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D3baseball.com => Conferences by region => Central Region => Topic started by: RedmenFB44 on January 05, 2006, 12:14:15 PM

Title: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 05, 2006, 12:14:15 PM
Here is the hyper link for the CCIW Conference:

http://www.cciw.org/

Hyper links to CCIW teams:

Augustana: http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/

Carthage: http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325

Elmhurst: http://www.elmhurst.edu/~athletic/Home/baseball.htm

Illinois Wesleyan: http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/baseball.htm

Millikin: http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/baseball/

North Central: http://www.noctrl.edu/x7715.xml

North Park: http://campus.northpark.edu/athletics/baseball/

Wheaton: http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/

------------------
I didnt see a CCIW board so here it is. I saw IWU was ranked, congrats. I hope Carthage can get up there like they have been in the past.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 06, 2006, 07:19:04 PM
It will be an interewsting CCIW race this season. IWU looks to be loaded again. Carthage will be there in the end, they always are.

It will be interesting to see what Carthage puts on the field this season as this is the first season since they let their long-time assistant/recruiter, Brian Mosher, go. Augie Schmidt is a quality coach, but it always helps when you start with quality players.

North Park has a new coach who did not have the benefit of a full season of recruiting and is coming off a 1-39 season. Expect them to weigh down the conference for at least one more season.

Any other insights into the conference?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 07, 2006, 11:29:41 AM
Quote from: ScrappyMcTavish on January 06, 2006, 07:19:04 PMNorth Park has a new coach who did not have the benefit of a full season of recruiting and is coming off a 1-39 season. Expect them to weigh down the conference for at least one more season.

People at NPU are really high on new coach Luke Johnson, a former Elmhurst and North Central assistant who was a star for Elmhurst during his playing days. But, yeah, it's going to take him awhile to make the program competitive again.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 07, 2006, 03:22:52 PM
Luke Johnson will do great things for that program, but I agree that it is going to take awhile to get things on the right track.

Anybody have any pre-season predictions for the conference?

Here is how I see it:
1. IWU
2. Carthage
3. Elmhurst
4. Augustana
5. NCC
6. Millikin
7. Wheaton
8. North Park
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 09, 2006, 08:48:11 AM
Here are my predictions:

1) IWU
2) Carthage
3) Elmhurst
4) NCC
5) Augustana
6) Millikin
7) North Park
8) Wheaton

I hope that the new NP coach can get them some win right away and get them out of the bottom of the conference!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 09, 2006, 12:49:05 PM
Anybody in the CCIW have a great year recruiting?

Who are the players/teams that we will all hear about in May that are not on the radar yet?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 09, 2006, 02:02:26 PM
Just thought that this was very interesting, 1982 amature MLB draft:

#   Selected By   Name   Position   College or Hometown
1.   Cubs   Shawon Dunston   SS   Brooklyn, NY
2.   Blue Jays   Augie Schmidt   SS   University of New Orleans (Carthage Coach)
3.   Padres   Jimmy Jones   RHP   Dallas, TX
4.   Twins   Bryan Oelkers   LHP   Wichita State University
5.   Mets   Dwight Gooden   RHP   Tampa, FL
6.   Mariners   Spike Owen   SS   University of Texas
7.   Pirates   Sam Khalifa   SS   Tucson, AZ
8.   Angels   Bob Kipper   LHP   Aurora, IL
9.   Braves   Duane Ward   RHP   Farmington, NM
10.   Royals   John Morris   OF   Seton Hall University
11.   Giants   Steve Stanicek   1B   University of Nebraksa
12.   Indians   Mark Snyder   RHP   Knoxville, TN
13.   Phillies   John Russell   C-OF   University of Oklahoma
14.   White Sox   Ron Karkovice   C   Orlando, FL
15.   Astros   Steve Swain   OF   El Cajon, CA
16.   Red Sox   Sam Horn   1B   San Diego, CA
17.   Cubs   Tony Woods   SS   Whittier College
18.   Red Sox   Rob Parkins   RHP   Cerritos, CA
19.   Dodgers   Franklin Stubbs   1B   Virginia Tech
20.   Tigers   Rich Monteleone   RHP   Tampa, FL
21.   Cardinals   Todd Worrell   RHP   Biola College
22.   Reds   Scott Jones   LHP   Hinsdale, IL
23.   Reds   Bill Hawley   RHP   West Columbia, SC
24.   Orioles   Joe Kucharski   RHP   University of South Carolina
25.   Brewers   Dale Sveum   SS   Pinole, CA
26.   Red Sox   Jeff Ledbetter   1B-OF   Florida State University

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 09, 2006, 05:56:30 PM
Augie Schmidt was also the Golden Spikes (National POY) winner in 1982...pretty good player, and a pretty good coach too.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 09, 2006, 07:07:18 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on January 09, 2006, 05:56:30 PM
Augie Schmidt was also the Golden Spikes (National POY) winner in 1982...pretty good player, and a pretty good coach too.

He was stuck for years in Triple A while Tony Fernandez played SS for the Bluejays.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on January 10, 2006, 11:57:09 PM
Augie was traded to the Giants. He wasn't always stuck in the Blue Jays organization.

Now this is a chat board!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 11, 2006, 03:36:49 PM
RedmanFB44

I just noticed your tag line at the bottom(It's Redmen, not Red Men). I love it. As a former REDMAN my self(Actually played for Augie Schmidt), I was somewhat upset by the change, but understood why it had to happen.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 11, 2006, 03:47:04 PM
Scrappy-

Thanks, I am also a former Redmen (only 1 year removed). I played football but I supported the Carthage baseball team. I have many friends that were or still are on the team. Baseball is my number 2 love behind football. I love the stats in baseball. So many to look at and compare. I played baseball from when I was 6 until my sophmore year in high school, tryouts. I tore my shoulder up during the tryouts. So then I put my abilities into football. I love the game and I am really looking forward to watch Augie and his crew this year.

P.S. The left field area is the best place to watch games @ Carthage  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 11, 2006, 04:02:45 PM
When I played, the DONS and SIGS would throw tailgate parties just behind the fence in left-center... I am sure that they still do. Our dads always seemed to wander out that way between games to have a few beers with the college guys and scope out the young ladies. Probably not much different than today.
Title: CCIW Baseball Poll
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 11, 2006, 06:47:24 PM
Which CCIW baseball team will win the conference title in 2006?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 11, 2006, 09:09:53 PM
Yeah, that was the worst part of playing a weekend series at Carthage.  We'd have to sit there in cold, windy Kenosha while usually losing and also having to watch the students in LF have a good time and use the "liquid warmth" method to stay warm.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 11, 2006, 09:47:29 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on January 11, 2006, 09:09:53 PM
Yeah, that was the worst part of playing a weekend series at Carthage.  We'd have to sit there in cold, windy Kenosha while usually losing and also having to watch the students in LF have a good time and use the "liquid warmth" method to stay warm.

By the way... Carthage is a "dry" campus. Ironic, isn't it?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 12, 2006, 08:52:38 AM
Yes Carthage is a dry campus but the school will let students get away with things if they are supporting a athletic team. Your not gonna get nearly as many fans at a baseball game as you would at a football game. So when you have an extra 30-60 fans yelling, screaming, and drinking out in left field the school doesnt seem to mind. Now we all know that isnt right but as students we will take what we can get  :D
Title: Re: CCIW Baseball Poll
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 12, 2006, 08:54:16 AM
GO REDMEN!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 12, 2006, 10:44:20 AM
"Dry Campus" except for Baseball games and Homecoming. Gotta make sure the alums have a good time and continue to donate to the school.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 12, 2006, 11:07:36 AM
Hahahaha very true Scrappy
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on January 13, 2006, 11:59:00 AM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on January 12, 2006, 08:52:38 AM
Yes Carthage is a dry campus but the school will let students get away with things if they are supporting a athletic team. Your not gonna get nearly as many fans at a baseball game as you would at a football game. So when you have an extra 30-60 fans yelling, screaming, and drinking out in left field the school doesnt seem to mind. Now we all know that isnt right but as students we will take what we can get  :D

That's gonna be true for a lot of DIII schools, especially in the CCIW.  Admin kind of turns a blind eye to students having a few beverages and being loud in support of their school which I think is a good thing as long as the students don't cross the line.  Definitely can add that "homefield advantage" that the athletes, in most cases, appreciate.

Carthage has always had good support for their baseball team.  It doesn't hurt that they are pretty much always in contention. 
I can't remember if it was better or worse that the wind was howling out to left center at 40mph...the wind prevented whatever was being yelled from being heard, but that same wind carried a lot of Carthage fly balls over the chainlink.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 13, 2006, 01:23:03 PM
Be thankful that the bushes are now grown in along the outfield fence. When I played for Carthage, the fans would line up couches right against the fence(Bushes were not in yet) and ride left fielders for six hours. I always felt bad for them. Then again, I got it pretty bad at 3B when we played at North Central. I used to look forwrd to hearing new insults every year at NCC.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 13, 2006, 03:55:37 PM
Looking at the upcoming starters for the Carthage Redmen this season:

Games played last season/Games started last season
Catcher - 29/27
1st Base - 42/42 .345, 10 doubles, 3 HR's, 34 RBI's
2nd Base - 41/35
3rd Base - Warren Even (My Boy) 43/43 .319 8 HR's 37 RBI's
Shortstop - 43/43
Outfield - 17/0
Outfield -
Outfield -
SP - 9 starts 4-4 record 3.02 49K's 16BB's
SP - 9 starts 8-0 record 2.43 47K's 9BB's
RP - 11 games 2-2 record 4 saves 1.82 24K's 5BB's 24.2INN
RP - 8 games 4 starts 2-0 1 save 5.81 26K's 18BB's

As you can see they have a strong team this year but their only weakness is their outfield. Sould be a great year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 13, 2006, 04:05:03 PM
Looking at Carthage and it outfield, you would have to think that Auugie will plug a stud or two into those spots. Carthage has a long line of All-American caliber outfielders in the program. They will find someone or Augie will just stick a big hitter out there and live with the defense.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 17, 2006, 09:02:02 AM
Carthage does have a weakness in the outfield because of their inexperience but Augie always finds players to cover spots. Carthage is going to rely on solid hitting and good pitching.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on January 17, 2006, 04:20:03 PM
I noticed that UW Oshkosh and Carthage are meeting up for a DH on their respective Spring Trips to Florida.  Kind of nice to see these teams meet up again (2004) as they are both traditionally great baseball schools.  If I'm not mistaken Augie and Lechnir  have a pretty good relationship off of the field, so it's kind of surprising that they haven't met up against each other more.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 17, 2006, 04:47:58 PM
Augie and Lechnir have a great off-field realtionship. The reason they do not play more often is that the WIAC does not play the CCIW in any games anymore outside of their spring trips and post-season games. Carthage used to play Whitewater every year before the conferences put and end to it.

Too bad... they could have some great CCIW/WIAC Challenges for baseball. I am not sure if they play in other sports...??

Carthage and the WIAC school are forced to fill their schedules with the likes of MWC schools and other teams that struggle to compete with the big guns.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 17, 2006, 05:24:07 PM
Look out for the Elmhurst Blue Jays to make a major upset in the CCIW conference this year.  With an outstanding pitching staff and an unbelievable infield and a talented and speedy outfield, which has been together sense their freshman year.  They are going to make some teams very disappointed this year.

My CCIW prediction

1.)   Elmhurst
2.)   IWU
3.)   Carthage
4.)   Augustana
5.)   NCC
6.)   Wheaton
7.)   Millikin
8.)   North Park
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 17, 2006, 08:33:10 PM
Hyper links to CCIW teams:

Carthage: http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325

Illinois Wesleyan: http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/baseball.htm

Elmhurst: http://www.elmhurst.edu/~athletic/Home/baseball.htm

Wheaton: http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/

Millikin: http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/baseball/

North Park: http://campus.northpark.edu/athletics/baseball/

Augustana: http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/

North Central: http://www.noctrl.edu/x7715.xml
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 17, 2006, 08:35:27 PM
Here is the hyper link for the CCIW Conference:

http://www.cciw.org/
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 17, 2006, 11:43:12 PM
Looking at the upcoming starters for the Elmhurst Blue Jays this season

Games played last season/Games started last season – And some Stats or comments.

Catcher – 28/20 3 HR's, FLD% .982 "Could be first team all conference"
1st Base – 31/34 15 BB, 24 Hits, FLD% .974
2nd Base – 14/4
3rd Base – 29/27 23 Hits
Shortstop – transfer student "Could be the next Brad Gorth"
Outfield – 24/23 29 hits, 25 Runs, 5 HR's, 22 RBI's, 11 BB, BA .352 "He was injured for 16 games and could be first team all conference and All American"
Outfield – 29/25 29 hits, 16 BB, OBP .446, 9 SB, FLD% 1.000, BA .322
Outfield – 25/19 23 hits, BA .307
DH – 23/9 2 HR, SLG% .450
1SP – "He was out last year do to injury and he is throwing really hard"
2SP – 7 starts, 31ER, 52.2 IP, 26 SO
3SP – 12 starts, 39 ER, 56.0 IP, 26 SO
4SP – 3 starts, 7 ER, 8.1 IP " Hard throwing lefty"
1RP – 23 games, ERA 3.50, 4-3, 43.3 IP, 17 ER, 24 SO
2RP – 21 games, 4-2, 3 SV, 25 ER, 21 SO, 34.2 IP
3RP - "He was out last year do to injury" 2004 stats – 8 starts, 5-2, 2 CG, 52.1 IP, 37 ER, 26 SO

All of the younger players got a lot of playing time in the past couple years.  And they are ready to take over the CCIW league. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 18, 2006, 05:58:39 PM
It looks as though we have a preview of both Carthage, Illinois Weslyan and Elmhurst... does anyone have info on the other programs?

I know NPU has a new coach, what type of players did he bring in. What system are they going to run? Sit back and swing like Carthage or play small ball like Elmhurst?

Who looks to have the CCIW's top pitching this spring?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 18, 2006, 06:21:44 PM
Looking over the returing All-CCIW players form last season, thing become a little clearer as to where teams stand.

*pitcher

Augie (4)
Jake Vernon Sr-OF
Jake Meisenbach Sr-C
Marc Blakely So-OF
*Kevin Kuntz Jr-P

Carthage (3)
*Michael Heining Jr-P
*Scott Evosovich Sr-P
Chris Sadjak Sr-INF

Elmhurst (1)
*Doug Kucik Jr-P

IWU (4)
Ricky Angel So-INF
Pat Cinquegrani Jr-OF
Joe Howard Sr-OF
Nick Chilezenkowski Sr-OF

Millikin (0)

North Central (1)
Mark Satkowski Sr-DH

North Park (0)

Wheaton (1)
Quinn Wulbecker Sr-INF

With all of this being said, it appears that Augie, IWU and Carthage are in the best shape. I have to think that Carthage is in the Best shape as they have two returning All-CCIW pitchers. Augustana has one returning pitcher and IWU has none, but four returning All-CCIW hitters.

I am thinking this could be a three horse race with North Central and Elmhurst fighting for the fourth playoff spot.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 18, 2006, 08:17:04 PM
I'll give a nice detailed preview of Augie this weekend when I get some time
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 18, 2006, 08:18:13 PM
Also, does anyone know if the new 1 playoff spot for every 6.5(?) eligible teams also applies to baseball?  Just curious if there might be some more at large bids this year
Title: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 19, 2006, 12:34:24 AM
Does anyone have stats from fall ball from there teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 19, 2006, 01:29:40 AM
Look out for Elmhurst Blue Jays pitching staff.

Husiel a hard throwing right handier, who throws strikes - Opponent Batting Average was .138%

Kucik a pitcher that can get the job done when has team needs him the most; he is always ahead of hitters.

Mathis is a pitcher that gives you that double play ground ball – 71% of his outs are ground balls.

Rogers a young and hard throwing pitcher, who can strike out a lot of batters.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 19, 2006, 09:11:25 AM
I know that Carthage has a pitcher that was a freshman last year that was all ready getting looked at by scouts.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ScrappyMcTavish on January 19, 2006, 10:08:46 AM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 19, 2006, 01:29:40 AM
Look out for Elmhurst Blue Jays pitching staff.

Husiel a hard throwing right handier, who throws strikes - Opponent Batting Average was .138%

Kucik a pitcher that can get the job done when has team needs him the most; he is always ahead of hitters.

Mathis is a pitcher that gives you that double play ground ball – 71% of his outs are ground balls.

Rogers a young and hard throwing pitcher, who can strike out a lot of batters.


Are those fall ball stats against Elmhurst hitters? Your pitchers may look great on paper, but the caliber of hitting may not be up to what you will face in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong and Elmhurts is loaded with hitters, but until they shut down IWU and Carthage, it is all specualation from fall ball.

Fall ball is nice, but it doesn't really matter as pitchers are very limited in what they are throwing and hitters sit back and feast on pitching that does not make the spring team. In short, fall ball is nice, but not the real deal.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 19, 2006, 09:06:34 PM
Why does anybody make IWU and Carthage sound like they are best team in the CCIW. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 19, 2006, 11:14:15 PM
Traditionally, they are among the top in the nation. I understand you think Elmhurst is going to be good, but until they prove it on the field(like Carthage and IWU have in the past) you are just blowing smoke.

I will believe it when I see it. I hope Elmhurst proves me wrong. It will make for a very exciting CCIW and lead to a potential extra berth in the NCAA Tourney for an at-large bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on January 20, 2006, 11:01:21 AM
Hey scrappy-

I had some of my buddies on the Carthage baseball team ask who you were? If you dont want to answer I understand. They were just wondering if they knew you or if they have heard about you.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 20, 2006, 03:40:17 PM
Scrappy?? He may not answer as he is currently coaching college ball on the West Coast. I believe his name is still quite prevalent in the record books.

I do not want to be the one to reveal his identity if he is choosing to keep it hidden, so I will let him make that decision.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 22, 2006, 12:22:07 AM
So, what is the next baseball topic?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Tezbaseball on January 22, 2006, 12:24:43 AM
Interesting site. You can see by where a MLB player went to school.

http://baseballreference.com/schools/
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2006, 12:27:01 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 22, 2006, 12:22:07 AM
So, what is the next baseball topic?

I was hoping to get a scouting report on the other CCIW teams. Are there others out the with info on NPU, Wheaton, North Central, Augie, or Millikin??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 22, 2006, 07:40:04 PM
Here is a little preview of the Augie team:

First off, Augie lost 4 position players who saw significant time and also lose 3 of their top 4 starting pitchers.  These 3 combined for 27 of Augie's 44 starts.  Also, Augie's All-Region catcher will not be playing this year.  This leaves a major hole because the backup catcher transferred schools so Augie is looking for a catcher now.

Here is what they return at each position:

GP/GS, AVG, HR, RBI, SLG


C - who knows...maybe a current player will change positions or maybe they can still get a JUCO transfer after Augie's 2nd trimester ends.

1B -   40/38; .310; 5; 28; .486   or
         a Sr. who sat out last season w/ arm injury

2B -   23/13; .373; 0; 9; .451

3B -   44/43; .327; 9; 43; .566   (also plays 1B & DH)

SS -   I have no clue....4 year starter lost to graduation

OF -   42/41; .365; 7; 42; .585  (All-Region 1st Team)

OF -   39/35; .385; 1; 21; .500

OF -   30/22; .418; 3; 20; .659


APP / GS, W-L, IP, ERA, SO, BB

SP -    9/8, 5-2, 54.1, 3.31, 40, 16

SP -    16/5, 3-1, 54.1, 2.65, 38, 10

From here on out I don't know who else will start but here are the other pitchers

P -   16/1, 6-1, 37.2, 2.87, 31, 6

P -   11/1, 1-0, 17.0, 5.29, 10, 8

P -   7/2, 1-1, 15.0, 7.20, 14, 6

Also have a pitcher returning from arm surgery who started 6 games in 2004


I haven't heard too much about what the recruiting class was like but I hear there is a nice freshman OF that will most likely get some time on varsity this season.  Augie's OF seems to be very solid.  Catcher is the biggest problem as it may require an infielder to move behind the plate.  I'm just not quite sure who will be playing the SS & 2B positions at this point but things are always changing.

Also, it helps that Augie runs a full-fledged JV program as there should be players from last year's team that are ready to contribute heavily on varsity this year.  I think Augie is definitely a top 3 team in the CCIW team but I have no clue what Carthage and IWU will be like so its hard for me to decide where to put them.       


I'll post the official season preview once it is posted online by the SID
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 24, 2006, 04:19:04 PM
I was just looking at a few southern trip schedules and Carthage has a brutal opeing to their season.

March 11th- Kings College-PA (DH)
          12th- Anderson-IN (DH)
          14th- Cortland State-NY(#2 in poll)
          15th- UW- Oshkosh (DH- preseason #35 in nation)
          16th- Concordia-WI (DH)
          17th- Wheaton-MA (#25 in preseason poll)

4 of their first 10 games will be against nationally ranked teams.. that is a tough beginning if they stumble out of the gate. This could me a huge test for the Red Men early in the season.

From the Carthage Preview:
"We could have a lot of new guys on the field in 2006," admits coach Schmidt, "and that's a little scary for me.  The talent is there, but the question will be whether or not we can get them ready to play at our level this year.  All of the newcomers are going to have great futures here, but the future has to be now for us.  How we do in 2006 may be determined by how quickly the new guys learn to play at the level that we're accustomed to.  That said, we do have a lot of pitching experience.  Adding a senior transfer in Jon Olson only adds to the an experience level that already includes Scott Evosevich.  After that, the question will be whether not juniors like Jeff Livek, Brian Long, Zach Smigiel and Ryan Roufus can become productive pitchers for us.  If a few from that group step up, and if Jacob Husing continues to develop, then pitching should be our strength in 2006."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 24, 2006, 04:36:53 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on January 22, 2006, 07:40:04 PM
Here is a little preview of the Augie team:

First off, Augie lost 4 position players who saw significant time and also lose 3 of their top 4 starting pitchers.  These 3 combined for 27 of Augie's 44 starts.  Also, Augie's All-Region catcher will not be playing this year.  This leaves a major hole because the backup catcher transferred schools so Augie is looking for a catcher now.

Here is what they return at each position:
SS -   I have no clue....4 year starter lost to graduation

I haven't heard too much about what the recruiting class was like but I hear there is a nice freshman OF that will most likely get some time on varsity this season.  Augie's OF seems to be very solid.  Catcher is the biggest problem as it may require an infielder to move behind the plate.  I'm just not quite sure who will be playing the SS & 2B positions at this point but things are always changing.



If you have no catcher and no shortstop, it is going to be along season. Those are the two positions you anchor your defense around. They better swing it well if they plan to compete.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 24, 2006, 11:55:39 PM
Big Poppa....they could very well have all of that figured out and I just don't know it.  A senior and a freshman split some time at 2B last year so both of them should be capable of playing up the middle....maybe there is a freshman middle infielder or one of the guys from the JV team.

At this point, I wouldn't say it'll be a long year...the most important thing in my mind is to find a catcher who will atleast make the pitchers comfortable.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on January 25, 2006, 11:42:57 AM
Yeah i see North Park having another long year.  a new coach and losing a few senior starters cant be a good sign.  they lost their only all-conference player and their best starting pitcher from last year, so things aren't looking to good for them once again
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on January 25, 2006, 12:02:13 PM
I don't think Augie has the C thing figured out.  I know of a high school senior they wanted to graduate early to play catcher this spring. 

As for North Park, I'm not sure losing those two players off a 1 win team is that big of a deal, I can't imagine it can get any worse.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on January 25, 2006, 01:29:27 PM
North Park should just find after conference to play in because they are terrible.
If they keep this 1-34 record up, one day they are going to be on ESPN NEWS for worst baseball team ever.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2006, 02:52:17 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 25, 2006, 01:29:27 PM
North Park should just find after conference to play in because they are terrible.
If they keep this 1-34 record up, one day they are going to be on ESPN NEWS for worst baseball team ever.


I think that is a little harsh. NP is in a funk right now, but they will surprise a few teams this year and wind a few games. NP used to be a solid program when Bosko was running the show(early 90's). In fact, they were in the conference tourney a few time when I played in the CCIW. When he left, they struggled to find another quality coach and I think they have found that guy in Luke Johnson.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on January 26, 2006, 05:11:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 24, 2006, 04:19:04 PM
...That said, we do have a lot of pitching experience.  Adding a senior transfer in Jon Olson only adds to the an experience level that already includes Scott Evosevich.  After that, the question will be whether not juniors like Jeff Livek, Brian Long, Zach Smigiel and Ryan Roufus can become productive pitchers for us.  If a few from that group step up, and if Jacob Husing continues to develop, then pitching should be our strength in 2006."


Is it just cynical me or does anyone else think it's strange that there is no mention of Heinig - you know, the kid that is 16-0 in his first two seasons at Carthage.

Carthage does not play Oshkosh or any other WI state school because Dr. Campbell will not allow it. He doesn't feel they compete on a level playing field when it comes to enrollment. It's a lot easier to get an athlete into a school that charges $10,000 for tuition as opposed to one that is closing in on $30,000 annually. Augie Schmidt has never been shy about playing the best team's in the DIII nation. We opened with Marietta for 3 years in a row down in Florida when they were the Mt. Union of DIII baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2006, 06:01:12 PM
Augie has a way of getting under a players skin and making him play better than he has been by doing little things like that(Leaving a 16-0 pitcher off the preview). I can remember him telling Mark Beyer that he was not going to be his starting 1B anymore because he was not consistent enough... all Beyer did was lead the nation in HRs, CCIW POY and finish as a 1st team all-american. Augie has a way of saying things without saying anything at all.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on January 26, 2006, 06:08:48 PM
Poppa...don't I know that!!

III would drive the kids absolutely nuts but they would run through a brick wall for him once the game started. I kept score on the spring trip in 2002 because Pistol was with the basketball team at the Final Four. I sat in the dugout and laughed my ass off at some of the stuff III came up with. And my son was the target of many of those Augieisms!

I think there is more to the story with Heinig. It's not a motivational thing.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on January 26, 2006, 06:16:25 PM
My bad...IV not III
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2006, 06:17:01 PM
I can also remember Augie telling Jack Richarz(D3 Baseball's all-time walks leader) that he did not think he had a good enough eye to bat leadoff... telling Shannon Blansette that he was happy to see him turn into a slap hitter(he promptly blasted 3 HRs in a DH @ Millikin and refused to shake Augie's hand each time as he rounded third)... and Augie getting so angry at his team @ NCC that he asked the ump to throw him out so he did not have to watch the game anymore(We promptly responded by pounding NCC in the 6th to rally back and win the game)... lots of stories about Schmidtty.

Most of my coaching saying come right from Augie... "Can't polish a turd, It's still a piece of crap when you're done with it..."

Does he still complain about his hamstrings?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2006, 06:18:52 PM
Quote from: irish21 on January 26, 2006, 06:08:48 PM
Poppa...don't I know that!!

III would drive the kids absolutely nuts but they would run through a brick wall for him once the game started.


I'd still run through a wall for him...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on January 26, 2006, 06:24:06 PM
Hamstrings and I've never seen anyone that hates the cold as much as Augie! I don't know how he moved with all the clothes he had on under his uniform! We had a ritual where I'd bring him a cup of coffee before every game. It started at the regionals at Wesleyan in 2000. He'd hide in the dugout until I'd get there with the coffee so he could warm up.

He is unique!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2006, 06:32:05 PM
Augie is one of those people you hear others talking about and think they are making it all up... until you meet him and realize that it is the truth. He and Yogi Berra speak a language all their own.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on January 27, 2006, 11:42:09 AM
Here is the Augie preview...

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1138212878&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&

Rumor from a Carthage friend says Heinig was purposely left off the season preview but not for motivational reasons.



Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 27, 2006, 12:42:57 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on January 27, 2006, 11:42:09 AM


Rumor from a Carthage friend says Heinig was purposely left off the season preview but not for motivational reasons.





I have heard some rumors as well, but I think it is best to keep them off this site. I would hate for them to be wrong and risk hurting a kid for no reason.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on January 27, 2006, 12:57:26 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2006, 12:27:01 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 22, 2006, 12:22:07 AM
So, what is the next baseball topic?

I was hoping to get a scouting report on the other CCIW teams. Are there others out the with info on NPU, Wheaton, North Central, Augie, or Millikin??
NCC hasn't made a ripple in the conference recently and the program is sad.  What Purcell and Mathey had is gone.  The alumni support is not there and the team doesn't play with the same heart that other teams played with under a different Coach.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 27, 2006, 01:05:08 PM
NCC used to be the real deal... I think Mathey took all the magic with him to NIU. Taking the assistant coaches with him really hurt the alumni links to the program.

This should be a very competitive CCIW race.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: coachb on January 31, 2006, 06:03:53 PM
Where is the toughest place to play in the CCIW in terms of fields and fans? Where are the best?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on February 01, 2006, 11:16:02 AM
The worst place to play based on field conditions and fans has to be milikin, and the nicest field to play at i would have to say is ill. weslyan
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bodhi5 on February 01, 2006, 11:40:55 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 25, 2006, 02:52:17 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 25, 2006, 01:29:27 PM
North Park should just find after conference to play in because they are terrible.
If they keep this 1-34 record up, one day they are going to be on ESPN NEWS for worst baseball team ever.

Here is some interesting information for you CCIW fans: 

Over the past two seasons, Aurora University is 12-0 against the CCIW.  With an 8-0 record against the CCIW in 2005, you could argue that AU won the NIIC and CCIW championships.

As for the quote above, how about for the 2006 season AU and North Park switch conferences?  Just a thought.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 01, 2006, 12:42:42 PM
Does NP still play inside the track?? It was tough place to play as a right fielder as you almost need to play in the infield.

I always thought that Carthage was also a tough place to place because of all the wind... and I played for Carthage!

North Central was also tough to play, but it was because of the fans riding you for six straight hours.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 01, 2006, 04:06:26 PM
I'm partial to the new Augie field as having the best playing surface...not the toughest place to play though (since students cant drink and get rowdy like @Carthage & @Millikin).  I think Carthage can be a very tough place to play due to it usually being sorta cold and windy.  IWU and NCC have great complexes but I think Augie's field is better (biased view).   

North Park's new field is crazy.  It's part of the football/baseball/softball megafield.  Right field fence is the football stands which runs straight to center.  Then, from there it's like playing little league in left field where behind the left fielder is the softball field.  If memory serves me right, the only fence they have in left is about 450 away and is the 3rd base backstop of the softball field.  Also, they have that "play" turf stuff that you see on football fields.  I was never a fan of that for fielding grounders because the ball seemed to skip off the rubber marbles in the "grass".  And little cutout dirt spots for bases never did it for me.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on February 01, 2006, 05:07:16 PM
Quote from: bohdi5 on February 01, 2006, 11:40:55 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 25, 2006, 02:52:17 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on January 25, 2006, 01:29:27 PM
North Park should just find after conference to play in because they are terrible.
If they keep this 1-34 record up, one day they are going to be on ESPN NEWS for worst baseball team ever.

Here is some interesting information for you CCIW fans: 

Over the past two seasons, Aurora University is 12-0 against the CCIW.  With an 8-0 record against the CCIW in 2005, you could argue that AU won the NIIC and CCIW championships.

As for the quote above, how about for the 2006 season AU and North Park switch conferences?  Just a thought.


It's pretty hard to argue this given the pitching setups for non-conference games during the conference season.  CCIW teams pretty much throw their #4-8 pitchers during weekday non-conference games, and save their top of their rotation for the 3 weekend games that actually have meaning.  If a top dog does throw during the week, he is only going to get a couple innings to stay sharp.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on February 01, 2006, 05:11:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 01, 2006, 12:42:42 PM
Does NP still play inside the track?? It was tough place to play as a right fielder as you almost need to play in the infield.

I always thought that Carthage was also a tough place to place because of all the wind... and I played for Carthage!

North Central was also tough to play, but it was because of the fans riding you for six straight hours.

Conference weekends in April and May were always fun at the Jack.  The atmosphere there is pretty special, especially late in the season when the weather is nice and students are out.  Fans on the houses across the street with kegs and banners, and an occasional megaphone.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on February 01, 2006, 07:06:39 PM
I have to agree with Titan Missile. I know Carthage never threw their studs against non-conference opponents during the week. We played Ripon several times and you would have thought the legend Gordie Gillespie was playing for the DIII World Series. Carthage always saw their 1 or 2 while pitching their 5 or 6.

Aurora got the Redmen in the playoffs a couple of years ago so that may be included in the 12-0 record. But overall they never saw Carthage's best pitchers.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on February 02, 2006, 12:53:48 AM
Should Aurora University move to the cciw?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on February 02, 2006, 08:33:34 AM
You guys need to check some box scores for CCIW games vs Aurora.  I don't think the CCIW teams saw AU best pitchers either.  I'd take Salter over anyone in the CCIW.  And it doesn't look like they faced any #8 starters either. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 02, 2006, 12:09:59 PM
Weekend games are always about pitching and weekday(non-conference) games are all about offense. Wednesdays are usually full of 15-12 games and the weekends are full of 5-3 games. It is not a cut against either the CCIW or Aurora, just face the facts.

I think Aurora would be a great addition to the CCIW but one more team would have to be added to make it a 10 team league. Aurora would give the CCIW three legitimate top 25 team year in and year out. It would also hurt the chances for an extra at-large bid as extra losses for teams vs. Aurora would knock them down a peg in the regional rankings.

NP will not leave... they are a founding member of the conference. NP will be back in the CCIW race very soon. With the exception of IWU and Carthage, everyone has had some down years in the CCIW over the past 10-15 years... it happens, kids get hurt, recruits transfer, kids are not eligible... things happens and programs move on.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on February 02, 2006, 03:50:38 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on February 02, 2006, 08:33:34 AM
You guys need to check some box scores for CCIW games vs Aurora.  I don't think the CCIW teams saw AU best pitchers either.  I'd take Salter over anyone in the CCIW.  And it doesn't look like they faced any #8 starters either. 


My point was that you can't hand a team a conference crown in baseball (as "bohdi5" was alluding to) based on weekday non-conference games.  It's not a fair judge for either team as pitching is a crap-shoot during the week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 02, 2006, 03:56:18 PM
[quote author=titan missile link=topic=4218.msg473954#msg473954 date=113891343


My point was that you can't hand a team a conference crown in baseball (as "bohdi5" was alluding to) based on weekday non-conference games.  It's not a fair judge for either team as pitching is a crap-shoot during the week.
Quote

Agreed... there is a reason the games are played between the chalk lines.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 02, 2006, 06:48:23 PM
Hey, first time poster here. Should be a great season of baseball. In my biased opinion, I would say Carthage is going to take the conference in a close race this year. They have four transfer outfielders who all swing the bat very well, one from illiinois state, one from a juco in california, and ones from lacrosse and oshkosh. Infield should be solid again with primarily the same players. As for the pitching, transferJon Olson should be the ace of the staff. I played with him for many years. Throws in the 88-91 mph range with a great slider and very rarely walks anyone. Evosovich has been great the last two years, and if sophomore Jacob Husing's arm is ready, he could be the top pitcher in the conference, he had quite a few scouts watching him last year as a freshman. I know IWU lost their 2 top pitchers, any word on if they've gotten any good pitching?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 02, 2006, 09:43:48 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 02, 2006, 06:48:23 PM
They have four transfer outfielders who all swing the bat very well, one from illiinois state, one from a juco in california, and ones from lacrosse and oshkosh.

What are the names of the guys that transferred from Oshkosh and LaCrosse??  Oshkosh didn't have any OF finish the season with an average above .297, so I really wonder what kind of impact this transfer will have. ::)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 03, 2006, 08:52:38 AM
The transfer from oshkosh was asked to try out pitching last year at oshkosh, that is the main reason he transfered is because he wanted to play a position. He played with the Kenosha Kings this summer along with some other carthage players and hit the ball well for most of the summer. Plus, Coughlin adds a lefty bat which Augie always loves.  I know the ? about Carthage is their outfield, but with Tyler Creekmore returning after a solid freshman season and the four transfers who will all be working with Jarvis Brown (Carthage's outfield/hitting coach, former big league player who won a ring with the Twins), they should be just fine. Can these guys be as good as Kyle Mallon, Ryan McCulley, Johnny Meier, Dennis Jackson, and Pat Brown?? Who knows, those were some outstanding D-3 outfielders in recent memory. But I'm sure the outfield won't be a "weak spot" for the redmen this year. A little more about olson, some of the players in the cciw may have faced him last summer. He pitched for the Kenosha Kings as well, and started the all star game the previous summer in the Norhwoods League representing the Madison Mallards.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on February 03, 2006, 02:58:59 PM
David Hermes OF R/R 6-0 200 So.  Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson/UW-La Crosse)

Steve Coughlin RF L/L 5-11 180 So. Sturtevant, Wis. (Salem-Westosha Central/UW-Oshkosh)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 03:47:47 PM
Does the CCIW do a pre-season coaches poll for baseball? I know they do for hoops.

It looks like the poll on this page has IWU and Carthage as the favorites. Tradition would seem to agree:

CCIW Baseball Titles:
IWU- 20
Carthage- 12
North Central- 9
Millikin- 8
Elmhurst-7
North Park -4
Augustana- 3
Wheaton-1

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 03, 2006, 04:09:09 PM
Quote from: irish21 on February 03, 2006, 02:58:59 PM
David Hermes OF R/R 6-0 200 So.  Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson/UW-La Crosse)

Steve Coughlin RF L/L 5-11 180 So. Sturtevant, Wis. (Salem-Westosha Central/UW-Oshkosh)

Don't you think if either of these guys were "impact" transfers they would have played a bit more for both UW LaCrosse or UW Oshkosh last season?? 

Heck, UWL was a 12-27-1 team last year, and Hermes could only crack the line-up for 9 games (6 starts) and 24 AB's, which included 8 K's (1 out of every 3 AB's.)  At the same time, I have to believe Lechnir saw something in the Fall that made him think Coughlin couldn't hit at the College level, especially with the lack of quality bats UWO had last season (again, no OF hit over .297.)

If Carthage is looking for either of these guys to make an impact this season, it could be an uncharacteristically long season for them. ::)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 04:19:54 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 03, 2006, 04:09:09 PM
Quote from: irish21 on February 03, 2006, 02:58:59 PM
David Hermes OF R/R 6-0 200 So.  Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson/UW-La Crosse)

Steve Coughlin RF L/L 5-11 180 So. Sturtevant, Wis. (Salem-Westosha Central/UW-Oshkosh)

Don't you think if either of these guys were "impact" transfers they would have played a bit more for both UW LaCrosse or UW Oshkosh last season?? 

Heck, UWL was a 12-27-1 team last year, and Hermes could only crack the line-up for 9 games (6 starts) and 24 AB's, which included 8 K's (1 out of every 3 AB's.)  At the same time, I have to believe Lechnir saw something in the Fall that made him think Coughlin couldn't hit at the College level, especially with the lack of quality bats UWO had last season (again, no OF hit over .297.)

If Carthage is looking for either of these guys to make an impact this season, it could be an uncharacteristically long season for them. ::)

Carthage Baseball comes down to one thing position players... you better swing it well. Augie's "Hit-or-Sit" philosophy scares his guys into working very hard in the off-season to ensure they get quality playing time. It seems to be a good formula for them. It may not work everywhjere, but it certainly does at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 03, 2006, 04:31:46 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 04:19:54 PM
Carthage Baseball comes down to one thing position players... you better swing it well. Augie's "Hit-or-Sit" philosophy scares his guys into working very hard in the off-season to ensure they get quality playing time. It seems to be a good formula for them. It may not work everywhjere, but it certainly does at Carthage.
I totally agree with you.....  Lechnir is the same way, which makes me think Coughlin isn't going to have much of an impact as a hitter for Carthage.  Lechnir will find a place for you to play if you can hit, and live with the defensive struggles.  He had to have seen something last fall that made him switch Coughlin to a pitcher instead of a postion player.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on February 03, 2006, 05:51:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 03:47:47 PM
Does the CCIW do a pre-season coaches poll for baseball? I know they do for hoops.

It looks like the poll on this page has IWU and Carthage as the favorites. Tradition would seem to agree:

CCIW Baseball Titles:
IWU- 20
Carthage- 12
North Central- 9
Millikin- 8
Elmhurst-7
North Park -4
Augustana- 3
Wheaton-1



The CCIW, doesn't have a pre-season poll for baseball, I think they should have one, what do you guys think?.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 05:53:25 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 03, 2006, 04:31:46 PM

I totally agree with you.....  Lechnir is the same way, which makes me think Coughlin isn't going to have much of an impact as a hitter for Carthage.  Lechnir will find a place for you to play if you can hit, and live with the defensive struggles.  He had to have seen something last fall that made him switch Coughlin to a pitcher instead of a postion player.

Does the name Jeff Zappa ring a bell... guy could flat out Mash and they stuck him in left field for four years to try get his bat in the game. I think he was a 3or 4 tima all-american at UWO (not bad teams at UWO... Jorgensen, Leider, Zappa and Jarrod Washburn, all 1st team All-Americans in 1995)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 03, 2006, 06:40:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 05:53:25 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 03, 2006, 04:31:46 PM
I totally agree with you.....  Lechnir is the same way, which makes me think Coughlin isn't going to have much of an impact as a hitter for Carthage.  Lechnir will find a place for you to play if you can hit, and live with the defensive struggles.  He had to have seen something last fall that made him switch Coughlin to a pitcher instead of a postion player.
Does the name Jeff Zappa ring a bell... guy could flat out Mash and they stuck him in left field for four years to try get his bat in the game. I think he was a 3or 4 tima all-american at UWO (not bad teams at UWO... Jorgensen, Leider, Zappa and Jarrod Washburn, all 1st team All-Americans in 1995)
Zappa was a two time All American in 95 and 96. 

Wouldn't you agree then that if Coughlin was much of a hitter, he'd have gotten a chance in the field for Lechnir??  I just have a hard time seeing him have much of an imapct for Augie.  Maybe he'll prove me wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 03, 2006, 06:47:49 PM
Though I would never count a kid out, transfers rarely have the impact they are expected to within the same divisions and levels of teams in NCAA. It is a whole different thing if they move from D1 to D3 or transfer from Carthage or OWO into a tiny school in a weaker conference.

Both Carthage and UWO are top notch programs and I doubt Lechnir would leave a quality bat on the pines... BUT never say never. Some kids just need a change of scenery to make it happen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 04, 2006, 12:21:22 PM
I understand all the questions about these 2 guys not playing much or at all at uw-oshkosh and lacrosse. I guess we'll have to wait and see how they do. I completely agree that a player might just need a change of scenery, or maybe their previous coach just had them in the doghouse, who knows. I watched several kings games this summer, I would say the pitching is at cciw level, some pitchers obviously even better, and both hit around .300 with wood bats. I hope they both do well at Carthage, we'll have to wait and see. I'm sure the transfers from illinois state and the juco in california will their chances to show what they can do right away. Any word yet on if wesleyan has any pitchers to fill in for lapinski and himes? Lapinski was a heck of a hitter too don't forget, I think he led their team in homeruns.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 05, 2006, 05:04:22 PM
I know it is cold and snowy, but baseball season has officially started.

Chapman and Cal Lutheran squared off in a three game series this weekend and Chapman took 2 of 3 winning the opener 7-3... Cal Lutheran came back to beat them 11-10 in the second game and Chapman took the third game 6-4. It's nice to have baseball back again.

Chapman does not look to have as solid of a pitching staff as they had in years past with the exception of returning All-American, Buddy Klovstad... he looked great Friday night throwing seven solid innings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 07, 2006, 01:38:20 PM
Did any teams lose any players to grades??? I know many things change over the course of the first semester and Interim classes.

What have you guys heard?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 11:48:22 AM
Can't wait for the Carthage/Oshkosh doubleheader over spring break, should be a great two games.  It will be very interesting to see what carthage does as far as pitching, seeing they play #2 Cortland state in a double header the day before.  Although I feel these trips are important to getting your season started off right, its hard to measure exactly where you are because you are starting some guys  on the mound who may rarely pitch the rest of the season. I would say if carthage could split with both of these teams, that would show that they are for real this year.  Its always cool to see Augie and Lechnir get together for some games. They are traditionally two of the top teams in the country, and I think they should play yearly.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 12:47:48 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 11:48:22 AM
Can't wait for the Carthage/Oshkosh doubleheader over spring break, should be a great two games.  It will be very interesting to see what carthage does as far as pitching, seeing they play #2 Cortland state in a double header the day before.  Although I feel these trips are important to getting your season started off right, its hard to measure exactly where you are because you are starting some guys  on the mound who may rarely pitch the rest of the season. I would say if carthage could split with both of these teams, that would show that they are for real this year.  Its always cool to see Augie and Lechnir get together for some games. They are traditionally two of the top teams in the country, and I think they should play yearly.
I like it even more if they would meet in the World Series (like in 1993, 1994, 1995). Oshkosh won all three times, but it was great for Wisconsin baseball to have two of the eight teams at the dance.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 01:45:43 PM
That would be great to see. I know carthage made it during the 2002 season, but 2003 was really the year i thought they had a chance. Carthage was ranked number 2 most of the year, and then got shafted and had to go to mississippi and play in a ten team regional.  I realize hey they still had their chance, but if there was ever a year I felt they could have beaten anybody, especially with grybash or dusty on the mound, that was the year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 01:47:19 PM
Maybe it was an 8 team instead of 6 team, but either way i know there were two more teams than most regional tournaments had
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 09, 2006, 01:48:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 12:47:48 PM
I like it even more if they would meet in the World Series (like in 1993, 1994, 1995). Oshkosh won all three times, but it was great for Wisconsin baseball to have two of the eight teams at the dance.
Ahhhh.......... the good ole' days......  It sure has been awhile since they have both even been to the Series, much less play each other.  Since 1998, UWO has made two trips (1998 and 2003,)  while Carthage has been there only once in the last 8 years (2002.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 09, 2006, 01:58:46 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 01:45:43 PM
Carthage was ranked number 2 most of the year, and then got shafted.  I realize hey they still had their chance, but if there was ever a year I felt they could have beaten anybody, especially with grybash or dusty on the mound, that was the year.
You want to talk about getting shafted, how about in 1999 when Oshkosh had to use wood bats at Regionals, while St. Thomas and St. Scholastica were swinging aluminum.  UWO dropped two games to St. Thomas losing 3-2 and 4-3 to end their season at 34-4.  St. Thomas went on to be National Runner-Ups losing to North Carolina Wesleyan 1-0 in the championship.  UWO went on to have five players drafted, including their top 3 pitchers (Craig Glysch, Kevin Grater, and Jack Taschner-current San Francisco Giant) and their RF (Sean Parnell) and C (Casey Kopitzke.)  No one will ever tell me that team wasn't THE BEST in the Nation in 1999.  Give both teams wood bats or aluminum bats and there defintely would have been a different outcome.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 03:40:41 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 09, 2006, 01:58:46 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 01:45:43 PM
Carthage was ranked number 2 most of the year, and then got shafted.  I realize hey they still had their chance, but if there was ever a year I felt they could have beaten anybody, especially with grybash or dusty on the mound, that was the year.
You want to talk about getting shafted, how about in 1999 when Oshkosh had to use wood bats at Regionals, while St. Thomas and St. Scholastica were swinging aluminum. 

Give both teams wood bats or aluminum bats and there defintely would have been a different outcome.

The WIAC chose to use wood bats ONLY that season... it was their own doing. Don't blame the other schools for choosing aluminum. It would not have been fair to ask them to swing wood in the tourney, and UWO singed a contract saying they would only use wood. I do not dispute they were a loaded team, but they got caught with a great team in a year that they could not swing aluminum.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 04:01:49 PM
Wow, I never knew about that whole wood bat thing in 1999. Any word on how that big lefty from oshkosh is doing? I believe his name was Jordan Timm. Any Opinions on whether or not Augie and Lechnir will throw their top 2 against eachother, or throw them against Cortland State and throw whos ever arm is ready the day the two schools square off.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 09, 2006, 04:15:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 03:40:41 PM
The WIAC chose to use wood bats ONLY that season... it was their own doing. Don't blame the other schools for choosing aluminum.
I'm not blaming the other schools..... I was putting the blame on the WIAC.  If the WIAC was still using wood bats today, it may be a different story, however for them to use wood bats for one year and switch back to aluminum (when the aluminum bats BESR was the same) made pretty much no sense. 

I have a feeling both UWO and UWSP were both pretty "hot" after Regionals and voiced their opinions to the conference.  I would guess that it may have had something to do with the sudden change back to aluminum.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 04:44:25 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 04:01:49 PM
Wow, I never knew about that whole wood bat thing in 1999. Any word on how that big lefty from oshkosh is doing? I believe his name was Jordan Timm. Any Opinions on whether or not Augie and Lechnir will throw their top 2 against eachother, or throw them against Cortland State and throw whos ever arm is ready the day the two schools square off.

Carthage usually throws their #1/2 on day one, #3/4 on day two, etc... Whoever happens to fall on that day will get the starts.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 04:55:26 PM
I know thats what they usually do, it makes the most sense.  Just looked at their (Carthage's) schedule.Their first game is on a Saturday, and they play Cortland State Tuesday so obviously their top 2 won't be ready. They play oshkosh on wednesday then, so depending on how many innings their 1 & 2 go on that first Saturday, maybe they will be ready for the titans.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on February 09, 2006, 05:33:27 PM
I must have slept through this segment of the show...when did Augie and Lechnir start liking one another?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 06:11:54 PM
Quote from: irish21 on February 09, 2006, 05:33:27 PM
I must have slept through this segment of the show...when did Augie and Lechnir start liking one another?

Believe it or not, they are somewhat cordial... at least they used to be. I am not sure if things have changed at all. I know for quite a while they had some trough recruiting wars going on. Often, people associate competitiveness with dislike and lack of respect.

Hey Irish... any updates on the player we previously talked about??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 06:12:27 PM
Irish, from what I know and have heard, I have been told they actually get along quite well. I used to think as well for some reason they didn't like eachother. However, I've been told they get along just fine and actually talk every once in a while to talk baseball... I could be wrong, but from who I heard it from I doubt it. By the way, how's Pat? I played football one year with him my sophomore year when I transferred to Carthage.  As much as I went against him with the starting 1's on offense and defense on the field in practice, i never picked him off once! Also played baseball one year with him (well actually watched from the dugout in a uniform next to augie listening to him just waiting for the next great one liner to come out of him mouth! :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 08:17:24 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 06:12:27 PM
Also played baseball one year with him (well actually watched from the dugout in a uniform next to augie listening to him just waiting for the next great one liner to come out of him mouth! :D

Do any of these sound familiar?:

"This is like a sore D!@k, you just can't beat it." or

"Son, you're gonna hurt your neck throwing the ball over the plate against this guy"

"Domin, go get thrown out of the game!"

"If baseball was a game of rah-rah, we would have cheerleaders in the dugout... shut your mouths and hit."

I am sure there are many, many more out there.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 08:47:50 PM
The "Augieisms" are really never ending. We all know Augie loves to hit, and last year our strength was obviously pitching.  We're winning games 4-1, and 5-2, and you could tell he just missed those 15-8 games when the mentality was simply "you can't score more than us."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2006, 09:11:08 PM
I remember playing a game at North Park in the bitter cold one year and Augie was so angry about us winning game one by a score of 2-1 that he forbade us to cheer at all in the second game. Our dugout was dead silent for seven innings and all you could hear was Augie talking to himself for three hours. At one point, Jack Richarz hit his first college homerun as a senior and he refused to let us go out to congratulate him... now that I think back on it, those times were hilarious.

That guy still cracks me up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 10, 2006, 11:13:49 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 09, 2006, 04:01:49 PM
Any word on how that big lefty from oshkosh is doing? I believe his name was Jordan Timm.

Here are his numbers from last season:

Jordan Timm: Individual Stats (Pitching)
Team From To          W L      ERA     G  GS   SV        IP    H      R    ER   HR    BB     SO
Dunedin Blue Jays    0  0    16.20      1   0      0      1.2    2      3     3      1      1      1
Auburn Doubledays  0 1     6.75        1   1      0      4.0    5      3     3      0      1      4
Lansing Lugnuts      2 0     2.47      18   4      5     47.1    39    16   13     2    16     44


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 10, 2006, 01:24:39 PM
Thanks, looks like he's doing very well where he was at most of they year, got roughed up a little bit at the higher levels, but he only pitched a few innings there.... Former Carthage Catcher Kevin Sullivan was signed by the cubs organization, and will most likely end up in AA or AAA. There was a big write up about it in the kenosha news a few weeks back.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on February 10, 2006, 02:13:13 PM
Redmenfan...I remember you! Your Dad tailgated with us several times at the football games. I think I remember your football debut. Didn't you have a couple of picks to start your Carthage career?

Pat is doing well. I know he misses competitive sports. He started playing softball this past summer with guys he went to high school with. He told me that he and the Grybash brothers are coming up for the weekend to see Augie and the boys. Kenosha's in trouble this weekend!!

Poppa...he is definitely academically ineligible! Tough blow to the Redmen!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2006, 03:25:49 PM
Quote from: irish21 on February 10, 2006, 02:13:13 PM


Poppa...he is definitely academically ineligible! Tough blow to the Redmen!

That one hurts... I guess we will find out how deep they are right away, huh?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 10, 2006, 05:59:04 PM
First off, I know who you two are talking about, known since I helped with the Christmas baseball camps over break, and that is definately a huge blow. Irish, my second game as a redmen I had two picks, my first was a terrible one because we lost to the school I transferred from. Hate to bring back painful memories, but we were up and the converted a 4th and 18 or 19 with 2 minutes left and went on to win, pretty much summing up that season and the one after, play good enough to almost win, but not quite good enough to win. Hopefully I see pat, I'm at Johnny's house quite a bit so hopefully we all meet up. Hope to see you at some games this year?? I am student teaching so could not play this year, already miss listening to Augie every day and horsing around with Jarvis
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2006, 06:41:46 PM
Anybody have any predictions for the players of the year in the conference?

Best Player?
Best Pitcher?
Best Hitter(AVG)?
Best Hitter(power)?
Best Defensive Player?

I am curious to know what people think of the returning talent in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 11, 2006, 10:12:29 AM
Best pitcher I'm gonna have to say senior Jon Olson from Carthage. I think he will have a very similar year statistic wise as Dan Grybash had his junior year (Grybash was 9-0 with a 1 something ERA.) When you can touch 90-91 and compliment it with above average off speed tough, I don't care who you are, as long as you throw strikes you are going to be successful at the D-3 level. Just look at Hymes from Wesleyan last year. He threw hard, but I would say that's about all he did, which was enough to get it done most of the time. Hopefully he can learn some good off speed stuff in the Astros organization.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 11, 2006, 10:14:03 AM
sorry, in a hurry, that's supposed to be "off speed stuff"
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 11, 2006, 10:31:30 AM
REDMENFAN,

Himes was not the one that threw hard.  That was Cory Lapinski.  It is also completely unfair to say that is all he did.  He also had a tight little breaking ball that kept people off balance all day.  Sure, throwing hard is probably what got him drafted but if all he did was throw fastballs, then his stats would not have been what they were.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 11, 2006, 10:36:48 AM
Augie Superfan,

Yes I know Lapinski was the hard throwing lefty with an amazing breaking ball, I should know I watched him shove it to us twice last year. Hymes was the tall righty, probably about 6'5'' or 6'6'' who was clocked several times last year in the CCIW tournament and hit 90, we hit him pretty hard though because his off speed pitches were not very good at all, and Carthage loves the fastball if that's primarily all you have. Actually, both got drafted and are in the Astros organization...look it up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on February 11, 2006, 02:11:55 PM
I heard that North Central College had about 12 players quit the baseball team this year and mainly the whole in fields are freshman.  Did anyone else hear anything about this?  What do you guys think, will North Central College be as good as last year's team.   ???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2006, 06:22:09 PM
Check out this interesting list on the Carthage web page:

Do any of the teams listed surprise you, as far as winning percentage? Marietta is amazing!!

I highlighted the Central Region teams.


By Percentage
W-L-T
Pct.

1.
Marietta
617-127-3
.8280

2.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh
475-142-2
.7690

3.
Aurora
459-152-2
.7504


4.
Ferrum
417-139-1
.7496

5.
Johns Hopkins
449-155-1
.7430

6.
Wooster
497-171-4
.7426

7.
Southwestern (Texas)
345-122-0
.7388


St. Scholastica
366-130-0
.7379

8.
Carthage
497-176-4
.7371

9.
SUNY-Cortland
459-164-1
.7364

10.
Eastern Connecticut State
491-178-1
.7336

11.
Ohio Wesleyan
495-183-4
.7288

12.
Dallas
205-79-1
.7211

13.
Bridgewater State (Mass.)
408-160-4
.7168

14.
Allegheny
443-180-2
.7104

15.
Chapman
316-130-1
.7081

16.
Southern Maine
464-191-3
.7075

17.
Mary Washington
373-155-1
.7061

18.
St. Thomas (Minn.)
443-188-1
.7017

19.
College of New Jersey
416-171-7
.7012

20.
North Carolina Wesleyan
460-207-1
.6894


27.
St. Olaf
290-136-0
.6808


29.
Wisconsin-Whitewater
383-195-3
.6618

41.
Simpson
347-210-1
.6223

42.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
348-211-4
.6217

47.
Monmouth
292-183-1
.6145

48.
Marian (Wis.)
399-262-2
.6033

49.
Wartburg
357-236-3
.6015

51.
Illinois Wesleyan
367-245-3
.5992




Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 11, 2006, 08:12:59 PM
REDMENFAN,

Don't get all upset man...I thought you were just mixing up the 2.  Personally, I don't think Himes threw that hard but maybe he did.  I know they are both playing in the Astros system so I don't know how that came up as me having to look it up.  And, his last name is HIMES...look it up
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 12, 2006, 12:37:48 PM
Really didn't mean it as sounding upset, sorry if it came out that way. I don't post to try and make people upset, just enjoy the baseball chat
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 12, 2006, 10:18:06 PM
Here is the Augie preview...

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1138401031&archive=1139363034&start_from=&ucat=2&
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 14, 2006, 06:01:33 PM
The season is less than a month away! Any injury reports or anything like that? I watched Carthage practice for a while yesterday hitting live in the cages. So far, so good as far as injuries are concerned. Talked to some guys and they said Jacob husing has been throwing off the mound, and throwing GAS so that's very positive to hear. If his arm is healthy enough to be a weekend starter, look out. With Olson, Evosovich, and Husing (who if healthy could very well be the best pitcher in the conference) the Redmen should have a very successful season. Olson/Husing back to back could very well be like Grybash/Dusty Reed back to back in 2003 when both went undefeated.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 14, 2006, 07:21:21 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 14, 2006, 06:01:33 PM
Olson/Husing back to back could very well be like Grybash/Dusty Reed back to back in 2003 when both went undefeated.

No body is a bigger backer than me of the mighty Redmen(not Red Men), but that statement is just giving others a reason to hang it on the bulletinboard to use for motivation. The CCIW is tough enough... don't give others a reason to try even harder to beat the Redmen.

I agree that the Big Red Machine is once again loaded with arms, but two guys going undefeated in the CCIW on the same team is very tough.

Title: Did Elmhurst hire Mike Woodard?
Post by: Dirty Dozen on February 15, 2006, 07:49:12 AM
I had heard that Mike Woodard was hired at Elmhurst College to coach infielders?  If this is true, what a great hire for Coach Clark Jones.  Mike played in the big leagues for San Francisco, Oakland, White Sox, Indians, and I think he may have even played for the Yankees at one time.  Most recently I think he was coaching at one of the Proviso schools?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 08:47:14 AM
I find it pretty hard to believe that teams would use something written on a chat board from a fan as bulletin board material. Now if they saw something in a newspaper that was said by an actual player or something, maybe it would be different. All I'm trying to say is that these two, if they both remain healthy, could have outstanding years. Maybe I'm going out on a limb saying they have a chance to both go undefeathed through the CCIW, but ya never know. Heck, they could both very well lose their first games in the conference. I guess what I should have said is the talent level and potential of these two have the makings to possibly be as good as Grybash and Dusty
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2006, 11:14:04 AM
You might be amazed at what ends up in dugouts... I heard that Chapman hanging chatroom postings(from this site) in their dugout last weekend right before they went out and pounded Pomona-Pitzer.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 01:22:22 PM
Well Big Poppa, either way, no matter how motivated you get, I don't think posting something in a locker room or hitting room is going to help you hit a baseball when you step to the plate. In football it might make you hit harder at first, in basketball it might make you play more physical and give more effort, but I don't see how getting all jacked up is going to help you hit a baseball. If you are thinking about something that was said in a chatroom when you are in the batters box, chances are you aren't going to get on base.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on February 15, 2006, 01:58:09 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 01:22:22 PM
Well Big Poppa, either way, no matter how motivated you get, I don't think posting something in a locker room or hitting room is going to help you hit a baseball when you step to the plate. In football it might make you hit harder at first, in basketball it might make you play more physical and give more effort, but I don't see how getting all jacked up is going to help you hit a baseball. If you are thinking about something that was said in a chatroom when you are in the batters box, chances are you aren't going to get on base.

I strongly disagree with that statement. 

For one, baseball is such a mental game.  Motivation only intensifies it.  When a team is stongly motivated, it gives them a big edge.  Just like getting "up" for big games against top opponents or rivals, you only add fuel to the fire.

I'm not saying your words really did this, just thought I would chime in on this topic.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 02:37:09 PM
Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. When the conference season starts, if anyone who talks to any coaches or players regularly in the CCIW and find out stuff from this site has been being posted for motivation, then let us all know and I will be surprised but admit I was wrong. Titan missle, I agree with you that when you are playing a disliked opponent or playing a rivalry game or something like that, intesity and focus is a huge part of baseball. Any of you who played know its a lot different playing a non conference team you don't know much about instead of a team who consider a rival (like Carthage and Wesleyan is becoming.) However, I still don't think there is any chance players would care, let alone take offense to something that fans are saying in a chat room. If I knew my comments would've have stirred things up, I would've have posted them earlier to get more people posting! ;) This site is mostly opinion and what we as fans think, and there's no harm in disagreeing and debating with each other, it just makes the board that much more interesting.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2006, 03:37:36 PM
Redmenfan... I guess it just comes down to a matter principle for me. I would rather shut my mouth and not wake a sleeping dog than to announce to the world that I am in the room.

We each have our own methods to our madness...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 04:05:23 PM
Guess you're right. Dont forget, every team in the conference has a website that has stats posted, so its not like coaches and players won't know what they're going up against before the games are played. I've said Carthage's 3 weekend pitchers should be the strength of the team as long as they stay healthy, Evosovich has proven himself the last 2 years, and Olson and Husing both throw hard and SHOULD be very successful.  If there's something wrong with that, then I apologize
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2006, 04:28:32 PM
I hope you are right on the Carthage pitching... I sit by my computer during the season or call the SID directly to get in-game updates.

You will rarely find a bigger fan than I...

Death, taxes  and Carthage Baseball Victories!!!
Title: Re: Did Elmhurst hire Mike Woodard?
Post by: Sweetness on February 15, 2006, 04:32:59 PM
Mike Woodard is doing a very good job with the infielders and hitters.  Elmhurst will have a very tough infield this year.
Title: Mike Woodard
Post by: Sweetness on February 15, 2006, 04:38:11 PM
Elmhurst hire Mike Woodard as there infield coach, what do you guys think about that?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: coachb on February 15, 2006, 04:41:19 PM
Redmenfan... over the last week, you have angered nearly everyone on this board. Titanmissle, Bigpoppa, and Augie2000 have all been cordial and allowed you to backpedal on your statements.

If you had any idea who these guys truly were, I doubt you would engage in such childish tactics  with them. I know one for sure is a well-respected college coach.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on February 15, 2006, 06:23:34 PM
Who's Mike Woodard?
Title: Re: Mike Woodard
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2006, 06:40:30 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on February 15, 2006, 04:38:11 PM
Elmhurst hire Mike Woodard as there infield coach, what do you guys think about that?
It is a good move for Elmhurst.. nothing too exciting, but it will not hurt them at all. I belive that makes two CCIW assistants with big league experience... Carthage's Jarvis Brown being the other.

It makes the CCIW that much tougher.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2006, 07:58:16 PM
CoachB,

Childish Tactics such as...

Like I stated earlier, this message board is for people to state their opinions, and for other posters to as well, and then debate about the topics being discussed. I've already said I'm on here because I simply enjoy the baseball chat, and in no way would want to anger anyone or sound disrespectful. As far as if I knew who these guys were, why would I not share my opinion with these guys? If one is a respectful coach that's great, i'm sure he can share a lot of knowledge on this board, hopefully he's just not a coach in the CCIW for obvious reasons, this is supposed to be for fans only i'm sure, and not for players and coaches that coach at this level. Since all my talk about how I think Carthage will have a strong pitching staff and good team this year has caused many problems in the way i stated it, I just won't talk about their pitching until the season starts, maybe then I won't make any childish or ridiculous statements.....As far as Elmhurst getting a former big leaguer as a coach, that is great for their program. I know first hand Jarvis Brown is absolutely amazing with the outfielders at Carthage, and love him or hate him, find me a coach out there who knows as much about hitting as Augie. Few more short weeks and CCIW baseball is here!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 16, 2006, 03:49:07 PM
Redmenfan... don't worry. I take no offense to your comments.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 16, 2006, 04:25:23 PM
Who are the top three players at each position in the CCIW?

Starting Pitchers?
Closers?

Outfielders?

Middle infielders?

Corner infielders?

Catchers?


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 16, 2006, 05:31:31 PM
I don't know if they have graduated or not, but wesleyan's 3rd baseman last year was solid in the field and an amazing hitter, and ther little leadoff guy who plays short stop is a very tough out. I also thought defensively, Augastana's shortstop was has solid and smooth as they come, but I'm almost positive he was a senior.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titan missile on February 16, 2006, 06:28:46 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 16, 2006, 05:31:31 PM
I don't know if they have graduated or not, but wesleyan's 3rd baseman last year was solid in the field and an amazing hitter, and ther little leadoff guy who plays short stop is a very tough out. I also thought defensively, Augastana's shortstop was has solid and smooth as they come, but I'm almost positive he was a senior.

I think the 3B you're referring to Mick Curran who did graduate.  He was their leading hitter at the plate and played a very solid corner for them.  He will be missed.  I will be interested to see who steps up into the 3B position for them.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 17, 2006, 08:43:21 AM
That will definitely be a tough whole to fill losing Curran. With Curran and Lapinski out of the lineup, and Lapinski and Himes out of the rotation, any word on if the Titans have some capable replacements, whether it be transfers, recruits, or guys who have waited for their turn to get a shot. That's two pitchers that are in the minors and probably over 20 homeruns and a lot of RBI's to make up for.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 21, 2006, 04:08:10 PM
I had this discussion with a friend last night... who is the better hitter, Roy Hobbes (The Natural) or Kelly Leek (Bad News Bears)?



Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on February 21, 2006, 04:56:54 PM
I would have to go with Hobbes.  Leek did not have a supernatural bat (which would be strike against Hobbes), but he also did not have a lengthy layoff and return to prominence.  I can't remember, in the original Bad News Bears, were they still using wooden bats?  I know in the new one the Little Leaguers had made the transition to aluminum.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 21, 2006, 05:51:49 PM
The original Bad News Bear swung the lumber... only the best for Kelly Leek.

One of things I find interesting is that Leek was able to drive a motorcycle to his Little League games while smoking(as a 12 year old!)... I may have to give a slight nod to Hobbes for taking better care of his body during the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 26, 2006, 03:54:49 AM
Augustana starts their season in about 8.5 hours versus Hanover College.  For Augie's frist trip down south, they play, Hanover, Alma (2), Dubuque (2), and Clarke...not the toughest spring trip but the usual for Augie.  I'll try to get the updates from the guys whenever I can get ahold of them. 

In 2 more weeks, Augie returns to Florida and plays Greenville (2), St. Joe's (don't know fro where, maybe Maine), and Stevens Point.

Good luck Augie!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on February 26, 2006, 03:37:23 PM
Augie plays the mighty Golden Eagles of St.Joseph's College in Suffolk, NY.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 26, 2006, 08:37:02 PM
Two separate spring trips?? Wow, fundraising must have went well for them this year!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on February 27, 2006, 05:36:07 PM
Augie beat Hanover 6-3 to open their season yesterday. Kevin Kuntz was the winning pitcher going 6 innings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 27, 2006, 06:04:13 PM
Quote from: augiefan on February 27, 2006, 05:36:07 PM
Augie beat Hanover 6-3 to open their season yesterday. Kevin Kuntz was the winning pitcher going 6 innings.

Very nice... the CCIW is off to a 1-0 start... the more wins in the CCIW, the better when it comes to Pool C bids later in the year. I hope everyone has a great spring trip and pushes the CCIW to the top of the list.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 27, 2006, 11:10:02 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on February 26, 2006, 08:37:02 PM
Two separate spring trips?? Wow, fundraising must have went well for them this year!


We have taken 2 separate spring trips the past 3 years...our early spring break always causes us to miss out on some good teams that have breaks later on.  We always fly down the second time on a thursday and play Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then fly back.  We had to pay some extra money and usually took part in some fundraising events throughout the year to make money.  My junior year we actually got to fly down both times which was nice to avoid that 24 hour bus ride down there.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 28, 2006, 08:39:48 AM
I forgot that Augustana has the tri-mesters, so their breaks are at different times. Hey, if you can afford to go down south twice, why not? Good for the players and I'm sure the coaches have a good time as well after the games
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on February 28, 2006, 10:11:34 AM
I've also heard that Augie's travel expenses other than FLA are low.  They only have one non conference road game (Loras).  Most schools are willing to travel to play at a nice field like Augie has.  Also, it looks like only one overnight road conference trip. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: zorbadagreek on February 28, 2006, 12:49:28 PM
Whatever happened to Brian Mosher of carthage?? Is he still coaching??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: superstar on February 28, 2006, 02:50:19 PM
congrats to kevin kuntz on the win.  representing streator, il. 

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 28, 2006, 02:54:16 PM
Quote from: zorbadagreek on February 28, 2006, 12:49:28 PM
Whatever happened to Brian Mosher of carthage?? Is he still coaching??

Mosher left Carthage and currently resides in the Atlanta area.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 28, 2006, 03:49:10 PM
Mosher "Moe" was let go and Cory Everts took his place last year. I don't know exactly what happened with the situation, i heard a few different stories. Cory Everts was a former All American Pitcher at Carthage, and really knows a lot about the game from a pitching perspective. He ran a training facility in appleton for a few years, and I know trained several pro athletes, so he is also in charge of the off-season and in season workouts for the redmen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 28, 2006, 08:03:25 PM
Augie lost on Monday 10-6 to Alma (MI).  Augie pounded out 15 hits but the pitching was not very good and they defense gave up 3 unearned runs.  Brandon Engle took the loss.  One encouraging note was the good relief pitching by Kevin Fogelsong (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K).  He sat out the entire year last year with a torn labrum so hopefully this is a good sign of a return to health and strentgh in the throwing shoulder. 

Augie really should've beaten this Alma team but they will get another shot tomorrow. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 28, 2006, 08:14:20 PM
Is Augustana now at 1-1 on the season?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on February 28, 2006, 09:07:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 28, 2006, 08:14:20 PM
Is Augustana now at 1-1 on the season?

Yes they are
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 01, 2006, 08:05:53 PM
Word from the guys is that Augie won 21-12 over Alma (MI) today....I didn't get any details but the boxscore will probably be posted sometime tomorrow.  Augie now goes to 2-1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 01, 2006, 08:15:54 PM
Sounds like it was a classic pitchers duel!! ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 01, 2006, 09:08:38 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 01, 2006, 08:05:53 PM
Word from the guys is that Augie won 21-12 over Alma (MI) today....I didn't get any details but the boxscore will probably be posted sometime tomorrow.  Augie now goes to 2-1.

Giving up 12 runs to Alma makes me wonder how deep the Augie bullpen is!?! Unless it was just one of those days...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on March 01, 2006, 10:20:06 PM
Augie lost to Alma yesterday by a 10-6 score. High scoring early spring games do not mean much. Midwest pitchers have no time to get into shape until April at the earliest.

Alma was horrible last year, but they have a new coach who is very good. Formerly coached at Ferris State. Nevertheless, losing a game by any score to a rebuilding Alma team is not encouraging.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 02, 2006, 09:16:33 PM
Augie split a DH today vs. Dubuque...they are now 3-2 on the season.  Andrew Setter threw a complete game 6 hitter in a game 1 win, 6-2.  They lost the second game 8-6 after leading 5-1. 

So far on the season, Augie is hitting .372 as a team but only have a 5.77 team ERA.

One thing of interest is that 3 freshman have started in the infield so far but they are all swinging the stick pretty well so far.

The catcher situation seems to be a problem as expected.  They already have 7 passed balls in 5 games whereas they only had 24 passed balls al of last season.  Also, opponents are 12-12 on stolen bases so far.  I also wonder if the inexperienced catchers are causing the pitching to be worse off than expected.

Hopefully Augie can get all of their lineups settled and figure out what will work for them so they can start playing some better ball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 02, 2006, 09:26:07 PM
3-2 versus the likes of Hanover, Alma and Dubuque does not bode well for the Vikings in the CCIW. All three of those teams would  finish near the bottom of the CCIW.

Augie needs to find a catcher quickly. If they cannot throw anybody out, it is going to be a long year for the pitchers who try to hold runners close.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 03, 2006, 02:42:31 AM
How does Augustana lose a game against Dubuque University?  When Dubuque has 6 errors in the game.  ???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 03, 2006, 08:40:23 AM
I agree. Augustana will win some games this year in conference if they keep swinging the bat like they are, but they won't compete to win the conference if they can't find a descent catcher this year. I would say its  to early to judge their pitching, especially with the catching situation.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 03, 2006, 09:07:53 AM
Yeah, this is one of the worst spring trips for Augie since I have been paying attention to them.  I think the worst trip when I was there was 8-2 or something like that.  Augie has 2 very solid pitchers in Andrew Setter and Kevin Kuntz.  After that, they don't have many people that have thrown too many innings on the varsity level in previous years.  Last year's closer, Brandon Engle, pitched great last year but has struggled at the start this year.  I don't want to get too worried about things now because it is early on.  The conference season is what really matters.

The one problem that could be manifesting itself is the fact that Augie has only had a few weeks of "official practice".  When I played, we always started the baseball season the 2nd week of January and by the time we went to Florida, the pitchers had 6-7 weeks to get our arms into shape and building up some stamina.  With the NCAA passing legislation in previous years to shorten the season, Augie's practice time is down to something like 3-4 weeks. 

This is obviously not an excuse for a loss becaue the other teams are playing by the same rules too...but it might just show why the Augie pitchers have not pitched so well yet.  Lets hope it all changes by the time they return to playing baseball back at home.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2006, 09:42:43 AM
Gotta love the NCAAs attempt to shorten the season, but all it is really shortening is the careers of pitchers... they need the extra time to get in game shape.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 03, 2006, 11:05:46 AM
Another tough part about the spring trip is often teams from up north don't even practice outside at all before they play their first game, and only so much can be done indoors in a gym, especially for outfielders. I know that this week for Carthage they have finally started to go out on the football field which has astroplay and take some grounders and fly balls. Take UW-Parkside for example. They are the preseason #16 team in D-2, and went 0-3 down in Kentucky last weekend against teams from down south. This was their first time playing ball outdoors, that defanitely makes a difference when you are playing teams that have the luxury of being able to practice outdoors during february and the beginning of march.
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 03, 2006, 12:07:08 PM
Nice article in the Pantagraph on the IWU season outlook, which begins this weekend...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/03/03/sports/108094.txt
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 03, 2006, 01:33:27 PM
It looks like Wesleyan's season will depend on how their 6 senior pitchers perform this year, along with a few others.  Seems like they should still have a pretty solid hitting team, but it will take some getting used to playing and never being able to say "well Lapinski's on the mound we're gonna win as long as we score  2 or 3 runs."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2006, 04:29:16 PM
Anybody know how Augie did today? It is not posted on their page yet. They played against Clarke today at 9:30 am.

I am hoping that the CCIW teams all fare well this weekend to help the conference out during selection time (Pool C)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 03, 2006, 10:58:50 PM
Nope...I do not know.  I couldn't get ahold of the guys this evening.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 04, 2006, 11:52:14 AM
Augie beat Clarke yesterday 10-6....they finished up their 1st spring trip with a record of 4-2
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 04, 2006, 05:31:26 PM
Millikin split with Greenville yesterday

IWU plays a DH against Greenville today

NPU lost the 1st game of a DH today (10-4) vs. Franklin College
Title: Intersting stats...
Post by: BigPoppa on March 04, 2006, 07:23:40 PM
I did a little research today and found these stats on the CCIW in the National Tourneys...

Augie: 2-2
Carthage: 37-26
Elmhurst: 6-8
IWU: 9-9
Millikin: 0-0
NCC: 15-13
NPU: 11-10
Wheaton: 0-0

Overall the CCIW is 80-68(.548) at the national level. I wonder how many other conferenes stack up that well. I would assume the WIAC may and whichever conference Marrietta plays in. It would be interesting to find out.
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 05, 2006, 02:35:33 PM
IWU swept Greenville yesterday, 6-5 and 7-1.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/03/05/sports/108268.txt
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 05, 2006, 10:42:41 PM
North Park split a doubleheader with Franklin on Saturday and dropped a single contest to DePauw on Sunday.  The Vikings begin their spring break trip to Phoenix with a contest against Keene State College on Saturday, March 11.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 06, 2006, 01:06:56 PM
Elmhurst College baseball team kicked off the 2006 season by posting a 1-0-1 record in a doubleheader against Macalester College
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 06, 2006, 01:14:12 PM
What was the reason for a tie? Were there not any lights? I'm surprised both coaches wouldn't have tried to continue playing the next day if that was possible.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 06, 2006, 01:17:29 PM
time ran out

They only had 4 hours to play two games, at the Metrodome.

Freshman Mike Goltz (Neenah, Wis.-H.S.) got his collegiate career off to a good start, by belting a grand slam to pace the Bluejays' offense. Goltz finished 2-for-4 at the plate with the grand slam and a triple.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2006, 04:48:35 PM
Quote from: Sweetness on March 06, 2006, 01:17:29 PM


Freshman Mike Goltz (Neenah, Wis.-H.S.) got his collegiate career off to a good start, by belting a grand slam to pace the Bluejays' offense. Goltz finished 2-for-4 at the plate with the grand slam and a triple.


There are tons of strong players coming out of the Fox Valley in Wisconsin. I know Carthage had a few All-Americans from that area:

Cory Everts- Hortonville
John Zuleger- Appleton
Mark Beyer- Menasha
Dean Muthig- Clintonville
Gavin Winfield- Ripon

The Fox Valley area has always been a hotbed for baseball... Oshkosh, Carthage, Steven's Point, and Madison Tech(JUCO) always land tons of players from those towns and are usually nationally ranked programs.

The best thing to ever happen to D3 baseball in Wisconsin was for the Univ. of Wisconsin to cancel its program in 1991... all those players go unrecruited by D1s and land at small schools.(Carthage, Oshkosh, Whitewater, Steven's Point, etc...)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 06, 2006, 05:15:44 PM
Couldn't agree with you more. Justin Hallock, Dave Nelson, and Eric Krull are a few of the more recent players who had great success at Carthage. Maybe not All-Americans, but all were All Conference players
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2006, 05:48:47 PM
Redmenfan... Are you from the Valley?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on March 06, 2006, 11:28:21 PM
north park matching their wins from last year already, good to see they are off to a better start than previous years.  Hopefully they will win some games in the conference this year and be more competitive like they were a few years ago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 06, 2006, 11:52:46 PM
The Blue Jays end there road trip to the Metrodome at 2-1-1.
Title: Re: Intersting stats...
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2006, 01:48:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 04, 2006, 07:23:40 PM
I did a little research today and found these stats on the CCIW in the National Tourneys...

Augie: 2-2
Carthage: 37-26
Elmhurst: 6-8
IWU: 9-9
Millikin: 0-0
NCC: 15-13
NPU: 11-10
Wheaton: 0-0

Overall the CCIW is 80-68(.548) at the national level. I wonder how many other conferenes stack up that well. I would assume the WIAC may and whichever conference Marrietta plays in. It would be interesting to find out.


Marietta is in the Ohio Athletic Conference, which is a powerhouse circuit in all the major sports. Three OAC schools have won D3 basketball titles (current members Ohio Northern and Otterbein, and Wittenberg won theirs as an OAC member before the Tigers jumped ship and joined the NCAC), and perennial gridiron juggernaut Mount Union is also an OAC member.

Quote from: cokeaholic on March 06, 2006, 11:28:21 PM
north park matching their wins from last year already, good to see they are off to a better start than previous years. Hopefully they will win some games in the conference this year and be more competitive like they were a few years ago.

NPU is going to have to tighten up their pitching. The split with Franklin was a nice start; Franklin was the preseason #1 pick in the HCAC coaches poll, and the Vikings' win in the nightcap is currently the only blot on the 6-1 season record for the Grizzlies. But NPU has given up 31 runs in their three games to date. They've also committed ten errors.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 07, 2006, 10:56:19 AM
Big Poppa, no I'm from Kenosha actually. Went to Lakeland for a semester, had some personal stuff going on and came back home and have been at Carthage since. I just know those guys from playing with them for a few years. Actually went to St. Joes High School where Jarvis Brown went.
Title: CCIW Players of the Week
Post by: TitanRailer on March 07, 2006, 11:25:18 AM
Congrats to Ricky Angel of IWU and Kevin Kuntz of Augie, CCIW Players of the Week.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2006pow1.php
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2006, 07:09:54 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 07, 2006, 10:56:19 AM
Big Poppa, no I'm from Kenosha actually. Actually went to St. Joes High School where Jarvis Brown went.

Also the alma mater of Nick Van Exel... I used to ball with him at the KYF. Sick skills on that guy!

What are your predictions for the southern trip... tough schedule... I am hoping for a game or two above .500 for the trip. They have a brutal stretch of games down there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2006, 08:47:18 AM
I agree with you, it is a very tough schedule. Normally, Carthage only loses 1 or 2 games down there, this year if they do that it will be very impressive. Back to back days of double headers against Cortland State and Oshkosh isn't an easy task for any D-3 team in the country. If Carthage splits those two series, I think it will show a lot of people this is not a rebuilding year. Overall, I think they will do fine and come back with a good record on their spring trip. Hopefully their 1 and 2 will be ready for the Wednesday Oshkosh double header after starting their first two games Saturday the 11th (I'm assuming their 1 and 2 will throw the first day.) They will have 5-6 young guys, particularly in the outfield who will be competing for the 3 spots, and all will probably get their opportunity quickly to see who will win those positions.  I would think Center Field is the only postion that is "locked up" right now. Transfer Boe Battinger (I think that's his last name) from a Juco in California has looked very good and has the tough task of replacing Johnny Meier. Also, RIP Kirby Pucket, a great player, and Carthage Coach Jarvis Brown's old teammate.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on March 08, 2006, 10:01:36 AM
Per the WIAC site...

North Central splits a DH w/ UW-Superior last night at the Metrodome.

UW-Superior won game one 2 - 1.
North Central took the nightcap 5 - 4.

NCC is now 1 -1 on the season.
UW-Sup is now 1 - 3.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2006, 01:51:14 PM
Not a good sign for North Central. I realize it was their first 2 games, but UW-Superior usually isn't that strong of a team, and I'm guessing North Central's 1 and 2 starters threw against Superior's 3-4 starters. Hopefully the Cardinals can get it rolling and represent well for the CCIW
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 08, 2006, 03:40:54 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2006, 01:51:14 PM
Not a good sign for North Central. I realize it was their first 2 games, but UW-Superior usually isn't that strong of a team, and I'm guessing North Central's 1 and 2 starters threw against Superior's 3-4 starters. Hopefully the Cardinals can get it rolling and represent well for the CCIW

I agree... I hope it was just the first game jitters. UW-Superior is usually a basement dweller in the WIAC and if NCC struggled with them it could be a long season for the Cardinals.

Any ohter records in the CCIW yet? I know North Park, Millikin, IWU, and Augie played already and Carthage opens this weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 08, 2006, 07:31:13 PM
Here are the games from today thru Sunday:

March 8
North Central vs. Mayville State University (N.D.) (DH)
Wheaton vs. Juniata
Blackburn @ Millikin

March 9
Wheaton vs. Concordia

March 11
Carthage vs. King's (DH)
Elmhurst @ Franklin (DH)
Ill. Wesleyan @ Rose-Hulman
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Manchester
Wheaton vs. DeSales
North Park vs. Keene State @ Snedigar IV

March 12
Carthage vs. Anderson (DH)
Elmhurst @ Franklin
Illinois Wesleyan @ Rose-Hulman
North Park vs. Dickinson State @ Snedigar IV
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on March 08, 2006, 10:58:36 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 08, 2006, 07:31:13 PM
Here are the games from today thru Sunday:

March 8
North Central vs. Mayville State University (N.D.) (DH)
Wheaton vs. Juniata
Blackburn @ Millikin

March 9
Wheaton vs. Concordia

March 11
Carthage vs. King's (DH)
Elmhurst @ Franklin (DH)
Ill. Wesleyan @ Rose-Hulman
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Manchester
Wheaton vs. DeSales
North Park vs. Keene State @ Snedigar IV

March 12
Carthage vs. Anderson (DH)
Elmhurst @ Franklin
Illinois Wesleyan @ Rose-Hulman
North Park vs. Dickinson State @ Snedigar IV


March 8th
Mayville St. 3    North Central 2  10 inn.  - no 2nd game due to time constaints
Juniata 17    Wheaton 16
Millikin / Greenville ppd rain


Current Records
North Central 1 - 2
Wheaton 1 - 3
Millikin 1 - 1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 09, 2006, 09:08:49 AM
A lot of solid pitching in that Wheaton game!!  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2006, 12:20:04 PM
As of the mornig of March 9th:

The CCIW teams are struggling down south... they have a record of 12-11-1. Respectable, but not a good sign.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 09:05:40 AM
Carthage took off this morning for their spring trip, good luck to the Redmen. I think everyone now knows Junior Michael Heinig cannot play this year, but will be back for the next two years. Heinig was 17-1 in his first two seasons as a starter, and his only loss was an emergency relief appearance his freshman year. Hopefully Carthage finds a way to replace him this year, it will be tough. Still not sure if Jacob Husing's arm will be ready to be a starter, or if he will be in a closer roll if he can't throw 100 or so pitches. If Jacob can't be a weekend conference starter, the front runner for the Redmen's 3 spot is Jeff Livek. Livek has improved greatly the past 2 years, he's always thrown hard but needed some movement and a solid off-speed pitch, which he now has. He's from Schaumburg and was an all state  kid a few years back. Lastly, the Redmen will be in Florida without one of their top hitters. I won't mention his name until the season starts and it will be obvious who it is, but the injury should be healed up after the Florida trip, or another week after it. This player broke a small bone in his hand a few weeks back swinging in the cages, and the Dr. said it should be healed up in about month (after the spring trip it will be a month.) Lastly, any word on how Wesleyan has been doing?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2006, 11:13:18 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 09:05:40 AM
Carthage took off this morning for their spring trip, good luck to the Redmen. I think everyone now knows Junior Michael Heinig cannot play this year, but will be back for the next two years. Heinig was 17-1 in his first two seasons as a starter, and his only loss was an emergency relief appearance his freshman year. Hopefully Carthage finds a way to replace him this year, it will be tough. Still not sure if Jacob Husing's arm will be ready to be a starter, or if he will be in a closer roll if he can't throw 100 or so pitches. If Jacob can't be a weekend conference starter, the front runner for the Redmen's 3 spot is Jeff Livek. Livek has improved greatly the past 2 years, he's always thrown hard but needed some movement and a solid off-speed pitch, which he now has. He's from Schaumburg and was an all state  kid a few years back. Lastly, the Redmen will be in Florida without one of their top hitters. I won't mention his name until the season starts and it will be obvious who it is, but the injury should be healed up after the Florida trip, or another week after it. This player broke a small bone in his hand a few weeks back swinging in the cages, and the Dr. said it should be healed up in about month (after the spring trip it will be a month.) Lastly, any word on how Wesleyan has been doing?

Those are  HUGE blows to my mighty Redmen.... hopefully, they will pull together and make things happen. Thanks for the update and insider info.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 11:16:56 AM
I did a little internet work and looks like Wesleyan swept a DH vs Greenville last weekend 6-5 and 7-1.  They play this weekend at Rose-Hulman and against Manchester.  Looks like Chilczenkowski went 5/6 for the weekend.  IWU has some nice non conf games.  D1 ISU, D2 Christian Brohters and always tough Miss. College.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2006, 11:58:28 AM
Quote from: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 11:16:56 AM
I did a little internet work and looks like Wesleyan swept a DH vs Greenville last weekend 6-5 and 7-1.  They play this weekend at Rose-Hulman and against Manchester.  Looks like Chilczenkowski went 5/6 for the weekend.  IWU has some nice non conf games.  D1 ISU, D2 Christian Brohters and always tough Miss. College.

IWU has a great set up with ISU... too bad more D1s will not play the D3s...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 12:29:10 PM
I agree that D-1's should play smaller in state schools for non conference games. It would be fun to watch Carthage play UW-Milwaukee or even D-2 Parkside which is about 2 miles away from Carthage. I think its great that ISU is willing to play Wesleyan every year, too bad more bigger schools won't do the same
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: formerd3db on March 10, 2006, 01:01:52 PM
REDMENFAN:
I agree with you.  Some of us had a similar discussion on the MIAA baseball site.  Obviously, there are some pros/cons for that with regards to the DI schools, but overall, I think can be a good experience all the way around (it actually has been in the past when it has occurred).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 01:20:44 PM
I realize that if the D 1 team loses it looks bad for their program, but any baseball fan would know neither team probably threw one of their top pitchers, and that in baseball more than any other sport in my opinion, anyone can beat anyone on a given day. For a D-3 school, its an opportunity to say you beat a big school, and also chances are you will be playing against some guys you know and maybe even played summer traveling baseball with that got a scholarship to a big school.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2006, 01:26:18 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 12:29:10 PM
I agree that D-1's should play smaller in state schools for non conference games. It would be fun to watch Carthage play UW-Milwaukee or even D-2 Parkside which is about 2 miles away from Carthage. I think its great that ISU is willing to play Wesleyan every year, too bad more bigger schools won't do the same

Carthage and Parkside used to play every year... I am not sure if they still do, but it was a fun setting. Parkside was never too strong when I played and we always pounded them even though they were D2 Scholarship players.  I see tha PArkside is a very strong D2 right now, maybe that has something to do with it... most top ranked D1s and D2s will not play small school for the fear of slipping in the rankings and RPIs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2006, 01:48:14 PM
Another problem is that Parkside plays in a wood bat conference, so how would you decide on wood or aluminum? If you ask me, I think the simple solution would be to let the home team decide. I know big time schools want to avoid dropping in the rankings, but a school like UWM doesn't have to fear that along with a lot of other D-1 schools who refuse to play a solid D-3 program. There is not a doubt in my mind Wesleyan or Carthage could compete in UWM's conference (some other schools are bradley, butler, uic) I'm not saying they would win it, but I think they could compete and make some noise. Some of those schools are solid, but not that much better, or not better at all than some top notch D-3 schools. Now could Carthage compete in the SEC, that's completely different. My buddy Scott Roehl pitched at Arkansas for 3 years and I went and watched him play 5 times, those players and teams are just simply at an entire different level of baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 03:42:28 PM
I'm sure that games against anything other that D1's do not count in the D1 rpi.  However it would count against the total number of games your allowed to play.  IWU usually gives ISU a game and has won a few times but ISU is much improved and is starting to get some of the top players from Illinois.  At first I though REDMENFAN was a little off by saying that Carthage could compete in the Horizon League but maybe he's right.  Checking out roster bios shows players from both teams were all area/all state etc. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2006, 03:58:47 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 03:42:28 PM
I'm sure that games against anything other that D1's do not count in the D1 rpi.  However it would count against the total number of games your allowed to play.  IWU usually gives ISU a game and has won a few times but ISU is much improved and is starting to get some of the top players from Illinois.  At first I though REDMENFAN was a little off by saying that Carthage could compete in the Horizon League but maybe he's right.  Checking out roster bios shows players from both teams were all area/all state etc. 

Petey... D1s will actually gain more RPI points by getting embarassed by another D1 than by pounding a D2/D3/NAIA school... it is a flawed system that does not account for cold weather-teams having shortened seasons and forcing them to play small school in order to make up a rained out games in some instances.

When I coached at an NAIA, D1s told me that they would never play us unless absolutely necessary (They would play us if they were already certain that they would get into the NCAAs, but if a school was from a smaller D1 conference and needed the RPI to get them into the NCAAs... forget about it).

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 04:27:48 PM
BigPoppa- I stand correct.  I checked one of the rpi sites and and it says "records" only include d1 games. 

What happened to the Augie quote for your sig?  The turd one is a classic.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2006, 04:38:53 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on March 10, 2006, 04:27:48 PM
BigPoppa- I stand correct.  I checked one of the rpi sites and and it says "records" only include d1 games. 

What happened to the Augie quote for your sig?  The turd one is a classic.

Sorry... they must have recently changed it.... as of a few years ago, RPI included other divisions as well.

I rotate my signature sayings on the bottom... it gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 11, 2006, 11:45:44 AM
Redmen off to a good start! 6-1 victory over King's College. Evosevich gets the win!!

Game 2 at 10:30
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 11, 2006, 02:03:09 PM
Sweep of King's College for the Redmen! Nice start to the 2006 season! I believe the hotline said Jon Olson picked up the 11-2 or 11-1 victory. Bad reception for the hotline update.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 11, 2006, 05:13:16 PM
IWU lost 9-7 to Manchester this afternoon @ Rose-Hulman.

IWU gave up 5 unearned runs.  Robert Inzinga took the loss.  Nick Chilzenkowski led IWU in hitting by going 5 for 5 with 3 RBIs. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 11, 2006, 06:01:05 PM
Very good sign for the Redmen with Olson and Evosovich both throwing very well. Evosovich gave up only one run in the complete game and Olson didn't give up a hit until the 5th when he gave up 2 unearned runs. He only surrendered 3 hits the entire game. New Centerfielder Boe Battinger hit the ball well, Tyler Yapp hit a homerun, steve coughlin from uw oshkosh hit clean up and hit well, as did Tyler Creekmore. It should be fun Wednesday when Coughlin plays against his former team and is hitting in the clean up spot when Oshkosh wouldn't even let him swing a bat and switched him to pitcher. Finally, the injured redmen is Chris Sadjak (Yapp is filling in for him), who most likely would've been hitting in the clean up slot. The paper today had a huge write up on Carthage and said he will be back late march/early April. Sadjak hit very well last year and will be counted on tremendously to be a big run producer when he returns to the lineup.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2006, 09:54:06 PM
Great job Redmen... way to jump out of the gate and get rolling.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2006, 02:14:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 09, 2006, 12:20:04 PM
As of the mornig of March 9th:

The CCIW teams are struggling down south... they have a record of 12-11-1. Respectable, but not a good sign.
Sunday Morning:
The CCIW teams are currently 15-12-1(non-conf.) on their spring trips... we should have a ton of games played this week and have a much better idea of how the conference stacks up nationally. Right now, the CCIW is looking average, at best. We need Carthage, Augie and IWU to get hot and hope for a second NCAA bid from the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 12, 2006, 05:32:40 PM
Redmen split a Sunday doubleheader with Anderson College. They lost the opener and won the nightcap. 3-1 so far on the road trip. Tomorrow's an off day.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2006, 05:39:36 PM
Quote from: irish21 on March 12, 2006, 05:32:40 PM
Redmen split a Sunday doubleheader with Anderson College. They lost the opener and won the nightcap. 3-1 so far on the road trip. Tomorrow's an off day.
Irish... thanks for the update! Nothing on the website yet.

Doesn't surprise me... the Redmen always struggle in the first game of the second day. They have had some horrendous losses over the years in that game including a 1994 loss to Earlham College when Carthage was ranked in the top 5 in the nation and Earlham finshed around 3-41 for the season... hopefully the Redmen are just following suit as they now enter the toughest part of their spring trip with back-to-back DHs with #2 Cortland State and UW-Oshkosh.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 12, 2006, 06:30:06 PM
IWU swept Rose-Hulman today.

Game one:

IWU won 7-4.  DuBois goes to 2-0 with the win.  Angel was 2-4 with 3 RBIs and a HR.  Chilzenkowski was 3-4 with an RBI.

Game two:

IWU won 8-0.  Dobosz got the win.  Chilzenkowski was 2-4 with a HR.  McCabe was 3-4 w/ 2 RBIs.  Howard was 3-4 with 3 RBIs and 1 HR.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2006, 07:57:06 PM
Just talked to some of the guys, the first game was just a case of not getting a big hit when Carthage needed it. I think they left 11 runners stranded, and lost 3-1. Livek was the tough luck loser, giving up 3 runs on only 5 hits and striking out 7 in the 7 inning contest. Carthage won the second game 4-3, and got a good sign with sophmore Chris Krepline throwing well. Krepline is a hard throwing righty who normally pops the mit at about 90 mph and should be outstanding before his career is over. With Olson, Husing, and Krepline all throwing high 80's and touching 90-91, and Livek normally 86-88, I think that's why Scott Evosovich is so effective. He throws mid 80's, but just keeps hitters so off balance its amazing. The tuesday game against #2 Cortland State is only a single game, sorry I thought it was a double header.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2006, 10:58:07 AM
Hopefully Carthage gat battle through the injuries and make a run at the CCIW title when they return. I have a feeling that they could be in for a tough spring trip this year. I hope I am wrong, but I just have a feeling.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2006, 01:18:25 PM
Playing Cortland State, and having double headers with rival oshkosh, and #24 Wheaton, Mass., I can see why you have that feeling. I still think the Redmen will come home with a good record, and better prepared for CCIW play after playing some of those teams in Florida. I will predict that the Redmen come back with a 7-3 record, which I know is a pretty bold statement considering they play 5 more games against ranked teams (Cortland#2, Wheaton #24, Oshkosh #35.) Hopefully the pitching works out where they can have at least one of their top 4 guys throwing in these games and get the big hits when they need them.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2006, 02:59:04 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2006, 01:18:25 PM
Playing Cortland State, and having double headers with rival oshkosh, and #24 Wheaton, Mass., I can see why you have that feeling. I still think the Redmen will come home with a good record, and better prepared for CCIW play after playing some of those teams in Florida. I will predict that the Redmen come back with a 7-3 record, which I know is a pretty bold statement considering they play 5 more games against ranked teams (Cortland#2, Wheaton #24, Oshkosh #35.) Hopefully the pitching works out where they can have at least one of their top 4 guys throwing in these games and get the big hits when they need them.
I would jump for joy with a 7-3 record after the trip for Carthage... looking at their schedule I would think that a 6-4 record is more likely and should get them ready for the CCIW schedule.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2006, 04:16:22 PM
7-3, 6-4, anything above 500 I would say would be a successful spring trip considering how tough it is. However, losing yesterday doesn't help their cause losing to a team that is 2-3. But like you said, Carthage is known for beating the great teams and losing to ones that aren't as talented, but just want it more because sometimes Carthage can play to the level of their competition. That will be big for the Redmen this year, to make sure they are playing the same whether they are playing Wesleyan or the worst team on their schedule. In 2004, Carthage went 10-1 on their spring trip, we lost to what we felt like was the worst team Carthage played in Florida.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2006, 04:28:16 PM
I know what you are saying. Carthage has a long history of losing to poor teams and pounding the great ones. The same seaon that they lost to a 3-41 Earlham in Florida, they beat both Marrietta and Eastern Connecticut State in the World Series before losing to NCAA Champion Methodist in the semi-finals.

You never know what you are going to get, but you can be assured that Augie Schmidt is going to be unhappy either way!
Title: Cortland-SUNY
Post by: mwunder on March 14, 2006, 11:06:07 AM
It seems like they played everyone they brought to Florida with them yesterday in a 12-9 loss to Stevens Tech.  They played 20 guys.  They are 5-2 so far.

To date they are hitting .383 as a team.  Wow!
In 6 games they have attempted 29 steals (21 successful)

Never having seen them play, I'd think that getting on base (.448%) a lot and having speed (good combination in baseball.) makes them very dangerous.

Guessing from their rotation so far, I would think that Carthage will see Justin Mattes, a 6'4" Jr right hander.  So far this year he is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA.  Opponents are hitting .185 off of him.  We will not see their ace, Jimmy Dougher (He threw on Saturday).

Since Carthage is not even mentioned in the 'Florida trip' portion of their media guide, I would assume that we are being overlooked.  They play #24 Whenton (Mass) and #5 Rowan in the two days following today's game.

Hopefully, we have our hitting shoes on today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2006, 12:34:57 PM
MWUnder,

I'm confused, are you a Cortland State backer? You say "we won't see their ace" but you are talking about Cortland guys. I think you are a Cortland guy and saying they are overlooking Carthage is what I got from your post. Anyway, .380 team batting average is just ridiculous, hopefully they cool down a bit today! Carthage's 1 and 2 threw Saturday so they won't be throwing today either, as you mentioned Cortland will not be throwing their ace. I would hope though that they are not overlooking Carthage. Carthage has been in the preseason top 25 many times in the past ten years, and have a lot of talent. I am pretty confident they'll be in the top 25 sooner or later this year. Last time they started out the year unranked they made it to the world series and were preseason #2 the following year. Should be a great game today. Both teams have been playing a lot of players and trying to see who can win a spot as permanent starters once their conference seasons start.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on March 14, 2006, 01:18:13 PM
REDMENFAN...

Carthage class of 1992.


Was just giving a very high overview of the Cortland team that we may be facing today and commenting that we (Carthage) are not going to see their (Cortland's) ace.  I agree that they (Cortland) won't see ours (Carthage's) either.  Clear enough??   ;D  (yes, that's a bit smarta$$)

I don't remember the last time I saw 20 names in a box score for a 9 inning game.  That's nuts.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2006, 01:29:05 PM
Yes, that's much better. Thanks for clarifying... Carthage is starting Jacob Husing today, I'm sure nobody from Cortland will read this in the next hour!  ;)   Husing has all the potential in the world, but had arm surgery in the off-season and the Coaches aren't sure yet if he'll be able to be a starter or if he'll be the closer again this year. Last year, Husing had several scouts watching him. At 6'2'', 230, he's got a big strong body with a great fastball and a knee buckling curveball. From what I've been told, he's been a little gun-shy about snapping off the curveball while throwing live to hitters in the cages. Hopefully he lets it fly today and see what happens. Augie stated in the Carthage season preview on Saturday that Jacob Husing may even become better than Olson because he's bigger and stronger, and was touching 90 mph regularly as a freshman. "When he's on, he can be devisating."  Hopefully his arm is feeling good, he can get Carthage a quality win, and he can stay injury free this year
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2006, 04:29:47 PM
mwunder... did you play baseball at Carthage in 1992?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2006, 04:33:09 PM
Carthage up 4-1 in the 4th on #2 ranked Cortland State... more updates to follow.

Check for yourself @ 262.551.5388(Carthage sports hotline)... it is usually updated every inning or so for baseball games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 14, 2006, 05:15:14 PM
4-1 end of the 7th. They always rise to the occasion. In 02 & 03 we knocked off DiSalvo and #1 Marietta two years in a row in Panama City.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on March 14, 2006, 05:27:16 PM
Shannon,

Nope,  I was buddies w/ Kuhnke, Povich, Everts, Falk, and Nemo.


My baseball claim to fame was seeing every home game (and many away games) for the 4 years I was there.  That's saying something considering the lakeside venue that is Carthage...

Question for you...and this is not to put you down at all..just one of those things that I know you know the answer to.

How many more hits would it have taken in '96 to hit .400?  2?  I missed being all-state in high school in cross-country by less than a stride....never forgot the kids' name or the time...

Maybe we'll see you at a game this spring.

Apparently Husing's arm is healthy?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on March 14, 2006, 05:43:25 PM
Carthage wins 4-2

Husing went 5 innings to pick up the win.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2006, 05:56:47 PM
Quote from: irish21 on March 14, 2006, 05:15:14 PM
4-1 end of the 7th. They always rise to the occasion. In 02 & 03 we knocked off DiSalvo and #1 Marietta two years in a row in Panama City.

I think those were his only two losses those years.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2006, 06:01:19 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 14, 2006, 05:27:16 PM


Nope,  I was buddies w/ Kuhnke, Povich, Everts, Falk, and Nemo.


My baseball claim to fame was seeing every home game (and many away games) for the 4 years I was there.  That's saying something considering the lakeside venue that is Carthage...

Question for you...and this is not to put you down at all..just one of those things that I know you know the answer to.

How many more hits would it have taken in '96 to hit .400?  2?  I missed being all-state in high school in cross-country by less than a stride....never forgot the kids' name or the time...

Maybe we'll see you at a game this spring.

Apparently Husing's arm is healthy?

I think it would only have been one more hit... I was happy with the .396 considering I started the northern portion of the schedule by hitting 1-27(.037) that season... just one of those funks. Glad to see that Carthage pulled off a big win today!

I would love to catch a Carthage game this year, but I am living in Southern California right now... I tried to talk Augie into swinging out here for a long weekend, but he did not buy it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2006, 06:13:25 PM
Big confidence booster for Carthage heading in to tomorrow's double header with oshkosh. Just got off the phone with Sadjak, he said Husing was just throwing bb's and his change up was unreal. Ryan Roufus, a junior lefty threw the last 4 and also threw very well i was told.  Roufus is from the Milwaukee area and was a former all-state pitcher in high school. Not a hard throwing guy, right around 80, but has great movement on  all his pitches, and if his curveball is on he's extremely tough to hit.  I'm guessing Augie And Everts had Husing on a tight pitch count, and assume they are very happy with his performance. Good luck tomorrow to the Redmen and the rest of the CCIW
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2006, 12:27:26 PM
CCIW now moves to 19-16-1 on the season... hope fully a few teams can get hot and really push the conference records further above .500.

Carthage vs UW-Oshkosh today should be a great DH.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2006, 12:39:12 PM
Carthage will be starting Evosovich and Olson today, so hopefully both of them can perform well on 3 days rest after they both threw complete games Saturday. Starting on 3 days rest is no easy task the first week into the season. These two guys should be a great 1-2 combo all year though. No matter which one starts first, one will be throwing high 80's and can touch 90/91 with some good off speed stuff, and the other one is mid 80's with a lot of off speed pitches to keep hitters off balance. Evosovich also gets many hitters out with his splitty, a pitch that not a lot of D-3 guys throw. The best part is they both rarely walk hitters. Carthage's pitching has more than done its part thus far, and the hitting has done just enough to be 4-1. Hopefully the sticks wake up today and for the remainder of the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2006, 12:42:02 PM
Hopefully a few guys step up for Carthage today and swing it. I think the days of sitting back and score 12 runs a game are over for the Redmen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2006, 04:35:33 PM
Carthage up on Oshkosh 2-0 in the 3rd inning of game #1...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 15, 2006, 05:35:51 PM
Impressive! 7-1 after 5 innings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2006, 05:46:37 PM
Carthage up 10-1 in the 7th... keep rolling Big Red!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2006, 06:42:53 PM
Just talked to Jarvis Brown for a minute. Final was 10-1, evosovich pitched, that's all the details I have right now
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2006, 06:51:08 PM
I just read that the first game was delayed 55 minutes at the start because there was only 1 umpire!! Talk about messing with a pitcher's warm-up routine...Luckily Evosovich found a way to fight through it. He went all 7 innings, giving up 8 hits but only 1 run, with 6 K's and 1 walk. Tyler Yapp (Chris Sadjak's replacement at first base) tied a Carthage single game record with 3 doubles in one game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2006, 08:45:20 PM
Wow, don't know what happened. Carthage was up 4-1 in the 7th in a 7 inning game, and now its 4-4 in the 10th. Hopefully Carthage can find a way to pull this one out after blowing a lead in the last inning
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2006, 09:37:15 PM
Oshkosh wins 5-4... Carthage had three errors in the game... I am assuming that contributed to the blown lead.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2006, 08:38:40 AM
Going 2-1 against ranked teams is nothing to be a shamed of, you're right Irish. Hopefully the Redmen can at least split with Wheaton, Mass.  My 7-3 prediction for the trip is starting to look like great one!  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: sportsguru90 on March 16, 2006, 08:41:41 AM
What 2 ranked teams did they beat?
It goes to show that Carthage will not be able to put games together again, same story for this school
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2006, 10:35:27 AM
Quote from: sportsguru90 on March 16, 2006, 08:41:41 AM
What 2 ranked teams did they beat?
It goes to show that Carthage will not be able to put games together again, same story for this school

They beat #2 ranked Cortland State and #35 ranked UW-Oshkosh.

Same Story???? What does that mean? Iwould bet nearly every school in the nation would love to have the success that Carthage has had in the past 10-15 years... Carthage has claimed seven outright CCIW divisional titles, one divisional-title tie, six conference crowns, 10 NCAA regional berths, including nine-straight from 1992 to 2000, third-place finishes in both the 1993 and 1994 NCAA Division III Baseball Championships and fourth place in both 1995 and 1997.

I am guessing that those stats are head and shoulders above the rest of the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on March 16, 2006, 04:17:31 PM
BiggyP...

let it roll off your back...if he want's to playa hate the Red Men of K-town, let him.

Here's my question for the guru?
Name the only unranked team in DIII baseball who has beaten pre-season ranked teams on back-to-back days?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2006, 04:22:06 PM
Well said.... Carthage just defeated Concordia(WI) in game #1 of a DH 5-2... the Redmen are now at 6-2.

The 7-3 prediction by redmenfan is looking nice right now... Possibly even an 8-2 mark for trip if they can knock off their third ranked opponent of the week tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2006, 06:03:38 PM
Augie's words to the team after they beat Concordia... "You guys just suck!"     Gotta love the motivational tactics used by Augs, can't wait til their first home game. I'll stand by the dugout for a few innings just to hear some infamous Augie one-liners!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2006, 06:06:52 PM
Just got the text from Jarvis, carthage lost 5-4 second game... not a good loss for Carthage at all. I'm sure Augie could handle losing to Oshkosh or Cortland, but to lose to Concordia and whoever they lost their first game to is not gonna sit well with Augie
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2006, 06:11:08 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2006, 06:03:38 PM
Augie's words to the team after they beat Concordia... "You guys just suck!"     Gotta love the motivational tactics used by Augs, can't wait til their first home game. I'll stand by the dugout for a few innings just to hear some infamous Augie one-liners!

I have heard much worse from Augie... you should have heard him after our All-American Dan Falkingham threw a one hitter against Rockford and we lost 1-0.... Augie actually apologized to Rockford's players and coach after the game for the things he screamed at us between games.

There is still nothing in life like an Augie Schmidt post-game speech... win or lose, happy or sad, you are bound to hear something that sticks in your mind for the rest of your life.

I love that he chewed them out after a win... he is all about playing the game the right way, not the wins and losses. We had games that we lost and I thought we were going to get torn apart after the game, but we played well. There is a huge difference between getting beat and losing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2006, 06:12:35 PM
Carthage Website says they lost 3-2 in extra innings second game against concordia, sorry about giving the wrong score. Carthage has got to find some way this year to not play to the level of their competition. Augie said it best in the paper, this team can beat anyone in the nation or lose to any team, it just depends on what day it is and how these guys want to play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2006, 01:25:03 PM
Carthage loses to #25 Wheaton(MASS) 3-2 this morning... Redmen return from the spring trip with  6-4 record.

That is not a bad start, but far below Carthage standards for the spring trip. It should make for an interesting CCIW race this year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 17, 2006, 03:35:40 PM
That has to be the worst spring trip record in a long. long, long time!

IV cannot be happy!!!

Happy St. Paddy's Day to all!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2006, 03:59:07 PM
Irish... I agree... I can't remember the last time they played this poorly on a spring trip. It scares me to think what me happen when they play in the cold weather of the midwest.

I am starting my afternoon with a Black and Tan in a few moments... I got someone to cover my class this afternoon so I can celebreate my Irishness...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 17, 2006, 05:58:31 PM
I checked the record book. The trip in 1991 only produced 5 wins!

New Irish joint opened in Schaumburg - Finn McCools. I think we may try it out. No chance of getting near Durty Nellie's!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2006, 06:23:56 PM
Quote from: irish21 on March 17, 2006, 05:58:31 PM
I checked the record book. The trip in 1991 only produced 5 wins!

New Irish joint opened in Schaumburg - Finn McCools. I think we may try it out. No chance of getting near Durty Nellie's!!!

1991 was the year before Carthage made it first appearance in the NCAAs(I think they were 20-20)... let's hope we have not regressed to that point. Carthage made it to the Regional final vs UW-Oshkosh in 1992 and made its first World Series appearance in 1993. It sure has been a while since the Redmen have had a trip like this one. I hope the sort it out and turn it on back in K-town!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 17, 2006, 08:38:21 PM
Augustana beat Greenville today 1-0 and 9-1.  Kevin Kuntz pitched 6 innings in game 1 and Andrew Setter closed the game for a save.  Game 2 was a complete game win for Brandon Engle.

Augustana is now 6-2
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on March 17, 2006, 09:47:06 PM
Has Augie found a decent catcher as yet. I realize Greenville is really bad, but these two wins seem a little more encouraging with Augie giving up just 1 run.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 17, 2006, 10:06:59 PM
The same 2 guys are catching (a converted middle infielder and a converted 1B/DH).  An extra 2 weeks of practice since the last trip definitely helps when it comes to the pitching.  It will be interesting to see how the next 2 games go.  Saturday, they will pitch their #4 while probably their #2 (who closed today) will start Sunday.  Not really sure on the order of the Augie pitchers but Kuntz, Setter and Engle are the top 3 that have all pitched very well in past years. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2006, 12:24:20 PM
One encouraging thing for the Redmen is in games when their 1-3 starters pitched, they were 4-0. Evosovich was 2-0, Olson 1-0 with a no decision, and Husing 1-0. With these guys on the mound for conference games, the Redmen should be very tough to beat. Carthage lost some very close games, and their last 3 losses they blew leads in all of them, 2 in the final inning. I know 6-4 is not the normal record people see after a Carthage spring trip, but I still look for them to have a strong season. If they win that game yesterday and finish 7-3, we would be talking about what a great spring trip it was with a couple losses to average teams. Bottom line, look for Carthage to still finish at or near the top of the conference this year because of 3 great weekend starters, and hitting that should keep improving.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2006, 03:03:17 PM
After thinking about the trip for the night and being heavily influenced by Guinness in my thinking, I am certain that the Redmen will have another successful season in the CCIW. I still see them as the favorite to win it. I think we have all been spoiled by the top 10 rankings we are used to seeing from this team.

Look for them to get hot in the CCIW and start rolling.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 18, 2006, 04:44:48 PM
Very good point RMF! Three solid starters will definitely help on the weekends and it is encouraging.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 19, 2006, 01:48:13 AM
Augie moves to 7-2 on the season with a 8-6 win over St. Jospeh's.  Gwost picked up the win.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 19, 2006, 03:12:11 PM
Augustana moves to 8-2 on the season with a 10-7 win over #6 Wisconsin - Stevens Point.  Pretty good start for Augie now that their 2 sprind trips are completed.  The play their first games up north with a DH against Monmouth on Saturday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 19, 2006, 07:36:21 PM
I was a little unsure about Augie even though they had a good record, but after a win against Stevens Point, I know that have to have a good ball club. Obviously the Catching situation has improved, the pitchers must be throwing well, and it sounds like they are pounding the ball just like they did last year
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 19, 2006, 07:38:51 PM
Today Elmhurst Blue Jays split against Hanover College; they won the first game 8-2.  Senior Ben Stephens pitched 6 1/3 of innings and only gave up 2 runs in the victory. Junior Anthony Contaldo got his first Blue Jay homerun of the year.

The second game was a different story when head coach, coach Jones decided to take out his top main starters. ???  They only score 2 runs in the 3-2 loss.  Elmhurst had the bases loaded in the 9th inning with one out, and could not get a run in.

The Blue Jays have a record of 3-2-1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2006, 06:44:38 AM
North Park returned from its trip to Phoenix having posted a 2-3 record in America's Catbox. That makes the Vikings 3-5 on the year, with one game having been rained out by Arizona's freakish weather last weekend. Two of the losses suffered by NPU in Phoenix were extra-inning affairs.

The Vikings have thus already equaled the total number of wins they achieved the past two years combined, and tied the total that they won in all of the 2003 season. That's pretty embarrassing, but as the ancient Chinese proverb goes, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

I spoke with one of the assistant coaches, and he sounded pretty upbeat about the trip as a whole. It sounds as though the Vikes may finally be turning the corner. I'm looking forward to their first home game on Thursday against IIT.
Title: Lighten up Sweetness
Post by: Dirty Dozen on March 20, 2006, 06:57:57 AM
Hey Sweetness:

You sound down on Coach Jones?  In his defense, it's early on in the season.  Do you think he may be trying to learn a little more about his team and what his reserves can do?  How will he ever know about what his reserves can do unless he plays them in these games?   It's the 2nd game on a 9 game swing.  There's a lot of baseball left.  Lighten up.  Oh by the way, what doesn't show up in the box score, those reserves crushed the ball right at people including Matt Brauer who hit a missle right at the 3B in the 7th (I was told they played 2-7 inning games so it couldn't have been the 9th)  In addition, Pat Meginniss, Travis Cox, and Brett Lilley hit the ball very hard too and had nothing to show for it.  Is that Coach Jones's fault?  I heard his starting pitching in that game (and I don't know who it was?) was continuously not getting ahead of hitters, walked some guys, and had a lot of 3 ball counts.  Is that Coach Jones's fault?   Nick Ferrin who has been a very reliable and steady pitcher for the Jays came in in relief of the starter and hit his first batter he faced.  Was it the reserves fault those pitchers weren't ahead of hitters and Ferrin hit a batter who eventually scored?

I think you should be happy the Jays have a coach who has enough balls to play his reserves every now and then to give them a chance.  In the long run, won't they be better off if the Bluejays have a strong bench?  Coach Jones probably already has a good idea of what his starters can do.

Hang in there.  Coach Jones is a veteran Coach, has been around the block and knows what he's doing.  The Jays have a strong club and playing the reserves now when he can will only strengthen their team in the long run.   So chill bro - it aint the end of the world.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Dirty Dozen on March 20, 2006, 07:41:08 AM
Hey Sweetness:

I felt guilty after telling to chill so I did some snooping around to see if what I was saying was acurate or if perhaps you were right?  Here's what I found.

The starters that Coach Jones did start in the the 3-2 loss to Hanover was combined 2 for 14 at the plate in that loss.  The starters who Coach Jones didn't play in the 3-2 loss was 2 for 12 at the plate in the previous game.

Sounds to me as if there may have been a good pitcher going and it didn't make a difference one way or another.  It's early and the Jays just don't seem to be hitting right now with starters or reserves.  So Sweetness, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and after my investigative reporting, I still think you should chill bro!

The Jays will hit - hang in there bro!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 20, 2006, 07:41:40 AM
North Park went 3-4 (not 2-3) on its Phoenix trip to move to 4-6 on the year.  The finale was a 14-inning affair with the Vikings coming up short, 8-7.  They lost three extra-inning games to Marian (WI), Keene State (NH), and Roger Williams (RI).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 20, 2006, 08:42:17 AM
If I had to guess, Elmhurst's coach was probably sending a message to his starters saying hit the ball or else... that happened to Carthage down in florida a few years back and Augie benched most of the starters including All-American Adam Husing and a bunch of freshman came in and actually hit well and came back and won that game. It sends a message to those starters and upperclassmen that hey, if you don't perform we got guys who can't wait to get their opportunity who will.
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 11:08:07 AM
Long weekend in Virginia, congrats to the IWU basketball team for its third place finish at the final four.

IWU baseball won two over previously 14-4 Millsaps College, 10-8 and 8-7.  The Titans are now 6-1 on the season.

The spring trip continues this week with singles games against 11-7 Mississippi College, 16-3 Rhodes, 13-8 Christian Brothers, 6-7 Coe, and 15-2 Wash U. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2006, 02:36:23 PM
Looks like the CCIW teams are off to good starts in the non-conference portions of their schedules. Let's hope for two bids to the dance.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2006, 03:03:41 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 20, 2006, 07:41:40 AM
North Park went 3-4 (not 2-3) on its Phoenix trip to move to 4-6 on the year.  The finale was a 14-inning affair with the Vikings coming up short, 8-7.  They lost three extra-inning games to Marian (WI), Keene State (NH), and Roger Williams (RI).

Thanks for pointing that out. Neither the CCIW website nor the websites of the two schools indicated that NPU and Keene State had made up that rainout.
Title: Re: IWU
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2006, 04:26:01 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 11:08:07 AM


IWU baseball won two over previously 14-4 Millsaps College, 10-8 and 8-7.  The Titans are now 6-1 on the season.


I am curious to know what the IWU players thought of the Millsaps shortstop... he is the Pre-season National Player of the Year. Is he as good as we hear?
Title: Re: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 04:46:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2006, 04:26:01 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 11:08:07 AM


IWU baseball won two over previously 14-4 Millsaps College, 10-8 and 8-7.  The Titans are now 6-1 on the season.


I am curious to know what the IWU players thought of the Millsaps shortstop... he is the Pre-season National Player of the Year. Is he as good as we hear?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 04:54:06 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 04:46:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2006, 04:26:01 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 20, 2006, 11:08:07 AM


IWU baseball won two over previously 14-4 Millsaps College, 10-8 and 8-7.  The Titans are now 6-1 on the season.


I am curious to know what the IWU players thought of the Millsaps shortstop... he is the Pre-season National Player of the Year. Is he as good as we hear?

I will try to find out next week when they return.  Box score had Wetzel (playing right field????) as 1-3 and 2-4 for the two games with 3 BB's and 2 RBI.  IWU did use their top two pitchers in these two games, Dubois and Inzinga.  Try to find out why he is not in the infield...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2006, 05:42:17 PM
Thaks for the update on Wetzel... I have no idea of why he was in the OF.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 21, 2006, 08:36:35 AM
Will any Redmen fans be in Lisle this Sunday for the game against Benedictine? 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 21, 2006, 10:14:27 AM
It all depends on the weather bataviapete! The big challenge will be to convince Augie to go!! He looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy when he has on the five sets of long underwear!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2006, 10:23:20 AM
Quote from: irish21 on March 21, 2006, 10:14:27 AM
It all depends on the weather bataviapete! The big challenge will be to convince Augie to go!! He looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy when he has on the five sets of long underwear!!
I have no idea how he coaches dressed in his Carthage snowsuit... he is the coldest man on the planet at all times.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 21, 2006, 11:50:10 AM
Well Augie doesn't have to do much physcially when he is coaching. He just gets to sit in the dugout and give his two sense about everything that happens in the game. Smitty coaches 3rd and Jarvis Brown coaches first, so Augie can just sit there with his long underwear, t-shirt, under armor, Carthage baseball jacket, and Carthage hoody all nicely bundled up in the dugout. Don't get me wrong though, just because he is cold doesn't mean he isn't doing any coaching or critiquing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 21, 2006, 12:18:27 PM
Long range forecast for Sunday is 48 and partly sunny, having spent a few springs at Carthage that's almost balmy.
My son's interested in playing at Carthage so it would be good to see Augie and the boys in action.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2006, 02:13:17 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 21, 2006, 11:50:10 AM
Well Augie doesn't have to do much physcially when he is coaching. He just gets to sit in the dugout and give his two sense about everything that happens in the game. Smitty coaches 3rd and Jarvis Brown coaches first, so Augie can just sit there with his long underwear, t-shirt, under armor, Carthage baseball jacket, and Carthage hoody all nicely bundled up in the dugout. Don't get me wrong though, just because he is cold doesn't mean he isn't doing any coaching or critiquing.

Augie is at his best for one-liners in the cold.... there are some classics out there!

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 21, 2006, 03:53:40 PM
Sunday's game will be carthage's first after a 9 day layoff, then they play a single game wednesday against Cardinal Stritch before they start conference action next weekend. I'm guessing Sunday they will pitch by committee to keep guys sharp, and probably something similar on Wednesday.  I don't know if they'll throw their top guys a few innings this sunday, or the following Wednesday, or even both. I'm sure more than just the starting position players will get some innings as well because once conference games start its pretty much set in stone who's playing every game for the most part.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2006, 04:00:59 PM
I am guessing that Augie will send out his top three for three innings a piece and rest them all week into the conference games. Wednesday will be another day like that with his middle relievers seeing the work.
Title: Central Division Conferences
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2006, 05:55:06 PM
I did a bit of work this afternoon and found some interesting differences in the conferences. When looking at winning percentages in the 2006 season by conference:

CCIW: 34-26-1 (.566) 6 teams at or over .500
IIAC: 52-40 (.565) 7 teams at or over .500
NIIC: 20-35-1 (.366) 2 teams at or over .500
SLIAC: 27-61 (.306) 2 teams at or over .500

I am pretty sure this means absolutely nothing, but it is easy to see that the CCIW and IIAC are a few steps ahead of the other two conferences... my apologies to Aurora for being in the NIIC as they are usually a very strong national candidate.

I know it is very early and things can change in a few days, but it usually a good clue as to how the season will progress.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 21, 2006, 08:36:36 PM
Elmhurst Blue Jays (3-3-1) lost today 6-2 against Rhodes College (17-3), it was a very cold baseball game, and it started to snow right after the game.  I don't think IWU will be able to play tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CoachKs on March 22, 2006, 01:10:21 PM
IIAC- Honestly who do they play????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 22, 2006, 02:15:26 PM
Augustana
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2006, 02:20:25 PM
Quote from: CoachKs on March 22, 2006, 01:10:21 PM
IIAC- Honestly who do they play????

The IIAC schools actually have comparable schedules to most of the CCIW teams when they head south. Many played in the same areas against the same teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on March 22, 2006, 02:59:43 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2006, 12:24:20 PM
One encouraging thing for the Redmen is in games when their 1-3 starters pitched, they were 4-0. Evosovich was 2-0, Olson 1-0 with a no decision, and Husing 1-0.

To be technical, the team was actually 4-1 in those games.  Olson started the second Oshkosh game and even though he finished with a 'no decision', the team eventually lost that game.

Carthage can't continue to score 4.9 runs a game (take out the 2 double digit games and the average is just over 3) , play sloppy defense and expect to compete in the CCIW, even with their top 3 guys on the mound.  That's not the recipe for success.  Don't get me wrong, good pitching will keep you in a most of games, but if they don't find a way to deliver key hits, it'll be a struggle all season long.  I think Augie would take a bunch of wins in 1 run games, but it will drive him nuts to watch 3-2, 2-1 pitching duels all season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 22, 2006, 03:25:43 PM
It drove him nuts winning games 5-3 last year!! Augie is a hitting guy, everyone knows that. I would bet he would much rather win 13-8 than 2-1. I have to disagree with you though... if the redmen average 4.9 runs a game in conference, I think they would still finish top 1 or 2 in the conference because of those top 3 pitchers. However, I agree that they do need to get some more timely and clutch hitting, it would make things a lot easier for them. I would think by conference time after 12 games and another two weeks of practice, along with Chris Sadjak returning to the line-up,Carthage's hitting will improve. Remember, Carthage went 17-4 in conference last year and they didn't score as many runs as a typical Augie Schmidt team would
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2006, 04:08:13 PM
I have a feeling that he would rather win games 3-2 than to lose them 13-8!! We Carthage backers are all a bit too jumpy when Carthage does not come out pounding teams into submission... myslef included. They are still in a good position to make a run at the CCIW title and we all know that these games really don't matter once the CCIW starts.

Speaking of the CCIW... congrats to North Park for getting themselves on track this season. It was painful to watch them go 4-76 the past two seasons. New Head Coach, Luke Johnson, appears to have them headed in the right direction as they are listed at 4-5 after their spring trip to AZ.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2006, 04:47:42 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 22, 2006, 04:08:13 PMSpeaking of the CCIW... congrats to North Park for getting themselves on track this season. It was painful to watch them go 4-76 the past two seasons. New Head Coach, Luke Johnson, appears to have them headed in the right direction as they are listed at 4-5 after their spring trip to AZ.

As Mr. B posted here on Sunday, the Vikings returned from Arizona with a 4-6 record. The rained-out game against Keene State was made up and resulted in an 8-7 loss in extra innings for the Vikings, even though it's still not listed on either the NPU or CCIW websites as having been made up. Nevertheless, you're right that the Park is definitely on the upswing.

And congratulations to NPU junior Bob Mensch upon being named the CCIW Pitcher of the Week. He has yet to give up an earned run in four appearances this season.
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 23, 2006, 09:31:12 AM
IWU won again yesterday, improving to 7-1, with a 10-6 win over previously 17-3 Rhodes College.  IWU left 13 runners on base so could have scored many more.  Four pictures were on the mound, so a typical non-conference slugfust with many hurlers.

Thus far, IWU is 3-0 on their Southern trip with 2 wins over 14-4 Millsaps and yesterdays win over Rhodes.  Amazing start to the season for the Titans.

Today they face Division II Christian Brothers, 13-9.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2006, 10:52:17 AM
It looks like IWU may be the real deal this season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 23, 2006, 01:58:34 PM
Looks like Wesleyan isn't having a problem replacing Lapinski and their 3rd baseman from last year as far as hitting is concerned. That's big for them because I doubt their pitching is as tough as it was last year. With Lapinski on the mound, those guys knew if they scored 3 or more runs, chances are they would win no problem, and I don't think they have anyone like that this year.  If i had to guess right now, I would say its a 3 team race with IWU, Augie, and Carthage, with Elmhurst not far behind.
Title: IWU in game
Post by: TitanRailer on March 23, 2006, 03:53:35 PM
IWU is up 3-0 on Christian Brothers after 3.5 innings.  Dave Dobosz, a 6-4 lefty, is on the hill.  He will be the 3 or 4 starter this year, so will get some conference work on Sundays.

Although IWU lost their top two pitchers from last year, they still have a very experienced staff, with 7 seniors.  I believe 4 of the 7 are lefties.  Should be very deep.  No one as dominant as the top 2 last year, but better in the bullpen.

In addition, averaging over 8 runs a game, so consistency is what is needed on the mound, which seems to be what they are getting.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2006, 04:31:24 PM
Sounds like the CCIW is going to be one heck of a struggle for teams this year. I am looking forward to the start of conference games. After the first few games have been played, what is everyone's outlook for the conference.

Right now it looks to me like this:

IWU
Carthage
Augie
Elmhurst
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on March 23, 2006, 04:55:25 PM
IWU now up 8-3 after 7.  Offense continues to score over 8 runs a game. 

Can't argue with IWU, Carthage, and Augie.  Would love to see North Park slip into fourth place and make the tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 23, 2006, 10:01:10 PM
North Park dropped its home opener, 5-1, to IIT.  They outhit the Scarlet Hawks 10-9 but couldn't find the big hit to score some runs today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2006, 12:27:16 AM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 23, 2006, 04:55:25 PM

Can't argue with IWU, Carthage, and Augie.  Would love to see North Park slip into fourth place and make the tourney.

I would love to see NP make some noise as well. Let's hope they make a run at the conference tourney. It would only help the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 24, 2006, 01:01:19 AM
It was a frustrating game for NPU today. As Mr. B said, the Vikings got plenty of baserunners -- they just couldn't get a hit when they needed one, and IIT did.

You can't always get an accurate read on a baseball team from one game, but if today's game was any indication of where NPU is now, they're definitely going to need to step it up if they want to get to conference-tourney level.
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on March 24, 2006, 09:36:21 AM
Titans did finish with an 8-4 victory over Christian Brothers.  4-0 now on the Southern trip.  IWU will finish up on Saturday in St Louis against Coe College (7-7) and Wash U (15-2).

That IWU - Wash U matchup should be a great one.  I assume that Dubois will be on the hill for the Titans.  I would suspect a low scoring game, conference type game. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on March 24, 2006, 03:11:30 PM
North Park has been a plesant suprise so far, i was thinking they may struggle again this year as they lost a few of their top players from last year.  Fortunatly coach Johnson has changed the young players attitudes and they have a good young competitive team.  Hopefully this group stays together for a few years and changes the program around
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on March 24, 2006, 06:41:04 PM
From North Central's Website....

North Central defeated defending National Champ, UW-Whitewater, 9 - 5 today in Arizona.  The Cardinals are now 4 - 6 and the Warhawks fall to 2 - 1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 24, 2006, 09:18:22 PM
Elmhurst lost to Wash U.  11-4 today.  Wash U.'s #1 pitcher threw a complete game so IWU shouldn't have to worry about facing him.  Elmhurst falls to 3-4-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 25, 2006, 07:32:28 PM
Elmhurst Blue Jay (4-4-1) defeated #30 Washington University (16-3) 7-4 in 13 innings.  This was a big win for the Blue Jays.  Senior (2-0) Ben Stephens pitched six innings, gave up 3 hits and gave up one earn run.  The bullpen gave up 2 hits in 6 innings with 9 strikeouts.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 25, 2006, 07:45:30 PM
Elmhurst Bullpen has been very good this season. They pitched a combined 29 innings, gave up 25 hits, allowed 8 earn runs, walk 11 batters, and struck out 30 batters.  What team in the CCIW has the best bullpen?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 26, 2006, 03:16:07 AM
Well...first off...for any of the "what team in the CCIW has the best whatever" question.   These are so hard to answer because the conference season can be much different than the non-conference season. 

Secondly...Elmhurst (or whomever) can have the best bullpen in all of baseball but I think that starting pitching is the real key to being sucessful in the CCIW.  But, the way Elmurst's bullpen has performed so far is very impressive. 

This afternoon, Augie beat #28 Monmouth by the scores of 5-3 and 2-0.  Keving Kuntz moved to 4-0 in game one while Andrew Setter pitched 9 innings in a game two shutout while giving up only 6 hits and two walks. 

The Augie pitching staff has performed very well so far and the hitters are doing what they should at this point in the season.

Augie moves to 10-2 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 26, 2006, 03:19:38 AM
IWU lost a DH to Coe yesterday.  Game 1 was by the score of 4-2 and game 2 was by the score of 5-0.  IWU drops to 8-3 (I think).  Just goes to show you why the game of baseball is so great...anyone can beat anyone on a given day.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 26, 2006, 05:22:36 PM
7-1 end of the seventh, Redmen on top. Evosevich started, Olson on in relief.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2006, 05:55:17 PM
North Park got swept by Dubuque yesterday in a pair of seven-inning games, 3-2 and 5-3. Another frustrating day for NPU hitting, as the Vikes had the tying run on 3rd with nobody out in the top of the final inning of the opener and they couldn't get him home. In the nightcap, NPU had a 3-1 lead going into the top of the sixth but couldn't hold the Spartans and gave up four runs. Once again, a lack of timely hitting and leaky defense brought down the Vikings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 26, 2006, 07:28:16 PM
Carthage defeats Benedictine 11-1 on Sunday to move to 7-4.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 26, 2006, 07:58:13 PM
Elmhurst Blue Jays (5-4-1) defeats #30 Washington University (17-4) 11-2 today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 26, 2006, 08:00:40 PM
Big day for Steve Coughlin at the plate, a 2-run homer and 5 RBI's. Looking at the boxscore, it looks like Augie played a lot of guys like normal in a non-conference game. The top 3 pitchers split time today, so Wednesday Cardinal Stritch will see probably see 3 or 4 pitchers (none of the top 3) I'm guessing to keep guys sharp for the weekend in case some relievers are needed
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 27, 2006, 01:51:08 AM
The Blue Jays have a strong offense, they have reserves that can come off the bench and get the job done.  They also have a great pitching staff that could be the best in the CCIW, and amazing coaching staff.  I know with coach Jones in the driver seat, he will take his ball club deep into the post season this year. :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 27, 2006, 08:39:12 AM
Quote from: Sweetness on March 27, 2006, 01:51:08 AM
The Blue Jays have a strong offense, they have reserves that can come off the bench and get the job done. They also have a great pitching staff that could be the best in the CCIW, and amazing coaching staff. I know with coach Jones in the driver seat, he will take his ball club deep into the post season this year. :)

I think Carthage, Wesleyan and Augustana might have something to say about that this year... I can't speak for Wesleyan and Augie, but I know right now Carthage's team ERA is under 2.00.
Title: Sweetness
Post by: TitanRailer on March 27, 2006, 10:04:39 AM
To date, here at the statistics for the eight CCIW teams, based on each schools website.  I even updated Elmhursts stats after 3 weekend games with Wash U.

Elmhurst (5-4-1), ERA 4.14, team BA .263

IWU (8-3), ERA 4.14, team BA .322

Augie (10-2), ERA 4.03, team BA .336

Carthage (7-4), ERA 1.77, team BA .300

Wheaton (4-7), ERA 8.07, team BA .309

North Park (4-9) ERA 5.48, team BA .307

Millikin (3-3), ERA 4.89, team BA .335

North Central (1-2), ERA 4.76, team BA .303

Seems a little premature to state that Elmhurst has the best pitching staff in the CCIW.  Four best record, tied for third best ERA, LAST in team BA and not even close, I wouldn't promote deep post-season success just yet.  Let's play a few conference games first.     
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 27, 2006, 10:15:36 AM
TitanTrailer thanks for the info!! So far it looks like all the teams are hitting pretty well as a team.  All schools .300 or better except for 1. I think the difference so far for teams like Augie and IWU is that they seem to be getting the key hits when runners are in scoring position, whereas it sounds like NP is struggling with that and I know Carthage did a few games down in Florida. Excited for conference play to start this weekend and see the Redmen for my first time this year take on North Central in a DH Saturday in Kenosha...hopefully the weather isn't too nasty!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 27, 2006, 11:11:44 AM
Sweetness...you've got to be kidding me.  The season is only a few weeks old and you are touting that a 5-4-1 team will go deep into the postseason?  How are we supossed to take your comments seriously the rest of the season?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Sweetness on March 27, 2006, 01:34:17 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 27, 2006, 11:11:44 AM
Sweetness...you've got to be kidding me. The season is only a few weeks old and you are touting that a 5-4-1 team will go deep into the postseason? How are we supossed to take your comments seriously the rest of the season?
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 27, 2006, 10:04:39 AM
To date, here at the statistics for the eight CCIW teams, based on each schools website. I even updated Elmhursts stats after 3 weekend games with Wash U.

Elmhurst (5-4-1), ERA 4.14, team BA .263

IWU (8-3), ERA 4.14, team BA .322

Augie (10-2), ERA 4.03, team BA .336

Carthage (7-4), ERA 1.77, team BA .300

Wheaton (4-7), ERA 8.07, team BA .309

North Park (4-9) ERA 5.48, team BA .307

Millikin (3-3), ERA 4.89, team BA .335

North Central (1-2), ERA 4.76, team BA .303

Seems a little premature to state that Elmhurst has the best pitching staff in the CCIW. Four best record, tied for third best ERA, LAST in team BA and not even close, I wouldn't promote deep post-season success just yet. Let's play a few conference games first.
This Blue Jays team believes they can go deep into the post season.  Something they didn't have last year.  I know it's early in the season, and their batting average doesn't show it now, but give them some time.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 27, 2006, 01:44:19 PM
"This Blue Jays team believes they can go deep into the post season.  Something they didn't have last year.  I know it's early in the season, and their batting average doesn't show it now, but give them some time. "

Its great they have confidence and believe in their team, but the CCIW is a very tough Conference, and you're talking about a team that didn't even make the conference tournament last year. When you say they can make it deep into the playoffs, are you saying they can possibly make the conference tournament this year? Or are you saying that they can get past the conference tournament and make it to regionals or possibly even the D-3 world series?? Remeber, there aren't many at large bids out there, and with Carthage, IWU, and Augustana, I don't see Elmhurst having much of a chance to win the CCIW this year. Winning the conference tournament doesn't give you an automatic birth to regionals either. Our conference is ran on a points system. A few years back, Carthage went into the tournament already having earned the automatic bid to regionals without even having to win a game (they still won the tourney that year.) I think its great Elmhurst has an improving team, but I don't hear NP fans saying North Park is going deep in the playoffs and has the best this and best that. All they are saying is that they are improving, with the understanding that a few wins and confidence doesn't  automatically get you deep into the playoffs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bstar21 on March 27, 2006, 02:04:07 PM
I guess we will see how good they are this weekend when  Elmhurst has to play Augustana.  Augie is just starting to play good....I watched them for the first time this weekend vs. Monmouth and a couple of their main hitters are strugglin, but their pitching is amazing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2006, 03:31:17 PM

Quote
This Blue Jays team believes they can go deep into the post season.  Something they didn't have last year.  I know it's early in the season, and their batting average doesn't show it now, but give them some time.
Quote

Just believing you can do it does not get the job done... I see the conference this way... It always comes down to pitching. You can talk about hitting all you want, but consistent pitching is, and always has been, the key to baseball. Ask the Texas Rangers!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2006, 03:55:45 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 27, 2006, 01:44:19 PM
Winning the conference tournament doesn't give you an automatic birth to regionals either. Our conference is ran on a points system.

Redmenfan... I think they actually changed the system this year. The regular season champ wins the title and has the option to choose where the tourney will be played. The CCIW Tourney champ gets the NCAA Automatic Bid.... just like hoops. It should make for an exciting tourney. Who ever wins the league should have a shot at an at-large bid(if they do not win the tourney) as the CCIW is a strong conference.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 27, 2006, 07:57:59 PM
I knew about the change in basketball but not baseball. What are some opinions about this? I think its good for the most part, but if you are in 1st place by lets say 5-6 games after 21 conference games, and don't win the conference tourney and then don't receive an at large bid, that is a tough pill to swallow. I really think that in baseball, more than any other sport, that a decent team can beat a team better than them on any given day.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 27, 2006, 09:37:11 PM
I'm not really a fan of the changes if that is the case.  Too many things can happen during that conference tourney weekend.  You can play 6 great weekends of baseball and then the 7th weekend could end your season just like that.  Maybe the conference is thinking that this is a way to get a second team into the tourney like was the case with the basketball tourney.  I just really hope that the point system is still in effect. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 27, 2006, 10:59:50 PM
New poll is out...

Augie is #17
Carthage is #29 (tied)
IWU receives no votes
Title: Re: Sweetness
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2006, 04:38:36 AM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 27, 2006, 10:04:39 AM
To date, here at the statistics for the eight CCIW teams, based on each schools website.  I even updated Elmhursts stats after 3 weekend games with Wash U.

North Central (1-2), ERA 4.76, team BA .303

Those numbers don't reflect North Central's Arizona trip. The Arizona results are now posted on the NCC website. The Cardinals are now 4-6, with a team ERA of 6.70 and a team BA of .287.

Their team ERA could be worse than it actually is. The Cards had their jocks handed to them by top-ranked College of New Jersey, 23-4, and they also gave up double-digit runs to Johns Hopkins (17-5) and Williams (10-0). The 19 errors committed by the Napervillains in their first ten games have helped keep that team ERA below the stratosphere to a merely Rockies-bad level.

Early-season statistics are inherently deceptive, because CCIW teams play wildy varying levels of non-conference competition. North Central's played some very tough opponents -- College of New Jersey roughs up everybody, although the Cards were one of their most humiliated victims, and Johns Hopkins (12-3-1) and Williams (6-3) are off to good starts. I'm not sure that there's much to be gained from simply posting team stats at this early stage, since comparisons can be deceiving without knowing the caliber of the opposition for each respective CCIW team.

Perhaps it will be a little easier to gauge Elmhurst if you look at the records of the teams that the 'jays have played thus far:

Macalester (lost to and tied Elmhurst), 6-4
St. Olaf (split with Elmhurst), 5-2
Hanover (split with Elmhurst), 9-4
Rhodes (beat Elmhurst), 17-8
Washington MO (lost two of three to Elmhurst), 17-4
Coe (beat Elmhurst), 10-8

All six teams that have played the 'jays have winning records, and they own a cumulative 64-30 mark. Elmhurst has gone 5-5 against those six teams, scoring only four fewer runs (56-60) than those opponents. It appears at first blush that Elmhurst has held its own against some solid competition.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 28, 2006, 08:59:00 AM
Even though it doesn't mean much at this point, congratulations to Augustana and Carthage on their rankings. How is IWU not receiving any votes?? I haven't seen the poll yet, where I tried to look this morning they still had the preseason poll listed. I thought Wesleyan was 8-3 or something like that with some impressive wins. If they really dropped completely out of the poll that makes absolutely no sense to me
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 28, 2006, 09:35:32 AM
I think getting swept by Coe on the weekend really hurt....although I do agree that the poll does not mean too much.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 02:49:39 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 27, 2006, 10:59:50 PM
New poll is out...

Augie is #17
Carthage is #29 (tied)
IWU receives no votes

I am shocked to see that IWU received no votes... I thought for sure they would stay close to the top with the start they had against some tough teams down south.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 04:09:11 PM
I am befuddled as to how an 8-3 IWU team gets no votes, not even in the region and a 5-4-1 Elmhurst team get the #6 Central Region ranking?

I also think that Carthage is a bit high right now in the region considering that Washinton University(SLIAC) is 17-4...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 05:05:32 PM
NCAA Central Region rankings:

1. Wartburg (12-5)
2. Augustana (11-4)
3. Simpson (7-1)
4. Carthage (7-4)
5. Washington (17-4)
6. Elmhurst (5-4-1)

Interestingly, IWU(8-3) was left out of the regional ranking. Anyone have any thoughts on this regional ranking?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 28, 2006, 06:49:34 PM
Where did you get those regional rankings?  I don't think they are from the NCAA b/c they usually don't put them out until mid April I think.  So if they are not the NCAA's, then they mean absolutely nothing.  By the way, Augie is only 10-2 so they don't even have the right info. 


These polls are worthless at this point in the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 06:59:40 PM
Here is the link... it is the second page of the ABCA NCAA D3 Baseball Poll:

Click on today's date and scroll down to the regional rankings...

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 28, 2006, 08:23:57 PM
Thanks BigPoppa....I didn't even realize there was a 2nd page on that document.  I only looked at the national poll.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2006, 08:31:30 PM
North Park fell to Dominican today, 3-1. The Vikings' bats have gone ice-cold since they returned from Arizona.

Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 04:09:11 PMI also think that Carthage is a bit high right now in the region considering that Washinton University(SLIAC) is 17-4...

Wash U is in the UAA (Chicago, Case Western, NYU, Rochester, etc.), not the SLIAC.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 08:36:18 PM
My fault on the Wash U in the SLIAC thing... I never verified it. Thanks for catching it.

What exactly is the UAA? I have heard of it a few times, but the schools seem too spread out to be an actual conference.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2006, 08:53:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 08:36:18 PMWhat exactly is the UAA? I have heard of it a few times, but the schools seem too spread out to be an actual conference.

No, it's an actual, eight-member, all-sports conference. It's one of two "plane" conferences in D3 (as opposed to "bus or van" conferences), but the member schools can afford all that air travel in their athletic department budgets, since they're all richer than Croesus. I think that the smallest endowment among the eight members is $600m, or something like that. I'll bet that there are countries in Africa whose gross national product can't match the University of Chicago's endowment.

All eight UAA members are private, medium-sized research universities that are considered among America's academic elite. That sets them apart from most D3 members, since D3 tends to be dominated by small liberal arts colleges such as the eight that make up the CCIW.

The eight UAA members (Brandeis, NYU, Rochester, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Case Western, Chicago, and Wash U) are spread out among D3's various regions, but UAA contests are considered to be regional games as well by D3.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2006, 09:05:06 PM
Sager... thanks for the info... Just when you think you know it all....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 28, 2006, 11:21:32 PM
I think the only time they play in baseball is some weekend round-robin tourney down in Florida....happened a few weeks ago.  So, it is a conference, but not really when it comes to baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on March 29, 2006, 12:32:45 PM
I can't imagine one voter or poster on this board really thinks IWU is the fourth best team in the conference.  It all gets started this weekend!

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 29, 2006, 01:49:38 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 29, 2006, 12:32:45 PM
I can't imagine one voter or poster on this board really thinks IWU is the fourth best team in the conference. It all gets started this weekend!



Not anyone who follows the CCIW would think that, that's for sure. I finally get to see the Redmen in action today for my first time in a non conference game against Cardinal Stritch. Carthage will probably throw 3 or 4 pitchers (none of their top 3). This will be their final tune-up before conference starts this weekend against North Central. I'm sure if IWU gets a sweep this weekend, they'll probably be right back in the new poll that comes out April 3rd. Even though we all kind of agree that a poll with only 7 voters may not mean much, it would still be nice to have 3 teams from the conference hopefully all be in the top 25 at one point this season at the same time.
Title: Re: Sweetness
Post by: TitanRailer on March 29, 2006, 03:03:12 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2006, 04:38:36 AM
Quote from: TitanRailer on March 27, 2006, 10:04:39 AM
To date, here at the statistics for the eight CCIW teams, based on each schools website.  I even updated Elmhursts stats after 3 weekend games with Wash U.

North Central (1-2), ERA 4.76, team BA .303

Those numbers don't reflect North Central's Arizona trip. The Arizona results are now posted on the NCC website. The Cardinals are now 4-6, with a team ERA of 6.70 and a team BA of .287.

Their team ERA could be worse than it actually is. The Cards had their jocks handed to them by top-ranked College of New Jersey, 23-4, and they also gave up double-digit runs to Johns Hopkins (17-5) and Williams (10-0). The 19 errors committed by the Napervillains in their first ten games have helped keep that team ERA below the stratosphere to a merely Rockies-bad level.

Early-season statistics are inherently deceptive, because CCIW teams play wildy varying levels of non-conference competition. North Central's played some very tough opponents -- College of New Jersey roughs up everybody, although the Cards were one of their most humiliated victims, and Johns Hopkins (12-3-1) and Williams (6-3) are off to good starts. I'm not sure that there's much to be gained from simply posting team stats at this early stage, since comparisons can be deceiving without knowing the caliber of the opposition for each respective CCIW team.

Perhaps it will be a little easier to gauge Elmhurst if you look at the records of the teams that the 'jays have played thus far:

Macalester (lost to and tied Elmhurst), 6-4
St. Olaf (split with Elmhurst), 5-2
Hanover (split with Elmhurst), 9-4
Rhodes (beat Elmhurst), 17-8
Washington MO (lost two of three to Elmhurst), 17-4
Coe (beat Elmhurst), 10-8

All six teams that have played the 'jays have winning records, and they own a cumulative 64-30 mark. Elmhurst has gone 5-5 against those six teams, scoring only four fewer runs (56-60) than those opponents. It appears at first blush that Elmhurst has held its own against some solid competition.



Mr. Sager - you are correct that your look is a first blush.  Since you wanted to throw opponents into the mix, here you go:

                             Record     Opp Rec       Runs-RunsAgainst
Carthage                7-4         61-42            60-26
IWU                        8-3         92-53            73-53
Augustana             10-2        59-62            90-58
Elmhurst                 5-5         64-30            56-50

Elmhurst is average (.500) against good competition.  Carthage and IWU are great against very stiff competition, Augie opponents not that great, but they are winning.  In addition, Elmhurst has worst ERA among these schools, worst record, worst BA, yet, they are ranked above IWU.  No way you cut it makes any sense.  That is why these polls are meaningless this early in the season and I question who votes in them.

I do agree that pre-conference stats serve little purpose, but I am having trouble understanding why a .500 team in Elmhurst is getting attention as a contender when they haven't done anything accept win HALF their games. 

I guess the voters believe they can go far into the post-season as well...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 29, 2006, 03:07:16 PM
Thought some D-3 fans might be interested in this. I was watching a brewers spring training game monday night and Vinny Rottino flied out deep to end the game. Rottino is a UW-Lacrosse grad, and grew up in Racine, WI. He is currently hitting .455 during spring training games, and is playing in triple A this year. The announcers said this undrafted kid will definately be a major leaguer in the near future!! Vinny Works out at Carthage College all winter long and hits live against their pitchers as well as helps out with Christmas baseball camps. He is one of the nicest guys I've met and nobody works harder. He was in the weight room daily at 7 a.m. with Scott Roehl (Double A pitcher in the cleveland system from Kenosha) every day.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2006, 03:37:00 PM
One great thing about having big league/minor league players in for workouts is it shows your current guys just how hard they need to work to be successful in the game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2006, 05:12:37 PM
Nice research, TitanRailer. It helps flesh out the records of the CCIW contenders by showing their strength of schedule.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2006, 07:51:48 PM
Carthage wins their home opener today 3-1 over Cardinal Stritch... It looks as though the Carthage bats struggled a bit today by only scoring 3 runs versus a 1-12 team that is giving up an average of over 8 runs per game. Hopefully, it was a fluke and Carthage gets the bats rolling against North Central this weekend.

No other scores have been reported yet.


Cardinal Stritch....  000 001 000 -  1  7  2
Carthage............   020 000 10X -  3  7  1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 29, 2006, 08:36:18 PM
Augustana beat Loras today 10-1.  Augustana goes to 11-2 and Loras drops to 7-11-1.  Augustana's Andrew Gwost (2-0)  picked up the win.  Augie's pitchers only gave up 5 hits in the 9 inning game.  Augie had 12 hits.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 29, 2006, 09:32:11 PM
Yes, the Carthage bats were dead. Cardinal Stritch had a guy throwing i'm guessing that honestly topped out at 70... if that.  There was almost an arc on his fastball on the way to home plate.  Everyone that's played knows when you face a guy like that, you get to agressive and try hitting the ball out of the park every swing instead of using your normal approach.  Hopefully Carthage can get the bats going this weekend against NC. (By the way, Augie had some absolute classic lines that made me along with some other former players who were standing by the dugout just completely crack up!)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Dirty Dozen on March 30, 2006, 02:32:02 AM
I had a chance to get out and see Elmhurst play today.  I realize they were only playing Concordia today, but I must admit.....I was very impressed with their team.  They played errorless defense.  Coach Jones ran out six pitchers today who all looked very impressive.  I didn't expect to see a very strong offense in looking at their stats but after watching them swing the bats today and run the bases, they looked pretty good.  (3 home runs were hit and they were very aggressive on the basepaths hitting and running, stealing, and taking the extra base)  Once again, I'm not going to get too excited because it was only Concordia, but to me it looks like they have the makings of a contending team.  Augustana is coming to town on Saturday so we'll see how they stack up.  A lot of us thought originally that the CCIW may be down this year.  From all indications, the league looks pretty strong as it always is.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2006, 10:42:03 AM
Augie vs. Elmhurst should be a good matchup... Elmhurst has a .500 record against top notch opponents and Augie has a great record against below average teams. I have a feeling that they are much more evenly matched than everyone thinks. The next two weeks will give us a chance to sort out the contenders from the pretenders.

IWU vs Wheaton... IWU should sweep this one 3-0

Millikin vs North Park... Millikin wins this series 2-1

Augie vs Elmhurst... Elmhurst 2-1

Carthage vs North Central... Carthage 3-0

Thoughts?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 30, 2006, 12:14:05 PM
My only switch would be that Augie takes the series 2-1 over Elmhurst.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2006, 12:26:21 PM
Augie/Elmhurst is a series that could either way... It should give us an idea of where these two teams really stand.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on March 30, 2006, 12:33:30 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 30, 2006, 10:42:03 AM
Augie vs. Elmhurst should be a good matchup... Elmhurst has a .500 record against top notch opponents and Augie has a great record against below average teams. I have a feeling that they are much more evenly matched than everyone thinks. The next two weeks will give us a chance to sort out the contenders from the pretenders.

IWU vs Wheaton... IWU should sweep this one 3-0

Millikin vs North Park... Millikin wins this series 2-1

Augie vs Elmhurst... Elmhurst 2-1

Carthage vs North Central... Carthage 3-0

Thoughts?



IWU over Wheaton 3-0

Millikin over North Park 3-0

Augie over Elmhurst 3-0

Carthage over North Central 3-0
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 30, 2006, 01:14:16 PM
"IWU over Wheaton 3-0
Millikin over North Park 3-0
Augie over Elmhurst 3-0
Carthage over North Central 3-0 "

That would be something. A sweep in the CCIW isn't  easy, no matter who you are playing. I know Carthage two years ago was losing a game to north park 9-1 through 3 innings before finally waking up. I would be very surprised if all the series were sweeps, especially the Augie/Elmhurst series.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2006, 01:51:13 PM
What's the story with Millikin? Are they the as good as their record indicates? It looks like they beat up on some teams down south, but lost to some of the better teams they faced.

It certainly seems as if they are swinging it a bit more than in the past.
Title: Re: Lighten up Sweetness
Post by: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 30, 2006, 07:00:53 PM
Quote from: Dirty Dozen on March 20, 2006, 06:57:57 AM
Hey Sweetness:

You sound down on Coach Jones?  In his defense, it's early on in the season.  Do you think he may be trying to learn a little more about his team and what his reserves can do?  How will he ever know about what his reserves can do unless he plays them in these games?   It's the 2nd game on a 9 game swing.  There's a lot of baseball left.  Lighten up.  Oh by the way, what doesn't show up in the box score, those reserves crushed the ball right at people including Matt Brauer who hit a missle right at the 3B in the 7th (I was told they played 2-7 inning games so it couldn't have been the 9th)  In addition, Pat Meginniss, Travis Cox, and Brett Lilley hit the ball very hard too and had nothing to show for it.  Is that Coach Jones's fault?  I heard his starting pitching in that game (and I don't know who it was?) was continuously not getting ahead of hitters, walked some guys, and had a lot of 3 ball counts.  Is that Coach Jones's fault?   Nick Ferrin who has been a very reliable and steady pitcher for the Jays came in in relief of the starter and hit his first batter he faced.  Was it the reserves fault those pitchers weren't ahead of hitters and Ferrin hit a batter who eventually scored?

I think you should be happy the Jays have a coach who has enough balls to play his reserves every now and then to give them a chance.  In the long run, won't they be better off if the Bluejays have a strong bench?  Coach Jones probably already has a good idea of what his starters can do.

Hang in there.  Coach Jones is a veteran Coach, has been around the block and knows what he's doing.  The Jays have a strong club and playing the reserves now when he can will only strengthen their team in the long run.   So chill bro - it aint the end of the world.


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 30, 2006, 07:24:24 PM
To anyone interested in the state of Elmhurst baseball all you have to do is read the previous quote made by Dirty Dozen a few weeks ago.  Dirty Dozen is actually Clark Jones, head baseball coach of Elmhurst College.  This fact can be verified by the fact the Jones used his own Elmhurst email account that is read CJones@elmhurst.edu. 

One would have to question the intelligence of someone who tries to hide his identity but then fails to realize that providing a readily accessable email address consisting of your own name will hardly fool even the slowest of readers. 

If this was just a foolish act of a person that really tries to promote his team to the best of his ability, then this message would go unnoticed.  But Jones is a horrible leader that does not care at all about his field, his equipment, his assistants, and most important his players.  He constantly lies to, backstabs on, and hinders any advancement of ability by his piss poor coaching ability. 

My only desire in bringing this to light is the hope that the more people know about his inabilities as a coach the greater the chance future players won't have to experience what many have already have had to endure.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 30, 2006, 09:15:52 PM
OH MAN!!  Caught red-handed.  Nice work BLUEJAYFAITHFUL.  I did go check the profile and I see that it does match his e-mail on the Elmhurst Baseball website.  This is really pretty unbelievable that a coach would come on here and post.  If you have to try to defend your team on some message board, then that is just sad.  Spend that extra time doing something constructive for your team.  All it has now done is cast a bad mark on your program.  Just go prove it on the field.
Title: Re: Lighten up Sweetness
Post by: augie_superfan on March 30, 2006, 09:34:51 PM
Quote from: Dirty Dozen on March 20, 2006, 06:57:57 AM
Hey Sweetness:

I heard his starting pitching in that game (and I don't know who it was?) was continuously not getting ahead of hitters, walked some guys, and had a lot of 3 ball counts.  Is that Coach Jones's fault?   Nick Ferrin who has been a very reliable and steady pitcher for the Jays came in in relief of the starter and hit his first batter he faced.  Was it the reserves fault those pitchers weren't ahead of hitters and Ferrin hit a batter who eventually scored?

I think you should be happy the Jays have a coach who has enough balls to play his reserves every now and then to give them a chance.  In the long run, won't they be better off if the Bluejays have a strong bench?  Coach Jones probably already has a good idea of what his starters can do.

Hang in there.  Coach Jones is a veteran Coach, has been around the block and knows what he's doing.  The Jays have a strong club and playing the reserves now when he can will only strengthen their team in the long run.   So chill bro - it aint the end of the world.




