LEWISTON, Idaho. -- The Bellevue University baseball team, after arriving in Lewiston on Tuesday, is ready to open the final leg of their quest for an NAIA National Championship at the 2016 Avista-NAIA World Series.
Bellevue is making their 13th appearance in the World Series, and their first since 2008.
The 60th annual event takes place May 27-June 3 at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho for the 17th-consecutive season and 25th time overall.
The World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination tournament with the winner being crowned either June 2 or June 3.
Comprising the tournament field are 10 teams. In seeded order, they are; Faulkner (Ala.), Tennessee Wesleyan, Bellevue, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Science & Arts (Okla.), Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), Sterling (Kan.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), The Master's (Calif.), and Point (Ga.).
Stretch Internet will be broadcasting the first 15 games of the 2016 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. Day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-World Series ticket is available for $29.95. Games played June 1-3 are going to be delivered on ESPN3.
Friday's match-up:
No. 3 Bellevue (51-10/20-3 NSAA) won both the North Star's Regular-Season and Tournament Championships to qualify for the National Tournament for the 18th time in program history. Bellevue is 28-5 since the beginning of April and has not lost back-to-back games at any point during the season. After battling out of the loser's bracket in Grand Rapids last week, the Bruins qualified for their 13th World Series. Bellevue is one of three teams (Faulkner and Lewis-Clark State) in the World Series field with a National Championship to their program's credit.
No. 6 Auburn Montgomery (45-15/19-7 SSAC) finished as the runner-up in both the Southern States Athletic Conference Regular-Season and Tournament to claim a bid to the National Tournament. The Warhawks swept through the Opening Round Montgomery Bracket, which they hosted. AUM out-scored their opposition 38-15 to reach the World Series for the fourth time in program history.
Notes:
- Bellevue and Auburn Montgomery have met five times dating back to 1997, including a match-up in the 2006 Avista-NAIA World Series. AUM holds a slight 3-2 edge all-time, including picking up a narrow 7-6 victory in the only post-season match-up between the two teams.
- In their previous 12 NAIA World Series appearances, the Bruins have racked up 17 victories, including the 1995 National Championship.
- The Bruins are 6-6 in their opening game at the World Series. It's worth noting that the Bruins lost their opening game in 1995 before bouncing back to win five-straight games and lift the trophy.
Players to Watch:
No. 3 Bellevue –
- Sr. RHP Aaron Bain (4-1, 4.40 ERA, 37 SO, 47.0 IP)
- Sr. 2B Ross Feeley (.337/.452/.366, 6 XBH, 26 RBI, 55 Runs, 9 SB)
- Sr. OF Trevor Jones (.403/.455/.508, 15 XBH, 41 RBI, 60 Runs, 9 SB)
- Sr. 1B Joe Mancuso (.393/.496/.682, 14 XBH, 32 RBI, 25 Runs)
- Sr. OF Colton Nash (.339/.387/.452, 19 XBH, 44 RBI, 51 Runs)
- Sr. RHP Leland Tilley (9-1, 8 Saves, 1.77 ERA, 39 SO, 35.2 IP)
- Sr. LHP Braulio Torres-Perez (10-1, 2.88 ERA, 92 SO, 97.0 IP)
- Jr. OF Derik Bontempo (.413/.464/.650, 30 XBH, 75 RBI, 49 Runs)
- Jr. C Jake Browne (.330/.410/.441, 10 XBH, 39 RBI, 16 Runs)
- Jr. RHP Ben McKendall (11-2, 1.80 ERA, 113 SO, 105.0 IP)
- Jr. OF Joe Moran (.478/.493/.688, 18 XBH, 23 RBI, 41 Runs, 9 SB)
- Jr. RHP/1B Todd Nicks (11-1, 2.20 ERA, 91 SO, 82.0 IP)
No. 6 Auburn Montgomery –
- Sr. RHP Chance Calloway (3-2, 3.26 ERA, 29 SO, 38.2 IP)
- Sr. C/1B John-Mark Cosby (.357/.434/.420, 7 XBH, 27 RBI, 29 Runs)
- Sr. RHP Cole Goodwin (7-3, 3.89 ERA, 61 SO, 71.2 IP)
- Sr. UT Dalton Kelley (.368/.414/.561, 27 XBH, 50 RBI, 56 Runs, 24 SB)
- Sr. C/1B Kaleb Harris (.365/.450/.452, 7 XBH, 27 RBI, 12 Runs)
- Sr. RHP Raymond Moody (9-1, 3.41 ERA, 62 SO, 87.0 IP)
- Jr. RHP Jed Carter (2-0, 16 Saves, 1.76 ERA, 47 SO, 30.2 IP)
- Jr. IF Brandon Davis (.282/.332/.379, 14 XBH, 29 RBI, 33 Runs)
- Jr. IF Mac Seibert (.344/.440/.558, 16 XBH, 36 RBI, 26 Runs)
- Jr. RHP Kade Suther (8-3, 4.89 ERA, 58 SO, 77.1 IP)
What's Next?:
The winner of this game between Bellevue and Auburn Montgomery advances to face off against the winner of the game between Tennessee Wesleyan and Sterling/Point. The loser has a long road ahead of them, dropping to the loser's bracket where they'll face the loser of the game between Sterling and Point.
Avista-NAIA World Series | Harris Field | Lewiston, Idaho
Friday Schedule (Note: all times Pacific):
Game 1: No. 7 Sterling vs. No. 10 Point, 9 a.m.
Game 2: No. 8 Lindsey Wilson vs. No. 9 The Master's, 12 p.m.
Game 3: No. 3 Bellevue vs. No. 6 Auburn Montgomery, 3 p.m.
OPENING CEREMONY, 6 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Lewis-Clark State vs. No. 5 Science & Arts 7 p.m.
