NCCA Regional Results for HarbourCats

The NCAA Div 1 Regional tournaments are complete, with mostly disappointing results for our future HarbourCats. Of the ten who started the journey last week, only two remain.

In the shocker of the tournament, the top-ranked Oregon State Beavers lost twice to UC Irvine to end their run before it really got started. For the first time in 7 years, the top seed in the country will not make it to the round of 16. 1B Gabe Clark went 4-19 in 5 games, as the entire Beaver offence fell cold at the worst possible time.

Aaron Barnett defends a Cal Poly bunt

Kentucky, Cal Poly, Sacramento State and Long Beach State have also been eliminated.

Only Pepperdine with C Aaron Barnett and OF Devin Carter has moved forward into the Sweet 16. Barnett went 3-11 as the Wave dominated the San Luis Obispo tournament with great pitching, going 3-0 in the tourney to advance - including beating Arizona State and Cal Poly twice. Carter did not play in the regional.

The Waves advance to the Fort Worth Texas Super Regional against Texas Christian University. TCU also went undefeated in their regional, giving up a stingy 5 total runs over three games. TCU climbed to #7 in the country with their regional performance, and the #21 Waves will have their work cut out for them to get by. Play gets underway Saturday at 1:00.


As for the rest of the 'Cats, like the Division 1 teams they play for, the tournament had more downs than ups...

Cal Poly went 2-2 in the tournament, making it to the final against Pepperdine. C Jake Lesinksi did not play in the tournament. In a related point, the Mustangs were led by ex-HarbourCat John Schuknecht, who hit over .400 in the 3 games.

Cal Poly's two wins came at the expense of Sacramento State, who managed only one win against Arizona to finish 1-2. OF Nathan Lukes went 1-9 in their three games.

Another upset saw Kentucky go 2-2, losing early to Kansas and in the final to Louisville. 1B Thomas Bernal went 2-11 and was plonked twice. P Andrew Nelson came on in early relief one game after an extensive rain delay knocked both starters out before the first inning had ended. Nelson pitched 4.1 innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs in the appearance.

For Long Beach State, IF Alex Degoti was 0-3 in his only game, while P Logan Lombana saw action only in the final game against Charleston. He was impressive in holding the Cougars without a hit in 2.2 innings of work, but the dirtbags couldn't come back from an early 4-2 deficit to get him the win.

With all these results now in, the HarbourCats starting roster can be firmed up as pretty much the entire HarbourCats roster is now available to start the season. With only Barnett and Carter moving forward, the 'Cats will have to find some way to win the first few games with only 4 catchers on the roster...

Good luck to Aaron, Devon and the Waves this weekend!