starting twice and finishing the month 1-1, with a 3.45 ERA.

When the dust settled at the end of March, there were definitely some surprises. Yale surged out to a 16-4 start and lead the New England Region by seven games over Brown and Dartmouth. Harvard is struggling as predicted and sits at 5-15. Columbia and Rutgers sit atop the Northeast Region at 12-8, with a slim 1 1/2 game lead over Cornell, and two games ahead of Syracuse and Princeton. Fordham is in the regional basement at 7-12. Lafayette is 13-7 and holds a mere 1/2 game lead over surprise Lehigh. Defending champ Penn is now the association's worst team at 4-16.



Rookie of the Month was Yale senior transfer "Handsome Henry" Boyle. Boyle won his first seven starts and finished March with a record of 8-1, with a 1.77 ERA. Boyle was considered the third best recruit in Yale's 1883 recruiting class, but is quickly showing he may be the best find. Boyle was also named Pitcher of the Month. Cornell sophomore transfer Dick Johnston is making quite a name for himself in his first CBA season. Johnston, a center fielder, was named Batter of the Month after hitting .364, with three homers and 17 RBI. The Kingston, New York native was not heavily recruited and was considered the third best recruit in the Big Red's 1883 recruiting class.

[abell1198]

Harvard's already tough season became even tougher with the loss of senior second baseman Mike Berry on April 9th. Berry strained his oblique while snaring a line drive out in the bottom of the 5th of an eventual 5-1 loss at Dartmouth. Berry looks to be out six weeks, which would push him toward returning in the final week of the season. The number three hitting Berry was hitting .309 on the year. The injury bug stayed in the New England Region, biting Dartmouth on April 20th, when it was announced freshman starting pitcher Pretzels Getzien would have to have elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. The procedure will set Getzien back a full year. The freshman from Germany had been dominant this season, with a 9-3 mark and 0.89 ERA. In 12 starts, Getzien struck out 72 batters and batters were hitting a paltry .194 against him. Taking over on the mound is junior Melvin Solano, who began the season in the starting rotation, but lost it after performing poorly in March. Solano finished the month with a 6-9 record and 2.90 ERA.

On April 29th, the CBA celebrated the 50th win of Cornell senior Joe McKeeth. The 1883 Pitcher of the Year has struggled in 1884, however, with a 7-9 mark and 2.78 ERA in 18 starts. The injury bug came full circle on April 30th and moved to the Northeast Region. Syracuse senior left fielder Jerry "Spud" Hampton has likely seen the end of his collegiate career, as it was announced by the Orange he would miss five weeks due to a pinched nerve in his neck. Hampton was hitting .346 on the year, with three homers and 24 RBI. That same day, Rutgers found out that starting pitcher Charlie Geggus would need surgery for his existing injury, ending his season and putting him on the road to recovery for the next eight months.

At the end of April, Yale is still holding on to the lead in the New England Region, although their lead is now down to five games. Rutgers has built a two game lead in the Northeast Region over Syracuse, with Cornell three back and Columbia four behind. The longest regional title drought could be coming to an end in the Atlantic Region, as the Lehigh Mountain Hawks hold first place and lead Lafayette by 2 1/2 games. Defending champion Penn is currently tied with Harvard for the association's worst record at 13-28.

Although he is now injured, Pretzels Getzien was named Rookie of the Month. Rutgers sophomore transfer Ed "Cannonball" Morris took home Pitcher of the Month honors. The Brooklyn native was 8-4 in 12 starts, with a 1.68 ERA and 62 strikeouts. For the year, Morris is 15-6, with a 1.98 ERA. Hitters are hitting only .211 against him. And Penn senior shortstop Pete "Gladiator" Browning was named Batter of the Month. Browning hit .372 in April, with two homers and 15 RBI. He is hitting .310 on the season.

[abell1198]

The month of May had both pain and suffering by some, to rejoicing and celebrating by others. Brown's season, which was already rough, got worse on May 3rd with an injury to senior right fielder Tom T Brown. Brown ruptured his MCL in a 9-2 loss to Yale and saw his season and collegiate career end. Brown had been struggling, along with his Bear teammates, as he finished the season hitting .239, with three home runs and 12 RBI in 40 games. Nearly a week later, on May 9th, Fordham saw junior third baseman Gene "Flex" Epple go down with an injury. Epple had just led the game at Syracuse off with an infield single, but as he beat out the throw to first, he tore his ACL when his foot hit the bag. Epple will be recovering for nine months and saw his junior season end with a .244 average, two homers, and 16 RBI.

But it's not all bad in the CBA. It's May, and that means regional titles are being won. On May 18th, Yale becomes the first team to earn a playoff berth, clinching the New England Region with a 1-0 win over Dartmouth. It's the 6th regional title for the Bulldogs. Two days following, on May 20th, Lehigh ends the association's longest regional title drought by clinching the Atlantic Region after defeating Lafayette, 7-5. The next day, May 21st, Princeton senior pitcher Ethan Ray records his 50th win of his career, defeating Brown on the road, 9-2.

On the morning of May 23rd, with three games left to play on the 1884 season, Rutgers found themselves with a three game lead over Cornell and Syracuse, who were both tied for the Wild Card berth at 34-23. When the day came to an end, the Scarlet Knights defeated Princeton 12-0 to record their 12th straight win and clinch the Northeast Region title. The title is the 2nd in Rutgers school history. On May 24th, Penn senior shortstop Pete "Gladiator" Browning launched three home runs in a 5-4 win over Lehigh. Browning was not alone in his power display this season. The record for home runs in a season was 7, and accomplished by former Cornell first baseman "Big Dan" Brouthers in 1880 and 1881. Although Browning tied the mark with 7 this season, four other players either tied or exceeded the mark. The new record is now set at 10 and is held by Brown junior transfer catcher Ed "Cannonball" Crane.

