2017 MLB Draft Division II Recap

The newest class of Division II players has gone through the rigors of the 2017 MLB Draft, and we had 73 players hear their names called over the three-day event. That is a bit of a down tick compared to the 92 drafted in 2016 and 84 drafted in 2015. However, Tampa had seven players drafted, the most of any D-II school in any of the last three years, besting the previous high of five (Cal Poly Pomona and Tampa - 2015). We've only been keeping track of such things since 2015, so there isn't much history, but I have to think seven is a large number for any year.

West Chester Wins 2017 Division II National Championship

West Chester has claimed the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship with a perfect run through the finals tournament after a 5-2 victory over UC San Diego on championship Sunday.

Day Eight Recap; Championship Sunday Preview of 2017 Finals

We finally have our championship match-up set! UC San Diego came out of Friday's rain-out and kept its momentum train rolling, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas for the second time in two days to make its way to the national championship series against West Chester on Sunday. A bulldog effort by Troy Cruz preserved the bullpen that the Tritons will most likely need in Sunday's finals, as his complete game helped UCSD to the win.

Day Seven Recap, Day Eight Preview of 2017 Finals

Well, it was a rained-out day on day seven of the national finals. UC San Diego and St. Thomas Aquinas were only a couple batters in before severe weather came along and wiped out the rest of play for Friday. Today, those two teams get back on the field to determine who makes the national championship series.

Day Six Recap, Day Seven Preview of 2017 Finals

We are officially down to three teams, and we have one team already laying claim to a spot in the national championship games. West Chester held off Colorado Mesa, 1-0, in a thrilling nightcap to advance to Saturday's national championship day, while UC San Diego dominated St. Thomas Aquinas, 10-0, to force the if-necessary semifinal game on Friday.

Day Five Recap, Day Six Preview of 2017 Finals

Day five is in the books, and we down to the final four teams vying for the national championship. The favorites to begin the week are out, and we have a wide-open field left. Is it just a coincidence that of the four teams remaining, they were four of the five best team ERA's entering the tournament? Is there a theme there? Pitching was down around Division II this season, but are the talented staffs showing up when needed?

Day Four Review, Day Five Preview of 2017 Finals

Day four was eventful. We had one of the biggest comebacks in recent finals history, and we lost another team in an elimination game, while Colorado Mesa punched its ticket to the semifinals. We now head to day five, where two elimination games are on the docket and we cut the field down to four.

Day Three Review, Day Four Preview of 2017 Finals

Day four is up next as we are now one team lighter in the field after our first elimination of the tournament. Tre Hobbs delivered an incredible performance for Delta State in a must-win situation, and eliminated North Georgia on Monday (May 29). We'll have another elimination game on our hands on Tuesday (May 30), when UC San Diego and Quincy face off.

Day Two Recap, Day Three Preview of 2017 Finals

Day three, and our first elimination game, are upon us on Memorial Day. We had another eventful day of first round match-ups, and now we get in to the part of the tournament where we are sending teams home. And unfortunately, today, we will be sending home a very good squad.

Day One Recap, Day Two Preview of 2017 Finals

We are back for day two of the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals. After an eventful day one which saw two upsets (IMO), it seems as if things are primed for another day of surprises. We will see what the second day of action brings us, as we review day one of action and preview day two.

Previewing Day One of 2017 Division II National Finals

Today begins the final leg of the quest to the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship. Day one of competition gets under way in Grand Prairie, Texas, at the home of the Texas AirHogs. A new champion will be crowned a week from today.

2017 Division II National Finals Preview

Our favorite day of the year is here! Saturday marks the beginning of the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals, this year in Grand Prairie, Texas, at Texas AirHogs Stadium. Here, we'll preview some numbers for the eight teams who are making their way to the finals, and point out some things to watch.

Newcomers Rule the Day on Regional Championship Monday

It was a *bonkers* regional championship weekend, and we have the championship game quick-hitters here for you. Seven of our eight champions came out of their tournaments without a loss, so we have a lot of hot teams heading to Grand Prairie, Texas, for the 2017 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals, which are on a one-year hiatus from Cary, N.C.

