Four regional champions were determined Thursday, and one of them, Azusa Pacific, has become the first team to qualify for the 51st annual NAIA World Series, which begins two weeks from today at Harris Field.
Azusa Pacific, Calif., ranked second in the season’s final NAIA Top 25, claimed the Region II title by beating Concordia, Calif., twice Thursday, 7-3, 9-5. That means the Cougars are guaranteed no worse than an at-large Series berth, regardless how they fare in the West Coast Super Regional, where they will play host to the Region I champ.
This establishes the possibility of a No. 1 vs. No. 2 super regional pairing between Azusa Pacific and Lewis-Clark State, which is competing in the Region I tournament. The top-ranked Warriors are guaranteed a Series berth as the host team.
Azusa Pacific, 49-6, will make its first Series appearance since 1984.
Sixth-ranked St. Thomas, Fla., captured the Region XIV title with a 13-4 victory over No. 10 Embry-Riddle, Fla. The Bobcats will play in the Atlantic South Super Regional at the site of the Region XIII champ, while Embry-Riddle will miss the Series for the first time in six years.
Walsh, Ohio, nabbed the Region IX crown by beating Mount Vernon Nazarene, Ohio, 10-4. It will play host to Region X champ Fisher, Mass., in the East Coast Super Regional.
Fisher advances by beating Vermont Technical 10-0 and 10-3.
Among the teams eliminated Thursday were third-ranked Oklahoma City, the 2005 national champion, and No. 1ok9 Lubbock Christian, Texas, the third-place finisher in the ‘06 series. Both were ousted from the Region VI tournament.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
My dad is an Azusa Pacific alum. I’m a recent LC grad. Should be a fun series.
Needless to say we are both excited that Azusa Pacific is in the tourney.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Azusa Pacific is going to give LC a run for their money!
May 15th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
LCSC-APU is going to be a fantastic series. LCSC’s pitching depth versus one of the best lineups in the country. Awesome!