Baseball 5/6/2013 1:24:00 PM

OCU hosts NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round

Stars own top seed in Oklahoma City Bracket

OCU captured the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University vies for a spot in the NAIA World Series starting Thursday at Jim Wade Stadium in the NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket.
Second-ranked OCU, 15th-ranked Sterling (Kan.), No. 23 USAO, Northwestern (Iowa) and Jamestown (N.D.) comprise the teams in the double-elimination baseball tournament. The championship is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday with an if-necessary game scheduled noon Monday, May 13.
The top-seeded Stars (47-11) will be led by all-Sooner Athletic Conference pitchers Cody Crabaugh and Derek Howell. OCU, the SAC regular-season champion, looks to qualify for the World Series for the sixth consecutive year.
Crabaugh, a senior right-hander from Edmond, Okla., ranks second in the NAIA with 13 victories. He has gone 13-1 with a 2.08 earned run average and 72 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched. Howell, a senior righty from Krum, Texas, rates ninth in the NAIA in ERA (1.53). Howell adds a 10-2 ledger and 77 strikeouts in 88.1 innings pitched.
OCU ranks No. 1 in the NAIA in fielding percentage (.978) and triples (27). The Stars rank second in home runs (66), slugging percentage (.528), opponents' batting average (.213) and fourth in strikeouts (416). To see how OCU ranks among NAIA statistical leaders, click here. The Stars play 6 p.m. Thursday against the winner of the Jamestown-Northwestern matchup.
“Our pitching and defense have been outstanding all year long,” OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. “We lead the NAIA in defense. That's been a staple. Our pitching staff has been outstanding all year. We throw a lot of strikes and get quality pitches. When you have good defense, it helps. Our hitting has been good enough. We're opportunistic.”
No. 2 seed Sterling captured the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year. Shortstop Joe Williams, the KCAC player of the year, headlines the Warriors with his .406 average, two homers, 30 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Sterling (46-12) meets USAO at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Third seed USAO enters the NAIA Championship Opening Round for the first time ever. The Drovers (40-17) feature all-SAC outfielders Jared Coon (.390 average, five homers, 51 RBIs, 10 steals) and Brian Vigo (.388, 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 20 steals).
Fourth seed Northwestern won the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament championship. Tyler Stuerman leads Northwestern (31-17) with his 7-2 record, GPAC-low 1.32 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 68 innings. Northwestern takes on Jamestown at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Fifth-seeded Jamestown (28-9) took the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Tournament crown. Jakob Ohmann has produced team highs with a .420 batting average and 33 RBIs.
The nine opening-round tournament winners and host Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) will comprise the field for the NAIA World Series on May 24-31 in Lewiston, Idaho.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under per session. Tournament games will be available via live video at a rate of $8.95 per game or in a tournament package for $24.95.

Oklahoma City Bracket
At Jim Wade Stadium
Thursday's Games
Game 1: Jamestown (N.D.) vs. Northwestern (Iowa), 11 a.m.
Game 2: Sterling (Kan.) vs. USAO, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.
Friday's Games
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 2:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 5, 11 a.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 2:30 p.m., championship
Monday, May 13
Game 9: If necessary, noon

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