NECBL: Guide to the NCAA Tournament

Louisville's Lincoln Henzman is one of six Cardinals headed to the NECBL, with Henzman bound for Keene. 

Every year, some of the NECBL's best incoming players are delayed in arriving due to their collegiate teams competing in the NCAA baseball tournament. This year, there is a plethora of players headed to New England this summer that are competing in the 64-team tournament. Here's a detailed breakdown, looking at the top colleges represented.


Hosting the Coral Gables regional, No. 5 MIAMI is sending ten players to the NECBL this year- the only double-digit school. The Hurricanes are in the NCAA tournament for a 43rd consecutive year and are one of the eight national seeds. Outfielder Jacob Heyward, the younger brother of Cardinals star Jason, is playing in Mystic this summer. Heyward is hitting .316/.481/.449 over 80 at bats.

The Hurricanes are also sending talented relievers Michael Mediavilla and Jesse LePore to the Schooners. Mediavilla has limited opposing hitters to a .164 mark over 31 appearances, while LePore has a 1.93 ERA. Andy Honiotes, who hasn't given up a run in eight innings of work, is going to Plymouth.

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Miami isn't the only national seed represented, as No. 3 LOUISVILLE is sending six players. The group is headed up by the lights out bullpen duo of Lincoln Henzman and Sean Leland, headed to Northern Division rivals Keene and Vermont, respectfully. They've combined for almost 100 innings of work with 80 strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA. 

The Cardinals offense is led by 2014 Mountaineer Nick Solak, who is hitting .327 and has started all 59 of the regular season games. The Mountaineers are getting shortstop Devin Hariston in 2015, who has started 50 games for Louisville.

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OKLAHOMA STATE and INDIANA both have seven players, with the Cowboys hosting a regional and Indiana earning a three seed in the Nashville regional. 

Jon Littell, a 2014 39th round draft pick, has hit .226 in 29 games for Oklahoma State and is heading to Newport this summer. Garrett McCain, a member of Valley, has hit .310 over 30 games off the bench as well. The other five incoming NECBLers have served as role players, with Newport's Michael Mertz posting a 2.45 ERA in limited appearances out of the bullpen.

Indiana, meanwhile, continued to feed players into Vermont. The Hoosiers are sending Austin Cangelosi (.256/.396/.326, 21 RBIs) and Isaiah Pasteur (hitting .214 over 37 games) to Vermont, both regulars in the lineup. 

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SACRED HEART, the only New England team in the tournament, features six future NECBLers. The group is headlined by some of the Pioneers regulars, including a trio headed to New Bedford that features Jayson Sullivan (.296/.350/.379), Ted Shaw (.300 OBP) and Jake Friar (35 games played).

The Pioneers are followed by VANDERBILT, STONY BROOK and MICHIGAN, who are all sending five players. 

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Overall, defending champion NEWPORT leads the way with 12 players on NCAA tournament rosters.Valley has 11, Vermont has 10, Sanford has nine and Mystic, Plymouth and Keene are in a three-way tie with six apiece.

North Adams, New Bedford and Danbury have five. Ocean State and Laconia both have three. 

Every game is broadcast on ESPN's, and the Bases Loaded package features live look ins from across the regionals.