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| North Central catcher Rob Marinec accepted an opportunity to compete in the newly formed Major League Baseball Draft League, featuring the top draft-eligible players in the country. d3photography.com photo by Steve Frommell |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
The Central region was represented in the final D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 by North Central (No. 6), Washington University (No. 7) and Webster (No. 20) with Buena Vista, Coe, Spalding and Wartburg receiving votes in a pandemic shortened season. North Central, Washington, and Webster will again be the class of the Central with the rest of the regional combatants looking to jump into contention.
Like a lot of conferences, an intention to play a season, that would qualify for the NCAA playoffs, is the status for all. The status of the ARC and Midwest is murky with the CCIW and the SLIAC looking to play a full season. Washington will look for local teams following the cancelation of UAA competition. With start dates in the last weekend in February to mid-March, a lot can happen that could derail a season.
Conference Previews
American Rivers Conference: The host conference for the D-III World Series has had quite a few surprises in the last few years. Both Dubuque (2018) and Coe (2019) have had breakout season to challenge Wartburg, winner of four of five titles from 2013-17. Wartburg (9-1) started 2020 with a good run and was about to be challenged with a game with St. Thomas when the season was pre-empted. Look for Wartburg to be at the top of the conference standings once again when the conference tournament seeds are set.
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| Coe missed out on being the hometown team in the 2019 D-III World Series and are eyeing another shot to see what kind of crowds they can draw if they make the finals in 2021. d3photography.com photo by Ryan Coleman |
Coe (3-3) opened 2020 with a .500 record as they set to defend their conference title from 2019 but this included five games against team in the Top 25. With a 3-1 record against the regional favorites, Washington U and Webster, all on their home turf, Coe proved that 2019 was no fluke. First order of business will be replacing Zach Kammin, the reigning ARC Pitcher of the Year, who will spend his final year of eligibility at D-I Kentucky. Jack Greene (2019 stats: 7-2, 3.18 ERA, 7 82 K) and Matthew Mittelmark (2019 stats: 3-1, 5.23 ERA, 21 K) get a promotion with the departure of Kammin. The O will be in good shape with seven playing out their final year of eligibility in 2021. The lineup that led the ARC in batting in 2019 will feature Jordan Kaplan (2019 stats: .333, 5 HR, 33 RBI), TJ Johnson (2019 stats: .329, 28 RBI, 11 SB), and Riley LeGrand (2019 stats: .366, 28 RBI, 8 SB), all First Team ARC players in 2019.
While it could be shaping up to be a battle between Coe and Wartburg for the conference title, Buena Vista (5-2) will be in the mix as well. In 2019, the Beaver overcame a slow start to qualify and win the 2019 conference tournament. A strong start to 2020 was expected and if Steve Eddie can hold on to the core of last years team in his 21st season, a second consecutive conference title and appearance in the NCAA playoffs is in the offering.
Luther (5-3) and Central (4-3) will find space in the second tier but unpredictability at the top of the conference in the last few seasons should give both teams hope in making a run. Luther last earned the ARC playoff bid in 2016 as a low seed and trails only Buena Vista and Wartburg in totals regular season titles won. Central will come into 2021 with 38 players from last years squad but just a couple pitchers and a trio of infielders in the offensive lineup. Landon Vander Leest (0-0, 1.29 ERA, 9 K) and Ryan Riddle (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 5 K) will toe the rubber. Look for Luther to make the ARC postseason with Central looking for one of the bottom seeds.
Nebraska Wesleyan (6-7-1), Dubuque (4-5), Simpson (3-4), and Loras (3-7) will be competing for the final of sixth seeds in the end of the season tournament. The final seed has predictably not had a good record at the tournament, last winning a tournament game in 2016. While the odds are long for the bottom seed, it gives you a chance to catch fire and play your way to the D-III World Series like Illinois Wesleyan famously did in winning the 2010 national title.
FAVORITE: Wartburg
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| Wheaton's Sam Reichert led the team in average, runs batted in, home runs, doubles, hits, slugging percentage, and on base percentage in 2020. Wheaton (Ill.) athletics photo by Michael Hudson |
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin: This has been the dominant conference in the Central Region with the champion making a serious run at a World Series title. Dominance is what North Central (Ill.) (7-0) has done in earning at least a part of the regular season championship since 2015. Outscoring their opposition by 52 runs, the Cardinals used a potent offense (.394 team batting average) and effective pitching (3.90 team ERA). Four of their 2020 wins were against teams that made the playoff round the previous year. Expect the same commitment to excellece in 2021.
Wheaton (Ill.) (6-1) also started quickly out of the gates but against a weaker schedule than the Cardinals. The Titans bring an experienced team with 31 players returning but it is the young talent that will determine how far Wheaton will go in 2021. Tops on a offense that returns eight hitters is catcher Sam Reichert (.593, 2 HR, 13 RBI) who added power to his baseball resume in 2020. A good defensive team in 2019, Reichert will keep the standards high as any runner trying to add a free base found out last year. Two junior pitchers, Kevin Champlin (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 13 K) and David Solfelt (1-0, 3.54 ERA, 9 K), will pile up wins for Wheaton this year and the next. The first win in 2021 will be significant as it will be the 1000th for the program.