The final day of the regular season, May 25th, arrived and both Syracuse and Cornell found themselves still tied for the Wild Card after splitting their two games. The most important game of the season for both clubs was played in Ithaca, New York, at Big Red Ballpark. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 7th, Cornell senior shortstop Antonio "Shark" Perez triples to right center and scores when junior DH Bill Kienzle drives a base hit into left center field. Cornell would add another run and win the game, 4-2, and the Wild Card berth. So, the playoffs are set. Cornell will travel to face off with Rutgers. The Big Red swept both three game series from the Scarlet Knights this year, however, Rutgers is riding a 14 game win streak and looks to be firing on all cylinders. Lehigh will travel to Yale to challenge the Bulldogs. The two teams split a two game series in April.

Cornell freshman catcher Jack Clements won both Rookie of the Month and Batter of the Month honors in May. Clements hit .451 for the month, with five homers and 18 RBI. He ended the season with an average of .341, which also made him the batting champion. Clements had nine home runs and 42 RBI on the year. Cornell senior pitcher Joe McKeeth was named Pitcher of the Month. McKeeth was 9-0 in May, with a 1.33 ERA. On the year, he put together a mark of 16-9 and an ERA of 2.28.

[abell1198]

Game 1

Cornell came into Game 1 feeling confident, having taken all six games against Rutgers this year. But the Scarlet Knights are playing their best ball of the season, coming into this game on a 14 game win streak. Something has to give, but who will it be. It was a beautiful day for a game at the Ballpark of Rutgers. The New Jersey skies were clear and it was 75 degrees. The wind, however, was blowing in from right at 11 mph. There were 1679 people on hand for the game. Senior Joe McKeeth (16-9, 2.28) is on the mound for the Big Red. McKeeth was 3-0, with a 1.27 ERA, against Rutgers this season. Pitching for the Scarlet Knights is sophomore Ed "Cannonball" Morris (22-8, 1.76), who was 0-3 with a 3.46 ERA against Cornell this year. Morris led the association this year in wins.

There's no score until the bottom of the 2nd, when Rutgers gets a couple of men on base with singles. Both would score on senior shortstop Charlie Bastian's triple to left center, giving the Scarlet Knights a 2-0 lead. Rutgers would add to their lead in the 4th, stroking three singles and taking advantage of three straight fielding errors by Cornell. Three runs score and Rutgers takes a 5-0 lead. Bastian would hit his second triple of the game in the bottom of the 5th. Coupled with a double in the same inning, the Scarlet Knights put the game out of reach 7-0. Cornell attempts to get back into the game, scoring a run in the 6th and two more in the 8th to make it 7-3, but Rutgers plates three more in the bottom half of the 8th to seal the deal. Rutgers pushes their win streak to 15, defeating Cornell 10-3.



It's a little cooler at Bulldogs Ballpark, where Lehigh has traveled to face Yale. The skies are clear, but it's 59 degrees, with the wind blowing out to right at 12 mph. A crowd of 2172 people have come out to the ballpark to see this game. Getting the start for Lehigh's first ever playoff game is senior Abner Powell (20-10, 1.82). "Ab" is from Louisiana and transferred in for his final collegiate season. He was the Mountain Hawks top recruit from the 1883 recruiting class. On the mound for Yale is senior Henry Boyle (20-9, 1.57). "Handsome Henry" is another one and done transfer, signed by Yale in their recruiting class last summer.

Boyle sits the Mountain Hawks down in order to start the game, but Powell isn't that lucky. Yale gets four hits, and along with two Lehigh errors, the Bulldogs score four runs to take the early lead. In the top of the 3rd, Lehigh junior left fielder Jim "Grasshopper" Lillie triples. He would score Lehigh's first run on the following at-bat, when fellow junior, center fielder Phil Reccius doubles to bring him home. The score now 4-1, Yale responds in kind in the bottom of the 3rd with three more runs to push their lead to 7-1. The Bulldogs would score again in the 7th, and twice more in the 8th, as they win this one easily by a score of 10-1. Boyle throws a complete game four hitter, striking out five.

Game 2

Rutgers traveled to Cornell for Game 2, where it's partly cloudy and 64 degrees at Big Red Ballpark. The wind is blowing out to right at 9 mph. There are 1479 on hand for the game. Morris and McKeeth are again on the mound for their teams. This game would be a pitcher's duel, as both teams struggled to hit their opponent on the mound. It was scoreless going into the 3rd, but Rutgers senior left fielder Hugh Humphrey triples with two outs, then comes home on senior first baseman Pat Altherr's double to center field. Altherr led the CBA in doubles this season with 20.

The Scarlet Knights double their lead in the 4th inning, when a walk, steal, and passed ball put senior center fielder John Kahn 90 feet away from home with two outs. Senior second baseman Charlie J Berry then singles the ball into right field and Rutgers leads 2-0. But Morris is even more untouchable today than he was in Game 1, holding Cornell to only two hits in the game. Rutgers would score two more in the 9th to guarantee their 16th consecutive victory, winning the game 4-0 and taking the series, 2-0.



Yale travels into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the second game of their series against Lehigh. 1497 people have come out to Mountain Hawk Ballpark for this historic first playoff game hosted by Lehigh. It's a beautiful 70 degrees, with clear skies. The wind is a bit brisk, blowing out to left at 16 mph. Boyle and Powell return to the hill for their clubs. The game would remain scoreless over the first five innings, as both pitchers allowed no hits. That would change in the 6th, when Powell, with two outs, gives up a base hit to Yale senior left fielder Matt Kessinger. He would score on the following at-bat, when junior designated hitter Cole Ellis doubles to right center. Lehigh would also get two hits in the 6th, but can't get a run and trail 1-0 after six.