Looking a little longer at what Dirty Dozen said, I really hope it wasn't Coach Jones himself and somehow someone else was able to sign up under his e-mail address...but I doubt it.  I mean, look at some of the things that were said about his own pitchers.  Calling them out on a message board is just crap.  So, when things go well on your team, you'll take credit for it.  But when things go bad, you'll say it wasn't your fault?  PATHETIC.  Also...way to boast about yourself...real classy.  Please, for Coach Jones' sake, I hope it somehow wasn't him b/c this looks bad.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Dirty Dozen on March 31, 2006, 08:55:30 AM
Hey Bluejay Faithful:

You don't miss a trick........However, a speach was made about a month ago in practice in which I made reference to our team as the "Dirty Dozen".  Have you ever seen the movie "Dirty Dozen"?  It's about a bunch of guys who were underdogs and for some reason or another had something wrong with them, had a little quirk, or perhaps had something happen to them in their past that has prevented them from achieving success.  They were underdogs in every sense of the word.  Because of this, they were labeld "Dirty Dozen".  But, they were chosen for a very special mission in which nobody thought they could succeed.  A "mission impossible" if you will.  The people choosing them for this mission however failed to realize that they were all very special in their own way.  They weren't perfect and were far from it.  But if given a proper role, they could succeed.  Do you see where I'm going with this...............Our players aren't perfect.  They're probably not the most talented group in the CCIW.  But together, with specific roles and specific goals they can win any battle they set their mind on.

So if you think our players didn't know who "Dirty Dozen" was............you're vastly mistaken.  You see...........they're all underdogs - including me.  We don't have the nicest field in the league, we don't have the nicest uniforms, or the largest budgets.  We have normal everyday players who love the game and just want to succeed in their own right.  They and I do the best they can with what they got.  If that' winning the CCIW, then who am I to stand in their way.

As far as calling players out, and I can't remember if you or someone else acused me of doing that................I provide facts.  If they can't handle the heat, maybe they should't be in the kitchen.  Our players know I'm going to tell them when they do well, and I going to let them know when they don't.  If that's calling them out..........then I'm calling them out.

One last thing, I want my players to read D3 Hoops (Baseball)..........Many of you give away some good secrets about your prospective teams.  I also want them to know I read this too. 

There's a Rhyme and Reason behind everything "Bluejay Faithful"......you should know that by now.

Dirty Dozen
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 31, 2006, 09:15:55 AM
Well if Dirty Dozen is really Elmhurst's head coach, I gotta say this is the first time I've ever heard of a head coach getting involved on a message board where fans just chat and give their opinion on certain situations. I would say most coaches would tell their players don't worry about what is said on some stupid message board and surely not allow their players or themselves to write on it. I don't know what secrets you are talking about people giving away either. How is it a secret to list stats, or say who did well in a certain game, or say this guy is hurt and won't be able to play. Its not a secret, look at the boxscore and its very clear who's playing and who's not. I agree with what was stated earlier, I just hope dirty dozen isn't really Elmhurst's head baseball coach, it reflects bad on their program, and especially him if it is.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on March 31, 2006, 10:11:35 AM
Coach Jones...now that you seem to think it is alright to post here as a coach in the conference...maybe you will address my statement earlier.  Is it still not your fault when your pitchers don't perform in a game?  To me, your previous statements are just horrible.  Taking the credit for winning and making good lineup changes but not when your pitchers don't perform?  You are responsible for everything that happens on your team good or bad....that's what you're getting paid for atleast. 

Also, your little "feel good" story is nice but it still is not a way to cover up the way you tried to act in the past.  BOTTOM LINE:  You, as a coach in the CCIW, were WAY out of line for posting on this message board under some alias and there is no little story you can tell to cover that up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on March 31, 2006, 10:15:25 AM
Wow! That's pretty pathetic defending yourself while pretending to be someone else!

Thank God Augie doesn't know how to use a computer!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2006, 02:42:30 PM
Quote from: irish21 on March 31, 2006, 10:15:25 AM
Wow! That's pretty pathetic defending yourself while pretending to be someone else!

Thank God Augie doesn't know how to use a computer!!!!


Great line, Irish! The funny thing is it is probably true.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on March 31, 2006, 05:02:22 PM
My son went through grade-junior high-and high school with Augie.  It's doubtful he doesn't know how to use a computer.  Kenosha schools required it.

Now, if he were my age...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2006, 08:08:42 PM
I know we all kid about Augie Schmidt, but when you really think about it, who wouldn't want to play for they guy?!! His players are more loyal to him than any other program I have ever been associated with or have even heard about.

Sure... he drives you crazy when you play for him, but the moment you leave the program you will do anything to find a way to stay connected to it... parents included. I know that my father looks forward to Carthage playing near my hometown so that he can track down Augie and just chat for a few minutes between BP and the game. I think the true testament of how good of a coach he really is has to do with parents seeing him tear their little boy down only to rebuild him as a much stronger man... physically and mentally.

He teaches life through the game. I know that I have been very successful in my post-Carthage career because of what he drilled into me while I played. You have to show up every day and play your heart out... on the field or in the office.

I know of no other program that is as much of a family as Carthage Baseball. Maybe I see the world through Redmen colored glasses, but those glasses have opened many doors for me in my life. After reading all of the choas that is going on with the Elmhurst fiasco, I am sure proud that I played at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 31, 2006, 08:35:11 PM
Quote from: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 30, 2006, 07:24:24 PM
To anyone interested in the state of Elmhurst baseball all you have to do is read the previous quote made by Dirty Dozen a few weeks ago.  Dirty Dozen is actually Clark Jones, head baseball coach of Elmhurst College.  This fact can be verified by the fact the Jones used his own Elmhurst email account that is read CJones@elmhurst.edu. 

According to the Elmhurst baseball website, the head coach's e-mail address is clarkj@elmhurst.edu.  I seriously doubt any coach would have the time or desire to check out the chat rooms and discussion boards at this time of year; they are far too busy conducting practices and filling out line-up cards!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2006, 08:57:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 31, 2006, 08:35:11 PM
Quote from: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 30, 2006, 07:24:24 PM
To anyone interested in the state of Elmhurst baseball all you have to do is read the previous quote made by Dirty Dozen a few weeks ago.  Dirty Dozen is actually Clark Jones, head baseball coach of Elmhurst College.  This fact can be verified by the fact the Jones used his own Elmhurst email account that is read CJones@elmhurst.edu. 

According to the Elmhurst baseball website, the head coach's e-mail address is clarkj@elmhurst.edu.  I seriously doubt any coach would have the time or desire to check out the chat rooms and discussion boards at this time of year; they are far too busy conducting practices and filling out line-up cards!

If you double check the email address attached to the "dirty dozen" postings it is in fact clarkj@elmhurst.edu (http://clarkj@elmhurst.edu)... not the previously stated cjones@elmhurst .edu
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 31, 2006, 09:03:08 PM
Clark

Stop sending me personal messages under a different name - baseballnut.   I still know it's you because YOU ARE STILL USING YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 31, 2006, 09:10:01 PM
This message is to big poppa.

Double click on Dirty Dozen's Icon box and you'll see that the email address actually is clarkj@elmhurst.edu and I see that you've have cross referenced that on Elmhurst College's website.  I apologize for my typo.  But realize that my message still holds true as well as everything else I plan on writing about Clark.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BLUEJAYFAITHFUL on March 31, 2006, 09:31:25 PM
Clark

I liked your message.  It brought a tear to my eye.   

I won't bother to address your obvious lie.  I'm sure Stevie Wonder blindfolded could see through it.   I would like to discuss your "rhyme and reason" for typing in the third person and talking about how Clark Jones made such a great move bringing in an assistant who played in the major (Please refer to page 9). 

I would also like to know your "rhyme and reason" for labeling your team as only normal, underdog guys who do the best with "what they got".  Clark, if you would only give one ounce of effort everyone of those players could be all-stars.  Every kid who plays college baseball has potential, but your pathetic attempt at "coaching" only hurts their chances of becoming more than "normal". 

I believe coaches should look at their players by what they could be.  As opposed to designating them to role players, or underdogs.  You only look at kids as income into the school in order to preserve your job. 

Nobody thinks of Elmhurst baseball as a family.  No one is proud to say they played for Elmhurst.  No wonder you don't have any money.  Why would someone donate to a program that they won't even admit to playing for. 

I just wish those kids now can get past your overbearing stupidity and get to play the game the way it is supposed to be played. 

 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2006, 01:52:06 AM
Bluejay... I understand that you are fervent in your support of Elmhurst and I admire that, but I am nearly certain that your methods may only hurt the program you care about... "don't fight in front of the kids." Take it somewhere else... it seems as though this is a private matter and should be addressed as such.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 01, 2006, 02:57:34 AM
It's a good thing the Elmhurst coach is only trying to teach life lessons and not spelling.    ;D ;D ;D

But then again, baseball players abbreviate everything anyway, right poppa??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 01, 2006, 11:48:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2006, 01:52:06 AM
Bluejay... I understand that you are fervent in your support of Elmhurst and I admire that, but I am nearly certain that your methods may only hurt the program you care about... "don't fight in front of the kids." Take it somewhere else... it seems as though this is a private matter and should be addressed as such.

I agree with Poppa. There appears to be an ongoing issue between the coach and a current or former player. This is not the place to have that argument. This has become a personal issue between these two and does not belong on this board.

I'm sure the Kenosha school system requires students to be computer literate but when Augie was going through the system, there was no such thing as personal computers. Augie probably did his typing on an old Underwood and knowing him, he probably struggled to get the paper loaded!!!

Still 10 sugars, right Aug?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 01, 2006, 12:49:02 PM
Actually, I believe those first cumbersome computers in Kenosha Unified were PWPs, or "personal word processors."  The computer labs in each school did, indeed, keep up with the times.  Since my son was in the same class (year), I can say with certainty that kids in Kenosha schools in those days DID use computers.  How computer literate they became is quite another matter.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2006, 01:00:31 PM
I know that when I had workstudy with Augie back in the day, I used to have to check his email for him. I would walk into his office and he was sitting in front of the PC looking lost... or playing the back nine at TPC Sawgrass.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 01, 2006, 02:49:22 PM
Quit taking things so literally prof! All the kidding about Augie is good natured. I don't think anyone on this board cares if he used a computer or typewriter while he was attending Kenosha schools. Augie and computers are not very friendly to one another!

(see Poppa's post!)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 01, 2006, 03:03:57 PM
I must have missed my post in which I objected to kidding Augie, or about Augie.  Sorry about that!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2006, 03:22:27 PM
Carthage wins game #1 over NCC 2-1... Carthage won it on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 7th. Carthage bats are struggling, but the pitching has been amazing... team ERA under 2.00 right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 01, 2006, 06:55:17 PM
Augie wins 11-5 and 7-1....this one probably wasn't Coach Jones' fault since his pitchers got ripped. ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 01, 2006, 08:00:07 PM
A few more notes on the Augustana games today.

In game 1, Kevin Kuntz threw a complete game (7 inn.) 3 hitter giving up 0 ER (5 R).  He is now 5-0 on the season with a 1.47 ERA.

In game 2, Andrew Setter threw a complete game (9 inn.) 4 hitter giving up 1 ER.  He is now 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA.


Looks like Carthage won both today over NCC.  As BigPoppa said, Carthage's pitching staff has an unbelievable 1.53 team ERA after the games today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 01, 2006, 11:44:04 PM
Great start for North Park this year.

They beat Millikin by the scores of 1-0 and 8-7 today.

Also, IWU and Wheaton split.  Wheaton won 2-0 and IWU won 11-3.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 02, 2006, 04:09:16 PM
4-3 NCC at the end of 5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 02, 2006, 04:40:26 PM
Augie/Elmhurst game postponed till Monday
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 02, 2006, 05:21:16 PM
Carthage won today's game against NCC 6-4, that's all the details i have now. Also just want to say congratulations to North Park on sweeping Millikin. I have nothing against Millikin, but when is the last time NP got a sweep in a conference DH?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: boombastic1 on April 02, 2006, 06:28:06 PM
Bud Lite Presents:  Real Men of Genius

Today we solute you Mr. Secret Identity Guy
They say those who can't play, coach
apparently those who can't coach make up false identities and call out their own players on the CCIW chatboard

--thanks for the laugh Coach Jones
--I can't wait until to come to IWU--I'm going to heckle the **** out of you
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 02, 2006, 06:51:26 PM
Way to start conference play!! My guess was three pairs of long underwear for Augie today!!!

I wish I was going to be in town on Tuesday to watch the twinbill at Elmhurst. I always had a lot of respect for Coach Jones when my favorite Redman was playing. Now it will be rather difficult to look at him without feeling sorry for him!! It would be strange, but I wouldn't mind a coach posting on here as long as he was honest about who he was. The deceit by Coach Jones makes him look like a sad little fool.

Great start Redmen!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 02, 2006, 09:05:44 PM
Congrats to North Park on starting the season 3-0 after beating Millikin 11-7 today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2006, 06:49:59 AM
Well, Titan Railer, you were right about the Millikin @ NPU series being a sweep. What you got wrong were the identities of the sweeper and the swept. NPU took both ends of the Saturday doubleheader, 1-0 and 8-7 (10). In the opener, Joe DiChristina threw a four-hit shutout, allowing only one walk. In the nightcap, the Vikings mounted a huge comeback to overcome an early 6-0 deficit, winning the game in the tenth on Oney Guillen's sacrifice fly. On Sunday, the Vikings completed the three-game series sweep by besting the Big Blue, 11-7. It marks the first time in eight years that North Park has opened CCIW play with a 3-0 record.

Looks like the Vikings' bats have finally warmed up. NPU next faces North Central in a Tuesday doubleheader at Holmgren Athletic Complex.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 03, 2006, 10:05:41 AM
Tuesday's double headers could get interesting seeing that every teams top 3 won't be able to go. Each team will start their 4 and 5 I'm sure, unless teams had to use them in long relief this weekend. Carthage's 4 and 5 are both solid pitchers, and both will have shots to be weekend starters next year after Evosovich and Olson graduate.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 03, 2006, 11:18:32 AM
Not sure what the weather is like up north, but non-stop rain all night and morning.  Doubtful the IWU game will take place today. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2006, 01:32:31 PM
How is the IWU game looking??? On or off???

What does everyone think of the opening weekend? I am certain their were a few surprises... NPU sweeping Millikin and IWU spilitting with Wheaton. Gotta love the CCIW when everyone knocks everyone around.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 03, 2006, 03:17:14 PM
IWU at Wheaton postponed until Wednesday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 03, 2006, 03:33:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2006, 01:32:31 PM
How is the IWU game looking??? On or off???

What does everyone think of the opening weekend? I am certain their were a few surprises... NPU sweeping Millikin and IWU spilitting with Wheaton. Gotta love the CCIW when everyone knocks everyone around.

I am not sure why IWU didn't hit Price.  They never got their leadoff batter on base in any inning and only reached second base in the last inning, had the bases loaded with one out, grounded into double play to end the game.  Against the lefty, the Titans had all righties in the lineup.  Seems they had everything on their side, except the aluminum.   

As for opening weekend, pitching is the success.  Look at these game one scores, when teams threw their aces:  Wheaton 2, IWU 0; Carthage 2, NCC 1; NP 1, Millikin 0.  Augie did break the pattern with an 11-5 win over Elmhurst.

I think it is great to see NP sweep Millikin.  They will now host NCC, so the success could continue.  If they can sneak into the fourth playoff spot, these are the wins they need.

Poppa - love your latest quote, the plate hasn't moved in 150 years.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2006, 03:42:24 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 03, 2006, 03:33:28 PM

Poppa - love your latest quote, the plate hasn't moved in 150 years.

Thanks... I try to give everybody the experience of playing for Augie. I try to rotate the quotes every few weeks... he still cracks me up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 03, 2006, 04:57:25 PM
Augie moves up to #14 and Carthage to #22 in the new poll. Congrats to both teams, keep it up
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2006, 07:50:31 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 03, 2006, 04:57:25 PM
Augie moves up to #14 and Carthage to #22 in the new poll. Congrats to both teams, keep it up

That sets up a great 3-game series between Augustana and Carthage in Kenosha this weekend... assuming that neither stumbles this week.

Any predictions? I am very curious to see how Carthage responds tomorrow @ Elmhurst. Augustana should not have a problem tomorrow with Wheaton who is going to play two on Tues, one on Weds, one Fri and two on Sat... 6 CCIW games in 5 days. That's a tough stretch for the arms.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 03, 2006, 08:59:10 PM
I think that Carthage is going to roll in the CCIW because of their pitching. They are easily posting better numbers than the rest of the conference. I doubt that anyone will pitch as well as them and we all know it is only a matter of time before they start hitting the ball all over the park. I hate to say it because I am not a Carthage fan.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2006, 09:11:58 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on April 03, 2006, 08:59:10 PM
I think that Carthage is going to roll in the CCIW because of their pitching. They are easily posting better numbers than the rest of the conference. I doubt that anyone will pitch as well as them and we all know it is only a matter of time before they start hitting the ball all over the park. I hate to say it because I am not a Carthage fan.

Aye, Aye, Captain... gotta love a man who knows his rum!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 03, 2006, 10:25:16 PM
Augustana beat Elmhurst 4-3 on a Kevin Ryan bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth.  Brandon Engle went the distance and gave up 5 hits and 3 ER.  Should be a great matchup of starting pitching come next weekend up at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2006, 06:28:58 AM
North Central's pitching staff does not seem to have picked up much from its disastrous non-conference performance, so it's important that NPU stays aggressive at the plate against the Cardinals. As Titan Railer said, this is a prime opportunity for NPU to make some early headway in the CCIW and to propel the Vikings further away from cellar-dweller status.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 09:39:57 AM
I agree, Sager... NPU can really do some damage in the CCIW with another solid week. Looks like Coach Luke Johnson has really made some improvements in his short time there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 04, 2006, 10:56:08 AM
I heard Elmhurst never tarped their field...any word on what type of condition it is in? If it is unplayable, I know Carthage tarped theirs, maybe the games could be moved to Kenosha. If anyone finds out anything, please let me know
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 04, 2006, 11:40:43 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 04, 2006, 10:56:08 AM
I heard Elmhurst never tarped their field...any word on what type of condition it is in? If it is unplayable, I know Carthage tarped theirs, maybe the games could be moved to Kenosha. If anyone finds out anything, please let me know

From what I have read on this website, it would not surprise me if the Elmhurst coach "forgot" to tarp his field in order to get his pitchers more rest and avoid an 0-5 CCIW start.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 12:23:33 PM
I would love to see the game moved to Carthage if Elmhurst is unplayable. I think it only makes sense... they can flip the other game later in the season. I know it's been done in the past.

How is the weather everywhere else?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 12:33:03 PM
Carthage just posted that the game will be played, but it has been moved back from a 1PM start to a 2pm start. I hope they can get both games in before dark. Does Elmhurst have lights?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 12:46:03 PM
I just noticed that Carthage is only hitting .296 as a team. It must be driving Augie crazy to watch that. I wonder when the last time they had a team that hit under .300 was....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 04, 2006, 01:31:20 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 12:33:03 PM
Carthage just posted that the game will be played, but it has been moved back from a 1PM start to a 2pm start. I hope they can get both games in before dark. Does Elmhurst have lights?

That doesn't make much sense to me. I don't know how much of a difference one hour will make. Its not like its 85 and sunny. I know if it was a home game for Carthage, Augie would have had his players out there at 7 in the morning getting that thing ready to go (not to mention again that the field would've surely been tarped in the first place). Those who have played for or at Carthage in wet conditions know that if there is any way at all possible to get that game in, Augie will do it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 04, 2006, 08:05:04 PM
Anybody have any CCIW scores from today?

None of the websites have anything posted yet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 08:46:26 PM
per the Elmhurst website:

Game 1:  Carthage wins 19-4
Game 2:  Carthage wins 7-5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 08:51:36 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 08:46:26 PM
per the Elmhurst website:

Game 1:  Carthage wins 19-4
Game 2:  Carthage wins 7-5

Thanks, Superfan! Looks like the Carthage bats woke up a bit today!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 04, 2006, 08:54:26 PM
Just spoke to IV...the Redmen improve to 5-0 in the CCIW! They won the opener 7-5 and the nightcap was a 19-4 rout! The Redmen batted around twice in the first inning and pushed 13 runs across the plate!

Nice!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 08:58:21 PM
Guess I had Game 1 and 2 flopped...oh well...who pitched for Carthage?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 04, 2006, 09:01:19 PM
Superfan...you never know with Augie! You could have the right order and scores!!

Didn't talk about the pitchers. He was too excited about the bats coming alive!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 04, 2006, 09:15:25 PM
From the Elmhurst website...

Jeff Livek earned the win for Carthage, throwing four innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits. Ryan Roufus worked three shutout innings in relief to earn the save.

Chris Krepline notched the win for Carthage, throwing five innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits. He struck out five in the process.

Carthage sent 18 men to the plate in the first inning while jumping out to a 13-0 lead. The Redmen  went up 18-0 after one and a half innings with five runs in the second.

The site had Red Men. The change is mine. I'm still not buying into the politically correct change since I know the original origin!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 11:30:47 PM
Millikin sweeps IWU on Tuesday...

Big Blue moves to 2-3 and IWU drops to 1-3.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 11:31:12 PM
Augustana and Wheaton split today.

Game 1:  Wheaton 11    Augie 4

Game 2:  Augie 8  Wheaton 7

In Game 2, Matt Schref pitched 6 innings and gave up only one ER.  He picked up his first win of the season (1-0).

Looks like a rough day for Augie.  
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 11:32:28 PM
Wow...IWU is in a deep hole right now...do not want to lose 2 to Millikin who lost 3 to North Park.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2006, 11:34:16 PM
Anybody have the updated CCIW standings? Is Carthage the only unbeaten left? We have not heard from NCC/NP today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 05, 2006, 12:48:05 AM
North Park and North Central split today.  In the first game, the Vikings prevalied 9-4, while the Cardinals bounced back 8-2 in the nightcap.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 01:09:26 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 05, 2006, 12:48:05 AM
North Park and North Central split today.  In the first game, the Vikings prevalied 9-4, while the Cardinals bounced back 8-2 in the nightcap.

Carthage      5-0
North Park    4-1
Augie            4-1
Wheaton      2-2
IWU              2-3
Millikin           2-3
N. Central     1-4
Elmhurst       0-5

There are some huge surprises in there. NPU @ 4-1(Great job)...IWU @ 2-3 versus Wheaton and Millikin... Elmhurst @ 0-5...

That makes Augustana @ Carthage a huge series this weekend. Either has a chance to really own the conference if NPU cannot keep it going. Elmhurst is in a must win situation this weekend vs. NPU. I have a feeling that the situation that unfolded with the Elmhurst coach over the last week has had a trickledown effect on the players.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 05, 2006, 01:19:52 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 04, 2006, 08:46:26 PM
per the Elmhurst website:

Game 1:  Carthage wins 19-4
Game 2:  Carthage wins 7-5

WOW! I hate to say it, but I think the Elmhurst coach is getting what he deserves. A man would call his players out to their face, not on a website. If you have a problem with the way things are going, talk to them one on one.

I also hate to say this: It looks like Carthage may run away with the CCIW if the roll this weekend. I do not see NPU staying this hot all season as they will have to play much tougher games in the weeks ahead.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2006, 01:51:20 AM
I have to give North Central credit, as Justin Rezzuto pitched very well in the nightcap win for the Cardinals. But NPU really played a lackluster game -- four errors and a run-scoring balk led to the Vikings putting themselves away pretty early in that one.

The opener was much more indicative of how well the Park has been playing lately. NPU sprayed thirteen hits around the field, including the team's first two homers of the year (courtesy of Raymond Decatur and Vladimir Torres).

NPU takes a one-day break from CCIW play in order to face 9-9 Benedictine tomorrow afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Complex. It'll be interesting to see how the Vikings fare; Carthage and Wheaton both pounded the Bennies last week by scores of 11-1 and 8-1, respectively.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 05, 2006, 10:10:18 AM
Just some thoughts on the Carthage/Elmhurst game after looking at the box score. Augie chose to play a lot of players who haven't seen a lot of time, even in the first game when it was close he had some guys in there who hadn't played much at all since their florida trip. That's what you gotta love. Even though it was a conference game, if someone is really starting to come along in practice, he will give them an opportunity for a few AB's here and there. The second game, he obviously completely cleared the bench which I believe shows some class. There are definately some coaches (not saying anyone in particular or even necessarily in the CCIW) that would keep in their starters and try to run the score up as much as possible to look good for everybody, including the 7 or 8 voters or however many there are for the polls. Should be a great 3 game set this weekend. It will be extremely tough for Carthage to sweep Augustana with the way they hit the ball, but with their pitching they have a shot. Anyone planning on coming up from Rock Island, its only supposed to be low to mid 40's right now Saturday so bundle up because by the lake 45 does not feel that warm. Sunday is supposed to get into the 50's.  8)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 05, 2006, 10:48:21 AM
Lake Michigan water temps vary somewhat depending upon wind and wave action.  At the best, however, the surface temps right now are in the low 40s.  Dress warm.

A breeze off the lake can make it bone chilling for blocks inland.  Kenoshans typically cite 22nd Avenue as being the divide between lake effect and dominant air temps.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 11:21:37 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 05, 2006, 10:48:21 AM
Lake Michigan water temps vary somewhat depending upon wind and wave action.  At the best, however, the surface temps right now are in the low 40s.  Dress warm.

A breeze off the lake can make it bone chilling for blocks inland.  Kenoshans typically cite 22nd Avenue as being the divide between lake effect and dominant air temps.

Only a true Kenosha veteran would know that. Carthage is always 15 degrees colder than the rest of Kenosha.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 05, 2006, 11:35:12 AM
Oh yeah, by the way Dirty Dozen... so much for that DEEP PLAYOFF RUN you were so confident about before you even played 1/3 of your games, not to mention even 1 conference game. By the looks of it, those pitchers you called out on a CHATBOARD i'm sure aren't worried any longer about performing at their best with the fear of not wanting to disappoint their coach who cares about his players and their well-being so dearly!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 05, 2006, 12:24:07 PM
I have a funny feeling that this is the last season for Clark Jones at Elmhurst.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on April 05, 2006, 02:27:26 PM
North Park lost, bring back coach Vandenbranden!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 03:31:25 PM
Quote from: cokeaholic on April 05, 2006, 02:27:26 PM
North Park lost, bring back coach Vandenbranden!!!!!

Why did Bosko leave North Park in the first place?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 05, 2006, 04:03:23 PM
At that time, North Park was the only place where faculty/staff salaries were lower than Carthage among CCIW schools.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 04:19:30 PM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 05, 2006, 04:03:23 PM
At that time, North Park was the only place where faculty/staff salaries were lower than Carthage among CCIW schools.

I would assume that Wheaton would be at the top????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 09:03:17 PM
IWU beats Wheaton 7-1 today.

Updated CCIW standings:
Carthage      5-0
North Park    4-1
Augie            4-1
IWU              2-3
Wheaton      2-3
Millikin           2-3
N. Central     1-4
Elmhurst       0-5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 05, 2006, 10:06:46 PM
I believe IWU is only 2-3 but the rest looks good
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 05, 2006, 10:09:41 PM
One thing I have noticed is that CCIW regular season does not mean as much as it has in the past. Win the tourney and get a berth. I liked the old way where the point system carried into the postseason and rewarded a team for a great CCIW season instead of a weekend of solid baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2006, 10:11:29 PM
Augie_superfan... thanks. I think you are right and I corrected it in my earlier post.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2006, 01:07:16 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 05, 2006, 04:03:23 PM
At that time, North Park was the only place where faculty/staff salaries were lower than Carthage among CCIW schools.

That's not why Bosko left North Park.

NPU lost to Benedictine today, 10-9.  The pitching really went south on the Vikings; Rich Jenchowski struggled in his first start of the year, and even ace reliever Bob Mensch faltered for the first time this season. However, the Vikings did show a lot of moxie in rallying from a 10-4 deficit in the eighth. When Pat Zarilla flied out to right to end the game, the tying run was on 2nd. It was encouraging to see the Vikes rally like that, even though it fell just short and even though Benedictine isn't exactly a world-beater of a baseball team.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2006, 10:56:35 AM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on April 05, 2006, 10:09:41 PM
One thing I have noticed is that CCIW regular season does not mean as much as it has in the past. Win the tourney and get a berth. I liked the old way where the point system carried into the postseason and rewarded a team for a great CCIW season instead of a weekend of solid baseball.

Captain... I agree. Maybe wearing my Carthage colored glasses has something to do with that as the Redmen were usually at the top of the standings, but I am certain this will bring the CCIW in line with the rest of the conference tourneys.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: tjcummingsfan on April 06, 2006, 11:46:07 AM
Not knowing the details, Bosko leaving North Park for Carthage for money reasons just doesn't make sense...  If you want more money, why go to the school second to the bottom regarding payroll.

I can't be the only one amazed that North Park is even being mentioned as a contender, albeit an amazing long-shot of one, for the CCIW race.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2006, 12:13:51 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 02, 2006, 12:09:59 PM


NP will not leave... they are a founding member of the conference. NP will be back in the CCIW race very soon. With the exception of IWU and Carthage, everyone has had some down years in the CCIW over the past 10-15 years...

Very prophetic, huh?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 06, 2006, 03:51:54 PM
BigPoppa-
   I thought you were crazy to even suggest that NPU would make a dent in the CCIW in the near future and here they are knocking on the door already.
It looks like you know that you are talking about. If I could give you karma I would.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 06, 2006, 07:49:16 PM
No one said Bosko took the Carthage job for the money.  The casual observation about Carthage and North Park being at the bottom on faculty/staff salaries at that time was simply an attempt at what might be called wry humor.  A move from bottom to second from bottom would be foolish.

Incidentally, faculty/staff remuneration at Carthage has dramatically increased in the past decade and a half.  According to AAUP data and Chronicle of Higher Ed info, Carthage is well above the median for similar schools.  That is not to say, however, that Bosko brought Carthage average salary above the national median.

I refuse to use smiley faces, even if it may give rise to confusion.  Let the words speak.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2006, 08:14:24 PM
Professor... I love your dry sense of humor. I get it... maybe we are cut from the same mold.

I had many friends and teammates that took your classes, but I never had the pleasure myself. I was stuck taking the majority of my classes in Seibert Chapel with the amazing views of the of the baseball field from the classrooms. Somehow, I find it easier to blame my GPA on the field views rather than on my lack of attention to class.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 07, 2006, 07:10:43 AM
And how often has your GPA been an issue now that your workplace offers a different view?

It's gratifying, incidentally, to see how your loyalty remains intact and your interest in Carthage high after a move to the far west.  There's quite a number of alums in both Californias--southern and northern.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2006, 11:30:17 AM
Nothing but rain all day in kenosha so far. The infield is tarped, but the outfield may be a little wet tomorrow. Carthage just had a new drainage system put in last season so hopefully it works well and won't be too bad. Should be a great day of baseball tomorrow in kenosha between to solid ball clubs
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2006, 12:30:18 PM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 07, 2006, 07:10:43 AM
And how often has your GPA been an issue now that your workplace offers a different view?

It's gratifying, incidentally, to see how your loyalty remains intact and your interest in Carthage high after a move to the far west.  There's quite a number of alums in both Californias--southern and northern.

I will bleed Redmen colors until I die... regardless of where I live. It is a special place to me. I met my best friends there, figured out who I truly was there, and fell in love with a dancer there who is now my wife. There is still nothing a walk on the Carthage campus on a crisp fall afternoon... though the campus is much improved since I attended.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2006, 12:33:26 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2006, 11:30:17 AM
Nothing but rain all day in kenosha so far. The infield is tarped, but the outfield may be a little wet tomorrow. Carthage just had a new drainage system put in last season so hopefully it works well and won't be too bad. Should be a great day of baseball tomorrow in kenosha between to solid ball clubs

We always used to say if the ball got to the outfield, the pitcher threw it in the wrong spot. Wet outfields should be the least of worries(can you tell I was an infielder... now, a wet infield is cause for serious alarm).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bstar21 on April 07, 2006, 01:58:21 PM
I have seen Augie play a couple of times this year and they are very solid.  Yet they still dont have everyone hitting on their team yet.  Their catching has gotten alot better and their pitching has been dominant.  I see Carthage's pitching has been solid as well.  Who has the edge in this weekend matchup?
Title: IWU
Post by: TitanRailer on April 07, 2006, 02:06:12 PM
Tough week for the Titans.  There will be some weekend starting pitching changes moving towards youth.  Hopefully the young arms can produce some victories.  Or they can learn something from the Titan women, who are 16-2 and 6-0 in the CCIW.

Predictions for this weekends series (Greg - trust me, I will not pick NP to lose 3 this weekend)!!!

IWU over NCC 3-0 (IWU not happy, take it out on NCC, Titans score double digits in 2 games)

Augie over Carthage 2-1 (Carthage bats stall, no team scores more than 5 in a game all weekend)

Wheaton over Millikin 2-1 (Too close to call)

North Park over Elmhurst 2-1 (Elmhurst players believing they can go deep into the postseason has transferred to the city, Clark submits resume at Warrenville High, but it is quickly rejected)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2006, 07:21:17 PM
IWU over NCC 2-1

Carthage wins the series 2-1 versus Augie this weekend.

I will call the Wheaton/Millikin seires at 1-1-1... don't really know much about either team yet.

I am going to have to take NPU 2-1 this weekend.



This is a classic post. If there were a posting Hall of Fame, it would surely be in there.
"North Park over Elmhurst 2-1 (Elmhurst players believing they can go deep into the postseason has transferred to the city, Clark submits resume at Warrenville High, but it is quickly rejected)"
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 08, 2006, 12:54:08 AM
I'm not sure if I agree that EC will drop two against NP.  I am pretty sure that Ec will have a tough year.  They have lost a lot over the last year-- their coaching staff has largely disappeared, losing Joe and Denny Niezgoda, Earl Hansen, and (I think) Mike Palmer.  Also, Kevin Brandush, who would have been their best hitter, and a possible All-American, has left the team.  Brian Mucha, another senior with a good bat, has been injured and will likely be done.  Finally, their field and gym are a major disadvantage for recruiting talent in the area.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 08, 2006, 06:37:00 PM
Carthage took both games from Augustana today: 3-2 and 3-1. Great pitching from both teams obviously. Augustana only had 1 earned run in 16 innings of ball, that has to say something about the job Jacob Husing and Scott Evosovich did on the mound for the Redmen.  Great turn out at Carthage today, just a great atmosphere for division 3 college baseball. Olson will go tomorrow for Carthage as they attempt to go for the sweep.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 08, 2006, 07:06:16 PM
Looks like Augie really needs to win tomorrow.  Anyone got a recap of what happened in that first game?  The Carthage hotline made it sound like Carthage scored twice on a play where Augie had 3 errors?  Was that true or was it that they just had 3 errors in the game?

Also, REDMANFAN, Carthage only had 1 earned run today as well so that shows what the Augie pitchers did too ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 08, 2006, 09:05:48 PM
IWU beat NCC twice today; 6-0 and 7-4

Elmhurst beat NPU twice; 10-3 and 9-6

Wheaton beats Millikin 2 out of 3; 4-5, 6-5, 11-10

Therefore, the updated standings are:

Carthage     7-0
Augustana   4-3
IWU             4-3
North Park   4-3
Wheaton     4-4
Millikin          3-5
Elmhurst      2-5
NCC             1-6

Please correct me if I messed something up
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 08, 2006, 10:19:48 PM
Augie Superfan,

That play was insane that Carthage scored 2 runs on. It was pretty much a swinging bunt, the 1st basemen threw it away, then the catcher miss played the throw home for the first run, the ball rolled to the back stop allowing the hitter Barker to score. Moses Barker hit a  home run later in the day though to almost dead center with the wind blowing in. The previous inning, Carthage had the bases loaded with no outs and there 1,2,3 hitters up and failed to score, they were very fortunate to win the first game, but hey, a win is a win. Also, Augie pitchers were great as well. I just mentioned how impressive the Carthers pitchers were considering the offensive numbers Augustana has put up so far.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 09, 2006, 12:00:28 AM
Thanks for the info
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 09, 2006, 11:27:28 AM
Very, very impressive! If the Redmen can win playing small ball maybe there IS hope for the Cubs!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 09, 2006, 02:30:43 PM
Augie's bats definately woke up today. They are beating Carthage 8-1 right now in the 6th inning. Sloppy play for Carthage defensively, it looks like their winning streak is going to end at 9.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 09, 2006, 05:12:53 PM
Augie beat Carthage 17-1 today...we could've used some of those runs yesterday.  Augie's #2 pitcher, Andrew Setter, threw a complete game 8 hitter.  He moves to 5-0 on the year.  Lots of good hitting from everyone today.  That is a big win to stay only 2 games back of Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 09, 2006, 05:28:40 PM
IWU won 13-7 over NCC today.

NPU beat Elmhurst 4-2 today


Updated Standings: (including next week's conference games)

Carthage    7-1     vs. Elmhurst (1)    vs. IWU (3)
Augustana  5-3    @ Wheaton (1)      vs. NPU (3)
IWU           5-3     vs. Millikin (1)      @ Carthage (3)
North Park  5-3     @ NCC (1)           @ Augie (3)
Wheaton    4-4     vs. Augie (1)        vs. NCC (1)   @ NCC (2)
Millikin        3-5     @ IWU (1)           vs. Elmhurst (3)
Elmhurst     2-6     @ Carthage (1)     @ Millikin (3)
NCC           1-7     vs. NPU (1)          @ Wheaton (1)   vs. Wheaton (2)


Should be a very telling week next week with the huge IWU/Carthage series and we will see how Augie will do against a much improved NPU squad.  Also, a big week for Wheaton against a struggling NCC team.


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2006, 07:13:58 PM
The CCIW is turning out to be a very good race... as expected. Next weekend will determine the fate of many of the teams. Those off to a slow start must win to keep pace and those off to good starts can solidify playoff spots.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 10, 2006, 03:57:08 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 06, 2006, 07:49:16 PMI refuse to use smiley faces, even if it may give rise to confusion.  Let the words speak.

::)

NPU had nowhere to go but up this year, but I think that the Vikings have surprised everyone with just how competitive they've been thus far. Nevertheless, they're carved out a 5-3 record against the three teams at the bottom of the conference. They're definitely going to have to step it up a notch against the traditional powers if they want to be something more than an early-spring curiosity in the CCIW race.
Title: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 10, 2006, 09:27:34 AM
I am not sure what is better, an IWU sweep this weekend or the Cubs sweep over the Cardinals.  Yes I do, Go Cubs!!

Not really looking forward to the Carthage series right now.  IWU can't win a 2-1 game right now, and Carthage pitching is too good for an 8-5 game that IWU can win. 

I still like my pre-season picks of Carthage, Augie, IWU and NP in the conference tourney.  Unfortunately, I agree with Greg, NP still has the upper tier of the conference to play.  Will be a tough road for them.  Unfortunately, IWU has only played Wheaton, NCC, and Millikin.  Tough road ahead for the Titans as well.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2006, 11:10:46 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 10, 2006, 03:57:08 AM

NPU had nowhere to go but up this year, but I think that the Vikings have surprised everyone with just how competitive they've been thus far. Nevertheless, they're carved out a 5-3 record against the three teams at the bottom of the conference. They're definitely going to have to step it up a notch against the traditional powers if they want to be something more than an early-spring curiosity in the CCIW race.

One advantage is it has given confidence to a young struggling team. Early season wins are worth a little bit more in my opinion. NPU is hanging tough and even though the schedule will get tougher, they have proved that they are vastly improved and able to make some noise in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2006, 10:02:09 AM
Knowing North Park still has to play IWU (who I think is still a very dangerous team), Augie, and Carthage, what are some honest opinions about whether or not you think they will make the conference tournament. I think it will end up being between them and Elmhurst. Personally, I hope the Vikings find a way. Now that the conference tourney gives an automatic bid to the postseason (i'm still pretty sure that's what they've gone to), as long as you finish in the top 4 you have a good as chance as anyone to get hot over one weekend and make the playoffs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2006, 12:09:19 PM
NPU is in a tough spot as they still have the three big dogs to play, but the Vikings are showing that they can compete this year. Funny things happen between the lines. I also think it will come down to NPU and Elmhurst for the final spot in the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 11, 2006, 04:25:10 PM
Here is how I see the CCIW:

1. Carthage- great pitching, always fighting for titles

2. IWU- starting to come around

3. Augustana- could flip-flop with #2

4. Elmhurst- Coming around, players know they will have new coach next year

5. NPU- can steal wins here and there to make a run at the #4 spot, scrappy team

6. North Central- terrible, but tradition will push them into 6th

7. Millikin- will fall off as season wears on

8. Wheaton- soccer school
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2006, 04:32:33 PM
Captain... I like your assessment. A bit harsh on some schools, but it is your opinion.  I hope that NPU can get back to their form of the early 90s when their catcher, Danny Casas, was one of the most feared hitters in the CCIW... and he took all day to get into the box. It drove me nuts.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 11, 2006, 08:52:23 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2006, 10:02:09 AM
Knowing North Park still has to play IWU (who I think is still a very dangerous team), Augie, and Carthage, what are some honest opinions about whether or not you think they will make the conference tournament. I think it will end up being between them and Elmhurst. Personally, I hope the Vikings find a way. Now that the conference tourney gives an automatic bid to the postseason (i'm still pretty sure that's what they've gone to), as long as you finish in the top 4 you have a good as chance as anyone to get hot over one weekend and make the playoffs.
The top-four teams, by CCIW winning percentage, qualify for the CCIW Baseball Tournament.  The four qualifying teams accrue one championship point for each regular-season CCIW victory and additional championship points based on the following tournament records:  3-0 record (5 points), 4-1 or 3-1 record (4 points), 3-2 record (3 points), 2-2 record (2 points), 1-2 record (1 point) and an 0-2 record (0 points).  Teams that do not qualify for the tournament do not receive championship points for regular-season conference wins.  If a tie occurs in total points after the tournament, then the team that finished highest in the tournament will be the conference champion.   If only the first day of the tournament is played, due to weather, then each tournament win is worth one point, and the sole 2-0 team shall be awarded a bonus point.  The CCIW champion receives the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

In the past, wasn't it the regular season champ that got the automatic berth? I know "we" went three of the four years that my favorite Redman played. But we were the regular season champs and won the tournament.

So what I'm reading from this, it's now the tournament champ and not the regular season champ?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2006, 09:00:44 PM
Quote from: irish21 on April 11, 2006, 08:52:23 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2006, 10:02:09 AM
Knowing North Park still has to play IWU (who I think is still a very dangerous team), Augie, and Carthage, what are some honest opinions about whether or not you think they will make the conference tournament. I think it will end up being between them and Elmhurst. Personally, I hope the Vikings find a way. Now that the conference tourney gives an automatic bid to the postseason (i'm still pretty sure that's what they've gone to), as long as you finish in the top 4 you have a good as chance as anyone to get hot over one weekend and make the playoffs.
The top-four teams, by CCIW winning percentage, qualify for the CCIW Baseball Tournament.  The four qualifying teams accrue one championship point for each regular-season CCIW victory and additional championship points based on the following tournament records:  3-0 record (5 points), 4-1 or 3-1 record (4 points), 3-2 record (3 points), 2-2 record (2 points), 1-2 record (1 point) and an 0-2 record (0 points).  Teams that do not qualify for the tournament do not receive championship points for regular-season conference wins.  If a tie occurs in total points after the tournament, then the team that finished highest in the tournament will be the conference champion.   If only the first day of the tournament is played, due to weather, then each tournament win is worth one point, and the sole 2-0 team shall be awarded a bonus point.  The CCIW champion receives the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

In the past, wasn't it the regular season champ that got the automatic berth? I know "we" went three of the four years that my favorite Redman played. But we were the regular season champs and won the tournament.

So what I'm reading from this, it's now the tournament champ and not the regular season champ?



Irish... you are correct. New format rewards only the winner of the CCIW tourney. Winner gets in and the losers sit by the phone waiting for a call to let them know if they got a bid or not. There are 11 more bids(53 total) this year so a strong showing in your regular season will have a large bearing on your selection to the dance.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2006, 09:04:39 PM
They actually have it listed two different ways on the Carthage page... look at the press releases and CCIW tourney info for the updated version of the format. The one previously quoted is still listed, but replaced by the updated one below:

CCIW Championship Format Changed for 2006:  Beginning in 2006, the CCIW's regular-season champion wins the conference title and has the option of playing host to the CCIW Baseball Tournament on either its home field or at another location.  The top-four teams, by CCIW winning percentage, qualify for the CCIW Baseball Tournament.  The winner of the double-elimination tournament will receive the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 12, 2006, 11:50:22 AM
Should be an interesting game in Kenosha today between Carthage and Elmhurst. It is extremely windy, and any ball hit in the air will be an adventure.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2006, 12:11:00 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 12, 2006, 11:50:22 AM
Should be an interesting game in Kenosha today between Carthage and Elmhurst. It is extremely windy, and any ball hit in the air will be an adventure.

A perfect day for Carthage baseball! I always felt bad for visiting outfielders at Carthage. The winds in left were very different from the winds in right... aka The Jet Stream.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 12, 2006, 02:13:55 PM
IWU beat Concordia yesterday 9-6.  Typical non-conference midweek game.  Four IWU pitchers used, the starter was pulled so he could attend a night class.  That is DIII baseball for you. 

Very windy day here as IWU hosts Millikin this afternoon. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2006, 03:39:54 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 12, 2006, 02:13:55 PM
IWU beat Concordia yesterday 9-6.  Typical non-conference midweek game.  Four IWU pitchers used, the starter was pulled so he could attend a night class.  That is DIII baseball for you. 

Very windy day here as IWU hosts Millikin this afternoon. 

That's why I love D3 Baseball... it is the only level where "student-athlete" really means anything.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 12, 2006, 06:33:08 PM
Carthage 15 Elmhurst 5. Called in 7th for 10 run rule.

I believe Livek was the winner.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 12, 2006, 07:50:25 PM
Irish, you're right, Livek was the winner. Carthage pounded out 20 hits, and most importantly, Chris Sadjak finally returned to the redmen lineup after being out all season. He set a Carthage single game record by getting plunked 3 times at the plate. Good win for Carthage, big series Friday and Saturday against IWU
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Longtooth on April 12, 2006, 08:15:13 PM
who's up next?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 12, 2006, 08:31:25 PM
Well Augie lost 5-2 today vs. Wheaton.  They had 3 unearned runs which really hurt.  Looks like the Wheaton pitcher, Matt Price, had a great game.  He threw a complete game 5 hitter and struck out 10 while walking only 1.  These are the games Augie must win.  They need to turn it around here real quick.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 12, 2006, 08:36:57 PM
North Park beat NCC 18-11 today.

IWU beat Millikin 21-2


Updated Standings:


Carthage     8-1
IWU             6-3
North Park   6-3
Wheaton     5-4
Augie           5-4
Millikin          3-6
Elmhurst      2-7
NCC             1-8
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2006, 10:14:57 PM
IWU @ Carthage is going to be a huge series. If Carthage can take two of three, they can open a three game lead on IWU and NPU. We'll find out this weekend what North Park is made of as they face Augustana. It should be a great weekend for the CCIW... the top four teams are going head-to-head.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2006, 10:26:23 PM
BP,

Agree with you totally.  If Carthage wins 2 (or 3) of the 3, the race is virtually over.  But if IWU wins 2 or 3 of the 3, we've got a whole new ball game.

Go IWU!!  Even aside from being a Titan, just for the sake of keeping this interesting, win at least 2 of the 3 games this weekend!

Augie, Wheaton, and NP should all be rooting for you, too!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2006, 10:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2006, 10:26:23 PM

Augie, Wheaton, and NP should all be rooting for you, too!

Actually, I think that they should all be rooting for Carthage to run away from IWU this weekend. It would drop IWU down quite a bit and put Augie and Wheaton closer to them(if not ahead) in the the standings. Just my thoughts, but they seem valid to me.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 12, 2006, 11:11:55 PM
Well, with the conference tourney changes this year, it doesn't make anyone's situation quite as dire as it may have been in the past at this point.  You wouldn't want to go into the conference tourney more than about 3 wins behind 1st place to have a chance to win the automatic bid.  Now, you could easily be 6-8 games back and make the conference tourney and then just string a few wins together on the final weekend to get to the postseason. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2006, 11:19:43 PM
BP,

Seems to me the difference is whether you are gunning for the regular-season title, or simply a place in the tourney.

Title: root for IWU to bring Carthage back to the pack.

Place in the tourney: root for Carthage; maybe you can beat out IWU for 4th.

For those with modest aspirations, option 2 seems reasonable.  For the true competitors, I would think option 1 is the way to go.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2006, 05:48:07 AM
What I liked about Wednesday's 18-11 slugfest win for NPU over North Central in Naperville was the fact that the Vikings pounded the Cardinals pitcher who had done such a good job of shutting them down last week, Justin Rezzuto. That shows me that the Vikings hitters are observing and adjusting, which is a great sign. NPU's #3 hitter, Brady Josephson, had a big day in particular, going 4-6 with a homer and six RBIs. The Park needs his bat to stay hot.

I was at the Cubs game on Wednesday, and my friend (who is also an NPU alumnus) and I got a huge kick out of the fact that Greg Maddux was making the Reds look stupid with pitches that would be considered slow even by CCIW standards. Mad Dog got Junior Griffey to swing for strike three at a pitch at eye level that the upper-deck message board indicated was 68 mph, and my friend and I almost fell out of our seats laughing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 13, 2006, 08:40:33 AM
QuoteNPU's #3 hitter, Brady Josephson, had a big day in particular, going 4-6 with a homer and six RBIs. 

Actually, Josephson drove in five -- four on a tremendous grand slam in the third to put the Vikes ahead for good.  The box score on the NCC website also lists Kevin Polka as the winning pitcher, which is also incorrect: he started the game and pitched 2 2/3 innings, so he could not have qualified for the win.  The win was awarded to Brett Cooper, his first, and deservedly so, after 5 1/3 innings of relief.  He's been a real warrior for the Vikings over the years and has run into some bad luck in several close contests.  Everyone on the team is happy that he was able to get a W.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 09:12:52 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2006, 11:19:43 PM
BP,

Seems to me the difference is whether you are gunning for the regular-season title, or simply a place in the tourney.

Title: root for IWU to bring Carthage back to the pack.

Place in the tourney: root for Carthage; maybe you can beat out IWU for 4th.

For those with modest aspirations, option 2 seems reasonable.  For the true competitors, I would think option 1 is the way to go.

Ypsi... you make a good point. There could be two different goals coming into play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 13, 2006, 10:40:17 AM
IWU did beat Millikin 21-2 yesterday.  Three separate innings they batted around in the order.  Pounded 14 hits.  It is the 7th straight game they had a double digit hit total.  Unfortunately, that string will come to an end this weekend at Carthage.

I agree with Poppa, the rest of the league must root for Carthage.  Winning the regular season title is only for pride.  The conference tournament is what it is all about, as that is the automatic qualifier.  Ypsi, you know from hoops season, the most important thing is to make the tournament!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 11:00:23 AM
I'm happy its a home series for Carthage, but I gotta admit that those drunk fans at IWU drinking on the roof of that house right down the 3rd base line and having a microphone and announcing things is absolutely hilarious.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 11:34:48 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 11:00:23 AM
I'm happy its a home series for Carthage, but I gotta admit that those drunk fans at IWU drinking on the roof of that house right down the 3rd base line and having a microphone and announcing things is absolutely hilarious.

There is nothing like D3 baseball for that reason alone. I loved playing on the raod in the CCIW simply because of the hilarious things that fans said to us. North Central fans always rode me for 6 hours, even if we were pounding them. I gotta respect that type of devotion to a team. IWU fans were not bad either, but I had more fun listening to Martell complain about how lucky Carthage always seemed to get when playing them. Sometimes, playing 3B while he coached third base for a DH was worse than listening to NCC's fans all day.

I still think that Carthage fans are toughest on the opponents. Nothing a like a little frat party in left field to get the opposing outfielders off their game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 13, 2006, 11:53:15 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 11:34:48 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 11:00:23 AM
I'm happy its a home series for Carthage, but I gotta admit that those drunk fans at IWU drinking on the roof of that house right down the 3rd base line and having a microphone and announcing things is absolutely hilarious.

There is nothing like D3 baseball for that reason alone. I loved playing on the raod in the CCIW simply because of the hilarious things that fans said to us. North Central fans always rode me for 6 hours, even if we were pounding them. I gotta respect that type of devotion to a team. IWU fans were not bad either, but I had more fun listening to Martell complain about how lucky Carthage always seemed to get when playing them. Sometimes, playing 3B while he coached third base for a DH was worse than listening to NCC's fans all day.

I still think that Carthage fans are toughest on the opponents. Nothing a like a little frat party in left field to get the opposing outfielders off their game.


Coach Martel always thought if he constantly talked to the third basemen it would get him off his game, maybe cause an error or something. 

I was never fortunate enough to play at the new IWU field.  I had to endure the football turned baseball field in the spring.  Of course, I still have memories of Carthage and one Gavin Winfield who hit a HR to right off me that landed on top of the old Fred Young Fieldhouse.

We had to play against guys like Flees, Beyer, Blansette, Atkins, etc, that were just gritty and winners.  I think that is one reason why Coach Martel dislikes Carthage.  They always found a way to win against us.  We always knew we were in for a battle.     
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 12:39:52 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 13, 2006, 11:53:15 AM

Coach Martel always thought if he constantly talked to the third basemen it would get him off his game, maybe cause an error or something. 

I was never fortunate enough to play at the new IWU field.  I had to endure the football turned baseball field in the spring.  Of course, I still have memories of Carthage and one Gavin Winfield who hit a HR to right off me that landed on top of the old Fred Young Fieldhouse.

We had to play against guys like Flees, Beyer, Blansette, Atkins, etc, that were just gritty and winners.  I think that is one reason why Coach Martel dislikes Carthage.  They always found a way to win against us.  We always knew we were in for a battle.     

I was there when Winfield hit that homerun... it was amazing! He could flat out hit... I was fontunate enough to hit between Beyer and Winfield for two years. I gotta a lot of good pitches to hit. I also remember Glen Braun(National POY in '99) hitting a ball out there as a freshmen and Martell whined about it for five innings to me..." The kid just got lucky.."

Augie has a way of breaking down players and rebuilding them in a gritty, mentally tough sort of way. He will not accept anything less from his players and it shows on the field.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 12:57:04 PM
I'm almost positive Carthage has both tomorrow and  monday off for easter break. If that's true, hopefully some of the real fans decide to stay and get rowdy tomorrow during the double header.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 01:39:50 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 12:57:04 PM
I'm almost positive Carthage has both tomorrow and  monday off for easter break. If that's true, hopefully some of the real fans decide to stay and get rowdy tomorrow during the double header.

Since it is a holiday weekend, I am sure that many parents will be off as well. I would expect a good crowd of parents this weekend and fewer Carthgage Crazies than normal. Either way, it will be a good atmosphere for baseball. How is the Kenosha(aka... the mistake by the lake) weather going to be?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2006, 02:05:16 PM
Friday: Mostly sunny with a high of 77 and 10 mph winds
Saturday: High of 64, sunny, with 13 mph winds

Couldn't ask for much better weather than that at Carthage!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 02:16:29 PM
That's actually warmer than it is in SoCal today!!!!!

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 13, 2006, 03:44:28 PM
Hey, is it OK if I cheer for Carthage simply because I want to cheer for Carthage?

I like to be consistent.  For example, I will typically cheer for whomever happens to be playing the GB Packers.  Or, in baseball, I will always be in the St. Louis Cardinal stands.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 13, 2006, 03:48:59 PM
Yes, Carthage does take an Easter break of Good Friday and the Monday following.  However, this usually means students begin the exit Tuesday afternoon and return a week from the next Thursday.  A class schedule in which classes will often be Mon-Tue and Thur-Fri will contribute to such absenteeism.

A residual left by the aborted 4-1-4. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2006, 04:16:08 PM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 13, 2006, 03:44:28 PM
Hey, is it OK if I cheer for Carthage simply because I want to cheer for Carthage?

I like to be consistent.  For example, I will typically cheer for whomever happens to be playing the GB Packers.  Or, in baseball, I will always be in the St. Louis Cardinal stands.

Though the Packers statement hurts, I am glad to know that you are in favor Carthage this weekend. We will take all that we can get.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2006, 08:19:00 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 13, 2006, 10:40:17 AM
IWU did beat Millikin 21-2 yesterday.  Three separate innings they batted around in the order.  Pounded 14 hits.  It is the 7th straight game they had a double digit hit total.  Unfortunately, that string will come to an end this weekend at Carthage.

I agree with Poppa, the rest of the league must root for Carthage.  Winning the regular season title is only for pride.  The conference tournament is what it is all about, as that is the automatic qualifier.  Ypsi, you know from hoops season, the most important thing is to make the tournament!

Maybe!

I suspect Augie will remember their unexpected CCIW title (seems like EVERYONE not on their team already had crowned IWU) this year, long after the sting of losing to UPS in the Sweet Sixteen has faded.

But baseball may be different.  Since we didn't have this chat board before (and baseball is not one of my TOP sports), I'm not up to speed - does the CCIW generally get ONLY the AQ in?  Is d3 as dominated by sun-belt teams as d1?

If the answer to the first question is 'yes', I can see how making the tourney could be even more important than winning the title.  On the other hand, if the answer to the second question is also 'yes', perhaps winning the conference title is more memorable than getting into a tourney you have a near-zero chance of winning.  I'll yield to the players (or former players) as to which is the MORE significant goal.  But the goals ARE incompatible this weekend.  If conference title - root for IWU to rein in Carthage; if conference tourney - root for Cathage to put a big hurt on the Titans.

And, yes, emiritusprof, it is fine to root for Carthage just because you want to - I'll root for IWU for the same reason! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 12:53:05 AM
Usually the CCIW has only gotten one team, two on rare years, into the NCAAs. That will certainly change with the addition of a few more bids this year. I think the CCIW should get two bids if things progress as they are right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on April 14, 2006, 08:32:36 AM
Mr Yipsi-  D3 is dominated by northern teams, northern being north of the Mason Dixon line.  Part of that is because the state of FLA has zero D3 teams and there aren't very many in other southern states although Emory in GA is currently ranked #1.  Of the current top 30 teams I count 5 as "warm weater" teams.  VA has 2, not sure if they count as warm weather.  While a CCIW team has yet to finish first or second they usually have a team at the D3 World Series.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 14, 2006, 09:21:52 AM
I think the CCIW got two teams in a couple of years ago. The Green Wienies got the automatic bid and Carthage got an at-large bid. I think that was in 2004.

Martel brings the dislike upon himself. I remember at the regional in 2000 that was played at IWU. I was at the concession stand and was not wearing anything that said I was from Carthage. He was talking to one of his assistants and  said "I hope Carthage get the  -hit kicked out of them." Very supportive of the conference representative!

We were down for the series in 2003 and were partying in the right field "patio" with some ex-Titan ball players. Adam Palmer was one of them. Great kids and not many of them were very fond of Martel. They didn't like Carthage but had the utmost respect for the players. They all said they would have liked to had a chance to play for Augie because it seemed like it would be worth a few laughs playing for him.
Title: Weekend predictions
Post by: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 11:50:38 AM
Here are my predictions for the weekend games:

Carthage over IWU 2-1 (hurts to say that, I just think Carthage pitching is too good.  IWU pitchers may need a shutout to get a split today).

Augie over NPU 3-0 (Augie bats just too much for NP)

Millikin over Elmhurst 2-1

NCC over Wheaton 2-1

How is the weather in Kenosha?  Tornados and thunderstorms in Bloomington.


Coach Martel is good for Division III baseball.  He truly understands that the student-athlete's most important responsibility is the student.  Not sure how the other coaches handle the non-conference midweek road games, but he will rarely take his top pitchers so they won't miss class (plus, he wouldn't throw them anyway). 

As for his dislike of Carthage, I just think most athletes have that one team they hate to root for.  I doubt too many Cubs fans and Yankees fans were truly rooting for the White Sox and Red Sox the past two years.  I know I wasn't rooting for the Sox last year as a Cubs fan.  I will quote Dale Earnhardt mentoring a young Jeff Gordon, who was upset that fans were booing him, "Hey, Kid, if they are booing you it means two things, they are noticing you and you must be doing something right!!"  I think it is just a respect for the winning Carthage program that he envies, just sometimes comes out a different way.

Plus, if I know the Carthage players, they enjoy being "hated" or cheered against.  I know I enjoyed players/fans rooting against me, it was fun!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 11:55:18 AM
Quote from: irish21 on April 14, 2006, 09:21:52 AM
We were down for the series in 2003 and were partying in the right field "patio" with some ex-Titan ball players. Adam Palmer was one of them. Great kids and not many of them were very fond of Martel. They didn't like Carthage but had the utmost respect for the players. They all said they would have liked to had a chance to play for Augie because it seemed like it would be worth a few laughs playing for him.

It's even funnier when you are on the "inside" of the program. The best things that Augie says are usually under his breath in the dugout... or at practice.  I am not sure that he thinks he is funny... he just says what he is thinking and does not shy away from anything. It usually comes out as something classic.
Title: Re: Weekend predictions
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 12:02:04 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 11:50:38 AM

Plus, if I know the Carthage players, they enjoy being "hated" or cheered against.  I know I enjoyed players/fans rooting against me, it was fun!

We thrived on it... the best way to beat Carthage is to shut your mouth and not piss anyone off. Once one guys finds a reason to get angry at an opposing player, they are like sharks who smell blood and all rally around to get a piece of the action. Carthage rarely loses an emotional game, they lose games that they do not have an emotional interest in.

Let sleeping dogs lie... Augie used to love it when other teams chirped at us, he knew we would respond by pounding them.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 12:08:35 PM
Carthage over IWU 2-1: Redmen run to a 3 game lead.

Augie over NPU 2-1: NPU gets it first real test

Elmhurst over Millikin 2-1: Bluejays start to make their run to the #4 spot... whether or not they reach it is a different story.

NCC over Wheaton 2-1: Bottom of the conference tightens up.

This weekend will shake quite a few things out in the CCIW as teams will settle into their conference positions
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2006, 12:10:15 PM
Titan Trailer,

I think your opinion is right on. Any true competitor, whether its a Carthage player or any player, loves being in a hostile environment. It just gives the players so much adrenaline and that much more motivation to compete their hardest.  Last year's 3 game set at IWU is a perfect example, no to mention the tournament game against them at their place. Regardless of the outcome, it was a very special thing to be a part of. Every single inning of those 4 games was unbelievably intense. I gotta go now though boys!! Time to go have some fun today at the double header by the lake. It was cloudy this morning, but the sun is starting to creep out, and just checked the weather and it is supposed to be partly sunny all day with a high of 78 degrees!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 01:26:47 PM
I think you Carthage guys have mentioned a Sports Information number one can call with in-game score updates.  Care to share that number so I can call for updates??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 01:39:39 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 01:26:47 PM
I think you Carthage guys have mentioned a Sports Information number one can call with in-game score updates.  Care to share that number so I can call for updates??

Here you go:

(262) 551-5388
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 14, 2006, 01:45:58 PM
Here we go with another great weekend. My predictions:

Carthage over IWU 2-1: Carthage locks up the regular season title.

Augie over NPU 3-0: North Park comes back to reality

Millikin over Elmhurst 2-1: Clark Jones begins sending resumes to other schools

Wheaton over NCC 2-1: "You called down the thunder. Well, now you got it." NCC spirals to its rock-bottom.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 14, 2006, 04:50:28 PM
Well, game one goes to IWU 7-2.  Husing gave up a three run bomb to RC and a solo shot.  Carthage couldn't handle the slow off-speed crap the IWU pitcher was tossing up there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 06:03:41 PM
Carthage comes back with a 13-3 game in the nightcap.

Have to say, happy with a split.  Hopefully the Titans can win tomorrow!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 14, 2006, 06:53:23 PM
Does this mean Carthage is ahead -- 15 to 10?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2006, 07:18:29 PM
Anybody have any other scores from the CCIW today? Nothing is posted yet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 14, 2006, 07:52:11 PM
Augustana beats North Park 3-2 and 9-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 14, 2006, 10:06:13 PM
Millikin won 13-9 and 6-0 over Elmhurst
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 14, 2006, 10:37:58 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 14, 2006, 10:06:13 PM
Millikin won 13-9 and 6-0 over Elmhurst


And let the coaching interviews begin at Elmhurst.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 14, 2006, 10:49:28 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 13, 2006, 11:53:15 AM

We had to play against guys like Flees, Beyer, Blansette, Atkins, etc, that were just gritty and winners.  I think that is one reason why Coach Martel dislikes Carthage.  They always found a way to win against us.  We always knew we were in for a battle.     
That is almost a who's who of Carthage baseball. I know all of those guys well.

Shorty Flees- great baseball name, great baseball player, even better person.

Mark Beyer- possibly Augie's all-time most hated player (one time Beyer got punched in practice and Augie pretended not to notice), but probably the best hitter to ever put on a Carthage uniform. Led the nation in HRs in 1996. Ultimate hitter in the clutch.

Shannon Blansette- all over the Carthage record books, unbelievable intensity and competitiveness. Once punched Beyer in a hotel after losing to him in chess. No one you would rather have as a teammate.

Len Atkins- aka, "Geeker." Probably the ugliest guy to ever play in the CCIW, but he was a scrappy guy that always found a way to beat you.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 14, 2006, 10:52:08 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on April 14, 2006, 10:37:58 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 14, 2006, 10:06:13 PM
Millikin won 13-9 and 6-0 over Elmhurst


And let the coaching interviews begin at Elmhurst.

It's about time...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 15, 2006, 03:51:02 PM
Carthage beat IWU today 6-4. Olson threw all 9 innings for the win. The ump was terrible calling balls and strikes for both teams and was very inconsistent. Martel got tossed in the top of the 9th to all the Carthage fans' delight! Big win for Carthage today to build a 3 game lead over IWU
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 15, 2006, 05:31:30 PM
Augustana beat North Park 8-3 today.  That was a huge 3 game sweep of North Park.

Millikin beat Elmhurst 9-7 today
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2006, 11:44:57 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 15, 2006, 05:31:30 PM
Augustana beat North Park 8-3 today.  That was a huge 3 game sweep of North Park.

Millikin beat Elmhurst 9-7 today

Elmhurst is in trouble! Anybody have the updated standings?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2006, 12:09:25 AM
Per the CCIW website, as of 4-15:
Carthage 10-2
Augie   8-4
IWU    7-5
Millikin  6-6
Wheaton 6-6
North Park 6-6
North Central 3-9
Elmhurst   2-10

Looks like 6 teams still very alive for the four tourney spots, with Carthage definitely in the driver's seat.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 01:13:52 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2006, 12:09:25 AM
Per the CCIW website, as of 4-15:
Carthage 10-2
Augie   8-4
IWU    7-5
Millikin  6-6
Wheaton 6-6
North Park 6-6
North Central 3-9
Elmhurst   2-10

Looks like 6 teams still very alive for the four tourney spots, with Carthage definitely in the driver's seat.

With the way Carthage is playing, I would think that they would be a favorite for a Pool C bid if things do not go smoothly in the conference tourney. Let's hope it does not come to that and they win the CCIW tourney and the bid outright.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 17, 2006, 01:24:04 AM
Quote from: Baseball Fan on March 27, 2006, 01:51:08 AM
The Blue Jays have a strong offense, they have reserves that can come off the bench and get the job done.  They also have a great pitching staff that could be the best in the CCIW, and amazing coaching staff.  I know with coach Jones in the driver seat, he will take his ball club deep into the post season this year. :)

My how things have changed in only a few weeks.

I doubt that a 2-10 CCIW record is putting Elmhurst in a position to even make the post-season, let alone make a deep run into it.
Has anyone heard about rumblings at Elmhurst?
Title: Re: Weekend predictions
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2006, 03:48:14 AM
This past weekend's series in Rock Island proves that, to no one's surprise, NPU still has a way to go on the diamond to get up there among the CCIW's elite. But while I'm disappointed in the performance of the Park, I'm not terribly worried by it. Rome wasn't built in a day. The Vikings have already won more CCIW games this year than they have in the past three years combined, and there's still a lot of season left. I just want to see the NPU baseball program keep improving. With only two seniors on the team, the future looks bright. I'm convinced now that Luke Johnson has the Park moving in the right direction.

Quote from: TitanRailer on April 14, 2006, 11:50:38 AMAs for his dislike of Carthage, I just think most athletes have that one team they hate to root for.  I doubt too many Cubs fans and Yankees fans were truly rooting for the White Sox and Red Sox the past two years.  I know I wasn't rooting for the Sox last year as a Cubs fan.

For me and just about every Cubs fan I know, the one team we hate isn't the White Sox. It's the Cardinals. They're the team the Cubs have been playing a dozen and a half times a year for over a century; the team with whom the Cubs share a league and a division; and the team whose fans loathe and are loathed by Cubs fans due to the close proximity of the two fan bases and the fact that the fans of each are commonly seen at the ballpark of the other. The White Sox? Most of the hatred between the city's two teams runs one way. A huge percentage of White Sox fans despise the Cubs and their fan base, but that attitude is not nearly reciprocated to that percentage or degree by Cubs fans. Most Cubs fans would just as soon ignore the White Sox apart from the six games of the Crosstown Classic, but the in-your-face hatred coming from the South Siders -- and, yes, their team's World Series victory -- makes that increasingly difficult.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 17, 2006, 06:20:57 AM
I'm a life-long Cards fan and do not "hate" the Cubs.  What continues to bewilder me is the record the Cubs always post against the Cardinals.

It's an old rivalry, but it's largely a .500 situation over some 100 years when the Cubs and Cards play each other.  This is remarkable when you consider their respective overall records--and all the Cards championships.

Are there any two other teams in baseball with essentially equal records against each other, while one (Cardinals) is statistically superior overall within the league and in series play?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 17, 2006, 08:28:15 AM
Prof, what are the records of the Yankees and Red Sox and the records of the Dodgers and the Giants?

Those are the only 2 series that come to my mind.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 17, 2006, 09:55:22 AM
Ralph -- I don't know.  And, I was following the lazy man's route by posting a question here.  I don't have baseball reference works here at home, and I didn't try a net search. 

You are probably correct -- I'm pretty sure the Yankees have a better overall record than their record against the Red Sox.  And, it's a pretty safe bet the Dodgers are overall much better than against the Giants.

But, for as long as I can remember (c. 1940s) the Cubs play the Cards tough no matter what the standings.  And, the Cards hold the best National League World Series record.

And, even tho it's about .500 overall, I think the Cubs hold a slight edge of 8 to 12 games over the Cards.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2006, 02:09:36 PM
Carthage has 3 home non-conference games this week against Carroll, U. of chicago, and today against Marian. I know these games mean nothing when it comes to conference play, but I think it is still important for Carthage to win these games, especially if they do not win the CCIW tournament this year. In non-conference games, quite a few guys will get the chance to play that don't see much time in conference play (and I believe that is the right thing to do.) However, its easy to play laid back against these teams you are "supposed" to beat, and the last year or so Carthage has done that a few times. Hopefully Augie can say something to these guys to let them know even though these aren't conference games, they are still vitally important to the season, and that goes for any other CCIW team that still may have a legit shot at an at large bid come playoff time
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 03:00:38 PM
You are right on, Redmenfan... even though these are non-conference games this week, they are still IN-REGION games which are more important to the selection committee. Even if Carthage gets nosed out for the conference tourney title, a solid in-region record should boost them into the NCAA post season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 04:38:49 PM
Carthage moves to 14-4 in the crucial in-region record category. Wins this week versus non-conference opponents will really boost that record.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 17, 2006, 04:48:24 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on April 17, 2006, 01:24:04 AM
Quote from: Baseball Fan on March 27, 2006, 01:51:08 AM
\ I know with coach Jones in the driver seat, he will take his ball club deep into the post season this year. :)

My how things have changed in only a few weeks.

I doubt that a 2-10 CCIW record is putting Elmhurst in a position to even make the post-season, let alone make a deep run into it.
Has anyone heard about rumblings at Elmhurst?

Elmhurst likely wont even sneak out of the cellar this season-- with injuries and the loss of many good assistant coaches, they probably wont do any better.  In '04 they had the most talented team in the CCIW go 0-2 barbeque in the tournament. 
We probably wont hear anything from inside the team, as the team has now probably gotten told not to spend any time on discussion boards. (See "The Dirty Dozen Incident")
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 04:52:15 PM
Cooler... which coaches left the program?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 17, 2006, 04:54:45 PM
IWU also has three this week at Monmouth, hosting Rockford and Wash U.  I think IWU's current in-region record is 10-7 so they really need to win the conference tourney to have a shot (unless they can win out).  I am not certain if the 200 mile rule exists for baseball as it does in basketball.  Anyone?  
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 04:57:49 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 17, 2006, 04:54:45 PM
IWU also has three this week at Monmouth, hosting Rockford and Wash U.  I think IWU's current in-region record is 10-7 so they really need to win the conference tourney to have a shot (unless they can win out).  I am not certain if the 200 mile rule exists for baseball as it does in basketball.  Anyone?  

200 mile rule does exist... anygame versus a team less than 200 miles away is an in-region game regardless of which region the team is in.

EX: If IWU(Central) traveled to Edgewood(Midwest) it would still be an in-region game for both teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 05:00:34 PM
Update:

After 4 innings... Carthage 4, Marian 1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 17, 2006, 06:07:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 04:52:15 PM
Cooler... which coaches left the program?

Everyone but Jones...
Earl Hansen, assistant pitching coach
Mike Palmer, Pitching and strength coach
Denny Niezgoda, Infielders
Joe Niezgoda, OF and hitting
All great coaches, Joe especially.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2006, 06:23:55 PM
Carthage beat Marian today 9-2. The majority of the starters played, but not all. Then a few more subs got in at the end of the game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 06:34:55 PM
Carthage in-region record moves to a very nice 15-4.

Anybody have the other CCIW teams in-region records? I am curious to know how they all stack up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 17, 2006, 07:25:45 PM
To me, it looks like Augustana is 15-6 in-region.  I could definitely be wrong though because I just counted the games that I thought would be in-region.  I didn't verify anything. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2006, 08:50:35 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 17, 2006, 07:25:45 PM
To me, it looks like Augustana is 15-6 in-region.  I could definitely be wrong though because I just counted the games that I thought would be in-region.  I didn't verify anything. 

15-6 is still a pretty good in-region record. There will certainly be at least one team from the CCIW deserving of an at-large bid if they do not in the tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2006, 02:17:40 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 17, 2006, 09:55:22 AMAnd, even tho it's about .500 overall, I think the Cubs hold a slight edge of 8 to 12 games over the Cards.

The Cubs actually have a broader lead in the I-55 Series than that. From 1892, when the Cardinals came over from the old American Association to join the Cubs (who were called the Chicago Colts at the time) in the National League, through last week's Cubs sweep in Wrigley Field, the Cubs own a 1,121-1,059 advantage over their archrivals. That's a percentage split of about 51.4% to 48.6% in Chicago's favor.

With regard to major league baseball's two other great rivalries, the New York Yankees are well out in front of the Boston Red Sox. From the time the two teams first hooked up in the American League's inaugural season of 1901 (when the Yanks were actually the league's original Baltimore Orioles -- they moved to NYC in 1903 -- and the Boston franchise was known as the Americans) through the end of last season, the Bronx Bombers have enjoyed a 1,060-879 advantage over the denizens of Fenway Park. That's a 54.7% winning percentage for the Yanks, which is fairly large for an all-time series that has had that many games played.

I couldn't find the nineteenth-century results for the Giants-Dodgers series. The two teams began playing each other when the Dodgers moved over from the AA to the National League in 1890. But since 1901 (including this past weekend's three-game series at Dodger Stadium) the Giants hold a slight 1,050-1,024 edge over the Dodgers. That works out to 50.6% Giants, 49.4% Dodgers.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 18, 2006, 07:54:42 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2006, 02:17:40 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on April 17, 2006, 09:55:22 AMAnd, even tho it's about .500 overall, I think the Cubs hold a slight edge of 8 to 12 games over the Cards.

The Cubs actually have a broader lead in the I-55 Series than that. From 1892, when the Cardinals came over from the old American Association to join the Cubs (who were called the Chicago Colts at the time) in the National League, through last week's Cubs sweep in Wrigley Field, the Cubs own a 1,121-1,059 advantage over their archrivals. That's a percentage split of about 51.4% to 48.6% in Chicago's favor.

With regard to major league baseball's two other great rivalries, the New York Yankees are well out in front of the Boston Red Sox. From the time the two teams first hooked up in the American League's inaugural season of 1901 (when the Yanks were actually the league's original Baltimore Orioles -- they moved to NYC in 1903 -- and the Boston franchise was known as the Americans) through the end of last season, the Bronx Bombers have enjoyed a 1,060-879 advantage over the denizens of Fenway Park. That's a 54.7% winning percentage for the Yanks, which is fairly large for an all-time series that has had that many games played.

I couldn't find the nineteenth-century results for the Giants-Dodgers series. The two teams began playing each other when the Dodgers moved over from the AA to the National League in 1890. But since 1901 (including this past weekend's three-game series at Dodger Stadium) the Giants hold a slight 1,050-1,024 edge over the Dodgers. That works out to 50.6% Giants, 49.4% Dodgers.

The Giants have been the Giants since 1885.

The Trolley-Dodgers (the American Association team from 1884-88) were the Brooklyn Bridegrooms from 1890 to 1898, the Superbas from 1899-1910 and were the Brooklyn Robins from 1914-1931.

As for that other New York franchise, they were the New York Highlanders from 1903-12.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on April 18, 2006, 09:07:40 AM
Cooler...did they all leave since the season started or prior to the season starting? If it's since the season started, Clark might as well start packing his bags!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2006, 02:41:23 PM
New ABCA poll was just released:

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll41806.pdf  (http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll41806.pdf)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 18, 2006, 02:43:34 PM
Carthage moves up to #8 in the ABCA poll and #1 in the Central Region.

Augie drops out of the overall poll and is at #6 in-region
IWU is at #7 in-region


Central (IA) is at #16 overall and #2 in-region
Aurora is at #22 overall and #3 in-region

Carthage could get a very nice in-region win on May 2nd at Aurora to help the "just-in-case" cause should things not go swimmingly in the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2006, 03:18:09 PM
Carthage has set themselves up nicely for now. Jumping to #8 will only help their case for an at-large bid should the unmentionable happen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 18, 2006, 03:27:55 PM
With Augustana's top 3 pitchers and the way they swing the bat, they are without a doubt a top 25 team in the country. Take a school like Ripon...I'm not trying to knock them, but look at the teams they play in their conference. I wouldn't be surprised if Elmhurst this year could finish in the top 2 in that conference. If Carthage is the 8th best team right now, and Augie was a few plays away from taking 2 out of 3 from them, how could they fall from 14 (i believe that's what they were) to not even receiving votes. By the way, congrats to the Redmen and keep taking care of business these next to non-conference games!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2006, 05:42:56 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 18, 2006, 03:27:55 PM
With Augustana's top 3 pitchers and the way they swing the bat, they are without a doubt a top 25 team in the country. Take a school like Ripon...I'm not trying to knock them, but look at the teams they play in their conference. I wouldn't be surprised if Elmhurst this year could finish in the top 2 in that conference. If Carthage is the 8th best team right now, and Augie was a few plays away from taking 2 out of 3 from them, how could they fall from 14 (i believe that's what they were) to not even receiving votes. By the way, congrats to the Redmen and keep taking care of business these next to non-conference games!

I agree... Augie should have been somewhere in the top 25 teams. They dropped 17 runs on a previously unhittable Carthage pitching staff. I generally think that the top 2 or 3 in the CCIW would win most other conferences. The NIIC is usually dominated by Aurora, IIAC is usually dominated by Wartburg. The SLIAC is a below average conference, their winner would  finish in the middle of the CCIW.

The CCIW is a solid conference from top to bottom and should be rewarded as such. I think the CCIW should have had three team in the rankings... Carthage, Augustana and IWU. It will all sort itself out soon enough.
Title: Clark Jones
Post by: clarkjoneshater on April 19, 2006, 12:14:48 AM
OK, I just have one question; when is the athletic director over at Elmhurst College going to stop being everyones friend, and fire Clark Jones?

That is all from the biggest ClarkJonesHater.
Title: Clark Jones
Post by: clarkjoneshater on April 19, 2006, 12:29:08 AM
A Preview of what is to come:

Word on the street says Clark Jones made his team run for 40 min after their game today in which they lost 9-1.  Afterword, Clark Jones took the team back to campus without a meal, which was previously budgeted for.  Gosh Clark, where does all that money go for every meal skipped? Dakota's baseball equipment?

That is all from the Biggest ClarkJonesHater
Title: Re: Clark Jones
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 19, 2006, 12:40:04 AM
Quote from: clarkjoneshater on April 19, 2006, 12:29:08 AM
A Preview of what is to come:

Word on the street says Clark Jones made his team run for 40 min after their game today in which they lost 9-1.  Afterword, Clark Jones took the team back to campus without a meal, which was previously budgeted for.  Gosh Clark, where does all that money go for every meal skipped? Dakota's baseball equipment?

That is all from the Biggest ClarkJonesHater

Change your name or do not post again. You are in violation of the Terms of Service.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 19, 2006, 09:58:45 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2006, 05:42:56 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 18, 2006, 03:27:55 PM
With Augustana's top 3 pitchers and the way they swing the bat, they are without a doubt a top 25 team in the country. Take a school like Ripon...I'm not trying to knock them, but look at the teams they play in their conference. I wouldn't be surprised if Elmhurst this year could finish in the top 2 in that conference. If Carthage is the 8th best team right now, and Augie was a few plays away from taking 2 out of 3 from them, how could they fall from 14 (i believe that's what they were) to not even receiving votes. By the way, congrats to the Redmen and keep taking care of business these next to non-conference games!

I agree... Augie should have been somewhere in the top 25 teams. They dropped 17 runs on a previously unhittable Carthage pitching staff. I generally think that the top 2 or 3 in the CCIW would win most other conferences. The NIIC is usually dominated by Aurora, IIAC is usually dominated by Wartburg. The SLIAC is a below average conference, their winner would  finish in the middle of the CCIW.

The CCIW is a solid conference from top to bottom and should be rewarded as such. I think the CCIW should have had three team in the rankings... Carthage, Augustana and IWU. It will all sort itself out soon enough.


The ABCA poll means almost nothing.  If basketball is any indication, it's the regional polls that mean the most.  IWU and Augie both have bad losses in-region that have hurt them.  Augie lost 2 to Wheaton and 1 Rockford.  IWU has bad losses to Millikin, Wheaton, and Coe.  Yes, they both have wins against Carthage, but 17-1 is the same as 1-0 in the formula right??

Whether or not the CCIW gets two teams into the dance this season will come down to the CCIW tourney and the Augie/IWU series this weekend.  If Augie sweeps that series, they will move up in the regional rankings.  Augie could also pick up a quality win versus Central (ahead of them in-region) next Monday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 19, 2006, 10:21:18 AM
IWU won big over Monmouth last night, 23-5.  Freshman Rob Cummings set a school record with 6 hits in the game, including a HR, double, and six RBI's.  More amazing, 2 other players also had 6 RBI's in the game.  Have to think that 3 different players with 6 RBI's each in one game must be a record of some sort.

IWU hosts Rockford this evening then hosts a  huge game against Wash U tomorrow.  Of course, lets not forget Augie this weekend.  If IWU can get past Wash U and take 2 of 3 vs Augie, it could help Pool C chances.  Plus, with only NP and Elmhurst left to play in conference, it should (on paper) produce 6 in-region wins.

Pool C may come down to May 8th when IWU hosts Aurora.  I still think IWU needs to win the conference tourney to get in, but if they run the table in region then lose 2 in tourney, might be hard to leave them out!
Title: Re: Clark Jones
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2006, 10:34:11 AM
Quote from: clarkjoneshater on April 19, 2006, 12:29:08 AM
A Preview of what is to come:

Word on the street says Clark Jones made his team run for 40 min after their game today in which they lost 9-1.  Afterword, Clark Jones took the team back to campus without a meal, which was previously budgeted for.  Gosh Clark, where does all that money go for every meal skipped? Dakota's baseball equipment?

That is all from the Biggest ClarkJonesHater

I understand you are frustrated, but it is clear that you are inside the Elmhurst program and to call out Clark Jones is simply sophomoric. If you are really that fed up with the program, bide your time for a few weeks and transfer.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 19, 2006, 07:13:56 PM
Carthage defeats former CCIW member Carroll 13-3.  No details as of yet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2006, 01:40:49 AM
NPU bounced back from Tuesday's ugly 13-3 loss at the University of Chicago to record a 6-5 win at home over CURF on Wednesday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 20, 2006, 08:51:11 AM
IWU wins 3-2 over Rockford.  Big game tonight against 29-5 Wash U.  Incredibly, 2 of those 5 losses were home games against Elmhurst.  Not sure how that happened?  Must have been when Coach Jones was coaching and not posting...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 20, 2006, 10:05:46 AM
The return of Chris Sadjak has helped out the Redmen as of late. In just 6 games, Sadjak is hitting over .300 and has 8 RBI's. Not bad for a guy who didn't touch a bat for about 2 months and then took BP for a day and was back in the line-up. Augie's quote in the paper was "All I know is our line-up looks a whole lot better with him in the middle of it."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 20, 2006, 10:23:33 AM
Name the only team in the UAA that is undefeated in 3 games versus CCIW competition this season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 20, 2006, 10:58:09 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 20, 2006, 10:23:33 AM
Name the only team in the UAA that is undefeated in 3 games versus CCIW competition this season.

University of Chicago-- though they have Carthage coming up and Elmhurst, who has beaten Chicago soundly in their last three meetings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 20, 2006, 11:50:50 AM
Quote from: Cooler King on April 20, 2006, 10:58:09 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 20, 2006, 10:23:33 AM
Name the only team in the UAA that is undefeated in 3 games versus CCIW competition this season.

University of Chicago-- though they have Carthage coming up and Elmhurst, who has beaten Chicago soundly in their last three meetings.


DING DING DING!!!

The only reason I pointed this out was that I hope Carthage doesn't take them lightly on Friday.  Even at 10-13, they still have some quality wins over CCIW level competition.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2006, 02:38:18 PM
Sunny and 70 in Kenosha, Carthage players probably feel like they are in florida again! I remember it was around this time last year when we were playing aurora and it was freezing and it hailed during the game on two separate occasions.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 21, 2006, 03:15:30 PM
Titans lost 9-3 to Wash U last night.  They were up 3-0 after 6, but Wash scored 3 in the 7th, 1 in the 8th and 5 in the 9th.  Pretty much eliminates IWU from Pool C bid.

CCIW predictions this weekend

IWU over Augie 2-1
Carthage over NP 3-0
Millikin over NCC 3-0
Wheaton over Elmhurst 2-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2006, 05:18:32 PM
IWU's best chance(other than winning the tourney) is to have Carthage win the tourney and they finish second. I think Carthage is in either way, If Augie wins the tourney, Carthage gets in as a Pool C. They also need Wash U. to win the SLIAC tourney and ensure that only one SLIAC team gets in.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2006, 06:53:08 PM
Carthage beat Chicago today 17-7. Backup short stop Seth Romano hit a 2 run home run to end the game in the 8th. Carthage was up 11-0 early on, and chicago battled back to make it an 11-7 game before Carthage got the bats going again. Great job by the Redmen to win these 3 non-conference games, compared to last year when we lost one to Marian and one to Chicago completely eliminating our chances of getting an at large bid last year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 21, 2006, 08:31:07 PM
Poppa...Wash U is in the UAA and they are a Pool B team.  I don't know how the Pool B scenario looks but hopefully they will get one of those so they don't become a Pool C team. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2006, 09:54:24 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 21, 2006, 08:31:07 PM
Poppa...Wash U is in the UAA and they are a Pool B team.  I don't know how the Pool B scenario looks but hopefully they will get one of those so they don't become a Pool C team. 

Thanks... my bad!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 22, 2006, 03:12:13 PM
Carthage beat North Park today 11-1 after 7 innings because of the mercy rule. Couple errors by NP that Carthage really made them pay for. Evosovich started for Carthage and gave up one run in the first inning and then settled down nicely to remain unbeaten on the year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 22, 2006, 10:46:17 PM
Augie and IWU split today's games:

Game 1:  IWU 3, Augie 2

Two great pitching performances today from Augie's Kevin Kuntz (8.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 HA, 8 K) and IWU's Dave Dobosz (9 IP, 1 ER, 6 HA).  IWU won the game in the bottom of the ninth on a game-winning single by someone.

Game 2:  Augie 6, IWU 1

Augie scored 4 runs in the first inning.  Augie's Andrew Setter pitched a complete game and picked up his 7th win of the season.  His line:  7 IP, 1 ER, 6 HA, 0 BB, 3 K

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 22, 2006, 10:56:51 PM
Just thought I'd post these stats of a few CCIW pitchers that are having amazing years (I didn't look up every team so sorry if I missed someone):


Evosevich (Carthage)

7 starts, 6 CG, 0.72 ERA, 50 IP, 39 HA (only 3 extra base hits), 7 BB, 33 K

Dobosz (IWU)

6 starts, 4 CG, 1.27 ERA, 49.2 IP, 42 HA, 11 BB, 22 K

Setter (Augustana)

7 starts, 5 CG, 1.71 ERA, 58 IP, 52 HA, 14 BB, 51 K

Kuntz (Augustana)

8 starts, 4 CG, 1.38 ERA, 52.1 IP, 32 HA (2 extra base hits), 22 BB, 36 K
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 22, 2006, 11:08:47 PM
Weekend update:

Carthage up on NPU  (1-0)
IWU and Augie split   (1-1)
Elmhurst takes Wheaton  (2-1)
Millikin and NCC split   (1-1)

Updated standings after Sat. games:

Carthage          11-2
Augustana        9-5
IWU                 8-6
Millikin              7-7
Wheaton          7-8
North Park        6-7
North Central     4-10
Elmhurst           4-11
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 23, 2006, 07:17:27 PM
Looks like a crazy game in Rock Island today.

Augustana 12, IWU 11  (10 innings)

IWU scored 2 runs in the top of the tenth and then Augustana came back and scored 3 in the bottom of the 10th to win it.  Adam Cosentino delivered the game-winning base hit with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 23, 2006, 07:21:30 PM
Today's results:

Augie 12  IWU 11
Millikin 8   NCC 7
Carthage 11  NPU 3
Carthage 10  NPU 0

Updated Standings: (w/ remaining conference opponents)

Carthage          13-2            Wheaton & Millikin
Augustana        10-5            Millikin & North Central
Millikin              8-7             Augustana & Carthage
IWU                 8-7             North Park & Elmhurst
Wheaton          7-8             Carthage & North Park
North Park        6-9             IWU & Wheaton
North Central     4-11           Elmhurst & Augustana
Elmhurst           4-11           North Central & IWU
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 23, 2006, 09:05:38 PM
Carthage won both games today, 11-3, and 10-0 in 7 innings because of the slaughter rule. That's all the details I know as of now
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2006, 10:14:29 AM
NPU got a taste of what it's going to take to compete with the big boys this past weekend. The Vikings just don't have the personnel to challenge a team like Carthage. Right now 2007 is looking promising, but 2006 is turning out to be a learning experience.

As I said the other day, Rome wasn't built in a day -- and neither will the NPU baseball program. But I'm still encouraged by what Luke Johnson has done thus far. This team is light-years beyond the disaster of the last few seasons at the Park.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2006, 11:14:02 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2006, 10:14:29 AM
NPU got a taste of what it's going to take to compete with the big boys this past weekend. The Vikings just don't have the personnel to challenge a team like Carthage. Right now 2007 is looking promising, but 2006 is turning out to be a learning experience.

As I said the other day, Rome wasn't built in a day -- and neither will the NPU baseball program. But I'm still encouraged by what Luke Johnson has done thus far. This team is light-years beyond the disaster of the last few seasons at the Park.

Agreed... NPU is moving in the right direction and 2007 is looking very good for the Vikings. A full year of recruiting will also have a great impact on the program. They still have a shot to sneak into that last spot, but it is going to be tough and they will need some help. Millikin has two tough weekend left with IWU and Augie so I expect them to drop off a bit. If NPU sweeps Wheaton and takes 1 or 2 from IWU... you never know!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 11:38:54 AM
Does anyone know the dimensions of the fence at North Park? I don't remember from last year. It was also neat for a lot of the Carthage fans to watch Ozzie Guillen's son play for North Park. Some who were White Sox fans loved it. Most of them who are cubs fans were giving him an ear full after he made an error during the game at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2006, 12:22:10 PM
I don't know the dimensions, but if anyone does it's our occasional "NPU insider" poster, Mr. B.

I wear my Cubs jacket everywhere during the spring, including Vikings baseball games. I've received a couple of negative comments from NPU people who have the "don't dis Oney, his dad's the man and the connection is great for the Park" mentality, but I don't care. I'm not dissing anybody, and I doubt that either Ozzie or Oney cares. Besides, I'm a North Sider who is an alumnus of the North Side's D3 school, and I root for the North Side's professional baseball club. I'll be damned if I ever feel compelled to forego wearing a Cubs jacket on the NPU campus, or anywhere north of Madison Street for that matter.

And I certainly have no problem rooting for Oney Guillen, as long as he's wearing blue and gold.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2006, 12:46:10 PM
Carthage and Augustana are both looking good for at least a Pool C bid right now. I think if one wins the conference tourney, the other will still get a bid. If IWU wins it, only one will get a bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 12:58:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2006, 12:22:10 PM
I don't know the dimensions, but if anyone does it's our occasional "NPU insider" poster, Mr. B.

I wear my Cubs jacket everywhere during the spring, including Vikings baseball games. I've received a couple of negative comments from NPU people who have the "don't dis Oney, his dad's the man and the connection is great for the Park" mentality, but I don't care. I'm not dissing anybody, and I doubt that either Ozzie or Oney cares. Besides, I'm a North Sider who is an alumnus of the North Side's D3 school, and I root for the North Side's professional baseball club. I'll be damned if I ever feel compelled to forego wearing a Cubs jacket on the NPU campus, or anywhere north of Madison Street for that matter.

And I certainly have no problem rooting for Oney Guillen, as long as he's wearing blue and gold.

Well good, there is no way you should feel bad for wearing a cubs jacket to a NP game because their short stop is the coach for the White Sox. Anyone who would give you a dirty look for that isn't worth paying attention to anyway. I wear my brewers gear sometimes around Carthage, and the whole darn school is from illinois!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2006, 01:20:44 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 12:58:58 PM

Well good, there is no way you should feel bad for wearing a cubs jacket to a NP game because their short stop is the coach for the White Sox. Anyone who would give you a dirty look for that isn't worth paying attention to anyway. I wear my brewers gear sometimes around Carthage, and the whole darn school is from illinois!

I feel your pain, Redmenfan... 1982 was a long time ago wasn't it?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 01:24:46 PM
Yes it was a long time ago, I wasn't even born yet!! Yesterday's game at Miller Park wasn't very fun at all, but I did get Carlos Lee to wave at me.  ;D  Actually, the crew were A.L. champs in 87, but you're right BP, that is still a long long time ago. Any big non conference games this week? Carthage has Aurora which is obviously a big game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 01:27:37 PM
Sorry about that, Carthage doesn't play Aurora until next week. They play Wheaton this weekend and a double header at Lakeland Sunday. They have nothing during the week this week. Augie will most likely give the guys a day or 2 of to get away from it all and just relax
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2006, 01:45:16 PM
Carthage/Aurora game will probably have a huge impact on the seedings for the regional. Does/Did Aurora play any other CCIW teams this year?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 24, 2006, 04:07:47 PM
The Bluejays beat Aurora 8-6 last week.  The good Lord only knows how...

That aside, I think that NPU, with Johnson (and I heard Brad Groth) coaching, can definately make a little noise in the conference in the next couple years.  The dimensions of that park give them to huge draw to bring in good hitters, especially lefties.  The only problem would be to get somebody to decide they want to pitch there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 04:09:37 PM
The NPU fences have got to be atleast 425 down the left field line, 450 to left center, 400 to center(?), then right field gets progressively shorter and the outfield fence/football blechers are definitely reachable...maybe 375 to right or so.  These are all just estimates from being there one time last year but just try to imagine playing on a football field and hitting from the corner of one endzone with the foul lines being the football sideline and the back of the endzone.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 04:14:19 PM
Augustana has a huge game tonight vs. Central of Iowa (22-7, 9-1 and 1st place in the IIAC)...this is practically a must win in my opinion for Pool C's sake.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2006, 04:15:51 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 04:14:19 PM
Augustana has a huge game tonight vs. Central of Iowa (22-7, 9-1 and 1st place in the IIAC)...this is practically a must win in my opinion for Pool C's sake.

That is a huge Non-Conference game for Augie. A loss may not eliminate them from a Pool C, but a win would certainly push them closer to a Pool C bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 04:36:59 PM
If NP's fences are really that deep, that would be an absolute bomb. I thought I remember right field being a pretty short distance. Carthage is 335 down the lines, and 400 to center, which are pretty standard dimensions. Most fields are 315-330 down the line from what remember. Good luck to Augie today against Central Iowa.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 24, 2006, 06:26:03 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2006, 01:24:46 PM
Yes it was a long time ago, I wasn't even born yet!! Yesterday's game at Miller Park wasn't very fun at all, but I did get Carlos Lee to wave at me.  ;D  Actually, the crew were A.L. champs in 87, but you're right BP, that is still a long long time ago. Any big non conference games this week? Carthage has Aurora which is obviously a big game.



Huh??  They started the season 13-0 and failed to make the playoffs that season, finishing 91-71, 7 games behind Detroit in the East.  Minnesota played the Tigers in the AL finals 4 games to 1.  Gary Gaetti was the MVP.  St. Louis beat San Francisco 4 games to 3.  Jeff Leonard of San Fran was the MVP (don't see the losing team withthe MVP much anymore).  The Twins won their first world title beating the Cards in 7 games...

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: NCC Fan on April 24, 2006, 08:39:38 PM
Obviously not to many people have been to a NPU game this year. They have a retractable fence, since their softball team plays there too, which is around 320-330 ft. Not the 375+ ft mentioned before.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 08:45:44 PM
Quote from: NCC Fan on April 24, 2006, 08:39:38 PM
Obviously not to many people have been to a NPU game this year. They have a retractable fence, since their softball team plays there too, which is around 320-330 ft. Not the 375+ ft mentioned before.

Exactly why I said my estimates were based on being there last year....I'm glad they changed that left field situation b/c that was just crazy last year
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 24, 2006, 08:54:52 PM
Quote from: NCC Fan on April 24, 2006, 08:39:38 PM
Obviously not to many people have been to a NPU game this year. They have a retractable fence, since their softball team plays there too, which is around 320-330 ft. Not the 375+ ft mentioned before.

NCC Fan, what's with the attitude? He asked a simple question and you jumped on him like he was an idiot. Not all of us are fortunate enough to coach at our alma mater the year after we leave the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 10:26:08 PM
What is with coaches/assistant coaches of last place teams talking on the message board?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2006, 09:44:15 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 04:09:37 PM
The NPU fences have got to be atleast 425 down the left field line, 450 to left center, 400 to center(?), then right field gets progressively shorter and the outfield fence/football blechers are definitely reachable...maybe 375 to right or so.  These are all just estimates from being there one time last year but just try to imagine playing on a football field and hitting from the corner of one endzone with the foul lines being the football sideline and the back of the endzone.

The baseball diamond has never been aligned with the football field's sideline and end zone at NPU, not under the former configuration and not under the new Holmgren Athletic Complex dimensions. The foul lines aren't lined up anywhere near the football sideline and the back of the end zone. The baseball infield, in fact, is so far to the left (west) of the football field that the only portion of the infield that is also a part of the gridiron is about two or three feet of the outer edge of the second-base dirt cutout. NPU has hosted football games in which none of the players from either team gets any infield dirt on them at all.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on April 25, 2006, 03:41:47 PM
The left field fence at npu is much different than last year, but right field remains the same.  Last year left field was way out there and im pretty sure there werent any homers hit out to left over the fence.  This year is a different story where the retractable fence was brought in to a much closer distance, and there have been a few go out to left.  Unfortunatly right field is short to where almost routine fly balls have carried into the first row for a homerun.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on April 25, 2006, 04:47:23 PM
Quote from: cokeaholic on April 25, 2006, 03:41:47 PM
The left field fence at npu is much different than last year, but right field remains the same.  Last year left field was way out there and im pretty sure there werent any homers hit out to left over the fence.  This year is a different story where the retractable fence was brought in to a much closer distance, and there have been a few go out to left.  Unfortunatly right field is short to where almost routine fly balls have carried into the first row for a homerun.

Last season Matt Jackson of Elmhurst hit the upper right hand side of the building.  The wind was blowing, but an impressive shot nonetheless.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 25, 2006, 06:16:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2006, 09:44:15 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 24, 2006, 04:09:37 PM
The NPU fences have got to be atleast 425 down the left field line, 450 to left center, 400 to center(?), then right field gets progressively shorter and the outfield fence/football blechers are definitely reachable...maybe 375 to right or so.  These are all just estimates from being there one time last year but just try to imagine playing on a football field and hitting from the corner of one endzone with the foul lines being the football sideline and the back of the endzone.

The baseball diamond has never been aligned with the football field's sideline and end zone at NPU, not under the former configuration and not under the new Holmgren Athletic Complex dimensions. The foul lines aren't lined up anywhere near the football sideline and the back of the end zone. The baseball infield, in fact, is so far to the left (west) of the football field that the only portion of the infield that is also a part of the gridiron is about two or three feet of the outer edge of the second-base dirt cutout. NPU has hosted football games in which none of the players from either team gets any infield dirt on them at all.

Sorry Greg...I thought I was making it clear that all my things were just estimates on being there last year...I was just trying to give an idea to someone who had obviously never seen the field.  I wasn't saying that these were the exact dimensions and I was just trying to write a description so someone could quickly imagine it in their head without having to read a novel to do so.  I'm sorry that I miss represented the NPU athletic complex...my bad.  Next time I go to a field, I will bring my cartography/survery equipment so I can accurately make a scale map of the complex for anyone interested in the future ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 25, 2006, 06:20:01 PM
On a lighter note....

Augustana won a huge game last night versus #16 Central of Iowa.  They won 11-8 and had a huge 9 run 5th inning.  Andrew Gwost pitched a complete game giving up 6 hits, and 4 walks while striking out 9.  Augustana had 6 errors which led to 6 unearned runs on the night.  That is a major win for Augie when looking at the regional rankings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2006, 08:15:39 PM
I think that Augie, barring any huge setbacks, just played themselves into at least a Pool C bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 25, 2006, 09:21:55 PM
I was just checking the www.ncaasports.com website to look for those NCAA regional rankings and the front page story caught my eye.  Not sure if others already knew this but some Aurora pitcher, Chapple, threw back to back no-hitters....that is some pretty crazy stuff
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cokeaholic on April 25, 2006, 11:32:29 PM

Last season Matt Jackson of Elmhurst hit the upper right hand side of the building.  The wind was blowing, but an impressive shot nonetheless.
Quote

yes he did but like you said the wind was blowing, and it was to center over the regular fence not over the retractable fence which is another good 40 feet back.  But i agree that a long with a few others to right that game were hit a  long way.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2006, 09:01:16 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 25, 2006, 06:16:30 PMI'm sorry that I miss represented the NPU athletic complex...my bad.  Next time I go to a field, I will bring my cartography/survery equipment so I can accurately make a scale map of the complex for anyone interested in the future ;D

You jest, but I actually went onto Google Maps to post a URL that would give everyone a great aerial view of NPU's athletic complex so that they could see the baseball/football/softball layout for themselves. Unfortunately, the satellite photos of Chicago that Google Maps use appear to date back to 2002 (judging by the building stock), so it shows the pre-Holmgren layout.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 26, 2006, 11:49:54 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2006, 09:01:16 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 25, 2006, 06:16:30 PMI'm sorry that I miss represented the NPU athletic complex...my bad.  Next time I go to a field, I will bring my cartography/survery equipment so I can accurately make a scale map of the complex for anyone interested in the future ;D

You jest, but I actually went onto Google Maps to post a URL that would give everyone a great aerial view of NPU's athletic complex so that they could see the baseball/football/softball layout for themselves. Unfortunately, the satellite photos of Chicago that Google Maps use appear to date back to 2002 (judging by the building stock), so it shows the pre-Holmgren layout.

Yeah, I actually tried to look up the same thing to "refresh" my memory of the complex
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2006, 12:00:15 PM
That Google Maps feature sure is handy.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 26, 2006, 12:08:53 PM
Augustana beat Loras 15-1 last night...chalk up another regional win for the Vikings.  I think they stand at about 21-7 in region right now.

Matt Schref moved to 3-1 on the year with the win.  Augie scored 10 runs in the 3rd inning.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 26, 2006, 12:37:19 PM
Nine runs in an inning, and then ten the next day in an inning, don't see that too often. I also believe Carthage and Augustana have put themselves in great position up to this point for an at large bid if they do not win the conference tournament. Does anyone know where the conference tourney is this year? Is it at a predetermined sight or whoever has the best conference record prior to the tournament?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 26, 2006, 02:22:10 PM
I believe with the changes of the automatic bid going to the tourney win, they also changed that the tourney will be at the regular season champs' place.  So...looks like it'll be up in Kenosha barring a collapse.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2006, 07:57:46 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 26, 2006, 02:22:10 PM
I believe with the changes of the automatic bid going to the tourney win, they also changed that the tourney will be at the regular season champs' place.  So...looks like it'll be up in Kenosha barring a collapse.

The winner of the CCIW regular season is allowed to play the tourney at a field of their choice. I cannot imagine a scenario where the winner would not want to host the games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2006, 08:20:15 AM
North Park shut out Rockford yesterday up in the Forest City, 11-0. Kevin Polka went the distance for NPU, recording a six-hit shutout. The offensive attack for the Vikings was led by Brady Josephson, who went 4-for-5 and logged three RBIs, and Pat Zarilla, who went 3-for-4. NPU raised its overall record to 12-21, while the Regents dropped to 14-19.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2006, 10:17:34 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2006, 08:20:15 AM
North Park shut out Rockford yesterday up in the Forest City, 11-0. Kevin Polka went the distance for NPU, recording a six-hit shutout. The offensive attack for the Vikings was led by Brady Josephson, who went 4-for-5 and logged three RBIs, and Pat Zarilla, who went 3-for-4. NPU raised its overall record to 12-21, while the Regents dropped to 14-19.

For a team that was a preseason top 30 team, Rockford sure has had a disappointing season. NPU has had a fantastic season that I think has far exceeded all expectations.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on April 27, 2006, 11:51:45 AM
Here is a little info to digest while we wait for the CCIW games to begin again.

Since 2001 and including the partial 2006 season of CCIW games:

Carthage  89-30-1   .746
IWU          85-35       .708
Augie        74-46       .617
Elmhurst   71-59       .592
NCC          66-53-1    .563
Millikin       54-66       .450
Wheaton  29-91        .242
NPU          21-99        .175

What does this mean? Not much, but it helps me pass the time between games. I think it clearly shows that Carthage and IWU average at least two more CCIW wins per year than any other programs. This season has really hurt Elmhurst and NCC who have traditionally been two of the better teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 27, 2006, 08:27:43 PM
Great article in the Kenosha News paper about Carthage's Scott Evosovich today. Here is the link        http://www.kenoshanews.com/articles/index.php?articleNum=6037
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 28, 2006, 01:00:19 PM
IWU won easily over Maryville (MO) last night.

Predictions for this weekends CCIW games.

Carthage over Wheaton 2-1 (Price will win a 2-1 game)

IWU over North Park 3-0

Elmhurst over NCC 2-1

Augie over Millikin 2-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 28, 2006, 03:35:47 PM
Slight schedule change for IWU this weekend.  Due to weather concerns, IWU hosting North Park in a doubleheader this evening at 5:30pm, then a single noon game tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2006, 03:43:51 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on April 28, 2006, 03:35:47 PM
Slight schedule change for IWU this weekend.  Due to weather concerns, IWU hosting North Park in a doubleheader this evening at 5:30pm, then a single noon game tomorrow.

That makes for a very late night... thankfully neither has to travel tonight. If weather is a concern, they should start even earlier tomorrow(I assume that NPU is staying in town?).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on April 28, 2006, 04:10:58 PM
I also assume NP is staying in town.  It is also alumni weekend for old IWU ballplayers so there should be an above average crowd there Saturday.  Weather looks bad right now, cloudy and windy.  Not sure if they will get two in this evening.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2006, 06:45:08 PM
Same with Augie..they moved their DH up to today
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 28, 2006, 08:45:09 PM
Carthage defeats Wheaton in 13 innings 7-5.  Steve Rucks goes 4-7 and drives in 5.  Price pitched 11 innings for Wheaton and got a no decision.


What happened to Chris Sadjak?  He's hitting .438 since returning from injury and hasn't made an appearance in the last two games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 29, 2006, 03:47:16 AM
Augustana beats Millikin 6-2 and 16-5. 

Kevin Kuntz pitched 6 innings and gave up 1 ER while striking out 7.  He moves to 7-2 on the season. 

Andrew Setter pitched 6 innings and gave up 1 ER.  He moves to 8-0 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 29, 2006, 03:56:26 AM
IWU beat NPU 7-1 and 10-6


Updated Standings:

Carthage          14-2          (clinched tourney berth)
Augustana        12-5                   
IWU                 10-7
Millikin              8-9     
Wheaton          7-9           
North Park        6-11           
North Central     4-11         
Elmhurst           4-11         
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 29, 2006, 07:30:46 AM
Way to go, Carthage!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 29, 2006, 05:55:09 PM
Sadjak injured his ankle at North Park, and is hoping to be ready to go in the next few weeks in the conference tourney. Carthage won the first game today and was winning 7-1 in the second game
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 29, 2006, 08:06:39 PM
The Augie - Millikin game is rescheduled for Monday

Carthage beat Wheaton 6-2 and 8-1...therefore they clinch the regular season title and the opportunity to host the conference tourney.


IWU won 12-2 today over NPU.  NCC and Elmhurst split today.

Updated Standings:

Updated Standings:

Carthage          16-2          clinched 1st place
Augustana        12-5          clinched tourney bid         
IWU                 11-7          clinched tourney bid
Millikin              8-9     
Wheaton          7-11           
North Park        6-12           
North Central     5-12         
Elmhurst           5-12


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on April 30, 2006, 09:42:47 AM
Hard times at Elmhurst this year. Next year promises to be different.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on April 30, 2006, 10:58:31 AM
Hardly a D3 note, but any baseball fan ought to be amazed at the numbers Albert Pujols keeps putting up.  When this young man's feats put him in the statistical company of Musial, Mays, Williams et al., it is truly incredible.

He's now the first to attain career totals of 1,000 hits and 200 home runs in just 806 games.  Mays needed 824.

He keeps knocking down team figures, as well, which is notable when one ponders the names in St. Louis Cardinals history.

OK, back to CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2006, 04:01:29 PM
Carthage DH at Lakeland today has been cancelled and no make-up date has been scheduled as of yet
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: consultant on April 30, 2006, 05:02:09 PM
Emeritus,
I'm from the SCAC board but I agree with you about Pujols.  He is a special player.  What is more remarkable is his patience at the plate now that teams are walking him.  He has four walks today (2 were intentional passes I think) but the guys behind him have been killing the ball....even Edmonds !!!  The three batters behind him today are collectively 6-15 with 5 RBI. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 12:51:36 PM
What are the chances of the CCIW getting three teams into the NCAAs? I am certain that they will get two, but I think that IWU has to win the tourney to get in. If IWU wins it, will Carthage and Augie both get a bid?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 01, 2006, 01:52:54 PM
I doubt it. If Wesleyan were to win the tournament, I would have to guess that Augustana would be out of luck. There are only 3 teams in the conference that are comfortably above .500, and I wouldn't think that all 3 would have a chance to get in, no matter what the scenario is IMO.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 01, 2006, 08:09:51 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on April 30, 2006, 09:42:47 AM
Hard times at Elmhurst this year. Next year promises to be different.

The Jays fall to NCC 8-6 in the battle for the bottom spot.  With IWU next weekend it looks like a 5-16 finish.  Let the applications start rolling in.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 09:19:15 PM
Looks like a very disappointing year for Elmhurst. I know they expected better than this.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 02, 2006, 12:44:33 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 09:19:15 PM
Looks like a very disappointing year for Elmhurst. I know they expected better than this.

Hopefully all of you can forgive the bulk of us Bluejay fans for the somewhat naive optimism, or personal economic bias, of a few in earlier posts.  There are better days ahead (seven other spots in the standings)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 02, 2006, 12:53:37 AM
Boredom and bourbon put me in a little nostalgic mood.  I was giving some thought to the differences I've seen between the bad, good, and great teams I've seen.  I think that the one thing the great teams I've seen have in common is that they look for an excuse to win.  The atmosphere of the team is that they are waiting for something to happen to pull them ahead, whether it is an error, hit, bad call, walk, or whatever.  They also look for an reason not to let other teams take advantage of these moments.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 02, 2006, 01:01:43 AM
Alternatively, other teams seem to look for some reason to explain the loss.  "Their pitcher threw a gem, the wind hurt us, bad call, we've been in a slump, the hits just weren't falling, etc." 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 11:40:23 AM
Big non-conference game for Carthage today at Aurora. Hopefully the weather cooperates and they can get the game in. Both teams won't be able to throw one of their top 3 pitchers, but I'm sure you can expect to see the regulars for both teams play in todays game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 12:31:13 PM
Quote from: Cooler King on May 02, 2006, 12:53:37 AM
I think that the one thing the great teams I've seen have in common is that they look for an excuse to win. 

Bingo... great teams play to win, others play not to lose. Most of the better teams are very aggressive in most aspects of the game.

Carthage @ Aurora tonight will most likely decide the #1 seed in the regionals. I am guessing it will be a shootout as neither will throw their big dogs and both teams can swing it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 01:16:48 PM
Hopefully Jeff Livek will be ready to go against Aurora today. He is 6-1 on the year, and not far behind Carthage's top 3 (maybe not behind at all). He threw 5 1/3 innings of 1 hit shutout ball against wheaton on Friday in the 13 inning game, so we'll see if Augie and Everts decide to go with him or go another way. If not Livek, my guess would be Chris Krepline who has also done very well this year. They are the top two candidates as of right now to become Carthage's 2 and 3 starters next year behind Jacob Husing. (Hopefully Michael Heinig, 17-1 his first two seasons, is eligible next season as well.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 01:46:38 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 01:16:48 PM
Hopefully Jeff Livek will be ready to go against Aurora today. He is 6-1 on the year, and not far behind Carthage's top 3 (maybe not behind at all). He threw 5 1/3 innings of 1 hit shutout ball against wheaton on Friday in the 13 inning game, so we'll see if Augie and Everts decide to go with him or go another way. If not Livek, my guess would be Chris Krepline who has also done very well this year. They are the top two candidates as of right now to become Carthage's 2 and 3 starters next year behind Jacob Husing. (Hopefully Michael Heinig, 17-1 his first two seasons, is eligible next season as well.)

It looks like Carthage is set for next year as well on the hill. especially if Heinig comes back. Any word on that yet?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on May 02, 2006, 02:37:30 PM
The Bluejays are not going out quiet. they will go 2 for 3 this weekend. Next year will be back on top gaurentee. Place bets!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 02, 2006, 02:51:52 PM
I've got a question...my memory is letting me down here.  Did the conference tourney always start on a Thursday or was it Friday?  Also...didn't all teams play 2 games on the first day instead of 1?  Thanks to anyone who has a better memory than I.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on May 02, 2006, 02:53:58 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on May 02, 2006, 02:37:30 PM
The Bluejays are not going out quiet. they will go 2 for 3 this weekend. Next year will be back on top gaurentee. Place bets!!

If I were a betting man, I would take your bets.

1) The chances of Elmhurst beating IWU twice this weekend are very slim. You are what your record says you are. There is a reason Elmhurst is in last place.

2) Elmhurst has won only one CCIW title since 1982 and that was in 1997. I have to disagree on that one as well. I don't see it happening next year unless you do two things:
    1. replace your coach, and I do not see that happening, and
    2. recruit better players to fill in for the guys that played this year.

3) "gaurentee" is spelled GUARANTEE. Maybe if your spelling was better, people would take you a little more seriously on this board.

Good luck this weekend. I would love to see you beat IWU twice, but the realist in me does not see it coming true.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 02:56:12 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on May 02, 2006, 02:51:52 PM
I've got a question...my memory is letting me down here.  Did the conference tourney always start on a Thursday or was it Friday?  Also...didn't all teams play 2 games on the first day instead of 1?  Thanks to anyone who has a better memory than I.

It usually started on a Friday and all teams did play twice on day #1. I am not certain as to why they changed the format. It may have had something to do with need to secure a second field for day #1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on May 02, 2006, 03:36:55 PM
Even though I don't follow the program that closely, it was great to see Wheaton as a little more competitive this year.  If Wheaton were to sweep North Park (definitely something not to count on, the Thunder could get swept themselves) they could finish with their best CCIW record since 1980. 
Wheaton has never been a powerhouse in baseball, and has only won one championship in 1951.  Hopefully we will continue to see some more good baseball from the Thunder in the future!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 03:47:43 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on May 02, 2006, 02:53:58 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on May 02, 2006, 02:37:30 PM
The Bluejays are not going out quiet. they will go 2 for 3 this weekend. Next year will be back on top gaurentee. Place bets!!

If I were a betting man, I would take your bets.

1) The chances of Elmhurst beating IWU twice this weekend are very slim. You are what your record says you are. There is a reason Elmhurst is in last place.

2) Elmhurst has won only one CCIW title since 1982 and that was in 1997. I have to disagree on that one as well. I don't see it happening next year unless you do two things:
    1. replace your coach, and I do not see that happening, and
    2. recruit better players to fill in for the guys that played this year.

3) "gaurentee" is spelled GUARANTEE. Maybe if your spelling was better, people would take you a little more seriously on this board.

Good luck this weekend. I would love to see you beat IWU twice, but the realist in me does not see it coming true.

Even though Captain is a bit crass, he makes me laugh everytime he posts. He does make some valid points though.

Bluejay Blue... don't take it personally, that's just his style.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on May 02, 2006, 04:28:27 PM
IWU hosts DI Illinois State this evening.  Although no impact for either school in regard to post-season, still a fun game for the community as it is our version of a cross-town rivalry.  There is usually good crowd support for this game and the weather has been nice all day.  Two non-weekend starters take the hill for both schools, so I wouldn't expect a 1-0 game.

I must agree with Poppa, every time there is a post from an Elmhurst fan or about Elmhurst, it usally (1) is funny, and (2) mentions personal feelings towards the coach. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 06:38:09 PM
Carthage remained at number 8 this week, and Augustana is back in the poll at number 21. Also, Aurora moved up to 16.  The defending champs whitewater are now in the top 25 as well. As far as Heinig goes, I have no idea. I assume it all depends on how he does next fall semester.  I know this is a baseball board, but any thoughts on the draft on how you think the packers/bears did?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 07:37:26 PM
Carthage @ Aurora: after three innings 0-0...

Back to an earlier comment... I think the Packers' draft went as well as could be expected. I refuse to even speak the name of the other mentioned team, but I did not follow theirs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 07:39:48 PM
BP, I'm with you on that, even though i can actually say bears! Not too many packer fans that go to or went to Carthage!! Poppa, any word on who Carthage is throwing?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 07:45:56 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2006, 07:39:48 PM
BP, I'm with you on that, even though i can actually say bears! Not too many packer fans that go to or went to Carthage!! Poppa, any word on who Carthage is throwing?


No word on who is on the hill... Steve"the Pistol" Marovich(greatest SID in the world) did not elaborate other than the score and inning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 02, 2006, 08:07:27 PM
Quote from: TitanRailer on May 02, 2006, 04:28:27 PM
I must agree with Poppa, every time there is a post from an Elmhurst fan or about Elmhurst, it usally (1) is funny, and (2) mentions personal feelings towards the coach. 

First of all, I hope I don't get lumped together with all the other Bluejay Backers on the board.  Secondly, I really hope that Bluejay Fan isn't Jones coming back to heap more shame upon the Jays.  Finally, as an Elmhurst fan, I must disagree with the Bluejay Fan.  I doubt they will crawl into the Tourney next year because that would require 1) a new coach AND 2) a significant influx of new talent.  Even if a new cheese is brought in, its tough to bring in the recruits needed to compete in the CCIW while going through a coaching change. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2006, 10:19:06 PM
Carthage loses 3-0 to Aurora tonight. AU looks to have a lock on the #1 seed in the region barring any major catastrophes in the next week or two.

Great job by the AU pitchers as it is not very often that Carthage is shutout with only 4 hits.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 03, 2006, 06:33:51 AM
Carthage shut out, and not by one of their top pitchers?  What's known about the guy(s) who shut them down?

As for draft news in my area, it seems the new ownership of the Vikings is trying hard to move Viking news off the police blotter and back onto the sports pages.  Trades and draft may have helped the hapless Vikes--"may" have helped.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 03, 2006, 08:30:11 AM
Augustana beat Millikin 11-3 last night and then beat Dubuque 11-10 afterwards.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 09:50:46 AM
Looking at the box score it looks like Augie played several backups half the game yesterday. I'm not making an excuse at all, Aurora obviously deserved to win the game. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't planned that way, but the starters were ticking Augie off so bad he pulled some of them, which many know has happened in years past in non-conference games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 10:36:11 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 09:50:46 AM
Looking at the box score it looks like Augie played several backups half the game yesterday. I'm not making an excuse at all, Aurora obviously deserved to win the game. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't planned that way, but the starters were ticking Augie off so bad he pulled some of them, which many know has happened in years past in non-conference games.

I would expect that pulling some starters in such a big in-region game sent a message last night. Hopefully it shows this weekend at Millikin.

If Carthage handles Millikin this weekend and NPU takes care of Wheaton, NPU vaults into the CCIW post-season. Either way, for NPU to be in post-season contention this late is a testament to things turning around for the Vikings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 10:55:08 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 03, 2006, 06:33:51 AM
Carthage shut out, and not by one of their top pitchers?  What's known about the guy(s) who shut them down?


Quoting Coach Augie Schmidt IV on the May 2 Aurora Loss:  "Matt Miller stuck it to us pretty good, and we have to tip our hat to him.  We showed our inexperience by not making any adjustments to what he was doing.  We swung at pitches out of the strike zone, and we didn't have a lot to show for it.  We haven't run into a lot of pitchers like Miller who can command it and throw that well.  Aurora has a senior-laden team, and we saw a lot of these guys two years ago in the regional at Illinois Wesleyan.  They have a nice team, and hopefully, we'll get another chance to play them in a few weeks."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 11:05:37 AM
According to the article on Carthage's website, the pitcher who beat them improved to only 2-0 so I'm guessing he is normally a reliever.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 02:04:43 PM
Anybody know the in-region records versus regionally ranked and nationally ranked teams of Aurora, Carthage, and Augustana. I have a feeling that these will be the top three seeds in the NCAA regional(unless they stumble in their final weeknds and conference tourneys).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 03, 2006, 06:19:25 PM
I think we can garner much more information when the first NCAA regional rankings are released either tomorrow or Friday.  Then we can try to figure out what all the records are.

However, I think Augie is about 25-7 in region
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 07:47:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 12:51:36 PM
What are the chances of the CCIW getting three teams into the NCAAs? I am certain that they will get two, but I think that IWU has to win the tourney to get in. If IWU wins it, will Carthage and Augie both get a bid?

Does anyone know if the CCIW has ever gotten 3 teams into the tourney, or if any conference ever has?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2006, 08:08:56 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 07:47:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 12:51:36 PM
What are the chances of the CCIW getting three teams into the NCAAs? I am certain that they will get two, but I think that IWU has to win the tourney to get in. If IWU wins it, will Carthage and Augie both get a bid?

Does anyone know if the CCIW has ever gotten 3 teams into the tourney, or if any conference ever has?

Don't forget that there are more pool C bids than before.  As the mutual fund ads are required to say: 'past performance is no guarantee of future results'! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 08:11:49 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 07:47:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2006, 12:51:36 PM
What are the chances of the CCIW getting three teams into the NCAAs? I am certain that they will get two, but I think that IWU has to win the tourney to get in. If IWU wins it, will Carthage and Augie both get a bid?

Does anyone know if the CCIW has ever gotten 3 teams into the tourney, or if any conference ever has?

I don't think the CCIW has, but I think the WIAC has(Whitewater, Oshkosh and Stevens Point) in the past few seasons. The most the CCIW had in is two and that has been accomplished many times. I would expect the same this year unless IWU or the #4 seed wins the tourney. Then Carthage and Augie could both sneak in based on what happens in other conference tourneys.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 08:17:36 PM
Of course, we will all know a lot more when(if) the NCAA Regional Rankings come out tomorrow.

I think the Central will show:
1. Aurora (IL)
2. Carthage (WI)
3. Augustana (IL)
4. Washington (MO)
5. Central (IA)
6. IWU (IL)

1and 2 could flip based on when they ranked the teams, as of last night, I would have to put Aurora ahead of Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2006, 10:08:01 AM
I think that's also what will happen as far as Carthage is concerned. Even though neither of the teams top 3 were throwing, Aurora still won and that's what the voters seem to care about most which makes it tough because this isn't basketball or football where the same starters are playing every game. I know for the most part they do, but pitching is obviously huge and can completely change the outcome of a game depending who is on the mound.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on May 04, 2006, 11:14:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2006, 08:11:49 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2006, 07:47:28 PM
Does anyone know if the CCIW has ever gotten 3 teams into the tourney, or if any conference ever has?
I don't think the CCIW has, but I think the WIAC has(Whitewater, Oshkosh and Stevens Point) in the past few seasons.
Actually in 1998, the WIAC sent three teams, when La Crosse, Oshkosh and Stevens Point all qualified.  Oshkosh went on to win the Regional and took 5th place in Salem with a 41-5 record.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 04, 2006, 11:31:59 AM
Does anyone know if the CCIW has ever gotten 3 teams into the tourney, or if any conference ever has?
Quote

According to the CCIW website (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/cciwteamsinncaatournament.php), the conference has never sent three teams into the regional tournament.  On several occasions, two teams have made it to regionals.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2006, 04:42:13 PM
NCAA regional polls are out:

Team Regional Record Overall
Central
1. Aurora       21-4 25-8
2. Carthage   20-3 27-7
3. Augustana 25-7 29-8
4. Central      12-3 23-9
5. Wash U      21-2 34-5

It is close to what was expected... no real surprises.

Here is a link to the website with all the regional rankings:

http://ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/polls/diviii
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 04, 2006, 08:00:11 PM
Well Augie and Carthage both look great right now as long as they both don't play bad this weekend.  Aurora and Wash U will be Pool B teams most likely so no worry about them in Pool C.  Augie has beat Central which will help if they are both Pool C candidates.  Therefore...there is a very good chance that the first team to be looked at for Pool C from the central will be Augie or Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2006, 07:54:04 PM
I just checked the IWU season record, but was uncertain of the in-region status for several opponents.  If they don't win the tourney, they would appear to be on-the-bubble (at best!) - is the consensus that they are AQ or nothing? 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 05, 2006, 08:20:26 PM
Quote from: matblake on May 02, 2006, 03:36:55 PM
Even though I don't follow the program that closely, it was great to see Wheaton as a little more competitive this year.  If Wheaton were to sweep North Park (definitely something not to count on, the Thunder could get swept themselves) they could finish with their best CCIW record since 1980. 
Wheaton has never been a powerhouse in baseball, and has only won one championship in 1951.  Hopefully we will continue to see some more good baseball from the Thunder in the future!

Gregory, you can take solace in the fact that Wheaton baseball fans have experienced more futility than North Park football. ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 06, 2006, 01:20:54 AM
Wheaton beat NPU 5-1 tonight
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 06, 2006, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 05, 2006, 08:20:26 PM
Quote from: matblake on May 02, 2006, 03:36:55 PM
Even though I don't follow the program that closely, it was great to see Wheaton as a little more competitive this year.  If Wheaton were to sweep North Park (definitely something not to count on, the Thunder could get swept themselves) they could finish with their best CCIW record since 1980. 
Wheaton has never been a powerhouse in baseball, and has only won one championship in 1951.  Hopefully we will continue to see some more good baseball from the Thunder in the future!


Gregory, you can take solace in the fact that Wheaton baseball fans have experienced more futility than North Park football. ;)

Now that was a perfect analogy Ralph!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 06, 2006, 04:26:22 PM
Carthage wins 11-2 in game one this afternoon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 06, 2006, 10:07:34 PM
North Park sweeps Wheaton 3-2 and 10-5 at Legion Field this afternoon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2006, 03:01:21 AM
A Carthage win at Millikin on Sunday leaves three teams at 8-13 in the CCIW... all tied for the fourth, and final, playoff spot. NPU would get in the tourney based on sweeping Millikin in week one and taking 2 of 3 from Wheaton this weekend.

I think it would be great if NPU got in. The chances are very good as Carthage should beat Millikin.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on May 07, 2006, 11:13:35 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2006, 03:01:21 AM
A Carthage win at Millikin on Sunday leaves three teams at 8-13 in the CCIW... all tied for the fourth, and final, playoff spot. NPU would get in the tourney based on sweeping Millikin in week one and taking 2 of 3 from Wheaton this weekend.

I think it would be great if NPU got in. The chances are very good as Carthage should beat Millikin.

I think if NC beats Augie today, they'll finish 8-13 as well.  Who would win a 4-team tiebreaker between NP, Millikin, Wheaton, & NC?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2006, 12:35:52 PM
Quote from: fourtimeallcciw on May 07, 2006, 11:13:35 AM
I think if NC beats Augie today, they'll finish 8-13 as well.  Who would win a 4-team tiebreaker between NP, Millikin, Wheaton, & NC?

WOW... I did not even notice that NCC beat Augie yesterday. I have no idea of what happens in a four way tie. Anyone???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2006, 12:40:27 PM
FROM THE CCIW WEBSITE:

"Possible Tiebreaker Scenarios
Carthage only needs to win one more game to earn the outright conference championship.  If Carthage loses their final three games and Augustana wins their four remaining games, co-champions will be declared between Augustana and Carthage.  Carthage has clinched the right to host by virtue of winning two of three games vs. Augustana, the first tiebreaker criteria, should they finished tied.

Augustana has clinched a tournament berth.  They can share the conference championship title if they win their four remaining games and Carthage loses its remaining three CCIW games with both teams finishing 16-5.

Illinois Wesleyan has also clinched a tournament berth.  Worst case for them is losing their three remaining games to finish 11-10.  Millikin could finish 12-9 (if they win last four games) or 11-10 (if they win three of last four games) to earn the No. 3 seed.  Millikin beat Illinois Wesleyan two out of three times during the regular season, thus, earning the tiebreaker over Illinois Wesleyan should they finish tied.

Millikin needs to win their last four games (to finish 12-9) or three of its last four games (to finish 11-10) and Illinois Wesleyan must lose their remaining three games to earn the #3 tournament seed.  Otherwise, Millikin will likely earn the No. 4 tournament seed.  If they go 2-2 to finish 10-11, they could tie with Wheaton for the final spot assuming Wheaton sweeps North Park.  Using the tiebreaker, Wheaton would get the final seed by virtue of their winning two of three games against Millikin.

Wheaton could finish 10-11 if they sweep North Park this week. If Millikin loses all three of its remaining games, Wheaton's 10-11 finish would give them the final tournament berth over Millikin's 8-13. 

Millikin goes 0-for-4 and North Park takes 2-of-3 from Wheaton, giving each team a 9-12 record. North Park gets into the tournament based on their 3-0 record against Millikin.

If Wheaton wins 2-of-3 this weekend and Millikin wins 1-of-4 over the next week, each team finishes 9-12 and Wheaton has the tiebreaker with a 2-1 record. Or, if Wheaton wins 2-of-3 and Millikin goes 0-for-4, Wheaton would be 9-12 and Millikin would be 8-13, sending Wheaton."



** The one problem they never mention is the NCC factor... your guess is as good as mine on this one. I still think NPU would go.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2006, 01:49:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2006, 12:40:27 PM
The one problem they never mention is the NCC factor... your guess is as good as mine on this one. I still think NPU would go.


North Park holds the tiebreaker against Millikin (having gone 3-0 against the Big Blue) as well as Wheaton and North Central (having taken 2 of 3 against both).  The fourth and final berth hinges on the outcome of the Carthage-Millikin game on Sunday.  If Carthage prevails, North Park will make the tournament for the first time since 1999.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: tjcummingsfan on May 07, 2006, 02:02:56 PM
Wow I'm amazed North Park went to the tourney that recently.  The 4 years I was there the team was awful, I can't even imagine watching a team as good as this year's.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2006, 02:32:01 PM
North Park's 1999 squad featured the best top-to-bottom offensive attack since the 1996 season.  The team batting average was .304, scored 268 runs, and hit 78 doubles and 33 home runs.  Curtis Tate was the leading hitter (.425, 4 HR, 34 BI), but there were some other pretty fearsome sticks in the lineup as well: Cory Clark (.385-7-28), Dan Hernandez (.351-2-39 and 14 SB), Chad Peterson (9 HR, 32 RBI), and Brandon Wiley (.322-6-29 + 10 SB at leadoff), to name a few.  The pitching staff had a true rotation of four guys they could run out there against anyone: Andrew Postek went 7-2 with an ERA of 2.53 -- no small feat pitching at Hedstrand Field; Tim Dykes (4-6, 4.34) was a tough competitor on the mound and a leader in the dugout; Joe Miller (2-2, 3.66) and Shelly Cohen (3-5, 5.37) were the other two top starters.  The main weakness of the team was fielding (.927).

The 1999 Vikings started off with 3 big wins in Texas, scoring 26 runs in their first two games.  They ended up 10-8 in the CCIW and lost their first round games to Carthage and Wesleyan.  Perhaps the most memorable game of that season was against the University of Chicago on a day when the wind was howling out to right.  The Maroons scored 4 runs in each of the first 3 innings to go up 12-0.  North Park started to hit the ball -- I think Cory Clark had three home runs and lost out on a fourth when the ump couldn't see the ball sail over the right-field net, so he called it foul.  The Vikings led 21-18 going into the top of the eighth, and Andrew Postek was brought in to finish out the game on the mound.  The Vikes put up 10 runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it 31-18, and Postek got credited with a save.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2006, 04:41:11 PM
According to the Millikin website, Carthage defeated the Big Blue 9-5 on Sunday, thereby qualifying North Park as the fourth team the conference tournament.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 07, 2006, 08:46:21 PM
Congratulations to North Park on making the tournament. Now its conference tourney time, the slate is cleared, and each of these 4 teams has a chance to get hot for a few days and make regionals
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 12:19:08 AM
Congrats to Coach Luke Johnson and his NPU team. One season and he turned it around. Way to go!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2006, 04:54:52 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 05, 2006, 08:20:26 PMGregory, you can take solace in the fact that Wheaton baseball fans have experienced more futility than North Park football. ;)

Has Wheaton gone without recording a winning season in baseball since 1968? If not, then the Wheaties have by no means matched NPU's gridiron futility.

But this is not a weekend to bemoan the athletic shortcomings of the Vikings. Congrats to Luke Johnson and the NPU baseball team upon making the CCIW tournament! What a great turnaround in the space of one season! Things are definitely looking up for the North Park baseball program.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 08, 2006, 09:45:42 AM
Sorry to all of the Carthage, IWU, and AU fans, but it sure would be neat to see NPU pull an upset in the Tournament.  Everybody loves an underdog. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on May 08, 2006, 09:55:26 AM
Quote from: Cooler King on May 08, 2006, 09:45:42 AM
Sorry to all of the Carthage, IWU, and AU fans, but it sure would be neat to see NPU pull an upset in the Tournament.  Everybody loves an underdog. 


Hate to disagree, but I doubt that the players from Carthage, Augie, and IWU love that underdog.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on May 08, 2006, 10:25:36 AM
Congrats to North Park.  Sager, Wheaton's last winning Season in Baseball came in 1999 with a 18-17-1 record (9-11 in CCIW) under Doug Yager.  Their last winning season in CCIW play came in 1980 under Gary Taylor at 11-5 (15-12 overall). 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 08, 2006, 12:04:36 PM
Yeah, congrats to North Park are in order.  They had a fine season.  However, an even greater congrats go to Carthage for another superior season.

Take 'em both, the conference title and the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 01:34:34 PM
It will be interesting to see what the coaches decide to do as far as who they pitch. I'm sure North Park will throw their ace against Carthage, but for Carthage, IWU, and Augie it will be interesting. IWU most likely will throw there #1 against Augie. Will Carthage throw Evosovich against NPU or save him for the Augie/IWU winner (assuming Carthage wins.) Same for Augie, will they throw their best against IWU or try to save him for Carthage. Obviously, you need to take every game and team seriously, so it makes it a tough call. Luckily for both Carthage and Augie, they have 3 pitchers that have performed well and been reliable all year in conference.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on May 08, 2006, 01:40:45 PM
My call is Carthage over NPU and IWU over Augie in round #1!

I am sure that the Red Men will walk away untouched this weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 01:46:34 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 01:34:34 PM
It will be interesting to see what the coaches decide to do as far as who they pitch. I'm sure North Park will throw their ace against Carthage, but for Carthage, IWU, and Augie it will be interesting. IWU most likely will throw there #1 against Augie. Will Carthage throw Evosovich against NPU or save him for the Augie/IWU winner (assuming Carthage wins.) Same for Augie, will they throw their best against IWU or try to save him for Carthage. Obviously, you need to take every game and team seriously, so it makes it a tough call. Luckily for both Carthage and Augie, they have 3 pitchers that have performed well and been reliable all year in conference.

Carthage will throw their #1, Evosovich. Augie Schmidt does not take anyone lightly in the post-season. If, by chance, Carthage jumps out to an big, early lead, he may pull Evosovich to save him for the final day in relief. That has been his M. O. in the past.

This should be a great CCIW tourney. Think Carthage is already assured a Pool C bid, but I think Augie has to win a game or two to get themselves in without winning the tourney(It makes game #1 vs IWU a huge game for Augie). IWU and NPU both have to win it to get a bid. I do not see IWU getting a thrid CCIW bid with 12 losses already.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bstar21 on May 08, 2006, 02:28:47 PM
You are right, it will be interesting to see who throws in the IWU-Augie game.  I think Wesleyan has to throw there number 1 since Augie roughed up the rest of there pitching.  I like the way Augie is swinging it right now, and i think Augie and Carthage in the championship, with both of them going to the regionals.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 02:42:34 PM
Quote from: Bstar21 on May 08, 2006, 02:28:47 PM
You are right, it will be interesting to see who throws in the IWU-Augie game.  I think Wesleyan has to throw there number 1 since Augie roughed up the rest of there pitching.  I like the way Augie is swinging it right now, and i think Augie and Carthage in the championship, with both of them going to the regionals.

If it's an Augie-Carthage final, both will be heading to a regional. It will be interesting to see if they both end up in the Central. I think they will, but the new format may change things a bit.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on May 08, 2006, 04:17:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 01:46:34 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 01:34:34 PM
It will be interesting to see what the coaches decide to do as far as who they pitch. I'm sure North Park will throw their ace against Carthage, but for Carthage, IWU, and Augie it will be interesting. IWU most likely will throw there #1 against Augie. Will Carthage throw Evosovich against NPU or save him for the Augie/IWU winner (assuming Carthage wins.) Same for Augie, will they throw their best against IWU or try to save him for Carthage. Obviously, you need to take every game and team seriously, so it makes it a tough call. Luckily for both Carthage and Augie, they have 3 pitchers that have performed well and been reliable all year in conference.

Carthage will throw their #1, Evosovich. Augie Schmidt does not take anyone lightly in the post-season. If, by chance, Carthage jumps out to an big, early lead, he may pull Evosovich to save him for the final day in relief. That has been his M. O. in the past.

This should be a great CCIW tourney. Think Carthage is already assured a Pool C bid, but I think Augie has to win a game or two to get themselves in without winning the tourney(It makes game #1 vs IWU a huge game for Augie). IWU and NPU both have to win it to get a bid. I do not see IWU getting a thrid CCIW bid with 12 losses already.

IWU will likely throw Dave Dobosz, 8-1 with a 1.41 ERA on the year, including a 3-2 win over Augie earlier in the year.  Unfortunately, he is the only IWU pitcher with a victory over Augie or Carthage.  IWU has no chance of a Pool C so they need a solid weekend.  If they can continue to swing the bats as they have, they have a chance, but pitching needs to be solid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 04:29:01 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on May 08, 2006, 01:40:45 PM
My call is Carthage over NPU and IWU over Augie in round #1!

I am sure that the Red Men will walk away untouched this weekend.

NPU being in the tourney for the first time since '99 got me thinking. How long has it been for the other schools?

Also, when was the last time some of these schools were NOT in the CCIW tourney?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 04:40:40 PM
"Carthage will throw their #1, Evosovich. Augie Schmidt does not take anyone lightly in the post-season. If, by chance, Carthage jumps out to an big, early lead, he may pull Evosovich to save him for the final day in relief. That has been his M. O. in the past."

I wouldn't be so sure. If i remember right, we threw Heinig against Augustana last year in the first game of the tournament, and he was Carthage's 3 starter the entire year last year. I would not be surprised if Olson or Husing threw against north park. If one of these two do throw, its not that Carthage would be looking past NP. But all the pitchers had good success against NP in the 3 game series earlier, and Evosovich by far had the best game against Augie (as well as against IWU) of the Redmen's 3 starters. So, how certain pitchers did against a team can play a huge role in who the coaches decide to start. Olson's only rough outing was actually against Augie, so I doubt he would throw against them.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2006, 05:13:30 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 04:40:40 PM
"Carthage will throw their #1, Evosovich. Augie Schmidt does not take anyone lightly in the post-season. If, by chance, Carthage jumps out to an big, early lead, he may pull Evosovich to save him for the final day in relief. That has been his M. O. in the past."

I wouldn't be so sure. If i remember right, we threw Heinig against Augustana last year in the first game of the tournament, and he was Carthage's 3 starter the entire year last year. I would not be surprised if Olson or Husing threw against north park. If one of these two do throw, its not that Carthage would be looking past NP. But all the pitchers had good success against NP in the 3 game series earlier, and Evosovich by far had the best game against Augie (as well as against IWU) of the Redmen's 3 starters. So, certain pitchers did against a team can play a huge role in who the coaches decide to start. Olson's only rough outing was actually against Augie, so I doubt he would throw against them.


Husing was the only Carthage pitcher to give up an earned run against NP in the season series.  I would start either Livek or Husing against them and save Evosovich and Olson for the next two games...you could even throw a combination of those two (Livek and Husing) and pitch them both again the next day...(possibly)  I assume there is a mercy rule in the tournament?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 05:18:50 PM
Not sure on the mercy rule, that's a good question. Livek is huge for the Redmen, especially if they have to play more than 3 games. He would be in any other team's top 3 this year, and probably their number 1 besides the 2 Augustana pitchers and possilby the Freshman from IWU. Anyone plan on heading to Carthage for some of the tournament? I'll be there for sure on Thursday, no sure about Friday and Saturday yet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2006, 05:22:59 PM
I still think they go with Evosovich and give him a day of rest if he needs to come back for an inning or two on Saturday. If he throws Friday, it is doubtful he throws on Saturday as well.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 09, 2006, 09:03:54 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 08, 2006, 05:13:30 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 04:40:40 PM



I assume there is a mercy rule in the tournament?

Congrats to NP! What a turnaround!

I've seen some strange things over the year's in the tournament. Don't even bring up something like the mercy rule!!! Bad karma!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 09, 2006, 01:07:48 PM
Quote from: irish21 on May 09, 2006, 09:03:54 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 08, 2006, 05:13:30 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2006, 04:40:40 PM



I assume there is a mercy rule in the tournament?

Congrats to NP! What a turnaround!

I've seen some strange things over the year's in the tournament. Don't even bring up something like the mercy rule!!! Bad karma!!!


I cringed when I wrote it as well....believe me I knocked on wood, jumped over the first base line, ate chicken for dinner, and did every other little thing I could think of to not wake the baseball gods!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2006, 02:47:31 PM
Here is a link to other post-season tourneys that should land in the Central region:

IIAC:
http://www.iowaconference.com/men/baseball/tournament/2006.htm

NIIC:
http://www.niiconline.com/men/baseball/bracket.htm

CCIW:
http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325

SLIAC:
http://www.sliac.org/mens3/mbaseball/

I would also expect Wash U to get into the tourney as a Pool B team.

That leaves 1 or 2 open spots for Pool C teams, depending on whether the Central Region is a 6 or 7 team regional... I think that the CCIW will get a second team and possible the IIAC depending on who wins the tourneys.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2006, 03:18:21 PM
Lets just hope the regional is within a reasonable driving distance. The last time Carthage was in the top ten going into regionals was in 2003 and they got shipped to mississippi!!  They were ranked 2nd at the time. I'm sure Irish remember that all too well
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2006, 03:35:20 PM
Any ideas of where the regional might be this year? Could Carthage host... without lights? What are the odds that it lands at IWU? How about Cedar Rapids in IOWA?

I always loved it when it was Kane County Stadium... Aurora could host it. Great facility, central location for all.

Any nice places in the SLIAC to play?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on May 09, 2006, 04:05:38 PM
Kane County is out, the Cougars have games there on the 17th-19th.  They are also very protective of the field.  My son's supposed to play a HS game there tomorrow and they told them if their is a chance of rain they won't play.  Went to the Carthage/AU playoff game there a few years ago (mid 90's?)and it is a great atmosphere.  I think AU might be out of luck.  They use Oswego HS for most of their home games and that is being used on the 18th and 19th.  Too bad, it's a nice field with lights that could host a regional. 

BipPoppa, did you play at Kane County against AU?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2006, 04:18:50 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on May 09, 2006, 04:05:38 PM


BipPoppa, did you play at Kane County against AU?

I did... 93' and '94. Great place to a ball game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2006, 05:52:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2006, 03:35:20 PM
Any ideas of where the regional might be this year? Could Carthage host... without lights? What are the odds that it lands at IWU? How about Cedar Rapids in IOWA?

I always loved it when it was Kane County Stadium... Aurora could host it. Great facility, central location for all.

Any nice places in the SLIAC to play?



I doubt Carthage would be able to host for the simple fact that you stated, they don't have lights.  Carthage's field itself is fine, as are their stands. But they need lights, and also a pressbox.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 09, 2006, 05:56:27 PM
What about Augustana hosting the regional if they're in it?  One of the nicest facilities around, lights, pretty much in the middle of the region.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 09, 2006, 06:53:41 PM
I watched the first five innings of the Carthage-Concordia game today. Redmen were up 5-0 when I left. They hit the ball well and put up four in the first. Boe Baitinger in CF is a very good looking ballplayer. Very fast and made a spectacular diving catch in right-center to take away a sure double.

If the bats can stay hot, they should win the CCIW tournament with the pitching staff. A four team regional would be huge!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2006, 06:53:51 PM
I saw Augie's new facility last year and it is beautiful. As far as things that are needed (lights, a pressbox for adequate space for media people to sit) and a nice playing surface, Augie definately meets the requirements. However, I don't know all the criteria the committee looks at to determine a site.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2006, 06:57:54 PM
final score: Carthage 12, Concordia Ill. 4. Krepline was the winning pitcher for Carthage. Thats all the details I know as of now
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 09, 2006, 08:39:30 PM
Rose-Hulman is already hosting a regional...I don't know if that could possibly be a place for some of our teams or if they'll try to keep all the central region teams together somewhere else
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 09, 2006, 08:45:46 PM
Bataviapete...how are the Tri-City teams doing this year.  I'm an alum of Geneva.  I've done a horrible job the past few years of keeping up with the local teams now that I'm living nowhere close.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2006, 09:38:06 PM
Quote from: irish21 on May 09, 2006, 06:53:41 PM
I watched the first five innings of the Carthage-Concordia game today. Redmen were up 5-0 when I left. They hit the ball well and put up four in the first. Boe Baitinger in CF is a very good looking ballplayer. Very fast and made a spectacular diving catch in right-center to take away a sure double.

If the bats can stay hot, they should win the CCIW tournament with the pitching staff. A four team regional would be huge!

4 teams would be nice, but all regionals are either 6 or 7 teams this year. 53 teams in the NCAAs this spring.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 09, 2006, 11:27:18 PM
Looks like some horrible weather on tap this weekend in Kenosha.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 10, 2006, 08:37:26 AM
Redmenfan...I remember the trip to Jackson, Mississippi all too well! What a hellhole! I can't remember which school the NCAA administrator for the regional came from (I think Central of IA) but even he told us we got screwed royally by being placed in that regional. Number 2 team in the country while Ripon, an at-large team, gets to play in Oshkosh!

In fact they are still fighting the war down there. Our hotel was across from the state capitol. The eagle on top of the capitol was facing south, even though the building faced north!!!

Yee ha!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on May 10, 2006, 09:09:24 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2006, 05:52:29 PM
I doubt Carthage would be able to host for the simple fact that you stated, they don't have lights.  Carthage's field itself is fine, as are their stands. But they need lights, and also a pressbox.
Oshkosh has hosted regionals in the past at both Tiedemann Field (Home Field) and EJ Schneider (Oshkosh North HS.)  Tiedemann has never had lights, so I don't know if that requirement is exactly set in stone.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2006, 09:31:39 AM
With the expanded regionals, it will be tough to host without lights... especially if it rains.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2006, 09:48:23 AM
 Plus, Carthage's field has no pressbox for teams SID's and media people either. I know it would seem like those people could just sit in the stands somewhere, but the Carthage football team two years ago would have hosted a playoff game but they had to go on the road because they did not have a pressbox. Again, I'm not positive this is a rule for playoff baseball, I'm just strictly guessing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2006, 09:49:59 AM
And as far as the weather is concerned, it doesn't look too good at all. Its been in the 60's and 70's all week, but starting tomorrow through Saturday its only supposed to be in the low to mid 50's with a chance of rain
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on May 10, 2006, 10:13:32 AM
augie_superfan- The Tri Cities are so so this year in baseball.   STC North has probably the best team.  Geneva has struggled with some young guys playing but they have a JR LHP that is D1 material.  Our C from Batavia is playing at Augie next year.  In fact I saw a list of Chicago area recruits for next year and Auguie also has the C from Naperville North and a couple of others, they did the best of the area d3's so far.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: baseballd3 on May 10, 2006, 10:16:06 AM
I know one school that should not be allowed to host a regional. IWU. I know what you are thinking, they have a great field and great facilities, and I would have to say yes to both of those. They have lights and a good playing surface too, but what they dont have is a bullpen for the visiting team, unless you call a little bit of dirt, and a plate a bullpen. The home bullpen area has TWO mounds, raised like their field while their visiting barely lifts off the ground, only enough room for ONE pitcher to get loose. I feel that cheating the visiting team of these necessities should make IWU no longer a candidate for hosting post season competition, unless they fix these problems, then it would be a wonderful field to play May baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2006, 10:51:54 AM
I think there is a good chance that IWU WILL host the regional... even without them in it. Great facility, central location, etc...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2006, 11:45:33 AM
Well if IWU does host the regional, hopefully some of their players and frat boys stick around and heckle all the players from the fraternity house roof tops to make things fun!!
Title: Regional Rankings...
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2006, 01:14:47 PM
I would think that if regional rankings were released today, that Carthage would be back on top.  Aurora lost to Rockford on the 5th, pushing them to their 5th in region loss.  It shouldn't matter, just an observation.
Title: Re: Regional Rankings...
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2006, 01:37:43 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2006, 01:14:47 PM
I would think that if regional rankings were released today, that Carthage would be back on top.  Aurora lost to Rockford on the 5th, pushing them to their 5th in region loss.  It shouldn't matter, just an observation.

If Carthage takes care of business this weekend, I would expect them to jump to #1. Aurora should cruise through their conference tourney this weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 11, 2006, 09:00:41 AM
Raining and 43 in Chicago. I'm sure it's not much better in Kenosha!

Showing rain thru Sunday and low 50's for Kenosha on AOL weather. If they don't play the tournament, my guess is the Red people go to the regional as conference rep.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on May 11, 2006, 10:39:01 AM
Here is the link to the CCIW Baseball sports guide.  Under Championships on Page 4 at Letter D it gives the adaptations to the tournament in the event of bad weather.
http://www.cciw.org/pdf/sports_guides/BaseballSportsGuide.pdf
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2006, 11:20:07 AM
Been raining all morning in Kenosha, and is supposed to continue for most of the day. Hopefully somehow, someway they find a way to get the tournament in. As of right now, tomorrow doesn't look much better, and Saturday at least its only supposed to be scattered showers!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 02:49:04 PM
I hope it clears... I would hate to have a few seniors careers end on a phone call. My fear is that it keeps raining. If so, Carthage wins the bid and I think Augie would get a Pool C. It makes it tough for IWU and NPU as they would never have had a chance on field.

Pray for sun.... or a lack of rain.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 03:12:59 PM
From the Carthage Webpage:

"The Thursday, May 11 games at the CCIW Baseball Tournament in Kenosha, Wis., have been rained out.  The tournament will now begin on Friday, May 12 and will remain a three-day event with a Sunday, May 14 completion date."

Looks like they are still trying to make it a three-day event.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 04:20:18 PM
New Regional Rankings Out Today: It looks as if a 6th teams could be shipped into the Central Region if the tourneys go as planned.

Updated May 11, 2006

No.   Team   Regional Record   Overall
Central
1   Carthage   24-3   31-7
2   Aurora   24-5   28-9
3   Augustana (Illinois)   27-8   31-9
4   Washington-U. in St. Louis   27-3   34-5
5   Simpson   15-6   24-9
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2006, 04:52:56 PM
Does anyone know what the absolute 'drop-dead' time is for the tourney?  (i.e., If the weather refuses to cooperate, could the tourney continue into Monday, Tuesday...?)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 04:54:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2006, 04:52:56 PM
Does anyone know what the absolute 'drop-dead' time is for the tourney?  (i.e., If the weather refuses to cooperate, could the tourney continue into Monday, Tuesday...?)

Must be completed by 6PM on SUNDAY.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2006, 05:33:21 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 04:54:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2006, 04:52:56 PM
Does anyone know what the absolute 'drop-dead' time is for the tourney?  (i.e., If the weather refuses to cooperate, could the tourney continue into Monday, Tuesday...?)

Must be completed by 6PM on SUNDAY.

Well, then - anyone know a good anti-rain dance?! ;D

Hypothetical - let's say the tourney gets PARTIALLY played, and Carthage has been eliminated.  In the absence of a completed tourney, would Carthage still receive the AQ?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2006, 05:41:17 PM
Here is a link to the official CCIW tourney rules(look on page 4 for the rain procedures). I am sure it is outdated as it still uses the point system in the tourney. It also lists rotating teams as hosts.

I have no clue as to how this is going to work if the rain continues or it rains out the finals. My Carthage degree was not in rocket science.

http://www.cciw.org/pdf/sports_guides/BaseballSportsGuide.pdf  (http://www.cciw.org/pdf/sports_guides/BaseballSportsGuide.pdf)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2006, 06:35:58 PM
Thanks, BigPoppa, but unless I missed it, the rule book didn't address partial tourneys, and, like you said, seems out-of-date (but karma anyway).  Since we all seem to agree that Carthage is a lock for a C, and Augie is a near-lock, if the tourney cannot be completed, I'm rooting for IWU and NPU being the only teams left alive!  THEN what???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 09:15:17 AM
http://www.cciw.org/pdf/sports_guides/BaseballSportsGuide.pdf

Page 6, Paragraph G

In accordance with NCAA regulations, the conference champion must be delared no later than 6pm on the date of the selection for the NCAA Championship. If the post-season tournament is terminated, the conference automatic qualifier will be based on the regular season winner, in accordance with NCAA regulations and CCIW baseball sports guide duidelines.

There's an oxymoron for you...NCAA regulations!!!!

39 with a wind chill of 30 and currently raining in Kenosha!! Mother Nature is ticked off for some reason. Wind chill in May?????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 09:20:05 AM
Friday: Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Cold. High 43F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

Friday night: Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low around 40F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Saturday: Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Saturday night: Cloudy with showers. Low 41F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Sunday (24 hours): Chance of showers. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 40s.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 12, 2006, 10:13:38 AM
Kenosh, at least the half closest to Lake Michigan, has a habit of going from winter into summer, all the while skipping spring.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2006, 12:09:43 PM
It is currently not raining in Kenosha right now, we'll see how long that lasts!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: 79jaybird on May 12, 2006, 01:37:44 PM
Does anybody know why Clark Jones is stepping down at Elmhurst?  I played for Clark Jones and would like to find out why he's leaving.   ???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2006, 01:40:25 PM
From the Carthage website....

Thursday and Friday Games at the CCIW Baseball Tournament Rained Out; Single-Elimination Tournament Now Starts on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Thursday and Friday, May 11-12 games at the CCIW Baseball Tournament in Kenosha, Wis., have been rained out.  The tournament,, now a single-elimination, nine-inning event, will get underway on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. with Carthage against North Park University, and Augustana College (Ill.) taking on Illinois Wesleyan University 30 minutes after the completion of game #1.  The championship game will be played on Sunday, May 14, also at 10 a.m., with the possibility of a tournament-consolation game to follow, weather permitting.


Now who does Augie (the coach) throw in game one??  Evosovich has been Carthage's most effective pitcher versus both IWU and Augie?  Do you throw him in game one or save him for the championship game?  If you save him, are you slighting NP even though you've already beaten them three games this season by a combined 32-4 margin?  OR, do you throw Evosovich in game one and then throw Husing, Olson and Livek at whoever's left?

Who will IWU and Augie (the school) throw in game 1?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 12, 2006, 02:04:23 PM
Quote from: 79jaybird on May 12, 2006, 01:37:44 PM
Does anybody know why Clark Jones is stepping down at Elmhurst?  I played for Clark Jones and would like to find out why he's leaving.   ???

Perhaps he was spending too much time posting.
http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?action=profile;u=13413;sa=showPosts
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 03:30:54 PM
Jaybird...coach Jones made a complete fool of himself on this website. He was posting and pretending to be someone else.

Not the brightest bulb in the box!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2006, 04:04:31 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 12, 2006, 01:40:25 PM
From the Carthage website....

Thursday and Friday Games at the CCIW Baseball Tournament Rained Out; Single-Elimination Tournament Now Starts on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Thursday and Friday, May 11-12 games at the CCIW Baseball Tournament in Kenosha, Wis., have been rained out.  The tournament,, now a single-elimination, nine-inning event, will get underway on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. with Carthage against North Park University, and Augustana College (Ill.) taking on Illinois Wesleyan University 30 minutes after the completion of game #1.  The championship game will be played on Sunday, May 14, also at 10 a.m., with the possibility of a tournament-consolation game to follow, weather permitting.


Now who does Augie (the coach) throw in game one??  Evosovich has been Carthage's most effective pitcher versus both IWU and Augie?  Do you throw him in game one or save him for the championship game?  If you save him, are you slighting NP even though you've already beaten them three games this season by a combined 32-4 margin?  OR, do you throw Evosovich in game one and then throw Husing, Olson and Livek at whoever's left?

Who will IWU and Augie (the school) throw in game 1?

We were wondering about this earlier a few days back, not that its single elimination it really gets interesting. If it was my choice, i still think I would go with Olson or Husing against NP. Not saying they are looking past them, but all 3 pitchers did well against NP and Evosovich by far had the best game against Augie. If I was Augie (school), I absolutely have to go with my ace against IWU because not only is it single elimination, but I woul d say they still have to feel like they have to win one game to be almost assured of an at large bid, IMO
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 05:16:20 PM
We went with Dusty Reid instead of Danny Grybash in the first game in Mississippi in 2003. Needless to say we didn't win! Dusty pitched a hell of a game but the mindset was never the same after losing the opener.

You go with your best and the rest will fall into place. I covered HS baseball for the Daily Herald for 15 years and it completely amazed me every year in the IHSA playoffs when HS coaches would think they could sneak by the first game by using someone other than their number one!

BIG mistake at every level!

You keep dancing by dancing with the one that brung ya!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 12, 2006, 05:19:17 PM
Quote from: 79jaybird on May 12, 2006, 01:37:44 PM
Does anybody know why Clark Jones is stepping down at Elmhurst?  I played for Clark Jones and would like to find out why he's leaving.   ???

