UTB/TSC Scorpions News
Baseball - 10:50 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010
There's excitement in the air for UTB/TSC baseball, as the Scorpions have qualified for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for the first time in school history for baseball.
 
The Scorpions are the fifth-seed in a five-team tournament at Hays Field in Lubbock starting Tuesday, May 18. Host Lubbock Christian University is making its ninth appearance in the NAIA tournament, and claimed the 2009 Avista-NAIA World Series championship. LCU has a rich baseball tradition that includes a victory over The University of Texas.
 
However, the four visiting teams are bringing the enthusiasm as all four are making their first appearance in the NAIA National Championship.
 
The tournament will be played at Hays Field, one of the premier college baseball facilities in the Southwest. For information about the facility, click here.
 
Here's a closer look at each of the teams in the tournament:
  
Lubbock Christian University - No. 1 Seed
Nickname: Chaparrals
School Enrollment: 2,000
Home: Lubbock, Texas
Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference
National Ranking: No. 5
Coach: Nathan Blackwood (7th season)
Record at School: 324-102 (.761)
Regular Season Record: 43-13
Conference Record: 24-5
Conference Regular Season Finish: 1st
Conference Tournament Finish: 2nd
2009 Final Record: 52-8
2009 Highest Finish: National Champion
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 10.0
Team Batting Average: .374
Highest Run Output of Season: 27-16 vs. Southern Nazarene University (scored 20 or more runs 6 times)
Average Runs Allowed Per Game: 5.5
Team ERA: 5.98
Number of Shutouts Thrown:4
Highest Batting Averages: Joe Staley .454, Rafael Thomas .412, J.J. Muse .406
RBI Leaders: Joe Staley 68, Doug Kroll, Ross Blondin, Richard Bohlken 66 each
Home Run Leaders: Richard Bohlken 23, Doug Kroll 21, Joe Staley 12
Pitching Most Victories Leaders: Frank Corolla 11-2, Hunter Scott 10-3, Paul Gonzalez 8-1
Pitching ERA Leaders: Tyler Rogers 3.34, Tanner Vickers 5.20, Paul Gonzalez 5.78
 
York College - No. 2 Seed
Nickname: Panthers
School Enrollment: 450
Home: York, Nebraska
Distance from Lubbock: 558 miles
Conference: Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference
National Ranking:  No. 19
Coach: Nick Harlan (6th season)
Record at School: 211-124 (.630)
Regular Season Record: 44-7
Conference Record: 19-1
Conference Regular Season Finish: 1st (6 teams)
Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
2009 Final Record: 28-23
2009 Postseason Finish: 0-2 at MCAC Tournament
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 8.7
Team Batting Average: .360
Highest Run Output of Season: 20-3 vs. Kansas Wesleyan University
Average Runs Allowed Per Game: 5.5
Team ERA: 4.34
Number of Shutouts Thrown: 8
Highest Batting Averages: Justin Lunday .455, Kris Little .412, Sam Feiner .382
RBI Leaders: Sam Feiner 65, Justin Lunday 53, Kris Little 53
Home Run Leaders: Justin Linday 15, Kris Little 10, Sam Feiner 10
Pitching Most Victories Leaders: Bruce Amende 11-0, Andrew Mattheny 7-2, Alex Lowther 6-1
Pitching ERA Leaders: Bruce Amende 1.70, Mike Becker 2.41, Kyle Reeves 2.70
 
