By Travis Cross for D3baseball.com
Today, Pomona-Pitzer gets their first opportunity to rid themselves of the bad taste they've had in their mouths since last May, that is, if the rain doesn't wash out the games first.
No. 12 Pomona-Pitzer (6-2) swept the season series from 7th-ranked Chapman (7-1) in 2009 before dropping a winners-bracket game to the Panthers in the West Regional. The annual three-game series starts today, pending rain, at Pomona-Pitzer at 2:00 p.m. PST with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
"Hopefully the brooms sweep our way this year"," says Chapman third baseman Bobby Evers.
Both Pomona-Pitzer and Chapman have elite offenses, as we'll look at later, but first let's glance at the pitching staffs who have compiled team ERAs of 2.59 and 2.19 respectively. Friday's match up sees D3baseball.com preseason All-American David Colvin (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 26 SO) taking the mound against Jordan Sigman (2-0, 0.00 ERA).
"Chapman's always one of the best teams in the nation," says Colvin. "I've been looking forward to facing them since last year when they knocked us out."
"[Colvin and I] pitched against each other last year and it was a very good game," says Sigman. "I expect a highly competitive game that will come down to the little things."
Colvin and Sigman will take a seat on the bench Saturday to watch Pomona-Pitzer's James Brunswick (2-1, 4.20 ERA) vs. Kevin Dwyer (2-0, 1.50 ERA) in the first game; the second game's starters, however, are less certain. The Sagehens will likely turn to Leo Rosetti (1-1, 4.50 ERA) to take the ball against either Travis McGee (1-0, 0.82 ERA) or Brian Rauh (2-0, 4.91 ERA, 17 SO) with the odd man out starting Chapman's Sunday game against Willamette.
Of the Panther's three rookie starters this weekend, two are freshmen.
"They'll be a little nervous and anxious, but once they get on the mound they're going to realize it's just another game," says Chapman first basemen Matt Luzar.
Luzar (.472, 2 HR, 14 RBI) knows firsthand of the freshman pressure on the mound: he had 12 starts as a freshman in 2007 and 24 career starts before moving to first base this year. He currently leads the team in batting average, hits, home runs, and RBI.
"We know these are big games for us, especially as an Independent," Luzar adds. "We are preparing at full-speed; every game is versus the best team in the nation."
Pomona-Pitzer is quite aware of the stakes as well.
"This is our first real challenge to see where we stand on the national level," shortstop James Kang said.
After dropping the first two games of their season against Westmont, the Sagehens have put together a six-game win streak during which they have outscored opponents 99-12. They've been paced by Kang (.621, 3 HR, 11 RBI) and first baseman Nick Frederick (.586, 1 HR, 14 RBI).
"I like controlling the pace of the game," says Kang, who is hitting out of the leadoff hole for the Sagehens.
"[Pomona-Pitzer] has guys that can hurt you," says Evers. "They're dangerous, especially at their place."
Chapman is also in the midst of a four-game win streak outscoring opponents 44-11.
Someone's win-streak will come to an end this weekend, but who's will it be? Both teams boast high-powered offenses and elite pitching. Each wants to prove they belong in the top-15 and the conversation for who is "Appleton worthy". There's history and camaraderie, bad blood and passion. What more could you ask for?
Oh, that's right, how about a little sun?
Other players to watch: Chapman: C Joe Lehman (.462, 7 2B, 12 RBI), LF James Parr (.455, 1 HR, 11 RBI), Pomona-Pitzer: DH Nick Gentilli (.462, 1 HR, 9 RBI).