NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview Part One

NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview Part I

So it is that wonderful time of year again for the NCAA Regional portion to begin the selection process for the College World Series in Omaha.  A lot of people that watch this tournament are always wondering who some of the teams are.  So I figured I would do a tournament preview and put a player from these small teams into the limelight so it could give you a name to watch for.  Of course, each number one seed is considered the favorite, so I will include a “dark horse” team that could win besides the number one seed.  I will also include my personal pick. So here we go…

Gainesville, Florida Regional

(Florida, Bethune-Cookman, College of Charleston, Georgia Tech)

Florida: C Mike Zunino

Zunino has 19 bombs, which is more than some of the teams in this tournament.  He’s hitting .371 with 67 RBIs.

Bethune-Cookman: P Rayan Gonzalez

Gonzalez leads the 7-time defending MEAC champs sporting a 9-1 record and 1.96 ERA.

College of Charleston: OF Marty Gantt

Gantt comes into the tournament hitting .375 with 10 bombs and 44 driven in.

Georgia Tech: 1B/P Jake Davies

Davies is hitting .332 with 13 home runs.  He also pitches for the Yellow Jackets.

Dark Horse: College of Charleston

The Cougars have a good 1-2 punch with Powell and Pegler who have both won 9 games and only allowed 9 homers between the two. If they can get past a powerful Georgia Tech team, they might be able to make some noise.

Pick: Florida

Raleigh, North Carolina Regional

(NC State, Sacred Heart, UNC-Wilmington, Vanderbilt)

NC State: P Carlos Rodon

Rodon is 9-0 and is sporting a 1.46 ERA.  He has 126 strike outs in 105 innings pitched, and his opponent’s average is .180.

Sacred Heart: IF John Murphy

Murphy is hitting .347 with 24 stolen bases.  He’s also driven in 34 runs.

UNC-Wilmington: OF Thomas Pope

Pope is hitting .381, and he has driven in 42 runs.

Vanderbilt: P Grayson Garvin

Garvin’s had a great year with a 13-2 record and 2.48 ERA.  He’s recorded 101 strike outs this season.

Dark Horse: Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has been one of the hottest teams in college baseball recently.  They finished as the runner-up to Mississippi State in the SEC tournament.  Had they had gotten hotter earlier in the season; the Commodores would probably be hosting a regional.  This is a team that is very young, but I think they have what it takes to win this regional.

Pick: Vanderbilt

Charlottesville, Virginia Regional

(Virginia, Army, Appalachian State, Oklahoma)

Virginia: IF Stephen Bruno

Bruno has hit .362 this year with 6 home runs.  He’s also hit 20 doubles.

Army: P Chris Rowley

Rowley has pitched a perfect 11-0 this year with a 1.97 ERA.  He has struck out 76 batters this season.

Appalachian State: IF Daniel Kassouf

Kassouf has hit .345, and he’s had a powerful bat hitting 17 bombs and driving in 60 runs for the Mountaineers.

Oklahoma: OF/IF Max White

White has done it all except pitch and catch for the Sooners.  He’s hit .356 this year, totaling up 80 hits and 54 RBIs.

Dark Horse: Oklahoma

The Sooners were the runner-ups in the Big 12 tournament to Missouri.  This regional is open for anyone to win this year, including Army or App State.

Pick: Oklahoma

Columbia, South Carolina Regional

(South Carolina, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Manhattan)

South Carolina: 1B Christian Walker

Walker has been the usual suspect this year, swinging the bat very well.  He’s hit .328 with 10 home runs.  He’s is going to have to be a leader for this young Gamecock team if they want to 3peat.

Clemson: 3B Richie Shaffer

Shaffer’s had the loud bat for the tigers this year hitting .339 with 10 home runs.

Coastal Carolina: SS/OF Daniel Bowman

Bowman has hit .401 this year with 38 RBIs.  He’s scored 59 runs and stolen 14 bases for the Chanticleers.

Manhattan: P Taylor Sewitt

Sewitt is 11-1 with 2.40 ERA in 6 starts and 16 relief appearances.  He has struck out 83 batters and has also recorded a save this season.

