VANCOUVER - With the 2010 NAIA West National Qualifying Tournament scheduled to get under way this Thursday at Nat Bailey Stadium, previews of the four teams competing - UBC Thunderbirds, College of Idaho Coyotes, Oregon Tech Hustlin Owls, and Simpson University Red Hawks - have been compiled by our very own, Lee Dorner.
A LOOK AT THE THUNDERBIRDS: The T-Birds rode their dominant pitching to their second straight first place finish in the NAIA West, but their final series against the College of Idaho proved that it wasn't quite bullet-proof. UBC's team ERA was 3.64 for the season, but the 'Birds surrendered almost eight runs on average during their four game set against C of I. They needed just one win in the series to all but clinch hosting rights though, and managed to pull out a 7-4 win in the final game of the series to take first place.
Despite the rough finish, UBC's pitching numbers speak for themselves. All four of their starters had ERAs of 4.11 or better and a combined record of 25-7.
Sheldon McDonald led the way with a 2.93 ERA and a 7-2 record. He also led the team with 52 strikeouts and walked just 10 batters in 58.1 innings.
Eric Brown,
Brandon Kaye and
Mark Hardy all had at least 10 starts and 60 innings on the year, and all are capable of controlling a game from the mound on any given day. Hardy has the highest ERA of the four at 4.11, but also has a no-hitter to his credit, which came on April 11 against Concordia.
That impressive depth carries over to the offence, where eight of UBC's regulars hit over .300 for the year.
Nic Lendvoy led the way with a .372 average, 46 RBIs and seven home runs. Leadoff man
Keaton Briscoe was next at .366, and led the team with a .461 on-base percentage.
A LOOK AT THE COYOTES: The Coyotes enter the tournament with the best offensive track record, having averaged more than eight runs and one homer per game. Their team batting average of .343 is also the best of any team in the tournament. They proved their mettle by scoring 31 runs en route to taking three of four games from UBC in their final series of the season.
Diego Robles led the NAIA West with a .420 average and 59 RBIs on the year while adding 12 homers. Isaac Garsez showed some good pop as well, with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and a whopping .744 slugging percentage to compliment his .395 average. Jared Arehart hit .415 with an impressive .509 on-base percentage.
Ben Rosen is the undisputed ace of the Yotes' staff, as he posted a 9-2 record with a 2.17 ERA on the year, which was tops among NAIA West starters. He also chewed up 83 innings over the course of his 12 starts. Jacob Coats is a more than serviceable number two starter, as he finished 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA. Mitchell Dame is their premier arm out of the bullpen. He pitched 37.1 innings in relief while posting a 2.17 ERA.
A LOOK AT THE HUSTLIN' OWLS: What the Owls lack in pitching, they make up with power at the plate. Although their team ERA of 5.42 is significantly higher than that of UBC or C of I, they have the highest team home run total in the tournament, with 50 long balls on the year.
Five different Hustlin' Owls had at least five homers this season, including team leader Cory Staniforth, who had 13 to go along with his team-high 52 RBIs. Colin Stock had seven dingers while also hitting for a solid .370 average, and his .494 on-base percentage is the best of any regular Oregon Tech starter. When their power game isn't working, the Owls turn to the running game. They lead all four teams in the tournament with 87 stolen bases on the year, and just about everyone in the lineup is a threat to steal when given the chance. Trent Smith went 15-17 in steal attempts to lead the team, while Korey Locken and Zack Earle each swiped 13 bags on the year.
The pitching staff was a little underwhelming this season for Oregon Tech, as none of their starters have an ERA under 4.50 heading into this weekend. Frank Charlton leads the way with a 4.56 mark and a 6-7 record, but 37 walks gave him trouble during the regular season. As a team, the Owls walked a batter every 2.1 innings, so control could be an issue as they prepare to face the top hitters in the NAIA West this weekend.
A LOOK AT THE RED HAWKS: The Red Hawks will be in tough against some of the best pitchers in the league this weekend, as their offence ranks last among the four teams at the tournament with a .276 team average and 5.6 runs per game.
Shane Battles and Josh Corson carry the majority of the load on offence, as they hit .395 and .394 respectively this season. Battles led the team with 39 RBIs and seven home runs, while Corson added 17 RBIs and four homers. Chris Moody is the only other Red Hawk with a batting average above .300, so opposing pitchers will likely take extra care with those three hitters this weekend until the rest of the lineup proves itself.
Brad Hurn is their top starter, with a 4.48 ERA and a 3-4 record on the year. Dustin Stoddard also posted a 3-4 record with a 4.99 ERA. Ricky Hogan is their top reliever, with a 2.81 ERA in nine appearances this season.
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