Collegiate Baseball Association

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The month of May was more positive than negative. On the first day of May, Villanova senior starter Tim "Chisel" Holt won his 50th career game in a 6-5 victory over Lafayette. The following day, May 2nd, the Wildcats secured their 7th Atlantic Region title. Three days later, on Cinco de Mayo, Princeton junior starter Justin "Champagne" Murphy was popping the champagne, celebrating his 50th career victory after an 11-4 win over Fordham. Cornell clinched their 4th Northeast Region title on May 11th, leaving the New England Region and the Wild Card as the only races left to follow. Cornell, however, suffered a blow when senior starting pitcher Lee Richmond went down with an injury. Although the injury, bone chips in his elbow, was only to keep him out 6-7 weeks, it would be the end of his season, even if the Big Red played in the championship series. Richmond ended his season at 21-7, with a 1.46 ERA.

On May 21st, 57 games had been played and the New England Region and Wild Card were still up for grabs. With three games left to play, Brown (34-23) held a one game lead over Yale (33-24). The two were set to finish the season against each other in Providence, Rhode Island at Bears Ballpark. Rutgers and Columbia were both tied with Yale for the Wild Card. Rutgers was on the road at Princeton, while Columbia was at Fordham for the final three game series of the regular season. By May 23rd, the last game of the season, nothing had been decided. Brown and Yale had split the first two games, bringing the New England Region title down to the final game. All Brown (35-24) had to do was win, while a Yale (34-25) victory would set up a one game playoff against the Bears. Meanwhile, Columbia (34-25) had also split their first two games with Fordham, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Rutgers (33-26), on the other hand, had dropped two games to Princeton and their playoff hopes were dim.

Brown took care of business, defeating Yale by a score of 6-4 and clinched their 4th New England Region title. Yale's playoff hopes were on hold, however, as the game between Columbia and Fordham was rained out. Rutgers was eliminated from post season play, losing 3-2 to Princeton. So on May 24th, Columbia faced off against Fordham and won the game 7-5, clinching the Wild Card berth.

Columbia's next challenge in the playoffs is to travel to Villanova, Pennsylvania to face the Wildcats. The teams did not face each other in the regular season. Brown travels to Ithaca, New York to challenge Cornell. The two teams split a two game series in the regular season.

Another one year wonder, senior transfer shortstop Tom Burns of Princeton, won May Rookie of the Month honors. Burns hit .397, with a home run and 11 RBI. Villanova senior pitcher Tim "Chisel" Holt was named May Pitcher of the Month. Holt was 8-1 in nine starts in May and posted an ERA of 2.00. May's Batter of the Month was Cornell senior right fielder Micah "Three Finger" Rufo. Rufo hit .452, with two homers and nine RBI.

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Needless to say, Villanova is a heavy favorite to win their series against Columbia. This is the Lions first trip to the post season. The Wildcats, on the other hand, are defending their national championship title with their fifth straight post season appearance, and seventh in the ten year history of the CBA. Junior Adam Hardison (20-10, 2.08) will be on the mound for Columbia. In a shocking move, Villanova Manager Matt Horace has announced senior pitcher Sergio Macias (19-10, 1.59) as today's starter for the Wildcats. When asked why senior pitcher Tim Holt (27-3, 1.84) didn't get the nod, Horace simply replied that Macias has post season experience and he felt it was the right move.

It's raining here today in Villanova, Pennsylvania, with the temperature at 71 degrees. The wind is blowing in from left at 9 mph. There are a few open seats here at the Ballpark of Villanova, as the attendance for this game is 1687 people. Macias starts the game out by getting the first Columbia batter out, but then gives up a ground ball single to senior left fielder Al Hall. Hall played in all 60 games this season, but hit only .228. Junior catcher King Kelly gets to first on his at bat, but Hall is out number two on the fielder's choice. Kelly has played in every game of his collegiate career and hit .332 this season. His career batting average sits at .320. On the defensive side of things, Kelly threw out 47.2% of runners trying to steal. So, with two outs, junior right fielder Josh "Fertile" Little comes to the plate with Kelly on first. Little had a bit of a down year, hitting .271 this season after hitting over .300 in each of his first two years. Little swings on the first pitch he sees from Macias and lines it deep into the gap in right center. Kelly is rounding third and heading home. There is no throw to the plate, as Kelly scores easily on the double by Little!!! Junior center fielder Ned Hanlon is up next. Hanlon is a .260 hitter this season. Hanlon works a 2-2 count, then grounds the ball past the second baseman for a hit!! Little rounds third and heads home. Villanova junior right fielder Kevin Davis fields the ball and guns it home. The play at the plate and Little is......OUT!!! Davis nails the runner at home and ends the inning!! After a half inning, Columbia leads 1-0.

Both Macias and Hardison settle into a pitcher's duel. Hits are conceded throughout the game, but runs are not. The Lions still hold a 1-0 lead as we head to the bottom of the 8th. Freshman second baseman Jared Tafel leads things off. Tafel is starting today after appearing in only two games during the regular season, as junior Denny Flynn is out with back tightness and is considered day-to-day. After working a 3-1 count, Tafel grounds the ball by the shortstop for a base hit. The next two batters attempt to bunt Tafel over, but both pop out. So with two outs and a man on first, senior center fielder Pete "Monkey" Hotaling comes to the dish. Hotaling takes a 2-2 pitch and grounds it past second for a base hit. Now there are runners at first and second, with two outs, for freshman DH Matt Stevens. Stevens works a 1-1 count before watching pitch number three go by as a ball. Kelly can't handle it, though, and it's a passed ball!! The runners advance. Stevens takes the next pitch and hits it right to first base. But the freshman Lance Horvat can't field the ball and it's an error!! Tafel scores from third and we have ourselves a tie game!!! Horvat normally plays right field and it showed on that play, as senior Alex Roberts is out nursing a hamstring injury. Junior Zach Fite grounds out to end the inning, and after eight, the game is tied 1-1.

