Documenting the storylines from each region during the D2 baseball season. Don’t see your team’s region or want more coverage? Robert has you covered with the other four regions. His article can be found here: Frey’s Focus: The Week in D2 Baseball (2/26–3/3).
Midwest Region
The Midwest Region has been one of the more intriguing and difficult regions to predict this season. Many of the teams here had to head south during the first month, but the region still boasts high-level talent, particularly known for big bats. However, the Midwest has historically struggled on the national stage, especially in Cary, NC. That reality is reflected in the latest top-25 rankings, with Ashland being the only team from the region currently ranked at No. 25, barely hanging on to a top-25 spot.
This region offers seven regional spots, including three automatic bids (GLIAC, GLVC, and G-MAC) and four at-large spots.
UIndy, the back-to-back Midwest Region champion, has dropped out of the rankings after a tough six-game losing streak. Now sitting at 5-6, the Greyhounds will look to bounce back when they host Davenport this weekend. Despite their struggles, UIndy remains a dangerous team, especially in a wide-open GLVC. Easton Good (12-30) is hitting .400 with six extra-base hits and 14 RBIs through 11 games, while Austin Bode has been a doubles machine, batting .342 with eight doubles in 10 games. The Greyhounds also have speed, with 34 stolen bases. However, their pitching has been a weak point, evidenced by their 8.90 team ERA. If UIndy wants to remain competitive, they’ll need to improve on the mound. Offensively, their heart of the order looks solid, though the lineup lacks depth. Still, they have enough power to win games. One thing we do know is head coach Al Ready has consistently had his teams prepared when it matters most. Despite a six-game losing streak, UIndy remains a story to watch. The main issue this season, however, has been their defense. The Greyhounds have committed 30 errors, with a .922 fielding percentage, making their defense the area of focus for improvement.
Davenport (8-3) is off to a strong start, with a sweep of Northwood and a win over Ashland last week. Although they lost twice to No. 1 Tampa by a combined six runs, the Panthers have garnered attention in the rankings, and were considered this week. Davenport's pitching staff is dominant, boasting a 2.10 ERA, and their starters have been exceptional. Mason Hill has been stellar at the backend of the bullpen. The Panthers rank third nationally in ERA and second in the Midwest Region in fielding percentage, making them a strong contender to watch with good pitching and defense.
Grand Valley State (8-2) also looks formidable, having recently swept UIndy. The Lakers are receiving votes this week and have won five straight. Jovan Gill had an outstanding week, going 9-for-20 with 14 RBIs and 11 runs scored. GVSU has perhaps the best resume in the region so far, alongside Davenport, but with more time left in the season, the top spot in the GLIAC is still up for grabs. Teams like Findlay and Tiffin could emerge as contenders in the G-MAC. In the GLVC, UIndy’s slow start leaves the door open for teams like Quincy (currently .500), Rockhurst, Maryville, and UIS also could be teams to watch. Rockhurst has scored 95 runs in its first 10 games.UMSL is 10-5 with 149 strikeouts in 117 innings, showing a strong pitching staff. Missouri S&T (6-3) has shown solid pitching with a 3.53 team ERA and a .184 batting average against. Quincy’s Ben Dahlof is another player to keep an eye on, hitting .451 (23-51) with six extra-base hits to start the year.
Saginaw Valley State, who had the national player of the year last season, has another standout in Lucas Mead. Through nine games, Mead is hitting .581 (18-31) with 10 runs scored, six extra-base hits, 5 RBIs, 4 stolen bases, and 6 walks. Wisconsin-Parkside (9-1) has impressed, hitting .346 as a team through 10 games. Peter Fusek leads the charge with a .463 batting average.
One standout to watch is Evan Oakley of Kentucky Wesleyan, who currently boasts a 0.00 ERA through three starts and 16.1 innings.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Angelo State (17-3) continues to dominate, holding firm at No. 2 in the national rankings and establishing itself as the team to beat in the South Central Region. UT Tyler (17-3) has also climbed to No. 4, giving the Lone Star Conference (LSC) two of the top four teams in the country. St. Edward’s (15-6) rounds out the ranked teams in this region at No. 24, while RV West Texas A&M (13-5) is also making noise. The South Central Region is proving to be one of the strongest in D2 baseball this season, largely due to the dominance of the LSC. While the RMAC will have a say, the region's top four teams are clearly from the Lone Star Conference.
