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2018 D3 Brackets

O old_school10,000+ posts

If you have a kid playing or are just a fan or Alum of a D3 school you are already aware of the 2 week frenzy that are the conference tournaments. Last night about midnight the NCAA posted the teams and brackets for this years road to Appleton.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/base...selections-announced

There will be all the typical madness that goes along with the 8 regionals being played simultaneously. There will be some great baseball played by kids and players most have never heard of.

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JCGJCGStill working on a clever handle

On another board, folks who seem to know what they are talking about say that Trinity was excluded because their SOS was weak, they went 0-2 in their conference tourney, they  lost to teams with losing records. and they sputtered to the finish line. Apparently performance in the last 25% of the year is a new criteria for selection.

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts

Probably D3baseball board. SOS is very important criteria, in the selection process. However out west due to distances and other factors, it can be difficult, to put a together a strong schedule. However it is a well known criteria, and has been for a while. Cal Lu suffered the same fate a couple of years back.

Best way to get to the regional, is win your conference tournament. Don't leave it up to the committee. This is especially true out west.

S SluggerDad10,000+ posts

Yeah SOS is a big ... which is why Cal Lu, after it got screwed that year by SOS started scheduling either a second Spring trip or extra home games with non-conference teams who were looking for warm places to play.  It also played a role in the SCIAC eliminating what had been their end of the season, pre-tournament round-robin.   Gives them all more chances to play strong non-conference opponents.  This year perhaps as a result 2 SCIAC teams are in.    

Unfortunately,  Cal Lu kind of sucked.   

From what I can gather, the cause of Cal Lu's probably temporary decline seems to have been that two strong seeming incoming classes ended up sort  of hallowing themselves  out, because of guys who gave up without being pushed out the door,  according to my son  (who was one of them)  and some of his former teammates.  The team was extremely loaded with upper class studs when those guys were frosh and sophomores.  One of them even looked like he was slated to be the number 1 or number 2 arm perhaps after his freshman year.   Many of them  seem to have been either not  committed enough overall or not patient enough to wait their turns for playing time  -- though that's not how they themselves would put it,  I'm guessing.  (Certainly that's not how my son puts it, but its clear to me that he just wasn't willing to wait his turn.)    So this year the team was younger than it has been in recent years and also reliant on some upperclass transfers that didn't really shine.  Maybe there's an upside though.  Perhaps they are about to start another cycle with some  guys who will have been 3-4 year starters by their senior years.    That's what happened with the most recent cohort of studs.  They got chances starting freshman year and got better and better, until they were a dominating group.   (Although strangely,  it wasn't really the core of that group that won the  D3 WS.  That WS team kinda of played over its head with just a few guys left over from the group of studs I'm talking about. )

Last edited by SluggerDad
smokeminsidesmokeminsideMember since 2014

I didn't dig very deep before I made my comment. I have not completely understood the complexities of the selection process, but with Trinity finishing the season in the top 20, I just assumed they should be given a shot.  Didn't realize their SOS was relatively weak.

Thanks for the clarifying info.  Obvious to me now that Amherst wouldn't have made the tournament without winning the conference title.  I get it.

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts

One other thing. The D3baseball top 25, while very accurate in my opinion, has nothing to do with the selection process. 

There are many pro's and cons in each region. While it is tough to build a strong Strength Of Schedule out west, they start much earlier and the games are more spread out. So much so, that they need fewer pitchers during the regular season. 

 

smokeminsidesmokeminsideMember since 2014

BLD, I understand that now more than ever.  Kai's team played about ten games the last two weeks of the season. It was crazy.  And they ALL mattered.  The league has a west and east division with 5 teams in each division.  They only play 12 games that count toward reaching the playoffs, and only two teams in each division make the conference playoffs.  Each 3 game series is huge. And the weather mashed them all together, where one day there'd be a rainout makeup and the next the beginning doubleheader of a three-game series. Amherst was lucky to take two of three from each of their 4 opponents.  It was the only way they could qualify for the league playoffs.  

