NAIA COLLEGE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS BEGIN; USCAA AND NCCAA WORLD SERIES’ CONTINUE

* USCAA Championship *

Yesterday was the last day of the 2013 World Series in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). The first game of the day saw the 5th seeded Cinderellas, the PSU-GREATER ALLEGHENY NITTANY LIONS, eliminate the top seeded NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS in a 9-3 drubbing.

Next up, PSUGA faced the 3rd seeded UC-CLERMONT COUGARS, undefeated so far in Series play. The Nittany Lions were already sporting a loss, so if they fell it was all over. PSUGA forced another game by defeating the Cougars in an 8-7 Instant Classic. In the deciding game UC-Clermont settled down and took the title with an authoritative 6-3 victory. Congratulations to the Cougars, the 2013 National Champions of USCAA baseball!

* NCCAA World Series *

On Day Two of the College World Series in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association), the 7th seeded LINCOLN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RED LIONS staved off elimination by upsetting the 6th seeded OHIO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS in a 4-3 game for the ages. 

The Red Lions then went on to fall to the 4 seeds, the CLEARWATER CHRISTIAN COUGARS, in a 9-0 shutout.

Meanwhile the 8th seeded CAIRN UNIVERSITY HIGHLANDERS stayed alive by eliminating the 5th seeded ARLINGTON BAPTIST COLLEGE PATRIOTS. The final score in this game that saw the Patriots go the proverbial “0-2 and a barbecue” was a very tight 5-4. Unfortunately, like the Red Lions the Highlanders got kicked around in their followup game. The 2 seeds,  the FLORIDA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE SUNS, decimated Cairn by a score of 15-2.

The 3 seeds, the DALLAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE CRUSADERS, had upset the Suns 4-0 earlier in the day, forcing FCC into its game with Cairn. The Crusaders then went on to face the only other unbeaten team in the World Series, the top seeded defending champions, the TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE EAGLES. The Eagles took another step toward a Threepeat as NCCAA baseball champs by shutting out the Crusaders in a 4-0 thriller.

* NAIA Playoffs *

OKLAHOMA CITY BRACKET – In a FOURTEEN INNING marathon game the 5th seeded JAMESTOWN COLLEGE JIMMIES upset the 4 seeds, the NORTHWESTERN (IA) RED RAIDERS, by a score of 8-5. The Jimmies faced the top seeded OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS in the night game and PULLED OFF ANOTHER UPSET! The Jimmies shocked the nation with their 3-0 shutout of the Stars.   ###   And the (2) STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS  defeated the (3) UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS 8-5.

CLAREMORE BRACKET – The 4 seeds, the ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY HILLCATS took a pair of games themselves, first downing the 5th seeded MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS 8-4, then upsetting their Bracket’s top seeded LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY CHAPARRALS in a 7-5 Instant Classic.   ###   Meanwhile the 3rd seeded LYON COLLEGE SCOTS upset the 2nd seeded BELLEVUE BRUINS in a 3-0 shutout.  

JOLIET BRACKET – The 4th seeded MAYVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY COMETS beat the 5th seeded TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TROLLS in a 4-1 affair. The Comets’ second game of Day One saw them fall to the Bracket’s top seeds, the YORK (NE) PANTHERS, by a score of 5-1.   ###   And the (3) JUDSON EAGLES upset the (2) CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS 7-4.

HATTIESBURG BRACKET – In a 5 seed over 4 seed upset the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-BEAUFORT SAND SHARKS took down the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES by a score of 5-2. Then in the nightcap USCB lost a 7-5 nailbiter to the top seeded NORTHWOOD (TX) KNIGHTS.   ###   And the (3) WILLIAM CAREY CRUSADERS surprised the (2) OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BISON 7-3.

DAYTONA BEACH BRACKET – It took TEN INNINGS, but the 4th seeded AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES, playing in their FIRST playoff series, won a 3-2 epic against the 5th seeded MARTIN METHODIST REDHAWKS, also making their first playoff appearance. Later the Gyrenes fell to the top seeded EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY EAGLES 6-2.   ###   And the (3) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS lost a 4-1 outing with the (2) CONCORDIA (CA) EAGLES.

SANTA CLARITA BRACKET – The 4th seeded TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS won their own 10 inning affair with the 5th seeded CONCORDIA (OR) CAVALIERS. The final score in this thriller was 8-7. Unfortunately the Blue Jays then went on to suffer a heart-breaking 1-0 loss to the top seeds, the MASTER’S COLLEGE MUSTANGS.   ###   And the (3) SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN EAGLES spanked the (2) CAL STATE SAN MARCOS COUGARS 6-1.

KINGSPORT BRACKET – The (4) TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS clobbered the (5) BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY-SPRINGFIELD BULLDOGS 10-2. The top seeded defending champions of NAIA baseball, the TENNESSEE WESLEYAN COLLEGE BULLDOGS, then crushed the Trojans in turn by a score of 12-4.   ###   And the 3rd seeded MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS eviscerated the 2nd seeded POINT PARK UNIVERSITY PIONEERS by a score of 13-6.

MONTGOMERY BRACKET – The 4th seeded INDIANA TECH WARRIORS defeated the 5th seeded MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE COUGARS by a score of 7-4. Tech then got embarrassed by the top seeded FAULKNER EAGLES to the tune of 16-2 in the night game.   ###   And the 2 seeds, the TEXAS WESLEYAN COLLEGE RAMS, head-butted the 3rd seeded GEORGETOWN COLLEGE (KY) TIGERS 9-1.

CLEVELAND BRACKET – The (4) AVILA EAGLES pillaged the (5) GRAND VIEW VIKINGS in a 7-0 smackdown. The Eagles were then annihilated by the bracket’s top seeds, the LEE UNIVERSITY FLAMES, by a score of 12-3.   ###   And the 2nd seeded MADONNA UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS dismembered the 3rd seeded LSU-SHREVEPORT PILOTS (riverboat pilots) 8-0.