Ever since conferences were granted an automatic bid to the playoffs, there has been a rookie team in the Championship round. This year will be no different as Buena Vista and Keystone each earned a spot in the tournament in Appleton, Wis., on Saturday. They could have some company if Alvernia and Western New England close out their regionals with a win.

Third-seeded Keystone overcame a three-run deficit by rallying for four runs in the final four innings, with senior third baseman Gabe Torres hitting a two-run single with two out to drive in senior left fielder Roberto Santana from third with the winning run, to defeat top-seeded Cortland State, 5-4, to capture the 2011 New York Championship Region Championship at Falcon Park.

Keystone will join Buena Vista in making their first trip to the D-III Baseball Championship. Keystone athletics photo

The Giants, making their fourth consecutive NCAA playoff appearance, claimed their first regional title and will take on the winner of the New England Regional in the opening round on Friday, May 27.

Buena Vista scored four times in the seventh inning and overcame a 5-0 first inning deficit to win the Central Regional Championship with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Carthage on Saturday afternoon at Jack Horenberger Field. Carthage defeated Buena Vista, 12-7, in Saturday's first game, forcing a final game for the regional title.

Carthage took a 5-0 win in the opening inning of the title game but Buena Vista added single runs in three of the first four innings to narrow the gap to 5-3. After both teams traded runs Carthage, Dylan Colo blooped a singled to right-center to score two runners for a 6-6 tie.  Colo took second on the play and advanced to third on a passed ball. Lochen struck out Tyler Case, but Carthage catcher Matt Soderlund bobbled the ball, dropped his glove and failed to throw down to first to complete the strikeout. Meanwhile, Colo snuck across the plate with the go-ahead run.

Luke Probasco, who was named the MVP of the All-Tournament team, came on in relief with one out in the first inning to pick up his ninth win of the year.