There's nothing doing in the 9th, so we head to extra innings! Macias returns for the 10th and gets Hall to ground out for the first out of the inning. Kelly grounds the ball to 'Nova first baseman, freshman Blake "Deuce" Johnston. The normally sure handed Johnston can't get a grip and Kelly reaches on the error. Johnston committed only 12 errors this season in 51 games. A ground out moves Kelly to second, bringing Hanlon up to the plate with two outs. Hanlon takes Macias' first offering and hits it into right field. Kelly is on his horse and rounds third. There is NO THROW to the plate and Kelly scores to give Columbia a 2-1 lead!! Horvat comes up next and lines the ball into left for a double. Hanlon rounds third and heads home. The throw to the plate and Hanlon is.....OUT!!! The inning comes to an end, but the damage is done, as Columbia now holds a one run lead. The Wildcats struggle at the plate in the bottom of the 10th and fail to score. The hometown crowd is in shock, as Columbia has just won Game 1 by a score of 2-1!!



James and Ephraim traveled to Ithaca, New York, to watch Thomas' Big Red team play their first game against Brown. It is raining in Ithaca as well, although the temperature is much cooler at 57 degrees. The wind is blowing out to right at 8 mph. In addition to James and Ephraim, 1468 people filed into the stands to watch Game 1 of this playoff series. On the mound for Brown today is junior Jerry Ranieri, who was 18-11 during the regular season, with a 3.01 ERA. In the May 11th match up between these two clubs, Ranieri lasted only 4 1/3 innings and took the loss, as Cornell won the game 10-7. Cornell junior Josh Russey, like Ranieri, took the loss in the game on May 12th, pitching a complete game, but losing 7-6 to the Bears. Russey was 14-3 during the season, with a 1.78 ERA. Cornell may struggle on the mound in the playoffs, as they have lost both of their starters to injury for the post season. However, they may be just fine, as the Big Red have the number one offense in the CBA and four .300 hitters in their lineup.

Russey starts out well in the top of the 1st, getting the first two batters to fly out. He got the third batter, Abner Dalrymple, to hit a fly ball as well, but the ball kept flying and went over the right field wall for a home run!! Russey also gives up a double, but Cornell gets the third out before any more damage can be done. Midway through the 1st, Brown leads it 1-0. Cornell comes out swinging and gets three straight hits off of Ranieri, scoring a run and tying the ball game. Ranieri ends up loading the bases, but escapes the inning with only one run allowed. At the end of one, the game is tied 1-1.

The 2nd inning is scoreless, but in the top of the 3rd, Brown has runners on the corners and two outs. Junior right fielder Jarrod Ouellet, a .287 hitter, lines the ball into deep center field for a double!! A run scores and when the top half of the 3rd is over, Brown leads it 2-1. After keeping Cornell off the board in the bottom half of the 3rd, Brown goes after Russey in the top of the 4th. It's a bad defensive effort for the Big Red, as they commit two errors and a passed ball. Coupled with three Bear hits, three runs score and midway through the 4th, Brown has built a 5-1 advantage. Cornell's bats go silent until the bottom of the 6th, when Micah "Three Finger" Rufo hits a solo shot over the right field wall to cut the lead to 5-2. Rufo led the CBA with a .395 average this season. The senior has a career average of .356.

Brown recovers the run, however, in the 7th. The Big Red defensive woes continue, as an error and passed ball contribute to sophomore shortstop Tyler Stone's RBI single. Now leading 6-2, Dalrymple adds an RBI double in the 8th to make it 7-2. Dalrymple ends the game 4 for 5, as the Brown Bears win Game 1!!

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Welcome back, college baseball fans. Our first game of the day is in New York City, where Columbia University is hosting their first ever playoff game. After shocking the Villanova Wildcats in Game 1, the Lions are looking for a win today and their first shot at a national championship. It's partly cloudy today and 63 degrees. There's a strong wind blowing in from left at 20 mph. That should challenge some hitters and some outfielders alike. There are only two empty seats in Lions Ballpark, as 1798 people have come out to see this important game. In a stunning move, Villanova Manager Matt Horace is again going to start senior Sergio Macias. One could argue that Tim Holt is the better pitcher and should be given a chance to start after Macias started Game 1. Columbia is again going to their 20 game winner, junior Adam Hardison. What a turnaround for Hardison. Last season, he was 9-19, but this season he is 20-10.

Hardison, the righty from Paradise, Nevada, starts out the game by going three up, three down with the Wildcat lineup. Macias returns the favor and at the end of one, we're scoreless. Hardison isn't so lucky in the 2nd inning, giving up base hits to the first two batters, freshman DH Matt Stevens and junior Zach "Creole" Fite. Freshman first baseman Blake Johnston works a full count, then grounds the ball to Columbia third baseman, freshman Tim Kepler. Kepler botches the fielding attempt and Stevens scores. Fite would score on a ground out to short and Johnston would work his way around the bases and score on a passed ball. Halfway through the 2nd, Villanova has built a 3-0 lead!! Macias continues to dominate Columbia, holding them hitless through the 3rd. In the top of the 4th, Johnston gets a base hit to lead things off. He's sacrificed to second. Freshman catcher Arlie "The Freshest Man on Earth" Latham comes up next, but flies out.

Let's take a minute to talk about Latham and his interesting nickname. Latham started playing in the majors initially in 1880, but didn't make it and was out for a couple of years before catching on with the St. Louis Browns in 1883. He was known as a "colorful character" and "clown prince" and was known for playing practical jokes on the Browns owner, Chris Von der Ahe, and manager Charlie Comiskey. The nickname, apparently, was a popular song of the day. Interestingly enough, Latham was also a third base coach and would run up and down the base line taunting opposing pitchers. This, of course, led to the rules about the coaching box. For more, click here to read SABR's bio on Latham.

Okay. Back to the game. Freshman second baseman Jared Tafel is up next and works a full count before hitting a single to right center. Johnston scores and at the middle of the 4th, Villanova holds a 4-0 lead. Columbia is held hitless through four, but their fortunes change in the bottom of the 5th. With one out, Kepler doubles to left center. Freshman shortstop Brian Bushey follows up with a base hit to left, bringing up junior DH Zach Larsen. Larsen singles to right center, scoring Kepler. Bushey heads for third and a throwing error by senior center fielder Pete Hotaling allows Bushey to score. Macias controls the damage from there, but the Villanova lead is cut in half, 4-2. The Wildcat's bats go silent, but the Lions' bats are still hot as we head to the bottom of the 6th. With one out, junior center fielder Nick Hanlon is at the plate for Columbia. After taking a strike, Hanlon fouls off six of the next seven pitches. On the ninth pitch of the at bat, he triples to deep left field!! Freshman first baseman Lance Horvat is up next and he's able to reach base on an error. Hanlon scores and the lead is cut to 4-3!! Horvat steals second base during Kepler's at bat. After Kepler grounds out, Bushey steps in and delivers a single to right. Horvat rounds third and heads home. The throw to the plate and Horvat is......OUT!!!! Villanova ends the inning and holds on to their lead!!

