Hutchinson (Kan.) baseball bracket preview and quick facts
May 9, 2012
FOLLOW THE TROJANS PAGE - BRACKET - TOURNAMENT INFORMATION - HUTCHINSON BRACET PREVIEW
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Five teams in the Hutchinson (Kan.) bracket of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening round continue their postseason play Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field. Three teams in the brackets (Dakota State, Judson and Tabor) will be making their debut in the national tournament's opening round in program history, while Oklahoma Baptist and Rogers State will be making their second appearance.
The tournament kicks off with No. 5 seed Dakota State and No. 4 seed Tabor on Thursday at 11 a.m. The other pairing is No. 3 seed Rogers State (Okla.) and No. 2 seed Judson (Ill.) at 2:30 p.m.
Top-seed Oklahoma Baptist takes on the winner of DSU-Tabor game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Three teams (Oklahoma Baptist, Judson and Rogers State) are ranked in the final NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, released on May 6. Tabor received votes recognition to the national poll.
The tournament continues through Saturday, May 12 with the championship game at 6:30 p.m. If necessary, the second championship game will be held on Monday, May 14 at 1 p.m.
The winner of the Hutchinson bracket will advance to the 56th Annual Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho
Below is the quick facts for each team in the Hutchinson bracket:
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No. 1 seed Oklahoma Baptist
Location: Shawnee, Okla.
Mascot: Bisons
Head Coach: Bobby Cox (26th season)
Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)
Bid to NAIA Nationals: Conference Tournament Champions
Overall Record/Conference Record: 46-12/32-7 SAC
NAIA National Ranking (Final): No. 7
National Opening Round Appearance/Record: Second/3-0
Conference Postseason Tournament Results: (No. 2 seed) - defeated No. 7 seed St. Gregory's (Okla.)
8-4 in first round; defeated No. 6 seed Sciences & Arts (Okla.) 16-10 in quarterfinals; defeated No. 3 seed
Rogers State 7-2 in semifinals; defeated No. 4 seed Lubbock Christian (Texas) 19-8 in the championship game.
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No. 2 seed Judson (Ill.)
Location: Elgin, Ill.
Mascot: Eagles
Head Coach: Rich Benjamin (5th season)
Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC)
Bid to NAIA Nationals: Regular-Season Champions
Overall Record/Conference Record: 46-12/25-4 CCAC
NAIA National Ranking (Final): No. 17
National Opening Round Appearance/Record: First/0-0
Conference Postseason Tournament Results: (No. 1 seed) - lost to No. 6 seed Purdue North Central (Ind.) 2-1 in first round; defeated No. 2 seed Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 14-2 in loser's out game; defeated No. 4 seed Saint Xavier (Ill.) 11-10 (11 inn.) in loser's out game; lost to No. 3 seed Saint Francis (Ill.) 9-8 in championship game.
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No. 3 seed Rogers State (Okla.)
Location: Claremore, Okla.
Mascot: Hillcats
Head Coach: Ron Bradley (9th season)
Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)
Bid to NAIA Nationals: At-Large No. 10
Overall Record/Conference Record: 42-14/20-10 SAC
NAIA National Ranking (Final): No. 23
National Opening Round Appearance/Record: Second/0-2
Conference Postseason Tournament Results: (No. 3 seed) - lost to No. 6 seed Sciences & Arts (Okla.) 4-3 in first round; defeated No. 7 seed Saint Gregory's (Okla.) 9-7 in loser's out game; lost to No. 2 seed Oklahoma Baptist 7-2 in loser's out game (semifinals).
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No. 4 seed Tabor (Kan.)
Location: Hillsboro, Kan.
Mascot: Bluejays
Head Coach: Mark Standiford (4th season)
Conference: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)
Bid to NAIA Nationals: At-Large No. 14
Overall Record/Conference Record: 41-13/21-7 KCAC
NAIA National Ranking (Final): Receiving Votes
National Opening Round Appearance/Record: First/0-0
Conference Postseason Tournament Results: (No. 2 seed) - defeated No. 3 seed Kansas Wesleyan 16-8 in quarterfinals; lost to No. 1 seed Sterling (Kan.) in semifinals 8-6; defeated No. 3 seed Kansas Wesleyan 19-14 in loser's out game; lost to No. 1 seed Sterling (Kan.) 9-5 in championship game.
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No. 5 seed Dakota State (S.D.)
Location: Madison, S.D.
Mascot: Trojans
Head Coach: Scott Hortness (2nd season)
Conference: Association of Independent Institutions (AII)
Bid to NAIA Nationals: Conference Tournament Runner-up
Overall Record/Conference Record: 28-26/3-5 AII
NAIA National Ranking (Final): Not ranked
National Opening Round Appearance/Record: First/0-0
Conference Postseason Tournament Results: (No. 6 seed) - defeated No. 1 seed Cal State San Marcos 3-2 in first round; lost to No. 3 seed Mayville State 13-0 in quarterfinals; defeated No. 4 seed Thomas (Ga.) 8-6 in loser's out game; defeated No. 5 seed Arizona Christian 4-1 in championship semifinals; lost to No. 5 seed Arizona Christian 9-2 in championship game.
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Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
