Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Bryson Carpenter of Iowa Central connects for a hit last weekend against Kirkwood at Rogers Park.

CARROLL — Merchants Park will be home to the Region XI baseball tournament beginning here Thursday.

The double-elimination format will see No. 16 Iowa Central take the field on Friday against the winner No. 23 Kirkwood and Northeast. Ellsworth meets Des Moines Area in the other quarterfinal, with the winner taking on third-rated Southeastern.

Following a strong start to the season, the Tritons (39-14 overall) went just 2-5 down the stretch. They were able to hold on to the No. 2 position in the conference, though, behind regular-season champion Southeastern.

During the regular season, Iowa Central was 2-1 against Northeast and 1-2 vs. Kirkwood.

Head coach Eric Stein’s team has hit a collective .294 with 88 home runs. Sophomore Cooper Nicholson leads the way with 19 homers and a .331 batting average. Jake Busson hit 18 homers and drove in 75.

Chayton Fischer has hit .408 with 11 homers, 63 RBI and 14 doubles. Cade Sears stole 27 bases and scored 54 runs.

Former Manson Northwest Webster standout Lane Moline saw action in 20 games, hitting .290 with a home run, three doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored and two steals.

On the mound, Ryan Ohm, Chris McCormack and Carter Giesen each won seven times, with McCormack going 7-0 with two saves and 68 strikeouts. Maddux Gast had a 6-0 record. Ohm led the team with 77 strikeouts.

The NJCAA Div. II World Series takes place May 24-31 in Enid, Okla. LSU-Eunice is the defending national champion.

REGION 11 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

(Games at Merchants Park in Carroll)

Thursday’s Games

Game 1: Ellsworth vs. Des Moines Area, noon

Game 2: Kirkwood vs. Northeast, 3:30 p.m.

Game 3: Ellsworth/DMACC loser vs. Kirkwood/Northeast loser, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 4: Iowa Central vs. Kirkwood/Northeast winner, noon

Game 5: Southeastern vs. Ellsworth/DMACC winner, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4/5 loser, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 4/5 loser, noon

Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 7 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, noon

Game 11: If necessary, 3:30 p.m.