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts
old_school posted:
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

One other thing. The D3baseball top 25, while very accurate in my opinion, has nothing to do with the selection process. 

D3 baseball is like the boys club, once you are in it you need to really suck to get out.

I agree, and you need to be good for real long time to get in it. Although the regional selection process is better. They are doing a better job of sticking to the criteria. Whether that criteria is correct or fair is a whole other matter.

smokeminsidesmokeminsideMember since 2014

Heartbreaking loss for Amherst.  Avoidable throwing error led to winning run in bottom of 8th.  Son is taking it pretty well.  He had a decent game. Started in center, 1/4, single started Amherst's 2 run rally that put them ahead.  Will know their opponent later tonight.  No one is really standing out yet in the regional.

 

JCGJCGStill working on a clever handle

I hate it when a play like that decides a game. Welp, it's not for nothing that they don't want to rent cars to kids until they are 25yo, even if they go to a school like Amherst.  Good luck in the next one!

BTW... YUGE upset win for Willamette today out West over #1 seed Chapman. Congrats to the Bearcats!

O old_school10,000+ posts
MidAtlanticDad posted:
old_school posted:

Taking the Mid Atlantics on the road.

Arcadia vs Union (scheduled for 430 in York) has been relocated to Hartford CC at 330 - turf field.

Bold move. Been there many times. You can play in pouring rain if you choose to. Great juco facility. 

Are they staying there for the whole thing, or taking it day by day?

Day by day right now; scheduled back at York tomorrow but we will see. 

sunwalkingvalleysunwalkingvalley1,000+ posts

West region all the lower seeds won in the first round.  Including the Willamette bearcats.  I got a dog in that race.  Tomorrow the 1 and 2 seeds play each other in the losers bracket, so one team will be eliminated.  All our games started on time but each ran late.  One went 10 innings the others had lots of action.  The late game was supposed to start at 6 on original schedule, it just finished at 11 pm.

Back to SOS, most of the teams hosted Swarthmore this year.  It was the first time in s while that Willamette had an east coast team play here.  It was a tough trip for Swat but it worked out well for them, Swat won their conference.  Guess you gotta make things happen with that schedule 

smokeminsidesmokeminsideMember since 2014

And now they've won Game 2, beating Cortland 2-1.  That region is bananas: 6 of the 7 games so far have been low-scoring one-run games.  Two of those have gone into extras.

Amherst, sadly for me, is out, losing 2-1 to St. Joseph's Long Island, which got an amazing pitching performance.  Amherst's was good, too, but St. J's was even better.

N 2022NYC10,000+ posts
smokeminside posted:

And now they've won Game 2, beating Cortland 2-1.  That region is bananas: 6 of the 7 games so far have been low-scoring one-run games.  Two of those have gone into extras.

Amherst, sadly for me, is out, losing 2-1 to St. Joseph's Long Island, which got an amazing pitching performance.  Amherst's was good, too, but St. J's was even better.

Thanks for the update both schools are somewhat local to me. Shame your kid's season ended, it looked like a great game.

MidAtlanticDadMidAtlanticDad10,000+ posts

My boy’s team was eliminated at the New York Regional today. Particularly tough on him because he was knocked out with an injury after winning Game 1. He had started every game this season. Heartbreaking to watch.

Saw some excellent pitching here over the 3 days. Lots of close games. The bats just never caught fire for our guys. 

Very emotional scene after the game for all the seniors and their teammates who will miss them dearly. 

O old_school10,000+ posts
phillyinNJ posted:

mid-atlantic final game...misericordia vs. babson...mis has to win two in a row...going to be tough.

Quality work by the boys from Misericordia, as best as I could tell there was one weak team in that bracket and Mis didn't play them. So many games decided late, one swing or one play can change a season.

 

Follow up from earlier in the thread - Swarthmore wins NY going undefeated and earns trip to the WS. Well done.

O old_school10,000+ posts

My son tells he felt that Swarthmore was the best team they faced this year, that includes 2 teams still fighting for WS berth today, and 5 or 6 more that were playing in the regionals this past weekend...Including 2 who were ranked top 10 this season.

