courtesy of D3baseball
Concordia (Ill.) was the automatic qualifier in the Northern AC, the conference's first Pool A bid after going through the NCAA waiting process. The Cougars (33-15, 18-4 Northern AC in 2009) went 0-2 against Wooster and Heidelberg, both top-10 teams heading into regionals. If there's to be a repeat, Concordia (Ill.) will have to do it without shortstop Jack Walker, who's now in the Nationals organization, and Phil Seris. Those two combined for 30 home runs, 96 runs batted in and 231 total bases in 2009.
The wheels have left Rockford, but the Regents will be just fine. Rockford (27-14, 17-5) loses outfielder Shaun Dascher and first baseman Chris Brockman (who stole a combined 47 bases) and two other starters, but this is a team that outscored its opponents 400-262 last season while scoring 9.8 runs per game. The pitching staff loses just one starter and a top reliever while welcoming three transfers, so the Regents, always a league contender, could be the favorites this year.
Aurora looks to make the next step after losing in the conference tournament final last year. The Spartans (29-13, 16-6) return one of the best pitchers in the region, D3baseball.com preseason All-American Steve Salazar (5-4, 2.12 ERA, three shutouts). If the Spartans, World Series participants in 2004 and 2006, develop someone after Salazar and Dan McCarthy (8-1, 3.81 ERA), they could take that next step. Aurora lost some quality arms behind the ace, but last year the Spartans had an ERA more than a full run better than the next Northern AC team. Senior outfielder Tony Wellner (.411 AVG., 11 HR, .756 SLG %) is back to anchor the lineup, which loses five starters who combined to bat .337 and accounted for 198 of the team's 356 RBI's.
Concordia (Wis.) is led by 2009 Northern AC Player of the Year and D3baseball.com preseason All-American outfielder Jon Olla (led nation with a .602 OBP). However, the Falcons (22-17, 14-8) must pitch better to contend. Last year the team had a 7.84 ERA and allowed opponents to bat .344. Then again Concordia (Wis.) swept UW-Whitewater to end last season, so the talent is there to beat the region's elite.