The Podcast About Division-III Baseball

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This is the fifth of eight regional preview podcasts -- this episode focuses on the New York Region. We begin (at 1:30) with the New York-iest New York region conference, the SUNYAC, where the Cortland Red Dragons appear to be primed for another run of dominance, but we should probably stop doubting the team that has been to the World Series two years in a row (Oswego State). Next (at 12:15), we move the Empire 8, which features three impressive programs -- Ithaca, St. John Fisher, and Stevens -- with varying strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to confidently identify a clear favorite. We then head to the Liberty League (at 24:15), where the Union Dutchmen may boast one of the most loaded lineups in the region, while Rochester will hope that their stellar schedule will help its résumé come regional season. Then it's time for the Skyline (at 32:55), as St. Joseph's (Long Island) is probably the favorite again, but Merchant Marine's insane 1-2 duo atop its rotation could make some noise. We then (at 37:25) briefly touch on the totally bizarre new reality for the CUNYAC before previewing the UAA member in this region (at 40:20), NYU. We conclude (at 47:05) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat.

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams.

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This is the fifth of eight regional preview podcasts -- this episode focuses on the New York Region. We begin (at 1:30) with the New York-iest New York region conference, the SUNYAC, where the Cortland Red Dragons appear to be primed for another run of dominance, but we should probably stop doubting the team that has been to the World Series two years in a row (Oswego State). Next (at 12:15), we move the Empire 8, which features three impressive programs -- Ithaca, St. John Fisher, and Stevens -- with varying strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to confidently identify a clear favorite. We then head to the Liberty League (at 24:15), where the Union Dutchmen may boast one of the most loaded lineups in the region, while Rochester will hope that their stellar schedule will help its résumé come regional season. Then it's time for the Skyline (at 32:55), as St. Joseph's (Long Island) is probably the favorite again, but Merchant Marine's insane 1-2 duo atop its rotation could make some noise. We then (at 37:25) briefly touch on the totally bizarre new reality for the CUNYAC before previewing the UAA member in this region (at 40:20), NYU. We conclude (at 47:05) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat. 

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams. 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This is the third of our eight season preview podcasts highlighting each region -- this episode focuses on the four conferences in the Central region, and of course, Jake's beloved WashU Bears. We begin (at 2:45) with the newly-minted American Rivers Conference, where Dubuque and Luther seem to have overtaken Wartburg as the favorites, with Coe not too far behind. We then move (at 15:32) to the CCIW, where the North Central Cardinals have represented the region quite well over the last few years and appear ready to continue their conference reign, with respect to Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and Wheaton (Ill.). Next (at 22:52), we head to the MWC, where the Monmouth Scots will look to defend their crown against an intriguing new addition to the conference, the UChicago Maroons. We move to the SLIAC (at 30:16) where Webster looks clearly like the strongest team in the entire region, but an up-and-coming Spalding team will look to challenge the Gorloks. Finally (at 40:01), we discuss the UAA reps, Washington University in St. Louis, and why we're excited and optimistic about the Bears, who feature a tremendously talented pitching staff and an offense that is only graduating one everyday player. We conclude (at 46:00) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat.

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams.

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This is the third of our eight season preview podcasts highlighting each region -- this episode focuses on the four conferences in the Central region, and of course, Jake's beloved WashU Bears. We begin (at 2:45) with the newly-minted American Rivers Conference, where Dubuque and Luther seem to have overtaken Wartburg as the favorites, with Coe not too far behind. We then move (at 15:32) to the CCIW, where the North Central Cardinals have represented the region quite well over the last few years and appear ready to continue their conference reign, with respect to Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and Wheaton (Ill.). Next (at 22:52), we head to the MWC, where the Monmouth Scots will look to defend their crown against an intriguing new addition to the conference, the UChicago Maroons. We move to the SLIAC (at 30:16) where Webster looks clearly like the strongest team in the entire region, but an up-and-coming Spalding team will look to challenge the Gorloks. Finally (at 40:01), we discuss the UAA reps, Washington University in St. Louis, and why we're excited and optimistic about the Bears, who feature a tremendously talented pitching staff and an offense that is only graduating one everyday player. We conclude (at 46:00) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat. 

