By Jim Browitt
The participants are the same, the circumstances similar. And the numbers suggest things could again unfold in a high-scoring manner.
But are we about to see a replay of last year’s West Coast Super Regional, when Lewis-Clark State and Azusa Pacific engaged in a free-for-all that no one expected from a matchup of the nation’s two highest-ranked NAIA teams?
Not likely.
While L-C doesn’t shy away from slugfests, it doesn’t encourage them, either. Yet that’s how the Warriors went at it with Azusa Pacific in last year’s super regional in Southern California, which they won in three games.
“That was something,” L-C coach Ed Cheff says in retrospect of the best-of-three set that featured 98 hits, 76 runs and 13 homers. “But you want to keep it a little more under control than that.”
Containment will be foremost among the Warriors’ objectives as they play host to APU in this year’s West Coast pairing. This super regional, one of seven taking place this week around the nation, begins tonight at 6 at Harris Field.
In it, L-C will attempt to extend a period of frugality that dates back more than a month. During said span, which covers 23 games, the Warriors have given up four or more runs five times, and more than six just twice. It also includes seven shutouts.
This provides sharp contrast to last spring’s encounter with Azusa Pacific, when the Cougars rang up 11, 16 and 11 runs. It was the first time an opponent had strung together three double-digit scoring totals against the Warriors since 1999.
Azusa Pacific “can score runs, so we need to pitch well,” Cheff says. “But we’ve been pretty good lately, and there’s no reason to think that will change.”
The Warriors, whose 2.88 earned run average leads the nation, are expected to send junior left-hander Michael Guerrero (7-1, 2.09 ERA) to the mound this evening.
L-C, 51-5, has been established as the top seed among the NAIA’s 14 remaining teams. Asuza Pacific, 45-8 and the winner of 12 straight, is seeded third. Both are already guaranteed a spot in the NAIA World Series, which gets under way next Friday in Lewiston, so the sole motivation for these games is national-tournament positioning.
As the host team, the best Series seeding L-C can obtain is No. 3 - which they’ve grabbed every year since the current format was instituted. APU, meanwhile, aspires to be the No. 1 seed, an honor that comes with a first-round bye. It reaped that distinction last year, somewhat surprisingly considering its super-regional loss to the Warriors.
But the Cougars would like the parallels to end there. Their first Series appearance in 23 years was an abject disappointment - they were eliminated in three games.
This APU squad bears a striking statistical resemblance to its immediate predecessor, especially on offense. Its batting average (.354) is precisely what it carried into the ‘07 Series while its totals in home runs (90), doubles (136) and runs scored (558) are virtual duplications.
The biggest discrepancy comes in the pitching. The team ERA is up nearly an entire point, to 4.98, and the staff has no numerically defined ace - junior Jonny Bravo boasts the best record at 8-1, but seven of his teammates have four or more wins.
Despite their overwhelming performance at the Region I tournament, where they won three games by a composite 37-7 score, the Warriors are grateful to be back at full complement this week. Having been denied entry into Canada, were the regional tournament was played, catcher Brian Ward and first baseman Ikaika Lester rejoined L-C for its 8-3 win at Gonzaga on Monday. Additionally, junior left-hander Matt Stabelfeld, who sat out regionals with arm soreness, will be ready for middle relief.
The Warriors and APU will play Thursday at 6 p.m. and, if necessary, on Saturday at the same time. The day off is necessitated by L-C’s graduation ceremonies, which take place Friday.
Regardless what transpires this week, the Cougars are here for the long haul - they’ll remain in Lewiston through the Series, which will go until May 30 if the double-elimination bracket is played out to its entirety.
NAIA SUPER REGIONALS
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Best-of-three
WEST COAST
At Lewiston
Today, Thursday, Saturday
No. 3 Azusa Pacific (45-8) vs. No. 1 Lewis-Clark State (51-5)
PLAINS
At Jamestown, N.D.
Today-Thursday
No. 13 Jamestown (30-17) vs. (No. 6) Bellevue (50-13)
MID-SOUTH
At Oklahoma City
Thursday-Saturday
No. 10 Missouri Baptist (40-14-1) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma City (53-10)
HEARTLAND
At Chicago
Today-Friday
No. 12 Saint Xavier (37-18) vs. No. 8 Spring Arbor (35-7)
EAST COAST
At Columbus, Ohio
Today-Thursday
No. 11 Ohio Dominican (36-14) vs. No. 14 Fisher (33-16)
SOUTH CENTRAL
At Lebanon, Tenn.
Today-Friday
No. 9 Cumberland (45-19) vs. No. 7 Union (45-15)
ATLANTIC SOUTH
At Daytona Beach, Fla.
Today-Friday
No. 2 Lee (57-8) vs. No. 5 Embry-Riddle (42-14)
