1. Webster (#18 D3 Baseball.com)
Winners of the SLIAC. Team ERA of 3.46 for the season, 30th in the nation. Best guess is that Matt Mulhearn goes in game one vs. Thomas More. Mulhearn got hit pretty hard in the first game of the SLIAC tourney (pitched 5 days earlier against Spalding) but seems to be their #1 with a 2.86 ERA over 78+ innings with 71 Ks. Kent Kyler is the offensive leader with a .435 average and 43 RBIs. The team from top to bottom seems to be able to hit with 7 of 9 hitters having 24 or more RBIs for the season and 6 of 9 hitting .300 or more. 24th in runs scored, 11th in steals.
2. UW-Whitewater (#1 D3 Baseball.com)
Pool B selection out of the WIAC. Team ERA of 2.75 on the season, 6th in the nation. Led by Michael Kaska who's only given up 9 earned runs on the season in 61 IP. Heath Renz and Austin Jones are also formidable arms for this team, both averaging more than a strikeout per inning. Daytona Bryden (.506, 8, 38, 27 steals) and Cal Aldridge (.434, 13, 47) lead a potent lineup for UWW. UWW finished 21st in runs scored this season, 14th in steals, 15th in OB%. This is my pick for the region winner.
3. Texas-Tyler (Unranked)
At large bid from the ASC. Team ERA of 3.46, 36th in the nation. Led by two headed pitching monster of Ryan Cheatham and Simon Sedillo with 2.25 and 2.44 ERA respectively. This team has played with most of the top teams from the south. Blake Wilson and Bowie Farris both hit .399 for the season in the middle of this UTT lineup, but Tanner Roach led the team with a .422 average. 61st overall in runs scored this season, 27th in stolen bases, 35th in OB%.
4. Rhodes (Others Receiving Votes D3 Baseball.com)
Winners of the SAA conference tourney. They come into the regional with a 4.49 ERA, good for 113th in the nation. Jack Mercer leads the Lynx with 79 innings pitched and and ERA of 3.52. Jacob Telli leads the offense with a .364 batting average. Lost to Webster during the regular season. 80th in runs scored, 55th in steals,
5. Franklin (#12 D3 Baseball.com)
Winners of the HCAC tourney. This is a team that has lost 3 games all season. Team ERA of 3.64, 50th overall, and are led by Christian Sullivan with just under a K/IP and an ERA of 3.01. This team can score runs (#2 in the nation) with a team batting average of .360 and led the nation in OB%. They have 4 players with 47 RBIs or more. Team is led by SS Sam Claycamp (.323, 8, 50) and 3rd baseman Frank Podkul (.340, 16, 57). A team to watch? 38 wins, they're doing something right. 77th in the nation in steals.
6. Aurora (Unranked)
Won the NACC as the #4 seed. Team ERA of 3.20, 15th in the nation. Led by Jacob Stockman with 1.47 ERA and 70 Ks in 86 innings. Offense features 7 hitters with a batting average over .300. They are led by Jett Wedekind (.366, 1, 20) and Davis Purviance (.335, 2, 27). 71st in runs scored, 60th in steals.
7. Monmouth (Unranked)
Based on the season stats, I don't believe this team has the pitching to get out of this region. The staff ERA is 5.88 for the year, 225th in the country. Tyler McDonald appears to be the staff ace and will face UWW in game one (best guess). Grant Myers is the stud on the offensive side, hitting .448 for the season with 50 RBIs. Monmouth finished 37th in runs scored this season, 149th in stolen bases.
8. Thomas More (Unranked)
Winner's of the PAC tourney. Team ERA of 4.34, 103rd overall. They are led by Senior Jayson Essell with a 4.16 ERA on the season. Offense is led by Junior catcher Sam Hauer with a .387 BA, 5 HR, and 43 RBIs. Team finished 49th in runs scored this season, 251st in stolen bases.
