UC San Diego, tied for sixth in the national rankings and coached by San Elijo Hills resident Dan O’Brien, will host its first-ever NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Regional this week at Triton Stadium. Top-seeded UCSD will be joined by rival West Region teams Western Oregon, Cal Poly Pomona and Sonoma State, with the winner advancing to the 44th annual NCAA Championships. The West Regional, which features a double elimination format, will run from Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22 at Triton Ballpark on the UC San Diego campus.
The four West Region squads are part of the 48-team field that will compete in eight Regionals across the nation. Six sites will host six teams, the West Region will host four teams and the South Region will host eight teams. Each of the eight Regional champions earn a spot at the NCAA Division II Championship Finals, slated for May 28 through June 4 in Cary, North Carolina.
UCSD earned the top seed in the West after compiling a 41-13 record and winning its third consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season and tournament titles. The Tritons, who advanced all the way to last season’s national championship game, will be making their eighth straight appearance in the Division II West Regional. Nine Tritons recently won All-CCAA awards. Senior right-handed starter Tim Shibuya was named the Co-Pitcher of the Year and Dan O’Brien garnered league Coach of the Year honors for the third season in a row.
West Regional single game tickets are priced as follows:
Adult: $8
Student w/ID: $5
Senior citizen: $5
Ages 2-12: $5
Under age 2: Free
An all-session pass will also be available to purchase on Thursday for the following prices:
Adult: $20
Students w/ID: $15
Senior Citizens: $15
Ages 2-12: $15
For complete West Regional information, visit the official West Regional site.
2011 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship West Regional
Thursday, May 19 – Sunday, May 22
Triton Ballpark – La Jolla, California
Thursday, May 19
Game 1: 1 p.m. – No. 2 Western Oregon vs. No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona
Game 2: 6 p.m. – No. 1 UC San Diego vs. No. 4 Sonoma State
Friday, May 20
Game 3: 1 p.m. – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (loser eliminated)
Game 4: 6 p.m. – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Saturday, May 21
Game 5: 1 p.m. – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (loser eliminated)
Game 6: 6 p.m. – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Sunday, May 22
Game 7 (if necessary): Noon – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6
source ucsdtritons.com –