But in the bottom of the 8th, Lehigh does manage to score a run on a Bulldog fielding error, tying the game 1-1. Yale responds, however, in the 9th, as senior shortstop Brian "Hoot" McPherson hits an RBI triple to give the Bulldogs back the lead, 2-1. Lehigh isn't quite finished though, as junior third baseman Michael Cornely leads off with a double to right. Two outs later, Cornely is at third, and up comes freshman shortstop Ryan "Crab" McDaniel. Crab loops a single into left and the Mountain Hawks tie the game, 2-2. The game goes to extras and is still tied after ten. But Yale erupts for five hits in the 11th, the biggest being a three run home run by senior catcher Chris Dalton. The wind aided homer carried just over the left field fence. The Bulldogs score four runs and take a 6-2 lead. Lehigh manages to get a run back in the bottom half of the frame, but Yale finally slams the book closed on Lehigh's Cinderella story. Yale wins the game 6-3 and takes the series, 2-0.

[abell1198]

Game 1

Yale traveled to New Brunswick, New Jersey to take on Rutgers in the 1884 Collegiate Championship Series. Rutgers came into the game with a lot of confidence. They were riding a 16 game winning streak and had taken both games of a two game series against the Bulldogs when they faced each other in late March. Senior Henry Boyle was once again on the mound for Yale, while sophomore Ed "Cannonball" Morris got the start for Rutgers. There was a crowd of 1684 people in the Ballpark of Rutgers to watch this game. The skies were clear and it was 71 degrees at game time. The wind was blowing in from right at 9 mph.

The Scarlet Knights waste no time scoring, plating a run in the 1st inning on an error and two singles. Yale gets a couple of base hits of their own in the 2nd to get a run across the plate and tie the game 1-1. The Bulldog bats would continue to connect in the 3rd, as Yale scores two runs with the help of a single and junior third baseman Jayden Wofford's RBI triple. Yale would hold that 3-1 lead until the bottom of the 4th. The Bulldogs commit three errors and allow a passed ball, while Rutgers adds three base hits to score three times and take a 4-3 lead. Yale retakes the lead, however, in the top of the 5th, as the Scarlet Knights commit two errors and allow three Bulldog hits. The big swing for Yale came in the form of a two run homer by senior shortstop Brian "Hoot" McPherson. The ball was a hard hit liner that just cleared the fence in left field.

Yale holds the 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the 6th, when a walk and two passed balls allow Rutgers to get a run across and cut the lead down to 6-5. But Yale senior catcher Chris Dalton scores a run in the top of the 8th after leading the inning off with a single, giving the Bulldogs back their two run lead, 7-5. Rutgers came back strong in the bottom of the 8th, smacking three hits. But the Scarlet Knights only manage to plate one run and go into the 9th down by one, 7-6. Yale fails to score in the top of the 9th and are clinging to their one run advantage as we head to the bottom of the 9th, with the 3-4-5 batters coming up for Rutgers. Senior first baseman Pat Altherr leads it off with a single to left. Altherr is sacrificed to second, but a ground out holds him there. With two outs and Altherr on second, senior shortstop Charlie Bastian comes to the plate. Bastian takes a 1-1 pitch and grounds it through the hole on the left side and into left field. Altherr is off and rounding third as Yale senior left fielder Matt Kessinger scoops up the ball. The throw to the plate....Altherr slides.....Dalton with the tag....and Altherr is.......OUT!!!!! He's gunned down at home and the Yale Bulldogs have broken Rutgers 16 game winning streak and taken the lead in the championship series!!

Game 2

Morris and Boyle returned to the mound for Game 2, as the series moves to New Haven, Connecticut. The skies were partly cloudy at Bulldogs Ballpark and the temperature was a lovely 68 degrees. The wind was a bit brisk, blowing in from center at 15 mph. A near capacity crowd of 2196 fans came out to see this game. James and Ephraim were at the game as well, holding onto the championship trophy should the Bulldogs win this game. Rutgers starts the game off by going down in order in the 1st. No so for the Yale Bulldogs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Yale catcher Chris Dalton sends a GRAND SLAM home run over the left field wall to give his team an early 4-0 lead, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and setting the tone for the game.

By the bottom of the 3rd, the Scarlet Knights still don't have a hit. Meanwhile, Yale belts out three and scores twice to push their lead to 6-0. Boyle would only allow five hits in this game, as Rutgers struggles at the plate. The Bulldogs add two more runs in the bottom of the 8th and go on to win this game, 8-0, and win the series, 2-0. It is Yale's 2nd national championship in three years!!!

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

James had a long off season. Meetings with the university and college presidents, working out the logistics for the upcoming expansion, and figuring out the transfer rules for players who wish to relocate to either VMI or Mississippi State. As it stood now, teams would be able to protect 25 players. However, any other player would be eligible to transfer without penalty. James had decided the transfers would occur in July, after the regular season, and before the signing of new players.

Plus, if he didn't have enough on his plate, there was working out the schedule. Actually, that part didn't end up being too complicated. Virginia Military was already in the Atlantic Region, but James had to include Mississippi State in the Atlantic until there were more teams in the south to justify creating a region. Regions equaled playoff spots, and James wasn't sure how it was all going to play out. In addition, James had been contacted by Bucknell and Michigan State about inclusion into the CBA after the 1887 season. Bucknell was in an established region, the Atlantic, but Michigan was like Mississippi State. In a region by themselves. "Oh well," he thought, "I guess I'll figure that out in another year or so."

