By Ron Smith
May 12, 2023
 
(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) The field for the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round has been set and four teams will make their way to Montecito to join #6 Westmont (40-8) in the Santa Barbara Bracket. Play begins on Monday, beginning at 9:00 a.m., with the winner of the double-elimination tournament punching their ticket to the NAIA World Series.
 
Westmont won last year's Santa Barbara Bracket and for the first time in program history, advanced to World Series play.
 
The Warriors, who are the tournament's top-seed, will be hosting familiar opponents. The Redhawks of Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.) (42-12) are the tournament's number two seed. Ranked 13th in the final NAIA Coaches Top-25 Poll, the Redhawks' 27-game winning streak this year was likely a significant factor in their at-large invitation to this year's national tournament.
 
The Warriors and Redhawks have faced off four previous times, with the Redhawks taking two from the Warriors in February of 2021 and Westmont winning two in February of 2022.
 
The Tournament's number three seed is fellow Golden State Athletic Conference member Vanguard (33-19), who is also an at-large invitee to the tournament. While the Lions hold an 108-86 series advantage over the Warriors, Westmont has won the last five meetings, including sweeping a three-game series in March of this year. Vanguard is ranked 15th by the NAIA coaches.
 
British Columbia (34-19) is the tournament's fourth-seeded team. The Thunderbirds earned their way into national championship play by winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament, defeating Oregon Tech by a score of 11-7.
 
Westmont and British Columbia have squared off 17 times since 2009 with the Warriors holding a 12-5 series advantage. The last time the two teams met was in 2019, during which Westmont swept a four-game series.
 
The Pioneers of Antelope Valley (30-14) will return to the Santa Barbara Bracket after reaching the championship game last season. Winners of the California Pacific Conference Tournament, the Pioneers are seeded fifth. Antelope Valley defeated Benedictine-Mesa 4-3 in the championship game to claim the Cal Pac's automatic berth. Westmont holds a 9-4 series advantage over Antelope Valley.
 
Play begins Monday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m. with a game between Antelope Valley and British Columbia. Then at 12:30, Vanguard and Benedictine-Mesa will meet up in the second game. Westmont begins play at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, taking on the winner between Antelope Valley and British Columbia. 
 
Play continues with three games on Tuesday and two on Wednesday. If necessary, a final game will be played on Thursday at noon.
 
The Santa Barbara Bracket champion will advance with the winners of the other nine opening rounds to compete in the 10-team, double-elimination NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho beginning on May 26.