Avila University - No. 3 Seed
Nickname: Eagles
School Enrollment: 1,700
Home: Kansas City, Missouri
Distance from Lubbock: 551 miles
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference
National Ranking: No. 23
Coach: Ryan Howard (9th season)
Record at School: 278-174 (.615)
Regular Season Record: 36-12
Conference Record: 20-8
Conference Regular Season Finish: T-1st (11 teams)
Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
2009 Final Record: 28-23
2009 Postseason Finish: 0-2 at MCAC Tournament
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 6.5
Team Batting Average: .334
Highest Run Output of Season: 16-4 vs. Ottawa University
Average Runs Allowed Per Game: 4.8
Team ERA: 5.48
Number of Shutouts Thrown: 4
Highest Batting Averages: Corey Stuefer .416, Oscar Rodarte .382, Ryan Herring .365
RBI Leaders: Mario Ausiello 50, Eric Prickett 36, Oscar Rodarte 29
Home Run Leaders: Mario Ausiello 10, Oscar Rodarte 9, Corey Stuefer and Brandon Pearl 4
Pitching Most Victories Leaders: Nathan Bacon 8-1, Rob Cline 7-6, 4 players tied with 4 wins each
Pitching ERA Leaders: Nathan Bacon 4.54, Rob Cline 4.88, Nate Adamson 5.27
 
Mount Marty College - No. 4 Seed
Nickname: Lancers
School Enrollment: 1,125
Home: Yankton, South Dakota
Distance from Lubbock: 830 miles
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
National Ranking: 1 vote received (equivalent to tie for No. 38)
Coach: Andy Bernatow (6th season)
Record at School: 142-144 (.497)
2010 Regular Season Record: 35-15
2010 Conference Record: 142-144 (.497)
2010 Conference Regular Season Finish: 1st 
2010 Conference Tournament Finish: 1st
2009 Final Record: 30-23
2009 Highest Postseason Finish: 2-2 at GPAC Tournament 
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 8.0
Team Batting Average: .350
Highest Run Output of Season: 20-14 win over Calumet College of St. Joseph
Average Runs Allowed Per Game: 6.0
Team ERA: 5.95
Number of Shutouts Thrown: 3
Highest Batting Averages: Josh Damewood .465, Jason Schmidt .458, Zach Lambrechts and Josh Wenande .400
RBI Leaders: Josh Damewood 67, Zach Lambrechts 55, Andy Turback 51
Home Run Leaders: Zach Lambrechts 7, Andy Turbak 7, Jason Schmidt 6
Pitching Most Victories Leaders: Trey Krier 9-0, Josh Damewood 9-1, Allen Hemeyer 5-1
Pitching ERA Leaders: Trey Krier 2.99, Jason Schmidt 3.10, Josh Damewood 4.52
 
UTB/TSC - No. 5 Seed
Nickname: Scorpions
School Enrollment: 17,151
Home: Brownsville, Texas
Distance from Lubbock: 671 miles
Conference: Red River Athletic Conference
National Ranking: No votes received
Coach: Bryan Aughney (2nd season)
Record at School: 58-53 (.522)
2010 Regular Season Record: 30-22
2010 Conference Record:
2010 Conference Regular Season Finish: 2nd, South Zone
2010 Conference Tournament Finish: 2nd
2009 Final Record: 28-31
2009 Highest Postseason Finish: 3rd at RRAC Tournament
Average Runs Scored Per Game: 7.9
Team Batting Average: .329
Highest Run Output of Season: 19-5 vs. Huston-Tillotson University
Average Runs Allowed Per Game: 6.4
Team ERA: 6.27
Number of Shutouts Thrown:4
Highest Batting Averages: Jorge Camorlinga .418, Gus Henggeler .413, Matt Warner .378
RBI Leaders: Matt Ginn 63, Matt Warner 59, Brian Bustos 47
Home Run Leaders: Matt Ginn 11, Brian Bustos 5, Gus Henggeler 5, Matt Warner 5
Pitching Most Victories Leaders: Danny Gidora 6-6, Chris Raley 5-3, Kevin Chapman 5-4
Pitching ERA Leaders: Jesus Mendoza 2.82, Kevin Chapman 5.43, Danny Gidora 5.70
 
The tournament schedule at Lubbock is as follows:
Tuesday, May 18
Game 1: #4 Mount Marty, S.D. (35-15) vs. #5 UTB/TSC (30-22), 11 a.m.
Game 2: #2 York, Neb. (44-7) vs. Avila, Mo. (36-12), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Lubbock Christian University (43-13), 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 20
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 5 loser, 1 p.m.
Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 21
Championship (if necessary): Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 1 p.m.