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams. 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This episode focuses on the super-duper loaded Mid-Atlantic region, and covers the numerous teams that we see as legitimate contenders in each conference. We begin (at 2:10) with the newly-formed Atlantic East Conference, which is a new collection of teams, most of which have left the CSAC. We suggest Gwynedd Mercy as the slight favorites but it really could be any team's conference to win. We then move to the Centennial Conference (at 4:43), which featured one of the stories of the 2018 season in the Swarthmore Garnet, who return a huge portion of their supremely talented World Series team and have officially overtaken Johns Hopkins as the class of the conference, though the Blue Jays should still be very much in the mix. Next (at 11:29), we briefly touch on the Landmark Conference and why the Catholic Cardinals still seem like the team to beat. We then head (at 13:40) to one of our two MAC conferences, the MAC Freedom conference, where Misericordia returns a shocking amount of their 2018 World Series team, and we explain why we love watching the Cougars so much. Then (at 18:34) we discuss the ever-confusing two-horse race between Arcadia and Alvernia in the MAC Commonwealth, and why the Knights may have one of the best lineups in the region. We move forward with the NEAC (at 23:20), where Toby Welk will probably continue to do Toby Welk things #WelkWatch. Then (at 27:10), it's NJAC time, headed by the spectacularly loaded Rowan Profs, who look so absurdly good that they somehow overshadow three teams that would look like easy favorites in almost any other conference (Rutgers-Camden, TCNJ and Ramapo). Finally (at 41:30), we touch on the Keystone Giants, who appear to be new members of Pool B, but still look every bit as loaded as usual. We conclude (at 46:17) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat.

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams.

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. This episode focuses on the super-duper loaded Mid-Atlantic region, and covers the numerous teams that we see as legitimate contenders in each conference. We begin (at 2:10) with the newly-formed Atlantic East Conference, which is a new collection of teams, most of which have left the CSAC. We suggest Gwynedd Mercy as the slight favorites but it really could be any team's conference to win. We then move to the Centennial Conference (at 4:43), which featured one of the stories of the 2018 season in the Swarthmore Garnet, who return a huge portion of their supremely talented World Series team and have officially overtaken Johns Hopkins as the class of the conference, though the Blue Jays should still be very much in the mix. Next (at 11:29), we briefly touch on the Landmark Conference and why the Catholic Cardinals still seem like the team to beat. We then head (at 13:40) to one of our two MAC conferences, the MAC Freedom conference, where Misericordia returns a shocking amount of their 2018 World Series team, and we explain why we love watching the Cougars so much. Then (at 18:34) we discuss the ever-confusing two-horse race between Arcadia and Alvernia in the MAC Commonwealth, and why the Knights may have one of the best lineups in the region. We move forward with the NEAC (at 23:20), where Toby Welk will probably continue to do Toby Welk things #WelkWatch. Then (at 27:10), it's NJAC time, headed by the spectacularly loaded Rowan Profs, who look so absurdly good that they somehow overshadow three teams that would look like easy favorites in almost any other conference (Rutgers-Camden, TCNJ and Ramapo). Finally (at 41:30), we touch on the Keystone Giants, who appear to be new members of Pool B, but still look every bit as loaded as usual. We conclude (at 46:17) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat. 

