2006 NCAA Division III Baseball West Regional
2006 Tournament Statistics
Chapman sins second straight regional title, World Series is next
ORANGE, Calif. - Steve Fraser's two-out bases loaded walk in the top of the ninth inning provided the difference in a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind win, as the Chapman University baseball team defeated Texas Lutheran University to claim its second consecutive NCAA Division III West Region championship at Hart Park on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers advance to the Division III World Series in Appleton, Wis. where they will face the champion from the New York regional (Cortland State or Eastern Connecticut State) on Friday at 10 a.m. central time.
The West Region championship is Chapman's third in four years under head coach Tom Tereschuk. The Panthers won the national championship in 2003 and placed fifth at the World Series last year.
Chapman (31-11) struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning off TLU starter Daniel Besa, pitching on just two days of rest. John Alexander doubled in leadoff man Jarrod Sammet, followed by an RBI single by Patrick Ohail. Alexander finished the game 2-for-4 and Sammet was 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
All-America right-hander Buddy Klovstad, also pitching on just two days of rest, pitched four strong innings before waivering in the fifth. The Bulldogs collected five consecutive hits off the Chapman ace, including a two-run single by Jacob Kaase, to score three runs and take a 3-2 lead. The Panthers rallied to tie the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Dean, and then loaded the bases in the ninth off TLU reliever Austin Yager, before Fraser drew the RBI walk that proved to be the game-winner.
Right-hander Devin Drag, pitching on one day of rest, relieved Klovstad and allowed just one baserunner in four innings. Drag, the nation's ERA leader at 0.80, earned his ninth win of the season (9-1).
Sammet batted .550 in the five games to lead Chapman and was named to the All-Tournament team along with Drag, Brian Brubaker and Billy Sulentor. For Texas Lutheran, Dustin Spardella, Brett Cannon, Kyle Newman and Adam Enloe were named to the All-Tournament team.
2006 West Regional All-Tournament Team
First Base - Bryan Donohue, George Fox; Patrick Whelly, Cal State East Bay; Second Base - Dustin Spardella, Texas Lutheran; Outfield - Jarrod Sammet, Chapman ; Brian Brubaker, Chapman; Dan Wentzell, George Fox; Designated Hitter - Brett Cannon, Texas Lutheran ; Pitcher - Billy Sulentor, Chapman; Devin Drag, Chapman; Kyle Newman, Texas Lutheran; Adam Enlo, Texas Lutheran.
2006 Results
Trinity (Texas) 11, Texas Lutheran 4
Chapman 7, Cal State East Bay 2
Cal State East Bay 6, Geoege Fox 4
Texas Lutheran 7, Cal State East Bay 4