Rumor on the street is that he was asked to resign in lieu of being canned.  That's why he is leaving, as far as I have heard.  As to the reasons for that, well, the terms of use for this board prevent going too far here.  Does pulling the seniors on senior day sound right to anyone?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2006, 05:49:17 PM
Irish,

I agree with you for the most part, but Olson and Husing also did very well against NP, and I think that's a huge part of the thinking I'm using. Its not like they are playing a team they are not familiar with, they just played NP i believe 2 weeks ago. If at all in anyway Augie thinks that if he pitches Olson or Husing that his players might think they are looking past NP, then I would say go with Evosovich. However, if he believes he can tell them that all 3 had success against NP and he has faith in Olson or Husing, and the guys think about what he's trying to do, then I think it would work fine. Remember, we went with Heinig (our 3 last year) against Augie in the first game of the tourney last year because of how well he did against them.  Either way, bottom line, Carthage is very fortunate to have 3 (4 with Livek) pitchers that have been reliable all year. (I'm almost postive the 4 are 24-3 on the year just thinking from the top of my head). No matter who they decide to start, we know it will be someone with great numbers who had success against NP just a few weeks ago. Irish, are you or your favorite redmen going to make it up at all tomorrow or Sunday??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 05:59:07 PM
RMF...Patrick went to Ft. Worth yesterday to watch the season opening series for Danny Grybash's minor league team - The Ft. Worth Cats. He called and told me Fergie Jenkins threw out the first pitch at the season opener last night!

I've been thinking about coming up just to get some Augieism's. The internet comment he made to Gene Walther at Concordia was just an instant classic!!

It was real weird at Concordia. Outside of Warren and Andy Jacques, there is no one left from Patrick's senior year. Evo was on that team but didn't make the trip to Concordia.

It will have to be much warmer than the past two days to get me up to Kenosha-by-the-sea!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: diehardfan on May 12, 2006, 07:41:34 PM
This is a little outdated, but I couldn't resist.

Wheaton conference standings for the last six years:

2001- last
2002 - last
2003 - 7th
2004 - 7th
2005 - 7th
2006 - 4thT

Improvement ladies and gentlemen!  :) ;D 8)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2006, 07:44:36 PM
Irish i know what you mean,

I've went to a few of their practices just to hang out with the guys this year and knew only about half of them, and i just played last year!! But its a great group of guys who have come together very well and are a fun group to watch. What was Aug's quote on the internet?? I know in the paper he said "I know people are getting tired of me saying we're not that good and we're 31-7, but I just feel like there is a lot more things that we can be doing better." I got the word on who's pitching tomorrow...obviously I can't share that info before the game!! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 10:19:47 PM
RMF...look at the bottom of my posts. His quote is at the bottom. But now I have a new one. I was just watching the original Bad News Bears. There are some great one-liners in that movie!

In case you missed it...

"We look a lot better on the internet than we do in person" - Augie Schmidt responding to a friend when he said he had been following the Redmen on the website.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: someone12 on May 13, 2006, 01:55:19 AM
wow i think wheaton deserves a little more respect than that.  they did have 8 one run games and at least 5 more 2 run games that one less error or one extra hit could have put them in the W category.  not to mention nearly sweeping augustana and pretty much being the only team to hit evosevich well.  neadless to say, i believe wheaton deserves a little more respect than that last post.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 13, 2006, 10:02:12 AM
As this present weather system lingers over the upper midwest, consider this -- the Minnesota legislature is pondering the merits of a funding bill for an OPEN AIR baseball stadium.

Yes, in Minnesota, where the Twins last night beat the White Sox in the Dome, and outside it was rain and 39 degrees.

That would have been a postponed game, rather than a rare win over Chicago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: AUpitch104k on May 13, 2006, 10:26:22 AM
Quote from: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 05:16:20 PM
We went with Dusty Reid instead of Danny Grybash in the first game in Mississippi in 2003. Needless to say we didn't win! Dusty pitched a hell of a game but the mindset was never the same after losing the opener.

You go with your best and the rest will fall into place. I covered HS baseball for the Daily Herald for 15 years and it completely amazed me every year in the IHSA playoffs when HS coaches would think they could sneak by the first game by using someone other than their number one!

BIG mistake at every level!

You keep dancing by dancing with the one that brung ya!

What is Dusty doing today? Last time I saw him was at a MLB Scouting Bureau tryout. any clue?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 13, 2006, 12:48:53 PM
Top of the sixth...Redmen 8 Vikings 0

Carthage put up 7 in the first after batting 11 men. Evosevich went the first five now Olson is in.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 13, 2006, 03:49:19 PM
10-1 Redmen victory.

IWU up 3-1 in top of 7th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 13, 2006, 04:22:27 PM
Bottom of 8th...IWU 4 Augie 1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 13, 2006, 04:55:51 PM
IWU 4 Augie 1

Redmen vs Titans for the CCIW championship tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on May 13, 2006, 07:06:56 PM
Quote from: irish21 on May 12, 2006, 05:16:20 PM
What is Dusty doing today? Last time I saw him was at a MLB Scouting Bureau tryout. any clue?
He's playing a little bit of softball in the small town of West Bloomfield, and is currently playing baseball in the BABA for a team called the Little Falls Loggers.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2006, 12:12:54 AM
2 questions.

What does the weather look like for tomorrow?

What do people think Augie's chances look like?  (My speculation: if Carthage wins, Augie is a near-lock; if IWU wins, Augie may be in trouble - not sure the CCIW would be deemed worthy of 3 teams, but we have no experience with a tourney this size.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2006, 12:05:58 PM
Carthage up 3-2 with Carthage batting in the top of the 4th.

Carthage knocked DuBois out of the game with 5 straight singles to open the game and score 3 runs.

IWU came back and scored 2 in the bottom of the first off of Husing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2006, 02:09:29 PM
Carthage wins 6-4 to win the CCIW automatic bid.

I wouls have to guess that IWU's season is over and that Augie gets a Pool C bid.  31-10 is nothing to sneeze at.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 14, 2006, 02:45:37 PM
Way to go Carthage!

Conference and Conference Tourney--a very nice two-some, indeed, even if the tourney was plagued by weather.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2006, 03:55:21 PM
Ryan Roufus and Jeff Livek came in and pitched tremendous for the Redmen. Great game to be at. Some of the IWU fans are just hilarious. Talk about complaining and whining, they take it to a whole other level. Steve Rucks smoked a ball at IWU's 3rd basemen and it took a hop and hit him in the head to score two runs, and the guy starts going off on how terrible of a field Carthage has. My guess, it was just because Carthage was pounding the ball the inning.  Don't bad hops happen on major league fields? Anyone who has played at Carthage knows the playing surface itself is good, maybe not the best, but good. And anyone who's played at IWU knows the setup and environment is cool, but the playing surface is very subpar. That field last year for the conference tourney was an embarrassment with the condition it was in. Overall, a great game to watch. Congrats to Carthage, and probably to Augie as well as they most likely will get a bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2006, 04:03:44 PM
Almost forgot, some great Augie lines the past two days.

"How can you be a starting infielder for a college baseball team and not throw a baseball 90 f'ing feet"

"You just did us a huge favor, thanks for plunking our worst hitter!!"-Yelling at the pitcher from NP after he hit Even, one of Carthage's best hitters.

"This is like little league out here, I have no idea what we're doing"

And today his blowup on the home plate umpire for calling a balk that brought in a run tops them all. I can't remember it all, but it was about a 2 minute tyraid that consisted of "I'm so sick of your s**t, you've been doing this to us for 3 f'ing years. How is that a balk, he's been doing it all game. You're just looking for someway to screw us. You know people aren't here to watch you, they're here to watch these kids not you. Everyone here is laughing at you!!"  There was a lot more, but you get the point. CLASSIC AUGIE, that's why we love him.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 14, 2006, 05:19:27 PM
The reality is that only Carthage really deserves an NCAA tourney bid from the CCIW. Augie had a good year, but the pitching just isn't good enough to deserve a tourney bid. The change to single elimination in the CCIW tourney may save them, but it will be a bit of a stretch. Essentially IWU and Augie ended the season as equals pretty far behind Carthage in on the field performance.

I hope Augie gets that bid. Whether they do or not good luck to Carthage. They are good enough to get through the 1st round, and then who knows.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 14, 2006, 05:48:26 PM
RMF...did Augie get tossed? Usually when a coach says stuff like that and doesn't get tossed, the umpire knows he made a mistake.

Congrats to the Redmen, Augie and his staff! Nice to see Carthage back at the top of the CCIW!

Now go out and play like you are capable of playing and get back to Appleton!

Sounds like they looked as good in person as they do on the internet ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2006, 06:35:32 PM
Irish, no he didn't get tossed, I have absolutely no idea how he didn't.

Augiefan: I don't know much about Augie's pitching depth, but I know their top 2 are outstanding. I believe they only have 2 losses between them now that Setter finally lost a game.  Anyone know what time the pairings are released?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 14, 2006, 06:45:08 PM
Augiefan...have you followed them this year at all?  They have the 10th best batting average in the nation and a 3.36 team ERA which falls somewhere around 35th in the nation.  Please, do a little bit of looking first before you say that this team doesn't have good enough pitching to deserve a bid.  Here are a look at their top two pitchers...let me know if these are still non-deserving numbers:

Andrew Setter

9-1; 1.54 ERA; 7 CG; 73 K to 19 BB in 81.2 IP

Kevin Kuntz

7-2; 1.39 ERA; 4 CG; only 40 hits in 58.1 IP (.189 batting average against)


Those are some deserving numbers...here are the other 3 main pitchers...still some pretty decent stuff:

Engle
4-4; 3.05 ERA; 53 IP

Gwost
4-2; 4.44 ERA; 50.2 IP

Schref
4-1; 4.71 ERA; 42 IP


I really don't see your reasoning as to why the pitching has made Augie not deserve a bid.  Please, explain yourself because you have me very curious.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2006, 06:50:15 PM
Superfan, thanks for clarifying, i didn't know their number 2 had lost another game, but he actually has the lowest era. I think if you go 31-10, have beaten the number 8 team in the country, and have the 10th best hitting team statistically, how could you not get at large bid?? (unless IWU would have won today, I would have to think Augie would have been out of luck)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2006, 06:50:34 PM
I realize this is awfully late to raise an objection, but could posters please refer to Coach Schmidt when talking about Carthage?!  With constant references to Augie, I'm going to start wondering about the collegiate loyalties of augiefan and augie_superfan, among others! ;D

(signed) a confused fan of the team that came close today, but whose season is no doubt over.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 14, 2006, 10:59:02 PM
Mr. Ypsi -- Having gone to school with his dad, and later a colleague, I always knew the guy as Little Augie.

Knowing the son as I do, I'm quite sure I could still call him Little Augie without offending him.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2006, 01:19:51 AM
Congrats to Carthage upon winning the CCIW title.

As I pretty much expected, NPU didn't fare well in the conference tournament. But just making the conference tournament itself was a major victory for a Vikings program that had totally hit the skids over the past few seasons. April posted this weekend about how much Wheaton had improved. Well, try this on for size -- here's North Park's season results over the last six seasons:

2001: 4-17, 5-35-1 (7th CCIW)
2002: 8-13, 11-29 (6th CCIW)
2003: 2-19, 3-34 (8th CCIW)
2004: 0-21, 2-35-1 (8th CCIW)
2005: 1-20, 1-39 (8th CCIW)
2006: 8-13, 14-27 (4th CCIW)

That's a pretty dramatic turnaround for the Park in Luke Johnson's first year at the helm -- and he didn't even have the benefit of a full recruiting period with which to begin reconstructing what had once been a very good CCIW baseball program during the Bosko Djurickovic era.

NPU still has a ways to go, obviously. This year the Vikings proved that they could beat everyone else in the pack, but they posted a dismal 0-10 record against the CCIW's Big Three, with only a couple of those losses being close. Johnson's next task is to build up the roster to get the Vikings to the point where they can give Carthage, Augustana, and Illinois Wesleyan a run for their money.

I'm really impressed with Johnson and with the job he's done. NPU made a great hire when they brought him aboard last summer. I look forward to seeing what he can do with the Vikings in 2007.
Title: Carthage sent to St Louis.
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2006, 08:50:27 AM
Hosted by Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
1. Carthage (33-7)
2. Millsaps (34-11)
3. Washington-U. in St. Louis (34-5)
4. Aurora (29-11)
5. Webster (26-16)
6. Mount St. Joseph (28-15)


Too bad it wasn't closer to home..
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2006, 10:03:21 AM
Well, St. Louis is a lot better than being shipped to Mississippi! Anyone know any info about the other teams other than their records? We are all fairly familiar with aurora, but I don't know much at all about any of the other schools.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: AUpitch104k on May 15, 2006, 10:59:59 AM
Well with the way Chapple and Salter pitched in the conference tourney they should be fired up for some good games in the regional. Both need to have bounce back appearances. They are lucky to have received the at large, now hopefully they can do something with that. I would love to see another AU Carthage Championship game. Go Spartans.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 12:29:54 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2006, 10:03:21 AM
Well, St. Louis is a lot better than being shipped to Mississippi! Anyone know any info about the other teams other than their records? We are all fairly familiar with aurora, but I don't know much at all about any of the other schools.

Millsaps shortstop, Drew Wetzel, was the pre-season National Player of the Year. Millsaps is a solid squad with some great players.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2006, 12:40:24 PM
In regionals, obviously pitching depth becomes a huge factor.  Also equally important is how fast your top 2 pitchers can recover. If they threw Wednesday, do you have a guy with a rubber band arm that can throw Saturday? If you do, that can be huge. Carthage's top 4 are very good, and Roufus has proved this year he is very solid out of the bullpen as well. Krepline has had a solid year (I believe he's 4-1). After that, Carthage has some guys that I know can throw the ball well, they just have barely gotten much of a chance to this year besides the Florida trip. The 7-10 guys don't throw quite as hard as say an Olson, Livek, or Husing, but they throw strikes and if called upon this weekend I think can get the job done
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 15, 2006, 12:48:23 PM
Well too bad Augustana did not make it.  They certaintly had a very good season but came up just short in the end.  Good luck to Carthage in the regionals.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on May 15, 2006, 01:06:57 PM
Does anyone know if Wash U has lights?  Looking at their website and by the game times I would say no.  I was under the impression that Carthage lost out hosting because of no lights. 

Wetzel was drafted by the Rockies in the 10th round.  Interesting that Baseball America shows him as signing for $58K.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 01:21:15 PM
Wash U does NOT Have lights... I think they were chosen to ost because of a central location. Millsaps would have a easier time getting there and the other teams centrally located to St. Louis. Where is Mt. St. Joseph's from?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on May 15, 2006, 01:39:51 PM
Mt St Joe's is in Cincinnati and won the Heartland Conference.  Don't know much about them, just got that info from their website.  From looking at their stats, they look kind of average, no stud pitcher.  No common opponents from any CCIW schools. 

When's Carthage getting lights?  I heard they have plans ot put them up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on May 15, 2006, 02:13:59 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2006, 10:03:21 AM
Well, St. Louis is a lot better than being shipped to Mississippi! Anyone know any info about the other teams other than their records? We are all fairly familiar with aurora, but I don't know much at all about any of the other schools.

IWU beat Millsaps twice on their spring trip.  IWU beat one of Millsaps top 2 pitchers, Kindler.  He finished the year at 9-2.  Don't really know alot about them.

I also know that 2 of Wash U's 5 losses were to Elmhurst.   

This regional should come down to Aurora and Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 15, 2006, 04:30:47 PM
I don't really know much about any of the teams playing in St. Louis except for the Millsaps team.  Because of that, I don't think I could make a claim that the region should come down to just 2 teams, especially two teams that are likely to play each other in the second round.

Carthage looks like the team with the deepest pitching which should make them the favorites but I suspect that several teams are capable of winning this regional.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2006, 04:45:52 PM
I don't know exactly when Carthage will get lights. I know that their field is starting to get used quite a bit as well in the summer over the the past few years, and will be again this summer. Hopefully in the next year or so they have lights, as well as a pressbox and a new scoreboard.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 05:01:03 PM
Quote from: frank_ezelle on May 15, 2006, 04:30:47 PM
I don't really know much about any of the teams playing in St. Louis except for the Millsaps team.  Because of that, I don't think I could make a claim that the region should come down to just 2 teams, especially two teams that are likely to play each other in the second round.

Carthage looks like the team with the deepest pitching which should make them the favorites but I suspect that several teams are capable of winning this regional.

NEVER underestimate ANYONE at tournament time. I am a Carthage fan, but this regional scares me more than any other I have seen because I know very little about any of the other teams. Some teams may get in simply because they have a nasty #1 pitcher who does not lose and that always causes problems for the top ranked teams.

Anything can happen... and it usually does. This is going to be a great post-season this year due to the high number of unknown varaibles still playing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on May 15, 2006, 05:29:25 PM
Does anyone have an idea who will replace Jones @ Elmhurst ?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on May 15, 2006, 06:30:17 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on May 15, 2006, 05:29:25 PM
Does anyone have an idea who will replace Jones @ Elmhurst ?

I think Luke Johnson(NPU) would be a good choice. He is an Elmhurst alum and proved he can win at NPU.

I have also heard rumors of a former CCIW player currently coaching in California. I am not sure on the name.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 07:27:49 PM
I too am sorry to see Augie did not get a bid, but it was not surprising. SuperFan asked me to defend my position that a bid might not have been earned. Here goes:

1. Losing nonconference games to Rockford and Alma (Bad)

2. Losing 2 out of 3 to Wheaton (Really Bad)

3. Losing 2 out of 3 to Cathage (Not bad but it set the stage and ultimately helped confirm Carthage to be the class of the CCIW).

4. Losing to NCC 6-1 at the end of the regular season (Hurt their chances).

5. Splitting 4 games with IWU capped by losing in the CCIW tourney (Virtually guaranteed no bid for Augie with Carthage winning the title game).

6. Other than two excellent pitchers, the rest of the pitching staff struggled big time (Not Good).

All in all a good season for Augie, but not one deserving of a DIII World Series opportunity. I think if they had beaten IWU, they would have been invited, but with the bid on the line they came up short. Regretably the tournament committee agreed. I know some of my posts piss of the Augie faithful, and I would much rather drink Blue & Gold kool aid, but I try to be objective.

Good luck to Carthage. They have the talent to go a long way.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 07:50:31 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 07:27:49 PM
I too am sorry to see Augie did not get a bid, but it was not surprising. SuperFan asked me to defend my position that a bid might not have been earned. Here goes:

1. Losing nonconference games to Rockford and Alma (Bad)

2. Losing 2 out of 3 to Wheaton (Really Bad)

3. Losing 2 out of 3 to Cathage (Not bad but it set the stage and ultimately helped confirm Carthage to be the class of the CCIW).

4. Losing to NCC 6-1 at the end of the regular season (Hurt their chances).

5. Splitting 4 games with IWU capped by losing in the CCIW tourney (Virtually guaranteed no bid for Augie with Carthage winning the title game).

6. Other than two excellent pitchers, the rest of the pitching staff struggled big time (Not Good).

All in all a good season for Augie, but not one deserving of a DIII World Series opportunity. I think if they had beaten IWU, they would have been invited, but with the bid on the line they came up short. Regretably the tournament committee agreed. I know some of my posts piss of the Augie faithful, and I would much rather drink Blue & Gold kool aid, but I try to be objective.

Good luck to Carthage. They have the talent to go a long way.



Positive karma for the honesty. True fans see teams for what they are, not what they want them to be.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 15, 2006, 08:12:29 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 07:27:49 PM
I too am sorry to see Augie did not get a bid, but it was not surprising. SuperFan asked me to defend my position that a bid might not have been earned. Here goes:

1. Losing nonconference games to Rockford and Alma (Bad)

2. Losing 2 out of 3 to Wheaton (Really Bad)

3. Losing 2 out of 3 to Cathage (Not bad but it set the stage and ultimately helped confirm Carthage to be the class of the CCIW).

4. Losing to NCC 6-1 at the end of the regular season (Hurt their chances).

5. Splitting 4 games with IWU capped by losing in the CCIW tourney (Virtually guaranteed no bid for Augie with Carthage winning the title game).

6. Other than two excellent pitchers, the rest of the pitching staff struggled big time (Not Good).

All in all a good season for Augie, but not one deserving of a DIII World Series opportunity. I think if they had beaten IWU, they would have been invited, but with the bid on the line they came up short. Regretably the tournament committee agreed. I know some of my posts piss of the Augie faithful, and I would much rather drink Blue & Gold kool aid, but I try to be objective.

Good luck to Carthage. They have the talent to go a long way.




Well, those are good points and obviously reasons for them not making it.  However, those reasons are not what started this conversation.  You claimed that their PITCHING didn't deserve the bid.  Then I put forth the stats of the 5 most used pitchers.  So, in my opinion, you didn't prove anything by listing these points up here that would verify your original statement.  And I think you point #6 above is just overstated.  You are telling me that the rest of the pitching staff struggled BIG TIME??  That is just crazy.  Did you ever play Division III baseball, have you ever followed it really closely before this message board was created?  A 4.00 ERA in a conference such as the CCIW is hardly BIG TIME struggling for college baseball.  Go look up a team like Rowan, a team that was probably one of the last Pool C's.  They have team pitching statistics that are almost exactly the same as Augustana.  Obviously the selection comittee found them to be deserving.  The difference between Augustana and Rowan was most likely that Rowan played tougher competition throughout the year and that made up for their lower record.  So, if you'd like another chance, please explain to me why the PITCHING was not deserving.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 08:34:33 PM
Watch my karma drop after this one:

I have stated repeatedly on this board that teams that do not get in the NCAAs do not have a reason to complain. They all had a chance to get in on the field and failed. Do I think Augustana should be in?... yes... are they?...no. Who is to blame for that one? Certainly not the NCAA as Augustana simply left their fate in someone else's hands and it did not work out. You are rolling the dice when you do not win your conference. Blame the other favorites that did not win their tourneys and took your at large Pool C bid.

Go ahead and ding me Augie fans... I expect it. Now... I have talked about the elephant in the room that everyone else ignored.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: diehardfan on May 15, 2006, 08:35:54 PM
Quote from: someone12 on May 13, 2006, 01:55:19 AM
wow i think wheaton deserves a little more respect than that.  they did have 8 one run games and at least 5 more 2 run games that one less error or one extra hit could have put them in the W category.  not to mention nearly sweeping augustana and pretty much being the only team to hit evosevich well.  neadless to say, i believe wheaton deserves a little more respect than that last post.

Uh oh, I didn't mean that as an insult at all... trust me, I am quite the diehard Wheaton fan... some of these posters can vouch for my insanity over on the other boards  :D Baseball has always been one of my favorite sports to watch, and I went to more than a few baseball games in my day, when they were muuch worse than they were this past year. As a Wheaton alum I'mook forward to the idea of Wheaton's growing competitiveness in a sport I enjoy so much, that's all.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2006, 01:19:51 AM
Congrats to Carthage upon winning the CCIW title.

As I pretty much expected, NPU didn't fare well in the conference tournament. But just making the conference tournament itself was a major victory for a Vikings program that had totally hit the skids over the past few seasons. April posted this weekend about how much Wheaton had improved. Well, try this on for size -- here's North Park's season results over the last six seasons:

2001: 4-17, 5-35-1 (7th CCIW)
2002: 8-13, 11-29 (6th CCIW)
2003: 2-19, 3-34 (8th CCIW)
2004: 0-21, 2-35-1 (8th CCIW)
2005: 1-20, 1-39 (8th CCIW)
2006: 8-13, 14-27 (4th CCIW)

That's a pretty dramatic turnaround for the Park in Luke Johnson's first year at the helm -- and he didn't even have the benefit of a full recruiting period with which to begin reconstructing what had once been a very good CCIW baseball program during the Bosko Djurickovic era.

Well, I hardly think the facilities change hurt? Wheaton improved without it. (Unless, somehow, I missed the news that we actually built a stadium.  ??? :'( I think that's pretty big.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 07:50:31 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 07:27:49 PM
I too am sorry to see Augie did not get a bid, but it was not surprising. SuperFan asked me to defend my position that a bid might not have been earned. Here goes...
Positive karma for the honesty. True fans see teams for what they are, not what they want them to be.

That's why we love him  :) ;) :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 15, 2006, 09:23:26 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 08:34:33 PM
Watch my karma drop after this one:

I have stated repeatedly on this board that teams that do not get in the NCAAs do not have a reason to complain. They all had a chance to get in on the field and failed. Do I think Augustana should be in?... yes... are they?...no. Who is to blame for that one? Certainly not the NCAA as Augustana simply left their fate in someone else's hands and it did not work out. You are rolling the dice when you do not win your conference. Blame the other favorites that did not win their tourneys and took your at large Pool C bid.

Go ahead and ding me Augie fans... I expect it. Now... I have talked about the elephant in the room that everyone else ignored.



I don't think anyone is going to argue with you BigPoppa....Augustana had a few games over the course of the season that they should have won and they didn't.  I hope you aren't taking my previous post as saying Augie should be in.  I really really wish they were in but we don't have enough selection information to decide if they should've been in over someone else.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2006, 10:39:50 PM
My post was not directed at Augustana, but to all the teams complaining today. It just happened to fall after the post about Augie.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 10:49:13 PM
Perhaps I was a little unfair to Augie's pitching staff, but it's hard to blame the excellent hitting or fielding for their failure to get a bid. They did have great pitching in the Carthage series, but wasted all their runs in one game. However, of the 3 categories pitching seemed to be the weakness.

Setter, Kuntz and Engle did their part, but the rest of the staff struggled. The good thing is Kuntz and Engle will be back next year. Again we're talking a tournament calibre pitching staff. And yes Wheaton was much improved this year, but the number two team in the CCIW should have won 2 of 3 in that series.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 16, 2006, 05:16:27 AM
Quote from: diehardfan on May 15, 2006, 08:35:54 PM
Well, I hardly think the facilities change hurt? Wheaton improved without it.

Trust me, NPU's baseball field is nobody's idea of a state-of-the-art D3 facility. The dugouts are better than the old ones, and the field now has lights, but the Park isn't recruiting baseball players based upon the primo facilities. I'd be shocked if any of the new players that Luke Johnson brought in this past year cited the baseball field as one of the reasons why they chose to attend NPU.

If anything, the fact that the baseball players have to share the field with their schoolmates on the softball team (different diamond, same field), whose season runs concurrently, means that the cramped facilities at North Park are as much of a drawback as they ever were. The program that benefits the most by far from the Holmgren Athletic Complex makeover is the football team.

Worse, the baseball Vikings are still forced to practice in the gym during inclement weather and in preseason workouts as they wait for the snow to melt. If there is going to be a tangible difference in NPU's ability to recruit baseball players based upon facilities, it'll come after the new Helwig Recreation Center is opened next fall -- since that facility will allow the team to take fielding and batting practice on an indoor Field Turf surface identical to the one at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 16, 2006, 09:39:40 AM
The entire field...

http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/NCAAChampionship/2006/Regionals/Seeds.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2006, 11:39:37 AM
Irish... good to see you are still out there. I was getting worried. Are you going to catch a game in St. Louis this weekend?

I don't know about you, but this regional scares me because of the unknown teams involved... Millsaps and Mt. St. Joes.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: TitanRailer on May 16, 2006, 11:44:16 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on May 15, 2006, 08:12:29 PM
Quote from: augiefan on May 15, 2006, 07:27:49 PM
I too am sorry to see Augie did not get a bid, but it was not surprising. SuperFan asked me to defend my position that a bid might not have been earned. Here goes:

1. Losing nonconference games to Rockford and Alma (Bad)

2. Losing 2 out of 3 to Wheaton (Really Bad)

3. Losing 2 out of 3 to Cathage (Not bad but it set the stage and ultimately helped confirm Carthage to be the class of the CCIW).

4. Losing to NCC 6-1 at the end of the regular season (Hurt their chances).

5. Splitting 4 games with IWU capped by losing in the CCIW tourney (Virtually guaranteed no bid for Augie with Carthage winning the title game).

6. Other than two excellent pitchers, the rest of the pitching staff struggled big time (Not Good).

All in all a good season for Augie, but not one deserving of a DIII World Series opportunity. I think if they had beaten IWU, they would have been invited, but with the bid on the line they came up short. Regretably the tournament committee agreed. I know some of my posts piss of the Augie faithful, and I would much rather drink Blue & Gold kool aid, but I try to be objective.

Good luck to Carthage. They have the talent to go a long way.




Well, those are good points and obviously reasons for them not making it.  However, those reasons are not what started this conversation.  You claimed that their PITCHING didn't deserve the bid.  Then I put forth the stats of the 5 most used pitchers.  So, in my opinion, you didn't prove anything by listing these points up here that would verify your original statement.  And I think you point #6 above is just overstated.  You are telling me that the rest of the pitching staff struggled BIG TIME??  That is just crazy.  Did you ever play Division III baseball, have you ever followed it really closely before this message board was created?  A 4.00 ERA in a conference such as the CCIW is hardly BIG TIME struggling for college baseball.  Go look up a team like Rowan, a team that was probably one of the last Pool C's.  They have team pitching statistics that are almost exactly the same as Augustana.  Obviously the selection comittee found them to be deserving.  The difference between Augustana and Rowan was most likely that Rowan played tougher competition throughout the year and that made up for their lower record.  So, if you'd like another chance, please explain to me why the PITCHING was not deserving.

Please look at the pitching in the 9 regional losses.  Augie pitchers gave up an average of 6.5 runs per game, including double digits three times.  So, it is safe to say Augie pitching struggled, at times, when it counted.  Although in year's past your comments would hold true, don't over-estimate the CCIW this year.  Only three teams had winning records and 4th place was 8-13.  

Although a good overall record, unfortunately, we know in D3, only region games count, and 9 in-region losses is tough to ignore.  I have trouble with Rowan getting a bid.  I know I haven't seen them play, but the entire selection process is an ON-PAPER process and, on-paper, Augie appears to be the better team.    
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on May 16, 2006, 12:28:37 PM
Here are all the teams websites from the regional

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325
http://www.millsaps.edu/athletic/baseball/index.shtml
http://www.aurora.edu/athletics/baseball
http://www.msj.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/index.asp
http://bearsports.wustl.edu/baseball/baseball.html
http://www.webster.edu/athletics/mbaseball/main.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2006, 01:22:04 PM
Just read the sports page today, and Augie is not very thrilled about being the 7th ranked team in the country and having to travel to St. Louis. The paper stated that this is like a flashback from the 2002 squad when they were ranked 2nd in the country and got shipped to mississippi. Its clear in the article that his biggest problem with the decision for Wash U. to host is that they don't have lights, and he tought a field had to have lights in order to host a 6 team regional. He stated that Carthage could have hosted a 6 team regional easily.

Also, for any of you who have access to the kenosha news, there is a classic picture of Augie in yesterdays paper in the umpires grill with his finger right in his face.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: 79jaybird on May 16, 2006, 01:39:43 PM
"Why did Clark Jones leave"

Thanks to those who replied.  I agree that if a Coach is spending too much time in areas where he "shouldn't be and/or shouldn't care"  then you aren't spending enough time where it does matter.
Irish21-- You are right on.  I like Coach Jones, but he can be "out there" sometimes with his actions and mannerisms.
Good luck to the CCIW in the post-season.  Hopefully our guys play better than the *** Cubs!  My beloved Cubbies made me sick with 3 errors in 1 inning, then 2 Wild Pitches in a row to bring home runs.  Ugh!  Baker/Rotchschild/half the team has to go!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2006, 02:26:55 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2006, 01:22:04 PM
Just read the sports page today, and Augie is not very thrilled about being the 7th ranked team in the country and having to travel to St. Louis. The paper stated that this is like a flashback from the 2002 squad when they were ranked 2nd in the country and got shipped to mississippi. Its clear in the article that his biggest problem with the decision for Wash U. to host is that they don't have lights, and he tought a field had to have lights in order to host a 6 team regional. He stated that Carthage could have hosted a 6 team regional easily.

Also, for any of you who have access to the kenosha news, there is a classic picture of Augie in yesterdays paper in the umpires grill with his finger right in his face.

Augie has a way of getting his players re-focused on the game at the right time. He will use the St. Louis thing to motivate his players. Only Augie can make a #1 seed feel like they need to have a chip on their shoulder.
I was also surprised that Wash U hosted without lights. Any rain will certainly upset the weekend. They should reward the #1 or #2 seed with the hosting. If #1 refuses, give it to #2 and so on down the road. It would make the #1 seed much more valuable.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 16, 2006, 02:57:53 PM
I think Augustana's biggest weakness was the defense.  They only fielded .946 and 34% of their run were unearned...that can hurt.  Also, you mentioned that the pitching staff gave up about 6.5 runs per game but that is not taking into account unearned runs.  I think they actually gave up 37 ER in the 9 games...not completely sure I counted that right though.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2006, 03:07:33 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on May 16, 2006, 02:57:53 PM
I think Augustana's biggest weakness was the defense.  They only fielded .946 and 34% of their run were unearned...that can hurt.  Also, you mentioned that the pitching staff gave up about 6.5 runs per game but that is not taking into account unearned runs.  I think they actually gave up 37 ER in the 9 games...not completely sure I counted that right though.

To look for a silver lining here, I bet if someone were to tell Augie that they were going to be a bubble team at the start of the season, they would have taken that season. They had a GREAT year. Another thing is that they now know exactly what needs to be done to get to the next level. I look for Augustana to be a major player in the CCIW, if not the nation, next year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2006, 03:21:23 PM
Does anyone know if games will be able to be played Sunday if the weather does not cooperate. When is the deadline to have a winner in the regional?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on May 16, 2006, 03:21:30 PM
Adding to Auguie's defensive woes was the catching.  Opponents were 60-69 in SB's against them.  They have two top notch catchers coming in next year.  
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 16, 2006, 04:32:07 PM
I think the regionals need to be completed by Monday night...it is somewhere in the handbook, I'm too lazy to look it up right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2006, 08:18:59 PM
The CCIW All-Conference teams have been announced:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2006bballconferenceteam-1.htm

Congratulations to North Park Head Coach Luke Johnson for being named "Coach of the Year."  He is very deserving of the accolades, not only for the improvement of this year's Viking squad, but also for his tireless work in preparing the players in every facet of the game.

Also recognized were Viking outfielder Pat Zarilla and DH Mike Kuta, both of whom were named to the second team.

Carthage's Scott Evosevich and Augustana's Andrew Setter were named co-pitchers of the year -- both outstanding choices -- and Elmhurst's Anthony Contaldo was player of the year.

Congratulations to all the players who were honored!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 16, 2006, 08:33:16 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 16, 2006, 08:18:59 PM
The CCIW All-Conference teams have been announced:

Congratulations to North Park Head Coach Luke Johnson for being named "Coach of the Year."  He is very deserving of the accolades, not only for the improvement of this year's Viking squad, but also for his tireless work in preparing the players in every facet of the game.

Carthage's Scott Evosevich and Augustana's Andrew Setter were named co-pitchers of the year -- both outstanding choices -- and Elmhurst's Anthony Contaldo was player of the year.


Again congrats to all.  Great to see Contaldo bring some attention to the Jays this year, along with EC alum Johnson. 
Setter, who I believe is from Rockford, helps to prove that some pretty decent players come from the NIC-9, which I believe is an under-recruited conference.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Cooler King on May 16, 2006, 08:36:13 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 16, 2006, 05:16:27 AM
Quote from: diehardfan on May 15, 2006, 08:35:54 PM

I'd be shocked if any of the new players that Luke Johnson brought in this past year cited the baseball field as one of the reasons why they chose to attend NPU.

As I've said before in a post, being a former CCIW lefty, a solid NPU squad would have made the Holmgren Field a nice place to hit for four years.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2006, 08:41:17 PM
Congratulations to all the all conference players. Looking at stats alone, I think Jeff Livek deserved 2nd team, but he just didn't pitch enough in the conference because Carthage's starters almost always went complete games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 16, 2006, 09:25:15 PM
Quote

Augie has a way of getting his players re-focused on the game at the right time. He will use the St. Louis thing to motivate his players. Only Augie can make a #1 seed feel like they need to have a chip on their shoulder.
I was also surprised that Wash U hosted without lights. Any rain will certainly upset the weekend. They should reward the #1 or #2 seed with the hosting. If #1 refuses, give it to #2 and so on down the road. It would make the #1 seed much more valuable.
Quote

My understanding of hosting a regional is this: You have to put in a bid to host prior to the start of the season or at least midway through the season. You can't put in a bid once you find out you are going to get in the tournament. This subject was brought up when we were shipped to Mississippi in 2003. That team really got screwed.

St. Louis is not bad and up until 2001, Carthage would play in a weekend tournament down there so I don't see it being that big of a deal. Augie using it as motivation is pure Augie - he loves St. Louis!

We faced Millsaps in MS in 2003 and they pulled off the upset of the tournament. The Red people are 2-4 against them. It's time to get even!!

From the Carthage media guide...

Carthage lost both ends of a 1986 twinbill to the Majors in Jackson, Miss., won a 1987 game, and split a pair of games in 1988.  Millsaps defeated Carthage, 4-2, on May 15, 2003 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Central Region Baseball Championship in Clinton, Miss.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 17, 2006, 02:02:59 AM
Quote from: Cooler King on May 16, 2006, 08:36:13 PMAs I've said before in a post, being a former CCIW lefty, a solid NPU squad would have made the Holmgren Field a nice place to hit for four years.

That cuts both ways, of course. If you're a left-handed hitter, you salivate at the sight of the football bleachers that provide such a short porch in right field at Holmgren Athletic Complex. But left and center fields are Death Valley, so unless you have opposite-field power you'd have to resign yourself to not hitting any dingers at home if you were a right-handed hitter thinking of attending the Park. And the prospect of giving up cheap homers to right field certainly isn't going to entice any pitchers to enroll at NPU in and of itself.

Speaking of which, let me add my congrats to NPU coach Luke Johnson upon being named CCIW Coach of the Year. Not a bad accomplishment in his very first season as a head coach!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 17, 2006, 03:13:47 AM
Wash U is in a central location and everyone can bus there. That's why they're hosting.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 17, 2006, 06:21:25 AM
And, St. Louis doesn't have an enormous weather machine altering conditions.

It can be 80 degrees in Kenosha County, but even a slight easterly wind (or NE or SE) will make air temp in the low 50s on Carthage campus.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 11:26:46 AM
Does Carthage have any webcast set up or even live stats? 

It's 2006, couldn't Washington U at least provide live stats if they are going to host a regional tournament?  The NCAA should ask for the hosts to provide a little bit more than just a convenient location.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 11:30:07 AM
Carthage is updating the game every inning on the sports hot-line 262.551.5388

0-0 after the 1st inning.

I was also hoping that Wash U would have it webcast.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 11:38:31 AM
Thanks BigPoppa.  Keep us informed every so often. 

Is there any way of knowing who Carthage started on the mound.  Consultant indicated that Millsaps might go with a pitch by committee approach today, trying to hold off on Fox and Kindler until later games and tougher teams.  I've seen your discussion on the pros and cons of this tactic.  Judging by the numbers, I would think that Carthage might have a deeper staff and therefore might feel comfortable in going with such an approach.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 11:42:40 AM
As of right now, they have not stated who is on the mound for Carthage. I am going to guess it is Evosovich, but stranger things have happened.

I will update as often as I can. You can also access the the Carthage baseball updates that happene each inning with this link:
http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=1&CFID=838126&CFTOKEN=62981666

Enjoy... I hope it works.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 17, 2006, 11:44:37 AM
Top of the 3rd, Carthage up 3-0
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 11:58:21 AM
Bottom of the 3rd, game tied at 3-all.  Don't you wish you knew the details--I've been spoiled by the internet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2006, 12:13:45 PM
Carthage down 5-3 in the bottom of the 4th. I wish I knew what the heck was going on!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 12:21:08 PM
They are posting a running score on the tournament website under schedule and results.  I emailed the SID and asked if they couldn't put some details under the "Release" link as the game is in progress.  I have no idea if that is possible, if they will do it if it is possible, or if the SID will even see my email any time today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2006, 12:38:34 PM
Still 5-3, top of the 6th. Paper today said none of Mt. St. joes top 5 pitchers had an ERA under 4.50. Hopefully Carthage can get the bats going!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 12:43:49 PM
Carthage down 6-3 in the 6th...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 12:46:55 PM
RED, I was just looking that the MSJ stats.  They have 5 pitchers with 6 or more starts.  Their ERA's range from 4.50 to 6.94.  On the other hand, their 3 main relievers have ERA's of 2.10, 1.69 and 0.64 (in order from highest innings pitched to lowest).  

MSJ might be able to hold on if they can keep the lead (now 6-3 in the bottom of the 6th) going into the 7th or 8th inning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 01:20:37 PM
Carthage ties it 6-6 in the 8th...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 01:39:22 PM
Carthage trailing 7-6 in bottom of the 9th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 01:43:25 PM
MSJ defeats Carthage 7-6...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 17, 2006, 01:45:18 PM
I understand that Washington U didn't know until the last minute that they would host.

I understand that the NCAA waited till the last minute to pick a spot because they need to save on travel in a sport that doesn't break even.

That being said, what a shame that this regional is so behind in technological possibilities.  A fantastic opening game and no decent way to follow the action.  What a shame.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2006, 02:10:33 PM
The box score of the Carthage-MSJC game is now on line (check the regional site).  St. Joseph's Meyer hit a solo homer off Jeff Livek in the top of the ninth for the definitive tally, while Tyler Yapp was left stranded at third in the bottom of the inning.  Evosevich worked 8 innings and gave up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 9 hits and a walk.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 02:20:21 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 17, 2006, 02:10:33 PM
The box score of the Carthage-MSJC game is now on line (check the regional site).  St. Joseph's Meyer hit a solo homer off Jeff Livek in the top of the ninth for the definitive tally, while Tyler Yapp was left stranded at third in the bottom of the inning.  Evosevich worked 8 innings and gave up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 9 hits and a walk.

Thanks, Mr. B

Link:
http://bearsports.wustl.edu/baseball/ncaa1.htm

I feel like getting sick... this one hurts. Well, time to find out what Carthage is made of.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2006, 03:30:16 PM
Wow, long road ahead of Carthage now if they plan on making it to appleton. They threw their ace, and still lost to the 6 seed.  If any team if resilient enough to pull it off, I would say this year's Carthage team is.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2006, 04:09:55 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2006, 03:30:16 PM
Wow, long road ahead of Carthage now if they plan on making it to appleton. They threw their ace, and still lost to the 6 seed.  If any team if resilient enough to pull it off, I would say this year's Carthage team is.

I think they can do it... Augie builds his teams to be mentally tough and play even harder when the chips are down.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 17, 2006, 04:23:04 PM
I can't believe Carthage lost this one but that is baseball for you.  Looks like MSJ got all the big clutch hits they needed.  They scored 7 runs off of their 10 baserunners.  Looks like Carthage will be playing Webster (I think) tomorrow so that is another game they will be heavily favored in.  Lets hope they can win one for the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on May 17, 2006, 04:27:06 PM
Frank, does that mean they did NOT submit a bid? Interesting...I think we were all surprised they're hosting but that's still a juicy tidbit.

In retrospect, it really does seem like that was the only option. Yahoo maps has Jackson to St. Louis as 497 miles. Still surprised they're not playing at Sauget at the Frontier League stadium there. I guess that speaks to the last minute nature of it.

The same thing might have happened in the south. Barton College is hosting their own tournament in Wilson, so that was out. The Durham Bulls are out of town but I don't know if that would have been cost-prohibitive...it certainly would be overkill on the facility but would have been a great place to play. And Methodist might not have had any student workers to host there.

Danville, Va. could have been an option at the Appalachian League Stadium there that has hosted the Dixie Conference and Big South Conference tournaments capably, as well as the American Legion World Series. It also has lights. Have no idea if a bit was submitted or not. Would tend to guess not.

But once they figured out they had a problem with Millsaps, they might have just called up two schools they knew would want to host and been done with it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2006, 05:49:07 PM

QuoteI feel like getting sick... this one hurts. Well, time to find out what Carthage is made of.

It has to be disappointing for the Red Men, but they can bounce back with Olson or Husing, both of whom are quality competitive hurlers.  They can also count on solid offense and defense to help them navigate the losers' bracket.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 17, 2006, 07:11:24 PM
What a shame! Evo doesn't let anyone take him deep all season and gives one up in this game. That's college baseball for you!

Hopefully the Red people will bounce back. They have a way of getting to the regional final.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 17, 2006, 09:53:33 PM
Day 2

Thursday, May 18

Game Four, 10 a.m. - No. 1 Carthage vs. No. 5 Webster

Game Five, 1 p.m. - No. 6 Mount St. Joseph vs. No. 3 Washington U.

Game Six, 4 p.m. - No. 2 Millsaps vs. No. 4 Aurora

Someone will be going home early tomorrow :o
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 18, 2006, 08:20:17 AM
Quote from: Spence on May 17, 2006, 04:27:06 PM
Frank, does that mean they did NOT submit a bid? Interesting...I think we were all surprised they're hosting but that's still a juicy tidbit.

Spence--I didn't mean to indicate that they didn't submit a bid, just that I don't think they knew that they would be hosting till a few days ago.  I know that Millsaps submitted a bid and I'm under the impression that they were hopeful that they might get to host up until the time that the final sites were announced.

With the Carthage loss yesterday, the Millsaps vs. Aurora winner will get a big edge.  They either will play a winner's bracket game against a #6 seed that is using its #3 starter or they will become the only undefeated team and will get the advantage of playing teams that have played more games in the tournament.  It could be that the #3 starter for MSJ is great, but on paper that player doesn't look as great as say the Carthage #3 starter.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2006, 12:15:59 PM
No. 1 Carthage leads No. 5 Webster 8-1, Top 6th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 01:20:33 PM
Carthage beats Webster 18-3...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2006, 01:27:47 PM
Nice rebound after yesterday's tough loss.  The Red Men also have Husing waiting in the wings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 01:32:17 PM
Jon Olson threw a CG for the REDMEN(One word)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 18, 2006, 02:01:54 PM
Wow...big win for Carthage..congrats on that.  Looks like Warren Even hit for the cycle...is that correct?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 02:18:01 PM
Quoting Coach Augie Schmidt IV on the May 18 NCAA Win over Webster:  "Jon Olson stuck Webster pretty good on a hitter's day, and that kind of set the tone.  We executed things early in the game, we hit the ball, and we scored some runs.  Things got out of hand late in the game,  but I'm happy that we played well.  We thought we were the better team yesterday against Mount St. Joseph, but we didn't play well.  Today, we played a lot better.  I don't know if we have enough pitching to win this regional, but we have enough to play some good baseball yet.  If we have enough to win the whole shooting match, that remains to be seen.  It's still fun, and I think we'll compete hard tomorrow against whoever we play.  There's some tough teams left in this regional, and it's going to be a heck of a challenge for us on Friday.  One thing to remember is that we've played good against good teams this year.  Our best baseball has been against the best teams we've played.  I expect us to play hard and make a run at this thing."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: AUpitch104k on May 18, 2006, 02:18:31 PM
5 for 6 is what the web page says with 7 RBI's sounds like a good day to me!!!!  Im still hoping for an AU vs Carthage Final!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 02:44:48 PM
What's the website everyone is looking at to get quote's and stats? Congrats to Carthage. What a day for Warren Even.  I'm sure Husing will start tomorrow, and Livek only pitched one inning yesterday. If they can put a few games together here, I have a feeling Evosovich will get the nod Saturday and try to avenge his only loss of the season
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 02:51:15 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 02:44:48 PM
What's the website everyone is looking at to get quote's and stats? Congrats to Carthage. What a day for Warren Even.  I'm sure Husing will start tomorrow, and Livek only pitched one inning yesterday. If they can put a few games together here, I have a feeling Evosovich will get the nod Saturday and try to avenge his only loss of the season

Carthage/Webster boxscore... quotes ore off the Carthage press release page.
http://bearsports.wustl.edu/baseball/ncaa4.htm

Regional Website: http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/NCAABaseball.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 03:04:10 PM
Thanks BP
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 18, 2006, 05:24:26 PM
So if you throw Husing in game 1 tomorrow and you win, who does Carthage throw in the game right after if they win?  Do they throw Livek?  I guess they have Krepline also.  To me, it seems if anyone has the pitching depth to get it done, it's Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 05:41:26 PM
I would guess Husing, and then Livek (arm should be 100% after a day off and only throwing 1 inning). If they make it to saturday then, see how Evosovich is feeling, Krepline who I'm sure could be in a lot of teams top 3, and see if Olson can give you a few. With Krepline, if his breaking stuff is on, he's very tough. Throws just about as hard as Olson and Husing, but if that's all you got you're going to get hit. He worked incredibly hard all off season to improve his curve and change up, and it has really shown
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 05:43:15 PM
I almost forgot about Ryan Roufus, who has been a very reliable reliever. Not the hardest throwing guy, but has a knee buckling curveball that makes his fastball jump on hitters.  Plus, he's the only lefty that has seen more than a few innings this year.  Im sure he'll see some innings as well tomorrow or Saturday(if they make it to Saturday of course...)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 05:46:22 PM
Millsaps up on Aurora 5-1 in the 3rd. Looks like millsaps is definately the real deal
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2006, 07:21:44 PM
Millsaps takes it to Aurora, 11-3.  AU now faces Carthage in an elimination game tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 07:27:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 18, 2006, 07:21:44 PM
Millsaps takes it to Aurora, 11-3.  AU now faces Carthage in an elimination game tomorrow.

Should be a great game... anyone have a gametime on that?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 07:39:49 PM
Scheduled for 1 p.m. I wonder if Aurora has thrown their top 2 pitchers. Jacob Husing was Carthage's 2 all year, so hopefull he can get it done tomorrow!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on May 18, 2006, 07:49:09 PM
Yes, I think Aurora threw Chapple yesterday and Salter today.  There seems to be a big drop off in their starting pitchers after those 2.  Here are the next 2 guys with the most starts:

Miller
7 starts, 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA; 45 IP

Mueller
7 starts, 3-2 with a 5.79 ERA; 37.1 IP


Both guys give up less than 1 hit per inning but have rather poor K-to-BB ratios.  Carthage should have the chance to put up some runs tomorrow.

But, while I say all this, Miller did shut down Carthage a few weeks ago so we will see what happens.  I'm not sure if Carthage played their 1st team players however...maybe someone could fill me in
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 07:53:06 PM
That's the game where looking at the boxscore, Carthage played all their regulars, but also subbed a lot of their backups in. My guess is that they were playing so poorly that Augie yanked a bunch of the starters out. Anyone who has played for Augie knows in a non-conferene game if he feels you aren't giving it your all, he will throw you on the bench in a heart beat.  Hopefully Carthage didn't use up all their hits today and have some left for 2 games tomorrow and can make it to Saturday. Should be a great one tomorrow, two teams that are familiar with eachother and a matchup that has definitely become a rivalry
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 07:55:16 PM
The majority of the Central Regional in the past ten seasons have had a Carthage/Aurora matchup somewhere in the mix. They are always great games... except for the 21-4 beating Carthage was handed two seasons ago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2006, 07:56:03 PM
According to the regional website, the Carthage-Aurora game starts at 3.30 pm.  The CMSJ-Millsaps game starts at noon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2006, 08:05:02 PM
It sure looks like Aurora had a tough game against Millsaps.  The box score shows that the Spartans committed 6 errors (leading to 3 unearned runs), and the Majors reached Salter for 13 hits.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 08:17:59 PM
Friday, May 19
Game Seven, 10 a.m. - No. 6 Mount St. Joseph vs. No. 2 Millsaps
Game Eight, 1 p.m. - No. 1 Carthage vs. No. 4 Aurora
Game Nine, 4 p.m. - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8


That's what is listed on the site Big Poppa listed before, so I don't know which one is right
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 18, 2006, 08:30:03 PM
I know the 10am start is correct for the first game and I'm sure the rest are correct--there are no lights so they need to start at 10. 

For anyone interested, Millsaps has scored 26 runs and managed 37 hits with 6 home runs in their first two games.  They have thrown their top two pitchers but they have some quality arms remaining and John Fox only threw 80 pitches Wednesday so I expect him to pitch again on Saturday. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 08:53:47 PM
http://www.scac-online.org/baseball/mc.htm#team.mlb

Not hard to see why Millsaps has been so successful this year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on May 18, 2006, 10:52:35 PM
I questioned Millsaps' #2 pitcher because of how many extra-base hits he's allowed and still wonder if they'll have enough pitching to make it through unless the Hendrixes have success finding the strike zone, which looks to have been questionable at times.

I don't look at W-L or ERA so much as WHIP (inferred from BA against and walks/9) and K/9, so I figured their #1's ERA was misleading.

Still think it'll come down to Millsaps and Carthage and Millsaps can clearly hit, which wasn't a surprise.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 19, 2006, 07:17:37 AM
Carthage cannot worry about it coming down to them and Millsaps. They need to get by Aurora first. It is one game at a time at this point.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: frank_ezelle on May 19, 2006, 07:45:52 AM
Quote from: Spence on May 18, 2006, 10:52:35 PM
I questioned Millsaps' #2 pitcher because of how many extra-base hits he's allowed and still wonder if they'll have enough pitching to make it through unless the Hendrixes have success finding the strike zone, which looks to have been questionable at times.

I don't look at W-L or ERA so much as WHIP (inferred from BA against and walks/9) and K/9, so I figured their #1's ERA was misleading.

Spence--You're right about the #1 for Millsaps having a misleading ERA.  In the first game of the year Fox gave up 10 earned runs to East Texas Baptist in 2/3's of an inning.  Omit that blip and you have an ERA around 2.60.

The #2 had an injured right shoulder coming into the season and had just started throwing a few weeks before the season started.  In the first half of the season he would pitch a few good innings and then start to get hit around the 5th or 6th.  That's not the case any more.  And maybe it's not fair to call Kindler a #2 since he is now 10-2 on the season and 29-6 for his career.

Jay Hollenbeck will probably get the start today and he is capable.  He held DePauw to 1 run in a 7 inning game in the SCAC Tournament and he doesn't give up a lot of walks or extra base hits.  He should give a solid performance and that's all that it needed if the Millsaps bats stay hot.  At the SCAC Tournament they scored 52 runs in 5 games with their lowest output being a couple of 7 run games so the run production so far isn't too far from the norm.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: AUpitch104k on May 19, 2006, 07:57:08 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2006, 07:39:49 PM
Scheduled for 1 p.m. I wonder if Aurora has thrown their top 2 pitchers. Jacob Husing was Carthage's 2 all year, so hopefull he can get it done tomorrow!

I would have to say that AU really doesn't have a 1 or 2, they have 2 Aces.    Between Chapple and Salter they would be anybody's ace.  And they are both going to be waiting to see another day. I was able to coach those guys for a year; Chapple can easily come back and pitch today if they need him. However, Salter would probably upset the Yankees if he bounced back and threw on no rest. AU still has a sleeper on the bench in Hutten.  He is the only senior pitcher that went from 45+ innings per year to 18 this season. He's a gamer so I don't know what his deal has been this season. I know he's one of 3 pitchers on that team that have pitched in big games. (Baseball Championship Series) and Hutten received 1 of the 2 wins AU recorded on their way to a 3rd place finish in 2004. I'm going to say this is going to be a great game at 1 o'clock.     GO SPARTANS
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 08:52:05 AM
I forgot the name of the pitcher who shut Carthage down a few weeks ago, but I'm sure Aurora will go with him in today's game
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: PTR on May 19, 2006, 10:26:33 AM
Based on posts and messages that I have seen elsewhere:

Miller pitched the first time around.

He is supposed to throw today, you'll know by the 2nd inning if he has his stuff.

Based on boxscores: When Mueller throws, they use the #2 catcher ... so that dynamic may change from here on out.  He (Mueller) had a strong outing in Arizona.

Chapple may get the ball tomorrow if they beat CC.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: PTR on May 19, 2006, 10:28:03 AM
The real reason that I registered:

What are the chances that Lance Marshall will leave Franklin and return to Elmhurst to take over that program?

He's an alum, proven coach, and has ties to HS coaches from his time with the Sox Training Center.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 02:16:06 PM
0-0 in the 2nd. Anyone know why the game started late?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 02:31:15 PM
Carthage now up 1-0 in the 2nd
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 02:41:11 PM
Aurora up 3-1 in the 3rd >:(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 19, 2006, 02:48:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2006, 07:55:16 PM
The majority of the Central Regional in the past ten seasons have had a Carthage/Aurora matchup somewhere in the mix. They are always great games... except for the 21-4 beating Carthage was handed two seasons ago.

BP...and not good for the Redmen! Aurora holds a 6-2 edge over Carthage in regional action during the past 10 years (not including this year) and have three titles (98, 99, 04) to two (97, 02) for the Redmen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 19, 2006, 03:19:10 PM
Game Eight, 1 p.m. - No. 1 Carthage trails No. 4 Aurora 4-2, Top 5th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 03:27:10 PM
Now 4-4 in the 5th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 19, 2006, 03:29:03 PM
Yesssssssssssssss
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 03:50:51 PM
Still 4-4 in the 7th. I gotta go to a formal dinner for all the graduates, this is killin me I won't be by a computer!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 04:04:46 PM
Still 4-4 in the 8th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 04:25:03 PM
Aurora up 5-4 in the 9th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 04:35:18 PM
Looks like Carthage lost 5-4, on their website by the score it doesn't say its the 9th anymore. Great season for Carthage, I'm sure they'll reload and be solid against next year and put a team on the field that can challenge for the conference championship again.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 19, 2006, 04:41:10 PM
RMF...I agree with you. They will be in terrific shape for next year. Warren is the only position player they lose. The pitching staff got a lot of experience this season so it really won't matter if Heinig comes back or not. If he does it's a bonus. If he doesn't, it's his loss!

Great season Redmen!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 05:01:29 PM
Wow, Jacob Husing gave up 5 unearned runs on 5 infield errors by the Redmen. Very uncharacteristic of Carthage. Like Augie always says, we're as good as any team in this country. It doesn't matter who we play, we are playing against ourselves.  Clearly, the Redmen beat themselves today.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: sportsguru90 on May 21, 2006, 01:33:57 AM
I have heard Lance Marshall from Franklin and Brian Nelson from Rockford as two names thrown out for the Elmhurst job.
I have looked into both of them and both looks like have had success, Nelson a lot of success at Uw-Stevens Point and some recent success at Rockford.  Marshall some success but not a lot recently.
Has anyone else heard anything else?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 22, 2006, 04:51:05 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2006, 05:01:29 PM
Wow, Jacob Husing gave up 5 unearned runs on 5 infield errors by the Redmen. Very uncharacteristic of Carthage. Like Augie always says, we're as good as any team in this country. It doesn't matter who we play, we are playing against ourselves.  Clearly, the Redmen beat themselves today.

Doesn't sound to me as though you're giving Aurora any credit at all. Did the Spartans simply show up and stand around waiting for Carthage to throw the game away? Or did the Spartans actually have something to do with the final outcome?

Given the long-term success of that program (this will be Aurora's sixth appearance in the D3 College World Series), I suspect that it might be the latter. The box score also indicates that the Spartans may have had a hand in their victory. Aurora's pitchers struck out ten Carthage batters, while Carthage's pitchers didn't strike out any Spartans. That's ten more chances that Carthage was forced to handle in the field, and ten fewer opportunities for the Spartans to make errors.

Aurora went on to beat Mount St. Joseph later on Friday, then took a pair from Millsaps on Saturday to advance to the D3 College World Series. The Spartans are currently 34-12. I'm not a Carthage fan, but if I were I'd be tipping my cap to the team that beat mine, rather than dissing them by insisting that my team's defeat was totally self-inflicted.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 22, 2006, 09:35:01 AM
Well, I guess you could also say Carthage hitters gave Aurora's catcher ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

"Facts" from which no conclusions can be drawn are hardly worth knowing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2006, 11:17:18 AM
Sager, I wasn't trying to take anything away from Aurora, and I gave them praise and congratulated them on their conference's message board on Friday when they beat Carthage.  My point was that when a team (any team) loses a game 5-4, and all of the runs you gave up were unearned on infield errors when you've played solid defense all year, you are going to feel as a team that you beat yourselves.  Yes Aurora put the ball into play and forced the issue and made things happen, so I do give them credit. Especially finding a way to win 3 more after that game and make it to the world series.  I think you completely misinterpreted my statement, or maybe it just came out wrong. The point I was trying to make is that if Carthage plays good defense, they win that game. But woulda, shoulda, coulda's don't matter in baseball...Aurora is going to the series and that's all that really matters at this point.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2006, 01:33:02 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 22, 2006, 09:35:01 AM
Well, I guess you could also say Carthage hitters gave Aurora's catcher ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

"Facts" from which no conclusions can be drawn are hardly worth knowing.

Ah, but facts (no scare quotes) from which conclusions can be drawn are vital to understanding the issue at hand. The truth of D3 baseball is that it is a different animal than the sport as it is played at the professional level. Errors are much more prevalent, and therefore less can be assumed about routine balls in play being turned into outs. Strikeouts are thus a more potent defensive weapon, since they eliminate the possibility of what in D3 ball is a more marked propensity for bad things to happen in the field.

Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2006, 11:17:18 AM
Sager, I wasn't trying to take anything away from Aurora, and I gave them praise and congratulated them on their conference's message board on Friday when they beat Carthage. My point was that when a team (any team) loses a game 5-4, and all of the runs you gave up were unearned on infield errors when you've played solid defense all year, you are going to feel as a team that you beat yourselves. Yes Aurora put the ball into play and forced the issue and made things happen, so I do give them credit. Especially finding a way to win 3 more after that game and make it to the world series. I think you completely misinterpreted my statement, or maybe it just came out wrong. The point I was trying to make is that if Carthage plays good defense, they win that game. But woulda, shoulda, coulda's don't matter in baseball...Aurora is going to the series and that's all that really matters at this point.

You didn't give Aurora any credit at all in your initial post. Rather, you said that "it doesn't matter who we play, we [Carthage] are playing against ourselves. Clearly, the Redmen beat themselves today." There's not an ounce of credit for the Spartans in that post. You've now changed your tune and given the Spartans their props, which I think is the sportsmanlike thing to do.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 23, 2006, 07:58:03 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2006, 01:33:02 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 22, 2006, 09:35:01 AM
Well, I guess you could also say Carthage hitters gave Aurora's catcher ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

... Errors are much more prevalent, and therefore less can be assumed about routine balls in play being turned into outs. Strikeouts are thus a more potent defensive weapon.


After years and years of scoring games, I can attest to the fact that a fielding error is far more common than a dropped third strike which results in a fielding chance.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 23, 2006, 08:33:02 AM
Fact: Cathage batters DID give the Aurora catcher(s) ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

Nothing changes that FACT!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 23, 2006, 09:30:18 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 23, 2006, 08:33:02 AM
Fact: Cathage batters DID give the Aurora catcher(s) ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

Nothing changes that FACT!

You can't argue with "Da Professor..." He has a valid point.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2006, 12:12:05 PM
Sager, I said I congratulated them on THEIR conferences webpage, not the CCIW's. From now on i just won't bring up facts from a game if that will make you happy. I just thought 5 errors leading to 5 unearned runs was a pretty big factor in that game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 23, 2006, 10:01:06 PM
Red -- You are quite correct.  Five errors and five unearned runs are indeed relevant FACTors in the loss.

And yes, it's another case of "could have been" and "should have been."  We now must live with it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 23, 2006, 11:51:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2006, 09:30:18 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 23, 2006, 08:33:02 AM
Fact: Cathage batters DID give the Aurora catcher(s) ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

Nothing changes that FACT!

You can't argue with "Da Professor..." He has a valid point.

Only if Division III batters are as likely to reach base on a dropped third strike as they are on another kind of error. Seems unlikely.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2006, 01:25:51 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2006, 12:12:05 PM
Sager, I said I congratulated them on THEIR conferences webpage, not the CCIW's. From now on i just won't bring up facts from a game if that will make you happy. I just thought 5 errors leading to 5 unearned runs was a pretty big factor in that game.

Nobody disagreed with that.

There's no need for you to play the martyr. As far as I was concerned, the issue was put to rest when you belatedly gave the Spartans their props.

Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 23, 2006, 11:51:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2006, 09:30:18 AM
Quote from: emeritusprof on May 23, 2006, 08:33:02 AM
Fact: Cathage batters DID give the Aurora catcher(s) ten more opportunities to drop the third strike.

Nothing changes that FACT!

You can't argue with "Da Professor..." He has a valid point.

Only if Division III batters are as likely to reach base on a dropped third strike as they are on another kind of error. Seems unlikely.

It's more than unlikely. As Mr. B said, a fielding error on a batted ball is far more common than a dropped third strike that results in a fielding chance.

CCIW teams collectively averaged almost two errors per game this season, which an examination of past seasons' records demonstrates is typical of this league. And CCIW batters hit for a cumulative .317 average this season. In baseball it's axiomatic that a strikeout is the best possible outcome for the defense, since the chances of it resulting in something that benefits the offense (i.e., a dropped third strike in which the runner reaches first base) are miniscule in comparison to the chances of a batted ball resulting in something that benefits the offense. That's true on every level of baseball. But it's even more true in D3 baseball, where the defenses and pitching aren't as good as the pros and hitters have a better chance of getting on base either via error or by knocking a hit through the defense than their pro counterparts enjoy.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 24, 2006, 06:43:59 AM
Yes or No -- Carthage hitters gave the Aurora catcher(s) ten opportunities to drop the third strike.

That item has nothing to do with other error issues.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2006, 06:53:41 AM
It also has a relevance to the outcome of Friday's game that comes fairly close to zero, because a dropped third strike resulting in the batter reaching first is so rare.

Why are you even bothering to bring it up?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: emeritusprof on May 24, 2006, 11:12:43 AM
I could let it go, why can't you!

You jumped all over Redman with your 'facts.'  I simply indicated something that created a possibility because of the strikeouts. 

Now go ahead.  As is your wont, take the last word. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 24, 2006, 11:34:54 AM
I don't understand why you are insisting on extending the conversation over something so stupid as this, emeritus. Why don't you go back to trying to convince me of the name of my hometown newspaper?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 24, 2006, 11:43:02 AM
Congratulations to all the players in the CCIW who earned All-Region honors!  It looks like seven of the eight programs has at least one representative: nine first-teamers, three on the second team, and seven on the third team.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: AUpitch104k on May 26, 2006, 08:45:29 AM
I would like to Congratulate Scott Evosevich, 2nd team All American pitcher. Congrats Scott you deserve it. You have had 4 great years at Carthage. See you Labor Day???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 26, 2006, 10:03:10 AM
I'd also like to say Congratualtions to Scott Evosovich. An amazing 4 year run at Carthage, and what Augie Schmidt called the best 4 year pitcher and most consistent that he has ever coached.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on May 27, 2006, 12:39:57 AM
I would think Marshal from Franklin or Johnson from NP would be candidates. Time will tell.. Hopefully not to much time though.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 28, 2006, 12:54:45 PM
Congratulations to Scott Evosovich, Jon Olson, Boe Baitinger, and Warren Even on being named to the All-North Region teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 31, 2006, 10:22:30 AM
Seeing there really isn't much to talk about now, what do others think about how their favorite teams are looking for next year? Big players returning, key losses to graduation, etc. Also, if its rumored any big time transfers are coming in. (Carthage usually always gets a few) For Carthage, they lose Evosovich, Olson, Even, Simental, and Barker. Most of the position players and hitters are back (including a healthy Sadjak hopefully) and their pitching should still be solid
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 01, 2006, 02:35:28 AM
NPU only loses two seniors, #3 starter Brett Cooper and catcher Oscar Ibarra. The future looks very bright for the Vikings.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on June 01, 2006, 08:30:14 PM
Jays are losing a couple of seniors One pitcher one out fielder and good hitter. With new coach coming in players are excited and ready for change. We should know coach sometime next week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 05, 2006, 08:55:53 AM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on June 01, 2006, 08:30:14 PM
Jays are losing a couple of seniors One pitcher one out fielder and good hitter. With new coach coming in players are excited and ready for change. We should know coach sometime next week.

Well, he won't be Luke Johnson. One of Johnson's assistant coaches assured me this weekend that Johnson did not apply for the Elmhurst job, and that he is not leaving NPU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on June 06, 2006, 08:21:58 PM
Time will tell who new coach will be. Only time!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on June 06, 2006, 10:48:06 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on June 06, 2006, 08:21:58 PM
Time will tell who new coach will be. Only time!!

Do you have that on good authority?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 21, 2006, 12:21:42 PM
Just wanna say congratulations to Jarvis Brown on being named the head coach at UW-Parkside. It was made official on Monday afternoon. Jarvis leaves after being the hitting/outfield coach at Carthage the last 4 years, and has coached in single and double A. With his coaching background, and the fact that he played in the majors and has a world series ring from the 91 twins team, that should be a great recruiting tool for him to use.  Although its a blow to Carthage, I'm sure all coaches and players are happy for Coach Brown, I think he'll do great at the D-2 level.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: ljt2006 on June 21, 2006, 05:30:54 PM
Why is anyone concerned about head coach at Elmhurst, it seems to me that the adminstration doesn't give da** about baseball.  The field is a disgrace and you couldn't possibly have any tournament there; the lights are 1970's backyard equipment and there are no stands, people would have to stand around.  I for one wouldn't be happy to attend any institution that had no regard for maintain a facility.  what is funny is the football field has the latest turf, so I would assume that baseball is the orphan sport there at Elmhurst College.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bluejay Blue on July 11, 2006, 11:16:26 PM
Quote from: Bluejay Blue on June 06, 2006, 08:21:58 PM
Time will tell who new coach will be. Only time!!
New coach for BlueJays Joel Southern
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on August 29, 2006, 06:38:41 PM
Hey there CCIW baseball fans. It's been a while but I'm back. I started this post pattern because I have been a big fan of CCIW baseball. I believe that it is one of, if not the most, competitive conferences in all of D-III sports.

I know it is a ways from baseball season but I have always been a great fan of all of baseball. Since we are about 3-4 months away from our CCIW teams breaking out of their winter shell, does anyone know if any CCIW baseball players that have moved on to the next level? Rookie League, Single A, Double A, Triple A, maybe even the Majors?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on August 29, 2006, 09:59:42 PM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on August 29, 2006, 06:38:41 PM
Hey there CCIW baseball fans. It's been a while but I'm back. I started this post pattern because I have been a big fan of CCIW baseball. I believe that it is one of, if not the most, competitive conferences in all of D-III sports.

I know it is a ways from baseball season but I have always been a great fan of all of baseball. Since we are about 3-4 months away from our CCIW teams breaking out of their winter shell, does anyone know if any CCIW baseball players that have moved on to the next level? Rookie League, Single A, Double A, Triple A, maybe even the Majors?

RedmenFB,

Check out this link http://www.pjstar.com/sports/peoriabs.htm (http://www.pjstar.com/sports/peoriabs.htm) on Illinois natives who are playing at various levels of professional ball, all the way from Rookie up through the majors, including independent leagues.  It's maintained by the Peoria Star Newspaper and is updated regularly.  Some players are missing (e.g., Cory Lapinski of Illinois Wesleyan, but teammate Dave Dobosz is on the list), but I think the site does an admirable job of tracking players who are from, or played for schools in, the state of Illinois.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on August 31, 2006, 07:05:58 AM
Wow mr_b that is a great site! Thanks

They are missing a guy from Crystal Lake, IL Scott Olson. He went to Crystal Lake South High School and now is in the majors as a starting pitcher with the Florida Marlins. But maybe this just shows where these players were born and maybe Olson wasn't born in IL but moved here and played high school ball here. Whatever the case that is a great site.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on August 31, 2006, 12:37:31 PM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on August 31, 2006, 07:05:58 AM
Wow mr_b that is a great site! Thanks

They are missing a guy from Crystal Lake, IL Scott Olson. He went to Crystal Lake South High School and now is in the majors as a starting pitcher with the Florida Marlins. But maybe this just shows where these players were born and maybe Olson wasn't born in IL but moved here and played high school ball here. Whatever the case that is a great site.

It is a great site, though, as you mentioned, there are some players missing.  They track players that were born in Illinois or that played here.  Former Redmen hurler Dan Grybash is a good example of someone who played collegiately outside of Illinois but is still being tracked.  I think the site does an admirable job of following so many players at all levels.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on September 26, 2006, 09:41:33 PM
Did anyone hear about the NCC baseball team hazing charges?
17 players and 2 coaches suspended for the first 3 or 4 games of the season
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gotberg on September 26, 2006, 11:17:34 PM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on September 26, 2006, 09:41:33 PM
Did anyone hear about the NCC baseball team hazing charges?
17 players and 2 coaches suspended for the first 3 or 4 games of the season

Here's the article about the incident from the Daily Herald:  http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=230556
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on September 27, 2006, 01:10:34 PM
Some sort of hazing takes place at almost every school in the country no matter what the sport is, but it sounds like these students took it a little too far. Its the same for rookies that play a professional sport. I don't have a problem if its things like singing or something like that that the guys can have fun with, but pouring bottles of liquor is a bit over the top...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 03, 2006, 01:05:23 PM
Interesting debate on Mike and Mike in the morning today; if you were a parent would you pull your child out of school to watch the MLB playoffs since they are during the day?  Any opinions out there...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Browneagle64 on October 03, 2006, 05:28:34 PM
With new technology everyday getting better i would never pull them out of school for a playoff game. I would TiVo it for them.

On the other hand, As for myself, I would definitely pull myself out of work for a day playoff game.. ;D

Dodgers all the way
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on October 04, 2006, 09:38:04 AM
Quote from: Browneagle64 on October 03, 2006, 05:28:34 PM
With new technology everyday getting better i would never pull them out of school for a playoff game. I would TiVo it for them.

On the other hand, As for myself, I would definitely pull myself out of work for a day playoff game.. ;D

Dodgers all the way

I'm loath to ever root for a team from La-la-land, but since I usually pick an NL team to root for in the playoffs, and Nomar Garciaparra and Greg Maddux are two of my favorite ex-Cubs, I'm rooting for the Dodgers as well.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 04, 2006, 10:15:01 AM
Brown Eagle,

What if you lived in L.A., would you pull your son/daughter out of school to take them a playoff game?? That's what I meant, sorry I wasn't clear
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Browneagle64 on October 04, 2006, 10:34:54 AM
REDMENFAN----That's a good call. I do live in L.A. and that is a tough call. IMHO, I wouldn't do it. A child needs to learn as they just returned from Summer break not to long ago. In addition, eventhough, a child and parent are the biggest fans, the most that they can do in return is do the right thing. Have the child go ro school.

As for an adult, the heck with it, We've been through school and through professional careers, call in sick, skip work and go to the park to see the old ball game. (Just one of the perks that you get after your parents couln't take you to the game when you were a child.hahahahaha)

"I usually pick an NL team to root for in the playoffs, and Nomar Garciaparra and Greg Maddux are two of my favorite ex-Cubs,"

(Both players have been a nice addition to our club and have made my summer of 2006 really exciting even if i live in the land of make-believe) ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 04, 2006, 03:32:45 PM
As a teacher I can see the importance of a student being in the classroom, but I truly feel that there are some things that are more valuable than school.... I say that in a memories sense. A day with your dad at a playoff game would be priceless and a cherished memory for a lifetime. If they are just pulled to watch it at home, then I say no.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 04, 2006, 07:47:30 PM
If one has to go to a baseball game with their son, daughter, neice, nephew, friend... do it during the summer instead of taking them away from school.  Nobody really needs to skip school just to go to a baseball game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 05, 2006, 10:35:07 AM
I am siding with BP on this one. If you're not going to the game, then record it, TEVO it, whatever. But, if you can go to a playoff game, that is an experience that is worth it, plus the opportunity may not present itself very often in your life time depending on the team you root for.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on October 05, 2006, 11:24:34 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on October 05, 2006, 10:35:07 AM
But, if you can go to a playoff game, that is an experience that is worth it

I will have to disagree.  In an attempt to bring this back to Division III baseball - I have seen games at the Championship level and on the spring trips and I dont know if I saw the players play any harder at the Championship level.  By virtue of the playoffs being at the end of the season, freshmen have essentially a whole season behind them, and the team playing with each other enough to form a "team" - yes the play is better.  The competition is better also  making for good games but why would a Cortland - Montclair match up in late April be any different than the Championship round?  One expects the facilities to be better.  One expects the pressure on the players to be different since a win means so much.  But seriously would you root harder for you team just because it was later in the year.  I dont and I expect many folks here wont either.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 05, 2006, 11:56:44 AM
Do I think you cheer for your favorite team (profession sports) "harder" in the playoffs than the regular season?  I wouldn't say you cheer more, but there is obviously a lot more at stake and the intensity and tension as far as in the crowd and fans viewing from around the country, yes I would say it is a completely different atmosphere than a regular season game, even if that game is a rivalry.  Is Boston/New York instense at Fenway in May, of course.  If they were playing in October, I feel it it would be even more electric knowing that its the playoffs and if you don't win this series you're going home.  Also, I stated that taking your child to a playoff game, whether it be baseball, basketball, football etc., that opportunity may not come around for another 10-20 years, if ever. There's something special about a father taking his son/daughter to a playoff game, and if you pass up on the opportunity and it doesn't happen again until that child is 30, that's a lifelong memory that you passed up on
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 05, 2006, 03:12:16 PM
I am still waiting to attend a Brewers playoff game.... I have no idea of how long it will be but you can bet that I will be there when it happens... even if I have to travel cross-country to do it.
Title: Fall Ball...
Post by: BigPoppa on October 17, 2006, 02:56:31 PM
Any body have any insights into the CCIW? How is Fall Ball going? Who is expected to be at the top this spring? Any big-time recruits and/or transfers?

How will Elmhurst respond to the new coaching? Can North Park stay hot this season or was it a fluke last year?

Give me something to keep warm with while the temperature drops (for you,  not me... it is sunny and 72 every day here).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 18, 2006, 12:51:22 PM
BP, Carthage should be solid again, and have a lot more depth this year with some new guys, especially in the middle infield.  Something new I heard about a week ago. There were a number of scouts who came to a practice to watch the guys, and Carthage had 3 pitchers (their top 3 as of right now) all throw in the upper 80's and touching 90.  The team stayed inside and pitchers threw live to hitters. Not bad for fall ball.  Carthage will have solid pitching again this year as they have had the past few years, and their hitting should improve this year as well with most of their starters returning.  I believe Warren Even is their only senior they lost as far as position players go.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 18, 2006, 01:30:57 PM
Thanks for the info... any other news about the CCIW out there? Where are the Elmhurst guys? North Park? Augustana(I think will be loaded)? Hit me with the info, fellas.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on October 19, 2006, 01:46:24 AM
I don't have many specifics about NPU, Poppa. Sorry. Perhaps Mr. B has more info about the new Vikings than me. I do know that Luke Johnson is happy with his new recruits. He brought in some much-needed arms (including a couple of juco guys, I think) and a highly-sought catcher from Clemente High here in the city, which fills a serious need behind the plate. The Park only loses two seniors from last season's team, #3 starter Brett Cooper and catcher Oscar Ibarra.

The feeling on campus is that the Vikings got a toehold in the first division of the CCIW last season, nothing more. They beat everyone below them pretty regularly, but couldn't manage even a single victory against Augustana, Carthage, or Illinois Wesleyan. Johnson's goal this year is to consolidate NPU's position as a top four team by playing better against the three powers that have dominated the league in recent seasons.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 19, 2006, 10:51:47 AM
Sounds like a solid plan of attack. I think bringing NPU back into the mix in the CCIW will only make the league stronger. Luke Johnson did an amazing job with that group last season and I am certain that his first full year of recruiting will be even more productive.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 03:51:00 PM
Any new updates on the CCIW? Last year we had quite a few reports from the CCIW already...

How is Elmhurst doing with their new coach?

Is IWU going to live up to the expectations this year?

Can NPU repeat its "Cinderella Season" of last year?

Is this the season that Carthage does NOT make the CCIW tourney?

Can Augustana make a run at the CCIW title this season?

Is Wheaton ever going to break into the top half of the CCIW?

Will North Central ever recover from the departure of Coach Ed Mathey?

Can Millikn string together a FEW good seasons?


Which team has the best shot to make a dent on the national scene this season?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on October 30, 2006, 05:09:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 03:51:00 PM

Will North Central ever recover from the departure of Coach Ed Mathey?


Not any time soon!  :(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 06:09:26 PM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on October 30, 2006, 05:09:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 03:51:00 PM

Will North Central ever recover from the departure of Coach Ed Mathey?


Not any time soon!  :(

What's the news at NCC? Anything to talk about with the program this year?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on October 31, 2006, 11:02:45 AM
Well, I would say NCC has the nicest place to play at in the conference, along with Augie's new facility. All the goose greese in Carthage's outfield can get pretty annoying!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on October 31, 2006, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 06:09:26 PM
Anything to talk about with the program this year?

There hasn't been in recent years, why start now!  ;D

Seriously, nothing much that I have heard, but I have not been in touch with the program since Mathey left.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 02, 2006, 02:24:22 PM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on October 31, 2006, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 06:09:26 PM
Anything to talk about with the program this year?

There hasn't been in recent years, why start now!  ;D

Seriously, nothing much that I have heard, but I have not been in touch with the program since Mathey left.

I have heard some rumors that NCC Baseball got in bit of trouble for hazing this fall. Can anyone confirm that and, if so, what is the penalty?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on November 02, 2006, 02:27:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on November 02, 2006, 02:24:22 PM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on October 31, 2006, 01:34:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on October 30, 2006, 06:09:26 PM
Anything to talk about with the program this year?

There hasn't been in recent years, why start now!  ;D

Seriously, nothing much that I have heard, but I have not been in touch with the program since Mathey left.

I have heard some rumors that NCC Baseball got in bit of trouble for hazing this fall. Can anyone confirm that and, if so, what is the penalty?

Here ya go!
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=230556
 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on November 06, 2006, 10:38:58 AM
REDMENFAN is the MAN!

Looking forward to another great year of CCIW baseball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 06, 2006, 02:46:45 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on October 31, 2006, 11:02:45 AM
Well, I would say NCC has the nicest place to play at in the conference, along with Augie's new facility. All the goose greese in Carthage's outfield can get pretty annoying!!

It's part of the strategy... even the geese are Carthage fans! Carthage players get used to and do not let it bother them... the other outfielders freak out when playing at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 08, 2006, 12:43:36 PM
It drives Augie absolutely nuts being out there 4-5 hours before game time with a bucket and a shovel!!  I'll admit though, the Carthage outfielders do pretty much get used to it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 08, 2006, 12:45:03 PM
RedmenFB44: YOU ARE THE MAN. You going to be in naperville this Saturday?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on November 09, 2006, 04:22:22 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on November 08, 2006, 12:45:03 PM
RedmenFB44: YOU ARE THE MAN. You going to be in naperville this Saturday?

REDMENFAN -

I'm thinking about going to the game this Saturday and if I do i'll give you a call. If I don't then I will see you soon, I hope! + Karma for you because you are my BOY BLUE!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 20, 2006, 03:38:42 PM
Along with their annual spring trip to Flordia, I found out a few days ago that Carthage will drive to Minneapolis as well to play a few games in the Dome.  Too bad Jarvis Brown wasn't still coaching there, he could have been in the building where he won a world series!  BP- not happy Robin Yount decided not to return. Cubs are wheeling and dealing out the cash, you think the Brew Crew will make any big moves this off season?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 20, 2006, 05:28:22 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on November 20, 2006, 03:38:42 PM
Along with their annual spring trip to Flordia, I found out a few days ago that Carthage will drive to Minneapolis as well to play a few games in the Dome.  Too bad Jarvis Brown wasn't still coaching there, he could have been in the building where he won a world series!  BP- not happy Robin Yount decided not to return. Cubs are wheeling and dealing out the cash, you think the Brew Crew will make any big moves this off season?

Playing in the Metro Dome will be a great experience for the Redmen(one word). I wish Yount would return, but I guess he got sick of being better than most guys on the field.

The Cubbies are going crazy with money, but they still have not addressed their pitching troubles. Soriano could hit a ton of HRs at Wrigley. The Brewers best off-season move may be to sign Teddy Higuera to a one year contract to see if he can help their bullpen woes.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 21, 2006, 11:07:53 AM
I agree, anyone who's ever gone to Carthage before 2006, it will always be one word. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 21, 2006, 02:19:11 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on November 21, 2006, 11:07:53 AM
I agree, anyone who's ever gone to Carthage before 2006, it will always be one word. 

Does President Campbell still roll out the red blazer for home games????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 21, 2006, 02:31:30 PM
Yes!! And I'm sure he'll be wearing them to the basketball games to this year
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on November 21, 2006, 02:33:58 PM
Poppa-
Good to have you back. I heard that you were going to move back to the Midwest to take a college coaching job. Any truth to that?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 21, 2006, 02:39:15 PM
Quote from: Captain Morgan on November 21, 2006, 02:33:58 PM
Poppa-
Good to have you back. I heard that you were going to move back to the Midwest to take a college coaching job. Any truth to that?

A bit of truth. I was contacted by a few programs about open jobs, but I had no interest. I have a great gig in SoCal right now at the high school level. Teaching in a great school district with baseball every day.

Nobody knows how to prep a wet field here because it never rains! My program does not even own a single bag of diamond dry.

Anybody need some solid players for next year?? I have a few still looking as most of my seniors have signed already.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on November 21, 2006, 11:52:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on November 21, 2006, 02:39:15 PM
Anybody need some solid players for next year?? I have a few still looking as most of my seniors have signed already.

Send'em back to the Midwest!  We'd be happy to have them.  Just tell them what to expect in terms of weather.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on November 22, 2006, 01:23:54 AM
You can always spot the new students from California on the NPU campus in January. The look of bewilderment and despair on their faces as they experience their first Chicago winter is absolutely priceless.

Of course, at the same time the new kids from Minnesota keep asking people, "So ... when does it turn cold around here?"  :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: MakemK on November 22, 2006, 12:15:29 PM
BigPoppa


I'd greatly appreciate info on the kids that you have that have not signed yet.  please email me leftie31@comcast.net 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on November 22, 2006, 03:22:02 PM
Quote from: MakemK on November 22, 2006, 12:15:29 PM
BigPoppa


I'd greatly appreciate info on the kids that you have that have not signed yet.  please email me leftie31@comcast.net 


Just sent you an email... let me know if I can help in any way.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on November 30, 2006, 04:24:09 PM
BP, you like the trade getting Estrada for Doug Davis, Dana Eveland, and Krynzel?  I personally disliked Doug Davis, especially if you are attending a game.  That guy has to take a minute inbetween each pitch he throws.  I think the move will definitely help the brewers, having a swith hitting catcher who can hit for .300, hopefully Damien Miller sticks around to play a backup role cuz he's a great team guy like Cirillo, and plus he's a Wisconsin Native
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 01, 2006, 01:08:27 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on November 30, 2006, 04:24:09 PM
BP, you like the trade getting Estrada for Doug Davis, Dana Eveland, and Krynzel?  I personally disliked Doug Davis, especially if you are attending a game.  That guy has to take a minute inbetween each pitch he throws.  I think the move will definitely help the brewers, having a swith hitting catcher who can hit for .300, hopefully Damien Miller sticks around to play a backup role cuz he's a great team guy like Cirillo, and plus he's a Wisconsin Native

I think it was a good move. The problem the Brewers have is that they develop stars for big-market teams (Surhoff, Sheffield, Burnitz). I doubt that Doug Davis will fall into that category, but they made a nice move to help the club.

How are things on the lake??? How is Chief Augie, leader of the Redmen, doing?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 12:53:36 PM
Poppa, haven't seen Augie in a few weeks, I'm sure he's doing fine. I'll probably help out with the baseball christmas camps and see him there.  Things along the lake are great, our mens basketball team just won back to back games against two top 10 teams in the country as the CCIW swept the MIAA in the classis this weekend at Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on December 04, 2006, 01:18:22 PM
REDMENFAN-

Hope all is well up at the iceberg. I know how cold it gets up there on the lake. How much snow did you guys up there on Friday? Maybe soon I'll make a trip up there soon so we can live it up like old times.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 01:38:01 PM
FB44, We got 17 inches! Couldn't even get my car out of the driveway til Friday night.  The highs all week aren't even going to get to 30 degrees so the snow won't melt any time soon either.  Yeah you need to get here soon, haven't seen you since homecoming (which you probably don't remember!)  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on December 04, 2006, 02:05:47 PM
REDMENFAN-
My son will be at the Carthage winter camp.  Let me know if you'll be there I'd like to meet some ex players.  My son is interested in Carthage and playing ball there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 02:15:50 PM
BataviaPete:
Even if I don't work the camps, I'll probably stop in to see how they're going and to say hi to everyone. Vinny Rottino will most likely work with the Catchers again (triple A player in the brewers organization and played on the Big League Club the last month of the year last season.) Scott Roehl will most likely work with the pitchers and hitters as he's done over the last few years (Double A pitcher in the Indians organization.)  Besides those two, the rest of the guys are Carthage players and coaches.  Its a great camp with great in depth video analysis from Augie Schmidt with the hitters and Cory Everts with the pitchers.  I'm sure your son would love playing for Augie, just ask any current or former players.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on December 04, 2006, 04:26:51 PM
Sounds great REDMENFAN.  My son's only a jr but he's started looking.  Was at Whitewater last for a camp and they want him to come up for a visit already.  Some d1 schools are after him too.  Evansville already had him down there.  My wife and I both went to Carthage so he's familiar with the school and we usually get to at least on Carhtage game a year so he's seen Augie in action and knows about the program.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 04, 2006, 05:21:51 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 01:38:01 PM
FB44, We got 17 inches! Couldn't even get my car out of the driveway til Friday night.  The highs all week aren't even going to get to 30 degrees so the snow won't melt any time soon either.  Yeah you need to get here soon, haven't seen you since homecoming (which you probably don't remember!)  ;)

Ahhhhh....... Homecoming...... Nothing better than falling down the hill at halftime and then hooking up with a Pi Theta after the game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 04, 2006, 05:25:48 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on December 04, 2006, 04:26:51 PM
  My wife and I both went to Carthage so he's familiar with the school and we usually get to at least on Carhtage game a year so he's seen Augie in action and knows about the program.

There is nothing like seeing Augie in action. I think I am going to write a book in the near future detailing my days at Carthage. I bet there are many people interested in what goes on behind the scenes and in the dugouts when Augie flips out. I also played with pitching coach Cory Everts... he was a complete lunatic on the days that he pitched. Some good stories there too.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on December 04, 2006, 06:28:24 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 04, 2006, 05:25:48 PM
Quote from: bataviapete on December 04, 2006, 04:26:51 PM
  My wife and I both went to Carthage so he's familiar with the school and we usually get to at least on Carhtage game a year so he's seen Augie in action and knows about the program.

There is nothing like seeing Augie in action. I think I am going to write a book in the near future detailing my days at Carthage. I bet there are many people interested in what goes on behind the scenes and in the dugouts when Augie flips out. I also played with pitching coach Cory Everts... he was a complete lunatic on the days that he pitched. Some good stories there too.

You went to Carthage...you can't read or write!!!  :-)   Kidding of course....

Merry Christmas to all the Carthage baseball fans.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 10:35:09 PM
BP, Cory played in an adult league along with former big leaguer Jarvis Brown on Sundays at Carthage this past summer (just a have fun league with 4 teams), but I saw Cory pitch and he can still bring it, although I don't think he could lift his arm the next few days  :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 05, 2006, 11:44:55 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on December 04, 2006, 10:35:09 PM
BP, Cory played in an adult league along with former big leaguer Jarvis Brown on Sundays at Carthage this past summer (just a have fun league with 4 teams), but I saw Cory pitch and he can still bring it, although I don't think he could lift his arm the next few days  :D

He used to wear eye-black when he pitched. He was very intimidating on the mound. He would also lift weights in the dugout between innings to keep loose. He kept dumbells in the corner that no one dared go near for fear of angering him.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 05, 2006, 02:54:36 PM
Ha! That is hilarious about the weights. And I definitely have not seen too many pitchers wear eye black. I guess all those attempts at intimidation and to psych himself up made up for him being 5'7'', because I heard how great of a pitcher he was.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on December 06, 2006, 05:11:54 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on December 05, 2006, 02:54:36 PM
Ha! That is hilarious about the weights. And I definitely have not seen too many pitchers wear eye black. I guess all those attempts at intimidation and to psych himself up made up for him being 5'7'', because I heard how great of a pitcher he was.

As good as Cory was back in the day, the guy out of that group who I wouldn't want to step into the box against was Dan Falkingham.  He didn't wear eye black, wasn't that big (5'10", 170), but he stared you down aka Roger Clemens.  And, he wasn't afraid to throw at your mellon to get you off the inside corner of the plate.

Another guy I would have never stepped in against was Todd Greenlee, but for different reasons.  He could throw a baseball through a brick wall, but you never knew where it was going!!  I think "Horse" still holds the Carthage record for walks ina game with 11!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 06, 2006, 06:05:48 PM
Two other guys who were as intimidating as they come in D3 baseball were Dan Grybash and Dusty Reid, who most went unbeaten during the regular season, Grybash finished that year 9-0 with an ERA in the low 1's
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 06, 2006, 08:20:53 PM
Quote from: mwunder on December 06, 2006, 05:11:54 PM
Another guy I would have never stepped in against was Todd Greenlee, but for different reasons.  He could throw a baseball through a brick wall, but you never knew where it was going!!  I think "Horse" still holds the Carthage record for walks ina game with 11!!

Horse was a wildman.... In addition to the 11 walks that day, he also hit 5-6 Lakeland batters. He gave up 6-7 runs while throwing a 1-hitter! Augie just kept sending him back out to the hill and told him to figure it out.

He was even wilder in the dorms. Man, the stories about that guy that I could tell...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 06, 2006, 10:02:22 PM
BP, when did you play at Carthage?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on December 07, 2006, 12:12:32 AM
The only time I ever saw Grybash he got lit up in the Series.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on December 07, 2006, 09:33:31 AM
Yeah Carthage struggled in the series his soph. year. His junior year, as I said, Augie did something because Grybash rarely walked hitters, and actually started to locate is pitches very well. I'm sure if he would've came back his senior year instead of signing with the Brewers he would've had another great year. I believe his soph. year Dan actually had a few losses. Once he developed a splitty and more than just a get me over curveball, he was nearly untouchable at the D3 level
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 07, 2006, 01:53:26 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on December 06, 2006, 10:02:22 PM
BP, when did you play at Carthage?

I played from '93-'96...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 18, 2006, 03:49:22 PM
Quote from: Spence on December 07, 2006, 12:12:32 AM
The only time I ever saw Grybash he got lit up in the Series.

Typical assessment by you, Spence. The only players that ever have, currently are, or ever will be any good, either played for, are playing for, or will play for Marietta.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on December 19, 2006, 03:14:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 18, 2006, 03:49:22 PM
Quote from: Spence on December 07, 2006, 12:12:32 AM
The only time I ever saw Grybash he got lit up in the Series.

Typical assessment by you, Spence. The only players that ever have, currently are, or ever will be any good, either played for, are playing for, or will play for Marietta.

Poppa-
Once again your honesty is right on. I may not always agree with your assessments, but I always respect your honesty. I think board needs to have a "debate-off" between you and Ralph over your favorites: Carthage vs. McMurry.

I have no idea of why people take your karma away simply because you are not afraid to talk about the elephant in the room. Keep posting the truth, BigPoppa.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on December 28, 2006, 10:09:13 PM


Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's

NCAA Div. III Pre-Season Poll (As of Dec. 26)

www.baseballnews.com

Rank    School Name '06 Final Record Point Totals
1. Otterbein, OH 34-16 252
2. Chapman, CA 33-13 248
3. Montclair St. 35-19-2 246
4. Wisconsin-Stevens Point 35-18 244
5. Southern Maine 32-17 241
6. Eastern Conn. St. 36-20 240
7. Marietta, OH 43-11 238
8. Coll. of New Jersey 38-8 235
9. Wheaton, MA 42-10 232
10. North Carolina Wesleyan 31-19 229
11. Cortland St., NY 39-9 226
12. Aurora, IL 34-14 225
13. Wooster, OH 38-9 222
14. St. Thomas, MN 31-11 220
15. Kean, NJ 31-17 217
16. Millsaps 37-13 215
17. Ripon, WI 34-7 212
18. Texas Lutheran 35-13-1 209
19. Carthage, WI 34-9 208
20. Ithaca, NY 33-11 206
21. Salisbury, MD 37-10 204
22. Western New England, MA 35-12 202
23. Rensselaer Poly. Inst., NY 34-11 197
24. Rowan, NJ 30-15 196
25. Augustana, IL 31-10 194
26. Trinity, TX 34-13 191
27. George Fox, OR 29-15 190
28. St. Olaf, MN 30-10 189
29. Bridgewater, VA 32-14-1 185
30. Manchester, IN 35-11 183
     Washington, MO 34-7 183
Other Top Teams: Emory, GA (31-9), St. Scholastica, MN (37-6), California Lutheran (20-19-1), William Paterson, NJ (26-14), Johns Hopkins, MD (28-9-2), Mount St. Joseph, OH (30-17), Alvernia, PA (30-13), York, PA (25-16-1), Methodist, NC (26-17), Washington & Jefferson, PA (34-13), LaGrange, GA (26-16), Texas-Tyler (28-11).
Source: Collegiate Baseball newspaper

Thoughts? Overated? Underated?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on January 02, 2007, 11:47:49 PM
Since Milsaps lost their All-American, Garner Wetzel, I'd have to think that his numbers from last season will be hard to replace.  They might be high at #16.

Cortland-SUNY returns 5 starting pitchers that went a combined 33-5 last season with over 250 Innings pitched and they return 2 of their top 4 hitters (batting average).  They might be ranked low at #11.  (thanks for the catch Mr. Sager)

I can't find anything on the Aurora website about returnees, etc.

Point only lost three to graduation, but they were the starting SS (Frombach) and OF Brehm (16 HRs) as well as 7-2 SP Perkins.  They still have a stud in Zimmerman and will be tough.

The other WI school that is ranked, Ripon lost 4 of it's top 5 hitters from last season and 2 of their top 4 pitchers.  I'm not sure they belong here.

How's that to generate a little discussion??

Poppa / Red_MenFan, et all... if Carthage made web-broadcasts of their baseball games available, would you be interested?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 03, 2007, 11:14:34 AM
Quote from: mwunder on January 02, 2007, 11:47:49 PM

Poppa / Red_MenFan, et all... if Carthage made web-broadcasts of their baseball games available, would you be interested?

I would certainly be interested. Easier to keep track of Augie's ranting on-line.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 04, 2007, 10:56:52 AM
Yes I would most likely listen quite a bit. Better than calling the Carthage sports hotline every ten minutes or so when Carthage is on the road!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 05, 2007, 02:24:06 AM
Quote from: mwunder on January 02, 2007, 11:47:49 PM

The other WI school that is ranked, Ripon lost 4 of it's top 5 hitters from last season and 2 of their top 4 pitchers.  I'm not sure they belong here.


I think Ripon is starting its fall from grace after Gordie Gillespie left the program two years ago. He was a great recruiting tool for Ripon and now that he is gone, it will be interesting to see how their recruiting classes pan out. This year and next year are when the first classes that he did not recruit will be expected be impact players. I am betting that Ripon will return to the level they were prior to his arrival.

The one advantage they have is that they play in a weak conference and can pile up wins while letting young guys develop.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 05, 2007, 02:30:07 PM
BP, I agree. Ripon plays in a very weak conference overall, and hasn't done much in the postseason.  I know they sure take it seriously when they play Carthage. BP you know Augs will never throw any of his top 4-5 guys in a midweek nonconference double header, not even for a few innings. Ripon, along with some other teams, will be throwing their top guns to get the wins. I understand their reasoning, because it will look great to the voters and keep them up in the rankings. Don't get me wrong, Carthage tries to win those games, but conference is much more important. Augie most of the time will also play a lot of back up position players who see little or no time in conference games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 05, 2007, 02:45:23 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on January 05, 2007, 02:30:07 PM
BP, I agree. Ripon plays in a very weak conference overall, and hasn't done much in the postseason.  I know they sure take it seriously when they play Carthage. BP you know Augs will never throw any of his top 4-5 guys in a midweek nonconference double header, not even for a few innings. Ripon, along with some other teams, will be throwing their top guns to get the wins. I understand their reasoning, because it will look great to the voters and keep them up in the rankings. Don't get me wrong, Carthage tries to win those games, but conference is much more important. Augie most of the time will also play a lot of back up position players who see little or no time in conference games.

I know what you are saying. Carthage comes to town and it is a big event on some campuses. They fire the best guns at Carthage mid-week because they can still win without them on the weekend(conference). Carthage always throws their middle relievers in those games to get them work and keeps their big guns in the holster.

I remember playing a Friday night DH at Marian once and they threw their #1 and #2 even with conference games the following day. We swept the DH and they got hammered on the weekend with their 3-5 throwing games. They would be smarter to throw their 1 and 2 on the weekends as conference is more important. Augie understands that and will throw his #1 and #2 against even the worst teams on the schedule. I know they threw their 1 and 2 at a 1-39 North Park team a few years ago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 08, 2007, 03:06:32 PM
Carthage's Florida schedule came out:

March 10 Sat. Coe (DH)

March 11 Sun. Ohio Wesleyan (DH)

March 12 Mon. Concordia (Wis., DH)

March 14 Wed. SUNY-Cortland

March 15 Thu. St. Joseph's (N.Y.)

March 16 Fri. Clarkson (DH)

Ten games in Seven days. It looks like a nice trip for the Redmen with a huge matchup with Cortland State. The schedule works out well for Carthage as they can throw their #1 and #2 on Saturday the 10th against Coe and bring their #1 back against Cortland on Wednesday in a single game and their #2 against St. Joe's on Thursday.

The Redmen typically struggle the first game of day #2 which bodes well for Ohio Wesleyan. I can remember being #7 in the nation and sweeping #2 Wooster in a DH and getting pounded by a 3-41 Muskingum team the next morning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on January 10, 2007, 07:02:36 PM
Quote from: mwunder on January 02, 2007, 11:47:49 PM
The other WI school that is ranked, Ripon lost 4 of it's top 5 hitters from last season and 2 of their top 4 pitchers.  I'm not sure they belong here.
Last years stats can be a little deceiving......  What is going to help them is that they return two guys who sat out the entire 2006 seasons and took medical hardships.  The first being Catcher John Dunlavy who is a two time 1st Team All MWC North Division selection.  He missed the 2006 season with a broken bone in his ankle.  (It should be known that Dunlavy had beaten out 2006 MWC North Division POY Eric Schwendimann the previous two seasons.)  Also back is starting LHP Bill Nolan.  Nolan is also a two time 1st Team All MWC North Division selection, and will probably be their #1 pitcher this season.  Now I know two guys aren't enough for a high National ranking, but I just wanted to point out that the cupboard isn't as bare as it appears. 

After this season though, I TOTALLY agree with waht your saying about the drop in talent.  Bob better stick to recruiting basketball players, because his baseball recruiting skills are really lacking.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 10, 2007, 07:20:04 PM
Quote from: cubs on January 10, 2007, 07:02:36 PM
Quote from: mwunder on January 02, 2007, 11:47:49 PM
The other WI school that is ranked, Ripon lost 4 of it's top 5 hitters from last season and 2 of their top 4 pitchers.  I'm not sure they belong here.
Last years stats can be a little deceiving......  What is going to help them is that they return two guys who sat out the entire 2006 seasons and took medical hardships.  The first being Catcher John Dunlavy who is a two time 1st Team All MWC North Division selection.  He missed the 2006 season with a broken bone in his ankle.  (It should be known that Dunlavy had beaten out 2006 MWC North Division POY Eric Schwendimann the previous two seasons.)  Also back is starting LHP Bill Nolan.  Nolan is also a two time 1st Team All MWC North Division selection, and will probably be their #1 pitcher this season.  Now I know two guys aren't enough for a high National ranking, but I just wanted to point out that the cupboard isn't as bare as it appears. 

After this season though, I TOTALLY agree with waht your saying about the drop in talent.  Bob better stick to recruiting basketball players, because his baseball recruiting skills are really lacking.

Great info, but Ripon is not in the CCIW. It would work great on the MWC Board. Ralph, can you bump it over there?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on January 11, 2007, 09:17:16 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 10, 2007, 07:20:04 PM
Great info, but Ripon is not in the CCIW. It would work great on the MWC Board. Ralph, can you bump it over there?
I know Ripon isn't in the CCIW.........  I was just trying to give mwunder some reasons as to why they are currently ranked.  Hence me saying both players were All MWC selections.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 11, 2007, 01:26:20 PM
Quote from: cubs on January 11, 2007, 09:17:16 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 10, 2007, 07:20:04 PM
Great info, but Ripon is not in the CCIW. It would work great on the MWC Board. Ralph, can you bump it over there?
I know Ripon isn't in the CCIW.........  I was just trying to give mwunder some reasons as to why they are currently ranked.  Hence me saying both players were All MWC selections.


Gotcha.... my bad!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on January 11, 2007, 02:44:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 11, 2007, 01:26:20 PM
Quote from: cubs on January 11, 2007, 09:17:16 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 10, 2007, 07:20:04 PM
Great info, but Ripon is not in the CCIW. It would work great on the MWC Board. Ralph, can you bump it over there?
I know Ripon isn't in the CCIW.........  I was just trying to give mwunder some reasons as to why they are currently ranked.  Hence me saying both players were All MWC selections.
Gotcha.... my bad!
No problem.....  Anyone that played for the same coach as Dean Muthig can't be too bad of a guy!!! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 11, 2007, 05:55:20 PM
Quote from: cubs on January 11, 2007, 02:44:34 PM
No problem.....  Anyone that played for the same coach as Dean Muthig can't be too bad of a guy!!! ;D

Muthing (The Pride of Clintonville, WI) was my boy. He was handed to me when I was a senior and he was a freshman and I was told to get him ready for the next season. He backed me up until I graduated and then he blossomed as a hitter and quickly became an all-american.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on January 11, 2007, 07:14:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 11, 2007, 05:55:20 PM
Quote from: cubs on January 11, 2007, 02:44:34 PM
No problem.....  Anyone that played for the same coach as Dean Muthig can't be too bad of a guy!!! ;D

Muthing (The Pride of Clintonville, WI) was my boy. He was handed to me when I was a senior and he was a freshman and I was told to get him ready for the next season. He backed me up until I graduated and then he blossomed as a hitter and quickly became an all-american.


Muthig was one of the most feared hitters in the CCIW.  Too bad he got injured after he was drafted.  I always wondered how far he would have gone in the minors.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 12, 2007, 10:49:14 AM
BP, did you play with Glen Braun at all? I still find it amazing he was the d-3 player of the year and didn't get drafted. I heard a story about him his senior year that has actually happened to a few other great Carthage players....he hit terrible on the Florida trip, can't remember the exact numbers, but it was something like 0 for or 1 for the trip. Then, got back and went on to hit over .500 and win player of the year. Carthage's baseball trophy case looks great. Besides all the conference championship plaques, how many schools have a Gold Louisville Slugger honoring the player of the year and the Golden Spikes award that Augie won (just added to the display in the tarc less than a year ago)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 12, 2007, 11:57:31 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on January 12, 2007, 10:49:14 AM
BP, did you play with Glen Braun at all? I still find it amazing he was the d-3 player of the year and didn't get drafted. I heard a story about him his senior year that has actually happened to a few other great Carthage players....he hit terrible on the Florida trip, can't remember the exact numbers, but it was something like 0 for or 1 for the trip. Then, got back and went on to hit over .500 and win player of the year. Carthage's baseball trophy case looks great. Besides all the conference championship plaques, how many schools have a Gold Louisville Slugger honoring the player of the year and the Golden Spikes award that Augie won (just added to the display in the tarc less than a year ago)

Braun was also a freshmen when I was a senior. We were loaded that year and neither he nor Muthig got much playing time. He should have been drafted as should have Shorty Flees. There are tons of Carthage guys that get over looked every year, but the pitchers usually get a shot at pro ball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 15, 2007, 11:41:00 PM
Carthage Preview from the website:

2007 Season Preview:   Carthage returns a veteran team on the field, with all nine starters returning, plus two players who started in 2005 and missed most of last season with injuries.  The returnees include catcher David Wuis (Sr., Kalamazoo, Mich./Comstock, .340, 23 RBI), first baseman Tyler Yapp (Sr., Madison, Wis./La Follette, .325, 11 doubles, four home runs, 43 RBI), second basemen Steve Rucks (Sr., Elgin, Ill./Larkin, .333, 8 doubles, 18 RBI) and Anthony Gragnani (Sr., Niles, Ill./Skokie-Niles West, .309, 16 RBI, 11 stolen bases), shortstop Seth Romano (.321, four doubles, 16 RBI), centerfielder Boe Baitinger (Jr., Appleton, Wis./East, .379, 10 doubles, 23 RBI, 27 stolen bases, a .982 fielding percentage), leftfielders David Hermes (Jr., Fort Atkinson, Wis., .298, 10 doubles, three home runs, 21 RB) and Tyler Creekmore (Jr., Winthrop Harbor, Ill./Zion-Benton Township, .284, eight doubles, 15 RBI), rightfielder Steve Coughlin (Jr., Sturtevant, Wis./Salem-Westosha Central, .336, four home runs, 24 RBI) and designated hitter Moses Barker (Sr., Brookfield, Wis./Fort Worth, Texas-Southwest HS/Southern Nazarene University, .266 seven doubles, 13 RBI).  First baseman Chris Sadjak (Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove), who was named second-team All-CCIW in 2005 with a .345 average, 10 doubles, three home runs and 34 RBI, hopes to bounce back from both a thumb injury and a broken foot.  Shortstop Jose Alba (Sr., Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates), who started all 43 games in 2005 and batted .275 returns from a leg injury.   "We hope to have Chris Sadjak and Jose Alba on the field most of the time," says coach Schmidt, "but if not, we have a lot of unselfish players who we know can play at this level.  We have a great depth of players who played a lot in 2006.  We played 15 of 16 kids last year pretty consistently, and we may go the same route this year.  If somebody cools off, we might just ride the hot guy.  However things shake out, our team on the field should be very strong."  With the graduation losses of pitchers Scott Evosevich (8-0, 1.51 ERA) and Jon Olson (7-1, 2.54 ERA), second-team All-CCIW honoree Jacob Husing (Jr., Iron Mountain, Mich., 6-2, 2.65 ERA) and Chris Krepline (Jr., Brillion, Wis./Reedsville, 4-1, 2.81) will anchor the starting rotation.  "Our pitchers are very, very confident," admits coach Schmidt, "but I don't know if they realize how good those two seniors were.  There aren't many NCAA Division III schools that have a Jacob Husing as a number-three starter.  We'll need to play better defense in 2007 and score more runs, and some of the other pitchers who did nice things at times in 2006 need to step up in 2007.  If that happens, I think the this year's team has a shot at being pretty good."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 16, 2007, 02:49:37 PM
That preview can be a little misleading.  Tyler Creekmore didn't get much playing time last year (although many thought he should have.)  Also, Seth Romano only began to start the last 5-6 games of the season or so.  He just got some time when Warren Even had a slight injury, and hit so well that he stayed in the lineup during the conference tourney, some as a DH.  Also, Rucks and Gragnani basically split time last season, and most likely will again this year depending on who's swinging the bat better.  Sadjak staying healthy will be a huge key for Carthage Offensively.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 16, 2007, 03:04:43 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on January 16, 2007, 02:49:37 PM
That preview can be a little misleading.  Tyler Creekmore didn't get much playing time last year (although many thought he should have.)  Also, Seth Romano only began to start the last 5-6 games of the season or so.  He just got some time when Warren Even had a slight injury, and hit so well that he stayed in the lineup during the conference tourney, some as a DH.  Also, Rucks and Gragnani basically split time last season, and most likely will again this year depending on who's swinging the bat better.  Sadjak staying healthy will be a huge key for Carthage Offensively.

Regardless, Carthage has a ton of experience coming back and should be considered the favorite in the CCIW. I also think that has to put either Carthage or Aurora as the Regional favorite right now with Augustana in third. As a whole, I think this region is weak other than the three mentioned teams and I would expect another region to shift a team or two into the Central at tournament time. Usually it is the South (Millsaps 2006, Mississippi College 2005, etc...)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 17, 2007, 10:17:15 AM
BP, I agree, I in no way was trying to say Carthage doesn't have a lot of talent and should be considered the favorite in the CCIW once again this year.  I was just saying someone who may only follow Carthage from afar a little here and there may think wow Carthage has all 9 starters back in the field, which isn't exactly the case. The only real loss for them is 3rd Baseman Warren Even who had a very solid career at Carthage. Other than that you are right, everyone is back, plus Jose and Sadjak return which can only help
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 17, 2007, 10:23:20 AM
Sounds like another solid year for the Redmen. I cannot wait for the season to kick-off.
Title: RE: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 18, 2007, 12:12:12 AM
How does Elmhurst look this year? I know they have their CCIW Player of the Year from 2006 back, but did they add anything around him that offers line-up protection?

How are the players reacting to a new coach?

Will they make a run for a CCIW tourney spot this year? One has to think that Carthage, Augustana and IWU are going to be there as they usually are, but who has a shot at the final spot?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 20, 2007, 08:50:25 PM
BigPoppa's CCIW Predictions:

1. Carthage (automatic bid)
2. Augustana (at-large bid)
3. Illinois Wesleyan
4. Elmhurst
5. North Park
6. Millikin
7. North Central
8. Wheaton

Thoughts? Disagreements? ... or am I right on?!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 22, 2007, 10:42:56 AM
I'd say you're right on with the top 3, the next 5 is anyone's guess. I know north park was much improved last year, I can't remember what they finished in conference. Fifth seems a little high for them, but not as far fetched as it would've seemed a year ago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2007, 12:48:06 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on January 22, 2007, 10:42:56 AM
I'd say you're right on with the top 3, the next 5 is anyone's guess. I know north park was much improved last year, I can't remember what they finished in conference. Fifth seems a little high for them, but not as far fetched as it would've seemed a year ago.

North Park was 4th last year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 22, 2007, 03:00:48 PM
Wow, I had no idea they finished that high.  I just remember watching them play at Carthage and all the "sober fans" in left field yelling non-stop at Ozzie Guillen's son when he made an error
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bob Maxwell on January 22, 2007, 04:32:26 PM
Big Poppa,

Carthage lost three of their starting pitchers... all look like they were pretty good.  But the good news is they only lost 2 players from an everyday lineup that hit .331 and went 34-9.

Looks like they are set up to have a good season if the young pitching comes through... have they replaced the 3 guys that they lost?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2007, 05:56:36 PM
Quote from: Bob Maxwell on January 22, 2007, 04:32:26 PM
Big Poppa,

Carthage lost three of their starting pitchers... all look like they were pretty good.  But the good news is they only lost 2 players from an everyday lineup that hit .331 and went 34-9.

Looks like they are set up to have a good season if the young pitching comes through... have they replaced the 3 guys that they lost?

They always lose 2-3 of their starting pitchers and they just slide another one in and tell him to get the job done. They usually do. They use their younger guys in mid-week, non-conference games to get them ready for the CCIW games the following year. It seems to be a system that works.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2007, 05:58:20 PM
Quote from: Bob Maxwell on January 22, 2007, 04:32:26 PM
But the good news is they only lost 2 players from an everyday lineup that hit .331 and went 34-9.

And get back two original starters that missed most of last season due to injury. Offense should not be their problem this season. If they have their typical season on the hill, they will be there in the end.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on January 23, 2007, 12:15:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2007, 05:56:36 PM
[They always lose 2-3 of their starting pitchers and they just slide another one in and tell him to get the job done. They usually do. They use their younger guys in mid-week, non-conference games to get them ready for the CCIW games the following year. It seems to be a system that works.

This is a tactic that is used universally through all college baseball.  Conference wins are at such a premium, you cannot send your best pitchers against a non conference opponent if they will miss a conference start. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 23, 2007, 12:58:19 PM
Carthage only lost 2 of their conference starters, and one of the guys stepping in (Jeff Livek) many felt was as good if not better than the 3 conference pitchers last season. Jacob Husing should be back at 100%, he had arm surguery before last season and pitched well, but not as well as I think he'll do this year. The top 2 spots are taken care of, hopefully someone can step in and pitch well in the 3rd spot that is open. On a side note, looks like the rocket is heading back to new york. Cano said he would gladly give up #22 for Clemens. I say Rocket, come to Milwaukee!!  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bob Maxwell on January 23, 2007, 01:22:05 PM
Carthage looks fairly solid in the CCIW with that much coming back... it appears to me that Augustana lost from last year will be hard to replace.  How do they look this year?

Also, Illinois Weslyan lost a lot too.

How does the rest of the conference look? 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 23, 2007, 02:00:08 PM
Quote from: Bob Maxwell on January 23, 2007, 01:22:05 PM
Carthage looks fairly solid in the CCIW with that much coming back... it appears to me that Augustana lost from last year will be hard to replace.  How do they look this year?

Also, Illinois Weslyan lost a lot too.

How does the rest of the conference look? 

Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan may have lost a lot, but they usually fill those spots very well. Carthage, Augustana and IWU are head and shoulders above the rest of the CCIW right now. The battle will be for 4th place as it is wide open right now. I have to think it comes down to Elmhurst or North Park.

Here is how the last 20 years played out:


1987 North Park
1988 North Central
1989 Illinois Wesleyan
1990 North Park

1991 North Central
1992 Carthage
1993 Carthage
1994 North Central
1995 Carthage

1996 North Central
1997 Elmhurst
1998 North Central
1999 Carthage
2000 Carthage

2001 Illinois Wesleyan
2002 Carthage
2003 Carthage
2004 Illinois Wesleyan
2005 Illinois Wesleyan
2006 Carthage
Seems pretty clear  that it has been dominated by Carthage- 8 titles,  North Central (6)and IWU(4). Augustana has always had solid teams, but cannot seem to get the CCIW title.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Bob Maxwell on January 25, 2007, 12:24:25 PM
BigPoppa,

Thanks for the History lesson on the CCIW... interesting.  I can't find the information on the SUNYAC (its in a pile somewhere around here...), but it reads something like this over the last 10 years ( I can't remember farther back... LOL):
1995 - 2003 Cortland
2004 Brockport
2005 & 2006 Cortland again...

Although both 2005 & 2006 were interesting as Oneonta was one game away from winning in 2005 (lost 2-3 & 3-14 after they ran out of pitchinng...), and Brockport was the same in 2006 (lost 5-8 & 2-4 in two good games...)

I see that Carthage will play Cortland in Port Charlotte, Florida on March 14th.  Should be an interesting early season game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2007, 01:00:54 PM
Quote from: Bob Maxwell on January 25, 2007, 12:24:25 PM

I see that Carthage will play Cortland in Port Charlotte, Florida on March 14th.  Should be an interesting early season game.


Carthage/Cortland will be a great battle down south and Carthage pitching is set for their #1 to come back for his second start. I am not certain how Cortland's schedule matches up down south, but it should be a great game either way. A good trip for both teams coupled with a win in that game could vault either one of these programs into the top ten.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 25, 2007, 01:27:57 PM
If I remember correctly off the top of my head, Carthage beat Cortland down in Florida last year, but lost to Wheaton Mass.  I believe both were in the top 10 at the time, and Carthage was somewhere in the top 25
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2007, 01:31:16 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on January 25, 2007, 01:27:57 PM
If I remember correctly off the top of my head, Carthage beat Cortland down in Florida last year, but lost to Wheaton Mass.  I believe both were in the top 10 at the time, and Carthage was somewhere in the top 25

You are correct. They beat Cortland 4-2 and lost a few days later to Wheaton (Mass) 3-2.  The Redmen went 6-4 on last year's trip, the worst record on a trip in over 15 years. They were very young last year and did not click until they came back from the southern trip.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 01, 2007, 03:15:07 PM
If there were to be an All-Time CCIW Baseball Team, Who makes the first team? One has to think that CCIW Players of the Year are first to be nominated.

Anybody have a list of all-time greats from each CCIW school?

My guess is it would be dominated by Carthage, IWU and North Park guys with one or two North Central guys mixed in. Thoughts?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 01, 2007, 08:58:19 PM
Just my thoughts on the All-time Carthage team:

P- Cory Everts '90-93 (2x All-American)
P- Dan Falkingham '90-93 (2x All-American)
P- Jeff Kaeppler (0.00 ERA in 1974)
P- Ryan Taylor '94

C- John Zuleger '92-95 (2x 1st Team All-American)
1B- Mark Beyer '93-96 (1st team All-American)
2B- Ryan Lessner '97-00 (All-American)
SS- ????
3B- Dean Muthig '96-99 (2x All-American)
OF- Shorty Flees '94-97 (3x All-American)
OF- Glen Braun (NCAA Player of the Year) '96-99
OF- Gavin Winfield (All-American- also a great LHP) '94-97
OF- Jack Richarz (NCAA all-time walks leader) '92-95

Can anyone help me fill in the shortstop? It has always been to one big hole in Carthage's teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 02, 2007, 02:45:57 AM
This is my NPU team. It strongly reflects the Park's baseball heyday, which was the 1980s. Mr. B, who is much more familiar with the past decade and a half of NPU baseball than me, might make some different choices.

P - Pete Zajac ('84-'87)
P - Alan Keller ('81-'84)
P - Dan Mason ('80-'83)
P - Tim Naughton ('79-'82)

C - Dan Casas ('90-'93)
IF - Steve Zetterlund ('85-'88)
IF - Craig King ('89-'92)
IF - Tony D'Andrea ('87-'90)
IF - Paul Biocic ('82-'85)
OF - Randy Ross ('81-'84)
OF - Brad Boelkens ('93-'96)
OF - Mark Slager ('81-'84)

You could have a strong three-way argument over the catcher's spot, since North Park had three outstanding ones during the '80s and early '90s: Scott Paulson, Gary Paulson, and Dan Casas. Scott Paulson was a three-time All-CCIW first-teamer, and Gary Paulson was a two-time All-CCIW first-teamer and the CCIW POTY in '88. But Casas combined both of the peak achievements of the Paulson brothers: He was a three-time All-CCIW first-teamer and the CCIW POTY in '92. Plus, he had to carry a couple of teams as an upperclassmen that lacked the talent of preceding seasons, whereas the Paulson brothers always had a lot of great talent surrounding them.

Randy Ross, who is arguably the greatest player in North Park baseball history, played shortstop for most of his career. However, since the Vikings have a much stronger legacy among infielders than outfielders, I moved Ross to the outfield. He played centerfield as a freshman for the Park, and was good enough at it to be an All-CCIW first-teamer at that position.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 02, 2007, 11:39:42 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 02, 2007, 02:45:57 AM
This is my NPU team. It strongly reflects the Park's baseball heyday, which was the 1980s. Mr. B, who is much more familiar with the past decade and a half of NPU baseball than me, might make some different choices.

P - Pete Zajac ('84-'87)
P - Alan Keller ('81-'84)
P - Dan Mason ('80-'83)
P - Tim Naughton ('79-'82)

C - Dan Casas ('90-'93)
IF - Steve Zetterlund ('85-'88)
IF - Craig King ('89-'92)
IF - Tony D'Andrea ('87-'90)
IF - Paul Biocic ('82-'85)
OF - Randy Ross ('81-'84)
OF - Brad Boelkens ('93-'96)
OF - Mark Slager ('81-'84)



I was a freshman at Carthage when Casas was a senior at NPU. He scared the crap out of me all year long. He was a very intimidating catcher who always seemed to get the job done. He would chirp at me while I hit... it drove me nuts! I was glad to see him graduate.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 02, 2007, 04:27:01 PM
Not sure about shortstop, but if you were going to have a DH, I would certainly say Jason Lensmeyer, who was also an All-American. Defensively, I would say Fellin was good enough, but he didn't quite have the offensive numbers. That guy was a wizard with a baseball glove though
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 02, 2007, 04:43:42 PM
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll.html (http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll.html)

ABCA poll was released today. Carthage jumped to #8 in that one.  Let the debating begin... who is too high/low?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: cubs on February 02, 2007, 06:43:06 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 02, 2007, 04:43:42 PM
ABCA poll was released today. Carthage jumped to #8 in that one.  Let the debating begin... who is too high/low?
Even though I am a WIAC guy, I think Whitewater may be a little too high at #12.  They only lost three seniors, however there were all quality players.  Eddie Adamson was their best offensive player last season (production wise) and Keller was arguably their #1/2 pitcher.  Both these guys were 1st Team All WIAC selections.  The third senior, Nick Teach, was their starting 2B until being bit by the  injury bug.

Are they the 2nd best team in the WIAC, possibly, but they definitely are going to have to find some players to step in and replace the production they lost.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on February 06, 2007, 10:35:06 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 01, 2007, 03:15:07 PM
If there were to be an All-Time CCIW Baseball Team, Who makes the first team? One has to think that CCIW Players of the Year are first to be nominated.

Anybody have a list of all-time greats from each CCIW school?

My guess is it would be dominated by Carthage, IWU and North Park guys with one or two North Central guys mixed in. Thoughts?
Just taking a quick glance at the CCIW site, I think you'd have to include Rob Daggett of Elmhurst and Ken Ritter of North Central in any discussion as the only two-time CCIW players of the year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on February 09, 2007, 06:46:56 PM
Now that football is done I am so ready for some baseball!!! Anyone else?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on February 09, 2007, 10:00:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 02, 2007, 02:45:57 AM
This is my NPU team. It strongly reflects the Park's baseball heyday, which was the 1980s. Mr. B, who is much more familiar with the past decade and a half of NPU baseball than me, might make some different choices.

P - Pete Zajac ('84-'87)
P - Alan Keller ('81-'84)
P - Dan Mason ('80-'83)
P - Tim Naughton ('79-'82)

C - Dan Casas ('90-'93)
IF - Steve Zetterlund ('85-'88)
IF - Craig King ('89-'92)
IF - Tony D'Andrea ('87-'90)
IF - Paul Biocic ('82-'85)
OF - Randy Ross ('81-'84)
OF - Brad Boelkens ('93-'96)
OF - Mark Slager ('81-'84)

You could have a strong three-way argument over the catcher's spot, since North Park had three outstanding ones during the '80s and early '90s: Scott Paulson, Gary Paulson, and Dan Casas. Scott Paulson was a three-time All-CCIW first-teamer, and Gary Paulson was a two-time All-CCIW first-teamer and the CCIW POTY in '88. But Casas combined both of the peak achievements of the Paulson brothers: He was a three-time All-CCIW first-teamer and the CCIW POTY in '92. Plus, he had to carry a couple of teams as an upperclassmen that lacked the talent of preceding seasons, whereas the Paulson brothers always had a lot of great talent surrounding them.

Randy Ross, who is arguably the greatest player in North Park baseball history, played shortstop for most of his career. However, since the Vikings have a much stronger legacy among infielders than outfielders, I moved Ross to the outfield. He played centerfield as a freshman for the Park, and was good enough at it to be an All-CCIW first-teamer at that position.
All excellent choices!  I would also add three more recent All-CCIW honorees plus one player who never got all-conference recognition:

IF Cory Clark: a second-team All-CCIW player in 1999, he played just two years at North Park but put up some very solid offensive numbers.  He was probably the most effective team captain the Vikes have had over the past decade, a real leader who showed his teammates how to play the game with energy.

P Tim Dykes: also a second-team selection in 1999, he was a real competitor on the mound.  He was another natural team leader on the best four-man rotation (along with Andrew Postek, Shelly Cohen, and Joe Miller) that North Park has had in two decades.

1b/DH Curtis Tate: one of the most feared clutch hitters in the CCIW, .425 in 1999 and .362 with 10 HRs in 2000.  I also admired his quiet leadership, plus he had one of the most perceptive baseball minds of any player I've seen in my years at North Park.

P Jeff Hanson: a quality pitcher on some very bad teams.  He holds many of the school's pitching records, including IP and strikeouts.  He was a true workhorse in the same mold as Tim Dykes -- give him the ball every week and he'd go out and give you a quality effort every time. 

I'd bet that any coach in the CCIW would have loved having these four players on their teams -- they were  leaders on and off the field and really understood the game and all its nuances.

There are a few other recent players that would have a shot at the "all-time North Park team," but I don't want to crowd the dugout!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on February 12, 2007, 11:25:06 PM
Augie lost their top pitcher, but their 2 and 3 are back.  Word is they have some pretty solid young arms.  They are also getting their catcher from a couple years ago back who missed last year.  He was first team all-region his junior year.  They might have the best team speed of any team in the conference, and their outfield might be the best in the conference as well.  I'd look for Augie to challenge Carthage for the title.

Also heard that Cummings left IWU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on February 13, 2007, 11:44:38 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on February 12, 2007, 11:25:06 PM
Augie lost their top pitcher, but their 2 and 3 are back.  Word is they have some pretty solid young arms.  They are also getting their catcher from a couple years ago back who missed last year.  He was first team all-region his junior year.  They might have the best team speed of any team in the conference, and their outfield might be the best in the conference as well.  I'd look for Augie to challenge Carthage for the title.

Also heard that Cummings left IWU.

Rob Cummings is now a Gaucho, at UC-Santa Barbara.  On a day like today - with a blizzard that has all of B-N shutdown - I can't blame the kid!


http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/cummings_robby00.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 13, 2007, 12:22:34 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on February 13, 2007, 11:44:38 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on February 12, 2007, 11:25:06 PM
Also heard that Cummings left IWU.

Rob Cummings is now a Gaucho, at UC-Santa Barbara.  On a day like today - with a blizzard that has all of B-N shutdown - I can't blame the kid!

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/cummings_robby00.html

Now that is good news. 

UCSB -84
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2007, 01:07:05 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on February 13, 2007, 11:44:38 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on February 12, 2007, 11:25:06 PM
Augie lost their top pitcher, but their 2 and 3 are back.  Word is they have some pretty solid young arms.  They are also getting their catcher from a couple years ago back who missed last year.  He was first team all-region his junior year.  They might have the best team speed of any team in the conference, and their outfield might be the best in the conference as well.  I'd look for Augie to challenge Carthage for the title.

Also heard that Cummings left IWU.

Rob Cummings is now a Gaucho, at UC-Santa Barbara.  On a day like today - with a blizzard that has all of B-N shutdown - I can't blame the kid!


http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/cummings_robby00.html

Anybody leaving the CCIW(especially IWU) for the warmer weather of Southern California is great news for Carthage fans!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on February 13, 2007, 10:13:03 PM
He left IWU, not Augie.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2007, 01:33:51 PM
I'm right with ya FB44. Its always a great time to relax (in hopefully some pleasant weather, definitely not always the case at Carthage Home games during March and April) and listen to what Augie will have to say next from the dugout....oh yeah and consume a few beverages as well!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2007, 02:01:57 PM
"Who is going to win the CCIW this season?
North Central   1 (6.3%)
Augustana   2 (12.5%)
Carthage   7 (43.8%)
North Park   2 (12.5%)
Wheaton   3 (18.8%)
Millikin   0 (0%)
Illinois Wesleyan   0 (0%)
Elmhurst   1 (6.3%)
 
Total Voters: 16"


How did Wheaton get more votes than Illinois Wesleyan?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on February 15, 2007, 02:18:29 PM
More Wheaton fans/parents/players visiting the site?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on February 15, 2007, 02:46:43 PM
1st post!!!!!!

I am wondering how the CCIW will fare against the Northern Athletic Conf. (Aurora, Rockford,etc....)?

Just think by Tuesday it will be above 32 and we will all be wearing shorts!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on February 15, 2007, 03:12:23 PM
The CCIW usually fares very well against everyone in the conference except Aurora it seems.  Last year Augie choked away a lead against Rockford and lost, but usually handles Concordia and Dominican fairly easily.  Don't know much about the NAC this year though.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2007, 03:28:19 PM
Aurora is the only team in that conference that could compete yearly in the top half of the CCIW.

They should run away with that title this year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 15, 2007, 03:50:52 PM
I agree, Aurora should win the conference no problem year in and year out as long as they keep recruiting quality players. Some pretty average at best teams in that conference.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gotberg on February 19, 2007, 07:45:40 PM
Sage or anyone else that might know NPU athletics,

Is Shelby Wood still attending NPU?  I was surprised not to see him on the baseball roster considering he was an all-state performer in Michigan.

http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/Players.cfm
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on February 19, 2007, 08:02:17 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on February 19, 2007, 07:45:40 PM
Sage or anyone else that might know NPU athletics,

Is Shelby Wood still attending NPU?  I was surprised not to see him on the baseball roster considering he was an all-state performer in Michigan.

http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/Players.cfm

As far as I know, he's still at North Park.  He was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, and baseball), but he must have decided to concentrate on football only at NPU. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on February 19, 2007, 08:08:42 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on February 15, 2007, 03:12:23 PM
The CCIW usually fares very well against everyone in the conference except Aurora it seems.  Last year Augie choked away a lead against Rockford and lost, but usually handles Concordia and Dominican fairly easily.  Don't know much about the NAC this year though.
I agree with knarocky and Big Poppa: the CCIW usually matches up very well against the former NIIC teams.  Last year North Park shut out Rockford 11-0 at the home field, were edged by Benedictine, lost to Dominican, beat Concordia, and got knocked around by Aurora.  The Spartans are a very deep squad and never seem to be short of pitching.  They would regularly battle it out for top dog of the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 20, 2007, 02:53:49 PM
Its nice to see that there's a D3 Baseball sight now as well.  For anyone interested, here's the link to the profiles of Carthage's returning players, as well as the new in coming freshman:
http://carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 20, 2007, 03:05:52 PM
I think this could be the year the REDMEN return to the World Series. They are loaded with returners who battle to a CCIW title in a "down year" and had great experience in the NCAAs last year with a very young team.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 20, 2007, 04:29:39 PM
BP I hope you're right. I look for Carthage to have solid pitching once again, but maybe no quite the stats the top 3 put up last year, along with Krepline and Livek. On the flip side, I look for them to also put up better offensive numbers as a team this year. Knowing Augie, I'm sure he wouldn't mind seeing that one bit. I'd be willing to bed Augs would rather see  12-4 wins over a 3-1 wins any day of the week
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Fawkes316 on February 20, 2007, 06:55:23 PM
I'm not going to pick Wheaton to win the conference, but they have been showing steady improvement and I expect that will continue this season. Coach Elder has been there for awhile, there is stability, and better talent. They had a pretty decent season last year, and I expect it again this year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on February 21, 2007, 11:47:13 AM
Augustana starts their season off on Saturday in Port Charlotte, FL with two games; one against Franklin and the night cap against Hanover.  Here is a link to the Vikings schedule.

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/schedule.php
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 21, 2007, 11:49:17 AM
Augustana has a nice start with two Southern trips... one to Florida and another Arizona. We should have a great feel for them in two weeks.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 21, 2007, 02:49:07 PM
Go to D3baseball.com, there's a great picture of Carthage's Boe Baitenger. Article is titled "central region up for grabs."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 22, 2007, 11:59:34 AM
REDMENFAN... how does the Carthage team look from an on-campus point of view? I certainly think they should be favored to win the CCIW again. Pitching will be a concern early, but their offense should be back to its old form. I doubt their offense will ever reach the heights that the teams in the mid to late 90s did, but very few college teams ever reach that level.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on February 22, 2007, 12:05:41 PM
Here's the link to the preseason poll:
http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2007preseasonpoll.php

Carthage gets 6 1st place votes and is the favorite. 

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 22, 2007, 12:14:39 PM
REDMENFAN... thanks for the link. I posted the story below. I have to say that it is very close to my own prediction.

CCIW Baseball
Carthage Picked to Win CCIW Baseball Title in Latest Coaches Poll

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Carthage Red Men were picked to defend its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) baseball title according to a poll conducted by the eight head baseball coaches Wednesday.

Carthage, currently ranked eighth in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association Division III Baseball Poll, took first with 48 points, including six of the eight first place votes. The Red Men won the conference title last season with a record of 19-2. Augustana (15-6 in 2006) finished second in the preseason poll with 44 points, including two first place votes. The Vikings are also nationally ranked in the ABCA poll as they are currently tied with Ithaca at 16th in the nation.

Illinois Wesleyan (14-7) was third in the preseason poll with 37 points, while Wheaton (8-13) was fourth with 25 points. North Park (8-13) was fifth (21 points), while North Central (7-14) was sixth (19 points). Millikin (8-13) was seventh with 18 points, while Elmhurst (5-16) was eighth with 12 points.

Voting in the preseason poll is done by the baseball coaches in the CCIW. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.

The CCIW baseball season begins Feb. 24 as Augustana faces Franklin College on its Spring Break trip in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Team Points (First Place Votes) 
Carthage             48 (6)
Augustana           44 (2)
Illinois Wesleyan  37 
Wheaton              25 
North Park            21 
North Central       19 
Millikin                  18 
Elmhurst               12 


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 22, 2007, 04:27:01 PM
BP, I haven't really seen much of Carthage this year at all, but I know most of their players, and have seen them all play last year. Working full time now and doing some coaching myself, I haven't gotten to see the Redmen practice. Based on who I know is on the team and having seen them play quite a bit, as well as playing with a few of them, I look for the Redmen repeat as conference champs with Augustana providing the most competition.  Florida will be interesting to see how some of the younger guys throw, but Carthage's three conference starters should be solid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 23, 2007, 01:15:19 AM
NPU also starts off its season against Franklin, as the Vikings take on the Grizzlies in a doubleheader a week from Saturday down in Indiana. Then North Park is off to Phoenix for a week of games against various D3 and NAIA teams.

Lots of new names on the NPU roster. I'm going to have to see what sort of a scoop I can get on the newbies.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on February 23, 2007, 07:43:56 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 23, 2007, 01:15:19 AM
NPU also starts off its season against Franklin, as the Vikings take on the Grizzlies in a doubleheader a week from Saturday down in Indiana. Then North Park is off to Phoenix for a week of games against various D3 and NAIA teams.

Lots of new names on the NPU roster. I'm going to have to see what sort of a scoop I can get on the newbies.
Lots of new names, but not many losses because of graduation (Vladimir Torres, Oscar Ibarra, Brett Cooper).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on February 26, 2007, 01:50:55 PM
Augustana(2-0) got off to a nice start on Sunday in Florida:

Augustana 2, Franklin 0

Augustana 11, Hanover 9

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on February 26, 2007, 06:16:16 PM
Augie actually beat Hanover and Franklin on Saturday. They moved to 3-0 yesterday with a 6-0 win over Rose Hulman. Their next game is tomorrow against Catholic University.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on March 01, 2007, 12:55:13 PM
REDMENFAN -

Are you gonna be at the "smoker" this weekend? I might be able to make it on Saturday. So if I go I will hopfully see you there.

When is Carthage's first game?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: KYGrizzly on March 01, 2007, 02:17:20 PM
Here is a link for some action photos of Augustana's games in Port Charlotte. I saw a man taking the pictures and he gave me the website that you can view and purchase the photos.

If I mess the link up go to www.petertravers.com and work your way thru the menu to the pictures.

http://www.bhtphotos.smugmug.com/University%20Sports%202006-07/291006 (http://www.bhtphotos.smugmug.com/University%20Sports%202006-07/291006)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 01, 2007, 11:37:32 PM
Augie wins 6-4 over Catholic today and moves to 4-0 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 02, 2007, 10:55:53 AM
FB44, I probalby won't make it. I gotta coach my team in a tournament all weekend, or else I'd love to be there. Give me a call if you stay in town though, a few of the old roommates are going to be in town and we're all going out Saturday night!  On another note, racine product Vinny Rottino went yard yesterday for the brewers against the A's. Promising 3rd baseman Ryan Braun hit a grandslam and a 3-run homer. Go brew-crew!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on March 02, 2007, 02:08:45 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 02, 2007, 10:55:53 AM
FB44, I probalby won't make it. I gotta coach my team in a tournament all weekend, or else I'd love to be there. Give me a call if you stay in town though, a few of the old roommates are going to be in town and we're all going out Saturday night!  On another note, racine product Vinny Rottino went yard yesterday for the brewers against the A's. Promising 3rd baseman Ryan Braun hit a grandslam and a 3-run homer. Go brew-crew!

Well I don't think im gonna make it now because of weather and I will be up all night at a concert so I will catch you on the flip side  ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 02, 2007, 11:27:46 PM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on March 02, 2007, 02:08:45 PM
Well I don't think im gonna make it now because of weather and I will be up all night at a concert so I will catch you on the flip side  ;D

John Tesh??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 03, 2007, 12:37:48 AM
Augie split with Grove City today.  They end their first trip 5-1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2007, 08:29:40 PM
Not a bad start for Augustana right out of the gate. It bodes well for the CCIW if 2-3 team have great trips and make runs at the NCAAs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedmenFB44 on March 04, 2007, 12:09:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 02, 2007, 11:27:46 PM
Quote from: RedmenFB44 on March 02, 2007, 02:08:45 PM
Well I don't think im gonna make it now because of weather and I will be up all night at a concert so I will catch you on the flip side  ;D

John Tesh??

HAHA... close breaking benjamin, three days grace, and nickelback.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 04, 2007, 11:30:15 PM
Actually, I was mistaken, Augustana had one more game left on their trip and defeated Concordia (Minnesota) 18-13 to end the trip 6-1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 05, 2007, 12:42:34 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on March 04, 2007, 11:30:15 PM
Actually, I was mistaken, Augustana had one more game left on their trip and defeated Concordia (Minnesota) 18-13 to end the trip 6-1.

Which Concordia in Minnesota? Concordia-St. Paul is a D2 school. Concordia-Moorhead is a D3 school.

NPU's opener at Franklin was snowed out. No word on when, or if, the game will be rescheduled.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 05, 2007, 10:32:10 AM
Moorhead
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on March 05, 2007, 12:18:18 PM
Wheaton wins on Saturday in Arizona 8-5 vs Concordia-Chicago (previously River Forest).  Today's game v Beloit should be just underway.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 05, 2007, 02:05:37 PM
Former 1st base coach at Carthage over the last 4 years Jarvis Brown is off to a 3-0 start after the weekend as head coach of UW-Parkside. Losing him and Cibbs is a huge blow to the coaching staff, but I'm sure Augie and the rest of the coaches will still do a great job this year getting the guys ready
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on March 05, 2007, 02:09:09 PM
At the Wheaton website you can hear an interview with Coach Elder. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/index.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2007, 03:38:24 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 05, 2007, 02:05:37 PM
Former 1st base coach at Carthage over the last 4 years Jarvis Brown is off to a 3-0 start after the weekend as head coach of UW-Parkside. Losing him and Cibbs is a huge blow to the coaching staff, but I'm sure Augie and the rest of the coaches will still do a great job this year getting the guys ready

What happened to Cibby??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 05, 2007, 07:17:20 PM
First time post.

Augie came back 6-1 from their first spring trip.  A bright offensive trip finished up with a team AVG of .325, led by lead off hitter CF Marc Blakeley (.517, 4 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI), C Jake Meisenbach (.407, 5 2B, 10 RBI) and Freshman 1B Tyler Anderson (.438 in 4 games).  The offense should continue to be a strength of the team as the majority of a strong line-up from last year is returning and three freshman (Anderson, Eric Izzo and Mike Odenthal) seemed to make a most of their opportunities to earn the remaining starting spots at 1B and 3B.

The team's starting pitching was strong, as it should have, with Kuntz and Engle anchoring the rotation and Junior transfer Eric Knott recording 14Ks in 13IP.  Numerous freshman got their chance in bullpen action as well, but only time will tell how the pitching staff will look after Kuntz/Engle/Knott.  A 10 run meltdown in the last 4 innings against 1-6 Concordia-Moorhead including 7 BBs is something they will surely look to improve on next weekend in Arizona. 

The Vikings will take on UW-La Crosse, University of Chicago and Monmouth College next weekend in Phoenix, AZ.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 06, 2007, 07:58:10 AM
BP, Cibbs just simply wanted to spend more time with his family. He has a few young daughters and wants to be see their softball games, etc.  This will be his second year now not coaching.  He is still at a lot of the home games, but the time committment was too much with his girls growing up.  Cibbs was always a player favorite, the best bp thrower I've ever seen, and has a great baseball mind.  Hopefully he'll decide to help out the Redmen again in the future.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 08, 2007, 06:14:32 PM
North Park leaves for its spring trip (Russ Matt Tournament in Phoenix) Friday morning.  We will face McDaniel, Monmouth (IL), Dickinson (PA), Macalester, UW La Crosse, and Montclair State.  I will try to post updates throughout the week. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 09, 2007, 02:48:48 PM
Heading to Phoenix Saturday, might get to see some college games if I don't go to any Cubs and/or Sox games, hee! hee!!!!
80 degree days, I'm leaving Chicago in shorts.

Good luck to all you CCIW teams!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 09, 2007, 03:53:54 PM
Great article in the Kenosha News today about Carthage's upcoming season. A few things I remember about the article is that Augie stated he feels this years team is a bit overrated. The writer stated that Augie never gets into all the preseason hoopla, and normally at the end of every season Carthage is on the verge of winning the conference and competing to make it to the world series.  The article stresses that after Jacob Husing, the staff is unproven, but all 9 starters return in the field. Augie used a great line about David Hermes saying: he hits the ball 9 miles when he gets a hold of one.  Ultimately the article is primarily about two players: Jacob Husing and Boe Baitinger. Augie stated that every single major league team had someone in during fall ball to talk to him, and that he legitimately touched 94 mph on a few separate occasions in front of the scouts. Also, that he compliments his fastball with a curveball, changeup, and slider.  About Boe, Augie said Boe is without a doubt the best outfielder he's ever coached, its not even close, and that includes all the former all conference and all american performers. Augs also mentioned there used to be games you could just pencil in as victories, but the conference is not like that anymore. He said Augustana, Wesleyan, and a much improved Wheaton team should contend for the conference crown. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 09, 2007, 03:58:13 PM
Here's the beginning of the article, for some reason it only gives the first few paragraphs: http://kenoshanews.com/articles/index.php?articleNum=792232
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on March 09, 2007, 04:54:23 PM
Thanks for the overview Redman.  Sounds like a decent article.
Title: Carthage v Coe, game 1
Post by: mwunder on March 10, 2007, 02:38:06 PM
Carthage wins vs Coe, 3-1, in game 1 of their doubleheader today.  Jacob Husing picks up the win for the Red Men.  Freshman Corey Richardson picks up the save.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2007, 06:25:55 PM
Carthage lost game two 2-0, Jeff Livek was the tough luck loser, don't know any other details
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 10, 2007, 06:38:38 PM
North Park dropped its season opener, 13-7, to McDaniel College.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2007, 05:07:25 PM
Carthage moves to 2-2 on the season. The Red Men split a Saturday DH with Coe College (IOWA) and an Sunday DH with Ohio Wesleyan. This certainly is a disappointing start for the #8 ranked Red Men. It appears that their pitching is doing the job early on, but their bats are unusually quiet to this point. I would expect that to change quickly as Coach Augie Schmidt will have a quick hook on guys that do not produce at the plate.

Per the Carthage Website:

In the opening game, Ohio Wesleyan scored three unearned runs in the third inning, following a one-out fielding error by Red Men shortstop Jose Alba.  The Battling Bishops' A.J. Dote hit a two-run double in the inning.  Carthage got two runs back in the bottom of third on a two-run homer by Boe Baitinger, the first Carthage collegiate home run for the junior centerfielder.  Baitinger hit one home run his freshman year at Chaffey College.  The Red Men tied the game, 3-3, in the fourth on a two-out RBI-single by Anthony Gragnani.  Ohio Wesleyan took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on a leadoff, solo home run by Kyle Sherman.  The Red Men took their first lead of the game in the sixth off Battling Bishops relief pitcher Matthew Struble.  With two outs, Baitinger tripled just inside the rightfield foul line, scoring Seth Romano with tying run.  Gragnani singled up the middle to score Baitinger with the go-ahead run.  Starting pitcher Chris Krepline (1-0) went the distance for the Red Men.  Krepline allowed four runs, only one earned on six hits and a walk, while striking our five batters.  Baitinger went three-for-three with a double, a triple, a home run and three RBI.

In the nightcap, Ohio Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off Carthage pitcher Ryan Roufus on a base-loaded walk to Joey McDaniel.  The Red Men tied the game, 1-1, in the fourth when Mike Hughes led off with his second double of the game, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Alba.  Carthage took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Anthony Gragnani led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a double by Chris Sadjak.  The Battling Bishops knotted the game, 2-2, in the fifth on an RBI-double by Sean Ring.  Ohio Wesleyan won the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.  Kyle Sherman opened the inning with a base on balls and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by A.J. Dote.  Sherman stole third, and with two outs, scored on a throwing error by Carthage third baseman Tyler Yapp.  The loss went to Jordan Williams (0-1), the third of four Carthage pitchers.  Ryan Roufus started the game.  Corey Richardson replace him in the second inning before giving way to Williams in the sixth and Andy Henning in the seventh.


Updated Standings:
Augustana (Ill.) (6-1)
Wheaton (Ill.) (3-3)
Carthage (2-2)
Elmhurst (1-1)
Millikin (1-2)
North Park (0-1)
North Central (0-3)
Illinois Wesleyan (0-4)


IWU at 0-4 is a surprise to me... as is Wheaton at 3-3. I try not to put too much weight into the spring trips as they usually use it to sort out the CCIW line-ups for the conference games, but it could be a very interesting CCIW season this year.

 


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2007, 06:59:47 PM


Quoting Coach Augie Schmidt IV on the March 11 Ohio Wesleyan Split:  "We played well defensively in the first game, especially after how poorly we played on Saturday.  We got a couple of clutch hits and won the game.  Ohio Wesleyan has a nice ball club, but I don't think they're better than us.  Boe Baitinger did a nice job and hit a home run—he doesn't do much of that.  Chris Krepline pitched seven strong inning, and our one through three pitchers look pretty good right now.  In the second game, Ryan Roufus just didn't have it today.  He no control over anything, so we hooked him pretty quick.  Then we battled back, and it turned into a great ball game.  Corey Richardson did a very nice job in middle relief.  We hit some balls hard—they just got caught.  It was tough losing the game on an error, but we didn't score enough anyway."

Carthage faces Concordia (WI) tomorrow in another DH. I expect the Red Men to hammer the Falcons and get geared up for their showdown with Cortland State on Wednesday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2007, 01:41:01 AM
NPU really tanked on Sunday against UW-LaCrosse down in Phoenix. 19-1? Yikes. That's a score that's right out of the bad old days at the end of the Vandenbranden era. What the heck happened to the Vikes, Mr. B?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: KYGrizzly on March 12, 2007, 08:28:54 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 05, 2007, 12:42:34 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on March 04, 2007, 11:30:15 PM
Actually, I was mistaken, Augustana had one more game left on their trip and defeated Concordia (Minnesota) 18-13 to end the trip 6-1.


NPU's opener at Franklin was snowed out. No word on when, or if, the game will be rescheduled.

Franklins revised schedule shows North Park now playing the Grizzlies on Sunday March 25th @ 1:00pm as a double header.

This is the same weekend that Franklin was to open conference play at home against Bluffton.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2007, 11:17:32 AM
Hopefully the Carthage bats wake up today. A few Augie comments from Sunday's paper:
"The second game might have been the worst game I've ever seen as a coach"
"Even when we won four games in 1988 we at least caught the ball and threw the ball"
"It says we had 5 errors, but it really was eight!"

In today's paper, Augie is very happy with his top 3 pitchers and what they did, and obviously not thrilled about the hitting
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2007, 11:19:00 AM
Ex Carthage assistant Jarvis Brown also has UW-Parkside off to a 4-1 start after take 2 out of 3 against Parkside's former head coach Tracy Archuleta who's at Southern Indiana
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2007, 12:53:50 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2007, 11:17:32 AM
Hopefully the Carthage bats wake up today. A few Augie comments from Sunday's paper:
"The second game might have been the worst game I've ever seen as a coach"


I heard that speech many times when I was playing for Augie. Carthage always struggles on Day #2 of their spring trip. After a huge game on Wednesday with Cortland, they could be set up for another let down on Thursday. Hopefully not :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2007, 03:32:35 PM
Carthage won game 1 today 4-0 on a 3 hit shutout by Brian Keefer I believe was the name on the hotline, and is currently trailing 3-2 in the second game
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2007, 04:43:15 PM
Carthage for the 3rd day in a row lost the second game of a doubleheader, losing 5-2 to Concordia, WI.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2007, 04:48:12 PM
This is a terrible start for our Red Men... hopefully they can regroup in time to beat Cortland tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on March 12, 2007, 10:35:48 PM
This is a very bad start for Carthage. I really didn't see them having any trouble with their first 6 games. Cortland will obviously be a tough test. The Redmen need to start playing some defense. We shall see how they respond the rest of the week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2007, 02:04:55 AM
Quote from: KYGrizzly on March 12, 2007, 08:28:54 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 05, 2007, 12:42:34 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on March 04, 2007, 11:30:15 PM
Actually, I was mistaken, Augustana had one more game left on their trip and defeated Concordia (Minnesota) 18-13 to end the trip 6-1.


NPU's opener at Franklin was snowed out. No word on when, or if, the game will be rescheduled.

Franklins revised schedule shows North Park now playing the Grizzlies on Sunday March 25th @ 1:00pm as a double header.

This is the same weekend that Franklin was to open conference play at home against Bluffton.

That's rather morbid, filling in for Bluffton like that. I'd be a little creeped out by it if I was on the NPU baseball team.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 11:00:07 AM
Quote from Augie in today's paper: "We had to find out about a our pitching on this trip, and what we're finding out, unfortunately, is that we can't hit.  I don't know how that works.  We've had a terrible approach at the plate, and we've made every base-running mistake you can make.  We're deservedly 3-3 right now, and if we don't pull things together, we'll be right about there all year."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2007, 11:17:41 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 11:00:07 AM
Quote from Augie in today's paper: "We had to find out about a our pitching on this trip, and what we're finding out, unfortunately, is that we can't hit.  I don't know how that works.  We've had a terrible approach at the plate, and we've made every base-running mistake you can make.  We're deservedly 3-3 right now, and if we don't pull things together, we'll be right about there all year."

I hope they sort it out soon... it is killing me to see it play out this way.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 12:43:16 PM
Last year Carthage went 6-4 on their spring trip I believe, and still managed to have an outstanding season, but I really thought they'd be more like 5-1 right now, as I'm sure most others did. The most shocking part is that they aren't hitting the ball. When you got that much talent and experience, there's no excuse for only scoring a few runs a game, or getting shut out.  I keep waiting for them to break out of the funk and score 10 or 12 runs in a game, hopefully it happens sooner rather than later
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2007, 12:47:03 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 12:43:16 PM
Last year Carthage went 6-4 on their spring trip I believe, and still managed to have an outstanding season, but I really thought they'd be more like 5-1 right now, as I'm sure most others did. The most shocking part is that they aren't hitting the ball. When you got that much talent and experience, there's no excuse for only scoring a few runs a game, or getting shut out.  I keep waiting for them to break out of the funk and score 10 or 12 runs in a game, hopefully it happens sooner rather than later

Carthage is always one of the best offensive teams around. I also find it shocking that they are not scoring runs. I have a great feeling that it will click tomorrow versus Cortland State. I would assume that Carthage will throw Jacob Husing again for his second start of the spring trip. A few runs could win it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 01:09:06 PM
Jacob's arm should be ready. I know he left the game Saturday in the 7th because of heat cramps, but the paper said he'll be fine.  I'm sure Cortland is saving one of their horses as well for the Redman. They might be better off throwing a junk baller or not one of their best. I imagine Carthage hasn't seen top notch pitching their first six game, with the exception of maybe Ohio Wesleyan throwing someone good.  It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Carthage saw the best pitcher they've faced up to this point tomorrow, and also have their best game hitting.  Carthage, for as long as I've known, has always been able to hit the fast  ball no matter how hard its coming in.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2007, 01:15:41 PM
The way to beat Carthage is, and always has been, with junk-ballers. The harder you throw it against the Red Men, that harder it comes back through the box.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 13, 2007, 02:10:34 PM
Another thing that is different this year is remember two amazing coaches who are extremely knowledable about hitting are gone. Obviously Augie knows as much as anyone, but getting feedback from Augie along with Jarvis and Cibbs could only benefit a player. Plus, anyone who's played for Augie knows he'll tell you something you're doing wrong during a game, but don't expect him to be nice about it in any way, shape or form, whereas Cibbs and Jarvis would sit you down for a minute, calm you down, and talk things out and let you know what they're seeing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 13, 2007, 08:16:58 PM
North Park won its first game of the season, 14-0 over Monmouth (IL).  Andy Sherwood had a no-hitter through six innings and ended up with a four-hit complete-game shutout.  The Vikings exploded for 7 in the sixth inning and added a pair in the seventh and five more in the eighth.  Every Viking player scored at least one run, and seven starters had multi-hit games.  The Vikes (1-3) have Wednesday off before facing #2 Montclair State on Thursday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 10:04:54 AM
Augie stated in today's paper that Cortland (6-0) may very well be the top team they face all year, and they're going to play hard and see what happens. The short article did not mention who will take the mound today for Carthage, Husing's arm is hopefully ready. Also, congrats to NP on their first victory this season
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: youcantseeme on March 14, 2007, 12:30:30 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2007, 01:15:41 PM
The way to beat Carthage is, and always has been, with junk-ballers. The harder you throw it against the Red Men, that harder it comes back through the box.

That is not completely true this year though.  The kid from Coe who threw the 6 hit shutout on day one was throwing upper 80's all day long.   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2007, 02:22:59 PM
Jacob Husing Named CCIW Baseball "Pitcher of the Week"

Carthage College's Jacob Husing (Jr., Iron Mountain, Mich.) was named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Pitcher of the Week" on March 12.  Husing defeated Coe College, 3-1, in the Red Men's season-opening game on March.  He allowed one unearned run on seven hits and two walks, while striking out six batters.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 02:33:53 PM
Carthage/Cortland started late because of the previous game in front of them. Going into the bottom of the 1st Cortland is up 1-0... Youcantseeme: I'm pretty sure BP was saying for the most part junk ballers have been effective vs. Carthage teams of the past. Of course there are always exceptions (Lapinski from IWU blew them away for two years.)  For the most part though, Carthage has been a fast ball hitting team and crushes pitchers who throw hard with no solid off-speed pitches (the other pitcher from IWU who got drafted the same year as Lapinski comes to mind.) Carthage completely tore the cover off the ball against him because his curveball and change-up were non-existent, so his 88-90mph fastball wasn't hard for Carthage to hit.  Who knows, maybe this years team is a junk ball hitting team, but that's about as likely as the thought that Carthage could be under .500 after 7 games in florida :-\
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 03:10:42 PM
Carthage is down 4-2 after 3 innings, Ryan Roufus is on the hill for Carthage. I guess Husing's arm wasn't ready to go...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2007, 03:12:35 PM
Too bad Husing is not going today... would have been a great matchup for him.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 03:51:26 PM
I'm guessing if it was the playoffs or something like that, he could've gone, but Augie most likely didn't want his ace throwing on 3 days rest only a few days into the season. Most consider Saturday to Wednesday 3 days rest (Sun-Tues a full 24 hours), he should be fine tomorrow on 4 full days of rest, which is how they do it in the minors and in the big leagues
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 03:52:27 PM
Carthage now down 5-2 after 5 innings, Jordan Williams is now on the mound in relief
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on March 14, 2007, 06:15:41 PM
Carthage Baseball Falls to 3-4 with 6-2 Loss to SUNY-Cortland on Wednesday in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 14, 2007, 06:38:08 PM
Updated Records as of 3/14

Augustana 6-1
Elmhurst 1-1
Carthage 3-4
Wheaton 3-4
North Park 1-3
Millikin 1-4
North Central 0-3
IWU 0-4

Not a good start for a conference that is generally strong in non-conference play.  I know it isn't a huge indicator of things to come as each team plays a different spring schedule, some being much stronger than others, but hopefully the teams iron out their flaws in time for conference play.


Does anyone have an update on the North Central situation?  I see that only 9 players show up in the stats and they are hitting .208 as a team. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: thelou on March 14, 2007, 08:34:53 PM
Millikin is off to a 1-4 record.  Thier bats seem to be alive scoring 42 runs in five games.  On the other hand, thier pitchers are giving up touchdowns on the scoreboard.  Just a matter of time before it all clicks...hopefully.  They leave for Port Charlotte with first games starting Monday morning. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2007, 01:00:34 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on March 14, 2007, 06:15:41 PM
Carthage Baseball Falls to 3-4 with 6-2 Loss to SUNY-Cortland on Wednesday in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Absolutely heart-breaking start for Carthage fans. I am speechless right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2007, 01:14:31 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 14, 2007, 10:04:54 AMAlso, congrats to NP on their first victory this season

NPU's next game in the Snedigar tournament is tomorrow (Thursday) against #3 Montclair State. I'm not particularly looking forward to seeing the final score of that game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 15, 2007, 02:19:47 AM
Saw the 4 games for NPU and the defense was atrocious, I felt bad for the pitchers who had good outings.
The officials for games 2 & 3 were definitely out of the twilight zone, nothing went right and it was defense, defense, defense that dug the early grave.