Opinions are what they are but it seems clear to me that Swarthmore was flying to far under the radar.

MidAtlanticDadMidAtlanticDad10,000+ posts
old_school posted:

My son tells he felt that Swarthmore was the best team they faced this year, that includes 2 teams still fighting for WS berth today, and 5 or 6 more that were playing in the regionals this past weekend...Including 2 who were ranked top 10 this season.

Opinions are what they are but it seems clear to me that Swarthmore was flying to far under the radar.

It looks like the majority of their starters come from baseball hotbeds (CA, TX, FL, NC).

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts
old_school posted:

My son tells he felt that Swarthmore was the best team they faced this year, that includes 2 teams still fighting for WS berth today, and 5 or 6 more that were playing in the regionals this past weekend...Including 2 who were ranked top 10 this season.

Opinions are what they are but it seems clear to me that Swarthmore was flying to far under the radar.

Oh,  I am sure they are. As has been pointed out before. A team has to be good for a long time before getting the benefit of the doubt. 

Historically they are a bottom to a middle feeder in the Centennial Conference. A few more seasons like this and they wont fly under the radar so much.

O old_school10,000+ posts
BishopLeftiesDad posted:
old_school posted:

My son tells he felt that Swarthmore was the best team they faced this year, that includes 2 teams still fighting for WS berth today, and 5 or 6 more that were playing in the regionals this past weekend...Including 2 who were ranked top 10 this season.

Opinions are what they are but it seems clear to me that Swarthmore was flying to far under the radar.

Oh,  I am sure they are. As has been pointed out before. A team has to be good for a long time before getting the benefit of the doubt. 

Historically they are a bottom to a middle feeder in the Centennial Conference. A few more seasons like this and they wont fly under the radar so much.

Funny thing is they beat us in walk off. Some of our parents were stunned, me being freshman parent who doesn't know a damn thing was dumb enough to say "I thought they were pretty damn tough" one of the SR dads just smiled at me and said I would learn.

We were both right, he was correct in I would learn a lot this spring and I was correct in that they were pretty damn good!

sunwalkingvalleysunwalkingvalley1,000+ posts

The ride is over for the Willamette Bearcats.  Started the season 9-11.  Finished third in NWC conference but was hot at the end and won the tournament bid.  Shows up as a 6 seed in the West region.  Made it all the way to the 10th inning of the Championship game, but fell short of CWS losing to #6 Texas Lutheran.  One of final 16 teams standing on Sunday afternoon.  Best team in the history of Willamette.  Even though we have some great Seniors that we are proud of and will graduate, we return every pitcher but 1 reliever and have some great young talent.  Watch out for some hungry Bearcats next year as well

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts

Swarthmore can be difficult to recruit to. Many D3 schools recruit students from all over the country. They are more National than a regional school. The Administration's at these schools, many times want the Diversity of the athletes to match the Diversity of the general population  of the schools. This can require large coaching staffs and large recruiting budgets to see enough players who have the academic chops and are the proper level of athlete to play well at the D3 level. Then you have to convince the student to come to your schools over another that may have similar Academics, however has not performed as well on the baseball field. 

If you look at Swarthmore's coaching staff it was 3 coaches a few years ago. There is just not enough time in the recruiting year to see the players you need to that can get into your school. This year they are up to 6. Midkiff has done a good job there considering the challenges. I have not taken the time to look. However I wonder how there other sports are doing. If the other sports are performing well, it may also indicate that the Administration has seen the benefit of having a vibrant and competitive Athletic department. They may have spent more time building athletics. 

JCGJCGStill working on a clever handle

My 2017 was recruited by Swarthmore.  Frankly, they dropped out when they got his grades, which were good  enough to get him into similar schools but not that one. I think it's hard to understate how difficult it is for coaches at a school like Swarthmore to have successful recruiting seasons year after year when its players are held to very lofty academic standards, especially as compared to other schools in conference, and they have to face fierce competition in recruiting top talent not just from other D3's but Ivy's as well.  

