Party like it's 1999: William Paterson baseball returns to NCAA Division III Tournament
WAYNE – The main entrance outside the grandstand at Jeff Albies Field recognizes the rich tradition and history behind the William Paterson University baseball program.
Two distinct banners hang from a steel structure that references each year the Pioneers have won the New Jersey Athletic Conference title and have appeared in the NCAA Division III World Series.
It’s a welcoming sight for all visitors to the Wayne-based campus.
Though most players on the current roster weren’t even born the last time William Paterson qualified for the postseason, they’re constantly reminded of the program’s storied past and success.
Now the Pioneers are partying like it’s 1999.
For the first time in 23 years, William Paterson is back in the national spotlight and will play in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament for the 18th time overall and first since 1999.
The third-seeded Pioneers (30-13) face defending national champions and second-seeded Salisbury (30-8) in the first round Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.
For coach Mike Lauterhahn, who is in his 15th season in Wayne, being back in the tournament stirs up emotions and recalls fond memories. His roots and ties with the program run deep, having played two seasons with the Pioneers from 1993-94, leading WPU to the 1993 NJAC title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
His father, Bob, retired in 2019 after 39 seasons as an assistant coach, and his brother, Dan was an All-American at the school and a 1997 draft selection of the Detroit Tigers.
“Returning to the national tournament feels the same as when I played here, but at the same time it’s also different as a coach. I get to see it from both angles,” said Lauterhahn, the NJAC Coach of the Year.
“I have a new appreciation for what my college coach [Jeff] Albies accomplished during his storied career here and it makes me realize that reaching this tournament is no easy task. The program and school mean a lot to me. It takes an entire team, coaches, administration and campus to make it happen. It feels great to be a part of it again.”
On Wednesday morning, Lauterhahn and the Pioneers boarded a bus for the eight-plus hour drive to Granville. The team spent Thursday afternoon at a practice in preparation for Salisbury and the weekend series.
“They’re [Salisbury] the national champions. That’s the first thing that comes to mind,” Lauterhahn said. “They play a strong schedule and have one of the nation’s top pitching rotations. We’re going into the weekend with the same mentality and approach that we had in the conference tournament. It’s going to be interesting to watch our lineup battle against their pitching.”
Last season the Sea Gulls captured their first national championship, going 5-0 in the 2021 College World Series.
William Paterson won the 1992 and 1996 NCAA Division III national titles and has reached the College World Series seven times, including four within an eight-year period (1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999).
“The team knows all about the program’s history. We’re carrying on that tradition and looking to write our own path,” said senior outfielder Dan Carter, the NJAC Player of the Year. “Some of us have been here for five years and it’s always been our goal to win a conference title and qualify for the national tournament.”
Road to the show
The Pioneers have momentum entering the regional, having won five straight games and seven of their last eight.
William Paterson earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, defeating Kean (31-13), 10-4 in the NJAC Tournament final. Third-seeded William Paterson swept the postseason tournament, going 4-0 and outscoring all three opponents (Kean, Montclair State, Ramapo), 46-22.
The winner of Friday's game will face the Denison/Penn State Harrisburg winner Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The losers of the two Friday first-round games will face each other Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner of that contest will play again Saturday at 6 p.m. and will take on the loser of the 2:30 p.m. game.
The two teams remaining after Saturday will meet at 11 a.m. on Sunday. If both of those teams have one loss after that game, a final game will be played on Sunday to determine the regional champion.
The four-team, double-elimination Granville Regional will be played over three days with the winner advancing to a best-of-three NCAA Tournament Super Regional Friday-Saturday, May 27-28, at a site to be determined.
The winners of the eight Super Regionals advance to the NCAA College World Series June 3-9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Postseason honors
Seven Pioneers earned All-NJAC postseason honors.
In addition to Carter and Lauterhahn, senior third baseman Colin Lombardo was named to the First Team.
Sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz (River Vale/Pascack Valley), first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale/Pascack Valley) and senior utility Steve Yelin (River Edge/River Dell) earned Second Team honors and senior outfielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi/Bergen Catholic) was an honorable-mention all-conference selection.
Carter, a Bloomfield native, led the Pioneers with a .441 average and 50 RBI, 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 29 runs scored.
“I was surprised to be named Player of the Year, but it’s a great honor,” Carter said. “We grew closer as a team as the season progressed. We’re friends outside of baseball and I believe that’s what made a difference leading into the conference tournament. When the chemistry came together, that’s when we took off as a team and the results proved that.”
Nick Gantaifis is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: gantaifis@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ngantaifis1
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: William Paterson baseball team returns to NCAA Division III Tournament
