| Chris Haddeland and the rest
of the Linfield Wildcats has represented the West for two
consecutive years. Photo by Larry Radloff |
By Colton Westfall
for D3baseball.com
The 2015 Division III baseball season is just around the corner, and the West Region looks as competitive as ever. Linfield, Cal Lutheran, and Trinity all begin the season ranked in the Top 25. On top of that, the region boasts three First Team D3baseball.com Preseason All-Americans in 1B Simon Rosenbaum (Pomona-Pitzer), SP Chris Haddeland (Linfield), and RP AJ Konopaski (Pacific Lutheran)
There is so much parity in this region that has been dominated by pitching and defense. The last two West Regional tournaments have had a combined 18 games, out of 20 total, decided by two runs or less. This year more than ever, there are multiple teams with a great chance to win their conference. With traditional powers reloading, don’t be surprised if some new faces make noise in the West this season.
Early season, cross-conference matchups will give us a better understanding of which teams are the early favorites in the Wild West. 2014 Regional teams Linfield and Cal Lutheran face off, as do Trinity and LeTourneau. The West Region opens up when the University of Dallas hosts Sul Ross State for a doubleheader February 1st.
New Faces
| Morgan Cummins will be
leading his alma mater as the Stags head coach in
2015. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletic photo |
Morgan Cummins, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps: Claremont alumnus Morgan Cummins has been named as the interim head coach of the Stags, replacing Randy Town who stepped down after 27 years in the dugout. "I'm very excited to be returning to CMS to coach the baseball team. Stags Baseball was invaluable in my developmental process and I look forward to giving back to our newest Stags in the same manner that Coach Town, Coach Helber, Coach Keller, and Coach Vasquez did for me," said Cummins.
Jared Hood, East Texas Baptist: Two-year assistant coach Jared Hood was named Tigers' head coach following the departure of Lee Driggers. "I am excited to have this opportunity and blessed to start my head coaching career here at ETBU where I have roots in East Texas," Hood said. "This will be a great transition as the players already know the program and we won't miss a beat moving forward.
Joe Myers, Dallas: University of Dallas baseball assistant coach Joe Myers has been selected to lead the Crusaders as interim head coach for the 2014-15 academic year. In charge of the pitching staff for nearly four seasons, Myers has helped the navy and white to a 4.77 earned run average in his tenure.
Mike Ramsey, Austin: Former Cincinnati farmhand, Mike Ramsey was been named the new head coach at Austin after Wes Tarbox withdrew from the position after being named Austin's head coach in July. Ramsey, a 1985 graduate of Texas Christian University has worked as an instructor and coach for more than 25 years.
Conference Previews
| Cameron Cox's 1.34 ERA in
2014 is the lowest by any player in school
history. Concordia-Texas athletics photo |
American Southwest Conference: The 2014 American Southwest Conference season saw LeTourneau win the 8-team double elimination tourney in its first-ever ASC tourney appearance, and then wear those Cinderella cleats to a respectable 1-2 appearance in the West Region Playoff in three 1-run games. Concordia-Texas won the regular season but lost two games to LeTourneau in the post-season tourney and stayed home. In a conference known for balance and tough competition, building a gaudy record that looks good for earning an at-large bid is a challenge. That being the case, Concordia-Texas is the regular season favorite to earn the right to host the 8-team playoff again.
Coach Tommy Boggs’ Concordia-Texas Tornados returns four positional players and two starters for 2015. Catcher Gareth Hutton (.348, no errors in 75 chances) and 1B Connor Bertsch (.299, 10 2B) lead the Tornado offense. Strength on the mound comes from ace Cameron Cox (8-3, 1.34 ERA). The Tornados lost 10 games by 2 runs or less. In six of those 10 losses the pitching staff gave up 2 runs or less. If the Tornadoes have more luck in those close games or find some offense, they should turn those games around and get the 15 games Boggs needs for 150 career wins.
| Sean Sellers led LeTourneau
in runs scored (39) and stolen bases (15). Danny Kambel, LeTourneau Sports Information |
LeTourneau Yellow Jackets have a strong core of six returning position players and two starters. Junior LF Sean Sellers (.305, 10 2B, 15 SB) and senior 3B Ryan Bertram (.299, 56 hits, 33 RBI) lead the LeTU offensive attack, while Sr. RHP Cody Whitley (6-3, 1.85 ERA) and Sr. RHP Justin Jenkins (8-4, 4.34 ERA) return to the mound.