The preseason predictions were out for the 1885 season. James looked over them with interest. Brown was favored to win the New England Region, and for good reason. The Bears were returned all starters except second and short. Harvard and Yale both return five starters and one pitcher each. Interestingly enough, Dartmouth was picked last in the region, despite returning seven starters and one pitcher. The Big Green's wild card would be pitcher Pretzels Getzien, who was still recovering from injury and wouldn't be able to play until early April.

Syracuse was favored to win the Northeast Region, with Rutgers picked second. The Orange return only four starters, but both starting pitchers. The Scarlet Knights were in a similar position, with three returning starters and both pitchers. Columbia was picked third, although they return six starters and a pitcher. The Lions could surprise, though, with the return of right fielder Lee Shortridge, a .300 hitter last season. Shortridge will miss the first half of the season, however. Cornell, Fordham, and Princeton round out the region. The Big Red return six starters, but have two new pitchers. The Rams return four starters and one pitcher, while the Tigers bring back five players, but no proven starting pitching.

Villanova finds themselves in a familiar position, favored to win the Atlantic crown once again. With seven returning starters and both pitchers, they will be hard to beat. Lafayette is picked second, with five returning players and one pitcher. Lehigh is third, returning four starters and a pitcher. Penn is expected to finish last. The Quakers return five starters, but both pitchers are unproven.



The season starts with some surprises and only one notable injury. Dartmouth surges out to a great start, and leads the New England Region by two games over Harvard. Yale and Brown end up with a rough first month, finding themselves four and five games back, respectively. Columbia and Syracuse are tied for the lead in the Northeast Region. Rutgers and Fordham are close behind, while Princeton and Cornell are already five games back. Villanova, meanwhile, is proving the sportswriters right, building a three game lead over Lafayette in the first month. Penn is four back, and Lehigh looks like the team of old, six games off the pace.



The only major injury is to Rutgers senior pitcher Charlie "Buck" Geggus. The former highly touted prospect went down with an elbow strain on March 22nd and will be out for eight weeks. It is unknown, at this time, if Geggus will pitch again at the collegiate level. Geggus was 5-2, with a 2.34 ERA at the time of his injury.

Columbia junior shortstop Buster Hoover won Batter of the Month, hitting an astounding .466, with no homers, 16 RBI, and 18 runs scored. Syracuse junior pitcher Bob Black took home Pitcher of the Month honors after posting a 9-2 record in 11 starts. In 97 innings, Black had a 0.84 ERA and 60 strikeouts. Rookie of the Month went to Columbia sophomore pitcher Tom Lovett. Lovett was 4-0, with a 2.87 ERA.

[abell1198]

April was a reversal of fortune for Dartmouth, the surprise team in the New England Region after a month of play. The Big Green went from first to worst in the region in April, posting a 5-16 mark for the month. Harvard had a good showing and, by the end of April, they find themselves in first place, 3 1/2 games ahead of Yale. The Crimson found themselves in the headlines after two consecutive games. On April 15th, junior pitcher Ryan LaMantia threw a no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Dartmouth. Two days later, senior pitcher Alex McConnell earned his 50th win in a 10-3 victory over Yale.

Syracuse was another team in a free fall in April. They started the month tied with Columbia for first, but by the end of April, the Orange found themselves at .500 and tied for third place in the Northeast Region with Fordham. As for the Lions, they just kept winning and built a seven game lead over second place Rutgers. Columbia ended the month on a seven game win streak. The Scarlet Knights are tied for the Wild Card spot. Cornell and Princeton are 11 and 14 games back, respectively, and will likely be out of the postseason in a few days. The Big Red lost freshman second baseman Chris Shubert for the season on April 19th. In the top of the 2nd, Shubert delivered a leadoff single. The next at bat was a grounder and Shubert ran hard to second. He was out, but he slid to break up the double play. Unfortunately for the freshman, he caught the shortstop's knee to his head and was laid out cold. After being rushed to the hospital, the teams decided Shubert would want them to keep playing, so they did, with Cornell defeating Columbia by the score of 5-2. Shubert's concussion, however, was serious enough that he has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The freshman had played in 35 games, hitting .273, with a home run and 13 RBI.

Lehigh has exceeded expectations, jumping from worst to first in the Atlantic Region this month. The Mountain Hawks currently hold a slim one game lead over powerhouse Villanova. The Wildcats are tied with Rutgers for the Wild Card. If they make the playoffs, 'Nova will have to do it without junior center fielder Dustin Lamb. Lamb ruptured his MCL on April 8th and will face a 5-6 month recovery. The injury occurred when Lamb beat out a grounder to short for an infield hit in the bottom of the 8th in an 8-3 loss to Brown. His foot hit the bag and the knee buckled. Lamb played in 27 games this season, hitting .270, with no homers and 21 RBI. As for Lafayette and Penn, they are three and six games back and will need to turn things around to make a run at the postseason.

Columbia sophomore catcher Doggie Miller was named April's Rookie of the Month. Miller hit .290, with no homers, 8 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Columbia junior Steve Schmidt was named Pitcher of the Month. The 21 year old Schmidt posted a 9-1 mark in April, with an ERA of 1.82. Opposing batters hit only .207 against him for the month. Brown sophomore right fielder Oyster Burns is rewriting the record books with his power hitting and was named Batter of the Month. Burns hit .341 in April, slammed five home runs and drove in 16 runners, while also scoring 16 runs himself. On the season, Burns is hitting .333 with 7 homers and 36 RBI.

[abell1198]

Harvard's championship quest took a hit on May 2nd with an injury to junior starting pitcher Ryan LaMantia. In a 3-2 victory over Dartmouth, LaMantia left the game just 2 1/3 innings in. It was later revealed the junior would be lost for the remainder of the season with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. LaMantia finished his season at 14-4 and a 1.55 ERA. On May 12th, 50 games had been played and the Crimson (29-21) were looking good, holding a 4 1/2 game lead over Yale and Brown in the New England Region. Columbia (34-16) was running away with the Northeast Region, leading second place Syracuse by six games. Meanwhile, Villanova and Lehigh were tied at 26-24, holding a two game lead over Lafayette in the Atlantic Region.

