There are conferences that receive but one bid to the D2 Baseball tournament every year.
With fewer than two weeks until the field will be announced, let's take a look at some conference tournaments — either already ongoing or getting ready to begin — that likely play the most significant of factors in the selection process.
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Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference
Regionally Ranked Teams: 1
Tournament Dates: May 5, 10-12
The CACC sent two teams into the NCAA Tournament last season, but look to be limited to one bid because of the current regional rankings limiting the conference to one team ranked.
Wilmington (DE) is the one team currently slotted to potentially make the tourney field but should be joined by fellow standout teams Felician, Concordia (NY) – who made the tournament last year – and Post.
But as it stands right now just one will make it as the NE10 litters the list of currently ranked squads for the NCAA's. With eight teams (four from each division of the CACC) making it into the conference championship, the fight will begin to claim the conference's automatic bid.
We might even see an unknown force come through and take everything away from the teams we mentioned above…
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Great Midwest Athletic Conference
Regionally Ranked Teams: 2
Tournament Dates: May 9-12
The GMAC received just one bid last year when Kentucky Wesleyan won the conference tournament, but the addition of programs from the GLIAC in 2018 have brought the conference to new heights that could see them get two clubs into the tournament field.
Ohio Dominican and Malone – both in the same division – are the currently ranked teams at four and six respectively. That should mean ODU is secure in their spot for the most part, but Malone needs a deep run to make sure they get in.
But don't be surprised to see someone else come in and sneak a bid away from one of the two teams above or even add a third member into the fold. The GLIAC Tournament will hold a big piece of the puzzle as three of that league's teams are near the bottom of the rankings as of the second rankings.
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Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Regionally Ranked Teams: 0
Tournament Dates: May 3-6
The SIAC has the unfortunate trait of being stuck in the same region as the Gulf South and Sunshine State Conference, arguably the two best leagues in all of D2 Baseball.
So that means this league is usually allotted just one team into the regional brackets of the D2 playoffs. So each year, that means the conference champion will be the one team to get into the final field.
The current favorite to get into the bracket would be Miles which has dominated league play to the tune of 19 victories in league play. Albany State — the one seed from the East division – could also make noise with a favorable draw and home-field advantage with the tourney held in Albany, Georgia.
Whichever of these teams gets in though, look for them to make some potential noise in the national field against teams who have garnered much more recognition throughout the season.
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