Eastern’s baseball team has a shot at winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, if they make it in.

If the season ended today, coach Jim Schmitz’s squad holds down the No. 5 Seed of the tournament. I know what you’re thinking. How can a team that’s not even at .500 make it into the postseason, let alone win the whole tournament?

First, take a look at the OVC standings. While the Panthers are sitting at an 18-30 overall record, their conference record is 9-9, fifth out of nine teams (SIU-Edwardsville doesn’t join the conference officially until next season).

While Eastern’s overall record is nothing to brag about, only the top three teams in the standings are above .500.

Plus, Eastern has done it before with a .500 conference record. In 2008, the Panthers finished fourth in the OVC with a 27-30 overall record and a 13-13 conference record.

They won the OVC tournament in 2008 and got to play two more games in the NCAA regionals.

Austin Peay is 28-21 overall with a 15-5 conference record; Southeast Missouri (who the Panthers play in a three game series this weekend) is 29-20 but only has an 11-8 conference record; Jacksonville State is 30-21 with an 11-9 conference tally.

So, the Panthers’ 9-9 record sets them up for a shot at the fifth seed at the least. If the Panthers sweep the series at Southeast Missouri, they could move up even higher, possibly even to the No. two seed if Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State drop a few conference games.

If the Panthers can seize the No. 2 seed, they will enjoy a first round bye in the tournament, a huge advantage.

But even if they are not one of the top seeds, it’s the playoffs: everyone has a chance.

As Southeast Missouri showed the Panthers at last weekend’s OVC softball tournament, a No. 5 seed can make some waves: the five-seeded Redhawks beat the No. 1 seeded Panthers softball team twice to eliminate them from their own tournament.

Southeast Missouri was barely a .500 team that knocked off the 39-10 Eastern softball team.

Plus, Schmitz has a playoff pedigree. The three-time OVC coach of the year’s teams have won OVC regular season titles four times; won the postseason tournament twice and came in second place in the tournament twice. Why not one more?

Schmitz will be the first one to tell you that this season has been tough, but the Panthers will have no pressure on them when they reach the tournament.

As a No. five seed, they have nothing to lose, and have a real shot at knocking out a No. three seed. The Panthers have many freshmen on their squad, but I bet they’re eager to make their first postseason appearances as college athletes.

Look for the Panthers to make some waves in the tournament, provided they make it. I like their chances to topple one of the higher-seeded teams. They have solid pitching, and have no pressure on them. If they can frustrate a team’s offense and put some runs on the board, anything can happen.

Joe Long can be reached at 581-7942 or densportsdesk@gmail.com.