HARDEEVILLE, S.C. — Under ordinary circumstances, any team ranked in the top 15 in the NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll might think it had a solid chance of earning one of nine berths in the Avista-NAIA World Series that are up for grabs during this week's Opening Round tournaments.
The circumstances in the Hardeeville Bracket are not ordinary — they're extraordinarily tough.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort will be the No. 3 seed in the Opening Round bracket it is hosting beginning Thursday at Richard Gray Sports Complex, and the 15th-ranked Sand Sharks are the highest-ranked No. 3 seed among the nine sites. In fact, they're ranked higher than four of the nine No. 2 seeds.
Combined with top-seeded Faulkner (Ala.), the No. 5 team in the nation, and No. 2 seed St. Thomas (Fla.), which is ranked 12th after winning the Sun Conference tournament title, the Hardeeville Bracket boasts the toughest top three seeds of any site.
No. 4 seed Union (Tenn.) narrowly missed the top 25, checking in at 29th, and No. 5 seed Asbury (Ky.) has been red-hot of late, winning seven of eight and 10 of 13 to earn its first Opening Round bid after an 0-17 start.
The Eagles of Faulkner enter as the No. 1 seed after closing the regular season on a 20-game winning streak to claim their first Southern States Athletic Conference title. They were knocked off by second-ranked Lee (Tenn.) in the conference tournament championship game, but still enter with a 48-11 record and serious hopes of winning their first NAIA World Series title.
Faulkner's strong pitching staff is led by junior right-hander Corey Black, a transfer from San Diego State who earned SSAC Pitcher of the Year honors after going 11-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 13 starts. Senior shortstop Craig Massey leads the offense — he hit .422 with nine home runs and 60 RBIs to earn All-SSAC first-team honors and earned the conference Gold Glove award.
No. 2 seed St. Thomas comes in riding a five-game winning streak after sweeping through the Sun Conference tournament. The Bobcats are in search of their fifth NAIA World Series berth. Sun Conference Player of the Year Joel Capote hopes to be roaming center field for the Bobcats despite missing most of the conference tournament with a hamstring injury. Capote hit .404 with five home runs, 39 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. Ace Danny Sanchez (8-2, 2.60 ERA) and closer Dane Stone (4-1, 1.23 ERA, 16 saves) also were first-team All-Sun Conference picks, as were third baseman Victor Madrazo and DH Hector Acosta.
USCB is in the NAIA Opening Round for the second time in the program's four-year history, and the Sand Sharks are tough at home — they were 24-6 at Richard Gray Sports Complex this season, including a school-record 13-game home winning streak in February. Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year Michael Heesch leads the pitching staff with an 8-2 mark and a 2.27 ERA, and fellow left-hander Adam Miller (8-5, 3.23 ERA) earned second-team all-conference honors. Senior catcher Dylan Nasiatka (.333, 22 RBIs) has been an anchor in the lineup and behind the plate, and second baseman Gabe Torres (.319, 14 RBIs) joined Nasiatka on the all-conference first team.
Union is one of the top No. 4 seeds in the tournament, having won the TranSouth Conference tournament for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. The Bulldogs have won 19 of their past 23 games, including a 19-2 mark against NAIA competition during that stretch. Senior right-hander Will Irvin (8-2, 2.66 ERA) is the ace of the staff, and Cody Dew (11-1, 2.23 ERA) has been a rock in the bullpen with 34 appearances. Right fielder Brett Pawlan leads the offense, hitting .397 with three home runs and 47 RBIs.
Asbury has developed into the feel-good story of the NAIA baseball postseason. After losing their first 17 games, the Eagles rounded into form at the end of the season and beat then-No. 10 Point (Pa.) twice to win the Unaffiliated Group 1 tournament and claim their first berth in the Opening Round. The pitching staff, anchored by junior Isaiah Bell (4-5, 5.74 ERA) struggled early in the season but has allowed three runs or fewer in five of the past eight games. Senior left fielder Danny Olszowy (.383, 3 HR, 38 RBIs) leads the offense, which boasts four starters hitting over .300.
Union and Asbury open the tournament at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to face Faulkner in the 6 p.m. game. St. Thomas and USCB will play the day's second game at 2 p.m.
