| John Synder, the OAC Player of the Year, leads
Marietta into the Mideast regional as the No. 1 team in the
nation. Marietta athletics photo |
By John Skomra
for D3sports.com
The Mideast regional rolls through Marietta again this year. The national top-seeded Pioneers look to protect their home field but a talented pool of teams stands in their way.
Boasting the best record in the nation, Marietta received the top spot when play resumes on May 18. No. 9 Heidelberg, a Pool C team, has high hopes to top the Pioneers after the Etta Express dropped them twice this past weekend in the OAC tournament. D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 No. 13-ranked Adrian, winners of the MIAA this season and automatic qualifier, take the third seed in this region. Coach Craig Rainey and his Bulldogs were the only team in the country to take down the top two regionally ranked teams in Marietta and Heidelberg. These three teams were the only D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 teams in this region.
Franklin, now winners of ten in a row, breezed through the HCAC tournament and sits in as the four seed. Blessed with an easy strength of schedule this season, the Grizzlies will have some work to do if they hope to advance out of this regional. Capital Athletic Conference winner Frostburg State was shipped out of the Mid-Atlantic region to gain the five seed. The Bobcats come in having not played any team selected to this regional. Case Western Reserve received a Pool B bid going 28-13 in region and was awarded the No. 6 seed. AMCC winner Penn State-Altoona travels to Marietta as the seven seed. The Lions were brought from the Mid-Atlantic region with hopes to surprise in the Mideast regional.
Favorite: Marietta. Coach
Brian Brewer and his staff have done remarkable things with this
pitching staff. The team boasts a 1.65 ERA, which is tops in the
country. For the second year in a row, the Etta Express finds
itself playing host to the regional. The Pioneers hope to continue
to take advantage of home field as they were undefeated at home
this season. Do not be surprised to see Marietta run through this
regional on its way to Appleton.
Most Likely to Disappoint:
Heidelberg. The 'Berg tasted World Series play last year
and has a talented group of kids who can potentially bring them
back. Led by a majority of seniors, this team has high hopes of
being back in Appleton. However, some bad losses this season has
people wondering if the Student Princes can repeat. Oh yeah, and
the Etta Express stand in their way. Marietta won three out of four
from Heidelberg this season, with two of these losses in the past
week in the OAC tournament.
Cinderella: Frostburg
State. The success in this tournament may come down
to pitching. The Bobcats have three guys with sub-4 ERA and a
collective 3.55 team ERA. If Frostburg can come through with timely
hits, its pitching staff may be able to trump some teams and find
themselves deep in this regional.
Players to Watch
OF John Snyder, Marietta (.460 BA, 69 H, 52 RBI, .525 OB%, OAC
Player of the Year)
P Brian Gasser, Marietta (0.90 ERA, 11-0, 70.0 IP, 70 K, OAC
Pitcher of the Year)
OF Ricardo Lizcano, Heidelberg (.403, 64 H, 9 HR, .517 OB%)
P David Partyka, Adrian (8-1, 2.10 ERA, 6 CG, 43 K, MIAA Pitcher
of the Year)
OF Scott Windler, Franklin (.444, 52 H, 8 HR, 31RBI, .752
SLG%)
P Greg Ross, Frostburg State (11-1, 1.41 ERA, 83.0 IP, 102 K, CAC
Player of the Year)
3B Chad Mullins, Case Western (.473, 80 H, 8 HR, 69 RBI, UAA
Player of the Year)
OF Cord Heine, Penn State-Altoona (.407, 57 H, 16 2B, 38 RBI)