D2 World Series: Preview and Predictions

The D2 Baseball World Series gets going in less than 24 hours, with eight teams battling it out for the right to call themselves national champions.

Before the action gets going and we see who will eventually be crowned champion in a few days, let's take a look at each of the sub-regionals in the final bracket, and see who will make it into the final series of the year.

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Sub-Regional One

Schedule

First Round (May 27)
Game 1: West Chester vs. North Georgia, 4:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: Delta State vs. Lindenwood, 8:00 p.m. ET

Second Round (May 29)
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4:00 p.m. ET
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8:00 p.m. ET

Prediction

This part of the bracket is absolutely stacked, perhaps maybe even too stacked. It seems wrong that the committee would place the two best teams — UNG and Delta — in the same bracket group, guaranteeing we cannot see them duke it out in the championship.

Instead, those two programs will battle for a spot in the final series, and make no mistake, it will come down to those two. Both teams have been consistently great all year, and there is no reason to believe they will be slowing down at any time. 

But the advantage goes to Delta for two reasons, the first being the amount of experience they have getting this far into the tournament. Yes the faces may change, but head coach Mike Kinnison has been here before, and claimed a title back in 2004. Look for DSU to get into the final round and make it a possible three-peat for the South Region.

Projected Champion: Delta State

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Sub-Regional Two

Schedule

First Round (May 28)
Game 1: STAC vs. UC San Diego, 4:00 p.m. ET
Game 2: Mesa vs. Quincy, 8:00 p.m. ET

Second Round (May 30)
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4:00 p.m. ET
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8:00 p.m. ET

Prediction

If you want to get through this grouping, you better have some pretty good pitching depth, and that applies directly to STAC and Colorado Mesa, both of whom could argue for the title of best pitching staff in the World Series field.

Where the difference may lie is in the bullpen, where the Spartans have a small edge over Mesa. Where Mesa has the advantage though is with starter Kyle Leahy, who has gone 13-0 this season and is the best pitcher remaining in the field. While it is unlikely the Mavericks' ace would see STAC anytime before the bracket final, that is just the one place Mesa would want to unleash their bona fide ace.

STAC has been a great team this year in the best season they have ever had, but Mesa's starting rotation and timely offensive prowess will get them a meeting with Delta State in the D2 finals, with just a couple wins separating them from glory.

Projected Champion: Colorado Mesa