BB: Regionals (South) Danville '08, Salisbury '09, Methodist '10, Rhodes '11

[Diamond King]

  Perhaps Shenandoah can secure Front Royal's Bing Crosby Stadium and offer to host if they keep getting to regionals. Very nice new stadium with all new lights and facilities used by the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley Baseball League and two local high schools.   

First I'd like to say to all the naysayers, if I'm a college player and get a chance to play in a minor league park, filled or with a couple dozen, I'm pumped. For a lot of these guys, it's as close as they'll ever come to playing in a pro ballpark!
I like hokieone's thought process when considering using Front Royal, Virginia's Bing Crosby Stadium. Yes, it is fairly new (opened in July 2006) and has been one of the most-liked fields in the Valley Baseball League ever since. I have some thoughts on the Bing and one other field of interest: A place known as "The Bridge."
If SU were to win a bid to host the South Region, wouldn't the Hornets first consider their home field of Bridgeforth Field, in Jim Barnett Park? After lots of years, some renovations have gotten under way, but I still don't know if this is a suitable fit. Before this season, the press box, getting worn by years of neglect, looked something like Fort Sumter from the outside! The field opened in 1979 (Coach K played in the first game there when he was a senior in high school) and it was a top-notch facility for years (Clemson, JMU, and UVa. all played games there the first two years). I know some improvements are in the works, and it's about time. I don't feel like going on with the shortcomings over there, but I'll just say it used to be a nice field.
As far as the Bing, there still is a lot of improvements that need be made. Yes, it has that minor league ballpark feel once you come in the stadium. It does have a big concession stand, good restroom facilities, plenty of seating (1,100, plus some standing room down along the field-level fences, just outside the dugouts) and is well-lit (thank you, narch!). My problem with the seating is it is aluminum bleachers that could use a good powerwash now and again. Plus at night, the overhang leaves for some dark spots in places. There are some chairbacks located just below the press box, and I would suggest using those at all cost. And no matter where you sit, you'd have a hard time seeing who is warming up in the bullpen. Why? Because of the big, brick clubhouse (on either side) that blocks your view! And the netting on the outfield walls is a little tiresome (high school games, hit it there and it is a homer. College or otherwise, ground-rule double. You have to CLEAR THE NET for a homer). You'd probably have a tough time getting the Parks & Rec to allow a college regional to take place there. Coaches from the Cardinals and the two high schools have a hard time getting keys from the folks that work there, and don't even think about holding practice there! The Parks & Rec there uses the attitude "This is OUR field and we decide who uses it and when."

[Falcon2720]

1st NCAA DIII Regional Rankings

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/042910aaa.html


South Region                            In-Region Record    Overall Record
1. Shenandoah                    26-7                    34-8
2. Mary Washington            19-9                    24-10
3. Millsaps                            23-12                    25-15
4. Methodist                            23-10                    27-11
5. LaGrange                            24-16                    26-17
6. York (Pennsylvania)            23-12                    23-12


Biggest surprise... No Salisbury
Second biggest surprise...Mary Washington # 2?
LaGrange looks like they might get that Pool B bid over Huntingdon
The Methodist-York series this weekend has huge playoff implications

[narch]

this is how i see the final regional rankings:

1. shenandoah
2. mary wash
3. millsaps
4. york
5. salisbury
6. methodist

i can't see lagrange, huntingdon or rhodes jumping over mu...all three have lower (or in huntingdon's case, equal) regional win % and all three have lower regional sos numbers - rhodes and huntingdon both have head-to-head wins vs. mu, but i'm not sure exactly how that plays into the situation...they had those head-to-head wins when the first rankings were released and they were below mu

if the monarchs are to get a bid, i think the ncaa will have to make the decision to make this an 8 team regional and bring in millsaps and perhaps trinity - the regional would then be the six schools listed above plus trinity and bridgewater – logistically, it makes OK sense...trinity and millsaps have to fly wherever they go – trinity is closest to the central regional at approx. 1180 miles (vs. approx. 1360 to fayetteville...180 miles by plane doesn't make much difference) and millsaps to fayetteville vs. millsaps to the central regional site (next closest for them) is about a wash (ohio is about 150 miles further) – here is me rooting for an 8 team regional

in theory, hopkins could also be brought into this regional, although they are only 140 miles or so from the mid-atlantic regional (vs. 365 miles from fayetteville)

[NCWC 4]

NEW TO THE BOARDS..    figured i can jump on here now since i dont play anymore.....but anyways i just wanted to say that Methodist is not that bad of a field and the town of fayetteville isnt either..... i hate fayetteville more than anyone in the world  but it really isnt that bad.... also i played highschool ball for 3 years in that area and Methodist field has come a long way.  Last year when i pitched against Methodist at their place  i enjoyed the mound and the fielding surface may not look good from first glance but the ball has no bad hops... well atleast it looked like it.    Tom Austin is the best coach in the USA South and is a 1rst class guy...  IM sure hell have that place looking nice and run the right way... i mean heck.. he should due to running the south regionals the last few years sooo no worries...  ONly thing the other teams need to worrie about is Shan and Meth....     Shan is a team that when it comes to big games they show up... TRUST ME i watched them smack us in the 2nd round of the tourny last year... and when i threw agaisnt them in the conf champ game every single out is a tuff out.  Van Sickler will be fine when he throws... and their bats will show up... no to mention they have a close argument for the best coach in the league as well... Anderson always has hes team ready espeically on the mental side of the game......    NOW Meth is at home... its there house... there field... there town..... how can you not pick them to go far...... and it helps to have that advantage... i mean my freshman year we won it at our house and there is no better feeling... it just makes you look at the field different.  But Meth is  going to make regionals  i mean the guy that runs the dang thing is the Coach of the field its played at.... you really think they want get picked....... I dont see why if it was in Fay... they didnt play it at THE SWAMP  home of the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League.  Seats around 3,000 concessions would be great and parking is very good.... I played there for 3 years and loved every minute of it.... the city and that organization would have ran a very nice tournament... maybe in the future.....   there is no field better to hold a regional in our conference other then the good ole B FIELD in Rocky Mount, but Meth the 2nd best  i agree .....  Best of luck to both teams and i ll be sitting in the stands wishing them the best

[LTBB1971]

Ben,
welcome to the board!  Complete agree.  Methodist will get in as a Pool C I believe.  I am really surprised that they are not also using the Swampdogs field to have a few games.  I believe between Methodist and the Swampdogs, they should be able to host all games.

