Amy Carlton has been named commissioner of the affiliated American Southwest Conference after serving in an interim commissioner role since July 1, 2006, the ASC Council of Presidents announced Thursday, Feb. 8.

"Amy Carlton served the American Southwest Conference well as the assistant commissioner and interim commissioner," said East Texas Baptist University president Bob Riley, head of the ASC Council of Presidents. "The ASC Council of Presidents voted to name her Commissioner and we believe that under Amy's leadership, we can achieve the ASC goal of becoming the premiere NCAA Division III conference."

Carlton, 47, becomes the second full-time commissioner of the ASC following Fred Jacoby, who retired in June 2006 after guiding the ASC for 10 years as the league's first commissioner (1996-2006). Carlton joined the ASC staff as director of media relations in January 2002 and was promoted to assistant commissioner in May 2003.

Carlton becomes one of 12 women who serve as commissioner of an NCAA Division III conference, guiding the largest conference among the 12.

"I am honored to have been selected to lead the American Southwest Conference," Carlton said. "I look forward to the challenge of working in a conference that is competitive athletically and that strives to provide its student-athletes with an athletic experience that matches the quality academic experience on their respective campuses.

"I want to thank my predecessor, Fred Jacoby, for establishing a solid foundation for the conference and its members. Fred continues to be a mentor to me and many within the ASC," Carlton added.

A native of Greencastle, Ind., Carlton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism cum laude from Franklin in 1981 and completed graduate courses in athletic administration at Western Illinois.

Carlton spent more than 20 years on college and university campuses, including 13 and a half years in sports information operations at three NCAA Division I institutions. Carlton and husband Chuck, a writer in the Dallas Morning News sports department, have a daughter, Taylor Lynne, and reside in Flower Mound, Texas.

Division III Baseball Online has become D3baseball.com and has joined D3hoops.com and D3football.com as members of the D3sports.com family!

With the resources of D3sports.com, we will bring an improved Web site for fans of Division III baseball. D3baseball.com thanks all those who supported the previous site for the past 12 years. Special thanks goes to Brad Bankston and the ODAC for providing a home, and all the SIDs who provided information that has made D3baseball.com the best overall source for Division III baseball for over a decade.

Baseball is already underway in the warm-weather areas of Division III, but as we wait for the springtime sounds of the crack of the bat look for regional previews for all eight regions.

Feb 14: New York
Feb 15: West
Feb 16: New England
Feb 19: Midwest
Feb 20: Central
Feb 21: Mideast
Feb 23: South
Feb 26: Mid Atlantic

Also, check out our blog, the Daily Dose, and our message board. We're also building up our database of information on each team, so if something is missing, drop us a line.

SIDs will have the ability to post releases on this site, just as with D3hoops.com and D3football.com. Login info will be the same.

The Hope baseball team has been invited to compete in a tournament in the Czech Republic this summer.

The Flying Dutchmen will join teams from Australia, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, France and United States in the 26th annual "Prague Baseball Week" tournament from June 26-30.

There's a thriving baseball scene in the Czech Republic, with interest in the sport dating to Communist times. Today there are two leagues and a national team which has beaten some of Europe's top clubs. The home of baseball in Prague is the southern district of Krc - where the country's top team Sokol Krc as well as the national team is based.

This will be the first international trip for a Hope baseball team. The Flying Dutchmen are the defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-champions. Coach Stu Fritz's squad will include members of this year's team which has started practice in anticipation of the traditional spring season.

The tournament will begin with pool play. Teams will play six games over the five days. Many of the games are televised nationally. A year ago the USA New England Allstars defeated a team from France 9-4 in the championship game.

ESPN recently included the Prague Baseball Week among its top ten baseball experiences.

In addition to the tournament, the players and coaches will have several opportunities to tour historic Prague. They will also conduct a service project during their stay.

The Iowa Conference voted in a change in baseball scheduled for the 2007 season. The IIAC will begin a three-game series among conference opponents.

During weekend series, Friday's contests will be one-nine inning game followed by two-seven inning games on Saturday. A midweek contest will be scheduled with two-seven inning games followed later with a midweek nine inning game at opposing team's site.

"In the past you see alot of splits among the league, hopefully this will change and the fans will see alot more pitchers and it should be exciting to watch," commented Dubuque coach Shane Schellsmidt. "The three game series will cut done on the non-conference contests, but it will add excitement into our IIAC Tournament. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will get a first-round bye so everyone will be pushing to capture those seeds to rest their pitchers another round."

Conference play will finish (weather permitting) on May 4-5, 2007. The IIAC baseball tournament is scheduled for May 10-13, 2007 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The IIAC extended their conference tournament at the home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels for another three seasons.

Marietta junior Mike Eisenberg nervously awaited the June 2006 major league draft. The NCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year did not have to wait long, as he was selected in the eighth round by the Cleveland Indians. Eisenberg, selected 251st overall, becomes the first Pioneer drafted since Dave Bradley was a 14th round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 1999.

Following the Championship co-MVP was two more pitching prospects, Thomas Vessella of Whittier and Cole Kimball of Centenary. Vessella was chosen in the 11th round by Houston and Kimball went in the 12th round to the Washington Nationals.

