Posted 1:14 am Saturday, May 21, 2011
Eastfield Hopes To Harvest A Title At Mike Carter Field
By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
Eastfield College has a rich baseball tradition, which includes 16 conference championships since 1973 and two national titles. However, the Harvesters have never really had time to smell the roses until this year.
Eastfield captured the District C championship last weekend to advance to Tyler for the first time for the NJCAA Division III World Series, which is held at Mike Carter Field right across the street from the famous Rose Garden.
Staff Writer
Eastfield College has a rich baseball tradition, which includes 16 conference championships since 1973 and two national titles. However, the Harvesters have never really had time to smell the roses until this year.
Eastfield captured the District C championship last weekend to advance to Tyler for the first time for the NJCAA Division III World Series, which is held at Mike Carter Field right across the street from the famous Rose Garden.
The eight-team, double-elimination national tournament begins today with four games. The No. 3 Harvesters (34-20) play at 4 p.m. against No. 9 Manchester (Conn.) Community College (24-22).
Fourth-ranked Gloucester County (N.J.) will begin defense of its national championship at 9 a.m. against No. 1 Suffolk County-Selden (N.Y.), followed by 2008 winner and No. 2 Joliet (Ill.) taking on No. 8 Westmoreland County (Pa.) at noon.
Fourth-ranked Gloucester County (N.J.) will begin defense of its national championship at 9 a.m. against No. 1 Suffolk County-Selden (N.Y.), followed by 2008 winner and No. 2 Joliet (Ill.) taking on No. 8 Westmoreland County (Pa.) at noon.
The final game of the day will feature No. 6 Erie County (N.Y.) and No. 5 Rochester (Minn.) at 7 p.m.
The World Series is big on new blood this year with only Joliet, Gloucester and Manchester making return trips to the Rose City, while the other four northern colleges will experience East Texas hospitality for the first time.
Eastfield is located right next door to East Texas, as Mesquite is only 87 miles from Tyler. The Harvesters are familiar with historic Mike Carter Field from playing Tyler Junior College over the years, and Eastfield denied the host city's team in 2011 by eliminating the Apaches at the district tournament.
The World Series is big on new blood this year with only Joliet, Gloucester and Manchester making return trips to the Rose City, while the other four northern colleges will experience East Texas hospitality for the first time.
Eastfield is located right next door to East Texas, as Mesquite is only 87 miles from Tyler. The Harvesters are familiar with historic Mike Carter Field from playing Tyler Junior College over the years, and Eastfield denied the host city's team in 2011 by eliminating the Apaches at the district tournament.
The Harvesters are one of the hottest teams entering the World Series, going 13-3 in their last 16 games and scoring 34 runs in the three district wins.
“I came in the year after they won it (in 2001), so expectations were pretty high,” said Eastfield head coach Michael Martin, in his 10th season. “We won one in 2006 and we've been back to this (district) tournament every year since … just trying to get over the hump and get back to nationals.”
Eastfield made it back by defeating Tyler (10-9), Brookhaven (14-3) and Tyler (10-5) over three days.
“We had a pretty talented team last year, but we weren't playing our best baseball coming into (district),” Martin said. “Right now that's the difference. We're also very talented this year, but we feel like that we're playing our best baseball; we're peaking at the right time.
“We're getting some really good pitching and obviously our offense pretty much dominated through (district). Defensively, we were able to hold our own and make the plays when we needed to.”
Eastfield has the Metro Athletic Conference pitcher of the year in Dylan Rucker, who is slated to start today's game; and the conference MVP in first baseman Slade Brown. Rucker (7-3, 4.56 ERA) received a no-decision in his district start, and Brown entered the playoffs hitting .385 with 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 36 RBIs.
Brown, the first baseman, hits cleanup in a potent lineup that includes catcher Jordan Hebert (.400), designated hitter Eric Grace (.462), right fielder Hestand Foster (.350, 6 home runs) and left fielder Connor Tobias (.379). Those five were a combined 8 for 23 with six RBIs in the district-clinching victory.
The Harvesters have plenty of pitching behind Rucker. Martin said Travis Stavinoha (7-0, 3.28) has worked his way into the No. 2 role on the mound, with left-hander Taylor Thompson (3-3, 5.54) likely third. Joe Mills (3-1) was impressive in long relief against Tyler, and Michael Weatherly (4-5, 8 saves) was used in a closing role.
“I came in the year after they won it (in 2001), so expectations were pretty high,” said Eastfield head coach Michael Martin, in his 10th season. “We won one in 2006 and we've been back to this (district) tournament every year since … just trying to get over the hump and get back to nationals.”
Eastfield made it back by defeating Tyler (10-9), Brookhaven (14-3) and Tyler (10-5) over three days.
“We had a pretty talented team last year, but we weren't playing our best baseball coming into (district),” Martin said. “Right now that's the difference. We're also very talented this year, but we feel like that we're playing our best baseball; we're peaking at the right time.
“We're getting some really good pitching and obviously our offense pretty much dominated through (district). Defensively, we were able to hold our own and make the plays when we needed to.”
Eastfield has the Metro Athletic Conference pitcher of the year in Dylan Rucker, who is slated to start today's game; and the conference MVP in first baseman Slade Brown. Rucker (7-3, 4.56 ERA) received a no-decision in his district start, and Brown entered the playoffs hitting .385 with 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 36 RBIs.
Brown, the first baseman, hits cleanup in a potent lineup that includes catcher Jordan Hebert (.400), designated hitter Eric Grace (.462), right fielder Hestand Foster (.350, 6 home runs) and left fielder Connor Tobias (.379). Those five were a combined 8 for 23 with six RBIs in the district-clinching victory.
The Harvesters have plenty of pitching behind Rucker. Martin said Travis Stavinoha (7-0, 3.28) has worked his way into the No. 2 role on the mound, with left-hander Taylor Thompson (3-3, 5.54) likely third. Joe Mills (3-1) was impressive in long relief against Tyler, and Michael Weatherly (4-5, 8 saves) was used in a closing role.
NOTES:
Eastfield won its last national championship in Glens Falls, N.Y., the year before the tournament moved to Tyler. … JB and the Moonshine Band, an East Texas group, is scheduled to sing the national anthem before today's 4 p.m. game. … A tournament pass is $20 (adults only) and other tickets are $5 (adults) per day and $3 (students) per day. Kids 10 and under get in free along with any Little League player in uniform.