The Texas-Dallas Comets finished 3rd in the conference last year, 19-13 in conference play. The Comets travel to Tucson to play Northwest Conference powers Linfield and Pacific Lutheran early in February and then host Carleton (MIAC) and Whittier (SCIAC) in Frisco at the Texas Rangers’ Minor League Rough Riders ballpark.
Hardin-Simmons Cowboys missed the 2014 tournament, but take that young group of players into the 2015 season with hopes of returning back to the mix of the ASC. Displacing Concordia-Texas or LeTourneau from the throne would be a remarkable achievement, but head coach Steve Coleman anticipates a very strong outfield. Junior Brandon Walker (.344) led the ASC with 40 RBIs mostly as DH and will move to left field full time. Sophomore Zach de Luna (18 XBH, 34 runs) started all 39 games in LF and will move to center field. Jamie Ball, (6’4” 210 lbs.) is the left-handed right fielder and will compete for the team’s closer role. The Cowboys have reworked the entire pitching staff with Jason England transferring from the NAIA University of Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma.
Northwest Conference: The Northwest Conference is once again headlined by the 4th ranked Linfield Wildcats, but you can expect heavy competition from all teams throughout the entire season. For the first time ever, the NWC will have an end of the year tournament to decide their automatic regional bid.
| Corey VanDomelen will be
looking to lead the Wildcats to a third straight trip to the D-III
World Series. Linfield athletics photo |
Linfield, winner of the last two West Regionals, must replace a majority of the offense that lead them to their 2013 National Title and 2014 World Series appearance. Fortunately, head coach Scott Brosius still has an ace, or two, in his hand. Two-time National Pitcher of the Year Chris Haddeland (11-2, 1.16 ERA) enters his senior season hoping to take the Wildcats to their third straight World Series. Fellow senior Aaron Thomassen (10-2, 2.08 ERA) looks to build off a 2014 campaign that saw him named the NWC Pitcher of the Year. All-Northwest Conference Sr. Corey VanDomelen returns in his this third year as the starting shortstop for a Linfield team that finished 2nd in the nation in fielding percentage. Expect the 2015 Wildcats to rely on pitching and defense as they look to defend their West Region title.
Pacific Lutheran finished 2nd in the NWC last season, and they return nearly everyone from last year’s squad. Trevor Lubking was lost to the MLB draft, but the Lutes have an abundance of arms they can rely on. So. Derrick Mahlum (7-3, 2.28 ERA) leads the pitching staff that will look to get the ball to a bullpen anchored by All-American closer AJ Konopaski (13 saves, 1.10 ERA). An offense that struggled to hit .246 as a team should get a boost with the return of Sr. Dominick Courcy. The speedy outfielder lead the Lutes with a .357 average in 2013 before injuries caused him to miss the remainder of the season and most of the 2014 season.
The Bearcats of Willamette took the conference by surprise last year, but they won’t sneak up on anyone this season. A potent offense gives Willamette their best shot at a league title since their 2001 NWC championship team. Ty Wyatt (.359, 4 HR), Hunter Gallant (.325, 3 HR), Brad Breier (.325), and Tiras Koon (.324, 5 HR) return to the middle of a lineup that will give opposing pitchers nightmares. Still, the Bearcats will need improvement from the pitching staff if they want to seriously contend for the NWC title.
Puget Sound will rely on the duo of Sr. Connor Savage (.313, 36 runs) and Jr. Nathan Backes (.326, 5 HR) to lead a young Loggers team wants to improve on their 14-10 record in conference. George Fox must replace virtually their entire offense. Much like Linfield, the Bruins will depend on strong pitching performances. Tom Zarosinski (7-3, 1.99 ERA) is a bonafide ace that will keep the Bruins in every game he pitches.