Colorado Mesa is the biggest threat from the RMAC in this six-bid, two-at-large-spot region. Other RMAC teams such as Regis, UCCS, and CSU Pueblo are also in the mix. Lubbock and St. Mary’s are intriguing contenders. Mesa is just 7-7 to begin the season, but they start RMAC play this weekend where they always dominate.
Lubbock Christian is particularly interesting, thanks to one of the nation's top hitters, Brevin McCool. An early Player of the Year candidate, McCool has blasted 12 home runs, six doubles, and three triples, while hitting .478 (33-69) through 18 games. He leads the nation in home runs and RBIs. With 42 career home runs, McCool ranks second among active D2 players, behind only Cam Yuran (MSU Denver), who has 45. Mason Andrews (Mines), another South Central player, has 41 career home runs.
It appears that UT Tyler and Angelo State are on a collision course for a Super Regional. Both teams are top-five nationally. This league has historically performed well at the national level, especially with Angelo State's recent success. That success is continuing this season, as the Rams lead the country with a .400 team batting average. Lubbock Christian ranks eighth, and UT Tyler sits 11th in that category. Hitting is a big theme in this region, with UCCS (RMAC) also showcasing strong offense with a .342 team batting average.
Angelo State’s offense is in a class of its own, though. The Rams lead D2 with 66 doubles, averaging 3.30 doubles per game. Their .516 on-base percentage also leads the nation, and they've already scored 221 runs, averaging 11.1 runs per game, which ranks third nationally. Additionally, they have tossed four shutouts, one shy of the national lead held by Delta State and Tampa. Austin Beck ranks second in career runs scored among active D2 players with 206, while Justin Harris is in the top five among active D2 players. Plenty of players who know how to score, and it's showing.
UT Tyler has been equally impressive, especially on the mound and in the field. The Patriots lead the NCAA with 22 double plays turned and have a team ERA of 3.29, just ahead of Angelo State’s 3.53. Both teams have the two best team ERAs in the South Central Region and are in the top 20 nationally. Kyle Froehlich, the Nebraska transfer, has been outstanding for UT Tyler, posting a 5-0 record with a 2.37 ERA through five starts, including three complete games. He’s shown great command, walking only three batters in 30.1 innings. Rawley Hector, the reigning LSC Pitcher of the Year, is 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts in 30.1 innings.
West Texas A&M has had solid pitching as well. Max Lankford is 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP through five outings (one start), while Kyle Micklus has been tearing it up offensively, hitting .439 (29-66) with eight home runs, six doubles, and 29 RBIs through 18 games.
St. Edward’s (15-6) is another solid team to watch. Kobe Jaramillo has been outstanding on the mound, going 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP through 35.0 innings. He’s also racked up 44 strikeouts while walking just eight.
Regis (CO) has been impressive offensively, with 29 home runs, ranking sixth nationally and third in D2 with an average of 1.81 home runs per game.
UCCS has been a major offensive threat, thanks in part to Dillon Vroman, who is hitting .490 (24-49) with 17 runs, 14 RBIs, and nine extra-base hits through 14 games.
The upcoming series between Angelo State and Lubbock Christian should be one to watch closely. Can the Rams continue their offensive onslaught? And will Brevin McCool continue to build his case for Player of the Year? If the season ended today, he’d have my vote.
East Region
The East Region sees Southern New Hampshire (4-2) holding steady at No. 13 in the rankings, while Molloy (5-2) remains on the radar in the receiving votes category. SNHU continues to dominate on the mound, as they always do. With a team ERA of 2.08, the Penmen rank second in the nation, and their .991 fielding percentage leads the NCAA. Known for being fundamentally sound, SNHU’s pitching and defense have propelled them on a streak of trips to the D2 World Series. Their rotation is by far the best in the region, ranking among the best in the country. Austin Trumpour, Frankie DeMaro, Jake Risedorf, and Parker Lendrum have been outstanding on the mound. The staff is leading the nation in Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings (5.88) and ranking second in WHIP (1.06). Their defense has also been exceptional, committing just two errors this season.
Teams in this region are traditionally known for strong pitching, and this year is no different. Pace and New Haven are both standout pitching teams. New Haven, for example, has racked up 43 strikeouts while allowing just nine walks as a staff through four games, but the Chargers are struggling at the plate, hitting just .186 as a team.