2017 Regional Tournament Update

We are hitting the final two days of competition in regional tournament play. Only two #1 seeds have been eliminated, and we have the bottom seed alive in four of the eight regional tournaments still. The West is already set for its championship series between UC San Diego and Dixie State, while we will have the championship day participants in all seven of the other regions by the end of the day today, weather permitting.

2017 Regional Tournament Preview

Time to pull those belts tight and get comfortable for one of the best weekends of the year in all of sports. Regional Tournament time is here, everyone. Inside, we have previews for each of the eight regions, links to the tournament pages, and brief capsules for every team hitting the postseason trail this year.

2017 Conference Tournament Recap; Regional Tournaments Revealed

We had a very eventful 2017 conference tournament season. A lot of surprise winners came through to play their way in to their respective regional tournament, a lot of bubble teams saw their bubbles burst as a result, but there wasn't much jockeying around for those who were already entrenched in a spot, save for one or two regions.

Brace Yourselves - Conference Tournament Weekend 2017

In the words of the great 21st century philosopher "The Joker".....Here. We. Go. The final week of the regular season, conference tournaments galore, and some bubble teams who are going to play their way in, play their way out, or just hope to get some help if they are already finished and on the bubble. Inside, you'll find your conference tournament central, with links to every single conference tournament in the country.

More Conference Champions Crowned; Plenty More to Come

A couple more conference tournaments wrapped up, and a couple are currently underway as we speak as we inch closer and closer to the end of the regular season. Delta State, Winston-Salem State and Miles all earned conference tournament victories and therefore regional tournament nods, while the GAC and CACC are in the midst of their tournaments right now after preliminary play-in rounds. Not to mention, Tampa has wrapped up the Sunshine State Conference title and auto-bid, while Azusa Pacific claimed the PacWest crown and auto-bid.

Conference Tournament Season Is Upon Us

Week two of conference tournament season is now upon us. Five conferences will at least begin their tournaments this weekend, with every other conference beginning their tournaments next week. In addition to that, we have what is essentially a conference championship series out west in our D2 Diamond Series of the Week. This is when things start getting real!

Mt. Olive and Lincoln Memorial Punch Their Regional Tickets

It was a banner weekend for the top teams, as the top four squads in last week's PerfectGame.org Division II Top 25 rankings went 12-0, setting themselves up for a huge finish as we head in to conference tournament play. We crowned two tournament champions this past weekend already, and we will have a plethora of more tournaments waging war this weekend.

Conference Tournament Season Begins; First Regional Rankings Paint Picture

Conference tournament season is upon us! Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference are both doing battle this weekend for automatic bids to the regional tournaments, and outside of that, we have a number of series' this weekend between fringe teams in the first set of regional rankings. It will be an important weekend for a lot of teams as they either try and solidify their place in the regional rankings, or give themselves a better case to be included at all.

Top Teams Fare Well, A Couple Conferences Already Finished

Three conferences have finished up play and two will begin its conference tournament this week, while others are finishing up this weekend, and the rest of the nation finishes up next weekend. We are only three weekends away from conference tournament weekend and less than a month away from regional tournaments! Get excited, people!

Conference Tilts Between Top Teams All Around the Nation in Week 12

This will be the biggest weekend of the year so far in the conference races. There are a number of conferences around the country where the top two or three teams in the standings are facing off this weekend, with only three weekends to play at the most. That makes this weekend a very important one to follow as a fan, as we'll see some conference races tighten up real quick, or maybe see the overwhelming favorite break out.

Banner Weekend for the Top 25, Home Stretch on the Horizon

It was a pretty solid week for the Top 25. There were not many upsets around the nation, and the top teams showed pretty well, without much rocking of the boat. We are beginning to hit the home stretch and a couple teams are even heading in to their final opponents of the regular season this week and next week.

