By STEVE KRAH
A quest for an NAIA baseball national title begins today (May 13) for four Indiana schools.
The double-elimination Opening Round begins at nine sites. Indiana Tech is the No. 2 seed at Williamsburg, Ky., Indiana University Southeast is No. 3 at Lawrenceville, Ga., Huntington is No. 4 at Macon, Ga., and Marian is No. 5 at Kingsport, Tenn.
Indiana Tech (38-14-1) takes on Lyon (Ark.) in its first game while IU Southeast (35-18) faces Georgetown (Ky.), Huntington (26-14) squares off against British Columbia and Marian (30-19) clashes with Madonna (Mich.).
Winners in the Opening Round, which is scheduled to conclude May 16, advance to the 63rd annual NAIA World Series May 24-31 in Lewiston, Idaho.
No. 3 seed Oakland City (21-13) will host the National Christian College Athletic Association Mid-East Regional and plays Hiwassee (Tenn.) today. The regional goes through May 16. The NCCAA World Series is May 22-25 in Easley, S.C.
By beating Rose-Hulman in the championship of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, Franklin (28-13) earned a berth in the NCAA Division III regionals and were to learn where they go today.
In NCAA Division I, Indiana (33-18, 14-7) is in second place in the Big Ten Conference standings behind Michigan (37-13, 15-5). The eight-team conference tournament is May 22-26 in Omaha, Neb. Before that, the Hoosiers play host to Louisville Tuesday, May 14 then Rutgers in a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series.
Purdue (19-31, 7-13) is in 12th in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers play host to Xavier Tuesday, May, 14 then Ohio State for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Indiana State (34-14, 11-7) is in second in the Missouri Valley Conference behind Dallas Baptist (36-15, 12-6) and Illinois State (30-21, 12-6). The Sycamores host Bradley Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the eight-team MVC tournament May 21-15 in Normal, Ill.
Evansville (23-24, 10-8) is fifth in the MVC. The Purple Aces visit Belmont Tuesday and Illinois State Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Valparaiso (13-32, 6-12) is seventh in the MVC. The Crusaders plays host to Chicago State Tuesday then goes to Missouri State Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Ball State (33-17, 17-5) sits in second in the Mid-American Conference behind Central Michigan (39-12, 19-5). The Cardinals, coming off combined a nine-inning no-hitter by John Baker and Luke Jaksich, host Toledo Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The MAC tournament is scheduled for May 22-26 in Avon, Ohio.
Butler (25-23, 5-9) is fifth in the Big East Conference. The Bulldogs visit Eastern Illinois Tuesday and Georgetown Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Big East tournament is May 23-26 at a site to be determined.
Notre Dame (22-26, 12-15) is sixth the Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division, which has its 12-team tournament May 21-26 in Durham, N.C. The Irish go to Northwestern Tuesday and Boston College Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Purdue Fort Wayne (6-42, 1-26 Summit League) is at Toledo Tuesday and at home with Western Illinois Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Summit League tournament is slated for May 22-25 in Tulsa, Okla.
Vincennes (25-28, 13-18 in the Mid-West Conference) play in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Midwest District May 16-20 in Normal, Ill.
INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through May 12
NCAA Division I
Indiana State 34-14 (11-7 Missouri Valley)
Indiana 33-18 (14-7 Big Ten)
Ball State 33-17 (17-5 Mid-American)
Butler 25-23 (5-9 Big East)
Evansville 23-24 (10-8 Missouri Valley)
Notre Dame 22-26 (12-15 Atlantic Coast)
Purdue 19-31 (7-13 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 13-32 (6-12 Missouri Valley)
Purdue Fort Wayne 6-42 (1-26 Summit)
NCAA Division II
Indianapolis 30-20 (19-14 Great Lakes Valley)
Southern Indiana 30-21 (21-12 Great Lakes Valley)
Oakland City 21-13
NCAA Division III
Franklin 28-13 (12-6 Heartland)
Rose-Hulman 27-12 (14-2 Heartland)
DePauw 22-15 (8-8 North Coast)
Wabash 22-19 (9-8 North Coast)
Anderson 21-16 (10-8 Heartland)
Earlham 16-21 (8-10 Heartland)
Hanover 15-19 (7-11 Heartland)
Trine 15-25 (8-20 Michigan Intercollegiate)
Manchester 14-23 (8-9 Heartland)
NAIA
Indiana Tech 38-14-1 (17-4-1 Wolverine-Hoosier)
Taylor 38-18 (15-12 Crossroads)
Indiana University-Kokomo 36-18 (19-8 River States)
Indiana University Southeast 35-18 (21-6 River States)
Marian 30-19 (17-10 Crossroads)
Huntington 26-14 (20-7 Crossroads)
Indiana Wesleyan 22-30 (15-11 Crossroads)
Purdue Northwest 21-27 (16-12 Great Lakes Intercollegiate)
Goshen 20-29 (12-15 Crossroads)
Grace 17-27 (10-17 Crossroads)
Indiana University South Bend 13-38 (11-19 Chicagoland)
Saint Francis 13-40 (7-20 Crossroads)
Bethel 11-29 (7-20 Crossroads)
Calumet of Saint Joseph 8-39 (1-27 Chicagoland)
Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 33-14
Vincennes 25-28 (13-18 Mid-West)
Ancilla 5-30 (4-24 Michigan Community)