As conference play approaches, these teams will have numerous opportunities to strengthen their resumes. Bentley (7-3) has been solid and is showing impressive gap-to-gap power with 28 doubles through 10 games, hitting .301 as a team. Stan DeMartinis III has been particularly impressive, hitting .475 with 10 extra-base hits (including six home runs) and 18 RBIs. Bentley’s .501 slugging percentage ranks 33rd in NCAA Division II.
Other teams to keep an eye on in the East include Jefferson, Goldey-Beacom, and Mercy. The CACC, ECC, and NE10 conferences all receive automatic bids in this region, which features seven total teams.
Dominican (NY) has had a rough start, sitting at 1-4, but they are hitting an impressive .361 as a team. David Knepper is leading the charge, hitting .579 (11-19) with six RBIs.
The craziest stat in this region? Holy Family is 24-24 in stolen bases through just three games—an insane stat. Despite losing all three of their games to Bloomsburg in late February, Holy Family continues to show off their speed, and I’ll be keeping an eye on their base-stealing efforts as they continue their season against Virginia State this afternoon.
Atlantic Region
East Stroudsburg (10-0) has jumped into the Top 10 with a perfect start, giving the PSAC a major presence on the national stage. The Warriors have excelled on the mound and in the field, ranking third in D2 with a .987 fielding percentage. Their bullpen has been sharp, with Caden Parker earning three saves, and Ryan Dewees proving to be a reliable starter. Francisco Taveras is leading the charge at the plate, hitting .500 (13-26) to start the season.
West Chester (6-2) remains a steady force at No. 11. The Golden Rams went 3-1 at the DII Baseball Challenge, showcasing excellent pitching with a team ERA of 1.92—currently the best in the country. Their offense is also clicking, with a .307 team average and a +50 run differential through eight games. Julian Costa has been dominant on the mound, boasting a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP (third in NCAA) through 15 strikeouts and just one walk. The Golden Rams have also been stellar defensively, turning 12 double plays. Sean Szestowcki has been flawless at shortstop, turning seven double plays without committing an error in 32 chances.
Seton Hill (6-2) holds steady at No. 22 in the rankings and is also a top-10 team nationally in ERA with a 3.05 mark. This region can pitch, with six of the top-18 teams in D2 ERA hailing from the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Millersville (6-1) climbs to No. 16, further solidifying the PSAC’s dominance in the region. Jeff Sabater is one of D2’s best base stealers, already perfect on 12 stolen base attempts while hitting .414. Sabater set a PSAC record with 57 stolen bases last season. Pitcher Connor Blantz has been solid with a 1.74 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. Matthew Williams is also a key contributor with three home runs already. And don't forget about Bren Taylor, who has more career hits than any active D2 player.
The PSAC and MEC are among the leagues that receive automatic bids in this six-bid region, making it a competitive field. Frostburg, California (PA), Shippensburg, and Slippery Rock are other squads to watch. Shippensburg (7-4) always has a shot when ace Jaxon Dalena takes the mound. Dalena has racked up 24 strikeouts in 19.1 innings this season with a 4.66 ERA, and he posted a 2.52 ERA last season with 78 strikeouts in 10 starts.
California (PA) boasts one of the purest hitters in D2 with Payton Conte. The Vulcans have been tough at the plate, hitting .364 as a team. What stands out, though, is their discipline: through six games, they've drawn 22 walks while striking out just 23 times. Conte, in particular, has been remarkable, not striking out in any of his 23 at-bats.
East Stroudsburg has looked like the team to beat in this region so far, but the MEC is showing some new contenders. Charleston, traditionally a powerhouse, has struggled early at 6-7. Glenville State, at 6-5, appears to be the top team in the MEC South Division, while Point Park and Frostburg State lead the North Division at 6-1 and 6-2, respectively. Glenville State's Zac Bayor has been on a tear, hitting .552 (16-29) with five home runs, 15 RBIs, 13 walks, and an eye-popping 1.777 OPS through 11 games.
Mansfield (3-4) has been impressive offensively, hitting .365 as a team through seven games. Jacob Houtz and Shane Stossel are both batting over .500, showing potential as key contributors for the season ahead.
Finally, Bloomfield has played a tough schedule, with series already against Lenoir-Rhyne and Seton Hill, which should help prepare them for the challenges ahead.
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