Chapman Counting on Pitching Depth

The team with the best pitching figures to have the edge in the six-team Division III West Regional baseball tournament, which begins today at Hart Park in Orange.

“Everybody was a little surprised that they went to a six-team regional,” said Coach Rex Peters of top-seeded Chapman, which is making its fifth consecutive postseason appearance. “The NCAA has snubbed that idea in the past. But with six teams, you have to play at least four games to win it, and that means everybody’s pitching is going to be tested.”

Last year, Chapman swept three games in a four-team regional at Southwestern in Georgetown, Texas, beating Cal Lutheran in the final. The Panthers went on to finish third at the Division III World Series.

Two of the better pitchers in this year’s double-elimination regional, which ends Sunday, are expected to meet in the 11 a.m. opener today, when right-hander Andrew Tisdale (10-0) of Chapman (33-8) faces left-hander Josh Duwe (7-2) and McMurry (26-15) of Abilene, Texas. In other opening games, Southwestern (39-9) plays Willamette (27-14) of Salem, Ore., at 3 p.m. and Cal Lutheran (27-13) plays Cal State Hayward (23-16) at 7.

Right-hander Mike Carey (8-1) figures to start Friday’s second-round game for Chapman.

Selected as an at-large team, Southwestern is making its sixth playoff appearance.

The Pirates seemed to have the inside track on hosting the regional again before they were upset in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. DePauw of Greencastle, Ind., won the tournament and the SCAC’s automatic playoff bid and was assigned to the Central Regional.

Hayward, also an at-large selection, dropped from Division II to Division III two years ago and can’t be overlooked.

“Southwestern always has a solid club,” Peters said. “And Hayward is playing well and could be a dark horse.”

Single-game tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.