Columbia commits two errors in the top of the 7th, but Villanova can't take advantage. Larsen leads off the bottom of the 7th with a walk and is sacrificed to second. Senior left fielder Al Hall then sends a line drive into the gap in right center. Larsen scores to tie the game!!! After a fly out, there are two outs and Hall on second for Little. Little smacks a single into the right center field gap and Hall scores to give Columbia the lead, 5-4!!! Nobody scores in the 8th, so we head to the top of the 9th. Latham leads the inning off with a base hit. He's still on first two outs later, which brings up junior right fielder Kevin Davis. Davis is 2 for 4 today and hit .341 this season. He works a full count, then lines the ball into left for a base hit. Latham speeds his way around second and reaches third. With the tying run 90 feet away, Hotaling comes up and grounds the ball to third for the final out. Columbia wins Game 2 and has completed the UPSET, defeating Villanova two games to none!!!



In the second game of the day, Cornell has traveled to Providence, Rhode Island to face off against the Brown Bears in Game 2. James and Ephraim made the trip to the game to cheer on Thomas. There are 1883 fans in Bears Ballpark today. The skies are clear and the temperature is 68 degrees. The wind is blowing out to center at 12 mph. Junior Josh Russey is again on the mound for the Big Red. Junior Jerry Ranieri is starting again as well for the Bears. After a scoreless 1st, we go to the top of the 2nd. The first three Cornell batters reach via walk, single, and error. With the bases loaded, another Brown error allows a run to score. The Bears manage to record an out before sophomore Arturo Lopez comes to the plate. Lopez hits a double to score two runs. Brown gets the last two outs, but Cornell leads it 3-0 midway through two. Three Cornell errors in the bottom of the 2nd lead to Brown getting a run back, so at the end of two, Cornell leads 3-1.

No one scores in the 3rd inning, but more Brown errors allow Cornell to score a run in the top of the 4th. The Bears can't score and we head to the top of the 5th, where the Big Red have men on first and second with one out. With freshman shortstop Mike Gonzalez at the plate, a passed ball allows the runners to advance. Gonzalez fouls a few pitches off before lining the ball into left field for a double. Both runners score and when the midpoint of the 5th comes, Cornell leads 6-1. In the bottom half of the 5th, however, Brown comes storming back. Behind three singles, two doubles and an error, the Bears score four times, cutting the lead to 6-5 at the end of five.

The score remains for the next inning and a half as we go to the bottom of the 7th. With two outs, Brown junior left fielder Abner Dalrymple is on third. Fellow junior and right fielder Jarrod Ouellet comes up and promptly singles the ball into right field to tie the game. Freshman DH Jonathan Fry is up next. A wild pickoff throw to first sends Ouellet to second. Ouellet would work a full count before getting a base hit to score Ouellet and give Brown the lead, 7-6!! Cornell gets a couple of base hits in the 8th and even gets a runner to third, but they can't bring him home. Brown goes down in order in the bottom of the 8th. Ranieri comes back out in the 9th and mows down the Cornell hitters. Brown wins the game and records another UPSET in this postseason, as they defeat Cornell two games to none to move on to the Collegiate Championship Series!!!

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It's time for Game 1 of the 1880 Collegiate Championship Series. This year, the Columbia Lions are in the playoffs and the championship series for the 1st time in school history. Brown, on the other hand, is the veteran, enjoying their 7th trip to the post season and 5th time in the championship. The Bears are 1-3 in championship series thus far. As usual, James and Ephraim made their way to the championship. The weather today in Providence, Rhode Island is beautiful, 69 degrees and clear skies. The wind is blowing out to center at 9 mph. There are some empty seats left at Bears Ballpark, with 1881 fans in the stands. Junior Adam Hardison is on the mound for the visiting Columbia Lions. Hardison is 2-0 in the post season and has not allowed an earned run. Junior Jerry Ranieri gets the start once more for the home team Brown Bears. Ranieri is 2-0 in the playoffs, with a 1.50 ERA.

Ranieri pitches well in the 1st inning, allowing a hit, but no runs. Hardinson isn't so fortunate, as he gives up four base hits. Brown only scores one run however, as they strand three on the bases. The 2nd inning is a repeat of the 1st. Columbia gets a hit, but no runs. Senior catcher Jim Keenan leads off the bottom of the 2nd with a single and advances to third on another base hit and an error. Keenan scores on a fielder's choice and at the end of two, Brown leads 2-0. Columbia finds their stroke in the 3rd inning. Freshman shortstop Brian Bushey leads off the 3rd by reaching base on a Brown error. Bushey is sacrificed to second and goes to third on a base hit by junior second baseman Jack "Moose" Farrell. A throwing error on Bear right fielder Jarrod Ouellet allows Bushey to score and gives Farrell second base. After a hit by pitch and a fly out, junior right fielder Josh "Fertile" Little comes up to bat with two out and two on. Little fouls the first pitch off, then lines the second pitch into deep right center field. Farrell scores from second and Al Hall turns the corner at third and heads for home. Hall has average speed and the throw is made to the plate. Hall is.....OUT!!!! In the middle of the 3rd, the game is knotted up at 2-2.

The game remains tied as we go to the bottom of the 6th. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Stone doubles to right center to lead things off. Two outs later, Stone has moved up to third base. Second baseman Bill Angelbeck, a junior, is at the plate. Angelbeck grounds the ball to short, but Bushey can't handle it and Angelbeck is safe. Stone scores, as Brown regains the lead. Angelbeck steals second, then advances to third on a base hit by junior first baseman Scott Steele. Little fields the ball in right for the Lions, but throws wildly to third. The errant throw allows Angelbeck to score. At the end of six, Brown leads 4-2. Columbia smashes out four base hits in the next three innings, but can't manage to get anyone across home plate. The Brown Bears win Game 1 by the score of 4-2, and take a one game to none lead in the Collegiate Championship Series.