What a difference a week makes, however. Harvard dropped a two game series to 'Nova, then lost two of three to Brown. The Crimson's lead, with five games left to play, was down to 1 1/2 games over both Yale and Brown. Columbia, meanwhile, clinched their playoff ticket after a 16-3 thrashing of Princeton, winning the Northeast Region title on May 15th. It is the Lion's second regional title. Villanova now holds a one game lead over both Lehigh and Lafayette. After the final two game series of the year, where they lost both games to Cornell, the Crimson lead is down to 1/2 a game over Brown, 1 1/2 over Yale, and three games over Dartmouth. In the Atlantic, things have gotten interesting, as Villanova, Lehigh, and Lafayette find themselves in a three way tie at 29-28. Syracuse (32-25), meanwhile, holds a one game lead over Fordham for the Wild Card spot with three games left to play.

Two days later, however, not much as changed. The Crimson hold a 1/2 game lead over Brown, as their second game against Dartmouth was rained out, forcing a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season. The Atlantic Region is still knotted three ways at 30-29. The Brown Bears take care of business, winning their last regular season game against Yale. Harvard, though, flops against Dartmouth, losing both games of the doubleheader against the Big Green. The title is literally gift wrapped and handed to Brown, as the Bears clinch their third New England Region title. Villanova defeats Lafayette on the final day to clinch their 10th Atlantic Region title, as Lehigh falters against Penn. Syracuse won the wild card.

The batting champ for the season is Columbia junior shortstop Buster Hoover, who finished 1885 with a .380 batting average. Hoover also led the CBA in hits (98) and was tied for the lead in WAR (5.1). The other WAR co-leader was Brown sophomore right fielder Oyster Burns. Burns tied the home run mark (10), while leading the CBA in triples (27), homers, RBI (52), slugging pct. (.715), and OPS (1.126).

Rookie of the Month honors were given to Fordham senior transfer George "Pisch" Pechiney. The pitcher put together a 6-3 mark to finish the season at 17-12. His ERA for those nine starts this month was 1.66. Syracuse senior pitcher Peek-A-Boo Veach was named Pitcher of the Month after putting together a record of 8-1 in nine starts. Veach had a 1.73 ERA for the month. Burns was named the Batter of the Month, hitting .392 in May, with three homers and 16 RBI.

As for the playoffs, Villanova will travel to Columbia, while Brown travels to Syracuse.

[abell1198]

Game 1

The first game of the 1885 Playoff Series featured the 10-time Atlantic Region Champion Villanova Wildcats visiting the Columbia Lions in New York City. The Lions led the CBA this season with a 43-17 record, while 'Nova finished at 31-29. The Wildcats put junior Dan Casey (13-16, 2.85) on the mound for Game 1. The move is a surprise, as junior righty John Coleman (16-10, 2.86) performed much better this season. Looks like Coleman must have found himself in Manager Curt Condon's doghouse, as he is sitting in the bullpen instead of throwing from the mound as the starting pitcher. On the hill for the Lions was senior Perry "Moose" Werden (17-12, 2.66). It was an interesting move, given that fellow senior Steve Schmidt (20-5, 1.81) had a better season. However, Werden has been considered the Lions' ace all season.

The weather was good for the game, 67 degrees with clear skies. The wind, however, blew from left to right at 16 mph. There were 1781 people in attendance. The game featured a good pitching matchup, with neither team scoring in the 1st. Columbia managed three hits in the bottom of the 2nd to take an early 1-0 lead. A lead off triple in the bottom of the 4th by junior shortstop Buster Hoover led to another Columbia run. Junior first baseman Chad Goshen would hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 5th to give Columbia a 3-0 lead. Both teams score a run in the 7th and Villanova would add another in the top of the 8th, but Columbia fends off the Wildcats for a 4-2 win.



The second game of the day had Brown traveling to Syracuse to play the Wild Card team, a rarity for a wild card team to secure home field advantage over a regional winner. But the Orange had the better record this year at 35-25, to the Bears' 32-28. Brown sent junior Jay Hartwig (15-14, 3.34) to the mound. The Bears' pitching and defense has not been impressive this season, but their hitting has been, as they led the CBA in runs scored (341) and team batting average (.262). Syracuse started junior Bob Black (21-9, 1.66), who is considered by many to be the favorite for Pitcher of the Year. The weather for the game was partly cloudy and 65 degrees, with the wind blowing from left to right at 10 mph. 1771 people were on hand for the contest.

It was a pitcher's duel for five innings, with no team scoring. That would change in the top of the 6th, when Brown senior first baseman Thomas Gorman led the inning off with a triple. Gorman would later cross the plate on a ground out to second, giving the Bears a 1-0 advantage. Brown added another run in the 7th to make it 2-0, then erupted in the 8th for five hits, with four runs scoring!! The Bears added two more runs in the 9th, as did Syracuse, but Brown comes away with an 8-2 victory.

Game 2

Columbia traveled to Villanova, Pennsylvania for Game 2 of their series. Werden and Casey returned to the mound for their respective teams. 1674 people braved the rainy weather to see this match up. Game time temp was 65 degrees, with the wind blowing from right to left at 10 mph. The Wildcats got on the board early, plating a run in the bottom of the 1st inning. Columbia returned the favor in the top of the 2nd, tying the game at 1-1. But Villanova retook the lead in the bottom of the 2nd by scoring a run on a Lions' fielding error. After a scoreless 3rd, Columbia took advantage of a couple of Wildcat miscues in the 4th to score two runs and take back the lead, 3-2. But 'Nova responded in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, 3-3. Villanova would retake the lead in the bottom of the 5th, as senior first baseman T.J. Stanley lauched a lead off home run over the right field fence.

