| Shenandoah will need an all-star performance from
Greg Van Sickler to advance to the next
round. Shenandoah athletics photo |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
The NCAA surprised our mock committee and veteran Division III observers by sending the best in the South region to the South Regional at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn., even though there were less expensive options.
The field starts with two USA South rivals in Christopher Newport and Shenandoah. The Hornets were our pick to make it through the regional and onto Appleton but in a year they win their first regular season title, the Captains made them wait almost a month to see if they would get a Pool C bid. Piedmont, the third seed, is making its second appearance in the playoffs with a Pool C bid after the Pool B bids went to Chapman and Case Western Reserve. Salisbury played itself into a spot with a late run that took the Sea Gulls off the Pool C bubble. Rounding out the regional are playoff newcomer Wabash and a veteran of many regionals in Webster. Wabash and Webster are the closest teams to the regional site despite coming from other regions and will need a hometown atmosphere to make it to the next round.
Favorite: Christopher Newport.
It has been a great season for the Captains, with a 26-game winning
streak, the most wins of any D-III team, and now the top seed in
the South regional. The last time Christopher Newport had a season
like this they made the final round. We see the same thing
happening in Millington.
Most Likely to Disappoint:
Salisbury. The Sea Gulls have been on a run of late after
losing their conference tournament, including a win over top seeded
Christopher Newport. Expectations have always been high for
Salisbury but this team has stayed under the radar but anything
other than a trip back to Appleton will be a disappointment for
Coach Fleetwood and his team. If we see the team that stumbled at
the beginning of the season, losing 3 to playoff teams it will be a
quiet flight back home.
Cinderella: Wabash. Even their
nickname, Little Giants, says Cinderella. Wabash came into the NCAC
as the bottom seed and three wins later, it was Wabash making plans
for a regional appearance, their first ever. Wabash turned things
around after a disastrous 2-10 start that kept the team from having
any shot at anything but the bottom seed in a regional.
Players to Watch
P Sean Chitsaz, Christopher Newport (9-2, 2.08 ERA, 60K in 78.0
IP)
P/OF Greg Van Sickler, Shenandoah (.400 BA, 7 HR, 10-1, 2.02 ERA,
73 K in 80.1 IP)
OF Kyle Davis, Piedmont (.396 BA, 42 R, 19 SB, GSAC Player of the
Year)
OF Bill Root, Salisbury (.352 BA, 4 3B, 3 HR, 20SB, CAC Rookie of
the Year)
IB/DH John Holm, Wabash (.386 BA, 12 HR, 43 R, 51 RBI)
P Jason Gray, Webster (4-0, 1.12 ERA, 2 saves, 25 K in 24.0
IP)