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The trip was a short one for James and Ephraim, as the series moved to New York City in Lions Ballpark. There are 1788 people in the stands who are hoping to see a Columbia win. James had brought along the championship trophy in case they didn't. The weather is once again beautiful, with clear skies and 68 degrees. The wind is blowing in from center field at 12 mph. The two juniors, Jerry Ranieri for Brown, and Adam Hardison for Columbia, were both back on the hill to start Game 2.

Second baseman Bill Angelbeck leads off for Brown to start the game and flies out. First baseman Scott Steele, however, singles to right to get on base. With Abner Dalrymple at the plate, Steele takes second on a passed ball. Dalrymple then sends the ball into center field for a base hit. Center fielder Ned Hanlon, a junior, can't get a grip on the ball. The error sends Steele home and Dalrymple to second. Columbia settles down and records the next two outs, but Brown has an early 1-0 lead. The score remains the same as we enter the top of the 3rd. Junior third baseman Michael Jackson and Angelbeck find themselves on the corners with no outs after back-to-back Columbia errors. Jackson scores on a slow grounder to second and Angelbeck moves to third. With one out, Dalrymple flies out to center. Angelbeck tags up and heads home. The throw to the plate and Angelbeck is......SAFE!!! Midway through the 3rd, Brown has built a 3-0 lead!!

The Bears maintain their three run lead as we go to the bottom of the 4th. Senior left fielder Al Hall hits the ball over the center fielder's head and gets to third for a triple!! Catcher King Kelly, a junior, flies out to right field on the next at bat. Hall tags up from third as the throw is made to the plate. Hall is......OUT!!! Gunned down at the plate!! When the inning ends, Brown still leads 3-0. The pitchers are locked in and the score remains unchanged as we enter the bottom of the 7th. With one out, Hanlon belts out a triple!! Lance Horvat, the freshman first baseman, grounds the ball into left field. Hanlon scores, as Columbia cuts into the Brown lead, 3-1. Horvat steals second and moves to third on a ground out. But Brian Bushey goes down swinging for the final out, and at the end of seven, Brown leads 3-1. Jackson leads off the top of the 8th with a single. He moves to second on a passed ball with Steele at the plate. Steele flies out to center, but Jackson tags up and heads for third. Hanlon's throw is off the mark and Jackson goes home. With Brown now leading 4-1, Columbia can't find a way to rally. The game ends, with the Bears taking the series two games to none for their second national championship!!

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A new season was underway and the sportswriters were feeling pretty good about themselves, picking three of the four playoff teams last year. So what did they do? Well, they picked the same three teams to win their regions. Brown in the New England Region, Cornell in the Northeast Region, and Villanova in the Atlantic Region. Fordham was chosen to edge out Columbia and Princeton for the Wild Card slot.



Predictions are what they are and the games still have to be played. James was looking forward to another season, although the stress of worrying about attendance was weighing on him. The numbers were up last season, but not by much. The pressure was on him to make the numbers work for the university and college presidents, but there wasn't a whole lot he could do, as the schools dictated promotions and the growth or demise of their programs. James was turning 59 soon, and he knew in his heart that his days in the commissioner position were going to end sooner rather than later.

The first half of the month of March was relatively uneventful. No major injuries to speak of. The first team to make news was Harvard, when on March 17th, Manager Kevin Travis announced he had banned his players from playing poker in the clubhouse. Travis apparently thought it was a distraction, as his team was 7-5 on the season. The club only played .500 ball after that, so James wondered if Travis would allow the boys to start playing cards again.

The first big injury came on March 19th, when Yale left fielder, junior Ryan Weston, fractured his cheekbone on a defensive play late in a game against Brown. Not only did Yale lose the game, 12-11, but they lost Weston for 4-5 weeks. Weston was hitting .322 with 10 RBI. On March 25th, Villanova lost senior right fielder Kevin Davis to a fractured shoulder blade. Davis suffered the injury in the 3rd inning of a game at Penn. Although the Wildcats won the game, 8-1, Davis was lost for 4-5 weeks. Davis was hitting .314, with two homers and six RBI at the time of his injury. Finally, on March 29th, Lehigh lost junior starter Monte Ward for the season to a ruptured tendon in his finger. Ward started 11 games, posting a 5-6 mark and a 3.08 ERA.

As March comes to an end, Harvard finds itself atop the New England Region by a game over Yale. Brown, the preseason favorite, is three games back. Columbia is staking it's claim as a legitimate contender, holding down first place in the Northeast Region by three games over Princeton. Both Fordham and Cornell are three and a half games back. The Atlantic Region is a three horse race, with Penn and Lafayette challenging Villanova for the lead. All three teams are tied and lead Lehigh by three games



Jason Sanders, a freshman first baseman for Lafayette, was named March Rookie of the Month. Sanders finished the month hitting .364, with one home run and nine RBI. Fordham senior starter Freddy Salazar was named Pitcher of the month. Salazar made 11 starts and posted a 9-2 record, with 26 strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA. Batter of the Month honors were bestowed upon Brown left fielder, senior Abner Dalrymple. Dalrymple hit .376, with 11 RBI and 25 runs scored.

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April was a rather uneventful month. The only major injury of the month was to Fordham senior starter Freddy Salazar, who went down with a sprained elbow on April 13th. His injury is expected to keep him out for five weeks. Effectively, it ends his season, unless Fordham is in the playoffs. In a bittersweet twist, Salazar qualified for the win in the 8-5 victory over Syracuse, giving him his 50th career win. For the year, Salazar is 11-5, with a 2.10 ERA. His career numbers are 50-29, with a 2.17 ERA.

Harvard is still a game up on Yale in the race for the New England Region. Brown finds themselves still trailing by three games. Columbia's lead in the Northeast Region has decreased by half a game to 2 1/2. Cornell has climbed into second place, but ends the month on a four game skid. The Big Red currently lead the Wild Card race by 1 1/2 games. Princeton is in third place and four games out. Villanova has built a three game lead in the Atlantic Region. Penn is hanging on in second place, while Lafayette has dropped to third and is five games out.

