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| Eric Schmidt, MIAA pitcher of the year, was 6-0 in conference play this season. Adrian athletics photo |
Follow this regional |
By Jim Dixon
D3baseball.com
Washington and Jefferson has been looking forward to this weekend ever since the regional was awarded and the prospect of playing at home was all the motivation the Presidents needed.
For W&J it will be a tough task to extend their season with a regional with the cream of the crop in both the Mideast and South. No. 2 Frostburg State was too far from the South regional site and was shipped to the Mideast. Joining the Bobcats from the South is ninth-ranked Shenandoah. Add Adrian and Heidelberg to the mix and those fans at the Washington Regional could be seeing the toughest regional line up in the country.
La Roche already has a win over the top seed and after slugging their way into the playoffs those looking for offense on the first day should look no further than the Heidelberg/La Roche game in the opener. Picture about 20 runs being scored in that opening-day game. But also look to the Adrian-Shenandoah game on the first day, which features two playoff regulars over the past decade meeting for the first time in the programs' history.
Marietta Regional schedule
Wednesday, May 13
Game 2 - No. 2 Adrian (33-10) vs. No. 5 Shenandoah (27-8-1), 3:15 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 3 Heidelberg (31-12) vs. No. 4 La Roche (30-11), 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14
Game 4 - Washinton and Jefferson vs. Adrian, 12 p.m.
Game 5 - Frostburg State vs. La Roche, 3:15 p.m.
Game 6 - Shenandoah vs. Heidelberg, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15
Game 7 - Shenandoah vs. Frostburg State, 12 p.m.
Game 8 - Washington and Jefferson vs. La Roche, 3:15 p.m.
Game 9 - Frostburg State vs. Heidelberg, 6:30 p.m.
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Saturday, May 16
Game 10 - Heidelberg vs. La Roche, 12 p.m.
Game 11 - Frostburg State vs. La Roche, 3:30 p.m.
Favorite
Frostburg State has had a season to remember but the only thing that is on the minds of Guy Robertson's team will be a trip to Appleton. Clayton Freimuth has come in this year and made an immediate impact, solidifying a pitching staff that is as good as any in the regional (if not any regional). The Bobcats can hit as well but is their D-III leading defense that will win them a regional title and a trip to Appleton.
Most likely to disappoint
In any other year, Heidelberg would be the top seed in the region but a OAC tourney loss to Marietta and Frostburg State making the trip across Pennsylvania has Heidelberg at the third seed. The Berg will need their offense to be in midseason form as a 1-0 win is a rarity and a 9-7 comeback the standard fare this season. We see Heidelberg coming up just short in the regional.
Cinderella
Washington and Jefferson is playing with house money this weekend. The Presidents upset Thomas More to grab the PAC playoff bid and playing at home will be a big advantage. Expect the crowd to be a factor if Washington and Jefferson advances to the D-III World Series.
Players to Watch
C Matt Sabatini, La Roche (.358, 27 R, 10 2B, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 8 K, .491 slg.)
1B Cory Podvasnik, La Roche (.437, 37 R, 8 2B, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 16 BB, 13 K, .874 slg.)
2B Zach Weiss, Frostburg State (.352, 47 R, 7 2B, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 26 BB, 11 HBP, 10 K)
SS Ryan Dorow, Adrian (.404, 43 R, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 21 BB, 22 K, .726 slg.)
3B J.J. McDaniel, Shenandoah (.407, 26 R, 4HR, 20 RBI, 11 BB, 18 K, 12 SB)
OF Nick Walker, Frostburg State (.382, 46 R, 5 3B, 7 HR, 52 RBI, 21 BB, 15 K, 25 SB)
OF Jeff Gertley, Adrian (.355, 37R, 18 2B, 9 HR, 46 RBI, 13 BB, 25 K, .702 slug.)
OF Derek Hug, Heidelberg (.387, 55 R, 10 2B, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 22 BB, 34 K, 21 SB, .714 slg.)
OF Nick Vento, W&J (.381, 30 R, 12 2B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 22 BB, 23 K, .462 OBA, 10 SB)
SP Eric Schmidt, Adrian (9-1, 2.28, 7 CG, 79 IP, 12 BB, 63 K, .183 opp. avg.)
SP Darrell Thompson, Shenandoah (6-1, 2.38, 56.2 IP, 16 BB, 52 K, .213 opp. avg.)
SP Tyler Ferguson, La Roche (8-1, 2.95, 61 IP, 60 H, 16 BB, 59 K, .251 opp. avg.)
SP Riley Groves, W&J (9-1, 1.59, 62.1 IP, 4 CG, 6 BB, 44 K, .225 opp. avg.)
SP Adam Manner, Heidelberg (7-0, 2.40, 71.1 IP, 75 H, 20 BB, 37 K, .275 opp. avg.)
SP Bennett Schiltz, Frostburg State (9-0, 1.38, 65 IP, 57 H, 17 BB, 52 K, .243 opp. avg.)
SP Clayton Freimuth, Frostburg State (8-2, 1.66, 3 CG, 70.2 IP, 46 H, 23 BB, 91 K, .192)
SP Greg Schneider, Frostburg State (7-1, 1.84, 68.1 IP, 43 H, 22 BB, 77 K, .179)
RP Derek Hendrixson, Heidelberg (7-0, 0.66, 7 Sv, 68 IP, 6 BB, 77 K, .183)