Columbia's never say die attitude didn't quit, and in the top of the 6th, they scored three runs on three hits, highlighted by senior DH Jared Van Dyke's full count, 2 RBI double with two outs. 'Nova went down in order and at the end of six, Columbia led 6-4. But in the bottom of the 7th, everything fell apart for the Lions. Columbia committed three errors, allowed a passed ball, and gave up four hits. When the dust settled, Werden was chased from the game and the Wildcats scored seven runs to take an 11-6 lead. The Lions were crushed emotionally. Villanova added another run in the 8th, winning the game by a score of 12-6 and forcing a deciding Game 3.



The second game of the Syracuse-Brown series was played in 59 degree weather and clear skies, with the wind blowing out to center at 20 mph!! There were 1895 fans on hand to witness what was sure to be an offensive battle. Black and Hartwig returned to the mound for the Orange and Bears. But the offensive outburst never really occurred. In the first inning and a half, there was only one hit between both teams. Brown hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the 2nd to break the scoreless tie and take a 1-0 lead. However, hits were far and few between in this pitcher's duel. The Bears held onto their lead through the innings and padded it in the 8th, plating two runs on two hits and three Orange errors. Hartwig pitched a gem, allowing only six hits in the contest as Brown wins the game 3-0 and takes the series two games to none.

Game 3

The Villanova-Columbia series returned to New York for the final game of the series. Casey and Werden both returned to the mound for their teams. It was 69 degrees with rain for this one, with the wind blowing in from left at 12 mph. 1766 were on hand for the game. Villanova started the scoring early, plating a run in the 1st. Columbia answered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring a run to tie the game at 1. But the pitchers would settle in and the score would remain the same through five. There was even a rain delay of 69 minutes in the bottom of the 4th, but the rest didn't seem to hurt the pitchers or help the batters. Columbia's bats, however, would heat up in the 6th, as the Lions get three hits, scoring twice to take a 3-1 lead. The Wildcats would get a run back in the 7th to cut the lead to one, but Columbia kept on swinging, scoring two more runs on two hits in the bottom half of the 7th to push their lead to 5-2. 'Nova goes without a hit for the next two innings as Columbia wins the game and the series!

[abell1198]

Game 1

There was rain in the air for Game 1 of the 1885 Collegiate Championship Series. It was 64 degrees in Lions Ballpark, with the wind blowing in from center at 12 mph. The Brown Bears were in New York City to challenge the Columbia Lions for the title of national champion. Junior Jay Hartwig was again on the mound for Brown. Hartwig pitched two complete games against Syracuse, allowing only two earned runs. Senior Perry "Moose" Werden gets the nod once again for the Lions. Werden was 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA against the Villanova Wildcats. There were 1795 people on hand for Game 1, a near capacity crowd!!

Columbia wasted no time in this one. After a three up, three down start for Brown, Lions' senior first baseman Jeff Christopher lined the ball into left center for a double. Junior shortstop Buster Hoover followed up with a triple to deep center, scoring Christopher. Hoover would score on a ground out on the following at bat, and just like that, Columbia is up 2-0 after one. Brown is again held hitless in the 2nd inning, as the rain starts to come down harder. After a 51 minute rain delay, the game continues. In the 3rd inning, Columbia adds to their lead when junior right fielder Lee Shortridge turned on an 0-2 pitch and sent it over the left field wall for a two run homer. Brown finally got a hit in the 4th and managed to score a run to cut the Columbia lead to 4-1. But the Lions get the run back in the 5th inning, then pile it on in the 6th inning, thanks to three Bears' errors. Four runs cross the plate for Columbia and they push their lead to 9-1.

Brown finally gets to Werden in the 8th inning, getting five hits. Four runs score, but it's not enough. Columbia slams the door shut on the Bears and takes Game 1 by the score of 9-5. Bears Manager John Giordano refused to answer questions after the game and appeared visibly upset with his team's performance.

Game 2

It was raining again for Game 2, although the site has changed to Bears Ballpark in Providence, Rhode Island. It was much cooler, however, with the game time temperature at 59 degrees. The wind was blowing out to center at 11 mph. Columbia and Brown were set to start Werden and Hartwig again, with the Lions looking for a national title. Commissioner James Herring and Assistant Commissioner Ephraim Herring were two of 1888 people in the ballpark, championship trophy in hand, should Columbia win the game. After a scoreless 1st inning, Columbia got three hits off of Hartwig, scoring one run. Another run almost scored, but Brown junior left fielder Mitch O'Keefe threw him out at the plate. Unfortunately for the Bears, however, O'Keefe suffered a mild oblique strain and left the game.

Down 1-0, Brown's bats came alive in the bottom of the 2nd. The Bears stroked five hits off of Werden and scored three times to take the lead. But both teams bats would cool off, as there was a 53 minute rain delay in the bottom of the 3rd. After the long rest, Hartwig took over and silenced the Lions. Brown added a run in the 5th, and another in the 7th, on their way to a 5-1 win.

Game 3

Brown returned to New York City to face Columbia in the final game of the series and the season, with the winner being crowned CBA National Champion. Hartwig and Werden are on the mound for one last showdown. There are 1787 fans in the stands for Game 3, with no rain in the air. It was partly cloudy and 65 degrees at game time, with the wind blowing in from center at 12 mph. Sophomore right fielder Oyster Burns got Brown on the board first, hitting an inside the park home run in the top of the 1st with two outs. Down a run, Columbia took advantage of two Bear errors and used a base hit to even the score in the 2nd.