Rookie of the Month for April is Syracuse freshman left fielder, Jerry "Spud" Hampton. Hampton hit .365 for the month, with one home run, 18 RBI and 17 runs scored. On the season, he's hitting .335, with three homers, 26 RBI, and 33 runs scored. Pitcher of the Month honors go to Cornell senior Eric Clough. Clough, who just returned to action after suffering a ruptured UCL last April, went 9-3 this month in 12 starts. Clough's ERA is 1.66. The Batter of the Month award goes to Cornell senior first baseman "Big Dan" Brouthers. Brouthers hit .400 for the month, with four home runs and 22 RBI. Brouthers also scored 20 runs.

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A little over a week into the month, on May 8th, it happened again for the 11th straight year. Lehigh was eliminated from postseason play. It's a record in futility that is matched only by Dartmouth, who joined Lehigh on that streak just a few days later. Also, on May 8th, Yale sophomore pitcher Keith Rosenbaum sustained a triceps strain. With the prognosis for him to be out six weeks, is his season over? Better yet, how does this injury factor in Yale's postseason pursuit? May 18th was a busy day for the CBA. On that day, Villanova clinched their 8th Atlantic Region title, while both Columbia (36-21) and Cornell (35-22) clinched berths in the playoffs. Dartmouth also decided to fire Athletic Director Steve Lipscomb and Manager Tim Garcia.

A couple of days later, on May 20th, Yale (31-26) has gotten their magic number down to one. They have a three game series at Brown (28-29) left to go. Columbia and Cornell are both in a race for the Northeast Region title. Columbia's last three games are at Fordham, while Cornell is at home against Syracuse. Yale rises to the occasion and puts away Brown, 8-6, clinching their 4th New England Region title. The following day, May 21st, Columbia seals the deal, defeating Fordham 6-4 and clinches their 1st ever Northeast Region title. Cornell settles for the Wild Card. The final day of the season, May 22nd, is a formality, as the playoff match ups are set. Yale will travel to New York City to face Columbia. The teams split their two game set at one game a piece during the season. Cornell travels to Villanova to face the Wildcats, who they were 0-2 against in the regular season.

"Big Dan" Brouthers, the senior first baseman from Cornell, won the batting title and also became the first player in CBA history to win the triple crown!!!

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The first game of the day features the Yale Bulldogs on the road to New York City to face off with the Columbia Lions. This is Yale's fourth time in the postseason, and the first since 1873. As for Columbia, it is their second trip in a row to the playoffs, as well as the second time in school history. It's 64 degrees and partly cloudy here at Lions Ballpark, but the wind could play a factor in today's game. It's blowing in from center at 21 mph! There are only a couple of dozen empty seats left, as 1770 people have come out to the ballpark to see this game. On the mound for Yale is 22 year old senior Eric Niedermeier, who is 16-13 on the year, with a 2.17 earned run average. This has been the best season for the righty from Bell, California. Niedermeier was victorious against this Columbia team on April 26th, when he pitched a complete game 7-3 win. On the mound for the Lions is 21 year old junior Jason Colna, who is 17-10 on the season, with a 2.42 ERA. The righty from Modesto, California also had the best season of his collegiate career this year. Colna took the loss in the match up on April 26th, as he lasted only five innings.

The lead off man, junior left fielder Ryan Weston, starts the game off by reaching on an error, but the Bulldogs can't bring him across the plate. Columbia's lead off hitter, sophomore right fielder Lance Horvat, leads off the bottom half of the 1st by working Niedermeier through 11 pitches, the last of which he sends into left center for a double. Two outs later, Horvat has made it to third. Senior second baseman Jack "Moose" Farrell, trying to atone for his error, does so by grounding the ball past short and into left field to score Horvat. Farrell steals second and advances to third on the catcher's wild throw. Farrell would score on a fielder error by Yale shortstop Brian McPherson. The inning ends on the next at bat, and at the end of the 1st, Columbia holds a 2-0 lead.

The pitchers settle in and the score remains as we enter the 5th inning. Freshman center fielder Matt Gilmartin leads the inning off with a single for Yale. Gilmartin is sacrificed over to second. Sophomore second baseman Robbie LeNoble gets in a hole quickly, with an 0-2 count on two pitches. But LeNoble lines the third pitch into right field for a base hit! Gilmartin gallops around third and heads home. The throw by Horvat is not in time. Gilmartin is SAFE!!! Colna tries a pickoff move on LeNoble, but it goes wrong and he advances to second. LeNoble takes off for third on the next pitch and senior catcher King Kelly sends the ball sailing into left field. LeNoble scores and the game is tied 2-2!! Colna and the Lions manage to stop the bleeding and keep the game tied as the middle of the 5th comes around. Columbia freshman DH Jim "Toxin" Merritt leads off the bottom of the 5th by reaching on an error. Sophomore shortstop Brian Bushey follows up with a double to center, scoring Merritt and regaining the lead. At the end of five, Columbia leads 3-2.

The Lions add a run in the bottom of the 7th compliments of an infield hit and two Bulldog errors. Down 4-2 entering the 8th, Yale gets three base hits, but can only get one man across the plate. With their lead now 4-3, and one out in the bottom of the 8th, Columbia senior Ned Hanlon doubles a 2-0 pitch to center. Hanlon, who normally plays left field, is playing in center today for the injured Josh Little. Kelly is intentionally walked to bring up Farrell. Niedermeier gets Farrell to ground to short, but they can't turn the double play! Kelly is out at second, and Hanlon moves over to third. So, with two out and men on the corners, up to the plate strolls freshman first baseman Moises Jiles. Jiles, a .240 hitter, works the count to 2-2 before driving the ball deep into right field. Hanlon and Farrell both score, as Jiles has himself a triple!! Columbia ends the inning leading 6-3!!! Yale has no response in the 9th and the Lions have taken Game 1!!



James and Ephraim made the trip, like usual, to see Thomas and his Cornell team. The young Herring saw the most playing time in this, his junior season, than he had in his first two years combined. Herring played in 26 games this season, starting 16 of them. He played mainly in center, but a few were in left field. For the season, Thomas hit .228. James and Ephraim discussed the delay on the construction of the Hall of Fame on the train ride to Villanova, Pennsylvania, and discussed what options they had to finish their ambitious project. It is a breezy day at the Ballpark of Villanova, with the wind blowing out to right at 21 mph. The skies are clear and the temperature is at 64 degrees. There are 1672 fans in the stadium to see the game. Senior Eric Clough is on the mound for Cornell. Clough missed the first month of the season from an injury the year before. When he returned, he put together a 15-4 record, with a 1.93 ERA, the lowest in the association. Clough took the loss in the match up on April 27th with this Wildcat team, allowing 11 hits over eight innings in the 5-4 loss. Every Villanova run in that game came in the 7th-9th innings. On the hill for the Wildcats is junior Jason Clemons. Clemons put together a 21-9 season, his first full season as a starter. His ERA is 2.21.