Still can't forget last year at Aberdeen.  Very beautiful field...just feels like a pro playing there.

[narch]

latest regional rankings released - http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/050610aaj.html

South Region  In-Region Record  Overall Record
1. Shenandoah 26-7 34-8
2. Mary Washington 19-9 26-10
3. York (Pennsylvania) 28-12 28-12
4. Millsaps 23-12 25-15
5. LaGrange 24-16 26-17
6. Methodist 24-13 28-14

lagrange over mu is confounding...mu is 2-0 head-to-head vs. lagrange with a better regional record, better overall record and mu has a stronger sos (83 vs. 166 per d3baseball.com) - mu is also 3-4 vs. in-region ranked teams, while lagrange is 1-5 vs. in-region ranked teams...it's a head scratcher, and not a good sign for the monarchs chances at a regional bid...not a good sign at all

and i still can't figure how salisbry, with a 22-8 regional record and a solid (but not spectacular) sos isn't ranked regionally

[D-BAT]

Ferrum (24-13) knocked off Mary Washington 7 to 3 on Tuesday and York, PA 17 to 7 today which has to throw a curve-ball into these at-large bids for teams fighting to get into South Region.

Ferrum completes their regular season tomorrow with York, PA. 

[narch]

Ferrum (24-13) knocked off Mary Washington 7 to 3 on Tuesday and York, PA 17 to 7 today which has to throw a curve-ball into these at-large bids for teams fighting to get into South Region.

according to this ncaa document, ferrum was only 13-13 in region before the two games yesterday...they aren't even on the radar screen with a 15-13 in-region record

[frank_ezelle]

As a Millsaps fan, I've naturally been keeping a close eye on the York and Methodist games for the last week.  I was really hoping for a 2-2 split between Piedmont, Methodist, and York last weekend, and have to give credit to York for going 4-0.  Still, with the loss yesterday, one has to feel that today might very well be a NCAA play-in game for York since it seems like an 0-2 followup following that 4-0 might drop them back behind Millsaps--AND, it seems likely that the South Region will only get one Pool C bid.

[NCWC 4]

GUYS,

FUSS all you want about whos over who and what is what.... trust me   METH IS GETTING IN..... its at there park and AUSTIN is the butt that is in that chair that runs the south regional.... sorry to bust your lets play this car and lets play that card to see whos getting in.... METH IS IN as the 6th best team  but mark my words theyll give them the 5 seed so SHAN and METH dont play each other in the first round....   WATCH AND SEEE

[narch]

i could be wrong, but i don't think tom austin is on the south region committee this year...anyone know who is?

[narch]

As a Millsaps fan, I've naturally been keeping a close eye on the York and Methodist games for the last week.  I was really hoping for a 2-2 split between Piedmont, Methodist, and York last weekend, and have to give credit to York for going 4-0.  Still, with the loss yesterday, one has to feel that today might very well be a NCAA play-in game for York since it seems like an 0-2 followup following that 4-0 might drop them back behind Millsaps--AND, it seems likely that the South Region will only get one Pool C bid.

frank...i don't know...even with a loss, york would finish with a higher region win% and more wins vs. regionally ranked teams...i think they are a pretty safe bet to stay ahead of millsaps - then again, mu trumps lagrange in EVERY category that i've ever heard mentioned as selection/ranking criteria

[D-BAT]

Ferrum (24-13) knocked off Mary Washington 7 to 3 on Tuesday and York, PA 17 to 7 today which has to throw a curve-ball into these at-large bids for teams fighting to get into South Region.

according to this ncaa document, ferrum was only 13-13 in region before the two games yesterday...they aren't even on the radar screen with a 15-13 in-region record

Actually Ferrum wins are helping Salisbury, Millsaps and Methodist chances even more so.

[OshDude]

GUYS,

FUSS all you want about whos over who and what is what.... trust me   METH IS GETTING IN..... its at there park and AUSTIN is the butt that is in that chair that runs the south regional.... sorry to bust your lets play this car and lets play that card to see whos getting in.... METH IS IN as the 6th best team  but mark my words theyll give them the 5 seed so SHAN and METH dont play each other in the first round....   WATCH AND SEEE

You may be right, but Oshkosh hosted a regional last year. The players raked the field all weekend despite being the regular season tri-champs of the WIAC.

Methodist has a better shot than did Oshkosh, but I wouldn't look at hosting as a factor.

[frank_ezelle]

These regional rankings are hard to figure out but I do think the coaches have a good insight into where they stand.  If that's the case, then maybe York is already a lock.  I say that because the York pitching yesterday was more about getting work for pitchers instead of winning the game:  starter goes 4 innings and then 5 pitchers went 1 inning each.  

Personally, I hope York gets the rest of the staff into today's game, but I suspect that Jason Christenberry and Brandon Ullom might be the only ones on the mound today (based on the stats I find on the York website).