Heading North for the D2 Diamond Series of the Week in Week 11

We are actually hitting the home stretch for a couple of conferences, while we are just ramping up the drama in a majority of conferences this weekend. That is evident in our pick for the D2 Diamond Series of the Week. It is a pretty early weekend for most teams due to the Easter holiday, so make sure to take it all in early, and check out as much D-II baseball action as you can take!

Sweeps Reign Supreme in Week 10 Action

It was a banner weekend for the most recent top 25, comparatively, to most weeks. Five of the top nine, six of the top 12, and seven of the top 14 teams in last week's PerfectGame.org Division II Top 25 swept their opponents this past weekend. Could it have been the beginning of taking over some conference races for some of the nation's top teams? Additionally, we had a very competitive D2 Diamond Series of the Week that might have shown that the West region is the most competitive we have right now.

D2 Diamond Series of the Week Heads West; Top Conference Teams Do Battle Nation-Wide

The D2 Diamond Series of the Week is heading back out to the west coast, for a series between the two top teams in one of the nation's best conferences. It is one of two match-ups between top-20 teams in the most recent PerfectGame.org Top 25 rankings, and both series' should go a long way in determining how those respective conferences will shake out the rest of the season.

Many Questions, Few Answers After Nine Weeks of Play

Nobody seems to want to be breaking out from a crowded list of rankings except for a couple teams. Is someone going to usurp Tampa from the top spot soon? Will Chico State keep dominating the CCAA? Will Florida Southern ever lose again? Does the NSIC have a team that is going to challenge Minnesota State at some point? Can we get more than one or two teams sweeping their opponents in a weekend?

So many questions, so few answers. Let's see how this past weekend shook out.

The D2 Diamond Series of the Week Escapes Warm Weather for Week Nine

We are finally able to leave the West and the South to feature our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, and we also have only one series this weekend between a pair of top 25 squads. A tame weekend compared to most, but still some very important conference series' to be played out over the next few days.

Dixie Sweeps Series of the Week; Cal Baptist Throws Season's First 9 Inn. No-No

A whole bunch of excitement around the landscape of Division II baseball this past weekend. Dixie State throttled a fellow top-10 squad in our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, while California Baptist's Garett King toed the rubber for a dominating performance and the season's first nine-inning no-hitter. A couple top five teams struggled over the weekend, but we also have a plethora of double digit winning streaks to keep tabs on, as well.

Yet Another Top 10 Match-Up Highlights Week Eight Slate

We have yet another Top 10 match-up to highlight in this weekend's action, and it is the only match-up between a pair of Top 25 teams this week. It is a three-team race in the PacWest Conference, and two of them are squaring off. Check out what the weekend schedule looks like for the most recent ranked teams as we go full swing in to conference play around the nation.

The Tampa Machine Rolls On, Field Wide Open Behind Them

#1 Tampa rolled to a series sweep of defending national champion #3 Nova Southeastern in our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, while #2 USC Aiken got swept by conference rival Columbus State. Who is the top team behind Tampa right now? #4 North Georgia swept its series, while #5 Dixie State took three-of-four against a very good California Baptist team. Could they find themselves in the top three come this week's rankings? Guess we'll find out. Until then, check out the weekend recap of last week's PerfectGame.org Top 25.

The Last Two Champions Square Off; Three Top-15 Match-Ups This Weekend

Uh oh. It is happening again. Nova Southeastern finds itself in yet another gigantic, Division II-rocking series. This time it is against the #1 team in all the land. Division II baseball really doesn't get much better than this. Not only that, but there are THREE series' going on between top 15 teams this weekend, and they are all doozies.

USC Aiken Takes Battle of Titans, West Coast Teams Rolling

The top teams in the nation showed why they are just that over the last week of play, as the top six teams in last week's rankings lost only five games, but two of those teams faced each other! There was a very competitive and high-quality D2 Diamond Series of the Week, where USC Aiken flexed its muscle and took a series victory from Nova Southeastern, while a number of teams around them dominated their competition.

