If you want to see a lot of runs being scored then you should probably head out to Greeneville, Tennessee this next week as some of the Top offensive teams are getting together to decide who will be crowned the 2019 Division 3 National Champ.
When we mentioned that there will be runs scored the average run differential between all 8 teams is an incredible +175 with the highest being a +325 and the lowest being a +69
#2 Herkimer (33-4)
Herkimer is a team that has not lost more than 1 game in a row all season. To make the trip to Greeneville they started with a sweep of Genesee (15-4, 11-1) before heading to the Region 3 Final four in which they lost the first game to Erie (4-6) before rattling off 4 straight over Niagara (11-10 10 Inn), Erie (12-7), and Finger Lakes twice (13-3, 10-2) to claim the Region 3 Title for the second consecutive year.
As stated above the field is filled with some of the top offensive teams in the country. Herkimer is currently ranked 9th in Runs (416), and Total Bases (776), 5th in Extra Base Hits (175), 4th in Home Runs (51), 3rd in Triples (29), 2nd in Average (.385), and Slugging % (.636), and are 1st in On Base % (.481). They also have a +261 Run Differential.
Leading that high powered offense this season has been the trio of Brian Forbes, Brandon Kruzinski (Lynn), and Matt Parkinson. Forbes leads the team hitting .449 with a .937 Slugging % (2nd), 15 Doubles, 1 Triple, 15 Home Runs (3rd), 66 RBI’s (6th), and 50 Runs. Kruzinski is hitting just behind him at .430 with 8 Doubles, 7 Triples (6th), 4 Home Runs, 34 RBI’s, 55 Runs, and 28 Stolen Bases with an 85% success rate. Parkinson is hitting .432 with 12 Doubles, 4 Triples, 5 Home Runs, 28 RBI’s, and 41 Runs.
On the mound, they are not bad either. They are 10th in Runs Allowed (139), 8th in Team ERA (3.47), and 2nd in Strikeouts Per Game (11.67)
Leading the Starting Roles this season has been the duo of Cole Miller (4-1, 3 CG, 3.48 ERA), and Benjamin Wager (6-0, 3 CG, 1.08 ERA) with Dale Stanavich (2-0, 6 Saves, .34 ERA) being their go-to guy out of the pen.
#13 Brookhaven (39-25)
Brookhaven did what a lot of people might have called impossible by knocking of the on of the perennial powers at the division 3 level in Tyler in their District Championship. They took possible to most difficult route to the punch their ticket as you could think. They won the first game of their District C East tournament against Cedar Valley (6-5), before falling to Coastal Bend (7-5), then won the next three over Cedar Valley (10-7), then two against Coastal Bend (10-7, 8-7) to claim the East Division Title. They then took the District Title going all three game against Tyler. Winning the first one (8-7), losing the second (12-9), then winning the winner take all game (4-0) thanks to a complete game shutout from Trevor Gracey.
Brookhaven has arguably the top offenses in this field and quite possibly the country. They are ranked 8th in Slugging % (.517), 5th in Triples (26), 3rd in Walks (291), 2nd in Home Runs (58), and 1st in At Bats (2110), Hits (689), Doubles (166), RBI’s (478), Total Bases (1090), and Extra Base Hits (250). They also of a +69 Run Differential.
Leading the countries top offense this season is the Ruben Alcala, Chris McGinty, and Tristin Marcus. Alcala is leading the team hitting .433 due to 97 Hits (2nd) from 224 At Bats (2nd) and 251 Plate Appearances (3rd). He has 19 doubles (10th), 5 Triples, 11 Home Runs (9th), 82 RBI’s (1st), 64 Runs (7th), and 159 Total Bases (1st), McGinty is hitting .389 from 79 Hits (5th) and 203 At Bats (8th), and 251 Plate Appearances (3rd). He also has 24 Doubles (2nd), 1 Triple, 9 Home Runs, 41 RBI’s, and 72 Runs (1st). Marcus is hitting .320 through his 225 At Bats (1st) and 274 Plate Appearances (1st). He has has 20 Doubles (9th), 2 Triples, 3 Home Runs, 45 RBI’s and 51 Runs.
Brookhaven’s pitching staff has currently pitched the most innings out of anyone with 510.2 and has struck out the 2nd most batters as a staff with 509.