Chris Salamida was forced to quit his summer baseball team when the Houston Astros selected Oneonta State junior pitcher Chris Salamida in the 13th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. Salamida said he plans to sign a professional contract and skip his senior season. league team Tuesday. He didn't seem too upset about it, though. "When I found out, I was psyched," said Salamida, the 399th overall pick."It hasn't really hit me yet," said Salamida. "I wanted to yell."

Ray Stokes, the Cal State East Bay Pioneers top hitter with a .400 batting average, was drafted in the 16th round by the San Diego Padres in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 6. Stokes becomes the first CSUEB baseball player since Caleb Cooper in 2004 to be drafted. The San Diego Padres made him the 483rd overall pick in the 16th round. Joining Stokes was Chris Heisey, CF for Messiah who was drafted by Cincinnati in the 17th round.

The Washington Nationals organization selected Grove City College senior right-handed pitcher Erik Arnesen in the 17th round. A 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, Arnesen went 9-0 for Grove City this year, posting a 2.92 ERA. He struck out 84 batters in 71 innings this year and allowed just 61 hits. Arnesen also limited opponents to a .234 batting average against this year. He also set new Grove City single-season records for wins, innings pitched and strikeouts this season. Following the season, he earned First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honors and was unofficially recognized by the league coaches as PAC Pitcher of the Year. Arnesen also earned Second Team All-Mideast Region recognition from the America Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings.

Millsaps College outfielder Garner Wetzel was chosen in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres. Wetzel, a native of Gulfport, Miss., was the 543rd overall pick in the 2006 Draft. In the 2005 MLB Draft Wetzel was selected in the 10th round by the Colorado Rockies. Wetzel's pro career was put on hiatus after discovering a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. Wetzel opted for corrective surgery and to play out his senior season for the Majors.

Worcester State College junior pitcher Tim Stronach was selected in the 22nd round, 664th overall by the New York Mets on the second day of thenMLB Amateur Draft. Stronach, a right-hander, just completed his junior season for the Lancers finished this season with just a 3-7 record but posted an impressive 3.72 ERA and struck out 71 batters in 65.1 innings of work. Stronach had his finest season with the Lancers as a sophomore when he finished the year 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA and held the opposition to a paltry .209 batting average as he helped the Lancers to their best finish ever winning a NCAA Regional Tournament game for the first time in program history. Stronach is the first Lancer to be drafted since the 1960's when Worcester State had three players selected.

Will Groff and Andrew Mead, both from Cortland State were the only NCAA Division III teammates chosen in the 2006 professional baseball draft. Groff, a junior second baseman, was chosen in the 29th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Mead, a senior outfielder, was selected in the 40th round by the World Series champion Chicago White Sox. The players are the seventh and eighth Red Dragons to be drafted overall.

Senior tri-captain Teddy Dziuba became the first position player in Babson College history to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team, as he was selected by the New York Mets in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. A lefthanded-hitting catcher, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Dziuba was taken by the Mets in the 33rd round with the 994th overall pick. He joins former pitchers Rick Renwick '79 and Jason Kosow '04 as the only Babson players to be drafted by a professional team.

Rowan University shortstop Matt Enuco was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Matt Enuco Enuco was taken in the 36th round of the draft with the 1095th overall pick. During his four years, he compiled a .322 batting average with 209 hits in 649 at bats. This season, Enuco led the Profs with a .363 batting average, 16 doubles and a .447 slugging percentage. He also contributed two triples, three home runs, 21 stolen bases (30 attempts), 48 runs scored and 39 RBIs. Enuco received New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Conference honorable mention.

Two pitchers from southern colleges were selected next in the 2006 draft. Logan Collier, Guilford was selecetd in the 37th round by the rhp, St Louis Cardnals. The Boston Red Sox used their 38th pick to select Randolph Macon's Travis Beazley.

Franklin & Marshall College right-hander Ted Serro was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 40th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. He will report to the Blue Jays spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida and will be assigned to either the Class A Auburn (NY) Doubledays of the New York-Penn League in Auburn, New York or the Rookie League Pulaski (VA) Blue Jays of the Appalachian League. The #1,200 selection, Serro becomes only the second F&M player in the recorded history of the College to be drafted by a Major League club as Lancaster native and left-hander Jeff Rineer was selected 43rd in the third round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1975 amateur draft.

Chapman University right-hander Kyle Johnson was selected by the New York Mets in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, the 18th and final NCAA Division II player selected. Johnson was taken in the 46th round and 1,379th pick overall. He becomes the sixth Panther taken in the MLB Draft since 1999 and the fifth pitcher from Chapman. Johnson, a junior, put up impressive numbers in three years at Chapman, primarily as a reliever. In 22 career appearances, he posted a 2-2 record and 3.80 ERA. Most impressive has been his velocity, which scouts have clocked in the low to mid-90's. The 6-3, 225-pound righty struck out 54 batters in 47.1 innings in his career and held opponents to just a .205 batting average.

