Pompano Beach, FL – The field for the 2024 Black College World Series is set. Eight HBCU baseball programs, four from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and four from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will make the trip to Montgomery, AL.
The format for the event that heads into its fourth year is two divisions, one bracket of four NCAA Division II teams and one bracket of four NAIA teams, playing a double-elimination format, and winners of each division face off in a one-game playoff to determine a champion.
Eight teams punched their tickets to Montgomery. They came on walk-offs, they came late at night, they came after rain delays, they came in triumph, winning conference tournaments, being ranked in Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Top 10 Poll, and mainly making a season long fight that could extend into a postseason run.
Here are the eight teams slated Montgomery…
Who is in the NCAA DII Bracket?
Bluefield State (DII Independent) 30-14
Savannah State (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) 28-13
Edward Waters (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) 27-18
Miles (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) 22-22 – alternate
How did they get here?
Bluefield State is making its fourth appearance to the Black College World Series. Big Blue won it all in 2021. This season, Bluefield State captured its first 30-win season in school history. Head coach Drew Bailey’s squad broke last year’s single season wins total of 25 with 30 this year.
The Savannah State Tigers entered the 2024 season in a rebuilding mode. That standard does not extend to Head Coach Carlton Hardy as he recruited a boatload of talent. A really good pitching staff is its biggest strength this year.
Head Coach Reginald Johnson of Edward Waters University has an experienced roster. The Tigers are a team on the rise heading into the world series. EWU also won the 2022 Black College World Series, its second national title.
Miles College is a streaky team when it plays at its best. Head coach Milton Barney is in his first season and is a former NCAA Division I head coach. Barney’s Golden Bears will enter the BCWS with home-field advantage considering Birmingham is a two-hour drive to Montgomery. Streaky, Miles could surprise teams and win it all.
Who is in the NAIA Bracket?
Talladega (Southern State Athletic Conference) 36-15
Wiley College (Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) 28-19
Florida Memorial (SUN Conference) 20-24
Jarvis Christian (Red River Athletic Conference) 18-21
How did they get here?
Talladega plays a very competitive schedule in the HBCU small school. The Tornadoes schedule 20 plus games against top-rank teams in the NAIA Top 25. When they click on all cylinders at the plate, head coach Marco Dominguez’s team is hard to beat. Talladega knocked off the No. 2, No. 10, and No. 15 ranked teams in the NAIA Top 25 this season.
Wiley has become a deep pitching staff and outstanding offense, regular season GCAC champs and conference tournament runner up. The Wildcats team is making its second straight Black College World Series appearance. The Wildcats are a battle-tested team.
Florida Memorial punched its ticket to a fourth BCWS in Montgomery and won six games against ranked teams in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, which includes defeating the No.1 NAIA team in the nation this season. The Lions will defend their national title winning the BCWS in 2023.
Jarvis Christian during the season, in games they won put on a defensive clinic during the season which led to wins. Jarvis has live bats at the plate. This will be the teams first Black College World Series appearance.
The SIAC teams will follow NCAA governing body guidelines. Baseball programs cannot compete in more than one national setting.
The team selected from the NCAA Division II:
*Albany State
*Savannah State
**West Virginia State
*Miles College
These teams will opt out if they win their conference tournament.
Albany State has opted out as it looks to play in their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament and compete for a NCAA Division II Regional tournament spot.
West Virginia State has opted out as it looks to play in their Mountain East Conference Tournament and compete for a NCAA Division II Regional tournament spot.
Miles is the alternate NCAA DII team. If an HBCU wins the SIAC Conference Tournament, Miles is the alternate replacement.
Lane College the second alternate NCAA DII team.
Xavier University of Louisiana is the alternate NAIA team.