The 2014 University Athletic Association (UAA) Baseball Championships – featuring Brandeis University, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, the University of Rochester and Washington University (Mo.) – will be played from Sunday, March 9th – Sunday, March 16th at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Florida.
Coverage
The official website of the 2014 UAA Championships is http://emoryathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/UAA.
Pending internet availability and quality, all 20 games of the tournament will have a video webcast and live statistics. The link for the live stats is http://www.go.emory.edu/LiveStats/Base/xlive.htm, while the video will be available at http://emoryathletics.com/sports/bsb/live.
The standard definition version of the webcast will be free to view. For an upgraded viewing experience, fans can purchase a high-definition version of each game for $6.00 per game by clicking on the link located in the center of the video screen prior to the game or at the top of the video during the game.
Overview
This year marks the 26th annual University Athletic Association Baseball Championship Tournament and the 13th consecutive year of competition at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, in Sanford, FL. The tournament will feature double round-robin play.
Case Western Reserve University and Washington University shared the 2013 UAA title. The Spartans earned their first championship, while the Bears won their fourth title and first since 2005.
The Spartans return seven starters and 22 players from a team that finished second at the 2013 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Midwest Regional. CWRU is led by first-team All-Association choices John Fortunato, who anchors the pitching staff and infielder/outfielder Andrew Gronski.
The Bears return five All-Association players from last year's 25-15 team, including 2013 UAA Baseball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player Zack Kessinger and Dom Quaranta, who posted a 7-0 mark last season.
Emory University, which captured the 2011 and 2012 UAA titles, returns most of its team from last year's 22-17 squad. The Eagles recorded a 3.34 team earned run average behind key starters Connor Dillman (2.30 ERA) and 2013 Co-UAA Rookie of the Year Paul Merolla (3.41).
The University of Rochester, who tied Emory with a 4-4 mark in last year's UAA Baseball Championship, returns first-team All-Association selections Nolan Schultz and Josh Ludwig.
Brandeis University nearly doubled its win total from 2012 to 2013 and returns Co-UAA Rookie of the Year Liam O'Connor and Kyle Brenner as second-team All-Association honorees.
Since 1989, eight Association teams have made 34 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Brandeis reached the Division III College World Series in 1999, and Emory did the same in 2000, 2003, and 2007.
Tournament Schedule
All games will be played at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, FL
Sunday, March 9th
11:00 AM Washington University at Emory University
2:00 PM University of Rochester at Washington University
5:00 PM Brandeis University at Case Western Reserve University
Monday, March 10th
10:00 AM Emory University at University of Rochester
1:00 PM Case Western Reserve University at Emory University
4:00 PM Washington University at Brandeis University
Tuesday, March 11th
11:00 AM University of Rochester at Case Western Reserve University
2:00 PM Brandeis University at University of Rochester
5:00 PM Emory University at Washington University
Wednesday, March 12th
11:00 AM Case Western Reserve University at Brandeis University
2:00 PM Washington University at Case Western Reserve University
5:00 PM University of Rochester at Emory University
Thursday, March 13th
11:00 AM Brandeis University at Washington University
2:00 PM Emory University at Brandeis University
5:00 PM Case Western Reserve University at University of Rochester
Friday, March 14th
11:00 AM University of Rochester at Brandeis University
2:00 PM Case Western Reserve University at Washington University
Saturday, March 15th
11:00 AM Washington University at University of Rochester
2:00 PM Emory University at Case Western Reserve University
Sunday, March 16th
10:00 AM Brandeis University at Emory University
Emory Eagles
Record (2014/2013): 9-5 / 22-17
2013 UAA Record/ Finish: 4-4 / t-3rd
UAA Championships: 11 - 2012, 2011, 2008 (tie), 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 (tie), 2001, 1999 (tie), 1995 (tie), 1994 (tie)
Head Coach (Career Record/Yrs.): Mike Twardoski (420-201-1/15)
2014 Team Average/ ERA: .327 / 4.25
2013 Team Average/ ERA: .284 / 3.34
Returning All-UAA Tournament Players: Jared Kahn (Sr., IF)
Returning All-UAA Players: Brandon Hannon (Sr., OF, 1st), Wes Peacock (Jr., OF, 1st), Graham Bloomsmith (Jr., RHP, 2nd), Connor Dillman (Jr., RHP, 2nd), Daniel Iturrey (Sr., OF/DH, 2nd), Kahn (Sr., IF, 2nd), Paul Merolla (So., RHP, Rookie of the Year)
Brandeis Judges
Record (2014/2013): 4-2 / 15-23
2013 UAA Record/ Finish: 2-6 / 5th
UAA Championships: 5 - 2003 (tie), 2002, 1999 (tie), 1997, 1994 (tie)
Head Coach (Career Record/Yrs.): Pete Varney (683-488-6 / 33)
2014 Team Average/ ERA: .282 / 2.89
2013 Team Average/ ERA: .280 / 4.13
Returning All-UAA Tournament Players: Liam O'Connor (So., OF)
Returning All-UAA Players: Kyle Brenner (Jr., 1B/OF, 2nd), O'Connor (So., OF, 2nd, Rookie of the Year)
Case Western Reserve Spartans
Record (2014/2013): 5-1 / 29-14
2013 UAA Record/ Finish: 5-3 / t-1st
UAA Championships: 1 – 2013 (tie)
Head Coach (Career Record/Yrs.): Matt Englander (155-146-2 / 8)
2014 Team Average/ ERA: .389 / 5.43
2013 Team Average/ ERA: .304 / 3.44
Returning All-UAA Tournament Players: Neal Krentz (So., RHP),
Returning All-UAA Players: Andrew Gronski (Jr., 3B, 1st), John Fortunado (Sr., LHP, 2nd)
Rochester Yellowjackets
Record (2014/2013): 0-0 / 16-24
2013 UAA Record/ Finish: 4-4 / t-3rd
UAA Championships: 2 - 2010, 2009
Head Coach (Career Record/Yrs.): Joe Reina (251-209-2 / 13)
2014 Team Average/ ERA: NA / NA
2013 Team Average/ ERA: .268 / 4.51
Returning All-UAA Tournament Players: Brendan Garry (Jr., C/3B), Sam Slutsky (Jr., OF)
Returning All-UAA Players: Josh Ludwig (Jr., OF, 1st), Nolan Schultz (So., C, 1st), Slutsky (Jr., OF, 2nd)
Washington University (Mo.) Bears
Record (2014/2013): 1-3 / 25-15
2013 UAA Record/ Finish: 5-3 / t-1st
UAA Championships: 4 – 2013 (tie), 2005, 2003 (tie), 1995 (tie)
Head Coach (Career Record/Yrs.): Steve Duncan (83-49 / 4)
2014 Team Average/ ERA: .268 / 4.50
2013 Team Average/ ERA: .297 / 3.69
Returning All-UAA Tournament Players: Kyle Billig (Sr., OF), Andrew Goldstick (Jr., IF), Zack Kessinger *MVP* (Jr., IF)
Returning All-UAA Players: Stephen Bonser (Gr., RHP, 1st), Kessinger (Jr., IF, 1st), Dom Quaranta (Jr., P, 1st), Billig (Sr., OF, 2nd), Chris Lowery (Jr., IF, 2nd)
