Mapping the Series? Look east

Any conclusion drawn from the first two rounds of a tournament that will last six or possibly seven is perilously premature.

But here's a relatively safe assumption: Oklahoma or Tennessee will be represented in the championship game of the 56th annual NAIA World Series.

Four undefeated teams remain in the double-elimination hunt for a national title, and those states have provided two each. This symmetrical arrangement, in fact, has placed a pair of Oklahoma-vs.-Tennessee showdowns on the Memorial Day schedule.

After its traditional Sunday respite, the Series resumes today with four games at Harris Field. The winner's-bracket matchups will feature the aforementioned composition, with ninth-seeded Rogers State facing No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan at 3 p.m. and third-seeded Oklahoma City taking on No. 2 Lee at approximately 6:30.

Barring some far-fetched turn of events, at least one of these ballclubs will be in uniform for the Series finale, which will take place Thursday or Friday - unless weather intervenes. According to the long-range forecast, that's no more likely to occur.

Of course, the Oklahoma and Tennessee contingents make up only half of the remaining competitors. Also still in the mix, although with less margin for error, are Point Park and South Carolina Beaufort, the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds, who play this morning at 9, and top-seeded Louisiana State Shreveport, which takes on No. 6 Lewis-Clark State at noon. Both contests are win-or-else propositions.

The LSU Shreveport/L-C pairing is especially intriguing, being that both teams are eager to avoid unceremonious exits.

The Pilots are in danger of suffering an historic flop. Ranked No. 1 since early April, they have lost only five times in 56 games this spring - the most recent occasion being Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Series' most notable upstart, Rogers State. Should L-C win, LSU Shreveport will become the tournament's first top seed to go two-and-out since the current seeding scheme was implemented in 2004.

The Warriors, who are pursuing their 17th national championship, are on the verge of being eliminated in three games for the fourth consecutive year.

L-C, however, seems well situated to make a loser's-bracket push. The Warriors got complete-game pitching performances in their first two contests, a 7-2 loss to Oklahoma City and a 5-1 victory over College of Idaho, so their eight-person staff should be well-rested.

Senior right-hander Austin Pentecost (6-3, 2.78 ERA) is likely to get the start today for L-C.

Lee, Oklahoma City and Tennessee Wesleyan are also in an enviable position pitchingwise: By virtue of their seedings, each has played only one game to date.

Emotionally, though, Rogers State may be in the best shape of all the remaining competitors. In its first Series appearance, the school from Claremore, Okla., has rallied behind the memory of a teammate killed in an auto accident for a pair of one-run victories.

"Being the new team, we've got that fire," said pitcher Brandon Bargas, who struck out 18 in the Hillcats' attention-getting win over LSU Shreveport. "We're going to put Rogers State on the map."

Tennessee Wesleyan opened plenty of eyes in its Series debut, drubbing Embry-Riddle 17-3 on Friday. The Bulldogs racked up 16 hits, including five home runs. That accounts for half of the Series' long-ball total thus far.

"We believe we are the best team in the tournament, but there's a lot of good teams out here so this really does make a statement," third baseman Taylor Oldham said.

Lee and Oklahoma City are attempting to bolster well-established reputations. The Flames, from Cleveland, Tenn., aim to take that final step toward Series renown after having finished as tournament runner-up in 2008 and 2010, and placing third in '09 and last year. The Stars hope to add a second Series title; they won their first in 2005.

These Oklahoma and Tennessee schools also have the opportunity to play a role in what would be a rarity. Only twice in Series history have teams from the same state played in the title game. What's more, these states have previously squared off twice in the finale.

For the record, Tennessee is 2-0 in this particular interstate rivalry.

---

Browitt may be contacted at sports@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2268.