It is like "been there, done that" when the Lee University baseball team clashes with host Saint Leo University in the opening round of the NCAA DII South Region Championship on Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern inside Thomas B. Southard Stadium. Beginning with the 2017 season, the Flames and Lions have tangled 12 times and the series stands dead even at six wins apiece.
"We are really excited to be continuing our season in our second consecutive regional appearance and look forward to the challenge of an extremely competitive tournament," commented Lee Coach Mark Brew. "We have some familiarity with Saint Leo having played them every year from 2017-2020. As a team, we have played extremely well down the stretch, and you want to be playing well in post-season. It's a great opportunity in front of us and I am excited to watch our guys compete this week."
The Lions finished in a tie for second place in the Sunshine State Conference standings behind Tampa University. Coach Rick O'Dette was named the SSC Coach of the Year after directing his Lions to a 35-15 overall mark and 20-10 in league. It will be their first appearance in the Region since 2001. The Flames are 19-5 since a loss to Alabama Huntsville on March 26 and captured the GSC tournament and are in the Region for the second straight year. At the time of the UAH defeat Lee was a below .500 ball club. Coach Mark Brew's Club will take a 31-22 record into Thursday's contest.
The Lions are led by the SSC Player Bobby Sparling. He is tops in the conference in homers (21), RBI (62), hits (72) slugging (.768%) and on-base plus slugging (1.214). He did all this while batting .371. Saint Leo is hitting .305 as a team with 54 homers, 91 doubles and 13 triples. Jared Beck (3.62 ERA) started 12 games on the bump for the Lions. Dariel Fregio (.466 ERA) had 13 starts and an 8-2 record. Brayden Heidel (5.37 ERA) had 13 starts and a 2-4 mark. No other Saint Leo pitcher has started more than four games.
The Flames will counter with a pitching staff built around GSC Freshman of the Year Jack Nedrow. In 16 starts the right hander is 9-4 (3.86 ERA). In over 88 innings he has 71 K's with only 18 BB. Miguel Alba has a 5-2 record (3.70 ERA). In over 73 innings he has fanned 78 and walked 45. Big Sam Fulton (6-foot-8) has stepped up in a big way late in the regular season and in tournament play. He owns a 6-2 record and just as important 6 saves. Fulton has a (3.14 ERA).
Sophomore Dylan Standifer (.365 BA, 74 hits, 15 doubles, 6 homers and 56 RBI) has been the Lee offensive leader the entire year. Jared Demkowicz has 9 home runs and 43 RBI, but senior shortstop Thomas Zazzaro stepped up in the GSC tourney and was named Most Outstanding Player. He is a .300 hitter with 11 two-base hits and 6 homers. The "Z" man has stolen 17 bases in 19 attempts. Lee senior Joshua Perez and Justen Freeman joined Fulton and Zazzaro on the GSC All-Tournament team.
Lee is joined in the Saint Leo quad of the South Region by Delta State and Rollins. They are scheduled to play in the 6 p.m. contest on Thursday. In the Tampa quad of the South Region, the Spartans will be pitted against Spring Hill and Valdosta State will be going against Nova Southeastern. The winner of each quad will meet in the Super Regional. It will be a best two-of-three series with that winner advancing to the NCAA DII World Series.
Tournament Information
When: May 19-22
Where:
Saint Leo University
33701 State Road 52
St. Leo, Florida 33574
Thomas B. Southard Stadium
Ticketing Information
* There will not be a pass list or complimentary tickets for home and visiting teams, as this is an NCAA event
**Credit Card only
Individual Tickets
General Admission: $8
Students, Senior Citizens (65 & up), Military: $5
Children 12 and under: $4
Tournament Passes
General Admission: $20
Students, Senior Citizens (65 & up), Military: $12
Children 12 and under: $10
Pets
Pets are NOT allowed at Saint Leo University sporting events and will be strictly enforced. We will welcome service animals as defined by federal law. "Service Animals" are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Please be prepared to identify your dog as a Service Animal and the task your dog has been trained to perform. In addition, please note for the safety of all guests, you may be asked to remove a Service Animal who is unruly/out of control (or take action to bring the dog under control) or not housebroken. Saint Leo University is not required to provide care or food for a service animal, so please plan accordingly.
Food Service
No coolers, outside food, or drinks, will be allowed inside the stadium. Saint Leo's Hungry Food Truck will be on-site from 12 to 7 pm Thursday 5/19 and Friday 5/20 with a limited menu. We will be selling Chick-Fil-A sandwiches out of our concession stand on Saturday, 5/21. Drinks and prepackaged food items will be available throughout the tournament at the concession stand. Credit card only.
Schedule
Thursday:
2 p.m. | Saint Leo vs Lee
6 p.m. | Delta State vs Rollins
Friday:
2 p.m. | Loser of 5/19 2 p.m. game vs Loser of 5/19 6 p.m. game
6 p.m. | Winner of 5/19 2 p.m. game vs Winner of 5/19 6 p.m. game
Saturday:
2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Sunday:
2 p.m.
* Only if double elimination game is needed