A adbono10,000+ posts
MidAtlanticDad posted:
old_school posted:

My son tells he felt that Swarthmore was the best team they faced this year, that includes 2 teams still fighting for WS berth today, and 5 or 6 more that were playing in the regionals this past weekend...Including 2 who were ranked top 10 this season.

Opinions are what they are but it seems clear to me that Swarthmore was flying to far under the radar.

It looks like the majority of their starters come from baseball hotbeds (CA, TX, FL, NC).

Right you are!  If you want to get good those are the states to recruit in.

S 57special5,000+ posts

My 2018 was recruited to, and offered, at Swarthmore. He ultimately chose another school. Swat wasn't on our radar, at all, so when they contacted him he had to do some research. If he had any connection in the area he might've gone- great school- but he had a couple of other D3's that were also attractive, and more known to him. Quite a feat for such a rigorous school like that to compete. I know that in my neck of the woods, Carleton, which has similar tough academic standards, has a hard time being competitive. 

  They are re-doing the field and the buildings around it. The dorms look right over the field. Nice.

 

Last edited by 57special
O old_school10,000+ posts
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

I will probably be rooting for Swarthmore. If Wooster goes very far, they will be insufferable in the NCAC. Who am I kidding they are already Insufferable. 

This is a great post and worthy of repeating! The MAC Freedom teams feel the same about Misericordia!! Swarthmore has plenty yappers on that squad as well...however there are very few innocents in the dugouts of college baseball teams.  

sunwalkingvalleysunwalkingvalley1,000+ posts

College baseball is about 9 on the field and 26 in the dugouts, doin their thing.  As long as it is in good sportsmanship manner, that is the way it is played.  That is one of the reasons the game is more enjoyable than MLB.  No taunting just rowdiness and occasional jabs.  Willamette, I must say has one of the loudest dugouts in the NWC.  I think the team feeds off that energy.  They have rituals, don Glamm glasses after a home run, idiotic/stupid sayings but they just are trying to come up with some type of noise during the game.  Some people dont like Monmouth basketball's bench shenanigans, I think it is great.  

GovGovMember since 2015

Watching the first game right now... dialed into swings, speed, gloves, and throwing mechanics of all the players.  First time I've seen a D3 game.

My 2018 looked at Swarthmore as well...super nice HC.

I'm in Northern IL, I thought Appleton was closer, just looked at google maps, not happening.

Last edited by Gov
J JDUBSDAD1,000+ posts

Thanks for linking to the webcam.  I haven't seen much DIII baseball and was interested to see the level of play, size of the players, etc... to compare to what I have seen in our area (DI, DII and HS).   Watching the Texas-Tyler/Oswego game, the hitting looked pretty strong, but hard to tell about the pitching without knowing MPH.  Anyone know what MPH the pitcher's were sitting at or the average for a DIII pitcher's FB?  Also, I'm not sure if it was due to the video quality, but the players appeared to be smaller (height and weight) than most of the college players I have seen in our area.  If this is true, is it due to the type of player typically recruited to the DIII schools or a product of the strength/conditioning programs available at the different NCAA levels?    BTW, congrats to all of the forum members that have kids playing in college.  I would love to see my 2022 out there someday.

   

MidAtlanticDadMidAtlanticDad10,000+ posts
JDUBSDAD posted:

Thanks for linking to the webcam.  I haven't seen much DIII baseball and was interested to see the level of play, size of the players, etc... to compare to what I have seen in our area (DI, DII and HS).   Watching the Texas-Tyler/Oswego game, the hitting looked pretty strong, but hard to tell about the pitching without knowing MPH.  Anyone know what MPH the pitcher's were sitting at or the average for a DIII pitcher's FB?  Also, I'm not sure if it was due to the video quality, but the players appeared to be smaller (height and weight) than most of the college players I have seen in our area.  If this is true, is it due to the type of player typically recruited to the DIII schools or a product of the strength/conditioning programs available at the different NCAA levels?    BTW, congrats to all of the forum members that have kids playing in college.  I would love to see my 2022 out there someday.