Dark Horse: Clemson

This regional will be exciting as three South Carolina schools fill up the four slots.  Clemson will have to hit the ball well if they want to defeat the pitching of Coastal Carolina and South Carolina, who rank 2^nd and 31rst respectively in ERA.  Manhattan will be introduced to a whole new meaning of the term “fan” when they roll into Carolina Stadium.

Pick: South Carolina

Eugene, Oregon Regional

(Oregon, Austin Peay, Indiana State, California State-Fullerton)

Oregon: RP Jimmie Sherfy

Sherfy has 17 saves and has held opponents to a .176 average.  He’s struck out 84 batters.

Austin Peay: 3B Greg Bachman

Bachman is hitting .339 with 16 homers and 67 runs driven in. 

Indiana State: C Jeremy Lucas

Lucas has hit 9 homers and is hitting .350 for the Sycamores.

Cal. State-Fullerton: P Dylan Floro

Floro is 10-3 with 3 complete games and sports a 2.52 ERA for the Titans.

Dark Horse: Cal. State-Fullerton

Oregon holds the 5^th national seed, and I don’t think they will run into any problems.  With that being said Cal. State-Fullerton has always been a tough program and could make a run.  If anything, the regional hosts the most interesting mascots with the Ducks, Governors, Sycamores, and Titans.

Pick: Oregon

Gary, Indiana Regional

(Purdue, Valparaiso, Kent. St., Kentucky)

Purdue: IF Cameron Perkins

Perkins sports a .358 batter average with 9 home runs and 36 RBIs for the Big 10 champs.

Valparaiso: IF Elliot Martin

Martin has hit .310 and driven in 50 runs for the Crusaders this year.

Kent. St.: P David Starn

Starn has been the workhorse for Kent State, going 10-3 with a 1.77 ERA.  He’s struck out 112 batters this season and only allowed 3 homers.

Kentucky: C Luke Maile

Maile sports a .313 average with 12 bombs for the Wildcats.

Dark Horse: Kentucky

Kentucky is out to prove themselves after a late season meltdown in conference play.  They were eliminated by a hot Mississippi State team in the SEC tournament.  I believe they were put in a regional that they are going to be able to win.

Pick: Kentucky

Houston, Texas Regional

(Rice, Prairie View, Sam Houston State, Arkansas)

Rice: OF Michael Fuda

Fuda has hit .303 for the owls with 7 bombs and driven in 35 runs.

Prairie View: 1B Dominiq Harris

Harris has hit .314 with 31 RBIs for the Aggies.

Sam Houston State: C Anthony Azar

Azar has hit .382 with 35 RBIs.  He’s also scored 23 runs this year.

Arkansas: 3B Matt Reynolds

Reynolds is hitting .340 with 7 bombs and 41 driven in. 

Dark Horse: Arkansas

The Razorbacks are out to prove themselves after an early exit from the SEC tournament. I think they are in sort of a similar situation as Kentucky, as they are placed in a regional they have the ability to win.  Rice is going to be a tough opponent.

Pick: Rice

Waco, Texas Regional

(Baylor, Oral Roberts, Texas-Arlington, Dallas-Baptist)

Baylor: P Josh Turley

Turley has gone a perfect 9-0 with a 1.64 ERA.  He’s racked up 67 strike outs and held opponents to a .223 average.

Oral Roberts: IF Jose Trevino

Trevino has hit .318 with 13 home runs.  He also sports a .588 slugging percentage.

Texas-Arlington: OF Preston Beck

Beck has hit .335 this year with 13 homers and 70 RBIs.

Dallas-Baptist: IF Ryan Behamanesh

Behamanesh has hit .402 with 8 bombs and 32 RBIs. 

Dark Horse: Dallas-Baptist

Baylor has a nice 1-2 punch with Turley and Blank who have a combined record of 19-1 and have held opponents to a .226 average and a 1.86 ERA.  Dallas-Baptist has hit 59 homers this year, which is the 10^th most in the NCAA.  I think that Baylor’s pitching will carry them through this regional.

Pick: Baylor

So there you have the first part of my tournament preview.  I will have the second half done tomorrow. Feel free to hit me up @ JCGriffin13@yahoo.com or tweet me @griffaldo.