1976 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship
Tournament Statistics
Team Statistics
Records
Cal State Stanislaus comes from behind to defeat Ithaca 13-6
Cal State Stanislaus wins first NCAA Division III Championship
Marietta, OH -- Cal State Stanislaus captured the first Division III Baseball Championship in the history of the NCAA. Cal State Stanislaus drew Ithaca, winner of the Northeast regional, in the first contest and managed a 5-4 win.
Montclair State, which won its first-round game with Wilkes, 2-1, lost a slugfest with the eventual champions in the second round, 10-9. Wilkes was eliminated with a 16-3 shellacking at the hands of Ithaca. Ithaca eliminated Montclair State, 10-5, to set up its second meeting with Cal State Stanislaus which was to be striking in its contrast to their one-run decision in the first round.
Led by Dan Boer, the Warrior's first baseman who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Cal State Stanislaus unleashed a 13-run, 15-hit attack on Ithaca to salt a 13-6 victory and the title. Boer hit at a .636 clip while in Marietta and collected a double, two triples, a home run and eight RBI in his three games.
He was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Mike Valponi, second base, Rusty Kuntz and Gary House, outfield, and Mel Anderson, designated hitter. Mike Whittemore, shortstop; Kevin Van Remmen, third base, and Gary Bucci, outfield joined the honor squad from Ithaca. Montclair State placed John Scoras, catcher, and Dave Grunstra, pitcher, on the team.
Wilkes' lone representative was Andy Kresky, the pitcher who lost the 2-1 heartbreaker to Montclair State in the first round. Ironically, the three hits given up by Kresky in that game placed his name in the records book for fewest hits surrendered in a complete game in the Division III Championship.
1976 All Tournament Team
MVP - Dan Boer, Cal State StanislausCatcher - John Scoras, Montclair State; First Base - Dan Boer, Cal State Stanislaus; Second Base - Mike Valponi, Cal State Stanislaus; Third Base - Kevin Van Remmen, Ithaca; Shortstop - Mike Whittemore, Ithaca; Outfield - Rusty Kuntz, Cal State Stanislaus; Gary House, Cal State Stanislaus; Gary Bucci, Ithaca; Designated Hitter - Mel Anderson, Cal State Stanislaus; Pitcher - Andy Kresky, Wilkes; Dave Grunstra, Montclair State.
1976 Tournament Results
Cal State Stanislaus 5, Ithaca 4
Regional Playoff Results
Northeast Regional: Game 1: Eastern Conn State 2, Queens 0; Game 2: Ithaca 10, Westfield State 5; Game 3: Brandeis 10, North Adams State 9; Game 4: Eastern Conn State 4, North Adams State 2; Game 5: Queens 10, Westfield State 7; Game 6: Ithaca 13, Brandeis 6; Game 7: Ithaca 3, Eastern Conn State 1; Game 8: Brandeis 6, Queens 4; Game 9: Brandeis 4, Eastern Conn State 2; Game 10: Ithaca 10, Brandeis 3. Ithaca advances
Mideast Regional: Game 1: Ashland 5, Widener 2; Game 2: Mansfield State 8, Ohio Northern 6; Game 3: Wilkes 6, Marietta 3; Game 4: Ohio Northern 3, Widener 1; Game 5: Wilkes 8, Mansfield State 6 (10); Game 6: Mansfield State 10, Ohio Northern 4; Game 7: Ashland 7, Marietta 4; Game 8: Wilkes 13, Ashland 7; Game 9: Mansfield State 14, Ashland 4; Game 10: Mansfield State 7, Wilkes 6; Game 11: Wilkes 11, Mansfield State 0. Wilkes advances
South Regional: Game 1: Upsala 5, Methodist 4 (11); Game 2: Johns Hopkins 4, Lynchburg 3 (10); Game 3: Montclair State 14, Glassboro State 10; Game 4: Glassboro State 7, Methodist 5; Game 5: Upsala 13, Johns Hopkins 0; Game 6: Montclair State 9, Lynchburg 5; Game 7: Montclair State 6, Upsala 2; Game 8: Glassboro State 6, Johns Hopkins 0; Game 9: Glassboro State 8, Upsala 1; Game 10: Glassboro State 6, Montclair State 4; Game 11: Montclair State 8, Glassboro State 1. Montclair State advances
West Regional: Game 1: Westmont 7, Cal State Stanislaus 5 (10); Game 2: Cal State Stanislaus 5, Westmont 2; Game 3: Cal State Stanislaus 10, Westmont 9 (10); Game 4: Monmouth (Illinois) 8, Nebraska Wesleyan 6; Game 5: Nebraska Wesleyan 8, Monmouth (Illinois) 5; Game 6: Monmouth (Illinois) 8, Nebraska Wesleyan 7 (10); Game 7: Cal State Stanislaus 13, Monmouth (Illinois) 10; Game 8: Cal State Stanislaus 7, Monmouth (Illinois) 3. Cal State Stanislaus advances