So here we are again. May baseball, tension rising, and two teams from the Philadelphia region pulling double duty: not just playing in the NCAA Division II Tournament — but throwing open their own gates to host it.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the top spot in the East Region bracket and will host a three-team elimination pod at DeSales University’s Weiland Park. It’s the Rams’ fourth NCAA appearance in school history, their second in a row, and the best version of themselves they’ve ever fielded — 38 wins and counting, a school record.
And if you like your baseball fast and frantic? Jefferson doesn’t just steal bases. They lead the country in thefts with a staggering 231 stolen bases. They bunt — 67 sacrifices, tops in the land. And they get on base at a rate (.459) that most offenses dream about. For all of that speed and precision, they’re also stingy on the mound — sixth nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (8.26).
They’ll face the winner of Goldey-Beacom (34-19) and Franklin Pierce (31-19). Goldey-Beacom? They’re in for the fourth time since 2017 and know Jefferson well — four meetings this season, three wins for the Rams. The Lightning don’t run quite like Jefferson, but they flash plenty — 147 steals of their own, 14th in the country, averaging nearly three per game. You want chaos on the bases? This pod may break a stopwatch.
And then there’s Franklin Pierce. The Ravens started their season getting swept by Jefferson in a four-game March set. They recovered to finish as runners-up in the NE10, and if you like strikeouts, they’ve got them by the handful — fourth in the nation at 9.6 per nine innings. They’ve also mashed 76 home runs (15th nationally), good for 1.52 per game. So don’t blink. Because everything in this bracket — from bunt to bomb — happens fast.
Meanwhile, across the region and a little to the west, there’s West Chester. The Golden Rams — not to be confused with Jefferson’s Rams — are back in the Atlantic Regional and back to hosting it, for the third time in four years. Serpico Stadium will serve as the backdrop as West Chester (35-15) begins a postseason quest that echoes their Cinderella run to the 2022 national semifinals in Cary, North Carolina.
Their draw? It begins with PSAC East rival East Stroudsburg (35-14) and MEC champ Fairmont State (27-26). Those two will kick things off Thursday at 11 a.m., with West Chester waiting for the loser in the nightcap. That’s right — win and you move on, lose and you face West Chester in an elimination game. It’s a format that could turn into a best-of-three as early as Friday.
And while the West Chester pod plays out in suburban Philly, the rest of the Atlantic drama will unfold at Millersville — the 42-8 juggernaut that enters as the region’s top seed. They'll host California (38-13) and Seton Hill (37-15). Eventually, the winners of the two pods will collide for a Super Regional spot in Cary — the road to the D-II College World Series.
West Chester knows that road. This marks their 20th NCAA appearance. They've played 87 postseason games. They've won two national titles (2012 and 2017). And since 2016, they’ve been about as consistent as the Liberty Bell is cracked — eight appearances in nine possible years.
The road to Cary begins this week. And for two programs that proudly wear “Rams” across their chests — the only question now is who gets the last dance.
