The Norfolk State University baseball team for the first time in school history will play a post season tournament in the NCAA Regional competition. The Spartans (25-26), will be the #4 seed in the Greenville Regional as they start tournament play Friday May 4th against the #1 seed and host, East Carolina University. The games will take place at the Clark-LeClair baseball stadium located on the campus of East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina.
“Our team is really looking forward to playing in the regionals. We went to school late this year (January 27th) and were really behind when the season started. Our pitchers needed extra time to get stretched out and I asked the team to not worry about early results, but rather to really get better each and every day. The players improved every day and really came together down the stretch.”
“Our offense is anchored around Alsander Womack who has been clutch throughout. Dionte Brown has been a difference maker in centerfield for our outfield defense. Danny Hosley, James Deloatch and Nolan Manzer have anchored the pitching staff with Adam Collins and Ty Hanchey behind the plate. Each team member has gladly sacrificed themselves in some way for the good of the team to get us to the top of our conference. Every player on the roster has truly impacted our success down the stretch and there have been different heroes in every win” head coach Keith Shumate.
Greenville Regional
1 East Carolina (41-15)
2 Maryland (28-16)
3 Charlotte (39-19)
4 Southern University (20-28)
The winner of the four-team double elimination tournament will take place June 4-7, advance to the Super Regional along with 15 other teams. The winners of the Super Regional’s June 11-13, which is a best of three head-to-head series, will head to the College World Series in Omaha, NE June 19-30th.
The Greenville Regional will feature two games each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and if the championship is not decided on Sunday, the if-necessary title game will be played on Monday, June 7th. The first game each day will take place at 1 p.m., with the second game to follow. Monday title game set for 1 p.m., barring any adjustments made for potential televised games.
This is the first post season tournament trip for Norfolk State. Potential Friday starter Danny Hosley, a senior, compiled a 7-1 record with a 2.95 earned run average, striking out 79 in 73.1 innings pitched and limiting opponents to a .206 batting average.
Saturday starter James DeLoatch posted a 7-2 record with a 2.58, fanning 63 in 66.1 innings while opposing batters hit just .217 against the junior lefty.
Expect a save by committee from the Spartan bullpen. Nolan Manzer, 13 appearances, a 1-1 record, 0.81 earned run average and 26 punch outs. Alex Wright, 46 strikeouts, and Michael Portela, 3-3 record, 3.62 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
Several Spartans were named to the Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Elite 2nd Team list led the offense. Alsander Womack batting .358 with 12 doubles, three home runs, 36 runs batted in and 17 stolen bases. His 67 hits and 50 runs lead the MEAC conference and Ty Hanchey, hitting .269 with seven doubles, five home runs, 30 RBIs and 13 steals.
Norfolk State, the first team to advance to the 64-team field after winning the MEAC Conference Tournament.