Babson Advances to NCAA Division III College World Series
This weekend, Babson’s baseball team swept swept SUNY Cortland in a best-of-three series at Babson’s Govoni Field. With the win, Babson advances to the Division III College World Series for the first time in program history.
They’ll face Johns Hopkins University on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in game 3 of the tournament’s Bracket B.
The winner of the four-team double-elimination bracket, which also features Birmingham Southern College and Heidelberg University, will advance to the best-of-three championship series against the Bracket A winner, which includes Chapman University, Webster University, UMass Boston and Washington & Jefferson College.
The Beavers have set a new school record for wins for the third consecutive season, and are just the second team in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) history to reach the College World Series.
An all-session ticket package can be purchased for $35 for adults and $22 for senior citizens and students. Fans also can buy daily general admission tickets, which go for $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and students.
Fans who can’t make it to Cedar Rapids can watch the game live, and follow along for live stats updates, on babsonathletics.com.
The Road to Iowa
The team earned the ticket to Iowa after hosting NCAA Super Regionals this past weekend. To make it to Super Regionals, the team defeated Trinity College, 10-3, in the championship game of the Hartford Regional tournament. With the victory, Babson set a new single-season record for wins after finishing the regular season at 30-5.
“They’re great kids. They’re incredibly tight, the chemistry, I’ve never been around a group that cares so much about themselves, the team, the program, and the school,” said Matt Noone, head coach. “They are really everything a coach can possibly ask for, so a combination of those things has brought these guys together, and they’ve put together an incredible run.”
This is the third consecutive year the team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament, and the fifth under Noone’s leadership, and the fifth in program history.
Extra Innings
Three years of competing in the NCAA Tournament has meant three missed Commencement ceremonies for the team’s senior athletes.
Each year, Babson sends them off with a special abbreviated commencement upon return from the tournament. This year was no different. Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Lawrence P. Ward welcomed the eight senior athletes to the ceremony, which he deemed “Centennial Commencement: Extra Innings.”
Ward and Mike Lynch, Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Senior Director of Athletics and Athletics Advancement. joined President Kerry Healey, Undergraduate Dean Ian Lapp, and Marianne Smith, chaplain to the Babson Community, in addressing the seniors and their families during the ceremony, held in the Glavin Family Chapel on Monday.
“You guys have won more games than any team in the history of Babson College,” said Lynch. “No matter what happens, recognize that you have made an indelible impact on our campus. We wish you the best in everything that you do.”
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