I see good things with 12 freshmen and 2 pitchers (transfers) that will make this team competitive and dangerous during the last 3rd of the conference season into the playoffs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2007, 02:44:50 AM
Good to hear that, Yank. Any of the Vikings stand out to you in particular?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2007, 09:20:52 AM
Here's the link to the Carthage article today. The first half is about parkside, but the second half is about the Carthage game and has a few things Augie has to say.
http://kenoshanews.com/articles/index.php?articleNum=826761
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2007, 10:43:00 AM
It has been pretty painful to "watch" this progress from the West Coast. I think the Red Men were a bit too confident in bringing their entire line up back from last year. Often that leads to complacency. Competition for starting spots is what drives the pre-season workouts into high gear and it appears that Carthage hitters are completely lost right now.

NOTE TO CARTHAGE HITTERS: Figure it out!!!!!!! Every year, the CCIW teams say that this is the year that Carthage has a down year and it never is. You owe it to yourselves, and your fans, to work harder than you ever have before in the cages. "Great players are those who are mentally comfortable with being  physically uncomfortable."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 15, 2007, 10:48:54 AM
Is that really what they're trying to say when Carthage is voted to finish first pretty much every year (and if not first then second)?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: thelou on March 15, 2007, 10:52:55 AM
Auggie will have this Carthage team ready to go before the CCIW starts.  Spring break is a good time on, and I'm sure off the field for Auggie and the team.  When they get back to Kenosha, Carthage will be back on track.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 15, 2007, 12:45:34 PM
Answer to question: who is up on the NPU team?

It looks like the 2 pitchers I saw game 3 ( Tom Neckopoulus) looked decent, fielding was there for 1/2 game, lost opportunities made the difference in 5 to 2 loss.
(Andy Sherwood) 4hit complete game shutout, defense outstanding, with many on the field contributing. Finally timely hitting opened the floodgates and boosted some averages.

Kuta, hitting and fielding, Burback in right making plays every game (with the sun out there and the clear blue skies), Josephson showed some flash at 3rd, and Marino at short, now that he has some games under his belt.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2007, 12:50:48 PM
I agree with the lou that Carthage will most likely get back on track and without a doubt will compete for the conference championship, its just disappointing they're not performing in Florida.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: thelou on March 15, 2007, 01:02:04 PM
I'm not going to look into spring break too much.  they are usually playing teams they dont know and are having a good time down there.  once the come back to the cciw they will still be one of the teams to beat.  I think Millikin is the last team in the CCIW to leave for break.  they come home and open up against North Park who swept them last year.  It will be interesting how both Millikin and North Park will come out to open the CCIW season.  There is no doubt that North Park kept Millikin out of the tournament?  Does anyone know how that Fear and Law kid are doing at Millikin?  What about thier leadoff hitter they had last year? Is he gone?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2007, 02:33:37 PM
Not sure about those players from Millikin, I just remember a few years back their head coach looked pretty young, and man was he a hothead! Not in a jerk way that made you not like him, but just screaming a lot and getting on the umpires, it was actually quite hilarious!! :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2007, 03:33:08 PM
Carthage is up 3-0 in the 7th inning, all their runs are unearned, and Husing is on the mound for the Redmen
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2007, 04:10:16 PM
Carthage wins 5-0. Husing moves to 2-0 with a complete game 5-hit shutout. He struck out 8 and walked one. That's all the details that are on the hotline up to this point. St. Joes is now 2-7, and at least the first 3 Carthage runs were unearned. A win is a win, but it still doesn't sound like Carthage's bats are clicking with only 2 games left in florida
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2007, 04:17:41 PM
I guess being disappointed with a 4-4 start is the sign of a great program. I am positive they will turn it around and get it sorted by the time they move back north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2007, 03:36:31 AM
Quote from: yank52 on March 15, 2007, 12:45:34 PM
Answer to question: who is up on the NPU team?

It looks like the 2 pitchers I saw game 3 ( Tom Neckopoulus) looked decent, fielding was there for 1/2 game, lost opportunities made the difference in 5 to 2 loss.
(Andy Sherwood) 4hit complete game shutout, defense outstanding, with many on the field contributing. Finally timely hitting opened the floodgates and boosted some averages.

Kuta, hitting and fielding, Burback in right making plays every game (with the sun out there and the clear blue skies), Josephson showed some flash at 3rd, and Marino at short, now that he has some games under his belt.

Thanks, Yank.

NPU lost to Montclair State, 10-7. I'll defer to Mr. B when he makes his report, but given the high national ranking of the Red Hawks this appears to have been a pretty good game for the Vikes -- especially since the two teams were even in hits with 11 apiece and the NPU pitchers only gave up four earned runs. Josephson, Kuta, and Burback all had good days with the bat for the Vikings. Once again, it was bad defense (four errors, two apiece by Marino and O'Donnell) that sunk North Park.

NPU takes on Macalester today in the concluding game of the Snedigar tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2007, 09:14:13 AM
Here's the link to the article about the Carthage game in the newspaper today, there is an absolute classic quote from Augie about what its like right now for Carthage to try and score runs
http://kenoshanews.com/articles/index.php?articleNum=832042
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2007, 10:39:49 AM
You can always count on Chief Red Men(Augie) to liven the quotes up a bit. I use many of his quotes from my playing days with my own high school team right now. They think I am an idiot, but the quotes always make sense.

I recall a time when one of our pitchers got lit up in florida and when he wanted ice for his arm Augie told him to put in on his neck for the whiplash he was sure to develop after watching balls zing past him all day.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2007, 11:55:38 AM
CCIW UPDATE:

Currently, the CCIW teams are a combined 17-25 this spring. A pretty dismal start to the season for the conference. Hopefully they can all get rolling this weekend and boost those numbers.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2007, 12:18:00 PM
Something to chew on while waiting for today's scores to pour in...

Team ERAs:
1. Carthage- 1.51 (if they could play defense/hit, this would be a deadly combination)
2. Augustana- 4.34 (great start at 7-1 right now)
3. Ill Wesleyan- 4.85 (About where they are expected to be)
4. Elmhurst- 5.40 (only 2 games in right now... not a good measure yet)
5. North Park- 5.79 (Not bad, but too early to tell)
6. North Central- 7.50 (need to improve on the hill to compete)
7. Wheaton- 7.76 (doubtful they can be a playoff contender with that ERA)
8. Millikin- 11.31 (Could be a long season...)


We should have a good feel for the CCIW teams by the end of the week as most will have their spring trips in (except Elmhurst who is just beginning theirs).

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2007, 12:40:59 PM
Carthage defeated Clarkson in the first game today 5-1, Jeff Livek was the winning pitcher. Currently in the 3rd inning in the second game it is 0-0 and Carthage's number 3 pitcher Krepline is on the mound. That's all the details I have right now
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2007, 12:45:40 PM
Keep the updates coming Redmenfan... I cannot get a cell-signal where I am today to make the call.

5-1 win is nice, but it still sounds like they are not swinging it too well.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 16, 2007, 01:53:24 PM
Carthage won the second game 8-2, Chris Krepline finished with 10 strikeouts, that's all the details the hotline had to this point.  Carthage comes home with a 6-4 record, the same as last year so although they shouldn't be thrilled, overall not a bad trip. The good news: Carthage was 5-1 when their 1-3 pitchers started, the only loss was to Coe and Jeff Livek only gave up 2 unearned runs. The bad news obviously: they went 1-3 in games not started by their top 3 guys. Unless those younger guys can pick it up, and the defense and hitters start supporting those young pitchers, Carthage could struggle with the non-conference portion of their schedule, because Augie will NEVER throw one of his top guys in a non-conference game once conference starts, and that's the right thing to do in my opinion. No matter who you're playing or what they're ranked, you save your top dogs for conference games (often times teams will throw their best at Carthage during a non-conference game)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bataviapete on March 16, 2007, 04:30:11 PM
North Park team ERA is 5.79.  So if Carhtage is 6-4 and Auguie is 6-1 (not sure what they did yesterday) than the rest of the CCIW is 5-20.  That is bad.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 16, 2007, 05:01:10 PM
North Park defeated a hot Macalester team, 10-8.  Macalester upset the College of New Jersey yesterday and were putting up huge run totals on all their opponents, but the Vikings clawed back and played much better defense today.  Evan Berns picked up the win in relief.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 16, 2007, 05:11:17 PM
It looks like this recruiting season is starting to show promise, Berns is a freshman. It is great to see NPU not fall down after a heartbreaking loss to such a good team as Montclair.
I am still concern about the 8 runs but if it shows as a majority of unearned, I'll not be surprised.
Great to see them finish strong 2 out of last 3. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 16, 2007, 06:42:36 PM
Quote from: yank52 on March 16, 2007, 05:11:17 PM
It looks like this recruiting season is starting to show promise, Berns is a freshman. It is great to see NPU not fall down after a heartbreaking loss to such a good team as Montclair.
I am still concern about the 8 runs but if it shows as a majority of unearned, I'll not be surprised.
Great to see them finish strong 2 out of last 3. 

Actually there was only one unearned run charged to the Vikings on a freak play -- the Macalester runner was caught in a rundown between second and third, and a throw glanced off his helmet.  He later scored on a sacrifice fly.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 16, 2007, 07:03:58 PM
North Park's team ERA might be an average 5.79, but with 16 errors and 20 unearned runs against through 5 games, it doesn't look so good anymore.  It is good to see they are scoring at a decent rate (around 6/game) and even at 2-4 have been very competitive so far given the recent NP history, but we all know you can't win without defense.

It seems as if the NP defense and the Carthage bats are the two things to watch as conference play gets closer.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 17, 2007, 12:51:59 AM
Augustana defeated Wisconsin-La Crosse yesterday 8-4 and Monmouth today 7-4 to move to 8-1 on the season.  Here is the link to the Augustana site with the articles from the games.

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 17, 2007, 01:49:11 PM
Just a couple quotes from Coach Augie about the Redman's trip in today's paper:

"Our top three pitcher threw great the first time around and all three threw even better the second time around. There aren't many NCAA Division 3 teams with three pitchers like Jacob Husing, Jeff Livek and Chris Krepline. We're going to be in every game this year with that kind pitching."

"I felt a lot better about how we ended this trip than I did earlier in the week.  We swung the bats pretty good today in tough, windy conditions and we played good defense.  Most importantly, we finally got some RBI-Hits."

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 18, 2007, 11:20:39 AM
Augustana defeated Wisconsin-La Crosse again yesterday 12-11 in extra innings to move to 9-1 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2007, 01:48:42 AM
Quote from: augie28 on March 16, 2007, 07:03:58 PM
North Park's team ERA might be an average 5.79, but with 16 errors and 20 unearned runs against through 5 games, it doesn't look so good anymore.  It is good to see they are scoring at a decent rate (around 6/game) and even at 2-4 have been very competitive so far given the recent NP history, but we all know you can't win without defense.

It seems as if the NP defense and the Carthage bats are the two things to watch as conference play gets closer.

The report I got is that NPU coach Luke Johnson is pretty livid about the poor defense exhibited by the Vikings on their spring trip. That is definitely one area that will need to be cleaned up if the Vikes are going to be competitive in the CCIW. Given the dismal start to the season for just about everyone around the league (except for Augustana) it's certainly possible that NPU is just one of many teams around the league struggling to find itself at the moment. But that's of limited consolation.

NPU's home opener is Tuesday afternoon against traditional local power Aurora (6-4). This will be a good test of North Park's mettle.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 19, 2007, 07:29:26 AM
Augie beat U of Chicago 17-11 yesterday.  They come back from AZ 10-1.  The offense continues to be the teams strength at this point, but a lot of runs have been going up against the Vikings. 

The four games were started by Engle, Knott and then freshmen Matt Erickson and Steve Plettau.  The pitching staff appears to be up for grabs, but Engle and Knott continued to secure their spots and Erickson put up a solid start as well. 

Augie faces Monmouth and Aurora this week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 20, 2007, 07:43:49 PM
Just saw that NPU beat Aurora, in a come from behind 9th inning rally.
Way to go on your 1st home game!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 20, 2007, 08:36:09 PM
Thats a big win for NP and the CCIW...two wins by Wesleyan as well are a nice change from the slow conference start.


Speaking of Aurora, I included a link to the San Angelo Colts of the United League who selected Aurora's SS Aaron Thor 5th overall in this year's draft.  Thor is a hometown friend of mine and surely gave every CCIW team their share of trouble over the years. 

Does anyone have any updates of other local players from last year who are continuing on this summer?

http://www.sanangelocolts.com/team/?id=1992
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 21, 2007, 01:08:59 AM
Quote from: yank52 on March 20, 2007, 07:43:49 PM
Just saw that NPU beat Aurora, in a come from behind 9th inning rally.
Way to go on your 1st home game!!!!

It was a back-and-forth affair. NPU jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but squandered it when a sure double play turned into a two-base error and opened the door to a three-run rally by the Spartans in the fifth. Aurora then added two more runs in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead, but NPU rallied with a run in the bottom of that inning and then, with two out in the bottom of the ninth, picked up a couple of walks and scored the game-tying and game-winning runs on a throwing error by the Aurora shortstop.

It was good to see the opposition falter in the field for a change; Aurora made five errors, including the one that lost the Spartans the game. North Park starter Andy Sherwood, the current CCIW Pitcher of the Week, didn't have a great outing, but relievers Brad DeJong, Steve Kleckler, and Joe DiCristina only gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

A good, solid home opener win for the Park. The Vikings are now 3-4 thus far on the season.

NPU travels to Benedictine (5-5) for an afternoon game on Wednesday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 21, 2007, 01:43:52 AM
Quote from: augie28 on March 20, 2007, 08:36:09 PM
Thats a big win for NP and the CCIW...two wins by Wesleyan as well are a nice change from the slow conference start.


Speaking of Aurora, I included a link to the San Angelo Colts of the United League who selected Aurora's SS Aaron Thor 5th overall in this year's draft.  Thor is a hometown friend of mine and surely gave every CCIW team their share of trouble over the years. 

Does anyone have any updates of other local players from last year who are continuing on this summer?

http://www.sanangelocolts.com/team/?id=1992

Then maybe Aaron will take a day off and visit Roscoe, Texas, home of the Roscoe High School Plowboys! ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 21, 2007, 09:12:29 PM
Augustana beat Monmouth today 12-3 to move to 11-1 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on March 22, 2007, 12:20:32 AM
North Central beats St. Norbert 7-4 to move to 4-5 on the season and 4-2 on their Spring Trip. Have two more games left agaisnt The University of the South tomorrow morning and Manchester College.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2007, 01:28:31 AM
NPU @ Benedictine was rained out on Wednesday. No makeup date was announced on either school's website.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 22, 2007, 01:46:50 PM
Game on 7:00pm NPU @ Benedictine Thursday 03/22/2007
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2007, 01:49:43 PM
Quote from: yank52 on March 22, 2007, 01:46:50 PM
Game on 7:00pm NPU @ Benedictine Thursday 03/22/2007


Nothing better than a night game on a chilly March evening!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 22, 2007, 02:12:45 PM
Temperature 67 degrees with the low of 55 tonight !!!
What a heat wave, must be due to global warming, thanks Al Gore!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on March 22, 2007, 04:31:41 PM
North Central beats Sewanee 4-2 this morning.... Kloss pitches 8 strong innings giving up 2 runs (both unearned).  Pluto goes 2-4 with 2 2BS and 3 RBI to lead the Cardinal offense. End their spring trip tomorrow morning against Manchester.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 23, 2007, 01:13:34 AM
NPU tanked pretty badly out in Lisle tonight, 9-1. The Vikings made six errors, and Tom Neckopoulous didn't make it out of the third inning. Sounds like it was a pretty nasty step backwards for North Park.

NPU's next opponent is IIT (0-8). The two Chicago schools will face off in a twinbill down at the Hawks' Ed Glancy Field at 31st and Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 23, 2007, 11:05:15 AM
The first game of the season was played on Carthage's field yesterday, only it wasn't the redmen playing! Parkside and former Carthage assistant Jarvis Brown had to have their first "home game" against Lewis at Carthage because Parkside's field wasn't ready. Lewis' starting second baseman Kevin Tyrell also went to Carthage his freshman year, but transferred because he didn't want to sit behind all american adam husing for two years
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on March 23, 2007, 03:43:04 PM
North Central dropped its final game of its spring trip 6-4 to Manchester. End their spring trip 5-3 and 5-6 overall. Come home and play University of Chicago Wednesday the 28th at home for their home opener.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 24, 2007, 07:41:25 PM
North Park split a doubleheader today with IIT.  In the first game, IIT prevailed 3-2 on a ninth-inning home run that barely cleared the short porch in right (a can of corn in any other park in the country), this after a ball landed a foot fair inside the left-field line.  It was a tough loss, particularly after the effort by starter Kevin Polka and reliever Steve Klecker.

The Vikes bounced back to take the nightcap, 2-0.  Justin Schwan gave up an infield hit to start the game and then held the Red Hawks hitless till the sixth, when they loaded the bases with one out.  Brad De Jong came in to shut the door and pitched a perfect seventh inning for the save.

North Park travels to Franklin, Indiana, tomorrow for a make-up of an earlier rainout twinbill.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 25, 2007, 09:57:52 AM
North Park looks like their pitching is coming around, under 5.00.
Today will be a good test Franklin College is 8 and 3, hopefully the offense wakes up.
Next week is the opening of the conference schedule.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2007, 10:47:23 AM
Carthage falls to UW-Stout on Saturday night 6-3.

Jacob Husing was roughed up for 4 earned runs. Couple that with 4 Carthage errors and the loss was inevitable. The Red Men drop to 6-5 on the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 25, 2007, 08:00:38 PM
Looks like North Park is just crawling along, today they split with Franklin College (8 - 3) team from Indiana.
Franklin took the 1st game 8 to 5 then North Park took the 2nd 6 to 4 coming from behind with 5 in the top of the 7th.

This coming week will be pivotal for their season, one game at Western Illinois and then opening up the CCIW at Millikin - 3games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 25, 2007, 08:14:48 PM
Augustana beat Aurora 10-8 today to move to 12-1 on the season. 

Marc Blakeley led off the bottom of the 1st with a homerun for his third lead-off HR of the season and 6th HR overall.  Homeruns by Blakeley, Jake Meisenbach and Don Hansen led the offense.  Brandon Engle picked up the win and Eric Knott worked in relief.  Not a particularly strong outing from either Engle or Knott but they continue to do their job backed by a dominating offense.

The offense moves their average to .357 on the season and is scoring 9.1 runs/game.  They should be a tough matchup for any conference staff. 

Augie plays Loras at home on Tuesday and then has Elmhurst at home for two on Saturday and away on Sunday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on March 25, 2007, 08:16:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 25, 2007, 10:47:23 AM
Carthage falls to UW-Stout on Saturday night 6-3.

Jacob Husing was roughed up for 4 earned runs. Couple that with 4 Carthage errors and the loss was inevitable. The Red Men drop to 6-5 on the season.

IIRC, Stout's beaten a few good teams (St. Thomas?) in the early going...perhaps they're taking a step up toward competing with the heavies in the WIAC?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on March 26, 2007, 03:45:52 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 23, 2007, 11:05:15 AM
The first game of the season was played on Carthage's field yesterday, only it wasn't the redmen playing! Parkside and former Carthage assistant Jarvis Brown had to have their first "home game" against Lewis at Carthage because Parkside's field wasn't ready.

I prefer to think of him as "former Kenosha Twin" -- he batted leadoff and played center field on my only trip to Kenosha of any kind.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 26, 2007, 04:17:44 PM
Quote from: Spence on March 25, 2007, 08:16:58 PM


IIRC, Stout's beaten a few good teams (St. Thomas?) in the early going...perhaps they're taking a step up toward competing with the heavies in the WIAC?

Spence- I hope so... Carthage cannot be this bad. The Central region is a mess except for Augustana right now.

Thanks for the info on Stout. (Gotta love a school named after a beer!)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RichK on March 27, 2007, 02:01:32 PM
An updated ABCA poll is out. 

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/abcapoll.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on March 27, 2007, 06:53:30 PM
Congrats to Augie on jumping to #6...now is the time to validate that ranking in conference play. 

Predictions for Week 1:
Augie 12-1 vs. Elmhurst 3-7 (2 @ Augie);     Augie 3-0
Carthage 7-6 vs. NC 5-6 (2 @ NC);              Carthage 3-0
IWU 5-7 vs. Wheaton 5-4 (2 @ Wheaton);  IWU 2-1
North Park 5-7 vs. Millikin 3-9 (2 @ Millikin); North Park 2-1

It will be intersting to see how Augie's pitching plays out as they are down to only 2 set starters, but I think their offense will be too much for Elmhurst to handle either way.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2007, 07:46:11 PM
Quote from: augie28 on March 27, 2007, 06:53:30 PM
Congrats to Augie on jumping to #6...now is the time to validate that ranking in conference play. 

Predictions for Week 1:
Augie 12-1 vs. Elmhurst 3-7 (2 @ Augie);     Augie 3-0
Carthage 7-6 vs. NC 5-6 (2 @ NC);              Carthage 3-0
IWU 5-7 vs. Wheaton 5-4 (2 @ Wheaton);  IWU 2-1
North Park 5-7 vs. Millikin 3-9 (2 @ Millikin); North Park 2-1

It will be intersting to see how Augie's pitching plays out as they are down to only 2 set starters, but I think their offense will be too much for Elmhurst to handle either way.

Agree with most of what you are saying, Augie28, but I think Carthage only takes 2 of 3 from North Central.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 27, 2007, 08:47:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2007, 07:46:11 PM
Quote from: augie28 on March 27, 2007, 06:53:30 PM
Predictions for Week 1:
Augie 12-1 vs. Elmhurst 3-7 (2 @ Augie);     Augie 3-0
Carthage 7-6 vs. NC 5-6 (2 @ NC);              Carthage 3-0
IWU 5-7 vs. Wheaton 5-4 (2 @ Wheaton);  IWU 2-1
North Park 5-7 vs. Millikin 3-9 (2 @ Millikin); North Park 2-1

Augie 2 -1
Carthage 2-1
Wheaton 2-1
North Park 2-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 27, 2007, 10:53:18 PM
Augustana beat Loras tonight 10-0.  They scored four runs in the first inning and the game was pretty much over.  Freshmen Mike Pagano (8 innings) and Matt Erickson combined for the shutout.  The Vikings hit the ball ok, but Loras definitely didn't help themselves with 4 errors.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: vmax48 on March 28, 2007, 01:54:21 AM
NPU has 3 games at Millikin next weekend & then has 2 games against Wheaton the following Tues.  5 conference games in 4 days is going to be hard on the pitching.  (Wheaton is going to have the same problem too: 5 conf. games in 4 days).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 28, 2007, 08:03:27 AM
During this 1st weekend and weekday schedule, each team looks to be pressed to perform.
I can see and will watch how the pitching staffs are managed, now is the time for the freshman to start contributing.  It should give us a look at what the future holds for the teams and maybe we can seem someone take that next step. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2007, 10:49:11 AM
Quote from: vmax48 on March 28, 2007, 01:54:21 AM
NPU has 3 games at Millikin next weekend & then has 2 games against Wheaton the following Tues.  5 conference games in 4 days is going to be hard on the pitching.  (Wheaton is going to have the same problem too: 5 conf. games in 4 days).

I think the entire CCIW is play three this weekned and a DH on Tuesday. Everyone will be in the same boat. Tuesday could bring some very high scores if Saturday's starters do not recover in time to throw on  Tuesday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: vmax48 on March 28, 2007, 11:32:46 PM
NPU drops to 5-8 with an 11-5 loss to Western Il. in Macomb.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 29, 2007, 07:59:05 AM
NPU threw a freshman at Western, Richards from Lake Zurich, it was his 3rd outing of the year, another freshman followed, Turnbull from Elmhurst, I can see the logic in getting more reps for the younger ones for the conference.
It looks to be a battle for 4th place between (Wheaton, North Central, NPU).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on March 29, 2007, 10:55:31 AM
Wheaton ties Concordia IL 6-6.  Game was called due to darkness. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/index.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 29, 2007, 11:35:28 PM
Predictions for this weekend:

Augie 3-0             Bats are just too much for Elmhurst
Carthage 3-0       Offense finally heats up
Wheaton 2-1       This could go either way, just a hunch
North Park 2-1     Millikin is really struggling
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on March 30, 2007, 08:18:14 AM
Quote from: matblake on March 29, 2007, 10:55:31 AM
Wheaton ties Concordia IL 6-6.  Game was called due to darkness. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/index.html

I know it's early yet, but I hope that result isn't too costly down the road if either squad ends up on the bubble as far as getting into the D3 tournament later on. From what little I've heard, Concordia-IL has a good chance of making its' conference playoffs this season.

Just my .04.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on March 30, 2007, 09:53:13 AM
That result will have no bearing on if Concordia makes their conference tournament.  Only conference games matter.  As far as an at-large bid, Augustana finished 31-10 last year and didn't get in, so if Concordia plans on making it as an at-large, there is very little room for error the rest of the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2007, 12:15:48 PM
I thought Augustana should have been in last year at 31-10. Especially with as weak of a Central Region as it was last year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on March 31, 2007, 05:26:26 PM
Augustana DH rained out as of 4pm Saturday
Wheaton & Illinois Wesleyan in the 4th with no score.
Nothing yet on North Central or Millikin.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on March 31, 2007, 07:31:12 PM
Quote from: yank52 on March 31, 2007, 05:26:26 PM
Augustana DH rained out as of 4pm Saturday
Wheaton & Illinois Wesleyan in the 4th with no score.
Nothing yet on North Central or Millikin.



North Park and Millikin split on Saturday: Millikin wins the first 4-3 on a run in the 7th after the Vikings scored 3 in the 6th to tie.  The Vikings bounce back 4-2 in the nightcap.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on April 01, 2007, 08:26:11 AM
IWU swept Wheaton in two low scoring games. IWU doesn't have a great record but Aronson and Inzinga have great numbers. Not sure why neither of them threw against Rhodes or Millsaps, but Wheaton has been hitting everyone they played...had only been limited to less than 6 runs once (against Bethel) and swept Pitt-Bradford.

Bottom line, I think IWU will still be a factor in the conference race.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2007, 10:09:49 AM
Carthage sweeps North Central on Saturday in the CCIW opener for both schools:

In the opening game, North Central jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off Carthage pitcher Jacob Husing.  Zack Ernst doubled in the first two runs.  Carthage cut the lead to 3-1 in the third on an RBI-single by Chris Sadjak.  The Red Men went up, 5-3, with a four-run fourth inning.  Boe Baitinger tripled with one out and scored on a wild pitch.  Tyler Yapp doubled in a run, Mike Hughes singled in another, and Tyler Creekmore drove in a run on a fielder's choice.  The Cardinals made it a 5-4 game in the fifth, but the Red Men added an insurance run in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Steve Coughlin.  Husing (3-1) allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and a walk, while striking out eight batters.  The loss went Matt Krok (2-1).  Carthage's Tyler Yapp went three-for-four with an RBI, and Anthony Gragnani went two-for-five.  In the nightcap, Red Men hurler Jeff Livek (3-1) stopped the Cardinals on one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out a career-high 12 batters.  Carthage broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning when Mike Hughes scored on a wild pitch.  The Red Men made it 4-1 in the seventh on an RBI-singles by Boe Baitinger and Chris Shannon.  Carthage scored again in the eighth on an RBI-single by David Wuis, and the Red Men tacked on a final run in the ninth on an RBI-single by Tyler Yapp.  Seth Romano went three-for-four, Baitinger two-for-five with an RBI, and Yapp went two-for-four.  Matt Blaine (1-2) took the loss for the Cardinals. 

CCIW STANDINGS:
Carthage 2-0
Ill Welseyan 2-0
Augustana 0-0 ppd
Elmhurts 0-0 ppd
North Park 1-1
Millikin 1-1
Wheaton 0-2
North Central 0-2

This is certainly a step in the right direction for Carthage, but they have a long way to go before they get comfortable in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on April 01, 2007, 05:37:10 PM
Nice win by Carthage today. It is always nice winning 19-2. Carthage hit the ball pretty well today. Wind was blowing out pretty much all day and Krepline threw a very nice game. Nice sweep by the Redmen this weekend!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 01, 2007, 06:08:33 PM
Augie drops game 1 to Elmhurst 6-5;   up 8-1 in the 5th inning of game 2

Bjerga for Elmhurst kept the Augie hitters off balance just enough in game 1.   Eric Knott picked up the loss for Augustana going the distance...he was impressive in the last 3 innings giving the Vikings a chance to come back, but just not enough offense on a very windy day.

In game two, the Augie offense jumped back on track putting up 8 in the first two innings.  Freshman Matt Erickson got the start on the mound. 


A tough start to a stretch of 5 games in 3 days for Augie.  I think their offense will still hold true and be a tough matchup for the CCIW, but not a very impressive conference start against an average Elmhurst team.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 01, 2007, 06:16:30 PM
NPU 4 Millikin 2 in the rubber match, NPU takes 2 out of 3

Great to see Elmhurst get a victory in Conference, this could be a great sign that the top tier is cracking and maybe by years end there will be a great conference tourney.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 01, 2007, 07:50:16 PM
Augustana wins game 2 12-2.

Freshman Matt Erickson went 5 innings giving up 5 hits.  Jake Meisenbach went 3-4 with a Grand Slam and Myles Kurnick went 3-4 with 3 RBI.

A much stronger offensive showing in game 2, but it will still take a few wins to get over a dissapointing game 1. 

Game 3 of the series will be played tomorrow afternoon and then Augie goes to NCC on Tuesday for 2.  I would expect to see Augie's top pitcher Brandon Engle throw tomorrow and then a committee of Freshmen on Tuesday. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2007, 10:36:50 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on April 01, 2007, 05:37:10 PM
Nice win by Carthage today. It is always nice winning 19-2. Carthage hit the ball pretty well today. Wind was blowing out pretty much all day and Krepline threw a very nice game. Nice sweep by the Redmen this weekend!!

Carthage's Bo Baetinger tied a single game record with 6 hits. Included in his performance was a homerun to leadoff the first and a triple.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 02, 2007, 12:27:02 PM
Predictions for this 7 day period



Monday, April 2 
Augustana @ Elmhurst, 6 p.m.                Augustana
Wheaton @ Ill. Wesleyan, 3 p.m.           Illinois Wesleyan
Tuesday, April 3 
Augustana @ North Central (2), 1 p.m.  Augustana (2)
Elmhurst @ Carthage (2), 1 p.m.            Carthage   (2)
Millikin @ Ill. Wesleyan (2), 3 p.m.          Illinois Wesleyan (2)
Wheaton @ North Park (2), 3 p.m.         North Park (2)
Thursday, April 5 
Wheaton @ Carthage, 3 p.m.                 Carthage
Friday, April 6   
Augustana @ North Park (2), 2 p.m.       Split Augustana (1) North Park (1)
Ill. Wesleyan @ North Central, 3 p.m.     North Central
Millikin @ Elmhurst (2), 1 p.m.                 Elmhurst (2)
Saturday, April 7 
Carthage @ Wheaton (2), 1 p.m.            Split Carthage (1) Wheaton (1)
North Central @ Ill. Wesleyan (2), Noon Split N. Cent (1) Ill. Wesleyan (1)
Augustana @ North Park, Noon               Augustana
Millikin @ Elmhurst, Noon                         Elmhurst
Monday, April 9 
Carthage @ Marian (2), 1 p.m.                 Carthage (2)
Elmhurst @ Kalamazoo, 3 p.m.                 Kalamazoo
Concordia (Ill.) @ Augustana, 3 p.m.        Augustana


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 02, 2007, 05:48:30 PM
Make up game tonight:  Augustana @ Elmhurst - 6:00
Should be an easy victory for Augie with their #1 facing either a struggling or first time starter for Elmhurst, but there is a reason they play the game.

Yank, I agree with your predictions for the most part, however I believe IWU will take 2 of 3 from NCC and Augie will sweep North Park, but may have trouble with Concordia depending on how the picthing plays out over the weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 02, 2007, 11:36:10 PM
Augustana 10, Elmhurst 1

Augie moves to 2-1 in conference with the win.  Brandon Engle (4-0) pitched 7 innings for the win.  Don Hansen (3-5)  Mark Ramos (3-5) and John Wagle (4-5, 2 2B) led the offense.

The vikings are now 15-2 overall and are at NCC for a doubleheader tomorrow.


Tomorrow's games should feature a lot of innings from freshman pitchers who have helped Augie so far.  On top of that, Freshman Mike Odenthal and Tyler Anderson at 1B and Eric Izzo at 3B have done their share at the plate. The most surprising newcomer for Augie, though, is sophomore DH Myles Kurnick (.350) who only saw 10 ABs a year ago.....It seems to be these surprise players more than the big names that change everyone's early season predictions so how are other teams newcomers doing this year?  Any big names that we will all know about by the end of the season?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 03, 2007, 09:35:22 AM
I seriously doubt that Carthage and Elmhurst will be playing today.  10 hours of rain should have the field pretty well soaked.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2007, 01:43:16 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 03, 2007, 09:35:22 AM
I seriously doubt that Carthage and Elmhurst will be playing today.  10 hours of rain should have the field pretty well soaked.

Carthage and Elmhurst has been postponed- TBA

I am guessing they may try to play tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2007, 06:54:12 PM
North Park took 1st game 8 to 5 vs. Wheaton, heard about over the phone late this afternoon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 03, 2007, 08:45:18 PM
Augustana and North Central Split Doubleheader
Game 1:  NCC 9 - Augie 1
Game 2: Augie 11 - NCC 9

As I mentioned earlier, it was a day full of young pitching for Augie...7 pitchers combined to give up 28 hits in the DH.  Not a good number against a NCC team hitting .275 on the year. 

Both pitching and offense struggled in game one.  Justin Rezzuto shut down Augie until NCC broke it loose in the 4th inning.

The offense showed up again in game two (becoming an all too common theme) and overcame the pitching woes.  Marc Blakeley went 3-5 with a double and his 7th HR.  Don Hansen and Myles Kurnick also both went 3-5 with a double. 

Augie is at North Park for 3 Friday/Saturday
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 03, 2007, 09:01:38 PM
All other games today postponed?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2007, 09:12:20 PM
North Park took the 2nd game 12 to 2 after hearing via  phone that the score was 0 to 0 at the 5th inning mark.

that makes this series coming up versus Augustana very important in the CCIW.


North Park is 4 and 1 in the CCIW now
and it is great to see them at 9 and 9 for the season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 03, 2007, 09:35:27 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 03, 2007, 09:12:20 PM
North Park took the 2nd game 12 to 2 after hearing via  phone that the score was 0 to 0 at the 5th inning mark.

that makes this series coming up versus Augustana very important in the CCIW.


North Park is 4 and 1 in the CCIW now
and it is great to see them at 9 and 9 for the season.


In game #2, North Park was up 2-0 after three (on a Nick Marino homer) and 3-0 after five.  They erupted for 6 in the sixth and put the game away with 3 in the 8th. 

The Vikings were up 5-0 after the first in game #1 and added three more in the 4th on Brady Josephson's three-run shot.  Wheaton scored once in the fifth and then put across four runs with two outs in the seventh. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2007, 10:07:59 PM
Thank you Mr B, for the correct scoring.  North Park is now 9 and 9 for the season, with a monumental task of facing Augustana this weekend in a 3 game series.
I have recently seen their number one facing Elmhurst, and truthfully I see North Park gaining ground on the top echelon. This year will the a defining point and the subsequent years to follow will surely be a tribute to the recruiting prowess of coach Johnson and the talent of local athletes that he brings to the city.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 03, 2007, 10:51:09 PM
Right now I wouldn't quite call facing Augustana in a 3-game series as a monumental task.  The Vikings have already lost conference games to two teams expected to finish in the bottom 3 of the league.  If Augie expects to challenge for the CCIW championship, they better get things figured out, and quick.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2007, 11:35:36 PM
Enough said, Augustana is cracking;I see the a loss to Elmhurst and a win at  11 to 9.

I like this, only because I like to see competition amongst the  teams of the CCIW
Funny I'm not one those who year after year see one or tow teams always dominating  a conference.

Go to the underdogs, Augustana has shown weakness and Carthage is no pushover but they can be beat.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: robberki on April 03, 2007, 11:37:21 PM
Stopped by the ol' Holmgren athletic complex to check out some NPU baseball today. I admit being a huge baseball ignoramus but the fellas looked good. Anytime we can smack around Wheaton in anything, I'm all for it.
Luke, Steve, and the other coaches seem to really be putting something nice together at Foster&Kedzie. I hope they choose to stick around for a while.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 04, 2007, 12:27:29 AM
IWU is young, but very fast and talented and will definitely be near the top in the final week of CCIW play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2007, 01:22:24 AM
Quote from: robberki on April 03, 2007, 11:37:21 PM
Stopped by the ol' Holmgren athletic complex to check out some NPU baseball today. I admit being a huge baseball ignoramus but the fellas looked good. Anytime we can smack around Wheaton in anything, I'm all for it.
Luke, Steve, and the other coaches seem to really be putting something nice together at Foster&Kedzie. I hope they choose to stick around for a while.


I didn't go to today's doubleheader because I've been super-busy lately, plus I was sure it was going to rain all afternoon. But I'm sorry I missed it, 'cause, as Rob says, anytime NPU can smack Wheaton around in anything it does my heart good. And it was particularly gratifying to see Kevin Polka go the distance for North Park and pick up the win in the nightcap while only surrendering two runs, since he appears to be the Vikings starter who has struggled the most thus far this season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2007, 11:05:37 AM
Carthage and Elmhurst have been rescheduled for April 10th.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie_superfan on April 04, 2007, 10:04:46 PM
Does anyone know why Kuntz from Augustana hasn't been pitching since their Florida trip?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 04, 2007, 11:11:41 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 04, 2007, 10:04:46 PM
Does anyone know why Kuntz from Augustana hasn't been pitching since their Florida trip?

I went and looked on the Augie's website and I don't see his name on the 2007 Roster anymore??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 05, 2007, 07:20:32 AM
Kuntz suffered an injury in Florida and since is no longer with the team.  An unfortunate loss for a team in need of a third starter. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 05, 2007, 10:44:02 AM
Rob and Greg - agreed and agreed.

They're starting to be a fun team to watch and they're doing it with good guys it sounds like. 

Since I've never seen a CCIW baseball game anywhere besides Holmgren, let me ask this- what is the attendance like for baseball at other CCIW schools? 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2007, 02:34:27 PM
Carthage's scheduled home baseball game versus Wheaton on Thursday, April 5 has been postponed due to cold weather with expected high temperatures in the upper 30s with northwest winds at 15-25 miles per hour.  The two teams remain scheduled to play a Saturday, April 7 doubleheader at Legion Field in Carol Stream, Ill., starting a 1 p.m.  However, Saturday's forecast calls for temperatures still only in the upper 30s with similar wind conditions and a possibility of snow. If Saturday's twinbill is postponed, the two teams will play a Monday, April 9 doubleheader at Legion Field, beginning at 1 p.m., and the single game would be played on Monday, April 16 at Carthage, beginning at 3 p.m.

This could be a big test for Cathage as they could play Wheaton twice Monday and once Tuesday, in addition to the previously postponed Elmhurst DH which is resceduled for Tuesday as well plus a single game versus Elmhurst on Wednesday. Mix in a weekend series at Augustana and Carthage could play anywhere from 0-9 CCIW games Saturday this week to Sunday of next week. I am assuming they would cancel the Monday DH with Marian College as a result of the CCIW priority.  If the weather holds off and they can squeeze them all in, Carthage could play an amazing 11 games in 8 days through next week.

Talk about testing your pitching!

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325 (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 05, 2007, 04:27:25 PM
Should be an interesting weekend for all CCIW teams. As a parent and ex-player, I would be concerned about the welfare of the players. There are absolutely no positives in playing in 30 degree weather with winds at 25mph.

Any ideas on what will happen with the other CCIW games this weekend? I notice that the weather is supposed to be wicked! Who makes the calls on the games?

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 05, 2007, 08:17:13 PM
Big tests for all CCIW teams...IWU will be playing at NCC friday, more than likely postponed due to cold weather saturday so will be playing 2 vs. Millikin Monday, 2 vs. NCC tuesday, at Millikin Wednesday, thursday Benedictine and a weekend at North Park...9 games in one week...good luck
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 05, 2007, 08:28:44 PM
I agree. All CCIW teams will have to play this schedule out as is. With the bad weather expected this weekend, pitching will be a priority for all teams.

Any news on other games being cancelled due to the awful weather?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 05, 2007, 10:26:40 PM
It seems like the test will be young pitching and what teams have depth. Should be an interesting week. Does anyone know if IWU's games on Monday or Tuesday are in Bloomington?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 06, 2007, 10:58:03 AM
Is there any update on the schedule for today and tomorrow (4/6Friday & 4/7Saturday)?
I see today all games are DH's in the Chicago area, temps are in the low 30's with windchill in the teens.
They are predicting snow flurries during the next week.
Where in the world is Al Gore and his "global warming?"
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 06, 2007, 01:49:07 PM
I've got some news on a Wisconsin prep baseball catcher headed North Park's direction:

The link is http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=587459
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 06, 2007, 04:29:34 PM
Any word on any games being played today in the CCIW?

How is the schedule looking for Saturday?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on April 06, 2007, 07:15:41 PM
NCC drops Game 1 to Wesleyan 9-7. Defense continues to haunt the Cardinals as they have made 20 errors already in conference. If they can tighten that up they should be a lot better.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 06, 2007, 07:35:47 PM
I saw that on the website, they at least update on a timely basis.
I really am getting disappointed with sports anouncements in this league with some teams.
I was watching a little of the Elmhurst/Millikin 2nd game it was top of the 5th 8 to 4 Millikin up, and it is brutally cold, just wait till the sun sets.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 06, 2007, 09:01:57 PM
North Park split with Augie in Chicago.  They scored 8 runs to come from behind and take game #1 11-8.  They were up 3-0 after one inning in game two put couldn't score again, and Augie took the nightcap 5-3.  Don Hansen of Augie was 7-for-9 on the afternoon with three HRs, six runs scored, and seven RBIs. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 06, 2007, 10:01:17 PM
Mr B that is great to hear, now the big mountain needs to be scaled.
NPU needs this rubber match, it will be uplifting for the season and it will be the 3rd series win, 2 out of 3 from Millikin, already 2 from Wheaton.
Who will be pitching on Saturday for Augie's?

I'll surely find time to attend, I hope the student body comes out to give North Park enough heat to sustain them through the snowflakes tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 06, 2007, 10:05:09 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 06, 2007, 10:01:17 PM
Mr B that is great to hear, now the big mountain needs to be scaled.
NPU needs this rubber match, it will be uplifting for the season and it will be the 3rd series win, 2 out of 3 from Millikin, already 2 from Wheaton.
Who will be pitching on Saturday for Augie's?

I'll surely find time to attend, I hope the student body comes out to give North Park enough heat to sustain them through the snowflakes tomorrow.


About 60 fans braved the cold to watch the first game, and about 40 stayed for the twinbill. Now those are what I call true fans!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: vmax48 on April 06, 2007, 11:36:38 PM
Dress warm Yank 52.  It was brutal out there today.  Gonna dig out the snowmobile gear for tomorrow.  Even though I'm an NPU fan I have to commend Augie's Don Hansen for the day he had.  2 of his homers went completely over the right field stands.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 07, 2007, 02:35:41 AM
Huge game tomorrow for Augie.  They cannot afford to drop to 4-4 after playing Elmhurst, NCC and North Park.  Sure NP has improved dramatically this year, but Augie really needs to step it up.

I am glad to see North Park competing on such a consistant note though.  Coach Johnson has done a phenomenal job of turning the program around in such a short amount of time.

Yank...it looks like Augie will be throwing Brandon Engle tomorrow.  He is hands down their #1 and has been a very consistant pitcher over the last few years.  This year he is 4-0 with a 2.90 ERA in 5 starts.  It also seems that NP threw their top 2 pitchers yesterday, so in my opinion I hope that makes for a good day tomorrow for Augie.  Unfortunately, I can't convince myself to drive in there to sit out in that kinda weather for a few hours, but it should be a good game as it will be a big win for either team.


Also, congrats to Donnie Hansen on a huge day yesterday...7-9, 3HRs
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 07, 2007, 09:00:03 AM
Engle maybe the #1 but he is pitching now on only 4days rest, previous 3 outings 16,8 & 8 days rest.
It will be lower 30's with NW winds 15 to 25mph gusting to 30mph, along with snow showers.
NPU will most likely throw Neckopoulus unless the Coach uses DiCristina or Polka to cover. The freshmen won't be used in this important game.

This is exciting, too bad the weather is so nasty.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 07, 2007, 09:27:47 AM
To those of you braving this cold weather, I wish you the best as well as all CCIW teams. STAY WARMM!!

I will be at home watching the Cubs inside a controlled environment.  ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 07, 2007, 03:43:02 PM
Final from chilly Chicago: North Park 7, Augustana 4.  Joe Di Cristina outduels Brandon Engle in an exciting contest.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 07, 2007, 04:29:45 PM
14hits, 29degree weather, 75 fans braving the 29degree  temperatures.
NPU now 6 and 6 in CCIW conference and 3 series won.

Congrats to everyone who attended , see the snow in the 2nd inning!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 07, 2007, 04:54:18 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 07, 2007, 04:29:45 PM
14hits, 29degree weather, 75 fans braving the 29degree  temperatures.
NPU now 6 and 6 in CCIW conference and 3 series won.

Congrats to everyone who attended , see the snow in the 2nd inning!!!!!

Actually North Park is 6-2 in conference play.  Thanks to all the hearty fans who attended today's game.  It was well worth the price of admission.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 07, 2007, 05:20:02 PM
Highlights from the North Park-Augie game: Joe DiCristina (3-1) goes 7+ innings, allows 7 hits, strikes out 5.  Tyler Burback hits his second home run of the weekend as North Park collects 13 hits against Brandon Engle (4-1).  Steve Kleckler earns his second save in the three-game series.  For Augustana, Jake Meisenbach was 4-for-5 with two doubles and Chris Pietroski had the only other multi-hit game with two hits.  It was a weekend series with some very exciting baseball to watch!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 08, 2007, 11:52:26 AM
Looks like Augie is going to be fighting for their conference tournament lives the rest of the season.  The Vikings' season has taken a very, very disappointing turn after a promising start.  Seems like pitching hasn't been very good and they just can't really get anyone out anymore.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 08, 2007, 12:32:51 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on April 08, 2007, 11:52:26 AM
Looks like Augie is going to be fighting for their conference tournament lives the rest of the season.  The Vikings' season has taken a very, very disappointing turn after a promising start.  Seems like pitching hasn't been very good and they just can't really get anyone out anymore.
I think Augie will be right there when all is said and done.  They are a team that plays fundamentally sound ball, and they hit the ball hard and run well.  Their pitching has been good so far, but we'll see how they handle the rest of the CCIW.  Their series with Carthage will be crucial.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 08, 2007, 10:17:07 PM
Has anyone figured out what this week looks like for the rest of the teams that didn't get their games in this weekend?  I bet it will be an interesting week for the CCIW with lots of conference games in the next 7 days.


Mr B, I agree.  Although Augie has taken a turn for the worse in the last week and a half, I still believe they have the team to get them into the tourney and give anyone a tough game if their pitching picks it up a little bit.  The next two weeks will be huge in determining how tough this Augie team, that was (prematurely?) named a strong conference favorite, really is.  Next weekend's series with Carthage is a must have, and even if they face up against a run down Carthage pitching staff from a long week, they would still be big wins.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 08, 2007, 11:31:54 PM
being a newcomer to this media, I see the Illinois Wesleyan vs North Park more important than the Carthage vs Augustana.
the other teams in the CCIW will filter out, but the top 4 are more important for pecking order.  the pitching will always be the top concern, next to fielding, any time a team that hits above 300 and gets shut down they will lose. 
As of today I see Carthage winning 2 games to 1 at Augustana, but like the man said with this schedule so busy the arms may not be there by Friday/Saturday/ Sunday.  That is why I say the IW vs NPU is the top series of the week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 09, 2007, 12:04:19 AM
IWU's schedule:

Monday-  3 pm- Millikin (double-header) Bloomington
Tuesday- 2 pm- NCC (double-header) Bloomington
Wed- 3:30 pm- Millikin- (single game) Decatur
Thurs- 6:00 pm- Benedictine (single game) Lisle
Friday- off
Sat- 3:00 pm- NPU (double header) Chicago
Sun- 12:00 pm- NPU (single game) Chicago
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2007, 12:47:02 AM
This weekend's 2-1 series win marks the first time that NPU has taken the season series from Augustana in 13 years, going back to when Bosko Djurickovic was still North Park's baseball coach. This is therefore a pretty significant step forward for the Luke Johnson regime at NPU, which now has to be considered a force with which to be reckoned in the CCIW. Congrats to Coach Johnson and the Vikings!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: vmax48 on April 09, 2007, 01:06:05 AM

I agree with Mr. B.  Augie didn't play bad in this series.  NPU just wanted it bad & kicked their game up a few notches & got 2 wins.  Coach Johnson has them playing at a high level right now.  It was an exciting (& very cold) series to watch.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 09, 2007, 09:37:02 AM
hello everyone, been on spring break the past 2 weeks, but I'm back in the mix now. Anyone have a run down on conference records? I know Carthage was cancelled against elmhurst and wheaton. They are going to have to go deep into their pitching staff when making up all those games, as I'm sure a lot of other teams will as well. Big Poppa, how is your season going?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 09, 2007, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 09, 2007, 09:37:02 AM
hello everyone, been on spring break the past 2 weeks, but I'm back in the mix now. Anyone have a run down on conference records? I know Carthage was cancelled against elmhurst and wheaton.
Conference records are updated on the CCIW web page:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/index.php (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/index.php)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 09, 2007, 10:15:28 AM
Thanks Mr. B.  I just read the newspaper and saw Carthage's schedule...WOW. If I remember right, today they play a single game at wheaton. A double header tomorrow against Elmhurst (forecast for tomorrow says 1-4 inches of snow) A single against Elmhurst on Wed. or Thurs., then at Augustana all weekend. As I stated earlier, there will be a lot of pitchers throwing who normally don't throw in conference games, should be very interesting to see what's going to happen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on April 09, 2007, 11:42:51 AM
Does anyone have enough pitching to get thru all the postponed games? Which teams have the deepest staffs to get them thru the gluts of games that will be coming up?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 09, 2007, 06:25:13 PM
The team that is best off for the upcoming week is North Park by far, they have the most lax schedule of all the CCIW teams. They have a non-confrence game vs Wabash on tues, a confrence game vs Wheaton on wed then 2 days off til the big series with IWU on the weekend.  This week should be a real test for the other teams. Not only picthing wise but position player wise phyiscally and mentally, it will come down to who wants it more and can prove that.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 09, 2007, 07:52:18 PM
According to the Carthage website, Carthage and Wheaton split today's doubleheader, with the Red Men taking the first game 7-2 and the Thunder coming back with a win in the nightcap 4-2.  Carthage is now 4-1 and Wheaton 1-6 in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 09, 2007, 08:21:59 PM
Augustana just knocked off Concordia-Chicago, 4-3. (Vikings' Izzo knocked in the game-winning runs with a 2-RBI single in the 8th, per box score off Augie site.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 09, 2007, 08:31:51 PM
Augie did indeed squeak out a 4-3 win vs. Concordia-Chicago today.  It didn't seem like either team played particularly well, with both teams leaving a bunch of runners on base.

Both pitchers threw pretty well.  Hantel through a good game for Concordia, keeping the Augie hitters off-balance just enough to keep the Cougars in the game.  Concordia took the lead in the top of the 8th and came right back and gave Augie the lead back 4-3 in the bottom half of the inning.  In the top of the 9th, Concordia had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out but couldn't push the tying run across.  Augie pulled the infield in and pitcher Kevin Schuetz induced a groundout to the shortstop, a strikeout (looking), and a groundout to 2nd base to end the game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 09, 2007, 08:59:31 PM
Final from Bloomington:

                IWU vs Millikin
Game 1:    3-0
Game 2:   4-1

IWU improves to 6-0 in conference play while Millikin drops to 2-6
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 10, 2007, 10:30:34 AM
NPU travels to US Steel Yard Stadium(Gary,IN) today, for a 7pm game againest Wabash College(8-17)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 10, 2007, 11:11:14 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2007, 12:47:02 AM
This weekend's 2-1 series win marks the first time that NPU has taken the season series from Augustana in 13 years, going back to when Bosko Djurickovic was still North Park's baseball coach. This is therefore a pretty significant step forward for the Luke Johnson regime at NPU, which now has to be considered a force with which to be reckoned in the CCIW. Congrats to Coach Johnson and the Vikings!

Nail on the head.  I only made it to one of the three games this past weekend - the one NP lost - but it was a blast, even if it was bitterly cold.

It was fun to sit where I was and just hear the quiet shock of the Augie fans realizing that NP is turning into a legitimate contender. 

It's also just nice to have them playing at home again. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: redman04 on April 10, 2007, 12:06:52 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2007, 12:47:02 AM
This weekend's 2-1 series win marks the first time that NPU has taken the season series from Augustana in 13 years, going back to when Bosko Djurickovic was still North Park's baseball coach. This is therefore a pretty significant step forward for the Luke Johnson regime at NPU, which now has to be considered a force with which to be reckoned in the CCIW. Congrats to Coach Johnson and the Vikings!

is Ozzy Guillen's kid still playing for NPU? 
Interesting to hear the Bosco pulled double duty.  I did not know that
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 10, 2007, 12:34:52 PM
No Oney no longer plays for NPU, he no longer attends the school. Did anyone notice the regional rankings, i think it's ridiculous that no CCIW teams are in it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 10, 2007, 02:02:25 PM
Quote from: benchwarmer21 on April 10, 2007, 12:34:52 PM
No Oney no longer plays for NPU, he no longer attends the school. Did anyone notice the regional rankings, i think it's ridiculous that no CCIW teams are in it.

Per the April 10th Poll on the ABCA site...
Central
1. Washington (22-5)
2. Wartburg (15-6)
3. Carthage (10-6)
4. Augustana (17-5)
5. Illinois Wesleyan (10-7)
6. Luther (11-5)
7. Buena Vista (9-4)
8. Edgewood (11-7)

Are you talking about the NCAA regional poll??  If so, where is that information posted?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 10, 2007, 02:15:44 PM
Quote from: redman04 on April 10, 2007, 12:06:52 PM
Interesting to hear the Bosco pulled double duty.  I did not know that

Not only did Bosko pull double duty, he was also very successful as a baseball coach:

Bosko Djurikovic:  1978-1994
overall record: 331-295-4    .529
CCIW record:  164-103-1    .614    4 CCIW titles

from the North Park Baseball Team website: http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/ (http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 10, 2007, 05:30:44 PM
Scores????  It seems during the week that conference games never update until late into the night.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 10, 2007, 07:14:01 PM
final from Bloomington:

               IWU vs. NCC
game 1: 3-0
game 2: 5-1

Titans improve to 8-0 in CCIW play while NCC drops to 1-7
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2007, 12:50:54 AM
Wabash beat NPU, 10-7, at the U.S. Steelyard in Gary on Tuesday afternoon.

Congratulations to NPU freshman second baseman Jordan Higgins upon being named CCIW Co-Hitter of the Week! Higgins went 8-15 in NPU's four-out-of-five week against Wheaton and Augustana.

Good to see a North Park freshman make an early splash in CCIW play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 11, 2007, 08:55:04 AM
I can see another year of experience is needed for NPU to move above .500 and stay there.
At 11 and 11, trying to control my enthusiasm is very hard.

Good luck this weekend vs. top CCIW team Illinois Wesleyan (8 and 0)..
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 11, 2007, 10:03:46 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 10, 2007, 02:02:25 PM
Quote from: benchwarmer21 on April 10, 2007, 12:34:52 PM
No Oney no longer plays for NPU, he no longer attends the school. Did anyone notice the regional rankings, i think it's ridiculous that no CCIW teams are in it.

Per the April 10th Poll on the ABCA site...
Central
1. Washington (22-5)
2. Wartburg (15-6)
3. Carthage (10-6)
4. Augustana (17-5)
5. Illinois Wesleyan (10-7)
6. Luther (11-5)
7. Buena Vista (9-4)
8. Edgewood (11-7)

Are you talking about the NCAA regional poll??  If so, where is that information posted?

My mistake i looked at the wrong poll.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2007, 10:57:29 AM
Carthage swept a double header from Elmhurst yesterday. Augie stated in the paper that pitching has obviously been the story of the year, and IF they could muster up any sort of offense there's not too many teams that can beat them.  Its been snowing all morning in Kenosha and Racine, how's it looking in Chicago?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 11, 2007, 11:20:21 AM
Well  first it was cold and wind, now it is Snow, Rain, and Wind! What is next??

I looked out my window today and saw snow flurries with wind. I checked the radar and saw a huge band moving through central Illinois last night and through Chicago as well. 

Any news on the games? I'm guessing it would be Rain for Decatur, Naperville, Elmhurst, and NPU.... Snow in Kenosha??

Keep us updated!! 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 11, 2007, 11:32:13 AM
NCC @ Augustana has just been postponed.

I have a feeling that there are more to come.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 11, 2007, 11:51:58 AM
NPU @ Wheaton cancelled game today April 11th; rescheduled same time for Thursday April 12th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2007, 01:47:00 PM
Carthage/Elmhurst has been postponed, no make-up date set yet
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 11, 2007, 01:48:56 PM
Where I coach, we were planning on taking our players to Miller Park today to get away from being inside practicing every day. Ten bucks a head to watch the indians vs. angels, the snow has cancelled those plans though. Its been coming down all day and isn't supposed to stop any time soon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2007, 12:51:47 AM
Quote from: CCIWin07 on April 11, 2007, 11:20:21 AM
Well  first it was cold and wind, now it is Snow, Rain, and Wind! What is next??

I looked out my window today and saw snow flurries with wind. I checked the radar and saw a huge band moving through central Illinois last night and through Chicago as well. 

Any news on the games? I'm guessing it would be Rain for Decatur, Naperville, Elmhurst, and NPU

Nope. Snow in the city, including at NPU. It stuck, too, rather than melted.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 12, 2007, 10:23:57 AM
Looking out the window I see snow on the ground, Fog in the air and a lawsuit being prepared against "Al Gore and his hokey Global Warming hype"
Hopefully, but according to weather predictors, we will see more of this slop for the weekend and nothing will be played until next week in the Chicagoland area.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 12, 2007, 11:38:53 AM
The North Park-Wheaton game rescheduled for today (Thursday 4/12) has again been cancelled.  The new date is next Thursday.  Let's hope it starts to look like spring again soon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 12, 2007, 01:38:48 PM
IWU @ Millikin cancelled yet again.

Game will be made up on Monday at 5pm.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: nccsports891 on April 12, 2007, 03:28:23 PM
If anyone is interested or unaware, all NCC baseball and softball home games can be heard on FM 89.1 in the Naperville area or on www.wonc.org
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on April 12, 2007, 11:35:25 PM
Any Carthage fans heading out to Augie this weekend? We are bringing a car full... Also, what are the good spots to eat there??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: rockstar52 on April 12, 2007, 11:49:29 PM
I was looking ahead to the NPU vs. IWU series this weekend and noticed that IWU has a pitcher named Matt Aronson who has a 0.00 ERA in 34 innings.  The roster says he's a 6'5 230lb lefty.  How hard does he throw and how did a lefty with his size not get drafted or at least go D1?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on April 13, 2007, 01:36:40 AM
Last year Aronson had an ERA of 5.02.

Aronson started the season off against some pretty weak opponents or in short stints, but has shut down teams in the conference as well.

Will be interested to see if he can keep it up against the better teams in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 13, 2007, 07:58:13 AM
Weekend approaching, weather more springlike.

Here is the Schedule:

Saturday, April 14th
Elmhurst @ North Central (2), 1 p.m.       Split - Elmhurst (1) NCC (1)
Ill. Wesleyan @ North Park (2), 3 p.m.     Ill. Wes  (2)
Wheaton @ Millikin (2), Noon                   Split  - Wheaton (1) Millikin (1)
Carthage @ Augustana (2), 1 p.m.          Carthage (2)

Sunday, April 15 
North Central @ Elmhurst, 1 p.m.             Elmhurst
Ill. Wesleyan @ North Park, Noon            North Park
Carthage @ Augustana, Noon                  Carthage

Maybe my predictions will be as accurate as this "Global Warming Hype"
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 13, 2007, 09:30:02 AM
Aronson dominated a solid Mississippi College down during their spring trip and has been cruising through conference. He has been almost unhittable with good location and a good change up.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2007, 10:18:18 AM
Redman1, I don't know about the spots to eat out there, but Augustana's facility is really great. I believe it was built just 2-3 years ago. It is not on campus, but it is a beautiful field with a great playing surface. Have a few down there for all us redmen fans who can't make it!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 13, 2007, 11:28:33 AM
Quote from: perfectgame on April 13, 2007, 09:30:02 AM
Aronson dominated a solid Mississippi College down during their spring trip and has been cruising through conference. He has been almost unhittable with good location and a good change up.

Miss College was 10 and 13 when IWU played and they are now 12 and 21, I don't think that is solid in a positive way.  Their era = 6.77
I still believe in my previous prediction IWU over NPU 2 to 1

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2007, 11:30:37 PM
Quote from: bball7811 on April 13, 2007, 10:50:13 PM
No doubt IWU will be 11-0 in CCIW play after the weekend. They are a team that gets on base and gets timely hits. We will have to see if the pitching will continue to be strong, but before the season started that was where the question marks were.

From your lips (fingers?) to God's ears! 

But, wow!  I thought I had the greenest-tinted glasses on the boards, and even I only hope to be 11-0!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: rockstar52 on April 13, 2007, 11:45:01 PM
Quote from: bball7811 on April 13, 2007, 10:50:13 PM
No doubt IWU will be 11-0 in CCIW play after the weekend. They are a team that gets on base and gets timely hits. We will have to see if the pitching will continue to be strong, but before the season started that was where the question marks were.

IWU isn't a team that gets on base.  As of April 10th their OBP is .353 in conference play.  That's 7th in the league.  Wheaton has a .310 OBP and is the only team in the league with a lower number in that category.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 14, 2007, 12:53:19 AM
point well taken yank52. However, they recently put up a fight against #4 emory losing late 6-7 and also took down #11 millsaps (earlier ranking) early in the season. How does a decent Miss. College sound? A little better I hope. Also, does anyone actually know what happen to Kuntz for Augustana? Was it an arm injury or personal reasons?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on April 14, 2007, 01:44:23 AM
REDMENFAN, thanks for the info.. We will have a few for you for sure... Big trip for the Redmen this weekend. Hopefully we will come back with 3 victories!!! Good Luck to all
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on April 14, 2007, 02:35:30 AM
Looking forward to see Augi and Carthage this weekend! Should be a great series!

Just checked the CCIW site and saw Milikin took 2 tonight from Wheaton.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 14, 2007, 11:42:03 AM
Quote from: perfectgame on April 14, 2007, 12:53:19 AM
point well taken yank52. However, they recently put up a fight against #4 emory losing late 6-7 and also took down #11 millsaps (earlier ranking) early in the season. How does a decent Miss. College sound? A little better I hope. Also, does anyone actually know what happen to Kuntz for Augustana? Was it an arm injury or personal reasons?

Kuntz was dismissed from the team due to personal actions.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 14, 2007, 12:13:01 PM
Quote from: bball7811 on April 13, 2007, 10:50:13 PM
No doubt IWU will be 11-0 in CCIW play after the weekend. They are a team that gets on base and gets timely hits. We will have to see if the pitching will continue to be strong, but before the season started that was where the question marks were.

I sure hope your play this weekend can back up those strong words. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 14, 2007, 03:19:16 PM
Quote from: bball7811 on April 13, 2007, 10:50:13 PM
No doubt IWU will be 11-0 in CCIW play after the weekend. They are a team that gets on base and gets timely hits. We will have to see if the pitching will continue to be strong, but before the season started that was where the question marks were.

Do not be so sure of that. It's true IWU is 8-0 in confrence but they are 8-0 playing againest 3 teams that have a combined record of 6-21 in confrence play two of which only have one win a piece. NPU has been playing great ball latly and are physically and mentally prepared for the upcoming series. Each game this weekend will be a fight and will come down to who wants it more. U have the battle of the third highest BA(NPU-.316) vs the #1 ERA(IWU-1.24) then also the 3rd ranked ERA(NPU-3.78) vs the 3rd lowest BA in the confrence(IWU-.279). These games will be tight and IWU will not sweep the Vikes.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 14, 2007, 06:14:00 PM
Augie defeated Carthage today 6-2.  Doubleheader set for tomorrow at noon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 14, 2007, 07:28:54 PM
Great game to watch today at Augustana. 

Jacob Husing was cruising early on while Eric Knott gave up 2 runs on 7 hits through the first four innings.  After that, Knott settled down and did not allow another hit through the 8th keeping his team close.  Augie finally strung some hits together and put up 3 runs in the 6th and the final 2 in the 8th. 

The Augie offense really looked strong today.  They put good swings on a strong pitcher all game long.  They also came up with the big hit which seemed to have been avoiding them through the last few games. 

If tomorrow's action is anything like today's game, it should make for two good games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 15, 2007, 12:04:24 AM
Final from Chicago:

Iwu vs NPU

2-1
5-1

Two more strong pitching performances today from IWU pitching dropping their conference era (1 earned). NPU played well and got a strong pitching performance from Di Cristina (7 ip 1 er) but couldnt come up with the victory. Should be a good game tomorrow
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 01:07:53 AM
Since I'm a newbie to CCIW baseball, I did some catching up on history this evening.  If there exist season-by-season records (or all-time totals) other than championships, I couldn't find them (I only checked the conference site, not school-by-school).  All-time titles:

IWU  20 (including 3 of last 8; last title, 2005)
Carthage  13 (including 5 of last 8; last title, 2006)
N. Central  9 (last title, 1998)
Millikin  8 (last title, 1975)
Elmhurst  7 (last title, 1997)
Augustana  4 (last title, 1974)
N. Park  4 (all from 1983-1990; all coached by Bosko Djurickovic)
Wheaton  1 (1951)
[the only title by a school no longer in the conference was Lake Forest in 1953]

I couldn't find total coaching records, but in terms of 'rings', no one approaches Jack Horenberger, whose 15 titles are more than all of the coaches at any other school.  (Rapidly approaching is the 'tag-team' of Augie Schmidt III (5) and Augie Schmidt IV (8 ), who together have all of Carthage's titles.  How did Augustana let these Augies get away?!)

Although the season is not even half over yet, with IWU's sweep of NPU Saturday, it is looking like the conference champ is likely to be either IWU or Carthage for the 9th consecutive year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2007, 07:46:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 01:07:53 AM
Since I'm a newbie to CCIW baseball, I did some catching up on history this evening.  If there exist season-by-season records (or all-time totals) other than championships, I couldn't find them (I only checked the conference site, not school-by-school). 
The North Park Baseball Team Website (separate from the Athletic department's version) has an extensive historical section, including coaching records.  the URL is http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/ (http://www.northpark.edu/baseball/2007/)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 03:28:34 PM
mr_b,

Thanks for the tip, though alas (as feared) it is only for North Park.  For conference stuff I guess I'm doomed to search school-by-school, though the site did have team-by-team records since 1959.  NPU seems definitely on the rise today, but otherwise seems to have shone only during Bosko's tenure; they have an overall losing record against all conference opponents except (slightly) over Millikin and (overwhelmingly) over Wheaton (which probably makes up for a lot!)

Since I'm far more familiar with football and basketball (where Wheaton was so overwhelmingly dominant in the 50s that they were evicted from the conference for awhile) and soccer (where the Crusaders/Thunder were almost totally unchallenged until the rise of NPU recently), it seems odd to see them as perennial doormats.  Any explanations for why Wheaton and baseball don't seem to fit in the same sentence?

[BTW, Ann Arbor has a fabulous boogie-woogie pianist with the stage name of Mr. B - familiar with him?]
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 15, 2007, 06:21:33 PM
Alas, it looks like NPU woes will continue for another season, I think it time for "Wait until next season" chorus.
NPU dropped 3 straight to IWU, Sunday's final 6 to 0, the weather was grand, the pitching was on but the bats and defense betrayed the Vikings today.

Hope springs eternal every spring, but the spring looks dryer with each passing conference series.

Good luck Vikings this week , make up with Wheaton and a 3 game series with NCC
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 15, 2007, 08:09:18 PM
My choice of words should have been more carefully written so as not to sound arrogant, for that I apologize however, IWU's pitchers continued to pepper the corners and get people out. I never said IWU was a hitting machine but that they got TIMELY HITS once again this weekend. NPU played some great baseball this weekend as well.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 15, 2007, 08:35:20 PM
yes, next time think a LITTLE before you type bball. regardless, good job out there and it should be an interesting final few weeks in cciw play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 08:57:11 PM
bball,

As a Titan, I for one forgive you - they ARE 11-0! ;D

But arrogance (real or perceived) will raise hackles on the boards.  I took a lot of static on CCIW Chat in 2005-06 for even raising the serious possibility that IWU might run the table (they had two first-team all-Americans in Dauksas and Amelianovich, and a future first-team AA in Freeman).  I never even predicted they would, but my 'odds' of it rose gradually from 10% to 40% as they swept what was arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the country (and were unanimously #1 in the d3hoops poll); I still received plenty of ridicule (and DID eat plenty of crow since they not only didn't go undefeated, Augie won the conference).

Anyone got the Augie-Carthage results?  I'm ambivalent whether to hope that the Red Men all-but-eliminated the Vikes, or that the Titans are now 3 (or 4) games up on everyone!  (Not arrogance, just hopeful thinking!)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2007, 09:30:01 PM
Carthage took two from Augustana this Sunday, 10-8 and 11-4.  The standings as of today are:








Illinois Wesleyan11-0
Carthage 8-2
North Park6-5
Augustana5-6
Elmhurst5-6
Millikin 4-6
North Central2-9
Wheaton 1-8
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2007, 09:38:14 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 08:57:11 PM
Anyone got the Augie-Carthage results?  I'm ambivalent whether to hope that the Red Men all-but-eliminated the Vikes, or that the Titans are now 3 (or 4) games up on everyone!  (Not arrogance, just hopeful thinking!)
It's too soon to be thinking about which teams might be eliminated with half the CCIW schedule (10-11 games) yet to be played.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 10:13:59 PM
Obviously, not even North Central or Wheaton have been eliminated, but it is equally obvious that, barring some immediate sweeps, it is (realistically) now a two-team race.  For anyone else to pass both Carthage and IWU would require twin collapses of historic proportions.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2007, 07:48:25 AM
I guess I was thinking about the tournament qualifiers as opposed to the regular-season CCIW leader.  Getting into the tournament is the key.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 09:52:19 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2007, 10:13:59 PM
Obviously, not even North Central or Wheaton have been eliminated, but it is equally obvious that, barring some immediate sweeps, it is (realistically) now a two-team race.  For anyone else to pass both Carthage and IWU would require twin collapses of historic proportions.

Wheaton is not in the running anymore, they are having a disappointing season in the CCIW.  They were pre-season picks for 4th in the conference.  North Central has a tough road to hoe, they have a 2 and 9 record with 10 games left in the conference, 1 with Augie's, 3 with NPU, 3 with Millikin and 3 with Wheaton. They would need to run the table to get in.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2007, 10:33:11 AM
Yeah, confusion over the topic.  I was just thinking in terms of regular-season champ - certainly the tourney bids (and, therefore, AQ) are still wide open.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2007, 10:55:39 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2007, 10:33:11 AM
Yeah, confusion over the topic.  I was just thinking in terms of regular-season champ - certainly the tourney bids (and, therefore, AQ) are still wide open.

This weekend brings the biggest series to date in the CCIW.  Carthage travles to Bloomington for a three game set with the 11-0 Titans.  In my mind, Carthage has to take at least 2 of the 3 to remain within striking distance of IWU.  Carthage has a remaining series with Millikin @ Carthage and another with North Park (home and home) and a single game with Elmhurst @ Elmhurst, while IWU plays Augie (home and home) and Elmhurst (home and home).  All 6 of these teams have a shot at making the CCIW tourney, so there's a lot to play for.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 16, 2007, 11:23:12 AM
Quote from: yank52 on April 15, 2007, 06:21:33 PM
Alas, it looks like NPU woes will continue for another season, I think it time for "Wait until next season" chorus.


(BANDWAGON FAN defined)

Quote from: yank52 on April 15, 2007, 06:21:33 PM
Alas, it looks like NPU woes will continue for another season, I think it time for "Wait until next season" chorus.
NPU dropped 3 straight to IWU, Sunday's final 6 to 0, the weather was grand, the pitching was on but the bats and defense betrayed the Vikings today.

Hope springs eternal every spring, but the spring looks dryer with each passing conference series.

Good luck Vikings this week , make up with Wheaton and a 3 game series with NCC


Are you f'n kidding me?  You want to "wait til next year" after one bad weekend?!?!?  First of all, they're still in 3rd place.  Why is that reason to quit?  Secondly, it isn't as though all elements were off in this past series.  I'll give you that the offense sputtered but the pitching certainly appeared to be at least adequate.  If you want to go off the deep end after a series like this past one, I'd hate to see what you would do if North Park's bats and pitching were off.  Good lord, we'd probably see you jumping off Carlson Tower. 

Truthfully, if you're the kind of fan that says, "Ah hell, let's just throw in the towel" after one subpar game or series, please leave.  If your allegiance and loyalty can waiver that much, Park will be better off without you.   >:(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2007, 11:28:05 AM
CCIW Standings as of 4/15:

Ill. Wesleyan   11-0   17-7
Carthage         8-2     15-8
North Park       6-5     11-14
Augustana       5-6     19-7
Elmhurst          5-6     8-13
Millikin              4-6     9-16
North Central   2-9     8-16
Wheaton          1-8     6-13-1

Carthage @ IWU this weekend will be a huge series with the winner most likely getting the #1 seed in the CCIW tourney. If Carthage can hang close to IWU they can make a run in the last weekend as Augustana and IWU have yet to play.

I am also impressed that North Park is hanging around again. More proof that Luke Johnson's coaching last year was no fluke. Wheaton has been a big disappointment so far as they were picked 4th by the coaches and I guess Augustana has to be considered a disappointment as well.

(I have been out of town for a week and not able to post... what a long week away from baseball.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 12:15:47 PM

[/quote]

Are you f'n kidding me?  You want to "wait til next year" after one bad weekend?!?!?  First of all, they're still in 3rd place.  Why is that reason to quit?  Secondly, it isn't as though all elements were off in this past series.  I'll give you that the offense sputtered but the pitching certainly appeared to be at least adequate.  If you want to go off the deep end after a series like this past one, I'd hate to see what you would do if North Park's bats and pitching were off.  Good lord, we'd probably see you jumping off Carlson Tower. 

Truthfully, if you're the kind of fan that says, "Ah hell, let's just throw in the towel" after one subpar game or series, please leave.  If your allegiance and loyalty can waiver that much, Park will be better off without you.   >:(
[/quote]

Kool-aid fandom is cute, but reality sets in.
I want NPU to be successful but watching and keeping track of season, it just doesn't pan out that NPU will be there (top of the conference) unless the athletes get with the program.  Winning erases all doubts and I have my doubts when I have seen the top team in the CCIW and their pitching staff is not a dominant force, NPU just didn't produce. Enough said!!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2007, 12:23:20 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 12:15:47 PM

Kool-aid fandom is cute, but reality sets in.
I want NPU to be successful but watching and keeping track of season, it just doesn't pan out that NPU will be there (top of the conference) unless the athletes get with the program.  Winning erases all doubts and I have my doubts when I have seen the top team in the CCIW and their pitching staff is not a dominant force, NPU just didn't produce. Enough said!!!!!!!

I think you have to look at where NPU has been for the last ten years when passing judgement on the program. Just two years ago they were 1-39 on the season!!! Certainly, one cannot expect to move to the top of the CCIW in only two years, but they are definitely headed in the right direction.

Kudos to Luke Johnson for turning the program around in such a short time. Give him a few more years of recruiting and I would expect them to be a major player in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 01:10:38 PM
I certainly see the future if the recruiting goes well at NPU but I saw the present (2007 season) unfolding in March and truly thought that NPU had a good chance of breaking through to the top echelon.
That is why I state my perception of their current standing in the CCIW and the Central region.
The next 15 games should be a good barometer of how this team with its upperclass players and influx of transfers & freshmen.  I would love to see them with 20 wins and making the CCIW tournament and winning some game(s) there.  I can take the critism, it is just emotions showing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2007, 01:12:41 PM
Keep in mind that the four teams with the best CCIW records at the end of the regular season move on to the CCIW tournament.  The winner of that double-elimination tournament gets the automatic qualifier to the NCAA regional.  There will still be quite a battle for the four slots; Wesleyan and Carthage have the inside track on the first two, but it's still a dogfight for the remaining two.  
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2007, 02:07:12 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 16, 2007, 01:12:41 PM
Keep in mind that the four teams with the best CCIW records at the end of the regular season move on to the CCIW tournament.  The winner of that double-elimination tournament gets the automatic qualifier to the NCAA regional.  There will still be quite a battle for the four slots; Wesleyan and Carthage have the inside track on the first two, but it's still a dogfight for the remaining two. 

I was getting all ready to correct you about the conference tourney winner getting the AQ (thought they still used that stupid scoring system), but I just read on the CCIW site that you are indeed correct.   :o   It's still a 4 dog race!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 16, 2007, 05:01:01 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 16, 2007, 01:12:41 PM
Keep in mind that the four teams with the best CCIW records at the end of the regular season move on to the CCIW tournament.  The winner of that double-elimination tournament gets the automatic qualifier to the NCAA regional.  There will still be quite a battle for the four slots; Wesleyan and Carthage have the inside track on the first two, but it's still a dogfight for the remaining two. 

good point Mr_b but obviously this season is already down the drain.  maybe next year we can hope to be in the top 4... 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 16, 2007, 05:03:40 PM
"Kool-aid fandom is cute..."


...and so is over-using sportswriter cliches!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 16, 2007, 05:06:06 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 16, 2007, 12:23:20 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 12:15:47 PM

Kool-aid fandom is cute, but reality sets in.
I want NPU to be successful but watching and keeping track of season, it just doesn't pan out that NPU will be there (top of the conference) unless the athletes get with the program.  Winning erases all doubts and I have my doubts when I have seen the top team in the CCIW and their pitching staff is not a dominant force, NPU just didn't produce. Enough said!!!!!!!

I think you have to look at where NPU has been for the last ten years when passing judgement on the program. Just two years ago they were 1-39 on the season!!! Certainly, one cannot expect to move to the top of the CCIW in only two years, but they are definitely headed in the right direction.

Kudos to Luke Johnson for turning the program around in such a short time. Give him a few more years of recruiting and I would expect them to be a major player in the CCIW.

Well said. 

Plus, we all know the "well, there's always next year" chant is the hymn of losing teams and programs - something we're desperate trying to get away from. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 16, 2007, 05:46:06 PM
The new system for determining the post season qualifier (based on the Conference Tournament Winner) makes the season play out much differently than in years past.  Until now, a poor start to the conference season was a killer because you had to finish #1 to get to the tourney.  Now a poor start can be rebounded from and as long as you make the tourney you still have a chance to win it and take the bid.

Yank, For you to say "I have seen the top team in the CCIW and their pitching staff is not a dominant force, NPU just didn't produce" is just crazy for this exact reason.  If you truly think IWU is beatable and North Park could have taken the games had they played up to their potential then you should be excited about the rest of the season hoping they can put it all together in time to give IWU a run for their money come tourney time. 

I for one, after seeing Augustana play this weekend, do not believe they are a team that can contend at this point in the season and have no hope of winning the overall title due to a serious lack of pitching.  But I would never count them out, or anyone out, in the conference tourney.  It will take a huge turn around for the confidence of some of their younger arms, but baseball is a great game because anything can happen.  I am sure that the same thing can be said for North Park, and for a post season berth to even be a conceivable thought at NP is unbelievable.  I think any NP player and especially Coach Johnson would find your comments to be incredibly demeaning to the hard work that they have put in turning that program around.   




Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 16, 2007, 05:54:29 PM
Exactamente augie.  Gracias.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 08:07:20 PM
Alas, it looks like NPU woes will continue for another season, I think it time for "Wait until next season" chorus.
NPU dropped 3 straight to IWU, Sunday's final 6 to 0, the weather was grand, the pitching was on but the bats and defense betrayed the Vikings today.

Hope springs eternal every spring, but the spring looks dryer with each passing conference series.

Good luck Vikings this week , make up with Wheaton and a 3 game series with NCC


where in these paragraphs does it say anything about not playing in the CCIW tournament, and where does it not say this.
I love it when a bandwagon is jumped and a plain and simple fact is presented.

There are 15 games left for NPU of which 10 are conference games. they will play U of Chi. twice, Concordia, Ill once Rockford U once and Dominican once.

As I said before they are 11 and 14 and if they win 20 I'll be happy but it won't win dem the CCIW and that is a fact, Jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I say again " Wait, till next year" , NPU will only impress if they run the rest of the season and win the tourney anything less is lower expectations.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: robberki on April 16, 2007, 09:20:05 PM
Wow, I missed the boat on this arguement. Ahhh...what the heck, I'll wade in. Yanks: what the heck is upper echelon supposed to mean? They are sitting at 3rd in the conference, if the season ended today wouldn't they be in the conference tourney? How can you say unless they win the tourney the season is a wash? Only one team wins it, if IWU runs the table the rest of the season but then loses in the first round to NPU, is there season a wash? Could you enlighten me on your subjective standard please.
Kudos to NPU baseball, they are truly back from the dead and only the blind or the dumb wouldn't see it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 16, 2007, 09:29:41 PM
I would like to know how NPU season is a wash? They are still in third place in the confrence right now and have IWU and Auggie out of the way. And those of you saying "wait til next year" must be cub fans cause those are the only people i've ever heard say that phrase. I don't understand how people are giving up so easily on NPU. They loose 3 straight confrence games and everyone says they are done. What is that? Have you not forgotten that besides this weekend NPU has won every series they have played including Auggie. Do not talk down on a programm that has come from a 1-39 team to making the tourney last year and once again turing heads of people. They were picked to finish 5 behind Wheaton and they are sitting in 3rd even after dropping 3 straight. Do not say wait til next year, because it is still this year and anything can happen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2007, 09:48:44 PM
Carthage beats Wheaton 11-1 today to move to 9-2 in the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2007, 11:01:31 PM
IWU downs Millikin 8-0, moving to 12-0.  MU falls to 4-7.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 16, 2007, 11:18:55 PM
Yank,
You have seen the top team in the CCIW and are not impressed by their pitching???!!! IWU has given up 8 ER in 12 games!!! Take a look at their conference ERA, it is ridiculous. If you arent impressed by that then you are expecting too much out of CCIW pitching.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on April 17, 2007, 12:06:47 AM
bball,
IWU has been pitching very well lately, and it is very impressive, but I think that will change this weekend. Carthage is starting to get their swing back and being at the Carthage/Augie games this past weekend,  both teams hit the ball hard. It will be a fun weekend to see 2 pretty good teams going up against each other. I'm not trying to put down the IWU pitching, but they haven't seen Carthage or Augie yet.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 17, 2007, 09:25:51 AM
Quote from: robberki on April 16, 2007, 09:20:05 PM
Only one team wins it, if IWU runs the table the rest of the season but then loses in the first round to NPU, is there season a wash? Could you enlighten me on your subjective standard please.


Got him!

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Scream on April 17, 2007, 09:36:47 AM
Quote from: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 08:07:20 PM

where in these paragraphs does it say anything about not playing in the CCIW tournament


Well, when you're saying, "wait til next year" you're implying the current season is over.  As this whole board has attempted to point out to you, the season is far from over.  Even if Park wasn't in 3rd, your comments wouldn't make sense.  The fact that Park is in 3rd and is slated to make the tourney if the season ended today makes your comments that much more ridiculous. 

Quote from: yank52 on April 16, 2007, 08:07:20 PM

So I say again " Wait, till next year" , NPU will only impress if they run the rest of the season and win the tourney anything less is lower expectations.


They will only impress who?  I don't think the players or coaches give a crap about impressing a bandwagon fan who thinks the season is over when they're sitting at 3rd in the conference. 

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2007, 11:02:17 AM
The frat boys on the roof tops with the microphone and countless number beers always makes it a fun time in bloomington! A great atmosphere to play in. I Haven't been to IWU's baseball field in 2 years, have they fixed up the field at all? The atmosphere was great, but the field itself was absoulutely terrible. I remember the conference tournament 2 years ago when the foul lines in the outfield were pretty much a zig zag the whole way down with green spray paint to try and fix it, and the grass in the infield was as dead as can be.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2007, 11:03:53 AM
In an unrelated note...

All of the Cubs fans can thank me for personally for putting a hex their star players by drafting them in the first round of my fantasy league the past two years and subsequently, that player going down with an injury of some sort....First Derek Lee (#5 overall last season (NL Only)) and this year with Alfonso Soriano (#3 overall in the same NL Only league).


Good thing I'm a Brewers Fan!!   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2007, 12:46:12 PM
Quote

No one cares about what fan you are! If u havent noticed no one is writing about fanatasy baseball on this blog. This is for college baseball specifically CCIW baseball.

Thanks for your two cents benchwarmer.  If you've been on any of the CCIW boards, you'll notice that they go off topic from time to time.  As a matter of fact, go back on this board and read some history.

You have 8 posts...One was about the Central region poll and having no CCIW members in it.  You were COMPLETELY wrong about that.  You've called this message board a blog, again WRONG.  That's 25% of your posts adding NOTHING to this site. 

I told you that it was unrelated....skip it next time ya goof. 

Maybe you should concentrate on lowering your 99.00 ERA instead of being the message board police.  Perhaps get someone out instead of calling someone out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 17, 2007, 01:15:40 PM
ouch. that stings.

anyway, lets all just settle down. what is everyones predictions for this weeks play?

Carthage @ IWU (IWU wins series)
Wheaton @ Elmhurst (Wheaton wins series)
Augustana @ Millikin (Augie wins series)
North Park @ NCC (NPU wins series)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 17, 2007, 01:21:51 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on April 17, 2007, 01:15:40 PM
ouch. that stings.

anyway, lets all just settle down. what is everyones predictions for this weeks play?

Carthage @ IWU (IWU wins series)
Wheaton @ Elmhurst (Wheaton wins series)
Augustana @ Millikin (Augie wins series)
North Park @ NCC (NPU wins series)

Now we are back to the real deal.


Carthage 2 of 3
Elmhurst 2 of 3
Augustana sweep
North Park 2 of 3

hope for good weather and get all those games in on time.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2007, 01:32:01 PM
I'll take Carthage, Elmhurst, Augie, and NP all winning 2 out of 3 in their series this weekend. Just got done reading the paper.  The winning pitcher for Carthage threw a 2-hit him complete game (7 innings because of mercy rule) and hadn't appeared in a game since Carthage's spring trip. Not too bad after not throwing in a game for a month.  What's the word on Wesleyan's top 3 pitchers? They clearly are throwing the ball very well. Are they over powering or junk ballers, righties or lefties, ect.  Carthage's top 3 are all righties, all throw in the upper 80's, and all flirt with 90 mph on occasion if its a nice day outside.  I know firsthand 2 of the 3 have good off speed stuff as well.  I've been told the other has improved his curveball, but I have not seen him throw since last year.I'm sure the two coaching staff's know everything about each other, but I'm interested in knowing what Carthage is going up against this weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on April 17, 2007, 02:17:50 PM
Any predictions or thoughts on tuesday non conference matchups

Augie @ Rockford
Benedictine @ Elmhurst
North Central @ Aurora
North Park @ Concordia/Chi
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2007, 03:00:22 PM
Carthage also plays at university of chicago. Not sure who Carthage will throw and don't know anything about Chicago, but I'd imagine a high scoring game with both teams probably throwing someone not in their top 5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 17, 2007, 05:30:42 PM
"Maybe you should concentrate on lowering your 99.00 ERA instead of being the message board police.  Perhaps get someone out instead of calling someone out."

Great call MWUNDER...as a current player or coach you cant accomplish anything in this chat other than creating fuel for teams to use against you.  Look at Coach Jones from Elmhurst last year...having said that though, a 99 ERA is pretty impressive!

--------------
Augie beat NCC 4-0 last night behind a CG Shutout from freshman Matt Erickson.  A much needed strong pitching performance for the Vikings. 

They are at Rockford tonight and might need to slug it out to take the win.  It will be insteresting to see who they throw after a long weekend against Carthage.
-------------
For the weekend, I also like Carthage, Augie, Elmhurst and NPU all to take 2 of 3
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2007, 05:53:39 PM
Quote from: augie28 on April 17, 2007, 05:30:42 PM
"Maybe you should concentrate on lowering your 99.00 ERA instead of being the message board police.  Perhaps get someone out instead of calling someone out."

Great call MWUNDER...as a current player or coach you cant accomplish anything in this chat other than creating fuel for teams to use against you.  Look at Coach Jones from Elmhurst last year...having said that though, a 99 ERA is pretty impressive!

Technically, since he didn't retire a batter, his ERA is infinity.  99.00 is all the higher that software will go.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 17, 2007, 05:58:46 PM
I've noticed several North Park and IWU players posting on this site.  I highly recommend you stick to either just reading it or not even paying attention to it (preferably).  As has been mentioned, nothing good can come from you guys posting on this site, so spare yourselves the embarassment, and concentrate on playing ball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2007, 07:43:53 PM
Carthage beats Chicago 13-6.

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: robberki on April 17, 2007, 10:21:01 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on April 17, 2007, 05:58:46 PM
I've noticed several North Park and IWU players posting on this site.  I highly recommend you stick to either just reading it or not even paying attention to it (preferably).  As has been mentioned, nothing good can come from you guys posting on this site, so spare yourselves the embarassment, and concentrate on playing ball.

oh okay....oh wait, I mean NO.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 17, 2007, 10:28:54 PM
im with robberki.....it is nice to talk with other players and not just a bunch of spectators
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2007, 11:45:02 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on April 17, 2007, 05:58:46 PM
I've noticed several North Park and IWU players posting on this site.  I highly recommend you stick to either just reading it or not even paying attention to it (preferably).  As has been mentioned, nothing good can come from you guys posting on this site, so spare yourselves the embarassment, and concentrate on playing ball.

Just so everyone understands, this had nothing to do with the fact that benchwarmer21 is a player.  It has everything to do with the fact that he felt the need to add his two cents when they certainly weren't warranted or necessary.  CCIW message boards (especially basketball) go off on tangents all the time.  If you didn't enjoy the post or even care about....move on to the next one.  The fact that he was a ball player was less important to me that the fact that he had 8 posts, only 4 of which lent anything to the site.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 18, 2007, 12:05:36 AM
Augie was down 8-4 @ Rockford when I left the game in the 7th inning. 

Sure this chat is public, but it makes no sense to post as a player.  You say you like hearing from other players on top of just spectators but at this point its only IWU players and a last stringer from NPU so its not like you have reps from every team throwin stories around. 

Do whatever you gotta do but guaranteeing wins isnt gonna do anything for you but wake up a sleeping team somewhere along the road...I change my prediction from, Carthage sweeps IWU, "guaranteed"
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 18, 2007, 01:21:39 AM
Augie lost to Rockford 9-4.  Augustana's pitching woes continue.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: benchwarmer21 on April 18, 2007, 09:27:29 AM
First of all my hat goes off mwunder, thats good  payback. Second off i made one comment that didnt contribute to the site in someway and that was my last one.  And i also agree that player input is good for the site rather than having people just bash the teams and not have any real idea of whats going on.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: robberki on April 18, 2007, 10:10:50 AM
it appears i've ruined myself again. In my rush to "stir the pot" I posted a response when it clearly said "players" in the original posting. Since I am not a player, the post was obviously not directed at me. I apologize to the original poster. Sometimes I can't open my mouth without ruining myself.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 18, 2007, 12:32:35 PM
Carthage's win yesterday was their 4th in a row, matching their longest this season. Carthage usually has a streak close to, if not double digit wins in a row each season. Hopefully this is the start of one.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 18, 2007, 03:40:27 PM
Augie28 isn't even on the team.  There is nothing he can do to help Augie make the tournament.  I agree with him that there is a much better chance of Carthage sweeping IWU than the other way around.  IWU has struggled hitting the ball.  With Carthage's pitching, they could give the IWU bats trouble all weekend.  Also, IWU's pitching has not faced Carthage or Augie, the two best hitting teams in the conference.

Also, at this rate, Augie will make the tournament, they are in 4th right now.

Lastly, so what if IWU did sweep North Park?  You still don't come on here as a player and guarantee that it is going to happen.  You also don't come on here as a player running your mouth about other programs, which you have done with Augie in your post, lovethegame.

I've always had a distaste for IWU, from the time I was recruited to play there until now.  I've just always felt that IWU players, coaches, and others around the program are a bit too cocky for their own good.  You guys are proving me to be correct.  I've never said this before, but GO REDMEN.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2007, 03:45:09 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on April 18, 2007, 03:40:27 PM

I've never said this before, but GO REDMEN.


I knew you would come around!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 18, 2007, 04:07:50 PM
are we even certain these are IWU players?  could it be others, writing just to get a reaction out of you?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: acvikings on April 18, 2007, 04:34:05 PM
jfofo7@hotmail.com -- could it be jesse foster??
tmarzec@iwu.edu -- could it be tim marzec??
tmcinern@iwu.edu -- could it be tim mcinerney??
czerbe@northpark.edu -- could it be chris zerbe??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: robberki on April 18, 2007, 04:53:16 PM
Quote from: acvikings on April 18, 2007, 04:34:05 PM
jfofo7@hotmail.com -- could it be jesse foster??
tmarzec@iwu.edu -- could it be tim marzec??
tmcinern@iwu.edu -- could it be tim mcinerney??
czerbe@northpark.edu -- could it be chris zerbe??

uh-oh, looks like my self-ruination has been surpassed by acvikings ruination of IWU players. OWND!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 18, 2007, 05:17:36 PM
Robberki, I think you are officially off the hook after ACVikings call out!

I could really care less if Carthage pulls off a sweep of IWU, but I do agree that there is no way the opposite will happen.  I can't say I have seen IWU play this year, but I have seen Carthage...their lineup is back to (near) Carthage form and their starting pitching is top knotch.  That makes for a tough matchup for anyone, even someone with a 15 game winning streak.  I think it will be a great series and a chance for both teams to strengthen their chances for an at large bid strength...

Like Knarocky said though, after playing in the CCIW for 4 years and gaining respect for certain programs over others, I also gotta say GO REDMEN
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: DiceT on April 18, 2007, 05:37:41 PM
If you have seen Carthage play this year...then you would realize that while their pitching is rather good, their hitters are average at best, and their defense is on par with their hitting.  Watching them take infield/outfield is rather laughable.  Especially for a team that is often ranked nationally.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2007, 09:00:49 PM
Quote from: augie28 on April 18, 2007, 05:17:36 PM

Like Knarocky said though, after playing in the CCIW for 4 years and gaining respect for certain programs over others, I also gotta say GO REDMEN


It's starting to become an epidemic. I love this. Two more Redmen fans converted right before your eyes. I think may qualify as missionary-type work.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on April 18, 2007, 09:42:50 PM
well that was no fun. kudos acvikings, kudos
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: bball7811 on April 18, 2007, 11:20:30 PM
hahah well done...and like i said before i apologized for my choice of words about npu it wasnt meant to be arrogant...but anyway does anyone think millikin can make a run at the 4 seed...their two big players Fear and Law are seniors and are bound to have a big "second half" after starting cold 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 19, 2007, 12:25:19 AM
I don't really think Millikin has much of a chance to make a run at the 4 seed.  They probably have the toughest schedule from hear on out.  They still have to play Augie and Carthage.  If they can take 2 of 3 from Augie this weekend, they might have a chance, but I just don't see it happening.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 19, 2007, 04:13:06 AM
I just want to state for the record that D3sports.com has no problem with players posting. However, most coaches do have problems with their players posting during the season. It might be wise to see what your program's policy is before making a post.

That is all. :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 19, 2007, 07:51:21 AM
DiceT,
Over the past three seasons, Carthage hasn't quite had the hitting they've had in the past.  Carthage has gone from a team that often wins 15-5, to a team that often wins 6-2 (but continually finishes top 2 in conference and finishes ranked). Their bats have come alive lately, they've collected nearly 60 hits in their last 3 games.  The part that bothers me about your post is your comment about watching them taking infield/outfield.  Its the exact same guys that went 19-2 in CCIW play last year.  I know they have above average arms at all 8 positions, and Jose Alba at short is about as smooth as they come at this level, not to mention Boe Baitenger in CF who without a doubt is one of the fastest players in the country at the D-3 level and was an All North Region selection as a sophomore.  Errors killed Carthage on their spring trip, but their past 14 games they've been fine.  I'd be willing to bet Carthage's infield/outfield is at the very least as good as anyone's in the conferene, most likely better.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2007, 10:42:10 AM
The last time I checked you did not win or lose the game in pregame infield. Carthage has always had a laid back style that got it done between the lines during the game. I would much rather look bad in pregame and then win than to look great in pregame and then lose.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: DiceT on April 19, 2007, 03:01:15 PM
Their pregame carried over to the games.  I can think of two starters who had good arms.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2007, 03:36:53 PM
Quote from: DiceT on April 19, 2007, 03:01:15 PM
Their pregame carried over to the games.  I can think of two starters who had good arms.

Que sera...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 19, 2007, 06:58:03 PM
I saw Carthage play last weekend and I also thought they were a very solid team.  I am quite interested (without looking to start another arguement) to know who you are comparing them too when you say only 2 of them have good arms.  D-3 baseball is not primarily built around guys throwing 90+ across the infield, but instead lining up your best offense while keeping a solid defense on the field.  Overall, in my eyes, the Carthage defense was very consistant and did not give up many extra bases.  They also did not have any outfielders who were obvious candidates to run on. 

This is just my opinion and you are definatly allowed your opinion as well, I just thought my 2 cents might stir up a worthwhile conversation.  Who do you see right now as having the strongest defense...either as far as limiting hits/runs against or having the strongest arms.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 19, 2007, 11:12:57 PM
4/19 Non-Conference Final:

Concordia-Chicago 9, North Central 7  (4-run 9th for the Cougars was the difference here.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on April 20, 2007, 09:00:54 AM
Quote from: DiceT on April 19, 2007, 03:01:15 PM
Their pregame carried over to the games.  I can think of two starters who had good arms.


You've obviously been around the block and seen a lot of good arms in your day.  Glad to have you on board in the CCIW chat.  We're lucky to have your insight and expertise at our disposal.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 20, 2007, 09:23:03 AM
DiceT, you are definitely entitled to your opinion, now just looking for some clarification. Who are the players (if you don't know names, then positions) who had good arms?  Remember, this isn't the SEC, I'd still say Carthage overall easily has above average D-3 throwing arms all over the field. Yapp at third, Alba at short, Gragnani/Rucks at second all have solid arms.  Wuis and Hughes have good arms behind the plate (maybe not like polcyn had, but not weak arms by any means), Hermes, Baitinger, Coughlin, Creekmore, and Shannon in the outfield all have solid arms as well.  Of these players, maybe you're right in that only two or so players throw the ball and you say WOW, but I don't think any of these players throw the ball and you say: we can run on him.  The entire arguement right now is kind of silly, anyone else agree with DiceT?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on April 20, 2007, 10:17:39 AM
Wheaton beats North Park in 10 in their make up game.
http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/index.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 21, 2007, 08:04:58 AM
IWU beat Carthage, and Elmhurst pounded Wheaton Friday night.
IWU moved to solidify its hold on the #1 spot in CCIW.
Elmhurst is making its move and now it is a 3 team race for the #3 & #4 spot, between Augies, NPU and Elmhurst.

This Saturday & Sunday contests will certainly give us an eyeful of what these teams are made of.

Elmhurst vs Wheaton (2) on Saturday
NPU vs NCC (2) on Saturday & (1) on Sunday
Augustana vs Millikin (2) on Saturday & (1) on Sunday.

I hope I have all the games properly entered, and I'll be looking for scores late tonight.......

Good luck to all!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on April 21, 2007, 08:43:05 AM
Here is the Pantagraph's article on IWU's 7-0 win over Carthage...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/21/sports/doc46299e676ebd5355834917.txt

A very Brandon Webb-like performance by Titan pitcher Jesse Foster...15 groundball outs.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on April 21, 2007, 04:34:50 PM
IWU won the first game today vs Carthage 5-2 behind Matt Aronson, who moved to 5-0....

http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2007/iwbb421a.htm


The Titans are up 5-2 in the 5th of the nightcap.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: titanfan on April 21, 2007, 08:30:29 PM
IWU ended up winning the last game 5-2.  That's a huge 3 game sweep of Carthage.  IWU is going to be very hard to catch now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on April 21, 2007, 10:33:45 PM
Aronson gave up earned runs? Is something wrong with him?  ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 22, 2007, 01:04:17 AM
IWU may run the table in the CCIW regular season, but I see them getting spanked in the tournament and going nowhere.
What is with NPU?
what happened?
I heard that the have been seeing a subpar level of officiating for many games.
8 walks from their staff in one game , is  the zone being squeezed?


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on April 22, 2007, 01:36:14 AM
That's a possibility for IWU, but I'm not really sure why. They oddly threw their top guys against some of the middling teams on their trip south while throwing down the line guys against teams like Millsaps and Rhodes. Would think they might have been able to get another win or two.

If they stay hot and get to 30 wins or so in the regular season they might be in regardless. IWU obviously has the pitching to do well in tournament play though.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 22, 2007, 11:25:51 AM
Saturday's scores from Millikin:

Augie 2, Millikin 1 (8 innings)
Augie 5, Millikin 4

Brandon Engle and Eric Knott threw CG's for the Vikings.  A much needed day of strong pitching, even if it came against a below average offense.

Augie moves to 22-8, 8-6 CCIW.  They have one game left vs. Millikin today, IWU next weekend and Wheaton to finish up the conference season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2007, 12:53:55 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 22, 2007, 01:04:17 AM
IWU may run the table in the CCIW regular season,

Maybe, but with 6 games left against Augie and suddenly-hot Elmhurst (4 of them on the road), I'd say the odds are still against it.

Quote from: yank52 on April 22, 2007, 01:04:17 AM
but I see them getting spanked in the tournament and going nowhere.

IF the Titans DID run the table (or even go say 19-2), I'm curious what your reasoning is for them to suddenly get 'spanked' in the tourney?

BTW, Elmhurst swept Wheaton by a combined 57-36 - did they get their seasons mixed up?  Which sport were they playing?! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 22, 2007, 01:15:11 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2007, 12:53:55 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 22, 2007, 01:04:17 AM
BTW, Elmhurst swept Wheaton by a combined 57-36 - did they get their seasons mixed up?  Which sport were they playing?! ;D

Quite a series...here are the line scores from those games for your entertainment

Game 1:
Wheaton College..... 000  340       00 -   7 10  2
Elmhurst College....   110  0(11)0  04 - 17 18  4

Game 2:
Elmhurst College....   101   350   04 - 14 11  0
Wheaton College..... 111   070   00 - 10 17  3

Game 3:
Elmhurst College....   328   700   105 - 26 29  4
Wheaton College..... 330   008   401 - 19 27  3


45 runs on 58 hits in game 3!

Does anyone know what happened to Matt Price from Wheaton?  He was one of the stronger pitchers in the conference last year as a Jr. but has an ERA near 7.00 this season.


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on April 22, 2007, 07:06:20 PM
Augustana beat Millikin today 7-5 to complete the sweep according to the Millikin website.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2007, 07:35:16 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland College on Sunday 13-3 and 21-3.

Too bad the bats came alive a day late. Looks like we will have to win the CCIW tourney as it appear that our Pool C chances flew out the window by getting swept Friday/Saturday at IWU.

Anybody have in-region record of the Central Region teams?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on April 22, 2007, 09:35:43 PM
North Central swept the 3 game series over North Park with an 18-5 victory today at NPU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2007, 09:43:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 22, 2007, 07:35:16 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland College on Sunday 13-3 and 21-3.

Too bad the bats came alive a day late. Looks like we will have to win the CCIW tourney as it appear that our Pool C chances flew out the window by getting swept Friday/Saturday at IWU.

Wow, from 4 runs in 3 games to 34 runs in 2!  Was IWU's pitching that good or Lakeland's that bad?  (Or was it just one of those unexplainable things about streaky hitters?)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2007, 10:28:57 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2007, 09:43:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 22, 2007, 07:35:16 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland College on Sunday 13-3 and 21-3.

Too bad the bats came alive a day late. Looks like we will have to win the CCIW tourney as it appear that our Pool C chances flew out the window by getting swept Friday/Saturday at IWU.

Wow, from 4 runs in 3 games to 34 runs in 2!  Was IWU's pitching that good or Lakeland's that bad?  (Or was it just one of those unexplainable things about streaky hitters?)

That's just baseball. If anyone ever figures it all out, please tell me so I can sleep at night. I'll admit that I was surprised by the three game sweep of Carthage, but I'll still take Carthage to win the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 23, 2007, 10:16:47 AM
As much as this hurts to say, congrats to IWU on the sweep. With Carthage's top 3, I didn't think there was any chance of them getting swept. IWU will be the only team that will have a shot at an at large bid. I was at Carthage for a few innings of the second game yesterday. It was 80 degrees everywhere in kenosha except on Carthage's baseball field where it felt about 55. Lakeland's pitchers were obviously nothing special, and it was a great day for hitting with the wind blowing straight out to center field.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 23, 2007, 08:07:03 PM
Here is the updated conference standings and remaining games:

School            CCIW       
Ill. Wesleyan  15-0      3 vs. Augie; 3 vs. Elmhurst
Carthage        9-5        1 vs. Elmhurst; 3 vs. Millikin; 3 vs. North Park
Augustana      9-6        3 vs. IWU; 3 vs. Wheaton
Elmhurst         8-6        1 vs. Carthage; 3 vs. NP; 3 vs. IWU
North Park      6-9        3 vs. Elmhurst; 3 vs. Carthage
North Central 5-10       3 vs. Wheaton; 3 vs. Millikin
Millikin            4-10       3 vs. Carthage; 3 vs. North Central; 1 vs. Wheaton
Wheaton        2-12      3 vs. North Central; 3 vs. Augustana; 1 vs. Millikin

IWU is practically a lock to host the tourney.  I also expect Carthage and Augie to be in as Elmhurst and NPU play each other and then EC plays IWU and NP plays Carthage.  NPU needs at least 2 of 3 vs. Elmhurst to get in and North Central is not completely out of it if they can take care of Wheaton and Millikin while NP and Elmhurst struggle.

Lots of different scenarios as the season winds down.

I see IWU #1; Carthage #2; Augie #3 and NP #4


   
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 24, 2007, 09:39:27 AM

I see IWU #1; Carthage #2; Augie #3 and NP #4  quoted from previous entry

Sorry, the 4th position is a toss up, Elmhurst, NCC or NPU can fit here

NCC and Elmhurst have the inside track, I only see NPU in there if the sweep Elmhurst and take 1 or 2 from Carthage.  These past two weeks have been a nightmare NPU was 11 and 10 at one time.


Good luck this week and hopefully get the games in on schedule.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2007, 07:54:24 PM
IWU, 15-0, first in the CCIW
EMU, 12-1, first in the MAC
UM, 11-1, first in the Big 10
Ypsi HS, 3-0, first in the Mega White
Tigers, 11-8, tied for first in the AL Central

If I'm dreaming, only a sadist would wake me up! ;D ;)

After the 13 consecutive losing seasons (including the near-record disaster of 2003) prior to last year, imagine my amazement to be both surprised and disappointed that the Tigers are 'only' tied for first!

In the immortal words of SNL: "Bezball been bery, bery good to me". :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2007, 10:00:18 PM
Carthage defeated Elmhurst today 11-2 to move to 20-11 overall and 10-5 in the CCIW. IWU(15-0) is up 5 games with 6 to go, so barring an historic collapse, they will wear the season crown and host the CCIW tourney.

Carthage hosts Millikin this weekend in Kenosha and North Park the following weekend. IWU has yet to play either Augustana or Elmhurst. I expect Carthage to close the gap a bit, but 5 games would be a miracle.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on April 25, 2007, 12:04:19 AM
North Park lost to Rockford tonight 6-5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 25, 2007, 01:52:59 PM
Eight of Carthage's eleven runs yesterday came in one inning as they sent 12 batters to the plate in I believe the 4th inning. The redmen pounded out 21 hits
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 25, 2007, 05:10:02 PM
North Central up 7-2 on Benedictine going into the 3rd inning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 25, 2007, 06:50:18 PM
North Central 13, Benedictine 4--final.  (Sabatino hurt while attempting a diving catch in 7th inning, had to leave the game.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: matblake on April 26, 2007, 09:13:44 AM
Wheaton beats Benedictine.  See the story here (http://www.wheaton.edu/Athletics/baseball/index.html)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on April 26, 2007, 03:00:33 PM
Schedule through this weekend, hopefully the weather will allow all the games to take place.


Predicitions:


Elmhurst @ Aurora, 5 p.m.                                 Elmhurst
North Park @ Dominican, 3 p.m.                         North Park

Friday, April 27 
Wheaton @ North Central, 3 p.m.                      North Central
Augustana @ Ill. Wesleyan, 7 p.m.                    Ill. Wesleyan

Saturday, April 28 
Millikin @ Carthage (2), 1 p.m.                           Carthage (2)
North Central @ Wheaton (2), 1 p.m.                Split
Elmhurst @ North Park (2), 1 p.m.                     Split
Ill. Wesleyan @ Augustana (2), 2 p.m.              Split

Sunday, April 29 
Clarke @ Augustana, 4 p.m.                              Augie
North Park @ Elmhurst, 1 p.m.                           NPU
Millikin @ Carthage, Noon                                  Carthage "sweep"

Monday, April 30 
Dominican @ Elmhurst, 4 p.m.                           Elmhurst

Tuesday, May 1 
Dubuque @ Augustana, 7 p.m.                          Augie
Aurora @ Carthage, 3 p.m.                                Carthage
Elmhurst @ Concordia (Ill.), 3:30 p.m.               Elmhurst
North Park @ Chicago, 3 p.m.                            NPU
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2007, 03:13:18 PM
Augustana and IWU this weekend could be a great series. I see IWU winning it 2-1, but the one loss will be a huge blemish on IWU's perfect season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on April 26, 2007, 08:42:23 PM
In non-conference action, North Park knocks off Dominican 11-1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 27, 2007, 01:18:05 PM
Drove by Carthage's field yesterday and noticed that it wasn't tarped.  Its been raining in the kenosha/racine area for 3 days straight now on and off. It should be okay by tomorrow afternoon, but they'll have to put in a lot more work than if they just had to roll the tarp up
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on April 27, 2007, 07:45:55 PM
North Central topped Wheaton 11-7 in Naperville. Cardinals bats have been alive the last couple of games. Justin Rezzuto picked up his third win and Ricky Foytik picked up his third save of the year. Cardinals move to 6-10 in CCIW. They finish off the series tomorrow at Wheaton.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2007, 10:14:38 PM
What was already a foregone conclusion is now official: the tourney is in Bloomington, as the Titans swept Augie 13-4 and 4-2.  Carthage swept Millikin to all but lock up the second seed at 12-5.  Elmhurst and North Park split, which leaves NP on life-support as they fall to 7-10 (and finish against Carthage), while Augie and Elmhurst are both 9-8.  I haven't checked tie-breakers to see if NC is officially eliminated, but only splitting with Wheaton left them at 7-11 and effectively eliminated.

While they will decide it on the field, I'd call it #1 IWU, #2 Carthage, #3 Augie, #4 Elmhurst (Augie finishes with Wheaton, Elmhurst finishes with IWU).  North Park DOES still have a legitimate shot if they beat Elmhurst Sunday - they would then have the tie-break over Elmhurst (and trail by only one game), and need to do one game better against Carthage than Elmhurst does against IWU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on April 29, 2007, 08:50:29 AM
Congratulations to Dennis Martel and the Titans for clinching the CCIW championship.  This has been an amazing year for the Titan baseball team.

Also congrats to Dennis Martel on career win #500 yesterday.  Dennis is now 10 wins from passing legendary IWU coach Jack Horenberger...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/27/sports/doc4631468a0a901439151087.txt

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/29/sports/doc46344336025cc871248303.txt
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: iwumichigander on April 29, 2007, 11:20:55 AM
Tremendous accomplishments by IWU Saturday - play a double header against Augustana, win two, win the CCIW, win right to host the conference tournament and career win # 500 for Coach Martel.  Whew!

Great work by the Titans!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2007, 06:44:30 PM
The Titans perfect conference season was snapped by Augie today, 7-0.  Meanwhile, Elmhurst downed North Park 11-1, assuring Elmhurst of a berth in the tourney. 

Since North Park has the tie-break over the 'other' Vikings, they are not yet mathematically eliminated, though they would have to sweep Carthage (stranger things have happened!) while Augie was being swept by Wheaton (THAT would be one of the stranger things! ;))
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2007, 09:01:48 PM
Just to cover all the bases (however remote), Augie, Elmhurst, North Central, and North Park COULD all finish 10-11.  In that scenario, NP is immediately eliminated (3-6 vs. the other 3), while the others are all 5-4.  With NP out, the three-way tie sees Augie the 3-seed (4-2), Elmhurst the 4-seed (3-3) and NC out.

If NC tied Augie and Elmhurst, they are out (as seen in step two above).

IF NP tied Augie and Elmhurst, they are all 3-3 and I leave it to someone else to solve (unless it seems SO unlikely that no one bothers!)

Bottom line: NC is mathematically eliminated, NP is clinging to life-support.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on April 29, 2007, 10:18:24 PM
Although dropping 2 of 3 to IWU practically eliminated Augie from an at-large bid, the weekend series should be a huge boost of confidence going into the tourney.  In game 1, they gave Aronson a run for his money stranding 7 base runners and taking a lead into the 5th needing just one more big hit to pull out a victory.  They managed to put some good swings on the ball, but Aronson has a 0.34 ERA for a reason and used good control to work out of any jams.  Games 1 and 3 also saw very strong complete game outings from Brandon Engle and Eric Knott, the two pitchers the Vikings will be counting on.  Besides another break down by the young pitching in game 2, Augie looked very strong against an impressive IWU team. 

After seeing IWU, Augie, Carthage and Elmhurst play, I have to give a definate advantage to IWU in the tourney (especially at home), although I would consider them far from unbeatable.  It should play out to be a very even tournament and as always will come down to who has the most pitching left after day 1.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2007, 12:17:24 PM
Quote from: augie28 on April 29, 2007, 10:18:24 PM

After seeing IWU, Augie, Carthage and Elmhurst play, I have to give a definate advantage to IWU in the tourney (especially at home), although I would consider them far from unbeatable.  It should play out to be a very even tournament and as always will come down to who has the most pitching left after day 1.


My heart says Carthage wins it in an upset over IWU, but my head says IWU (and taking IWU crushes my heart... I can't stand the "green weenies").
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2007, 12:36:57 PM
In the 1st inning of yesterday's 20-1 victory, Carthage's leadoff man Boe Baitinger was injured in the first inning on a play at home plate.  I was told that he rolled his ankle on the Catcher's foot, and returned to the game on crutches after a trip to the hospital.  The paper today called it a sprain, hopefully its ready to go by the time the CCIW tournament rolls around.  On another note, congrats to Senior Steve Rucks for hitting his first collegiate homerun. Augie also set a Carthage record by sending 8 pinch hitters to the plate in one inning during yesterdays ball game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2007, 12:46:51 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2007, 12:36:57 PM
Augie also set a Carthage record by sending 8 pinch hitters to the plate in one inning during yesterdays ball game.

8 pinch hitters in one inning means that they were mostly successful at the plate. That bodes well for the depth of the team.

Carthage has been piling up runs since their throttling by IWU. They have gone 6-0 since the IWU series and have scored 83 runs in those games (average of 13.8 runs per contest) and have topped 20 runs twice. Hopefully, the REDMEN hitters have found their groove and can carry it into the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2007, 12:47:51 PM
Forgot to mention that the paper today said Carthage's single game with Aurora tomorrow may be switched to a 1:00 double header.  Both coaches probably want to get their pitchers some work I'm sure. All 3 of Carthage's guys went the distance, so they're 4-8 can definitely use the extra ball game to get some work in.  I also noticed Aurora was 14-18 which was a shock.  Us Carthage fans are so spoiled and feel like this is a down year, well there's a lot of teams who would kill to do what Carthage is doing in a so-called "down year" for the Redmen.  As for the conference tourney, I'm not going to make my prediction yet as to who's going to win it, but I think whoever wins it will have one loss in the tournament.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2007, 12:54:15 PM
Correction: NC is NOT (quite) mathematically eliminated.  I was only thinking in terms of multiple ties for third place.  If Elmhurst wins one (or more) against IWU, while Augie is swept by Wheaton, and NP and NC both sweep Carthage and Millikin, respectively, Elmhust finishes third, and a three-way tie exists for fourth.  In that scenario, NC's sweep of NP bcomes crucial: NC takes 4th seed (4-2), while Augie (3-3) and NP (2-4) are out.

I'd sooner bet on the Nationals winning the World Series than that all that would happen, but NC IS still mathematically alive. ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2007, 01:00:39 PM
If Carthage can win out this week (Aurora and North Park) and creep back into the Central region rankings then the game with Concordia-Chicago on May 8th will be a huge factor in determining whether or not they can grab a Pool C bid if they do not win the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on May 01, 2007, 01:49:58 PM
CCIW Baseball Standings 
School CCIW Overall
*Ill. Wesleyan  17-1   25-9
Carthage         13-5   23-11
Augustana      10-8    25-10
Elmhurst         10-8    16-16
North Park        7-11  14-22
North Central   7-11   14-20
Millikin              4-13   11-25
Wheaton          3-14   10-20-1

This weekend, the final in the conference
Has:
Augustana vs Wheaton    Augie 2 of 3
Elmhurst    vs IWU            IWU  sweep
NPU           vs Carthage     Carthage 2 of 3
Millikin        vs NCC            NCC sweep

I think the chinks are growing and that CCIW conference looks to be more competitive, hopefully in the years to come.  Carthage and Augustana may have winning seasons but the conference may be changing with other teams on the rise.
Oh! I don't think Carthage will make any NCAA unless they win the conference tournament, just look at last year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 01, 2007, 06:28:27 PM
I believe Big Poppa has a point in mentioning Carthage's hopes for an at-large bid.  Even though Augie did not get in last year with a 31-10 record, Carthage has a much stronger standing with the voters as they are in the NCAAs almost yearly.  It will still take a perfect finish with only two losses in the conference tourney, and some help in the voting in order for an at-large, but I wouldn't count them out.

Also, this weekend series between Augie and Wheaton could be interesting.  Wheaton has two returning LHPs who gave the Vikings more than enough trouble last year, and Augie has been starting as many as 8 LH hitters on any given day.  I hope they handle the challenge well and roll into the conference tourney, but it could very well turn into a series win for last place Wheaton.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2007, 08:09:42 PM
Anybody have Carthage scores from today? I am away from phones right now and cannot call the hotline. Nothing posted on the web yet.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 01, 2007, 08:42:04 PM
Carthage swept Aurora, 8-0 and 9-8.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2007, 09:03:49 PM
Quote from: WLCALUM83 on May 01, 2007, 08:42:04 PM
Carthage swept Aurora, 8-0 and 9-8.

SWEET:) 8 in a row... Keep rolling Redmen! They seem to be peaking just in time for the post-season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on May 01, 2007, 11:26:20 PM
North Central beat Benedictine in non conference action today 9-7 for the third time this year. NCC has played well the last couple of games winning 6 of their last 7. Too bad they couldn't have played like this all year they would have had a shot at getting into the tourney. Hopefully its good signs for next year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 02, 2007, 09:18:57 AM
Carthage was down 8-3 in game two heading into the bottom of the seventh, and got six runs to win the game before Aurora could even record one out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2007, 02:48:59 PM
For those in the Milwaukee area... a great chance to catch the Redmen in action.

Carthage's May 8 Concordia (Ill.) Game to be Televised

Carthage College's Tuesday, May 8 home baseball game versus Concordia University (Ill.) will be filmed by Time Warner Sports in Milwaukee, Wis., for later re-broadcast.  Carthage's John Weiser, the "Voice of the Red Men," will be part of the broadcast team for that game.  The broadcast schedule, for the moment, is Thursday, May 10 (7-10 p.m.), Friday, May 11 (2-5 p.m.), Saturday, May 12 (6-9 p.m.) and Sunday, May 13 (3:30-6:30 p.m.).  Other dates for the week of May 14 will added later. 


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 02, 2007, 11:35:27 PM
IWU faces crosstown D1 rival Illinois State Thursday in the annual Horenberger-Bass Classic...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/02/sports/doc46392e47c6123149663347.txt

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/02/sports/doc46392d7a7b571143524868.txt


Horenberger-Bass results:

2006: ISU 8, IWU 2

2005: ISU 7, IWU 6

2004: IWU 9, ISU 5


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2007, 07:58:53 AM
BP thanks for the info. I wish they were filming a conference game, but I'll take it!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 03, 2007, 08:58:12 AM
Should still be a good match-up though. Concordia-Chicago's in the thick of the hunt for a NAthCon post-season tournament berth. 3 teams are fighting for 2 spots. A couple more losses by Concordia-WI and the Cougars will be in.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on May 03, 2007, 11:09:56 AM
5/2 nonconference final
IWU 2 Rockford 1(12 innings)
Wind blowing in a gale and all runs scored in game by both teams were unearned
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2007, 12:24:23 PM
WLCAlum: I'm not saying it won't be a good game, I was just stating that because then those who tune in would get to see one of Carthage's top pitchers, as well as all their starters (Augie will most likely play several back-ups like he has always done in non-conference games)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2007, 12:29:13 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2007, 12:24:23 PM
WLCAlum: I'm not saying it won't be a good game, I was just stating that because then those who tune in would get to see one of Carthage's top pitchers, as well as all their starters (Augie will most likely play several back-ups like he has always done in non-conference games)

I am not sure that this will be a typical non-conference game for Carthage. They are going to be a bubble-team at best for the NCAA bid and they are currently behind Concordia in the Central Region rankings... Augie may turn the dogs loose in this one.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 03, 2007, 01:14:03 PM
REDMAN FAN:  Need to clarify 2 things.

--1  My intent was to speak up in defense of Concordia-Chicago--after all, the telecast will give the first-year NAthCon some positive PR--given the Cougars' good overall record.

--2  The dogfight I referred to was to get into NAthCon's conference tournament. (Just so no one's confused by that part of my earlier post.

Didn't mean to make you think I was arguing with you.

(BTW, do you happen to remember the Carthage/Alma playoff football game a few years back? Little did anyone know at the time that John Weiser was covering a game with a future Gagliardi Award winner--Alma's Josh Brehm. Brehm won the award a couple of seasons later. If memory serves correctly that was the year that Carthage made that deep playoff run with Dante Washington & Co.)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2007, 01:50:43 PM
WLCAlum, I in no way was trying to argue either. BP makes a good point about Carthage's situation though and now that I think about it I agree that both teams will most likely play their top guys, except for their top 3 pitchers.  Also, I absolutely remember the Carthage/Alma playoff game.  Carthage was down the whole game til the end when they came away with a 37-34 victory (i believe that was the score). Carthage lost in the elight 8 to mount union. Game was tied with a few minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Washington fumbled for his first time all season at midfield, and Mount went on to score 3 unanswered touchdowns.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2007, 04:29:41 PM
NCAA Regional Rankings are out:

Central
1. Luther 20-4 23-6
2. Wartburg 21-5 24-8
3. Illinois Wesleyan 22-5 25-9
4. Washington U. 27-7 28-9
5. Augustana 21-9 26-10
6. Edgewood 18-8 22-9

It is painful to not see Carthage and their 20-8 in-region record not in this list. Hopefully things will change this week if Carthage can stay hot and steal a Pool C bid in the event they do not win the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 03, 2007, 09:20:52 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 03, 2007, 07:58:53 AM
BP thanks for the info. I wish they were filming a conference game, but I'll take it!

I wish they were taping it, or DVRing it. Film is such an outdated technology and I don't think the picture is that good either.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 04, 2007, 12:41:26 AM
IWU defeated D1 Illinois State tonight 3-2.  ISU threw their ace...IWU threw their #4, freshman Alex Tosi.  An impressive win for Dennis Martel and the Titans.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/03/sports/doc463aa712361dc777643084.txt
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2007, 09:19:20 AM
As much as this pains me, congrats to IWU for winning and a good showing for the CCIW
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 04, 2007, 01:13:54 PM
My son will be attending Carthage in the fall for football, has always played baseball so i am interested in catching a game if possible.  Can someone tell me if Carthage makes it out of the tournament and into regionals where would they play.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2007, 01:19:53 PM
Quote from: football2007 on May 04, 2007, 01:13:54 PM
My son will be attending Carthage in the fall for football, has always played baseball so i am interested in catching a game if possible.  Can someone tell me if Carthage makes it out of the tournament and into regionals where would they play.

It could be anywhere in the Midwest... most likely at Illinois Welseyan as they may have the inside track on hosting the regional(other sites have included St. Louis, Kenosha, Chicago suburbs and even Mississippi).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2007, 02:31:40 PM
Ah, Mississippi. What was the reward for being ranked second in the country for much of the year...go on a bus and play in a six team regional 1,000 miles away!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2007, 03:29:39 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2007, 02:31:40 PM
Ah, Mississippi. What was the reward for being ranked second in the country for much of the year...go on a bus and play in a six team regional 1,000 miles away!

A slight oversight in the NCAA system...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2007, 04:18:17 PM
BP, how's your team doing? I'm a first year teacher and in my first year of coaching. Team isn't doing so hot right now, but we're extremely young and the future looks very bright. We start 5 freshman and 2 sophomores on varsity!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 04, 2007, 10:26:41 PM
Just another note to add on the Concordia-Chicago/Carthage 5/08 game. Concordia/Chicago clinched a berth in the NAthCon conference tournament today--so both teams are at least conference-playoff bound.

Anything to whet the appetite a bit more. What the heck?  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 05, 2007, 10:54:11 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2007, 04:18:17 PM
BP, how's your team doing? I'm a first year teacher and in my first year of coaching. Team isn't doing so hot right now, but we're extremely young and the future looks very bright. We start 5 freshman and 2 sophomores on varsity!

We are very young... I will have all but one player back next year. We are getting pounded this year, but we are at least competitive in most of the league games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 05, 2007, 12:14:53 PM
Augie beat Wheaton 2-1 on Friday

Eric Knott threw a CG for the Vikings, giving up one run in the 2nd inning.  As I had figured, Matt Price shut down the offense allowing only 2 6th inning runs.

Marc Blakeley went 3-5, Don Hansen 2-4, Jake Meisenbach 2-4 and John Wagle 2-2 to account for all of Augie's hits

Doubleheader today 1:00 at Augie
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 05, 2007, 06:55:56 PM
Carthage sweeps North Park today... 13 straight wins for the Redmen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2007, 09:07:19 PM
Those results clinch the field for the conference tourney; the only unknown is Augie and Elmhurst for 3rd seed.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2007, 09:38:04 PM
Update: IWU swept all three from Elmhurst, so the tourney seeds will be 1. IWU, 2. Carthage, 3. Augie, 4. Elmhurst.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on May 05, 2007, 10:07:26 PM
According to the NCC website, Millikin sweeps NC in todays DH in Naperville.

Millikin won 4-3 in both games as the first game went 8 innings and the second game going 12.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 06, 2007, 12:07:22 PM
Augie Swept Wheaton this weekend
Game 1:  2-1
Game 2:  3-1
Game 3:  3-2

In game 2, the Vikings scored 1 in the 1st and rode Engle's pitching the rest of the way.  The only Wheaton run came on a 9th inning solo HR.

Game 3 saw Wheaton tie the game at 1-1 in the 7th, take a 2-1 lead in the 8th and then give up 2 in the bottom of the 8th.

It was an average weekend offensively for Augie, but 3 strong pitching performances from their top 3 is exactly what they needed heading into the tourney.


Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CCIWin07 on May 06, 2007, 09:26:09 PM
North Central gets swept by Millikin today at North Central.

Didn't look like NCC did much from looking at the box scores.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on May 07, 2007, 12:24:52 PM
Does anyone have a chance to beat IWU this weekend ? If so who has the best chance?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2007, 12:42:35 PM
Quote from: soxfan14 on May 07, 2007, 12:24:52 PM
Does anyone have a chance to beat IWU this weekend ? If so who has the best chance?

Carthage and Augustana both have a chance. The CCIW should be a good tourney this weekend.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 07, 2007, 01:47:20 PM
Kenosha news stated today that Boe Baitinger will DH tomorrow, and hopefully be back in center field for the conference tourney starting Thursday.  He's missed the last five games, and although Carthage has been winning without him, it would be a huge loss not having him come tournament time.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 07, 2007, 01:49:15 PM
Quote from: soxfan14 on May 07, 2007, 12:24:52 PM
Does anyone have a chance to beat IWU this weekend ? If so who has the best chance?

Often times the tournament comes down to who has the deepest pitching staff, particularly your 4-8 guys.  After those first 3 games, its anybody's guess who will win it if the winning team doesn't go undefeated.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2007, 01:55:01 PM
I see Carthage and IWU in the final with the loser getting a Pool C bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on May 07, 2007, 02:35:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2007, 01:55:01 PM
I see Carthage and IWU in the final with the loser getting a Pool C bid.
[/quote

So who are you picking?Let us know if your picking with your heart(REDMAN)or your head]
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 07, 2007, 03:35:54 PM
Well I can't speak for BP, but I gotta pick with my heart. Augie had a quote in the paper today about how terrible they've done in Bloomington over the years, and that hopefully this momentum their gaining can change things around down there. I gotta go with my heart, my pride just won't allow me to choose IWU to take the tourney  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2007, 03:38:52 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 07, 2007, 03:35:54 PM
Well I can't speak for BP, but I gotta pick with my heart. Augie had a quote in the paper today about how terrible they've done in Bloomington over the years, and that hopefully this momentum their gaining can change things around down there. I gotta go with my heart, my pride just won't allow me to choose IWU to take the tourney  ;)

Agreed... I'll take The Carthage Ditkas over the IWU Green Weenies by a score of 73-2!! My heart cannot see it any other way. I never pick with my head... this game is all about heart.

As long as Carthage plays defense, they should be very competitive. They get into trouble when they kick the ball around, which is what happened early in the season. They seem to have it figured out and are back on track right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2007, 12:57:35 AM
Big Poppa,

Gotta agree with you on defense, but (alas for you!) you've got the wrong team.  For the conference season, Carthage had by far the top batting average (.363 vs. 2nd place Augie's .330 - IWU was sixth at .286, behind even Wheaton!), but while they were second in ERA (2.51), IWU was first (1.38 - gotta be a misprint!!), and second in fielding (.960), but IWU was again first (.970).  Carthage had great pitching (3 of the top 7 in ERA), but the Titans had 3 of the top 4!

I'm enough of a CCIW fan that IF IWU was guaranteed a pool C, I'd almost root for someone else to knock them off, but I've seen too many teams get 'screwed' in basketball - I'll be rooting for the Titans to remove all doubt.  But anything can happen in a short tourney - may the best team win (hopefully, legitimately!). ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2007, 09:13:58 AM
Saw Boe Baitinger and David Hermes last night getting in some extre tee work on their own for about an hour while I was teaching a hitting class at Carthage.  Boe will DH today and should be full go come the tourney Thurday. Great news for the Carthage baseball community. BP, BrewCrew are 22-10, who'da thunk it?!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2007, 09:53:25 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2007, 09:13:58 AM

BP, BrewCrew are 22-10, who'da thunk it?!


SHHHHHHHH! I don't want to jinx it. I am actually catching the series @ LAD and @ SD in a few weeks. I can't wait to see the NL MVP, Prince Fielder, in action.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2007, 10:41:45 AM
At least you're out in Cali and don't have to listen to the loveable loser cub fans every day saying it won't last, blah blah blah! :D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 08, 2007, 01:29:44 PM
Any Carthage fan's going down to CCIW tourney?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2007, 02:07:20 PM
Would absolutely love to go and be in that atmosphere with the frat boys on the roof top making for a crazy atmosphere, but can't get off work or coaching. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on May 08, 2007, 02:26:37 PM
New central rankings out

Central
1. Illinois Wesleyan (30-9)
2. Wartburg (26-11)
3. Washington (30-9)
4. Augustana (30-10)
5. Luther (26-9)
6. Carthage (28-11)
7. Edgewood (25-11)
8. Webster (27-12)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on May 08, 2007, 03:01:27 PM
That's the ABCA Poll, rankings don't come out until Thursday.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: soxfan14 on May 08, 2007, 04:17:11 PM
Sorry,my bad
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 08, 2007, 10:18:52 PM
Carthage beat Concordia-Chicago 12-2.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2007, 01:23:37 PM
Nice win for Carthage yesterday. Boe Baitinger returned and had a nice day for the Redmen. This was Carthage's 12th win a row, the school record is 17 in a row. Who knows, hopefully the Redmen continue hitting the ball the way they've been and can somehow get to 17 in a row, which would mean of course playing on into the regionals. Good luck to the four teams competing in the tournament, especially CARTHAGE!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2007, 02:02:13 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2007, 01:23:37 PM
Good luck to the four teams competing in the tournament, especially CARTHAGE!

I only wish luck to the Redmen... my love of D3 baseball is only outweighed by my devotion to Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on May 09, 2007, 04:40:19 PM
North Central will have a new head coach next year. The school did not renew his contract for next year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2007, 04:57:13 PM
Quote from: SouthPaw on May 09, 2007, 04:40:19 PM
North Central will have a new head coach next year. The school did not renew his contract for next year.

Who has the inside track on that position? Any CCIW assistants that would be great head coaches or any local guys who would be a good fit?

Will NPU head coach Luke Johnson go back to his coaching roots at North Central or stay put at North Park? Let's get some names flying around here.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Captain Morgan on May 09, 2007, 05:04:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2007, 04:57:13 PM
Quote from: SouthPaw on May 09, 2007, 04:40:19 PM
North Central will have a new head coach next year. The school did not renew his contract for next year.

Who has the inside track on that position? Any CCIW assistants that would be great head coaches or any local guys who would be a good fit?

Will NPU head coach Luke Johnson go back to his coaching roots at North Central or stay put at North Park? Let's get some names flying around here.

Poppa- Are you going to apply? Sources have you coming back to the Midwest from Cali sometime soon. You have college head coaching experience and are a CCIW guy. It seems to be a natural fit for you.

I heard you got screwed on the Lakeland job two years ago. It looks like they made a mistake as they have fallen apart with their last two guys.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2007, 05:31:18 PM
But could Big Poppa's heart take it when he played Carthage?? ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2007, 07:39:25 PM
Adam Smith, Carthage's 3rd base coach, also got screwed on the Lakeland job over this past summer. He was down to the final two, and Lakeland decided to go with an alum and a former player.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2007, 08:25:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2007, 05:31:18 PM
But could Big Poppa's heart take it when he played Carthage?? ;)

I am NOT a CCIW guy... I am a Carthage guy. There is a BIG difference.

I did apply for the Lakeland job after John Weber left. I wanted to get back to the midwest, but I was told that I was not qualified enough to coach there (I was running my own college program in SoCal at the time so I thought it was a bit odd). I guess they have their reasons.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2007, 10:48:29 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2007, 07:39:25 PM
Adam Smith, Carthage's 3rd base coach, also got screwed on the Lakeland job over this past summer. He was down to the final two, and Lakeland decided to go with an alum and a former player.

I have some great stories about Adam Smith....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2007, 07:50:37 AM
I have some great stories about Adam Smith....
[/quote]

Smitty is a great guy. He's become quite the softball player over the past few summers in Kenosha (Kenosha over a period of time will do that to a person :P)   By the way, did anyone see the Yankee game Monday night?  Matt Desalvo made his MLB debut.  Desalvo was a D-3 guy who played at Marietta college.  Carthage and former hurler Dan Grybash beat him two years in a row down in Florida on both team's spring trip.  He pitched a gem for the Yankees but got a ND.  Its always great to see D-3 guys making it to the show.  I believe Desalvo wasn't even drafted because he started having arm problems his senior year.  Good thing a team took a chance on him, looks like he's going to be around a while after taking a look at his numbers in the minors
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2007, 10:03:28 AM
Nothing makes a man a better softball player than living near Petretti Park in Kenosha. I played the year after I graduated from Carthage... Augie was on the team with me as were Cibby and Domin. It was quite the summer of ball.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2007, 10:12:41 AM
Funny you mention Petretti, I grew up a half block from there, and my parents still live in the same house. Poerio and Lincoln are where most of the games are played now.  I haven't gotten into the whole softball thing yet, just watch several buddies play. But man do these guys take it serious around here!  I can't even imagine Augie playing softball at Petretti, the outfielder in center probably played him near the tennis courts 500 feet deep!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2007, 11:49:07 AM
The CCIW tourney features 2 of the top 5  team ERAs in the nation. Carthage is #4 and IWU is #5.

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings (http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/rankings)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mugsy on May 10, 2007, 01:32:17 PM
Long time follower of CCIW sports (primarily football, secondarily basketball), but first post on the baseball board. 

A couple of weeks ago there was a discussion on the CCIW football board regarding sportsmanship in relation to the 57-1 thumping Bridgewater State put on Newbury College in baseball.

Lots of interesting discussion that I'm prettey sure was covered here.

Anyway... an interesting article on the ESPN website regarding the 57-1 thrashing Bridgewater State put on Newbury College.  It has a positive spin...

]http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=darcy/070509] (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=darcy/070509)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 10, 2007, 03:53:20 PM
Anyone going to be posting updates from Bloomington tonight?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: 79jaybird on May 10, 2007, 04:44:50 PM
"Will NPU coach Luke Johnson go back to his coaching roots at North Central....?"
I would say probably not.  I am a good friend of Luke and he is a GREAT coach.  Luke knows the game inside and out.  I met up with him last week and he is pretty content at North Park, telling me his loved the improvements with the Helwig Center and the Administration's visible committment to improve the Vikings Athletic Teams.
Luke knows the CCIW very well, where he was a record breaking player at Elmhurst, and as Head Coach of both NC and NPU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 10, 2007, 06:58:35 PM
IWU beat Elmhurst 11-0 in the first game of the CCIW tournament.  Here is the link to the schedule/results page for the entire tourny.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2007resultspage.php
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on May 10, 2007, 07:11:28 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2007, 07:50:37 AM
I have some great stories about Adam Smith....

Smitty is a great guy. He's become quite the softball player over the past few summers in Kenosha (Kenosha over a period of time will do that to a person :P)   By the way, did anyone see the Yankee game Monday night?  Matt Desalvo made his MLB debut.  Desalvo was a D-3 guy who played at Marietta college.  Carthage and former hurler Dan Grybash beat him two years in a row down in Florida on both team's spring trip.  He pitched a gem for the Yankees but got a ND.  Its always great to see D-3 guys making it to the show.  I believe Desalvo wasn't even drafted because he started having arm problems his senior year.  Good thing a team took a chance on him, looks like he's going to be around a while after taking a look at his numbers in the minors
[/quote]

DeSalvo had a torn meniscus his first senior year and got a medical waiver to come back. The Yankees signed him before the draft at the end of his 5th year, since he had already been eligible for the draft three times they could do that, I believe is the rule. He's had minor back problems and the meniscus, but I don't know of him ever having arm problems that I recall.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2007, 07:12:12 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 10, 2007, 06:58:35 PM
IWU beat Elmhurst 11-0 in the first game of the CCIW tournament.  Here is the link to the schedule/results page for the entire tourny.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2007resultspage.php


Here is the box score for the IWU-Elmhurst game: http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2007/cciwbb1.htm (http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2007/cciwbb1.htm)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 10, 2007, 08:07:02 PM
Carthage up 3-1 in the 4th...

Updates at the Carthage website
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 10, 2007, 08:36:07 PM
5-1 in the 6th.. Carthage up
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2007, 09:00:25 PM
Carthage now up 8-1 in the 8th...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2007, 09:44:07 PM
Carthage wins, 12-4. Box score: http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325 (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=325)

Husing strikes out 10 in a complete-game victory
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2007, 09:50:54 PM
For those interested in QOWI (in case your team needs pool C!), IWU gets 10, Carthage gets 15, Augie gets 7 (Elmhurst is definitely win-or-go-home-for-the-summer).  For games 3 and 4, IWU would get 14 or 6, Carthage 15 or 7, Augie 11 or 3, and Elmhurst 15 or 7.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2007, 10:03:14 PM
Spence, thanks for the info. I heard an arm problem, guess I was misinformed.  Obviously a huge one tomorrow. Carthage will probably go with Jeff Livek, he's been solid all year. Lets keep the bats going and get in the drivers seat of the tourney tomorrow Redmen!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2007, 10:13:58 PM
Was anyone besides me surprised than IWU went with Aronson today instead of holding him for Carthage (or Augie, if it had worked out that way)?  I mean, the whole staff had a conference ERA of 1.38 - there were other guys they could fully expect to beat Elmhurst.  Or at least take him out after they were up big, or would he still not be available if they make the title game?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2007, 10:33:55 PM
Just checked the box scores for IWU vs. Augie and Carthage.  Aronson WAS the ace vs. Augie (6.1 shutout innings, while Foster gave up 3 earned runs in 7 innings, and Inzinga gave up 5 in only 4 innings).  But maybe Coach Martell 'knew' that they'd face Carthage!  Aronson was actually the LEAST dominant, giving up 2 earned runs in 6 innings (he's only given up ONE other the whole season!), while Inzinga had 7.2 shutout innings, and Foster pitched a complete game shutout.

While Aronson is the one getting the national attention, if you've got a team ERA (CCIW only) of 1.38, you don't have just ONE ace!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 11, 2007, 02:15:03 AM
It was apparent this year that Carthage and IWU were head and shoulders better than the rest of the league.  Augie just didn't have the pitching this year to compete.  Hopefully IWU and Carthage both get bids to the regional to represent the CCIW.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 09:16:56 AM
I've learned when it comes tournament time, you throw your best your first game, and continue on down. Now IWU and Carthage obviously both have what you could call 3 Aces, but if you throw what is considered your 2 or 3 that first game and lose, you are going to second guess yourself all the way to your grave.  All you can worry about is the next game come tournament time. If you think ahead and plan for another game, that's when you get bit in the rear end and get beat, IMO
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 10:42:37 AM
Finally read the paper, here's some of Augie's quotes.

"Jacob Husing pitched great tonight against a really good hitting team.  He tired out in the ninth, and I probably should have taken him out, but he saved me from going to the bullpen.  You don't know what's going to happen (today), we might need that pitching."

"That was a great game. We're at 30 wins again, and that's good.  Our hitters have a much better approach than they had a few weeks ago."  (This is Carthage's sixth straight season with 30+ wins and 15 in the last 20 years under Augie)

"It'll be tough with Illinois Wesleyan.  That's the game you want to win.  We've come out of the loser's bracket to win once or twice, but it's hard.  We have the pitching to get this done, and hopefully we can keep this thing going.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 10:58:13 AM
IWU is playing great baseball and has surprised me this year. Carthage is FINALLY playing Carthage-like baseball. Today's matchup should be great.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 12:14:42 PM
Carthage-IWU just getting ready to kick off. Use the link below to catch updates or call the Carthage sportsline at 262-551-5388.

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=1&CFID=2766205&CFTOKEN=49139961 (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=1&CFID=2766205&CFTOKEN=49139961)

IWU up 1-0 in the first...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 12:37:20 PM
Still 1-0 in the 3rd. Man I'd love to be there
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 01:21:38 PM
2-0 IWU in the sixth.  The websites don't indicate who's pitching - anyone know?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:22:14 PM
2-0 IWU in the 6th. Not a good sign, Carthage just can't hit IWU's pitching. I guess nobody in conference has all year
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:23:22 PM
Ypsi, not positive, but I'm 99% sure Livek is going for Carthage. No clue how Wesleyan is pitching
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:23:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 01:21:38 PM
2-0 IWU in the sixth.  The websites don't indicate who's pitching - anyone know?

Call the Carthage Sportline @ 262-551-5388 and they should have it in the recording.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:26:53 PM
Carthage up 4-2 in the 6th....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 01:28:02 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:23:22 PM
Ypsi, not positive, but I'm 99% sure Livek is going for Carthage. No clue how Wesleyan is pitching

From the score, it's pretty obvious HOW they're pitching - just don't know WHO it is!

Sorry 'bout that! ;) ;D

UPDATE: Just saw Big Poppa's post - change that to how they WERE pitching! :(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:31:06 PM
Finally some life for the Redmen! And oops, I meant who they're pitching  :P  I have another class coming in at 1:05, I'm going to miss the end of the game!  >:(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:32:35 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:31:06 PM
Finally some life for the Redmen! And oops, I meant who they're pitching  :P  I have another class coming in at 1:05, I'm going to miss the end of the game!  >:(

I gave students a work day to get ready for a test so I can keep up on the game...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:33:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:26:53 PM
Carthage up 4-2 in the 6th....


It's now 8-2 in the 7th according to the website....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:48:08 PM
BP, I teach P.E. and we're in our tennis unit outside. I didn't plan this very well!! 8-2 in the 7th, lets keep our fingers crossed they don't blow it
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 01:50:13 PM
Just called the hotline for the first time, it is Livek pitching for Carthage, and he is heading back out for the bottom of the 7th. Anyone find out who IWU threw?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:55:30 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:33:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:26:53 PM
Carthage up 4-2 in the 6th....


It's now 8-2 in the 7th according to the website....


8-3 now.....in the 7th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 02:02:28 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:55:30 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:33:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:26:53 PM
Carthage up 4-2 in the 6th....


It's now 8-2 in the 7th according to the website....


8-3 now.....in the 7th



9-3 in the 8th....
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 02:08:24 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 02:02:28 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:55:30 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2007, 01:33:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 01:26:53 PM
Carthage up 4-2 in the 6th....


It's now 8-2 in the 7th according to the website....


8-3 now.....in the 7th



9-3 in the 8th....


10-3 in the 9th.....more insurance.......3 outs to get!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 02:23:14 PM
Carthage wins 10-3...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 11, 2007, 02:26:14 PM
Thanks for the updates, my son will be a freshman football player at carthage but we love baseball.  Can someone explain what happens next.  Looks like if they win next game they go to regionals, or they play 2 and have to win second game.  do they have the pitching to make it all the way if it takes 2 more games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 02:29:29 PM
Quote from: football2007 on May 11, 2007, 02:26:14 PM
Thanks for the updates, my son will be a freshman football player at carthage but we love baseball.  Can someone explain what happens next.  Looks like if they win next game they go to regionals, or they play 2 and have to win second game.  do they have the pitching to make it all the way if it takes 2 more games.

By winning today, it assures Carthage of playing one less game than everyone else so they should have a deeper pitching rotation tomorrow. They need to win one of two tomorrow to earn the automatic bid.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 11, 2007, 02:36:47 PM
thank you
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 02:57:36 PM
Nice job Redmen. Here's the link to the article on the Carthage website:
http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=1&CFID=35325&CFTOKEN=20025912
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 03:00:50 PM
Carthage has now won 14 straight games since being swept by IWU three weeks ago. It looks like that was a wake up call for Carthage.

It is looking much better for a Pool C bid (if needed) for Carthage.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 03:02:56 PM
Carthage just 3 wins away now from tying the school record for most wins in a row.  I am definitely hoping for an Augustana win over IWU tonight (assuming Augie beats Elmhurst)  Not slighting Augustana at all, I just feel they don't have the pitching IWU does
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 03:05:44 PM
Either way, someone (Augie/IWU) will have to throw their #4 at Carthage's #3 and completely rested bullpen as they have not pitched at all yet. Then come back with another win in the second game. Tough to do, but not unheard of.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 03:18:10 PM
Your point is definitely a valid one, but there's just something about IWU that makes me uneasy. I'd feel a lot more confident going into tomorrow if our beloved Redmen were playing Augustana rather than IWU. Obviously its baseball and anything can happen, but I'm sure any Carthage fan who's been around the program the last few years would agree
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 03:32:31 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 03:18:10 PM
Your point is definitely a valid one, but there's just something about IWU that makes me uneasy. I'd feel a lot more confident going into tomorrow if our beloved Redmen were playing Augustana rather than IWU. Obviously its baseball and anything can happen, but I'm sure any Carthage fan who's been around the program the last few years would agree

I want to face Augustana simply because I hate the Green Weenies. It pains me to see them win ANY games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 04:30:51 PM
Congratulations to Carthage!  But a tip of the cap to Jesse Foster - he shutout the RedMen for 14 straight innings, but probably no one can shut down those hitters forever!  (Still, I can't help wondering what would have happened if Aronson had been saved 'til today.)

BigPoppa, I've been rooting right along for Carthage to make the tourney.  Lay off my Titans and be a gracious winner or I may reconsider! :o
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2007, 04:37:06 PM
There's just something about those IWU coaches that irks us carthage people. I can't speak for all sports, but Martel and Norm Eash...probably Carthage athletes' most disliked coaches. Obviously we don't know the coaches personally, but what we've seen and heard, not our favorite people. How do IWU fans and alum feel about their coaches?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 11, 2007, 04:55:06 PM
I'm with you on the Martel thing.  I know for a fact some things he's said about and done to players he recruited but decided to attend different schools.  Not very professional. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 05:21:18 PM


Ypsi- sorry if I offended you, but it it something you would not understand. IWU is like the Yankees/Cowboys/Lakers... you either love them or hate them. It is a black and white issue and there is no gray area at all (but I like you).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2007, 05:31:25 PM
Quoting head Coach Augie Schmidt after the Carthage game:

"We waited all year for these kids to step up, bear down and concentrate, and here we are with a 14-game winning streak heading into the title game.  It feels like we're getting better, and that's a great feeling.  Illinois Wesleyan had their weekend a few weeks ago when they swept us, and maybe this is our weekend."
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 05:58:31 PM
I graduated from IWU in 1970, so all the coaches I knew (except AD Dennie Bridges) are long gone - I don't know any of the current coaches personally (but have heard lots of grousing about Eash on the football board). 

But comparing us to the Yankees/Cowboys/Lakers - that hurt! >:(  I was a Yankee fan in the '50s (Mantle, Ford, Berra, et.al., and of course Casey), but I outgrew it.  I was a Cowboy fan for about 2 weeks when they gave the Titan's Steve Laub a tryout, but once he was cut I could go back to a healthy hatred!  The Lakers were more complex: I was a huge Jabbar and Magic fan, but it got rough once the Pistons finally got good enough to tangle with them when it counted.  But I can't stand Kobe, so things are easier now. ;D

I wasn't offended - I've put up with far worse on the basketball and football boards!  To a degree, it is the price of success (nobody hates the Royals/Lions/Raptors - except maybe their own fans!); if it is a reflection of arrogance or other bad behavior, I decry it.  But how many more years 'til the football team can start getting a little sympathy! ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 07:37:32 PM
In a classic pitchers' duel, Augie edged Elmhurst 16-14. :o

The Augie-IWU game should be well underway by now, but I can't find anything on the conference or IWU websites (and the Augie site doesn't even have the Elmhurst game posted yet).  Anyone got any news?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 11, 2007, 08:16:34 PM
I'm guessing Augustana decided to run the ball when it went for two. :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 11, 2007, 09:52:26 PM
I'm guessing that Augustana figured out that they were in a win the conference tourny or go home scenario and threw a freshman against Elmhurst which led to a 16-14 win. 

Augie beat IWU 7-2 to advance to the championship round.  I'm guessing they threw Engle this game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 10:00:14 PM
I don't know about the Elmhurst game, but you're right about the game against IWU - Engle went the whole way.

Well, BigPoppa, you got your wish.  I'm just hoping the Titans are safe for the pool C (I'm pretty confident).  I've got them at a QOWI of 9.757, and 5-3 against regionally-ranked teams (Augie and Carthage - did I miss any?).  That certainly ought to do it.

EDIT: Make that 5-4 against RR teams - I forgot their loss to WashU.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 11, 2007, 10:07:25 PM
Augie will have a tough time matching Carthage's pitching tomorrow, but hopefully their bats can stay hot and give them a chance. 

What do you all think about the new at-large scenario with Augie knocking off IWU.  This leaves the season series between the two at 2-2 with a huge late season win going to Augie.  It seems like one win tomorrow is all the Vikings need to pull off an at-large, but by looking at last year, you cant do anything but shoot for winning the whole thing.

I would expect a great game tomorrow. The Viking offense has been very strong and aggresive all year and really have to plan on carrying the load from here on out
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2007, 10:11:58 PM
augie28,

I don't think the loser tomorrow is TOTALLY out of the running (Augie has so far picked up 33 QOWI points in 3 games and Carthage has 30 in 2 games), but either would still be behind IWU on most if not all the primary criteria.  And I just can't see the CCIW getting three bids, however deserving the teams.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 11, 2007, 11:42:13 PM
I think if it was Augie vs. IWU in the championship Augie would have a chance at a pool C over Carthage.  However, I think IWU is a lock for a pool C the way they basically walked through the conference regular season, and I agree that the CCIW will not get 3 teams in.  I think it's win or go home for both Carthage and Augie tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2007, 12:31:38 AM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 11, 2007, 11:42:13 PM
I think if it was Augie vs. IWU in the championship Augie would have a chance at a pool C over Carthage.  However, I think IWU is a lock for a pool C the way they basically walked through the conference regular season, and I agree that the CCIW will not get 3 teams in.  I think it's win or go home for both Carthage and Augie tomorrow.

IF Augie can force a second game Saturday, their pool C chances are remote but not impossible.  They would finish 28-11 in-region (72%), 4-6 vs. IWU and Carthage (did they play any other regionally ranked teams?), and a QOWI of 9.5.  Those are solidly bubble credentials.  But I think the killer is that they would be behind IWU on all three criteria, and the chances of the CCIW getting three teams is probably extremely remote.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 12, 2007, 04:21:12 AM
That is my reasoning that either Carthage or Augie will be eliminated from regional contention tomorrow.  Both would be behind IWU (who has pretty much locked up a bid) should they not win the tournament.  The CCIW was just not strong enough this year to warrant 3 teams in the NCAA tournament, so either Carthage or Augie is out tomorrow in my opinion.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 01:46:35 PM
Carthage up 2-0 heading to the third
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 01:52:10 PM
Augie said in the paper the key to them finally putting up some runs was the hitters did a great job in the sixth inning of going the other way against foster. They kept trying to pull him, and he ate them up for 14 straight innings. He also mentioned that he probably should have pulled Livek, as he should've with Husing, but the senior wanted to stay in and refused to come out. Once Livek hit 80 pitches, Augie said he actually got stronger.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 12, 2007, 02:50:55 PM
per the carthage sports line augie leading carthage 3-2 bottom of the 5th.  Come on Carthage!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 12, 2007, 03:26:53 PM
Top of the 9th carthage batting tie game 3-3
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 03:55:16 PM
In extras, still 3-3. Dave Hermes hit a solo shot in the 8th to tie it up. Carthage left runners at the corners in the 9th.  Krepline came out after the 8th, not sure yet who the Redmen are throwing now
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 03:58:37 PM
5-3 Carthage up in the tenth!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 04:00:40 PM
Carthage wins, Corey Richardson is the winning pitcher for Carthage. Congrats to the Redmen. Fifteen in a row, lets keep it going boys!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2007, 04:04:38 PM
Congratulations to Carthage!

I suspect the Titans and RedMen may meet again in the regionals.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2007, 05:07:23 PM
Here's the link on today's game:

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/index.cfm?page=1&CFID=917744&CFTOKEN=71601734
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 13, 2007, 03:53:38 AM
Was down at IWU... Augie played tough today, but it was a Carthage day, and it was wonderful... Just asking around.... will carthage be back in bloomington, or maybe in rockford this up-coming week???? or somewhere else????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 13, 2007, 04:26:32 AM
I would guess that the regional will be in Bloomington.  .
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Redmen96 on May 13, 2007, 12:05:28 PM
ScrappyMcTavish
Guest


   Re: CCIW
« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2006, 04:02:45 pm »   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I played, the DONS and SIGS would throw tailgate parties just behind the fence in left-center... I am sure that they still do. Our dads always seemed to wander out that way between games to have a few beers with the college guys and scope out the young ladies. Probably not much different than today.




I just started looking at  the baseball board.  I played football at Carthage and I was one of the Sigs with the keg.  At that time it was dry residence halls  we looked it up.  President Campbell actually stopped for a beer and a brat a few times.  Bob Bonn was furious but what are you gonna do.  I was there when Shorty was there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 03:32:28 AM
Well, glory be!  Carthage AND Augie are coming right back to Bloomington again!

I didn't check all the way back, but over the last 20 years, only 6 times had the CCIW gotten two teams in - three is a first! :)

I hope we won't be such gracious hosts this time! :P
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 09:22:07 AM
Well, there's a 50% chance a CCIW team makes it to the series this year, lets all hope its carthage  :P
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 12:02:52 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 09:22:07 AM
Well, there's a 50% chance a CCIW team makes it to the series this year, lets all hope its carthage  :P

With due respect, not ALL of us will hope it is Carthage! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 12:58:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 12:02:52 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 09:22:07 AM
Well, there's a 50% chance a CCIW team makes it to the series this year, lets all hope its carthage  :P

With due respect, not ALL of us will hope it is Carthage! ;D

You are correct... not ALL wish it is Carthage, but the educated ones do:)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 01:17:26 PM
BP, you're always great at getting info. about other teams. Have you found anything out about the 3 non-cciw schools in the regional besides their records?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 14, 2007, 01:27:07 PM
One of the great things about tournament baseball is all of the strategic pitching decisions faced by the manager.  In the CCIW tourney, Dennis Martel threw ace Matt Aronson in Game #1 vs Elmhurst.   In Game #2, Jesse Foster got beat by Carthage and then Robert Izzinga got beat by Augie.

In the regional, Martel (and every coach) is faced with the same dilemma.  Do you try to beat Webster with Foster and save Arronson for the second game?  Or do you just play in one game at a time and trot Aronson out in the opener?

Tough call.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 01:31:26 PM
I think you throw the best available everyday. Everyone in the tourney is a good team and I think everyone will go with their #1 on the first day. I am not sure you want to gamble at this stage.

IWU made the right choice throwing their #1 against Elmhurst. If they lose with their #2 or #3 guy in the opener, can you imagine the fall-out?!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 01:31:46 PM
I believe you throw your top guy your first game, and keep going right down the list.  If you save pitching because you're looking ahead to another game, that's when you get beat. Any other thoughts? This is a great topic to discuss
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 14, 2007, 01:32:51 PM
Because the penalty of falling into the loser's bracket is so severe, I think you have to open with your ace and play it one game at a time.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 01:34:31 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 14, 2007, 01:32:51 PM
Because the penalty of falling into the loser's bracket is so severe, I think you have to open with your ace and play it one game at a time.

Especially in a 6/7 team regional. The old days of 4 team regionals are gone.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 01:40:04 PM
Any Carthage faithful going to try to make it to any games in Bloomington?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 01:40:26 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 12:58:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 12:02:52 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 09:22:07 AM
Well, there's a 50% chance a CCIW team makes it to the series this year, lets all hope its carthage  :P

With due respect, not ALL of us will hope it is Carthage! ;D

You are correct... not ALL wish it is Carthage, but the educated ones do:)

Education counts only if it is remembered.  I have chosen to remember the conference season (especially April 20, 21, and 28!); April 29 and May 11 have been deleted from my memory banks! ;D

I was feeling rather outnumbered here - thanks for joining in, Q!

Has the schedule for the regional been posted anywhere yet?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 01:51:20 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 01:40:04 PM
Any Carthage faithful going to try to make it to any games in Bloomington?

I was secretly hoping Carthage got moved to the West regional so I could catch a game or two... SoCal to Bloomington is a bit far for me.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 02:00:23 PM
To (partially) answer my previous question, the IWU site confirms what I assumed: it all starts Wednesday with 1. Luther v 6. Augie, 2. IWU v 5. Webster, and 3. Carthage v. 4. WashU (in that order? and the higher seed as home team?).  While I've got down the later pairings for a 4-team tourney, I'm unclear on who plays whom in later rounds of a 6-teamer.