Top Five Showdown Highlights Week Six Action

Usually, this is where we would say that "it doesn't get much bigger than this", as #2 Nova Southeastern will travel to #3 USC Aiken this weekend...but we might possibly get #1 Tampa against #2 Nova Southeastern next week if things keep up. However, until then, here is our preview of the week six action, which includes that monumental top five match-up and a plethora of other top-notch series' this weekend.

Top Teams Hold Serve in Week Five

There were some stellar match-ups over the weekend, but for the most part, the top teams in the most recent PerfectGame.org Top 25 held serve, as the top six in the rankings went a combined 14-6 between Thursday (Mar. 2) and Tuesday (Mar. 7). It is spring break for many of the schools around the nation, so there have been and will continue to be a bevy of non-conference games, but conference play is starting to sweep the nation for the most part.

Week Five Promises Some Clarity Going Forward

Week five delves even further in to conference play, but we still have a couple non-conference match-ups to highlight, including one that is taking our honors for being the D-II Diamond Series of the Week.

Top 25 Performs Well in Week Four

It was a fairly good weekend for the reigning PerfectGame.org Top 25, and inside we recap those weekends for you and give you a list of teams that may be sneaking in to the rankings this week when they are released. Additionally, we got our first weekly statistics update on the NCAA.com website this week! We'll look at some incredible numbers that have already been put up.

Conference Play Begins Across the Land in Week Four

We are nearly a month in to the 2017 Division II baseball season, and we will be getting our first taste of significant conference play this weekend through much of the country. For the Northern teams, a number of seasons will be starting. After this weekend, I believe every school in the nation will have hit the field for at least one game. Take a look at the top match-ups on the diamond this weekend, including a unique D2 Diamond Series of the Week.

Sorting Out Contenders After Week Three

It is the last week of recapping what happened with the pre-season PerfectGame.org Top 25, and things are starting to shake out around the country. We are almost a month in to the season, and conference play begins very soon for much of the nation. This past weekend, we had a stellar D2 Diamond Series of the Week, and you can start to see who the contenders might be from here on out.

Previewing Week Three of D-II Action

After a wild weekend around the country, we are back at it with a little bit more of a tame schedule. There are two big Top 25 match-ups, one of which is our D2 Diamond Series of the Week, and we will look forward to the first in-season update of the Top 25 rankings from PerfectGame.org this upcoming Wednesday. Before that, take a look at the top match-ups of this weekend from around the nation.

Shake-Ups Coming After Week Two Action

It was an eventful week two, as we started to find out some of the "for real" teams in the world of Division II baseball this season. Most of the usual suspects remained, but some movement will most likely be happening around the middle and bottom of the Top 25 when polls are updated in the coming weeks. Let's take a look at what happened this past weekend.

Ramping Up the Action for Week Two

Here we go, with our first weekend preview of the season. The usual suspects are off to great starts for the most part, and they'll look to keep things rolling over the course of this weekend. We have a number of great non-conference, in-region match-ups going on this weekend, and it will surely give fans of Division II baseball a chance to weed out the contenders from the pretenders early on.

Recapping Week One of 2017

The first weekend of Division II baseball in 2017 is in the books, and we got off to some pretty fun starts across the country. Okay, maybe not across the country, but at least south of the Mason/Dixon line and west of the Mississippi. The usual suspects did not falter, your defending national champions are rolling, and a number of teams around the country are still chomping at the bit to get started over the next month. Let's take a look at what unfolded in the first weekend of action.

Previewing the 2017 D-II Baseball Season

It is that time yet again! After what seemed like maybe a couple weeks of off-season, we are back on to the diamond for another season of exciting baseball. Here, in our first post of the year, we look at the PerfectGame Top 25 to start the season and let you know when they kick off their year, as well as point out a couple names of teams to look out for.

Again, just to remind everyone, we use the PerfectGame rankings on this blog as they are, in my opinion, the most educated and knowledgeable rankings year after year of all the Division II polls.