Ep. 70: Small Town, Big Ball, Eric DuBose Talks West Alabama's Early Success in Livingston

Inside Tampa’s Historic Three-Peat with Head Coach Joe Urso

The University of Tampa Spartans just did something no other Division II baseball program has ever accomplished: winning three back-to-back-to-back National Championships. Robert sits down with Head Coach Joe Urso to break down this historic run and look at how the program continues to reach unparalleled heights. In this interview, Coach Urso takes us behind the scenes of the 2026 season, discussing the distinct challenges of integrating 22 new players and overcoming critical injuries to key starters early in the year. He highlights the absolute dominance of his pitching rotation—anchored by Satin, Bailey, and Glanton—and praises Associate Head Coach Sam Militello's masterful development and calling of the staff. We also dive into the unsung heroes of the playoff run. Coach Urso breaks down two-way standout Luke Fer's vital role out of the bullpen, Brayden Woodburn's clutch postseason hitting, and catcher Jhoander Irigoyen's leadership behind the dish. Beyond the diamond, Coach Urso shares the true secret to the program's enduring success over his 26 years at the helm: an unwavering standard of excellence, a coaching staff of devoted alumni, and a deeply ingrained culture of family. Key Topics Covered:The Historic Three-Peat: What it took to win the rubber match against West Chester with a taxed, but highly motivated, pitching staff. Stepping Up in the Clutch: How players like Luke Firar and Jhoander Irigoyen carried the team on both sides of the ball when the offense struggled early.Overcoming Adversity: Navigating the loss of key contributors like Sammy Beir and Maddox King to early-season injuries. The Tampa Spartan Culture: The "National Championship or bust" mentality instilled from day one, and the importance of having alumni coaches like Sam Militello and Jose Jimenez leading the charge. Chasing the Four-Peat: Coach Urso's mindset heading into the 2027 season and the lifelong brotherhood forged by the 22 new players who helped secure the latest title.

2026 DII Baseball National Championship Series Preview

The top two seeds collide in Cary for the 2026 D2 baseball championship series! Join Robert Frey and Wayne Cavadi of the DII Report as they break down the epic best-of-three matchup between West Chester and Tampa. Both teams have dominated their paths to the finals, playing nearly flawless baseball without major mistakes. Tampa enters the series leading D2 in multiple categories, including fielding percentage, while West Chester brings a program-record 47 wins and a massive postseason run differential. In this video, we dive into: Pitching Matchups: A look at the dominant rotations, featuring Tampa’s Robert Satin and B.J. Bailey against Westchester’s Julian Costa. Offensive Firepower: Analyzing West Chester's "run-scoring machine" and Brayden Woodburn’s incredible .692 average in Cary for the Spartans. Key Trends: Will West Chester break the trend of conference champions taking the title? Series Predictions: Why this clash of titans is likely heading to a decisive Game 3. Series Schedule (All times 6 PM Eastern): Game 1: Thursday, June 4th Game 2: Friday, June 5th Game 3 (If necessary): Saturday, June 6th Catch the games live on ncaa.com/champs-pass as the 2026 D2 sports season comes to a thrilling conclusion! #D2Baseball #WestChester #Tampa #NCAABaseball

2026 D2 Baseball Regionals Preview!

The 2026 D2 Baseball Regionals are coming up! Preview all eight regions and the teams within with Robert Frey and special guests, Mike Vucsko, Alex Pearce, and Will Conerly.Video Chapters0:43 - 15:24 Atlantic15:30 - 46:59 Midwest w/ Mike Vucsko47:02 - 1:10:22 Central1:10:33 - 1:23:23 East1:23:30 - 1:53:30 Southeast w/ Alex Pearce1:53:54 - 2:11:53 South2:11:55 - 2:55:46 South Central w/ Will Conerly2:56:00 - 3:08:40 West

April 29th Regional Rankings! Breaking down the first ordered Regional Rankings in D2 Baseball

The first ordered NCAA Division II regional rankings of 2026 are officially here! Join the D2 Baseball podcast as we dive deep into the April 29th rankings with special guest Wayne Cavadi from the DII Report. We are breaking down all eight regions, analyzing the current field of 56, and discussing how upcoming conference tournaments could lead to stolen bids and bracket chaos In this episode: Atlantic Region: Analysis of the top-heavy PSAC and why the MEC might be a one-bid league Central Region: The impact of Arkansas Monticello’s recent loss and the strength of schedule for UMary East Region: Can anyone stop the dominant Malloy? We discuss potential bid stealers in the CACC and NE10. Midwest Region: Why metrics might not tell the whole story for a surging UIndy team. South Region: Breaking down a tight race for the final spots between Trevecca, Mississippi College, and Lee. South Central Region: Why Colorado Mesa and UT Tyler look like the teams to beat. Southeast Region: A look at the deepest region in the country, featuring seven top-25 teams. West Region: Discussing the "insane" metrics of Cal State Monterey Bay and the battle for the final CCAA seeds. Stay Connected: Check the full official rankings at on.ncaa.com/D2BSBrr Follow the metrics at d2baseball.com/stats. Subscribe for more regional ranking updates as we head toward Selection Sunday on May 10th!

Regional Rankings Release! First Discussion into the D2 Baseball Postseason

Host Robert Frey and special guest Wayne Cavadi from the DII Report break down the first release of the regional consideration lists for the 2026 Division II baseball season. They analyze each region's top contenders and surprises while discussing how key metrics like RPI and strength of schedule influence the tournament bracket. Regional Summaries: Atlantic Region: The "Big Five"—West Chester, Millersville, East Stroudsburg, Seton Hill, and Frostburg State—remain the primary contenders. Bloomsburg is noted as a surprise due to playing the toughest schedule in D2 baseball. Central Region: The MIAA dominates with seven teams on the list, potentially turning the GAC into a one-bid league. Traditional powers like Central Missouri and Pittsburg State continue to lead the pack. East Region: Southern New Hampshire remains the dominant force, having reached the championship site in six of the last seven years. Bentley is identified as a sleeper pick due to offensive depth and strong starting pitching. Midwest Region: Grand Valley State and Wayne State are positioned as likely hosts, bolstered by top-tier pitching rotations. South Region: Florida Southern is a major disruptor with elite metrics despite a 21-17 record. Tampa and Rollins are considered locks, making the remaining spots highly competitive. South Central Region: Colorado Mesa and the "Big Four" from the Lone Star Conference—West Texas A&M, Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, and UT Tyler—are the primary teams under consideration. Southeast Region: Described as the most elite region, all ten listed teams have at least 30 wins. North Greenville leads with dominant metrics across the board. West Region: Cal State Monterey Bay and Point Loma are top contenders. Cal Poly Pomona’s resume is strengthened by being the only D2 team to beat Colorado Mesa twice. Chapters: 2:20 - Atlantic Region 5:55 - Metrics the committee looks at 7:45 - Central Region 13:20 - East Region 16:30 - Midwest Region 21:20 - South Region 26:55 - South Central Region 31:40 - Southeast Region 36:20 - West Region