Clemons hits a batter in the top of the 1st, but it's the only baserunner for Cornell and he doesn't cross the plate. Villanova senior right fielder Kevin Davis strokes a one out triple in the bottom of the 1st. Davis would score on a Zach Fite ground out. At the end of one, 'Nova leads it 1-0. Cornell senior shortstop J.D. Ruch draws a walk in the top of the 2nd, and with two outs, he scores on a Bill Hathcock double down the first base line. Hathcock is playing in left today, as the regular starter, sophomore Tony Rosales, is out with an oblique strain. Hathcock only hit .198 on the year, but he came through on that at bat. Sophomore Cruz Alvarez is up next. Alvarez is starting in center today after only playing in nine games all season!! The usual center fielder, freshman Josh Angelos, is out with an elbow injury, so Alvarez and his .133 batting average get the start. Alvarez takes a ball, then singles into center! Hathcock rounds third and heads home. The throw home by center fielder Dave Mauch....and Hathcock is OUT!!! The senior guns down the runner and preserves the tie. Villanova doesn't score in the bottom of the 2nd, so at the end of two, the game is tied 1-1.

The Wildcats would rally, however, in the bottom of the 3rd with two outs. Davis singles and two errors later, both he and Fite are crossing the plate. At the end of the 3rd, Villanova leads 3-1. Cornell gets a run back in the top of the 4th, when Ned Williamson scores on a Bobby Isaacs' double. Villanova holds on to their one run lead, however, through seven innings. In the top of the 8th, "Big Dan" Brouthers, leads off with a single and later scores on a Ruch triple to tie the game up, 3-3. But the Wildcats come back again in the bottom of the 8th behind two singles and a double, scoring a run to regain the lead. The Big Red go down in order in the top of the 9th, as Villanova holds on to win Game 1 by the score of 4-3.

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Welcome back. It's time for Game 2 of the 1881 Collegiate Playoff Series. There are two games scheduled for the day. The first in our doubleheader is in New Haven, Connecticut, where the Yale Bulldogs are hosting their first playoff game since 1873. They'll have their hands full against the Northeast Region champions, the Columbia Lions. The Lions lead the series 1-0 after winning Game 1 by the score of 6-3. It's a bit cool today at Bulldogs Ballpark. It's 59 degrees and partly cloudy, with the wind blowing out to right at 11 mph. Jason Colna of Columbia and Eric Niedermeier of Yale are both back on the hill for their respective teams. There are 2164 fans in the stadium today to cheer this one on.

The first score of the game doesn't come until the bottom of the 2nd inning. Yale junior right fielder Fred Lewis leads things off with a base hit. He moves to third after senior Art Whitney doubles to left. Lewis scores on a ground out in the following at bat and Whitney later comes home on a passed ball. At the end of two, Yale leads 2-0. Columbia gets a run back in the top of the 3rd. Freshman left fielder Ruben Perez draws a leadoff walk and makes his way around to third compliments of a sac bunt and a fly out. Senior catcher King Kelly delivers an RBI single to score Perez, and the lead is cut in half, 2-1, midway through the 3rd. Yale responds, in kind, in the bottom half of the frame. The Bulldogs don't get a hit, but thanks to three Lion errors, Yale is able to plate two runs. At the end of the 3rd, Yale leads 4-1.

Perez delivers an RBI single in the top of the 4th to cut the lead down to 4-2, but then the pitchers buckle down until the top of the 7th inning. Kelly leads the inning off with a triple, then scores on a passed ball to cut the lead to 4-3. Yale finally get to Colna again in the bottom of the 8th. Three singles and a wild pitch lead to two more Bulldog runs and Yale is looking good at the end of eight, leading 6-3. Columbia senior Ned Hanlon leads off the top of the 9th with a single past first base and into right field. Kelly is up next and grounds it to short, but the freshman, Brian McPherson, bobbles the ball and the runners are safe!!! After a fielder's choice gets Kelly at second, and infield single by Moises Jiles loads 'em up. Sophomore third baseman Tim Kepler is up next. A passed ball allows a run to score, cutting the lead to 6-4. With men on second and third with one out, Kepler delivers a double into center, scoring both runners!! The game is tied, 6-6!!! The rally fizzles, but Columbia has come back to even the score!! Yale manages two singles in the bottom of the 9th, but a double play ends the rally attempt and we go to extras!!

Niedermeier returns to pitch the top of the 10th. Sophomore right fielder Lance Horvat leads it off with a single to right and moves to second on Hanlon's bunt single. Kelly singles as well, but a throwing error on Yale center fielder Matt Gilmartin allows Horvat to score and the other runners to advance. An intentional walk loads the bases for Jiles. But freshman catcher Chris Dalton's passed ball allows another run to score. Jiles grounds out for the second out of the inning, but Kepler gets an infield hit and Kelly crosses the plate for the third run of the inning. After the third out is recorded, Columbia holds a 9-6 lead midway through the 10th. Disheartened, Yale has no answer and goes down in order to end the game. Columbia has won the game, 9-6, and the series, 2-0, and advances to their second consecutive Collegiate Championship Series!!



James and Ephraim again made their journey to watch Thomas's Cornell team play. There's rain in the air in Ithaca, New York, and the temperature is 61 degrees. The wind is blowing out to right at 9 mph. There are 1480 people in the stands for Game 2. Jason Clemons of Villanova and Eric Clough of Cornell are on the mound again for the start. The Wildcats strike in the top of the 1st, as two base hits and a sac fly get a run across the plate to give Villanova an early 1-0 advantage. Cornell responds big time in the bottom of the 1st, thanks to a terrible inning by Villanova sophomore catcher Arlie Latham. Latham committed two throwing errors on stolen base attempts and allowed a passed ball. Throw in a hit by pitch, another defensive error, and three singles, and the Big Red score four times. At the end of one, Cornell leads 4-1. The Big Red would pad their lead in the bottom of the 3rd. Ten batters step to the plate amid a whirlwind of activity. Three singles, two triples, two passed balls, two errors, and a wild pitch lead to four more Cornell runs. At the end of three, the Big Red hold an 8-1 lead.

