2011 Central Regional Preview
| Thomas More's Andrew Thole leads a potent offense
into the NCAA Central regional. Thomas More athletics photo |
By Shannon Blansette
for D3sports.com
Defending national champion Illinois Wesleyan will once again host the NCAA Central Regional at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington, Ill.
Coe, the IIAC champion, earned the top seed in the regional and has been No. 1 ever since the first regional rankings appeared. Second-seeded Carthage grabbed the CCIW’s Pool A bid by winning the conference tournament while CCIW rival No. 4 Illinois Wesleyan picked up a Pool C bid. No. 3 Thomas More earned its way into the NCAA postseason by winning the Presidents’ Athletic Conference crown for the second year in a row. The Saints were moved out of the Mideast region and placed into the Central for the first time this season. No. 5 Buena Vista grabbed a second bid for the IIAC after a slight stumble in the IIAC tourney. Rounding out the field is sixth-seeded Ripon, winners of the Midwest Conference.
Top-seeded Coe is making its first NCAA appearance as the IIAC champion and brings a roster full of speed demons to the dance. The Kohawks have amassed 90 steals this year. Carthage, once again, brings its big bats to the stadium and has recently started piling up runs, but looks to be challenged offensively by Thomas More who sports a .351 team batting average along with 38 homeruns. Fourth-seeded Illinois Wesleyan is a two-headed monster with all-American candidates both at the plate (Kevin Calahan, .405, 14 HR) and on the mound (Jason Pankau, 7-2, 1.48 ERA). Buena Vista bolts into the regional with 66 stolen bases and can really make it uncomfortable for a defense if they get on base. Sixth-seeded Ripon was our pre-season pick to win the MWC, but stumbled out of the gate. They are a very experienced team and are finally heating up.
Favorite: Thomas More. Shocking? Not when you
look at the numbers they have. At some point in every regional,
pitching wears thin and you must hit your way to the next round and
no one is more equipped to do that than the Saints. Their .351 team
batting average and 38 round-trippers means they will always have a
chance to swing their way back into the game. At the dish, they
have three bangers in David Kennett (.435, 7HR), Sam Schmeltzer
(.422, 49 RBI), and Andrew Thole (.401, 17 HR, .918 slugging, 52
RBI). Mix in their .456 team on-base percentage and you have a
recipe for disaster for anyone giving them free bases. If they can
sneak by Illinois Wesleyan and Jason Pankau, they could be set up
for a long run.
Most Likely to Disappoint: Coe. The Kohawks have
a solid team in 2011 and were a surprise winner of the IIAC as the
coaches voted them fourth in the pre-season poll. When it comes to
the NCAA post-season, experience counts a great deal and the
Kohawks do not have any on the national level in recent years. In
fact, the IIAC title game was their first in the school’s
history. They are lead by Nick Stein (386, 8 HRs, 15 2B, 23/24 SBs)
and pitcher Wade Morris (10-2, 2.47 ERA). The good thing about
inexperienced teams is that they are often not aware that they lack
experience and can play loose and free. Still, at the end of the
day, they may not have the horses to compete.
Cinderella: Buena Vista. The
Beavers were our preseason pick to win this region, but they have
yet to reach their potential on the field. If they can put it all
together this weekend, they could be back to the team they were
last season when they lost in the regional final to eventual
national champion Illinois Wesleyan. Add a year of NCAA experience
to a talented roster led by Brad Blum (.378, 18 SBs), Kevin Klower
(11 HR), and Luke Probasco (7-3, 3.38 ERA) and you have the makings
for a dangerous team just lurking in the shadows.
Players to Watch
SS Brad Blum, Buena Vista (.378 BA, 18 SBs)
OF Michael Hoffman, Buena Vista (.327BA, 16 2B, 44 RBI)
OF Will Hodges, Carthage (.399 BA, 14 2B, 8 HR)
P Danny Dahm, Carthage (4-0, 3.36 ERA)
OF Nick Stein, Coe (.386 BA, 8 HRs, 15 2B, 23/24 SBs)
P Wade Morris, Coe P- (10-2, 2.47 ERA)
1B Kevin Callahan, Illinois Wesleyan (.405 BA, 43 R, 14 HR, 49
RBI)
P Jason Pankau, Illinois Wesleyan (7-2, 1.48 ERA, 82 K)
3B Nick Beaman, Ripon (.407 BA, 12 2B, 44 RBI)
SS David Kennett, Thomas More (.435 BA, 7HR),
1B Andrew Thole, Thomas More (.401 BA, 17 HR, .918 slugging, 52
RBI)
