SALEM, Va. – The Roanoke College baseball team is blazing a postseason historic trail. The program has many firsts this year, first ODAC championship, first regional championship and first College World Series berth.
"Five-year plan was by the time we get to year five, with our first recruit class seniors, we'd be competing for an ODAC title. Getting to the World Series I think a team that gets hot, gets there. And we've been that team this year," said Maroons baseball coach Matt McGuire.
Recommended Videos
Hot is an understatement, the Maroons have been on fire. In the NCAA Division III South Regional, they came in as the No. 6 seed, and knocked off the top seed, Salisbury, to claim the regional title.
"It was our goal all along, lots of hard work put in and it's nice for it to finally pay off," infielder/pitcher Eli Sumpter said.
"Well, coach Mac always says our motto is to finish, so I don't think he cares how we get there. I think he just cares what we do when we are there," outfielder/pitcher Sam Watson said.
Coach McGuire said after the ODAC championship that the team wasn't done, now that they have a regional title, they have their eyes set on the College World Series.
"Once we touch down in Wisconsin the celebration is over. We told them 24-48 hours we will celebrate it, just like we did the ODAC title, but once we get to Wisconsin we are trying to win a national championship," McGuire said.
With College World Series play starting Friday, the Maroons look to bring the heat to Wisconsin.