NCAA Baseball Regionals - New to the Dance

Last Sunday at noon, the Division I NCAA Baseball brackets were revealed. For baseball programs across the nation, it's one of the biggest days of the year. The selection show is on ESPN, which has given a hell of a lot more exposure to baseball in the recent years.

For many (North Carolina, Miami (FL), Arizona State) the postseason is almost a right of passage but for many (Canisius, Binghamton, Bryant) it's the ultimate high. These smaller schools--who many have never heard of--have the chance to shock the collegiate baseball world after winning their respective conference tournament, capped off with an awesome dog pile to celebrate entry into the Field of 64.

The McRae Scowl (photo credit: gogriffs.com)

The Canisius Golden Griffins (1st appearance) come from way up in Buffalo, where they weather sucks, the field is multi-purpose and the outfield fence is made of PVC. Head coach Mike McRae, who I coached against for six years while at Manhattan, has injected life and attitude into a once lifeless program. They won 42 games this year, the high-water mark for any MAAC school--EVER. Sure they drew #1 overall seed North Carolina but you know what, I wouldn't be shocked if they won. Florida Atlantic and Towson, a program that was on life-support and only still remains a program because of donations, round out the Chapel Hill regional.

The Griffs have been a power in the MAAC for the past several seasons and finally cracked through. A school of just over 5000 students, a school that 96% of America has never heard of and an outfield fence made of PVC - you better believe they're playing with a chip on their shoulder thanks to their fiery head coach. Off the field, he's a good guy but on it, he's one of the most fiery competitors you'll come across. There will never be a smile and if my memory serves me right, might not even be a handshake after the game.

Binghamton (2nd appearance) is right on the border of New York and Pennsylvania. It's a lacrosse hotbed but baseball is at the forefront today. They travel to NC State along with Ole Miss and William & Mary.

Bryant (1st appearance) is newly minted into the Division I ranks and had a tremendous season, 44-16-1, earning themselves a 3-seed and a date with Arkansas. Kansas State and Wichita State round out the Manhattan, KS regional.

It's a good time to be a college baseball fan and rest-assured, the conference foes of these three are pulling for them right about now. A few wins in June help ease the pain of not being there--just a little.