2006 NCAA Division III Baseball South Regional
2006 Tournament Statistics
Bishops to make first World Series appearance since '99
Rocky Mount, NC - The Battling Bishop baseball squad of North Carolina Wesleyan College is heading to the NCAA Division III World Series! The Bishops, who knocked off Rowan University by a 4-2 score in extra innings, will make their first appearance at the Series since their National Championship win in 1999.
Blake Rice threw his second complete game of the tournament and Luke Williford blasted his first two collegiate homeruns to spark Wesleyan to their first Regional Championship in six years. Rice and Williford were named Co-Most Valuable Players of the tournament.
The Profs, who forced a game two with a 2-0 win in the opener, found themselves down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh after Williford connected on a solo shot in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Rowan skipper Juan Renero made a gutsy call and put on the squeeze with two strikes on batter Joe Fransechini. Fransechini executed the bunt perfectly to tie the game at 1-1, however, Rice then forced a 5-2-3 double play to end the inning and preserve the tie.
The Profs had a shot to put the game out of reach in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. Rice again came through in the clutch with back-to-back strikeouts followed by a groundout to third that swung the momentum back in the favor of NC Wesleyan.
After a scoreless ninth, the game headed for extras. Not to be outdone by Rice's heroics, Williford blasted his second homerun of the game to give the Bishops a 2-1 advantage in the tenth. Chris Pecora followed with a single, and senior Rob Johnson, in his final at-bat at Bauer Field, connected on a two-run shot into the pine trees in left field that proved to be the game-winner.
Rice allowed one run in the ninth that allowed the Profs to send the go-ahead run to the plate with runners at first and second. It was Rice's day, however, as the junior hurler again forced a groundout to third that secured the 4-2 final and began the celebration for the home crowd.
Rice (10-2) tossed his 11th complete game of the season after going ten innings, allowing two runs, striking out six, and walking none. Dempsey (1-3) took the loss for Rowan.
Pecora, Johnson, and Williford all had two hits for the Bishops. Bruce Reibis and Bobby Fox each had three hits to pace the Profs.
North Carolina Wesleyan will now travel to Appleton, Wisconsin for the NCAA Division III World Series. The eight-team tournament will begin on May 26th with the National Championship game slated for Tuesday, May 30th. The Bishops will be going for their third National Championship, having won the Series in 1989 and 1999.
2006 South Regional All-Tournament Team
MVP - Blake Rice, NC Weslyan, Luke Williford, NC Wesleyan
First Base - Rick Read, Bridgewater; Third Base - Alex Vitale, Salisbury; Shortstop - Greg Lemon, Salisbury; Outfield - Chris Pecora, NC Wesleyan;Tim Edmeads, Rowan; Dan Sellers, Virginia Wesleyan; Designated Hitter - Bruce Reibis, Rowan; Pitcher - Blake Rice, NC Weslyan; Ryan Kulik, Rowan;Chris Rivera, Virginia Wesleyan.
2006 Results
Virginia Wesleyan 8, Salisbury 3
NC Wesleyan 7, Bridgewater (Va) 5
Virginia Wesleyan 5, Bridgewater (Va) 2