   

Not sure about today's games, but I'm guessing that the majority of D3 pitching is in the 80-85 mph range (FB). I think there's a pretty close correlation between general athleticism and the college baseball hierarchy (top D1 through bottom D3). D1 guys are probably taller at most positions; taller corner OFs and corner IFs, taller pitchers. D1 guys in general probably weigh more, too. More muscular. You won't see many skinny position players in high level D1 baseball. I'm sure strength and condition programs plays a role, but I think it's mostly genetics. Most kids could spend 8 hrs/day in the gym and never develop a physique like Jonathan India.

J JDUBSDAD1,000+ posts

Thanks for the reply MIDATLANTIC DAD.  80-85 looks about right based upon what I am seeing in the video broadcast.  (Note:  As a hitter's dad, I have been somewhat surprised by the seemingly large strike zone the plate umpire has in the latest game.  I may need to change him into a pitcher.  )  Also, your thoughts regarding genetics make sense.  My son is relatively early in the process (incoming HS freshman) and still growing so I'm not sure where he may fit in size-wise once things settle out.   However, it is nice to know that there are options available at the various levels of competition if he keeps progressing skill-wise and wants to pursue college ball. 

Y YERT16500+ posts
JDUBSDAD posted:

Thanks for linking to the webcam.  I haven't seen much DIII baseball and was interested to see the level of play, size of the players, etc... to compare to what I have seen in our area (DI, DII and HS).   Watching the Texas-Tyler/Oswego game, the hitting looked pretty strong, but hard to tell about the pitching without knowing MPH.  Anyone know what MPH the pitcher's were sitting at or the average for a DIII pitcher's FB?  Also, I'm not sure if it was due to the video quality, but the players appeared to be smaller (height and weight) than most of the college players I have seen in our area.  If this is true, is it due to the type of player typically recruited to the DIII schools or a product of the strength/conditioning programs available at the different NCAA levels?    BTW, congrats to all of the forum members that have kids playing in college.  I would love to see my 2022 out there someday.

   

My son's D3 team had a starting infield of 6'3, 6'4, 6'3 and 6'0 although it would be hard to tell from the streaming broadcast.

T Twoboys5,000+ posts

and also the 80-85 mph might be true for OVERALL average of D3 pitching but just not the case for son's team or league or schedule. I bet it is the same for these teams that made it to Appleton too.  MAM said what the 4 freshman are throwing at their school and all 4 above 85.  It is tough to get recruited to D3 nowadays at 80-85.  

Almost every D3 team seems to have guys much higher -  it is the depth that falls off for most schools.  Son's team has several 90+ guys, and most guys are 85+.   

S 57special5,000+ posts

You'll get some guys in D3 who were throwing 84 MPH when they were recruited as a rising HS senior, but by the time they are Juniors/seniors in college they are throwing high 80's. I would say that it is rare for a D3 pitcher in my neck of the woods to be touching 90's consistently, though.

   I do see others at lesser D3's(baseball wise) who are still throwing around low 80's. 

P phillyinNJ1,000+ posts

Rowan's number 1 looked like he could cruise upper 80's and reach back for 90 plus...PG profile had him low 90's and that was a few years ago.  Misericordia looks a little on the small side, but they are scrappy as can be when they play...executed a perfect suicide squeeze yesterday against #5 R-Macon.  I was asked the other day if the teams were any good (in the D3 world series)...i told them to be 1 of the 8 out of 350 plus schools to make it, you sure as hell have to be good.  Not sure why everyone looks down upon it, but from what i can see it looks like excellent baseball.

O old_school10,000+ posts
phillyinNJ posted:

Rowan's number 1 looked like he could cruise upper 80's and reach back for 90 plus...PG profile had him low 90's and that was a few years ago.  Misericordia looks a little on the small side, but they are scrappy as can be when they play...executed a perfect suicide squeeze yesterday against #5 R-Macon.  I was asked the other day if the teams were any good (in the D3 world series)...i told them to be 1 of the 8 out of 350 plus schools to make it, you sure as hell have to be good.  Not sure why everyone looks down upon it, but from what i can see it looks like excellent baseball.

