| Emory practices the double play on Thursday's batting practice on neutoscience group field. By Larry Radlof, d3photography.com |
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By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
It will be a mix of veterans and rookies as the D-III World Series games get underway on Friday, but on Thursday everyone is without a loss and spent the day getting ready for the challenges to come.
One of the best games on paper is the Cortland State-Webster game. Nobody has made as many D-III World Series as Cortland in the last twenty years and Webster is making their third trip in four years. "We got hot last weekend and pitched real well and it is good to be back with a handful of guy who are here for their third time," said Webster head coach Bill Kurich. "I think it is huge [to have been here before], the stadium is not new, the hotel is not new, it is exciting but it is not a completely different experience for our guys."
Cortland shook up their routine, opting for a bus trip instead of a plane flight. "We were able to bring along a few non-roster players who were left of the championship roster," said Cortland head coach Joe Brown. "It was a great time, we practiced at the Buffalo Bisons field and ran a few fade patterns at Notre Dame." The Red Dragons looked loose but was all business when they hit the field for batting practice.
Webster will be looking to make it two in a row over the Red Dragons, defeating Cortland 10-5 in 2014, while Cortland has won their last four openers in the D-III World Series. "They are a team that we played before so it will not be a completely out of body experience for a lot of our guys here," said Webster head coach Bill Kurich.
Poll A opens with a pair of newcomers to the D-III World Series with Frostburg State and Ramapo. Although Ramapo has a Walnut and Bronze in their trophy cabinet back in Mahwah, N.J., that was 31 years ago. "That was a long time ago," said Ramapo head coach Rich Martin. "I don't think that there is any pressure that we have to win. We want to play well and represent."
Martin downplayed the significance of the game with Frostburg. "We consider it a makeup game as we were supposed to play them early in the season and it got cancelled. I do not think it makes any difference [that we are playing a team new to the championship], I just wish we were the home team."
Frostburg head coach Guy Robertson had a different take. "It is important for us to play a team that has not been here," said Robertson. "We will have a few butterflies in the opening innings but we will settle down."
The opener of Pool B, pits two coaches that know each other well. "We started out coaching together fifteen years ago," said Emory head coach Mike Twardoski . "I cannot believe that this is his first trip." Trinity head coach Tim Scannell added, "I like how Mike [Twardoski] always has his teams ready for post season."
Both downplayed the role experience will play in any advantage. "Their experience will be a bit of an advantage but we will quickly close that gap," said Scannell. Twardoski agreed. "These kids have been here only one extra time," said Twardoski. "[Scannell] will bring a great team, an athletic team and who ever makes plays will win."
Salisbury will take on UW-La Crosse in the final game on Friday. As the closest team to Appleton, a late start will allow many fans to make the trip, giving the Eagles the feel of a home game. "It is an honor to represent our school, our conference and our state," said UW-La Crosse head coach Chris Schwarz.
"I think we have enough maturity and experience in big games that [experience in the D-III World Series] will not be a factor," said Schwarz. "We have been in many big games".
For Salisbury, it is the first D-III World Series for head coach Troy Brohawn as long time coach Doug Fleetwood retired after last years championship appearance. "I have a lot of baseball experience as far as the career path I chose," said Brohawn. "I lean on [my assistant coaches]for some things and they lean on me for other stuff."
Whether experience will be a factor in the opening round games, is not universally accepted but we will know at the end of Friday who was able to make the plays and find a way to win.