The IWU site says it will have the full schedule 'later', but enquiring minds want to know NOW!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: diehardfan on May 14, 2007, 02:01:56 PM
Now that the conference season is officially over, I just wanted to send my gratitude and thanks to the players on the Wheaton team who keep fighting each game every year and never give up. It takes more character to perservere when the odds are stacked against you, than when things are going well and easily... a LOT more. If I ever come into a lot of money, donating a lot of money for Wheaton to buy a few neighborhoods around campus and build a real stadium will be one of my top priorities. ;)

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 01:51:20 PM
I was secretly hoping Carthage got moved to the West regional so I could catch a game or two... SoCal to Bloomington is a bit far for me.
Me too! And I love that there's someone out here in So Cal that also hopes that the NCAA conspires to revolve around their personal DIII wishes. ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 02:06:26 PM
The Carthage website has them playing Wednesday at 3:00, but their next game as TBA
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 14, 2007, 02:13:51 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 02:00:23 PM
To (partially) answer my previous question, the IWU site confirms what I assumed: it all starts Wednesday with 1. Luther v 6. Augie, 2. IWU v 5. Webster, and 3. Carthage v. 4. WashU (in that order? and the higher seed as home team?).  While I've got down the later pairings for a 4-team tourney, I'm unclear on who plays whom in later rounds of a 6-teamer.

The IWU site says it will have the full schedule 'later', but enquiring minds want to know NOW!

I believe Game 2 and 3 winners play each other, while Game 1 winner plays Game 3 loser.

Game 1 and 2 losers play each other.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 14, 2007, 02:36:59 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2007, 02:00:23 PM
To (partially) answer my previous question, the IWU site confirms what I assumed: it all starts Wednesday with 1. Luther v 6. Augie, 2. IWU v 5. Webster, and 3. Carthage v. 4. WashU (in that order? and the higher seed as home team?).  While I've got down the later pairings for a 4-team tourney, I'm unclear on who plays whom in later rounds of a 6-teamer.

The IWU site says it will have the full schedule 'later', but enquiring minds want to know NOW!

http://www2.iwu.edu/menssports/baseball/07_ncaaregsked.shtml
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2007, 03:58:31 PM
WEDNESDAY,
MAY 16    TIME    GAME (click on game for box score)
Game 1    12 p.m.    No. 1 seed Luther (29-9) vs, No. 6 seed Augustana (32-12)
Game 3    3 p.m.    No. 3 seed Carthage (32-11) vs. No. 4 seed Washington U. (30-9)
Game 2    6 p.m.    No. 2 seed Illinois Wesleyan (32-11) vs. No. 5 seed Webster (30-12)
THURSDAY,
MAY 17       
Game 4    12 p.m.    Loser Game 1 vs.Loser Game 2
Game 5    3 p.m.    Winner Game 1 vs.Loser Game 3
Game 6    6 p.m.    Winner Game 2 vs.Winner Game 3



How is game #3 played before Game #2??  Is that a typo??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 14, 2007, 04:29:43 PM
That's not the only bracket like that. Seems intentional.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 04:33:58 PM
Wesleyan's the host, maybe they just did that way so they could get more fans at the game. Who knows
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 04:55:57 PM
Usually the host gets to set the first day's bracket. The NCAA wants fans there and the host school is most likely to draw them with a later game. Travelling fans will be there regardless of the time.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2007, 07:07:21 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 14, 2007, 01:17:26 PM
BP, you're always great at getting info. about other teams. Have you found anything out about the 3 non-cciw schools in the regional besides their records?

Just looking at the region, I have always evaluated offense vs pitching by comparing team average to opponent's average. You can give up a few more runs if you hit a ton. It is not a perfect system, but it one that I like to use... teams are ranked based on the difference between the two. Here is how it looks:

Team AVG/Opp AVG/ Difference

1. Carthage  .354/.227/ .127
2. Wash U .337/.246/ .091
3. IWU .305/.234/ .071
    Webster .344/.273/ .071
5. Luther .333/.273/ .060
6. Augie .344/.285/ .057

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 15, 2007, 04:35:30 AM
From watching Augie this past weekend, I could see them winning the opener. Could the CCIW have all 3 teams win this week in the 1st round? WHO HAS THE EASIEST RIDE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND? And    is this regional set up for a CCIW team to win it?? And anyone from Wesleyan, are the Titans ready for this up-coming week, cause I know that Carthage will bring some fans down on Thursday and this weekened??? Carthage is focused and ready to go.... They are ready to win this regional... From a fans point, does anyone see it this way???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2007, 07:52:33 AM
Quote from: RedMan1 on May 15, 2007, 04:35:30 AM
From watching Augie this past weekend, I could see them winning the opener. Could the CCIW have all 3 teams win this week in the 1st round? WHO HAS THE EASIEST RIDE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND? And    is this regional set up for a CCIW team to win it?? And anyone from Wesleyan, are the Titans ready for this up-coming week, cause I know that Carthage will bring some fans down on Thursday and this weekened??? Carthage is focused and ready to go.... They are ready to win this regional... From a fans point, does anyone see it this way???

Too many questions for me to answer this early in the morning! ;D  I don't know enough about the teams to say who has the easiest road, but these are 6 quality teams so I wouldn't expect any team to have a walk in the park. I imagine IWU will have the most fans, so yes I'm sure their fans are ready, as their team should be after finishing third last weekend.

BP: thanks for getting that info
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 15, 2007, 11:23:02 AM
I know that Augie got a decent draw.  If they can get by Luther in the first round, they would then play the loser of Webster/Carthage in the second round (which I'm assuming and hoping will be Webster).  However, this is the NCAA tournament, all 6 teams are good teams and anyone can beat anyone on a given day.  The first two rounds will be huge though because it would be tough to come through the loser's bracket in this tournament.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2007, 12:02:45 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 15, 2007, 11:23:02 AM
I know that Augie got a decent draw.  If they can get by Luther in the first round, they would then play the loser of Webster/Carthage in the second round (which I'm assuming and hoping will be Webster).  However, this is the NCAA tournament, all 6 teams are good teams and anyone can beat anyone on a given day.  The first two rounds will be huge though because it would be tough to come through the loser's bracket in this tournament.

I think Augie got a great draw. I am not sure that Luther is a typical #1 seed and thought they desreved it, but were not as strong as some of the other teams in the Central. Augie has a great chance to be 2-0 and facing the Carthage/IWU(hopefully) winner for the right to go to the final. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 15, 2007, 12:42:36 PM
Augie would actually play the loser of Carthage/Wash U. in the 2nd round, not Webster.  That is a little tougher of a matchup, but still a good draw.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2007, 01:07:23 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 15, 2007, 12:42:36 PM
Augie would actually play the loser of Carthage/Wash U. in the 2nd round, not Webster.  That is a little tougher of a matchup, but still a good draw.


Agreed.  And, although you covered yourself with the word "would", don't count any chickens prior to them hatching!!  ;D

Go Red Men.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 15, 2007, 02:31:40 PM
In no way am I assuming that Augie is going to beat Luther.  I was just correcting my previous statement.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2007, 03:49:20 PM
Looking at the Central Region bracket it appears that the NCAA did its best to avoid pitting CCIW teams head-to-head in round 1.

Does this happen in other regions as well... I would guess they do their best to set it up that way like they do in March Madness.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2007, 06:21:06 PM
In both basketball and football they specifically do not match conference foes against each other in round one, so I'd assume the same holds for baseball.  In basketball this year they had to reschedule a first round game because the selection committee 'didn't know' two teams were both ASC (really gives you faith in them, eh?).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2007, 06:39:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2007, 06:21:06 PM
In both basketball and football they specifically do not match conference foes against each other in round one, so I'd assume the same holds for baseball.  In basketball this year they had to reschedule a first round game because the selection committee 'didn't know' two teams were both ASC (really gives you faith in them, eh?).

That makes it tough to assign accurate seeds when three of the teams cannot play each other. I thought WashU  should have been a #2 seed, but based on CCIW teams needing to avoid each other, the #4 (or #3 for that matter... no difference in a 6 teamer) makes sense.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 08:04:54 AM
Just wanted to say Good Luck to the Red Men!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 16, 2007, 08:50:13 AM
Jesse Foster gets the ball today for the Titans...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/05/16/sports/doc464a9560c917a835622884.txt
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 09:18:04 AM
Found out lastnight that Carthage's game now got moved to 6:00, and IWU plays at 3.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 10:22:20 AM
does that mean IWU is saving their top pitcher for hopefully the carthage game?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 10:52:31 AM
Just read the kenosha news. The article primarily talked about how Carthage is going to rely on their pitching and defense, and primarily talked about the play of Husing, Livek, and Krepline. I can't remember exact stats, but I think these are pretty close: Husing: 7-3, 2.59 ERA. Livek: 7-1, 1. 92 ERA, Krepline: 6-1, 2.59 ERA. Again, these may not be exact, but I'm positive they are close and might be right on. Essentially, the article stated that Carthage knew they had their ace in Jacob Husing before the season started and that he was something special. Now, they have 3 aces. Augie stated in the article they're not sure who's getting the nod tonight. They may change it up, or go with Husing like they have in the first game like they've done all year. He went on to say it doesn't really matter who they start, if you look at the stats they're pretty much identical.  I thought for sure Husing would get the nod tonight, now who knows!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 11:15:17 AM
Is the tournament schedule on a web site somewhere.  What happens after regionals?  Does each regional winner advance to a ?? sectional??
thanks
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 12:22:57 PM
Football2007: There are 8 regionals. The winner of each advances to the World Series, which is May 25-29 and held in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. Just go to D3Baseball.com for a complete regional schedule
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 16, 2007, 01:20:35 PM
Wow, IWU not going with their ace in the first game.  Interesting.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 16, 2007, 01:30:07 PM
Any way to get updates during the games today?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 01:41:52 PM
Updates can be found here:

http://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/07/scoreboard.php?region

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 16, 2007, 01:56:40 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 02:07:04 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 16, 2007, 01:20:35 PM
Wow, IWU not going with their ace in the first game.  Interesting.

Martel will either look like a master mind or an idiot. We'll know in 4 or 5 hours
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 02:32:37 PM
Since Foster ranked #2 in the CCIW in ERA (1.59), and shutout powerful Carthage for 14 straight innings before they finally solved him, it's not exactly like Martel is going with 'chopped liver'!  Personally, I like the strategy (and wish they had done the same in the conference tourney).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 02:54:37 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 16, 2007, 01:56:40 PM
Thanks.


Augie up 1-0, batting in the top of the 7th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 03:06:49 PM
Bottom of 7th Augie and Luther tied at 1-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 03:08:32 PM
Augie has lefty warming up in bull pen
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 03:09:08 PM
Luther now 3-1 lead
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 03:10:40 PM
I found audio on the web, is there a live broadcast to watch somewhere on the web
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 16, 2007, 03:20:50 PM
audio for the game is on www.luther.edu or KWLC radio

Engle went 6 2/3 innings throwing 144 pitches for Augie.  Now they have a little work left to do...down 3-1, 1 out, top 8th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on May 16, 2007, 03:21:42 PM
Against Webster, I'd be tempted to not use my ace too. When's the last time a team from that conference won a non-elimination game?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 16, 2007, 03:37:47 PM
Luther beats Augie 3-1

Augie used Brandon Engle for 6 2/3 and Jon Carlson for 1 1/3.  I would expect to see Eric Knott in their second game.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 04:53:49 PM
Top of 3rd:

Webster 3
IWU 0
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 05:08:31 PM
The Titans only managed one hit in the first two innings, but got 4 hits and 4 runs in the bottom of the third - IWU up on Webster, 4-3.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 05:16:54 PM
Anyone else lose the JBC2 feed?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 05:24:30 PM
I am secretly cheering for IWU since Augie lost this morning. We need to keep the CCIW strong in this field if we want 2-3 teams each year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 05:48:31 PM
The feed is fine for me.  Tie game 5-5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 05:52:29 PM
IWU 6-5 lead 2 outs runner on 3rd
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 06:00:42 PM
Cool. I got back in. Appreciate it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 06:03:07 PM
BP I never thought I'd see you type those words!  :P  But I know what you're saying, I'm debating whether I agree with you or not
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 06:05:37 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 06:03:07 PM
BP I never thought I'd see you type those words!  :P  But I know what you're saying, I'm debating whether I agree with you or not

I know... don't tell! I would lose all credibility on this board if they found out I was cheering for IWU right now.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:11:33 PM
tie game again 6-6 new pitcher for webster coming in-Muller lefty
IWU warming up new pitcher
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 06:18:00 PM
6-6 after seven.

BP, I won't say anything if you don't blab that I'll be rooting for Carthage!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:26:52 PM
IWU up 7-6
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:28:21 PM
Sorry Webster up 7-6 site was wrong
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 06:28:40 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 06:18:00 PM

BP, I won't say anything if you don't blab that I'll be rooting for Carthage!

Your secret is safe with me.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:33:28 PM
Webster now leads 10-6 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:34:25 PM
webster 11-6 in the 8th.
Did IWU make a wrong decision on pitching???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 06:35:43 PM
Will the Carthage game be on the radio tonight?? Webster sent 9 to the plate in the 8th. 11-6 Webster
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:41:19 PM
Yes Carthage game live audio next starting between 6 and 7
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2007, 06:43:26 PM
Now that I'm seeing the score, I actually in some sort of weird way want to see Wesleyan as well. Come on CCIW! I have class 6-8, THIS SUCKS!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 06:49:53 PM
Well it's all up to Carthage now.  No Pressure!!! who is pitching for the Red Men
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 06:55:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 05:24:30 PM
I am secretly cheering for IWU since Augie lost this morning. We need to keep the CCIW strong in this field if we want 2-3 teams each year.


Turn in your feather right now Mr!!

You don't start cheering for the rest of the conference til your team is knocked out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on May 16, 2007, 07:34:23 PM
IWU lost that game due to poor defense and lack of offensive execution.  And Webster played very well -- they had a bunch of timely hits late and really forced the issue with aggressive baserunning.

Clearly IWU gambled and lost by not throwing their ace, but still, the Titans had a one-run lead after 6 and plenty of opportunities to pull away.  I'm OK with the pitching decision but not with the way the Titans played today.

It's a long road back now but they'll have Matt Aronson on the mound tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 07:52:31 PM
For those wishing to plan tomorrow's entertainment:

12: #6 Augie vs. #2 IWU in a knockout game
3:  #1 Luther vs. #3 Carthage/#4 WashU loser
6:  #5 Webster vs. Carthage/WashU winner

Point of clarification: is the home team determined by the original seed?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 07:53:42 PM
I believe Husing is on the mound. I'm sure they will stay with the same rotation they have had all year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 08:08:42 PM
I can't believe that Carthage isn't doing a live broadcast of this tournament.  I'm not getting it on WRJN either.

Anyone have a live link??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 08:15:00 PM
Has the game started yet.  No information any where.  Maybe it was delayed.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 08:21:17 PM
Carthage up 2-0, with Wash U batting in the top of the 3rd.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 08:23:08 PM
Why no live feed?????
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 08:36:19 PM
Quote from: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 08:23:08 PM
Why no live feed?????


Assume that no one from Carthage or Wash U sent people to do one.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 08:45:36 PM
According to the d3baseball scoreboard, Carthage has 2 runs, but no hits and no WashU errors!  Is there an error on the scoreboard, or does anyone have the story - surely the WashU pitcher didn't issue 5 straight walks!?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 08:48:14 PM
No. I only have runs data, no hits or errors. I figured posting what I knew was better than nothing.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 08:50:55 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 08:48:14 PM
No. I only have runs data, no hits or errors. I figured posting what I knew was better than nothing.

Gotcha - and thanks for that much!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 08:53:13 PM
2-2 now in the top of the 5th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 09:02:45 PM
I think we're pulling from the same source -- the score box on the Carthage athletics front.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 09:09:33 PM
I was actually using your updates page...I know you've been pimping it all day long!! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:14:45 PM
3-2 Carthage in the 6th.... On the sports hotline it said Carthage's first run was an RBI single by (Spelling) Heegaman. And Baitinger was walked in with the bases loaded. Don't know how they got their 3rd run though
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:16:39 PM
Also, I think its pretty sad that there is no radio feed from both if not one school.. I know the "Voice" would probably have loved to be down there calling the game right now..

Me and a couple of buddies are going down to the games tomorrow. Any Carthage fans plan on making the trip?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:27:42 PM
3-2 7th, Tyler Yapp singled, went to 2nd on a throwing error, then 3rd on a wild pitch, and scored on an in-field ground ball
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 09:30:09 PM
Carthage's SID is also scoring this game and hasn't been able to get back to me.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2007, 09:33:47 PM
The IWU site now has a box score up.  The Titans got to Malat (presumably the Gorlok ace) early: 7 hits, 5 runs, in 3.1 innings.  Alas, their bullpen came through very well: Driskill and Mueller combined for 5.2 innings of 4 hit, 2 run (only 1 earned) ball.  Foster gave up 5 runs in 4 innings; Tosi (who had been, statistically at least, the best reliever) shut 'em down for 2 innings, but then gave up 3 runs (2 earned), and Myer went the final 1.1 innings, giving up 3 more runs.  

Where, or where, is that 1.38 TEAM ERA from the CCIW season??!!  The last three games, EVERYONE has been hit hard!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 09:41:32 PM
4-3 Wash U in the 8th.  6 more outs to tie it up!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:41:46 PM
4-3 Wash U in the 8th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 09:44:59 PM
Do we know if they scored in the seventh or eighth?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:45:40 PM
I'm guessing in the 8th
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 16, 2007, 09:50:31 PM
Yeah, eighth on the carthage hotline.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 09:56:05 PM
5-4 Carthage!!! 8th still
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 10:06:08 PM
Clutch, 2 out, 2 run single by Rucks in the 8th to take the lead.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 16, 2007, 10:13:00 PM
Carthage WINS 5-4 ..... Jacob Husing Complete Game
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 16, 2007, 10:14:19 PM
Wow great job Red Men.  Keep it going, now work on the audio feed so we can enjoy the games from chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2007, 10:14:36 PM
Way to go Big Red!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2007, 10:25:11 PM
16 STRAIGHT!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 17, 2007, 03:52:21 AM
Even though Carthage won, I'd have to say that the CCIW had a very disappointing day.  I really thought that all 3 CCIW teams would win today.  Augie I was kind of up in the air about, but IWU was a real disappointment.  Hopefully Augie can beat IWU tomorrow and make a run to meet up with Carthage in the championship (hopefully they get there).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2007, 09:22:15 AM
I tell ya guys what, sitting in a two hour class with and not being able to get updates is he**!!  That class seemed like an eternity.  Keep it going Redmen
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2007, 10:00:25 AM
Couple things Augie mentioned in the paper today: He stated he was disappointed that both IWU and Augustana lost because he thinks very highly of the CCIW.  He also said that other than a few bad pitches, Jacob through pretty well most of the game.  He gave Wash U. a lot of credit, stating their a good ball club, and they came after us hard.  Lastly, Augs said it wasn't pretty, but the last thing you want to do is be in the loser's bracket after the first day
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2007, 12:26:13 PM
IWU/Augie is going to be a battle today as they have already squared off 4 times and split it at 2-2. It is shocking, to me, that both lost yesterday. I know that Augie was a #6 seed, but I truly thought they were going to beat Luther. IWU gambled a bit with their pitching, but it did not appaer to be a factor as they had a lead and lost it in the bullpen.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 17, 2007, 01:20:50 PM
We have Scoreboard support from the Central today -- lookin' good so far.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 17, 2007, 01:25:25 PM
Augie up 2-0 after 1 1/2.  Augie coming to bat in the 2nd.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2007, 01:59:16 PM
Augie and IWU tied up at 3-3 now in the fifth
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 17, 2007, 02:31:46 PM
Augie up 4-3 7th inning
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2007, 04:30:58 PM
IWU is knocked out by Augie 6-5.

Very reminiscent of the 1996 Carthage team that rolled through the season and stumbled in the CCIW tourney and it carried over into the NCAAs with a 0-2 performance.

Great season for the Titans regardless.


Here is the link to the boxscore: http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/NCAABB07/ncaa4.htm (http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/NCAABB07/ncaa4.htm)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2007, 04:35:30 PM
Wow, the Titans go 20-1 in conference play, and then go a combined 1-4 in the CCIW tourney and in regionals. I never would have guessed that.  Congrats to Augustana for staying alive, hopefully Carthage handles business tonight and somehow we can get an all CCIW regional final
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 17, 2007, 05:00:10 PM
Congrats to Augie...a huge extra innings win vs. IWU to keep their season alive.  Eric Knott threw 10 innings before giving way to Mike Pagano who picked up the victory.  The same young pitching that was a huge question mark at the beginning of the season has been a big part of their late run...they would definatly not still be playing if not for freshmen Matt Erickson, Mike Pagano and Jon Carlson.

Augie will play at 3:00 tomorrow but there are a few possibilities for how the day will play out

If Luther beats Wash U, only 4 teams will remain:
Augie 1-1 vs. Loser (Carthage/Webster) 1-1
Luther 2-0 vs. Winner (Carthage/Webster) 2-0

If Wash U. beats Luther, 5 teams will remain:
Luther 1-1 vs. Loser (Carthage/Webster) 1-1
Augie 1-1 vs. Wash U 1-1
Winner 2-0 (Carthage/Webster) vs. Winner of the Luther game 2-1
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2007, 05:52:00 PM
What a disappointing finish to a great season.  IWU was the first CCIW team to ever win 20 conference games and their 1.38 team era has got to be an all-time record (couldn't find such a category).  They added one more with Aronson's complete game shutout of Elmhurst in the conference tourney.

Then ... 34 runs in 4 straight losses, finishing with Aronson giving up more earned runs today than he had the ENTIRE season previously.

Baseball is indeed a cruel game!  At least the (likely) conference Player of the Year (Ricky Angel) and Pitcher of the Year (Matt Aronson) will both be back.  In my best Brooklyn accent: wait 'til next year!

Oh, and good luck to Carthage and (ouch!) Augie - represent the conference well!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 17, 2007, 06:22:40 PM
I know that IWU went 20-1 in conference play, but it really felt like they weren't any better than Carthage or Augie.  They just didn't have the feel of a team that you were afraid of, as a normal 20-1 team would have.  I think they had a tremendous season and peaked during the conference season (they struggled pre-CCIW and post-CCIW). 

Good luck to both Carthage and Augie the rest of the way.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2007, 08:17:40 PM
k22,

I think you're probably absolutely right about the Titans (subtract the conference record from the season record, and they were basically a .500 team outside of the magical run), but couldn't you let me mourn in peace for ONE day before bringing up reality! ;D ;) :'(
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 17, 2007, 10:58:31 PM
D3 Scoreboard has the final as 6-4 Carthage.....any verification on this???
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 17, 2007, 11:01:46 PM
Luther Beats Wash U (Wash U eliminated)
Carthage Beats Webster

Tomorrow's games:
12:00 - Luther vs. Carthage
3:00 - Augie vs. Webster - elimination game
6:00 - Loser of 12:00 game vs. Winner of 3:00 game - elimination game

I would expect Carthage and Augie to both walk away with wins in their first games, and if that is the case it will be a battle of the bullpens between Luther and Augie.

How great would an all CCIW final be!  Good luck to both Carthage and Augie tomorrow.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2007, 11:08:12 PM
Here is the link to the Carthage-Webster boxscore:

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/NCAABB07/ncaa6.htm (http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/NCAABB07/ncaa6.htm)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 09:02:59 AM
Wow, whoever wins that 12:00 game today is sitting pretty. Loser has to win three straight and go really deep into the pitching staff, unless you got a guy who threw Wednesday and feels like he could throw on 2 days rest on Saturday.  I doubt Carthage would do that with Husing and put his future at risk, but you never know. Anyway, lets hope we don't have to worry about that and Carthage can get a win and just relax in the stands the rest of the day!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 10:36:45 AM
Few quotes from Augie Schmidt in today kenosha news:
"These games are just crazy, this was another nail-biter. It was a hard-fought game, and we're just happy to have won it.  It was the same type of game as the night before against Washington, the kind of game where you're really tired when it's over.  If you're a baseball fan, you have to love all these close games."

"Jeff Livek pitched his tail off, but he needed some relief help at the end.  We brought Corey Richardson into the game in the ninth after Ryan Roufus walked a lefty with two outs.  Corey has shown that he'll throw the ball over the dish, and whatever happens, happens.  He did a great job of finishing the game."

"That will be the driver's seat game of the tournament (referring to today's game).  I've come to the conclusion that nothing is going to be easy in this tournament, so we'll just get ready for another barn-burner."

The article also mentioned that Carthage has 21 complete games this year, 17 by the talented trio of Husing, Livek and Krepline.  Carthage also has a team batting average of over .350 and has won 20 games by 5 runs or more.  Hopefully the Redmen can set a new school record for consecutive wins today!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 10:44:01 AM
Hopefully we can get live stats as I am in my classroom and not able to use the sports hotline today.

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 12:02:45 PM
Carthage vs Luther today is a battle for Lutheran supremacy in the region. Martin Luther would be proud of this matchup.

In the West, Pacific Lutheran is also unbeaten... if I were a Lutheran I would think it was a sign from above.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 12:34:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 10:44:01 AM
Hopefully we can get live stats as I am in my classroom and not able to use the sports hotline today.



If you go to the scoreboard and click on the link from the first Luther game, you'll get directed to their site.  I've contacted the radio station and they said that they are doing a live broadcast of the game.


http://kwlc.luther.edu/listen/index.html
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 12:44:07 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 12:34:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 10:44:01 AM
Hopefully we can get live stats as I am in my classroom and not able to use the sports hotline today.



If you go to the scoreboard and click on the link from the first Luther game, you'll get directed to their site.  I've contacted the radio station and they said that they are doing a live broadcast of the game.


http://kwlc.luther.edu/listen/index.html

Thank you, sir.
Title: Luther vs. Carthage
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:15:40 PM
After the top of the 1st....Luther 1, Carthage coming to bat


Luther in the first.

6-3  1 out
1b
2b  Runners at 2nd and 3rd
K backwards  2 out
1b  1 RBI
1-3  3 out
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:25:24 PM
Sadjak walks to bring in the tying run in the bottom of the first
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:30:27 PM
Wuis grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning. 1-1 after the first. Bases loaded with one out and the Redmen could only manage one run
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:31:52 PM
1-1 after 1

Carthage loads the bases with 1 out and only scores once.

Lead off double.
5-3  1 out
BB
FC -- no outs recorded--bases loaded
FC 5-2  2 outs
BB  RBI
4-3   3 outs

1 run, 1 hit, 3 LOB
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 01:32:11 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:30:27 PM
Wuis grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning. 1-1 after the first. Bases loaded with one out and the Redmen could only manage one run

No problem at all. Luther's pitching will not hold Carthage down all day. We will get back in the driver's seat soon.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:36:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 01:32:11 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:30:27 PM
Wuis grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning. 1-1 after the first. Bases loaded with one out and the Redmen could only manage one run

No problem at all. Luther's pitching will not hold Carthage down all day. We will get back in the driver's seat soon.


Doesn't seem like Krepline is going to keep Luther under wraps all day either...8 and 9 holes just stroked back to back singles in the 2nd.  1st and 3rd with one out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:40:31 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:36:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 01:32:11 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:30:27 PM
Wuis grounds out with the bases loaded to end the inning. 1-1 after the first. Bases loaded with one out and the Redmen could only manage one run

No problem at all. Luther's pitching will not hold Carthage down all day. We will get back in the driver's seat soon.


Doesn't seem like Krepline is going to keep Luther under wraps all day either...8 and 9 holes just stroked back to back singles in the 2nd.  1st and 3rd with one out.


and of course....I'm WRONG!!!!

Krepline gets out of the inning without surrendering a run!

1U   1 out
1b
1b   1st and 3rd .... nice hit and run
1-5-2   2 out   runners move up to 2nd and 3rd
4-3  3 out
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 01:42:36 PM
Please keep it coming... I appreciate the updates.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 01:46:46 PM
1-1 after two. Carthage strands a runnder on 3rd after a leadoff walk in the inning.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 01:59:53 PM
Line-out double play to end the inning....

1-1 after 2.5

1b
1b
K   1 out
DP  6-4   3 out


Luther has 6 hits so far, but Krepline keeps sneaking out of jams.  Let's go bats!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:04:45 PM
Carthage goes quietly in the 3rd...one hit


P2
1b
Flyball out  (I think, but not sure where)
F9
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:10:02 PM
Finally a 1-2-3 inning!!

F9
F7 or P2....not sure  (that's quite the difference there)
1-3


1-1 still after 3 and a half.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 02:11:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:10:02 PM
Finally a 1-2-3 inning!!


F7 or P2....not sure  (that's quite the difference there)


It must have been really high for those two position to have time to converge!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2007, 02:13:26 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 02:11:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:10:02 PM
Finally a 1-2-3 inning!!


F7 or P2....not sure  (that's quite the difference there)


It must have been really high for those two position to have time to converge!

Hermes made the catch.  The announcer said he doesn't have the best sight lines from the press box.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 02:15:31 PM
3 singles in the inning so far, bases loaded again with one out. Lets go!! I teach from 1:15 to 3:00. I'm gonna go nuts not being able to check the score! Its so nice out in Wisconsin today I gotta take the kids out for P.E.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 02:16:25 PM
2-RBI single by Rucks. 3-1, still one out. Way to go Rucksy!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 02:19:39 PM
RBI sac-fly by Yapp scores Baitinger. RBI triple for Hermes scores Rucks, and my class is walking in. I gotta run fellas. GO REDMEN!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:23:00 PM
A break in the action as we have a pitching change after Hermes triples to dead center for an RBI.

So far in the inning...
E4
???  (missed it folding laundry)  1 out
1b  Alba
1b  Boe
1b  Rucks  (2 RBI)
Sac Fly RBI from Yapp  2 out
3b Hermes RBI
4-3 to end the inning



5-1 after 4

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 02:29:25 PM
Yes!! Keep swinging Redmen!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:35:19 PM
5-1 after the Norse 5th.

1b
FC force at 2nd  1 out
K
F8

Kyle Flatten is the new pitcher from the last inning for the Norse.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:40:58 PM
5-1 after the 5th.


Carthage gets a hit, but lines into an inning-ending DP.

K Sajak   1 out
1b Wius
DP 1 U Shannon   3 outs
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 02:45:58 PM
Norse goes 1-2-3 again.

1-3
4-3
4-3


2/3rds of the way through this one.

5-1 after 5.5
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 03:08:41 PM
Carthage website has it 5-1 Carthage in the 8th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 03:12:28 PM
Added on to make it 6-2 Carthage in the 8th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2007, 03:33:16 PM
6-3, with bases loaded in the 9th.

2 Carthage errors in the 9th.




Strike out to end it....



18 in a row....1 more to get to Appleton.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 03:37:44 PM
WHEW!

The Redmen are certainly in the driver's seat in the Central Region right now.  Who ever they face has to win tonight to get the right to face Carthage and then beat them twice tomorrow.

Pitching will surely be an issue for most teams tomorrow. I have no idea who Carthage is going to use, but one has to think that they are in a better position pitching-wise than everyone else.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 04:11:41 PM
My guess would be Trace Ruffie (3-1) or Ryan Roufus (2-1). You're right though, either way they are in much better shape pitching wise than whoever they face tomorrow. 18 in a row, new school record!! Handle business tomorrow and its off to Appleton
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 18, 2007, 04:15:38 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 18, 2007, 04:11:41 PM
My guess would be Trace Ruffie (3-1) or Ryan Roufus (2-1). You're right though, either way they are in much better shape pitching wise than whoever they face tomorrow. 18 in a row, new school record!! Handle business tomorrow and its off to Appleton

I would guess that Husing might come back if it gets to a second game tomorrow. Carthage has a well-rested bullpen as their starters have gone deep in each of the games. It is all about pitching from here on out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 18, 2007, 04:47:43 PM
Anyone have any updates on the Augie game?  The updates page on d3baseball.com isn't working.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 18, 2007, 04:52:31 PM
I don't have updates on the game but I thought I'd post to let you know we're working on it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 18, 2007, 04:56:07 PM
It's back.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 18, 2007, 07:28:52 PM
Augie started Mike Pagano and switched to Kevin Kulig after falling behind 7-1 in the 3rd...

have since went ahead 15-7
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 18, 2007, 07:32:52 PM
Augie wins 15-7

will face luther next

Don't know the reasoning, but Augie went with Mike Pagano in this game instead of Matt Erickson who has been their #3 most of the season...he should be the one getting the start against Luther tonight and SHOULD give them an advantage on the mound, but we will find out shortly
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 18, 2007, 07:47:24 PM
Go Augie!!

Let's have an all-CCIW final (even if the home team forgot to show up :'().
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 18, 2007, 08:43:28 PM
Augie 3 - Luther 0  thru 3 innings

Augie had the first 5 base runners reach base...2-0, no outs, bases loaded and they failed to score again in the inning.  It was a great chance to break the game open, but still a good start for the offense. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 18, 2007, 08:55:01 PM
Augie 3 - Luther 0

Top 5th; runner on 1st; no outs; top of the order
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 18, 2007, 09:00:22 PM
Augie 6 - Luther 0

Don Hansen 3-run HR in the 5th;
Still top 5th; one out
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 18, 2007, 09:51:48 PM
Any updates on the Augie Luther game? It's been quite awhile since the last update. Hopefully, there will be 2 CCIW teams in tomorrow's finals.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 18, 2007, 09:55:55 PM
I got my own answer. It's Augie 6 Luther 1 with Augie at bat in the top of the 9th.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 18, 2007, 10:05:55 PM
The scoreboard shows it as a 6-1 final - all-CCIW final(s)!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 19, 2007, 05:55:18 AM
Congrats to both Carthage and Augie for making it to the regional final.  I can't imagine that Augie has any pitching left after fighting back through the loser's bracket since the first day.  Carthage has a distinct advantage in that department. 

However, Augie's young pitchers have really come through this week, and hopefully they can keep it up for a couple more games.  I guarantee that Carthage thinks they already have this regional won, so hopefully Augie can come out and surprise them in the first game tomorrow and force a 2nd game, where anything can happen.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augiefan on May 19, 2007, 11:55:00 AM
Carthage won 3 of th 4 previous games this yearagainst Augie, when the teams were playing on even terms. Carthage has played 2 games in the last two days, while Augie has played 4. Losing that 1st game is in the tourney really kills a team's chances, but Carthage has pretty much proven they are the class of the CCIW and has to be the prohibitive favorite to wrap this one up in the noon game.

Whatever happens today it has been a pleasure to see #6 see Augie prove they belong by reaching the final day in the Central Region tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 19, 2007, 12:54:25 PM
Quote
I guarantee that Carthage thinks they already have this regional won

You obviously have NO IDEA what you're talking about.  If you think that Augie or Cory or Adam (Carthage coaches), or anyone in the Carthage program is going to come into the noon game thinking that they've already won, you're a complete moron.  You don't win 18 in a row by looking past teams.  You don't get 90 First team CCIW members since 1989 by being complacent.  You don't win 7 Regional Coach of the Year awards by not preparing your players.  You don't have the success that Carthage has had since the early 90's by not being focused and ready to play every time you step between the lines.  ESPECIALLY when you have a chance to go to the College World Series!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2007, 02:12:33 PM
Per the scoreboard, Augie up 2-1 after 3.5.  So far pitching seems to be holding up, as each team has only 4 hits.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2007, 03:06:57 PM
Carthage is up 5-3 in the 7th according to both D3Baseball.com and the Carthage Athletics webpage.
Title: Carthage is going to the DIII World Series
Post by: mwunder on May 19, 2007, 03:53:10 PM
Carthage wins 5-4!!!!   


Ruffie gets the win, Husing gets the save by working the 8th and 9th.  Augie got ejected in the 6th.


Way to go RED!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2007, 03:57:14 PM
Congratulations to Carthage on the victory.  Best of luck as you represent the CCIW!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2007, 04:48:34 PM
Congrats to the Redmen. At 17-11, I don't know who saw this coming. 19 in a row later its off to Appleton! I had a friend at the games giving me updates. He said Augie got ejected he thought in the 4th inning. Apparently he didn't agree with the balls and strikes that were being called. He went out to the mound and gathered the infield in, waited for the home plate ump to come break it up, and then just let him have it.  Augs also got a gatorade bath after the game! Congrats to Carthage. They play Friday at 1:15 according to the hotline against the New England Regional Champ.  Final 8 fellas, keep it going
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2007, 04:50:17 PM
Forgot to mention, congrats to Augustana on a great effort/season and showing the tough the CCIW is
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 19, 2007, 05:26:05 PM
Congratulations to Augie on an incredible season.  The second NCAA Regional appearance in school history and a 35-14 record.  I am awfully impressed with the way this team battled in close games with so few upperclassmen.  The few seniors that they had, though, Jake Meisenbach, Chris Pietroski and Brandon Engle have all been right in the thick of things since they set foot on campus and knew what it took to win in the CCIW and beyond.  The rest of the team, all the way down to the numerous freshman who put together what have to be some of the best freshman seasons in school history, will surely be a force next year.  They will return all but one pitcher (Engle), and the entire lineup other than Catcher Meisenbach and LF Pietroski. 

Good luck to Carthage in the World Series, hopefully they can keep things rolling and make a run at the title. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 19, 2007, 07:32:27 PM
Oh man what a weekend!!! Just got back to Kenosha from Bloomington and all the games were great. The Redmen got hits when they needed them and pitched very well. Carthage pitchers got out of jams quite often.
Congrats to Augie, they had a great year..
Coach Augie was tossed in the 6th because he was arguing balls and strikes. The Plate umpire was brutal. Squeezing Ruffie, and opening up the zone for Augustana there were alot of angry people in the stands. Augie getting tossed got the Redmen fired up!!
Going into the game Carthage was not cocky or over confident. The players really wanted to win this, and from just watching the games the past 3 days they didn't play their best baseball yet..... The players also got Augie with a ice water bath........ Great job by the Redmen and we will see who we play up in Appleton!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2007, 08:49:01 PM
In addition to their 19 in a row this year, Carthage has quite the multi-year streak going.  This was their 14th time in the NCAAs in the last 16 years, and their 6th World Series in that time!  But aside from early on (from 1993-97 they went to the WS 4 times, finishing either 3rd or 4th each time), the CCIW is in a drought at the WS: only 2 appearances in 9 years (IWU in 2001 and Carthage in 2002) and neither team won a single game.

RedMen, time to break the drought - Carthage all the way in Appleton!!

But, after the disappointment of the last two weekends, I have to add this: the Titans still have a hefty lead in conference titles! ;D  Since the founding of the CCI in 1946 (the W was added in 1956, not for Carthage which was still in Illinois and 'on sabbatical' from the conference but for Carroll), IWU has taken the pennant 21 times to Carthage's 13.  NCC is next at 9, Millikin has 8 (but none since 1975), NPU has 4 (all under Bosko Djurickovic, who 'moonlighted' as a national-title-winning basketball coach ;), from 1983-90) as does Augustana (last title, 1974).  Bringing up the rear is Wheaton (1 in 1951) and former member Lake Forest (1 in 1953).

EDIT: A correction on the trivia note above.  Upon further review, I find the CCI did not become the CCIW until 1967 - a belated nod to both Carroll AND Carthage.  Apparently ONE Wisconsin school didn't cut it, and even with two, they needed five more years to be sure! :D  (Of course, to be fair and equitable to all current schools, I contend it should be the CCIIIIIIIW conference! ;))
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: kritterhawk on May 20, 2007, 01:27:21 AM
Augustana Pitcher, Brandon Engle is returning as far as I know....he is has 1 more year of athletic eligibility.  They had him listed all year as a "Jr." on the roster.  He will be back on the mound next season for the Vikings. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 20, 2007, 04:39:56 AM
Mr. Ypsi, how many CCIW titles has Carthage won since Coach Augie has taken the helm compared to IWU?? Just asking about a little trivia.... Anyone planning on going up to the World Series.. I have asked this for every Carthage trip and no one has come....... We need to bring the Carthage faithful and the CCIW faithful!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: knarocky22 on May 20, 2007, 10:03:42 AM
Rumor has it that Kuntz might be coming back next year, too.  I don't know if this is true or not, just throwing it out there.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 20, 2007, 12:42:50 PM
Congrats to Carthage!  Keep it going all the way!! Great season by Augustana as well!

Boy, I sure miss the days when North Central had a baseball program!  :-[
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: diehardfan on May 20, 2007, 01:06:16 PM
Congrats to Carthage! :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 20, 2007, 02:12:01 PM
Does anyone know when/if you need to buy tickets for the World Series?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2007, 03:16:12 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on May 20, 2007, 04:39:56 AM
Mr. Ypsi, how many CCIW titles has Carthage won since Coach Augie has taken the helm compared to IWU?? Just asking about a little trivia.... Anyone planning on going up to the World Series.. I have asked this for every Carthage trip and no one has come....... We need to bring the Carthage faithful and the CCIW faithful!!

Which Coach Augie? ;D ;)

Augie Scmidt III coached from Carthage's return to the (then) CCI, going from 1962-1980.  He won 5 titles (including 4 in a row from 1970-73), but went only 11-33 in the conference his last 3 years (anyone know why?).  During those same years, Coach Horenberger (namesake of the field on which you just won two tournaments!) won 7 titles and had 7 more 2nd place finishes.

Augie Schmidt IV began in 1988 and quickly righted what had been a listing ship.  Since a horrid first year of 1-15, he has won 8 titles.  Over the same years, IWU has 5 titles, plus 3 more South first place finishes (for about a decade, the CCIW had North and South divisions, with the top two in each division meeting in a double-elimination tourney for the league crown).

Augie IV has a slight edge over Martel in the regular season (and a huge advantage in post-season play), but it is quite the rivalry - one or the other has won the last 9 titles in a row (Augie 5, Dennis 4), but neither is yet threatening Jack Horenberger who had 16 titles!

[Note that the two Augies have all 13 of Carthage's titles, while Horenberger and Martel have combined for all 21 of IWU's.]
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: OshDude on May 20, 2007, 03:49:56 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on May 20, 2007, 02:12:01 PM
Does anyone know when/if you need to buy tickets for the World Series?

You can get tickets at the stadium before the game or you can get them from the Lawrence ticket office until May 24 by using a credit card ($2 surcharge).

But you really don't need to buy tickets ahead of time. There are always tickets available.

All-session tix:
$30 Adult
$18 Senior/student

Single-session:
$10 Adult
$6 Senior/student

Good luck to Carthage. It's fun when two Wisconsin teams are at Fox Cities Stadium (or Time Warner Field at Fox Cities Stadium ... yuck).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: OshDude on May 20, 2007, 03:55:07 PM
Quote from: OshDude on May 20, 2007, 03:49:56 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on May 20, 2007, 02:12:01 PM
Does anyone know when/if you need to buy tickets for the World Series?

You can get tickets at the stadium before the game or you can get them from the Lawrence ticket office until May 24 by using a credit card ($2 surcharge).

But you really don't need to buy tickets ahead of time. There are always tickets available.

All-session tix:
$30 Adult
$18 Senior/student

Single-session:
$10 Adult
$6 Senior/student

Good luck to Carthage. It's fun when two Wisconsin teams are at Fox Cities Stadium (or Time Warner Field at Fox Cities Stadium ... yuck).

Lawrence University ticket office numbers:
Phone: (920) 832-6749
Fax: (920) 832-6783
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2007, 10:31:33 PM
First and second round pairings are up on the UW-Oshkosh website:

Friday, May 25: 1:15 Carthage vs. E. Connecticut St. (38-10), New England champ

Saturday, May 26: if (God forbid!) Carthage loses, 10am vs. loser of Emory (South champ, 31-8) vs. UWSP (Midwest champ, 32-15); if they win (yes!), 4:30 vs. winner of Emory/UWSP.

Sunday, May 27, etc.: TBA
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 21, 2007, 08:06:29 AM
Augie mentioned in yesterday's paper that he wasn't even thinking of having Jacob Husing come into the game because he had just pitched 2 days earlier.  He said he looked down in the bullpen and was shocked to see him warming up.  Looks like Husing took it upon himself and convinced the coaching staff he had enough to get it done. Redman1, I'm going to drive up Friday night after our regional game and catch Saturday's game hopefully
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: diehardfan on May 21, 2007, 10:07:33 AM
Haha... I just looked at the DIII championship page and flipped out cause Marietta College's uni's and symbol look waaaaay too much like the Yankees and their team was posted under a championship banner.

On the plus side, at least they're currently sucking even more than my team so far this year.  8)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: yank52 on May 21, 2007, 04:11:50 PM
Championship Schedule for the first day (May 25, 2007)                                  Predictions
Game 1, Emory (39-8) vs. UW-Stevens Point (32-15), 11:00 a.m ET                     Emory
Game 2, Carthage (36-11) vs. Eastern Connecticut (38-10), 2:15 p.m. ET            Carthage
Game 3, Chapman (40-6) vs. Marietta (32-15), 5:30 p.m. ET                                 Chapman
Game 4, Kean (39-8) vs. Cortland State (40-5), 8:45 p.m. ET                                Cortland State

too bad the 1st game didn't have team starting with "C"


Good luck to Carthage, bring home the Championship for the CCIW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2007, 04:39:10 PM
Quote from: yank52 on May 21, 2007, 04:11:50 PM
Championship Schedule for the first day (May 25, 2007)                                  Predictions
Game 1, Emory (39-8) vs. UW-Stevens Point (32-15), 11:00 a.m ET                     Emory
Game 2, Carthage (36-11) vs. Eastern Connecticut (38-10), 2:15 p.m. ET            Carthage
Game 3, Chapman (40-6) vs. Marietta (32-15), 5:30 p.m. ET                                 Chapman
Game 4, Kean (39-8) vs. Cortland State (40-5), 8:45 p.m. ET                                Cortland State

too bad the 1st game didn't have team starting with "C"


Good luck to Carthage, bring home the Championship for the CCIW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Predictions for Big Poppa:
Game 1: UW-Stevens Point (Jordan Zimmerman is too much for Emory)

Game 2: Carthage (19 wins in a row for the Redmen... plus I find it hard to bet against my boys. Gilblair vs. Husing is a great pitching matchup in Round 1)

Game 3: Chapman (Devin Drag is tough to beat this year at 15-0)

Game 4: Cortland State (The Dragons are too much for Kean in their first appearance)

Is this the most loaded World Series in years? I feel that any of the teams could win any of the games.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 21, 2007, 05:01:52 PM
This poster's pulling for either Carthage or UW-Stevens Point.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 21, 2007, 10:48:43 PM
Poppa...talked to Augie tonight and he is ready for Friday! Patrick, Danny Lorum and I are headed to Grand Chute on Friday. Are you going to make it in for the World Series?

You can't beat the excitement of college sports - at any level!!!!!

Let's Go Redmen!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2007, 11:43:39 PM
Quote from: irish21 on May 21, 2007, 10:48:43 PM
Poppa...talked to Augie tonight and he is ready for Friday! Patrick, Danny Lorum and I are headed to Grand Chute on Friday. Are you going to make it in for the World Series?

You can't beat the excitement of college sports - at any level!!!!!

Let's Go Redmen!!!

I would love to be there. I will be in the area... Minnesota for the weekend. Living in Cali makes Minnesota the area I guess.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 22, 2007, 02:24:51 AM
Carthage or any CCIW fans that will be up in Appleton for game 1 are welcome to come tailgate with us.... Me and a couple of buddies have gone to the CCIW championship, and the Regionals, and we would love to invite any Carthage fans or CCIW fans to meet us up there.. We will have "refreshments", and maybe some food.... We are College students and if you would like to bring whatever, that would be great.. Low bank Accounts are not Nice but this is the College WORLD SERIES!!. Let me know and we will get things done.... Friday is a big day for the CCIW and big time for Carthage fans......  As of right now we will meet in the parking lot 2 hours before the game. I would like to meet the Carthage faithful and the CCIW faithful... This will be a big weekend for the Carthage and the CCIW.. Let's bring it home!! Very fired up for this weekend!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mideastfan on May 22, 2007, 08:10:35 AM
Quote from: April Lee on May 21, 2007, 10:07:33 AM
Haha... I just looked at the DIII championship page and flipped out cause Marietta College's uni's and symbol look waaaaay too much like the Yankees and their team was posted under a championship banner.

On the plus side, at least they're currently sucking even more than my team so far this year.  8)

haha, great comment! 
When Coach Schaly designed the unifoms back in the early 70's that 's what he had in mind.  He always said that "the pinstripes win ballgames and give you that mental edge.  If the Yankees can do it, Marietta can do it."   His goal was to mold a baseball tradition much like the Yankees; built on discipline, respect (the program is more important than any one player), and most of all Winning.  He accomplished his goal and 2 years ago was buried in his pinstripes.
I'm not a Yankee fan by any means, but while I wore the pinstripes it sure felt good!!

Good luck to Carthage in the series...here's hoping they win their first two and can face Marietta in the winner's bracket final on Monday night.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2007, 09:25:43 AM
Redman1, do you guys play on sticking around in Appleton the entire world series through Tuesday?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 22, 2007, 10:15:25 AM
If anyone needs advice on where to eat/imbibe , let me know. I can get you an insider's view of the local scene.

There are some great local pubs to hang out at after the games (I have been thrown out of one or more of them at one time or another).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 22, 2007, 12:00:16 PM
REDMENFAN- We will be there all the way till the end.. Hopefully till Tuesday
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2007, 12:38:14 PM
Redman1- We got a regional game Friday afternoon, then I'm heading down Friday night to catch Saturday's game. You guys staying in a hotel the entire time or at someone's place?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 22, 2007, 02:36:50 PM
RM1...I'll have two guys with me that played in the 2002 World Series - Pat Brown and Dan Lorum. What do you need for yourtailgate?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 22, 2007, 02:38:31 PM
REDMENFAN- We are staying with someone... but you will find us no matter what at the team's hotel after the games. The parents and the students love to go bowling. That is all we did down at Wesleyan and we plan on bowling alot more this weekend and all the way to Tuesday
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 22, 2007, 02:41:01 PM
Irish21- Bring whatever you would like to bring..... I'll have a grill, and a couple of coolers
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2007, 03:09:39 PM
Sounds good redman1. I plan on staying with meier friday, so I'm sure we'll see eachother. I expect text message updates every inning Friday!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 22, 2007, 03:37:06 PM
Oh ya, I will definately see you then..
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2007, 12:29:48 PM
Congrats to Augie Schmidt for winning CCIW coach of the year for the 9th time in his 20 years (co-winner with Martel this year)

We'll see how good my memory is after reading the paper a few hours back:
1st team all conference performers from Carthage: Yapp, Krepline, Livek, Hughes, Hermes
2nd Team: Jacob Husing, Boe Baitinger

Congrats to every all conference performer this year. IWU had the most outstanding player and pitcher
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2007, 12:39:40 PM
Here's the links to the CCIW all conference team and also D3Baseball's first ever all american team, which includes players from IWU, Augie, and one from Carthage

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2007bballconferenceteam1.htm
http://d3baseball.com/images/2007/d3baseballallam2007.pdf
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 24, 2007, 11:04:45 AM
Great article about Boe Baitinger in the Kenosha News today:
http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=1137736
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 10:22:01 AM
Just read the paper, and Livek will be getting the start today for the Redmen.  Augs said his arm is the freshest, so it made the decision an easier one to make, along with saying Jeff is a level-headed guy who just usually laughs off pressure situations.  The article also mentioned that EC has a sophomore who's one of the country's top two way players. He's batting .395 and is 11-1 on the mound today, and he'll most likely get the start.  Four hours til game time, can't wait!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 10:23:03 AM
Forgot to mention, for those around the milwaukee area, there was a great 2 minute segment on the channel 4 news last night about Carthage that had interviews with Augie and Boe Baitinger. Anyone else see it?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 25, 2007, 10:26:10 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 10:22:01 AM
Just read the paper, and Livek will be getting the start today for the Redmen.  Augs said his arm is the freshest, so it made the decision an easier one to make, along with saying Jeff is a level-headed guy who just usually laughs off pressure situations.  The article also mentioned that EC has a sophomore who's one of the country's top two way players. He's batting .395 and is 11-1 on the mound today, and he'll most likely get the start.  Four hours til game time, can't wait!!!!!

Shawn Gilblair...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 01:39:09 PM
I think we just saw what is definitely the best two-way player in the country in Jordan Zimmerman almost single handedly beating Emory
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 02:37:47 PM
3-0 Carthage up after one-half inning! I don't know any details. I can't watch it because my computer is a mac, and the stream on the carthage website is not working at all. THIS REALLY SUCKS!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 02:44:33 PM
Jeff Zampanti, a kenosha news sports writer is doing a blog on his experience being at the world series (not just about Carthage).  There's some great stuff in here, Jeff's always written great articles. Here's the link:
http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=96969715
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 25, 2007, 02:46:37 PM
Also, here's the link for the article in today's paper:
http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=1142232
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2007, 06:13:31 PM
TWENTY in a row ... and counting!

Carthage hitters roughed up AA Shawn Gilblair and four relievers to the tune of 15-4.  Next up, UWSP who reportedly has decent 2nd pitchers "but not in Zimmerman's league", to quote a Pointer fan.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2007, 07:28:51 PM
Idle thought:

What if today's Carthage hitters had faced today's Zimmerman pitching?  (For those who missed it, Z threw a complete-game one-hitter at Emory.)  Talk about the irresistible force against the immovable object!

As Yogi would say: good pitching always beats good hitting, and vice versa.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on May 25, 2007, 10:31:29 PM
A clue for the rest of the teams in the tournament.


Don't hang a curve ball to Carthage hitters....ask Shawn Gilblair.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: irish21 on May 26, 2007, 12:50:34 PM
That was the finest hitting performance by any Carthage team that I have watched in the past eight seasons! The ECon pitchers didn't have a clue how to get the Redmen out! Jeff Livek had great command of his pitches for the entire game and the defense was spectacular! Jose Alba, Steve Rucks and Boe Baitinger made some outstanding defensive plays!

We had a great time tailgating with RedMan1, Cowboy and a host of others! Redmanfan made it in time for the celebration last night along with 2002 CWS members Joos Hallock and Eric Krull. Also saw Danny Gasner, Adam Husing and John Hendrick - former Redmen baseball players. Not too many other former Redmen baseball players in attendance - very disappointing! Hopefully they will show up today to take our place since we had to get back home this morning.

Good luck Redmen - you can do this!!!!!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2007, 11:07:23 PM
The RedMen fell to UWSP, 12-8.  Next up: SUNY-Cortland at noon tomorrow. 

They've got a tough row to hoe, now.  Win tomorrow (technically, today!) and they'd still have to win two games Monday and two more on Tuesday to get the walnut-and-bronze.  But, hey!  They just won twenty in a row - five in a row should be a breeze! ;)

Go get 'em!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 27, 2007, 09:11:24 PM
Wow what a weekend!!. Too bad we couldn't bring it home but we had a great time. All I have to say is that Carthage had a great run... The parents and Alumni were awesome. The tailgates and post parties/rain delay parties were also very entertaining. Congrats to the senior class Carthage has a few holes to fill but I'm sure we will fill them.

Irish21, it was great meeting you this weekend. Cowboy and I loved every minute of it. I hope to see you out at the football games next year...

Now with the umpires.. They didn't win or lose games, but my gosh this was the D III championship and some of these guys didn't know where the stirke zone was...  I don't know if you could hear the fans but Cowboy and I were all over the plate umpire against Point.. He kept looking into the dugout because he thought Augie was yelling but it was the  two Carthage Crazies behind the dugout making all the noise...
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: football2007 on May 27, 2007, 10:16:13 PM
What are the main holes they need to fill for next year.  Is it pitching, infield, outfield??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: RedMan1 on May 27, 2007, 11:31:30 PM
Football2007- They need to fill the hole Livek leaves in the rotation, even though Trace Ruffie will become the number 3... Rucks played 2nd, Sadjak played 1st/DH, Wuis catcher, Ruffus in the pen, Yapp at 3rd (might come back because he has another year of eligibility)... That is all I can think of, not just ability loss, but leadership too...

The Redmen are very deep in the outfield... Many good players are still on the team that saw alot of playing time this year... So really we lose some depth and leadership....

What I could see for next year is a couple more championships under our belt.... Augustana, and IWU will be tough like always...

How do both of those two teams look for next year, and also the rest of the conference?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 29, 2007, 10:40:54 AM
Also would like to give my congrats to Carthage on a fine season.  Augie's comment in the paper was great. He mentioned he had tee times scheduled and even a trip to Vegas, then these darn kids go and win 20 in a row and I have to cancel everything!! LOL, classic Augie.  Irish-great seeing you and Patrick again, I agree its ashame that there weren't more former players around.  Redman1 and Cowboy: you guys were awesome.  I stayed for the Point game on Saturday, talk about a great atmosphere.  Husing was right on when he evaluated his performance in the paper. Instead of missing down with his pitches, he was leaving everything up when he was missing.  He pitched his heart out though, and showed the kind of determination and guts that got Carthage to the series in the first place.  Congrats to Jeff Livek on being named a D3Baseball all-american, and to Baitinger, Hermes, Krepline, and Husing all being named to the All-Region team.  Lastly, anyone who's played for Augie knows how emotional he gets after the team's final game.  Lets give coach a ton of credit for this season.  He got these players to work their tails off, and love him or hate him as a player, you for darn sure respect him and his ability to coach.  Augie mentioned in the paper that he kept telling the guys during the winning streak that they weren't that good of a team, they just kept getting all the breaks.  Well, for the first time after their loss Sunday, he told them they're a great team, and the reason they got to this point was their work ethic.  Augs said why change what I was saying when we kept winning, so I just kept telling them they're really not that good. Gotta love it!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 29, 2007, 10:47:22 AM
Here's a link to 2 articles from the Kenosha news. The second one for some reason cuts the article way short, but there's a nice comment from Jim Dixon of D3Baseball about Augie.  The article goes on to talk about how much all the media and opposing coaches like and respect Augie, and how they knew he was a successful player, but had no idea just how successful:

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=1159381
http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=1159680
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 29, 2007, 07:05:40 PM
How many days till D3 Baseball starts up again?

One of my students came across this article and I thought it would be fun for everyone to see. It is from The New York Times in 1981.

Enjoy! Spike Owen?... Odibie McDowell? Wow... flashbacks!

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E2D91138F93BA15755C0A967948260 (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E2D91138F93BA15755C0A967948260)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2007, 01:51:59 AM
Congratulations to Carthage on a great post-season, even if it fell a few games short - you represented the conference well!

My understanding is that MLB can draft college players three years after first enrollment - correct?  Ricky Angel is completing (has completed?) his junior year.  As CCIW POY, and first-team AA in both ABCA and d3baseball.com, I'd assume he will be drafted somewhere unless he has CLEARLY indicated he plans to stay at IWU.  Does anyone closer to the situation know what his intentions are if he is a reasonably high draft choice?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on May 30, 2007, 10:58:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2007, 01:51:59 AM
Congratulations to Carthage on a great post-season, even if it fell a few games short - you represented the conference well!

My understanding is that MLB can draft college players three years after first enrollment - correct?  Ricky Angel is completing (has completed?) his junior year.  As CCIW POY, and first-team AA in both ABCA and d3baseball.com, I'd assume he will be drafted somewhere unless he has CLEARLY indicated he plans to stay at IWU.  Does anyone closer to the situation know what his intentions are if he is a reasonably high draft choice?

From a selfish point of view, I hope he leaves. He is getting in the way of Carthage every year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 30, 2007, 12:31:28 PM
Its always tough to say what will happen.  Who knows what the scouts are thinking.  Two seasons ago, UW-Parkside had a First Team All-American 1st Baseman who hit over .400 and went undrafted. He was 6 feet tall and around 215 pounds, so his size wasn't the issue.  It wouldn't surprise me if Angel went in the 15th round, or went completely undrafted. I've learned that whatever I hear about the draft never ends up happening.  I was sitting in the living room with one my best friends who was told he'd be drafted for sure between the 3rd and 5th round.  Cubs called during the 6th and said we're taking you for sure if you're still there, and he doesn't go til the 10th round to Cleveland.  But I'll agree with BP on this one, and hope he goes, and goes fairly early (top 25 rounds or so)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2007, 12:36:33 PM
Aw, BigPoppa, it wasn't so bad!  During the regular season sweep, he only batted .667 (8 for 12), with two doubles and two homers (slugging: 1.333) and 3 runs and 6 RBIs! ;D

Alas, you got your revenge when it really counted, holding him to 1 single (1 RBI, no runs) in 4 plate appearances in the conference tourney. :'(

But the REAL difference was Foster (and/or the Carthage hitters): he spun a CG shutout the first time, then you roughed him up but good in the tourney.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on May 30, 2007, 01:44:21 PM
I'm not sure what position you would project him at, I don't think it would be a middle infielder.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on May 30, 2007, 05:29:57 PM
Here is a look at what Augie will return next year.  They are losing LF Pietroski and C Meisenbach.  Both pitchers Engle and Kuntz were seniors this year but have a year of eligibility left.  They also did not walk in the graduation ceremonies leading me to believe they have classes left to take...it will be interesting to see what they choose to do.

Returning Starters, with this years stats and the year they will be next season:
CF - Senior - .448 BA, 17 2B, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 20 SB - 1st Team ABCA A-A, 2nd Team D3Baseball A-A, 1st Team All-                                                                                 Region, 1st Team CCIW
RF - Junior - .337 BA, 7 2B, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 26 SB - 2nd Team All-Region, 1st Team CCIW
3B - Soph - .315 BA, 9 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 5 SB
SS - Junior - .346 BA, 10 SB - 2nd Team CCIW
2B - Junior - .376 BA, 13 2B, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 16 SB - 2nd Team All-Region, 1st Team CCIW
1B - Two freshman split time

SP - Senior - 11 GS, 7-5, 3.70 ERA - 2nd Team CCIW
SP - Soph - 9 GS, 7-1, 3.20 ERA
SP - Soph - 8 GS, 3-2, 4.87 ERA
RP - Two pitchers with over 15 appearances


Augie also had a huge year as far as the record books are concerned...it helped playing 49 games, but still goes to show they have quite a bit of talent returning.
Marc Blakeley set school records for Hits (90), At-Bats (201), Runs (60) and HRs (10) and also led the nation in hits.
Jake Meisenbach broke his own school record with 24 2Bs and set the career mark with 45.
Don Hansen set school records for SBs (26) and BBs (39).

Their one huge hole is currently behind the plate as no returning catcher has played in more than 5 games, but they have a tough lineup coming back for 2008.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2007, 10:02:07 PM
Quote from: goldengear on May 30, 2007, 01:44:21 PM
I'm not sure what position you would project him at, I don't think it would be a middle infielder.

I assume 'him' is Ricky Angel?  Unfortunately, I never have seen him play, but his fielding stats are certainly fine: conference games only - 107 chances, 2 errors (.981), 13 DPs; all games - 215 chances, 7 errors (.967), 30 DPs.  I'm curious why you think he would not be projected as a second baseman - his physical attributes are not 'traditional'?  A case where the statistics don't tell the whole truth?  Other?

Not by any means that I want to see him drafted - another year of bedeviling BigPoppa and Redmenfan would suit me just fine! ;D
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on May 31, 2007, 03:36:40 AM
He seems to make all the plays - there was no question about that - he just visually looks a little awkward at 2nd due to his size, he is built more like a 1st Baseman.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 31, 2007, 09:28:09 AM
That's just harsh ypsi!  ;)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 31, 2007, 11:46:07 PM
REDMENFAN,

I just got to take what I can get!  Tell ya what - I'll trade the 3-game sweep for the World Series gig - deal??

Oh well, didn't think so! ;D

But beware - 76% of the Titan roster were freshmen and sophomores!

goldengear,

With his power numbers (he led the CCIW in slugging percentage by OVER 300 points - ridiculous!), I suspected he might have more of a first base physique (though 6'3", 200, doesn't seem TOO out of line).  The stats look good, but like I said I haven't actually seen him.

Still, to the best of my knowledge, no Titan has ever left early for a pro career in any sport, so (hopefully) the rest of the conference will have to try to stop him for another year! :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on June 01, 2007, 11:52:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 31, 2007, 11:46:07 PM
To the best of my knowledge, no Titan has ever left early for a pro career in any sport
I believe that Steve Schilsky, Cory Lapinski, and Drew Himes all had one year of eligibility when they were drafted and left to play in the minors.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 01, 2007, 12:35:05 PM
Anyone know the deal with Lapinski? Every time I look him up on milb.com, it only lists stats for last year, which were very impressive stats.  Is he hurt, did he just decide to stop playing? Anyone know any info?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 02:57:44 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 01, 2007, 11:52:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 31, 2007, 11:46:07 PM
To the best of my knowledge, no Titan has ever left early for a pro career in any sport
I believe that Steve Schilsky, Cory Lapinski, and Drew Himes all had one year of eligibility when they were drafted and left to play in the minors.

I never claimed my knowledge was worth much! :-[

I've spent some time this afternoon trying to track down Cory Lapinski's status.  As far as I can find, he appears to be still with the Tri-City Valley Cats and their season doesn't start for another 3 weeks (though that seems strange).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on June 01, 2007, 03:49:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 02:57:44 PM

I've spent some time this afternoon trying to track down Cory Lapinski's status.  As far as I can find, he appears to be still with the Tri-City Valley Cats and their season doesn't start for another 3 weeks (though that seems strange).
What's even stranger is that the Valley Cats roster lists only one outfielder, two infielders, and no catchers.  Maybe they are going to use the Eddie Feigner ("King and his Court") playbook this season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 04:24:16 PM
Titan pitchers don't need no stinkin' fielders! ;D

Though I suppose a catcher might be useful - maybe they use a 'pitch-back'!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 01, 2007, 04:43:35 PM
Having IWU so highly ranked, Augustana making the regional final and Carthage making an improbable run to the World Series only bodes well for the CCIW's future. Not to mention the fact that all three compiled over 30 wins. Expect to get multiple bids each year if this type of stellar play continues.

Does anybody have access to data about which conferences have had the most World Series appearances? I would expect the NJAC, Little East, and WIAC to be at the top, but what about the rest after that? (SPENCE? You seem to always find these tidbits for me)

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on June 01, 2007, 06:08:49 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 01, 2007, 03:49:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 02:57:44 PM

I've spent some time this afternoon trying to track down Cory Lapinski's status.  As far as I can find, he appears to be still with the Tri-City Valley Cats and their season doesn't start for another 3 weeks (though that seems strange).
What's even stranger is that the Valley Cats roster lists only one outfielder, two infielders, and no catchers.  Maybe they are going to use the Eddie Feigner ("King and his Court") playbook this season.

Short-season leagues don't start until after the draft.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on June 01, 2007, 09:57:57 PM
I believe he is done, the Astros cut him in Spring Training, tried to latch on with Windy City Thunderbolts (Frontier League Independent) and then quit about a week ago.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 11:12:48 PM
Quote from: goldengear on June 01, 2007, 09:57:57 PM
I believe he is done, the Astros cut him in Spring Training, tried to latch on with Windy City Thunderbolts (Frontier League Independent) and then quit about a week ago.

That would be a shame - and also seems surprising.  Last season he had an era of 2.41, giving up only 17 hits and striking out 45 in 37.1 innings.  Cutting such a young guy (and not getting picked up elsewhere) with such numbers just doesn't seem to square.  Arm trouble (that's not very many innings even for a short season)?  Just didn't seem a MLB prospect?  Any insights?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on June 02, 2007, 06:29:38 AM
Don't really know the details, but when you start your career with 2 years in the short season NY/Penn league, especially after coming out of college it isn't a good sign and on top of that he was relegated to middle relief.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on June 03, 2007, 10:18:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 04:24:16 PM
Titan pitchers don't need no stinkin' fielders! ;D

Though I suppose a catcher might be useful - maybe they use a 'pitch-back'!

Mr. Ypsi, speaking of pitchers not (or rarely) needing fielders--check out the below link on a classic pitching matchup:

http://thunderprofastpitch.com/news/?id=8981

(Ostermann pitched in college for Texas, don't recall who Finch pitched for in college).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 02:13:46 PM
Jennie Finch was a 3-time AA at Arizona (both pitcher and first base) and won two games and a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 04:06:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 02:13:46 PM
Jennie Finch ...

Yummy :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 04:25:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 04:06:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 02:13:46 PM
Jennie Finch ...

Yummy :)

She did beat out Anna Kournikova in one 'sexiest athlete' poll.  Personally, I think Mia Hamm tops them both.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 07:28:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 04:25:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 04:06:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 02:13:46 PM
Jennie Finch ...

Yummy :)

She did beat out Anna Kournikova in one 'sexiest athlete' poll.  Personally, I think Mia Hamm tops them both.
You must be a soccer fan... or just an odd fascination with Nomar Garciaparra.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 10:30:50 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 07:28:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 04:25:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 03, 2007, 04:06:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 02:13:46 PM
Jennie Finch ...

Yummy :)

She did beat out Anna Kournikova in one 'sexiest athlete' poll.  Personally, I think Mia Hamm tops them both.
You must be a soccer fan... or just an odd fascination with Nomar Garciaparra.

Yeah, soccer is probably my #1 sport - unfortunately it hadn't reached Peoria when I was a kid, so I didn't play 'til I started coaching my kids.  My only fascination with Nomar is pure jealousy (Tony Parker, too)! 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 03, 2007, 11:49:31 PM
Today's edition of "Baseball is a funny game":

Jeremy Bonderman has given up 16 runs in his ten first innings (14.40 era); 8 runs in his other 56 innings (1.29 era).  Give that guy a practice inning and the Cy Young is a lock! :o
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on June 04, 2007, 12:27:56 AM
Tom Glavine learned to overcome it.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 04, 2007, 08:02:22 AM
Jenny Finch, the only time I'd keep a softball game on TV, must have been the shorts (or lack there of) she chose to wear when playing for Team USA, or in the professional league she played for around the Chicago area.  I would be completely shocked if that's true about Lapinski.  I could see if he struggled for 2 seasons in short season, but he had great numbers last year.  And Pat was right on, short season starts after the draft with the team composing of mostly players just finishing their college/high school seasons.  Any news on where some CCIW guys are playing summer ball this year? I know Boe Baitinger is playing for a new Northwoods' League team out of green bay I believe, and David Hermes and Steve Coughlin are playing for the Kenosha Kings with several Parkside and Whitewater players.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on June 04, 2007, 08:14:49 AM
http://www.frontierleague.com/transactions.php

Cory Lapinski signed by Gateway April 13th, traded to Windy City May 16th, retired May 25th.

http://flhistory.garmurdesign.com/fromthebleachers/?cat=9

Article about the trade and the signing of Lapinski (scroll down to bottom)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: OshDude on June 04, 2007, 08:00:15 PM
Quote from: WLCALUM83 on June 03, 2007, 10:18:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 01, 2007, 04:24:16 PM
Titan pitchers don't need no stinkin' fielders! ;D

Though I suppose a catcher might be useful - maybe they use a 'pitch-back'!

Mr. Ypsi, speaking of pitchers not (or rarely) needing fielders--check out the below link on a classic pitching matchup:

http://thunderprofastpitch.com/news/?id=8981

(Ostermann pitched in college for Texas, don't recall who Finch pitched for in college).

If you care, possibly an even better example from the 2007 D3 softball regionals.

http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WSoftball/2007/COE1.html (http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WSoftball/2007/COE1.html)

And then there's the end all, be all game in that respect. In a minor league game in 1952, Ron Necciai struck out 27 batters in a 9-inning no-hitter. He struck out 24 his next time out. Too bad he had a baseball-related ulcer that partially forced him to quit.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: WLCALUM83 on June 04, 2007, 08:14:34 PM
OshDude, Dani Olsen, the Titans' dp that game is a daughter of one of my cousins. UW-Eau Claire really had the Titans' number when it mattered this season, --still, it's no disgrace to be eliminated by the team that finishes in 3rd place overall. (Eau Claire lost to eventual NCAA D3 champ Linfield of Oregon later).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Titan Q on June 04, 2007, 10:46:14 PM
A nice feature on Ricky Angel from Chicagosports.com...

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/cs-0070430keepingupangel,0,3948583.story?coll=cs-highschool-headlines
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on June 05, 2007, 12:35:40 PM
Not really CCIW material, but since the MLB draft has come up recently in discussions here, I just read Keith Law's (ESPN Insider) top 100 draft list....

Jordan Zimmerman, Wisc SP, #48.

No other DIII athlete made the top 100.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 05, 2007, 01:48:26 PM
Has a D3 player even gone in the first round? I know that UW-Oshkosh's Jarrod Washburn was the first pick in the second round(Angels) in 1995.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 06, 2007, 10:31:05 AM
BP, I remember reading somewhere just a few days ago that Billy Wagner was I believe the 12th overall pick when he was selected. I've been looking through the site at past pages trying to find it and make sure but haven't been able to do so. I'll keep checking til my prep period is done!  Only 3 more days til summer  8)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 06, 2007, 10:40:11 AM
Couldn't find it on here, but I went to the Mets website and found out the info. Wagner went to D-3 school Ferrum college in Virginia. Went 17-3 in 3 seasons, gave up less than 2 hits per start his junior year, and had the best velocity in that years draft. Here's the link if anyone is interested:
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123790
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mr_b on June 06, 2007, 01:10:11 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on June 06, 2007, 10:31:05 AM
BP, I remember reading somewhere just a few days ago that Billy Wagner was I believe the 12th overall pick when he was selected. I've been looking through the site at past pages trying to find it and make sure but have been able to do so. I'll keep checking til my prep period is done!  Only 3 more days til summer  8)

Wagner was indeed the 12th overall pick, according to the Ferrum website: http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/Pros.htm (http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/Pros.htm)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on June 06, 2007, 02:12:17 PM
Complete listing of drafts, click the year on the left to bring up the 1st Round

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/index.shtml

Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 06, 2007, 02:18:54 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on June 06, 2007, 10:31:05 AM
BP, I remember reading somewhere just a few days ago that Billy Wagner was I believe the 12th overall pick when he was selected. I've been looking through the site at past pages trying to find it and make sure but haven't been able to do so. I'll keep checking til my prep period is done!  Only 3 more days til summer  8)

Thanks... I forgot all about Billy Wags!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 06, 2007, 02:21:25 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on June 06, 2007, 10:31:05 AM
Only 3 more days til summer  8)

I wish... We still have two more weeks until school is out.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 07, 2007, 09:15:31 AM
Draft day fellas!  I've been told through pretty reliable sources that Husing and Livek should both go today.  They are telling Jacob Husing anywhere from the 12-15th round, while Livek will go late because he was a late bloomer and is a senior. 
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 08, 2007, 04:01:53 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on June 07, 2007, 09:15:31 AM
Draft day fellas!  I've been told through pretty reliable sources that Husing and Livek should both go today.  They are telling Jacob Husing anywhere from the 12-15th round, while Livek will go late because he was a late bloomer and is a senior. 

Livek is the first CCIW player taken in this year's draft. He went to the Yankees in the 28th round (874th pick).
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 08, 2007, 05:22:42 PM
North Park's Guillen Oney(Son of Ozzie Guillen) became the second CCIW player selected in the draft. He went to (No surprise here) the Chicago Whitesox.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 08, 2007, 07:57:15 PM
Congrats to Jeff Livek! After only being used sparingly his first 2 years, he got his chance and all the hard work paid off. Good luck, make us proud!!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 09, 2007, 03:18:02 PM
I'm a bit surprised (though as a Titan fan, also relieved! ;)) that Ricky Angel was not selected.  Guess you guys will have to deal with him for another year!

I'm not familiar with Guillen Oney - would you guys assess this as a legitimate pick or a gesture to his dad (something certainly not unprecedented in the later rounds)?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 09, 2007, 04:12:39 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 09, 2007, 03:18:02 PM

I'm not familiar with Guillen Oney - would you guys assess this as a legitimate pick or a gesture to his dad (something certainly not unprecedented in the later rounds)?

He does not appear on the North Park roster so I would guess it was latter of the two.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 09, 2007, 07:13:20 PM
I know he was on the NP squad during the 2006 season, but I'm pretty sure I remember Sager saying he wasn't on the roster for this year.  I'm only judging him on a double header I saw him play, but IMO it was definitely just a nice gesture from the White Sox.  I'm pretty sure he hit below .300 last year as well
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Pat Coleman on June 10, 2007, 11:01:13 AM
Like father ... :)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 11, 2007, 04:13:33 PM
Ha!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 12, 2007, 01:07:28 PM
Who is going to get the North Central Baseball job? Any top candidates?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on June 18, 2007, 05:52:06 PM
They are down to 4 or 5 top candidates and it should be announced fairly soon maybe as early as the end of this week.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 19, 2007, 11:18:24 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 18, 2007, 05:52:06 PM
They are down to 4 or 5 top candidates and it should be announced fairly soon maybe as early as the end of this week.

Any names to go with that?
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on June 20, 2007, 01:07:15 AM
John Fitzgerald- Assisstant Coach at Notre Dame
Shaun Neitzel- Aurora U Head Coach
Paul Wyczawski-Assisstant Coach at Murray State University
plus one or two others that I am not sure on the names.
I believe they have one more prospective coach to interview on campus then they should be making the offer.

I'll try to keep updates.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on June 20, 2007, 01:11:16 AM
In other news.. Titans ace Matt Aronson if transferring to Northwestern next year.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 20, 2007, 10:47:11 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 20, 2007, 01:11:16 AM
In other news.. Titans ace Matt Aronson if transferring to Northwestern next year.

Sweet!! The Carthage Nation is rejoicing!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Spence on June 21, 2007, 12:31:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 20, 2007, 10:47:11 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 20, 2007, 01:11:16 AM
In other news.. Titans ace Matt Aronson if transferring to Northwestern next year.

Sweet!! The Carthage Nation is rejoicing!

I don't think this is very sweet, though I suppose I might feel differently if I were in the same conference with the guy. But I hate seeing transfers up from D-III schools like this, Furbush, and a few others. It robs the division of great talents and makes some coaches afraid to sending their players to DI-heavy summer leagues for fear they'll be enticed to transfer even though they were perfectly happy where they were.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Jim Dixon on June 21, 2007, 02:32:09 PM
Quote from: Spence on June 21, 2007, 12:31:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 20, 2007, 10:47:11 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 20, 2007, 01:11:16 AM
In other news.. Titans ace Matt Aronson if transferring to Northwestern next year.

Sweet!! The Carthage Nation is rejoicing!

I don't think this is very sweet, though I suppose I might feel differently if I were in the same conference with the guy. But I hate seeing transfers up from D-III schools like this, Furbush, and a few others. It robs the division of great talents and makes some coaches afraid to sending their players to DI-heavy summer leagues for fear they'll be enticed to transfer even though they were perfectly happy where they were.

In reality D3 coaches have few defections to deal with.  Top Talents in D1 leave in their Junior year as they have the most leverage in their signing bonus at that point.   To stay for your senior year, you have to move up a lot in the draft order to match what your bonus potential is.

I always think that moving to D1 will help your prospects if a baseball carrer is the goal.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 21, 2007, 06:48:36 PM
Just got back from a camping trip to find the awful news about Matt Aronson. :( :'(

I blame Augie (the school, not the Carthage coach!): after giving up THREE earned runs the whole danged season, he was torched for four in one game in the regional.  He was afraid the CCIW might have finally figured him out - time to become the mystery man in the Big Ten! ;D

Good luck to Matt.  Fortunately, the Titan pitching staff will probably still top the CCIW next year, but this can't help!
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: augie28 on June 21, 2007, 11:19:00 PM
The loss of Aronson is a huge blow to Wesleyan after the season he had, but Martel always seems to find a way to put something together...after losing both Himes and Lapinski to the Astros a few years back, Dobosz stepped up and had a huge season.  Having said that though, it is still a huge relief for the other 7 schools.

I know it is a little late, but I havent checked the post in a while so I wanted to throw my 2-cents in about Oney Guillen as well.  In 2006, his stats in the 3 game series vs. Augie were 0-11, 6 Ks, 3 Es (giving him 16 errors on the season at that point about 3/4 of the way through the schedule).  I know that series is not indicitive of his entire year, but hopefully it erases all doubt that he was a legitimate draft pick.     It is still good to see CCIW names out there, but don't expect that one to stick around for long.

Word from Augustana is that Brandon Engle is looking to return for a 5th year (was injured his freshman year) barring any major setbacks from surgery he had to repair a torn labrum.  He went through the surgery immediately following this season so should have plenty of time to recover...that will make only 2 players that Augie lost this year(Pietroski and Meisenbach)
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: perfectgame on June 23, 2007, 02:40:58 PM
Aronson is not transferring anywhere next year. He will be at Wesleyan again
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on June 24, 2007, 12:24:42 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on June 23, 2007, 02:40:58 PM
Aronson is not transferring anywhere next year. He will be at Wesleyan again

Sorry for the wrong information, got the info from a current coach in the CCIW... Must have changed his mind.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 24, 2007, 02:44:25 PM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 24, 2007, 12:24:42 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on June 23, 2007, 02:40:58 PM
Aronson is not transferring anywhere next year. He will be at Wesleyan again

Sorry for the wrong information, got the info from a current coach in the CCIW... Must have changed his mind.

Beware of rival coaches indulging in wishful thinking! ;D

I certainly hope that Aronson is staying, but, with no 'letters of intent' in d3, I suppose no one knows for sure until next season.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 25, 2007, 08:54:34 PM
Jeff Livek is off to a good start for the staton island yankees.  His line read 2.2 inning pitched, no hit, no runs.  Word has it that the Redmen Senior 3rd baseman Tyler Yapp is coming back for a fifth year, and that there is a heckuva 1st baseman transferring from Bradley, I forget the name.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on June 26, 2007, 01:38:35 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on June 25, 2007, 08:54:34 PM
Jeff Livek is off to a good start for the staton island yankees.  His line read 2.2 inning pitched, no hit, no runs.  Word has it that the Redmen Senior 3rd baseman Tyler Yapp is coming back for a fifth year, and that there is a heckuva 1st baseman transferring from Bradley, I forget the name.


Lequia, John?  From Racine??
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 26, 2007, 03:49:07 PM
Livek picked up a win, and is now 1-0 and hasn't given up a hit yet in 3 1/3 innings. Keep up the good work! Not sure about the name of the transfer, I'll try and find out
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: CardinalAlum on June 29, 2007, 09:14:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 19, 2007, 11:18:24 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 18, 2007, 05:52:06 PM
They are down to 4 or 5 top candidates and it should be announced fairly soon maybe as early as the end of this week.

Any names to go with that?

Could be a surprise name creep into the mix!  Stay tuned.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: BigPoppa on June 29, 2007, 12:49:45 PM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on June 29, 2007, 09:14:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 19, 2007, 11:18:24 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on June 18, 2007, 05:52:06 PM
They are down to 4 or 5 top candidates and it should be announced fairly soon maybe as early as the end of this week.

Any names to go with that?

Could be a surprise name creep into the mix!  Stay tuned.

One name that came up in conversation this week was former Carthage assistant coach, Brian Mosher. I am not sure if he threw his hat in the ring, but he would be a great fit at North Central. 17 years as pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Carthage and one has to think he was partly responsible for the success of the Redmen over the years.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on June 29, 2007, 03:02:51 PM
Poppa... His name was not in the mix.. Not sure if he applied but rumor is that the job has been offered to someone and they gave him a week and we should know if he accepted it by Monday hopefully.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: REDMENFAN on June 29, 2007, 06:55:28 PM
Carthage 3rd base coach Adam Smith has been named a finalist for the UW-Platville head coaching job and interviewed today
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: SouthPaw on July 04, 2007, 04:18:02 PM
John Fitzgerald an assistant at Notre Dame was named the head coach at North Central
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: mwunder on July 05, 2007, 02:20:13 PM
To further underscore South Paws post...

http://www.noctrl.edu/x28417.xml
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: devildog29 on July 21, 2007, 12:53:50 PM
I'm not usually a follower on the baseball board, but with pro baseball in full swing, I was curious if anyone knows the whereabouts of Cory Lapinski and Drew Himes?  Are they still in the minors somewhere?  Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: CCIW
Post by: goldengear on July 22, 2007, 05:36:19 AM
Quote from: devildog29 on July 21, 2007, 12:53:50 PM
I'm not usually a follower on the baseball board, but with pro baseball in full swing, I was curious if anyone knows the whereabouts of Cory Lapinski and Drew Himes?  Are they still in the minors somewhere?  Thanks for the help.

Both done.
Title: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on September 18, 2007, 02:40:55 PM
The change in subject heading is to facilitate identifying a specific message board by sport and then by subject.  Good luck in 2008.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on September 27, 2007, 12:16:59 PM
Anybody have any info the CCIW fall-ball teams. Who brought in some good talent? Who lost more than they brought in? Who looks to be the favorite in 2008?

Will anybody run with Carthage/IWU/Augustana this year or is one of them due for a fall?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ljt2006 on October 01, 2007, 08:39:43 PM
I am wondering about the CCIW fallball, any updates?
it seems that this entire league goes into hibernation about baseball, especially on keeping interested fans up to date.
Who, what , where and how did any of the teams perform, improve, need work?

Also, where are the schedules?

Where are these teams going?  East, West during Spring, I have never seen such disregard in communicating or updating school websites with new rosters, new players coming in, alumni?????

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on October 02, 2007, 01:14:15 AM
Quote from: ljt2006 on October 01, 2007, 08:39:43 PM
I am wondering about the CCIW fallball, any updates?
it seems that this entire league goes into hibernation about baseball, especially on keeping interested fans up to date.
Who, what , where and how did any of the teams perform, improve, need work?

Also, where are the schedules?

Where are these teams going?  East, West during Spring, I have never seen such disregard in communicating or updating school websites with new rosters, new players coming in, alumni?????

I believe that fall ball (participation in the non-traditional season) announcements are formally discouraged by NCAA guidelines (help requested on the bylaws here).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ljt2006 on October 02, 2007, 03:14:18 PM
this sounds like collegiate misspeak, I want to find out who is new, who is gone, what the coaches who are still there are thinking about their chances.
there are colleges already publishing 2008 schedules (Wheaton college - CCIW) , so I don't get it?????
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: goldengear on October 02, 2007, 03:43:13 PM
Quote from: ljt2006 on October 02, 2007, 03:14:18 PM
this sounds like collegiate misspeak, I want to find out who is new, who is gone, what the coaches who are still there are thinking about their chances.
there are colleges already publishing 2008 schedules (Wheaton college - CCIW) , so I don't get it?????

Not sure what you don't get, most colleges list thier rosters and coaches on thier websites, for example:

http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/roster.html

If you are looking for discussion on who looks good and who doesn't, I think the proper place for that would be a board like this. Why don't you go first and tell everyone who you think is loaded or not for the coming season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on October 02, 2007, 07:26:22 PM
Quote from: goldengear on October 02, 2007, 03:43:13 PM
Not sure what you don't get, most colleges list thier rosters and coaches on thier websites...:
I think "most" is a gross generalization.  Why would a team post a fall ball roster on the web?  There are so many roster changes between now and the start of the 2008 season that it would not be particularly useful information.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: goldengear on October 03, 2007, 09:29:20 PM
Quote from: mr_b on October 02, 2007, 07:26:22 PM
Quote from: goldengear on October 02, 2007, 03:43:13 PM
Not sure what you don't get, most colleges list thier rosters and coaches on thier websites...:
I think "most" is a gross generalization.  Why would a team post a fall ball roster on the web?  There are so many roster changes between now and the start of the 2008 season that it would not be particularly useful information.

I don't know, certainly haven't done a scientific survey but it seems like more have their roster up than do not.

Why do they do it? Not really sure, but knowing most kids they probably like to see their name up on the roster on the website, you are right many changes will happen before real season begins, but isn't that the same with publishing say  the Bears roster in July  when everyone knows a lot won't be on the team come Labor Day?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ljt2006 on October 04, 2007, 12:50:09 AM
But they do publish the roster of the Bears in July with all the players whether they make the team or not, that to me is a senseless arguement and begs the question.
Where is the schedule?  Aren't games locked up years in advance (one visit to my place, next visit to yours)?  What is it really, lasiness? Indifference?
It harms no one to see who is being looked at and updates the websites with information, then it can confuse competition and make for some wonderful conversations over cocoa during the winter days of Dec & Jan before teams head out where? I don't know, it is not published ??? Why ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: goldengear on October 04, 2007, 07:17:20 AM
Perhaps I didn't write clearly enough, I was using the Bears Training Camp Roster as an example to respond to Mr. B that often times rosters are printed even though they have little relevance once the real season rolls around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on October 04, 2007, 10:16:49 AM
Quote from: ljt2006 on October 04, 2007, 12:50:09 AM

Where is the schedule?  Aren't games locked up years in advance (one visit to my place, next visit to yours)?  What is it really, lasiness? Indifference?
It harms no one to see who is being looked at and updates the websites with information, then it can confuse competition and make for some wonderful conversations over cocoa during the winter days of Dec & Jan before teams head out where? I don't know, it is not published ??? Why ???


From my own experiences a college head coach, often the schedules are not finalized until sometime in October. Coaches spend the summer recruiting players and the start of the school year in fall-ball. I doubt it has anything to do with laziness as it often just a result of trying to find an available team to play. Conference schedules are done a year in advance, but most coaches will not commit to non-conference games until the late summer/early fall. They sometimes need to wait for the Spring Break schedules to post before knowing how many "other" games they can schedule. Most programs that travel south for Spring Break let someone else (host school or tourney organizer) do the scheduling for them and cannot always know exactly how many games they will play on that trip.

A coach can want to get it done all he wants, but if other coaches are not ready to finalize, they cannot schedule games together.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on October 21, 2007, 11:12:27 AM
IWU has a transfer that is expected to make an impact this year - LHP Joe Froelich from Coastal Carolina University...

http://www.goccusports.com/baseball/?player=1551


I know the coaching staff feels like IWU's freshmen class is very strong.  Here is the roster...

http://www2.iwu.edu/menssports/baseball/base_roster08.shtml


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on January 14, 2008, 09:24:02 AM
Why isn't Jose Alba back with the Red Men this season?  Anyone know?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 23, 2008, 12:34:08 PM
Carthage has anounced its Spring Break schedule in Tampa Florida. Carthage plays a the College of Mount St. Joseph in a Sunday, March 16 doubleheader.  On Monday, March 17, the Red Men take on Centenary College in a twinbill.  Following an off-day on Tuesday, March 18, Carthage faces the University of Dallas in a Wednesday, March 19 doubleheader.  On Thursday, March 20, the Red Men play McDaniel College in a single game.  The trip concludes with single games versus St. Norbert College on both Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.

This is not the toughest southern trip Carthage has in front of them. Their toughest games should be with d3baseball.com #37 UT-Dallas and with #58 Mount St. Joseph.


Anybody have any infomation on Centenary College and McDaniel College?

It will be nice to see Carthage face D3baseball.com's pre-season First Team shortstop, Adam Frost and his St. Norbert's teammates on back to back day to finish the trip.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Spence on January 23, 2008, 02:08:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 23, 2008, 12:34:08 PM
Carthage has anounced its Spring Break schedule in Tampa Florida. Carthage plays a the College of Mount St. Joseph in a Sunday, March 16 doubleheader.  On Monday, March 17, the Red Men take on Centenary College in a twinbill.  Following an off-day on Tuesday, March 18, Carthage faces the University of Dallas in a Wednesday, March 19 doubleheader.  On Thursday, March 20, the Red Men play McDaniel College in a single game.  The trip concludes with single games versus St. Norbert College on both Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.

This is not the toughest southern trip Carthage has in front of them. Their toughest games should be with d3baseball.com #37 UT-Dallas and with #58 Mount St. Joseph.


Anybody have any infomation on Centenary College and McDaniel College?

It will be nice to see Carthage face D3baseball.com's pre-season First Team shortstop, Adam Frost and his St. Norbert's teammates on back to back day to finish the trip.

McDaniel was 9-22 last year, 4-14 in the Centennial.
Centenary was 22-13 last year, 13-5 in conference last year which wasn't that the Skyline? They're now a New York region team, in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, located in New Jersey.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on January 24, 2008, 01:06:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 23, 2008, 12:34:08 PM
This is not the toughest southern trip Carthage has in front of them. Their toughest games should be with d3baseball.com #37 UT-Dallas and with #58 Mount St. Joseph.


Teams ranked #37 and #58?  Where do you get these rankings?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: KYGrizzly on January 24, 2008, 01:18:50 PM
He probably got them from the poll on the front page of the D3baseball. They were teams that also received votes. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on January 24, 2008, 07:15:44 PM
Quote from: KYGrizzly on January 24, 2008, 01:18:50 PM
He probably got them from the poll on the front page of the D3baseball. They were teams that also received votes. 
Thanks.  I figured it had something to do with the "received votes" category, but I wouldn't read too much into  it.  That is to say, I wonder how significant that measure really is when you gauge match-ups after you get past the two or three teams that just missed out on making the top 25.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2008, 11:00:14 AM
Quote from: mr_b on January 24, 2008, 07:15:44 PM
Quote from: KYGrizzly on January 24, 2008, 01:18:50 PM
He probably got them from the poll on the front page of the D3baseball. They were teams that also received votes. 
Thanks.  I figured it had something to do with the "received votes" category, but I wouldn't read too much into  it.  That is to say, I wonder how significant that measure really is when you gauge match-ups after you get past the two or three teams that just missed out on making the top 25.

Whether their opponents are ranked or not, it is a relatively weak spring break schedule for the Redmen. Dallas could be their toughest matchup on the trip, unless St. Norberts rallies around its All-American shortstop.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 31, 2008, 01:29:13 PM
Here's the link to the Carthage player profiles.  Just go to players, and select profiles, not roster.  With Jose gone, the most likely candidate to fill the spot at SS is Joe Ferro, a transfer from a junior college.  The strength of the Redmen this year should be their 5 returning senior outfielders, and their starting pitching.

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on February 13, 2008, 01:28:52 PM
Here (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.asp?path=baseball) is this year's Wheaton roster
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on February 13, 2008, 05:14:03 PM
From the way the preseason CCIW coaches poll looks, it appears that the expectation is for the CCIW to be a 3-team race again among Carthage, IWU, and Augie.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2008preseasonpoll.php

Also, Ricky Angel and Matt Aronson from IWU, and Marc Blakeley from Augie were named Preseason 1st Team All-Americans, with Blakeley and Angel as unanimous selections.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2008D3Baseballpreseason.php
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 13, 2008, 06:09:27 PM
I don't think it is any surprise that virtually everyone sees it as a 3-team race.  My questions:

1.  Will any of the top three lay an egg - if so, who and why?

2.  Will any of the also-rans surprise their way into contention - if so, who and why?

My answers would be no and no, but most of you know the teams far better than I.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on February 13, 2008, 06:46:51 PM
I would definitely say no to the first question.  Augie has their entire pitching staff back and only lost 2 regular position players.  I'm pretty sure IWU has their entire pitching staff back and the majority of the position players as well.  Carthage has lost a few players, but they still have a ton of talent. 

However, I don't know enough about the rest of the teams to say no to the 2nd question, although my gut says no.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 14, 2008, 04:50:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 13, 2008, 06:09:27 PM
I don't think it is any surprise that virtually everyone sees it as a 3-team race.  My questions:

1.  Will any of the top three lay an egg - if so, who and why?

2.  Will any of the also-rans surprise their way into contention - if so, who and why?


1. I am certain that the top three will be the top three, though it might be tough to predict the order.

2. If any other team has a chance to make a dent this year I would give the nod to North Park.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 14, 2008, 07:05:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 14, 2008, 04:50:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 13, 2008, 06:09:27 PM
I don't think it is any surprise that virtually everyone sees it as a 3-team race.  My questions:

1.  Will any of the top three lay an egg - if so, who and why?

2.  Will any of the also-rans surprise their way into contention - if so, who and why?


1. I am certain that the top three will be the top three, though it might be tough to predict the order.

2. If any other team has a chance to make a dent this year I would give the nod to North Park.

BP, I'm afraid I can only give you a 75% on the essay exam - you omitted the second half of question 2! ;D

Why are you picking NPU as the possible breakthrough team - pitching? hitting? gut hunch?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2008, 03:29:50 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 14, 2008, 07:05:16 PMWhy are you picking NPU as the possible breakthrough team - pitching? hitting? gut hunch?

Perhaps it's because of the witty banter and boyish charms of yank52, mr. b, and yours truly. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on February 15, 2008, 07:54:25 AM
I do believe that our collective knowledge of the sport, leans a rather respective slant to our boys in blue. 
Looking forward to taking a southern trip (Memphis) and maybe taking in a game or two after visitin Beale street and a Sun records tour.
;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2008, 12:30:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 14, 2008, 07:05:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 14, 2008, 04:50:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 13, 2008, 06:09:27 PM
I don't think it is any surprise that virtually everyone sees it as a 3-team race.  My questions:

1.  Will any of the top three lay an egg - if so, who and why?

2.  Will any of the also-rans surprise their way into contention - if so, who and why?


1. I am certain that the top three will be the top three, though it might be tough to predict the order.

2. If any other team has a chance to make a dent this year I would give the nod to North Park.

BP, I'm afraid I can only give you a 75% on the essay exam - you omitted the second half of question 2! ;D

Why are you picking NPU as the possible breakthrough team - pitching? hitting? gut hunch?

Sorry... I am taking NPU because I tfeel that Coach Johnson is a solid recruiter and his first classes are in their junior and senior seasons which mean they should start producing. While not yet on the level of the "Big Three" they are still going to be tough to play, unlike the years prior to Johnson's arrival and the 1-39 season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2008, 06:48:38 PM
Quote from: yank52 on February 15, 2008, 07:54:25 AM
I do believe that our collective knowledge of the sport, leans a rather respective slant to our boys in blue. 
Looking forward to taking a southern trip (Memphis) and maybe taking in a game or two after visitin Beale street and a Sun records tour.
;D

Sounds like great fun. I've always wanted to see Memphis. Alas, I'm gonna have to wait under the home opener against Concordia (IL) on March 18 to see NPU in action.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 15, 2008, 07:07:52 PM
I've put the finishing touches on a new website for North Park Vikings baseball: http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html)  I hope to keep adding historical data, including picture scans and anecdotes from former players, along with current scores, game stories, and statistics.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 15, 2008, 07:12:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2008, 06:48:38 PM
Quote from: yank52 on February 15, 2008, 07:54:25 AM
I do believe that our collective knowledge of the sport, leans a rather respective slant to our boys in blue. 
Looking forward to taking a southern trip (Memphis) and maybe taking in a game or two after visitin Beale street and a Sun records tour.
;D

Sounds like great fun. I've always wanted to see Memphis. Alas, I'm gonna have to wait under the home opener against Concordia (IL) on March 18 to see NPU in action.
The Memphis trip should be fun.  We open on March 1st against Rhodes College, which won 36 games last season.  Later in the day we play Franklin College at USA Stadium in Millington.  On the 2nd we play Denison University in Memphis before returning home.  It'll be a great way to kick off the 2008 campaign; let's hope Mother Nature cooperates!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 15, 2008, 07:13:18 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2008, 03:29:50 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 14, 2008, 07:05:16 PMWhy are you picking NPU as the possible breakthrough team - pitching? hitting? gut hunch?

Perhaps it's because of the witty banter and boyish charms of yank52, mr. b, and yours truly. ;)
Or else it could be the boyish banter.  I'm not so sure about witty charms, however.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 18, 2008, 08:07:48 AM
Carthage landed a big transfer in 1st baseman/pitcher Jason Acevado.  He's from Bradley University, and very highly regarded by the Carthage coaching staff.  Also look for JC transfer outfielder Tony Rdzok.  He can really really swing it, and should compete for playing time with the 5 senior outfielders.  Will Hodges will be another name to watch out for in the future. He's a freshman outfielder who's shown a great stick, and can run like the wind.  You can read about all 3 of these guys, and the rest of the team on Carthage's baseball website by just clicking on players and then profiles
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: martin on February 20, 2008, 01:45:17 PM
Here we are on February 20, a foot of snow on the ground, wind chill that makes you ask why do we live here - and baseball games just 17 days away.  IWU and Chicago are heading to Terre Haute, IN on March 8-9 to try to get a jump on the season at Rose-Hulman.  RHIT is heading to Florida this weekend and will have nine games under their belts by the time they get back.  I think they will have a distinct advantage over IWU and Chicago which might get outdoors for a day or two before March 8-9.

I just checked, current temperatures:
Terre Haute - 12 - with a flood warning
Bloominton - 11
Chicago - 6

The ten day forecasts for each city predict these highs and lows on Feb 29:
Terre Haute - 39/29
Bloomington - 36/30
Chicago - 32/28
Normal high and low in Terre Haute on March 8 and 9 is 49/30.  A bit of variability - the record high for March 8 and 9 is 80, the record low is 1 on March 8 and 7 on March 9.

Chicago really needs to get some games in.  Their next scheduled game after that weekend is on March 23 in Hiroshima, Japan, against Waseda University.  The ball park seats about 35,000 - wonder how many they will draw?  I wonder how many people in Hiroshima will mention what happen under the west stands of the original Stagg Field on December 2, 1942? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Pile-1)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on February 20, 2008, 04:52:32 PM

Now that more eyes are on this site (as MLB's pitcher's and catcher's report), I'll ask this question again.

Quote from: mwunder on January 14, 2008, 09:24:02 AM
Why isn't Jose Alba back with the Red Men this season?  Anyone know?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 20, 2008, 08:15:31 PM
Quote from: martin on February 20, 2008, 01:45:17 PM
I wonder how many people in Hiroshima will mention what happen under the west stands of the original Stagg Field on December 2, 1942? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Pile-1)



I actually lectured on this topic today. Small world, huh?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on February 21, 2008, 03:24:10 PM
MWUNDER- I believe tuition was becoming an issue. I'm not 100% sure and can try finding out, but I'm almost certain I remember being told that a few months back
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: SouthPaw on February 21, 2008, 06:54:04 PM
North Central opens up their season with a three game series at Centre College this Sat and Sun. Hopefully it isnt too cold down there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 22, 2008, 03:40:03 AM
Quote from: mr_b on February 15, 2008, 07:07:52 PM
I've put the finishing touches on a new website for North Park Vikings baseball: http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html)  I hope to keep adding historical data, including picture scans and anecdotes from former players, along with current scores, game stories, and statistics.

I recommend that all CCIW baseball fans check out Mr. B's site. It's pretty spiffy!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on February 29, 2008, 12:09:52 AM
I'm in.  Former All-CCIW pitcher.  I think it's awesome that there's talk about CCIW baseball on line now.  I will be counting on all of you to give me updates (I am also a high school coach, so I really can't see very many games at all).

How do you all see (I'm sure there are some current players reading this) North Park shaping up this year?

I'd like to see a pre-season ranking from some of you, if possible.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 29, 2008, 07:06:55 AM
NPU's baseball preview is up:

http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=2601

One thing not mentioned in the article is that Luke Johnson actually had to make cuts to get his roster down to a workable size. While I don't think that there's anything cheerful on a personal level about getting cut from a team, I think that this is great news. It shows that there is a real groundswell of interest in Vikings baseball. I can't remember the last time that a North Park team in any sport had to make preseason cuts. It probably hasn't happened since Bosko Djurickovic was let go in 1994, since the men's basketball team used to have 30-40 guys show up and try to make the team back in the day.

Mr. B, does Luke still have plans in the works for North Park to play a JV schedule this spring?

Quote from: Viking Blue on February 29, 2008, 12:09:52 AMHow do you all see (I'm sure there are some current players reading this) North Park shaping up this year?

I'd like to see a pre-season ranking from some of you, if possible.

The coaches poll has the Park picked to finish sixth. I don't know how accurate the coaches poll has tended to be over the years. I do know for a fact that Luke Johnson will not be a happy camper if his team only finishes in sixth place.

Opening day for NPU is Saturday down in Memphis against Rhodes and Franklin. Hope the weather's good down there for ya, Yank!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augiefan on February 29, 2008, 06:20:32 PM
Augie will open their season tomorrow in Florida. It should be a good year for the CCIW with Carthage and IWU the favorites going in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 01, 2008, 07:35:43 PM
Rhodes defeated North Park, 7-6, in NPU's opener this morning on the home field of the Lynx in Memphis. It was the tenth game of the season for the Lynx, who are now 7-3. No word yet on North Park's game this afternoon against Franklin, which I believe was also played at Rhodes.

Augustana opened its season with a split against Widener in Florida, with the Pennsylvanians winning the opener, 9-7, and Augie taking the nightcap, 8-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 01, 2008, 11:16:14 PM
North Park dropped the nightcap to Franklin College, 6-0.  It was a very tight contest through six-plus innings, but the Grizzlies scored three unearned runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Scream on March 02, 2008, 02:58:46 PM
mr b - any word on today's game against Denison?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: vmax48 on March 02, 2008, 10:02:57 PM
According to Denison's website their Soph pitcher threw a no-hitter vs NPU.  Game was 10-0 in 7 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 02, 2008, 11:21:17 PM
sad to say that North Park went 0 - 3 on this road trip, they scored 3 runs in the 1st 2 innings of the Rhodes game then proceeded to score 3 runs in the next 23 innings.  they had 2 hits in the 2nd game against Franklin wasting a good outing by the starter. the 3rd game against Dennison was not pretty, no offense and suspect on defense.

I hope they got their innings in and the trip coming up in Phoenix will give the team a chance to redeem themselves or its going to be a long season.

I for one like their chances in Phoenix then a few games of non-conference in sub freezing weather and on to the CCIW !!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 03, 2008, 12:41:18 AM
Quote from: vmax48 on March 02, 2008, 10:02:57 PM
According to Denison's website their Soph pitcher threw a no-hitter vs NPU.  Game was 10-0 in 7 innings.
I gave one Viking a hit in the game despite all the press to the contrary.  Frankie Green hit a popup to shallow right.  The second baseman was running with his back to the infield, and as he was reaching for the ball, he collided with the right fielder.  That's not an error in my book.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 03, 2008, 12:41:34 AM
Quote from: vmax48 on March 02, 2008, 10:02:57 PM
According to Denison's website their Soph pitcher threw a no-hitter vs NPU.  Game was 10-0 in 7 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 03, 2008, 08:11:19 AM
I agree with Mr B, I thought that the play he was referring to was a hit not an error, but the scorer was a Rhodes player not someone who would be unbiased.
The same happened in the 1st game versus (Rhodes/NPU), the scorer was giving the home team a few more hits when they were obviously errors.

Good for you Mr B, I like to give proper acknowledgement to a well pitched game by opponents and I also like it when plays that are obvious are called.

Saying this didn't you think that the officials were calling everything low during this weekend. I wish they would go back to the rules (letters to knees).

Pardon my french "Damn the professional influence of the past 20years!!!"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 03, 2008, 08:13:04 AM
Here's the link the the Carthage Baseball preview on the Carthage website. You have to scroll about half way down the page to get to the 2007 recap and 2008 preview.  A lot of great insight from head coach Augie Schmidt.

http://carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/preview.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: KYGrizzly on March 03, 2008, 08:31:26 AM
Quote from: yank52 on March 03, 2008, 08:11:19 AM
Saying this didn't you think that the officials were calling everything low during this weekend. I wish they would go back to the rules (letters to knees).
Not only were they calling them low, they were also giving the pitchers a good 6 inches outside the corners.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 03, 2008, 08:35:54 AM
Quote from: yank52 on March 03, 2008, 08:11:19 AM
I agree with Mr B, I thought that the play he was referring to was a hit not an error, but the scorer was a Rhodes player not someone who would be unbiased.
The same happened in the 1st game versus (Rhodes/NPU), the scorer was giving the home team a few more hits when they were obviously errors.

Good for you Mr B, I like to give proper acknowledgement to a well pitched game by opponents and I also like it when plays that are obvious are called.

Saying this didn't you think that the officials were calling everything low during this weekend. I wish they would go back to the rules (letters to knees).

Pardon my french "Damn the professional influence of the past 20years!!!"
I usually agree with the official scorer's decision on a close call, but in this case I disagree.  I also checked with our first-base coach, who was even closer to the play than I was.  It should have been ruled a hit, not an error.  It is a good example of using judgment in deciding what constitutes "reasonable effort."  Had the Denison player made the catch, it would have been an outstanding play.  What I was was this: his back was to the infield, and he collided with a teammate.  That's not "reasonable effort" in my book.

By the way, Denison's team defense looked really good.  They made some nice picks in the infield the whole game, getting to some hard-hit grounders.  They're going to win a lot of games this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on March 03, 2008, 01:10:02 PM
One of Augustana's Sr. pitchers is off to a good start down in Florida...his first start of the year vs. Widener

Augustana (IL)         IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Brandon Engle.......  7.0  5  0  0  1  4 24 25
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: VABBlue on March 04, 2008, 02:07:09 PM
It looks as if the CCIW has gotten off to a rough start in the baseball season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augiefan on March 04, 2008, 08:43:01 PM
Augie is 3-1 in the first 4 games of their Florida trip with wins over Beloit, Husson and Widener and an opening day loss to Widener. I know nothing about any of these teams other than Beloit, which has a traditionally bad baseball program.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 04, 2008, 09:49:26 PM
To add a little to Augiefan's comment:  Beloit is coming off a 12 win season (usually a poor program), but Husson (27 wins) and Widener (26 wins) are coming off strong seasons.  That does not tell the whole story for this season, but it says a little bit.

Augie's offense has been the story so far outscoring their opponents 50-18 in 4 games.  They have put up 4 HRs; 6 3Bs and 12 2Bs.  This is a good sign as a strong returning pitching staff is expected to turn it up as the season progresses. 

A few key notes:  Mark Ramos (starting SS) pitched 3 relief innings to pick up his first victory against Beloit; Jr. John Wagle leads the team in hitting @ 13-18 (.684) with 4 2Bs, 1 3B and 2 HRs; he is followed by Soph. Aaron Hopson (.545), Sr. Marc Blakeley (.471) and Jr. Myles Kurnick (.412). 

Brandon Engle and Matt Erickson both had strong first starts while Eric Knott and Mike Pagano struggled a little but will most likely turn it around to round up the starting rotation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: martin on March 06, 2008, 03:35:36 PM
IWU and Chicago's trip down to Rose Hulman this weekend has been cancelled. SNow and temperatures below freezing are forecast.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: VABBlue on March 06, 2008, 05:14:07 PM
Augustana takes a twin bill against Gettysburg in Florida.


Game 1:

Augustana - 12
Gettysburg- 6

Game 2:

Augustana : 11
Gettysburg- 3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 08, 2008, 06:52:59 PM
Augustana finished their first Florida trip 6-1.  As a team they are hitting .397 with 10 HRs, 6 3Bs and 17 2Bs and are also 17-22 in SBs.  The pitching staff ended up with an ERA of 4.00 behind two strong starts each from Brandon Engle and Matt Erickson.

They head back to Florida next weekend to Arcadia, RPI, Ripon and St. Norbert on Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2008, 08:01:55 AM
Over the first two days of the Russ Matt Tournament down in Phoenix, NPU lost to Waynesburg, 5-4, on Saturday and defeated Dickinson, 15-4, on Sunday. The Vikings will face Calvin today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 10, 2008, 08:14:07 AM
Finally, victory and the Vikings tied an NCAA record 3 triples in one inning.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda if only they had spread the 16hits and 8 walks in the first four games, but that is just a fan pondering.
Much success on this trip to NPU, and come home to a chilly 30 degree day, 1st game March 18th at home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: VABBlue on March 10, 2008, 04:35:57 PM
Wheaton moves to 3-0 on their trip with a 4-3 win over Sewanee.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2008, 03:27:22 AM
Another frustrating loss for the Vikings on Monday, this one a 12-9 slugfest with Calvin. NPU really needs to have the pitching start coming together.

The Vikings take on D2 Bemidji State on Tuesday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 11, 2008, 06:50:51 PM
New D3Baseball.com poll

6. Carthage
11. IWU
15. Augustana

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 12, 2008, 01:33:55 AM
North Park defeated Milwaukee Technical College in a JV contest, 11-9, and followed that up with a 13-6 victory over D2 Bemidji State.  The game was halted in the bottom of the 8th (NPU leading 12-5, Bemidji at bat, one run in, bases loaded, one out) when the automatic sprinkler system went off and soaked the infield for a good five minutes.  It happened just as reliever Andy Sherwood got to the mound to make some warm-up pitches.  There didn't seem to be any event staff around (it was 7 PM), so the game was stopped for 55 minutes.  Finally play was resumed when everyone was satisfied that the field was playable.  It was a truly bizarre scene.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2008, 10:42:29 AM
Nice feature article about Carthage Senior Pitcher Jacob Husing today in the Kenosha Newspaper. Here's the link

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2668352
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: VABBlue on March 12, 2008, 12:44:44 PM
It was a pretty good article. I hope to see the kid do well. He seems like a fine young man. Now only if we could correct that writer and tell him that Illinois Wesleyan is the Titans and not the Vikings.   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 13, 2008, 09:59:02 PM
Augustana won 17-0 over a 2-8 Arcadia team today.  Soph Mike Pagano threw a CG, 10 Ks.  Soph. Aaron Hopson hit his 2nd HR of the year and Jr. Mark Ramos went 4-4 with 2 3Bs. 

The offense continues to shine...they are outscoring opponents 101-30 and are hitting .405 so far this year.

Augie plays 6-0 RPI Friday, 4-1 Ripon Saturday and 0-0 St. Norbert on Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2008, 02:26:01 AM
North Park battered Monmouth, 21-1, down in Arizona. According to Mr. B's website it was the most lopsided NPU win in a decade. The only run given up by the Vikings was on a ninth-inning passed ball. Senior hurlers Tom Neckopoulos and Armando Alcazar held the Fighting Scots to seven hits, while a whole bunch of guys had good days at the plate: Senior Brady Josephson went 2-3 with 3 RBIs and four runs; sophomore Dan O'Connell went 2-4 with 5 RBIs and two runs; junior Sean Keane went 2-2 with three runs; and sophomore Tyler Burback scored three runs as well.  Freshman Zach Deutscher had a bases-loaded triple to go with his grand slam earlier this week against Dickinson. Thirteen Vikings in total recorded hits. NPU improved to 3-5, while Monmouth dropped to 1-6.

The Vikings take on Rob Berki's other alma mater, Doane College (3-10), on Friday night, then conclude their spring trip with a game against Marian (0-0) on Saturday morning before returning to the Windy City for the home opener on Tuesday against Concordia IL (7-1).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 14, 2008, 10:00:16 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2008, 02:26:01 AM
North Park battered Monmouth, 21-1, down in Arizona. According to Mr. B's website it was the most lopsided NPU win in a decade.
I've got some game photos uploaded.  It was quite a showing by the Vikings.

http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/games/game08.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/games/game08.html)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 14, 2008, 11:37:48 AM
Ok... I confess I have virtually no knowledge regarding CCIW baseball other than the schools that have the stronger programs and the fact that Wheaton's program has historically been awful.

I do not know the level of competition they have played to this point, but when was the last time Wheaton started the season 7-0?  Heck, they only had 11 wins all of last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 14, 2008, 01:01:05 PM
Quote from: Mugsy on March 14, 2008, 11:37:48 AM
Ok... I confess I have virtually no knowledge regarding CCIW baseball other than the schools that have the stronger programs and the fact that Wheaton's program has historically been awful.

I do not know the level of competition they have played to this point, but when was the last time Wheaton started the season 7-0?  Heck, they only had 11 wins all of last year.

Unfortunately, the combined record of the teams they have beaten is 6-24.  Penn State Altoona 2-6, Sewanee 0-6, NJCU 3-6, and Becker 1-6.  Its good to see the Thunder get some wins, but I'm expecting the usual once CCIW play begins.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 14, 2008, 01:05:40 PM
Quote from: matblake on March 14, 2008, 01:01:05 PM
Quote from: Mugsy on March 14, 2008, 11:37:48 AM
Ok... I confess I have virtually no knowledge regarding CCIW baseball other than the schools that have the stronger programs and the fact that Wheaton's program has historically been awful.

I do not know the level of competition they have played to this point, but when was the last time Wheaton started the season 7-0?  Heck, they only had 11 wins all of last year.

Unfortunately, the combined record of the teams they have beaten is 6-24.  Penn State Altoona 2-6, Sewanee 0-6, NJCU 3-6, and Becker 1-6.  Its good to see the Thunder get some wins, but I'm expecting the usual once CCIW play begins.   

Yeah... I wasn't expecting anything grand from the Wheaton team, other than maybe some reasonable improvement.  I don't expect them to push the IWU, Carthage and Augie teams.  Hopefully they'll compete a little better though...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2008, 12:13:53 PM
Here's a season preview from the racine journal times today about the Carthage Baseball team. There's also a preview of UW-Parkside, which is now coached my former Major Leaguer and former Carthage assistant Jarvis Brown.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/03/15/local_sports/doc47db535f51562129525086.txt
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 15, 2008, 01:19:36 PM
Carthage game 1 is canceled today due to wet field conditions.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on March 16, 2008, 07:19:24 PM
Well, after looking at EC,NC,AC, and Benedictine, I hate to say this but my Cousin is choosing to play baseball next year for Augustana.  :-[ 
He is currently a Senior at Notre Dame High School and is an elite pitcher and shortstop.  Not a bad hitter either.  He will do well for the Vikings, and would have PREFERRED to see him in a Bluejays uniform!  >:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2008, 04:56:00 AM
NPU beat Doane on Friday, 6-2, but dropped the contest to Marian on Saturday, 7-2, to wind up the spring trip. The loss to the Sabres was particularly bothersome in light of the fact that it was Marian's first game of the season.

Looking forward to Tuesday's North Park home opener against the Cougars of Concordia (IL). The forecast is for a high of 51o. Heck, after what we've endured this winter, that's practically t-shirt-and-shorts weather.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 17, 2008, 08:15:21 AM

NPU is 4 and 6 today, last year they came back from spring trip 2 and 5, the Friday 7 pm game and Saturday 9 am game were close together, the era is in the 5's could be lower and the team is hitting over .300.  The next 2 weeks will be pivotal 6 games , the 1st against a 7 and 1 team.  I'd like to see them be at least 9 and 7 before the CCIW conference starter (Millikin).  The past 2 years with only 14 wins each is a barrier the Vikings need to break to get Coach Johnson's moving into the right direction (competing for the conference title.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 17, 2008, 08:16:19 AM
Oops!  just read that Concordia is now 9 and 1, this will be a great test to see if the Vikings can compete with winning programs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 17, 2008, 10:24:14 AM
Here's the article in the kenosha news today about Carthage's sweep of Mount St. Joes yesterday.  They're currently 3-0, with their top 3 pitchers all throwing gems. Keep it up Redmen!!

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2700573
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 17, 2008, 11:13:56 PM
This Josh (Jason) Acevado kid might be a heck of a ballplayer if his first 5 games in the Carthage red and black are any indication....

so far...9-17 (.529 clip) 8R, 2 2b, 2 3b, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, for a SLG % of 1.059.  His day today included hitting for the cycle.  Not a bad start.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on March 17, 2008, 11:48:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2008, 04:56:00 AM
NPU beat Doane on Friday, 6-2, but dropped the contest to Marian on Saturday, 7-2, to wind up the spring trip. The loss to the Sabres was particularly bothersome in light of the fact that it was Marian's first game of the season.

I think that loss will look OK at the end of the year. Marian is one of my sleeper teams this year. I think the Sabres will contend with Concordia-Chicago and Edgewood in the Nathcon. In fact, I think Marian wins it this year.

Marian also beat a very good Keene State team, 9-2, the next day. That's the same KSC team that beat New Jersey, if you buy into the opponent's opponent's opponents game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2008, 10:12:51 AM
Here's the article in the Kenosha News today about Carthage's sweep yesterday.  Towards the end of the article, Augie makes it clear the defense needs to improve, and says he's just going to bench players that he thought had a chance to play and give the reserves a chance to win some spots if they can play solid defense. Augie never fails when interviewed by the paper, you know there's going to be something interesting!!

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2704521
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2008, 10:30:59 AM
Just saw the new poll. Carthage moved up three spots to number 3 in the poll, Augustana moved up to number 12, and IWU dropped to #21. Obviously its still March, and these aren't as important as they are come end of April, but its great to see 3 teams representing the CCIW in the top 25
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 18, 2008, 10:52:24 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2008, 10:30:59 AM
Just saw the new poll. Carthage moved up three spots to number 3 in the poll, Augustana moved up to number 12, and IWU dropped to #21. Obviously its still March, and these aren't as important as they are come end of April, but its great to see 3 teams representing the CCIW in the top 25

Wheaton also go two votes....they must have impressed someone down south.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 18, 2008, 02:13:41 PM
I didn't even notice that, congrats to them as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 18, 2008, 06:27:47 PM
Interesting to see Wheaton getting some votes.  I didn't even realize they got off to a 7-2 start.  Regardless of the level of competition they are playing, that is an impressive start for a traditionally thin Wheaton team...its always good to see CCIW teams get off to strong starts as it makes for an even more interesting conference season.

Anyone have any insight into this year's Wheaton team? Will they keep it up? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BoomerIL on March 19, 2008, 09:15:21 AM
augie28.....

On a different subject, last year there was a player on Augustana's roster by the name of Pat Caragher.  He is not on the roster this year.  Any idea why he isn't playing??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 19, 2008, 06:21:41 PM
BoomerIL, 

I am only a few years out of the Augie program and stay fairly well connected, but I have never heard of Pat Caragher.  Over the past 4 or 5 years, the number of players trying out at Augie has really jumped and there have been a number of unexpected cuts (even of upperclassmen) and also a number of players leaving the program because of their position on the depth charts.      I don't know if either of these cases apply to Caragher, but thats as much as I have to offer.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 19, 2008, 07:16:38 PM
Quote from: augie28 on March 19, 2008, 06:21:41 PM
BoomerIL, 

I am only a few years out of the Augie program and stay fairly well connected, but I have never heard of Pat Caragher.  Over the past 4 or 5 years, the number of players trying out at Augie has really jumped and there have been a number of unexpected cuts (even of upperclassmen) and also a number of players leaving the program because of their position on the depth charts.      I don't know if either of these cases apply to Caragher, but thats as much as I have to offer.


There was no listing of Caragher in the 2007 stats, either.  His name did appear on the Augie roster submitted for the CCIW Tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2008, 08:28:58 PM
#3 Carthage moved to 7-0 this season with a 16-7 and 12-2 sweep of UT-Dallas this afternoon. They are off to an impressive start, but like I mentioned in December, this is not a very challenging southern schedule for the Redmen. They will face much tougher pitching inside the CCIW with Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan's arms in the mix.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on March 19, 2008, 08:49:42 PM
Down in Florida watching Carthage play. They are hitting the ball pretty well. Stats are on the Carthage website. I'm very impressed with the pitching for the Redmen. Starting they are 5 deep and that's pretty awesome for the rotation. Overall Acevedo and Rdzox (Called "ZOK") are hitting the ball hard, and in the gaps.

Against Dallas Rdzox hit a ball down the right field line, and it was 430 out there and hit a in the park home run, the same happened to Gragnani.

The only problem with Carthage right now in their infield, Carthage is making too many errors right now. I'm sure Augie won't accept errors with the infield and all Carthage fans know that will be fixed
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 19, 2008, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on March 19, 2008, 08:49:42 PM
Against Dallas Rdzox hit a ball down the right field line, and it was 430 out there and hit a in the park home run, the same happened to Gragnani.

430 down the line?  Were they playing in the Grand Canyon?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BoomerIL on March 19, 2008, 09:44:30 PM
augie28....mr_b....

Thanks for the feedback.  Caragher and my son played little league together, but then played at different high schools, my son at Lyons Township and Pat at Nazareth Academy.  I know he was rostered in 2007, but didn't see any stats on him either.  I thought I saw an early pre-season posting of a roster with his name on it, but then maybe not.  Caragher is a big kid about 6'-2" and about 190 that could throw hard, but didn't see him pitch in high school.  Swung a good bat, but then again maybe the depth of the roster eithe rconvinced him to stop playing, or maybe he decided to redshirt.  Don't know. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 19, 2008, 10:47:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2008, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on March 19, 2008, 08:49:42 PM
Against Dallas Rdzox hit a ball down the right field line, and it was 430 out there and hit a in the park home run, the same happened to Gragnani.

430 down the line?  Were they playing in the Grand Canyon?

Miller Huggins Field...It has historical value in that it is (was?) the sprint training home of the Yankees.  I can't find any dimensions on the field, but the only decent photo I can find of it does show it to be immense.

http://www.russmattbaseball.com/?page=venues&tournament=tb

Will Hodges hit a ball that traveled a reported 450' today, according to the write-up on the Carthage site.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BoomerIL on March 20, 2008, 12:03:54 AM
mwunder.....

My sons team, the Univ. of Rochester, played at Miller Huggins Field on the 9th and 10th, and the dimensions are 340 down the left field line, 400 to center, and 430 to right.  A little odd shaped but really nice.  There is a paved walking trail next to the field that circles a small lake.  One of the locals came by and said that there are legion games played there, some college teams practice there as well as a periodic minor league team or two.  Its also located in a residential area.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 20, 2008, 12:16:58 AM
Quote from: mwunder on March 19, 2008, 10:47:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2008, 09:25:50 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on March 19, 2008, 08:49:42 PM
Against Dallas Rdzox hit a ball down the right field line, and it was 430 out there and hit a in the park home run, the same happened to Gragnani.
430 down the line?  Were they playing in the Grand Canyon?
Miller Huggins Field...It has historical value in that it is (was?) the spring training home of the Yankees.  I can't find any dimensions on the field, but the only decent photo I can find of it does show it to be immense.
http://www.russmattbaseball.com/?page=venues&tournament=tb
Will Hodges hit a ball that traveled a reported 450' today, according to the write-up on the Carthage site.
It is immense.  The foul territories are massive.  How many triples does the average game see on that field?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 20, 2008, 12:22:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 19, 2008, 08:28:58 PM
#3 Carthage moved to 7-0 this season with a 16-7 and 12-2 sweep of UT-Dallas this afternoon. They are off to an impressive start, but like I mentioned in December, this is not a very challenging southern schedule for the Redmen. They will face much tougher pitching inside the CCIW with Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan's arms in the mix.
Augie played University of Dallas not UT-Dallas.

University of Dallas left the ASC-East after 2001.

UDallas would probably finish fourth or fifth in the ASC-East.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 20, 2008, 10:35:01 AM
Here's the article in today's paper about Carthage moving on to 7-0. Augie states that this was old school Carthage baseball from the 1st inning to the last.  The only thing I was surprised about was that Krepline gave up 6 runs and 10 hits in just 5 innings of work. He was only on 3 days rest though. Sure is nice to have six days off between starts during the conference season!


http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2714560
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2008, 11:14:45 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 20, 2008, 12:22:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 19, 2008, 08:28:58 PM
#3 Carthage moved to 7-0 this season with a 16-7 and 12-2 sweep of UT-Dallas this afternoon. They are off to an impressive start, but like I mentioned in December, this is not a very challenging southern schedule for the Redmen. They will face much tougher pitching inside the CCIW with Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan's arms in the mix.
Augie played University of Dallas not UT-Dallas.

University of Dallas left the ASC-East after 2001.

UDallas would probably finish fourth or fifth in the ASC-East.

Thanks, Ralph- did not mean to mix them up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 20, 2008, 02:07:11 PM
Redman1, when did you head down to Florida and when are you coming back? I saw you called me a few days ago, tried calling you back but no answer. Hope you're having a good time and not drinking too many cold ones!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2008, 02:47:22 PM
I was pretty disappointed by NPU's home opener a couple of days ago. Concordia (IL) beat the Vikings, 11-5, and while the Cougars proved that their strong W-L record is legit -- they did have a good starting pitcher and some burly lads who can really swing the lumber -- it didn't exactly put me in good cheer to see the Park lose for the second time in a row to a NAthCon team. There were too many Vikings who got fooled by junk pitches, especially the ones thrown by the Concordia starter, and drove the ball straight into the ground; six groundball outs that never got past the pitcher is not a good sign. Zach Deutscher got rocked pretty hard by the Cougars, and that 1-2, 8.82 stat line of his after three starts is troubling. Of course, he's only a freshman, so you have to give him some leeway. Luke Johnson's pretty high on Deutscher's potential, according to the NPU season preview.

On the plus side, North Park did get a couple of deep homers out of Zach Laffey and Dan O'Donnell, the latter of whom splashed the first "channel ball" of the season. And it was good to see that NPU's Brady Josephson was named as the CCIW Hitter of the Week.

The Vikings host a doubleheader against Dominican (5-3) this afternoon, and I'm looking for NPU to get it right this time against a NAthCon opponent.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on March 20, 2008, 05:10:02 PM
Redmenfan, I did call you, my phone has been not working too well down here. I flew down Friday night, and I'm flying back Saturday. Very nice weather, sunny and 80's pretty much everyday. Carthage won again today. Wind was blowing in, but we still hit some shots all over the field. Ruffie pitched a very nice game. Boe was playing second base today and looked pretty good.

Overall great start, and we have to keep it going. St. Norberts will be tough the next 2 days
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 20, 2008, 09:28:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2008, 02:47:22 PM

The Vikings host a doubleheader against Dominican (5-3) this afternoon, and I'm looking for NPU to get it right this time against a NAthCon opponent.
You got your wish, Greg.  The Vikings took a pair from the Stars, both short-game victories.  The first game was 11-1 and the second was 14-4.  In the first game, Mike Giovenco (3-1) outdueled Stars ace Mike Eifel; Giovenco gave up two hits and a run in the first, then only one hit thereafter, striking out 8.  Tyler Burback went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIS and Trevor Popp was 3-for-4 with a big 2-run single.  In the second game, the Vikings scored 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh to win it, with Zach Laffey's 3-run walk-off home run the big blow.  Burback was 3-for-4 in game two, 7-for-9 on the day.  Asfandyar Khan got the win in relief of Tom Neckopulos, striking out four of the the five batters he faced.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 21, 2008, 08:20:04 AM
Here's the article from the paper about Carthage's win yesterday.  Augie says that they're eight games into the season, and they're holding tryouts during games at first, second and third base.  Pretty crazy that centerfielder Boe Baitinger started at 2nd base. 

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2719176
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 21, 2008, 08:57:05 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 20, 2008, 09:28:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2008, 02:47:22 PM

The Vikings host a doubleheader against Dominican (5-3) this afternoon, and I'm looking for NPU to get it right this time against a NAthCon opponent.
You got your wish, Greg.  The Vikings took a pair from the Stars, both short-game victories.  The first game was 11-1 and the second was 14-4.  In the first game, Mike Giovenco (3-1) outdueled Stars ace Mike Eifel; Giovenco gave up two hits and a run in the first, then only one hit thereafter, striking out 8.  Tyler Burback went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIS and Trevor Popp was 3-for-4 with a big 2-run single.  In the second game, the Vikings scored 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh to win it, with Zach Laffey's 3-run walk-off home run the big blow.  Burback was 3-for-4 in game two, 7-for-9 on the day.  Asfandyar Khan got the win in relief of Tom Neckopulos, striking out four of the the five batters he faced.

That's great to see. I'm sorry that I had to miss the games because of work.

NPU (6-7) next swings into action on Monday against defending NAthCon champion Rockford (3-4) up in the Forest City.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2008, 10:35:32 AM
Not too surprising. In 1997, Augie started All-American outfielder, Shorty Flees, at shortstop because of the same problems.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 22, 2008, 03:22:56 PM
Carthage ends their southern swing with a 10-0 mark after taking a second game from St. Norbert's today by a score of 10-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 26, 2008, 12:43:08 AM
"NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan's Mike Cunningham and Carthage's Trace Ruffie were named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Baseball Players of the Week Tuesday after their performances during the previous week of competition.

Cunningham, a sophomore shortstop from River Forest, Ill., and Oak Park-River Forest High School, batted .550 (11-for-20) in five games with five RBI, two walks, a sacrifice and a double. Cunningham had four hits and two RBI and scored twice in a 21-16 loss at Millsaps. He had three hits in a win over Benedictine and two hits each against Mississippi College and Union University. He had a perfect fielding percentage with 19 assists and six put-outs and was one-for-one in stolen base attempts.

Ruffie, a sophomore pitcher from Mount Prospect, Ill., and Hersey High School, went 2-0 during the Red Men's 10-0 trip to the RussMat Tampa Bay Invitational. Ruffie gave up no earned runs, one walk and had 16 strikeouts in 15.0 innings pitched. Ruffie allowed two un-earned runs in seven innings in an 11-2 win over Mount St Joseph on March 16. He also blanked McDaniel College on six hits over eight innings on March 20."


As an aside here, I'm not sure what fielding percentage has to do with being the hitter of the week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 26, 2008, 01:02:26 AM
No offense intended towards Mike Cunningham, he had a great week, but it seems to me that Jason Acevado's numbers were a little more impressive...

15 for 27 (.555) 6 runs, 17 RBIs, 1.222 Slg% AND he hit for the cycle in a game.  (Stats are from the 17th thru the 22nd as I'm not sure what days the CCIW voters take into account).  All this, and he had an 0-3 day mixed in there. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2008, 01:18:58 AM
North Park obliterated Maranatha Baptist, 15-0, this afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Junior hurler Brad DeJong pitched a two-hitter (with an inning each of relief from sophomores Sean Turnbull and Pat Richards). Freshman 3B Trevor Popp went 3-3 with 4 RBI; senior CF Frankie Green went 3-4; sophomore SS Nick Marino went 3-5; sophomore RF Tyler Burback went 2-3 with 3 RBI; and sophomore LF Dan O'Donnell went 2-4 with 3 RBI. Freshman Angel Carrasco came off the bench and hit his first career home run as well.

NPU (7-7) faces Benedictine (6-6) tomorrow out in Lisle. The Eagles are coming off of a pair of narrow losses to CCIW powers, having dropped a 9-6 decision to Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday on Wash U's field down in St. Louis, and an 11-9 contest to Augustana today at the BU athletic complex. Should be an interesting barometer for the Vikings tomorrow to see how they're coming along. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 26, 2008, 08:39:29 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2008, 01:18:58 AM
North Park obliterated Maranatha Baptist, 15-0, this afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Complex. Junior hurler Brad DeJong pitched a two-hitter (with an inning each of relief from sophomores Sean Turnbull and Pat Richards).
Actually, De Jong allowed just one of the two hits (the other came off Turnbull) over five strong innings.  It was encouraging because De Jong hadn't pitched since getting hit in the ankle with a line drive in his last appearance against Calvin in Phoenix.
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2008, 01:18:58 AM
Should be an interesting barometer for the Vikings tomorrow to see how they're coming along. 
Benedictine always gives the Vikings a good contest.  It's an important tune-up before CCIW action commences this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 26, 2008, 12:03:52 PM
Augie is 13-2 overall heading into conference, going 4-0 since their Florida trip.  In the last week they have beaten Monmouth 10-3, Aurora 6-5, Concordia 3-2 and Benedictine 11-9.  Not dominant wins by any means, but a good way to start the conference season. 

They play North Central (4-5) this weekend.  I would expect Augie to take all 3 (anyone have an opinion otherwise).  Engle, Knott and Pagano will most likely get the starts and all three have thrown well over their past few starts.

Looking at the conference standings, 6 of 8 teams are at .500 or better with NC and Elmhurst at 4-5 and 4-6 respectively.  Overall, I would say that is a pretty strong pre-season for the CCIW. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 26, 2008, 01:24:18 PM
I am going to take a wild guess and say that Augie, IWU and Carthage run away with the top three spots and that it is a crapshoot for the 4th, and final, post-season spot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 26, 2008, 10:38:24 PM
Sat through an entertaining game this early chilly evening in Lisle, NPU vs Benedictine.  There were some interesting innings with NPU jumping on top 6 to 1 after 2 then the Eagles came back down 6 to 5 in the eigth but this year the Vikings win 8 to 5. 
CCIW conference starts this weekend and it will be some easy wins for top tiered teams but the 4th thru 8th spots will be contended for on a more even basis.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on March 26, 2008, 10:51:21 PM
North Central always gives Augie a tough time.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals took one from Augie.  I would be surprised if they won the series, though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2008, 01:15:47 AM
Quote from: augie28 on March 26, 2008, 12:03:52 PMOverall, I would say that is a pretty strong pre-season for the CCIW. 

Regular season, not preseason. Those non-conference games count, too.

Quote from: yank52 on March 26, 2008, 10:38:24 PM
Sat through an entertaining game this early chilly evening in Lisle, NPU vs Benedictine.  There were some interesting innings with NPU jumping on top 6 to 1 after 2 then the Eagles came back down 6 to 5 in the eigth but this year the Vikings win 8 to 5. 
CCIW conference starts this weekend and it will be some easy wins for top tiered teams but the 4th thru 8th spots will be contended for on a more even basis.

Mr. B's recap is here (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=2637). Sounds like it was quite a game. Solid win for the Park, which has been bedeviled by Benedictine in recent seasons.

North Park (8-7) opens up league play on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against Millikin (7-2).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 27, 2008, 07:48:34 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2008, 01:15:47 AM
Mr. B's recap is here (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=2637). Sounds like it was quite a game. Solid win for the Park, which has been bedeviled by Benedictine in recent seasons.
I believe it's the first Viking win over Benedictine since 1998.  The two teams tied in 1999 when the game was halted (in the 8th inning, as I remember) due to darkness.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 27, 2008, 11:00:59 AM
Thanks for the correction.  We have seen in recent years how much the "pre-conference" games really do count come tourney time so I didn't mean to downsize them in any way.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 27, 2008, 02:33:16 PM
Here is the boxscore (http://www.cuchicago.edu/athletics/stats/men/baseball/2008/whtncuc.htm) for the Wheaton/CUC game from 6/26.  Here's (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/3/26/base-cuc.asp?path=baseball) the write up from the Wheaton website.  I'm happy the way that Wheaton is at least competing right now.  With a program devoid of success as Wheaton, its good to see a competitive game against better competition.  We'll get to see how they stack up with the big boys from Kenosha this weekend. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on March 27, 2008, 03:29:10 PM
I have heard that the Carthage Wheaton game tomorrow has been changed to 3:00 and Legion Field. Also, anyone know if they will actually play tomorrow. We are getting snow up here in Kenosha right now. We might never have a home game this year!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2008, 03:42:10 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on March 27, 2008, 03:29:10 PM
I have heard that the Carthage Wheaton game tomorrow has been changed to 3:00 and Legion Field. Also, anyone know if they will actually play tomorrow. We are getting snow up here in Kenosha right now. We might never have a home game this year!!

It's a balmy 85 and Sunny in Southern California right now, but oddly enough, I miss the weather in K-town. Nothing wakes you up like that first blast of cold air off Lake Michigan at 7:45 on your way to class.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on March 27, 2008, 03:57:08 PM
You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2008, 04:49:00 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on March 27, 2008, 03:57:08 PM
You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.

I was back for the holidays, but missed the bitter cold of early-January.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2008, 12:05:50 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2008, 04:49:00 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on March 27, 2008, 03:57:08 PM
You can tell BigPoppa has not been in CCIW-land this winter.

I was back for the holidays, but missed the bitter cold of early-January.

The bitter cold of early January isn't as much of a stress-inducer, as only the very naive or the very stupid would expect the weather to be anything but bitter cold at that time of year in Kenosha or Chicago. Cold and snow at the end of March is much more likely to make you grit your teeth and want to hit something. It's like being a kid who runs downstairs on Christmas morning in ecstatic anticipation, only to find no presents under the tree and a phone message from Santa in which he says that he has the flu and won't be stopping by for another week or two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on March 28, 2008, 10:10:12 PM
Conference begins!!!!!!!!!!!!

predicitions: ??????????????

Elmhurst  1 game vs Illinois Wesleyan 2games
Carthage 2 games vs Wheaton 1game
North Central 1 game vs Augustana 2games
Millikin  1 game vs North Park 2games

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 28, 2008, 10:38:52 PM
I'll join your fourth prediction, but take sweeps by the 'big 3'.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on March 28, 2008, 11:34:20 PM
IWU 2 out of 3 over Elmhurst
Carthage 3 over Wheaton
Augie 2 out of 3 over NCC
NP 2 out of 3 over Millikin

IWU and Augie could both easily sweep, but IWU hasn't been playing great thus far (at least looking at their box scores) and NCC usually somehow figures out how to take one from Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 29, 2008, 12:41:11 AM
Last year IWU was a .500 team out of conference, 20-1 in conference.  While I am definitely not predicting 20 wins again, I'll stick with outrageous predictions until proven wrong! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2008, 08:38:09 PM
NPU swept Millikin today, 13-4 and 5-4. Details to follow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on March 29, 2008, 11:20:03 PM
Augie wins 6-5 and 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 30, 2008, 11:10:15 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2008, 08:38:09 PM
NPU swept Millikin today, 13-4 and 5-4. Details to follow.
You can read the press releases by clicking on the "results" for each game:

http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 30, 2008, 11:52:34 AM
Here's the article about Carthage's doubleheader sweep over Wheaton yesterday.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2761610
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on March 30, 2008, 11:09:45 PM
Anyone know any scores from today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2008, 12:14:48 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 30, 2008, 11:10:15 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2008, 08:38:09 PM
NPU swept Millikin today, 13-4 and 5-4. Details to follow.
You can read the press releases by clicking on the "results" for each game:

http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html)


Yes, I was going to get to posting that link, but I was waylaid from returning to the computer.

NPU lost on Sunday, 5-2, giving the Vikings a two-wins-out-of-three weekend against the Big Blue.

Augie took two from NCC this weekend, and Illinois Wesleyan took two from Elmhurst. Both were only two-game series. As noted above, Carthage swept a doubleheader from Wheaton, with the third game of the series to be played on Monday at Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on March 31, 2008, 12:58:08 AM
I hope to see better umpiring throughout the rest of the CCIW season.  The umpires of the Carthage/Wheaton games were absolutely horrendous in every area.  Still well played games, but easily one of the worst crews I have ever seen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 31, 2008, 07:56:40 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2008, 12:14:48 AM
NPU lost on Sunday, 5-2, giving the Vikings a two-wins-out-of-three weekend against the Big Blue.
I'm not sure where you found that score, but the final result was 11-6 in favor of Millikin.  It was a 5-4 game in the eighth when a Viking error helped the Big Blue score five times.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on March 31, 2008, 02:09:46 PM
Augie/NCC on sunday was cancelled. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2008, 01:30:01 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 31, 2008, 07:56:40 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2008, 12:14:48 AM
NPU lost on Sunday, 5-2, giving the Vikings a two-wins-out-of-three weekend against the Big Blue.
I'm not sure where you found that score, but the final result was 11-6 in favor of Millikin.  It was a 5-4 game in the eighth when a Viking error helped the Big Blue score five times.

As I said, I wasn't near a computer on Sunday, so I called the campus center to see if the main desk there had the score. They told me that NPU had lost, 5-2. Dunno where they got that score, either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 01, 2008, 11:16:21 AM
The Wheaton/Carthage game was rained out (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/3/31/rain.asp?path=baseball).  Re-scheduled for next Monday (4/7) at Legion Field (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/gen/2007/LegionField.asp?path=baseball).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2008, 11:28:56 AM
Quote from: matblake on April 01, 2008, 11:16:21 AM
The Wheaton/Carthage game was rained out (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/3/31/rain.asp?path=baseball).  Re-scheduled for next Monday (4/7) at Legion Field (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/gen/2007/LegionField.asp?path=baseball).

You've gotta love the fact that pitching depth will be tested early in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 01, 2008, 08:53:23 PM
Carthage sweeps double dip from North Park today.

http://carthage.edu/athletics/

Carthage hit I believe 13 home runs today. I heard wind was blowing out to right. Many balls ended up in the river. Nice job by the Redmen and keep the wins coming!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 01, 2008, 09:28:00 PM
13 HRs is a nice little boost for the stat sheet...not that the Carthage offense generally needs one.

Augie and Elmhurst split today.  Augie 7-0 in game 1 and Elmhurst 4-2 in game 2.

Freshman Adam Doyle threw a CG 2-hitter in game 1 in his first career start.  In game 2, Kevin Dencker came in and continued to throw well in relief, but the offense came up short.   

Interestingly, Eric Knott (who seemed to have been Augie's #3 starter) did not pitch today.  It may just be a result of a short week as he would not have full rest before their Friday/Saturday matchup with Wheaton.  Starter Matt Erickson only gave up 4 runs, which isnt awful, but still a dissapointing loss. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 01, 2008, 10:30:24 PM
What a pathetic showing the last 3 games for the NP Vikings.
11, 21, 18 runs after moving their ERA to below 5 prior to these massacres.

hopefully the next few weeks will build on the 10wins they have but it looks like a repeat of last year when they were 11 and 10 and finished 14 and 26.

I am optomistic and it may well turn out they finish 20 and 20.

good luck Vikings you will need it!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 01, 2008, 10:35:18 PM
I know the wind was blowing out, but does anyone know how deep the NP fence is down the lines and to center? If it was 13 homeruns, that's awesome, but had to be a pretty short porch
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 01, 2008, 10:52:09 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 01, 2008, 10:35:18 PM
I know the wind was blowing out, but does anyone know how deep the NP fence is down the lines and to center? If it was 13 homeruns, that's awesome, but had to be a pretty short porch
I don't know the distance, but all but one Carthage home run was to right (Hodges hit one to left).  Some of the homers to right were legitimate, while others barely made it into the stands.  Carthage was very effective at taking advantage of the jet stream today!  The whole lineup hits well, wind or no wind.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2008, 12:26:08 AM
Quote from: RedMan1 on April 01, 2008, 08:53:23 PMCarthage hit I believe 13 home runs today. I heard wind was blowing out to right. Many balls ended up in the river.

You mean the channel, not the river. The channel runs behind the football stands, and the river runs behind the first-base dugout in foul territory.

Quote from: yank52 on April 01, 2008, 10:30:24 PM
What a pathetic showing the last 3 games for the NP Vikings.
11, 21, 18 runs after moving their ERA to below 5 prior to these massacres.

hopefully the next few weeks will build on the 10wins they have but it looks like a repeat of last year when they were 11 and 10 and finished 14 and 26.

I am optomistic and it may well turn out they finish 20 and 20.

good luck Vikings you will need it!!!!


NPU's pitching thus far has certainly been inconsistent, particularly with regard to the starters. I know that the wind direction combined with the short porch in right and a loaded Carthage lineup boded ill will for the Vikings, but 13 home runs on the day is ridiculous. The NPU hurlers need to seriously step up their games. Carthage's prowess at the plate does not excuse this sort of embarrassment.

Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 01, 2008, 10:35:18 PM
I know the wind was blowing out, but does anyone know how deep the NP fence is down the lines and to center? If it was 13 homeruns, that's awesome, but had to be a pretty short porch

I don't think the exact dimensions have ever been measured, but my guess is that the right field corner at Holmgren Athletic Complex is about 280-285 feet from home plate. It's about 300 to the alley in right, maybe 330 or so to deep center, and probably about 315 to the alley in left and 300 down the left-field line. Those are my guesses, but anyone at a ballgame at NPU can tell that the uneven dimensions caused by the football stands create an invitiing target for lefthanded hitters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 02:44:50 AM
What in the wide world of sports? It's 280-330 at a college ballpark? Wow! Do second basemen slip on the warning track on pop flies to right?

I learn something every day on these boards, but this is a top-fiver to learn that a college team plays on a slightly larger field than my 8-year-old niece does in T-ball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2008, 05:53:32 AM
Well, I could be wrong on the other dimensions aside from the right-field line. They could be somewhat deeper than the figures I gave. But I'm pretty sure that it's about 285 feet down the right-field line. I've heard that figure from a former NPU baseball coach. It isn't 300 feet, that's for sure.

Quote from: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 02:44:50 AMI learn something every day on these boards, but this is a top-fiver to learn that a college team plays on a slightly larger field than my 8-year-old niece does in T-ball.

Not every school in America has the luxury of unlimited greenspace, OshDude, or the money with which to buy up land in a pricey urban neighborhood for the sole purpose of using it as a footprint for a baseball stadium. North Park University is a small school with a modest $50,000,000 endowment that's located in a Chicago neighborhood in which a two-bedroom home on a standard 25' x 125' lot currently goes for $400,000 or more on the open market. The idea of buying up half a square block's worth of lots, razing all the buildings on it, and then constructing a baseball stadium on the site is absolutely ludicrous. It would represent hideously poor stewardship of the school's limited funds.

The more modest alternative, renting a field for the NPU baseball team, isn't really feasible, either. For one, it would put NPU baseball coach Luke Johnson at a disadvantage in terms of scheduling, since he would be at the mercy of whoever owned the field with regard to getting whatever practice and game times he felt was necessary for the team. Second, it would add vastly more expense in terms of rent than the NPU baseball team currently requires in the way of field upkeep (Holmgren Athletic Complex has extremely low-maintenance Fieldturf, and the players groom and cover the dirt cutouts around the bases and the home plate area themselves). Third, a rented field would not be in close proximity to the North Park campus. Northeastern Illinois University, located two blocks west of NPU on Foster Avenue, has an unused baseball stadium, but it has dimensions that are no bigger than the ones at North Park's HAC. The closest ballpark that has standard college baseball outfield dimensions is UIC's Les Miller Field, 6 1/2 miles south and three miles east of the NPU campus (neither DePaul nor Loyola have baseball teams or baseball stadia).

The only realistic place for North Park to play baseball is at the HAC. It's located on a narrow strip of land leased from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, bracketed on two sides by Chicago streets (Foster Avenue and Albany Avenue), on a third side by the North Branch of the Chicago River, and on the fourth by the North Shore Channel (the drainage canal that runs through the city's North Side and through the North Shore suburbs and which forms an alternate connection between the North Branch and Lake Michigan). This narrow strip of land is best suited for a football stadium, and Holmgren Athletic Complex is in fact where NPU's football and soccer teams play. But it's also the only place on campus to put a ballpark for the baseball Vikings, so the baseball team plays on a diamond tucked into the southwest corner of the field and the softball team plays on a diamond tucked into the northwest corner of the field. The combination of the narrow plot of land (HAC is only about a city block wide) and the football stands creates the short porch in right field.

It's not unheard of for baseball teams to have to make do with a short field within the confines of a stadium primarily designed for football. For the first four years after they moved to the West Coast, prior to the construction of Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, the Los Angeles Dodgers played their home games in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (http://www.ballparkwatch.com/stadiums/past/la_coliseum.htm), which forced them to deal with a left field line that was only 250 feet from home plate. It should also be noted that the Polo Grounds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_Grounds), where the Giants played for decades and the Yankees and Mets played for shorter periods, had a right field line that was 258 feet from home plate, a left field line that was 279 feet from home plate, and a left field overhang that made it possible to hit a 250-foot home run to left.

It's easy to make snarky comments about somebody else's school. But it's often a little tougher to make them once you actually have the facts at hand.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gotberg on April 02, 2008, 08:57:50 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2008, 05:53:32 AM
North Park University is a small school with a modest $50,000,000 endowment that's located in a Chicago neighborhood in which a two-bedroom home on a standard 25' x 125' lot currently goes for $400,000 or more on the open market.

Greg,

As of June 2007, endowment was slightly over 62 million:  http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?NorthPark=About.Abt_Facts

I received a form letter from Dr. Parkyn's office recently that stated the same number.  According to wikipedia.org, endowment was just 36 million in 2005.  That's a nice increase over a 2 year period assuming wikipedia has accurate numbers.

This doesn't change your argument, but just an fyi.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 10:36:50 AM
Well said Greg.  I would have to say that NPU has done an awfully good job with what they have.  The addition of the "new turf" has given them the ability to use that field 365 days a year if need be and not worry about wear and tear.  They also have used every square inch in order to make it the most realistic baseball and softball fields possible.  In a neighborhood like that, with open land being unaffordable if available at all, it is really not a terrible place to play unless the wind plays a major role. 

I also have no idea what the actual dimensions are, but I would agree with it being close to 290 down the right field line.  I would have to say center is closer to 375 though (once again with nothing to go on other than visual memory.  When I last played there, it continued to go out further as you moved into left field and the left field line was back near the softball field at 400'+.  Is that still the case, or have they created a temporary fence at a more reasonable distance?

In any case, that's both the great thing and the rough thing about D3 sports.  You see fields, stadiums and amenities from every side of the spectrum.  Just within the CCIW you have nice fields at IWU, Carthage, NCC and the $1.5 million stadium at Augie, which in my biased opinion is the best.  Then there is the fair playing surface but poor baseball environment at NPU, followed by nothing more than average high school fields at Millikin, Elmhurst and Wheaton. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 02, 2008, 01:56:04 PM
Wheaton takes one from North Central and hits 2 grand slams in one inning.  The second game was tied when it was called for darkness.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/1/base-ncc1.asp?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 02, 2008, 04:07:14 PM
Thanks for the info Sager.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 04:25:22 PM
I see North Park got some pub for tying a D3 record with two grand slams in an inning. 

Does anyone know where Carthage's 8 HRs in one game this weekend ranks in the CCIW or D3? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2008, 04:50:04 PM
Quote from: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 04:25:22 PM
I see North Park got some pub for tying a D3 record with two grand slams in an inning. 

Does anyone know where Carthage's 8 HRs in one game this weekend ranks in the CCIW or D3? 

The two grand slams were hit by Wheaton, not NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 05:04:58 PM
I like how you turned a lame joke into an affront to everything that is North Park. A shrug of the shoulders, a roll of the eyes or maybe even a chuckle was my expectation. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

Didn't know I needed boxing gloves after making jokes about field dimensions. Have a nice day, Sager and everyone else who saw things his way. Keep taking the North Park fight to the oppressors who think the dimensions of a baseball field reflect poorly on a university. You know, people like me, or so I just read.

I think 280-330 feet, like was written, is worthy of a comment. How that comment is received isn't up to me. Fire away, I guess.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 06:31:44 PM
Thanks BigPoppa
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2008, 09:39:08 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on April 02, 2008, 08:57:50 AM
Greg,

As of June 2007, endowment was slightly over 62 million:  http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?NorthPark=About.Abt_Facts

I received a form letter from Dr. Parkyn's office recently that stated the same number.  According to wikipedia.org, endowment was just 36 million in 2005.  That's a nice increase over a 2 year period assuming wikipedia has accurate numbers.

This doesn't change your argument, but just an fyi.


Yeah, I knew that NPU passed 50 million sometime last year. I just didn't bother trying to locate the new number. Thanks for the update.

Quote from: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 10:36:50 AM
I also have no idea what the actual dimensions are, but I would agree with it being close to 290 down the right field line.  I would have to say center is closer to 375 though (once again with nothing to go on other than visual memory.  When I last played there, it continued to go out further as you moved into left field and the left field line was back near the softball field at 400'+.  Is that still the case, or have they created a temporary fence at a more reasonable distance?

There is a temporary fence that cuts across the edge of the softball infield. It's still significantly deeper down the left field line than it is down the right field line.

You could be right about center field being in the 375 range. It's probably somewhere between my guess and yours.

Quote from: augie28 on April 02, 2008, 10:36:50 AM
In any case, that's both the great thing and the rough thing about D3 sports.  You see fields, stadiums and amenities from every side of the spectrum.  Just within the CCIW you have nice fields at IWU, Carthage, NCC and the $1.5 million stadium at Augie, which in my biased opinion is the best.  Then there is the fair playing surface but poor baseball environment at NPU, followed by nothing more than average high school fields at Millikin, Elmhurst and Wheaton.

Very true. The thing that we all have to keep in mind is that this is D3, and at this level many (if not most) schools have to work around varying sets of limitations when it comes to athletics. Well put, augie28.

Quote from: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 05:04:58 PM
I like how you turned a lame joke into an affront to everything that is North Park. A shrug of the shoulders, a roll of the eyes or maybe even a chuckle was my expectation. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

Didn't know I needed boxing gloves after making jokes about field dimensions. Have a nice day, Sager and everyone else who saw things his way. Keep taking the North Park fight to the oppressors who think the dimensions of a baseball field reflect poorly on a university. You know, people like me, or so I just read.

I think 280-330 feet, like was written, is worthy of a comment. How that comment is received isn't up to me. Fire away, I guess.

Rather than fire back at your obnoxious dig at North Park with a like-minded riposte, I thought that I'd take the high road and explain for you the circumstances behind the lopsided dimensions of NPU's ballpark (along with a couple of major league examples that show that a foul pole 285 feet from home plate is not exactly unprecedented). Sorry if the high road did not satisfy your thirst for snarky banter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2008, 10:16:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2008, 09:39:08 PM
Quote from: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 05:04:58 PM
I like how you turned a lame joke into an affront to everything that is North Park. A shrug of the shoulders, a roll of the eyes or maybe even a chuckle was my expectation. Ah well, can't win 'em all.

Didn't know I needed boxing gloves after making jokes about field dimensions. Have a nice day, Sager and everyone else who saw things his way. Keep taking the North Park fight to the oppressors who think the dimensions of a baseball field reflect poorly on a university. You know, people like me, or so I just read.

I think 280-330 feet, like was written, is worthy of a comment. How that comment is received isn't up to me. Fire away, I guess.

Rather than fire back at your obnoxious dig at North Park with a like-minded riposte, I thought that I'd take the high road and explain for you the circumstances behind the lopsided dimensions of NPU's ballpark (along with a couple of major league examples that show that a foul pole 285 feet from home plate is not exactly unprecedented). Sorry if the high road did not satisfy your thirst for snarky banter.
What has not been mentioned is the previous incarnation of the field, a traditional grass and dirt infield in a smaller footprint than the current field.  Home plate was a scant few feet from the back screen; passed balls and wild pitches did not easily allow runners to advance.  The new field has a much nicer stretch of green behind home plate that approximates what I've seen at other fields.

The old field had dugouts that were made of wood and would jam two dozen players together just behind the coaching boxes... and with no protective barriers such as fencing.  Imagine the hazards.  The present brick dugouts are wide and deep with high ceilings and a long aluminum bench... a welcome difference!

There was a Tartanturf track (used by the track teams) that ran around the perimeter of the stadium and in front of the old bleachers.  It also served as the warning track from center to right.  Try diving for balls on that surface.  There were no foul poles, as I recall.

What the old field had and what the present field lacks is an enormous net -- a la Fenway Green monster, maybe 25 feet high, that ran from the right field corner to about right-center.  It knocked down a lot of cheapie home runs and converted them to doubles and singles.  I believe the distance down the right field line was about the same as it is now, whatever that number is.

The current temporary fencing from left to center runs a straight line, and a home run to left-center and straightaway center requires quite a poke.  Line drives to deep gaps often yield triples and inside-the-park homers.

The field turf is low maintenance and gives fielders true hops.  The drainage system is outstanding.

It's a field that fits into an existing space that we are happy to have.  Sure, we all wish we had another ten or twenty acres, but in an urban setting, it's a clever multi-use facility (baseball, softball, football, soccer) which we greatly appreciate.


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 02, 2008, 10:35:29 PM
What you call the high road I call not being able to take a joke, er, obnoxious dig. You are too funny. Keep seeing things in your ultra-defensive way and not reading things for what they are, my friend. Some day your imaginary foe will put up a fight because nowhere did I mention economics, geographic location or why anything is the way it is.

Is a 330-foot field commentable? How my benign comment on field dimensions devolved into a reply like yours is awesome. Guess what? The world is not trying to dump on North Park. But please keep defending it for no reason. It has a tiny baseball field. And like the old Dodger Stadium, people will make comments about it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2008, 12:17:02 AM
I can take a joke just fine, thank you very much. However, a wisecrack from out of nowhere about a field only being fit for your eight-year-old niece is hardly benign. In fact, it isn't something that is going to be received in a light-hearted manner by anyone, regardless of how good a sense of humor he has. It's just plain nasty. Perhaps if you would've eased up on the hyperbole it would've been received better.

I thought that I was paying you some respect by explaining the circumstances behind the field's size rather than coming back at you or UW-Oshkosh in a similar heavy-handed manner. It just goes to show that best intentions are simply wasted on some people.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 03, 2008, 01:19:56 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2008, 12:17:02 AM
I can take a joke just fine, thank you very much. However, a wisecrack from out of nowhere about a field only being fit for your eight-year-old niece is hardly benign. In fact, it isn't something that is going to be received in a light-hearted manner by anyone, regardless of how good a sense of humor he has. It's just plain nasty. Perhaps if you would've eased up on the hyperbole it would've been received better.
I thought that I was paying you some respect by explaining the circumstances behind the field's size rather than coming back at you or UW-Oshkosh in a similar heavy-handed manner. It just goes to show that best intentions are simply wasted on some people.
"Only"? Maybe reread my post.

And hey, we agree on something! Amen to the last sentence.