The key parts to that staff this season have been Ryan Harris (8-6, 3 SV, 5.96 ERA) and Triston Dixon (8-4, 3.88 ERA)
#1 Rowan Gloucester (39-9)
Rowan came out of what some people might call the SEC of the Division 3 baseball world in Region 19. They swept their way through the postseason in impressive fashion. They started with taking two games from Middlesex County (8-0, 12-4) before heading beating Northampton (11-1), Cumberland County (21-1), and finishing with Brookdale (7-1) in the Regional Championship.
Rowan has arguably the second best offense in the country this season. They are ranked 10th in At Bats (1584), 9th in Home Runs (40), and Extra Base Hits (162), 8th in Doubles (104), 7th in Average (.357), and Slugging % (.521), 5th in Total Bases (825), 4th in RBI’s (391), 3rd in Hits (565), and 2nd in Runs (495). They also have the Highest run differential in the country at a +325.
Leading that offense this season has been Alex Gattinelli (Coastal Carolina), Lorenzo Morello, and Jake Catalano. Gattinelli is hitting .396 with 17 Doubles, 2 Triples, 12 Home Runs (7th), 67 RBI’s (5th), and 54 Runs. Morello is hitting .407 with 77 Hits (9th), 21 Doubles (7th), 4 Triples, 5 Home Runs, 43 RBI’s, and 66 Runs (4th). Catalano rounds out the trio hitting .343 with 11 Doubles, 4 Triples, 25 RBI’s and 58 Runs.
To go with such a high powered offense to create that ridiculous Run Differential they are 5th in the country in both Strikeouts (446), and Strikeouts Per Game (10.85), and are 6th in the country in Team ERA with a 3.04.
The anchors for that staff this season have been the trio of Nick Yoder(Coastal Carolina) (5-1, 3.40 ERA), Nick Evangelista (Virginia Commonwealth)(7-0, 2.34 ERA), and Mike Biasiello (Delaware) (6-3, 3.00 ERA). The three have combined for a 148.1 Innings with 178 Strikeouts.
#4 Century (36-10)
Century punched their ticket coming out of Minnesota. They swept their way to the title game beating Itasca (12-1), Riverland (12-2), and Minnesota State (2-0) before taking their first loss to St. Cloud Tech (5-4) which forced a winner take all game which was a 4-3 walk off in the bottom of the 12th.
Century is not as high powered of an offense as the rest of the field but what they lack in power they make up for with base running. They are ranked 6th in the country in Stolen Bases with 133 and have an 85% success rate.
Leading that green light special offense this season has been the combination of Robert Isenhour, Erik Swenson, and Alex Evanson. Isenhour is hitting .363 with 5 doubles, 2 Triples, 11 RBI’s, 41 Runs, and 30 Stolen Bases (10th) with a 97% Success Rate. Swenson leads the team hitting .406 with 10 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 Home Runs, 41 RBI’s, and 24 Runs. Evenson rounds out the trio hitting .389 with 15 Doubles, 6 Triples (9th), 4 Home Runs, 46 RBI’s and 39 Runs.
Another strength of Century this season has been their pitching staff. They are ranked 10th in Earned Runs (103), and Strikeouts (390), 4th in Team ERA (2.90), and 3rd in Strikeouts Per Game (10.99).
Leading that staff has been Brendan Knoll (8-2, 2.17 ERA, 81 K), and Cole LaLonde (4-2, 2.10 ERA, 90 K).
#14 Oakton (36-20)
Oakton makes it back to defend their title. They punched their ticket thanks to beating Illinois Valley (19-2), Joliet (6-1), then took 2 of three from Waubonsee (10-2, 5-6, 10-7) to Claim the Region 4 Title. They then took 2 of three from Delta (10-9, 4-5, 25-1) to claim the District title for the second consecutive year.
As said a lot so far but Oakton has another one of the top offenses in the country. They are ranked 8th in Hits (518), 7th in Runs (419), RBI’s (362), Home Runs (42), and Extra Base Hits (172), 6th in Slugging % (.521), and Total Bases (796), and 5th in Doubles (108). They also have a +148 Run Differential.
That offense has been lead by Dan Sullivan, Marco Romero, and Andrew Rouse. Sullivan is hitting .433 with a .818 Slugging % (5th). He also has 78 Hits (8th), 18 Doubles, 3 Triples, 14 Home Runs (4th), 80 RBI’s (2nd), 60 Runs and 144 Total Bases (4th). Romero is hitting .410 with 16 Doubles, 6 Triples (9th), 1 Home Run, 33 RBI’s, and 51 Runs. Rouse rounds out the trio hitting .353 with 9 Doubles, 1 Triple, 10 Home Runs, 42 BRI’s, 53 Runs, and 21 Stolen Bases with a 91% Success Rate.
