May 29, 2025

Redemption on the minds of many on the eve of the DIII World Series

More news about: Denison | Endicott | Johns Hopkins | Kean | Messiah | Rowan | Trinity (Texas) | UW-Whitewater
Only one team will be able to finish their season with a win and the rest will all head home with a loss. Only after time passes will each of the eight teams reralize how good their season.
 Endicott athletics photo

 

By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com

EASTLAKE, Ohio - Only Endicott and UWW-Whitewater have been here in Eastlake but the field is full of experienced teams. In addition to UWW's John Vodenlich, Kean's Neil Ioviero and Trinity's Tim Scannell have already won titles, all in Grand Chutes, Wisconsin. Johns Hopkins, Rowan and Trinity (Texas) have last made the trip while the World Series was played in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Denison's head coach Mike Deegan might be making his first trip to the World Series but has made the trip multiple times as a player and an assistant coach.

If you are looking for someone who has that Cinderella feel, it is Messiah. First time in the Playoffs for Falcon head coach Phill Sallenberger, first time in the Super Regionals and now first time in the DIII World Series.

D3baseball.com D-III World Series Record Book

World Series Record Book

This will be the 24th D-III World Series D3baseball.com staff have attended to report on the action. Managing editor Jim Dixon will log his 350th DIII World Series game at some point this week. Our record book will be updated as record are tied or broken during the week-long tournament.

John Vodenlich has led his team here seven times before (UWW was here before the Vodenlich era in 1989). Last year it was a second place finish to Misericordia.

"We were disappointed at the finish," said Vodenlich. "At end of the season meeting, the team said - Coach we will get back."

Playing in the WIAC is one of the reasons that UW-Whitewater has had the success that they have.

"We believe we are in a strong League," said Vodenlich. "When you get into the Regionals and Supers, you play the same WIAC teams again. We like to think we are prepared and ready to go."

While UWW wants to improve on their second place finish, it is the second place finisher from 2023 that has greater urgency. Following this year's World Series, Johns Hopkins' head coach Bob Babb will be hanging up his spikes after a 45 year career.

"Our guys want to win the title this year," said Babb. "It takes a little luck to get here and some to finish first."

Denison is making their first trip but it is a short trip from Granville, Ohio so look for the fans to turn out.

It is really amazing," said Denison head coach Mike Deegan about getting to the World Series with Denison. "We have worked hard at it for a lot of years. We have been close a lot of times. All that has done is to fuel us to get better. We have a team that can do it and belong in the arena."

Deegan will rely on his experience to guide the Big Red through the World Series.

"My seventh World Series," said Deegan. "I think there is a calmness and you know the drill. There is a familiarity with it."

Trinity (Texas) is making the longest trip of any team in the Series. Scannell pointed out how the team he had in 2022 helped them get to the World Series this year.

"The '22 team left our program in a strong place," said Scannell. "The seniors taught the freshmen how to lift weights, how to eat right, how to get in extra swings. They passed the baton.

In some ways, even getting here has surprised the Tiger's head coach.

"We did not expect to be here.," said Scannell. "We lost out three best pitchers to NIL money. We want our players to enjoy the ride."

Last year it was the ODAC who placed two teams in the final eight. This year the NJAC has supplied two teams in Kean and Rowan, the first time since 1985 that two NJAC teams are in the same World Series.

In the NJAC early on, everybody was above .500 and when the conference started, all hell breaks out, everybody beating everybody," said Ioviero. "I tell our team we are ready as the NJAC has us playing a lot of innings in a short period of time."

"Especially this year the NJAC was as good as it has been ever," said Rowan head coach John Dickson. "Five teams in the tournament, two here. It is a tough league with older players left over from COVID. It prepares you for this."

Messiah knows they are playing with house money.

"It is like we have been before," said Sallenberger. "We want to savor every moment of it. Our identity is not tied to the outcome of a game and the guys come out free."

While the Falcons are being fitted for glass slippers, Sallenberger points out to his senior class. "The senior class understands what it takes to get here. To enjoy i is the mindset going in."

Endicott is coming in to the World Series for the third straight year.

"The vast majority of the guys have been to one or two of these," said Endicott head coach Bryan Haley. "For the new guys, you can see them view the experienced wide-eyed."

"Every time we come we want to play good baseball and have fun," said Haley. "We want to enjoy it and do our thing. We want to feel that ecstacy that one team gets to feel. To dog pile one mire time."

Here at Classic Auto Group Park only one team will get that final feeling of finishing off their season with a win. Stay tuned to D3baseball.com as we chronical the wins and losses, culminating with a new national champion.