Eighteen Historically Black College and University (HBCU) “small school” division baseball programs have punched tickets to 2019 postseason tournaments which start this week. Small schools have a real shot to advance to national tournaments, including teams with losing records. It will be interesting to see which teams advance to national tournaments.
Let’s take a look at HBCU Baseball postseason overview.
Winston Salem State University
(31-15 .674) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason NCAA Division II Independent Baseball Tournament, DII Tournament (NCAA DII). Begans tournament against Bluefield State May 2. Game will be played at Marion, NC.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 1, Receiving votes (NCBWA) NCAA DII Atlantic Region No. 8
Postseason Overview: The schools administration is shutting down the Rams baseball program for Golf. This could turn into a rallying cry leading to a birth in the DII World Series.
Edward Waters College
(26-33 .441) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #4 Seed Association of Independent Institutions/Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (NAIA). Open play against #5 College of the Ozark May 4 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville, GA.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School Not Ranked
Postseason Overview: Tiger relievers can turn the season around and provide relief to the starters when they inherit a lead. That describes the EWC season, but they can redeem themselves if they can turn it around. Will need to get three big wins at the A.I.I. tournament to remain in the at-large selection for the NAIA national tournament.
Talladega College
(22-20 .524) Regular Season Completed Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Regular Season Champions
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #2 Seed Association of Independent Institutions/Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (NAIA). Open play against #3 Fisher College May 4 at the Grizzly Baseball Complex in Lawrenceville, GA.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 6
Postseason Overview: This season, defeated ten nationally ranked NAIA baseball programs. Talladega wants a third straight trip returning to the NAIA National Tournament and it’s second A.I.I. conference championship. Possible match with long time conference rival Edward Waters.
Harris-Stowe State University
(20-27 .426) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason conference tournament, # 7 Seed in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Championship. Opens tournament against #2 Freed-Hardemen May 1rd, at 7:00 PM Central Daylight Time. The tournament will take place at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Mo.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School Not Ranked
Postseason Overview: The Hornets bullpen must limit runs and must finish ballgames. Play mistake free can take the conference tournament.
Jarvis Christian College
(32-22 .593) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #6 Seed Red River Athletic Conference (NAIA). Open play against #1 seed LSU Shreveport 12 P.M. May 3 in Monroe, Louisiana.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 4
Postseason Overview: The Bulldogs make their seventh consecutive conference tournament appearance. A streaky team once they get the bats going. If the bats become live and pitching can hold like it did during the regular season, the Bulldogs could upset the conference heavy hitters.
Miles College
(23-21 .523) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #2 Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #7 Lane College May 2 12 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 9
Postseason Overview: Good bats in the lineup finished 15-5 in the conference, can and will go station to station. The main issue, pitching is suspect. Cannot enter the tournament the way they finished the last two games allowing runs and not producing themselves.
Texas College
(25-30 .455) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #5 Seed Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) (NAIA). Open play against #2 Our Lady of The Lake May 3 in Monroe, Louisiana.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 10
Postseason Overview: This team goes all out on the mound and at the plate which has produced timely hitting and good pitching all year long. Getting back to being fully staffed on the hill after injuries to three starters can pay dividends if they can stay away from making senseless errors. The Steers can be the talk of the tournament.
Morehouse College
(10-26 .278) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #8 East Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #1 Albany State May 2 4 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: The season was full of inconsistency after what appeared to be a good start to the season, but when they are on they can be one of the more balanced teams in terms of both ability to score runs and limiting opposing offenses. They can play defense I might add.
Kentucky State University
(26-14 .650) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #4 West Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #5 Clark Atlanta University May 2 12 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 3
Postseason Overview: Strong pitching led to 26 wins this season. A bad stretch of injuries during the middle part of the season, the teams was up and down. Luckily the bats were more than willing to pick up the slack. One game away from winning the tournament last year, the Thorobred are hungry this year. Good team with a good coach.
Claflin University
(23-15 .605) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason NCAA Division II Independent Baseball Tournament, DII Tournament (NCAA DII). Begins tournament against Bluefield State May 2. Game will be played at Marion, NC.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 5
Postseason Overview: First year playing as an independent against tough compentition. The question is do they have arms on the mound in close ballgames?
Lane College
(20-23 .465) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #7 Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #2 Miles May 2 12 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: Lane is coming along. Head coach Patrick Barbour has done a nice job in his first season turning the team around. They don’t have mound presence but they are tough outs and they play hard. If you give them some momentum they’ll take advantage of it.
Albany State University
(23-16 .590) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, # 1 Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #8 Morehouse College May 2 4 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 1, Receiving votes (NCBWA) NCAA DII South Region
Postseason Overview: After a slow start early in the season, the Golden Rams picked up steam after making position adjustments. They rolled through their conference schedule. Well coached ball club. My pick to click in the SIAC Championships for a second time.
Clark Atlanta University
(12-24 .333) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, #5 Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #4 Kentucky State University May 2 12 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: The offense can score runs, had a good four game win in conference play sweeping Paine, but the season struggles remained a constant at the plate and on the hill. That was the entire season.
Benedict College
(14-18 .437) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, # 6 Seed Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Baseball Postseason Tournament. Begins tournament against #3 Spring Hill May 2 4 P.M. Game will be played at Paul Eames Sports Complex (Field 2) 1130 Ball Park Ln, Albany, GA 31705 and Albany State University, West Campus (Field 1) 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: The offense can and will score runs and go station to station in a heart beat. But the lack of pitching in close games has not limited opposing batters from getting on base. Benedict will play for the big inning and that could be all it takes to decide the tournament.
Selma University
(12-8 .600) Regular Season Completed
Next Game: Postseason tournament, waiting for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) selection show May 7.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 9, USCAA No. 7
Postseason Overview: Making 9th straight playoff appearance. Can and will hit a ton. Good in close games, plays error free defense. Deep team from starters and relief pitching. Entire teams returns to the USCAA World Series from last year, a 7-5 loss in the semifinal game before the championship round. And they are hungry.
Bluefield State College
(17-20 .375)
Next Game: Postseason tournament NCAA Division II Independent Baseball Tournament, DII Tournament (NCAA DII). Begans tournament against Winston Salem State Bluefield May 2. Game will be played at Marion, NC.
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: Big Blue scuffled at the start of the season, but they started to come into their own as the coaching staff figured out the right combinations in the lineup and on the mound.
Virginia State University
(17-17 .500)
Next Game: Postseason NCAA Division II Independent Baseball Tournament, DII Tournament (NCAA DII). Begans tournament TBA May 2. Game will be played at Marion, NC.
National Ranking: Unranked
Postseason Overview: The Trojans boost speed and offense. They have overall depth, but must improve defensively.
West Virginia State University
(23-20 .535)
Next Game: Two remaining regular season games, University of Charleston. Postseason tournament, Mountain East Conference tournament May 9-12 Institute, WV Eppling Stadium – Beckley, WV.
National Ranking: HBCU Baseball Small School No. 8
Postseason Overview: The Yellow Jackets can win their conference tournament outright but they will need a strong showing in the Mountain East tournament.