The score remained tied 1-1 as the pitchers buckled down. Men would get on base here and there, but no runs would score. That would change in the 8th, however. With one out, Brown would get back to back singles from sophomore third baseman Jim Donnelly and freshman shortstop Ian Adams. Donnelly stole third to put runners on the corners. Senior center fielder Brian "Phenom" Davis came up and grounded the ball to second. Columbia gets Adams out at second, but they can't turn the double play!!! Donnelly scores from third to give the Bears a 2-1 lead!!! Hartwig takes over from there, sitting Columbia down in order in the 8th and 9th innings. Brown wins the game, 2-1, and takes home the title of National Champion!!!

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

.

[abell1198]

James sat back in his chair at his office, contemplating the beginning of yet another season. It was starting to wear on him. He wasn't as young as he used to be. The travel, although more infrequent, was still a strain on his marriage. You would have thought Frances would have been used to it by now. Regardless, James decided to send Ephraim down to view the first games played at Mississippi State and Virginia Military Institute. As he looked over his copy of the Collegiate Baseball Times, James saw the sportswriters weren't too optimistic of the new programs in their inaugural season.

James had also been spending time in Philadelphia, where his fourth oldest son, John, had chosen to play for Villanova. Unfortunately for John, he didn't make the varsity squad and was having to make the most of honing his skills in practices. John was a starting pitcher, and could throw four different pitches to keep batters off balance. But for the collegiate level, John didn't throw particularly well and his stamina wasn't as high as the coaches wanted for a starter.

As for Ephraim, he didn't mind the travel, and at this point in his marriage, Irene was still very understanding. Which was amazing, since she was 7 1/2 months pregnant with their fourth child!! James III, the oldest, was five. Warren had just turned four in January, and Mary was almost two. A handful for sure, but he and Irene had wanted a big family. Ephraim arrived in Starkville, Mississippi the day before opening day. When he arrived, he was met by the university president, Matt Sadowski. They went to the brand new Bulldogs Ballpark. Athletic Director Ken Daugherty met them there and the three men toured the stadium, which held 1700 people.

"There's a seat for every resident of Starkville," Daugherty boasted, "plus a couple hundred more for traveling fans. It's state of the art and we can't wait to see it full of Bulldog fans!!"

The stadium was unique. There was a seven foot fence from left field into right center, but the wall grew to 15 feet in right field. The field was 416 feet to center, 377 and 384 feet in the left and right field gaps, and 315 and 318 feet down the left and right field lines. If you were a right handed power hitter, you would really like this park. Ephraim then met up with Manager Steven Weegar and they spoke about the Bulldogs best player, freshman pitcher Nat Hudson.

"The kid's the real deal," Weegar stated. "He doesn't have the greatest stuff, but his control is outstanding. And he's only a freshman, so he should improve and have a great career here."

Opening Day came and Ephraim was shocked at what he saw. Rutgers was in town for the inaugural Mississippi State game, but the crowd was not. Only 207 people came out to the ballpark, not a good start for the program. Ephraim did not want to tell that to James we he returned to New York. New teams were going to have to do better than that if expansion of the CBA was going to happen as Ephraim envisioned it. As for the game, the Bulldogs held their own for a few innings, but the Scarlet Knights scored two and three runs in the 5th and 6th innings. Rutgers won the game 5-0, with freshman pitcher Jim "Nick" Handiboe throwing a two hitter.

Ephraim then traveled to Lexington, Virginia to watch the Virginia Military Institute play at home against Villanova. He was hoping there would be a better turn out for the game than he saw in Mississippi. Ephraim met up with VMI President Bob Friedman and Athletic Director Adam Patrick when he arrived. The Ballpark of Virginia Military was something Ephraim expected from the military. The field looked perfect and he assumed the measurements were identical. There was also seating for 1900 people.

"They're not perfect, like that six foot fence you see out there, but they're close," said Manager David Thomas. Thomas was right. The field was 329 and 323 down the left and right field lines. The gaps were 395 and 394, while center field was at 421 feet.

"Mr. Thomas, who is your best player?" Ephraim inquired.

"I got a freshman first baseman I stole from you fellas up in New York. Branden Richey is his name." Thomas replied. "You might want to make a note of that, 'cause I think you'll be hearing it lots."

The Keydets had lost their Opening Day game to Lehigh, 6-3, and the second game was rained out. This game was to be the first of a three game set against the Wildcats of Villanova. Ephraim knew it would be a tough game against a program with such a strong history. He just hoped there was a crowd there to see it. As Ephraim feared, however, the crowd didn't show. Only 204 people came to see the game. VMI didn't fare well against 'Nova either. They only got one hit and lost the game 8-0. The Keydet pitcher walked eight batters.

Ephraim returned home and broke the bad news to James. "Let's just see how the rest of the season goes for both teams before we get too concerned." James told his son. The rest of the season was a pitcher's delight. Shutout after shutout dominated the headlines. By the end of March, Dartmouth had built a two game lead over Yale in the New England Region. Columbia led Syracuse by a game in the Northeast Region, while Penn held a 2 1/2 game lead over Lehigh in the Atlantic. On March 14th, Brown junior right fielder Oyster Burns hit his 20th career home run to become the CBA's career leader. The only notable injury was to Lehigh senior second baseman Josh Adams, who tore a ligament in his elbow which required surgery, ending both his senior season and his collegiate career. In 12 games, Adams had been hitting .302.

Columbia pitcher Matt Kilroy was named Rookie of the Month. The freshman posted an 8-3 record, with a 1.01 ERA. Pitcher of the Month honors went to Syracuse pitcher Bob Black. The senior posted a record of 8-3, with a 1.17 ERA. Fellow teammate Billy Zook, also a senior, brought home Batter of the Month honors. While playing third base for the Orange, Zook hit .395, with no homers and 9 RBI. Zook also scored 22 times.