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams. 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The first official weekend of the 2019 season is here. This is our second of eight regional preview podcasts, and focuses on the four conferences in the South region, where many teams will be starting their seasons over the next week or so. We begin with the CAC (at 2:05), where Christopher Newport and Salisbury remain the clear favorites, but how seriously should we take Penn State-Harrisburg? Next (at 11:35), we move to the ODAC, aka the SEC of D-III, where the powerhouse Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets and Shenandoah Hornets will surely be right back in the mix at the top, with Roanoke not far behind. We then head farther south, fittingly, to the SAA (at 19:48), which features an up-and-coming team in Berry, the defending champs in Rhodes, and a possible sleeping giant in Birmingham-Southern. We then head to USA South (at 30:40), where LaGrange has held steady at the top over the last few years but Methodist and Piedmont appear primed to challenge the Panthers. Finally (at 38:50), we touch on the Emory Eagles of the UAA, and why their Pool B status should not be ignored after a down year. We conclude (at 42:33) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat. Then we bring up the Greenville University basketball team because wow, what a thing. Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams.

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The first official weekend of the 2019 season is here. This is our second of eight regional preview podcasts, and focuses on the four conferences in the South region, where many teams will be starting their seasons over the next week or so. We begin with the CAC (at 2:05), where Christopher Newport and Salisbury remain the clear favorites, but how seriously should we take Penn State-Harrisburg? Next (at 11:35), we move to the ODAC, aka the SEC of D-III, where the powerhouse Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets and Shenandoah Hornets will surely be right back in the mix at the top, with Roanoke not far behind. We then head farther south, fittingly, to the SAA (at 19:48), which features an up-and-coming team in Berry, the defending champs in Rhodes, and a possible sleeping giant in Birmingham-Southern. We then head to USA South (at 30:40), where LaGrange has held steady at the top over the last few years but Methodist and Piedmont appear primed to challenge the Panthers. Finally (at 38:50), we touch on the Emory Eagles of the UAA, and why their Pool B status should not be ignored after a down year. We conclude (at 42:33) by shouting out some other notable players and then picking our players and pitchers of the year, and our teams to beat. Then we bring up the Greenville University basketball team because wow, what a thing. Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams. 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The 2019 season is upon us, which means it's about time we get back to podcasting. Before we dive into our first regional preview, we give our quick reactions (at 4:10) to the Preseason Top 25 poll and why you probably shouldn't care all that much about preseason polls. Then we begin our comprehensive look at the West region, starting with the ASC (at 8:20). We quickly discuss defending champion Texas-Tyler and their transition outta D-III, before deciding which of UT-Dallas and Concordia-Texas are the new favorites in the conference. We then move to the SCAC (at 19:05), home of the 2018 national runner-up Texas Lutheran Bulldogs. and one of the most talented teams in the country, the Trinity Tigers. Who has the edge? Next, we head out to the actual west part of the West region and discuss the favorites in the SCIAC (at 30:54). Will Redlands and Chapman duke it out for a title again, or will Cal Lutheran get back in the mix? AND WHAT ABOUT LA VERNE?! Finally, we head to the beautiful pacific northwest and preview the NWC (at 40:35), where the Willamette Bearcats look like a notch ahead of the rest of the pack but it could be wide open beyond them. Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams.

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The 2019 season is upon us, which means it's about time we get back to podcasting. Before we dive into our first regional preview, we give our quick reactions (at 4:10) to the Preseason Top 25 poll and why you probably shouldn't care all that much about preseason polls. Then we begin our comprehensive look at the West region, starting with the ASC (at 8:20). We quickly discuss defending champion Texas-Tyler and their transition outta D-III, before deciding which of UT-Dallas and Concordia-Texas are the new favorites in the conference. We then move to the SCAC (at 19:05), home of the 2018 national runner-up Texas Lutheran Bulldogs. and one of the most talented teams in the country, the Trinity Tigers. Who has the edge? Next, we head out to the actual west part of the West region and discuss the favorites in the SCIAC (at 30:54). Will Redlands and Chapman duke it out for a title again, or will Cal Lutheran get back in the mix? AND WHAT ABOUT LA VERNE?! Finally, we head to the beautiful pacific northwest and preview the NWC (at 40:35), where the Willamette Bearcats look like a notch ahead of the rest of the pack but it could be wide open beyond them. Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Click here to see our 2019 Preseason All-American teams. 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod (DMs are open if you want to reach us there) and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759