Oakton’s main pitchers this season have been Luis Savigne (9-1, 3.56 ERA), and Emilio Guitron (5-3, 5.26 ERA).
#5 Rockingham (33-10)
Rockingham might be the quietest team of the bunch. They swept their way through both their Region and District beating Thomas Nelson (10-7), Surry twice (11-1, 10-8) then took two from Prince George’s (7-1, 6-4) to Claim their ticket to Tennessee.
As stated above Rockingham is not the loudest team. But they are another team that makes things happen on the base path. To start they are ranked 7th in On Base % (.458). Once on base, however, they are ranked 7th in Stolen bases with 132 with an 89% success rate.
Leading that offense this season has been Ausar Rankin, Gavin Taylor, and Kelsey Weems. Rankin leads the team hitting .405 with 9 Doubles, 2 Triples, a Home Run, 43 RBI’s, 45 Runs and 45 Stolen Bases (2nd) with a 98% Success Rate. Taylor is hitting .382 with 9 Doubles, 3 Triples, 2 Home RUns, 31 RBI’s, 55 Runs, and 29 Stolen bases with a 94% Success Rate. Weems rounds out the trio hitting .370 with 8 Doubles, 4 Triples, 11 Home Runs (9th), 53 RBI’s, 42 Runs, and 18 Stolen Bases with a 90% Success Rate.
One thing that Rockingham does well is that they do not give up the long ball. They have given up 5 all season. Leading that staff this season has been Clayton Day (Ferrum) (5-1, 4 Saves, 4.67 ERA), and Jerred Davis (5-0, 2.76 ERA)
#20 Rhode Island (26-10)
Rhode Island is riding an 11 game win streak into Tennessee. They have swept their way through the post-season so far beating Massasoit (15-4), Northern Essex twice (15-4, 9-7) to claim the Region 21 Title. Then Swept Suffolk County (9-3, 7-1) to claim the District Title and punch their ticket.
Their offense this season has been lead by Anthony Ramos, Nick D’Ambra, and Zach Odson. Ramos leads the team hitting .430 with 15 Doubles, 3 Tripels, 2 Home Runs, 27 RBI’s, 60 Runs, and 30 Stolen Bases (10th) with a 94% success rate. D’Ambra is hitting .400 with 12 Doubles, 5 Triples, 3 Home Runs, 31 RBI’s, 46 Runs, and 21 Stolen Bases with a perfect 100% success rate. Odsen rounds out the trio hitting .300 with 5 Doubles, a Triple, Home Run, 31 RBI’s and 26 Runs.
Their pitching staff has been lead by Ben Sears (8-1, 2.39 ERA), CJ Wood (5-1, 4.68 ERA), and Zach D’Andrea (7-0, 4.20 ERA).
#3 Cumberlands (43-5)
Cumberlands gets this year At-Large bid. They lost in the Region 19 Final Four. At one point this season they had a 32-Game win-streak.
Cumberlands has had another one of the top offenses this season. They are ranked 9th in At Bats (1632), and Extra Base Hits (162), 7th in Total Bases (785), 6th in Home Runs (50), and 5th in Both Runs (425), and RBI’s (372).
Leading that offense for the Dukes this season has been Dylan Scaranda, Vincent Napolitano, and Ryan McIsaac. Scaranda leads the team hitting .422 with 19 Doubles (10th), 3 Triples, 6 Home Runs, 53 RBI’s and 54 Runs. Napolitano is hitting .318 with 10 Doubles, 1 Triple, 12 Home Runs (7th), 49 RBI’s, and 40 Runs. McIsaac rounds out the trio hitting .382 with 14 Doubles, 5 Triples, 11 Home Runs (9th), 52 RBI’s and 69 Runs (2nd).
Along with their offense, they have had one of the top pitching staffs in the country. Apart from having just 5 losses, they are 4th in the country in both Strikeouts (472), and Strikeouts Per Game (10.97), as well as being 2nd in Team ERA at 2.72.
Leading that staff this season has been Michael Miles (10-0 (2nd in Wins), 101 K (5th), 1.49 ERA (5th)) and Anthony Masselli (4-1, 2.44 ERA)