A complete list of Division III baseball players drafted follows

Draft number. Name, School, position, Team (round drafted)
251. Mike Eisenberg, Marietta, rhp, Cleveland (
339. Thomas Vessella, Whittier, lhp, Houston (11)
361. Cole Kimball, Centenary, rhp, Washington (12)
399. Chris Salamida, Oneonta State, lhp, Houston Astros (13)
483. Raymond Stokes, Cal State East Bay, 2b, San Diego (16)
504. Chris Heisey, Messiah, cf, Cincinnati (17)
511. Erik Arnesen, Grove City, rhp, Washington (17)
543. Garner Wetzel, RF, Millsaps, rf, San Diego (18)
664. Timothy Stronach, Worcester State, rhp, New York NL (22)
886. Will Groff, Cortland State, 2b, St Louis (29)
994. Teddy Dziuba, Babson, c, New York NL (33)
1095. Matt Enuco, Rowan, 2b, Chicago AL (36)
1126. Logan Collier, Guilford, rhp, St Louis (37)
1153. Travis Beazley, Randolph Macon, rhp, Boston (38)
1200. Ted Serro, Franklin and Marshall, rhp, Toronto (40)
1215. Andy Mead, Cortland State, of, Chicago AL (40)
1290. Cory Anderson, Coast Guard, rhp, Washington (43)
1379. Kyle Johnson, Chapman, rhp, New York NL (46)

Entering the NCAA Division III national championship game at Fox Cities Stadium, it had been 20 years since the Marietta baseball team had taken the top honors back to Ohio. Since then, the United States has been under the leadership of four different presidents. The Cold War ended, while music and fashion trends have come and gone. And nine years ago in Norton, Mass., Marietta's 2006 championship-game opponent, Wheaton College, established its varsity baseball team. By that time, Marietta had already played in 14 of its 18 championship finals and had won three national titles. And Marietta proved on Tuesday that experience counts in a championship game.

Marietta outscored its opponents 26-12 in winning its four tournament games, marking the second straight year that the national championship team has gone unbeaten through the five-day tournament.

Eisenberg delivered his second dominating outing on the mound to share tournament Co-Most Outstanding Player honors with his teammate, Steranka. Eisenberg struck out 12 Lyons on the afternoon while allowing just two walks and six hits in eight innings, giving him 23 strikeouts in his 16 innings of work in two starts in the finals. "Nobody's more important than anybody else in our program, but he's our No. 1 pitcher," Brewer said. "He's performed like it all year and he performed like it today. He's just a super kid and a great competitor."

"He pitched a really good game," said Wheaton's Pat O'Connor, who had a run-scoring single off of Eisenberg. "The slider was very effective today. It made us off-balance. A lot of us chased pitches in the dirt. The thing about his slider was that you couldn't pick up the spin until it broke, and by then, you're already swinging and you're just lunging on it. He pitched a great game. He deserved to win today."

Eisenberg delivered a solid mix of pitches – fastball, curveball and slider – and went through the first three innings without giving up a hit. In the fourth, Wheaton loaded the bases on a walk, fielding error and single, but a double-play grounder ended the threat. "I was just trying to get the ball where it needed to go, and our defense was huge today again," Eisenberg said. "That double play with the bases loaded … was probably the biggest play of the game, because that was a momentum-changer right there."

Marietta began its scoring barrage right after the double play, as all seven of its runs came via the long ball. The first was a Tony Piconke two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, Steranka hit a three-run shot to left-center, then followed that up an inning later with a two-run blast to deep center field. "I went up there with the approach to hit the ball to the opposite field," Piconke said of his homer. "He ( Wheaton pitcher Chris McDonough) ended up hanging a change-up up towards the middle of the plate, and I ended up putting a good swing on it and it went over."

"Normally, when Mike's (Eisenberg) on the mound -- this has been the case all year – we don't need to put up a lot of runs," Steranka said. "When we can put up seven, normally we feel pretty good as a team that we can win most of the time. What better way to come out than in a national championship game, to put up an offensive display like that?" In addition to Steranka's 3-for-5 performance, Klausman, Piconke and Eschbaugh had two hits apiece.

Eisenberg allowed just one hit through his first six innings of work, but Wheaton got on the scoreboard in the seventh. Two walks and RBI singles by O'Connor and Brandon Leonard produced two runs in the frame.

After a scoreless eighth inning, a leadoff single in the ninth by Wheaton's Adam Laplante brought Brewer to the Marietta mound to replace pitchers. Mike DeMark made his third appearance in the finals, claiming a strikeout while allowing one hit in the final inning.

Leonard led the Lyons with two hits, while Andy Koocher had a double, his 12th of the season. "We had a great season, a great run through our conference tournament, a great run through the regional tournament," said Wheaton coach Eric Podbelski, the only head coach in the nine-year history of the Lyons' program. "These guys will always be the first team that took us to this point … and once we were here, we weren't just happy to be here. We got to the championship game. As hard as it is to reflect right now, I know that this team will always be remembered at Wheaton, and I'll always remember them. It's amazing."

McDonough, who earned a win with an eight-inning, five-strikeout performance against North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday, lasted just four-and-a-third innings for the Lyons on Tuesday, striking out one while allowing 10 hits.