Because people are stupid and make assumptions.... just saying.

Rowan’s 3rd pitcher was a redshirt at Alabama in 2015 and they aren’t there, and they didnt finish 2nd or 3rd in the regional. 

S 57special5,000+ posts
2boydad posted:

My D3 son is 5' 10" and also one of the shortest amoung the team. Also have a friend whose son is on a Mid tier D3 in So. Cal. Was told they have 3 guys throwing 88-90. Saw some D3 teams this year that could challenge some D1's i've seen 

Well, to be fair, SoCal is far ahead of many states when it comes to baseball. Same with GA, TX, FL, to name a few. There are some excellent D3 schools(academically) up north who struggle to have find  pitchers  who "live" in the mid 80's. Many of those schools would be beaten by the best HS teams.

BishopLeftiesDadBishopLeftiesDad10,000+ posts
BOF posted:

It's a little early to talk about an all Texas D3CWS, but it could happen. I have to be rooting for TLU as they are from my son's former conference and are playing for a teammate who was killed in a tragic car accident last year. #tlubaseball &  #KB4 on twitter. 

BOF you called it, we have an all Texas World Series. 

My Hats off to all the Teams that made it that far. (except Wooster ; ) ) 

A adbono10,000+ posts
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

Congrats to Texas Tyler on winning the D3 world series.

UT Tyler received an at large tournament bid, by the way.  They didn't win their conference (Concordia, Tx did) or their conference tournament (UT Dallas did). Confirming what many have thought for a long time -  that once teams in the West Region were given equal opportunity they would do well.  it just doesn't stand to reason that D3 teams in the Northeast are better than D3 teams in California and Texas. 

MidAtlanticDadMidAtlanticDad10,000+ posts
adbono posted:
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

Congrats to Texas Tyler on winning the D3 world series.

UT Tyler received an at large tournament bid, by the way.  They didn't win their conference (Concordia, Tx did) or their conference tournament (UT Dallas did). Confirming what many have thought for a long time -  that once teams in the West Region were given equal opportunity they would do well.  it just doesn't stand to reason that D3 teams in the Northeast are better than D3 teams in California and Texas. 

Teams from the West Region have won 4 of the last 6 championships. Before that it was more proportional. Six of the 8 ranked teams from the West Region made the tournament, plus Willamette who was not ranked.Trinity and La Verne were left out, but probably belonged. I guess the West Regional has "always" been 6 teams, because of the additional travel expense of flying. It would be interesting to see a "money is no object" seeding of D3 similar to D1.

MidAtlanticDadMidAtlanticDad10,000+ posts
adbono posted:
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

Congrats to Texas Tyler on winning the D3 world series.

UT Tyler received an at large tournament bid, by the way.  They didn't win their conference (Concordia, Tx did) or their conference tournament (UT Dallas did).  

Great tweet from the Texas-Tyler head coach from before the playoff field was announced.

https://twitter.com/coachporch...s/993506348917719041

A adbono10,000+ posts
MidAtlanticDad posted:
adbono posted:
BishopLeftiesDad posted:

Congrats to Texas Tyler on winning the D3 world series.

UT Tyler received an at large tournament bid, by the way.  They didn't win their conference (Concordia, Tx did) or their conference tournament (UT Dallas did). Confirming what many have thought for a long time -  that once teams in the West Region were given equal opportunity they would do well.  it just doesn't stand to reason that D3 teams in the Northeast are better than D3 teams in California and Texas. 

Teams from the West Region have won 4 of the last 6 championships. Before that it was more proportional. Six of the 8 ranked teams from the West Region made the tournament, plus Willamette who was not ranked.Trinity and La Verne were left out, but probably belonged. I guess the West Regional has "always" been 6 teams, because of the additional travel expense of flying. It would be interesting to see a "money is no object" seeding of D3 similar to D1.

Agreed. 

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