(Editor's Note: Portions of the following story include information originally published in the Storm Lake Times)Buena Vista University of Storm Lake, Iowa looks to continue its magical postseason run on NCAA Division III’s biggest stage over Memorial Day weekend.
The Beavers (32-16) earned a spot into this year's World Series after going 4-1 during the Central Regional Tournament, including a thrilling 7-6 triumph over Carthage College on Saturday afternoon.
The trip to Appleton, Wis., and a chance to contend for a national championship is the first by an Iowa Conference school since Wartburg in 2005. You have to go back to the late 1960s to find a Buena Vista baseball team (then NAIA) that made it this deep in the postseason.
“We played about as well as anyone those first three games,” BVU coach Steve Eddie said of the Central Regional tournament leading up to the World Series. “We could’ve beat anybody. Everyone was saying this is how we should’ve played all year, but it was nice to see it come out when it mattered most.”
Buena Vista (32-16) will face UW-Whitewater (36-11) Friday at 4:30 p.m. in its College World Series opener. “They (Whitewater) have a couple good pitchers, but they don’t strike you out a lot,” Eddie said. “You’re going to get hits and we should be able to play our game. It’s one of those things where you get on first and then go from there.”
Senior right-hander Luke Probasco (9-3, 2.98 ERA) who was named Most Valuable Player of the Central Regional tournament is expected to get the start against Whitewater. Eddie said Probasco needs to pitch deep into the game and his team will need to be sharp defensively to get a win.
BVU is led by seniors Kevin Kloewer, Brad Blum and Luke Probasco who were named to the All-Region First Team this week.
Senior catcher Kevin Kloewer has been hot at the plate. He has seen his average raise from .307 to .322 following Regionals. He also leads the team in doubles (18), home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.649) and is second in RBI (46).
Blum the Beavers’ shortstop is the team's lead-off man and is leading the team in average at .378 and also posts an on-base percentage of .507. He leads the team with 20 stolen bases.
“It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere,” Eddie said of Appleton. “We made a promise that we’ll be the loosest team there because that’s what we’ve been through this whole process. Nobody gave us a shot to make it here.”
“I think it’s great way to cap off the career,” senior catcher Kevin Kloewer said. “Four years ago we were a .500 team and not real good. We worked hard with this in mind the entire time.”
“We’re going to go up there and play our game. Whatever happens, happens,” senior shortstop Brad Blum said. “We’ll give them our best shot, have some fun and hope it’s good enough to get a win.”
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