I'm someone who finds humor in what was written. Maybe I don't count toward your "anyone."

You can say anything truthful about Oshkosh that you want. Lol. Heck, you can even skip a level and make it heavy-handed. I guarantee you I won't give you a civics/history lesson to prove why what you wrote is true, that's for sure.

And my niece plays T-ball on a symmetrical 280(ish)-foot field. No hyperbole there. She also rolled one to the wall last year, but the [joke alert] pitcher had nothing left in the third inning of a [joke alert, but probably close] 26-24 game. Plus, [joke alert] my niece can rake a bit.

I'll file it away: don't make jokes about North Park's baseball field. There are many things I won't joke about. I didn't think a NPU facility would be one of them. Lesson learned. I'm done. I promise.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2008, 01:38:25 AM
Quote from: OshDude on April 03, 2008, 01:19:56 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2008, 12:17:02 AM
I can take a joke just fine, thank you very much. However, a wisecrack from out of nowhere about a field only being fit for your eight-year-old niece is hardly benign. In fact, it isn't something that is going to be received in a light-hearted manner by anyone, regardless of how good a sense of humor he has. It's just plain nasty. Perhaps if you would've eased up on the hyperbole it would've been received better.
I thought that I was paying you some respect by explaining the circumstances behind the field's size rather than coming back at you or UW-Oshkosh in a similar heavy-handed manner. It just goes to show that best intentions are simply wasted on some people.
"Only"? Maybe reread my post.

And hey, we agree on something! Amen to the last sentence.

I'm someone who finds humor in what was written. Maybe I don't count toward your "anyone."

You can say anything truthful about Oshkosh that you want. Lol. Heck, you can even skip a level and make it heavy-handed. I guarantee you I won't give you a civics/history lesson to prove why what you wrote is true, that's for sure.

And my niece plays T-ball on a symetrical 280-foot field. No hyperbole there. She also rolled one to the wall last year, but the [joke alert] pitcher had nothing left in the third inning of a [joke alert, but probably close] 26-24 game. Plus, my niece can rake a bit.

I'll file it away: don't make jokes about North Park's baseball field. There are many things I won't joke about. I didn't think a NPU facility would be one of them. Lesson learned. I'm done. I promise.

And thank God for that. I didn't think it was possible for someone to outdo me at making a mountain out of a molehill, even in the wake of one of my six-paragraph extravaganzas, but you somehow managed to pull it off. Congratulations.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 03, 2008, 12:02:25 PM
Wheaton wins again (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/2/baseball-aurora.asp?path=baseball), this time against Aurora.  They pass their win total from last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 03, 2008, 06:08:02 PM
This weekend's 3-game series between Augie and Wheaton has come to be a fairly big weekend if Augie wants to stay strong at the top of the conference.  They could really use 3 wins after dropping a game to Elmhurst this week, but that won't be an easy task with the way Wheaton is playing.

Has anyone seen Wheaton in person?  How is their pitching/fielding and what should I expect to see this weekend?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 04, 2008, 06:57:58 PM
Greg, I do not remember seeing the baseball field during my excursion to Foster and Kedzie in 2005.   :)

Does the 285' right field dimension avail itself to some novel solution like a "baggy" a la Metrodome or a Fenway-like wall?

Holmgren (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=Baseball.Base_StadiumFac)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 04, 2008, 07:13:16 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 04, 2008, 06:57:58 PM
Greg, I do not remember seeing the baseball field during my excursion to Foster and Kedzie in 2005.   :)

Does the 285' right field dimension avail itself to some novel solution like a "baggy" a la Metrodome or a Fenway-like wall?

Holmgren (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=Baseball.Base_StadiumFac)
There used to be a big net that rose a good 20-30' above the old bleachers and extended from the right-field foul line to about right-center field, but when the new bleachers were put up, the net was not kept.

As I mentioned before, I don't know the dimensions, but the right field corner is a relatively short porch.  The bleachers run at less than a right angle and right-center is a pretty good home run distance, while straight-away center field requires a real shot.  The wall along the bleachers is a good 8-10 feet high with padding all along the base of the bleachers.  Here is a photo of Sean Keane leading off first base that gives you a better idea : http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/games/game17.html (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/games/game17.html)  Click on the photo to enlarge; you'll see an angle pointing toward right-center, where the field starts to get deep pretty quickly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 04, 2008, 10:23:30 PM
Wow, been away a few days. I guess I never should've asked the dimensions of NP's field! Ah well, it made for some interesting reading!!   ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 05, 2008, 06:01:35 PM
Carthage wins game 1 at Millikin 1-0 in 12 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 05, 2008, 10:06:24 PM
Thanks, Mr b.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 05, 2008, 11:33:05 PM
what is going on with NPU?
lose 4 win 6 lose 5

I thought this was a dark horse team in this conference?
I'm now just estatic they beat Millikin 2 out of 3, because after Saturday's performance I see the future or just this year and I don't realistically see them winning another series.

Funny I thought this was the year they would go north of .500 but it seems they really are too close to the North Sider neighbors and its wait till next year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 06, 2008, 11:40:00 AM
Augie takes 2 of 3 from Wheaton. 

Game 1 - Wheaton 7, Augie 6
Game 2 - Augie 25, Wheaton 8
Game 3 - Augie 15, Wheaton 11

A pretty ugly weekend all around for pitchers.  Wheaton gave up 21 walks in the Saturday DH.  In game 2, Augie scored 25 runs on only 16 hits (including 5 HRs), 12 BBs and 6 Wheaton errors.

Augie lost game 1 after two 7th inning errors allowed wheaton to tie the game and then a 9th inning error put them ahead (6 errors in all for the vikings)

Augie also saw two of their top pitchers (Pagano and Knott) get knocked around quite a bit.  Kevin Dencker came in and continued to throw well with two hitless innings to preserve the game 3 win, but it was just an all around sloppy day.

I did not think Wheaton's pitching was respectable enough to determine whether Augie can win with their offense like this all season, but they have been doing it so far so that looks like what they are going to have to do.  They hit the ball hard and got on base consistantly throughout the lineup.  Soph Aaron Hopson has been in the 9 slot all year and has 6 HRs already despite missing a few weeks of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 06, 2008, 12:26:13 PM
Here's the article in today's paper about Carthage's two wins yesterday against the Big Blue. Augie clearly not happy with the performance, and has a hilarious quote about trying to milk a dry cow. 

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2793172
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 06, 2008, 04:38:27 PM
Carthage comes back and beats Milikin 4-3. Tough weekend for Redmen, but we will take a sweep. It is always good to have close games for later on in the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2008, 06:20:31 PM
One third of the way in, it is definitely looking like the big three (Elmhurst is 4th at 3-4).  If Augie's pitching doesn't come around, it may even be the big two - they're already two games down (5-2, vs. 7-0 for Carthage and IWU), and all six games against the other contenders are in Bloomington and Kenosha.

Like Carthage really needed a break from the schedulers:  the last two weekends they play Augie and IWU, with all six games in Kenosha! ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 06, 2008, 09:35:03 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 06, 2008, 12:26:13 PM
Here's the article in today's paper about Carthage's two wins yesterday against the Big Blue. Augie clearly not happy with the performance, and has a hilarious quote about trying to milk a dry cow. 

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2793172


Aside from the quote from Augie and the opening sentence or two, this is basically the Carthage press release all over again.  You'd think that the guy would maybe write his own stuff once in a while.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2008, 12:10:10 AM
Elmhurst took two out of three from NPU this weekend. The Bluejays won the first two, 9-2 and 11-10, and NPU came back to take the third in ten innings, 10-9.

No doubt about it, the pitching has been a real disappointment for the Vikings thus far. Getting good outings out of their arms is the major hurdle that the Park has to overcome before it can play with the big boys. NPU has given up 79 runs in its last six games, which is simply ridiculous.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 07, 2008, 07:53:12 AM
To say disappointment is rather excusing our bias for the (NPU) Vikings, the staff is large this year (around 13 to 16 arms). I see the management of this group as sub-par, when an arm struggles and it is a conference contest the prudent thing is to make the situation tenable, not to use what you have to the best of their abilities is wasteful and destructive.  I know that unfortunate errors occur and it still reflects on the pitching staff to minimize the damage, but until the defense rises to the occasion (common fielding plays performed routinely, instead of bobbles,drops or plain ("I don't know what that person is out there for?") then this team will struggle to even gain wins in the final four CCIW series (NCC, Augie's, Ill Wes and Wheaton).

Sorry,  as a realistic baseball fan, I don't see it, I see NPU finally breaking the 14win barrier, if they pound the non-con teams and that's a fact jack!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2008, 07:56:39 AM
Here's the article in the paper today about Carthage's win yesterday. Clearly Carthage didn't play its best baseball over the weekend, but wins like this can be huge for a team. It shows them that even when down to their final out, they still have a chance.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2796258
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2008, 08:02:42 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 06, 2008, 09:35:03 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 06, 2008, 12:26:13 PM
Here's the article in today's paper about Carthage's two wins yesterday against the Big Blue. Augie clearly not happy with the performance, and has a hilarious quote about trying to milk a dry cow. 

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2793172


Aside from the quote from Augie and the opening sentence or two, this is basically the Carthage press release all over again.  You'd think that the guy would maybe write his own stuff once in a while.


MWUNDER-

Considering the games were 4 hours away in Decatur, I'm sure the author talked to Augie for a minute or two over the phone, and got the stats from the Carthage website, which is why its similar to their press release.  Hard to write your own stuff if you aren't at the game. A town of 100,000  people (specifically kenosha) doesn't send their newspaper writers 4 hours to cover high school or D-2/3 athletics unless its at the playoff level normally. When Carthage finally plays some home games and writers are present, I'm sure they'll add their own flavor to the articles.  The main reason I post them though is I figured that people would like to see what Augie has to say after each game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2008, 08:05:53 AM
One other thing I forgot to mention. If you look at the author, it just says Kenosha News Staff, not a specific sportswriters name.  If it says a name specifically (Kenosha has 4 or 5 primary sportswriters), then you know the author of an article was actually at the game.  In the past, for whatever reason, Carthage Football and Basketball seem to get more writers actually attending games then Baseball has.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 07, 2008, 09:12:32 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2008, 08:02:42 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 06, 2008, 09:35:03 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 06, 2008, 12:26:13 PM
Here's the article in today's paper about Carthage's two wins yesterday against the Big Blue. Augie clearly not happy with the performance, and has a hilarious quote about trying to milk a dry cow. 

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2793172


Aside from the quote from Augie and the opening sentence or two, this is basically the Carthage press release all over again.  You'd think that the guy would maybe write his own stuff once in a while.


MWUNDER-

Considering the games were 4 hours away in Decatur, I'm sure the author talked to Augie for a minute or two over the phone, and got the stats from the Carthage website, which is why its similar to their press release.  Hard to write your own stuff if you aren't at the game. A town of 100,000  people (specifically kenosha) doesn't send their newspaper writers 4 hours to cover high school or D-2/3 athletics unless its at the playoff level normally. When Carthage finally plays some home games and writers are present, I'm sure they'll add their own flavor to the articles.  The main reason I post them though is I figured that people would like to see what Augie has to say after each game.


OHHHHHH, really?  (read sarcasm there please)

If you're going to plagiarize someone else's work, at least have the common courtesy to credit the source.  As far as "similar" goes, this one was the same right down to including the umpire's name.

My post was not directed at you or your posting of the links in any way, but at the "staff" of the Kenosha news.  You keep doing what you do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 07, 2008, 11:08:21 AM
MWUNDER,

I assumed they weren't directed toward me, I just thought I'd try to explain.  Most everyone in Kenosha and surrounding community know that unless an actual writer is at the game, all info. in the article is from the Carthage Website or Carthage's A.D., along with Augs thoughts about the game via a phone call to the Kenosha News.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 08, 2008, 12:16:52 AM
Carthage defeated Wheaton today 4-2. Jacob Husing got the win to put him at 4-0 on the season. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 08, 2008, 12:02:33 PM
Here's the write-up from the Wheaton website for the 4-2 loss to Carthage.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/7/base-cart2.asp?path=baseball  Even though a loss is still a loss, I'm happy with the way Wheaton is competing this year at least from a scoreboard standpoint (I live in MI so I haven't seen a game).  Hopefully this is the next step up in the building process.  We'll see how the rest of the conference schedule plays out before any further excitement is displayed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: goldengear on April 08, 2008, 01:24:23 PM
Granted North Park is making the best of a less than ideal situation in regards to their field, compromises must be made and we all understand that. That being said, I would point out that contrary to stated above the abandoned NEIU field is of more legitimate dimensions and would be an attractive alternative. Also, while I appreciate the fact that you are in an urban setting and land is not so plentiful, but has a joint venture with the CPD been examined? You have a huge park, River Park just East of you, plenty of room to stretch around, could be a win/win, the college getting a decent home field a block away, the park district getting some use of the field for their purposes.

It was stated that it would handcuff recruiting not playing on campus, that might be true to an extent but I would submit that recruiting has surely been handcuffed  due to lack of a proper field. I find it interesting that the NPU guys here complain about the ridiculous runs given up by their pitchers, but I would ask why would a pitcher possibly want to come there with those dimensions?

The field comes awfully close to making a mockery of the game, we all certainly understand the economic realities but if NPU wants to build a first class program, which from reading your posts seems to be the goal, they aren't going to be able to succeed while playing on a glorified whiffle ball field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: bballfan0887 on April 08, 2008, 07:46:59 PM
yank52 you obviously watch a lot of North Park baseball but I'm curious as to why.  The vast majority of your posts are about how you don't think NPU is very good.  Maybe I'm getting the wrong impression but it seems like you're rooting against them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 08, 2008, 10:42:56 PM
I know it seems that way but as a fan I have a right to criticize when I witness something that just ain't right.

The NPU Vikings are a better offensive team than the past 5 years, that is a plus (1)
The pitching staff has 40+ more strikeouts than walks, that is a plus (2)

These two are most prominent when gauging how a team is performing and will perform, but there are only 40 games in a season, NPU is now 23 into it and only 17 left with 12 in conference.

So, as optimistic as I was from last year to this year, I am also human and can't resist the opportunity to vent my disappointment with the record to date (11 wins  12 losses). I as a fan want to see them succeed and cheer every game I attend and read about via the internet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2008, 12:55:50 AM
Quote from: goldengear on April 08, 2008, 01:24:23 PM
Granted North Park is making the best of a less than ideal situation in regards to their field, compromises must be made and we all understand that. That being said, I would point out that contrary to stated above the abandoned NEIU field is of more legitimate dimensions and would be an attractive alternative.

Not that attractive, really. The dimensions are better down the right field line at NEIU, of course, but the tennis courts in center field make the outfield much more shallow in that part of the ballpark than at HAC and give it a concave profile.

Quote from: goldengear on April 08, 2008, 01:24:23 PMAlso, while I appreciate the fact that you are in an urban setting and land is not so plentiful, but has a joint venture with the CPD been examined? You have a huge park, River Park just East of you, plenty of room to stretch around, could be a win/win, the college getting a decent home field a block away, the park district getting some use of the field for their purposes.

A "decent home field" at River Park? You must be joking. The baseball field in River Park is in horrible shape. In fact, it has never been in good shape throughout the thirty years that I've lived in the community. I ought to know, as my softball league has played there for the past seven summers (we're desperate to get fields elsewhere, but none of the other parks on the North Side have opened up for us on our preferred evenings). The field is a cow pasture -- chewed up, strewn with mounds and chuckholes, sparsely covered with ill-groomed grass and weeds thanks to the fact that the field is constantly used for soccer games that tear up the vegetation. River Park is a minefield of twisted and sprained ankles waiting to happen. The infield is not kept up at all -- we have to complain pretty regularly just to get it dragged once a week in summer -- and it slopes downward towards the first base line. Drainage is terrible. The lights are barely adequate for evening softball games, let alone baseball. As Chicago parks go, River Park is notably negligent in its upkeep in all phases, landscaping being only the most conspicuous problem.

None of the parks within a two-mile radius of the NPU campus -- River Park, Eugene Field Park, Winnemac Park, Welles Park, Horner Park, Peterson Park, Mather Park, Green Briar Park, Gompers Park -- has a field suitable for college baseball.

Quote from: goldengear on April 08, 2008, 01:24:23 PMIt was stated that it would handcuff recruiting not playing on campus, that might be true to an extent but I would submit that recruiting has surely been handcuffed  due to lack of a proper field. I find it interesting that the NPU guys here complain about the ridiculous runs given up by their pitchers, but I would ask why would a pitcher possibly want to come there with those dimensions?

Has NPU's pitching recruitment been handcuffed by the short porch in right? Could be. I've never broached the subject with Luke Johnson or any of the other North Park coaches. It's certainly a plausible theory. I haven't  been to enough road games to know what the competition's facilities are like in terms of other local D3 baseball-playing schools, but as Augie28 pointed out there are other CCIW schools (Elmhurst and Millikin) that have to rent high school facilities because they don't even have their own baseball fields -- so while NPU's situation is hardly ideal from a recruiting standpoint, there are competing schools who have it even worse.

Quote from: goldengear on April 08, 2008, 01:24:23 PMThe field comes awfully close to making a mockery of the game, we all certainly understand the economic realities but if NPU wants to build a first class program, which from reading your posts seems to be the goal, they aren't going to be able to succeed while playing on a glorified whiffle ball field.

"Mockery of the game" and "whiffleball field" are a bit extreme. As Mr. B noted, the dimensions in center and left-center are actually pretty spacious, and the field itself is kept in excellent shape and plays true thanks to the Field Turf. Plus, NPU has an indoor practice facility that also has Field Turf that allows the Vikings to practice all year long, regardless of weather -- an advantage that is (as far as I know) unique among local D3 baseball programs.

I'm not saying that the unfortunate distance down the right field line isn't affecting North Park's baseball recruiting with regard to pitchers. Perhaps it is. Then again, perhaps it isn't. I simply don't know either way, and I've never heard anyone in-the-know comment about it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 09, 2008, 11:09:10 AM
Good article in the paper about former Carthage pitcher Jeff Livek, and his time last year in the Yankee organization, as well as his plans for independent ball this summer.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2779147
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: goldengear on April 09, 2008, 12:49:57 PM
I'm well aware of the current conditions of River Park, what I suggested was that NPU could investigate a joint venture with the Park District to build a suitable d3 field on thier land, would be a win/win as far as I could see, and it negates the arguement that land is too expensive.

Not a mockery? How many homers did Carthage hit there? Any stats pitching or hitting are suspect when played on that field, lets just be realistic about it.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 01:44:04 PM
Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0. The CCIW teams are relatively weak with the exception of Carthage, IWU and Augustana. Carthage does not play either of them until the final two weekends and both are at Carthage. This bodes well for the Redmen and has to put a scare into the other CCIW contenders.

Mix in non-conference games versus relatively unthreatening Marian and Lakeland and the possibility is real. Winning 40 of their last 42 games, Carthage is on fire right now and could run off another 10-11 wins before being challenged in the CCIW.

I suspect they will lose a game or two (law of averages says it has to happen sometime) along the way to the showdown with Augustana, but on paper, it looks pretty good.

On second thought, Carthage has yet to beat a top opponent (none in the top 25-30). They have had a few close games in the CCIW that they could easily have lost. Maybe they are a bit overated?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 09, 2008, 07:03:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 01:44:04 PM
Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0. The CCIW teams are relatively weak with the exception of Carthage, IWU and Augustana. Carthage does not play either of them until the final two weekends and both are at Carthage. This bodes well for the Redmen and has to put a scare into the other CCIW contenders.

Mix in non-conference games versus relatively unthreatening Marian and Lakeland and the possibility is real. Winning 40 of their last 42 games, Carthage is on fire right now and could run off another 10-11 wins before being challenged in the CCIW.

I suspect they will lose a game or two (law of averages says it has to happen sometime) along the way to the showdown with Augustana, but on paper, it looks pretty good.

On second thought, Carthage has yet to beat a top opponent (none in the top 25-30). They have had a few close games in the CCIW that they could easily have lost. Maybe they are a bit overated?




As I type this...Carthage is tied with North Park at 5-5 going into the 10th.  Your karma points are going WAY down in the Red Men lose today.  You never talk about the streak!  Don't you remember the line from Bull Durham??  You've got to respect the streak!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 09, 2008, 07:33:35 PM
Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robberki on April 09, 2008, 08:32:38 PM
Quote from: goldengear on April 09, 2008, 12:49:57 PM
I'm well aware of the current conditions of River Park, what I suggested was that NPU could investigate a joint venture with the Park District to build a suitable d3 field on thier land, would be a win/win as far as I could see, and it negates the arguement that land is too expensive.

Not a mockery? How many homers did Carthage hit there? Any stats pitching or hitting are suspect when played on that field, lets just be realistic about it.



The current field, both Holmgren and the track complex, ARE joint ventures to some extent. There isn't anything left to explore.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 09:27:17 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 09, 2008, 07:33:35 PM
Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.

Trust in my methods, young grasshopper.

I welcome a ding to my karma as I should have known better than to mess with the streak, but the Carthage Cloud went away the Redmen prevailed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2008, 09:56:18 PM
No offense to BP, mwunder, or the RedMen, but confound it!  With the Titans playing IN Kenosha the last weekend, I'd like a bit of a cushion. ;D

Not that I am predicting it, but two 18-0 teams battling for the conference crown would be pretty exciting.  (And, no, I'm not discounting Augustana's shot at the crown.)  But in case the Titans stumble a time or two before then, would you be gracious enough to stumble that many plus a few more? ;)

My cardiologist thanks you.  [Well, probably not - a tie entering the last weekend might get her an extra trip to Bermuda! :o]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 10:25:25 PM
The CCIW is set up for a fantastic finish this year. It will be fun to watch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 10, 2008, 12:01:50 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 09:27:17 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 09, 2008, 07:33:35 PM
Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.

Trust in my methods, young grasshopper.

I welcome a ding to my karma as I should have known better than to mess with the streak, but the Carthage Cloud went away the Redmen prevailed.


You're at least 5 years younger than I am Mr. Miyagi.

You have to believe that everyone on Carthage's schedule is looking to hang that first "L" on them.  The target just gets larger as they wiggle off the hook and teams start believing that they can win.  The hitting sticks have to come out quickly against Elmhurst.  The Blue Jays have already taken one from the "big three" with a win over Augie this season.  Remember this...the blue jay is a nasty bird.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 10, 2008, 09:40:49 AM
Here's the article in the paper today about Carthage's win yesterday. A kenosha news sportswriter was actually at the game for Carthage's home opener, and as you can see, its not like the Carthage Websites release.

http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2810818
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 10, 2008, 11:07:04 AM
Wheaton sweeps the season series against North Central.  According to the Wheaton website, they haven't swept a season series since 2005.  North Central is currently 0-8 in conference, so we still aren't dealing with a sweep against an upper echelon team, but a series win is a series win.  Wheaton is now 14-8, only 4 wins away from tying the highest wins from 1994 & 1999.  Considering they still have 16 games left, I'm hopeful, but we'll see what happens.  The Thunder still have Millikin, IWU, Elmhurst, and North Park to play in conference with additional games v Chicago, Benedictine, and a double header with CUW.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/9/base-ncc2.asp?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 10, 2008, 04:00:45 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 01:44:04 PM
Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0.

Heck, why stop there?  Why not 40-0 as they run the table? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2008, 06:21:17 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 10, 2008, 04:00:45 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2008, 01:44:04 PM
Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0.

Heck, why stop there?  Why not 40-0 as they run the table? 

In defense of BP, 29-0 sounds very doable (though, as he also noted, it probably won't happen).  40-0 would require sweeping both Augie and IWU - even with all games in Kenosha, that seems highly improbable.  The Titans have a couple of guys the RedMen would well remember (first team AAs Aronson and Angel), plus a sophomore pitcher they probably wouldn't (Brent Kuvalic, this week's CCIW POW).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 10, 2008, 08:19:01 PM
Of course, Carthage is capable of going 29-0 -- why not?  They can put up a lot of runs in a hurry and are fundamentally very sound in all aspects of the game -- but they were taken to the wire recently by Millikin, Wheaton, and North Park, and their schedule doesn't allow for any breaks.

A team should worry about 29-0 only when they are 28-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2008, 09:08:34 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 10, 2008, 08:19:01 PM
Of course, Carthage is capable of going 29-0 -- why not?  They can put up a lot of runs in a hurry and are fundamentally very sound in all aspects of the game -- but they were taken to the wire recently by Millikin, Wheaton, and North Park, and their schedule doesn't allow for any breaks.

A team should worry about 29-0 only when they are 28-0.


Last time I checked, BigPoppa was in California and has nothing to do with the current Carthage Red Men team, so I don't think you have to worry about the team that's in Kenosha worrying about being 29-0, much less 21-0 at this point.  If you think Augie will let their focus drift that far ahead, you know nothing about the Carthage program or it's coach.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2008, 09:18:39 AM
Here's my question for the North Parkers.

With the tying run on second, and one out in the 10th, why even take your chances pitching to Acevado?  Hodges was 0-5 on the day prior to that and a freshman (who ultimately came through in the clutch) is next.  Yes, you put the winning run on, but you also give yourself a chance to leave the tying run standing at 3rd.

I know it's a "hindsight is 20/20 question", but was this even considered?  Any insider knowledge on this one?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 11, 2008, 11:27:05 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 11, 2008, 09:08:34 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 10, 2008, 08:19:01 PM
Of course, Carthage is capable of going 29-0 -- why not?  They can put up a lot of runs in a hurry and are fundamentally very sound in all aspects of the game -- but they were taken to the wire recently by Millikin, Wheaton, and North Park, and their schedule doesn't allow for any breaks.

A team should worry about 29-0 only when they are 28-0.


Last time I checked, BigPoppa was in California and has nothing to do with the current Carthage Red Men team, so I don't think you have to worry about the team that's in Kenosha worrying about being 29-0, much less 21-0 at this point.  If you think Augie will let their focus drift that far ahead, you know nothing about the Carthage program or it's coach.
The subsequent postings were directed at his original statement.  Nothing else should be read into any responses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 11, 2008, 06:35:12 PM
Ah!  another spring weekend, forecast for tonight rain, sleet, snow high of 30??

Looks like North Park has some detractors, but that is only natural when you are really interesting in seeing them succeed.
This week end is big, the Vikings can bury North Central with a sweep and get back to .500 in the conference, history states that this won't occur but  the Vikings are offensive this year.  What says the other fans?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2008, 12:15:28 AM
After taking a closer look, I'm feeling even better about IWU's 15-4 record.  All four losses came in the first six games of the season.  In game six (a classic pitchers' duel ;D) they lost 21-16 at then 15-7 Millsaps.  In game five they lost 8-6 at then 9-3 Mississippi College.  In games four and one they lost to then 8-1 Adrian.  In other words, our 'spring training' games were against teams already 32-11 on the season!

In one of those weirdnesses that rarely happen except in baseball, Adrian would now be 22-2 except they lost both games at Rose-Hulman, the same weekend that IWU beat RHIT in games two and three of the season! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 12, 2008, 01:06:15 AM
The tests for Millsaps and Mississippi College will be the Trinity series and the UOzarks and UT-Tyler series, respectively.  The ASC-East has three very weak teams that has given Mississippi College 9 easy wins to date.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2008, 01:27:43 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 12, 2008, 01:06:15 AM
The tests for Millsaps and Mississippi College will be the Trinity series and the UOzarks and UT-Tyler series, respectively.  The ASC-East has three very weak teams that has given Mississippi College 9 easy wins to date.

I have no clue how 'accurate' their won-lost records may be.  My point was that they were in mid-season form; we were in 'spring training'.  (But thanks for the info. :))

And that outcomes like Adrian-RHIT-IWU almost never happen in basketball, football, or any sport but baseball! :D  (MLB is not d3, but there almost everyone eventually wins between 40 and 60 percent of their games.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 12, 2008, 01:44:28 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2008, 01:27:43 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 12, 2008, 01:06:15 AM
The tests for Millsaps and Mississippi College will be the Trinity series and the UOzarks and UT-Tyler series, respectively.  The ASC-East has three very weak teams that has given Mississippi College 9 easy wins to date.

I have no clue how 'accurate' their won-lost records may be.  My point was that they were in mid-season form; we were in 'spring training'.  (But thanks for the info. :))

And that outcomes like Adrian-RHIT-IWU almost never happen in basketball, football, or any sport but baseball! :D  (MLB is not d3, but there almost everyone eventually wins between 40 and 60 percent of their games.)

QuoteNo matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference.
-- Tommy Lasorda

;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 12, 2008, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2008, 12:15:28 AM
After taking a closer look, I'm feeling even better about IWU's 15-4 record.  All four losses came in the first six games of the season.  In game six (a classic pitchers' duel ;D) they lost 21-16 at then 15-7 Millsaps.  In game five they lost 8-6 at then 9-3 Mississippi College.  In games four and one they lost to then 8-1 Adrian.  In other words, our 'spring training' games were against teams already 32-11 on the season!

In one of those weirdnesses that rarely happen except in baseball, Adrian would now be 22-2 except they lost both games at Rose-Hulman, the same weekend that IWU beat RHIT in games two and three of the season! :D

Note that IWU head coach Dennis Martel won't throw one of his top pitchers vs an out-of-region team.

IWU's top 3 are:

Matt Aronson (4-0, 1.29 ERA, 35 IP/33 K)
Brent Kulavic (3-0, 0.00 ERA, 23 IP, 26 K)
Pat Kirchhofer (2-0, 4.56 ERA, 23 IP, 13 K)

At the Rose-Hulman tournament, IWU threw Jesse Foster and Joe Foelich vs out-of-region Adrian (and lost both), but then Aronson and Kirchhofer vs in-region Rose-Hulman (and won both).

In two games vs Mississippi College, the Titans started Jason Pankau and Alex Tosi (and lost both), and then finished the trip by starting Foster vs Union in a win.

IWU's final three non-conference games were in-region.  IWU went with Kirchhofer vs Benedictine, Aronson vs Wash U, and Kulavic vs Wabash (and won all three).

CCIW game starters for IWU have been:

Aronson (2)
Kulavic (2)
Kirchhofer (2)
Foster (1)

IWU has the same amount of losses in-region as Carthage does (zero), and we all know that is the only number that matters for post-season seeding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 13, 2008, 12:20:02 PM
Think of this weekend only, today in 40degree weather with the wind howling, normal conditions for Chicago, NPU Vikings take on North Central, we need two today, no excuses.

Go vikings!!!!!!!

Bundle up, bring 2 blankets and quit complaining about the weather.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 13, 2008, 07:34:00 PM
North Park takes two from North Central, 9-7 and 12-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 13, 2008, 08:14:33 PM
Hopefully, we hear about the birth of a new Viking soon!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great to see a doubleheader and victory, this pulls NPU to 13 and 13 for the year.
With 14 games left in the regular season it appears on the horizon that it could be possible to see a 20 win season, yawsaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!

Good luck this week and next weekend where the Vikings will confront the western Vikings in a clash of Nordic proportions!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2008, 09:31:54 PM
Augie-IWU were scheduled for a title-implication showdown DH at 1 today, but nothing on the IWU, Augie, or CCIW websites.  Anyone got news?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 13, 2008, 09:51:08 PM
Mr. Ypsi, Wesleyan swept the DH today 7-3, and 10-7 in 11. Game 3 will be played Monday in Bloomington at 4 I believe.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2008, 10:42:25 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on April 13, 2008, 09:51:08 PM
Mr. Ypsi, Wesleyan swept the DH today 7-3, and 10-7 in 11. Game 3 will be played Monday in Bloomington at 4 I believe.

Thanks!  (and +k)

With Carthage and IWU still undefeated, while Augie has 4 losses (conference play), I think we have (semi)officially moved from Big 3 to Big 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on April 14, 2008, 09:10:11 AM
No "semi" about it.  Augie has no chance of winning the conference championship.  They have to just hope to play well enough the rest of the season and get hot and win the conference tournament or get an at-large bid to the regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2008, 09:15:47 AM
Carthage will play five games in the next three days. The first three against Elmhurst, and a DH Wednesday against Marian.  Plenty of pitchers should get some action, especially Wednesday in the non-conference double header.  It'll be interesting to see what Augie does Wednesday. Typically, he plays a lot of the back-ups in the non-conference games.  With the way the Carthage is rolling, we'll see if he sticks to that, or continues with the regulars.  Good luck today and tomorrow against Elmhurst!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on April 14, 2008, 07:10:15 PM
I agree with Knarocky22.  Augie has shown no pitching strength at all this year, and as we saw in the first two games against IWU, the offense just can't win every game, no matter how capable they may be.  I really see no hope for Augie to beat both Carthage and IWU on the same weekend to win the conference tourney, so they need to finish strong and take 2 of 3 from Carthage to keep any at-large hopes alive.

Update from IWU website:  Augie 5 - IWU 0, bottom 5th 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2008, 07:15:57 PM
North Central beat North Park today in Naperville, 13-3. This was an extremely disappointing loss for NPU, to say the least, as the Vikings now has served up the lone conference wins for both Millikin and NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2008, 09:04:19 PM
Carthage took a doubleheader from Elmhurst today 10-4, and 4-0.  Acevado had another great day with a homerun in each game. Husing and Ruffie both pitched complete games for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 14, 2008, 09:08:28 PM
Carthage also set a school record for most consecutive wins with 21.

I'm pretty sure this is 2nd or 3rd best in the nation with winning streaks. Salisbury has now 32? and Trinity out east also is in the 20's.

Does anyone know for sure?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 14, 2008, 09:10:22 PM
Carthage takes over sole possession of first place with Augie beating Wesleyan 10-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 14, 2008, 09:12:42 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on April 14, 2008, 09:08:28 PM
Carthage also set a school record for most consecutive wins with 21.

I'm pretty sure this is 2nd or 3rd best in the nation with winning streaks. Salisbury has now 32? and Trinity out east also is in the 20's.

Does anyone know for sure?
Trinity is 24-0 after beating Coast Guard today.  Salisbury is 32-1, dropping their first game in 10 innings and now riding a 32-game winning streak. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 14, 2008, 09:15:07 PM
Millikin and Wheaton split a twin bill today.  The middle of the pack of the CCIW is getting pretty interesting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on April 14, 2008, 10:23:14 PM
Losing 2 out of 3 to IWU is not what hurt Augie the most (although it didn't help).  The losses to Elmhurst and Wheaton are what killed them.  It seems that Augie always seems to drop a few games throughout the CCIW schedule that they really shouldn't which come back to haunt them.  These are the losses that Carthage and IWU seem to avoid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 09:04:55 AM
No offense intended, but how is Wheaton garnering more votes than Augie or Ill Wesleyan on the current DIII baseball.com poll question?

Name recognition and confusion over Wheaton Mass?  Or are there that many Wheaton fans on this site?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 15, 2008, 10:11:35 AM
Here's the article from the paper today about the Carthage victories. Augie gives the guys some credit, which he hasn't done a whole lot of so far this year in order to keep them on edge.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2835384
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 15, 2008, 02:29:27 PM
Congrats to Carthage's Jason Acevado on being named the CCIW hitter of the week for the second week in a row. In 3 conference games, he went 9 for 15 at the plate with 3 homeruns. Weaver from Wheaton picked up the pitching award this week. Congrats to both athletes
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 15, 2008, 08:37:07 PM
Carthage goes to 22-0 with a 10-4 win over elmhurst today in Kenosha. Acevado continued the hot hitting going 3-3. Freshman Mario Lopez picked up the win
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2008, 10:21:51 PM
North Park took one from D-1 opponent Chicago State, 16-14, in ten innings.  The wind was blowing straight out to center on the South Side and the Cougars cracked four home runs, but North Park came back with 7- and 6-run innings to take the lead.  Zach Laffey hit a pair of two-run homers, the second in the top of the tenth, to provide the margin of victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 10:32:26 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 15, 2008, 10:21:51 PM
North Park took one from D-1 opponent Chicago State, 16-14, in ten innings.  The wind was blowing straight out to center on the South Side and the Cougars cracked four home runs, but North Park came back with 7- and 6-run innings to take the lead.  Zach Laffey hit a pair of two-run homers, the second in the top of the tenth, to provide the margin of victory.

That's a nice win for DIII and for the Parkers.  Congrats on the win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robberki on April 15, 2008, 11:35:08 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 10:32:26 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 15, 2008, 10:21:51 PM
North Park took one from D-1 opponent Chicago State, 16-14, in ten innings.  The wind was blowing straight out to center on the South Side and the Cougars cracked four home runs, but North Park came back with 7- and 6-run innings to take the lead.  Zach Laffey hit a pair of two-run homers, the second in the top of the tenth, to provide the margin of victory.

That's a nice win for DIII and for the Parkers.  Congrats on the win.

I believe assistant coach Steve Hardman is running the show right now while Luke is out for the birth of his new baby. Congrats to coach steve, I think he's sporting a 3-1 record right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on April 16, 2008, 01:42:21 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 09:04:55 AM
No offense intended, but how is Wheaton garnering more votes than Augie or Ill Wesleyan on the current DIII baseball.com poll question?

Name recognition and confusion over Wheaton Mass?  Or are there that many Wheaton fans on this site?

What was the question that was being polled?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2008, 07:40:13 AM
Quote from: CCIW Bird on April 16, 2008, 01:42:21 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 09:04:55 AM
No offense intended, but how is Wheaton garnering more votes than Augie or Ill Wesleyan on the current DIII baseball.com poll question?

Name recognition and confusion over Wheaton Mass?  Or are there that many Wheaton fans on this site?

What was the question that was being polled?
Wheaton Mass. is 24-6 and is currently ranked 14th in D3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2008, 08:43:48 AM
Quote from: CCIW Bird on April 16, 2008, 01:42:21 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 15, 2008, 09:04:55 AM
No offense intended, but how is Wheaton garnering more votes than Augie or Ill Wesleyan on the current DIII baseball.com poll question?

Name recognition and confusion over Wheaton Mass?  Or are there that many Wheaton fans on this site?

What was the question that was being polled?


Who is the best team in the Central Region?
Carthage, Augie, Ill Wesleyan, Wheaton, and forgive me, but one of the IIAC teams and one of the SLIAC teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 16, 2008, 09:29:12 PM
Wheaton inches closer to their all time best win total of 18 with a win over Benedictine. http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/15/base-ben.asp?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2008, 10:10:39 PM
Quote from: matblake on April 16, 2008, 09:29:12 PM
Wheaton inches closer to their all time best win total of 18 with a win over Benedictine. http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/15/base-ben.asp?path=baseball

No offense intended, but given their persistent success in many other sports, I kinda liked the Thunder being a reliable doormat in baseball! ;D

They're not scarin' me yet, but in the future, who knows?!

I haven't bothered paying attention to Wheaton in baseball.  Do you have the young players (and recruits on the way) to feel this is a genuine rise, or a 'fluke'?
Title: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: stormbball on April 17, 2008, 09:09:12 AM
Tough break for the Redman...Boe Baitinger will be out for four weeks with a broken wrist.  He was hitting .451 slugging .707, second is total bases and had 22 stolen bases.  Really an awesome lead out man and the redman will miss him when he is gone esp. in this tough stretch coming up with IWU and Augie. 
Chris Shannon is a good replacement and will be a good fill in but the lineup will not be as dangerous without Boe.
Other thoughts???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2008, 09:26:17 AM
I wasn't going to to announce it on this sight, but since Stormbball did just that, I guess it won't surprise anyone any longer.  This is a huge loss, and as a fan, just have to hope that they can have other players step up and not skip a beat, which will be tough to do.  Every time you read an article from a game, it was Boe started off an inning with a double/triple, Boe stole a base, Boe scored, Boe made a great diving catch, etc.  Him and Acevado, from an offensive standpoint, have been the two key players thus far, IMO.  Shannon is a good ball player, and a D-1 transfer from ISU a few years back, hopefully he plays great.  There are some other options as well though, it'll be interesting to see if Augie tries a variety of combinations in the outfield over the next week or so.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2008, 09:35:56 AM
Just read the Carthage press release about Carthage's Double Header sweep over Marian, and it mentioned Boe's injury, so I guess it really doesn't matter now that its on this site for people to see.  Carthage won a wild one in the first game winning 15-14 before taking the night cap 9-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 17, 2008, 03:07:47 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2008, 09:26:17 AM
This is a huge loss, and as a fan, just have to hope that they can have other players step up and not skip a beat, which will be tough to do.  Every time you read an article from a game, it was Boe started off an inning with a double/triple, Boe stole a base, Boe scored, Boe made a great diving catch, etc.
That's certainly a big loss for Carthage.  He's a very disruptive force at the top of the lineup.  Will he be back in time for regionals?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 17, 2008, 03:49:53 PM
In the paper today, it said the soonest he'll be back is 4 weeks. Hopefully he's a quick healer and he's back in that time, and not more.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Cheez-it on April 17, 2008, 06:33:52 PM
Acevedo gonna get All-American with the ridiculous numbers he's putting up?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 17, 2008, 07:25:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2008, 10:10:39 PM
I haven't bothered paying attention to Wheaton in baseball.  Do you have the young players (and recruits on the way) to feel this is a genuine rise, or a 'fluke'?

Honestly, I have no idea.  If you look at the past records of the Crusaders/Thunder you will see a good record now and again followed by a falling off stage.  Unfortunately, only time will tell if this is a one year rise, or the beginning of a trend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 17, 2008, 07:30:30 PM
Anyone know if Wheaton pitcher Ed McCaskey (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.asp?playerid=211&sport=1&path=baseball) is related to the McCaskey's of Bears fame?  I noticed that he is from Lake Forest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on April 17, 2008, 09:04:13 PM
Quote from: matblake on April 17, 2008, 07:25:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2008, 10:10:39 PM
I haven't bothered paying attention to Wheaton in baseball.  Do you have the young players (and recruits on the way) to feel this is a genuine rise, or a 'fluke'?

Honestly, I have no idea.  If you look at the past records of the Crusaders/Thunder you will see a good record now and again followed by a falling off stage.  Unfortunately, only time will tell if this is a one year rise, or the beginning of a trend.

YOu are right only time will tell if this is a fluke but if you look at who the seniors are they are only losing two main contributors on the team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on April 17, 2008, 09:05:54 PM
Quote from: matblake on April 17, 2008, 07:30:30 PM
Anyone know if Wheaton pitcher Ed McCaskey (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.asp?playerid=211&sport=1&path=baseball) is related to the McCaskey's of Bears fame?  I noticed that he is from Lake Forest.

Ed McCaskey is the grandson of the ever famous Virginia McCaskey.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2008, 09:10:40 AM
Quote from: CCIW Bird on April 17, 2008, 09:05:54 PM
Quote from: matblake on April 17, 2008, 07:30:30 PM
Anyone know if Wheaton pitcher Ed McCaskey (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.asp?playerid=211&sport=1&path=baseball) is related to the McCaskey's of Bears fame?  I noticed that he is from Lake Forest.

Ed McCaskey is the grandson of the ever famous Virginia McCaskey.

The McCaskeys have been well represented at North Park over the years. In fact, Bears executive Brian McCaskey cohosts the annual NPU Golf For Kids outing in Lake Geneva with Mike Holmgren every spring. Ed McCaskey is the first member of his family of whom I'm aware that has gone to a CCIW school other than NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 18, 2008, 01:29:24 PM
Quote from: Cheez-it on April 17, 2008, 06:33:52 PM
Acevedo gonna get All-American with the ridiculous numbers he's putting up?

I would think so. To put up the numbers he's put up consistently through 24 games is just ridiculous.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 18, 2008, 09:51:02 PM
Another weekend approaching Hark!
is it time to rain? 
Hopefully games will be played and the middle of the pack will be vying for the 4th spot for the upcoming CCIW tournament.

Right now it looks like Wheaton has the inside track but these next 3 series will be interesting.

Good luck to all, have fun and let's play two on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2008, 10:35:11 PM
Earlier today: IWU 16, Wheaton 10.

Thunder pitchers were overwhelmed by Cunningham, Angel, Ladd, et.al., to the tune of 21 hits, 16 runs (15 earned).  But I salute the Wheaton hitters today - I can't recall anyone ever roughing up Matt Aronson so severely: 12 hits, 10 runs (7 earned) in 6 innings.  Any more outings like his last two, and Aronson's time as an AA may go bye-bye. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 06:39:45 PM
Wheaton overcomes a 5-4 deficit in the final inning to down the Titans 7-5 in game one.  Thunder hitters are definitely hot: Brent Kulavic gave up 17 hits and 2 earned runs in his first 30 innings; Wheaton got him for 8 hits and 3 earned runs (5 total) in 6+ innings today, though reliever Sean McCreary took the loss - Kulavic remains at 4-0).

In game two, IWU leads 10-5 in the seventh.

Ricky Angel has had a good but (compared with last year) disappointing season, but seems to be making a late run to retain AA status: he has 7 RBIs today!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on April 19, 2008, 06:49:04 PM
Game 1:

North Central 6
Carthage 3

Final

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: fourtimeallcciw on April 19, 2008, 06:59:48 PM
Game 2:

Carthage 8
North Central 6

6th Inning

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 07:08:33 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2008, 07:15:57 PM
North Central beat North Park today in Naperville, 13-3. This was an extremely disappointing loss for NPU, to say the least, as the Vikings now has served up the lone conference wins for both Millikin and NCC.

If it is any comfort, NCC's second win came today against Carthage, the RedMen's first loss!  And IWU lost only their second conference game today against traditional doormat (though not this year!), Wheaton.

Baseball is one funny game. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 08:25:47 PM
IWU mercied the Thunder in game 2, 16-5 (game called with one out in the bottom of the 8th).

Ricky Angel had a 3-run double in the 7th, raising his day's total to 10 RBIs (7 in game 2)! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 08:39:45 PM
Per the Carthage website, NCC leads 9-8 after 6, with the remainder postponed to tomorrow due to darkness.  Anyone know if the game was scheduled for 7 or 9 innings?

Over the long haul, baseball is probably as predictable as any other sport, but for a given game it has to be the most unpredictable.  If this were basketball or football (but the teams were as they are), NCC over Carthage (or Wheaton over IWU) would be front page news; here it is 'ho hum'!  (Though I'd imagine Carthage's first loss after 24 wins WILL be front-page news.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: SouthPaw on April 19, 2008, 08:47:07 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 08:39:45 PM
Per the Carthage website, NCC leads 9-8 after 6, with the remainder postponed to tomorrow due to darkness.  Anyone know if the game was scheduled for 7 or 9 innings?

Over the long haul, baseball is probably as predictable as any other sport, but for a given game it has to be the most unpredictable.  If this were basketball or football (but the teams were as they are), NCC over Carthage (or Wheaton over IWU) would be front page news; here it is 'ho hum'!  (Though I'd imagine Carthage's first loss after 24 wins WILL be front-page news.)

it is scheduled for 9 innings...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2008, 12:25:40 AM
The end-game, as I see it:

The top two seeds for the tourney (and barring total collapse, both in the regionals regardless): Carthage and IWU (order to be determined May 2 and 3.

#3 will be Augie (though if they are swept by Carthage it could get dicey).

#4 is probably between NPU and Wheaton, and may well be determined when they meet on May 1 and 2.  IF Elmhurst sweeps Millikin later today, they enter the picture (and still have three games against Wheaton).

Comments?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on April 20, 2008, 05:48:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 06:39:45 PM
Wheaton overcomes a 5-4 deficit in the final inning to down the Titans 7-5 in game one.  Thunder hitters are definitely hot: Brent Kulavic gave up 17 hits and 2 earned runs in his first 30 innings; Wheaton got him for 8 hits and 3 earned runs (5 total) in 6+ innings today, though reliever Sean McCreary took the loss - Kulavic remains at 4-0).

In game two, IWU leads 10-5 in the seventh.

Ricky Angel has had a good but (compared with last year) disappointing season, but seems to be making a late run to retain AA status: he has 7 RBIs today!

Ypsi,
I thought Wheaton didnt scare you....what happened?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2008, 05:06:42 PM
Quote from: CCIW Bird on April 20, 2008, 05:48:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2008, 06:39:45 PM
Wheaton overcomes a 5-4 deficit in the final inning to down the Titans 7-5 in game one.  Thunder hitters are definitely hot: Brent Kulavic gave up 17 hits and 2 earned runs in his first 30 innings; Wheaton got him for 8 hits and 3 earned runs (5 total) in 6+ innings today, though reliever Sean McCreary took the loss - Kulavic remains at 4-0).

In game two, IWU leads 10-5 in the seventh.

Ricky Angel has had a good but (compared with last year) disappointing season, but seems to be making a late run to retain AA status: he has 7 RBIs today!

Ypsi,
I thought Wheaton didnt scare you....what happened?

See my post exactly two hours after the one you quoted.  (A wise guy, eh? ;))

Wheaton doesn't scare me (yet, at least) in the sense of being any real threat to finish higher in the standings, but anything can (and eventually will) happen in a given game (just ask Augie IV about NCC :D).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2008, 07:37:30 PM
Sunday's scores:

RI Vikings 11, Chicago Vikings 1.

Carthage came back to win the completion of Saturday's game, 11-10, then beat NCC 11-3 in the scheduled game.

Millikin swept Elmhurst, 7-6 and 6-1, pretty much eliminating anyone but Wheaton and NPU in the race for the fourth tourney slot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2008, 12:48:50 AM
With two weekends to go:

1. Carthage, 14-1: easiest travel (all 6 games at home), but their opponents are #3 Augie and #2 IWU.

2. IWU, 13-2: 3 at home to NPU, then the showdown in Kenosha.  Barring a total meltdown, Carthage and IWU are both locks for the CCIW tourney and the regionals.

3. Augie, 9-5: 3 at Carthage, then 3 at home vs. Millikin.  A near lock for the CCIW tourney; in bubble territory for the NCAAs.

4. Wheaton, 6-8: 1 home, 2 away vs. Elmhurst, then 2 home, 1 away vs. NPU.

5. NPU, 6-9: 3 at IWU, then the showdown vs. Wheaton.

6. Millikin, 4-10: worst travel schedule - 3 at NCC, then 3 at Augie.

7. Elmhurst, 4-11: 2 home, 1 away vs. Wheaton, then 2 away, 1 home vs. NCC.

8. NCC, 2-12: 3 home to Millikin, then 2 home, 1 away vs. Elmhurst.

The above is from the CCIW master schedule, but leaves Augie, Wheaton, Millikin, and NCC all one game short.  I assume two of them play two of the others in make-up games; before I go crazy trying to track down that info, anyone know who plays whom, and when and where?

Right now, the conference tourney looks like 1/2: Carthage, IWU (too close to call); 3: Augie; 4: Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on April 21, 2008, 01:35:46 AM
Wheaton has one more game against Millikin and Augie vs. NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2008, 09:27:02 AM
Wow, quite the weekend for the Redmen. Great comeback in the completion of the first game, and the bats finally woke up in the 7th inning of the scheduled game. Sure it stinks to have the streak end for us Carthage backers, but hopefully it gets those guys working even harder and realizing that they can get beat by any given team if they don't come out and perform up to their capabilities.  Here's the article from today's paper.  Some good insight on how Augie responded to the players after their first loss.

http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2862896


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2008, 09:31:07 AM
Here's another two articles from the paper from previous days. The first is about Carthage's first loss. Augie states he's happy the streak ended because it was becoming too much of a burden on the kids.  The second article, "Carthage trying to keep its twinkle without its star" is about losing Boe and Senior #2 pitcher Chris Krepline for the remainder of the season.  This ones a good read if you have an extra few minutes during a work break!

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2859390

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2855546
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 23, 2008, 11:04:02 AM
Carthage eked out a win over Lakeland College yesterday 9-8. Catcher Mike Hughes hit 2 homeruns.  The second game was cancelled due to weather.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 23, 2008, 11:13:18 AM
Should be an exciting series for Carthage and Augie this weekend, let's just hope the weather continues to be great in the Kenosha area.  Hopefully Carthage rattles off another 24 game winning streak. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 23, 2008, 11:51:52 AM
This weekend should be alot of fun in Kenosha. I heard a good amount of Alums are coming and I know a couple buddies and I will be getting out there around 9. RedManFan when are you done with your coaching on Saturday?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2008, 12:24:30 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on April 23, 2008, 11:51:52 AM
This weekend should be alot of fun in Kenosha. I heard a good amount of Alums are coming and I know a couple buddies and I will be getting out there around 9. RedManFan when are you done with your coaching on Saturday?

I miss the smells of brats and "sodas" from the left field parking lot.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 23, 2008, 02:43:00 PM
RedMan1 when are you going to start your pregame festivities...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2008, 03:07:21 PM
Quote from: RedmenBigD on April 23, 2008, 02:43:00 PM
RedMan1 when are you going to start your pregame festivities...

The parkview tavern is always nice at about 9am... the smell of last night's vomit always opens the senses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 23, 2008, 08:44:16 PM
Oh I know the Parkview Tavern all too well, sometimes I crave that smell of vomit...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2008, 08:48:43 AM
NPU defeated the University of Chicago down on the South Side yesterday, 12-7, (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=2704) to even the Vikings' seasonal mark at 16-16.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2008, 12:28:16 PM
Redmen1,  our games at 11, so I'm hoping to make it to Carthage by 2:00.  Doesn't look like any rain for Saturday, but a high of only around 55 in Kenosha. So, at Carthage's field, subtract about 10 degrees, so it will probably feel like 45. Bundle up for those planning on attending the game! Oh and RedmenbigD, "oh you doin, ehh."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 24, 2008, 12:58:58 PM
"oh you crazy... Booooy"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 24, 2008, 12:59:55 PM
RedMenBigD. We are probably going to start around 9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 24, 2008, 07:01:19 PM
Little bit..... You. Redmenfan, I will be attending your game for a little bit then picking up someone for the Carthage game.  Redman1, I will stop out there in the outfield to see ya. I heard a nice little story about you at the last game....  "Chillin Movie"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2008, 12:16:22 AM
NPU @ IWU rained out today - no makeup date yet announced.

In what must have been a classic pitching duel, Wheaton topped Elmhurst, 23-13! ;)  That moves Wheaton a full game (7-8 vs. 6-9) ahead of NPU in the battle for the fourth tourney slot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 26, 2008, 09:56:15 AM
Just another beautiful day up in the beautiful city of Kenosha  ;D. High of 52, winds out of the SSW at 30-40!!!!! Balls will be flying out to right field today. I heard Augie has a ton a lefties in their lineup so this coule play to their advantage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 26, 2008, 12:40:20 PM
High of 52, real feel 45! I'm getting ready to bundle up with several layers  and head out. Go Redmen!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 26, 2008, 09:10:01 PM
Carthage takes two from Augie today.

Game one was 7-5.  Game two was 12-8.

Husing and Ruffie gets wins, Richardson picks up a save.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2008, 11:01:15 PM
I think Carthage just put the nail in Augustana's coffin. 9-7 in the CCIW will not get them a Pool C. They have to win the CCIW tournament to get in. Carthage and IWU still appear to be locks. Next weekend might be the best series in the nation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 26, 2008, 11:43:20 PM
Just have to give my congrats to Wheaton.  With 2 wins today against Elmhurst, they reach 20 wins for the season.

While they still have a long way to be up with the elite teams in the conference (and country), this has been a record setting season for the team.  The first 20 win season is quite an accomplishment and goes a long way to bringing respectability to the program.  Hopefully just the first step to respectability and not a one season fluke.  Given some of the young guys on the team, I'm hopeful it is a building block season.

For too long Wheaton's baseball program has been the doormat of the CCIW.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2008, 12:52:28 AM
Today's reults:

As reported above, Carthage swept Augie, 7-5 and 12-8.
IWU swept NPU, 9-5 and 8-6.
NCC swept Millikin, 6-3 and 10-4.
Wheaton completed the series sweep of Elmhurst, 19-15 and 15-9.  Combined with Wheaton's win yesterday of 23-13, that means the series totals were 57-37!  Does either team have any pitchers, or did they play tee-ball?! :o

IWU hosts NPU tomorrow, and Carthage hosts Augie.  Both are locks for the conference tourney (and probably the NCAAs), but the games still matter as far as where the conference tourney is held.  If IWU wins tomorrow (or both lose), whoever wins at least 2 games next weekend hosts.  If IWU loses but Carthage wins, IWU would need a sweep in Kenosha to host.

For slots 3 and 4 in the tourney, Elmhurst and NCC are eliminated.  Millikin would have to win all five remaining games (and pray for additional help).  NPU MUST sweep Wheaton next weekend AND either beat IWU tomorrow or root for Millikin over Wheaton whenever their game is made up.  Most likely the remaining two contenders are Augie and Wheaton, though which is 3 and which 4 is no longer clear.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2008, 03:14:28 PM
IWU completed the sweep over NPU, 10-2.  The Vikings are definitely on the ropes - they would have to sweep Wheaton next weekend, AND have Millikin beat Wheaton in their makeup game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 27, 2008, 04:47:40 PM
Augie took game 3 from Carthage 11-9.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2008, 06:21:36 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 27, 2008, 04:47:40 PM
Augie took game 3 from Carthage 11-9.

Combined with Millikin's 12-2 loss to NCC, that officially clinches a tourney spot for Augie, though they could still be either 3rd or 4th seed.

Wheaton needs just one more win (1 game against reeling Millikin, 3 against NPU) to lock up the other spot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 27, 2008, 11:38:15 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 27, 2008, 04:47:40 PM
Augie took game 3 from Carthage 11-9.

5 errors on Carthage led to 6 unearned runs for Augie.  Defense wins ballgames.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 28, 2008, 12:15:27 AM
NPU is all but eliminated at this point, and it's not the sweeps by the top three teams that have done in the Vikings. It's the losses to the likes of Millikin and North Central, and the fact that they could only take one out of three from Elmhurst. Even if the Vikings manage to win the series against Wheaton, it'll most likely be a case of too little too late, and an offseason of woulda, coulda, shouldas.

It's a fairly young NPU team, so the future looks bright. And there's no question that Luke Johnson has the program moving in the right direction. Still, the season has played out to be a bit of a disappointment for the Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2008, 12:57:23 AM
Yeah, NPU is still mathematically alive (so long as Wheaton loses the makeup game to Millikin), but must sweep the series against the Thunder, not just win.  IF all that happened, they would be 4th seed.

In cleaning out the basement, I ran across my senior-year Wesleyana - had forgotten I even had it!  The baseball section (1969 season, since the yearbook came out before the end of the 1970 season) had something jarring.  The Titans won the conference with a 14-2 record (all current teams, plus Carroll; just 2 games each).  They were undefeated against everyone except ... Wheaton (who swept them :o)!  The CCIW website only lists conference winners (not all teams' records); the Wheaton website seems to only go back to 2000.  Wheaton's one and only title came in 1951, but have they had eras of being highly respectable in baseball, or was 1969 just one of those fluky things?

Anyone found anything I've missed in the archives, or have a memory far longer than mine?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 28, 2008, 09:21:56 AM
Here's the article from the paper about the Carthage/Augustana game from yesterday. A lot of positive comments about his team from Augie.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2894141
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 29, 2008, 09:44:22 AM
Great article about the Carthage baseball team in the Racine Journal Times today. In depth article that talks about how its a huge surprise to Augie that they're doing what they're doing this year with only 2 starting position players returning, and one of them being injured. Several quotes from Augie, as well as players on the team and other coaches in the CCIW explaining why they think Carthage is a good team this year.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/04/29/local_sports/doc4816a4c9e8e06624381790.txt
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 29, 2008, 02:45:10 PM
From the aforementioned article...

"Under the guidance of Schmidt, who sees so many little things that others don't, Acevado's pent-up ability came pouring out. In 126 at-bats, Acevado has 30 extra-base hits for a .944 slugging percentage, is hitting .492 with 11 homers and 452 RBIs. His 119 total bases are 57 more than any other Carthage player."



That's a ton of RBIs....how did Carthage lose twice?   ;D ;D :D :D :P :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2008, 09:30:41 AM
That's only about 3 1/2 Ribby's per AB, that's not that impressive!   :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 30, 2008, 09:58:34 AM
Illinois State came from behind to defeat IWU 7-4 yesterday at Horenberger Field...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/30/usports/doc4817d1fdd05e1906832464.txt
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 30, 2008, 11:11:18 AM
Carthage beat Aurora yesterday by a score of 6-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 30, 2008, 01:46:45 PM
The Carthage/IWU series is pushed up to Thursday (DH) and then Friday.  Those of you out at in the outfield I will need some updates via text...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 30, 2008, 02:31:26 PM
Wheaton plays the U of Chicago tonight.  Then it's the showdown with North Park this weekend.  In an interesting twist, the makeup game with Millikin is scheduled for Monday.  If the Vikings sweep, the Parkers will become big Big Blue fans, at least in terms of the CCIW tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on April 30, 2008, 03:56:01 PM
RedmenbigD, I will try, might have to skip a couple of classes though.....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmenBigD on April 30, 2008, 04:38:37 PM
Class, you know you don't go to class.  You and I both know you would rather be yelling in the left fielder's ear than be in class...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: soxfan14 on April 30, 2008, 10:34:50 PM
final tonight
IWU 15
Rockford 1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 12:08:32 AM
Augie 'edged' NCC tonite, 20-6.  Their 'magic number' for the 3rd seed in the CCIW tourney is now 2 (with Augie and Wheaton still having 7 games to go).  Since Wheaton's magic number over NPU is 1 (with the 3-game showdown, plus Wheaton's makeup game against Millikin on May 5), the 3rd and 4th seeds seem pretty well set.  Of course we still don't know who they will play, or where! ;)

The next couple of days in Kenosha oughta be fun! ;D  May the better team (as long as they wear Green and White 8)) win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on May 01, 2008, 09:50:14 AM
Wheaton loses 6-4 to Chicago. http://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/baseball/base_stats/chciago.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 01, 2008, 10:05:59 AM
Here's a nice article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal today about the Carthage Baseball team. Augie states that from a talent stand point, this is not his best team, probably not even in the top 10. But this group of guys together has become something special.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=745797
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 01, 2008, 10:14:35 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 01, 2008, 10:05:59 AM
Here's a nice article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal today about the Carthage Baseball team. Augie states that from a talent stand point, this is not his best team, probably not even in the top 10. But this group of guys together has become something special.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=745797


REDMANFAN, you beat me to the punch on that one!  :) ;) :D :) ;) :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 01, 2008, 12:43:13 PM
Sorry WLCALUM! 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 03:52:27 PM
Assuming the weather cooperated, the showdown in Kenosha should have gotten underway a couple hours ago - anyone got any news?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2008, 03:54:56 PM
IWU 2, Carthage 1 in the seventh. Check the Carthage website for real-time stats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 01, 2008, 05:06:58 PM
IWU wins games one 2-1 and leads in game two 1-0
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 05:07:18 PM
The Titans draw first blood - 2-1.  Brent Kulavic spun a 2-hit complete game (no earned runs) and moves to 6-0.  Jacob Husing nearly matched him with a 7-hit complete game, but falls to 6-1.  The difference was a Kevin Goshorn solo HR in the 6th.

In game 2, it is 0-0 after 2.  Matt Aronson has yet to yield a hit; Trace Ruffie has yielded 2 hits, but no runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 05:12:09 PM
After 3, game two is 1-0 IWU.  The Titans got 3 more hits, 1 run in the top of the inning.  Alber led off with a double to end Aronson's no-hitter, but was out at third after a bunt (with Aronson throwing him out).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 05:34:36 PM
Titans get 5 more hits, 3 more runs in top of fourth - now up 4-0.

I'm leaving the champagne unopened for now, but a 4-0 deficit against Aronson is making me mighty optimistic. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 06:17:36 PM
IWU 5, Carthage 3, after 6.

Bottom of 4th: Carthage 3 hits, 1 run.
Top of 5th: Goshorn gets another HR.
Bottom of 5th: Baitinger single, Rdzok HR.
No one scored in the 6th.

Matt Aronson had 5 Ks in the 5th and 6th - I'm cautiously optimistic.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 06:34:57 PM
Carthage website says 5-5 in the 8th, but box score and play-by-play say IWU up 5-4 after 7.5.  Baitinger was thrown out at the plate for the 3rd out in the 7th - possibly the source of the confusion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 07:13:28 PM
IWU 5, Carthage 5, after 9.

Box score says game suspended due to darkness at 5:55.  With sunset still nearly two hours away, that can't be right - perhaps a thunderstorm that they figured by the time they could resume it WOULD be too dark?

And congratulations to reliever Corey Richardson, who no-hit the Titans for three innings to allow the RedMen back into the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on May 01, 2008, 07:31:20 PM
Mr. Ypsi, I was at the game and I have no idea why they called the game. It was cloudy, no rain coming in at all what so ever. Umps call and I think they blew it. I'm sitting in my house right now and it is perfectly fine right now. With rain in the forecast for Friday, Sat, and Sunday, why not finish the game. Both benches seemed to be mad with the call. We shall see if they get this series in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2008, 10:14:39 PM
Quote from: RedMan1 on May 01, 2008, 07:31:20 PM
Mr. Ypsi, I was at the game and I have no idea why they called the game. It was cloudy, no rain coming in at all what so ever. Umps call and I think they blew it. I'm sitting in my house right now and it is perfectly fine right now. With rain in the forecast for Friday, Sat, and Sunday, why not finish the game. Both benches seemed to be mad with the call. We shall see if they get this series in.

Hmm ... perhaps the plate ump had a hot date at 7?  Their contract limits them to 16 innings a day?  They just wanted to mess with our minds? :D  The Carthage website is sticking with the 'darkness at 5:55' story - perhaps you had a long-lasting solar eclipse that no one else knew about? ;D

Tomorrow (if weather cooperates) should be interesting - I have no clue who will be pitching for either side when game 2 resumes.  In case we don't pull that one out, I can't be too disappointed with 6-1 Jesse Foster going against whoever Carthage's #3 is.  While I'm hardly counting our chickens, it's nice being in a position where we need to win EITHER game; you need to win BOTH. 8)  (And, of course, it eases the tension to 'know' that both teams are 'locks' for the NCAAs regardless :))



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2008, 12:10:49 AM
Visiting North Park fell to Rockford this evening under the lights, 6-4. (http://www.rockford.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/npu501.htm) Coming on the heels of the 9-7 loss to Chicago State two days ago, NPU drops to 16-21 on the season with this defeat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 02, 2008, 12:14:28 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2008, 12:10:49 AM
Visiting North Park fell to Rockford this evening under the lights, 6-4. (http://www.rockford.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/npu501.htm) Coming on the heels of the 9-7 loss to Chicago State two days ago, NPU drops to 16-21 on the season with this defeat.
Must win for Rockford!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on May 02, 2008, 04:09:10 AM
Mr. Ypsi, it was not the home plate ump. Right after Wesleyan ended the 9th, the field ump waved his hands like the game was suspended. Still have no reason why, but if Carey Richardson can pitch I would go with him again. He was lights out, but only his arm will tell.

Should be a very intense finish to the game on Friday. The weather is getting warmer and that only means bad weather up in Kenosha. Hopefully they can finish the series. If they can't finish the end of game 2/3 will they do it mid-week?

Has there been any time in the CCIW where 1 game has decided where the CCIW Tournament will be?

Kenosha... Please be good to us tomorrow!!!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on May 02, 2008, 09:29:09 AM
The forecast isn't looking too good right now in Kenosha  >:(
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=MKX&map.x=279&map.y=199

or Chicago either for that matter
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=LOT&map.x=238&map.y=101
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 02:34:14 PM
Latest word from the Carthage website: radar reports show a break in the rain for the midafternoon.  They will attempt to resume game 2 about 2:30.  (Looks like the umps made a serious error of judgment not finishing the game yesterday.  Though the way Richardson was pitching, we Titans say "Thanks!" :D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on May 02, 2008, 02:42:13 PM
Yes there is a break in the radar, but the problem now is fog. You can't see home plate from left field. Should be interesting
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 03:30:31 PM
Game 2 supposedly resumes momentarily - any updates on conditions?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanFan13 on May 02, 2008, 04:03:24 PM
Titans score 2 in top of 10th...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 02, 2008, 04:14:59 PM
With IWU's win in the resumed game from yesterday, the Titans have now won 38 of their last 41 CCIW regular season games (20-1 last year and 18-2 this year with one to play vs Carthage).  That's pretty amazing.

Congrats to Dennis Martel and the Titans on the CCIW championship and a great run of success.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 08:33:08 PM
NPU is not going quietly - down 9-1 after 5.5 innings, they scored 4 in the bottom of the 6th (on 3 walks, 1 hit batter, 1 error, and 1 single!) and 3 more in the bottom of the 7th.  Now 9-8 entering the 8th.

Carthage jumped all over the Titans in the finale (up 14-1 after 3; coasting home 18-8 as both coaches cleared their benches), but the title was already taken.  Welcome to Bloomington!  (And I hope home field works a bit better than last year! :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 09:43:14 PM
Barring a miracle comeback, NPU's season may have effectively ended when they did in the 9th what Wheaton did in the 6th - VERY bad defense!  After getting the first Thunder batter out, the Vikes gave up a 3-base error, a hit batter, a stolen base, a sacrifice grounder to 2nd, and a wild pitch - 2 runs on NO hits.  (It could have been worse - they then yielded a single and two walks to load the bases again, before stiking out the next batter.)  Thunder lead 12-8 going to the bottom of the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 10:12:26 PM
I think Wheaton and NPU have been bought off by cardiac surgeons!  Bottom of the 9th, NPU down by 4, 2 outs, man on first - then single, walk, hit batter (forcing in a run), 2-run single ... alas, a fly-out ended the game just short at 12-11.

On to Bloomington!  1. IWU; 2. Carthage; 3 (probably) Augie; 4. Wheaton.  (Wheaton COULD still pass Augie for third seed, but are a game behind (and lose the tie-breaker) with each team having 3 games to go.)

Among the four tournament teams, ALL series went 2-1, with the sole exception of Carthage's sweep of Wheaton.  IWU went 6-3 (winning all three series, 2-1); Carthage also went 6-3; Augie was 4-5; Wheaton 2-7.  We'll see if that has any relevance next weekend. ;)

For the NCAAs, I'd judge IWU and Carthage to already have bids locked up.  IF Augie sweeps Millikin (perhaps even if they win 2), they should probably be on the high side of the bubble if they win at least a game or two in the conference tourney.  A really intriguing possibility would be if Augie lost to Wheaton in the tourney final - could the CCIW actually send FOUR teams? :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2008, 09:14:45 PM
Augie swept Millikin today, 16-2 and 5-4, so it is now official: 3-seed Augie, 4-seed Wheaton.  So the first games next weekend will be Titans-Thunder and RedMen-Vikings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 04, 2008, 01:29:06 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2008, 10:12:26 PM
I think Wheaton and NPU have been bought off by cardiac surgeons!  Bottom of the 9th, NPU down by 4, 2 outs, man on first - then single, walk, hit batter (forcing in a run), 2-run single ... alas, a fly-out ended the game just short at 12-11.

On to Bloomington!  1. IWU; 2. Carthage; 3 (probably) Augie; 4. Wheaton.  (Wheaton COULD still pass Augie for third seed, but are a game behind (and lose the tie-breaker) with each team having 3 games to go.)

Among the four tournament teams, ALL series went 2-1, with the sole exception of Carthage's sweep of Wheaton.  IWU went 6-3 (winning all three series, 2-1); Carthage also went 6-3; Augie was 4-5; Wheaton 2-7.  We'll see if that has any relevance next weekend. ;)

For the NCAAs, I'd judge IWU and Carthage to already have bids locked up.  IF Augie sweeps Millikin (perhaps even if they win 2), they should probably be on the high side of the bubble if they win at least a game or two in the conference tourney.  A really intriguing possibility would be if Augie lost to Wheaton in the tourney final - could the CCIW actually send FOUR teams? :o
More damage to the Pool C chances around the country...UT-Tyler was knocked out of the ASC Tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2008, 01:37:36 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 04, 2008, 01:29:06 AM

More damage to the Pool C chances around the country...UT-Tyler was knocked out of the ASC Tourney.


Wow! That is going to be crushing to someone's chances. Teams left on the Pool C bubble only have themselves to blame. They all hade a chance to lock up their own bid. One has to assume that UT-Tyler will take one of the bids and either Carthage or Illinois Wesleyan will take a second from the CCIW with Augustana possibly taking a third. The Pool C teams are getting nervous as the conference favorites are getting knocked out.  There are going to be some very strong teams sitting home next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 05, 2008, 06:34:02 AM
Carthage lost big to Rockford yesterday. Any reaction from you CCIW posters? (NAthCon box score indicated Red Men started a pitcher that hadn't had any decisions going into that game).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 05, 2008, 07:59:03 AM
I'm surprised at the 19-3 score, but that's Carthage's first clunker of the season, and like you said, they were very deep into their pitching rotation. I haven't looked yet, but it very well may have been a kid who hasn't thrown in a game since the Florida trip.  Obviously you never want to lose like that, but I wouldn't say I'm worried or concerned about it, IMO.  When Carthage has one of their top 3-4 guys on the mound, they have a good shot at beating anyone in the country. If the bats aren't awake though, IWU proved in game 1 that the Redmen can't rely soley on pitching to get victories in big games. Should be a great conference tournament down in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 05, 2008, 10:28:21 AM
I would agree with REDMENFAN on everything he said in this post.  You can't soley rely on pitching.  IMO, Augustana has probably got the hottest bats going right now and have underachieved at times throughout the season both offensively and pitching.  Both have peaked and could not have come at a better time in the season.  Good luck to all 4 teams in Bloomington.  I will be there and can't wait!  GO VIKINGS!

Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 05, 2008, 07:59:03 AM
I'm surprised at the 19-3 score, but that's Carthage's first clunker of the season, and like you said, they were very deep into their pitching rotation. I haven't looked yet, but it very well may have been a kid who hasn't thrown in a game since the Florida trip.  Obviously you never want to lose like that, but I wouldn't say I'm worried or concerned about it, IMO.  When Carthage has one of their top 3-4 guys on the mound, they have a good shot at beating anyone in the country. If the bats aren't awake though, IWU proved in game 1 that the Redmen can't rely soley on pitching to get victories in big games. Should be a great conference tournament down in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 05, 2008, 11:04:05 AM
Just read the paper, for some reason the article isn't online.  The article stated that Carthage went with young pitching that had little experience to save arms for the conference tourney, and that hopefully those guys learned its not as easy as it looks when Jacob Husing is on the mound.  He said there really wasn't much positive about yesterday, and they have to get back to playing the Carthage way.  Lastly, he said the guys looked pretty upset after the game, so he knows they care, and hopes they'll bounce back nicely.
Title: CCIW Tourney Games
Post by: mwunder on May 06, 2008, 12:01:28 PM
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Thursday-Saturday

At Illinois Wesleyan, Bloomington, Ill.

Thursday

Game 1 - No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan vs. No. 4 Wheaton, 3 p.m.

Game 2 - No. 2 Carthage vs. No. 3 Augustana, 6 p.m.

Friday

Game 3 - Winner Game 1 vs. winner Game 2, 11 a.m.

Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. loser Game 2, 2:30 p.m.

Game 5 - Winner Game 4 vs. loser Game 3, 6 p.m.

Saturday

Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. winner Game 5, noon.

Game 7 - Same teams, if necessary, 3:30 p.m.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2008, 01:09:15 AM
One hole in the schedule: did the make-up game of Millikin@Wheaton (May 5) get cancelled?  It mattered not a whit in the standings, except whether Millikin would be 8th or tied for 7th, but just wondering.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on May 07, 2008, 10:59:50 AM
Yes, it was cancelled.  Yesterday, there was a notification on the Wheaton website that indicated this.  I can't find it anymore, but it is listed as cancelled on the schedule page, in red no less. ;D http://athletics.wheaton.edu/schedules.asp?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on May 08, 2008, 01:53:06 AM
Do or die for the Redmen in my mind.. Redmen faithful come on down to IWU and let's get some wins!!!!


See you down there!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 08, 2008, 02:00:51 AM
I will be there rain or shine rooting on Augustana.  Unfortunately, it looks like there is more rain than shine in the forecast.  Regardless of who we are cheering for, we should expect great CCIW baseball as always.  4 teams well deserving of respect.  GO VIKINGS!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 08, 2008, 10:18:53 AM
Here's the preview in the Kenosha Newspaper today:

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2940095
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on May 08, 2008, 05:01:24 PM
IWU 1
Wheaton 0 Bottom 5

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on May 08, 2008, 05:50:41 PM
Wheaton 2
IWU 1

8th inning
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on May 08, 2008, 05:53:28 PM
Correction:

Wheaton 4
IWU 1

Kolb just hit double with bases packed.  Scored 2.  2nd & 3rd with 1 out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on May 08, 2008, 05:56:52 PM
Bottom of 8:

Wheaton 5
IWU 1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 06:20:47 PM
Wheaton's defensive woes continue: bottom of the 8th, IWU scores 6 runs on TWO hits.  Currently 7-5 IWU, and the inning is not over (but I gotta go).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 06:20:55 PM
Pat Garvey hit a grand slam off Josh weaver in the bottom of the eighth to put the Titans up, 7-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 06:27:33 PM
Final score: IWU 7, Wheaton 5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on May 08, 2008, 09:04:51 PM
Mercy that was a quick turn around.

When I left work it was 5-1.  When I arrived home it was over at 7-5.

IWU certainly had Wheaton's number in men's althetic events this year.  Hopefully 08-09 will be just as competitive and the games will be just as big.


Only I'd prefer different outcomes.   :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 09:23:53 PM
Quote from: Mugsy on May 08, 2008, 09:04:51 PM
Mercy that was a quick turn around.

When I left work it was 5-1.  When I arrived home it was over at 7-5.

IWU certainly had Wheaton's number in men's althetic events this year.  Hopefully 08-09 will be just as competitive and the games will be just as big.


Only I'd prefer different outcomes.   :P

Mugsy,

I mostly agree with you (just as competitive and games just as big), but I kinda liked the outcomes! ;) ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 09:59:39 PM
Husing still pitching w/ 2 outs in the top of the 8th, and Augie not managing much against him.  Carthage 5, Augie 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 10:29:21 PM
Augustana put up 4 in the top of the ninth to take a 6-5 lead.   The leadoff batter struck out but reached on a wild pitch, then the Vikings strung together three hits, a groundout, an intentional walk, a fielder's choice, and a double steal (with an error mixed in between the steals).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 10:33:16 PM
8000 posts, Mr. Ypsi -- congratulations!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 10:41:55 PM
Bottom of the ninth: Viking reliever Vince Frede walks pinch-hitter Hodges (who steals second) and Acevado, then strikes out Hughes (looking) and Creekmore (swinging) and gets Heegman on a flyball out to preserve a 6-5 come-from-behind Augie win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 10:50:58 PM
Wonder if Coach Augie is having second thoughts about relieving Husing?  He'd given up only 2 runs, 6 hits, and went 1-2-3 in the 8th.  Was he out of gas?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 11:03:42 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 08, 2008, 10:33:16 PM
8000 posts, Mr. Ypsi -- congratulations!

Thanks, mr_b!  If I weren't retired, my proper response to so many posts would probably be  :-[.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 08, 2008, 11:27:53 PM
Did Carthage try to bunt the cleanup hitter down one with no outs and guys on 1st and 2nd in the 9th? Hard to tell those things via live stats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 09, 2008, 07:50:50 AM
IWU/Wheaton game article...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/09/usports/doc4823cc39cb43e791053150.txt
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 09, 2008, 09:10:41 AM
Quote from: OshDude on May 08, 2008, 11:27:53 PM
Did Carthage try to bunt the cleanup hitter down one with no outs and guys on 1st and 2nd in the 9th? Hard to tell those things via live stats.

I believe so...Hughes was the batter I think.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 09, 2008, 09:18:18 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 10:50:58 PM
Wonder if Coach Augie is having second thoughts about relieving Husing?  He'd given up only 2 runs, 6 hits, and went 1-2-3 in the 8th.  Was he out of gas?

The lady sitting in front of me was counting pitches and Husing was at 144 at some point before he was eventually relieved to start the 9th.  Any coach would like to think you could a kid to get 3 outs leading by 3...especially a kid with 5 saves on the season.  It's happened to Augustana plenty of times this season.  Augustana Sr. pitcher Brandon Engle has at least 3 no decisions from getting pulled with the lead and then the bullpen losing it.  The Vikings usually finish strong and have got to be considered one of the hottest teams in DIII baseball right now.  Last night's game was a good one...both teams played with heart and gave it there all.  Carthage errors (2B) were costly IMO.  Augustana So. Pitcher Matt Erickson shut Carthage down for 5 innings too. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 09, 2008, 10:39:09 AM
I heard Jacob was around 150 pitches, plus I'm sure Augs thought they'd hold a 3 run lead.  With a kid who'll get a chance at the next level, whether drafted or not, no reason to have him go out and throw more than 150 pitches and jeapordize his future.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 10:49:23 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2008, 10:50:58 PM
Wonder if Coach Augie is having second thoughts about relieving Husing?  He'd given up only 2 runs, 6 hits, and went 1-2-3 in the 8th.  Was he out of gas?
I doubt any coach would second-guess the decision to turn the ball over to a guy who has been closing games all season (15 games, 5 saves, 3 wins).  Sometimes the other time just rises to the challenge.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2008, 11:58:40 AM
What a heart-breaking loss for Carthage. They way their season is goin the past two weeks, I would not be surprised to see them left out of the regional. They have lost 3 of their last 4 and 5 of their last 9 games. They were #2 in the Central's latest ranking, but I can see them dropping quickly if they get beat again today and lose their fourth straight game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 12:55:46 PM
IWU got an unearned run in the third (error and two sacrifices - no hits), and two more in the top of the 4th (walk then 2-run homer; they then loaded the bases, but got no more).  Meanwhile, Augie has yet to get a hit off Aronson.

Titans 3, Vikings 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 01:02:28 PM
Are there on-line stats for the game?  I couldn't find a link.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 01:08:52 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 01:02:28 PM
Are there on-line stats for the game?  I couldn't find a link.

Go to the CCIW site.

Good thing it was only the bottom of the 4th - Mark Ramos ended Aronson's no-hitter with a bunt single!  I understand that is a definite (unofficial) no-no after about the 7th.  Ramos then stole 2nd and went to 3rd on a throwing error, but was erased at the plate.  Still 3-0 after 4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 01:11:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 01:08:52 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 01:02:28 PM
Are there on-line stats for the game?  I couldn't find a link.
Go to the CCIW site.
Thanks
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on May 09, 2008, 01:21:42 PM
Augustana is just not getting the job done with runners in scoring position.  In the 4th they had a man on 3rd with no outs and couldn't score.  In the 5th they had 2nd and 3rd with no outs and couldn't score.  Against a team like IWU, you can't let opportunities like that get away.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 09, 2008, 02:28:38 PM
Final:

IWU 6
Augustana 0


There is just no substitute for having an All-American pitcher...

Matt Aronson: 9 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 9 K


Big-time outing by the junior.  Aronson is now 7-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 02:29:13 PM
Final from Bloomington: IWU 6, Augustana 0

Aronson threw a complete-game 5-hit shutout and struck out 9.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 03:09:02 PM
Matt gets some revenge for last year's postseason, where Augie got more earned runs against him in one game (3) than he had yielded ALL season (2)! :D

Not sure he put up the numbers to remain first team AA (statistically, he was not even the Titan's best pitcher this year!), but I'd imagine he'll still be at least 2nd or 3rd team AA.

On to the elimination game.  I'm confident Carthage's overall season was sufficient to be a pool C lock (if needed), but for the sake of Big Poppa's blood pressure, go RedMen!  On the other hand, Wheaton has zero chance of a pool C; it's AQ or go home - go Thunder!  As you may gather, I'm torn on this one! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 04:51:23 PM
Carthage 4, Wheaton 1 at the end of 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: titanfan on May 09, 2008, 05:50:39 PM
Carthage 7
Wheaton 1

Carthage batting with 2 outs in the top of the ninth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 05:55:15 PM
Carthage up 9-1 on a two-run homer by Hermes in the ninth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 06:13:20 PM
Final: Carthage 9, Wheaton 1.

Carthage meets Augie (again!) in about an hour to see who continues on to meet IWU tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 07:08:45 PM
Entering the 2nd inning, Carthage 2, Augie 0.  Marty Perez (Carthage) is 6-0 on the season with a 4.20 era (4-0, 4.36 in conference games).  Brandon Engle (Augie) is 4-3 on the season with a 4.84 (but I pretty woeful 1-3, 6.46, in CCIW games).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 07:37:37 PM
Carthage 3, Augie 1, after 3.

Both pitchers apparently doing well so far - each team has only 3 hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2008, 07:45:39 PM
Now it's 7-1 Carthage in the top of the 4th. Carlson has replaced Engle on the mound.  The Redmen have scored in three of the first four frames.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 08:16:36 PM
Yeah, turning more into the hitters' party I expected from these two teams - now 9-4 half-way through the 5th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2008, 10:38:14 PM
Final Score:
Carthage 15
Augustana 5

I will sleep very well tonight. Carthage is back off the bubble! This sets upoa grea tshowdown for the Central region's #1 seed tomorrow as Carthage faces IWU in the championship. Carthage must win twice to take the Pool A bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 11:10:41 PM
Anyone have an idea who Carthage will pitch tomorrow?  I'd certainly assume that IWU will go with Jesse Foster, though I have no clue who would go the second game, if needed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2008, 11:21:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 11:10:41 PM
Anyone have an idea who Carthage will pitch tomorrow?  I'd certainly assume that IWU will go with Jesse Foster, though I have no clue who would go the second game, if needed.

I have no idea who is throwing, but if Carthage is to pull it off, it has to be done with the bats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 12:58:00 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2008, 11:21:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2008, 11:10:41 PM
Anyone have an idea who Carthage will pitch tomorrow?  I'd certainly assume that IWU will go with Jesse Foster, though I have no clue who would go the second game, if needed.

I have no idea who is throwing, but if Carthage is to pull it off, it has to be done with the bats.

Just checked the box score of the last time Jesse Foster faced Carthage.  It was the game right after the Titans clinched the title, and Jesse entered with a 6-1 record.  The RedMen scored 4 in the 1st, and Jesse never got an out in the 2nd before being pulled - Carthage, of course, coasted to a laugher at 18-8.  Here's hoping the 6-1 Jesse shows up, not the one the RedMen hitters must be drooling to face! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 10, 2008, 09:14:09 AM
Here's the article from the paper about Carthage's two wins yesterday.  Should be some great game(s) down in Bloomington today, keep my posted RedMan1!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 01:47:18 PM
Carthage up 3-1 after 1.

Any word on why Foster is not pitching for IWU?  Is it that he was roughed up so badly last weekend; is he hurt; is he being saved in case there's a second game?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2008, 02:54:19 PM
Foster is now in the game for the Titans, who are trailing 6-2 in the 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2008, 04:00:36 PM
It's final: Carthage 9, IWU 4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 04:00:54 PM
Carthage wins game one, 9-4.  On to the title game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 10, 2008, 04:10:32 PM
IWU will start sophomore Geoff Page...

0-0, 11 appearances/2 starts, 5.33 ERA, 27 IP, 23 K, 5 BB

Last start was against Division I Illinois State on April 29.  He went 3 scoreless in that one...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/bb2008/iwubb33.htm

With Page being primarily a reliever, I assume this will be a pitching by committee type game for the Titans who do have a lot of pretty good arms to go with.

Should be a good one - wish I could see it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 04:22:47 PM
Titans dig a hole again - RedMen score 3 in the top of the first.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 10, 2008, 05:00:33 PM
Will it help Augustana secure a invite if Carthage wins the CCIW tournament today?  The CCIW has 3 of the top teams in the Region once again this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 05:15:29 PM
Quote from: kritterhawk on May 10, 2008, 05:00:33 PM
Will it help Augustana secure a invite if Carthage wins the CCIW tournament today?  The CCIW has 3 of the top teams in the Region once again this year.

Either Carthage or IWU is a lock for a C, and Augie has both wins and losses against each, so I can't see how it would matter.

Carthage up 4-2 after 4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 06:11:04 PM
IWU scored 3 in the 5th and 4 in the 6th; Cartage came back with 2 in the 7th.

IWU 9, Carthage 6 in the bottom of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2008, 06:35:34 PM
Titans hang an 8-spot on the board in the 7th to go up 17-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 10, 2008, 06:40:20 PM
IWU's Kraid Ladd is 4-5 in the game.  What a season the sophomore from Shelbyville has had, quarterbacking the football team to a share of the CCIW title and then having a big year for a conference championship baseball team.  Ladd came into today as IWU's batting average leader (.377) and is second in RBI (39).

IWU's first four hitters are 12-19 with 10 RBI and 9 runs through the 7th.

IWU starter Geoff Page deserves a lot of credit.  After allowing 3 runs in the 1st, he settled down to go 7 innings, giving up just 2 more, and striking out 9.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: kritterhawk on May 10, 2008, 06:48:37 PM
Congrats to IWU on its CCIW Championship....looks like they should be able to hang on with a huge lead late.  IMO, the CCIW deserves it's due respect and should have it's top 3 teams in the regional once again this year.  We'll have to wait and see what happens.   :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2008, 07:02:39 PM
It's a wrap: 17-7.

Congratulations to both teams on great seasons and continued success next week.  And, while not a 'lock', I'm pretty confident that Augie will be joining them also.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on May 10, 2008, 09:54:39 PM
Given the results of the other conference tournaments in the region, I wouldn't be all that surprised if we saw IWU, Carthage, and Augie as the top 3 seeds in the regional.  Of course the NCAA could shift some people around too.  Who knows what will end up happening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: SouthPaw on May 10, 2008, 10:44:20 PM
Now that the tourney is done any predictions on All-Conference?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2008, 11:50:37 AM
Quote from: SouthPaw on May 10, 2008, 10:44:20 PM
Now that the tourney is done any predictions on All-Conference?

Kolb will be Hitter of the year, Kulavic will be Pitcher of the Year.

IF--Acevado
IF--Angel
IF--Robinson
IF--Kolb
IF--Ladd
C--Deutscher
OF--Blakeley
OF--Baitinger
OF--Burback
OF--???
OF--???
DH--Pyne
Util--Marzec
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 11, 2008, 01:24:11 PM
Quote from: SouthPaw on May 10, 2008, 10:44:20 PM
Now that the tourney is done any predictions on All-Conference?

Here is a stab at the 1st Team...

(Conference-only, regular season stats)

OF - Boe Battinger, OF (Carthage, Sr. - Appleton, WI) - .519, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 26 R, 18-21 SB
OF - Marc Blakely, OF (Augustana, Sr. - Richland Center, WI) - .459, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 32 R, 10-11 SB
OF - Kraid Ladd, OF (IWU, So. - Shelbyville) - .393, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 22 R
OF - Tim McInerney, OF (IWU, Sr. - River Forest) - .378, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 30 R
IF - Brian Kolb, SS (Wheaton, So. - Carlsbad, CA) - .573, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 29 R, 19-19 SB
IF - Jason Acevedo, 1B (Carthage, Sr. - Vernon Hills - Bradley U.) - .467, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 29 R
IF - Ricky Angel, 2B (IWU, Sr - Glen Ellyn) - .403, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 19 R
IF - John Wagle, 3B (Augutana, Jr. - Rock Island) - .391, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 23 R
IF - Marc Ramos, SS (Augustana, Jr. - East Moline) - .359, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R
C - Zack Deutscher, C (NPU, Fr. - Batavia) - .353, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 22 R
DH - Kevin Goshorn, DH (IWU, Jr. - New Lenox) - .321, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 8 R
UT - Josh Weaver, OF (Wheaton, Jr. - Franklin Park) - .358, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 27 R

P Brent Kulavic (IWU, So. - Springfield) - 5-0, 2.03 ERA
P Mario Perez (Carthage, Fr. - Gurnee) - 4-0, 4.36 ERA
P Micah Yarbrough (NCC, So. - Lake Villa) - 2-0, 3.47 ERA
P Matt Aronson (IWU, Jr. - LaGrange) - 4-0, 4.91 ERA


Disclaimer: I didn't see a single CCIW game this year...I'm just going by stats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 07:40:12 AM
Wow, definitely surprised to see Carthage in the Oshkosh regional. First time since 1992 that they've been in the midwest regional.  Top seed is St. Thomas, with Whitewater, Carthage, Oshkosh, St. Scholastica, and Knox being the other teams. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 08:05:36 AM
Carthage will take on Oshkosh in their first game. Nothing like Augie and Lechnir going at it in both teams first game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 10:48:27 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 08:05:36 AM
Carthage will take on Oshkosh in their first game. Nothing like Augie and Lechnir going at it in both teams first game!

Wow!!! I did not see this coming. Should be quite a battle in Oshkosh. Carthage has tons of guys form that area, so expect a pretty big crown. It is actually a shorter drive to the Modwest regioanl than it would have been to the Central for Carthage. EJ Schnieder's short porches could lead to some huge scores.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2008, 02:23:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 10:48:27 AM

Wow!!! I did not see this coming. Should be quite a battle in Oshkosh. Carthage has tons of guys form that area, so expect a pretty big crown. It is actually a shorter drive to the Modwest regioanl than it would have been to the Central for Carthage. EJ Schnieder's short porches could lead to some huge scores.


Any idea what the dimensions are over there?  It's apparently a high school field?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 02:31:03 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 12, 2008, 02:23:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 10:48:27 AM

Wow!!! I did not see this coming. Should be quite a battle in Oshkosh. Carthage has tons of guys form that area, so expect a pretty big crown. It is actually a shorter drive to the Modwest regioanl than it would have been to the Central for Carthage. EJ Schnieder's short porches could lead to some huge scores.


Any idea what the dimensions are over there?  It's apparently a high school field?

Not sure on the dimensions, but I routinely hit HRs there as a scrawny high school hitter. I fear what may happen if college kids get a pitch to hit. I hope no one is home in the left-field apartments.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 02:56:04 PM
As successful as UWO's program has been, they don't have their own baseball facility? That's pretty surprising
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 03:42:48 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 02:56:04 PM
As successful as UWO's program has been, they don't have their own baseball facility? That's pretty surprising

UWO has a great facility, but they have no lights.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 12, 2008, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 03:42:48 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 02:56:04 PM
As successful as UWO's program has been, they don't have their own baseball facility? That's pretty surprising
UWO has a great facility, but they have no lights.
Agreed....  I would put it up against just about any facility in the Midwest, but as BigPoppa said they don't have lights which automatically excludes them from hosting at Tiedemann.  However, I could have sworn that they hosted a 4-team Regional about four or five years ago at Tiedemann.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 04:23:47 PM
Got it, thanks for the info guys!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 05:36:06 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 12, 2008, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 03:42:48 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2008, 02:56:04 PM
As successful as UWO's program has been, they don't have their own baseball facility? That's pretty surprising
UWO has a great facility, but they have no lights.
Agreed....  I would put it up against just about any facility in the Midwest, but as BigPoppa said they don't have lights which automatically excludes them from hosting at Tiedemann.  However, I could have sworn that they hosted a 4-team Regional about four or five years ago at Tiedemann.

A 4-team regional does not require night games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 12, 2008, 05:44:44 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 12, 2008, 02:23:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2008, 10:48:27 AM

Wow!!! I did not see this coming. Should be quite a battle in Oshkosh. Carthage has tons of guys form that area, so expect a pretty big crown. It is actually a shorter drive to the Modwest regioanl than it would have been to the Central for Carthage. EJ Schnieder's short porches could lead to some huge scores.


Any idea what the dimensions are over there?  It's apparently a high school field?
EJ is a HS field, but it's one of the best playing surfaces in the area, if not the state. EJ hosts the HS Coaches State All-Star Classic and is home to the semipro Oshkosh Giants in addition to being home to Oshkosh North HS, Oshkosh Legion and the other city team during the year. It's the best Wisconsin field I ever played on, but I'm sure someone out there didn't like playing on it. The stands and fan sight lines are not "grade A," but everything that goes into the actual playing of the game is top notch.

Balls fly out to left like crazy. The ball jumps out there. It's 325 down the line, the left-field alley is also fairly short. In fact, the condo in LF is easily reachable, although a higher fence in left was recently added. I've seen (and hit) hard singles off the wall in LF. It's by no means a joke in LF, but on windy days it can be a joke.

I've seen exactly one HR to CF at EJ in about 200 games that I've attended or played there. It's about 405 to straight-away center, but it seems even longer. Lots of green out there, especially toward right-center. RF takes a shot, too. I don't remember for sure, but I think it's 340 down the RF line. And balls don't carry well to right. Right-center takes a crush. That's where triples are born, not HRs. Anything hit out on the right side is legit. I've only seen a handful of HRs to right in my days.

Another nugget or two ... playing 3B during the twilight at EJ is scary. The infield is very fast (but with mostly true hops, especially on the right side) and the sun can be tricky. And every Wisconsinite thinks they make the best brats, but if EJ has its longtime grillmaster working, make sure you get one. Best brats ever, IMO.

Good luck to Carthage. I enjoy the flavor you guys add to the atmosphere. Please take it easy on my WIAC teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 12, 2008, 06:08:00 PM
Here's a photo of EJ. And a bad one at that.
http://www.fvaathletics.org/baseball/snitz/ (http://www.fvaathletics.org/baseball/snitz/)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2008, 06:26:35 PM
To the Carthage fans:

The IWU-Carthage games this season have been such fun, I was counting on another.  Perhaps in round one of the WS? ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2008, 09:04:40 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2008, 06:26:35 PM
To the Carthage fans:

The IWU-Carthage games this season have been such fun, I was counting on another.  Perhaps in round one of the WS? ;)

I don't know...someone over on the Oshkosh regional board has already indicated that the WIAC will have 2 teams in Appleton and that Stevens Point HAS to be the favorite to win the Midwest regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 13, 2008, 04:33:34 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 13, 2008, 09:04:40 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2008, 06:26:35 PM
To the Carthage fans:

The IWU-Carthage games this season have been such fun, I was counting on another.  Perhaps in round one of the WS? ;)

I don't know...someone over on the Oshkosh regional board has already indicated that the WIAC will have 2 teams in Appleton and that Stevens Point HAS to be the favorite to win the Midwest regional.
Some of us know better. In fact, I don't like my team's chances against Husing, but I'll show up anyway just in case ;). Pitching-wise I think Carthage is right there with St. Thomas as the best at Oshkosh.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: nocryinginbaseball on May 13, 2008, 06:26:44 PM
No doubt the starters are good... but what if the starter doesn't go 9 innings? can they compete?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BaseballFan on May 13, 2008, 06:42:34 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 13, 2008, 09:04:40 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2008, 06:26:35 PM
To the Carthage fans:

The IWU-Carthage games this season have been such fun, I was counting on another.  Perhaps in round one of the WS? ;)

I don't know...someone over on the Oshkosh regional board has already indicated that the WIAC will have 2 teams in Appleton and that Stevens Point HAS to be the favorite to win the Midwest regional. Because of that I would almost put them the favorite in a lot of regions

Just said it was a possibility that 2 teams could, and ask the entire midwest region who is the best playoff team the past 3 years in the midwest--Stevens Point!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 14, 2008, 07:25:00 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 14, 2008, 07:34:38 AM
A feature on IWU pitcher Brent Kulavic...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/14/usports/doc482a6f38025b3911211973.txt
Ah, the dreaded Pantagraph curse strikes again!  ;)

Congratulations to the Gorlocks!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2008, 07:47:37 PM
Carthage defeats UW-Oshkosh 6-3 and will play Whitewater tomorrow.

Oshkosk will face St. Thomas.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2008, 07:58:27 PM
I've seen the Webster release on the IWU loss, but it really didn't answer the questions I had.  In 42 previous games, the Titans were not only never shut out, they only scored as few as two runs twice (and won one of those - sorry, Carthage! ;)) - while the Gorlok pitcher is now 9-0, he can't be that much better than any pitcher we ever faced, is he?!  And I haven't seen the box score, but how did Webster (apparently) rough up Kuvalic more than ANY other team ever did? :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2008, 08:07:54 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2008, 07:58:27 PM
... how did Webster (apparently) rough up Kuvalic more than ANY other team ever did?

Illinois Wesleyan              IP  H  R ER BB SO
-------------------------------------------------------
Kulavic  ........................   4.0  6  3  2  3  3

Illinois Wesleyan             IP  H  R ER BB SO
-------------------------------------------------------
Kulavic............................  5.0  8  5  3  0  5

The first set of stats was from the Webster game.  The second was from the North Park game (in which, of course, Kulavic was the winning pitcher).  He gave up a pair of doubles in each game, plus a homer to North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2008, 08:24:56 PM
The CCIW is 1-1 so far in day one of regional play -- let's see how Augie fares against Wartburg this evening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2008, 08:30:51 PM
Day Two should feature some exciting pitching matchups.  Aronson will face a Linfield squad with solid pitching and fielding numbers, and either Perez or Ruffie will go up against the big Whitewater bats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2008, 09:06:48 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 14, 2008, 07:25:00 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 14, 2008, 07:34:38 AM
A feature on IWU pitcher Brent Kulavic...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/14/usports/doc482a6f38025b3911211973.txt
Ah, the dreaded Pantagraph curse strikes again!  ;)

Congratulations to the Gorlocks!


Hey!!  Stop stealing my material!!  I said that on the Regional board already!! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2008, 09:08:25 PM
mr_b,

I stand corrected - not worse than ANY other team, but certainly worse than most (for the likely CCIW POY)!  (Where did you find the box score?)  And he had given up 9 walks in his first 55.1 innings - how did he suddenly yield 3 in 4 innings? :(

This thing with Webster is getting old - they upset IWU in the first round last year as well (11-7).  I don't think even Gorlok fans would say they were the better team overall either year, so what gives??!! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 14, 2008, 09:26:18 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2008, 09:06:48 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 14, 2008, 07:25:00 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 14, 2008, 07:34:38 AM
A feature on IWU pitcher Brent Kulavic...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/14/usports/doc482a6f38025b3911211973.txt
Ah, the dreaded Pantagraph curse strikes again!  ;)

Congratulations to the Gorlocks!


Hey!!  Stop stealing my material!!  I said that on the Regional board already!! ;D ;D ;D
Karma given!  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2008, 09:55:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2008, 09:08:25 PM
mr_b,

I stand corrected - not worse than ANY other team, but certainly worse than most (for the likely CCIW POY)!  (Where did you find the box score?)  And he had given up 9 walks in his first 55.1 innings - how did he suddenly yield 3 in 4 innings? :(
http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2008/npu1.htm  (http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2008/npu1.htm)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2008, 12:27:35 AM
CCIW goes 2-1 on the first day of regionals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2008, 12:33:18 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2008, 09:55:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2008, 09:08:25 PM
mr_b,

I stand corrected - not worse than ANY other team, but certainly worse than most (for the likely CCIW POY)!  (Where did you find the box score?)  And he had given up 9 walks in his first 55.1 innings - how did he suddenly yield 3 in 4 innings? :(
http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2008/npu1.htm  (http://www.iwu.edu/%7Eiwunews/sports/bb2008/npu1.htm)

Thanks, but I know where to find box scores for past games - I haven't rechecked for today's game yet, but I wondered where you had found today's game (it wasn't yet up at IWU).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2008, 07:56:13 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2008, 12:33:18 AM
Thanks, but I know where to find box scores for past games - I haven't rechecked for today's game yet, but I wondered where you had found today's game (it wasn't yet up at IWU).
OK, I misunderstood your question because I thought you were asking about the earlier boxscore (which did strike me as unusual).  Sorry about that!

I think I got the box score from the D3baseball scoreboard page... they sometimes have links to boxscores.  The Webster site had the boxscore uploaded pretty quickly, too.  I've checked so many team sites that I don't remember where I first found the boxscore in question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2008, 10:17:58 AM
Here's the link to the article from the Carthage/UWO game in the Kenosha News.  There's another article that's not online, but it talks about how Carthage is quite familiar with Kenosha Native Billy Johnson of UWW, who's having a great year, as well as their starting 3rd baseman, and a pitcher (forget the name). Johnson and Carthage outfielder David Hermes have played for the Kenosha Kings together the past 3 summers. When asked what the best way to throw to Johnson is, Hermes replied in the article "off speed stuff is your best shot to get him out."

http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2971135
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HomeRunHitter on May 15, 2008, 10:40:56 AM
In regard to the Gorloks, last year they didn't necessarily look like the better overall team.  However, yesterday they flat out dominated IWU.  They controlled the game from start to finish.  The CCIW may be experiencing a bit of a reality check.  Sure, they sent a team to the World Series last year.  But with 3 teams in a regional, they have a 50/50 chance of doing so.  We'll have to see how the rest of the playoffs go this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 15, 2008, 10:47:16 AM
If Carthage can somehow find a way to make it to Appleton, one aspect Jacob can hopefully get corrected is allowing 1st inning runs.  Its happened to him 4 straight outings now.  According to the article, he was struggling to touch 82mph in the first, and was consistently right at 90 in the seventh inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on May 15, 2008, 10:57:10 AM
Throw more in the bullpen before the game?  Some guys are just like that.  They need to throw a lot more pitches to get to where they need to be.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 11:12:40 AM
Quote from: HomeRunHitter on May 15, 2008, 10:40:56 AM
In regard to the Gorloks, last year they didn't necessarily look like the better overall team.  However, yesterday they flat out dominated IWU.  They controlled the game from start to finish.  The CCIW may be experiencing a bit of a reality check.  Sure, they sent a team to the World Series last year.  But with 3 teams in a regional, they have a 50/50 chance of doing so.  We'll have to see how the rest of the playoffs go this year.

Reality check? The CCIW went 2-1 yesterday against the best teams in the nation. I say that is a pretty good record, even if it is a limited sample.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2008, 12:17:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 11:12:40 AM
Quote from: HomeRunHitter on May 15, 2008, 10:40:56 AM
In regard to the Gorloks, last year they didn't necessarily look like the better overall team.  However, yesterday they flat out dominated IWU.  They controlled the game from start to finish.  The CCIW may be experiencing a bit of a reality check.  Sure, they sent a team to the World Series last year.  But with 3 teams in a regional, they have a 50/50 chance of doing so.  We'll have to see how the rest of the playoffs go this year.

Reality check? The CCIW went 2-1 yesterday against the best teams in the nation. I say that is a pretty good record, even if it is a limited sample.


Baseball is a funny game that way...take the Brewers / Cardinals Monday night.  Wainwright OWNS the Brewers over his career...and he was going up against Dave Bush.  The Brewers found a way to win convincingly.

The Gorlocks are a tough team, no doubt, and proved it yesterday, but to say that the CCIW got a reality check yesterday...a bit of a stretch.  That being said, IWU got a reality check for certain.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 12:26:47 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 15, 2008, 12:17:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 11:12:40 AM
Quote from: HomeRunHitter on May 15, 2008, 10:40:56 AM
In regard to the Gorloks, last year they didn't necessarily look like the better overall team.  However, yesterday they flat out dominated IWU.  They controlled the game from start to finish.  The CCIW may be experiencing a bit of a reality check.  Sure, they sent a team to the World Series last year.  But with 3 teams in a regional, they have a 50/50 chance of doing so.  We'll have to see how the rest of the playoffs go this year.

Reality check? The CCIW went 2-1 yesterday against the best teams in the nation. I say that is a pretty good record, even if it is a limited sample.

I am still not certain why Aronson did not throw game #1. regardless of what the stats say, he is their best pitcher and has the experience to win big games.

Baseball is a funny game that way...take the Brewers / Cardinals Monday night.  Wainwright OWNS the Brewers over his career...and he was going up against Dave Bush.  The Brewers found a way to win convincingly.

The Gorlocks are a tough team, no doubt, and proved it yesterday, but to say that the CCIW got a reality check yesterday...a bit of a stretch.  That being said, IWU got a reality check for certain.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 04:33:13 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 15, 2008, 04:25:22 PM
IWU going 2 and out is terribly disappointing.  Wow.

I would like to feel bad for IWU, but the Carthage in me will not let it happen. Still, the CCIW in me feels betrayed by their performance the last two days. It opens the door for UWSP to take the bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: knarocky22 on May 15, 2008, 05:15:38 PM
Well if 2 other teams beat IWU, why does that open the door for UWSP?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedMan1 on May 15, 2008, 05:16:01 PM
Does anyone have a live feed for the Carthage game coming up in about 30 minutes?

Also, Wesleyan losing was very disapointing. 0-4 there last 4 regional games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 05:19:57 PM
Quote from: knarocky22 on May 15, 2008, 05:15:38 PM
Well if 2 other teams beat IWU, why does that open the door for UWSP?

No offense to Augustana and the other that are left, I simply meant that UWSP is now the highest seeded team left in the regional. I hope Augie takes care of business from here on out. I do not want to hear the WIAC posters put the CCIW down.

FYI: UW-Oshkosh elimanted this afternoon by St. Thomas 3-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 06:46:59 PM
Carthage down 7-0 in the 3rd. What a mess, errors, HBPs and a grand slam will do that to you.

http://www.uwwsports.com/sports/gen/2007/followthewarhawks_09202007.asp (http://www.uwwsports.com/sports/gen/2007/followthewarhawks_09202007.asp)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2008, 07:31:08 PM
It's now 14-0 in the 5th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 15, 2008, 10:59:11 PM
Ouch, hopefully Carthage can jump back.

Augie beat UW-Stevens Point 4-3.

They play at 7:00 on friday vs. the winner of the UWSP/Webster game and will be playing on Saturday win or lose.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2008, 11:49:03 PM
Carthage falls to Whitewater 24-3 (not a typo).

Expect the Redmen to come out swinging tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2008, 09:23:43 AM
Here's the article in today's paper from the kenosha news. Augie says that if a team loses by 20 runs it should count as 2 losses and the team should be eliminated!  HAHA

http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2976705
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2008, 03:48:13 PM
Carthage is down 5-0 in the fifth, not looking good!  :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2008, 03:52:05 PM
Now down 7-0... a terrbile end to a great season for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 16, 2008, 04:29:49 PM
8-2 now in the 8th. It'd take a minor miracle to pull this one out
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2008, 04:49:36 PM
Carthage falls to St. Scholastica, 9-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2008, 05:12:04 PM
Well, conference hopes now reside solely on third-place Augustana - but last year second-place Carthage made the WS (and IWU has been to Salem in basketball after finishing third).  Go Vikings!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 16, 2008, 05:37:03 PM
Webster eliminated UWSP today 9-7.

Right now, Linfield (1-1) is playing Wartburg (1-1)
Tonight, Augie (2-0) plays Webster (2-1)

If augie wins, they will need to win 1 of 2 tomorrow to advance.
If augie loses, they will play the winner of the Lin/Wart game for the chance to play Webster in a one-game championship.

After the three pitchers Webster has used already, their next best options with more than 1 start on the year have a 5.29, 6.12 and 6.48 ERA and no more than 33.1 IP on the season. 

Augie still has Engle who been average this year (5.14 ERA in 61.1 IP) but has a lot of experience over four very succesful years.  Hopefully he and the Augie offense can get after Webster early tonight and save some pitching for tomorrow, but a win tonight will put them in a great situation so they will have to use whatever it takes.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2008, 06:36:44 PM
Webster has beaten #1 seed IWU and eliminated #2 seed UWSP, but they are still the freakin' 6th seed!  Go Vikings! :)  Protect home field, and the rep of the CCIW! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2008, 10:58:11 PM
Webster prevails 14-13 in a wild game against Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2008, 11:19:46 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 16, 2008, 10:58:11 PM
Webster prevails 14-13 in a wild game against Augustana.

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/stats/2008ncaabase/08ncaa09.htm (http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/baseball/stats/2008ncaabase/08ncaa09.htm)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2008, 04:01:29 PM
The last CCIW rep is eliminated from the regionals as Augustana falls 10-1 to Linfield.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on May 18, 2008, 05:25:48 PM
Who were the hardest throwing pitchers (velocity) in the CCIW this year?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2008, 08:22:45 AM
I didn't get to see very many games at all this year because of coaching a HS baseball team, but I know Husing and Krepline (before he got injured) were consistently in the upper 80's and could touch 90 on a good day.  That's not a guess, that's knowing from playing with one, and being around last year and looking at the gun when the scouts came around.  I'm sure there were a few other pitchers who threw hard as well from other teams, I just didn't get to see them as in years past
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 19, 2008, 10:33:16 AM
Congratulations to Augie on another impressive season.  They continue to improve year after year and once again they will return the majority of their team with now two years of NCAA tourney experience.

Their three seniors, pitchers Eric Knott and Brandon Engle and OF Marc Blakeley will be greatly missed as all three have been regulars since they came to Augie.

As far as the velocity question goes...it is a tough thing to gauge in D3 as radar guns are few and far between at games.  But I would agree that Husing is probably tops from seeing him first hand.  Augie also has a freshman, Vince Frede, who I heard (although didn't see personally) was up over 90 on occasion as a pretty succesful late-inning reliever in the second half of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: nocryinginbaseball on May 19, 2008, 12:40:33 PM
starters Mike Pagano and Matt Erickson are both in the low 90s as well... If augustana finds a legit pitching coach they would be unstoppable.  The bats produce 10 runs a game.  What is going on with that staff?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: LWC23 on May 19, 2008, 01:27:46 PM
All of Linfield's top 3 starters are can throw upper  80's.
Brian Clark, 89 , Garett Dorn 89  and Reese McCulley has hit 92.
Kyle Mossbrucker, who closes games can hit 91.
Really though- the top three starters are control pitchers who throw strikes and mix up their pitches well.
Clark, who is the number one starter on the staff and was Northwest Conference pitcher of the year faced  Matt Aronson of Illinois Weslyan in Linfields second game. Clark throws a 4 seam, Cutter, Slider, change and his out pitch is a splitter tha can drop off the table.

Dorn is rock solid.  He started two games for Linfield - including the final on 3 days rest.  in 17.1 innings he gave up 3 earned runs.

Linfield's pitching staff had a 1.94 era for the central region tournament in 5 games.  When you combine this pithcing staff with the number one ranked defense in division 3- I am not surprised at all they won the regional.
They basically shut down some outstanding offensive teams.

Linfield has not gotten much national respect this year at all- being up in the Pacific Northwest in Oregon.

Linfield first year head coach and 3 time World Series champion Scott Brosius- and the rest of the coaching staff have the team mentally focused and ready for the finals in Appleton.
Brosius knows what it takes to win at the highest level and I think this is rubbing off on his team.

This is a great story with a world series champion bringing his team to the national championship in his first year as head coach.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIW Bird on May 19, 2008, 04:09:21 PM
I was curious because the games I saw three Wheaton games ( I believe they have a gun at every game), and was told Urbanowicz hit 90 and Weaver hit 92,  both of whom were consistent at 87-88. I was also told freshman Dennsion hit 89 as a 6'8" lefty.   Kudlavik sat around 87 topping out at 88 in the tourney and Ruffie was about the same.
Just curious.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on May 19, 2008, 04:11:32 PM
Quote from: nocryinginbaseball on May 19, 2008, 12:40:33 PM
starters Mike Pagano and Matt Erickson are both in the low 90s as well... If augustana finds a legit pitching coach they would be unstoppable.  The bats produce 10 runs a game.  What is going on with that staff?

Blaming the pitching coach seems to be a bit of a cop-out in this situation.  Augie's pitching staff had some talent, but overall was very mediocre.  A pitcher could be given the best instruction from a coach and still go out and have a terrible outing.  His performance is his responsibility far more than it is his pitching coach's responsibility. 

Moving on... Josh Weaver hit 92 in the conference tournament, but usually works in the mid to upper 80's.     
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 19, 2008, 04:34:50 PM
All region awards contain several CCIW players.

http://cciw.org/spring_baseball/abcaallregion08.php

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 19, 2008, 04:41:08 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 19, 2008, 04:34:50 PM
All region awards contain several CCIW players.

http://cciw.org/spring_baseball/abcaallregion08.php



beat me by seven minutes!!


2008 ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region Baseball Team (CCIW Members)



First Team

C   Mike Hughes

1B  Jason Acevado
   
2B Ricky Angel
   
3B  John Wagle
   
SS  Brian Kolb
   
OF  Marc Blakeley
Kraig Ladd
   
P Brent Kulavic
Jacob Husing
   


Second Team

SS  Mark Ramos
   
OF  Tim McInerney
Boe Baitinger
   
UT Eric Izzo   
Josh Weaver

P  Matt Aronson
Trace Ruffie
   
Third Team

C Zach Ernst

1B  Jim Deschamps

OF  Tom Rhein
Tyler Burback

DH Kevin Goshorn
   
UT  Luke Munch
   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 19, 2008, 05:11:09 PM
Nocryinginbaseball,

Your comments are just crazy to blame the pitching staff's rough end on the pitching coach.  Their current pitching coach has been there for 4 years now and each season, except for this one, saw lower ERAs and higher strikeout totals than the two seasons prior to his arrival.

2008 - 5.07 ERA; 295 Ks; 142 BBs
2007 - 4.59 ERA; 305 Ks; 178 BBs
2006 - 3.36 ERA; 266 Ks; 133 BBs
2005 - 3.77 ERA; 260 Ks; 128 BBs
-----------------------
2004 - 4.75 ERA; 251 Ks; 133 BBs
2003 - 5.43 ERA; 264 Ks; 146 BBs

Having been there through that turnover, I can attest a large amount of that overall improvement to both his knowledge of the game and his workout regimine.

This was just one of those freak things in baseball.  Brandon Engle came into his senior year 17-8 with a career ERA around 3.20 in over 150 innings, so obviously he had been given the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed (and succeed regularly).  Unfortunately, he just had a rough go around his senior year and the rest of the staff seemed to follow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2008, 02:43:00 PM
The All-CCIW selections are now on the web:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2008bballconferenceteam1.htm (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2008bballconferenceteam1.htm)

Congratulations to all the players who were selected!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2008, 07:01:42 PM
Even as a fanatical Greenie, I'm a bit embarrassed that IWU had 9 of the 37 slots (including 6 of 16 on 1st team), though I can't really find anyone who was undeserving.  It took to the last day to beat out Carthage (who got only 5 total); I can't help wondering if voters were swayed a bit by the TWO year record (though, unlike last year, this year we did win the tourney).

Augie returns 5 of their 6 selectees (though you may have a one-year window - 4 of them will be seniors).  Will Carthage slip a bit?  3 of their 5 are seniors.  Alert to challengers: IWU returns 7 of the 9 next year (though 4 will be seniors).  Team on the rise?  NPU had four selections - 2 sophs and 2 freshmen!

Caveat: this assumes none of the juniors go pro.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 20, 2008, 07:13:42 PM
Every year people expect Carthage to slip a bit and they rarely do. They find a way to win. Acevado was a transfer at the semester this year and should be an all-american by the end of the week.

Kudos to North Park Coach luke Johnson for building his program for the future with youth and not relying on JC transfers for a quick fix. They should be solid in the years to come.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2008, 07:21:22 PM
BP, I haven't followed baseball very long, but have checked the history.  I never expect the RedMen to slip; just wondering!

Since IWU has 7 all-conference players returning, Augie has 5 (including 4 seniors-to-be), and NPU has those 4 dynamic underclassmen, if Carthage ever falls to 4th (or below), next year may be the year (unless Perez pulls an '07 Aronson).  I'm looking forward to it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 20, 2008, 07:52:55 PM
I already miss the CCIW baseball season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 20, 2008, 09:56:09 PM
Congrats to all the CCIW D3baseball.com all-americans

1st team -
Pos Name, School                   AVG  R  H   2B3BHRRBI SB-ATT FLD%
1B Jason Acevado, Carthage .464 60 83 19 6 13 66    4-4        .993
SS Brian Kolb, Wheaton (Ill.) .527 45 77 19  2  6 52   25-25     .988

3rd team -
3B John Wagle, Augustana .419   52 80 15 5 11 60    10-14    .942

Hon. Mention -
Pos Name, School                         ERA   W-L SV    IP      H    ER    BB  SO    B/Avg
P Brent Kulavic, Illinois Wesleyan 1.82   6-1   0   59.1   45   12   12   59   .205


Looking forward to next year, Augie has a majority of their players returning for the second straight year. 
They have 8 offensive starters returning who notched 150+ ABs and a .300+ avg.  All but catcher John Vezetti and DH Aaron Hopson also started the year before last.

On the mound, they will return Mike Pagano and Matt Erickson with two years of starting experience as well as all of their bullpen. 

This is a large group of players coming back who know how to win, but also know how it feels to lose (two years in a row in both the conference tourney and the regional championship game).  Should be something to look forward to.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 21, 2008, 12:23:55 AM
As Chuck mentioned, NPU has a very nice underclassmen core in place, as sophomores Nick Marino (ss) and Tyler Burback (rf/dh) and freshmen Zach Deutscher (c/rhp) and Trevor Popp (3b/cf) all made the All-CCIW team. Four other Vikings -- juniors Sean Keane (2b) and Zach Laffey (rf/dh), sophomore Dan O'Donnell (lf), and freshman Angel Carrasco (3b) -- who were starting at the end of the season will also be back next year, and the catcher when Deutscher pitches, freshman Tyler Fitzsimmons, should be back as well. The key for the Vikings in the off-season will be to bolster the pitching staff, which was easily the weak link for NPU this season; North Park finished last in the CCIW in ERA and WHIP, both by a wide margin.

Luke Johnson's gotta get out there and find some arms, and his coaching staff will have to work hard to develop some better production from the arms that he already has in the fold.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie28 on May 21, 2008, 09:11:45 AM
I had my numbers wrong in my last comment - Augie has 8 players returning with 100+ ABs and a .300+ Avg.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 21, 2008, 01:44:02 PM
I'd like to add my congrats to the All-Americans from the CCIW! Had Baitinger not missed 3-4 weeks and about 15 or so games (not sure exactly how many) I think he may have had a chance of being an AA.  He set the Carthage stolen base record for a season, and would've shattered it. He also had a great BA and OBP.  But, injuries happen, just would've loved to see his numbers had he not broke his wrist.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 21, 2008, 01:45:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 20, 2008, 07:52:55 PM
I already miss the CCIW baseball season.

It always seems to just fly by, whether as a player or a former player, especially once conference starts! BP, how's your team doing this season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2008, 03:13:39 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 21, 2008, 01:45:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 20, 2008, 07:52:55 PM
I already miss the CCIW baseball season.

It always seems to just fly by, whether as a player or a former player, especially once conference starts! BP, how's your team doing this season?

We were vastly improved, but just missed the California playoffs. Next year will be our year as we were still quite young this season. Thanks for asking.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: nocryinginbaseball on May 21, 2008, 08:49:52 PM
well augie28 and letsplay2,

what if the coach is calling the pitches?  i watched a lot of Augustana games this year and saw fastballs being thrown to hitters (swingers) that couldn't touch an off-speed pitch.  then is it the coaches fault?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: WLCALUM83 on May 22, 2008, 07:28:19 AM
Here's news on a recruit headed Carthage's direction:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=753684

("Other college choices", you may need to scroll down a bit.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2008, 09:39:47 AM
Well, its stinks no CCIW team made it, but lets hear some predictions!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 23, 2008, 10:21:08 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2008, 09:39:47 AM
Well, its stinks no CCIW team made it, but lets hear some predictions!

I'll take Chapman to win it all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2008, 01:19:58 PM
I'll take UWW.  WIAC schools have done well in Appleton lately, and they seem to be playing great ball obviously (i.e. a 24-3 win in regionals) :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 23, 2008, 01:37:51 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 23, 2008, 01:19:58 PM
I'll take UWW.  WIAC schools have done well in Appleton lately, and they seem to be playing great ball obviously (i.e. a 24-3 win in regionals) :-\


I am still trying to forget the 24-3 loss by our Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Wildcat'64 on May 23, 2008, 09:45:42 PM
Linfield opens with an impressive win 5-1 over UWW.  The Central Region champ moves on to the quarterfinal round.  UWW, a hard hitting team, only had 3 hits on the Linfield pitcher who went the distance.  Linfield's ace pitcher is due to take the mound tomorrow in the next round.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on June 11, 2008, 11:16:29 AM
Does anyone know if Krepline, Husing, or Acevado are getting any looks to sign undrafted MLB contracts?  Obviously Krepline has to recover from surgery, but I would think that they might at least get a look...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on June 14, 2008, 04:46:47 PM
Heard a rumor that Angel was offered a spot on the Gateway Grizzles of the Frontier League... anyone know if this is true?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on June 23, 2008, 11:07:09 PM
Rumors of change going on with Wheaton Baseball coaching staff. Any info?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on June 24, 2008, 07:17:08 PM
The rumors are true... head coach Bobby Elder has resigned in order to take an AD job at a high school in N.C.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/6/24/base-bobby.asp?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 25, 2008, 07:43:05 PM
Quote from: letsplay2 on June 14, 2008, 04:46:47 PM
Heard a rumor that Angel was offered a spot on the Gateway Grizzles of the Frontier League... anyone know if this is true?
I've checked the Grizzlies roster several times over the past week, and Angel's name doesn't appear.  Maybe he turned them down.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2008, 06:52:13 PM
Quote from: letsplay2 on June 24, 2008, 07:17:08 PM
The rumors are true... head coach Bobby Elder has resigned in order to take an AD job at a high school in N.C.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/6/24/base-bobby.asp?path=baseball
And the Wheaties are ready to take their baseball program to the next level in hiring McMurry Head Coach Lee Driggers (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.asp?path=baseball).

Wow!  It's gonna be a real downsizing in facilities for Coach Driggers...(McMurry's Walt Driggers Field) (http://athletics.mcm.edu/Sports/baseball/2007/driggers_field.asp)   :D

Watch out Wheaties!  Here Comes Coach Driggers!   ;D

Y'all are getting a good one!   :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 12, 2008, 01:33:47 AM
The next level for Wheaton would be competing! ;D

Uh oh!  Are they gonna take baseball seriously? :o 

Considering what they do in other sports, this can't be good. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on August 13, 2008, 03:56:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2008, 06:52:13 PM
Wow!  It's gonna be a real downsizing in facilities for Coach Driggers...(McMurry's Walt Driggers Field) (http://athletics.mcm.edu/Sports/baseball/2007/driggers_field.asp)   :D

What, it looks (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/gen/2007/LegionField.asp?path=baseball) the same to me.   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 13, 2008, 04:20:46 PM
Quote from: matblake on August 13, 2008, 03:56:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2008, 06:52:13 PM
Wow!  It's gonna be a real downsizing in facilities for Coach Driggers...(McMurry's Walt Driggers Field) (http://athletics.mcm.edu/Sports/baseball/2007/driggers_field.asp)   :D

What, it looks (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/gen/2007/LegionField.asp?path=baseball) the same to me.   ;D
In as much as there are 90' between bases...  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on August 15, 2008, 01:10:31 AM
Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 15, 2008, 11:10:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 15, 2008, 01:10:31 AM
Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!
Wow!   :o

Who will they play?  Wayland Baptist and Lubbock Christian are 5+ hours away, and they are the closest!   :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: April on August 15, 2008, 01:27:56 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 13, 2008, 04:20:46 PM
Quote from: matblake on August 13, 2008, 03:56:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 11, 2008, 06:52:13 PM
Wow!  It's gonna be a real downsizing in facilities for Coach Driggers...(McMurry's Walt Driggers Field) (http://athletics.mcm.edu/Sports/baseball/2007/driggers_field.asp)   :D

What, it looks (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/Sports/gen/2007/LegionField.asp?path=baseball) the same to me.   ;D
In as much as there are 90' between bases...  ;)

Ralph, your new nickname is going to be Hoosiers.  :D

Wheeeeee! Are we finally going to have a great baseball program??? I really loved going to our games, but it would be really nice to win occasionally. I went to a game once in B-N where our guys lost like 5 to 15 in the first part of a double header.  :-X

This is a great deal for everyone. I mean, how can you beat the :free tuition for your kids" job bonus that comes with this switch? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on August 16, 2008, 05:30:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 15, 2008, 01:10:31 AM
Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!

Great choice of coach for the Prairie Dogs.  Jeff brings a lot of coaching experience, an ability to work with players, a competitive spirit, and an even temperment. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on August 16, 2008, 06:33:30 PM
Ok, call me stupid... but did not Wheaton finish 23-14 and 12-8 in conference this past year?  I now I understand this is not on a yearly basis, but it would be an incorrect statement to say that the next level for this team is competing... 6 of their 14 losses were by 2 runs or less and were just a few wins away from making life even more difficult for the gentlemen that decide who get into the playoffs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on August 16, 2008, 06:38:01 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on August 15, 2008, 11:10:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 15, 2008, 01:10:31 AM
Former NPU bullpen coach Jeff Hanson, who set the school record for career innings pitched and strikeouts as a Vikings hurler, has been named the pitching coach of the fledgling NAIA program at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. This is a great opportunity for Jeff, who will have a free hand at assembling and coaching a pitching staff (including recruiting) for a CSF program that he will help build from the ground up. Congrats, Jeff!
Wow!   :o

Who will they play?  Wayland Baptist and Lubbock Christian are 5+ hours away, and they are the closest!   :-\

I asked Jeff the same question. He wasn't really sure about CSF's scheduling details when I talked to him a few weeks ago. My guess is that the Prairie Dogs will pick up a lot of games by playing in that big Phoenix tournament every March. Most of CSF's closest neighbors are NCAA D2 programs -- Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Western New Mexico, Western State (just over the border in Colorado), Grand Canyon, etc. -- and I would imagine that CSF would play a lot of games against those schools, as well as scheduling those Texas Panhandle schools you mentioned. Wayland Baptist would be an interesting showdown for the Prairie Dogs, since that's the school where Jeff was an assistant coach last season.

I know that everything's supposed to be bigger in Texas, Ralph, but it looks like we've found a school whose teams have bigger travel distances than anybody in the Lone Star State! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on August 16, 2008, 07:59:32 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 16, 2008, 06:38:01 PM

I know that everything's supposed to be bigger in Texas, Ralph, but it looks like we've found a school whose teams have bigger travel distances than anybody in the Lone Star State! ;)
Actually Santa Fe was a part of the Republic of Texas that we gave to the US in the Annexation Treaty in 1845.

That part of Texas is where the future ski slopes would be located.  You know, Aspen Vail, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Taos and Ruidoso.  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 16, 2008, 08:57:18 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on August 16, 2008, 06:33:30 PM
Ok, call me stupid... but did not Wheaton finish 23-14 and 12-8 in conference this past year?  I now I understand this is not on a yearly basis, but it would be an incorrect statement to say that the next level for this team is competing... 6 of their 14 losses were by 2 runs or less and were just a few wins away from making life even more difficult for the gentlemen that decide who get into the playoffs.

Early front-runner for 'understatement of the year'! ;)

Wheaton won their only baseball title 57 years ago.  In 24 years of a four-team conference tourney, last year was their only appearance.

I believe that being competitive IS indeed the next level.

Coach Driggers' first order of business is to prove that last year was not a fluke.  I fear that he will be successful in that, though it may take a few years after such a reign of futility.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on August 17, 2008, 08:01:31 PM
This is my own personal opinion, but I don't think you can call a 23 win season a fluke.  Now I think you mean that it's just one year in the midst of many poor years, but in that case I don't think that you can call a winning percentage of 62% over 37 games just a chance of luck, nor would I call a 60% winning percentage in one of the best conferences in the country a stroke of luck.  I'm inclined to credit the players on that team for working incredibly hard in the off-season and during the season, just as I would credit Augustana, Carthage, and Wesleyan for their commitment to excellence over the course of the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on August 17, 2008, 08:58:24 PM
warrior35,

I am in no way intending to demean the 2008 Thunder (and 'fluke' may have too much derogatory connotation).  But look at the Wheaton record book: 4 of the top 6 all-time in RBIs were 2008.  The top 3 ever in runs were all 2008.  The top 3 all-time in OBA were 2008.  Brian Kolb in 2008 broke the all-time records for BA and slugging % by nearly 100 points.  While Kolb only improved on a near-record breaking 2007, until the team can repeat (or improve on) 2008, it seems fair to wonder if it was a magical season of everyone simultaneously having a 'career year' (ala the Detroit Tigers of 2006 - this year they were picked by SI to win the WS, but are struggling to reach .500).

For many, many years, Wheaton baseball was somewhat of a joke (especially in contrast to most other Thunder teams).  2008, plus the hiring of Coach Driggers, suggests that that will change, but it hasn't (necessarily) happened yet.

BTW, welcome to the board!  Are you a current player?  If so, please check with Coach Driggers, as some coaches severely frown on players posting - I'd hate to get you in trouble! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on August 18, 2008, 06:18:55 PM
Nah, not a player... just an alum trying to support my alma mater. :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on August 20, 2008, 01:20:05 PM
Here is one interview with Coach Driggers broken down into 2 parts:  http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/8/16/tsr-driggers.asp?path=baseball

I really enjoyed the interview which covers his background, how he views recruiting, and the elephant in the room, facilities.......
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on October 06, 2008, 12:15:35 AM
So, rumor has it that Coach Driggers is wasting no time making his presence known and drastic changes could be made to Legion Field before next season.  At this point, any changes are welcome changes at Legion.  I don't think any players anywhere in the league would disagree with me that Legion is easily placed somewhere in the bottom 2 or possibly 3 fields in the conference.  We'll see what all comes of it, as Wheaton has had trouble getting things done with the folks in charge in Carol Stream.  From the rumors, it sounds like Wheaton could have an aesthetically pleasing ball park this year and hopefully a nice playing surface, at least on the infield.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on October 13, 2008, 10:03:09 AM
Early preseason prediction for the CCIW:

1. Illinois Welseyan- lots of talent returning for the Green Weenies.

2. Carthage- Solid arms returning and does anyone really expect Carthage to NOT be in the top two?

3. Augustana- Great athletes who always find a way to win games.

4. Wheaton- One word... Driggers.

5. North Park- A full cycle of recruiting should finally help Luke Johnson's Vikings as they mature.

6. Elmhurst- How the mighty have fallen. This once proud program has hit the skids in recent years.

7. Millikin- Big Blue just cannot keep up with the big arms in the CCIW.

8. North Central- See #6

Anybody see things differently this year in the CCIW?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on December 02, 2008, 01:20:15 PM
First time poster here but long time CCIW fan

Prediction:

Carthage-always has talent, knows how to win league

Augustana-talent but can never seem to win conference

Illinois Wesleyan-starting SS Cunningham from last 2 years not on roster?

Wheaton-Lots of talent back

North Park-could surprise some teams

Elmhurst-not looking good

Millikin-can't seem to make the jump to upper tier

North Central-don't see a turnaround this year
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on December 02, 2008, 04:06:58 PM
Funny you say that BigG, was wondering the same thing.  That would be a crushing blow IWU.  Cunningham had been the anchor for that defense.  I saw him make some great plays.  Anyone know anything about that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on December 25, 2008, 11:13:10 PM
I want to offer up my congratulations to Wheaton on turning their program around enough to gain some national attention.  http://www.baseballnews.com/polls/divIII/currentpolldiviii.htm  It's also a compliment to the CCIW as being a great baseball conference.  However, as proud as I am of my alma mater in reaching new heights as a program, I'd also like to take this moment to really question the ranking system.  Wheaton certainly has a lot of great players.  Guys of the likes of Weaver, Kolb, and many others that have really improved the program.  Driggers is a guy who knows a great deal about baseball and will definitely be great for the program.  But, someone must know something that I don't...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on December 26, 2008, 04:04:23 PM
Hmm that is pretty interesting that they are in there and Carthage isn't....not quite sure how they came up with that one.  But it's good to see Wheaton getting a little respect. 

On a sidenote, I just heard a rumor the other day that Kolb may not be playing this season due to a family issue.  If that is true then that is a true shame and I wish him and his family the best.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on December 26, 2008, 04:06:25 PM
Also where in the world is Augustana? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on December 26, 2008, 04:13:55 PM
BigG,

I'd agree that the ranking of Wheaton is premature.  They are certainly on the rise, and I don't doubt Coach Driggers will get them to the WS - someday.  But for THIS season I suspect it will be IWU, Carthage, and Augie at the top again (and that is my predicted order).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on December 28, 2008, 04:53:03 PM
I am somewhat shocked by the rankings. For Augustana to be left off while IWU, Carthage, and Wheaton all get votes is very surprising.  Augustana was the last team eliminated in the NCAA tournament last year and last time I checked they didn't lose much. Where are they?  Jesse Foster, an all conference pitcher the last two seasons, is also not on the IWU roster along with SS Mike Cunningham.  Where are all these players going?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on December 28, 2008, 05:55:39 PM
Another look at the IWU roster shows that Ricky Angel and Aaronson are also not on the roster.  Are there any returning players coming back?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on December 28, 2008, 09:14:42 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on December 26, 2008, 04:04:23 PM
Hmm that is pretty interesting that they are in there and Carthage isn't....not quite sure how they came up with that one.  But it's good to see Wheaton getting a little respect. 

On a sidenote, I just heard a rumor the other day that Kolb may not be playing this season due to a family issue.  If that is true then that is a true shame and I wish him and his family the best.

Not true, Kolb is definitely playing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on December 28, 2008, 09:59:22 PM
Alright thanks for clearing that up....I wasn't trying to spread any rumors
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on December 29, 2008, 03:38:41 PM
Quote from: The General Public on December 28, 2008, 05:55:39 PM
Another look at the IWU roster shows that Ricky Angel and Aaronson are also not on the roster.  Are there any returning players coming back?
Aronson is on the 2009 roster.  Angel was a senior in 2008, so he's used up his eligibility.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on December 29, 2008, 09:53:38 PM
Although I know it does not mean anything pre-season, Augustana not being in the top 25 is just plain silly.  A quick look at their roster and besides Blakeley, they have all sorts of talent back.  Wagle (who is my pick for POY) and crew are going to be a serious threat to not only the CCIW, but to the nation. Can anybody see any reasoning behind this?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on December 30, 2008, 07:50:26 PM
BigG296, Augustana will definitely have one of the top, if not the top, lineups in the country next year.  Their big question is their pitching.  They won't get very far in the regional with the pitching they have had recently.  But I do agree that they should at least be a top 20 team.     
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: bennythejet on December 31, 2008, 12:37:39 AM
Although Augie's weakness will be their pitching they are definitely a top 20 team agreed...in regards to IWU they have lost Angel, McInerney-both graduated and Foster, McCreary, Cunningham...players will definitely need to step into bigger roles for them
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on January 03, 2009, 07:57:58 PM
BigG, Wagle is a solid pick for preseason POY.  I think it is hard to vote for anyone other than Kolb after the kind of year he posted last year. It will be interesting to see if can duplicate that year again.  My gut says he will be pitched differently and will have to show far more patience.  Other names to throw out there are Hughes from Carthage.  Real solid hitter.  My preseason pick is a lesser known person.  Marzec from IWU was an all conference selection last year. From my knowledge came out of nowhere, but put up impressive numbers. I am expecting a big year out of him with the Titans losing a lot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 03, 2009, 08:03:37 PM
Welcome to the boards, Fan6!

The CCIW is a great message board.  Glad to have new posters!  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 03, 2009, 11:43:47 PM
I'm curious about Pitcher of the Year. 

Matt Aronson (IWU) had such an incredible season as a soph in 07 that he was pre-season first-team All-American in 08 (then fell to just very good).  Brent Kulavic (IWU) had an amazing season in 08 as a soph.  Will Mario Perez (Carthage; first team all-CCIW as a frosh) continue the sophomore magic?  Or will Aronson rebound, Kulavic keep it going, or a whole new pitcher emerge?  Thoughts?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on January 04, 2009, 12:45:13 PM
Wow Fan6, that is a bold pick.  I was able to attend an IWU-North Central game last year in Naperville and remember seeing that Marzec kid had good statistics, but after watching him I do not see the swing of a POY. 

Mr. Ypsi as for Pitcher of the year, my wife works in the CCIW administration and was told that Kulavic had Tommy John in the offseason and will be out for the year.....spells trouble for the Titans.  Therefore my pick for Pitcher of the year is going to Trace Ruffie of Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on January 09, 2009, 03:28:39 PM
Congratulations to Brian Kolb and John Wagle on their Preseason first-team All-American status-well deserved and I wish these young men the best of luck this season
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Harry Caray on January 14, 2009, 07:48:39 PM
What does Wheaton have returning besides Kolb?  Curious as I know the hadn't been in the CCIW tourney in quite some time.  They must have some other firepower to be ranked 23rd....anybody know??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 14, 2009, 09:26:14 PM
Quote from: Harry Caray on January 14, 2009, 07:48:39 PM
What does Wheaton have returning besides Kolb?  Curious as I know the hadn't been in the CCIW tourney in quite some time.  They must have some other firepower to be ranked 23rd....anybody know??
New coach at Wheaton, former McMurry coach Lee Driggers.

QuoteUnder Driggers' guidance, McMurry has become a Division III baseball power since the school brought back baseball in 1996 after a 47-year hiatus. Driggers' record over his 13-year tenure at McMurry is an impressive 350-218-2 (.616 winning percentage). He directed McMurry to an American Southwest Conference-record four conference championships, and was a four-time ASC West Division coach of the year recipient.
McMurry press release
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on January 16, 2009, 08:50:24 AM

"New coach at Wheaton, former McMurry coach Lee Driggers."

Ralph, do you really think that should be a reason for them to be ranked 23rd preseason?  He isn't going to be the one on the mound or in the batters box and until Wheaton proves a little bit more as a team (not just have a winning record) I don't think they are deserving of this quite yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 16, 2009, 11:29:17 AM
Quote from: BigG296 on January 16, 2009, 08:50:24 AM

"New coach at Wheaton, former McMurry coach Lee Driggers."

Ralph, do you really think that should be a reason for them to be ranked 23rd preseason?  He isn't going to be the one on the mound or in the batters box and until Wheaton proves a little bit more as a team (not just have a winning record) I don't think they are deserving of this quite yet.


Could there possibly be a mix-up in the rankings? Wheaton (MA) is a traditionally ranked team and they are not to be found in the rankings while Wheaton (IL) has never made an appearance in the rankings until this season and is listed in this one. My guess is they were switched.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on January 20, 2009, 09:30:55 PM
Just got back from a long vacation and the nice weather really got me ready for baseball season.  Came back to good representation by CCIW players are the AA team.  Congrats to Mr. Wagle and Mr. Kolb!! I hope to see more CCIW players on the All-American team at the end of the year!!!!!

In response to theonlyandonly, I think that is a very bold prediction.  I went back and looked at the statistics from IWU last year and that is a lot of praise for someone that had an ERA of 5.75.  And from my knowledge, he was not one of the top three pitchers for IWU last year which means he pitched against less competitive teams. Maybe you have some inside knowledge, and I am not trying to knock his talent because I have never seen him throw, but I find that prediction interesting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on January 20, 2009, 10:17:47 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on January 20, 2009, 09:33:53 AM
Im looking for Geoff Page of Il Weslyan to have a break out year on the mound. Count on that!

:oLooks like we might have a Geoff Page sighting on this board....or quite possibly a smart aleck friend
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 24, 2009, 04:28:44 AM
interesting to see the difference between the d3baseball.com preseason top 25 and the baseballnews.com preseason top 30. 

D3baseball.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#24 Carthage
#25 Augustana
#36 Wheaton

baseballnews.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#23 Wheaton
#31 Carthage
Augustana unranked
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on January 26, 2009, 09:05:34 AM
Quote from: thunder38illini on January 24, 2009, 04:28:44 AM
interesting to see the difference between the d3baseball.com preseason top 25 and the baseballnews.com preseason top 30. 

D3baseball.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#24 Carthage
#25 Augustana
#36 Wheaton

baseballnews.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#23 Wheaton
#31 Carthage
Augustana unranked

Does d3baseball.com go beyond 25? how do i get to that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 29, 2009, 01:01:36 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on January 26, 2009, 09:05:34 AM
Quote from: thunder38illini on January 24, 2009, 04:28:44 AM
interesting to see the difference between the d3baseball.com preseason top 25 and the baseballnews.com preseason top 30. 

D3baseball.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#24 Carthage
#25 Augustana
#36 Wheaton

baseballnews.com
#16 Illinois Wesleyan
#23 Wheaton
#31 Carthage
Augustana unranked

Does d3baseball.com go beyond 25? how do i get to that?

i was just going in the order of the teams that were also receiving votes for the top 25.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: youcantseemestill on January 29, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
New to this board.  I was wondering if anyone had heard of what new players might be making an impact on this year's squads?  Be that Freshmen or transfers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 29, 2009, 03:27:35 PM
Quote from: youcantseemestill on January 29, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
New to this board.  I was wondering if anyone had heard of what new players might be making an impact on this year's squads?  Be that Freshmen or transfers.

My call for an new player in the CCIW with an impact is Carthage's 1B John Lequia, a Divison I transfer from Bradley. Last year, Carthage had another Bradley transfer who ended his season with All-American honors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on January 29, 2009, 10:25:29 PM
A new kid at Wheaton to look out for, Ryan Miller.  Apparently he played shortstop and 3rd on a high school team that was ranked #6 nationally out of Poway, California.  I believe this is a video of him taking infield for his school team at 3rd base.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UppOzlvYgA  He appears pretty smooth defensively.  We'll see how well he hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 30, 2009, 08:07:49 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on January 29, 2009, 10:25:29 PM
A new kid at Wheaton to look out for, Ryan Miller.  Apparently he played shortstop and 3rd on a high school team that was ranked #6 nationally out of Poway, California.  I believe this is a video of him taking infield for his school team at 3rd base.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UppOzlvYgA  He appears pretty smooth defensively.  We'll see how well he hits.

Poway (San Diego area) is LOADED with top-notch talent every year. West Coast Division I rosters are full of Poway grads. Should really help the Thunder.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on January 30, 2009, 02:25:06 PM
Hello everyone, haven't checked the baseball board in quite a while. Its been a very cold and snowy winter here in southeastern wisconsin(even worst than normal), and the thought of baseball and warm weather gives us something to look forward to!  I'll wait til the season gets underway, I'll just say that I think Carthage should have a strong season again this year.  I'll give some reasons once their Florida trip gets underway.  Heck, by that time, it might even hit 40 degrees on a lucky warm day!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on January 31, 2009, 07:24:41 PM
Quote from: Harry Caray on January 14, 2009, 07:48:39 PM
What does Wheaton have returning besides Kolb?  Curious as I know the hadn't been in the CCIW tourney in quite some time.  They must have some other firepower to be ranked 23rd....anybody know??

Harry,
The players that graduated from Wheaton are Dan Falvey, Matt Bradley, Luke Munch, Nate Pugh, and Neal Reasland.  They return everyone else, and I don't believe anyone transferred out after last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
so does anyone have any sleeper teams to sneak into the 3rd or 4th seeds and get into conf tourney
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 08:14:37 AM
Quote from: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
so does anyone have any sleeper teams to sneak into the 3rd or 4th seeds and get into conf tourney

Whichever one of Carthage/IWU/Augustana gets that #3 seed, they will not be a sleeper, and I think Wheaton should be able to lock up that #4.  The only team that I see with a possible chance at somehow sneaking in is North Park, but that, to me, is a very low possibility. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 06, 2009, 12:54:28 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 08:14:37 AM
Quote from: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
so does anyone have any sleeper teams to sneak into the 3rd or 4th seeds and get into conf tourney

The only team that I see with a possible chance at somehow sneaking in is North Park, but that, to me, is a very low possibility. 
What are you basing that thought on?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:28:13 PM
i think everyone should pick their pony
my conf prediction is
1. iwu
2. carthage
3. augie
4. millikin
5. wheaton
6. north park
7. north central
8. elmhurst
this is just my hunch, but to have programs of these caliber to not make the ncaa tourney shows how strong cciw is it is the big east basketball o d3 baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 11:29:18 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 06, 2009, 12:54:28 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 08:14:37 AM
Quote from: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
so does anyone have any sleeper teams to sneak into the 3rd or 4th seeds and get into conf tourney

The only team that I see with a possible chance at somehow sneaking in is North Park, but that, to me, is a very low possibility. 
What are you basing that thought on?

I just think that out of the bottom 4 teams, based on the past couple years, NPU has the best chance of possibly sneaking in the tournament over Wheaton.  I'm not sure if you are surprised that I put them in the picture at all or if you are surprised that I don't think more of them?  What is your opinion of their squad this year?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on February 07, 2009, 12:14:36 AM
heard wheaton lost their strength and conditioning coach. This will probably hurt more than they thinl
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 07, 2009, 11:31:13 AM
Quote from: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:28:13 PM
i think everyone should pick their pony
my conf prediction is
1. iwu
2. carthage
3. augie
4. millikin
5. wheaton
6. north park
7. north central
8. elmhurst
this is just my hunch, but to have programs of these caliber to not make the ncaa tourney shows how strong cciw is it is the big east basketball o d3 baseball
To put Millikin making the CCIW tournament is as bold a prediction as I have ever seen, and I have to say I don't think there is any chance of that happening. Not only did Millikin finish dead last last year, they have actually shown regression over the last couple of years. They went from a tie for fourth, to fifth by 2 and a half games to last. This isn't a team that is showing improvement as a program.  I do not think there is any way they jump four spots past Wheaton or North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 07, 2009, 12:31:18 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 11:29:18 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 06, 2009, 12:54:28 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 06, 2009, 08:14:37 AM
Quote from: UcantCme on February 06, 2009, 02:09:18 AM
so does anyone have any sleeper teams to sneak into the 3rd or 4th seeds and get into conf tourney

The only team that I see with a possible chance at somehow sneaking in is North Park, but that, to me, is a very low possibility. 
What are you basing that thought on?

I just think that out of the bottom 4 teams, based on the past couple years, NPU has the best chance of possibly sneaking in the tournament over Wheaton.  I'm not sure if you are surprised that I put them in the picture at all or if you are surprised that I don't think more of them?  What is your opinion of their squad this year?

You view it as a "very low possibility," so you must be using some gauge of relative strength.  You could make the same statement about Elmhurst, North Central, and Millikin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on February 07, 2009, 06:31:36 PM
Norfrank... Wheaton never had a strength and conditioning coach.  When coach elder left he brought with him the hitting/pitching/fielding/conditioning/whatever else coach since he was all of them.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on February 08, 2009, 03:08:13 PM
Let's not bash coach Elder. Isn't he is the reason Wheaton made it to the playoffs last year? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on February 08, 2009, 06:11:31 PM
How was that bashing coach elder?  If anything that was a slight at the administration for not supporting the baseball program enough financially for coach elder to be able to afford a strength and conditioning coach.  And yes, he was A reason they made the playoffs, not THE reason. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on February 08, 2009, 07:38:55 PM
letsplay2, maybe you should learn to be clearer when you write things so there would be no confusion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 09, 2009, 09:36:45 PM
All this CCIW baseball talk starting to heat up is getting my excited for the season to start!!!!! Why can't we be out west or down south so we can start having some games to talk about?  It's not fair I tell you
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on February 09, 2009, 11:53:11 PM
whoa, easy frank.  Don't blame me for your misinterpretation.  I just answered your question and you accused me of bashing coach elder and now I'm confusing... chill

Back to baseball talk... I don't know if anyone has posted about this recently but does anyone have any more details about Cunningham not being on the titan's roster?   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 10, 2009, 01:26:31 AM
Yeah. I do letsplay. But you once claimed to know more than me so I'll let you try and figure it out yourself.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on February 10, 2009, 10:46:25 AM
Haha, touche GP. That was about wheaton football though, not titans baseball... That's quite the grudge you're holding on to.


Anyone other that GP have any more details about Cunningham?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UcantCme on February 11, 2009, 06:11:46 AM
3 weeks until the season openers for most teams
does anyone have any insight on some conference newcomers that will bust onto the scene
i have heard rumblings of a lefty pitcher at north central
and transfer at millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 11, 2009, 02:49:07 PM
Let's be honest. Is a transfer at Millikin, going to make them any better?  The can put a MLB player on their team and I still don't think it'd get them out of the bottom four.  A few quality transfers might help them out, but a single one, I don't think so.

Cunningham just didn't want to play.  He went there for school and originally was not planning on playing baseball but decided to his freshman year.  He has lost his love for the game.
Same with Foster.
   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2009, 04:50:44 PM
CCIW preseason poll is released:

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/ (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/)

No real surprises as The Big Three remain in the top three spots, but I was a bit startled to see WHeaton earn two first-place votes. All in all, it looks to be a balanced league this year as four teams were given first place votes.

First Place votes in parenthesis:
1. Carthage (3)
2 (tie)Illinois Wesleyan (2)
         Augustana (1)
4. Wheaton College (2) 
5. (tie)North Central
           North Park   
7. (tie)Elmhurst College
           Millikin University
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2009, 04:55:08 PM
Cathage gets a huge early test on their Southern Trip as they face Wooster in a single game and followed by Whitewater for three straight days. Thso four games could determine the strength of the Redmen right out of the gate.
ALL times are Eastern:
March 14- Ohio Wesleyan (11am)
                 Becker (2pm)

March 15-Lakeland (1:30 p.m)

March 16- Wooster (noon)

March 17- Southwest Minnesota State (DH) (11am)


March 20- Wisconsin-Whitewater (noon)
                 Otterbein (3pm)

March 21- Wisconsin-Whitewater (9am)
                 Otterbein (12:30)

March 22- Wisconsin-Whitewater (11am)




I do not see Carthage coming back from Florida a perfect 10-0 like last season, but I think a 8-3/7-4 trip is a reasonable expectation.

The other games (non- Wooster and Whitewater)look pretty winnable at this point, but who knows what will happen once the fields are chalked.

One aspect to note is that not a single game in this trip is an in-region contest. Hopefully, they can find a way to re-schedule a game or two to find an in-region opponent that week. The tough part about spring trips is that you have no (or very little) control over your schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2009, 05:54:26 PM
Unless baseball has different rules for in-region than football or basketball, UWW and Lakeland are in-region (as is SW Minnesota St, if they are even d3 - not familiar with them).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 11, 2009, 07:22:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2009, 04:50:44 PM
CCIW preseason poll is released:

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/ (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/)

No real surprises as The Big Three remain in the top three spots, but I was a bit startled to see WHeaton earn two first-place votes. All in all, it looks to be a balanced league this year as four teams were given first place votes.

First Place votes in parenthesis:
1. Carthage (3)
2 (tie)Illinois Wesleyan (2)
         Augustana (1)
4. Wheaton College (2) 
5. (tie)North Central
           North Park   
7. (tie)Elmhurst College
           Millikin University

Wow BigPoppa you are right.....Wheaton getting a couple of votes for first place is a little bit of a shocker.  Maybe the coaches just got bored voting for one of the same three teams to win it for the past decade????
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on February 12, 2009, 03:15:51 AM
Mr. Ypsi,
In baseball there are actually several more regions.  All the schools in the CCIW are in the "Central" region along with Iowa and Northern Missouri.  The rest of the Wisconsin schools and minnesota schools are in the "Mid-West" region, so technically Carthage's games are not in-region.  Southwest Minnesota is a D2.  They finished 24-20 in a decent D2 conference.  It should be a nice challenge for them.  The difference with baseball is, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that non-auto. qualifier selections don't have to play regionals in their region they can switch them around to balance out regional strength, hence the reason why Carthage went North for regionals last year. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:04:02 AM
The Whitewater and Lakeland games are in-region for Carthage. Doubly in-region, in fact. Both are within 200 miles of Kenosha, and both are in Administrative Region #4. A Carthage/Chapman game would be in-region – even though the schools are 2,000 miles apart – because both are in the same Administrative Region (basically anything west of, and including, Illinois is an in-region game for Carthage. If CC were to play a team east of Illinois, check the mileage as to whether it's in-region).

Games are in-region if both teams are (only need to satisfy one of the following):
• In the same Evaluation Region (Central, Midwest, West, etc.)
• In the same conference
• In the same Administrative Region (there are four that are divided geographically)
• Within 200 miles of each other
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2009, 10:08:03 AM
Quote from: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:04:02 AM
The Whitewater and Lakeland games are in-region for Carthage. Doubly in-region, in fact. Both are within 200 miles of Kenosha, and both are in Administrative Region #4. A Carthage/Chapman game would be in-region – even though the schools are 2,000 miles apart – because both are in the same Administrative Region (basically anything west of, and including, Illinois is an in-region game for Carthage. If CC were to play a team east of Illinois, check the mileage as to whether it's in-region).

Games are in-region if both teams are:
• In the same Evaluation Region (Central, Midwest, West, etc.)
• In the same conference
In the same Administrative Region (there are four that are divided geographically)
• Within 200 miles of each other

If this is true, does anyone have a list of which schools fall in which Administration Regions?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:09:42 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2009, 10:08:03 AM
Quote from: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:04:02 AM
The Whitewater and Lakeland games are in-region for Carthage. Doubly in-region, in fact. Both are within 200 miles of Kenosha, and both are in Administrative Region #4. A Carthage/Chapman game would be in-region – even though the schools are 2,000 miles apart – because both are in the same Administrative Region (basically anything west of, and including, Illinois is an in-region game for Carthage. If CC were to play a team east of Illinois, check the mileage as to whether it's in-region).

Games are in-region if both teams are:
• In the same Evaluation Region (Central, Midwest, West, etc.)
• In the same conference
In the same Administrative Region (there are four that are divided geographically)
• Within 200 miles of each other

If this is true, does anyone have a list of which schools fall in which Administration Regions?
Here are the Admin Regions:
Region 1: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Region 2: New York, Pennsylvania.

Region 3: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.

Region 4: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on February 16, 2009, 11:59:22 AM
Quote from: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:09:42 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2009, 10:08:03 AM
Quote from: OshDude on February 12, 2009, 10:04:02 AM
The Whitewater and Lakeland games are in-region for Carthage. Doubly in-region, in fact. Both are within 200 miles of Kenosha, and both are in Administrative Region #4. A Carthage/Chapman game would be in-region – even though the schools are 2,000 miles apart – because both are in the same Administrative Region (basically anything west of, and including, Illinois is an in-region game for Carthage. If CC were to play a team east of Illinois, check the mileage as to whether it's in-region).

Games are in-region if both teams are:
• In the same Evaluation Region (Central, Midwest, West, etc.)
• In the same conference
In the same Administrative Region (there are four that are divided geographically)
• Within 200 miles of each other

If this is true, does anyone have a list of which schools fall in which Administration Regions?
Here are the Admin Regions:
Region 1: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Region 2: New York, Pennsylvania.

Region 3: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.

Region 4: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

So you're saying Illinois schools are in the same region as Hawaii and Alaska? if so thats a pretty crazy region.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 16, 2009, 12:44:26 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on February 16, 2009, 11:59:22 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2009, 10:08:03 AM
Region 4: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

So you're saying Illinois schools are in the same region as Hawaii and Alaska? if so thats a pretty crazy region.
It looks that way, but of course there are no DIII teams in Hawaii or Alaska.

Imagine if there were -- what a travel budget for conference games that would be!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on February 16, 2009, 02:19:12 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 16, 2009, 12:44:26 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on February 16, 2009, 11:59:22 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2009, 10:08:03 AM
Region 4: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

So you're saying Illinois schools are in the same region as Hawaii and Alaska? if so thats a pretty crazy region.
It looks that way, but of course there are no DIII teams in Hawaii or Alaska.

Imagine if there were -- what a travel budget for conference games that would be!

HA!, i dont think i want to imagine how much that would cost any school, let alone a DIII school.  :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on February 23, 2009, 09:29:20 AM
Where will all the CCIW teams be heading this spring break?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 23, 2009, 10:15:39 AM
Augustana opens today. Should get a feel for their strength by the end of the week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 23, 2009, 10:23:34 AM
CCIW finally gets in oin the action this week. Augustana has six games on tap followed by North Park and North Central with three each and Elmhurst with one, opening Sunday morning in the Metrodome.

Will be nice to get a feel for the CCIW early, but the true strength will lie in how well Carthage and IWU open their season in a few weeks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on February 23, 2009, 02:19:53 PM
BigPoppa, are you sure Augie is playing today?  they dont have an opponent listed or a time for the game... seems like they just posted their arrival in florida for some reason.  Regardless i can't wait to see how the CCIW teams do this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 23, 2009, 03:21:22 PM
Quote from: letsplay2 on February 23, 2009, 02:19:53 PM
BigPoppa, are you sure Augie is playing today?  they dont have an opponent listed or a time for the game... seems like they just posted their arrival in florida for some reason.  Regardless i can't wait to see how the CCIW teams do this week.
Sorry... my bad. They open tomorrow. I read my calendar wrong. (There is my Carthage education at work again!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 23, 2009, 11:15:26 PM
After looking over the schedules for the CCIW squads, I have to say that IWU has by far the hardest start of anyone. They open up with a weekend in Greencastle against Depauw and Hanover before playing Webster and Wartburg(two teams from the regional last year) along with Concordia, who barely missed making the regional.  Followed by a trip to MS to play a red hot Millsaps team. Titans could struggle coming out of the gate.

