The 1981 NCAA Division I baseball tournament was played at the end of the 1981 NCAA Division I baseball season to determine the national champion of college baseball. The tournament concluded with eight teams competing in the College World Series, a double-elimination tournament in its thirty fifth year. Eight regional competitions were held to determine the participants in the final event. Seven regions held a four team, double-elimination tournament while one region included six teams, resulting in 34 teams participating in the tournament at the conclusion of their regular season, and in some cases, after a conference tournament. The thirty-fifth tournament's champion was Arizona State coached by Jim Brock. The Most Outstanding Player was Stan Holmes of Arizona State.
Regionals The opening rounds of the tournament were played across eight regional sites across the country, seven consisting of four teams and one of six teams. The winners of each Regional advanced to the College World Series.
Bold indicates winner.
Atlantic Regional at Clemson, SC
Central Regional at Austin, TX
East Regional at Columbia, SC
Mideast Regional at Ann Arbor, MI
Midwest Regional at Tulsa, OK
Northeast Regional at New Haven, CT
South Regional at Coral Gables, FL
West Regional at Tempe, AZ
College World Series Participants School Conference Record (conference) Head coach CWS appearances CWS best finish CWS record Arizona State Pac-10 50–12 (26–4) Jim Brock 10(last: 1978) 1st(1965, 1967, 1969, 1977) 37–16 Maine Eastern Collegiate 32–12 (n/a) John Winkin 2(last: 1976) 3rd(1964) 5–4 Miami (FL) n/a 60–8 (n/a) Ron Fraser 4(last: 1980) 2nd(1974) 7–8 Michigan Big 10 41–18 (10–4) Bud Middaugh 4(last: 1980) 1st(1953) 10–5 Mississippi State SEC 45–15 (17–6) Ron Polk 2(last: 1979) 6th(1979) 1–4 Oklahoma State Big 8 49–15 (12–6) Gary Ward 8(last: 1968) 1st(1959) 19–15 n/a 44–13 (n/a) June Raines 2(last: 1977) 2nd(1975, 1977) 7–4 Texas SWC 58–9–1 (16–5) Cliff Gustafson 18(last: 1979) 1st(1949, 1950, 1975) 38–32
Results Bracket
Game results
Date Game Winner Score Loser Notes May 30 Game 1 Mississippi State 4–0 Michigan Game 2 Arizona State 11–2 Texas May 31 Game 3 Oklahoma State 8–5 (10 innings) Game 4 Miami (FL) 6–1 Maine June 1 Game 5 Arizona State 4–3 Mississippi State June 2 Game 6 Oklahoma State 12–6 Miami (FL) Game 7 Texas 6–5 Michigan Michigan eliminated June 3 Game 8 12–7 Maine Maine eliminated June 4 Game 9 Oklahoma State 11–10 (13 innings) Arizona State Oklahoma St. qualified for final Game 10 Texas 5–4 Miami (FL) Miami (FL) eliminated June 5 Game 11 6–5 Mississippi State Mississippi State eliminated June 6 Game 12 Texas 15–8 (13 innings) Oklahoma State Game 13 Arizona State 10–7 South Carolina eliminated June 7 Game 14 Arizona State 12–3 Texas Texas eliminated June 8 Final Arizona State 7–4 Oklahoma State Arizona State wins CWS
All-Tournament Team The following players were members of the All-Tournament Team.
Position Player School P Kevin Dukes Arizona State Don Mundie Mississippi State C Burk Goldthorn Texas 1B Alvin Davis Arizona State 2B Billy DeMann Arizona State 3B Mike Sodders Arizona State SS Rod Carraway OF Mark Gillaspie Mississippi State Stan Holmes (MOP) Arizona State Mickey Tettleton Oklahoma State DH Lemmie Miller Arizona State
Notable players Arizona State: Alvin Davis, Donnie Hill, Lemmie Miller, Billy DeMann, Kevin Romine Maine: Kevin Buckley, Joe Johnson, Bill Swift Miami (FL): Neal Heaton, Mike Pagliarulo Michigan: Steve Ontiveros, Jim Paciorek, Chris Sabo Mississippi State: Oklahoma State: Gary Green, Mickey Tettleton, Jim Traber, Robbie Wine South Carolina: Don Gordon Texas: Mike Brumley, Spike Owen, Calvin Schiraldi, Mike Hamer
See also 1981 NCAA Division II baseball tournament 1981 NCAA Division III baseball tournament 1981 NAIA World Series
References