Saving its best for last, Central Missouri State claimed the 2003 Division II Baseball Championship -- the school's second national title -- by rallying to defeat Tampa, 11-4, May 31 at Paterson Field in Montgomery, Alabama.

Trailing by a 4-3 count after five innings, the Mules scored eight unanswered runs over the next three frames.

"It was an outstanding team effort," Central Missouri State coach Brad Hill said. "All year long, this team has believed in itself. They have had unbelievable focus. No one was bigger than the team. They never doubted themselves."

The win avenged two extra-inning losses the Mules suffered in last year's tournament. Central Missouri State lost two games to eventual champion Columbus State in the semifinals.

"I think that was a key to our success this year," said Central Missouri State third baseman Zach Norman. "That made us more determined to get back and win it this year. We had heard the talk in the past of us being in a weak region or a weak conference. We never doubted ourselves."

The Mules struck early, scoring two runs in the first and plating another in the second. Tampa answered with four in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 4-3 lead.

Central Missouri State (51-7) would not be denied, however. The Mules rallied for two runs in the sixth on a two-out single by Danny Guidry, giving the Mules a lead they would not relinquish. Guidry was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, earning all-tournament honors.

"I really thought when we took the lead, it would give us the momentum," Tampa coach Joe Urso said. "I felt like we had climbed back into it and thought we would again when they took the lead. It was just a one-run lead but give credit to their hitters. They did an outstanding job."

Danny Powers (10-0) allowed seven hits and four runs over seven innings. He did not walk a batter in earning his second win of the tournament.

The Spartans (45-18) hit three home runs, solo shots by Tim Duff and Alex Castellvi and a tw-run blast from Jay Hyland. Hyland was the tournament's most outstanding player, hitting 9-for-20 with three home runs and 13 RBIs.

Central Missouri State also won the national title in 1994. Tampa had won its last three national title games, the last in 1998.

All-tournament team: C, Eric Cavers, Franklin Pierce; 1B, Eric Thompson, Tampa; 2B, Mike Callahan, Franklin Pierce; SS, Gene Reynolds, Tampa; 3B, Zach Norman, Central Missouri State; OF, Jay Hyland, Tampa; OF, Danny Guidry, Central Missouri State; OF, Joe Mertes, Grand Valley State; DH, Billy Wimberly, Tampa; P, Joey Watts, Tampa; P, Danny Powers, Central Missouri State.

Game No. 1

Steve Norris, Dave Sansom (8) and Luke Mollis; Matt Weagle and Eric Cavers. HR -- Paul McAuliffe (Franklin Pierce). W -- Weagle. L -- Norris. T -- 2:02. A -- 816.

Game No. 2

Danny Powers, Eric Horner (9) and Brandon Pugh; Phil Mixter, David Olson (8) and Elijah Beckwith. W -- Powers. L -- Mixter. S -- Horner. T -- 2:09. A -- 1,317.

Game No. 3

Dave McKae, Travis Bearden (4), Joel Needham (9) and Andrew Reisinger; Grant Reynolds, Travis King (6) and Kevin Gergel, Derrick Tucker. HR -- Travis Evans (Kennesaw St.); Derrick Tucker (Kennesaw St.). W -- Reynolds. L -- McKae. S -- King. T -- 2:32. A -- 845.

Game No. 4

Robert Newland, Ben Brockman (3), Aaron Lawler (7), Kade Simmons (8), Chris Churchill; Eric Beattie, Carrington Fisk (8), Craig Benner (9), Tim Duff. HR -- Matt Armstrong (Tampa). W -- Beattie. L -- Newland. T -- 2:52. A -- 1,377.

Game No. 5

Matt Rafeld, Nick Bultema (5), Joe Finnerty (9) and Elijah Beckwith; Mike Sikorski, Nick Armstrong (7), John Katich (7) and Luke Mollis. W -- Bultema. L -- Armstrong. S -- Finnerty. T -- 2:49. A -- 667.

Game No. 6

Jon White, Mike Farrell (4), Greg Basile (7), Mike Bartkus (8) and Eric Cavers, John Richard; Phil Sobkow, B.J. Kissel (7), Rob Bergin (8), Eric Horner (9) and Brandon Pugh. HR -- Steve Murphy (Central Mo. St.); Pugh (Central Mo. St.). W -- Sobkow. L -- White. T -- 2:54. A -- 1,123.

Game No. 7

Brad Massey, Justin Whitlock (6) and Chris Churchill; Michael Potter, Joel Needham (7) and Andrew Reisinger. HR -- Tyler LaTorre (UC Davis). W -- Potter. L -- Massey. S -- Needham. T -- 2:17. A -- 563.

Game No. 8

Joey Watts, Josh Weis (8) and Tim Duff; Kevin Poole, Sammy Reed (2) and Derrick Tucker. HR -- Duff (Tampa). W -- Watts. L -- Poole. T -- 2:31. A -- 1,085.

Game No. 9

Tyler Cummings and Eric Cavers; Julio Marquez, Trevor Thornton (3), Dave McKae (9) and Andrew Reisinger. HR -- David Butterworth (UC Davis). W -- Cummings. L -- Marquez. T -- 2:10. A -- 512.

Game No. 10

Adam Brandenburg, Travis King (6) and Kevin Gergel, Derrick Tucker; Jason LaBaumbard, David Olson (6), Joe Finnerty (9) and Elijah Beckwith. HR -- Clint Watters (Kennesaw St.), Scott Conway (Kennesaw St.); Travis Evans (Kennesaw St.); Dustin Atkinson 2 (Kennesaw St.); Joe Brunink (Grand Valley St.). W -- King. L -- Olson. T -- 2:58. A -- 1,056.

Game No. 11

Casey McKenzie, Craig Benner (5), Josh Weis (6), Justin Boza (8), Carrington Fisk (9) and Tim Duff; Matt Weagle, Greg Basile (7), Bryan Barowski (9) and Eric Cavers. HR -- Jay Hyland 2 (Tampa). W -- Weis. L -- Weagle. T -- 3:10. W -- 549.

Game No. 12

John Robbins, Shannon Van Wyck (2), Kevin Poole (6), Grant Reynolds (8) and Kevin Gergel, Derrick Tucker; Nick Denning, Chris Kilgore (7); Rob Bergin (8), Eric Horner (9), Steve McReynolds (10), B.J. Kissel (13) and Brandon Pugh. HR -- Scott Conway (Kennesaw St.); Clint Watters (Kennesaw St.); Kevin Gergel (Kennesaw St.); Steve Murphy (Central Mo. St.). W -- Kissel. L -- Reynolds. T -- 4:03. A -- 1,054.

E -- Mayfield 2. DP -- Central Mo. St. 1; Tampa 1. LOB -- Central Mo. St. 10; Tampa 5. 2B -- Berry; Downey. HR -- Guidry; Norman; Strada; Bryant; Duff; Hyland; Castellvi. HBP -- Guidry 2; Berry. SH -- Norman; Murphy. SB -- Downey; Murphy; Monzon; Taylor. CS -- Downey; Quigg.

W -- Powers. L -- Beattie. Save -- None. WP -- Powers. HBP -- by Beattie (Berry); by Watts (Guidry); by Boza (Guidry). PB -- Pugh. Umpires -- HP: Robert Wilson; 1B: Chris Coskey; 2B: Hank Himmenan; 3B: Rick Santilli. T -- 2:36. A -- 2,616.