Wingate wins the 2021 DII baseball national title

“We are just planting seeds. In the future this program is just going to keep growing.” — Central Missouri's shortstop Alex Madera on two-straight trips to Cary.

“I don’t think Mason has lost in our uniform. Did I plan on getting rain delayed and coming back with him, no. He asked for the ball. The amount of pitches he threw last night showed it was safe for him to do for his arm and his future. He gave us a gutty outing, that’s what he’s done all year.” — Central Missouri head coach Kyle Crookes on his ace's performance against Tampa in the semifinals

“We really took it a day at time, going after each team. But yesterday, beating Angelo State, I felt we had a really good shot at winning this thing.” — Wingate's catcher and Most Outstanding Player, Logan McNeely

“It’s outstanding. In your head as a coach, you put a guy in the ball game and in my head I’m running every scenario. And you’re trying to monitor how he’s doing. It just kept getting better. The next thing you know we’re going into the ninth inning, and the best thing I could do was stay out of the way.” — Wingate head coach Jeff Gregory on Sam Broderson's performance

“It was heavy at the bottom of the dog pile. It’s our third one this year, so we’re kind of getting used to it. You learn where to be in the dog pile.” — Logan McNeely

Sam Broderson goes five scoreless innings in relief to lock up the title

The final stats from the DII baseball championship game.

Wingate

Central Missouri

That National Championship feeling

— Wingate Bulldogs (@WU_Bulldogs)

Wingate needs six more outs to experience its first dog pile in Cary. A pinch-hit double by Grayson Chapman added some insurance in the bottom half of the seventh. Central Missouri coming up, trailing Wingate 5-3.

A two-run fifth has Wingate back on top

The Mules got out of a bases-loaded jam to end the fifth, but not before the damage was done. Logan McNeely picked up an RBI — his second of the game — and Gehrig Christopher followed with an RBI of his own.

Bulldogs lead 4-3 after five complete.

Third inning: Wingate 2, Central Missouri 0

What a battle thus far. There have been quite a few web gems by both teams, but sometimes, getting the ball in play leads to forced errors and important runs. After stranding two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second, Wingate strikes first, with Logan McNeely sneaking one in and getting a run on the board.

Jed Bryant followed with a rip that got past Dusty Stroup at third, scoring Michael Dansky. Collin Jones day is done as the Mules go to the pen down 2-0 with runners on second and third and just one out. 

And the strike first! 1-0 in the bottom of the third. Bulldogs still threatening.

— Wayne Cavadi (@UofDWayne)

The Bulldogs fan base certainly won't make this easy. They came out strong and are stomping and cheering on every pitch. 

Also, after days of rainouts, how about this weather? It's a little muggy, but a nice 80 degrees and beautiful blue skies. 

A good day to decide a baseball champion, don't you think?

The Wingate faithful are out in full force.

— Wayne Cavadi (@UofDWayne)

Box score: Central Missouri 3, Tampa 1

Tampa certainly had its chances, stranding 11 runners in the game. Here are the complete stats from the semifinal.

Central Missouri

Tampa

Central Missouri advances to finals, defeats Tampa 3-1

After rains and lightning put a halt on Friday’s semifinal action, Central Missouri and Tampa resumed play in the Cary heat on Saturday. The two DII baseball powerhouses delivered on providing the fans with a thrilling winner-take-all semifinal game.

The Mules’ ace Mason Green gave a gutsy performance. Despite starting and tossing 2.1 innings late Friday night, he came out and threw 4.2 scoreless innings a day later. Green pounded the strike zone, landing 70 of 111 pitches for strikes, striking out seven and walking two. He mixed his speeds well keeping Tampa batters at bay despite allowing baserunners in nearly every inning.

Ballgame! moving on to the championship game against at 2 pm.

— Wayne Cavadi (@UofDWayne)

Erik Webb provided the insurance, taking Tampa’s Brayden Nelson deep. The home run was the 100th home run hit in Cary since the tournament moved here in 2009. That was also Webb’s fourth home run of the tournament.

Brayden Nelson was outstanding in relief for the Spartans. He tossed 6.1 innings, and was flashing a 95 mph fastball that moved. He held the velocity throughout hitting 92 in the eighth and flashed the leather, making a nice stop to need the Mules half of the eighth. He has a nice pitch mix and struck out eight while walking none. Nelson was nothing short of impressive. 

Up next... winner takes all. Central Missouri and Wingate play for the title at 2 p.m. We’ll be with from first pitch to the final out.

2021 DII baseball: Tampa vs. Central Missouri full replay

End of the 4th: Central Missouri 2, Tampa 1

There have been base runners, but both pitchers are working out of jams. Braydon Nelson is out here pumping for Tampa, lighting up the scoreboard with a 95 mph fastball. He also picked off Alex Madera to end the fourth. 

Central Missouri 2, Tampa 1 in the top of the 3rd inning

Welcome back, DII baseball fans. We're back in action, continuing the last semifinals game of the tournament. Jamarcus Lyons gets right back in the swing of things with a leadoff double. 

Tampa’s Jamarcus Lyons take Mason Green the other way to start Saturday’s action at the championship.

— Wayne Cavadi (@UofDWayne)