CHICO, Calif-  For the first time in the storied history of the Sonoma State baseball team, the Seawolves are headed to the NCAA Division II World Series.  Sonoma State finished an impressive romp through the West Regional on Sunday with an 11-4 win over Chico State to clinch the title.  The World Series starts next Saturday in Sauget, Illinois.

The Seawolves will open up the World Series against the North Atlantic Region champion, Shippensburg. 

With the win, the Seawolves improve to 50-13 on the season, tying the school record for victories in a season.  The 2001 and 2007 clubs also posted 50 wins. 

Nick Nosti earned Tournament MVP honors by hitting .550 (11 for 20).

Surprisingly, the celebration on the field was very business-like.  No dogpiles, just a bunch of high fives and a few hugs.  Said catcher Konrad Thieme about the celebration, "Our goal this season is to win a national championship.  We haven't accomplished what we want to, yet."

Of his team's demeanor, head coach John Goelz said, "We stress an even keel.  We don't want to get too high or to low.  We just want to grind it out."

And grind it out they did, hardly ever swinging the bat before taking a strike and forcing the Wildcat pitchers to throw over 240 pitches in the game.

The Seawolves jumped all over the Wildcats for four runs in the second inning and never looked back.  Kris Haycock went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs and Nick Nosti was 2-for-4 on his way to MVP honors for the tournament.

Matt Garnett went five innings in relief, allowing eight hits and one run to pick up his fifth victory of the season.  Nick O'Brien did his job as the starter as well, holding the Wildcats to three runs, just two of them earned, in a four-inning outing.

The Seawolves pounded out 14 hits in the game, continuing an impressive run through the regional.  In four games this weekend, the Seawolves had 69 hits and outscored their opponents, 49-12. 

David Adler and Kyle Jones each had three hits in the game. 

Joining the tournament MVP Nosti on the All-Tournament team were Ian Bridges, Adler, Haycock, Matt Means, and Gary Moran.

News about broadcasting details will be forthcoming in the next few days. 

Box Score