Communities get one chance to make a good first impression.Some guy has a Yogi Berra-type look at the Championships.
In the case of the Fox Cities, its first impression on those who put on the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship was lasting.
Anthony Holman, assistant director of the five-day championship that kicks off its 11th year here Friday, said the people — from the visitors bureau and local organizing committee to host families — made the difference.
"The people (of the Fox Cities) really have taken ownership of the championship and have made it theirs," Holman said. "Our kids feel when they are there, they are appreciated and the people really make them feel welcome."
This year's event is expected to generate $313,300 in revenue for the Fox Cities, including lodging and other spending by the visiting players, coaches and spectators.
Some 6,500 people will likely be in town for the event, according to the visitors bureau.
Visitor traffic to the Fox Cities during the Memorial Day holiday weekend traditionally is light, said Lynn Peters, executive director of the bureau. But with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point among participating colleges, more people could visit.
"Because they're so close, and if they do well and go deep in the tournament we could see some really big crowds," Peters said.
It has never happened in World Series history, and it hasn't happened since.And...
Umm. I think what he means is we'll see a first-time champion since none of the eight teams in this year's field has ever raised the trophy.
In fact, of the 88 championships offered by the NCAA, none has gone longer without a repeat winner than Division III baseball. Rowan was the last to accomplish the feat in 1978 and '79.
We were overwhelming underdogs.Head over to read it all. But, keep in mind people don't go there anymore. It's too crowded.
Yogi is referring to Illinois Wesleyan and the University of Massachusetts-Boston — a pair of unranked clubs and this year's Cinderella entrants.
Three weeks ago, Wesleyan was scuffling at 14-17. The Titans have won 13 of 16 since, a span that includes a conference tournament title as a fourth seed and a regional championship as a sixth seed.
Their team batting average and ERA over that 16-game stretch? Try .352 and 3.83. Their opponents' numbers? Try .281 and 7.94.
UMass-Boston, meanwhile, won its conference tournament as a fourth seed before outscoring its opponents 33-15 during a 4-0 regional run despite entering as the seventh seed.
And get this: The Beacons don't even have a true home ballpark. They share their field with an area high school and only played four games there this season. Now that's an underdog.
A look at the teams.
Then, there are these:
- NCAA Division III profile: Brad Archambeau, UW-Stevens Point
- NCAA Division III profile: Steve Nickel, SUNY-Cortland
- NCAA Division III profile: Tim Fontaine, Massachusetts-Boston
- NCAA Division III profile: Kelson Brown, Linfield College
- NCAA Division III profile: Steve Decker, Heidelberg University
- NCAA Division III profile: Greg Van Sickler, Shenandoah University
- NCAA Division III profile: Brian Youchak, Johns Hopkins University
- NCAA Division III profile: Brett Moore, Illinois Wesleyan
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