Carthage has two games against UW Whitewater in the first week of their season. I know I will be keeping a watchful eye on these games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 24, 2009, 10:24:35 AM
CCIW teams get under way today! Can't wait to start watching the results roll in this week. Here is a list of games this week involving CCIW teams:

Feb. 24

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Davenport in Winter Haven, Fla., 11 a.m., EST

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Hanover in Winter Haven, Fla., 2 p.m., EST



Feb. 25

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Hanover in Winter Haven, Fla., Noon, EST



Feb. 26

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Davenport (DH), in Winter Haven, Fla., 11 a.m., EST



Feb. 27

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Grove City in Orlando, Fla., 12:30 p.m., EST



Feb. 28

North Park at Spaulding, 11 a.m.,  EST

North Park vs. Cincinnati Christian at Spaulding, 3 p.m., EST

North Central vs. Luther at the GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., 1 p.m.



March 1

Augustana (Ill.) vs. Cornell in Winter Haven, Fla., 9:30 a.m., EST

Elmhurst vs. Gustavus Adolphus (DH) at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn, 11:15 a.m.

North Central vs. Webster at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., 10 a.m.

North Central vs. Illinois College at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., 1 p.m.

North Park vs. Wilmington in Chillicothe, Ohio, 1 p.m., EST
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on February 24, 2009, 10:28:28 PM
Augustana opens the season with a 4-1 win over Hanover. Pagano got the start and worked 5 innings with 7 strikeouts. He did give up one run, not sure if it was earned or unearned. Kulig came in relief for the last four innings. Hoffman and Wagle each had 2 hits for the Vikings. They play Hanover again tomorrow. I believe Erickson will throw for the Vikings since he didn't throw today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 24, 2009, 10:46:28 PM
Good to hear the CCIW getting off to a good start with Augie picking up a W.  Hopefully the CCIW can put up a good showing here on the spring trips as it'd be great to make a statement early as a conference. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 25, 2009, 08:22:41 AM
Quote from: acvikings on February 24, 2009, 10:28:28 PM
Augustana opens the season with a 4-1 win over Hanover. Pagano got the start and worked 5 innings with 7 strikeouts. He did give up one run, not sure if it was earned or unearned. Kulig came in relief for the last four innings. Hoffman and Wagle each had 2 hits for the Vikings. They play Hanover again tomorrow. I believe Erickson will throw for the Vikings since he didn't throw today.

Thanks! Keep the info coming. With teams scattered all over it is hard to keep up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on February 25, 2009, 10:09:01 PM
Augie gets another victory, 11-2, today over Hanover. Some things to point out per the box score. Ramos had a big day going 4-5 with 3 runs scored, a homerun, double, and a stolen base. Freshman Michael Barker and T.J. O'Donnell each had two hits. Good to see T.J. in the mix as he homered and doubled. Erickson went seven strong recording 4 strikeouts, no walks, 2 earned runs and giving up 9 hits. Nice to see that his ratio for K's/BB's is down so far.  Frede worked the ninth and got 2 strikeouts. It will be interesting to see who the Vikes throw on Friday against Grove City.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 27, 2009, 01:41:16 PM
Carthage has released the 2009 Media Guide:
http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/mediaguide.pdf (http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/mediaguide.pdf)

A lot of question marks for the Redmen offensively. Pitching looks solid, but can they catch the ball? We know they are going to hit (afterall, it IS Carthage).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 28, 2009, 11:57:11 AM
Augustana is off to a 3-0 start down south. A few others are expected to start this weekend, but I think the weather might be playing a factor in those games. If anyone has info on the North Park and North Central games, please let us know.

Now... while many of you gear up to watch a baseball game this weekend, I am heading outside to shovel... again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2009, 07:14:46 PM
NPU opened its 2009 season this morning with a 7-5 win at Spalding in Louisville, KY. It was the ninth game of the season for Spalding, although the Golden Eagles are now an undistinguished 1-8. No game details are available yet, but Mr. B should be online sometime soon to give us the 411.

The Vikings played Cincinnati Christian this afternoon on the Spalding field as well. No results or details available as of yet.

Bookmark Mr. B's website for North Park baseball (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html). It's very thorough and well-constructed, and he always keeps it up-to-date.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 28, 2009, 10:56:24 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2009, 07:14:46 PM
NPU opened its 2009 season this morning with a 7-5 win at Spalding in Louisville, KY. It was the ninth game of the season for Spalding, although the Golden Eagles are now an undistinguished 1-8. No game details are available yet, but Mr. B should be online sometime soon to give us the 411.

The Vikings played Cincinnati Christian this afternoon on the Spalding field as well. No results or details available as of yet.

Bookmark Mr. B's website for North Park baseball (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html). It's very thorough and well-constructed, and he always keeps it up-to-date.
We just rolled back into town after going 2-0 in Louisville.  I'll have a write-up on the website (thanks for the plug, Greg), but we won 7-5 over Spalding and 21-2 over Cincinnati Christian.  The doubleheader at Wilmington (OH) was canceled due to poor field conditions at the home field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 01, 2009, 10:00:13 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2009, 07:14:46 PM
NPU opened its 2009 season this morning with a 7-5 win at Spalding in Louisville, KY. It was the ninth game of the season for Spalding, although the Golden Eagles are now an undistinguished 1-8.
Yes, 1-8 is hardly distinguished, but Spalding has played some solid teams so far -- they finished 1-2 against Mississippi College (currently 6-3) and lost to Birmingham Southern (8-2), D2 Southern Indiana, and NAIA Campbelssville (7-2).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 02, 2009, 09:53:37 PM
Augustana is currently 4-0 on their Spring Trip. They picked up a 9-0 victory yesterday against Cornell College. Pagano moves to 2-0 on the season. He had 7 strikeouts and 4 walks in 7 innings of work. Kevin Schuetz had 3 hits and Ramos and Izzo had 2 a piece. They play again tomorrow in a doubleheader against Maryville. I assume that Erickson will throw game one since they went back to Pagano already. It will be interesting to see if they will go to Kyle Murphy in game 2 since he is only on 3 days rest this early in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 02, 2009, 10:18:42 PM
As of this morning, the CCIW is 6-0. The next week two weeks will be the test for the CCIW as IWU and Carthage gear up for some heavy hitters on their schedules.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on March 03, 2009, 02:04:58 PM
Elmhurst's Cody Boals no-hit Concordia Wisconsin in a 12-0, 7-inning game on Sunday. EC went on to sweep CUW with a 19-5 win.

EC then got swept by Macalester yesterday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2009, 03:06:22 PM
Quote from: OshDude on March 03, 2009, 02:04:58 PM
Elmhurst's Cody Boals no-hit Concordia Wisconsin in a 12-0, 7-inning game on Sunday. EC went on to sweep CUW with a 19-5 win.

EC then got swept by Macalester yesterday.

NICE! CCIW moves to 8-2 as of last night. A few more games on tap today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 03, 2009, 07:42:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 03, 2009, 03:06:22 PM
Quote from: OshDude on March 03, 2009, 02:04:58 PM
Elmhurst's Cody Boals no-hit Concordia Wisconsin in a 12-0, 7-inning game on Sunday. EC went on to sweep CUW with a 19-5 win.

EC then got swept by Macalester yesterday.

NICE! CCIW moves to 8-2 as of last night. A few more games on tap today.

CCIW now 10-2 as Augustana moves to 6-0 with a doubleheader sweep of Maryville University. They won game 1 11-4 and game 2 by a score of 3-0. Sophomore Grant Loiselle and senior Kevin Dencker both throw complete games. Augustana takes on Northland tomorrow and #22 Thiel on Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on March 04, 2009, 09:36:15 AM
Good match up between Millikin and Blackburn today. Look for Blackburn's Sr. Scott Ward to do some damage against the big blue and Millikin to come home with a CCIW loss.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 04, 2009, 08:18:03 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on March 04, 2009, 09:36:15 AM
Good match up between Millikin and Blackburn today. Look for Blackburn's Sr. Scott Ward to do some damage against the big blue and Millikin to come home with a CCIW loss.

Is Blackburn supposed to be good this year?  Not trying to be a smart aleck but if they are supposed to be somewhat decent, then there is no reason they shouldn't handle a weaker Millikin team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 04, 2009, 09:17:02 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on March 04, 2009, 08:18:03 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on March 04, 2009, 09:36:15 AM
Good match up between Millikin and Blackburn today. Look for Blackburn's Sr. Scott Ward to do some damage against the big blue and Millikin to come home with a CCIW loss.

Is Blackburn supposed to be good this year?  Not trying to be a smart aleck but if they are supposed to be somewhat decent, then there is no reason they shouldn't handle a weaker Millikin team.
Final from the Millikin website: Millikin 7, Blackburn 5.  No box score posted yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 05, 2009, 12:49:51 PM
Augie is now 7-0 on the young season. They defeated Northland yesterday 8-2. The Vikings got a strong performance on the mound from Junior Kyle Murphy going 7 innings and striking out 10. In 2 hours the Vikes face off against #22 Thiel. This will be a good test to see where they really are at on a national level. Have to believe Erickson will be throwing this game. Tomorrow will end their Spring Trip with a double dip against Rose Hulman. I am going to assume that they will see Hulman's top 2 pitchers. Hopefully Pagano will be available to throw again tomorrow.

Go Vikes!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 05, 2009, 09:13:24 PM
Vikings take one on the chin today by a score of 17-3 according to the Thiel website. No box score yet so details to follow later. They finish up their trip tomorrow at 9am against Rose Hulman. Hopefully they can come away 9-1, which is a pretty successful trip in my eyes.

Should be great weather here in Illinois tomorrow. Wesleyan opens up tomorrow with a doubleheader at DePauw. Will be interesting to see how they do over there. Lets hope they can get it in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UcantCme on March 05, 2009, 09:33:12 PM
i am new to the division 3 scene, and i saw that teams have players returning from a medical redshirt year.  so what are the redshirt rules and transfer rules for division 3 and what are the maximum number of baseball games can play before they exhaust there elgibility for that season.  i do know that one can sit on the bench all season and waste a year in d 3  . thanks for the help in advance
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2009, 11:05:55 PM
Quote from: acvikings on March 05, 2009, 09:13:24 PM
Vikings take one on the chin today by a score of 17-3 according to the Thiel website. No box score yet so details to follow later. They finish up their trip tomorrow at 9am against Rose Hulman. Hopefully they can come away 9-1, which is a pretty successful trip in my eyes.

Should be great weather here in Illinois tomorrow. Wesleyan opens up tomorrow with a doubleheader at DePauw. Will be interesting to see how they do over there. Lets hope they can get it in.

WOW! Augie took a beating today. Still, they are off to a great start and will be a team that is given a long look when the bids come out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on March 06, 2009, 12:21:23 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 05, 2009, 11:05:55 PM
Quote from: acvikings on March 05, 2009, 09:13:24 PM
Vikings take one on the chin today by a score of 17-3 according to the Thiel website. No box score yet so details to follow later. They finish up their trip tomorrow at 9am against Rose Hulman. Hopefully they can come away 9-1, which is a pretty successful trip in my eyes.

Should be great weather here in Illinois tomorrow. Wesleyan opens up tomorrow with a doubleheader at DePauw. Will be interesting to see how they do over there. Lets hope they can get it in.

WOW! Augie took a beating today. Still, they are off to a great start and will be a team that is given a long look when the bids come out.
Meh ... not the best result, but it's not in-region either.
Box score (http://www.thielathletics.com/sports/2008/10/16/GEN_1016083748.aspx?tab=generalinformation)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2009, 11:36:00 AM
CCIW is currently 12-3 on the young season. Not a bad start at all so far.  IWU opens this weekend as does Wheaton. Carthage is next weekend.

Augustana 7-1
Elmhurst 2-2
Wheaton 0-0
North Park 2-0 (a few cancelled games)
North Central 0-0 (a few cancelled games)
IWU 0-0
Millikin 1-0
Carthage 0-0

Augustana looks pretty solid so far and will come home a nice Spring Break record regardless of today's results. I am really interested to see how Wheaton comes out of the gates this weekend in Arizona. I see them and North Park fighting for the 4th spot.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2009, 10:03:35 PM
IWU spilts with Depauw this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 07, 2009, 04:13:23 PM
North Park defeated The College of New Jersey, 9-6.  The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and fought through some tough innings for the victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 07, 2009, 06:11:19 PM
According to the website North Central lost a slugfest to Franklin 16-15.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2009, 10:30:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2009, 04:13:23 PM
North Park defeated The College of New Jersey, 9-6.  The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and fought through some tough innings for the victory.

WOW!!! That is a huge win for the Vikings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 08, 2009, 08:23:28 PM
Decent start for the Titans.  I'm sure they would like to have that game back against DePauw, but can't be complaining about the sticks...  they are averaging 16 runs a game in their first 4 games, Coach Martel's got to be pretty happy about that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 08, 2009, 11:00:09 PM
Wheaton split with Monmouth and Kolb extended his hitting streak to 29 games.  Does anybody know what the record is?  Kolb seems like the perfect guy to keep a long hitting streak going-he is fast, doesn't strike out, and oh ya, he's an incredibly talented hitter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 08, 2009, 11:09:21 PM
I actually did a little quick research and answered my own question.  It looks the record is 60 games set by Damian Constantino of Salve Regina back in '01-'03.  Brian is halfway there and I think this could be something to keep an eye on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2009, 12:42:32 PM
North Park lost to D2 Northern State University on Sunday, 6-4. The Vikings will face Rockford today.

Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2009, 10:30:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2009, 04:13:23 PM
North Park defeated The College of New Jersey, 9-6.  The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and fought through some tough innings for the victory.

WOW!!! That is a huge win for the Vikings.

Isn't TCNJ a perennial D3 baseball power?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2009, 12:48:20 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2009, 12:42:32 PM
North Park lost to D2 Northern State University on Sunday, 6-4. The Vikings will face Rockford today.

Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2009, 10:30:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2009, 04:13:23 PM
North Park defeated The College of New Jersey, 9-6.  The Vikings scored seven runs in the first inning and fought through some tough innings for the victory.

WOW!!! That is a huge win for the Vikings.

Isn't TCNJ a perennial D3 baseball power?

They are indeed. Great win for Coach Luke Johnson and the Vikings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 09, 2009, 01:12:03 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on March 08, 2009, 11:00:09 PM
Wheaton split with Monmouth and Kolb extended his hitting streak to 29 games.  Does anybody know what the record is?  Kolb seems like the perfect guy to keep a long hitting streak going-he is fast, doesn't strike out, and oh ya, he's an incredibly talented hitter.

It appeared that Wheaton tried to use Kolb as the closer of the second game and he gave up 3 earned runs on 4 hits to take the loss.


On a side note...anyone find it interesting that IWU is 4 games into the season and they haven't used Aronson yet? Did I miss something that he was injured? I heard Kulavic was but I didn't hear anything about Aronson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 09, 2009, 11:08:52 PM
Augustana lost two games recently to Rose-Hulman and Thiel. I know Thiel is ranked in the Top 25, and I believe that Rose Hulman went to the NCAA tournament last year. This seems to be a trend with AC the last couple of years, beat the teams they should be and struggle against quality opponents.  I would say pitching has been a big reason for this and why they have not been able to top the conference in recent years.

On a side note, my preseason POY choice, Tim Marzec had a big game this past weekend. 4-6 with 2 doubles, a bomb to go with 5 RBI and 3 Runs scored.  He is making me look like a smart man with games like that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 10, 2009, 01:37:30 AM
An updated CCIW record with March 9th's games included, the CCIW is 21-11.  Anyone have any numbers on what the CCIW has been against non-conference opponents in previous years?  It seems like everyone is playing decent schedules too, it's interesting to see so many teams playing schools like the other Wheaton, TCNJ, Thiel, Rockford, Rose-Hulman.  There's some pretty decent competition going on early in the year!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2009, 10:06:16 PM
NPU was blasted yesterday by Rockford, 13-3, but came back today to down Monmouth, 16-14, in a slugfest down in Arizona. Zach Laffey went 4-6 with 5 RBI, Pete Sekalias went 3-5 and also had 5 RBI (and sparked a ninth-inning rally with a bases-loaded triple that put the Park ahead for good), Andy Athans went 3-6 with a pair of doubles and a pair of steals, and Trevor Popp scored five runs on the day.

North Park (4-2) takes on NAIA entry Malone (7-1) on Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 10, 2009, 10:45:50 PM
Despite the Rockford spanking that's still a good start for the Vikings.  In other news, the first week of CCIW players of the week has come out.....congrats to Kevin and Cody.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan's Kevin Goshorn and Elmhurst's Cody Boals were named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Baseball Players of the Week Tuesday.

Goshorn, a senior designated hitter from New Lennox, Ill., and Lincoln Way Central High School, had 11 hits in 17 at bats for a .647 batting average as the Titans won three of four games at the DePauw Tournament to open the season. Goshorn had four doubles, one home run, drove home nine runs and scored nine runs as Illinois Wesleyan outscored its opponents 64-27. Goshorn had three multiple hit games and had four hits in two games each (23-7 and 22-8 wins against DePauw). His slugging percentage is 1.059 and on-base percentage is .650.

Boals, a junior transfer pitcher from Orangeville, Ill., and Highland Community College, tossed a no-hitter in the Bluejays' season-opening 12-0 win over Concordia University (Wis.) on March 1. Boals pitched a complete seven innings, allowing only three walks and striking out 12 in the victory. It was Elmhurst's first no-hitter since the 1999 season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 10, 2009, 11:11:21 PM
Congrats to both players. Those are video game like numbers there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on March 11, 2009, 05:21:32 PM
and general public, get your facts straight before opening your mouth. baseball has been my passion since i was in diapers, and will always be my passion. if you only knew the pain i have been in. dont talk unless you know what youre talking about
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 11, 2009, 07:15:48 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on March 11, 2009, 05:16:43 PM
I am not sure if all of these questions have been answered yet. I was a pitcher for IWU the past 3 years, but had to stop due to a torn rotator cuff.

Injuries and losses:
Cunningham- wanted to focus on school, quit
Foster- torn cuff
McCreary (closer)- transfered to ASU for partying, quit
Aronson- Rotator cuff problems, hopes to be back mid conference
Kulavic- tommy john surgery (tiger balm was his best friend last year)
angel- grad
mcinerny- grad
rittenberry- grad

mcintosh moves to 3rd base from 1st, kirchoffer goes from pitcher only to play 1st. marzec goes from 3rd (really stepped up last year in place of a hurt ritt) to SS
ladd moves from left to center

as you can see there are many players gone. HOWEVER, these guys love baseball. they want to win, and there is still A LOT of talent on this team. Personally speaking, our pitching was so deep the past 3 years it was incredible. No offense to any other teams, but carthage was the only team that came even close to the depth of our pitchers. even the guys who never got many chances have great arms and a lot of talent. despite the injuries, they have some great hitters (goshorn and ladd inparticular), speed and good pitching. hopefully they just start completely ignoring their coach and play to win for eachother.

Thanks for the inside insights, Jesse.  (At least, based on your email account and injury report, I assume you are Jesse Foster.)  Anything further you want to explain about the bolded part?

Quote from: perfectgame on March 11, 2009, 05:21:32 PM
and general public, get your facts straight before opening your mouth. baseball has been my passion since i was in diapers, and will always be my passion. if you only knew the pain i have been in. dont talk unless you know what youre talking about

Hey, now, if us 'ignorant' people didn't post, the board would die! :D

I readily admit I know nothing beyond box scores and what others post here, but I try not to go against any known facts! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2009, 09:51:35 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 11, 2009, 07:15:48 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on March 11, 2009, 05:16:43 PM
I am not sure if all of these questions have been answered yet. I was a pitcher for IWU the past 3 years, but had to stop due to a torn rotator cuff.

Injuries and losses:
Cunningham- wanted to focus on school, quit
Foster- torn cuff
McCreary (closer)- transfered to ASU for partying, quit
Aronson- Rotator cuff problems, hopes to be back mid conference
Kulavic- tommy john surgery (tiger balm was his best friend last year)
angel- grad
mcinerny- grad
rittenberry- grad

mcintosh moves to 3rd base from 1st, kirchoffer goes from pitcher only to play 1st. marzec goes from 3rd (really stepped up last year in place of a hurt ritt) to SS
ladd moves from left to center

as you can see there are many players gone. HOWEVER, these guys love baseball. they want to win, and there is still A LOT of talent on this team. Personally speaking, our pitching was so deep the past 3 years it was incredible. No offense to any other teams, but carthage was the only team that came even close to the depth of our pitchers. even the guys who never got many chances have great arms and a lot of talent. despite the injuries, they have some great hitters (goshorn and ladd inparticular), speed and good pitching. hopefully they just start completely ignoring their coach and play to win for eachother.

Thanks for the inside insights, Jesse.  (At least, based on your email account and injury report, I assume you are Jesse Foster.)  Anything further you want to explain about the bolded part?

Quote from: perfectgame on March 11, 2009, 05:21:32 PM
and general public, get your facts straight before opening your mouth. baseball has been my passion since i was in diapers, and will always be my passion. if you only knew the pain i have been in. dont talk unless you know what youre talking about

Hey, now, if us 'ignorant' people didn't post, the board would die! :D

I readily admit I know nothing beyond box scores and what others post here, but I try not to go against any known facts! ;)

Ypsi... you are a classic! Great call.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 11, 2009, 10:03:26 PM
I'm gona spare any comment that might start something up and just say that i think your insight on IWU baseball will be appreciated around here based on your experience.  As a neutral CCIW guy, I enjoy when passionate posters such as Mr. B and BigPoppa who love their schools so much offer good information about their teams.  Hopefully you can provide the same without stepping on too many toes.

With that said, that is too bad about Aronson, him and Kulavic are a big loss.  At least it looks like IWU's lineup is much improved from the past couple years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2009, 08:20:36 AM
Ok... two days away from Carthage opening day and I have never felt worse about them. Right now I see them struggling a bit with the bats... which is shocking for a Carthage team. Their pitching will be fine, but I think they lost a lot of experience from last year and I worry that they guys filling those spots may not live up the Carthage standard of "put head down and bust your butt regardless of what is happening around you."

The next week will be very telling... I may not sleep much next week. I think a 8-3 or 7-4 trip would be a positive start to their season considering who they face (Wooster once and Whitewater three times).

I might be the biggest Carthage fan out there, but I am a realist and the the reality is staring them straight in the face next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 12, 2009, 11:22:10 AM
So it might be a little bit early for this to really mean anything, but I had some time so I thought I'd use it...

Quality of wins/losses:
Millikin 1-0
Wins: Opponents records- 0-1
Losses: N/A

Augustana 8-2
Wins: Opponents records- 19-34-1
Losses: Opponents records- 14-5

Illinois Wesleyan 3-1
Wins: Opponents records- 8-12-1
Losses: Opponenets records- 6-4

Wheaton 4-2
Wins: Opponents records- 7-13
Losses: Opponents records- 6-8

North Park 4-2
Wins: Opponents records- 9-27
Losses: Opponents records- 5-10
*One loss was to a D2 team that finishes in the bottom 2 every year in the NSIC

Elmhurst 2-2
Wins: Opponents records- 0-2
Losses: Opponents records- 5-1

North Central 1-3
Wins: Opponents records- 5-3
Losses: Opponents records- 5-3

So it's too early to tell... but it seems as if the competition hasn't been very good thus far.  The have been some seemingly quality wins and a couple losses to quality opponents, but generally no one seems to have played that tough of a schedule thus far.  Thoughts anyone?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2009, 11:28:37 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 12, 2009, 11:22:10 AM
So it might be a little bit early for this to really mean anything, but I had some time so I thought I'd use it...

Quality of wins/losses:
Millikin 1-0
Wins: Opponents records- 0-1
Losses: N/A

Augustana 8-2
Wins: Opponents records- 19-34-1
Losses: Opponents records- 14-5

Illinois Wesleyan 3-1
Wins: Opponents records- 8-12-1
Losses: Opponenets records- 6-4

Wheaton 4-2
Wins: Opponents records- 7-13
Losses: Opponents records- 6-8

North Park 4-2
Wins: Opponents records- 9-27
Losses: Opponents records- 5-10
*One loss was to a D2 team that finishes in the bottom 2 every year in the NSIC

Elmhurst 2-2
Wins: Opponents records- 0-2
Losses: Opponents records- 5-1

North Central 1-3
Wins: Opponents records- 5-3
Losses: Opponents records- 5-3

So it's too early to tell... but it seems as if the competition hasn't been very good thus far.  The have been some seemingly quality wins and a couple losses to quality opponents, but generally no one seems to have played that tough of a schedule thus far.  Thoughts anyone?

Thanks for the work on this. It is much appreciated. It is often hard to get a gauge on teams early in the season as the opponents are often tough to figure out. I generally look at Team ERA and Fielding % to get a quick feel for a team.

Stats can often be inflated offensively at this point in the season, but HUGE numbers can let you know that they will still be solid offensively once they come back down to earth. Augustana has really been piling up the runs as has IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on March 12, 2009, 02:00:30 PM
Very nice stat line Warrior35... the quality of wins/loses are always interesting to note. 

Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2009, 11:28:37 AM
Stats can often be inflated offensively at this point in the season

To add to this, Wheaton is already only 4 triples away from tying the team single season record of 15.  The dimensions of the field they are playing on may be contributing to those numbers... 365 down both lines and 420 to center.  Having said that, Wheaton's offense seems to have picked up where it left off last year.  obviously, like it has been reiterated a number of times, it is still very early and a lot of things can happen from now until conference play. 

BigPoppa, is there any truth to a rumor i heard about Perez being out for the year?  If so, that is huge for the Carthage pitching staff.  Getting Krepline back is a big lift, but losing Perez from the starting rotation on top of Husing is a terrible loss.  With Perez they have 3 outstanding starters in their rotation with Krepline and Ruffie.  Without him, there seems to be a significan (not huge) drop off of quality starters after Ruffie and Krepline.  Any chance they'll move Richardson into the back end of the rotation instead of coming out of the bullpen if Perez is out?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2009, 02:49:21 PM
I can confirm that Perez is out fo the season... leg injury in the fall that will not be healed i time for the season. Still, I think they will be solid on the hill. I guess we will find out this weekend as they hit it hard from the start... Wooster and Whitewater x3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: wartburgalum on March 12, 2009, 04:41:08 PM
Sounds like Wartburg may have a chance this weekend against IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on March 12, 2009, 06:21:08 PM
Augie beats Carroll College today 16-5 as reported on the Carroll website. Details to follow later. The Vikings are now 9-2 on the year. They play again tomorrow at 3 pm against Babson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2009, 09:54:00 PM
NPU lost to Malone today, 12-5. The Vikings will return to D3 competition tomorrow and Saturday against Dickinson and St. Mary's (MN), respectively, before returning from Arizona for Tuesday's home opener against Wisconsin Lutheran.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2009, 12:59:48 PM
Big Games in featuring the Central Region this weekend:

March 13
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Wartburg at Webster, 4 p.m.


March 14
Illinois Wesleyan at Webster, 10 a.m.
Wartburg at Webster
Beloit vs St. Joes (NY)
Concordia Chicago vs. Illinois Wesleyan


March 15
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Central in Fort Myers, Fla., 9 a.m., EDT
Wartburg vs Concordia-Chicago
Concordia Chicago vs. Webster
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2009, 02:40:56 AM
Mike Giovenco pitched a complete-game five-hit shutout, striking out 13 Red Devils batters, as NPU buried Dickinson on Friday, 13-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 14, 2009, 05:01:23 AM
Looks like Augie had a tough day.  I don't know how good Babson is, but I can tell you that it'd be hard to beat anyone in the country when you walk 11, hit 2 batters, and have 5 errors.  The box score says that 4 or those errors are on Wagle, anyone know if something's up?  An injury perhaps?  Sounds a little fishy coming from a pre-season all-american.  The score could have ended up much worse, Babson left 19 guys on base.  I wouldn't worry about Augie too much though.  They have a tendency to bounce back well from poor performances.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on March 14, 2009, 09:48:16 PM
Wheaton splits with Macalester(MN) today in Chandler to end their spring trip at a 5-4 clip.  The Thunder won game 1 12-8 with Tim Urbanowicz earning the victory in 6+ innings and lost the 2nd 7-4 with Josh Weaver taking the loss.  Not sure what the official stats were since i was just listening over the internet, but a big day for Kolb and freshmen OF Justin Zeller at the plate.  Kolb extended his hit streak to 35 and 36 games respectively while hitting a HR in game one and hit two more triples on the day to break the Wheaton single season triple record with 5 total on the year already.  Zeller gave the offense a boost in the first game blasting 2 home runs. 

Wheaton had a tough time with the Macalester ace in game 2. While they were able to get base runners on, they had a hard time stringing hits together to get the runners in.  They need to start stringing some wins together, but overall a pretty solid day today for the Thunder.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2009, 01:22:40 AM
Andy Athans hit two homers and Zach Laffey added another as North Park defeated St. Mary's (MN) on Saturday, 7-3. Jake Hollinsaid picked up the complete-game win for the Vikings. NPU (7-3) now returns home from Arizona and will make its home debut on Tuesday against Wisconsin Lutheran.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 15, 2009, 01:24:09 PM
North Park finished up its Phoenix trip with an overall record of 4-3, plus one JV win.  The varsity squad is 6-3 overall. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 15, 2009, 01:37:18 PM
I've updated the North Park team website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/home.html), so you can read game summaries and view some photos.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2009, 01:46:25 PM
Carthage jumps to 2-0 with an 11-7 win over Ohio Wesleyan and a 21-0 win over Becker. Today, the secnd day of their spring trip is usually the day they stumble as the excitement of Opening Day wears off. A game with Lakeland could spell trouble for the Redmen, but it is unlikely.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 15, 2009, 02:36:27 PM
Look for Carthage to throw JR Scott Danly today vs Lakeland. He's had some elbow problems the last couple of years so this will be his first, Collegiate, Start. Everything I've heard tell's me Danly has an extremely live Arm. Mario Perez will get the start against Wooster tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2009, 02:42:39 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 15, 2009, 02:36:27 PM
Look for Carthage to throw JR Scott Danly today vs Lakeland. He's had some elbow problems the last couple of years so this will be his first, Collegiate, Start. Everything I've heard tell's me Danly has an extremely live Arm. Mario Perez will get the start against Wooster tomorrow.
[/b]

The last I heard was that Mario Perez was out for the season with an injury? If he truly is back, it looks great for the Redmen this season. They will be loaded with top-notch arms... three starters who have been all-CCIW in the past.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 15, 2009, 03:04:50 PM
Yep Big Poppa, He's back. It was a broken Fibula in the fall. It looked bad at the time Augie had to come out with the ,Team Outlook for this year. All went well with his Surgery and his Rehab. Unfortunately we'll probably be Missing Chris Krepline for a while longer. Huge Loss. Though keep your eye on Jordan Jaehne Lianas. Everything I'm hearing put's him in the running for potential, Ace, of a pretty good pitching staff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2009, 03:27:16 PM
Redmenfan35- Thanks for the updates. Hopefully, Krepline can make it back soon. Any word on how much longer he is out? Even sticking a guy like that in the bullpen for a while while he rebuilds his strength can be a huge plus for Carthage.

This is going to be fun to watch.

Anyone have an update on the Lakeland game today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 15, 2009, 03:39:27 PM
Carthage 9 Lakeland 2 in the top of the 3rd. I really don't know what quality of pitching we're facing, but all indications have us hitting the Ball this year !!! Mike Hughes is on Fire !!!

We're all hoping Krepline comes back soon. When he went down last year he was throwing the Ball as well as anyone. A Great Kid too. Let's hope for the best.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 15, 2009, 03:45:23 PM
Carthage 12 Lakeland 2 bottom of 5th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 02:12:18 PM
Bottom of 6th, Carthage Batting- Carthage 5 Wooster 4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2009, 02:30:01 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 02:12:18 PM
Bottom of 6th, Carthage Batting- Carthage 5 Wooster 4

Thanks for the updates... keep it coming as I am not able to find it anywhere else.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 02:37:44 PM
No Problem, Top of the 8th Carthage 5 Wooster 4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2009, 02:46:52 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 02:37:44 PM
No Problem, Top of the 8th Carthage 5 Wooster 4

Is Perez still on the hill for Carthage? How does he look?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 02:53:58 PM
He went 6 Innings- 4 runs 2 earned 3 walks and 6 K's A very good outing !!!
Mike Maher has pitched the 7th and 8th- No runs on no Hits !!! We're currently in the top of the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 03:15:16 PM
Bottom of the 10th - Any old kind of run wins it. All Knotted at 5 !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2009, 03:16:20 PM
Sounds like a great game. Wish I was there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 16, 2009, 03:47:40 PM
Final in 11 innings- Wooster 9 Carthage 5-- Tough One.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2009, 09:31:29 AM
Augie Schmidt's reaction to the Wooster loss on Monday (clearly, he has mellowed quite a bit since I playerd for him):

"It was a great ballgame, and we had them.  We were down, and we came back.  Our kids didn't shy away from anything, and I was really proud of the way we played.  All we had to do was make a 90-foot throw from second base, and we win.  It was a tailor-made double play, but we didn't make the throw.  Our freshmen are starting to understand that when you play for Carthage, teams come after you hard.  Hopefully, we'll be in a lot more of this kind of game this year.  We played terrible defense all day.  Mario Perez pitched well, as did Mike Maher.  We saw some good pitching, but we scrounged up some runs.  We're better leaving the park today than we were, and that's our goal.  It would have been nice to turn that double play and win the game.  Wooster has the tradition, like we do,  and they wanted this one as bad as we did.  For this early in the season, this was a very intense game."

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 17, 2009, 10:04:42 AM
I don't know how he was then, but he still has some great moments now :-) He's never boring, that's for sure !!! He's a Great Coach. The Kids love him, but he still gives it to them straight.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2009, 10:14:25 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 17, 2009, 10:04:42 AM
I don't know how he was then, but he still has some great moments now :-) He's never boring, that's for sure !!! He's a Great Coach. The Kids love him, but he still gives it to them straight.

The great thing about Augie is you never know what is going to come out of his mouth. Hilarious guy to be around and listen to. Some of the best moments of my entire college career happened before or after games during his speeches. We couls always guess the tone of the speech by how far he made his daughter stay away... far away from her was always a bad sign. If he brought her to the post-game meeting it usually meant extra meal-money on the ride home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 17, 2009, 10:26:54 AM
Last year on the spring trip, one of the Seniors brought a, Click Counter, to the the team huddle after an extremely poor defensive performance by the Team. We won 3-2. The click count on the F-bombs, was close to 200 !!! It would have been great to be a Grasshopper sitting just outside the Huddle !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2009, 05:05:58 PM
Carthage dropped game one today 6-3 versus D2 Southwest Minnesota. Game two versus another D2 opponent Minn-Duluth, is currently underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2009, 11:11:59 PM
The Redmen rebound from game one and pound D2 Minnesota-Duluth 15-2 in the late ame..
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 17, 2009, 11:40:19 PM
North Park takes their home opener from Wisconsin Lutheran, 19-4.  Zach Deutscher went 4-for-4 with 3 solo home runs to lead the Viking attack.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 18, 2009, 10:58:53 AM
Carthage gets 2 strong performances on Tuesday from Freshmen, Andy Pucher and Eric Rohe. Pitching is looking pretty good !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2009, 11:24:16 AM
RedMenfan35- Any idea who Carthage plans to throw tomorrow against Whitewater?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 18, 2009, 11:47:54 AM
I'm not for sure, but I'm assuming it will probably be Trace Ruffie. The only other choice would be Jahne Llanas. Ruffie would be looking for some , payback, from the Midwest regionals last year and it would be his turn in the Rotation. I think we all know what Trace can do though. I've heard some really great things about Jahne Llanas but have'nt seen him throw. It would be a nice test.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2009, 02:55:57 PM
NPU shut out Benedictine yesterday, 6-0, behind another masterful pitching performance by reigning CCIW Pitcher of the Week Mike Giovenco. He scattered four hits and struck out 12 over eight innings as the Vikings improved their record to 8-3. North Park next hosts a doubleheader against Dominican on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cciwlover74 on March 19, 2009, 09:41:10 PM
i hear NPU has two solid starters at the top of their rotation and they are a soph and fresh.?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2009, 01:39:53 PM
Quote from: cciwlover74 on March 19, 2009, 09:41:10 PM
i hear NPU has two solid starters at the top of their rotation and they are a soph and fresh.?

I am going to guess the freshmen is himself, Joel Bonnett. I give you some credit as you are 2-0 with a save, but you got a vulture win vs Monmouth by finishing the 8th and then your hitters scored 5 to take the lead in the 9th... I tip my cap for your save vs The College of New Jersey who is a solid program year after year... your other win was against a perenially terrible Wisconsin Lutheran team in a 19-4 win. While you appear to have the makings of solid CCIW pitcher, you will not face the hitters like Monmouth and WLU in the CCIW every week.

I may be wrong, but I have a feeling you just put a big target on your back once the CCIW starts next week.


If you are trying to be deceptive, you need to change your email address.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on March 20, 2009, 01:47:01 PM
Quote from: cciwlover74 on March 19, 2009, 09:41:10 PM
i hear NPU has two solid starters at the top of their rotation and they are a soph and fresh.?

Joel Bonnett... you should probably worry more about your performance on the mound rather than wondering if anyone has noticed yet.  I hope I'm not alone on the board in saying that I'll wait until the CCIW season is well underway until I crown a freshman pitcher a solid top end starter.  Either way, I would suggest leaving the posting to us until your 4 years are over.  

As for Giovenvo... Im not too sold on him quite yet either.  He is off to an outstanding start this season, but we'll see how he does once the conference season hits.  Obviously he throws hard and can probably touch around 93-94 a couple times a game, but he is also very wild.  Having faced him a couple times last year, he had trouble grooving fastballs when he would get behind in the count.  When he started against us (Wheaton) last year, he was pulled after allowing 6 earned runs on 3 hits and 3 bb's before recording an out.  I will say that he has a ton of potential and could very easily prove me wrong, but once he starts facing CCIW hitters I can't imagine his numbers staying where they are at.  Again, I would have no problem with him proving me wrong because of the potential he has.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2009, 02:06:50 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2009, 01:39:53 PM
Quote from: cciwlover74 on March 19, 2009, 09:41:10 PM
i hear NPU has two solid starters at the top of their rotation and they are a soph and fresh.?

I am going to guess the freshmen is himself, Joel Bonnett.


If you are trying to be deceptive, you need to change your email address.


                BUSTED!
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.odessastreet.net%2Fimages%2FKELSO_02-thumb.gif&hash=b37712433a93230d979c22c215d7a3e8c6fe70f3)

Quote from: letsplay2 on March 20, 2009, 01:47:01 PM
As for Giovenvo... Im not too sold on him quite yet either.  He is off to an outstanding start this season, but we'll see how he does once the conference season hits.  Obviously he throws hard and can probably touch around 93-94 a couple times a game, but he is also very wild.  Having faced him a couple times last year, he had trouble grooving fastballs when he would get behind in the count.  When he started against us (Wheaton) last year, he was pulled after allowing 6 earned runs on 3 hits and 3 bb's before recording an out.  I will say that he has a ton of potential and could very easily prove me wrong, but once he starts facing CCIW hitters I can't imagine his numbers staying where they are at.  Again, I would have no problem with him proving me wrong because of the potential he has.  

Hey, Giovenco is 4-0 with an 0.64 ERA this season. Of course his numbers aren't going to stay where they're at. Who can maintain that sort of pace? No starter's had an ERA that low in CCIW play in a decade and a half.

Players develop and get better, letsplay2. That's the nature of college sports. Giovenco was only a freshman last year, and it's reasonable to deduce that he was still learning how to pitch. It seems much more likely that he has improved his game than that he's still the same pitcher he was last season and his early numbers are thus a complete fluke.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 20, 2009, 03:28:06 PM
Top of the 8th  UW Whitewater 4  Carthage 0
Carthage currently has more Errors(3) than Hits(2) this game. Let's hope this changes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2009, 03:44:10 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 20, 2009, 03:28:06 PM
Top of the 8th  UW Whitewater 4  Carthage 0
Carthage currently has more Errors(3) than Hits(2) this game. Let's hope this changes.

Holding Whitewater to 4 runs is a good thing... not scoring any runs in not typical Carthage baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 20, 2009, 04:09:55 PM
Greg, while I'll assume you're right about the era's, just two years ago Aronson finished at 0.69, and was well below 0.64 right up 'til Augie got to him in the conference tourney.  The entire team era was an absurd 1.38.

But your point (that it is highly unlikely an era of 0.64 will continue through conference play) is certainly a sound one.  I suspect none of us will live long enough to see another pitching season like the Titans had in 2007.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 20, 2009, 04:11:06 PM
No it's not. I thnk hitting might be a huge question mark this year also. Ruffie picthed really well giving up 4 runs 3 earned in 7 innings. We changed Pitchers in the 8th gave up 5 runs and are currently down 9-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on March 20, 2009, 04:40:17 PM
Greg,
I completely agree with you there. I should have elaborated on what I meant by his numbers. I was referring more to his strikeouts and hits allowed. It goes without saying that his era is going to rise once conference season starts. I was just saying that I won't consider him a solid starter until he proves it in conference, not just in nonconference games.  And like I said, he has a ton of potential, but even with his solid start, his walks are still somewhat high which makes me believe he is still struggling with his control. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2009, 01:08:21 AM
Carthage loses two games today to Whitewater 9-0 and to Otterbein 6-1. The Redmen fall to 4-4 on the season. I am not sure what to make of the Redmen this season... lots of ups and downs.

The CCIW race is going to be VERY interesting to watch this year...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 21, 2009, 07:17:47 PM
Interesting is definitely the word, Big Poppa !!! North Park looks like they want to get in the mix this year. Augustana at the very least is gonna hit the Ball and play good Defense, I have no idea what's going on with Wesleyan, but just based on recent History, it's hard to write them off. Carthage which is the team I know most about, and I don't want to get ahead of myself here, looks stacked on the mound. It's only the Spring trip but we're looking at strong starting Pitching going 6 deep with Ruffie, Perez, Jahne Llanas, Danly, Rohe, and Pucher. Maher could also be thrown into this mix. Once Augie and Cory figure out exactly what their rotation is going to be they'll be able to set up a Bullpen that will pretty tough to hit out of 3 of these guys. Foss will be back shortly and possibly even Krepline. I Love our Pitching !!! Defense is another story as it was last year. Though last year, we were able to Out Slug most teams. I don't see that happening this year. If they work within their limitations and take things, One base at a time, I think we'll be fine. Let Hughes, Sobol and from the early start Albers, hit the Long Ball. Everyone else, just get on base !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2009, 04:24:52 PM
Carthage rebounds from two terrible losses by defeating Otterbein Saturday and turning around and beating Whitewater on Sunday, 8-6. Great finish for the Redmen who return home from a brutally tough spring schedule with a 6-4 mark. Kudos for getting back on track and beating two quality teams that berat them only days earlier.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mtnest on March 22, 2009, 04:46:13 PM
has anyone heard how IWU did in St. Louis this weekend?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2009, 05:51:59 PM
Carthage really, Dug Deep, today. If they can win games like this giving up 6 unearned runs against a quality opponent, Imagine what they can do if they cut the errors down to 2 a game !!!Ha!!! All kidding aside, it seems like the Majority of the Errors are throwing. It's early in the year and those, mental errors, are usually the easiest to fix. With the , Spring Schedule, as tough as it was I was hoping for 7-3. 6-4 isn't that far off. These last 2 wins should give a little, confidence/momentum, leading into the start of the CCIW games.

Sorry MT, I checked the Wesleyan web-site and their giving up nothing on today's games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 22, 2009, 05:53:00 PM
Quote from: mtnest on March 22, 2009, 04:46:13 PM
has anyone heard how IWU did in St. Louis this weekend?
Benedictine 6, IWU 4
IWU 8, Washington 4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2009, 06:02:39 PM
Those are both yesterday's scores. Right Mr. B ?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 22, 2009, 06:17:26 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2009, 06:02:39 PM
Those are both yesterday's scores. Right Mr. B ?
Yes.  I looked at IWU's schedule and saw the two opponents.  The Benedictine box score (http://www.ben.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/stats09/bubb10.htm) is on the Eagles' website, and the Wash U score is on the D3Baseball scoreboard page (http://www.d3baseball.com/schedule/2009-03-21).  I also looked on Wash U's athletics site and the box score (http://bearsports.wustl.edu/baseball/game16.htm) for that game is also available.

I'm not sure what the delay is with updating the IWU website.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mtnest on March 22, 2009, 06:22:25 PM
thanks all for the info.... now if we can ever get today's score! they do seem to be struggling a  little but i have noticed they have had quite a few new players tryin positions same with the batting maybe there is a method to this.... so all and all the losses havent been that significant considering   we';ll have to see this week when conf. starts
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2009, 07:07:46 PM
I checked their web-site and don't see any of their top 3 starters, Kulavic, Aronson, or Foster even on the Roster.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2009, 10:46:58 PM
NPU split a doubleheader with Dominican on Saturday, winning the opener, 9-5, before losing the nightcap in ten innings, 12-9. The Vikings will attempt to exact revenge from Rockford for their defeat at the hands at the Regents in Arizona in a Monday game at Holmgren Athletic Complex.

http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=3163 (http://www.northpark.edu/home/index.cfm?northpark=RNews.RNews_Story&ID=3163)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2009, 11:19:06 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2009, 07:07:46 PM
I checked their web-site and don't see any of their top 3 starters, Kulavic, Aronson, or Foster even on the Roster.

Kulavic is out for the year with an injury, Foster quit, but I thought I remembered someone post that Aronson was expected back from injury by conference play - has that changed?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on March 23, 2009, 01:03:37 PM
aronson is still hoping to be back for conference. while i am not positive, i would assume his aim start date would be for augie/carthage. i didnt check the schedule but we generally played them later on in conference so that should give him some extra time for rest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2009, 05:09:27 PM
Carthage is currently fielding .937% and has a horrendous 24 errors in only 10 games. That is a recipe for disaster if they cannot fix it, regardless of how well they hit and pitch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 23, 2009, 09:12:01 PM
I firmly agree Big Poppa. Though if you look at the Boxscores most of the Errors are throwing. Early in the year it's hard to guage exactly what you can do with the arm. Especially when all your practices prior to the Spring trip have been Indoors on a Gymnasium floor. Last year these guys had the same problem. The Ball was getting to them so quick indoors, they had all day to make the throw. Once the games started with the, Slow infields, they were'nt charging the Ball the way they should and thus were forced to hurry the throws. Problems fielding the ball tend to, eat away, at a player more. I've never known a position Baseball player whom would say that he did'nt believe that he could make the throws he needed to from his position. I truly believe that if the Pitching is as good as I think it is, things are going to come together, and this team is going to be something special.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 23, 2009, 10:20:39 PM
NPU didn't have any better luck the second time around against Rockford, losing 11-4 to the Regents on Monday. Rockford also swept Wheaton this past weekend, 15-0 and 12-11.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2009, 12:08:15 PM
Concordia (IL) walloped NPU yesterday, 15-3. The Vikings fall to 9-6 on the season, and, given how many runs their pitching has been giving up in non-conference play, I'm not entirely sold yet on this North Park team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2009, 12:10:51 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2009, 12:08:15 PM
Concordia (IL) walloped NPU yesterday, 15-3. The Vikings fall to 9-6 on the season, and, given how many runs their pitching has been giving up in non-conference play, I'm not entirely sold yet on this North Park team.

I can't figure them out either right now. They are very Jeckyl and Hyde to me. Some days they appear to be unbeatable while others they are below average. If they want to compete in the CCIW they need to get more consistent.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 26, 2009, 08:33:21 PM
So it Begins !!!! Carthage takes 2 from wheaton, 8-3 and 7-4. Ruffie goes all 9 innings in the 1st game- Jahne Llanas goes 7 scoreless innings and the freshman, Rohe, took his lumps in the last 2 innings of the second game. Not to worry, this Kid can throw. I love the start of the season, but When the conference clashes start-- That's what it's all about !!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2009, 08:30:41 AM
The addition of Llanas is really going to make the Redmen the favorite in the CCIW. They now have four legit starters once Krepline returns (Ruffie, Llanas, Krepline, Perez). Three of the four have been all-CCIW and I suspect that Llanas has the tools to be there this year.

All they gotta do now is catch the ball and Carthage should pile up wins.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2009, 08:39:38 AM
NOTE: Wheaton SS Brian Kolb had his 39 game hit streak stopped yesterday in the CCIW DH versus Carthage. It was the sixth longest in NCAA history. Kudos to Kolb for such an amazing accomplishment in such a quality conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 27, 2009, 07:30:13 PM
Exactly right. I think we all know they can Pitch. The Defense definitely is a, trump card, against us if it does'nt show up.

Carthage completes the sweep 13-6.  ZERO Errors for the Redmen during the 3 game series !!!!

Works for Me !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 28, 2009, 03:46:09 PM
North Central just beat Augustana 7-6 in the 1st game ot their Double header. I guess you never know.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 28, 2009, 04:52:46 PM
Augustana always plays a pretty soft spring trip schedule that just does not help them when they get to CCIW play.  Don't get me wrong, I know Augustana is a good team, but I think there's a reason why they never win the CCIW, and I think that has to do with Coach Wallace's spring trip scheduling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2009, 07:06:49 PM
NPU @ MU was postponed today due to rain. The Vikings and the Big Blue will play a doubleheader tomorrow instead down in Decatur.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2009, 01:03:15 PM
Is anybody going to get to play today? It is a beautiful and sunny 40 degree in the twin cities today, but I have a feeling that mst of the CCIW/Central region may get washed out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2009, 03:56:05 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 29, 2009, 01:03:15 PM
Is anybody going to get to play today? It is a beautiful and sunny 40 degree in the twin cities today, but I have a feeling that mst of the CCIW/Central region may get washed out.

The doubleheader between North Park and Millikin got moved again. It'll now be held today, and the scene shifts to NPU's Holmgren Athletic Complex, as the Vikings will play host to the Big Blue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 30, 2009, 07:40:35 PM
NPU could get a bunch more Home games seeing as all they have to do is, Squeeggee the field. Everyone else's field is probably a Mud Puddle. Carthages is still under 5 inches of snow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2009, 10:53:24 PM
The squeegee was obviously the only effective instrument that anyone from NPU wielded today, as the Vikings were swept by Millikin, 5-3 and 15-7.

North Park will face Carthage in Kenosha in a doubleheader on Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but inclement weather has pushed it back.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2009, 10:58:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2009, 10:53:24 PM
The squeegee was obviously the only effective instrument that anyone from NPU wielded today, as the Vikings were swept by Millikin, 5-3 and 15-7.

North Park will face Carthage in Kenosha in a doubleheader on Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but inclement weather has pushed it back.

I just can't get  true read on NPU this year. One day they look great and the next...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 30, 2009, 11:50:27 PM
This season is beginning to look real similar to the past decade....Carthage and IWU up at top looking down on everybody else.  I know it's early, but it always seems like throughout all the preseason speculation about how Wheaton or North Park is going to breakout this year or how Augustana is ready to make a title run and be the team to beat, these two teams have consistently proven to be the only ones in the title hunt at the end of the CCIW regular season (over the last 10 years, Carthage has 5 CCIW crowns and IWU has 5 CCIW crowns).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 31, 2009, 07:12:20 PM
That being the case, It has to be Recruiting and coaching. Those are the only constants.

I hate being right. The Carthage / NPU DH has been moved to North Park on wednesday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on April 01, 2009, 04:31:49 PM
recruiting.

carthage gets good talent because there arent many dI baseball schools in wisconsin. augie would be a great coach to play for and he is highly respected

iwu gets good talent because they have a great educational reputation and martel sells that very well

with that said, iwu hasnt done anything in regionals in a long time. winning a conference doesnt amount to anything if you cant win in the post-season (imho). carthage made it to the world series 2 years back and augustana had an amazing run last year in regionals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2009, 09:49:57 PM
Carthage defeated North park 13-8 today. The Redmen hit four three-run HRs in the first four innings to take control of the game.

I am a bit worried about giving up 8 runs though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 01, 2009, 11:52:39 PM
Now on a 6game losing streak, reminiscent of the last 2 years, what is going on with the pitching staff?  is there a person that will step up?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2009, 01:40:40 PM
That's what I'd like to know, too, yank. The Vikings' hitting, while good, is obviously not capable of carrying the day all that often when the starters are getting bombed every day.

The good news that came out of that loss to Carthage was that Pat Richards and Sam Corchiaro came out of the bullpen and held the Red Men scoreless over the last 5 1/3 innings of the game. Richards struck out four of the eight batters he faced, and Corchiaro didn't give up a hit in three innings of work. It was also good to see that the NPU bats didn't quit on themselves, either, as Mike Domenick and Andy Athans both tripled and homered.

However, when you've spotted your opponent a 13-2 lead, how often are you going to be able to come back?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2009, 03:43:28 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2009, 01:40:40 PM
That's what I'd like to know, too, yank. The Vikings' hitting, while good, is obviously not capable of carrying the day all that often when the starters are getting bombed every day.

The good news that came out of that loss to Carthage was that Pat Richards and Sam Corchiaro came out of the bullpen and held the Red Men scoreless over the last 5 1/3 innings of the game. Richards struck out four of the eight batters he faced, and Corchiaro didn't give up a hit in three innings of work. It was also good to see that the NPU bats didn't quit on themselves, either, as Mike Domenick and Andy Athans both tripled and homered.

However, when you've spotted your opponent a 13-2 lead, how often are you going to be able to come back?
If you look over the box score, you'll notice that the Vikings had some chances to close the gap even more, but they couldn't come up with a hit that would have plated one or two more in a couple of innings.

Also, one of the Carthage round-trippers was a "Holmgren Homer" to right-center, i.e., a can of corn in most every baseball field in D3.  The other three were no-doubters.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2009, 11:45:19 AM
Being an Viking (NPU fan, I see the frustrating record  9 and 9 from 9 and 3, so this weekend is a critial tipping point for the season.
2 at home versus Elmhurst, and Sunday's game looks to be rained out or snowed out.
I see them winning if the staff is managed and hopefully like Tony LaRussa would handle them, but if the starters are getting rocked or aren't effective early then give the ball to someone else and forget this sense of riding the "hot hand"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2009, 12:48:52 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 03, 2009, 11:45:19 AM

I see them winning if the staff is managed and hopefully like Tony LaRussa would handle them, but if the starters are getting rocked or aren't effective early then give the ball to someone else and forget this sense of riding the "hot hand"

How many D3 college coaches are as good as Tony Larussa??? None! As quick as you are to jump on a coach for maybe not using the right pitcher, I would also hope that you would give him credit when he does do the right thing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2009, 12:59:17 PM
I am impressed with his offensive prowess but he does have a pitching coach who truly must be a yes man.
I don't see this pattern with other CCIW staffs, where a starter is being spanked they are yanked!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 04, 2009, 06:25:58 PM
Ghost town?
What is going on there are 4 DH's happening since 1pm?
there is no scores on the Daily D3 baseball, really bush!!!!
No one is piping about North Central's Victory over Illinois Wesleyan, or about Wheaton taking the front end game from Augustana, that's two in 2 days....
Carthage only beating Millikin 4 to 3 and NPU winning at home 6 to 2 vs Elmhurst.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 04, 2009, 09:28:19 PM
Conference season in swing and no one interested?????

NPU takes 2 from Elmhurst, must win Sunday @ Elmhurst to keep winning ways.
Carthage takes 2 from Millikin ,  good only for NPU
Augustana comes back to take the 3rd game but 1 and 2 against Wheaton
Illinois Wesleyan wins back end soundly, but what happened in the 1st game vs North Central, who now look like the doormat of the Conference with Elmhurst.

I am gearing up for the month so lets start texting!!!!!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 04, 2009, 11:25:14 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 04, 2009, 09:28:19 PM
Conference season in swing and no one interested?????
I've uploaded stories and photos (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html) from the Viking sweep of Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 07, 2009, 10:51:57 PM
After most teams have played 6-8 CCIW games, it is not a big surprise to see Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage on top of the standings.  One thing that is surprising is seeing Illinois Wesleyan lose to North Central.  What has separated Carthage and Illinois Wesleyan in the past has been their abilities to not lose games to the bottom teams in the conference. Carthage has been able to avoid this so far through six games, Illinois Wesleyan was tripped up this past weekend.  I wonder if this game will be a difference maker later in the season....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2009, 11:26:03 PM
In what cano only be described as on oddity, Carthage faces IWU on Friday in a DH and then again in a single game on Saturday before travelling to Millikin for another Saturday CCIW game. Four conference games in two days will really test the arms of the Redmen as well as Millinkin as they face Augustana in the same set up. The late Saturday game could be a serious shootout.

April 10

*Augustana (Ill.) at Millikin (DH), 2 p.m.

*Carthage at Illinois Wesleyan (DH), 1 p.m.
*North Central at Elmhurst (DH), 1 p.m.



April 11

*Augustana (Ill.) at Millikin, 1 p.m.

*Carthage at Illinois Wesleyan, Noon

*Carthage at Millikin, 4 p.m.


*Elmhurst at North Central, Noon

*Wheaton (Ill.) at North Park (DH), Noon


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 08, 2009, 04:00:33 PM
Games are going on today
Carthage spanks NPU 12 to 1 in 7innings of the 1st side of 2.

This looked like a throw away, starting pitcher for NPU had a 15.xx era to start and gave up 8 runs in 3 innings, the 2nd target had a 12.xx era and gave up 4 in 3innings.

I'm a die-hard fan but there is no lighting to catch here, reminds me of the 62 Mets...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 08, 2009, 08:27:34 PM
Carthage swept both ends of the doubleheader with North Park today, 12-1 and 5-2.

I only got to see the end of the first game, but Carthage got a pretty nice performance from their Jr. starter in that game.  He threw the ball well.

In the second game, North Park hung with Carthage very well.  Carthage stranded runners at second and third with 1 out in the first when Turnbull made two very VERY good pitchers pitches (think low, away, outside edge of the black) on Lequia and Hughes.  A big hit there could have kept momentum going from game 1, but the NP pitcher battled well to avoid trouble.  Even in the second when Carthage put 2 on the board, the damage was minimal.  This game could have been over early, but NP hung tough.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 08, 2009, 09:17:19 PM
Carthage won the 1st game behind the pitching of  JR Scott Danly. This Kids got  a great arm !!! The second game was won by FR Andy Pucher. He went the first 8 innings and Tim Keyes cleaned up the 9th. Danly went all 7 in the 1st game ( 10 run rule ). Carthage's Big 3 - Ruffie, Jahne-Llanas, and Perez will all have a week or better of rest for IWU. I don't know for sure but I would guess that FR Eric Rohe might get the start against Milikin. The Milikin game will be played at IWU.

I'm not worried about Carthage Pitching, AT ALL !!!!

Elmhurst beat Augustana !!! 4 conference losses and they haven't faced Carthage or IWU yet. Talk about setting yourself up for a challenge.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2009, 09:30:21 PM
Yep.

I'd say Augie is almost shark bait.

But it's a long season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2009, 09:52:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2009, 09:30:21 PM
Yep.

I'd say Augie is almost shark bait.

But it's a long season.

Agree, but they have certainly dug themselves a HUGE hole to climb out of as they face Carthage and IWU in the last two weeks of the season. Gotta win them all to keep a Pool C hope alive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on April 08, 2009, 10:49:24 PM
Looks like the showdown is set for this weekend as the Millikin website is saying that IWU beat Millikin 9-5 this afternoon.  Any of you Carthage folks making your way down to Bloomington?  I sure wish I could get off work because that looks like it'll be a dandy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2009, 11:35:13 PM
This weekend could be for all the CCIW marbles... either team should be happy with two of three. Any word on IWU's injured arms returning?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 09, 2009, 08:30:59 PM
I thought I had seen that Aronson had already done some throwing this year. I could be mistaken though.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 09, 2009, 08:51:34 PM
I was. They have Aronson down in a couple of the Stat Categories, but not pitching. No recorded Stats either. Just his name and a bunch of 0's. Strange !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 09, 2009, 08:56:56 PM
This should be a great series. The DH on a Friday kills my chances to go. The Mrs.'s and myself already planned to head to Augustana the weekend after where we could see all 3 games. Ireally want to see Froelich throw, but I'm quite sure he'll go on Friday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on April 10, 2009, 12:34:33 PM
aronson hopes to throw a few against carthage. he was supposed to throw an inning against milikin, im not sure if he did or not.

joe is throwing game 2 today, with kirch going game 1. im not sure theyll get either in considering its 32 degrees and raining.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 10, 2009, 02:04:20 PM
Wheaton beats North Park on Thursday.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2009/4/9/BB_npu1.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 10, 2009, 07:54:56 PM
Thanks PG.

Carthage 3 Wesleyan 2 - Perez goes all 9 and gives up 0 earned runs. MY-YO !!!!!!

Winning this series is huge for both teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2009, 08:59:13 PM
Was the switch from DH today to single game, then DH tomorrow weather related?  According to the Carthage website, this 'eliminates' the make-up game against Millikin.  Anyone know if indeed it is eliminated, or just again postponed?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 10, 2009, 09:19:10 PM
Yes. It was all weather related. They received quite a bit of rain down south. The DH will be moved to tomorrow.

The Millikin game will be played at a later date. I don't think they'll cancel a conference game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 11, 2009, 04:27:36 PM
Carthage pulls out another one with 3 runs in the top of the 9th to win 3-2. Ruffie goes all 9 giving up only 1 earned run. A great Pitchers duel between 2 of the best pitchers in the conference, Froelich and Ruffie.

Lets get it on with game 3 !!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2009, 05:24:33 PM
The Titans better pull out game 3, or this race may be all but over. :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2009, 06:32:17 PM
IWU is up 1-0 in game 3 with an unearned run on the board.  Looking at the live stats (they aren't very live, but they'll suffice), Carthage just ran itself out of a run in the 7th when Hodges led off with a double, tried to stretch it into a triple and was thrown out.  Two batters later, Mike Petti doubled which would have tied it.

Looks like Carthage had a chance in the second as well with 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, but a 1st to C double-play ended that inning.

Tosi is on the mound for IWU and Jaehne-Llanas is on the bump for Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2009, 06:42:09 PM
Carthage did themselves 1 better in the top of the 8th.  Second and third with no one out...3,4,5 hitters coming to the plate.  Strikeout, strikeout, strikeout to end the inning without putting a ball in play.  OUCH.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2009, 07:07:15 PM
And in the 9th: K, K, K.  What a relief performance by Paul Kabbes - 2 innings, 6 Ks!! :o

Well, salvaging the 3rd game kept (slim) hopes alive for the Titans.  They're 2 back, but with Carthage having the h-to-h tie-break, they're effectively 3 back.  We're gonna need some help.

Some mighty impressive pitching by both staffs.  Average score for the weekend: Carthage 2, IWU 1.7!

[edited to correct Krabbe to Kabbes - if I'm gonna congratulate the guy, I oughta at least spell his name right! :-[]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 11, 2009, 07:09:34 PM
IWU prevails in game 3, winning 1-0. If your a fan of good hitting, this was'nt your series. If you Love Pitching, this was your series !!!!

11 Runs total for both teams in 3 games and only 7 earned !!! Incredible. Great Series !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2009, 09:39:08 PM
I'll predict the regular-season title for Carthage unless Augie sweeps them next weekend (which I just can't see).  If Augie wins 2 of 3, the season-ending series of IWU/Augie (1 in Btown, 2 in RI) MAY be meaningful, but someone else will need to whack Carthage a couple of times.

Of course, I may put more importance on regular-season titles than many.  All three are likely a lock for the conference tourney (the 3 are 1,2,3 in every major team category), and almost certainly at least two of them will make the post-season (and I'm not ruling out all three).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2009, 09:06:49 AM

 
 
 
CCIW Standings:

Carthage 10-1/ 17-5 (Should coast to the #1 seed in the CCIW Touney as long as they are not swept in Augustana next week)

Illinois Wesleyan 8-3/ 16-8 (Losing two of three to Carthage does not hurt them nearly as bad as it appears... still in a position to do some post-season damage)

Augustana 8-4/ 21-7 (in much more trouble than they appear to be... 4 CCIW losses and have not played Carthage or IWU yet)

Wheaton (Ill.) 6-6/ 13-15 (right about where they are expected to be in the CCIW)

North Park 4-7/ 13-13 (a bit disappointing as I expected more from NPU in 2009... still have a chance to make a run to the #4 seed in the CCIW tourney)

North Central 4-7/ 5-14 (What has happened to this once powerful program?)

Elmhurst 3-9/ 11-13 (a struggling program still looking for direction)

Millikin 2-8/ 8-14 (How can one program be so bad for so long?)



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2009, 01:45:39 PM
CCIW Offensive Statistics through April 9th:
Batting avg
-----------
1. Illinois Wesleyan...  .343
2. Augustana...........  .334
3. Wheaton.............  .333
4. Carthage............  .317
5. Elmhurst............  .315

Slugging pct
------------
1. Illinois Wesleyan...  .516
2. Augustana...........  .484
3. Wheaton.............  .480
4. Elmhurst............  .468
5. North Park..........  .467
NO CARTHAGE??! Wow!

On base pct
-----------
1. Carthage............  .431
2. Wheaton.............  .424
3. Illinois Wesleyan...  .423
4. Augustana...........  .407
5. North Park..........  .403

Runs scored
-----------
1. Augustana...........  223
2. Illinois Wesleyan...  191
3. North Park..........  175
4. Carthage............  169
5. Wheaton.............  168

Hits
----
1. Augustana...........  284
2. Illinois Wesleyan...  263
3. Wheaton.............  241
4. North Park..........  235
5. Carthage............  201

Runs batted in
--------------
1. Augustana...........  199
2. Illinois Wesleyan...  174
3. Wheaton.............  151
4. North Park..........  149
   Carthage............  149

Doubles
-------
1. Augustana...........   57
2. North Park..........   51
3. Illinois Wesleyan...   43
4. Elmhurst............   42
5. North Central.......   35
No Carthage??

Triples
-------
1. Wheaton.............   16
2. North Park..........   15
3. Elmhurst............   10
   Augustana...........   10
5. Carthage............    4

Home runs
---------
1. Illinois Wesleyan...   28
2. Augustana...........   17
3. North Park..........   16
   Carthage............   16 They have had many years where one player hit more than 16 HRs
5. North Central.......   15

Walks
-----
1. Carthage............  109
2. Wheaton.............  101
3. Illinois Wesleyan...   99
4. North Park..........   92
5. Augustana...........   90

Hit by pitch
------------
1. North Park..........   47
2. Augustana...........   26
   Carthage............   26
4. Wheaton.............   21
5. Illinois Wesleyan...   17

Strikeouts
----------
1. Wheaton.............  152
2. North Park..........  137
3. Millikin............  134
4. Carthage............  113
5. Elmhurst............  105

Stolen bases
------------
1. Augustana...........   49
2. Carthage............   43 When did Carthage become a running team?
3. North Park..........   40
4. Millikin............   26
5. Illinois Wesleyan...   24


I am shaocked at Carthage going for a free-swinging team that hit 2Bs and HRs to a singles team that steals bases. They are clearly getting it done on the hill this spring.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2009, 03:30:34 PM
I have a weird feeling about the Carthage/Marian DH tomorrow? Any one else? MArian is hitting .340 as a team, but has an ERA in the mid 7s. The Redmen could pile up some big offensive numbers, but cannot make any mistakes with pitch locations.


Sometimes I feel like I am having a conversation with myself on these boards :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 13, 2009, 04:25:49 PM
Ha! You're not just talking to yourself.  I'd imagine Augie will get some guys some AB's who haven't gotten a ton, but Carthage has shown that their next 3-4 guys who are not weekend starts are also quite capable.  I think the pitching Carthage puts on the hill tomorrow will be better quality than Marian's, but who knows for sure I guess.  Sure I'm bias, but I look for Carthage to win both fairly easily tomorrow
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 13, 2009, 07:51:11 PM
I agree. The Pitchings Deep. Carthage will put two Pitchers on the hill who can win, while saving Ruffie, Perez, Jahne-Llanas and probably Danly for Augustana. I'm sure there will be some playing time for some non-starters also. Augie's pretty good at making sure he's not leaving, a Diamond in the rough, on the bench. He usually get's a good look at these guys during the non-conference games.

I worry about the let down after a Big series at IWU. They did'nt hit real well down there, but you have to give credit to the IWU pitching staff also. Their pretty good.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2009, 09:48:23 AM
Can you imagine if Carthage had their entire pitching staff this year. Chris Krepline had a great junior year last year, Sam Schiessel was Minnesota's number 2 after fall ball before transferring back home, and Dave Foss was great all fall/winter. Foss will be back soon coming off an injury (not arm related), not sure about Krepline and Schiessel should be the ace of the staff next year.  Who in the heck would start weekend series if those 6 guys were all playing??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2009, 10:05:51 AM
I expected this to be a "rebuilding" year for the Redmen, but I guess I was wrong. They reloaded with arms while thier young position players develop. Makes them a dangerous team in May.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2009, 10:14:36 AM
Looks like 60 and partly sunny in the Kenosha/Racine area tomorrow! Oh wait, that's inland. Mid 40's and windy along the lake front, that's Carthage baseball in April :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2009, 10:20:23 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 14, 2009, 10:14:36 AM
Looks like 60 and partly sunny in the Kenosha/Racine area tomorrow! Oh wait, that's inland. Mid 40's and windy along the lake front, that's Carthage baseball in April :P

HA! That's Carthage baseball in late-MAY!! I could never understand how it could be 20 degrees warmer a half mile away... always so cold on the lake there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 14, 2009, 12:10:11 PM
"What has happened to this once powerful program?"

BP- That could be said about Elmhurst too.  Ron Wellman had a strong run of CCIW titles and had Elmhurst (on the map) not THAT long ago.  Now for (whatever) reason the Jays have struggled to get their program going.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 14, 2009, 06:32:34 PM
Hey Redmenfan, Who's Schiessel ? Tha't a name I haven't heard before and he's not on the roster. Are you sure he's coming to Carthage ?

Foss should be back anyday now. It does'nt look so good for Krepline. Damn Shame .
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 10:29:07 AM

CCIW

Pre-season Coaches Poll:              Current Standings:
1. Carthage                                     1. Carthage
2. IWU                                             2. IWU
3. Augustana                                  3. Augustana
4. Wheaton                                     4. Wheaton
5. North Central                              5. North Park
6. North Park                                  5. North Central (tie)

7. Elmhurst                                      7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin                                          8. Millikin

The coaches so far have been right on. It appears they know the opponents VERY well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 15, 2009, 12:17:13 PM
Big game today for NPU Vikings, tooling down to Millikin for the 3rd game of the series.
Vikings need this win if they are to move into the upper 4some.

I'd say a must win.

Looking at the past 3 years NPU  was 13 and 13,  12 and 14 and now 13 and 13, one of these times they won't lose the majority of the remaining 10games and start to inch toward the 20game win season.

Good luck today!!!!  Will be watching via Live Stats hopefully......
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 12:24:53 PM
NPU is slowly coming around from where they once were... only a few years ago they went 1-39 so .500 is a HUGE improvement. Still, I find it impossible to fathom the recruiting difficulties face by NPU's Baseball coaches after seeing their baseball field. I know that space is a big issue in the city, but facilties-wise, the rest fo the CCIW is light years ahead of them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2009, 02:43:40 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 15, 2009, 12:17:13 PM
Big game today for NPU Vikings, tooling down to Millikin for the 3rd game of the series.
Vikings need this win if they are to move into the upper 4some.

I'd say a must win.

Agreed, but North Park's 4-1, 8-4 doubleheader sweep of Wheaton the other day gives me hope. Incidentally, in light of the earlier conversation in which a former Wheaton player expressed doubts about NPU sophomore hurler Mike Giovenco, I should note that in the doubleheader's opener Giovenco threw a complete-game two-hitter, giving up only one run and walking only three batters while striking out 13. He was named last week's CCIW Co-Pitcher of the Week for that performance, the second time this season he's won Pitcher or Co-Pitcher of the Week.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 12:24:53 PM
NPU is slowly coming around from where they once were... only a few years ago they went 1-39 so .500 is a HUGE improvement.

The Vikings are really young this season. Of the twelve position players who've started at least one game for the Park this season, only four are upperclassmen (three seniors and a junior). Six are sophomores, and two are freshmen. And the five starters on the pitching staff consist of a senior, a junior, two sophomores, and a freshman.

NPU's been shaky thus far this season, but based upon the depth and performances of the underclassmen I'd say that the future looks very bright for the Park.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 12:24:53 PMStill, I find it impossible to fathom the recruiting difficulties face by NPU's Baseball coaches after seeing their baseball field. I know that space is a big issue in the city, but facilties-wise, the rest fo the CCIW is light years ahead of them.

The cramped field and short porch in right don't help recruiting, that's for sure. On the other hand, the FieldTurf does allow the Park to practice and play when other teams are unable to do so, and NPU's indoor practice space in the Helwig Rec Center (which is also FieldTurf) also gives the Vikings the opportunity to practice indoors in better conditions than their rivals. I don't think that the facilities gap of which you speak is really all that apparent anymore. Then again, I'm not the one who is out there on the road for NPU trying to compete for prospects.


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2009, 05:57:05 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 12:24:53 PM
I know that space is a big issue in the city, but facilties-wise, the rest fo the CCIW is light years ahead of them.
That's quite an assertion, in my humble opinion.  There are several baseball fields in the CCIW that are outstanding, but there are a few others with less-than-optimal surfaces -- choppy infields and/or outfields, muddy spots in fair and foul territory, old, cramped dugouts...  I wouldn't exactly call them selling points or even advantages over North Park's field.  Greg also mentions the Helwig Rec Center with its indoor facilities -- an area of field turf, a couple of batting cages, great weight room...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 09:59:08 PM
With facilities being what they are, the main selling point of a program is always the field. NPU does a great job with what they have.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2009, 10:00:30 PM
Carthage swept Marian today... now 19-5 on the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2009, 11:38:20 PM
This weekend as I see it:

Elmhurst @ Wheaton - Elmhurst would have to sweep to stay alive; if Wheaton sweeps they have virtually clinched a playoff spot.

IWU @ North Park - IWU needs a sweep to maintain a chance at home field; an NPU sweep would give a good chance at the tourney.

Millikin @ North Central - a sweep by either gives them a chance at the tourney; anything less and ho-hum.

Carthage @ Augie - obviously the big series of the weekend.  A sweep by Augie and the regular season title (and home field) is wide open.  2 wins by Augie and the race is interesting.  Less by Augie and Carthage will almost certainly coast to the title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2009, 08:16:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2009, 11:38:20 PM
This weekend as I see it:

Elmhurst @ Wheaton - Elmhurst would have to sweep to stay alive; if Wheaton sweeps they have virtually clinched a playoff spot.

IWU @ North Park - IWU needs a sweep to maintain a chance at home field; an NPU sweep would give a good chance at the tourney.

Millikin @ North Central - a sweep by either gives them a chance at the tourney; anything less and ho-hum.

Carthage @ Augie - obviously the big series of the weekend.  A sweep by Augie and the regular season title (and home field) is wide open.  2 wins by Augie and the race is interesting.  Less by Augie and Carthage will almost certainly coast to the title.

Agreed... this is a interesting weekend in which teams can make or break their seasons in the next few days.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 16, 2009, 11:39:10 AM
Redmenfan35- Schiessel is a Kenosha kid who was going to come to Carthage out of HS last year, but pitched great in Appleton winning Kenosha Bradford the state championship.  The Golden Gophers offered, and he couldn't refuse.  Had a great fall ball season there as he was named the number 2 starter for Minnesota, but transferred home for whatever personal reasons.  He's back at Carthage now actually, and should be in uniform next season. Just remember the name, will be very special if he plays.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2009, 11:49:53 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 16, 2009, 11:39:10 AM
Redmenfan35- Schiessel is a Kenosha kid who was going to come to Carthage out of HS last year, but pitched great in Appleton winning Kenosha Bradford the state championship.  The Golden Gophers offered, and he couldn't refuse.  Had a great fall ball season there as he was named the number 2 starter for Minnesota, but transferred home for whatever personal reasons.  He's back at Carthage now actually, and should be in uniform next season. Just remember the name, will be very special if he plays.

THAT'S where I know that name from. Kid is a stud pitcher and I was shocked that he was going to MN for school. He will be a great add to Carthage for next season. Carthage will be LOADED with arms next year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on April 16, 2009, 07:31:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2009, 02:43:40 PM
Incidentally, in light of the earlier conversation in which a former Wheaton player expressed doubts about NPU sophomore hurler Mike Giovenco, I should note that in the doubleheader's opener Giovenco threw a complete-game two-hitter, giving up only one run and walking only three batters while striking out 13. He was named last week's CCIW Co-Pitcher of the Week for that performance, the second time this season he's won Pitcher or Co-Pitcher of the Week.


He's proving me wrong, that's for sure.  Kudos to him.  I was at that game and he looked a ton better than last year.  His slider was very impressive. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 16, 2009, 07:37:00 PM
Thanks Redmenfan. I talked to someone who's seen him throw and they told me he's good, and that he will be attending Carthage. They say he'll be a nice addition, but remain Dubious as to wether or not he'll be the Ace of this staff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:47:11 PM
Does anyone know when the first regional rankings come out?  Interested to see how the top CCIW teams stack up against the rest of the region!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:53:53 PM
The cramped field and short porch in right don't help recruiting, that's for sure. On the other hand, the FieldTurf does allow the Park to practice and play when other teams are unable to do so, and NPU's indoor practice space in the Helwig Rec Center (which is also FieldTurf) also gives the Vikings the opportunity to practice indoors in better conditions than their rivals. I don't think that the facilities gap of which you speak is really all that apparent anymore. Then again, I'm not the one who is out there on the road for NPU trying to compete for prospects.



[/quote]

Having watched North Park a few times over the last few years, I really felt like the team struggled defensively when they went on the road.  Practicing and playing all their games on the FieldTurf, in my estimation at least, is a huge disadvantage for going on the road.  The players seem to take a much more relaxed style fielding balls and often get eaten up as a result of practicing on a faster surface in which  truer hops are almost guaranteed.  Aggressively fielding ground balls is imperative, especially playing on some of the rougher surfaces across the conference like at Millikin or Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 17, 2009, 06:54:13 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:47:11 PM
Does anyone know when the first regional rankings come out?  Interested to see how the top CCIW teams stack up against the rest of the region!!
Scheduled for 4/23.

Here are some in-region records (through 4/16). Corrections appreciated. I have not done OWPs yet.
Augustana 17-5
Beloit 13-2
Buena Vista 16-4
Carthage 15-2
Illinois Wesleyan 16-7
Luther 15-7
St. Norbert 11-6
Washington 17-8 (I think ... depends whether the UAA has an intraconference in-region waiver)
Webster 18-6

With some big games yet to be played before the rankings and having only eyeballed OWPs and signature wins/losses, here's my top six so far. Any other guesses?
1. Carthage
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Augustana
4. Webster
5. Beloit
6. Buena Vista 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 08:38:30 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:47:11 PM
Does anyone know when the first regional rankings come out?  Interested to see how the top CCIW teams stack up against the rest of the region!!

Next week... expect Carthage to either #1 or #2 in the region unless they collapse this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 08:40:15 AM
Quote from: OshDude on April 17, 2009, 06:54:13 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:47:11 PM
Does anyone know when the first regional rankings come out?  Interested to see how the top CCIW teams stack up against the rest of the region!!
Scheduled for 4/23.

Here are some in-region records (through 4/16). Corrections appreciated. I have not done OWPs yet.
Augustana 17-5
Beloit 13-2
Buena Vista 16-4
Carthage 15-2
Illinois Wesleyan 16-7
Luther 15-7
St. Norbert 11-6
Washington 17-8 (I think ... depends whether the UAA has an intraconference in-region waiver)
Webster 18-6


With some big games yet to be played before the rankings and having only eyeballed OWPs and signature wins/losses, here's my top six so far. Any other guesses?
1. Carthage
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Augustana
4. Webster
5. Beloit
6. Buena Vista 

OshDude- I think you are right on with the rankings. BV is going to take a hit as they have not played much competition to this point, but I could see them landing at #3 or 4 as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: VideoDawg on April 17, 2009, 10:24:42 AM
Just checking in from the sliac site. BigPoppa is always braggin on you guys. Looks like there are some squabbles but overall you seem to care more about the stats and players. Way to go! I guess I should start watching and commenting on CCIW games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on April 17, 2009, 12:16:24 PM
I am sure this year will shake down as any other. Carthage or IWU wins the automatic bid, with most probably carthage winning the regular season crown. 2 at large bids with augie and iwu/carthage, then the auto bid from iwu/carthage.

If IWU can get Aronson back at full health anytime, they could make some serious noise with Froelich throwing the way he is. Two big time lefties in the playoffs with some deep relief could be interesting.

Augie always seems to make it, somehow?? In the past couple of years im not sure they deserved the at large, but they proved that they should have been there last year.

Carthage this year seems like their hitting is down a little, but there pitching as always is pretty good. I was watching game 3 at out beautiful field and carthages pitcher was hitting 89. Husing like numbers. Im sure Ruffie gets it up there pretty good too.

This year more than last the #1 seed is important in the CCIW tournament. With a week 4 seed the #1 seed can relax a little and lt augie and whoever battle it out. Last year was a different story with the shocking wheaton team. They, IMO, were just as good as Augie, if not better because of their strong pitching.


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 12:22:35 PM
Quote from: perfectgame on April 17, 2009, 12:16:24 PM
I am sure this year will shake down as any other. Carthage or IWU wins the automatic bid, with most probably carthage winning the regular season crown. 2 at large bids with augie and iwu/carthage, then the auto bid from iwu/carthage.




I don't see the CCIW gettng three bids unless Augustana wins the CCIW tourney or gets very deep. They have 4 CCIW losses and have not played either Carthage or IWU yet. Carthage can put a nail in Augustana's coffin this weekend by taking two of three.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: perfectgame on April 17, 2009, 01:26:16 PM
this is a good point. but my question is this: isnt augies coach on the board who picks the at large bids?

2 years back, i waited up all night to see what team we would play in regionals. it was 1 o clock when it came out, and the #6 team in our region was Rhodes, which was, IMHO, very deserved. They were a great team with that big lefty (forgot his name) and some great bats. I went to sleep that night thinking they got a deserving at large entry. I woke up the next morning, and what do ya know, Augustana is the #6 team in the regional, setting it up for an extremely boring 3 cciw team regional. how does this happen? imagine the heartbreak for the rhodes players waking up in the morning to see you actually didnt make the playoffs. rough
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 01:49:24 PM
It is actually quite a collaboration of coaches from all over that have the final say, but I do beleive Augustana's coach is a part of that committee.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 17, 2009, 02:29:14 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 08:40:15 AM
Quote from: OshDude on April 17, 2009, 06:54:13 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2009, 11:47:11 PM
Does anyone know when the first regional rankings come out?  Interested to see how the top CCIW teams stack up against the rest of the region!!
Scheduled for 4/23.

Here are some in-region records (through 4/16). Corrections appreciated. I have not done OWPs yet.
Augustana 17-5
Beloit 13-2
Buena Vista 16-4
Carthage 15-2
Illinois Wesleyan 16-7
Luther 15-7
St. Norbert 11-6
Washington 17-8 (I think ... depends whether the UAA has an intraconference in-region waiver)
Webster 18-6


With some big games yet to be played before the rankings and having only eyeballed OWPs and signature wins/losses, here's my top six so far. Any other guesses?
1. Carthage
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Augustana
4. Webster
5. Beloit
6. Buena Vista 

OshDude- I think you are right on with the rankings. BV is going to take a hit as they have not played much competition to this point, but I could see them landing at #3 or 4 as well.
I just didn't see any great wins for BV. When BV has played decent IIAC teams, they have dropped some games. Almost every team on the BV schedule is about .500 in-region. BV has yet to play Luther, Wartburg and Simpson. Similar to Augustana's situation imo.

Beloit has that nice win over Rockford. The Bucs could have used a 3-1 series against Ripon, but despite its overall record, RC's in-region record (8-5, including the loss to LU and two to UWSP) isn't bad.

Webster has played a very good schedule. WU only has one great win, but it's against IL Wesleyan and that's one more great win than BV. And the OWP should make up for WU's +2 in-region losses. Then again those losses to Coe could hurt WU more than I think they will.

You could make a case for any order after Carthage (as long as IL Wesleyan is top-3) and I wouldn't put up too much of an argument. We'll see how important OWP is next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2009, 02:41:58 PM
Depending on this weekend, I see the Central Rankings as this way right now:
1. Carthage
2. IWU
3. Beloit
4. Buena Vista
5. Augustana
6. Webster
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 12:48:51 AM
A Saturday of sweeps in the CCIW:

NCC over Millikin: 8-6, 11-3
Wheaton over Elmhurst: 14-4, 19-9
Carthage over Augie: 6-4, 7-5
IWU over NPU: 8-0, 6-3

The results drop Augie to 4th, one-half game behind Wheaton, with NCC only two games back of them.  I suspect Augie is still an overwhelming favorite to make the conference tourney, but they'd better right the ship quickly.  If they lose tomorrow (er, later today :)), they could be in trouble, and Carthage would have almost locked up home field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2009, 10:06:37 AM
Augie still has a three game series with IWU next weeknd that could prove detrimental to their post-season chances.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 04:51:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2009, 10:06:37 AM
Augie still has a three game series with IWU next weeknd that could prove detrimental to their post-season chances.

That's in two weeks.  Next weekend Augie hopes to get well against NPU, while IWU has a big series against third place Wheaton.  (And NCC has a contender-or-pretender series against Carthage.)

As far as already determined head-to-head tie-breaks for making the tourney, Wheaton has the advantage over both Augie and NCC, while Augie has it over NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 07:45:14 PM
Following 'Sweep Saturday', we had 'Swamped Sunday':  Carthage @ Augie and IWU @ NPU both rained out; NCC v. Millikin suspended at 12-12.  Nothing posted yet (that I found) about make-up (or completion) dates.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 09:55:25 PM
CCIW.org has now added a tie for both NCC and Millikin, so apparently there are no plans to re-schedule a completion of that game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 20, 2009, 07:43:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 09:55:25 PM
CCIW.org has now added a tie for both NCC and Millikin, so apparently there are no plans to re-schedule a completion of that game.
Check out the news article on the North Central website  (http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2009/4/19/BB_0419093905.aspx) regarding the completion of the suspended game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2009, 10:40:53 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 20, 2009, 07:43:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2009, 09:55:25 PM
CCIW.org has now added a tie for both NCC and Millikin, so apparently there are no plans to re-schedule a completion of that game.
Check out the news article on the North Central website  (http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2009/4/19/BB_0419093905.aspx) regarding the completion of the suspended game.

Thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2009, 03:28:05 PM
The CCIW race (as I see it):

Carthage (remaining games: NCC-3, Elmhurst-3, Augie-1, Millikin-1): holding the tie-break on IWU, they are effectively 3 games ahead.  With that schedule I don't see how they can be caught (especially when you look at IWU's schedule).

IWU (remaining games: Wheaton-3, Augie-3, NPU-1): first looks highly unlikely, and second is not really safe.  They should stay second UNLESS either Wheaton or Augie sweeps, or if both win 2-1.  Good odds for #2, but hardly a done-deal.

Wheaton (remaining games: IWU-3, Millikin-3): holding the tie-break over Augie (and NCC, for that matter), third place seems likely.  Could take 2nd if they sweep IWU; could fall to 4th (or out) if swept by IWU.

Augie (remaining games: NPU-3, IWU-3, Carthage-1): holding the tie-break over NCC, they're a pretty safe bet for the tourney.  Depending on the two series IWU has remaining, Augie could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th.

NCC (remaining games: Carthage-3, NPU-3): since both Wheaton and Augie have the tie-break over them, they are clinging to a slender thread, which is likely to snap this weekend against the RedMen.  (Having the Millikin game scheduled for completion did them no favors - because of the tie-breaks, they are effectively 3 games out of 4th with either a tie or a win; but a loss would drop them 4 games back.)

While they may or may not be mathematically eliminated, NPU, Millikin, and Elmhurst may safely be regarded as out of the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2009, 03:32:33 PM
Nicely done... you beat me to it today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 20, 2009, 06:44:52 PM
Nice breakdown, Ypsi.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2009, 10:35:42 PM
I haven't recorded the dates of the make-up games, but my predictions for this weekend's scheduled games:

Carthage wins at least 2 (probably all three), all but locking up the regular season title and eliminating NCC from the tourney.

IWU downs Wheaton 2-1, eliminating Wheaton from contention for second, and assuring the Titans of #2 unless they're swept by Augie.

Augie sweeps NPU, giving them a shot at #2 if they can sweep the Titans, but not assuring above #4, since Wheaton finishes with Millikin. 

My guess as to the final standings for the tourney teams:

1. Carthage   18-3 (I have no idea who will beat them with their remaining schedule, but I'm not gonna predict they match 20-1 so soon after the Titans were the only team to do it!)
2. IWU   16-5
3. Wheaton 13-8 (has tie-break over Augie)
4. Augie  13-8 (I'll give 'em one of Carthage's losses!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2009, 08:28:56 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2009, 10:35:42 PM
I haven't recorded the dates of the make-up games, but my predictions for this weekend's scheduled games:

Carthage wins at least 2 (probably all three), all but locking up the regular season title and eliminating NCC from the tourney.

IWU downs Wheaton 2-1, eliminating Wheaton from contention for second, and assuring the Titans of #2 unless they're swept by Augie.

Augie sweeps NPU, giving them a shot at #2 if they can sweep the Titans, but not assuring above #4, since Wheaton finishes with Millikin. 

My guess as to the final standings for the tourney teams:

1. Carthage   18-3 (I have no idea who will beat them with their remaining schedule, but I'm not gonna predict they match 20-1 so soon after the Titans were the only team to do it!)
2. IWU   16-5
3. Wheaton 13-8 (has tie-break over Augie)
4. Augie  13-8 (I'll give 'em one of Carthage's losses!)

I agree... I see Carthage losing one or two more CCIW games just by chance. Still, they should waltz into the CCIW tourney as a #1 seed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2009, 11:02:24 AM
Carthage has rescheduled their DH with Lakeland to tomorrow, and pushed back tomorrows single game against Concordia to Thursday.  Rain on and off all day with temps in the high 30's all day today.  Tomorrow High 50's and Thursday supposedly around 70 with no rain either day
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2009, 11:08:14 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 21, 2009, 11:02:24 AM
Carthage has rescheduled their DH with Lakeland to tomorrow, and pushed back tomorrows single game against Concordia to Thursday.  Rain on and off all day with temps in the high 30's all day today.  Tomorrow High 50's and Thursday supposedly around 70 with no rain either day

Mix in three games with NCC this weekend and Carthage is facing 6 games in 5 days. Should be a great tune-up for the pitching staff and the post-season by having to throw nearly every arm available.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: SLIAC4LIFE on April 21, 2009, 04:19:23 PM
BigPoppa I posted my All-SLIAC team on the SLIAC board. I was really taken away by the stats some of these kids are putting up. You always are aware of who puts up big numbers but when you take the time to pick apart who is the head of the pack it really let's you tip your cap to the best players in the conference. NOW since I am not getting any feed back on my own board, I want to see what position players and pitchers you would play if the SLIAC and CCIW were to square off in a three game series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2009, 08:40:11 AM
Quote from: SLIAC4LIFE on April 21, 2009, 04:19:23 PM
NOW since I am not getting any feed back on my own board, I want to see what position players and pitchers you would play if the SLIAC and CCIW were to square off in a three game series.
[/b]

Since I am a bit biased, I will put the Carthage (or IWU) line-up against the your All-SLIAC team. I actually think it would be a great series. Those two CCIW school have incredible pitching and would keep the CCIW in the CCIW/SLIAC series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on April 22, 2009, 09:38:49 AM
Big Poppa do you honestly think that Carthage or IWU would be able to beat the ALL SLIAC team? I mean i know there is a certain bias here and rightfully so, but just look at the numbers of all the players that would be mixed together here.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2009, 10:11:37 AM
Numbers can be very misleading. The SLIAC is a much weaker conference than the CCIW (I think most would agree here) so the while the hitting stats look great on paper, they are not facing the same type of arms they would face in the CCIW. I am not sure of the numbers on this, but how has the SLAIC fared against the CCIW head-to-head this season and in the past? I think, because of location, many LSIAC teams play Millikin and IWU, maybe even Augustana on a yearly basis.

I am not sure if the CCIW team would win, I certianbly think they could compete with and All-SLIAC team.

A CCIW vs SLAIC all-star game would be great for the game, but too bad the timing will not allow it to happen. It would make for a great early summer showcase of talent.

I would love to see a CCIW vs. SLIAC weekend early in the season... pick a nice complex just before conference negins for both leagues and battle it out head to head with each team crossing over about 3-4 times. Top vs top and bottom vs. bottom. I am not saying it will EVER happen, but the idea is a fun one to toss around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2009, 11:46:05 AM
Geographic proximity would make a CCIW vs. NAthCon challenge much more viable than a CCIW vs. SLIAC challenge.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2009, 11:50:53 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2009, 11:46:05 AM
Geographic proximity would make a CCIW vs. NAthCon challenge much more viable than a CCIW vs. SLIAC challenge.

That makes even more sense :) I think it could be a great thing. I would love to see it at a central location where the games are the event. Games all day long with fans hanging around just to watch the others play. Are there any complexes that could host this in the region that are central to most teams?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 23, 2009, 11:16:48 AM
Wheaton takes game 1 from IWU.  http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2009/4/22/BB_iwu1.aspx?path=baseball
http://www.iwusports.com/news/2009/4/22/BB_0422091533.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2009, 11:26:59 AM
IWU losing to Wheaton all but locks up the #1 seed for Carthage. Three games up with 6 (or 7 depending on the Millikin decision) to play. Carthage face North Central and Elmhurts in the final two weekend while IWU has a series with Augustana and Wheaton ahead. Much tougher road for IWU as they face likely playoff teams and Carthage does not. I think the Carthage/Millikin will only be played if it impacts the CCIW standings. Otherwise, I think they will not play it.

Wheaton is impressing me to this point and puts a bit of a scare in me for the CCIW tourney. I do not want them to be a #4 seed and have to face their ace on day #1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on April 23, 2009, 01:10:38 PM
Augie gives up 4 in the top of the ninth last night to lose to Benedictine 9-7. The Vikings are currently 21-11 on the season. With this record it means the Vikings cannot reach the 30 win plateau in the regular season for a fifth straight season. During the four previous seasons they amassed a record of 133-48 for a .735 winning percentage. Not too bad. Hopefully they can get things together this weekend against North Park so they can give themselves an opportunity against IWU to get the #2 seed for the tournament in Kenosha. They will need to win the conference tourney to get a post season birth as there is no shot at pool C now. Too many in region losses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2009, 01:40:06 PM
Agree with you 100%. Losing to Benedictine is a bad loss in the eyes of the selection committee. The Vikes need to get hot if they are to make a deep run into the post-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2009, 09:33:27 AM
Carthage moves to 23-5 on the season after two wins this week vs. Lakeland and Concordia-Chicago. Three game series with North Central should allow the Redmen to lock up the #1 seed in the CCIW tourney.

Wheaton has a chance to do some serious damage to IWU, not only in the CCIW race, but in the Central Region as well. Could make for an interesting final weekend if Wheaton grabs another game from IWU as IWU and Augustana face off next weekend.

Carhtgae has aplethora of games on the docket this weekend... Two vs NCC at Carthage on Saturday, one at NCC on Sunday, a single 6pm game at Augustna on MOnday night followed by a home game with Auror on Tuesday. The tuesday game scares me the Redmen will return very late Monday night and have to get up a get back to work for an afternoon game following Tuesday's classes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2009, 10:28:29 AM
BP, Carthage's win yesterday was against Concordia Mequon, and they're 25-5, not 35-5. Just giving you a hard time, I always mistype as well!  :P   Weather tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's with rain on and off. Hopefully they get both games in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2009, 10:36:19 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2009, 10:28:29 AM
BP, Carthage's win yesterday was against Concordia Mequon, and they're 25-5, not 35-5. Just giving you a hard time, I always mistype as well!  :P   Weather tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's with rain on and off. Hopefully they get both games in.

Thanks... I got a bit excited as I wrote this morning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2009, 10:40:26 AM
40 hits, 25 runs, 6 homeruns, 15 pitchers, and it took 3 hours and 46 minutes. Good old non-conference baseball at its best yesterday in Mequon
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2009, 10:52:03 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 24, 2009, 10:40:26 AM
40 hits, 25 runs, 6 homeruns, 15 pitchers, and it took 3 hours and 46 minutes. Good old non-conference baseball at its best yesterday in Mequon

Whatever it takes to save your top guns for the weekend. Carthage has won six straight and nineteen of their last twenty since March 20 when they were swept in a split DH by Whitewater and Otterbein.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 24, 2009, 05:44:34 PM
Amen to that. I think I'll remind them tomorrow that it was North Central that put their 1st loss on them last year. They already put a mark on Augie and Wesleyan this year. It's definitely not the time to let up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2009, 05:53:19 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 24, 2009, 05:44:34 PM
Amen to that. I think I'll remind them tomorrow that it was North Central that put their 1st loss on them last year. They already put a mark on Augie and Wesleyan this year. It's definitely not the time to let up.

Especially when NCC still has (faint) hopes of the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 25, 2009, 09:14:46 AM
Does anyone know if Carthage will actually host the Conference tournament or will they default to the location of the #2?  That's what happened last year, isn't it?  If Wheaton could win a few more and lock up that #2 spot, Alexian Field would be a nice location for the tourney.  Nice stadium and good intermediate location for all teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 25, 2009, 11:35:58 AM
No. Last year Wesleyan won it outright. I think Carthage will want to host it. Alexian Field isn't a bad choice though as a secondary site.

The Majority of our Kids are from Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. I would hope that would factor in along with the opportunity to Generate some revenue for the local economy and the team.

Winning does have it's privledges.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 25, 2009, 06:33:34 PM
North Park took the first game from Augustana, 6-4.  The second game started and was halted due to rain in the bottom of the second inning; there will be a doubleheader Sunday starting at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2009, 01:35:07 AM
Carthage/NCC also a rainout - DH tomorrow.

Wheaton downed IWU in game one; game 2 rained out.  Since Wheaton doesn't play on Sundays, no word yet (that I've found) on make-up.

A lot of make up games and not much time - hope Mother Nature will be more cooperative! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2009, 11:24:23 AM
Wheaton is charging hard in the CCIW. WOW! Coach driggers has them playing great baseball at the right time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 26, 2009, 12:35:42 PM
Wheaton's Tough. They do everything well.

This next week is gonna be played at a, Torrid, pace. Carthage now has 5 conference games to make up and a 3 game set against Elmhurst scheduled for next week. This is going to be the ultimate test of the .
depth, of these pitching staffs !!! This should be interesting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2009, 08:55:02 PM
Thankfully, Carthage is in a great spot as they nearly have things wrapped up and can actually afford to drop a game or two this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2009, 09:15:21 PM
cciw.org has no results posted for today, and I don't feel like making the circuit of edu's.  Anyone got any results, or did everything get rained out again?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 27, 2009, 07:34:23 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2009, 09:15:21 PM
cciw.org has no results posted for today, and I don't feel like making the circuit of edu's.  Anyone got any results, or did everything get rained out again?
The North Park-Augie DH got washed out Sunday.  No word yet on make-up dates.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2009, 09:03:52 AM
With all of the potential make-up games and the CCIW tourney just 10 days away, the CCIW could be a mess this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on April 27, 2009, 03:48:17 PM
Augie vs. Carthage is cancelled for tonight, rescheduled for May 4 at 6 pm. They will travel to North Park tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 6 pm. They play a single 9 with IWU on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. Sunday will be a make up with Monmouth college at home and Monday is the Carthage game. Could make for a very high scoring affair on Monday as I assume both Carthage and Augie will use 1,2,and 3 on Fri./Sat./Sun. in order for them to be prepared for the first games of the tourney in Kenosha. I'm sure it will be a very busy week for all teams in the CCIW. Should make for an interesting Tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 28, 2009, 10:57:06 AM
Carthage plays at NC today in a doubleheader, and a single tomorrow against them as well. I know today is in naperville, tomorrow probably will have to be as well with Carthage's field under water
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2009, 11:23:17 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 28, 2009, 10:57:06 AM
Carthage plays at NC today in a doubleheader, and a single tomorrow against them as well. I know today is in naperville, tomorrow probably will have to be as well with Carthage's field under water

Carthage website has today's games being played in Kenosha.
http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/ (http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/)
I am thinking it is right as Carthage SID, Steve "The Pistol" Marovich, does not make mistakes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 28, 2009, 12:34:45 PM
You're right BP, my mistake. Its freezing here today. About 40 degrees and really windy
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2009, 12:41:55 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on April 28, 2009, 12:34:45 PM
You're right BP, my mistake. Its freezing here today. About 40 degrees and really windy

Perfect Carthage baseball weather.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2009, 07:49:11 PM
Not sure if any make-up games were scheduled for yesterday, but cciw.org has no results posted.  No games scheduled, or only washed-out games?

Nothing yet posted for today, either - any results, or did Mother Nature win again?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 28, 2009, 07:55:36 PM
Carthage Swept North Central 1-0 and 8-6
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2009, 10:31:36 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 28, 2009, 07:55:36 PM
Carthage Swept North Central 1-0 and 8-6
... and Carthage has won 21 of it last 22 games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 29, 2009, 12:30:04 AM
North Park split the make-up DH with Augie, winning the first game 4-3 and dropping the second contest, 6-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 29, 2009, 02:23:32 AM
How big could that tie turn out to be for North Central?  Augie is leaving the door wide open for North Park and/or North Central.  North Park may have just created a door for themselves into the conference tournament with the head to head tie-breaker with Augie.  Augie really needs to not get swept by Wesleyan and Carthage.  I didn't read the post on the website, but is there any chance that North Central might finish their suspended game (currently considered a tie) if the standings depend on its outcome?  And, when was the last time Augie didn't make a CCIW tourney?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 29, 2009, 09:18:19 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 29, 2009, 02:23:32 AM
And, when was the last time Augie didn't make a CCIW tourney?

Per CCIW.org 2004.  The teams that year were IWU, NCC, Carthage, and Elmhurst.  I was unaware the tournament started back in 1985. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on April 29, 2009, 10:23:04 AM
Kind of off topic, but does anybody know what the teams workout regimens are? I ask because I was at the IWU-Wheaton game last weekend and noticed some of the IWU players appeared too big for their bodies and it affected their mobility in the field and at the plate. The most noticeable was the SS Marzec.  It looked like he was just way too big for his body and couldn't move that well. I just point him out because his numbers are down and there were POY and all conference predictions for him before the season started
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 29, 2009, 02:04:32 PM
Not sure exactly what programs they follow, but they should have a certified person in strength and conditioning who coordinates all the team workouts.  If a player does choose to lift heavy and get bulky on his own, obviously that's his decision and not much can be done about that.  At Carthage, their pitching coach is a certified s&c guy, and I know the guys follow sport specific workouts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on April 29, 2009, 03:00:54 PM
Thanks REDMANFAN..That is something I have always been curious about. I wonder what each teams' programs consist of during the offseason and regular season. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 03:18:22 PM
I know that Carthage's stolen base totals have increased since Cory Everts took over the S & C portion of the program. Clearly he is doing something right with the speed aspect of the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 08:26:28 PM
Carthage defeats North Central today 12-2 to sweep the three game series and move to 26-5 on the season and 15-1 in the CCIW. NCC drops to 6-11 in league play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 29, 2009, 08:33:06 PM
One more win and Carthage clinches the CCIW
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on April 29, 2009, 09:08:57 PM
Wheaton completes the sweep of Wesleyan with a 10-5 victory today and now holds 2nd place in the CCIW holding the tie breaker against them.  Wheaton scored all 10 runs in the 7th inning highlighted by an absolute bomb from Antal that drove in 3 runs (if anyone has been the alexian, it cleared the miller light party deck beyond the left field fence by at least 30 feet). 

Now Wheaton needs to take care of Millikin, which is a lot easier said than done... especially since the series is in decatur.  Millikin has been in nearly every game it's played in the CCIW this year and if they start looking past them to the tourny, they will lose the series. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 09:49:08 PM
WOW! IWU may have just played itself out of a Pool C bid if they do not grab the Pool A... And Wheaton may have played themselves into the discussion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 09:58:24 PM
Thoughts on who Carthage will throw this weekend against Elmhurst? Three Big Guns three the last two days so I doubt they'd risk a short rest start witht the CCIW tourney next week. Do they run out their non-conference starters to eat up innings and get guys ready for the tourney? Do they co with a committee of guys all getting work?

What are the odds that Carthage and Augustana play the rained out game if it will not change the seedings?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2009, 10:08:40 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 29, 2009, 08:33:06 PM
One more win and Carthage clinches the CCIW

Unless I'm mistaken, Carthage has already clinched home field (though needs one more win to clinch a solo title) - they have 15 wins, which is the most that either Wheaton or IWU can finish with, and Carthage has the h-to-h tie break over both.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 10:18:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2009, 10:08:40 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 29, 2009, 08:33:06 PM
One more win and Carthage clinches the CCIW

Unless I'm mistaken, Carthage has already clinched home field (though needs one more win to clinch a solo title) - they have 15 wins, which is the most that either Wheaton or IWU can finish with, and Carthage has the h-to-h tie break over both.

You are correct, sir. Carthage has clinched a tie in the standings, but wins home field and the #1 seed based on head to head.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 29, 2009, 11:35:57 PM
According to IWU website, they lost 12-2 to Benedictine.  This means they will absolutely have to go to Kenosha and win the conference tournament to go to the NCAA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2009, 12:06:11 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 29, 2009, 09:58:24 PM
Thoughts on who Carthage will throw this weekend against Elmhurst? Three Big Guns three the last two days so I doubt they'd risk a short rest start witht the CCIW tourney next week. Do they run out their non-conference starters to eat up innings and get guys ready for the tourney? Do they co with a committee of guys all getting work?

What are the odds that Carthage and Augustana play the rained out game if it will not change the seedings?


[Oops - hit 'post' before I typed a post! :-[]

As far as I can tell, the make-up game would be irrelevant unless IWU sweeps Augie AND NPU sweeps NCC - in that scenario, NPU is 9-12, Augie is 9-11, but NPU has the tie-break if Augie loses to Carthage.  Though on further thought, if Augie sweeps IWU, they beat out IWU, but the game would still be necessary if Wheaton gets swept by Millikin.  With a 1-2 or 2-1 split, Augie is assured of fourth without making up the Carthage game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2009, 01:37:01 PM
CCIW STATISTICAL LEADERS- Conference games only

INDIVIDUAL BATTING
Min 2.0 AB/Team game         G   Avg  AB    R    H  RBI   2B   3B   HR   BB
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Hoffman AUGIE........  15  .459  61   13   28   18    7    0    0    7
Roberts, Drew CARTH.......   7  .423  26    4   11    1    4    0    0    2
Miller, Ryan WHEAT........  17  .423  71   21   30   20    7    0    2    8
Hofer, Zach ELMHU.........  15  .418  55   10   23   13    5    0    3    4
John Wagle AUGIE..........  15  .408  71   15   29   16    5    1    1    3
Frigo, Mike MILLI.........  14  .407  54    7   22   13    3    0    2    5
Dennison, Steve WHEAT.....  15  .397  58   18   23   19    3    2    5    5
Kevin Schuetz AUGIE.......  14  .396  53   17   21   10    3    0    2    3
Moore, Brett IWU..........  17  .394  66   18   26   11    3    1    2   10
Morrissey, Mike IWU.......  16  .390  59   13   23   10    4    0    1    8
Kolb, Brian WHEAT.........  17  .375  64   22   24   16    5    0    1   15
Myles Kurnick AUGIE.......  15  .373  51   18   19    7    3    0    1    8
Antal, Charlie WHEAT......  17  .369  65   24   24   17    4    1    5   10
Herrera, Nick ELMHU.......  16  .367  60   14   22   20    4    1    5    5
Corrigan, Michael NCC.....  13  .360  50   13   18   12    4    1    1    6

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING
Min 1.0 IP/Team game       App   ERA  W-L  Sv    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tosi, Alex IWU............   4  0.84  2-0   1  21.1  19   2   2   7  20
Pankau, Jason IWU.........   4  1.85  4-0   0  24.1  16   6   5   3  25
Pucher, Andy CARTH........   2  2.08  2-0   0  13.0   8   4   3   1   6
Ruffie, Trace CARTH.......   4  2.25  3-0   0  36.0  28  12   9   6  29
Kirchhofer IWU............   4  2.25  3-1   0  28.0  24  10   7   6  24
Jaehne-Llanas, Jord CARTH.   3  2.25  2-1   0  20.0  18   6   5   9  19
Froelich, Joe IWU.........   5  2.34  2-2   0  34.2  28  13   9  12  25
Mike Trotta AUGIE.........   5  2.45  1-1   1  33.0  30  15   9  14  25
Giovenco, Mike NPU........   5  2.91  2-2   0  34.0  26  17  11  18  44
Laird, Michael MILLI......   4  3.32  0-1   1  19.0  19   7   7   6   6
Dennison, Steve WHEAT.....   4  3.60  2-1   0  30.0  32  16  12   8  27
Bonnett, Joel NPU.........   4  3.93  1-2   0  18.1  17  20   8  14  15
Kloss, Mike NCC...........   4  4.32  3-0   0  33.1  30  17  16  15  32
Perez, Mario CARTH........   4  4.56  3-0   0  23.2  31  15  12  10  17
Urbanowicz, Tim WHEAT.....   5  4.62  4-1   0  39.0  36  27  20  26  35

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 30, 2009, 03:09:39 PM
No clue what they'll do, but I'd guess maybe the guys who threw Tuesday will throw a few innings (50-60 pitches)  on Saturday to stay sharp. Its pretty much like throwing a full bullpen session between starts.  Then Jordan, who got the win yesterday, may do the same on Sunday.  Or, I guess they could throw all the bullpen guys to get them some work in case several are needed during the tournament.  Good thing they got the games in the past 2 days because its been pouring non-stop all day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 30, 2009, 08:25:45 PM
I think your right, Redmenfan. These guys are, Workhorses. Last year they went with the 3 man rotation all through the Conference season With Husing, Ruffie and Perez. Jahne- Llanas is filling Husing's spot Bigtime !!! Jahne-Llana's and Ruffie both went 9, While Perez went 4 2/3 and Danly went 4 1/3. I'd also look for the possibility of Freshmen Andy Pucher getting a Start.

This team has a lot of Arms.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2009, 09:27:26 PM
Things look even better for Carthage next year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 30, 2009, 09:45:30 PM
Their going to need a Catcher. Both Hughes and Sobol Graduate this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2009, 09:33:56 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 30, 2009, 09:45:30 PM
Their going to need a Catcher. Both Hughes and Sobol Graduate this year.

Catchers are a dime a dozen.... JCs are full of them. Easily solved.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 01, 2009, 05:02:59 PM
I hope your right. we've had the luxury of having two of the best. Offensively and Defensively. Damn Shame they both Graduate in the same year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 01, 2009, 05:31:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2009, 09:33:56 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 30, 2009, 09:45:30 PM
Their going to need a Catcher. Both Hughes and Sobol Graduate this year.

Catchers are a dime a dozen.... JCs are full of them. Easily solved.
Big Poppa,

I am interested in your perspective on the availability of talent at the D3 level.

Listing in increasing level of scarcity, would you give me your assessment?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2009, 07:16:19 PM
I was just at the cciw.org site and the ties have been removed from NCC and Millikin's records.  Does this mean a completion of the game has been scheduled (if so, it's not on the master schedule on the site)?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2009, 08:11:20 PM
Barring rain, Wheaton @ Millikin should be over, and Augie @ IWU well underway - anyone have any reports?  (These are the only games on the master schedule - any make-up games today?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 01, 2009, 08:41:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2009, 08:11:20 PM
Barring rain, Wheaton @ Millikin should be over, and Augie @ IWU well underway - anyone have any reports?  (These are the only games on the master schedule - any make-up games today?)
Per Wheaton website, rain forced the cancellation of the single game in Decatur.  The Friday game will be made up, TBA, and the DH will be played at Illinois Wesleyan.

Live stats on the Wesleyan site show IWU up 6-3 in the 7th.  Tosi and Trotta started and are both stilll in the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2009, 10:09:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 01, 2009, 08:41:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2009, 08:11:20 PM
Barring rain, Wheaton @ Millikin should be over, and Augie @ IWU well underway - anyone have any reports?  (These are the only games on the master schedule - any make-up games today?)
Per Wheaton website, rain forced the cancellation of the single game in Decatur.  The Friday game will be made up, TBA, and the DH will be played at Illinois Wesleyan.

Live stats on the Wesleyan site show IWU up 6-3 in the 7th.  Tosi and Trotta started and are both stilll in the game.

Thanks.  IWU now reports 6-3 as the final score.  I believe that locks Augie into the 4th seed (UNLESS they lose out and NPU sweeps NCC, in which case NPU is #4).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2009, 08:02:54 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 01, 2009, 05:31:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2009, 09:33:56 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 30, 2009, 09:45:30 PM
Their going to need a Catcher. Both Hughes and Sobol Graduate this year.

Catchers are a dime a dozen.... JCs are full of them. Easily solved.
Big Poppa,

I am interested in your perspective on the availability of talent at the D3 level.

Listing in increasing level of scarcity, would you give me your assessment?

There are two ways to stock your program with talent and coaches differ on the right way.
1. Find the best high school talent and allow them to develop in your program, but be prepared to take some lumps while they figure it out (I think method has the biggest payoff as kids are more invested in a program they spend four years in).

2. Raid the local junior colleges to provide immediate answers to your problems. You often find great talent, but only get it for two years.

Most programs use a combination of the two. Personally, I liked the first method as you can find kids who are D1 or D2 talent that are overlooked and ride them to 3-4 years of wins... especially if they are pitchers (See Kitchens from Chapman as an example... overlooked in the SoCal area out of high school, but could easily be a D1/D2 arm).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2009, 05:45:41 PM
Assuming they got played (it's a beautiful spring day in Michigan, but don't know conditions there), all four first games should be over, and second games over or nearing completion.  Anyone have any news?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2009, 07:25:32 PM
I've tracked down some of the scores.

Millikin's field was unplayable, so Whaton and Millikin met in Bloomington.  They split their DH, Wheaton winning 8-5 in the first, the Blue taking the second, 5-3.

Neither Augie or IWU has results posted, but the live stats have IWU winning the second game 8-1.

Carthage had already clinched the #1 seed.  Augie finishes #4 (UNLESS NPU sweeps NCC, Augie lost the first to IWU, and Augie loses to Carthage).  IF IWU won the first game today, they finish #2; IF they lost and Wheaton wins the third game against Millikin, Wheaton is #2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2009, 09:09:49 PM
Update:

NPU and NCC split their DH today, eliminating NPU.

IWU swept Augie, 8-1 and 9-3.

The tourney is now set:

1. Carthage
2. IWU
3. Wheaton
4. Augie

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2009, 09:25:09 PM
I would assume that Carthage/Augie make-up game scheduled for next week is off as they will open CCIW tournament play versus one another and thte league game is meaningless.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on May 02, 2009, 09:46:55 PM
Mr. YPS-IWU and augie split today according to both websites
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2009, 11:06:24 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on May 02, 2009, 09:46:55 PM
Mr. YPS-IWU and augie split today according to both websites

Yikes!  You are correct, with Augie winning game one, 9-8, then the Titans winning 9-3.  So what the heck was with the Augie live stats showing a Wesleyan 8-1 victory, dated 5-2-09?! :o

That means the 2,3 seeds are still undetermined, pending the Wheaton/Millikin finale.  Though the tourney match-ups are set (Carthage/Augie; Wheaton/IWU), just affects whether IWU or Wheaton is the 'home' team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2009, 09:45:35 PM
The CCIW composite schedule has Wheaton @ Millikin (tentative) for tomorrow, but the Wheaton website says the game will not be made up (Millikin's website had nothing one way or the other that I found).  Anyone know for sure?

While traveling all the way to Decatur for a single game would be an imposition and an expense, I'm still a bit surprised since they could have tied for 2nd and had 'home' advantage over IWU in the tourney with a win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 04, 2009, 08:46:25 AM
Here's a nice article from today's Kenosha News about Carthage's season so far. Augie credits his assistants for doing a great job and says he didn't expect this much success with all the freshman and transfers that see regular playing time.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/carthage_closes_cciw_slate_181_4876939.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2009, 03:57:20 PM
NPU sophomore hurler Mike Giovenco was just named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for a league-leading third time. Here's the relevant section from the league's press release:

QuoteGiovenco, a sophomore business and economics major from River Grove, Ill., and Fenwick High School, broke a 39-year old school record in his last start in North Park's 6-4 win over Augustana on April 25. He recorded 10 strikeouts to bring his season total to 84, which eclipsed the previous record of 76 held by Gary Ridgely in 1970. Giovenco worked seven solid innings, giving up only two runs on six hits while walking two. He improved his earned run average to a team-leading 2.47.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 04, 2009, 07:29:47 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2009, 03:57:20 PM
NPU sophomore hurler Mike Giovenco was just named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for a league-leading third time. Here's the relevant section from the league's press release:


No offense to Mr. Giovenco, but these weekly awards in CCIW baseball are getting pretty stupid.

How in the world does Mark Sobol not take home hitter of the week honors this week??

He was 11-23 on the week with 4 Hrs and 14 RBIs.  He drove in Carthage's only run on Tuesday in a 1-0 win.  He drove in 2 of 3 in the first game on Saturday in a 3-1 win.  He then drove in 6 in the the next game with 2 HRs.

I'll take 11-23 and 14RBIs over 5-9 and 3 RBIs any week!!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 04, 2009, 07:46:25 PM
Good Call !!! I was thinking the same thing.

If you looked at nothing but the CCIW weekly winners, You'd think Wheaton ran away with the Conference and Carthage was somewhere around the middle of the pack.

Sobol was nothing short of Awesome this weekend. 2 of his HR's we're left center field shots that would have been out of any Park in America except Yellowstone.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 04, 2009, 10:43:49 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 04, 2009, 07:29:47 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2009, 03:57:20 PM
NPU sophomore hurler Mike Giovenco was just named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for a league-leading third time. Here's the relevant section from the league's press release:


No offense to Mr. Giovenco, but these weekly awards in CCIW baseball are getting pretty stupid.

How in the world does Mark Sobol not take home hitter of the week honors this week??

He was 11-23 on the week with 4 Hrs and 14 RBIs.  He drove in Carthage's only run on Tuesday in a 1-0 win.  He drove in 2 of 3 in the first game on Saturday in a 3-1 win.  He then drove in 6 in the the next game with 2 HRs.

I'll take 11-23 and 14RBIs over 5-9 and 3 RBIs any week!!


Giovenco was co-pitcher of the week last week (4/28), as was Miller of Wheaton.  The POW honors come out every Tuesday, so I 'm sure Sobol will get recognized for his gargantuan numbers this past week. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 05, 2009, 11:57:37 AM


Quote
Giovenco was co-pitcher of the week last week (4/28), as was Miller of Wheaton.  The POW honors come out every Tuesday, so I 'm sure Sobol will get recognized for his gargantuan numbers this past week. 


Ahhhhh, yes....You are correct.  I didn't realize that it would take someone as on the ball as Mr. Sager an entire week to post that.

My mistake.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 05, 2009, 02:17:06 PM
I don't deny that Sobol had an outstanding week, he indeed should be rewarded for that outstanding performance.  But, I don't mind the CCIW honoring a school sweeping a perennial powerhouse for the first time in history.  However, I do think at the very least Co-hitter of the week honors would have been appropriate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2009, 06:31:26 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 05, 2009, 11:57:37 AM


Quote
Giovenco was co-pitcher of the week last week (4/28), as was Miller of Wheaton.  The POW honors come out every Tuesday, so I 'm sure Sobol will get recognized for his gargantuan numbers this past week. 


Ahhhhh, yes....You are correct.  I didn't realize that it would take someone as on the ball as Mr. Sager an entire week to post that.

Remember, "just" is a relative term, temporally speaking. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 05, 2009, 10:21:23 PM
Carthage falls to Concordia-Chicago 13-6 today. The redmen drop to 29-6 for the season with CCIW tourney opening Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 07:36:50 AM
Quote from: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?
How does a team manage to play 43 games prior to their conference tournament?  Isn't there a 40-game limit?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2009, 07:51:14 AM
Quote from: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?

I don't see CUC getting a Pool C bid. They need to win the NathCON Pool A to get in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Look It Up on May 06, 2009, 02:33:40 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 07:36:50 AM
Quote from: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?
How does a team manage to play 43 games prior to their conference tournament?  Isn't there a 40-game limit?

Four of CUC's games were against Hawaii Pacific. According to the NCAA rules, those do not count toward the 40-game scheduling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 02:51:11 PM
Quote from: Look It Up on May 06, 2009, 02:33:40 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 07:36:50 AM
Quote from: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?
How does a team manage to play 43 games prior to their conference tournament?  Isn't there a 40-game limit?

Four of CUC's games were against Hawaii Pacific. According to the NCAA rules, those do not count toward the 40-game scheduling.
Thanks for the clarification, but it still is confusing.  Hawaii Pacific is NCAA DII (http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?contentID=126&siteID=1).  I guess I don't know why those games wouldn't be counted toward the limit.  If they don't count, then it would seem to follow that the team's record shouldn't reflect it, either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Look It Up on May 06, 2009, 03:20:21 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 02:51:11 PM
Quote from: Look It Up on May 06, 2009, 02:33:40 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 06, 2009, 07:36:50 AM
Quote from: d3baseballnut on May 05, 2009, 10:30:25 PM
Concordia Chicago for Pool C bid at 30-13 with win over carthage?
How does a team manage to play 43 games prior to their conference tournament?  Isn't there a 40-game limit?

Four of CUC's games were against Hawaii Pacific. According to the NCAA rules, those do not count toward the 40-game scheduling.
Thanks for the clarification, but it still is confusing.  Hawaii Pacific is NCAA DII (http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?contentID=126&siteID=1).  I guess I don't know why those games wouldn't be counted toward the limit.  If they don't count, then it would seem to follow that the team's record shouldn't reflect it, either.

It's not because Hawaii Pacific is a DII school. It has to do with scheduling teams in Hawaii or Alaska.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 11, 2009, 10:46:26 AM
Congrats to the Carthage players and Coaching staff on winning the conference tournament.  The school did a nice job setting up a PA system and the field looked great.  If the timetable stays on schedule, Carthage will be getting lights and a press box during the summer of 2010.  Here are the articles from the Kenosha News about the games from the CCIW tournament.  Some great quotes from Augie, my favorite is him comparing their game vs. IWU to a 16 inch softball game.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/cciw_champs_4924240.html
http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/red_men_to_play_for_cciw_title_4914554.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 11, 2009, 03:01:27 PM
CCIW All-Conference Honors were released this morning:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2009bballconferenceteam1.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 12, 2009, 12:07:56 PM
Here's article on paper about Carthage's regional as well as their All-CCIW performers

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/carthage_top_seed_in_ncaa3_baseball_regional_4930304.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: irish21 on May 18, 2009, 04:18:23 PM
Redmen up 3-0 in the fifth after losing the opener, 4-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augiefan on May 18, 2009, 05:05:27 PM
Carthage is now batting in the bottom of the 7th up 6-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: badgerwarhawk on May 18, 2009, 06:39:15 PM
Congrats to Carthage and good luck in Appleton.  You were the best team in the regional.   

Also my compliments to the staff at Augustana.  It's a really nice facility and the job they did keeping the field in playing condition was, all things considered, exceptional.   They were excellent hosts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 18, 2009, 08:15:45 PM
Augustana is a very nice facility. I was dissapointed that they didn't have the Lehigh picture service there and additionally I don't think the event was promoted locally very well. Attendance seemed to be limited to the individual teams and the Fans they brought.

Last year we were at the Osh Kosh Regional and it seemed to be much more an event. In retrospect, it could have been the weather also.

The Augustana staff on hand were very  Cordial. Thank You.



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 19, 2009, 09:32:08 AM
Congrats to Carthage, here's the article from the paper today

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/red_men_regional_champs_4974639.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 21, 2009, 11:05:06 AM
Absolutely no love for the CCIW in the All-American selections this year.  Can someone please explain to me how a team that makes it to the World Series and has been in the top 10 all year long only gets one player on All-American Honorable Mention? ???  Honorable mention to Ruffie but nothing for Jaehne-Llanas?  Not to say Ruffie shouldn't have been honored, All-American honors sometimes seem more like a crap shoot than a significant honor anymore.  Too much politics for me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2009, 11:20:35 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on May 21, 2009, 11:05:06 AM
Absolutely no love for the CCIW in the All-American selections this year.  Can someone please explain to me how a team that makes it to the World Series and has been in the top 10 all year long only gets one player on All-American Honorable Mention? ???  Honorable mention to Ruffie but nothing for Jaehne-Llanas?  Not to say Ruffie shouldn't have been honored, All-American honors sometimes seem more like a crap shoot than a significant honor anymore.  Too much politics for me.

Here is what I wrote yesterday on Carthage in 2009:

Looking ahead to this weekend, a few things strike me. None of these appear earth-shattering, but worth making the point nonetheless.

* Carthage's 2009 team is a much different team than they have run onto the field in the past. Carthage's teams have always been known for hitting... while this team is hitting just as well as teams in the past, their slugging percentage is down (as are HRs) over past teams. While this is clear, I think they are now a team that nips at you from 1-9 instead of waiting on a few big boppers to do the damage.

* Since they do not have the power numbers of years' past, they have elevated thier running game by setting new school records for stolen bases

* They have always had a STUD arm that was their go-to-guy and earned all the awards. This year it is much different as they have finally developed a complete staff that is not top-heavy, but solid from top to bottom.


* Finally, they are a better overall team this year. In the past the big boppers lead the way and made up for the scrappers that did not always get it done. This season, they do not have a single superstar that jumps out at you, but they are more solid from top to bottom both on the hill and at the plate.


FYI: I had a vote in this process and once you look at the numbers of the guys that were nominated, you are amazed. Sometimes you are even more amazed at who is left out considering the seasons they had, but it is a tough process and I can assure you that politics does not play a part in the D3Baseball.com teams at all. If it did, I would turn in Carthage's starting line-up as my vote... the reality is much different.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 21, 2009, 11:46:51 AM
I understand.  I thought to myself earlier that this seems to be the most cohesive team I've seen from Carthage, and sometimes those teams that don't have the most spectacular statistical leaders are the teams that just get it done when it needs to be done.  That's what I see out of Carthage this year, and I'll be cheering for them.  Go Carthage, do the CCIW proud.  But I still think that some other players from the CCIW deserved All-American honors. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2009, 12:04:25 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on May 21, 2009, 11:46:51 AM
I understand.  ...  But I still think that some other players from the CCIW deserved All-American honors. ;)

So did I, but I voted for a few CCIW guys and they did not get enough votes from the national panel to earn it. This process does a great job of having voters from all over the nation be a part of it so it truly gets past the "regional biases" that often play into the awards. I cannot argue with a single player that made it as they all deserved to be a part of that team.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2009, 12:06:31 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on May 21, 2009, 11:05:06 AM
Absolutely no love for the CCIW in the All-American selections this year.  Can someone please explain to me how a team that makes it to the World Series and has been in the top 10 all year long only gets one player on All-American Honorable Mention? ???  Honorable mention to Ruffie but nothing for Jaehne-Llanas?  Not to say Ruffie shouldn't have been honored, All-American honors sometimes seem more like a crap shoot than a significant honor anymore.  Too much politics for me.

It will be interesting to compare it to the ABCA All-American team that is announced tonight at the All-American banquet. I am guessing there will be a few differences, but I would bet that both Hedman and Bayer get player of the year honors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 21, 2009, 08:07:24 PM
All Good points Big Poppa. I was in attendance for many of the Carthage games this year and for overall Clutch play Offense and Defense, I really would have like to have seen Mike Hughes mentioned somewhere in the All American mix. That young Man did it all !!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2009, 08:59:29 PM
Hughes certainly got MY vote.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 21, 2009, 09:36:51 PM
I figured as much.

It has been a strange year with, different Heroes, every game. We expected the Pitching, but the timely Hitting has come as a, real pleasant, surprise.

Here's to Keeping It Going !!!! GO CARTHAGE !!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2009, 09:29:50 AM
Here's todays preview from the paper. Lot of good thoughts from Augie, and says Perez will be starting today.  He also started against Wooster in Florida.  Go Redmen!!

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/looking_for_paydirt_4996170.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: irish21 on May 22, 2009, 02:00:07 PM
Tough loss. Patrick was at the game and said the Redmen wasted a lot of scoring opportunities. Long way to go to come out of the losers bracket but nothing's impossible!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 22, 2009, 03:11:52 PM
Hopefully they can get on a little roll and just take it one game at a time now.  I hope Llanas gets the job done tomorrow and Ruffie Sunday (assuming they get a win tomorrow)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2009, 08:16:46 PM
Congratulations to Carthage on a GREAT season that lasted one day too short.

A question: since Carthage and Chapman were eliminated on the same day, but Carthage's game was earlier, do the RedMen finish 4th, tied for 3rd, or does the CWS not officially recognize any spots other than winner and runner-up?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 26, 2009, 12:32:18 PM
Congrats to Carthage on a great season and their best finish since 1997.  Sure would've been interesting to see what would've happened had Ruffie been able to go, although pitching certainly wasn't the problem.  Here's a few articles from todays papers in Kenosha and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Augie states that he didn't believe in this team, but he sure does now.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/tommies_gun_down_carthage_5017594.html

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/statecolleges/46021862.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 26, 2009, 01:14:05 PM
Here's the article from the appleton paper.  Augie's thoughts on Senior Chris Shannon are classic and hilarious!!

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090526/APC0206/905260564/1009/APC02
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 26, 2009, 09:12:19 PM
Chris was Kinda Augie's, whipping Boy, this year. I think he has one every year. Last year it was Tony Gragnani. He only picks on guys that can take it though, and Chris was great. He's really gonna be missed next year. A really fun Kid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 27, 2009, 08:30:17 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 26, 2009, 09:12:19 PM
Chris was Kinda Augie's, whipping Boy, this year. I think he has one every year. Last year it was Tony Gragnani. He only picks on guys that can take it though, and Chris was great. He's really gonna be missed next year. A really fun Kid.

HA! Very true! I was that guy for Augie in '96 :) The guy rode me all day long. It drove me crazy, but it made me a better player.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 27, 2009, 09:28:46 AM
Wow, after being in Appleton Saturday-Monday, I never would've guessed Wooster would lose 2 in a row. I suppose that's why they play the games!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 27, 2009, 09:55:10 PM
I thought Wooster had it Hands down. It makes you realize just how close we were. A break here or a break there. Trace Ruffie able to go. Who knows ?!!! It was alot of fun, though !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 10, 2009, 04:36:04 PM
North Park's RHP Mike Giovenco was selected by Minnesota in the 26th round.  Congratulations, Mike!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on June 10, 2009, 08:44:23 PM
A former IWU player (left after his freshman year, 2005-06) who was drafted by the White Sox...

http://blogs.southtownstar.com/whitesox/2009/06/local-player-drafted-by-sox.html

http://ucsbgauchos.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/cummings_robby01.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on June 10, 2009, 09:29:09 PM
Congrats Mike !!! Go get em' Big Kid !!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 11, 2009, 01:55:59 PM
Congratulations, Mike! Here's hoping we'll get the chance to see you play for the Twinkies at the Cell someday soon!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on June 12, 2009, 12:51:16 PM
Were there any other kids drafted from the CCIW? Congrats to Mike.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: badgerwarhawk on June 29, 2009, 11:27:13 AM
Carthage College baseball player dies unexpectedly....

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/


My condolences to the family.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 29, 2009, 06:20:27 PM
Quote from: badgerwarhawk on June 29, 2009, 11:27:13 AM
Carthage College baseball player dies unexpectedly....

http://www.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/baseball/


My condolences to the family.
What a tragic loss of a young athlete.  My sympathies to the family and the Carthage team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on June 30, 2009, 08:46:06 PM
A Great Kid, with a fantastic arm. I wish I knew God's plans. Sam transferred to Carthage last semester and was ineligible to play this past year. I don't think he intended to play at Carthage next year either.  I heard he  was looking at going to MATC next year.

God Bless the Schissel, Family. I can't even imagine the pain they're going through now. Things like this aren't supposed to happen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 07, 2009, 12:32:01 PM
Carthage has released its schedule for Spring Break in Port Charlotte, Florida and the following weekend in Minneapoils at the Metrodome. Looks like another tough pre-CCIW schedule.

St. Thomas, Kean, Wooster (twice) and Heidelberg!! WOW! Nothing like finding out what you have right from the start. An 8-4 start would be great for the Redmen in 2010 as they head into the CCIW.

3/6/2010  Sat.   Heidelberg University (#14)
3/6/2010  Sat.   Ohio Wesleyan University
3/7/2010  Sun.   Medaille College
3/8/2010  Mon.   The College of Wooster (#2)
3/9/2010  Tue.   Juniata College
3/10/2010  Wed.   Muskingum College  
3/11/2010  Thu.   Ohio Wesleyan University  
3/12/2010  Fri.   The College of Wooster  (#2)
3/13/2010  Sat.   Kean University  (#6)
3/20/2010  Sat.   University of St. Thomas 7:30 p.m.  Metrodome  (#1)
3/21/2010  Sun.   Saint John's University (DH) 2 p.m.  Metrodome  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on December 07, 2009, 07:40:50 PM
It sure seemed to work last year. Confidence or Humility, you need both to make it to Grand Chute in May. Pitching and Power Hitting took a Big Hit in the off season. The defense can only get better. I love the fact that they'll be seeing St. Thomas, Wooster, Kean and Heidlberg, before the Conference games hit. If they go 2-2, and compete in any game they drop, it could be another great year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on December 08, 2009, 05:23:49 AM
Three in-region games? Meh ... good teams, for sure. Not much risk, though. Nine games until the bullets fly. They could return 2-10 (2-1 in-region) and still be in great shape.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 08, 2009, 09:39:35 AM
Quote from: OshDude on December 08, 2009, 05:23:49 AM
Three in-region games? Meh ... good teams, for sure. Not much risk, though. Nine games until the bullets fly. They could return 2-10 (2-1 in-region) and still be in great shape.

I was not thinking of in-region games, just looking at the level of competition they are facing prior to conference opening. Carthage should know exactly what they have by the time the CCIW rolls around:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 21, 2009, 02:14:31 PM
Anyone have updates on the following Carthage questions:

1. Where did Carthage pitcher Jordan Jaehne-Llanas end up? From what I have heard from a VERY reliable source he is no longer enrolled at Carthage.

2. Trace Ruffie? What is his status for the upcoming season? Is he returning from his injury or not in 2010?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 21, 2009, 02:17:12 PM
FYI: Carthage has 5 of its first 10 games against teams ranked in the top 14 spots of the Collegiate Baseball poll.

Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll

Rank    School Name    '09 Final Record    Point Totals
1. St. Thomas (MN)    41-13    263
2. Wooster (OH)    43-11    259 twice!!
3. Eastern Conn. St.    39-8    253
4. Chapman (CA)    32-17    249
5. Carthage (WI)    38-9    247
6. Kean (NJ)    39-11    245
7. Salisbury (MD)    38-8    242
8. Shenandoah (VA)    38-10    239
9.Trinity (CT)    33-7    236
10. Pomona-Pitzer (CA)    37-7    233
11. Keystone (PA)    40-6    232
12. Southern Maine    36-9    229
13. Farmingdale St. (NY)    30-17    224
14. Heidelberg (OH)    37-9    222
15. Wisc.-Whitewater    30-19    220
16. Rensselaer Poly. Inst. (NY)    37-13    216
17. SUNY Cortland (NY)    31-14    214
18. George Fox (OR)    36-11    211
19. Marietta (OH)    32-17    207
20. Cal. Lutheran (CA)    32-11    206
21. St. Olaf (MN)    32-14    203
22. Adrian (MI)    33-11    201
23. Ithaca (NY)    29-10    196
24. Wisc.-Stevens Point    31-16    195
25. Pacific Lutheran (WA)    31-9    194
26. Saint Joseph's (ME)    31-13    192
27. Rose-Hulman (IN)    32-14    188
28. Anderson (IN)    22-18    186
29. Franklin (IN)    31-11    182
30. Johns Hopkins (MD)   28-16   179
Other Top Teams: Beloit, WI (28-9), Christopher Newport, VA (26-13-2), College of New Jersey (27-18-1), Texas-Tyler (39-12), Nebraska Wesleyan (28-13), St. Scholastica, MN (36-7), Wheaton, MA (30-12), William Paterson, NJ (24-17), Washington & Jefferson, PA (35-14), Franklin & Marshall, PA (24-14-1).
Source: Collegiate Baseball newspaper
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on January 19, 2010, 03:41:04 PM
Big Poppa any predictions on the CCIW this season? or your preseason poll?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 19, 2010, 03:50:48 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on January 19, 2010, 03:41:04 PM
Big Poppa any predictions on the CCIW this season? or your preseason poll?

Big Poppa's Preseason Poll:

01 Wooster
02 St. Thomas
03 Salisbury
04 UW-Stevens Point
05 Eastern Connecticut
06 Heidelberg
07 Pomona-Pitzer
08 Chapman
09 Kean
10 Trinity (Conn.)
11 Adrian
12 Texas-Tyler
13 Southern Maine
14 Carthage
15 Wheaton (Mass.)
16 Millsaps
17 Keystone
18 Shenandoah
19 Cortland State
20 Marietta
21 Illinois Wesleyan
22 St. Olaf
23 Cal Lutheran
24 St. Scholastica
25 Beloit
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lordcharles on January 19, 2010, 06:29:38 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 19, 2010, 03:50:48 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on January 19, 2010, 03:41:04 PM
Big Poppa any predictions on the CCIW this season? or your preseason poll?

Big Poppa's Preseason Poll:

01 Wooster
02 St. Thomas
03 Salisbury
04 UW-Stevens Point
05 Eastern Connecticut
06 Heidelberg
07 Pomona-Pitzer
08 Chapman
09 Kean
10 Trinity (Conn.)
11 Adrian
12 Texas-Tyler
13 Southern Maine
14 Carthage
15 Wheaton (Mass.)
16 Millsaps
17 Keystone
18 Shenandoah
19 Cortland State
20 Marietta
21 Illinois Wesleyan
22 St. Olaf
23 Cal Lutheran
24 St. Scholastica
25 Beloit


No Farmingdale ?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 20, 2010, 07:48:47 AM
No Farmingdale is correct.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 29, 2010, 02:23:49 PM
BigPoppa's Pre-season CCIW poll: (followed by my regional ranking). My regional poll can be found on the central region rankings thread.

1. Carthage (1)
2. Wheaton (3)
3. IWU (4)
4. Augustana (10)
5. North Park (18)
6. Elmhurst (21)
7. Millikin (26)
8. North Central (30)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on February 06, 2010, 09:55:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 21, 2009, 02:14:31 PM
Anyone have updates on the following Carthage questions:

1. Where did Carthage pitcher Jordan Jaehne-Llanas end up? From what I have heard from a VERY reliable source he is no longer enrolled at Carthage.

2. Trace Ruffie? What is his status for the upcoming season? Is he returning from his injury or not in 2010?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on February 06, 2010, 10:00:05 PM
Yeah Big Poppa, you heard correct. Jahne Llanas isn't with Carthage. He was just recently picked up by an Independent League Team.

Ruffie is working hard to get back. His, Official status, is still up in the Air. The Kid has alot of Heart. I would'nt be surprised to see him back this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 10, 2010, 02:15:17 PM
I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2010, 03:17:13 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 10, 2010, 02:15:17 PM
I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

I can certainly see your point, as I feel the same way. Still, I think they have enough coming back to hold on until the younger guys can grab the reigns.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 10, 2010, 06:19:39 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 10, 2010, 02:15:17 PM
I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

In the same respect, I don't see IWU being a contender this year unless they get some major input from freshman/transfers and the returners put up some career numbers.

Could this be the year Augie is able to take home a CCIW title?  Or maybe even have Wheaton sneak in there?  A lot of question marks this year.  I think the field is as wide open as it has been in a long while.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on February 10, 2010, 06:20:26 PM
Coaches poll is out:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2010preseasonpoll.php

Carthage gets the nod.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2010, 07:23:47 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

Wheaton returns five all-cciw players. They made a nice run last year and I persoanlly have them as the #3 team in the region right now behind Carthage and Beloit. If 2008 First-team all-American shortstop Brian Kolb can return anywhere near his 2008 numbers, they will be tough to beat.

Kulavic is a wild-card this year. He is the one player that can really tip the balance of the league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 10, 2010, 07:59:21 PM
In all honesty, I think Wheaton should be ahead of IWU in that coaches poll.   I do see why IWU would get the benefit of the doubt over them....but I just don't see IWU finishing ahead of Wheaton this year (who would have ever thought those words would be spoken?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2010, 08:03:05 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 10, 2010, 07:59:21 PM
In all honesty, I think Wheaton should be ahead of IWU in that coaches poll.   I do see why IWU would get the benefit of the doubt over them....but I just don't see IWU finishing ahead of Wheaton this year (who would have ever thought those words would be spoken?)

My top 4 in the CCIW:
1. Carthage
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. Augustana

After that, it gets a bit messy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on February 10, 2010, 09:57:36 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 10, 2010, 02:15:17 PM
I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on February 10, 2010, 10:21:10 PM
Exactly Right. Huge losses during the off season. Look out for a few players, Namely, Will Hodges and Drew Roberts to pick up alot of the Offensive slack.They were a very young team last year, defensively they should be stronger this year.

I know in the profiles the last 2 years they had Mario Perez at 280lbs. He was actually 305 his freshmen year and 310 last year. This year he's 260. Expect something special.

Eric Rohe is going to be great. An extremely advanced Baseball Mind, with tons of talent.

Scott Danly is one year removed from, Tommy John, Surgery. He threw well last year. Look for him to be better this year.

Wildcards include Chris Krepline ( former all CCIW Pitcher ) and Trace Ruffie.

I wouldn't write them off yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

I think you are giving Coach Driggers too much credit for the voting.  This Wheaton team lost two relief pitchers and a back up catcher.  Only one, Ed McCaskey, made a significant impact. Not to mention, they have a few players who transfered or coming off injury.

With a second place finish in the conference tournament, I think the Coach's voting has them right where they should be, maybe even a spot too low. 

Carthage is the clear cut favorite...regardless of who they lost.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on February 10, 2010, 11:24:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

I think you are giving Coach Driggers too much credit for the voting.  This Wheaton team lost two relief pitchers and a back up catcher.  Only one, Ed McCaskey, made a significant impact. Not to mention, they have a few players who transfered or coming off injury.

With a second place finish in the conference tournament, I think the Coach's voting has them right where they should be, maybe even a spot too low. 

Carthage is the clear cut favorite...regardless of who they lost.
Coach Driggers will turn the program around.

They will be a regional contender by his 5th season (2013).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 11:44:01 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 10, 2010, 11:24:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

I think you are giving Coach Driggers too much credit for the voting.  This Wheaton team lost two relief pitchers and a back up catcher.  Only one, Ed McCaskey, made a significant impact. Not to mention, they have a few players who transfered or coming off injury.

With a second place finish in the conference tournament, I think the Coach's voting has them right where they should be, maybe even a spot too low. 

Carthage is the clear cut favorite...regardless of who they lost.
Coach Driggers will turn the program around.

They will be a regional contender by his 5th season (2013).

I agree.

But the coach's vote seems to put them as a regional contender THIS year.  Wheaton only finished at 23-19, which I believe was their first winning season since dinosaurs ruled the earth! :o  They are obviously up and coming; I was just surprised that they were THAT far ahead of Augie, and nearly beat out IWU.  Several players had 'career years' - shouldn't we see if they were flukes or legit?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:46:11 PM
In 2008, several players had career years, not so much last year.  In fact, many returners had worse years than the year before.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 12:12:49 AM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:46:11 PM
In 2008, several players had career years, not so much last year.  In fact, many returners had worse years than the year before.

You're right; I had a brain fart. :-[

2008 was their break-through year.  2009 confirmed that it was not a fluke, but didn't really show any further progress.  2010 is the year to show they are now a legitimate competitor, as opposed to just the 'best of the rest'.  While I have enough respect for Coach Driggers to believe they likely WILL be a legitimate competitor, they haven't shown it to me on the field YET.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 11, 2010, 12:34:44 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 12:12:49 AM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:46:11 PM
In 2008, several players had career years, not so much last year.  In fact, many returners had worse years than the year before.

You're right; I had a brain fart. :-[

2008 was their break-through year.  2009 confirmed that it was not a fluke, but didn't really show any further progress.  2010 is the year to show they are now a legitimate competitor, as opposed to just the 'best of the rest'.  While I have enough respect for Coach Driggers to believe they likely WILL be a legitimate competitor, they haven't shown it to me on the field YET.

Not trying to stir up too much trouble, and only this years games will truly confirm if Wheaton is as good as believed but, how does 4-1 last year against IWU not show you anything?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 02:23:34 AM
Quote from: The General Public on February 11, 2010, 12:34:44 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 12:12:49 AM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:46:11 PM
In 2008, several players had career years, not so much last year.  In fact, many returners had worse years than the year before.

You're right; I had a brain fart. :-[

2008 was their break-through year.  2009 confirmed that it was not a fluke, but didn't really show any further progress.  2010 is the year to show they are now a legitimate competitor, as opposed to just the 'best of the rest'.  While I have enough respect for Coach Driggers to believe they likely WILL be a legitimate competitor, they haven't shown it to me on the field YET.

Not trying to stir up too much trouble, and only this years games will truly confirm if Wheaton is as good as believed but, how does 4-1 last year against IWU not show you anything?

You gotta understand perspective.  To me, that said more (bad) about IWU than it did (good) about Wheaton! :P

Wheaton's record overall or conference still didn't speak 'true contender' to me.  It spoke 'vastly better than their historical norm' and 'up and coming', but not necessarily (yet) a true contender.  I have little doubt they're coming, but not yet convinced they are there quite yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 07:52:33 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on February 10, 2010, 10:21:10 PM
Exactly Right. Huge losses during the off season. Look out for a few players, Namely, Will Hodges and Drew Roberts to pick up alot of the Offensive slack.They were a very young team last year, defensively they should be stronger this year.

Scott Danly is one year removed from, Tommy John, Surgery. He threw well last year. Look for him to be better this year.

Wildcards include Chris Krepline ( former all CCIW Pitcher ) and Trace Ruffie.
Is it me, or ar too many Carthage pitchers having Tommy John surgery? Krepline, Ruffie and Danly have all had it the last three years. It seems a bit high to me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 07:55:29 AM
As for Wheaton being a regional contender, the Central region is the weakest of the 8 regions and any contender in the CCIW is a contender in the region. The SLIAC, IIAC and MWC are just starting to come around as power conferences and still need a few years to produce multiple contenders (except for the MWC which has Beloit and St. Norbert in addition to Ripon).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 11, 2010, 08:38:26 AM
I have to say that the talent in the conference, especially on the mound, seems to be a little down this year.  I think just because of that you could see a surprise team like Wheaton pop up and take down the title. I can't remember a year in which there we so many question marks and wasn't a clear cut favorite to win the championship. Carthage would have to be that favorite based purely on last years results, but even their talent level seems down quite a bit in relation to past years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 09:08:19 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 11, 2010, 08:38:26 AM
I have to say that the talent in the conference, especially on the mound, seems to be a little down this year.  I think just because of that you could see a surprise team like Wheaton pop up and take down the title. I can't remember a year in which there we so many question marks and wasn't a clear cut favorite to win the championship. Carthage would have to be that favorite based purely on last years results, but even their talent level seems down quite a bit in relation to past years.

Agreed. It will certainly be a fun season to watch in the CCIW. A 14-6 record could win the title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 07:55:29 AM
As for Wheaton being a regional contender, the Central region is the weakest of the 8 regions and any contender in the CCIW is a contender in the region. The SLIAC, IIAC and MWC are just starting to come around as power conferences and still need a few years to produce multiple contenders (except for the MWC which has Beloit and St. Norbert in addition to Ripon).

The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season. 

The IIAC has had multiple contenders for years. 
IIAC Regional appearances in the past 10 years:  Wartburg, Luther, Coe, and Simpson. 
CCIW Regional appearances in the past 10 years: Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana
IIAC vs CCIW (Head to Head) in the regional competition in past 10 years IIAC 6  CCIW 7
IIAC World Series Appearances: Wartburg 2
CCIW World Series Appearances: Carthage 3, ILL Wesleyan 1

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region. 
( Sarcasm!! )
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season. 

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 11, 2010, 12:30:06 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 07:52:33 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on February 10, 2010, 10:21:10 PM
Exactly Right. Huge losses during the off season. Look out for a few players, Namely, Will Hodges and Drew Roberts to pick up alot of the Offensive slack.They were a very young team last year, defensively they should be stronger this year.

Scott Danly is one year removed from, Tommy John, Surgery. He threw well last year. Look for him to be better this year.

Wildcards include Chris Krepline ( former all CCIW Pitcher ) and Trace Ruffie.
Is it me, or ar too many Carthage pitchers having Tommy John surgery? Krepline, Ruffie and Danly have all had it the last three years. It seems a bit high to me.

That does seem a bit much. I have noticed higher pitch counts from Carthage pitchers which may be one reason (also the colder weather), however, 3 pitchers needing surgery is no where near the arm trouble that Wheaton pitchers acquired over the Bobby Elder era.  I have heard from a player that from the years 2006-2009 only one pitcher played out their career and did not have significant arm trouble. Multiple cases of Tommy John (3), shoulder surgeries (3), or necessary extended rest (too many to count) was needed. From the stories I have heard, there should have been laws against the pitching  routines at Wheaton during his time.

This (his ability to manage arms), along with his recruiting ability, is the main reason Coach Driggers puts Wheaton in a much better position to succeed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 12:42:20 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM

The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season.  

The IIAC has had multiple contenders for years.  
IIAC Regional appearances in the past 10 years:  Wartburg, Luther, Coe, and Simpson.  
CCIW Regional appearances in the past 10 years: Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana
IIAC vs CCIW (Head to Head) in the regional competition in past 10 years IIAC 6  CCIW 7
IIAC World Series Appearances: Wartburg 2
CCIW World Series Appearances: Carthage 3, ILL Wesleyan 1

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  
( Sarcasm!! )

When I spoke of multiple teams copntending, I was speaking of more than one in a season. Every conference, regardless of strength, is given one team into the NCAA regional every season. The fact that the IIAC has 4 teams and the CCIW has 3 no relavence.

The CCIW has has 3 seasons since 2000 with multiple bids including 2007 when they had 3 teams get in. The IIAC and SLIAC have had none.  The MWC has done it twice with two bids in 2003 and 2009.

Since 2000:
CCIW: 14 NCAA bids
IIAC: 10 NCAA bids
MWC: 12 NCAA bids
SLIAC: 10 NCAA bids
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2010, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season. 

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.

You're reading my mind, Mr. B. In fact, I can imagine Luke Johnson printing copies of that post and distributing it to his players.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 03:58:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2010, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season. 

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.

You're reading my mind, Mr. B. In fact, I can imagine Luke Johnson printing copies of that post and distributing it to his players.

Do coaches really put up random quotes from a message board as bulletin board material? Serious question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:00:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2010, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season.  

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.

You're reading my mind, Mr. B. In fact, I can imagine Luke Johnson printing copies of that post and distributing it to his players.
If I know Luke Johnson, and I do, he already has copies in the hands of his players. He and I spent some time together coaching in the Dominican Republic and I was very impressed with his professionalism and ability to motivate players. It seems that someone else has just motivated the "pitiful half" of the CCIW for the coaches.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:03:15 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 03:58:45 PM

Do coaches really put up random quotes from a message board as bulletin board material? Serious question.

I never did simply for the fact that they were usually right. We were terrible and I never wanted my players to see that others thought that about them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 04:05:42 PM
What are everyone's preseason predictions for CCIW Player and Pitcher of the year?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:10:52 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 04:05:42 PM
What are everyone's preseason predictions for CCIW Player and Pitcher of the year?

Pitcher of the Year- Mike Giovenco (NPU)
Player of the Year- Brian Kolb (Wheaton)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 04:14:21 PM
IF he is 100% recovered, don't count out Kulavic.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 04:19:15 PM
Pitcher of the Year-Danly from Carthage (I've heard he is 100% healthy and has absolutely filthy stuff)
Player of the Year-Kolb

However, if I have a sleeper pick it would have to be Moore from IWU....got to see him play a couple times and just remember his quick hands at the plate and glovework in the field-reminded me a lot of Kolb.   I think he has the potential to put up one of the best overall 2B years in CCIW history (offense and defense)- very comparable to Kolb's 2008 year at SS.  Again, a shot in the dark, but what's the fun in just guessing the favorites?? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: upandin on February 11, 2010, 04:29:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 12:42:20 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM

The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season.  

The IIAC has had multiple contenders for years.  
IIAC Regional appearances in the past 10 years:  Wartburg, Luther, Coe, and Simpson.  
CCIW Regional appearances in the past 10 years: Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana
IIAC vs CCIW (Head to Head) in the regional competition in past 10 years IIAC 6  CCIW 7
IIAC World Series Appearances: Wartburg 2
CCIW World Series Appearances: Carthage 3, ILL Wesleyan 1

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  
( Sarcasm!! )

When I spoke of multiple teams copntending, I was speaking of more than one in a season. Every conference, regardless of strength, is given one team into the NCAA regional every season. The fact that the IIAC has 4 teams and the CCIW has 3 no relavence.

The CCIW has has 3 seasons since 2000 with multiple bids including 2007 when they had 3 teams get in. The IIAC and SLIAC have had none.  The MWC has done it twice with two bids in 2003 and 2009.

Since 2000:
CCIW: 14 NCAA bids
IIAC: 10 NCAA bids
MWC: 12 NCAA bids
SLIAC: 10 NCAA bids

That is my point.  How do teams get into the regional?  In-region record!  Rack up wins VS poop conference teams.  That is how you get in.   It is all about W-L record for pool B and Pool C bids........other conferences just need more crappy teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 11, 2010, 04:44:38 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on February 11, 2010, 04:05:42 PM
What are everyone's preseason predictions for CCIW Player and Pitcher of the year?

My stance on POY's is the same as my stance on MVP's in major sports. I think you have to be on a winning team in order to be considered for this award.  That might be unfair for some, but I dont think you can be considered if your play didn't lead to a winning team.  Along with that, Pitcher of the Year has a better chance of coming from a good team because their win-loss record naturally will be better.

With that being said, I looked at the three teams I thought were going to be at the top in Carthage, IWU, and Wheaton. My picks:

Pitcher of the Year: Tim Urbanowicz (Wheaton)- Has been extremely competitive since freshman year. Should win a lot of games for this Wheaton team.

Player of the Year: Kraig Ladd (IWU)- Two time 1st Team All CCIW.  A little concerned that his numbers dropped quite a bit from his Sophomore to Unior year, but how can you argue with a two time 1st teamer.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Captain Morgan on February 11, 2010, 05:20:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)


Dang!
I warned you Upandin. You called out BigPoppa and he brought down the thunder. Poppa, great work on the stats. I think we can all see that the CCIW is on top followed by the Iowans, the Midwesterners and the St. Louis guys in last.

If I could give karma, I would Poppa. I am sure someone will reward you for your quick strike on Upandin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on February 11, 2010, 05:35:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)



BP,
     I see what you are trying to show here, but as you know it all depends on what teams they played.  Elmhurst may have had a winning record, but if they did it by playing the Helen Keller institute of Technology it doesn't mean all that much.  I would be much more interested in how each conference has done against each other.  (Like you already requested under the Central region board)

As far as Upandin,
  In Region wins are nice, but strength of schedule does a lot more for your team.  St Norbert got in last year because of strength of schedule not by beating up on horrible teams.  Bethany Lutheran did not get in the midwest due to poor strength of schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 07:28:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:00:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2010, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season.  

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.

You're reading my mind, Mr. B. In fact, I can imagine Luke Johnson printing copies of that post and distributing it to his players.
If I know Luke Johnson, and I do, he already has copies in the hands of his players. He and I spent some time together coaching in the Dominican Republic and I was very impressed with his professionalism and ability to motivate players. It seems that someone else has just motivated the "pitiful half" of the CCIW for the coaches.
I can't say for sure whether Coach Johnson (or any other coach, for that matter) pays any attention to postings (whether informed missives or random ramblings) on the boards.  Luke Johnson is just too busy getting the team ready for play -- the Vikings' season starts in just two weeks!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 11, 2010, 08:06:07 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 07:28:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:00:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2010, 03:50:43 PM
Quote from: mr_b on February 11, 2010, 12:09:21 PM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:06:06 AM
The CCIW is top heavy with 3 teams.  Everyone knows that.  Carthage, Ill Wesleyan, and Augustana are the only teams with an above average recent history.  Wheaton has had 2 good seasons and is trying to prove they can join the party.  Those teams rack up wins VS the poo at the bottom on the conference. The other teams.....  North Park, North Central, Millikin, Elmhurst........Pitiful at best.   None of these teams have had a winning season since 04.  And before 08, I'm not sure when Wheaton last had a winning season.  

Judging by these numbers I can see why people think the CCIW "dominates" all other conferences in the Central Region.  ( Sarcasm!! )
Great bulletin board material, there.

You're reading my mind, Mr. B. In fact, I can imagine Luke Johnson printing copies of that post and distributing it to his players.
If I know Luke Johnson, and I do, he already has copies in the hands of his players. He and I spent some time together coaching in the Dominican Republic and I was very impressed with his professionalism and ability to motivate players. It seems that someone else has just motivated the "pitiful half" of the CCIW for the coaches.
I can't say for sure whether Coach Johnson (or any other coach, for that matter) pays any attention to postings (whether informed missives or random ramblings) on the boards.  Luke Johnson is just too busy getting the team ready for play -- the Vikings' season starts in just two weeks!

I can't confirm whether or not any (or all) baseball coaches read the message board, but we have clear evidence that at least some of the football and basketball coaches do - they've referred directly to posts in their postgame interviews! ;)

And, against the right opponent, that sure looks like bulletin-board material to me! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:49:06 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)



Don't worry Captain, Pappa has a long way to go to bring thunder on me. And Im not digging any holes. I love stats that paint us a better picture.  But his stats need to look a little deeper.  Turtlehead is right it depends on who they play.  For example: ( and Im sure the other conferences are similar but ) the CCIW schools you gave us stats on:   Elmhurst 9-8 non conference record is actually 3-7 vs teams over .500, North Park 10-7 was actually also 3-7 vs teams over .500, North Central was 4-12 vs teams over .500, and Millican was 3-5 vs teams over .500.  That is a grand total of a 13-31 non conference record vs teams over .500.  So that .453 just dropped to .295 (just slightly below average)

Sorry Turtlehead you make good points but, St. Norbert had a 21-12 in region record (#2 in the Central Region) Bethany wasn't even in the top 6 of the Midwest.  Here is another one for you:  Webster was 24-0 in SLIAC but their In-region record was not good enough to get them in.  In region record is huge, opponents winning percentage is important as well.  In fact they even look at opponents /opponents winning percentage. 

My point this whole time is sometimes people don't see reality when they are a fan.  Look around and give some people credit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 07:53:28 AM
Which IIAC team would you like me to give credit to? I have said from the start that it is a conference full of closely-balanced teams which, sadly, allows them to pound each other and not creep up the rankings (much like the American Southwest Conference). They need a stand-out team or two in order to give the conference some national recognition.

FYI: I have pushed for years for a Central Region showdown with a centralized venue hosting a weekend of games (3-4 per team) where all the four conferences top teams are matched up as are the bottom teams and middle teams head-to-head to help shake out the contenders from the pretenders.

Buena Vista could be the sleeper of the region. If they had not stumbled last season, they could have made a nice run to Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 12, 2010, 08:32:05 AM
I am a little confused why we are spending so much time lookin up the stats of the struggling teams in these conferences.  Baseball, for the most part, is judged by the teams at the top. No one talked about the American League East not being a good division a few years ago when they had the Blue Jays, Orioles, and the then Devil Rays taking their lumps.  They focus on the American League East being one of it not the best division in baseball because of the Yankees and Red Sox.

