College of DuPage will take on Dallas College Richland on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the 2024 NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series in Auburn, N.Y.
 
The seventh-seeded Chaparrals (31-16 overall), who have won their last 15 games and winners in 24 of their last 27, take on the No. 2-seeded Thunderducks at 12:45 p.m. Eastern at Auburn's Falcon Park.
 
COD makes its third overall appearance in the World Series and its first since 1993.
 
Sophomore catcher Filip Milatovic carries the Chaps after a season hitting .410 (50-for-122), 6 HRs and 42 RBI. His 22 doubles rank eighth in the D3, and is 11^th in slugging percentage (.770), and defensively takes a 1.000 fielding percentage into the World Series.
 
Four starters take batting averages of better than .400 into the tourney, led by freshman OF Joe Pender, who is hitting .426 (40-for-94). Freshman 3B Vinny Spotofora follows at .425 clip (45-for-106). Designated hitter Jack Wade is hitting .415 with three homers and 34 RBI.
 
On the mound, three freshman right-handers A.J. McEneany (7-1, 3.63 ERA, 42 SO, 44.2 IP), Eddie Scaccia (7-2, 4.29 ERA, 48 SO, 42.0 IP) and Aidan Pieniazek (2-4, 4.44 ERA, 44 SO, 46.2 IP) have carried the starting rotation.
 
COD ranks seventh in doubles (114), 10^th in HRs (35), eighth in extra-base hits (165), 13^th in team batting average (.337) and 11^th in slugging percentage (.573).
 
All games may be viewed at www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index.
 
NJCAA Division III Baseball College World Series
May 25-30, 2024 | All times Eastern
Falcon Park, Auburn, N.Y.
(Double Elimination)
Saturday, May 25
9:30 a.m. — Game 1: No. 3 seed Dallas College Eastfield (46-13) vs. No. 6 St. Cloud Tech (32-12)
12:45 p.m. — Game 2: No. 7 seed Chaparrals (31-16) vs. No. 2 seed Dallas College Richland (40-18)
4 p.m. — Game 3: No. 8 seed Northern Essex (27-13) vs. No. 1 seed RCSJ Gloucester (47-8)
7:15 p.m. — Game 4: No. 5 seed Herkimer (28-8) vs. No. 4 seed Camp (34-18)
Sunday, May 26
9:30 a.m. — Game 5: L1 vs. L2
12:45 p.m. — Game 6: L3 vs. L4
4 p.m. — Game 7: W1 vs. W2
7:15 p.m. — Game 8: W3 vs. W4
Monday, May 27
Noon — Game 9: L7 vs. W6
3:15 p.m. — Game 10: L8 vs. W5
6:30 p.m. — Game 11: W 7 vs. W8
Tuesday, May 28
3:30 p.m. — Game 12: W10 vs. W9
7 p.m. – Game 13: L11 vs. W12
Wednesday, May 29
7 p.m. — Game 14: W11 vs. W13
Thursday, May 30 (if necessary)
7 p.m. — Championship (W14 vs. L14)