MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 1 Marietta College claimed the 2011 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship and the league's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Tournament with a 7-3 victory over No. 9 Heidelberg University Saturday (May 14) at Don Schaly Stadium. [Box Score]

The 2011 OAC regular season champion Etta Express improved to a nation's best 38-3 and captured the program's first OAC Tournament title since 2002.

The moment was extra special for seniors #Casey Levens (Dayton/Centerville)#, #Britt Meador (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne)#, #John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona)# and #Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry)#, who faced rival Heidelberg (33-11) in the OAC championship game for a fourth straight season and had to watch the Student Princes celebrate with the trophy after the previous three meetings.

"It is a big deal. Our seniors hadn't won a championship," Brewer said. "They would have been the first group in a long while not to do that, so they went out and got the regular season championship and came here today and got the conference tournament championship, but I know they have bigger aspirations before this season ends."

Three of those seniors—Meador is out for the year with an injury—played a huge role in helping the Etta Express hoist the program's 28th OAC Tournament trophy after a 3-0 weekend.

Williams (6-2) dominated the Student Princes' lineup for seven innings to earn the tournament-clinching victory. The All-Tournament selection scattered one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five.

"Williams was lights out. Special performance," Brewer said. "We have pretty good book on Heidelberg because of the rivalry. It held true for (Austin) Blaski yesterday, and Mark followed up that game plan. Both those guys, including (Brian) Gasser against John Carroll, executed and that is why we are were we are today."

Snyder, the Dick Fishbaugh Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Levens both collected a pair of hits, including a double. Snyder also scored two runs and had a game-high three RBI, while Levens added a RBI.

The turning point of the game came early. Heidelberg loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, before the Etta Express turned one of its three double plays to end the threat. Two batters later, sophomore #Aaron Hopper (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg)# re-ignited the team and the crowd with a solo home run to left field on the tenth pitch of the at-bat to give Marietta the 1-0 lead.

"It wasn't just the home run, it was the at-bat," Brewer said. "That was a special at-bat. He fouled some pitches off. We've had different guys have those kinds of at-bats all year and that is what this thing is about. That got us on the board and fortunately we kept it going from there."

Sophomore #Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon)#, who made just his eighth start of the season but third straight in the tournament, added to the momentum with a two-out, two-run single to center field in the fourth. Gregorich also earned All-Tournament honors after hitting a team-best .455 (5-for-11) on the weekend.

Snyder's RBI single stretched the Pioneer advantage to 4-0 in the fifth.

The Student Princes scraped across their first run on a Williams' wild pitch in the sixth. Another bases loaded double play, however, helped Marietta maintain its three-run cushion.

Andy Lowe, the 2011 Bob Fisher Sportsman of the Tournament, entered the game after a leadoff walk in the seventh only to be tagged for three runs on three hits as the Etta Express boosted its lead to 7-1. Snyder delivered a two-run double and Levens added a RBI single in the frame.

Williams handed the ball to junior closer #Kyle Lindquist (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne)# after the first two Heidelberg runners reached in the eighth. Lindquist induced his team's third double play of the game and then stuck out the next hitter to quiet the scoring threat.

The three-time defending champion Student Princes plated a pair of runs in the ninth, the first on a one-out double from All-Tournament pick Jason Lash and the second on a ground out by fellow All-OAC Tournament selection Alex Monroe. Lindquist's next pitch, however, was a ground ball to second base and the fielder's choice ended the game with the Pioneers celebrating the 7-3 win.

Junior #Kirby Becker (South Euclid/St. Ignatius)# and Hopper both joined Snyder and Levens with a pair of Marietta's 10 hits in the victory. Keen paced Heidelberg with two of its six hits in the loss, which went to Brian Koehl after he gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits in six innings.

Brewer credited the entire team for playing a role in the team's 32nd OAC regular season and 28th OAC tournament championship. "Obviously pitching has been our strength all year. Our defense has helped them out and our offense has continued to improve. We are in a good place."

That place is the 2011 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Tournament, which kicks off May 18 at Don Schaly Stadium. There, the Pioneers begin their quest for item three on the team's annual list of goals, a 21st Mideast Regional crown and bid to the NCAA Division III World Series.

Marietta will find out who will join it when the entire 55-team field is announced Monday (May 16) morning on http://ncaa.com.


Dick Fishbaugh Tournament MVP: John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), Marietta
Bob Fisher Sportsman of the Tournament: Andy Lowe, Heidelberg

Pitcher: Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa), Marietta
Pitcher: Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia/Indian Valley), Marietta
Pitcher: Mark Williams (Fayetteville/Perry), Marietta
First Base: Zach Carlino, Mount Union
Second Base: Gar Keen, Heidelberg
Shortstop: Tim Saunders (Alliance/Alliance), Marietta
Shortstop: John Hastings, John Carroll
Third Base: Bryan Gregorich (Chardon/Chardon), Marietta
Catcher: Jordan Martin, Heidelberg
Outfield: Greg Ferrell, Mount Union
Outfield: Alex Monroe, Heidelberg
Outfield: John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), Marietta
Designated Hitter: Elvin Williams, Heidelberg