by Mike Myers
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne baseball team (27-10) began NCAA West Region Championship action Thursday as the No. 6 seed in the tournament hosted by defending Division III national champion Chapman at Hart Park in Orange.
The regional rankings, announced Monday, include No. 1 Trinity (35-8); No. 2 Linfield (31-9), No. 3 George Fox (31-9), No. 4 Chapman (28-11), No. 5 Cal State Hayward (29-11) and La Verne.
“Our coach is telling us to stay in the process and be patient,” freshman pitcher Michael Bockstahler said. “We are trying to find a rhythm offensively.”
The Leopards opened the regionals against top-seeded Trinity Thursday, defeating the Tigers, 7-5. La Verne scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie and move on in the tournament.
In other action Thursday, Linfield faced Cal State Hayward and George Fox played host Chapman to close out the first day of action.
“We beat Trinity early this season at their place, but that doesn’t mean anything,” head coach Scott Winterburn said. “They have good hitters and pitchers”
“We are really excited to play Trinity because we have just been scrimmaging ourselves,” sophomore designated hitter John Marty said.
With the win, the Leopards will play the winner of the George Fox and Chapman game at 3 p.m. today.
The winner of the double-elimination tournament will advance, along with seven other regional champions, to the NCAA Division III World Series at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisc. May 28-June 1.
“Our biggest challenge will be our bull pen,” Winterburn said. “They need to be durable enough. What ever pitchers show up will have the most success.”
The Leopards received an automatic bid to the regional tournament after winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.
“We will do things we do well and focus on our teams personality,” Winterburn said.
“We look real strong going into the regionals. We are just going to do what we do best and play as a team,” Marty said.