Villanova senior center fielder Dave Mauch hits a home run over the right field wall in the top of the 5th to make it 8-2. But Cornell's bats are just too much today. Three doubles in the bottom of the 6th make it 11-2. Four more hits in the bottom of the 7th push the score to 14-2. Villanova scores a run in the top of the 8th, but today just isn't their day. Cornell wins Game 2 in a blowout, 14-3, and evens the series at a game a piece.

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Cornell made the return trip to Villanova, Pennsylvania, looking to close out this series after a dominating Game 2 performance. The Wildcats, however, find themselves regrouping as both teams prepare for Game 3. The winner goes on to face Columbia in the Collegiate Championship Series. The loser goes home. James and Ephraim, along with 1665 other fans, are on hand for today's game. It's a beautiful day at the Ballpark of Villanova, with clear skies and the temperature at 79 degrees. The wind is blowing out to right at 9 mph. Eric Clough is back on the mound for Cornell, while Jason Clemons again is starting for Villanova.

The first inning and a half go by without a score. Villanova DH Johnny May leads off the bottom of the 2nd with a triple over the head of the center fielder. Two batters later, a Cornell fielding error allows May to cross the plate. The Big Red end the inning strong with a double play, but the Wildcats are on the board and lead 1-0. Both pitchers settle into a duel, and innings go by without a score. That is, until the bottom of the 6th. Senior left fielder Zach Fite leads off with a base hit and moves to second on a bunt single. May delivers a single and Fite advances to third, but a throwing error on Cornell center fielder Cruz Alvarez allows Fite to score. Wildcats now lead 2-0. Cornell manages to record an out, bringing up sophomore shortstop Alex Carrington, with men on second and third. After fouling a couple of pitches off, Carrington lines a double down the left field line. Both runners score!!! Villanova leads 4-0!! The Big Red get the final two outs to finish off the inning, but the damage is done.

Hits are given up, but no runs in both the 7th and 8th innings, as 'Nova takes their 4-0 lead into the 9th. Clemons comes back out to the mound, but looks a little fatigued. David Mayeaux and "Big Dan" Brouthers get base hits to start off the inning. Ned Williamson grounds the ball back to Clemons, who gets Brouthers on the fielder's choice. Mayeaux moves to third. Noah "Husk" Mola comes up with one out and men on the corners. Williamson is looking to steal and Clemons throws it to first. Williamson is picked off at first for the second out!!! Mola draws a walk, so there are men on the corners again. J.D. Ruch comes up and delivers a line drive to right. Mayeaux scores to get Cornell on the board. Mola ends up at third, as Ruch pulls up with a double!! Bobby Isaacs draws a walk to load 'em up. Bill Hathcock does the same, as Clemons walks a run in. Villanova's lead is now down to two runs, with the bases loaded and two out. Big Red Manager Chase Whitehead pulls Alvarez in favor of a pinch hitter. Interesting move, since Alvarez is 2 for 2 today and 5 for 9 (.556) for the series. Up to the plate steps freshman Antonio "Shark" Perez. Perez played in 32 games this season, hitting .283. Perez works a 1-1 count, then sends the ball into right center field. But it's just a lazy fly ball. The ball is caught for the final out and Villanova has won the game, 4-2, and takes the series, 2-1. The Wildcats move on to face Columbia in the championship series.

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It's time for Game 1 of the 1881 Collegiate Championship Series, featuring the Villanova Wildcats and Columbia Lions in what is sure to be a classic. Villanova returns for the second time in three years, winning the championship in 1879. Columbia returns to the Series for the second straight year. Both teams finished the season at 38-22 and they met for a two game series to start the season in March. The Lions took both games, winning each game by a single run. Joining us today are Commissioner James Herring and his son, and Assistant Commissioner, Ephraim Herring, along with 1785 other fans at Lions Ballpark. It's 70 degrees with clear skies today, with the wind blowing in from center field at 12 mph. Villanova junior Jason Clemons gets the start today for the Wildcats. Columbia junior Jason Colna gets the nod for the Lions.

The first two innings go by without much action, as both pitchers are throwing well. That changes in the top of the 3rd with two outs and a man on. Villanova senior right fielder Kevin Davis sends the ball deep into the gap in right center. A run scores and Davis ends up at third with a triple!! Left fielder Zach "Creole" Fite, who is also in his senior season, follows up with a double to score Davis. The inning ends on a groundout, but the Wildcats are on the board and hold a 2-0 lead over the Lions. 'Nova would strike again in the top of the 4th, as Arlie Latham doubles to right to score Denny Flynn. The sophomore catcher gives Villanova a 3-0 lead midway through the 4th. It would be the bottom of the 5th before Columbia gets a man across the plate, as Brian Bushey singles to lead off the inning and works his way around the bases via an error, sac bunt, and passed ball. At the end of five, Villanova leads 3-1.

After a scoreless 6th, Villanova pads their lead in the top of the 7th, as senior center fielder Dave Mauch homers over the right field wall to make it 4-1. The Wildcats get two more base hits in the inning, but can't push the runners across the plate. Columbia gets a run back with a couple of base hits and a sac fly to make it 4-2 at the end of the 7th. Villanova's bats are still hot in the top of the 8th, as they lead off the inning with a double and single to put men on the corners with no outs. But a line out double play and a fly out end the inning and kill the Wildcat's momentum. Columbia, reinvigorated with their defense, gets a pair of doubles in the bottom half of the 8th, scoring a run to make the score 4-3. The Wildcats regroup and get the last two outs to end the inning as we head into the 9th.

Villanova goes down in order in the top of the 9th and hold a one run lead. The freshman left fielder, Ruben Perez, leads off for Columbia and singles to right. Lance Horvat reaches base on an error and a sacrifice bunt puts the runners at second and third with one out. King Kelly comes up to the plate and sends the first pitch into the air in right field. Davis, the senior from Mobile, Alabama, makes the catch in right for out number two. Perez tags up at third and makes a break for home. Davis throws to the plate and Perez is........OUT!!! What a play!!! Perez is gunned down at home for the final out of the game and Villanova has taken Game 1 by a final score of 4-3!!