[abell1198]

By the end of April, the attendance news for VMI and Mississippi State weren't improving. Both teams were averaging less than 300 spectators per game. It didn't help that all of VMI's wins came on the road, as the Keydets were 0-22 at home. Another factor affecting attendance is that both teams have already been eliminated from postseason consideration, as the Keydets have only 7 wins and the Bulldogs have only 8. VMI is currently sporting a 14 game losing streak.

Pitching continues to dominate the headlines, with seven pitchers currently having sub 2.00 ERA's. On April 4th, Syracuse senior Bob Black celebrated his 50th career win with a 5-1 victory over Cornell. By the end of April, that number had increased to 57. While Black has been a success in the CBA, in real life, he only played a single season, 1884, with the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association. In that year, he was 4-9, with a 3.22 ERA.

On April 6th, Brown announced that star right fielder Oyster Burns was going to miss 3-4 weeks after suffering a concussion while making a defensive play. Fordham will also miss out on the services of junior shortstop Aaron Jennings for 5-6 weeks. Jennings, who is hitting .258 for the Rams, sustained a severe hip strain while running the bases in a 20-2 win over VMI. Lehigh also lost their starting shortstop, junior Ryan "Crab" McDaniel for 3-4 weeks with a sprained ankle. The leadoff man had been hitting .283 in 26 games for the Mountain Hawks. On April 14th, Syracuse lost the services of their #2 pitcher, freshman "Ice Box" Chamberlin. He will spend the next 11 months rehabbing from surgery after injuring the ligament in his elbow. Chamberlin finishes the season at 7-5, with a 3.01 ERA. And on April 23rd, Dartmouth lost senior center fielder Mark Whittenberg for the season to a torn ACL. Whittenberg, who was hitting .325, was the Big Green's #3 hitter.

At the end of the month, Dartmouth had a 4 1/2 game lead over Harvard in the New England Region. In the Northeast Region, Columbia and Syracuse are tied for the lead, with Cornell only a game back. It's a tight race again this season in the Atlantic Region. Villanova holds a slim one game lead over both Penn and Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks junior transfer Frank "Shadow" Gilmore was named Rookie of the Month. Gilmore was 8-3 in 11 starts, and posted an ERA of 1.65. For the season, Gilmore is 16-6 with a 2.00 ERA. Syracuse's Bob Black was named the Pitcher of the Month for the second consecutive time. Black posted a 9-3 mark, while sporting a 1.87 ERA. On the season, Black is 17-6, with a 1.52 earned run average. Princeton senior third baseman Elmer Cleveland earned Batter of the Month honors after hitting .366, with 19 RBI and 21 runs scored.

[abell1198]

Pitching dominance remained the story for May, as it had all season long. On May 5th, Lehigh junior Frank "Shadow" Gilmore broke the single season strikeout record, formerly held by Villanova pitcher Mike O'Rourke. The former record of 172 strikeouts, set in 1878, was broken by Gilmore in a 5-4 complete game win at Fordham. Gilmore added to the total on his next start on May 8th, striking out 15 and pitching 13 innings in a 5-4 complete game win over the Penn Quakers. By the time the season ended, the new mark for K's reached 237.

May 8th was also the day the VMI Keydets lost their 20th straight game. VMI Manager David Thomas exploded at reporters during the post-game interview, where he publicly called out both AD Adam Patrick and VMI President Bob Friedman. On May 18th, Harvard's playoff hopes took a blow with an injury to senior pitcher Ryan LaMantia, who fractured his elbow. LaMantia's season ended with a 14-5 record and 2.35 ERA.

The 1886 season was easily one of the most competitive ever, with none of the three regions clinched going into the final game of the season. In the New England Region, Dartmouth (39-20) was hosting Harvard (38-21), who they held a one game lead over. Syracuse (38-21) held a one game lead over Columbia (37-22) in the Northeast Region and were on the road against Cornell (35-24). Columbia was at Fordham (22-37) for their final game. The Atlantic Region was even closer, as Lehigh and Lafayette (34-25) were tied for the lead, with Penn (33-26) only a game back. Lehigh was at Lafayette for the season finale, while Penn was at home against Villanova (32-27).

Dartmouth was down 6-1 to the Crimson when they put together a late rally and won the game, 8-7. With the win, the Big Green clinched their 2nd New England Region title. Syracuse defeated Cornell easily, 11-4, to clinch their 2nd Northeast Region title. Columbia also won, putting them in a tie with Harvard for the Wild Card position. And the Lafayette Leopards clinched their 4th Atlantic Region title with a 4-2 win over Lehigh. Two days later, Harvard traveled to New York City to face Columbia for the Wild Card. In a hard fought contest, the Lions prevailed 3-2 over the Crimson to make it to the playoffs.

So, the 1886 Playoffs are set, as Lafayette (35-25) travels to face Dartmouth (40-20). Meanwhile, Columbia (39-22) will be on the road against the Orange (39-21) in Syracuse. In the regular season, Dartmouth took a two game set from the Leopards, while Columbia and Syracuse played each other eight times this season, with each team winning four times.

The 1886 batting champ was Cornell senior third baseman Roberto Velasquez, who finished the season with a .348 average. May's Rookie and Pitcher of the Month was Lafayette freshman Isaiah Perry. Perry posted an 8-1 mark in May, with a 1.73 ERA. At season's end, Perry finished the year with an impressive 20-8 record and an ERA of 2.10. Batter of the Month was Harvard senior second baseman Steve Beck. The senior ended his collegiate career on a high note, hitting .400 in May, with three home runs and 16 RBI.