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference: The 2015 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference season looks like a replay of the 2014 season. The 16th ranked Trinity Tigers defend their title and the chance to return to the West Region Playoffs. Trinity lost to Linfield and UW-Stevens Point in the 2014 Regional in McMinnville. The SCAC will play a three game single round robin among the seven teams in the regular season The season culminates with a tourney taking the top four teams in a double-elimination affair on May 1-3.
| Zach Speer earned SCAC
Pitcher of the Year honors in 2014. Trinity athletic photo |
Trinity (Texas) returns 2014 SCAC Pitcher of the Year Zach Speer, SP Michael Walker, and OF Jeremy Wolf. Trinity starts the season with Texas Tyler, George Fox and Whittier and plays mid-week games against ASC foes to complete a strong schedule. Texas Lutheran and Centenary tied in the regular season with 11-7 records and look poised to nip at the heels of Trinity again in 2015.
Texas Lutheran is enjoying their second season in the SCAC after moving with Schreiner from the ASC in 2014, and they are looking to get back to the West Regional after a one-year hiatus. 2014 All-SCAC 3B Jr. Keaton Bohrmann (.312, 33 RBI) leads the Bulldog offense. On the mound for head coach Greg Burnett will be 2014 All-SCAC RHP Sr. Aaron Aleman (8-2, 3.11 ERA).
Centenary is eligible for the post-season for the first time in 2015. The Gents had a strong program in Division 1 in the previous decade and have now made the re-classification to D-III and are a full member. LHP Layton Tromba and RHP Holden Novak are a strong 1-2 punch on the mound. UTL Dakota Brown (.375, OB% .533) and SCAC 2014 freshman of the Year OF Aaron Quintanilla (.361, 31 RBI) will provide the offensive punch for the Gents.
The University of Dallas lost a lot to graduation last year. If they want to make a run into the playoffs, they will need to rely heavily on two players. 2014 SCAC Player of the Year Trevor Keele will need to supply the offense, and Sr. Martin Cronin (6-3, 3.16) must anchor a staff that had the second worst team ERA in the conference.
| Collin Crowl was exceptional
in the field for the Kingsmen in 2014 and was honored for his
defensive efforts as a Gold Glove first baseman last
season. Cal Lutheran photo by Tracy Maple |
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has been a notoriously offense happy league in recent memory. Past Regionals have shown that strong pitching is what it takes to advance out West. A handful of teams have a great chance to represent the SCIAC in the West Region this year.
The Cal Lutheran Kingsmen return a veteran lineup from the 2014 squad that just missed a CWS appearance. The 2013 and 2014 SCIAC champions return seven starters on an offense that has been one of the best in the country, in recent years. 1B Collin Crowl (.333, 46 RBI) and RF Ramsey Abushahla (4 HR, 42 RBI) are key pieces for the Kingsmen potent attack. Scott Peters (7-3, 3.06 ERA) and junior college transfer Evan Peterson will headline a pitching staff that returns six pitchers from last year’s regional team. Marty Slimak enters his 22nd year as the Cal Lutheran head coach, and is just 15 wins away from a milestone 600-career wins.
The Chapman Panthers enter their 3rd year in the SCIAC looking to improve upon their 2nd place finish in 2014. Transfer RHP Kevin Klaess looks to make an immediate impact in a rotation that loses two longtime starters. Jr. Tyler Cook (.342, 4 HR) returns as one of the elite third basemen in DIII, and he will be expected to lead a Panthers team that has just three seniors and 17 freshmen.
| Simon Rosenbaum hit eight
home runs in 2014 for the Sagehens. Pomona-Pitzer athletics photo |
The Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer disappointed last year thanks in large part to their team ERA of 6.19, but they have all of the pieces to bounce back and compete for the SCIAC title. Simon Rosenbaum, the 2014 West Region Player of the Year, looks to somehow improve on a year that saw him bat .474 with eight home runs and 47 RBI. The First Team All-American got in some work this summer for Team Israel in the European Pool C Championships this past year. Sophomore Tanner Nishioka (.399, 6 HR, 38 RBI) and Rosenbaum lead an offense that had a team average of .315.
Like many other teams in the SCIAC, the Redlands Bulldogs return a majority of their 2014 team. The Bulldogs possess one of the best double-play tandems in the West in SS Jordan Dresner and Chris Scalisi (the 2014 West Region Rookie of the Year). Redlands will rely on the middle-infielders and Connor Hancock (.340, 3 HR) to take their team back to the postseason. If Whittier wants to improve on their 3rd place finish from last year, they need C Stephen Zavala (.307, 43 RBI, 22 XBH) to take the next step and become elite. The Poets Head Coach Mike Rizzo is just 16 wins away from 300.