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Game 2 of the 1881 Collegiate Championship Series is upon us in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Columbia Lions find themselves down one game to none and are looking to even things up with a win today. The Villanova Wildcats are wanting to close the series out today with a win and save themselves a return trip to New York City. Jason Colna is again on the mound for Columbia, while Jason Clemons returns to the mound for Villanova. There's a near capacity crowd of 1697 people in the stands, including Commissioner James Herring and Assistant Commission Ephraim Herring. The commissioner has brought along the championship trophy in the event the Wildcats win the series today. It's partly cloudy and 69 degrees at the Ballpark of Villanova, with the wind blowing out to right at 10 mph.

Clemons records two quick outs to start off the 1st, but then gives up two base hits. King Kelly goes past second to third and gets in a rundown. Somehow, he manages to escape and get safely to third. A passed ball allows Kelly to score. Through the first half inning, Columbia leads 1-0. Villanova's Dave Mauch leads off the bottom half of the 1st with a single. Kevin Davis follows up with a triple to score Mauch, then scores on a ground out on the following at bat. Colna pulls things together, but at the end of the 1st, Villanova has the 2-1 advantage. The 2nd inning is scoreless, but that isn't the case in the 3rd. With one out in the top of the 3rd, Columbia's Ned Hanlon triples. Two batters later, Hanlon scores on a base hit by senior second baseman Jack Farrell. Midway through three, the game is tied 2-2. Mauch responds with a lead off single in the bottom half of the 3rd. He steals second, then advances to third on a wild pitch. Mauch speeds home on a ground out to give the Wildcats the lead once more. At the end of the 3rd, 'Nova leads 3-2.

Sophomore third baseman Tim Kepler leads off the 4th with a single to left, as he grounded it between short and third. After being sacrificed to second, Kepler comes home on Brian Bushey's double down the left field line. Villanova doesn't respond in their half of the inning and at the end of the 4th, the game is tied once more, 3-3. King Kelly leads off the 5th for Columbia by drawing a walk. Kelly advances to third after a steal and errant throw by Wildcat catcher Arlie Latham. A passed ball by Latham give Kelly home plate and the Lions retake the lead, 4-3. Villanova manages a base hit in the bottom of the 5th, but no runs. Columbia explodes in the top of the 6th inning, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk. Two runs came after the runners beat the throw to the plate! Halfway through six, the Lions lead is 7-3. After sending the Wildcats down in order, Columbia continues their assault in the 7th. The Lions score three times on three hits and two errors. Clemons is chased from the mound in the inning, as Columbia is starting to break this thing wide open, leading 10-3. But Villanova responds in the bottom of the 7th. Four singles, an error, and a hit by pitch lead to three Wildcat runs. At the end of seven, Columbia still leads, 10-6.

Neither team scores in the 8th. Bushey doubles to lead off the 9th. He would later score on Hanlon's base knock to push Columbia's lead to 11-6. Colna returns to the mound for the 9th. After getting Mauch to ground out, Matt Stevens reaches base on an error by right fielder Lance Horvat. Colna then gives up three straight hits, which lead to three runs by Villanova. The Lion lead is down to 11-9 with one out in the 9th. Colna is pulled and in comes senior pitcher Brian Major. Major gets the second out, but a passed ball by Kelly allows Johnny May to score from third, pulling the Wildcats within a run!! Major issues a walk to Alex Carrington. Manager Matt Horace brings in a pinch hitter for Latham, who is 0 for 4 today. The unlikely hitter coming to the plate is freshman second baseman Paul Bierman. Bierman appeared in only two games this season, going 0 for 3. An interesting choice by Horace. But Bierman works the count full, then sends the ball down the right field line for a double!! Carrington comes around to score and the game is tied, 11-11. The hometown crowd is in a frenzy!! The inning ends on the next at bat, so we head to extras.

There are no hits recorded in the 10th or top of the 11th. Villanova leads off the bottom of the 11th with two base hits. A passed ball moves the runners to second and third, with no outs. Two fly outs later, however, the runners are still on base. Junior catcher Sam Trott, who entered the game in the 10th, comes up for his first at bat of the game. Trott works a 1-1 count, then grounds the ball sharply past the second baseman!! The runner scores from third and the Villanova Wildcats have won this game by a score of 12-11!!! Villanova wins the series, 2-0, and captures their second national championship title in three years!!!

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It's time for another season in the Collegiate Baseball Association. As the 1882 season was preparing to get underway, the sportswriters were doing their best, once again, to predict the outcome of the upcoming year. Yale was the favorite by the press to win the New England Region. Rutgers was chosen to win the Northeast Region, and in a surprise, the defending champion Villanova Wildcats were picked to narrowly win the Atlantic Region. The wild card team, however, was a little less certain. Brown, Harvard, Syracuse, Princeton, and Lafayette were all predicted to finish within a game of each other.



The beginning of the 1882 season was a trying one for James. On the second day of the season, March 8th, a benches clearing brawl occurred in the 3rd inning of a game between Harvard and Fordham. The brawl was triggered after Fordham senior center fielder Jaheem Cowart charged Harvard freshman pitcher Alex McConnell on the mound after being hit by a pitch. It just so happened that McConnell and his team had just given up an inside the park homer, and Cowart was plunked on the first pitch. Regardless, the following day, James announced three game suspensions for both players. Then, just a few days later on March 11th, in a game between Penn and Villanova, it happened again. Villanova junior pitcher Terrence Liles plunked Penn sophomore second baseman Milt Coles on the first pitch. Liles had just given up a home run over the right field wall to lead off the top of the 2nd inning. James had had enough and disciplined both players with nine game suspensions. Coaches and athletic directors felt it to be overly harsh, but James stood by his decision. Even the usually easy going 'Nova Manager Matt Horace voiced his displeasure to the press, saying he didn't feel one errant pitch should lead to losing a pitcher for 15% of the season.

The rest of the month proceeded without further fights or discipline. The only other news was the loss of Columbia junior pitcher Jonas Chacon, who was lost for 11 months to elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. Columbia junior shortstop Fred "Dandelion" Pfeffer was named Rookie of the Month after hitting .310 in 18 games. Pitcher of the Month was Yale junior Chris Weirick, who finished 7-2, with a 1.65 ERA in nine starts. Another Bulldog, Yale junior right fielder Brad McGrogan, took home Batter of the Month honors. McGrogan hit .400, with one home run and 17 RBI in 17 games.