Illinois Wesleyan (7-3) and Augustana (2-4) have made the 6-team tournament every year since 2015 and expect them to be in the middle of the pack come the postseason. Carthage (3-2), Millikin (4-5), Elmhurst (4-0), North Park (5-7), and Carroll (4-7) will all contend for final two tournament spots. The odds are high for both Cathage and Millikin to both make the conference tournament. Carthage ended 2020 with solid showing in all three phases of the game
FAVORITE: North Central (Ill.)
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| The Maroons of Chicago are our favorites to celebrate a Midwest title in 2021. Chicago athletics photo |
Midwest Conference: The Midwest spring season is expected to begin in April but everyone will be waiting for a final decision of conference presidents in early March. If the season gets underway, the conference once dominated by Ripon and St. Norbert will see Chicago (5-1) at the top of the conference. Since joining in 2019 they have been the team to beat. After 1-plus seasons getting the low down on their competition, expect the Maroons to stay at the top.
Beloit (8-1) lost their season opener but rattled off eight wins before the season was cut short. A fourth place team in the North Division the last time a conference schedule was played, early wins often gives a team confidence and anytime you step on the field knowing you have a chance to win. The coaching staff hopes the momentum found in 2020 will carry over to 2021.
Ripon (0-0) was one of ten teams that never reached the field last year. Looking at a potential second place finish in 2021, they will have to contend with St. Norbert (2-1), their long-term rival in the Midwest Conference. Grinnell (5-3) missed the conference tournament for the first time in over a decade in 2019 but had a good start in 2020. If given a shot at a conference title, expect Grinnell to be in the mix.
Monmouth (6-4), Knox (1-3), Cornell (2-7), Illinois College (2-7) and Lawrence (1-3) round out the rest of the Midwest. Lawrence has typically occupied the cellar of the North Division with the expection of a surprising 8-8 conference finish in 2018. Coach Chris Krepline will be looking to turn the Vikings' fortunes positive in his third season at the helm.
FAVORITE: Chicago
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| Sam Swanson will not be behind the plate in 2021 but Webster coach Bill Kurich has kept him on the team as part of his coaching staff. d3photography.com photo by Steve Frommell |
St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference: Expectations were high for Webster (8-5) in 2020 as they are in 2021. Starting at the runner-up spot in the preseason poll, a tough non-conference season had them dropping in the polls. Coach Bill Kurich knows that a quality schedule will pay dividends and unfortunately there was no postseason to test this theory in 2020. There are a lot of positives for the Gorloks this season. Taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility is Matt Mulhearn (0-1, 1.93 ERA, 23 K) who will be on the mound for Webster's most important games. When unavailable, Sean Beaver (1-2, 0.44 ERA, 23 K) and Cooper Hake (2-0, 4.29 ERA, 13 K) will be on the mound. When Kurich needs to go to the bullpen, the likes of junior Jake Anderson (2-0, 1 SV, 1.69 ERA, 5 AP) will be waiting. The offense is also loaded but it is not all smiles as starting catcher Joe Swanson moved from behind the plate to the coaching staff, giving sophomore Zach Goodman his time behind the dish. Nothing would be better for the Gorloks than another D-III World Series appearance to match that of alum, and Tampa Rays pitcher Josh Fleming.
Spalding (11-3) has always been the bridesmaid, never the bride in a conference dominated by the Gorloks. Is this the year? The Golden Eagles think so. Spalding returns a strong cast of starters, led by shortstop Eric Meyer (.327, 16 runs, 13 RBI). In addition, Jack Parisi (2-1, 1.80 ERA, 25 K) and Garrett Mathews (2-0, 1.40 ERA, 28 K) are back. Adding to the weekend starters is Peyton Hood (2019 stats: 1-2, 3.66 ERA, 81 K) who returns from an injury in 2020.
Greenville (5-8-1) and Westminster (Mo.) (7-6) had the most success beyond the top two favorites and were often the second seeds in their respective divisions. With an eight team SLIAC postseason, both should comfortably find a slot that just might be what they need to earn the automatic ticket to the NCAA playoffs.
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| Tim Tague participated in two of Wash U's four shutouts in 2020. Washington photo by Nathan Katz |
Principia (3-12), Blackburn (3-8), Fontbonne (8-9), Eureka (5-9), and Iowa Wesleyan (1-5) will benefit from a reorganized conference. This year, the tournament will feature eight teams instead of the usual four. It will be to their advantage to stay ahead of the bottom two seeds as not to face the best of the conference. MacMurray (4-10) played its last game in 2020, a 9-4 loss to Lancaster Bible, as the school announced their closing in 2020. And this is Iowa Wesleyan's final year in Division III as the school announced it was returning to the NAIA.
FAVORITE: Webster
Independents: Washington University (9-3) continues to the one of the best teams in the Central and this year is no different. With the UAA canceling its 2021 spring season, Washington will be looking for local options to fill their schedule. The Bears led Division III in shutouts (4) and Tim Tague (3-0, 0.75 ERA, 14 K) was part of two of those shutouts. Troy Bauer (2-0, 1.88, 12 K) also returns as do relief specialists Jared Fong (0-1, 1 SV, 2.79 ERA, 12 K) and Matt Lopes (1-0, 2.84 ERA, 6 K). Wash U is not just top pitching and defense. They can swing the bats as they outscored opponents 103-43 in 2020. Callin Kahal (.400. 9 runs, 2 RBI) is one of three starters that hit .400 back this year so coach Pat Bloom will need to find some gems among the recruits or role players last year.