COLLEGE BASEBALL : Defense Leads La Verne to Division III Crown
La Verne won the NCAA Division III baseball championship by beating Methodist of North Carolina, 5-3, in the final at Salem, Va., Wednesday.
Jeff Polinsky hit a two-run home run and Mike Smith hit a two-run single for La Verne (39-9). It is the first Division III baseball championship by a West Coast team since Cal State Stanislaus won in 1977.
“I don’t think the other teams in this tournament knew what to expect from us,” said La Verne Coach Owen Wright. “Our kids came in here and showed how we play baseball in California--defense. Defense wins games.”
Jeff Doen (10-2) pitched eight innings for his second victory of the series, and J.D. Romero earned a save by pitching the ninth. Romero also won La Verne’s second game of the five-game series.
Because of the tournament format, it was La Verne’s second game against Methodist. The Leopards beat Methodist, 4-3, on Tuesday.
Polinsky, a designated hitter, was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
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