With that being said, sports are cyclical. Teams, especially college teams, have ups and downs.  It is the nature of the student athlete.  What is most important it to look at how consistent programs stay over time.  Not one or two individual seasons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 12, 2010, 08:32:47 AM
Quote from: upandin on February 11, 2010, 11:49:06 PM
I love stats that paint us a better picture.  But his stats need to look a little deeper.  Turtlehead is right it depends on who they play.  For example: ( and Im sure the other conferences are similar but ) the CCIW schools you gave us stats on:   Elmhurst 9-8 non conference record is actually 3-7 vs teams over .500, North Park 10-7 was actually also 3-7 vs teams over .500, North Central was 4-12 vs teams over .500, and Millican was 3-5 vs teams over .500.  That is a grand total of a 13-31 non conference record vs teams over .500.  So that .453 just dropped to .295 (just slightly below average)
Now just run the same analysis for the other conferences so we can compare apples to apples.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on February 12, 2010, 11:22:57 AM
Some 2009 IIAC vs. CCIW matchups I still had on the blog. I condensed most schedules of noncontenders late in the year, leaving just in-region records.

Loras went 1-1 vs. Millikin
Loras 0-1 vs. Augustana
Buena Vista 1-0 vs. Elmhurst
Wartburg 0-1 vs. IWU
Simpson 1-1 vs. Wheaton

2009 in-region records (http://midwestbaseball.wordpress.com/2009-midwest-in-region-records/)(OWP's (http://midwestbaseball.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/owp-some-final-numbers/) ... I only did final OWP's for the top 18 C/MW Pool A/C teams. For comparison's sake, St. Thomas's and UWW's were .559, St. Norbert's was .543, St. Olaf's was .552,  Stevens Point's was .569, Wash U was .491, Oshkosh's was .557, CSS's was .535 ... IWU's led the two regions):
Buena Vista 22-13
Central 15-17
Coe 22-13 (.532)
Cornell 7-21
Dubuque 5-25
Loras 20-13 (.500)
Luther 27-13 (.478)
Simpson 17-21
Wartburg 23-18

Augustana 19-15
Carthage 28-3 (.547)
Elmhurst 7-22
IWU 22-15 (.572)
Millikin 8-17-1
North Central 10-17-1
North Park 15-17
Wheaton 21-16 (.541)

Hope that helps you guys come closer in determining indeterminacy. My vote goes to the CCIW. Whatever that's worth. I'm glad we don't have MIAC vs. WIAC scrums on the Midwest boards.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 11:26:26 AM
Thanks, OshDude. Your blog is probably the best resource out there for any information on the Midwest and Central Regions. Keep up the great work.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 11:27:43 AM
Big Poppa's Pre-season All-CCIW Team
1st team:
*P-    Mike Giovenco (NPU) 1st team in 2009
   Tim Urbanowicz (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
   Mario Perez (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

C-    Mike Corrigan (North Central) 2nd team in 2009

1B-    Dave Hoffman (Augustana) 1st team in 2009

2B-   Brett Moore (IWU) 1st team in 2009

SS-    Brian Kolb (Wheaton) 2nd team in 2009

3B-    Zach Hofer (Elmhurst) 1st team in 2009- Co-Player of the year in 2009

OF-    Kraig Ladd (IWU) 1st team in 2008 and 2009
                Charlie Antal (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
                Will Hodges (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

•   One note of interest. The CCIW's top three arms may come from a trio of guys returning from 2009 injuries. Carthage's Chris Krepline and Scott Danly, as well as IWU's Brett Kulavic, are all highly decorated pitchers who return in 2010 and could very well the three best pitchers in the CCIW if they return to form.
•   Secondly, looking over the all-CCIW team form 2009, it is often hard to predict the next season as the CCIW gives awards for infielders as a whole and NOT by position. For example, two second basemen were named to the 2009 first team and no shortstop. In some cases, I took the liberty of choosing one player over another based on what I expect to see from them in 2010.
I know I left a few deserving guys out, but it provides for good debate.

Pitcher of the Year- Mike Giovenco (North Park)
Co-Players of the Year- Kraig Ladd (IWU) and Zach Hofer (Elmhurst)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 12, 2010, 12:04:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 11:27:43 AM
Big Poppa's Pre-season All-CCIW Team
1st team:
*P-    Mike Giovenco (NPU) 1st team in 2009
   Tim Urbanowicz (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
   Mario Perez (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

C-    Mike Corrigan (North Central) 2nd team in 2009

1B-    Dave Hoffman (Augustana) 1st team in 2009

2B-   Brett Moore (IWU) 1st team in 2009

SS-    Brian Kolb (Wheaton) 2nd team in 2009

3B-    Zach Hofer (Elmhurst) 1st team in 2009- Co-Player of the year in 2009

OF-    Kraig Ladd (IWU) 1st team in 2008 and 2009
                Charlie Antal (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
                Will Hodges (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

Pitcher of the Year- Mike Giovenco (North Park)
Co-Players of the Year- Kraig Ladd (IWU) and Zach Hofer (Elmhurst)


I like your picks for the most part BP.  I would substitute Danly for Perez and then as you stated, Kulavic is kind of a wild card with his injury, however if he is back to 2008 form then there's no reason for him to not make All CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 12, 2010, 02:59:55 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 11:27:43 AM
Big Poppa's Pre-season All-CCIW Team
1st team:
*P-    Mike Giovenco (NPU) 1st team in 2009
   Tim Urbanowicz (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
   Mario Perez (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

C-    Mike Corrigan (North Central) 2nd team in 2009

1B-    Dave Hoffman (Augustana) 1st team in 2009

2B-   Brett Moore (IWU) 1st team in 2009

SS-    Brian Kolb (Wheaton) 2nd team in 2009

3B-    Zach Hofer (Elmhurst) 1st team in 2009- Co-Player of the year in 2009

OF-    Kraig Ladd (IWU) 1st team in 2008 and 2009
                Charlie Antal (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
                Will Hodges (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

•   One note of interest. The CCIW's top three arms may come from a trio of guys returning from 2009 injuries. Carthage's Chris Krepline and Scott Danly, as well as IWU's Brett Kulavic, are all highly decorated pitchers who return in 2010 and could very well the three best pitchers in the CCIW if they return to form.
•   Secondly, looking over the all-CCIW team form 2009, it is often hard to predict the next season as the CCIW gives awards for infielders as a whole and NOT by position. For example, two second basemen were named to the 2009 first team and no shortstop. In some cases, I took the liberty of choosing one player over another based on what I expect to see from them in 2010.
I know I left a few deserving guys out, but it provides for good debate.

Pitcher of the Year- Mike Giovenco (North Park)
Co-Players of the Year- Kraig Ladd (IWU) and Zach Hofer (Elmhurst)


BP, you change your POY pick?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 03:15:02 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 12, 2010, 02:59:55 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 12, 2010, 11:27:43 AM
Big Poppa's Pre-season All-CCIW Team
1st team:
*P-    Mike Giovenco (NPU) 1st team in 2009
   Tim Urbanowicz (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
   Mario Perez (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

C-    Mike Corrigan (North Central) 2nd team in 2009

1B-    Dave Hoffman (Augustana) 1st team in 2009

2B-   Brett Moore (IWU) 1st team in 2009

SS-    Brian Kolb (Wheaton) 2nd team in 2009

3B-    Zach Hofer (Elmhurst) 1st team in 2009- Co-Player of the year in 2009

OF-    Kraig Ladd (IWU) 1st team in 2008 and 2009
                Charlie Antal (Wheaton) 1st team in 2009
                Will Hodges (Carthage) 2nd team in 2009

•   One note of interest. The CCIW's top three arms may come from a trio of guys returning from 2009 injuries. Carthage's Chris Krepline and Scott Danly, as well as IWU's Brett Kulavic, are all highly decorated pitchers who return in 2010 and could very well the three best pitchers in the CCIW if they return to form.
•   Secondly, looking over the all-CCIW team form 2009, it is often hard to predict the next season as the CCIW gives awards for infielders as a whole and NOT by position. For example, two second basemen were named to the 2009 first team and no shortstop. In some cases, I took the liberty of choosing one player over another based on what I expect to see from them in 2010.
I know I left a few deserving guys out, but it provides for good debate.

Pitcher of the Year- Mike Giovenco (North Park)
Co-Players of the Year- Kraig Ladd (IWU) and Zach Hofer (Elmhurst)


BP, you change your POY pick?
I did change my pick. After some research, I figured that Ladd had a better chance to win the player of the year over Kolb and  I felt I needed to give a co-player nod to Hofer as he was co-player of the year in 2009.

Maybe a tri-player of the year split with Kolb, Ladd and Hofer:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 12, 2010, 06:55:17 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on February 11, 2010, 05:35:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)



BP,
     I see what you are trying to show here, but as you know it all depends on what teams they played.  Elmhurst may have had a winning record, but if they did it by playing the Helen Keller institute of Technology it doesn't mean all that much.  I would be much more interested in how each conference has done against each other.  (Like you already requested under the Central region board)

Here's the head-to-head results of the four Central Region leagues over the past four seasons, including both regular-season and post-season results (the numbers listed here are wins, not runs):

2009: CCIW 6, IIAC 3
2008: CCIW 2, IIAC 1
2007: CCIW 5, IIAC 2
2006: IIAC 8, CCIW 7
TOTAL: CCIW 20, IIAC 14

2009: CCIW 4, MWC 3
2008: CCIW 10, MWC 1
2007: CCIW 8, MWC 1
2006: CCIW 6, MWC 0
TOTAL: CCIW 28, MWC 5

2009: CCIW 8, SLIAC 3
2008: SLIAC 4, CCIW 3
2007: SLIAC 12, CCIW 7
2006: CCIW 9, SLIAC 3
TOTAL: CCIW 27, SLIAC 22

2009: MWC 7, IIAC 5
2008: IIAC 8, MWC 3
2007: IIAC 3, MWC 0
2006: IIAC 11, MWC 6
TOTAL: IIAC 27, MWC 16

2009: IIAC 5, SLIAC 4
2008: IIAC 6, SLIAC 1
2007: IIAC 7, SLIAC 4
2006: IIAC 6, SLIAC 1
TOTAL: IIAC 24, SLIAC 10

2009: MWC 4, SLIAC 2
2008: MWC 3, SLIAC 1
2007: MWC 10, SLIAC 1
2006: MWC 8, SLIAC 2
TOTAL: MWC 25, SLIAC 6

Central Region standings, 2006-09
league  W   L   PCT
CCIW  75  41  .647
IIAC  65  46  .586
MWC  46  61  .430
SLIAC  38  76  .333

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2010, 07:36:41 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 12, 2010, 06:55:17 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on February 11, 2010, 05:35:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
Upandin... you are digging yourself a hole here. Are you trying to say that the lower half of the CCIW is not as good as the lower half of the IIAC, SLIAC and MWC?

OUT OF CONFERENCE RECORDS IN 2009:
*Elmhurst, the last place team in the CCIW in 2009, was 9-8 out of league. Northpark was 10-7, North Central was 4-12 and Millikin was 6-8. That puts the CCIW's bottom four at 29-35 (.453%).

The IIAC's bottom four were 24-38 (.387%)

The MWC's bottom four were 25-40 (.384%)

The SLIAC's bottom four were 14-30 (.318%)



BP,
     I see what you are trying to show here, but as you know it all depends on what teams they played.  Elmhurst may have had a winning record, but if they did it by playing the Helen Keller institute of Technology it doesn't mean all that much.  I would be much more interested in how each conference has done against each other.  (Like you already requested under the Central region board)

Here's the head-to-head results of the four Central Region leagues over the past four seasons, including both regular-season and post-season results (the numbers listed here are wins, not runs):

2009: CCIW 6, IIAC 3
2008: CCIW 2, IIAC 1
2007: CCIW 5, IIAC 2
2006: IIAC 8, CCIW 7
TOTAL: CCIW 20, IIAC 14

2009: CCIW 4, MWC 3
2008: CCIW 10, MWC 1
2007: CCIW 8, MWC 1
2006: CCIW 6, MWC 0
TOTAL: CCIW 28, MWC 5

2009: CCIW 8, SLIAC 3
2008: SLIAC 4, CCIW 3
2007: SLIAC 12, CCIW 7
2006: CCIW 9, SLIAC 3
TOTAL: CCIW 27, SLIAC 22

2009: MWC 7, IIAC 5
2008: IIAC 8, MWC 3
2007: IIAC 3, MWC 0
2006: IIAC 11, MWC 6
TOTAL: IIAC 27, MWC 16

2009: IIAC 5, SLIAC 4
2008: IIAC 6, SLIAC 1
2007: IIAC 7, SLIAC 4
2006: IIAC 6, SLIAC 1
TOTAL: IIAC 24, SLIAC 10

2009: MWC 4, SLIAC 2
2008: MWC 3, SLIAC 1
2007: MWC 10, SLIAC 1
2006: MWC 8, SLIAC 2
TOTAL: MWC 25, SLIAC 6

Central Region standings, 2006-09
league  W   L   PCT
CCIW  75  41  .647
IIAC  65  46  .586
MWC  46  61  .430
SLIAC  38  76  .333


Fantastic research, Greg. Thanks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 24, 2010, 05:34:35 PM
Here's an NPU news release about nine Vikings signing with summer leagues for 2010. (http://www.northpark.edu/Athletics/Viking-News/Current-News/Baseball-announces-summer-commitments.aspx)

What are your thoughts about NCAA-sanctioned summer leagues, Big Poppa and others? Are there mostly scholarship-level players in these leagues, or are there a lot of D3 players mixed in on the rosters? Is nine players an unusually high number to come from a CCIW program (or any D3 program in general)? Are these leagues really that important to player development, or is this just a PR stab at something that sounds prestigious? Are summer leagues pushed by the coaches of the three schools that have dominated CCIW baseball over the past decade? In short, is this something upon which the North Park program can hang its hat?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 24, 2010, 06:19:25 PM
Anytime a kid can play in an NCAA summer league, it is a great thing for the player. It is certainly a step above playing for thier hometown summer team. For NPU to have 9 guys is unheard of and great for their program. In the past, I have sent players to the Northwoods League and the Hawaiian League and they generally fare quite well. Depending on the league, some are stacked with D1 guys. The Alaskan League and Cape Cod League are ususally full of D1 prospects, but recent successes by D3 players in the Northwoods League has really opened the door for many more players.

Beware... many successful D3 players in summer league suddenly transfer over the summer to play with a coach from the summer at his college program in D1 or D2 or some gravitate towards their teammates' programs. As a coach, it is great to have your players in a high caliber league for the summer as the added reps will only translate to better number the next spring. Plus, it gives your own program exposure. Kudos to Coach Luke Johnson for landing nine of his best on summer rosters already.

Looking at which leagues they are playing in, Giovenco is playing the Northwoods League (Rochester Honkers)which is by far the best of the leagues the NPU guys are signed to. He deserves to play in that league. As a coach, my biggest concern would be making sure he does not get scooped up by another program which happens a lot in the Northwoods League.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 24, 2010, 06:55:38 PM
Thanks for your response, BP. Good stuff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 25, 2010, 01:55:30 PM
A lot of players get placed in NCAA sanctioned summer leagues based on personal relationships that their coaches have with teams/coaches in those summer leagues.  Not saying that is the case with the North Park players, but Coach Johnson does seem to be out there in a lot of different baseball circles.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on February 25, 2010, 02:12:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 24, 2010, 06:19:25 PM
Beware... many successful D3 players in summer league suddenly transfer over the summer to play with a coach from the summer at his college program in D1 or D2 or some gravitate towards their teammates' programs.

As a coach, my biggest concern would be making sure he does not get scooped up by another program which happens a lot in the Northwoods League.
Which was the case for former UW-Oshkosh pitcher Ryan Demmin.  He went and pitched with Mankato of the Northwoods League this past summer, and is now playing his senior year for D2 Minneota-Mankato.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 25, 2010, 02:22:09 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 25, 2010, 02:12:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 24, 2010, 06:19:25 PM
Beware... many successful D3 players in summer league suddenly transfer over the summer to play with a coach from the summer at his college program in D1 or D2 or some gravitate towards their teammates' programs.

As a coach, my biggest concern would be making sure he does not get scooped up by another program which happens a lot in the Northwoods League.
Which was the case for former UW-Oshkosh pitcher Ryan Demmin.  He went and pitched with Mankato of the Northwoods League this past summer, and is now playing his senior year for D2 Minneota-Mankato.

My point exactly. Sadly, it is more common than you think. Chapman lost a stud shortstop(Ryan Cavan) a few years ago after UC-Santa Barbara swooped in after a great summer in the Northwoods League.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 25, 2010, 02:41:45 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 25, 2010, 02:22:09 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 25, 2010, 02:12:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 24, 2010, 06:19:25 PM
Beware... many successful D3 players in summer league suddenly transfer over the summer to play with a coach from the summer at his college program in D1 or D2 or some gravitate towards their teammates' programs.

As a coach, my biggest concern would be making sure he does not get scooped up by another program which happens a lot in the Northwoods League.
Which was the case for former UW-Oshkosh pitcher Ryan Demmin.  He went and pitched with Mankato of the Northwoods League this past summer, and is now playing his senior year for D2 Minneota-Mankato.

My point exactly. Sadly, it is more common than you think. Chapman lost a stud shortstop(Ryan Cavan) a few years ago after UC-Santa Barbara swooped in after a great summer in the Northwoods League.

If I am not mistaken, IWU Rob Cummings ended up transferring to UC Santa Barbara.  I am not sure if that was the result of a summer league situation, but how else would an Illinois kid end up there .  Anyone have any info on that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on February 25, 2010, 04:30:31 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 25, 2010, 02:41:45 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 25, 2010, 02:22:09 PM
Quote from: cubs on February 25, 2010, 02:12:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 24, 2010, 06:19:25 PM
Beware... many successful D3 players in summer league suddenly transfer over the summer to play with a coach from the summer at his college program in D1 or D2 or some gravitate towards their teammates' programs.

As a coach, my biggest concern would be making sure he does not get scooped up by another program which happens a lot in the Northwoods League.
Which was the case for former UW-Oshkosh pitcher Ryan Demmin.  He went and pitched with Mankato of the Northwoods League this past summer, and is now playing his senior year for D2 Minneota-Mankato.

My point exactly. Sadly, it is more common than you think. Chapman lost a stud shortstop(Ryan Cavan) a few years ago after UC-Santa Barbara swooped in after a great summer in the Northwoods League.

If I am not mistaken, IWU Rob Cummings ended up transferring to UC Santa Barbara.  I am not sure if that was the result of a summer league situation, but how else would an Illinois kid end up there .  Anyone have any info on that?

Funny you should mention that CCIWfan, I was having a discussion just the other evening with some old CCIW ballplayers and he was brought up. In fact, Cummings had an amazing summer with a highly-touted team following his freshman stint at IWU and baseball people talk, as we all know, and he was recruited by UCSB and other schools. So, yes, summer league situations can play a role in a ballplayer's playing future. (you have to have the talent of course!)  ;D

Ps I have the cciw being a 3 team race all year
1. Carthage
2. IWU
3. Wheaton

Pitcher of the Year- Urbanowicz
Player-  Ladd
Player of the Year
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 25, 2010, 04:39:24 PM
Dirty Jersey- Welcome to the boards. Do you have a CCIW team close to your heart?

It appears that you also agree with many of us that Augustana just lost too much to graduation to be a big factor in the CCIW this year. I still think they will make some noise and get into the CCIW post-season... unless North Park steps up and steals that last spot from them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 25, 2010, 07:25:33 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 25, 2010, 02:41:45 PM
If I am not mistaken, IWU Rob Cummings ended up transferring to UC Santa Barbara.  I am not sure if that was the result of a summer league situation, but how else would an Illinois kid end up there .  Anyone have any info on that?

Wow I didn't realize that....if they had Cummings on the team in '07 that went 20-1 in conference, then things might have been a little different story in the postseason.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on February 25, 2010, 07:48:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 25, 2010, 04:39:24 PM
Dirty Jersey- Welcome to the boards. Do you have a CCIW team close to your heart?

It appears that you also agree with many of us that Augustana just lost too much to graduation to be a big factor in the CCIW this year. I still think they will make some noise and get into the CCIW post-season... unless North Park steps up and steals that last spot from them.

Thanks for the warm welcome BigPoppa,

I have been an avid CCIW baseball/basketball fan for several years now and have finally decided to join the discussion rather than sit on the sidelines.

Agreed, I see Augie winning the exciting battle for the postseason over NPU. I have the greatest respect for North Park's coaching staff, however, they always seem to be a hitter away from competing in the bigger games.

Also, in regards to Cummings, I think that loss was enormous because that was the season they went 20-1 in CCIW with Martel using designated-hitter-by-committee who hit like .250! >:(  With his bat I am sure they would've made more postseason noise. 

BigPoppa, my heart resides in Bloomington with the GreenWeenies, however, no biases will be on display on this board
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RichK on February 25, 2010, 08:51:44 PM
Augustana starts the season winning both games of a double header against Grove City.  First game 6-5, second game 7-2.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 26, 2010, 10:35:11 PM
North Park opened the 2010 campaign with a 6-3 victory over Atlanta Christian.  Mike Giovenco struck out 12, walked two, and allowed one earned run over seven innings.  Joel Bonnett held the Chargers scoreless over the final two innings for the save.  Angel Carrasco and Mike Domenick each hit two-run homers.

The Vikings travel to Sewanee, TN, to play the University of the South on Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 26, 2010, 10:51:20 PM
CCIW is off to a nice start...:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 27, 2010, 12:03:44 AM
Link to Vikings' schedule and game stories:

Click here (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2010, 09:13:24 PM
North Park staved off a comeback attempt by host Sewanee to win today, 13-10. NPU (2-0) now has a week off before the Vikings commence their Florida trip next Saturday against Southern Vermont in Fort Myers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on February 28, 2010, 09:21:51 PM
Great to see the CCIW off to a such a nice start.....hopefully we can keep the ball rolling with the rest of the squads starting their seasons up here real soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 03:27:58 PM
DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on March 02, 2010, 04:33:49 PM
CCIWFAN.

I have heard from people close to the program that they feel that the Titans will be very good this season.
With 6 senior pitchers, they will have alot of experience. It sounds like they might be starting 3 Freshman
players. I think they have 4-5 returning All-Conference players. Some people say that Brett Moore or Craig
Ladd could be in the running for CCIW player of the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 03:27:58 PM
DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 02, 2010, 09:28:30 PM
Sounds like we have a couple of Titan insiders on here now.  It's always great to have in depth insight from each team from people who are very close and familiar with their respective programs ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 11:17:44 PM
Pretty exciting weekend is coming up.  While a couple of the teams have already started their seasons, many will begin this weekend as Elmhurst, Wheaton, Carthage, IWU, and North Central will all start up.  I can't remember a season in which there was so much uncertainty going into it. I will say that over the last few weeks the one reoccurring theme I have seen is a continued backing of the Wheaton Thunder.

This team can definitely score runs. As a team they hit .326 last year and opponents had a 7.41 ERA against them.  The one thing I notice, however, is that this team really struggled outside of conference play.  They went 13-7 in conference and 10-12 outside of conference.  This leads me to believe they do not have a lot of depth on the mound.  I then worry that if this team doesn't win the automatic bid from the CCIW, will they have the quality of wins outside the conference to merit and at large bid.  Time will tell, however, does anyone know if they're pitching staff has improved with any big additions, because I am not sure a 6.5 team ERA will get it done in this conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2010, 08:58:55 AM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Me too, but it ALWAYS comes down to pitching. That alone could keep IWU hanging around until the end.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2010, 10:04:36 AM
Big win for Augie yesterday as they knocked off #23 Beloit 6-5 in 10 innings. This moves the Vikings to 5-0 on the season and I can truly see them getting some national recognition next week if this type of play continues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on March 03, 2010, 10:35:24 AM
IWU opens this weekend against Depaw in Greencastle Indiana. Rumor has it that if the weather is bad, they may move it to St Louis. This might include a game with Wash U.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BearBaseball on March 03, 2010, 10:57:32 AM
Any word on the chances of the STL situation? I haven't heard anything about that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on March 03, 2010, 12:12:16 PM
Looks like the weather wont be too bad in Indiana. Possibility of light rain on Saturday. I know Coach Martel is anxious to get started.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on March 03, 2010, 12:57:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 03, 2010, 08:58:55 AM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Me too, but it ALWAYS comes down to pitching. That alone could keep IWU hanging around until the end.

Agreed. Pitching is the reason Carthage has been going deeper into postseason play than any other team in the CCIW for several years now. Granted they had horses not depth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on March 04, 2010, 12:25:50 PM
From the IWU website...

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2010/3/3/BB_0303101054.aspx?path=baseball


Covers who is in the mix at each position.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RichK on March 04, 2010, 01:58:41 PM
Agustana finishes their spring trip 7-0 and end it beating Rose Hulman 12-9 this morning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 04, 2010, 02:37:50 PM
Quote from: RichK on March 04, 2010, 01:58:41 PM
Agustana finishes their spring trip 7-0 and end it beating Rose Hulman 12-9 this morning.

WOW. Rose-Hulman is a solid team. Augie is way better than advertised. Great news for the Central Region... Bad news for the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 05, 2010, 01:15:51 PM
Carthage preview from Kenosha News today:

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/no_easin__into_the_season_7482475.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2010, 01:50:37 PM
Opening day for the Redmen tomorrow! I can almost here Augie screaming already! Gonna be fun to watch this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 06, 2010, 09:21:00 AM
According to the IWU website, the doubleheader between IWU and Depauw will in fact be played in St. Louis @ Wash U.  I think it will be interesting to see who starts this game for the Titans.  With AA Kulavic back healthy, I would assume he has to be the guy, but from what Dirty said, they have a deep pitching staff in which anyone could get the call.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 06, 2010, 06:34:52 PM
Final from Ft. Myers: North Park 14, Southern Vermont 0

Mike Giovenco pitched a one-hitter over six innings as the Vikings scored eight runs in the bottom of the first to go 3-0 on the season.  North Park plays Carroll tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 06, 2010, 11:55:35 PM
Checked Depauw's website and it looks the Depauw swept the doubleheader today-no details on either team's site.   As what seems to be the trend the past several years, IWU is off to a slow start on opening day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2010, 12:55:16 AM
Quote from: BigG296 on March 06, 2010, 11:55:35 PM
Checked Depauw's website and it looks the Depauw swept the doubleheader today-no details on either team's site.   As what seems to be the trend the past several years, IWU is off to a slow start on opening day.

If I recall correctly, even in that magical 20-1 CCIW year, the Titans were barely over .500 non-conference.  Does IWU have sub-par indoor facilities for practice before the snow melts?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 07, 2010, 02:11:47 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2010, 12:55:16 AM
If I recall correctly, even in that magical 20-1 CCIW year, the Titans were barely over .500 non-conference.  Does IWU have sub-par indoor facilities for practice before the snow melts?

I'm not sure Mr. YPSI, but it is very interesting that they always seem to get off to such a slow start on their spring trip....I'm not sure what their off season regimen consists of or what the reasoning behind the slow starts are.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2010, 02:57:42 AM
Quote from: BigG296 on March 07, 2010, 02:11:47 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2010, 12:55:16 AM
If I recall correctly, even in that magical 20-1 CCIW year, the Titans were barely over .500 non-conference.  Does IWU have sub-par indoor facilities for practice before the snow melts?

I'm not sure Mr. YPSI, but it is very interesting that they always seem to get off to such a slow start on their spring trip....I'm not sure what their off season regimen consists of or what the reasoning behind the slow starts are.

Well, fast finishes are the most important!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
Carthage drops their opener 3-1 to #8 Heidelberg. The Redmen defense allowed three unearned run after a pair of errors by the shortstop and a dropped flyball. Gotta love it when your first day outside is your first game of the season. Hopefully, things tighten up quickly. The Redmen get Medaille today before facing #2 Wooster in a DH tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 07, 2010, 04:14:09 PM
North Park topped Carroll, 6-2.  Box score (http://resources.northpark.edu/athletics/baseball/2010/3-7bs.htm)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on March 07, 2010, 05:00:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
Carthage drops their opener 3-1 to #8 Heidelberg. The Redmen defense allowed three unearned run after a pair of errors by the shortstop and a dropped flyball. Gotta love it when your first day outside is your first game of the season. Hopefully, things tighten up quickly. The Redmen get Medaille today before facing #2 Wooster in a DH tomorrow.
I've got my money on Carthage being just fine after a little fresh air.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2010, 08:18:08 PM
Carthage coach Augie Schmidt reached his 700th win last night in defeating Ohio Wesleyan.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2010, 10:22:45 AM
Article on Carthage's two victories from the Kenosha News. No Augie quotes, but gives some of the statistical leaders from each game.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/red_men_regroup__from_first_defeat_7503668.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 08, 2010, 10:24:56 AM
Who is Carthage throwing today against Wooster? I'd love to see Krepline on the bump, but I am sure they will bring him back slowly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2010, 01:26:08 PM
Not sure who is on the mound today.  In their preview it says that Rohe is out until April or May, he was most likely going to be their #2 this season after being their 4 as a freshman last year.  That would be great if Chris Krepline was ready to go. I know he made the trip, but not sure what is role is at this point. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 08, 2010, 02:13:17 PM
Wheaton split their season opening double-header with Eastern Nazarene.

Wheaton won the first game 17-4, lost the second 8-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 08, 2010, 06:05:43 PM
Anyone have a Carthage/Wooster update? I have conflicting start times... 2pm or 6pm? Either way, I am hearing no news on the game and livestats is not working as of right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 08, 2010, 06:34:14 PM
Carthage's website shows Carthage losing to Wooster 14-10, no box score yet
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 08, 2010, 10:23:29 PM
North Park defeated Southern Vermont, 12-4.  Box score (http://resources.northpark.edu/athletics/baseball/2010/3-8bs.htm)  The Vikings play a JV game on Tuesday before taking on Haverford College on Wednesday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2010, 08:28:41 AM
Carthage drops a 14-10 decision to Wooster on Monday, but it appears they should have fared much better. From the Carthage website:

  Carthage pitchers hit seven Wooster batters and walked six, while the Red Men defense committed six errors.  "Sandwiched around some terrible baseball, we hit the ball well against some quality pitching," said Carthage coach Augie Schmidt IV.  "Everything else was terrible."

7 HBPs and 6 BBS mixed with 6 Es is and extra 19 runners for Wooster. Not a good start for the Redmen as their defense continues to struggle down south. Still, they are 0-0 in-region as of this point.


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 09, 2010, 09:20:45 AM
Article from paper on Carthage's loss to Wooster.  The Redmen have the day off today, and then senior Chris Krepline is expected to take the bump Wednesday for the first time since 2008.  Also, Carthage will play 2nd ranked Wooster again on Friday.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/red_men_drop_wild_one_on_diamond_7510111.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 09, 2010, 11:53:25 AM
Wheaton splits their 2nd doubleheader to move to 2-2 on the season, this one against Aurora.  

Wheaton lost game one by a score of 8-3, primarily due to unearned runs.  2 runs scored in the first inning on a bases loaded throwing error.  Then in the 7th with the score knotted at 3 Aurora loads the bases with 2 outs and had consecutive 2-run singles.  According to the box score, Aurora had seven unearned runs.  Ouch!

Wheaton wins the 2nd game 12-7.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/8/BB_aurora.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/8/BB_aurora.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gramps on March 09, 2010, 08:50:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2010, 07:48:59 AM
Carthage drops their opener 3-1 to #8 Heidelberg. The Redmen defense allowed three unearned run after a pair of errors by the shortstop and a dropped flyball. Gotta love it when your first day outside is your first game of the season. Hopefully, things tighten up quickly. The Redmen get Medaille today before facing #2 Wooster in a DH tomorrow.
Big Poppa, Gramps here, been down in Florida all week.  Weather not the best, but it beats the snow up North.
Hate to disagree, but only two runs were unearned.
Talked with a Carthage gramps after the game and he praised the Berg for having a fine team and we parted
wishing luck to each other's team and hoping to meet again in the World Series. You have very fine fans, and
they certainly know their baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 10:48:02 AM
Is it just me or is anyone else nervous to see how Chris Krepline's return to the mound goes today for Carthage against the Fightin' Muskies of Muskingum? A solid return for the former all-region pitcher could bode well for Carthage's future this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 10, 2010, 10:48:15 AM
Wheaton pounds Mount St. Mary 13-4 yesterday to improve to 3-2.  Mount St. Mary is 0-5.

Sounds like Wheaton took advantage of a field with large dimensions at Disney, as they had 5 triples.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/9/BB_mountstmary.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/9/BB_mountstmary.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 02:09:58 PM
Carthage vs Muskingum live on-line at 12:30 pm Central time.

http://www.muskingum.edu/home/athletics/broadcast.html (http://www.muskingum.edu/home/athletics/broadcast.html)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 02:25:40 PM
Carthage up 5-3 after 3 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 02:44:38 PM
Carthage is now pouring it on as they are up 11-3 after the 4th...  Still, a concern I have is the Carthage defense. A pair of errors led to the Muskies plating three runs in the second. Gotta clean that up guys.

On a positive note, it sounds like Krepline has settled in after some early control issues and is the Krepline he has been in the past. Along with IWU's Kulavic, Krepline is returning from a season off after an injury and BOTH are huge wild-cards in the CCIW this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 03:35:37 PM
Now 14-3 in favor of the Redmen. The bench is starting to empty.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 10, 2010, 04:02:41 PM
Carthage wins 14-6 after falling behind early in the game 3-0 to improve to 3-2. Their losses are to the #2 and #5 teams respectively.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2010, 04:28:31 PM
If Carthage can get through the Southern Trip and the Metrodome with a little above a .500 record, I think will be in great shape. In addition to playing #2 Wooster and #5 Heidelberg already, they face #2 Wooster again on Friday, #4 Kean on Saturday and face #1 St. Thomas in the Dome next weekend.

THAT is a brutal stretch to start the season. Not sure anyone else in the nation is facing teams of that caliber that often in the first two weeks. It will provide a great barometer for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2010, 05:21:05 PM
North Park suffered its first loss of the season today, falling to Haverford down in Florida, 8-7. NPU had the tying run on second and the winning run on first in the ninth, but couldn't get the job done. Both teams are now 5-1 on the season. The Vikings will face Lawrence tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 10, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2010, 05:21:05 PM
North Park suffered its first loss of the season today, falling to Haverford down in Florida, 8-7. NPU had the tying run on second and the winning run on first in the ninth, but couldn't get the job done. Both teams are now 5-1 on the season. The Vikings will face Lawrence tomorrow.
Actually it should be St. Lawrence (NY).  I've seen that typo elsewhere, too, but we are not playing the school from neighboring Wisconsin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2010, 12:50:03 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 10, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2010, 05:21:05 PM
North Park suffered its first loss of the season today, falling to Haverford down in Florida, 8-7. NPU had the tying run on second and the winning run on first in the ninth, but couldn't get the job done. Both teams are now 5-1 on the season. The Vikings will face Lawrence tomorrow.
Actually it should be St. Lawrence (NY).  I've seen that typo elsewhere, too, but we are not playing the school from neighboring Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, it's the NPU site that's causing the confusion. The Haverford game story indicates that the Vikings are playing St. Lawrence today, but the schedule page has the Vikings playing Lawrence. I double-checked on the d3baseball.com site, but that has North Park playing Lawrence, too -- and the d3baseball.com schedule pages are not nearly as thorough as the basketball and football schedule pages.

Moral of the story: Always check Mr. B's website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html) first for North Park baseball information. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 11, 2010, 12:58:51 PM
Carthage lost to Ohio Wesleyan this morning.  All I know is that between walks and errors, Carthage had given up 5 runs on 0 Ohio Wesleyan hits. At least that's what I was just told.

Here's the article from the paper about Chris Krepline's victory yesterday from todays Kenosha news.

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/krepline__so_fine_for__carthage_7524746.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on March 11, 2010, 01:44:38 PM
I was wondering how long it was going to take for the schedule to get to Carthage.  They seem to be able to Hit and Pitching doesn't seem to be the issue.  Defense will improve as the season progresses. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2010, 04:35:41 PM
St. Lawrence (5-1) edged NPU and Mike Giovenco today, 3-2. The Vikings are now 5-2 on the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 12, 2010, 09:28:40 AM
Wheaton beat Colby-Sawyer College yesterday by a score of 3-0.  The 2nd game was canceled in the 3rd inning due to weather, with Wheaton leading 4-0 at the time.  Wheaton is now 4-2.

Sounds like Wheaton had a solid pitching performance from a freshman (Trey Martin).  The guy is a horse -  6'4" 225lbs.  He pitched 5 innings, with 4 hits, 3 walks and 6 SO's.

Wheaton's next game is against Loras on Saturday.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/11/BB_colbysawyer.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/11/BB_colbysawyer.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2010, 12:40:06 PM
Carthage vs Wooster is a HUGE game for the Redmen. They need it to get back on track. FYI: Wooster has beaten Carthage five straight times dating back to game #2 of a double-header in 1996. Wooster also leads the overall series 5-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2010, 01:10:52 PM
My guess is the Redmen will throw Perez their second game today, which is against Wooster.  He was definitely a tough luck loser in Carthage's opener, giving up only 1 earned run in 7 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2010, 02:16:17 PM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on March 12, 2010, 01:10:52 PM
My guess is the Redmen will throw Perez their second game today, which is against Wooster.  He was definitely a tough luck loser in Carthage's opener, giving up only 1 earned run in 7 innings.

Carthage website has Perez and Danly listed as today's starters. Since Carthage has played both teams already (Muskingum and Wooster) they may try to use the best matchup. Or might they be best served to save one of those to to face #4 Kean tomorrow.

By this time next week, Carthage will have faced the #1, #2(twice), #4 and #5 teams in the nation. An unreal start to the schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2010, 02:26:02 PM
Carthage/Wooster rained out today. I am guessing the Muskingum game is as well. Hopefully Carthage can pick up another game in addition the Kean contest tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on March 13, 2010, 04:28:11 PM
Quote from: Mugsy on March 12, 2010, 09:28:40 AM
Wheaton beat Colby-Sawyer College yesterday by a score of 3-0.  The 2nd game was canceled in the 3rd inning due to weather, with Wheaton leading 4-0 at the time.  Wheaton is now 4-2.

Sounds like Wheaton had a solid pitching performance from a freshman (Trey Martin).  The guy is a horse -  6'4" 225lbs.  He pitched 5 innings, with 4 hits, 3 walks and 6 SO's.

Wheaton's next game is against Loras on Saturday.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/11/BB_colbysawyer.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/11/BB_colbysawyer.aspx?path=baseball)

I noticed that the freshman also got the opening day nod over Urbanowicz.  Looks like Wheaton might have a new ace.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2010, 10:22:55 PM
Carthage sweeps #4 Kean today 10-2 and 16-4. The Redmen finish the southern trip with a 5-3 record.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 13, 2010, 10:52:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2010, 10:22:55 PM
Carthage sweeps #4 Kean today 10-2 and 16-4. The Redmen finish the southern trip with a 5-3 record.

Wow - rough day in Union!  The #2 Kean women's basketball team got knocked out of the Elite Eight by unranked Rochester.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2010, 09:30:38 AM
A big win for IWU over a quality Rhodes team.  This was an important win as the team was 0-3 and facing a very good Millsaps the next couple of days.  A great start for Junior Jason Pankau.  He is a hardthrowing righthander that struck out 9 in seven innings of work.

Hopefully, this is the start of a turnaround for the IWU pitching staff that had an 11 ERA going into the game. One thing to note, the Titans scored five runs on only 4 hits.  Looks like they really capitalized on some miscues by Rhodes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 15, 2010, 10:41:15 AM
Wheaton doubleheader against Loras on Saturday was canceled due to weather.  Will not be rescheduled.

Wheaton completes it's spring break trip in Florida today against Ripon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2010, 12:57:52 PM
Looking at the box scores for IWU, noticed that all conference and all region 2nd baseman Brett Moore has been out of the lineup the last two games.  Does anyone know if he was injured and if he was the severity of the injury?  That is a big blow for this team if he is out for any significant time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on March 15, 2010, 01:37:35 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2010, 12:57:52 PM
Looking at the box scores for IWU, noticed that all conference and all region 2nd baseman Brett Moore has been out of the lineup the last two games.  Does anyone know if he was injured and if he was the severity of the injury?  That is a big blow for this team if he is out for any significant time.

CCIWFAN,
Word around Bloomington is that Brett Moore, one of the most talented ballplayers in the conference has a bad hamstring, an injury which has been reoccurring for him in his career. He is questionable for their spring trip. Hopefully he can get back soon and remain healthy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on March 15, 2010, 03:03:19 PM
All in all, I think about what I expected for the Carthage spring trip.  With the competition they were playing, I figured they'd win 6-7 of their 10 ball games in Florida.  With two rained out, 5-3 is nothing to be upset over.  Looking at some statistics, its clear that new 1st baseman Aiello, who is talking the place of #3 hitter Lequia, can really swing the bat well.  Also, Nate Hughes had an outstanding trip.  Nate is a fifth year senior who was an all-conference middle linebacker on the football team and has not played baseball since high school.  Some key guys struggled at the plate a bit, but that is to be expected.  It appears the pitching depth may not be what it has been the past 3-4 seasons, but this years team should really be able to hit the ball well all the way through the batting order.  Looking forward to see how they do against St. Thomas and St. Johns over the weekend in the metrodome.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on March 16, 2010, 11:01:32 AM
I expect Augustana to have 12 or 13 wins before heading into conference play. It must be nice to be able to go on 2 separate trips, but why don't they challenge themselves the way Carthage and IWU have been instead of beating up basically low-tier teams?

REDMENFAN, your boys sure can stick it! .347 as a team is excellent, especially playing such talented teams!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 16, 2010, 02:31:25 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 16, 2010, 11:01:32 AM
I expect Augustana to have 12 or 13 wins before heading into conference play. It must be nice to be able to go on 2 separate trips, but why don't they challenge themselves the way Carthage and IWU have been instead of beating up basically low-tier teams?


That seems to be the trend with Augustana the few years.  The last six years, their conference winning percentage is .616 (which is actually pretty good), however their non conference winning percentage is .765. The fact that they haven't been able to win a conference championship since 1974 leads me to believe they might want to change their strategy with scheduling. 

On a side note, the Titans have a tough opponent tonight in Millsaps.  The game will be streaming live @ http://www.sportsnation360.com/schools/webcast/Millsaps-College
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 16, 2010, 02:37:54 PM
So where does Wheaton figure in for the CCIW this year?  I see they split with Ripon yesterday, but who did they throw as far as their rotation?  Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 02:44:59 PM
Quote from: cubs on March 16, 2010, 02:37:54 PM
So where does Wheaton figure in for the CCIW this year?  I see they split with Ripon yesterday, but who did they throw as far as their rotation?  Any help would be appreciated.

Wheaton was picked to come in 3rd in the CCIW.

They threw Dennison in the 1st game a 9-2 win for Wheaton.

Urbanowicz in the second game a 6-3 loss for Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 16, 2010, 03:02:47 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 02:44:59 PM
Quote from: cubs on March 16, 2010, 02:37:54 PM
So where does Wheaton figure in for the CCIW this year?  I see they split with Ripon yesterday, but who did they throw as far as their rotation?  Any help would be appreciated.

Wheaton was picked to come in 3rd in the CCIW.

They threw Dennison in the 1st game a 9-2 win for Wheaton.

Urbanowicz in the second game a 6-3 loss for Wheaton.
I knew who they threw as far as names, but I was wondering where they figured in the rotation.  #1 and #2?  #3 and #4, etc??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Quote from: cubs on March 16, 2010, 03:02:47 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 02:44:59 PM
Quote from: cubs on March 16, 2010, 02:37:54 PM
So where does Wheaton figure in for the CCIW this year?  I see they split with Ripon yesterday, but who did they throw as far as their rotation?  Any help would be appreciated.

Wheaton was picked to come in 3rd in the CCIW.

They threw Dennison in the 1st game a 9-2 win for Wheaton.

Urbanowicz in the second game a 6-3 loss for Wheaton.
I knew who they threw as far as names, but I was wondering where they figured in the rotation.  #1 and #2?  #3 and #4, etc??

Urbanowicz was the ace last year, but looks to be the #2 this year.  Not sure about Dennison, but appears to be 3.  They have only started 3 different pitchers this year so I am not sure who # 4 will be.

Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on March 16, 2010, 04:01:46 PM
Turtle.
I do not think you are correct.  Wheaton appears to have scheduled their starters so that Dennison and Urbanowicz started the regional games while Martin threw against non-regional opponents.  Look at the schedule...it also accounts for Martin's game 1 start.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year. 

I love your flair for understatement, TurtleHead. :D

The fact that Wheaton has a Wheaton North grad on the roster doesn't contradict anything that I've said in the past about Wheaton's base constituency, student profile, or predisposition to eschew the recruiting methods of its CCIW rivals. Wheaton has had many athletes (and many students in general) hail from Wheaton North High School over the years. Why? Because of three reasons that are closely related to each other.

First, Wheaton, IL is a very conservative suburb with a pronounced evangelical flavor to it. Evangelical Protestant churches are thick on the ground in and around Wheaton, and therefore the college's natural constituency can be found right at the doorstep of Blanchard Hall just as much as it can be found in Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, etc. Second, the college has a high profile in the local community, as one would expect from the fact that it is a nationally-famous institution that has been around for a century and a half. Third, Wheaton North, as the local public high school (it's two miles up Main Street from the WC campus), no doubt has many students who are related to either Wheaton College staff or to Wheaton College alumni.

If you're an evangelical kid who attends Wheaton North or Wheaton Academy (the local evangelical private high school, which also has an alumnus on this year's Wheaton baseball team), Wheaton is practically the default choice for college.

More importantly, did you take a good look at that Wheaton baseball roster? Twenty-four of the thirty members of the team are out-of-staters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RichK on March 16, 2010, 07:13:26 PM
I'm not sure you can say Augustana is avoiding the competition.  Because of their early spring break, there aren't many options.  They were one of only a handful of teams in Winter Haven for the first few days.  Out of their 7 games, they did play Farmingdale who went to the World Series last year, Rose Hulman who is ranked, and Beloit who was in last years regionals.       
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year. 

I love your flair for understatement, TurtleHead. :D

The fact that Wheaton has a Wheaton North grad on the roster doesn't contradict anything that I've said in the past about Wheaton's base constituency, student profile, or predisposition to eschew the recruiting methods of its CCIW rivals. Wheaton has had many athletes (and many students in general) hail from Wheaton North High School over the years. Why? Because of three reasons that are closely related to each other.

First, Wheaton, IL is a very conservative suburb with a pronounced evangelical flavor to it. Evangelical Protestant churches are thick on the ground in and around Wheaton, and therefore the college's natural constituency can be found right at the doorstep of Blanchard Hall just as much as it can be found in Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, etc. Second, the college has a high profile in the local community, as one would expect from the fact that it is a nationally-famous institution that has been around for a century and a half. Third, Wheaton North, as the local public high school (it's two miles up Main Street from the WC campus), no doubt has many students who are related to either Wheaton College staff or to Wheaton College alumni.

If you're an evangelical kid who attends Wheaton North or Wheaton Academy (the local evangelical private high school, which also has an alumnus on this year's Wheaton baseball team), Wheaton is practically the default choice for college.

More importantly, did you take a good look at that Wheaton baseball roster? Twenty-four of the thirty members of the team are out-of-staters.

Nice to see you came over from the Basketball board.

Wheaton doesn't recruit locally, TurtleHead. It recruits nationally, as you can tell by the roster. The few local kids on the roster are student-athletes who match Wheaton's student profile, not baseball players who were recruited simply because of geographical proximity.

I am sure the coach never bothered to call the kid or the coach at Wheaton North about possible prospects.  He could also have parents who are alumni as well I will give you that.

Wheaton coach can't just show up at an event like the Stevenson Showcase and expect to make prospect contacts. It's just not a good use of his time. Nor is establishing contacts with local high school coaches, unless it's with the coach of a school like Wheaton Academy, Aurora Christian, Timothy Christian, Illiana Christian, etc.

All of these schools send athletes on their conference all-star teams to this showcase.  Trey was on the Dupage conference all-star team. 

Conferences who also send teams to the showcase Chicago Catholic Blue and White, East suburban Catholic.

With all the budget cuts going on at Wheaton I would think that a new coach to the area might want to set up ties with the local catholic league coaches.  This showcase provides an easy one stop shop to make the initial face to face.  If he truly is going to get the national kids anyway.  Why not go after some local kids who fit the schools profile. 

I will repeat my previous statement. "Plenty of talent around the Chicagoland area.   Specifically in Dupage county. "   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on March 16, 2010, 09:55:57 PM
Quote from: RichK on March 16, 2010, 07:13:26 PM
I'm not sure you can say Augustana is avoiding the competition.  Because of their early spring break, there aren't many options.  They were one of only a handful of teams in Winter Haven for the first few days.  Out of their 7 games, they did play Farmingdale who went to the World Series last year, Rose Hulman who is ranked, and Beloit who was in last years regionals.       

Nobody is forcing them to go to Winter Haven....I'm sure they could easily schedule some good southern schools to go down and play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on March 16, 2010, 10:30:17 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year. 

I love your flair for understatement, TurtleHead. :D

The fact that Wheaton has a Wheaton North grad on the roster doesn't contradict anything that I've said in the past about Wheaton's base constituency, student profile, or predisposition to eschew the recruiting methods of its CCIW rivals. Wheaton has had many athletes (and many students in general) hail from Wheaton North High School over the years. Why? Because of three reasons that are closely related to each other.

First, Wheaton, IL is a very conservative suburb with a pronounced evangelical flavor to it. Evangelical Protestant churches are thick on the ground in and around Wheaton, and therefore the college's natural constituency can be found right at the doorstep of Blanchard Hall just as much as it can be found in Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, etc. Second, the college has a high profile in the local community, as one would expect from the fact that it is a nationally-famous institution that has been around for a century and a half. Third, Wheaton North, as the local public high school (it's two miles up Main Street from the WC campus), no doubt has many students who are related to either Wheaton College staff or to Wheaton College alumni.

If you're an evangelical kid who attends Wheaton North or Wheaton Academy (the local evangelical private high school, which also has an alumnus on this year's Wheaton baseball team), Wheaton is practically the default choice for college.

More importantly, did you take a good look at that Wheaton baseball roster? Twenty-four of the thirty members of the team are out-of-staters.

Nice to see you came over from the Basketball board.

Wheaton doesn't recruit locally, TurtleHead. It recruits nationally, as you can tell by the roster. The few local kids on the roster are student-athletes who match Wheaton's student profile, not baseball players who were recruited simply because of geographical proximity.

I am sure the coach never bothered to call the kid or the coach at Wheaton North about possible prospects.  He could also have parents who are alumni as well I will give you that.

Wheaton coach can't just show up at an event like the Stevenson Showcase and expect to make prospect contacts. It's just not a good use of his time. Nor is establishing contacts with local high school coaches, unless it's with the coach of a school like Wheaton Academy, Aurora Christian, Timothy Christian, Illiana Christian, etc.

All of these schools send athletes on their conference all-star teams to this showcase.  Trey was on the Dupage conference all-star team. 

Conferences who also send teams to the showcase Chicago Catholic Blue and White, East suburban Catholic.

With all the budget cuts going on at Wheaton I would think that a new coach to the area might want to set up ties with the local catholic league coaches.  This showcase provides an easy one stop shop to make the initial face to face.  If he truly is going to get the national kids anyway.  Why not go after some local kids who fit the schools profile. 

I will repeat my previous statement. "Plenty of talent around the Chicagoland area.   Specifically in Dupage county. "   

Turtlehead, Trey is also the son of Wheaton golf coach Jay Martin which probably has more to do with his arrival at Wheaton than Trey's play at Stevenson.  There are two other players on Wheaton's roster who also played at Stevenson and I know for a fact that neither one of them was discovered at Stevenson by Wheaton. 

Sure those conferences may be represented at Stevenson but the fact of the matter is that players on those conferences teams likely would not fit the mold at Wheaton.  From my knowledge of Notre Dame (Niles) high school's baseball team, very few of them were practicing "Evangelical" christians which is what the typical student body consists of at Wheaton College, with less than 3% of their student body being Catholic. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on March 17, 2010, 07:19:47 AM
Quote from: The General Public on March 16, 2010, 10:30:17 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year. 

I love your flair for understatement, TurtleHead. :D

The fact that Wheaton has a Wheaton North grad on the roster doesn't contradict anything that I've said in the past about Wheaton's base constituency, student profile, or predisposition to eschew the recruiting methods of its CCIW rivals. Wheaton has had many athletes (and many students in general) hail from Wheaton North High School over the years. Why? Because of three reasons that are closely related to each other.

First, Wheaton, IL is a very conservative suburb with a pronounced evangelical flavor to it. Evangelical Protestant churches are thick on the ground in and around Wheaton, and therefore the college's natural constituency can be found right at the doorstep of Blanchard Hall just as much as it can be found in Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, etc. Second, the college has a high profile in the local community, as one would expect from the fact that it is a nationally-famous institution that has been around for a century and a half. Third, Wheaton North, as the local public high school (it's two miles up Main Street from the WC campus), no doubt has many students who are related to either Wheaton College staff or to Wheaton College alumni.

If you're an evangelical kid who attends Wheaton North or Wheaton Academy (the local evangelical private high school, which also has an alumnus on this year's Wheaton baseball team), Wheaton is practically the default choice for college.

More importantly, did you take a good look at that Wheaton baseball roster? Twenty-four of the thirty members of the team are out-of-staters.

Nice to see you came over from the Basketball board.

Wheaton doesn't recruit locally, TurtleHead. It recruits nationally, as you can tell by the roster. The few local kids on the roster are student-athletes who match Wheaton's student profile, not baseball players who were recruited simply because of geographical proximity.

I am sure the coach never bothered to call the kid or the coach at Wheaton North about possible prospects.  He could also have parents who are alumni as well I will give you that.

Wheaton coach can't just show up at an event like the Stevenson Showcase and expect to make prospect contacts. It's just not a good use of his time. Nor is establishing contacts with local high school coaches, unless it's with the coach of a school like Wheaton Academy, Aurora Christian, Timothy Christian, Illiana Christian, etc.

All of these schools send athletes on their conference all-star teams to this showcase.  Trey was on the Dupage conference all-star team. 

Conferences who also send teams to the showcase Chicago Catholic Blue and White, East suburban Catholic.

With all the budget cuts going on at Wheaton I would think that a new coach to the area might want to set up ties with the local catholic league coaches.  This showcase provides an easy one stop shop to make the initial face to face.  If he truly is going to get the national kids anyway.  Why not go after some local kids who fit the schools profile. 

I will repeat my previous statement. "Plenty of talent around the Chicagoland area.   Specifically in Dupage county. "   

Turtlehead, Trey is also the son of Wheaton golf coach Jay Martin which probably has more to do with his arrival at Wheaton than Trey's play at Stevenson.  There are two other players on Wheaton's roster who also played at Stevenson and I know for a fact that neither one of them was discovered at Stevenson by Wheaton. 

Sure those conferences may be represented at Stevenson but the fact of the matter is that players on those conferences teams likely would not fit the mold at Wheaton.  From my knowledge of Notre Dame (Niles) high school's baseball team, very few of them were practicing "Evangelical" christians which is what the typical student body consists of at Wheaton College, with less than 3% of their student body being Catholic. 


The only thing I have said is that there is plenty of talent in the area if the coach was looking to turn the team around.  Stevenson was just an example of somewhere the coach could go to find players and meet coaches.  I will agree that not all players on Catholic / Christian schools fit the mold of Wheaton, but I don't think it would be a waste of time for the Wheaton coach to make contacts at them or the local high schools in the area. 

I just found if amusing that after my original statement and Greg's rebuttal that the next year they had a local kid on the roster.   

   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2010, 03:27:54 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 03:18:27 PM
Trey Martin (A local kid from Wheaton North High School- Eat Crow Sager) appears to be the #1 this year.  

I love your flair for understatement, TurtleHead. :D

The fact that Wheaton has a Wheaton North grad on the roster doesn't contradict anything that I've said in the past about Wheaton's base constituency, student profile, or predisposition to eschew the recruiting methods of its CCIW rivals. Wheaton has had many athletes (and many students in general) hail from Wheaton North High School over the years. Why? Because of three reasons that are closely related to each other.

First, Wheaton, IL is a very conservative suburb with a pronounced evangelical flavor to it. Evangelical Protestant churches are thick on the ground in and around Wheaton, and therefore the college's natural constituency can be found right at the doorstep of Blanchard Hall just as much as it can be found in Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, etc. Second, the college has a high profile in the local community, as one would expect from the fact that it is a nationally-famous institution that has been around for a century and a half. Third, Wheaton North, as the local public high school (it's two miles up Main Street from the WC campus), no doubt has many students who are related to either Wheaton College staff or to Wheaton College alumni.

If you're an evangelical kid who attends Wheaton North or Wheaton Academy (the local evangelical private high school, which also has an alumnus on this year's Wheaton baseball team), Wheaton is practically the default choice for college.

More importantly, did you take a good look at that Wheaton baseball roster? Twenty-four of the thirty members of the team are out-of-staters.

Nice to see you came over from the Basketball board.

I get around a bit. ;)

Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PMWheaton doesn't recruit locally, TurtleHead. It recruits nationally, as you can tell by the roster. The few local kids on the roster are student-athletes who match Wheaton's student profile, not baseball players who were recruited simply because of geographical proximity.

I am sure the coach never bothered to call the kid or the coach at Wheaton North about possible prospects.  He could also have parents who are alumni as well I will give you that.

I said "simply because of geographical proximity." There's more to it than that if you're a coach at Wheaton. That's all that I was saying. And, as General Public pointed out, it turns out that Trey Martin did have a direct tie to Wheaton, as I indicated is common for Wheaton North student-athletes who end up attending Wheaton College.

Quote from: TurtleHead on March 16, 2010, 09:34:16 PMWheaton coach can't just show up at an event like the Stevenson Showcase and expect to make prospect contacts. It's just not a good use of his time. Nor is establishing contacts with local high school coaches, unless it's with the coach of a school like Wheaton Academy, Aurora Christian, Timothy Christian, Illiana Christian, etc.

All of these schools send athletes on their conference all-star teams to this showcase.  Trey was on the Dupage conference all-star team.  

Conferences who also send teams to the showcase Chicago Catholic Blue and White, East suburban Catholic.

With all the budget cuts going on at Wheaton I would think that a new coach to the area might want to set up ties with the local catholic league coaches.  This showcase provides an easy one stop shop to make the initial face to face.  If he truly is going to get the national kids anyway.  Why not go after some local kids who fit the schools profile.

That's just it, TurtleHead: Catholic kids don't fit the school's profile. As General Public pointed out, Catholics make up less than 3% of the student population at Wheaton. Furthermore, four years ago Wheaton fired a faculty member for converting to Catholicism. (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/01/12/faith) The school does not provide a congenial atmosphere for Catholics (I won't get into sola scriptura and all that; you'll just have to trust me on this one). That's not Wheaton's fault, by the way; the school is what it is, and it shouldn't have to apologize for it. But you're laboring under the misapprehension that Wheaton College views all branches of Christianity the same, and it doesn't.

Quote from: TurtleHead on March 17, 2010, 07:19:47 AMThe only thing I have said is that there is plenty of talent in the area if the coach was looking to turn the team around.

And no one has questioned that statement. The question is whether or not that "plenty of talent in the area" matches Wheaton's student profile and belief system, which in the eyes of the college administration is far more important than the speed of a student-athlete's fastball or his ability to hit.

Quote from: TurtleHead on March 17, 2010, 07:19:47 AMStevenson was just an example of somewhere the coach could go to find players and meet coaches.  I will agree that not all players on Catholic / Christian schools fit the mold of Wheaton, but I don't think it would be a waste of time for the Wheaton coach to make contacts at them or the local high schools in the area.

It's a needle-in-a-haystack approach if you're a Wheaton coach and you show up for an event such as the Stevenson Showcase (or a football all-star game, or a mid-season basketball tournament) and expect to find high school student-athletes who match Wheaton's very specific religious profile. Your time and effort is better directed towards following the traditional channels that have served Wheaton very well over the years in terms of recruiting. Wheaton's traditionally had very good across-the-board success in CCIW sports over the years. There's no need for Wheaton coaches to reinvent the wheel, especially when the model you propose is so inefficient for them. The challenge for Wheaton coaches is to do better at recruiting through those traditional channels.

Quote from: TurtleHead on March 17, 2010, 07:19:47 AMI just found if amusing that after my original statement and Greg's rebuttal that the next year they had a local kid on the roster.

Wheaton had local kids on the baseball roster last year, too. Wheaton always has at least an athlete or two in every sport who is a local product, for reasons I outlined previously. It's no big deal. What is true, though, is that they don't tend to be recruited through the usual circuit of coaching contacts common to other CCIW schools, as General Public will attest.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2010, 03:40:49 PM
I love the banter. I step away for a few hours the The Reformation resurfaces on this board :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2010, 03:48:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 17, 2010, 03:40:49 PM
I love the banter. I step away for a few hours the The Reformation resurfaces on this board :)

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stenudd.com%2Fmyth%2Fgenesis%2Fimages%2Fmartinluther.jpg&hash=0a1c8103095a5dd2dd73a3cf24208f673178b845)

"Here I stand. I can do no other. At least until the coach puts on the steal sign."

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 17, 2010, 04:30:28 PM
Wheaton's #1 recruiting tool in virtually all sports is alumni. 

I do not mean to diminish the hard work of the coaching staffs to find quality student athletes.  But Wheaton alum are spread out across the country and know first hand the kind of student/athlete Wheaton is looking for.  That is part of the reason you will find athletes from all over the country on most sport teams at Wheaton.

I receive mailings for football recruiting several times a year to fillout a card with names of anyone from the local high schools who excel on the field and in the classroom and profess to be followers of Jesus Christ.  I will not go into anymore detail than that (as I do every year on the CCIW football board when questions about Wheaton's recruiting classes), but suffice to say recruiting at Wheaton is complex and relies on a lot of help from alum.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2010, 04:41:53 PM
... and it's a recruiting formula that is drastically different than the standard formula used by the CCIW's other seven schools -- even North Park, which, like Wheaton, draws a very high percentage of out-of-state students to its campus.

If you're not familiar with Wheaton College and what it stands for, I can understand why (as is the case with TurtleHead) you'd look at a Wheaton team and wonder, "Why the heck don't they recruit locally?"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2010, 03:08:16 PM
North Park opened its home slate with a bang yesterday, sweeping a pair from Dominican, 16-2 and 14-7. Joel Bonnett pitched seven strong innings in the opener, while Nick Marino hit two homers, hot-hitting Ryan Javech (CCIW Hitter of the Week two weeks ago) went 3-3 with 5 RBI, and Mike Domenick scored five runs. The nightcap was highlighted by a Wade Yunker grand slam for the Vikings. Yunker finished the game with 5 RBI, while Andy Athans went 5-6 at the plate and Jake Hollinshaid picked up his third win of the season against no losses.

Luke Johnson is really pushing the running game for NPU this season. The Vikings have now stolen 41 bases in 45 attempts. The other seven teams in the league combined are 42-54.

NPU (7-2) heads to southern Illinois to take on Webster (5-2) in a doubleheader on Monday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2010, 03:11:44 PM
NPU/Webster should be a good test for both schools/conferences.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on March 20, 2010, 06:50:40 PM
Oney Guillen's tweets causing friction (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5013035).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on March 20, 2010, 07:39:07 PM
Wheaton completes the sweep of the three game series vs. Spalding down in Lexington with a 17-8 victory on Saturday. Swept the doubleheader Friday with scores of 17-0 and 9-6. The Thunder trailed 6-2 heading into the last inning of game 2 on Friday and rallied with 7 runs to earn the victory.  With the sweep the Thunder now sit at 8-3 on the season
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2010, 12:44:30 PM
I saw Carthage for the first time this year at the Metrodome this weekend and they surprised me in two ways:

1. They swing it much better than I expected them to. The had runners on all night against St. thomas and collected 9 hits off UST's all-American Schuld before losing 2-1 in the tenth.

2. Their inability to find a serviceable #3 starter. Perez and Danly are solid #1 and #2 guys. I think the Redmen would like Krepline (returning from Tommy John) to be their #3, but he is a bit inconsistent right now. rumors abound that 2009 all-Amrican Trace ruffie will return to the hill very soon. I am hoping he can be that #3 guy they deperately need.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2010, 06:23:59 PM
That #3 Starter is already there and quite solid !!! I saw Eric Rohe at the Metrodome, and it was the 1st time I've seen him out of a, Cast, this year. If he's ready come CCIW game time, we'll be in great shape.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2010, 08:40:46 PM
IF Brent Kulavic is back to 2008 form (6-1, 1.82 era, .205 batting average against, 1 HR all season) after missing all of 2009 with injury, he is obviously a key for IWU.

After 2 starts (and 1 relief stint) he is 0-0, with a 6.30 era and .310 ba (though 0 HRs).  Has anyone seen him?  Is this just a slow start (and too early to tell), or is he still not 100%?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 23, 2010, 08:51:52 AM
Mr. Ypsi, I watched Kulavic pitch when they played Millsaps and his stuff seems to be pretty good.  Had that hard breaking ball that was so effective his AA year.  I do think he is having a little problem commanding the fastball in and out of the strike zone, like many pitchers who have tommy john surgery experience.  The more he throws this season, the better he should be.

You are exactly right that he is a key/wildcard for this team.  With that said, the Titans have found a new ace in Junior Jason Pankau.  His last two starts he has gone a combined 14 innings, allowed 7 hits, 1 run, and struck out 23.  If Kulavic can regain form, that is a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 23, 2010, 02:06:54 PM
On that note, Jason Pankau named conference pitcher of the week for a second straight week.

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_3.php
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 23, 2010, 07:00:04 PM
On that same note: What is the criteria for CCIW Pitcher of the week. I hope you don't think this is sour grapes, I just want to know what you think. Pankou is having a great start to the season and is no doubt an excellent Pitcher. He just received CCIW Pitcher of the week for the 2nd week in a row. He' faced: Depauw, Rhodes College and Benedictine, and is currently at an excellent 1.40 ERA. Mario Perez of Carthage, has pitched against: St. Thomas, Heidleberg and Kean. He is currently holding an ERA of 0.84. What am I missing ?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 23, 2010, 07:03:48 PM
Tough day for NPU yesterday, as the Vikings dropped a twinbill at Webster, 2-1 and 2-0. On the plus side, congrats to Andy Athans of the Vikings upon being named CCIW Hitter of the Week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on March 23, 2010, 07:35:17 PM
Tough day for Carthage as well. Red Men fall to Benedictine 13-5.  BU entered the game 1-5 on the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 23, 2010, 08:19:34 PM
Ouch !!! That's gonna leave a mark !!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 23, 2010, 11:33:50 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on March 23, 2010, 07:00:04 PM
On that same note: What is the criteria for CCIW Pitcher of the week. I hope you don't think this is sour grapes, I just want to know what you think. Pankou is having a great start to the season and is no doubt an excellent Pitcher. He just received CCIW Pitcher of the week for the 2nd week in a row. He' faced: Depauw, Rhodes College and Benedictine, and is currently at an excellent 1.40 ERA. Mario Perez of Carthage, has pitched against: St. Thomas, Heidleberg and Kean. He is currently holding an ERA of 0.84. What am I missing ?

I have to believe that one of the main reasons Mario didn't receive the award was he/his team didnt get a win in two of those starts.  When stats are comparable, you have to give it to the guy who got his team a W.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 24, 2010, 06:02:51 PM
That has to be it. Though would'nt that make it a, Team award ? It would be tough, in my mind, to find another Pitcher in D3 that's had the opportunity to face the #1, 3, and 7th ranked teams in the Nation. Let alone come out of it giving up only 3 earned runs in 22 innings. Thanks for the Insight.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 24, 2010, 06:47:43 PM
I'm sorry, 2 earned runs in 22 innings. Wouldn't you think the level of competition would factor in ? Setting aside the Heidelberg game when he gave up 0 earned runs in 7 innings with 9-K's in a 3 - 1 loss. He beat Kean in a 10 - 2 win on Saturday the 20th and gave up 1 earned run in 8 innings with 8- K's against St Thomas in a 2 - 1 10 inning loss. I'd think that would be good enough, at least for the last week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2010, 11:04:07 AM
CCIW Standings as of 3/25:

Augustana (Ill.) 12-0
North Central (Ill.) 7-1
Wheaton (Ill.) 9-3 (updated)
North Park 8-4
Carthage 7-5
Illinois Wesleyan 4-5
Millikin 3-11
Elmhurst 0-5

A few surprises in here for me:

* Augustana unbeaten after 12 games. They are much better thanh I thought this year. The losses to graduation did not hurt them nearly as much as I thought it would.
* North Central at 7-1. Not the best competition, but teams that get on a roll are often hard to stop.
* Wheaton and NPU are about where I thought they'd be at this point.
* Carthage is really struggling with their pitching staff right now. After their top two arms, they become very beatable (see Benedictine)
* IWU is struggling right now, but I think they will get back on track by CCIW play.

All-in-all, this will make for a very entertaining (and unpredictable)season.

 


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on March 25, 2010, 12:08:14 PM
i dont want to be that guy but Wheaton is 9-3 after defeating St. Francis yesterday
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 25, 2010, 04:00:49 PM
Wheaton's game against Benedictine today has been postponed until tomorrow.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/25/BB_BEN_POST.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/25/BB_BEN_POST.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2010, 09:57:18 PM
North Park came from behind to beat Benedictine yesterday in Lisle, 4-3. Mike Domenick cracked a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, his third of the year, to provide NPU with the game-winning runs, and Tito Garza pitched 7 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up up the win.

The Vikings (8-4) will host UW-Superior (6-3) in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on March 26, 2010, 08:57:13 PM
Wheaton defeated Benedictine 7-4 in Lisle to push the win streak to 5.  The Thunder improves to 10-3 on the season.  Another strong performance by Freshman Trey Martin who earned the win. Here's the link to the story...

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/26/BB_BEN1.aspx?path=baseball

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 27, 2010, 07:06:04 PM
Wheaton beats Dominican U 13-3 to move to 11-3 on the year.  Wheaton had 18 hits with Brian Kolb going 5 for 5.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/27/BB_dominican.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/3/27/BB_dominican.aspx?path=baseball)

Wheaton scheduled to play Benedictine again on Monday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on March 27, 2010, 09:15:18 PM
Aurora's Steve Salazar shut down Carthage today 2-0.  Salazar fired a one-hitter at the Red Men.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 27, 2010, 10:43:50 PM
North Park split a twinbill with UW Superior, dropping game one 4-1 and coming back with a walk-off two-run homer by Andy Athans for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.  Pete Sparacino (2-1) scattered four hits, struck out five, walked none, and allowed one earned run in a complet-game performance.  The Vikings (9-5) play Wisconsin Lutheran in Milwaukee on Monday.

Superior (7-4) has a solid squad with good starting pitching, defense, and hitting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on March 28, 2010, 06:26:32 PM
North Central takes two from Carroll on Saturday 8-0 5-0.  Today beat UW-Superior 11-5 8-5.  Hot start for the Cardinals. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on March 29, 2010, 07:54:47 PM
Wheaton's winning streak sits at seven after a 10-1 victory over Benedictine in Lisle. The Thunder improves their record to 12-3 with another game against Benedictine on Wednesday (this time at Alexian).

Box Score
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/custompages/baseball/base_stats/whebb15.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 29, 2010, 11:08:14 PM
Quote from: sherlockholmes on March 29, 2010, 07:54:47 PM
Wheaton's winning streak sits at seven after a 10-1 victory over Benedictine in Lisle. The Thunder improves their record to 12-3 with another game against Benedictine on Wednesday (this time at Alexian).

Box Score
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/custompages/baseball/base_stats/whebb15.htm

Granted... not the strongest opponent, but another strong outing for a freshman pitcher for Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2010, 12:07:10 PM
North Park edged Wisconsin Lutheran up north of the Lombardi-Halas Line yesterday, 5-4. The Vikes are now 10-5 on the season. They'll travel down to the South Side tomorrow to face Chicago (5-5) before opening the CCIW season on Friday with a home twinbill against North Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2010, 04:29:50 PM
Congrats to NPU's Pete Sparacino upon being named the CCIW Pitcher of the Week. (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_4.php)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 30, 2010, 09:29:28 PM
On Wednesday, Benedictine swept a DH from Illinois Wesleyan (http://athletics.ben.edu/news/2010/3/30/BB_0330101410.aspx?path=baseball) and Gustavus Adolphus took one from Elmhurst in Arizona (http://athletics.blog.gustavus.edu/2010/03/30/baseball-defeats-elmhurst-12-8/).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2010, 02:58:56 PM
North Park won one of those classic middle-of-the-week free-for-alls at the University of Chicago yesterday, 16-12, in ten innings. The Vikings were hurt by a few untimely errors that led to five unearned Maroons runs, but prevailed with solid hitting from Trevor Popp (5-5, six runs scored, two SBs), Andy Athans (3-6, 5 RBI), Mike Domenick (1-2, 3 RBI on three SFs), and Brian Staatz (2-4, 2 RBI).

Tomorrow's the big day: NPU opens the CCIW season with a home doubleheader against North Central. The CCIW slate kicks off today with an Augustana @ Wheaton doubleheader, while Illinois Wesleyan is at Millikin  and Carthage is at Elmhurst in other league-opener twinbills tomorrow
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 01, 2010, 04:02:57 PM
Watching Live Stat from the office, looks like Wheaton and Augustana are not starting off to stellar in the pitching department, 6th inning and its 8 to 7 Augie up. Only good for the rest of the conference if these two aren't up and ready for the next 5 weeks.  I'd be a lot concerned about North Park, saw the stats on that game 7 pitchers giving up 12 runs in 10 innings, not to encouraging.
Looking forward to the weekend series
Prediction

Wheaton 2 over Augie 1
Carthage 3 over Elmhurst 0
Ill Wesleyan 2 over Millikin 1
North Park 3 over North Central

How about those picks ??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on April 01, 2010, 08:03:03 PM
Wheaton takes care of business the unconventional way today, taking two from Augie 10-9 and 12-11, both ending by way of walk off hits... the second game ending with a walk off 2-run HR. 

Rough start to the CCIW season on the mound for both teams.  With what seems to be a strong offensive conference so far this season, these types of scores might be pretty typical in conference play.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 01, 2010, 10:47:32 PM
Wheaton makes it three consecutive come from behind victories against Augustana dating back to the conference tournament last year when the Thunder plated 4 in the top of the ninth after two outs.  Wheaton extends its winning streak to 10 and will travel to Rock Island on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 03, 2010, 09:37:28 AM
What a start off, 35 mile an hour gusting winds made the collective ERA's soar.
Carthage takes 2 on Friday
Illinois Wesleyan takes 2 on Friday
Wheaton took 2 on Thursday
North Central and NPU split
Rain forecasted and temps dropping from the 80's to low 60's should be interesting on Saturday games.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 03, 2010, 11:53:56 AM
I've never seen anything quite like it. Elmhurst up by 1 in the top of the 9th and Carthage throws up a 10 spot. Balls were flying out of the park hit 12 inches above the Hands !!! Not a great day to be a Pitcher, but a 2-0 conference start for Carthage none the less.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 03, 2010, 02:03:01 PM
Anyone know if Augie has live stats or a radio broadcast?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 04, 2010, 01:36:13 AM
Wild weekend series between North Park and North Central. Definitely not a pitchers' duel. Game 1 was 19-13. Game 2 was 20-13, and Game 3 was 11-1. North Central won 2 of the 3.

On top of this, NCC's Head Coach John Fitzgerald got ejected in the second game of Friday's doubleheader at North Park, then he charged and bumped the umpire a few times from what people said. He's been suspended for 3 games is what one of those present told me Saturday. Not a smart move on his part, I'm afraid.

In Saturday's game, North Park Head Coach Luke Johnson got the boot by the plate umpire for arguing a double play interference call it appeared.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2010, 02:38:19 PM
Wheaton @ Carthage is rained out today. If the rest of the CCIW is rained out as well, it could be an interesting weekend with pitching getting thin by Saturday/Sunday's three-game series(provided the games are all made up tomorrow or Thursday).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 06, 2010, 02:44:19 PM
With heavy rains expected again tonight and showers off and on tomorrow morning, I doubt that any games will get in tomorrow at all. Thursday looks like the earliest they'd be able to play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2010, 02:47:23 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 06, 2010, 02:44:19 PM
With heavy rains expected again tonight and showers off and on tomorrow morning, I doubt that any games will get in tomorrow at all. Thursday looks like the earliest they'd be able to play.

If that is the case then many teams will be playing 5 games in four days.... except Wheaton which does not play on Sundays and would play 5 in three days.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 06, 2010, 02:51:01 PM
Well, no one said life was fair. BTW, Thursday is supposed to be colder.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on April 06, 2010, 06:09:30 PM
Augie loses game one of the double header in Bloomington by a score of 9-4. Looks like the 4 errors by Augie were costly as IWU only had 5 hits and put up a 6 spot in the 6th. The Vikings did manage 11 hits for the game but couldn't string them together. Game two is just under way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on April 06, 2010, 08:22:26 PM
Augie wins game two by a score of 10-3. Freshman Kurt Schmidt goes 4 for 6 and Junior Dave Hoffman went 5 for 6. Augie gets 26 hits on the day compared to Wesleyan's 10. Errors killed Augie in the first one. Augie sits at 2-3 in conference and Wesleyan moves to 4-1. Too bad they couldn't have come out of there with a sweep today. Tough to take two at Wesleyan though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 07, 2010, 02:32:07 PM
I think it will be pretty interesting to see what Carthage will do with their pitching rotation if they end up playing today.  With the cancellation of yesterday's games, will they try to bring back Perez or Danly against a more potent Wheaton offense, or will they save them for the weekend series against IWU?  I have to believe Wheaton will throw whoever they feel is their ace, as they are struggling Millikin team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 07, 2010, 02:38:09 PM
I can't see anybody in northern Illinois or southern Wisconsin playing today. It's still raining over this area, the temps are dropping, and things are water-logged. Tomorrow's looking cloudy, cold, windy, and showery.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 07, 2010, 08:01:05 PM
Wheaton 10-runs Carthage today 11-1.  Anybody know when the last time is that Wheaton 10-runned Carthage? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2010, 08:07:59 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 07, 2010, 08:01:05 PM
Wheaton 10-runs Carthage today 11-1.  Anybody know when the last time is that Wheaton 10-runned Carthage? 

With Wheaton's less than stellar baseball history, unless Kolb, et. al., pulled it off last year, whenever it was it was a total fluke. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 07, 2010, 09:23:58 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 07, 2010, 08:01:05 PM
Wheaton 10-runs Carthage today 11-1.  Anybody know when the last time is that Wheaton 10-runned Carthage? 
According to the Carthage archives (http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/yrbyyr2.html), the only time that Wheaton has beaten Carthage by ten or more was in 1987, a 13-2 win at Kenosha on April 4th.  Carthage ended the '87 season at 17-17 and 8-8 in CCIW action.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 07, 2010, 09:34:25 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 07, 2010, 09:23:58 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 07, 2010, 08:01:05 PM
Wheaton 10-runs Carthage today 11-1.  Anybody know when the last time is that Wheaton 10-runned Carthage? 
According to the Carthage archives (http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/mens/baseball/yrbyyr2.html), the only time that Wheaton has beaten Carthage by ten or more was in 1987, a 13-2 win at Kenosha on April 4th.  Carthage ended the '87 season at 17-17 and 8-8 in CCIW action.

Congratulations Coach Driggers!

I had no doubt that he could do it.  :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2010, 03:22:55 PM
Carthage's pitching struggle continue...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 08, 2010, 04:45:11 PM
BigPoppa, not only does Carthage not have a 3, they might not have a 2 either. Playing an IWU offense that has struggled to a .266 team average so far this year, especially in fairly cold conditions in Kenosh this weekend, may be just what they need to turn it around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2010, 05:22:26 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 08, 2010, 04:45:11 PM
BigPoppa, not only does Carthage not have a 3, they might not have a 2 either. Playing an IWU offense that has struggled to a .266 team average so far this year, especially in fairly cold conditions in Kenosh this weekend, may be just what they need to turn it around.

Or perhaps just what IWU needs to turn it around, says the hopeful Titan fan! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 08, 2010, 08:12:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2010, 05:22:26 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 08, 2010, 04:45:11 PM
BigPoppa, not only does Carthage not have a 3, they might not have a 2 either. Playing an IWU offense that has struggled to a .266 team average so far this year, especially in fairly cold conditions in Kenosh this weekend, may be just what they need to turn it around.

Or perhaps just what IWU needs to turn it around, says the hopeful Titan fan! ;)
Not too fast Mr. Ypsi, word around Bloomington is that IWU's best player, Brett Moore is out indefinitely with a dislocated shoulder. A giant blow to a team that appears to be quite thin if you look at their young infielders who have struggled with the bat. But that is why they play the games! Goodluck Titans. Hopefully Martel can pull a rabbit out of his cap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 08, 2010, 08:30:48 PM
The pitching, depth, no doubt, took a hit this year. Eric Rohe coming back will be a big lift this weekend. Another concern is the hitting, and in some cases the ability to score runs. In 5 of the losses there were a grand total of 4 carthage runs scored. Against St. Thomas, they hit the ball but still could'nt score but 1 run. Against Aurora they were 1 hit. I believe there was a total of 4 hits against Wheaton. They tear up the Elmhursts of the world, but seem to have a problem when their facing a good teams #1.

There's still alot of Baseball left 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 09, 2010, 08:57:26 AM
DirtyJersey, how did Brett Moore dislocate his shoulder?  That is a very big blow for the Titans as their lineup was already thin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 09, 2010, 04:46:30 PM
Wheaton lineup continuing to "mash" it.  Up on Millikin 13-5 in the top of the 5th inning of game #1.

Wheaton scored 4 in the 1st, 4 in the 3rd and 4 in the 4th.  Millikin not helping themselves, as they have 6 errors in 5 innings.  Ouch!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 09, 2010, 05:20:23 PM
Really ugly game for the Big Blue.  

8 walks allowed, 7 errors, 2 wild pitches, 1 hit batter, 16 hits allowed.  

Not gonna win too many games with a line like that.  Currently 15-5 Wheaton in the 7th inning.  Wheaton has the based loaded with only 1 out.

Actually... game over.  10 run rule.  Wheaton now 17-4 on the season.

Game 2 to start shortly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 09, 2010, 08:49:16 PM
Millikin rebounds nicely from a horrible first game to split the double header with Wheaton.  Final score was 6-3.  Millikin is now 4-17 overall and 1-6 in the CCIW. 

Wheaton might regret failing to sweep the double header.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 10, 2010, 04:02:21 PM
Wheaton record moves to 18-5 with a 17-4 victory over Millikin on Saturday afternoon.  Pretty winding day, helping lead to 7 Wheaton HRs.

Another solid pitching performance from freshman Trey Martin.  7.0 innings, 8 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO.

Huge games by Charlie Antal and Ryan Miller.  

Antal: 2-4, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs (Grand Slam in 5th)
Miller: 3-5, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs

Pivotal week ahead for Wheaton as they face Carthage & IWU in key series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2010, 09:22:51 PM
Carthage infielder Drew Roberts was hit by a pitch, in the face, in the second inning.  He suffered some broken bones in the nose and cheekbone and will miss the rest of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2010, 07:30:42 AM
North Park swept a pair from Augustana yesterday, 14-3 and 7-2, in Rock Island. Mike Giovenco pitched a complete-game (seven innings) six-hitter in the opener, while Pete Sparacino got the win in the nightcap by only giving up one (unearned) run over eight innings. NPU's Trevor Popp and Devin Melecio had five hits apiece in the doubleheader, and Mike Domenick and Ryan Javech each had four.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on April 11, 2010, 10:46:32 PM
Ok, I have never posted on this baseball board, but I have to ask for anyone that would know the answer...what's with my alma mater, NCC?  They have been embarrassing the last few years in baseball and now this?  Is this a fluke start?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 11, 2010, 10:49:33 PM
No the CCIW guard could be on the change, with NCC leading the way and Wheaton pushing through to the top 2, and watch out for NPU they just swept the Vikings West for the first time since the conference went to the 3 game format.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 11, 2010, 11:08:08 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 11, 2010, 10:49:33 PM
No the CCIW guard could be on the change, with NCC leading the way and Wheaton pushing through to the top 2, and watch out for NPU they just swept the Vikings West for the first time since the conference went to the 3 game format.

Didn't someone say something about Hades freezing over?   :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 11, 2010, 11:19:38 PM
It appears that the Little Brass Bell could be heating up for the baseball side of things!  Wheaton has shown itself to be up and competing well against the top teams each of the last two years, but it's hard to say that NCC hasn't established itself as a contender with an 18-3 record and sweeping Augustana.  I think Augie might have lost a bit from last year, but I would hardly call that a fluke.  It's pretty impressive actually, to make that drastic of a turn around... You don't see it very often.  They would be restoring a sound history of baseball at NCC.  I believe it used to be top notch!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 11, 2010, 11:40:39 PM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on April 11, 2010, 10:46:32 PM
Ok, I have never posted on this baseball board, but I have to ask for anyone that would know the answer...what's with my alma mater, NCC?  They have been embarrassing the last few years in baseball and now this?  Is this a fluke start?

Their head coach appears to have turned things around, but when I was at a recent game, someone there told me he got in serious trouble after his bumping of an umpire on April 2nd. I was told he got suspended for 3 games, but I think that was because the NCAA rule specified a suspension of that length, but this gentleman with whom I was talking told me John's job was in jeopardy for his actions, which apparently weren't his first bad encounter with umpires.

That would be too bad considering his team's performance this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hetfieldisgod88 on April 12, 2010, 02:22:49 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 11, 2010, 11:19:38 PM
It appears that the Little Brass Bell could be heating up for the baseball side of things!  Wheaton has shown itself to be up and competing well against the top teams each of the last two years, but it's hard to say that NCC hasn't established itself as a contender with an 18-3 record and sweeping Augustana.  I think Augie might have lost a bit from last year, but I would hardly call that a fluke.  It's pretty impressive actually, to make that drastic of a turn around... You don't see it very often.  They would be restoring a sound history of baseball at NCC.  I believe it used to be top notch!

NCC did complete a sweep of Elmhurst College this weekend, but I believe yank52 was speaking of the North Park University Vikings completing a sweep of Augustana this weekend in Rock Island.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 08:36:00 AM
NCC (17-3) will have their season decided by how they fare against the "powers" of the CCIW: Carthage, Augustana, IWU and Wheaton.  At this point, they have not played the top half of the CCIW, but still they are playing solid baseball and I am rewarding them by placing them in my poll this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on April 12, 2010, 09:27:53 AM
Article from today's Kenosha News about the Carthage/IWU series. Also, on the front page of D3baseball.com there is a picture of Will Hodges and a recap of the series as well. 

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/hodges_hits_carthage_to_victory_7725648.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2010, 02:02:15 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 11, 2010, 11:19:38 PM
It appears that the Little Brass Bell could be heating up for the baseball side of things!  Wheaton has shown itself to be up and competing well against the top teams each of the last two years, but it's hard to say that NCC hasn't established itself as a contender with an 18-3 record and sweeping Augustana.  I think Augie might have lost a bit from last year, but I would hardly call that a fluke.  It's pretty impressive actually, to make that drastic of a turn around... You don't see it very often.  They would be restoring a sound history of baseball at NCC.  I believe it used to be top notch!

North Central hasn't played Augie yet. As hetfieldisgod88 pointed out, it was North Park that swept Augie this past weekend.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 08:36:00 AM
NCC (17-3) will have their season decided by how they fare against the "powers" of the CCIW: Carthage, Augustana, IWU and Wheaton.  At this point, they have not played the top half of the CCIW, but still they are playing solid baseball and I am rewarding them by placing them in my poll this week.

At this point, I don't think you can say that Augustana is a "power" in the CCIW. Nor is it in the top half of the league:

team  CCIW  overall
North Central  7-1  18-3
Wheaton  5-2  18-5
North Park  5-2  16-7
Carthage  5-2  13-8
Ill. Wesleyan  5-3  10-11
Augustana  2-6  14-8
Millikin  1-7   4-18
Elmhurst  0-7   3-16

North Central has played one team that's currently in the top half of the CCIW, North Park.

It's still too early to say anything definitive, but yank52 could be right about the CCIW having a changing of the guard this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 02:53:07 PM
I agree about Augustna not being much of a "power" right now, but they are still only two weeks removed from being nationally ranked.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 12, 2010, 03:36:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 02:53:07 PM
I agree about Augustna not being much of a "power" right now, but they are still only two weeks removed from being nationally ranked.

True enough about being 2 weeks removed national ranking, but early season rankings often are skewed by previous year performance and expectations.  Most years there are a couple of teams in the top 25 of any D3 sport early in the season that do not live up to the ranking. So the question at this point is:

Is Augie truly a contender for the 2010 season or is it based more on their 2009 season and who they had returning for 2010?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 03:38:48 PM
They were not in anyone's pre-season poll, but a 12-0 start quickly changed that. I had them 4th/5th in the CCIW in my preview.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 12, 2010, 05:06:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 03:38:48 PM
They were not in anyone's pre-season poll, but a 12-0 start quickly changed that. I had them 4th/5th in the CCIW in my preview.

Thanks for the clarification.  I'm newer to the CCIW BB scene, since Wheaton has actually had teams worth following for the past few seasons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2010, 06:57:55 PM
Quote from: Mugsy on April 12, 2010, 05:06:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2010, 03:38:48 PM
They were not in anyone's pre-season poll, but a 12-0 start quickly changed that. I had them 4th/5th in the CCIW in my preview.

Thanks for the clarification.  I'm newer to the CCIW BB scene, since Wheaton has actually had teams worth following for the past few seasons.

The master of understatement.  Until a couple of years ago, Wheaton had THE worst baseball program in the conference.

It's interesting how the richest school in the CCIW could turn things around so quickly once they decided to.  Did you outbid the Yankees for some of the players? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 12, 2010, 10:20:10 PM
Thanks for correcting me folks.  Apparently I got in a bit of a rush.  Funny joke, Mr. Ypsi.  You might also be interested to know that the change in the Wheaton baseball program had nothing to do with money, but a change in culture of the team.  But, I guess if you'd prefer your money theory you can go for it... just know that money had literally ZERO to do with what's happened with Wheaton baseball, although it could be a part of what takes Wheaton to the next level.  Driggers was a great hire for Wheaton, and it was exactly when they needed a guy like him.  It'd be interesting to see if IWU or Carthage could maintain their "power" in D3 if they didn't have the facilities they have.  While facilities aren't everything, it does mean something...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on April 12, 2010, 10:21:33 PM
Wheaton usually (meaning the past 5 years) had good incoming freshman...they just didn't last long because they did not want to deal with Coach Elder.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 13, 2010, 12:18:37 AM
Wow, that's a bold statement General Public.  I'd be interested to hear where you get your information to make such a broad generalization.  Regardless, Coach Elder was still the person that turned the program around...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on April 13, 2010, 12:34:10 AM
Not bold. Very truthful. Many of the talented players that left Wheaton were due to having problems him.  Elder did play a key role in turning the program around but players win games, not coaches.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 13, 2010, 12:45:53 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 13, 2010, 12:18:37 AM
Wow, that's a bold statement General Public.  I'd be interested to hear where you get your information to make such a broad generalization.  Regardless, Coach Elder was still the person that turned the program around...
\

You must be related to him
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 13, 2010, 01:25:40 AM
Quote from: The General Public on April 13, 2010, 12:34:10 AM
Not bold. Very truthful. Many of the talented players that left Wheaton were due to having problems him.  Elder did play a key role in turning the program around but players win games, not coaches.

But when the teams lose, the coaches are the first to go. One need only to look at Brian Michalak and Clark Jones of North Central College and Elmhurst College, respectively. Both got the axe when their teams piled up too many losses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 13, 2010, 04:23:56 AM
First of all I want to be the first to congratulate Wheaton for cracking the Top 25 for the first time in program history and being the only ranked CCIW team this week at #24.

That being said this is not the week to rest on their laurels because it's moving week in the CCIW.  We're going to have a lot better picture of the contenders after this week shakes out.  Here's this week's conference schedule:

April 14
Illinois Wesleyan @ Augie 7 PM
Wheaton @ Carthage (DH) Noon
North Park @ Elmhurst (DH) 1 PM
Millikin @ North Central 2 PM

April 16
Illinois Wesleyan @ Wheaton 5 PM

April 17
Augie @ Elmhurst 1 PM
Carthage @ North Central (DH) Noon
Wheaton @ Illinois Wesleyan 1 PM
Millikin @ North Park 1 PM

April 18
Elmhurst @ Augie 1 PM
North Central @ Carthage 1 PM
Millikin @ North Park Noon


It looks like it's gonna be Johnny Wholestaff on the hill for the Thunder this week with five conference games in four days.  This might be a case where they might be hoping for rain one to take care of one of those doubleheaders.

Touching on the Augie subject that was brought up several posts up...after seeing all three games of the Wheaton-Augie doubleheader you can definitely see the talent for the Vikings.  However 12-2 nonconference is a completely different horse than this year's CCIW.  As young as they are it's impressive that they had that kind of start and they're definitely going to be a team to look out for next year but I see them fading more and more as the season goes on.  I wouldn't be shocked to see Elmhurst break into the conference win column this weekend.

Also, we're finally going to see what North Central really has this week.  They've been bottom feeders so far this year but they're going into a brutal stretch now where they face Carthage, Wheaton, Augie, and Wesleyan in the next four weekends.  I think their bats are ready for the test but it's their arms that are gonna be put to the fire in the next month.

I'd have to trust some of you more experienced posters but I'm not sure the CCIW has seen a week like this in a long time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on April 13, 2010, 10:30:27 AM
Since it is farily evident that The General Public is either a friend, family member, or even a player involved in the mass exodus of players during the Coach Elder era at Wheaton, it is pretty safe to say his opinion is very tainted. 

I will tell you this, and I know warrior can back me up, that I am 100% sure that Wheaton's recent success... and especially the 2008 team that finally cracked 20 wins... would have never reached the level it's at had the "talented" freshman never quit.  I am friends personally with a few of the guys that quit the team, and I mean absolutely no slight towards them personally, because I think they are great guys, but it takes a certain type of attitude to buy into a program, regardless of whether you are a fan of the coach or not.  That is what the 2008 team had with Coach Elder, and it only continues to grow stronger with Coach Driggers.  I'll be the first to admit that I was not a big fan of Coach Elder, but every single player on that team bought into the program and each other, and that plus the talent we had is exactly what the Coach Elder teams in the past were missing.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2010, 10:43:43 AM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 13, 2010, 04:23:56 AM
I'd have to trust some of you more experienced posters but I'm not sure the CCIW has seen a week like this in a long time.

Only EVERY time it rains. The cold-weather school really get exposed with lack of pitching depth if it rains. I can remember a time when we played six DHs in 7 days... all of them were CCIW games after a ton of rain.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2010, 12:33:21 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 13, 2010, 04:23:56 AMAlso, we're finally going to see what North Central really has this week.  They've been bottom feeders so far this year

???

North Central swept a two-game series with Franklin, which is 15-7 and in second place in the HCAC. The Cardinals also took two out of three from North Park, which is 16-7 and tied for second in the CCIW. No, it's not as though the Cards have played a sked of Carthage's caliber, but to call them "bottom feeders" is incorrect.

Quote from: thunder38illini on April 13, 2010, 04:23:56 AM
April 17
Augie @ Elmhurst 1 PM
Carthage @ North Central (DH) Noon
Wheaton @ Illinois Wesleyan 1 PM
Millikin @ North Park 1 PM

According to the CCIW website and the websites of each of the home teams, all four of these meetings will be doubleheaders, not just Carthage @ NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2010, 02:41:23 PM
Carthage up 4-1 in 3rd inning on Wheaton in game one of a DH today.

Live stats: http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/livestats/xlive.htm (http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/livestats/xlive.htm)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 14, 2010, 03:43:10 PM
Norfrank, no I am not related to Coach Elder.  But, I am a Wheaton alum and couldn't be happier to see where the baseball program has progressed to.

It's very interesting to me that so many people blame things on Coach Elder.  It's also funny that people had so many "problems" with him, as if he was such an offensive personality.  All he ever asked of people was that they give their best effort and to be humble enough to be willing to change.  It tended to be the people that either didn't want to work hard, or the people that refused to change and buy into the system that left.  Which is fine by anyone in association with the Wheaton baseball program.  The reason why Wheaton is successful is because they finally got a group of guys that is collectively willing to work hard enough to be successful and is selfless enough to pour into their team and become better men.  There were a lot of men in the Wheaton baseball program that exemplified exactly what Wheaton baseball was trying to become, but it was the people in the program that weren't buying in that were holding the success of the program back, not Coach Elder.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 14, 2010, 05:47:16 PM
Warrior, agree to disagree on just about everyone one of your points.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 14, 2010, 07:25:11 PM
anyone have an update from Naperville?  live stats froze in the top of the 9th with a runner on third and one out. tied at 12
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 14, 2010, 07:48:37 PM
From Elmhurst
Game 1: Elmhurst knocks off North Park 15-5

Cody Boals with the win.   Homers by Kerr and Landis for the Blue Jays

From Kenosha
Game 1: Carthage beats Wheaton 11-1
Game 2: Wheaton beats Carthage 14-5

Eric Albaugh won both games in the series for the Thunder
Thunder Homers: Zeller, Weaver
Red Men Homers: Tavs, Soderlund, Kazlowski, Whately
Chad Ori with the win in game one.

In Naperville
Millikin knocks off North Central 16-13.

Updated CCIW standings pending the second game of the Elmhurst/North Park DH and the IWU/Augie game tonight

North Central 7-2  18-4
Wheaton 6-3    19-6
Carthage 6-3    14-9
North Park 5-3    16-9
Illinois Wesleyan 5-3     10-11
Augustana 2-6    14-8
Millikin 2-7     6-18
Elmhurst 1-7    4-16
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 14, 2010, 10:08:43 PM
Norfrank, since you seem to have so much knowledge on the topic, I would love if you would enlighten us.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 14, 2010, 10:53:44 PM
Any updates in Rock Island? Live stats is frozen heading to the top of the 10th tied at 8 apiece.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 14, 2010, 11:08:03 PM
nvm unfrozen...Augie wins 9-8 on a walkoff single
North Park and Elmhurst split their doubleheader

North Central  7-2  18-4
Wheaton 6-3  19-6
Carthage 6-3  14-9
North Park 6-3  17-9
IWU 5-4  10-12
Augustana 3-6  15-8
Millikin 2-7  6-18
Elmhurst 1-8  4-17
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 15, 2010, 01:18:12 AM
warrior, agree to disagree means just that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 08:03:25 AM
Quote from: sherlockholmes on April 14, 2010, 11:08:03 PM
North Central  7-2  18-4
Wheaton 6-3  19-6
Carthage 6-3  14-9
North Park 6-3  17-9
IWU 5-4  10-12
Augustana 3-6  15-8
Millikin 2-7  6-18
Elmhurst 1-8  4-17
The CCIW is very balanced this year. The bad thing is that it will probably leave them with only a Pool A bid as beating each other up really hurts the chances of a second bid (see the ASC for an example).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 15, 2010, 08:33:00 AM
North Central really let an opportunity slip away to the Big Blue yesterday in Naperville. Looks like they made it a staff day throwing a number of pitchers in the game. Not sure why they would do that in a conference game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 08:41:14 AM
Quote from: cardsalum on April 15, 2010, 08:33:00 AM
North Central really let an opportunity slip away to the Big Blue yesterday in Naperville. Looks like they made it a staff day throwing a number of pitchers in the game. Not sure why they would do that in a conference game.

That one loss to Millikin could come back to haunt them in the end. They now start a tough run in the CCIW with teams that are right on their heels.

It is nice to NCC back in the mix. We had many, many tough battles with them when I played and we were both nationally ranked almost every time we met. We (carthage) lost to NCC 5 of 7 times in '94... they really had our number that season and both teams made it to the NCAA regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 15, 2010, 09:57:16 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 08:41:14 AM
Quote from: cardsalum on April 15, 2010, 08:33:00 AM
North Central really let an opportunity slip away to the Big Blue yesterday in Naperville. Looks like they made it a staff day throwing a number of pitchers in the game. Not sure why they would do that in a conference game.

That one loss to Millikin could come back to haunt them in the end. They now start a tough run in the CCIW with teams that are right on their heels.

It is nice to NCC back in the mix. We had many, many tough battles with them when I played and we were both nationally ranked almost every time we met. We (carthage) lost to NCC 5 of 7 times in '94... they really had our number that season and both teams made it to the NCAA regional.
I've been watching this team for the past few years now and this is as balanced a lineup as I've seen on the field. Robinson has been great in the lead off and the middle of the order can really hit the ball. This weekend should make for a very exciting series. Good Luck Big Poppa
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 10:32:53 AM
You going to be in attendance this weekend Big Poppa for this huge series between the ncc and carthage?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 10:36:23 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 10:32:53 AM
You going to be in attendance this weekend Big Poppa for this huge series between the ncc and carthage?

I wish... the seven hour drive (one way)would be the death of me:( I saw Carthage in the metrodome a few weeks ago. It was nice to see the Redmen swing it a bit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 10:41:37 AM
Can't wait to see the two big horse go at it Kloss and Perez.  Should make for a great game 1.  What you got for you prediction in the series Poppa.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 10:48:37 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 10:41:37 AM
What you got for you prediction in the series Poppa.   

That is a tough call. NCC is a hard team to figure out. They have not played a very tough schedule to this point so I am struggling to determine if they are a contender or a pretender. This weekend will go a long way in helping sort out the CCIW for more than just Carthage and NCC. I think we are most likely to see Carthage take 2 of 3 this weekend and I would be shocked of NCC swept the Redmen. Conversely, I would not be surprised at all to see Carthage sweep the Cards.

In order of possibility:
1. Carthage takes 2 of 3
2. Carthage sweeps
3. NCC takes 2 of 3
4. NCC sweeps Carthage


I do not mean to sound down on NCC, I just really have a feeling that Carthage is going to break out this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 07:35:57 PM
With 3 series down and 4 to go we are at the midpoint of the CCIW.  Before the start of this big weekend I want to hear some predictions for the final regular season standings.  Here are mine:

1. North Central
2. Carthage
3. Wheaton
4. North Park
5. IWU
6. Augustana
7. Millikin
8. Elmhurst 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 15, 2010, 10:23:37 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 15, 2010, 07:35:57 PM
With 3 series down and 4 to go we are at the midpoint of the CCIW.  Before the start of this big weekend I want to hear some predictions for the final regular season standings.  Here are mine:

1. North Central
2. Carthage
3. Wheaton
4. North Park
5. IWU
6. Augustana
7. Millikin
8. Elmhurst 

Jigsaw, I hate to rain on the NCC parade, however, NCC still has to play the 4 best teams in the cciw, according to preseason polls and common knowledge. Kloss, Arenson, and Robinson are fine ballplayers. At best NCC takes 2 out of 3 from Augie and IWU. AT BEST! Kloss is a big game pitcher who will face every teams ace. I do not think he will go 4-0, leading me to believe that NCC only has a chance to win the series or 2 that Kloss wins. Goodluck to NCC because I would love some shakeup in the conference...I just don't think it will happen.

prediction
1. Carthage
2. Wheaton
3. NCC
4. IWU

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2010, 10:28:24 PM
1. Wheaton
2. Carthage
3. IWU
4. NCC/NPU
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: letsplay2 on April 15, 2010, 10:53:14 PM
My predictions:

Wheaton
Carthage
North Park
Augie
North Central
Wesleyan
Millikin
Elmhurst

My thoughts...

-Wheaton's series win against Carthage was huge.  They should be able to take care of business against the lower half of the conference.

-I see North Park and North Central as very similar teams.  They can both swing it, but will struggle on the mound.  The only difference between the two is that the top end of North Park's rotation is much stronger.

-Augie just sneaks into the tourny field thanks to second half series' against Elmhurst and Millikin.

-The downfall of North Central will be their pitching staff.  Their bats will keep them in most games, but they don't have enough solid arms to outlast Wheaton, Carthage, and Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2010, 09:17:51 AM
Personally, I would be shocked if NCC is able to make it to the conference tournament.  My predictions:

1.) Wheaton
2.) Carthage
3.) IWU
4.) NPU
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2010, 09:25:56 AM
Weekend matchups:

*Carthage/North Central- Carthage takes 2 of 3 (NCC's bubble bursts this weekend and Carthage gets back in the race)
*Augustana/Elmhurst - Augustana sweeps (Augie has to win all three in order to even consider the CCIW tourney)
*Millikin/North Park- NPU takes 2 of 3 (NPU is a bit inconsistent right now... it surfaces again this weekend as they drop one to a struggling Millikin squad)
*Wheaton/Illinois Wesleyan- IWU takes 2 of 3 (Does anyone really think that there will be a CCIW tourney without IWU?)

If this all goes as I plan, it will create quite a log jam in the standings. It would make it a six-team race with a heck of a finish on the horizon. Here is what it would look like:

North Central 8-4
NPU- 8-4
Carthage 8-4
Wheaton 7-5
Illinois Wesleyan 7-5
Augustana 6-6
Millikin 3-9
Elmhurst 1-11









Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 16, 2010, 09:47:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 16, 2010, 09:25:56 AM
Weekend matchups:

*Carthage/North Central- Carthage takes 2 of 3 (NCC's bubble bursts this weekend and Carthage gets back in the race)
*Augustana/Elmhurst - Augustana sweeps (Augie has to win all three in order to even consider the CCIW tourney)
*Millikin/North Park- NPU takes 2 of 3 (NPU is a bit inconsistent right now... it surfaces again this weekend as they drop one to a struggling Millikin squad)
*Wheaton/Illinois Wesleyan- IWU takes 2 of 3 (Does anyone really think that there will be a CCIW tourney without IWU?)

If this all goes as I plan, it will create quite a log jam in the standings. It would make it a six-team race with a heck of a finish on the horizon. Here is what it would look like:
North Central 8-4
Wheaton (Ill.) 7-5
NPU- 7-5
Carthage 7-5
Illinois Wesleyan 7-5
Augustana 6-6
Millikin 3-9
Elmhurst 1-11












Poppa wouldn't that make NPU 8-4 and Carthage 8-4 as well
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2010, 09:52:53 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 16, 2010, 09:47:54 AM
Poppa wouldn't that make NPU 8-4 and Carthage 8-4 as well

Yes it would, thank for catching my error. That makes the CCIW even more jumbled.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 15, 2010, 10:23:37 PM
Jigsaw, I hate to rain on the NCC parade, however, NCC still has to play the 4 best teams in the cciw, according to preseason polls and common knowledge.

Only one of the five people who have posted their predictions of the final standings here over the past 24 hours has picked Augustana to make the playoffs, so it would seem that Augie's status as one of the four best teams in the CCIW is not "common knowledge" after all. In fact, you didn't pick Augie to finish in the top four, either, which means that you're contradicting yourself.

It's also interesting to note that two of the five prognosticators didn't pick Illinois Wesleyan to finish in the top four, either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 16, 2010, 02:49:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 15, 2010, 10:23:37 PM
Jigsaw, I hate to rain on the NCC parade, however, NCC still has to play the 4 best teams in the cciw, according to preseason polls and common knowledge.

Only one of the five people who have posted their predictions of the final standings here over the past 24 hours has picked Augustana to make the playoffs, so it would seem that Augie's status as one of the four best teams in the CCIW is not "common knowledge" after all. In fact, you didn't pick Augie to finish in the top four, either, which means that you're contradicting yourself.

It's also interesting to note that two of the five prognosticators didn't pick Illinois Wesleyan to finish in the top four, either.
Augustana is still one of the four most talented ballclubs in the cciw. They will swing the bats every time they play, however, they have dug themselves in a hole too deep to climb out of. They are still a very dangerous team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 03:29:40 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 16, 2010, 02:49:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 15, 2010, 10:23:37 PM
Jigsaw, I hate to rain on the NCC parade, however, NCC still has to play the 4 best teams in the cciw, according to preseason polls and common knowledge.

Only one of the five people who have posted their predictions of the final standings here over the past 24 hours has picked Augustana to make the playoffs, so it would seem that Augie's status as one of the four best teams in the CCIW is not "common knowledge" after all. In fact, you didn't pick Augie to finish in the top four, either, which means that you're contradicting yourself.

It's also interesting to note that two of the five prognosticators didn't pick Illinois Wesleyan to finish in the top four, either.
Augustana is still one of the four most talented ballclubs in the cciw. They will swing the bats every time they play, however, they have dug themselves in a hole too deep to climb out of. They are still a very dangerous team.

???

Augustana is sixth in runs scored, sixth in OBP, sixth in BA, seventh in slugging, and seventh in homers. "They will swing the bats every time they play"? If anything, it's Augie's pitching that is keeping it out of the bottom of the standings. (Augie's also dead last in fielding percentage.)

Last weekend Augie was swept in its own ballpark by a North Park team that you say is not one of the four most talented ballclubs in the CCIW. Only one of those three losses was close, and Augie was outscored by a combined tally of 26-11 in the series. And keep in mind that, as letsplay2 said, NPU has struggled on the mound since CCIW play began.

You say that Augie is one of the four best teams in the league. I say that they should prove it first.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2010, 03:53:17 PM
Now, Greg, be fair.  He said they will swing the bats - he didn't say they'd connect! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 16, 2010, 03:57:29 PM
great research greg
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 16, 2010, 04:02:29 PM
I'm going to go ahead and give this a shot...

CCIW Seeds for the tourney:
1.) Wheaton
2.) Carthage
3.) IWU
4.) NCC

Results for this weekend:
Wheaton vs. IWU - Wheaton takes 2 of 3 (this will probably come down to how the freshmen pitch for the Thunder, but I think they get one at home and one away, it's a rarity for IWU to get swept at home)
Augustana vs. Elmhurst - Augie sweeps
Carthage vs. NCC - Carthage takes 2 of 3 (Carthage's pitching is really going to need to step it up to do this though! NCC is hitting .381 and averaging almost 13 runs a game in conference, while Carthage has a measly 8.04 ERA in conference)
North Park vs. Millikin - North Park takes 2 of 3 (Millikin seems to get one good start a series from one of their pitchers, the question is which one? and will the defense back them up?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Thundersticks on April 16, 2010, 07:10:47 PM
Agree with your projected order of finish assuming no major injuries around the conference. Wheaton and IW tied at 5 after three and half at Alexian.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 16, 2010, 08:32:45 PM
IWU beat Wheaton 9-5 tonight
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 16, 2010, 08:36:44 PM
Anybody at the Wheaton vs. IWU game that can explain what happened in the Top of the 9th?  Sounded like a mess...

Wheaton wasn't able to take advantage of several big chances and apparently got some really bad breaks late in the game.  IWU is tough at home, but we'll see if Wheaton can't bounce back and get a couple.

IWU's pitcher seemed to have a pretty good day, several K's on the day... although he did give up 12 hits, but he managed to get out of the tightest of the jams.

IWU 9 Wheaton 5 final
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 17, 2010, 12:15:22 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 03:29:40 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 16, 2010, 02:49:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2010, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 15, 2010, 10:23:37 PM
Jigsaw, I hate to rain on the NCC parade, however, NCC still has to play the 4 best teams in the cciw, according to preseason polls and common knowledge.

Only one of the five people who have posted their predictions of the final standings here over the past 24 hours has picked Augustana to make the playoffs, so it would seem that Augie's status as one of the four best teams in the CCIW is not "common knowledge" after all. In fact, you didn't pick Augie to finish in the top four, either, which means that you're contradicting yourself.

It's also interesting to note that two of the five prognosticators didn't pick Illinois Wesleyan to finish in the top four, either.
Augustana is still one of the four most talented ballclubs in the cciw. They will swing the bats every time they play, however, they have dug themselves in a hole too deep to climb out of. They are still a very dangerous team.

???

Augustana is sixth in runs scored, sixth in OBP, sixth in BA, seventh in slugging, and seventh in homers. "They will swing the bats every time they play"? If anything, it's Augie's pitching that is keeping it out of the bottom of the standings. (Augie's also dead last in fielding percentage.)

Last weekend Augie was swept in its own ballpark by a North Park team that you say is not one of the four most talented ballclubs in the CCIW. Only one of those three losses was close, and Augie was outscored by a combined tally of 26-11 in the series. And keep in mind that, as letsplay2 said, NPU has struggled on the mound since CCIW play began.

You say that Augie is one of the four best teams in the league. I say that they should prove it first.
Well done research. In my defense Augustana's pitching is 1st in CCIW play and the 3 teams they have played (IWU, Wheaton and NPU) are 2nd 3rd and 4th in pitching coming into the weekend. Maybe their bats will heat up?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on April 17, 2010, 12:26:58 AM
Diry Jersey....it's clear you are an Augustana homer.  I'm sure everybody appreciates your input but we need to be realistic here....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 17, 2010, 02:02:27 PM
At the NCC vs Carthage double header ... Umpires over an hour late ... wonder what type of factor this could be
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 17, 2010, 03:11:50 PM
Pitchers duel thus far between Wheaton & IWU in game 1.  6 hits combined (3 each) with IWU leading 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 17, 2010, 04:55:33 PM
watching via live stats
Ill Wes 6  Wheaton 3 final
Carthage took the lead 13 to 8 vs NCC in the 8th
NPU tied Millikin 5 to 5 in 11th but live stat down , what the ?

I saw the predictions earlier but I don't see either Ill Wes being there in the end, for the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 17, 2010, 06:12:27 PM
Wheaton up over IWU 1-0 in the 7th inning of the 3rd game of the series.  IWU wins the first 2 games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 17, 2010, 06:46:10 PM
Wheaton up 8-1 in the 8th (IWU leads series 2-0)
North Park up 4-1 in the 5th (Millikin leads series 1-0)
Augie wins game 1 10-7...no live stats
North Central and Carthage tied 1-1 in the 3rd (North Central leads series 1-0)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 17, 2010, 07:16:00 PM
Wheaton salvages the third game of the series behind a strong pitching performance by senior John Little.  Little goes 8 innings allowed only 1 on 5 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2. The Thunder offense took out some frustration on the IWU pitching staff pounding out 20 hits en route to a 12-1 victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 17, 2010, 08:30:50 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 17, 2010, 02:02:27 PM
At the NCC vs Carthage double header ... Umpires over an hour late ... wonder what type of factor this could be

That's what happens when their head coach runs a reputable umpires association out of town and decides to go with a buddy to assign games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 17, 2010, 08:32:26 PM
Quote from: yank52 on April 17, 2010, 04:55:33 PM
watching via live stats
Ill Wes 6  Wheaton 3 final
Carthage took the lead 13 to 8 vs NCC in the 8th
NPU tied Millikin 5 to 5 in 11th but live stat down , what the ?

I saw the predictions earlier but I don't see either Ill Wes being there in the end, for the conference tourney.

NPU sweeps doubleheader over Millikin. First game won in 11 innings, second game a pounding over Millikin. Final game of the series tomorrow at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2010, 08:44:05 PM
Quote from: sherlockholmes on April 17, 2010, 06:46:10 PM
North Park up 4-1 in the 5th (Millikin leads series 1-0)

Wrong. NPU beat Millikin in eleven innings in the opener, 6-5, and then romped to a 9-2 win in the nightcap. The Vikings pounded out thirty hits on the day, thirteen in the first game and seventeen in the second.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on April 17, 2010, 08:53:26 PM
my apologies got some bad info...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 17, 2010, 09:25:44 PM
Recap of today ....

~ Augustana sweeps Elmhurst today which is expected and keeps alive their CCIW tournament hopes
~ Wheaton and Wesleyan split today and give IWU a 2 to 1 series win
~ North Park sweeps Millikin with an extra innings win to keep pace
~ North Central takes one and makes huge statement with 6 run 9th inning to win 14 - 13

Updated CCIW standings

1) North Central   8-2  (19-4)
2) North Park       8-3  (19-9)
3) Carthage         6-4  (14-10)
4) Ill. Wesleyan   7-5   (12-13)
5) Wheaton         7-5   (20-8)
6) Augustana       5-6   (18-8)
7) Millikin            2-9   (6-20)
8) Elmhurst         1-10  (4-19)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2010, 08:26:24 AM
The second game of the Carthage @ NCC doubleheader was suspended on account of darkness in the middle of the seventh inning with Carthage leading, 10-7. It will be continued up in Kenosha today prior to the start of the scheduled third game of the series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 18, 2010, 10:06:39 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2010, 08:26:24 AM
The second game of the Carthage @ NCC doubleheader was suspended on account of darkness in the middle of the seventh inning with Carthage leading, 10-7. It will be continued up in Kenosha today prior to the start of the scheduled third game of the series.

After yesterday's wild occurrence in Naperville, there are going to be a lot of eyes on what's happening in Kenosha today
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 18, 2010, 11:12:32 AM
What "wild occurrence" are you referring to?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2010, 04:24:30 PM
He probably means NCC's six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to beat Carthage, 14-13. Carthage finished last night's suspended game with a win this afternoon, 11-7. The Cardinals and Red Men are currently playing the rubber game of that series up in Kenosha.

North Park downed Millikin today, 8-6, to sweep the season series over the Big Blue. Jake Hollinshead ran his record to 6-1, and the Vikings got dingers from Ryan Javech, Zach Deutscher, and Devin Melecio.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2010, 05:42:31 PM
Looks like some of you have underestimated North Central. The Cards beat Carthage up in Kenosha this afternoon, 7-4, to take two out of three from the Red Men.

Also, Elmhurst returned the favor to Augustana for Augie's sweep in Elmhurst yesterday by beating Augie, 12-8, in Rock Island today.

Updated standings:

team  CCIW  overall  series remaining
North Central   9-3  20-5  vs. Wheaton (AHH), vs. Augie (AAH), vs. IWU (HHA)
North Park   9-3   20-9  vs. IWU (AAA), vs. Wheaton (HHA), vs. Carthage (AHH)
Wheaton  7-5  20-8  vs. NCC (HAA), vs. NPU (AAH), vs. Elmhurst (HAA)
Carthage   7-5  15-11  vs. Augie (HHH), vs. Millikin (AAA), vs. NPU (HAA)
Ill. Wesleyan  7-5  12-13  vs. NPU (HHH), vs. Elmhurst (AHH), vs. NCC (AAH)
Augustana   5-7   18-9  vs. Carthage (AAA), vs. NCC (HHA), vs. Millikin (HHH)
Millikin   2-10     6-21  vs. Elmhurst (HHH), vs. Carthage (HHH), vs. Augie (AAA)
Elmhurst   2-10    5-19  vs. Millikin (AAA), vs. IWU (HAA), vs. Wheaton (AHH)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2010, 07:45:09 PM
Should be an interesting conclusion to the conference race, as the leaders (NCC and NPU) are the only contenders for the tourney who do NOT have a series remaining against Elmhurst or Millikin.

Next weekend, the bottom-dwellers face each other, while the six contenders battle it out.  Augie plays all three in Kenosha, which could all-but-eliminate them if they can't play well on the road.  NPU plays all three in Bloomington, which could really dent the Titans or really muddy the standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 18, 2010, 08:10:22 PM
Wow, I didn't get a single series prediction right.  I think it bodes well to the CCIW that it's so unpredictable.  If you let down for a single game you will get beaten by anybody in the conference.  Gotta love CCIW baseball!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2010, 08:34:48 AM
Carthage's pitching is killing them for the first time in a long time. Teams are hitting .305 against them and they have 5.63 ERA. WOW! Hard to win games that way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2010, 10:29:57 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 16, 2010, 09:25:56 AM
Weekend matchups:

*Carthage/North Central- Carthage takes 2 of 3 (NCC's bubble bursts this weekend and Carthage gets back in the race) NCC takes 2 of 3... Carthage's bullpen killed themin game one as they blew a 5 run lead in the 9th
*Augustana/Elmhurst - Augustana sweeps (Augie has to win all three in order to even consider the CCIW tourney) Augie takes 2 of3 Missed by a game
*Millikin/North Park- NPU takes 2 of 3 (NPU is a bit inconsistent right now... it surfaces again this weekend as they drop one to a struggling Millikin squad) NPU sweeps Millining... missed again.
*Wheaton/Illinois Wesleyan- IWU takes 2 of 3 (Does anyone really think that there will be a CCIW tourney without IWU?) IWU takes 2 of 3 I got that one right!



This is going to be a heck of a finish in the CCIW!!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2010, 12:04:52 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.

Carthage has very little pitching this year and Wheaton is a solid team that has been ranked a little bit this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 19, 2010, 12:50:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2010, 12:04:52 PM

Carthage has very little pitching this year and Wheaton is a solid team that has been ranked a little bit this year.

Many have credited the 7 - 5 CCIW start to Carthage as a direct result of  their pitching.  However talking to on of my sources who were in Wisconsin yesterday for the North Central 7 - 4 victory over the Redmen said otherwise.  Carthage pitching looked relatively strong with Ruffie coming back and throwing 3 innings in game 2 and just not getting touched.  In game three Rohe and Arenson both scattered 13 hits a piece with Arenson giving up four runs through 7 and 2/3 and Rohe giving up six though 6 innings.

In the 8th inning North Central had bases loaded 0 outs and didn't score and then again runner on 3rd one out in the 9th and didn't score so Carthage pitching held them down.  I think at some point you need to really tip your cap to the North Central hitting because these were solid pitchers that were getting hit. 

However, the difference in this game was defense.  Carthage made crucial errors in both game one and game three which cost them the game.  A routine double play was booted in game one which allowed for the 6 run ninth inning. Then in game three there was 2 outs runner on first ground ball to the third baseman over throw then when the runner came around to try to score the ball was thrown in the dugout allowing a second run to score which proved pivotal late in the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2010, 01:04:12 PM
My comments were directed to more than just last weekend regarding Carthage. Pitching has been the achilles heel of Carthage all year to this point. Their 5.63 ERA is about 2 runs higher than it normally is.

It was in no way meant to slight a solid NCC team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 01:17:35 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.

You should, Mark. The Vikings are a lot of fun to watch. They have solid hitting up and down the lineup, and they have a knack for getting themselves into trouble and then finding a way to pull out of it, which makes them an exciting (albeit occasionally frustrating) team to watch. Plus, NPU's #1 starter, Mike Giovenco, was a 26th-round draft pick of your Twinkies last year. He has major-league scouts regularly showing up to watch his starts, and he mows down a lot of hitters with his 96 mph fastball. He's struck out 64 batters in 54 innings pitched this year, including 13 on Saturday against Millikin, and he has 200 career K's -- second on North Park's all-time list -- with part of his junior season still remaining.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 01:27:54 PM
Has anyone found out what the big "incident" was at Saturday's game 1 of Carthage @ North Central? I'm not referring to the umpires being late, but one of my friends who went to the game and himself arrived late said there was some big "mess" that occurred.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 19, 2010, 03:07:37 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 01:27:54 PM
Has anyone found out what the big "incident" was at Saturday's game 1 of Carthage @ North Central? I'm not referring to the umpires being late, but one of my friends who went to the game and himself arrived late said there was some big "mess" that occurred.

The big mess was the fact that North Central rallied to put up a 6 spot on the Red Men in the 9th inning in route to victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 03:15:16 PM
Ah, OK. For a minute there I thought it might have involved NCC's head coach. I know he was riding the plate ump a lot in game 1, and I figured he might have gotten tossed again, or worse, bumped yet another umpire.   :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 19, 2010, 04:13:35 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 03:15:16 PM
Ah, OK. For a minute there I thought it might have involved NCC's head coach. I know he was riding the plate ump a lot in game 1, and I figured he might have gotten tossed again, or worse, bumped yet another umpire.   :D

Quite the contrary actually.  Carthage's head coach thought he was getting squeezed by the home plate umpire and made a rare appearance outside the dugout in game one to argue when he took his pitcher out of the game.  This led to the third base coach getting ejected by the home plate umpire in game two.  This could be what they are referring to as the incident.

However, going into the final stretch of the CCIW here, a week with several non-conference match ups and potentially very important regional games, I would love to hear some predictions of how this weekend will shape up.  I know some on here were off on their picks last weeks but this week gives you a chance to rebound.

My predictions

Millikin will take 2 out of 3 from Elmhurst
NCC will take 2 out of 3 from Wheaton
Wesleyan will take 2 out of 3 from North Park
Carthage will take all 3 games from Augustana

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 04:32:29 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 01:17:35 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.

You should, Mark. The Vikings are a lot of fun to watch. They have solid hitting up and down the lineup, and they have a knack for getting themselves into trouble and then finding a way to pull out of it, which makes them an exciting (albeit occasionally frustrating) team to watch. Plus, NPU's #1 starter, Mike Giovenco, was a 26th-round draft pick of your Twinkies last year. He has major-league scouts regularly showing up to watch his starts, and he mows down a lot of hitters with his 96 mph fastball. He's struck out 64 batters in 54 innings pitched this year, including 13 on Saturday against Millikin, and he has 200 career K's -- second on North Park's all-time list -- with part of his junior season still remaining.

I certainly agree with you, Gregory, about how Giovenco is having the pro scouts licking their lips with his high velocity fastball.  But I believe that he isn't as dominate as last year, with his 4-4 record this year.  Giovenco has four big loses against North Central College, Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior, Webster Univ, and St. Lawrence Univ.
Now, while I was not at all of these games, I was at the NCC vs NPU game.  There were certainly a bunch of scouts behind the plate for the first pitch, but I noticed they all left before the first inning was over.  This might have been due to the lethal offense of NCC.  They recorded 4 runs off of 4 hits and a walk in the first inning.  One of those hits happened to be a homerun from NCC's lefty slugger Abraham.  But it should be interesting to see how Giovenco shapes up when they face four tough teams coming up.

[My Predictions for this week]
*Millikin will take 3 games from Elmhurst
*North Central will take 2 of 3 games from Wheaton
*IWU will take 2 of 3 games from NPU
*Carthage will take 3 games from Augustana
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 04:35:08 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 19, 2010, 04:13:35 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 03:15:16 PM
Ah, OK. For a minute there I thought it might have involved NCC's head coach. I know he was riding the plate ump a lot in game 1, and I figured he might have gotten tossed again, or worse, bumped yet another umpire.   :D

Quite the contrary actually.  Carthage's head coach thought he was getting squeezed by the home plate umpire and made a rare appearance outside the dugout in game one to argue when he took his pitcher out of the game.  This led to the third base coach getting ejected by the home plate umpire in game two.  This could be what they are referring to as the incident.


Ah, another Carthage ejection, huh? That seems to be common with the coaches on that team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 06:13:59 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 04:32:29 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 01:17:35 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.

You should, Mark. The Vikings are a lot of fun to watch. They have solid hitting up and down the lineup, and they have a knack for getting themselves into trouble and then finding a way to pull out of it, which makes them an exciting (albeit occasionally frustrating) team to watch. Plus, NPU's #1 starter, Mike Giovenco, was a 26th-round draft pick of your Twinkies last year. He has major-league scouts regularly showing up to watch his starts, and he mows down a lot of hitters with his 96 mph fastball. He's struck out 64 batters in 54 innings pitched this year, including 13 on Saturday against Millikin, and he has 200 career K's -- second on North Park's all-time list -- with part of his junior season still remaining.

I certainly agree with you, Gregory, about how Giovenco is having the pro scouts licking their lips with his high velocity fastball.  But I believe that he isn't as dominate as last year, with his 4-4 record this year.  Giovenco has four big loses against North Central College, Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior, Webster Univ, and St. Lawrence Univ.
Now, while I was not at all of these games, I was at the NCC vs NPU game.  There were certainly a bunch of scouts behind the plate for the first pitch, but I noticed they all left before the first inning was over.  This might have been due to the lethal offense of NCC.  They recorded 4 runs off of 4 hits and a walk in the first inning.  One of those hits happened to be a homerun from NCC's lefty slugger Abraham.  But it should be interesting to see how Giovenco shapes up when they face four tough teams coming up.

Giovenco has pitched in some hard-luck ballgames this year, his start on Saturday being a classic example. He left the game with one out in the eighth with a 2-0 lead, having struck out 13 Big Blue batters and given up only three hits. The bullpen blew his lead. He had no run support in the loss to UW-Superior; he gave up one run in four innings in what turned out to be a 4-1 loss, as the bullpen again faltered. The St. Lawrence game was more of the same as far as lack of run support was concerned -- two earned runs over seven innings pitched, but the Vikings lost, 3-2. And the Webster loss? Two runs given up in eight-plus innings, and the Vikings lost, 2-1.

In other words, don't be fooled by the W-L record. It's often one of the most deceptive statistics in baseball. (The 12-10 record last season of Randy Wells of the Cubs was a classic major-league example of that.)

I was at the NCC @ NPU game in question, and those scouts didn't leave the ballpark after the first inning. I was standing at the gate, so I should know. They did see Giovenco's worst outing of the year by far, some of which can be attributed to an ump with an inconsistent strike zone and winds blowing out of the south at up to 35 mph -- but most of which had to do with Giovenco simply being off and NCC's bats being very good.

Giovenco has started eight games this year, and the loss to NCC on April 2 was the only bad start he's had. He has a 3.17 ERA, and opposing batters are only hitting .193 against him. He's leading the league in strikeouts and opponent batting average in terms of overall stats (as of last Thursday), and he was fifth in the league in ERA going into this past weekend. The new stats aren't up yet, and I don't know how the four pitchers ahead him in that category (IWU's Jason Pankau, NCC's Nate Arensen, Wheaton's Eric Albaugh, and Augie's Matt Erickson) fared over the weekend, but I know that Giovenco helped his cause in just about every category except W-L record with his effort on Saturday.

Bottom line: Your comment that he isn't as dominant is not supported by the facts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 19, 2010, 06:18:43 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 06:13:59 PM


I was at the NCC @ NPU game in question, and those scouts didn't leave the ballpark after the first inning. I was standing at the gate, so I should know. They did see Giovenco's worst outing of the year by far, some of which can be attributed to an ump with an inconsistent strike zone and winds blowing out of the south at up to 35 mph -- but most of which had to do with Giovenco simply being off and NCC's bats being very good.

I don't think the ump had anything to do with it when the score of a game like that was 19-13 and some half-dozen or so home runs were hit. I was at that game, too, and I've never seen the ball fly out of a ball park as often as it did on that warm, windy afternoon. Routine fly balls seemed to often end up well into the stands.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 06:28:03 PM
The diamond at Holmgren Athletic Complex doesn't give you any great angles to gauge the strike zone, unless you're standing behind the backstop -- but the NPU players griped about that ump more than usual. I agree, though, that the wind-tunnel effect of that gusty day had a huge effect upon the game. It seemed as though all of the CCIW games being played around Chicagoland on April 2 had scores more characteristic of volleyball than baseball, thanks to all that wind. Carthage swept Elmhurst @ Elmhurst, 17-6 and 25-16, and North Central beat North Park, 13-5, with North Park winning the nightcap, 20-13.

But I didn't want to completely write off Giovenco's bad outing to the weather or an inconsistent ump. I hate it when fans hide behind excuses when their team, or a player from their team, fails. At least some of the result of that game was due to good hitting by North Central, so I give credit where credit is due.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 07:21:08 PM
Anyone got any first-hand insight on IWU this season?  I've been studying the stats, but would like something more to interpret them.

Kraig Ladd was touted by some as a possible CCIW MVP - he is currently hitting .182, with a .250 slugging percentage.  Nagging injuries or just a horrible final season?

Brent Kulavic is currently 0-2 with an era of 6.03 (but he IS striking out >1 batter per inning, so I assume it is not physical, per se).  Was his sophomore season simply magic in action, or is he the ultimate 'hard-luck' story this year?

The team appears to be carried (to the extent that a 12-13 record for a perennial contender is being carried at all) by Jason Pankau (6-0, 2.15 era - the ONLY Titan pitcher with a winning record, and 2.80 era better than 2nd place) and Casey McIntosh (slugging % of .606 - he leads in RBIs with 31 [2nd is 19], and total bases with 60 [2nd is 35] - he has nearly as many HRs as the rest of the team combined).

Two other anomalies I'm intrigued by.  There are FIVE Titan regulars with on base % over .400, yet they can't score regularly.  And, after 25 games, the staff total for saves is ONE.

Any insights to go beyond the stats will be appreciated.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 06:13:59 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 04:32:29 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2010, 01:17:35 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 12:01:14 PM
Perennial power Carthage in a three way tie for second with perennial dormat Wheaton.  Just an observation as I lack info as to "why."

Luke Johnson is steadily building the Viking program.  I have to get to a game or two very soon.

You should, Mark. The Vikings are a lot of fun to watch. They have solid hitting up and down the lineup, and they have a knack for getting themselves into trouble and then finding a way to pull out of it, which makes them an exciting (albeit occasionally frustrating) team to watch. Plus, NPU's #1 starter, Mike Giovenco, was a 26th-round draft pick of your Twinkies last year. He has major-league scouts regularly showing up to watch his starts, and he mows down a lot of hitters with his 96 mph fastball. He's struck out 64 batters in 54 innings pitched this year, including 13 on Saturday against Millikin, and he has 200 career K's -- second on North Park's all-time list -- with part of his junior season still remaining.

I certainly agree with you, Gregory, about how Giovenco is having the pro scouts licking their lips with his high velocity fastball.  But I believe that he isn't as dominate as last year, with his 4-4 record this year.  Giovenco has four big loses against North Central College, Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior, Webster Univ, and St. Lawrence Univ.
Now, while I was not at all of these games, I was at the NCC vs NPU game.  There were certainly a bunch of scouts behind the plate for the first pitch, but I noticed they all left before the first inning was over.  This might have been due to the lethal offense of NCC.  They recorded 4 runs off of 4 hits and a walk in the first inning.  One of those hits happened to be a homerun from NCC's lefty slugger Abraham.  But it should be interesting to see how Giovenco shapes up when they face four tough teams coming up.

Giovenco has pitched in some hard-luck ballgames this year, his start on Saturday being a classic example. He left the game with one out in the eighth with a 2-0 lead, having struck out 13 Big Blue batters and given up only three hits. The bullpen blew his lead. He had no run support in the loss to UW-Superior; he gave up one run in four innings in what turned out to be a 4-1 loss, as the bullpen again faltered. The St. Lawrence game was more of the same as far as lack of run support was concerned -- two earned runs over seven innings pitched, but the Vikings lost, 3-2. And the Webster loss? Two runs given up in eight-plus innings, and the Vikings lost, 2-1.

In other words, don't be fooled by the W-L record. It's often one of the most deceptive statistics in baseball. (The 12-10 record last season of Randy Wells of the Cubs was a classic major-league example of that.)

I was at the NCC @ NPU game in question, and those scouts didn't leave the ballpark after the first inning. I was standing at the gate, so I should know. They did see Giovenco's worst outing of the year by far, some of which can be attributed to an ump with an inconsistent strike zone and winds blowing out of the south at up to 35 mph -- but most of which had to do with Giovenco simply being off and NCC's bats being very good.

Giovenco has started eight games this year, and the loss to NCC on April 2 was the only bad start he's had. He has a 3.17 ERA, and opposing batters are only hitting .193 against him. He's leading the league in strikeouts and opponent batting average in terms of overall stats (as of last Thursday), and he was fifth in the league in ERA going into this past weekend. The new stats aren't up yet, and I don't know how the four pitchers ahead him in that category (IWU's Jason Pankau, NCC's Nate Arensen, Wheaton's Eric Albaugh, and Augie's Matt Erickson) fared over the weekend, but I know that Giovenco helped his cause in just about every category except W-L record with his effort on Saturday.

Bottom line: Your comment that he isn't as dominant is not supported by the facts.

Gregory,  I was just going off of the game that I saw at North Park, but thanks for the extended information about Giovenco's other starts (that explains his win-loss record).  I wasn't taking anything away from the fact that he is a good pitcher, I was just stating that I thought he had more of a presence last year.  I will agree on the fact that the weather at North Park did play a factor in the outcome, but their short porch-hitter friendly ballpark could be the main cause.    It seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.

It looks like the perennial power pitchers are struggling this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 19, 2010, 10:11:02 PM
Here is a breakdown of Giovenco's performances this season:


opponentIPHR-ERBBKresult
Atl Christian7   4   3-1   2   12   W, 6-3
S Vermont6   1   0-0   2   9   W, 14-0
St Lawrence7   5   3-2   4   4   L, 3-2
Webster8.1   5   2-2   1   6   L, 2-1
UW Superior4   2   1-1   5   6   L, 4-1
U Chicago0.1   0   0-0   0   0   W, 16-12
N Central6   10   8-8   5   5   L, 13-5
Augustana7   6   3-3   3   6   W, 14-3
Elmhurst1   0   0-0   1   2   ND
Millikin7   3   2-2   6   13   ND
totals54   37   19 ER   29   64   record: 4-4; ERA 3.17

Last year through a very similar number of innings (over 8 games), here are his totals:

53.2 IP   24 H   10 ER (1.68 ERA)   32 BB   68 K   record 6-2
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 19, 2010, 10:22:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 07:21:08 PM
Anyone got any first-hand insight on IWU this season?  I've been studying the stats, but would like something more to interpret them.

Kraig Ladd was touted by some as a possible CCIW MVP - he is currently hitting .182, with a .250 slugging percentage.  Nagging injuries or just a horrible final season?

Brent Kulavic is currently 0-2 with an era of 6.03 (but he IS striking out >1 batter per inning, so I assume it is not physical, per se).  Was his sophomore season simply magic in action, or is he the ultimate 'hard-luck' story this year?

The team appears to be carried (to the extent that a 12-13 record for a perennial contender is being carried at all) by Jason Pankau (6-0, 2.15 era - the ONLY Titan pitcher with a winning record, and 2.80 era better than 2nd place) and Casey McIntosh (slugging % of .606 - he leads in RBIs with 31 [2nd is 19], and total bases with 60 [2nd is 35] - he has nearly as many HRs as the rest of the team combined).

Two other anomalies I'm intrigued by.  There are FIVE Titan regulars with on base % over .400, yet they can't score regularly.  And, after 25 games, the staff total for saves is ONE.

Any insights to go beyond the stats will be appreciated.
Mr. Ypsi,

IWU is an interesting topic. Brett Moore, their best ballplayer is out for the season, which has pushed another freshman into their lineup. IWUs young bats 9have been fairly weak besides the first baseman. Kraig Ladd is healthy, however, looking like a different hitter than the past 2 seasons. Kulavic is coming off Tommy John and just isn't the same pitcher.
If not for McIntosh and some timely hitting (considering they dont hit it very well), the Titans could be in worse shape. I am inclined to say their upperclassmen pitching staff and hitters will turn it up down the stretch. As for the saves, Martel is a guy who won't depend on a closer unless he succeeds every outing.

Also, Gregory Sager, Giovenco does not have a 96mph fastball. Last season Ubaldo Jimenez was the hardest throwing pitcher in MLB averaging a fastball at 95.5 mph. If Giovenco and Jimenez sit at the same velocity then I would have to say CCIW hitters are much more talented than I ever would have thought.  I have never heard of a flamethrower like that not going in the top 3 rounds!! Of course, he may have touched 96 a handful of times in his lifetime on hot summer days but it is safe to say he has a 91 mph fastball. And YES I have seen his throw several times since last season started. As Mr. B has shown he could very easily be 7-1. He is a great pitcher on a solid baseball team, nonetheless.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 19, 2010, 10:43:37 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 19, 2010, 10:22:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 07:21:08 PM
Anyone got any first-hand insight on IWU this season?  I've been studying the stats, but would like something more to interpret them.

Kraig Ladd was touted by some as a possible CCIW MVP - he is currently hitting .182, with a .250 slugging percentage.  Nagging injuries or just a horrible final season?

Brent Kulavic is currently 0-2 with an era of 6.03 (but he IS striking out >1 batter per inning, so I assume it is not physical, per se).  Was his sophomore season simply magic in action, or is he the ultimate 'hard-luck' story this year?

The team appears to be carried (to the extent that a 12-13 record for a perennial contender is being carried at all) by Jason Pankau (6-0, 2.15 era - the ONLY Titan pitcher with a winning record, and 2.80 era better than 2nd place) and Casey McIntosh (slugging % of .606 - he leads in RBIs with 31 [2nd is 19], and total bases with 60 [2nd is 35] - he has nearly as many HRs as the rest of the team combined).

Two other anomalies I'm intrigued by.  There are FIVE Titan regulars with on base % over .400, yet they can't score regularly.  And, after 25 games, the staff total for saves is ONE.

Any insights to go beyond the stats will be appreciated.
Mr. Ypsi,

IWU is an interesting topic. Brett Moore, their best ballplayer is out for the season, which has pushed another freshman into their lineup. IWUs young bats 9have been fairly weak besides the first baseman. Kraig Ladd is healthy, however, looking like a different hitter than the past 2 seasons. Kulavic is coming off Tommy John and just isn't the same pitcher.
If not for McIntosh and some timely hitting (considering they dont hit it very well), the Titans could be in worse shape. I am inclined to say their upperclassmen pitching staff and hitters will turn it up down the stretch. As for the saves, Martel is a guy who won't depend on a closer unless he succeeds every outing.

Also, Gregory Sager, Giovenco does not have a 96mph fastball. Last season Ubaldo Jimenez was the hardest throwing pitcher in MLB averaging a fastball at 95.5 mph. If Giovenco and Jimenez sit at the same velocity then I would have to say CCIW hitters are much more talented than I ever would have thought.  I have never heard of a flamethrower like that not going in the top 3 rounds!! Of course, he may have touched 96 a handful of times in his lifetime on hot summer days but it is safe to say he has a 91 mph fastball. And YES I have seen his throw several times since last season started. As Mr. B has shown he could very easily be 7-1. He is a great pitcher on a solid baseball team, nonetheless.

Kudos to DirtyJersey for highlighting that point about Giovenco's fastball. Yes, he throws hard but he does not bolster a 96 MPH fastball in his CCIW outings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 19, 2010, 11:11:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 07:21:08 PM
Anyone got any first-hand insight on IWU this season?  I've been studying the stats, but would like something more to interpret them.

Kraig Ladd was touted by some as a possible CCIW MVP - he is currently hitting .182, with a .250 slugging percentage.  Nagging injuries or just a horrible final season?

Brent Kulavic is currently 0-2 with an era of 6.03 (but he IS striking out >1 batter per inning, so I assume it is not physical, per se).  Was his sophomore season simply magic in action, or is he the ultimate 'hard-luck' story this year?

The team appears to be carried (to the extent that a 12-13 record for a perennial contender is being carried at all) by Jason Pankau (6-0, 2.15 era - the ONLY Titan pitcher with a winning record, and 2.80 era better than 2nd place) and Casey McIntosh (slugging % of .606 - he leads in RBIs with 31 [2nd is 19], and total bases with 60 [2nd is 35] - he has nearly as many HRs as the rest of the team combined).

Two other anomalies I'm intrigued by.  There are FIVE Titan regulars with on base % over .400, yet they can't score regularly.  And, after 25 games, the staff total for saves is ONE.

Any insights to go beyond the stats will be appreciated.

Mr. Ypsi, I have had the chance to see the Titans play a handful of games this year.  Kraig Ladd, who was my preseason POY choice unfortunately got off to a rough start and just looks like a guy who has no confidence.  He is out on his front foot and not allowing the ball to get deep into the strike zone.  He obviously has the talent to do it, as seen in the past two seasons, I just believe it is a mental thing with him. 

Casey McIntosh, on the other hand, has been nothing short of spectacular for them.  He has come up with big hits. Casey is a four year starter for the team, and his experience has shined through this year. Unfortunately, he is the only person who has been getting big hits.  The loss of Brett Moore was huge. This is not an elite team by any means, but if they can get lucky and get into the conference tournament, they could put another team in a tough position with Jason Pankau starting game 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 19, 2010, 11:45:40 PM
Speed of pitch can be misleading.   Can the pitcher spot an off-speed pitch on the outside corner or throw an inside strike?  Other than the fastball, what does the draftee throw consistently for strikes?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 11:56:06 PM
I'd have to question the MLB leader having a 95.5 fastball.  Justin Verlander regularly hits 100; Joel (Zoom-Zoom) Zumaya was hurt last year, but is now hitting 101-102 on occasion.  And that is JUST the Tigers.

Even for a d3 pitcher, I do not find 96 mph improbable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 20, 2010, 07:36:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2010, 11:56:06 PM
I'd have to question the MLB leader having a 95.5 fastball.  Justin Verlander regularly hits 100; Joel (Zoom-Zoom) Zumaya was hurt last year, but is now hitting 101-102 on occasion.  And that is JUST the Tigers.

Even for a d3 pitcher, I do not find 96 mph improbable.
I am also wondering about the 95.5 mph figure.  Is that an average or a maximum?  The latter is certainly not the case, because we can list many pitchers who touch 100 on the gun.  Most likely it's an average for the pitcher's fastball (i.e., not including off-speed stuff, which would drop the overall average significantly).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2010, 08:17:01 AM
Jared Hirsch, currently wit the rockies and formerly with Cal Lutheran, had a fastball often clocked at 95-96. It is rare, but not unheard of in D3 baseball. Kris Hansen, who was drafted out of Whitewater in 1994, consistently touched 94 on the radar gun... I only know because it souned like 94 when it blew by me at the plate:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 11:20:10 AM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMI will agree on the fact that the weather at North Park did play a factor in the outcome, but their short porch-hitter friendly ballpark could be the main cause.

While Holmgren Athletic Complex's right-field dimensions are the ultimate definition of a short porch, left field -- where most homers are hit, of course -- isn't all that generous. And there hasn't been more than one or two cheap homers hit to right in CCIW games played at HAC this season. Abraham's shot in that NCC @ NPU game was to right-center; I don't know for sure if it would've gone out in the right-center fields of other CCIW ballparks. Devin Melecio of NPU hit a cheapie into the stands in right on Sunday against Millikin. Zach Deutscher also hit one out to right on Sunday, but it hit the fencing that holds the P.A. speakers on top of the press box; I can't imagine that there's a ballpark in D3 that could've held that one in. It was about a foot shy of splashing into the North Shore Channel, and it would be floating down to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette right now if the fence atop the press box hadn't been there.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMIt seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.

That's not supported by the data. Here's the total number of runs scored in CCIW ballparks thus far this season (CCIW games only):

team  runs  rpg
Augustana    83  13.8
Carthage  115  16.4
Elmhurst  150  21.4
Ill. Wesleyan    61  12.2
Millikin    45  11.3
North Central  138  23.0
North Park    97  16.2
Wheaton  117  16.7

Now, obviously there are other factors at play here: The potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's pitching, the potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's hitting, the quality of the opponents that have visited each particular ballpark to date, etc. But even taking those things into consideration, you can see that games played at Holmgren aren't necessarily high-scoring affairs in a comparative sense. In fact, NPU's not even in the upper half of the league in terms of runs scored in its ballpark in CCIW games, and that's in spite of the fact that the Vikings hosted North Central in a doubleheader on that windy afternoon of April 2.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMIt looks like the perennial power pitchers are struggling this year.

I wouldn't say that Giovenco is struggling, unless by "struggling" you mean that he's having a tough time getting wins.

Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 19, 2010, 10:22:01 PM
Also, Gregory Sager, Giovenco does not have a 96mph fastball. Last season Ubaldo Jimenez was the hardest throwing pitcher in MLB averaging a fastball at 95.5 mph. If Giovenco and Jimenez sit at the same velocity then I would have to say CCIW hitters are much more talented than I ever would have thought.  I have never heard of a flamethrower like that not going in the top 3 rounds!! Of course, he may have touched 96 a handful of times in his lifetime on hot summer days but it is safe to say he has a 91 mph fastball. And YES I have seen his throw several times since last season started. As Mr. B has shown he could very easily be 7-1. He is a great pitcher on a solid baseball team, nonetheless.

I don't know about "a handful of times in his lifetime on hot summer days" -- the frequency and conditions are indeterminate -- but he has topped out at 96. But, yeah, on average his fastball probably doesn't have mid-90s velocity.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 20, 2010, 01:05:59 PM
fyi... Wheaton lost a tough game yesterday to Concordia-Chicago by a final of 7-6.  Concordia scores 2 in the 9th to win it.  Wheaton is 20-9, Concordia moves to 22-7.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/4/19/BB_CUChicago.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/4/19/BB_CUChicago.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 01:08:40 PM
Speaking of Mike Giovenco, congrats to him upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_7.php) today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 20, 2010, 01:14:36 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PM
It seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.
As Greg pointed out, this does not appear to be the case.  I did a quick scan of all games played at Holmgren field since it opened in 2005, and here is what I found:

Games in which 10+ runs were scored by a team (listed as win-loss for North Park):
2010: 3-1 so far
2009: 4-5
2008: 6-5
2007: 4-0
2006: 1-3 (Luke Johnson's first year as coach)
2005: 0-8 (the team that finished 1-39)

Over the same time period, I tabulated the number of low-scoring games.  Here are the scores:

2010: 4-1, 3-2
2009: 5-3, 3-1, 1-0, 4-3, 4-1
2008: 5-4
2007: 3-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-1, 5-3
2006: 3-2, 5-3, 3-1, 1-0, 4-2
2005: 4-3, 3-2


Source:  North Park Baseball (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/archives.html)




Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 20, 2010, 02:40:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 11:20:10 AM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMI will agree on the fact that the weather at North Park did play a factor in the outcome, but their short porch-hitter friendly ballpark could be the main cause.

While Holmgren Athletic Complex's right-field dimensions are the ultimate definition of a short porch, left field -- where most homers are hit, of course -- isn't all that generous. And there hasn't been more than one or two cheap homers hit to right in CCIW games played at HAC this season. Abraham's shot in that NCC @ NPU game was to right-center; I don't know for sure if it would've gone out in the right-center fields of other CCIW ballparks. Devin Melecio of NPU hit a cheapie into the stands in right on Sunday against Millikin. Zach Deutscher also hit one out to right on Sunday, but it hit the fencing that holds the P.A. speakers on top of the press box; I can't imagine that there's a ballpark in D3 that could've held that one in. It was about a foot shy of splashing into the North Shore Channel, and it would be floating down to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette right now if the fence atop the press box hadn't been there.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMIt seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.

That's not supported by the data. Here's the total number of runs scored in CCIW ballparks thus far this season (CCIW games only):

team  runs  rpg
Augustana    83  13.8
Carthage  115  16.4
Elmhurst  150  21.4
Ill. Wesleyan    61  12.2
Millikin    45  11.3
North Central  138  23.0
North Park    97  16.2
Wheaton  117  16.7

Now, obviously there are other factors at play here: The potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's pitching, the potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's hitting, the quality of the opponents that have visited each particular ballpark to date, etc. But even taking those things into consideration, you can see that games played at Holmgren aren't necessarily high-scoring affairs in a comparative sense. In fact, NPU's not even in the upper half of the league in terms of runs scored in its ballpark in CCIW games, and that's in spite of the fact that the Vikings hosted North Central in a doubleheader on that windy afternoon of April 2.


Gregory, you are absolutely kidding yourself if you believe that there has only be one maybe two cheap home runs hit to right field this entire year.  I can only speak for the two games I was at between North Central and North Park but Abrahams home run off Giovenco would not be a home run at most CCIW fields.  The ball was hit off the end of the bat and hit the press box 350 feet from home plate. 

In game two Romanello hit a ball to the right center gap that if the wind was blowing in would have landed in the infield however the wind blew it to the first row of the bleachers and was laughing rounding the bases because he knew that it was a gift handed to him.  So to say that there has only been one or two out to left is questionable at best.


Do you know the dimensions of the field by chance ... Because left is still short but it looks farther than normal considering the extreme shortness of right field.  I am just wondering if you know because if not I am going to find out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 20, 2010, 02:49:56 PM
I think this is a huge week for CCIW matchups, so I dug up some stats that might be interesting.

               Avg.         ERA           Conf. Avg.  Conf. ERA         FLD %
   
Augustana      .332        4.36      .317             5.47                .938

Carthage        .359         5.63     .394             7.62               .950

Elmhurst          .327       9.30      .345             11.60             .943

Ill. Wesleyan   .263        6.10      .264            6.01                .952

Millikin            .286        7.14      .276           7.82                .940

North Central   .357        4.88      .369           7.13                .957

North Park       .336        4.32     .355             5.68              .962

Wheaton         .347        4.51      .338           5.67              .956


Anyone have any predictions for the games?  ??? I personally cannot wait to watch Wheaton vs. NCC on live stats, and NPU vs. IWU, as well

           (Matchups)

*Wheaton vs North Central
*North Park vs. Ill. Wesleyan
*Augustana vs. Carthage
*Elmhurst vs. Millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 20, 2010, 02:55:37 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 20, 2010, 02:40:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 11:20:10 AM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMI will agree on the fact that the weather at North Park did play a factor in the outcome, but their short porch-hitter friendly ballpark could be the main cause.

While Holmgren Athletic Complex's right-field dimensions are the ultimate definition of a short porch, left field -- where most homers are hit, of course -- isn't all that generous. And there hasn't been more than one or two cheap homers hit to right in CCIW games played at HAC this season. Abraham's shot in that NCC @ NPU game was to right-center; I don't know for sure if it would've gone out in the right-center fields of other CCIW ballparks. Devin Melecio of NPU hit a cheapie into the stands in right on Sunday against Millikin. Zach Deutscher also hit one out to right on Sunday, but it hit the fencing that holds the P.A. speakers on top of the press box; I can't imagine that there's a ballpark in D3 that could've held that one in. It was about a foot shy of splashing into the North Shore Channel, and it would be floating down to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette right now if the fence atop the press box hadn't been there.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PMIt seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.

That's not supported by the data. Here's the total number of runs scored in CCIW ballparks thus far this season (CCIW games only):

team  runs  rpg
Augustana    83  13.8
Carthage  115  16.4
Elmhurst  150  21.4
Ill. Wesleyan    61  12.2
Millikin    45  11.3
North Central  138  23.0
North Park    97  16.2
Wheaton  117  16.7

Now, obviously there are other factors at play here: The potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's pitching, the potency (or lack thereof) of the home team's hitting, the quality of the opponents that have visited each particular ballpark to date, etc. But even taking those things into consideration, you can see that games played at Holmgren aren't necessarily high-scoring affairs in a comparative sense. In fact, NPU's not even in the upper half of the league in terms of runs scored in its ballpark in CCIW games, and that's in spite of the fact that the Vikings hosted North Central in a doubleheader on that windy afternoon of April 2.


Gregory, you are absolutely kidding yourself if you believe that there has only be one maybe two cheap home runs hit to right field this entire year.  I can only speak for the two games I was at between North Central and North Park but Abrahams home run off Giovenco would not be a home run at most CCIW fields.  The ball was hit off the end of the bat and hit the press box 350 feet from home plate. 

In game two Romanello hit a ball to the right center gap that if the wind was blowing in would have landed in the infield however the wind blew it to the first row of the bleachers and was laughing rounding the bases because he knew that it was a gift handed to him.  So to say that there has only been one or two out to left is questionable at best.


Do you know the dimensions of the field by chance ... Because left is still short but it looks farther than normal considering the extreme shortness of right field.  I am just wondering if you know because if not I am going to find out.


I too, droppinbombs47, remember a couple infield flies that turned into homeruns (from both teams).  This was because of the blustering winds blowing out, and the incredibly short fence in right.  Definitely seems like a good factor if you are a North Park hitter getting the luxury of hitting pop flies into the bleachers in right on daily basis for homeruns. Visiting hitters coming to the park must be ecstatic as well.  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 20, 2010, 03:24:14 PM
If you haven't seen the new rankings yet here are the two links:

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-8

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll42010.pdf
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 05:02:17 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 20, 2010, 02:40:15 PM
Gregory, you are absolutely kidding yourself if you believe that there has only be one maybe two cheap home runs hit to right field this entire year.

I didn't say "this entire year." This is what I said, and I'll bold it this time for you:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 11:20:10 AMAnd there hasn't been more than one or two cheap homers hit to right in CCIW games played at HAC this season.

Moving on ...

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 20, 2010, 02:40:15 PMI can only speak for the two games I was at between North Central and North Park but Abrahams home run off Giovenco would not be a home run at most CCIW fields.  The ball was hit off the end of the bat and hit the press box 350 feet from home plate. 

In game two Romanello hit a ball to the right center gap that if the wind was blowing in would have landed in the infield however the wind blew it to the first row of the bleachers and was laughing rounding the bases because he knew that it was a gift handed to him.  So to say that there has only been one or two out to left is questionable at best.

OK, then, there's been three rather than one or two. Happy? ;)

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 20, 2010, 02:40:15 PM
Do you know the dimensions of the field by chance ... Because left is still short but it looks farther than normal considering the extreme shortness of right field.  I am just wondering if you know because if not I am going to find out.

No, I don't know, but Mr. B might. Again, the scoring charts that Mr. B and I posted earlier today do not bear out the assertion some of you are making that Holmgren is some sort of run factory.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 20, 2010, 02:55:37 PM
I too, droppinbombs47, remember a couple infield flies that turned into homeruns (from both teams).  This was because of the blustering winds blowing out, and the incredibly short fence in right.  Definitely seems like a good factor if you are a North Park hitter getting the luxury of hitting pop flies into the bleachers in right on daily basis for homeruns. Visiting hitters coming to the park must be ecstatic as well.  ;D

Did you even read my post and Mr. B's? Did you even look at those charts?

Holmgren does have the highest home run total of any ballpark in CCIW play thus far, but not by much -- and this has to take into consideration the fact that North Park hosted that extraordinarily windy April 2 doubleheader that produced 11 of the 16 dingers hit in Holmgren to date in CCIW contests. A similar situation exists for Elmhurst, as 10 of the 15 homers hit during Elmhurst home games in CCIW play this year took place in that April 2 doubleheader against Carthage.

The idea that hitters get routine pop flies to drop into the seats in right at Holmgren with clockwork regularity, to the point where it completely distorts the game, simply isn't true. Remember, this is right field we're talking about. Most hitters are right-handed, which means that left field is their pull field. Ergo, most homers hit on every level of baseball are hit over the left-field fence.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 05:12:03 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 20, 2010, 03:24:14 PM
If you haven't seen the new rankings yet here are the two links:

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-8

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll42010.pdf

Augie is in sixth place in the CCIW, two games out of a possible playoff spot and four games out of the lead with only nine CCIW games left, and yet the Doggies are still getting votes in both polls? Augustana has gone 6-9 in its last fifteen games and is 5-7 in league play. That's a lot of forbearance on the part of the pollsters towards Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 20, 2010, 06:02:59 PM
I remembered North Park's field being fairly short to right-center and center.  It's been about 4 years since I've been there but if you take a look at some satellite pictures, it gives a good estimate of the distances.  Here's what I got:

RF Line: 310
Right Center: 310
Straight-away Center: 360

You can't see the fence in left from the pictures but maybe someone more familiar can tell us where the fence is located with respect to the softball infield dirt.  Here are a few estimated distances to left field landmarks:

LF line to softball dirt: 295
Left-center to football goal post: 340

Wonder what anyone else thinks

And by the way, I have no clue how Augie is getting any votes in the polls but it all won't matter in the end as they won't even make the conference tournament unless they figure it out real quick.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 20, 2010, 06:18:32 PM
I don't know the distances to the various parts of the field, but I'd guess right-center is actually the shortest distance, then the right-field line, then the left-field line.  Because of the orientation of the bleachers, the distance gets pretty significant fairly quickly past right-center.  Straight-away center is a monster short, and it's rare to see anyone hit a ball over the center-field wall.  Perhaps the left-field gap is even further away from home plate.  There's a lot of ground to cover out there in left and left-center.

I remember with the old field, there used to be a high net -- maybe 30 feet above the bleacher railings -- that held a lot of balls in the yard.  It was our version of the Green Monster.

On Sunday a Millikin batter hit a clean single to right that right fielder Wade Yunker fielded on one hop.  He fired a strike to first baseman Mike Domenick and got the runner by a step. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 07:18:18 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 20, 2010, 06:02:59 PM
I remembered North Park's field being fairly short to right-center and center.  It's been about 4 years since I've been there but if you take a look at some satellite pictures, it gives a good estimate of the distances.  Here's what I got:

RF Line: 310
Right Center: 310
Straight-away Center: 360

You can't see the fence in left from the pictures but maybe someone more familiar can tell us where the fence is located with respect to the softball infield dirt.  Here are a few estimated distances to left field landmarks:

LF line to softball dirt: 295
Left-center to football goal post: 340

Wonder what anyone else thinks

The left-field fence is located well within the softball diamond's dirt infield, and runs beyond the football goal post of the north end zone. If you're looking at the satellite map, draw a straight line from the paved angle between the north end of the bleachers and the fieldhouse across to, and through, the right side of the softball infield over to N. Albany Avenue, and you'll see where the portable left-field fence is laid out for baseball.

Quote from: mr_b on April 20, 2010, 06:18:32 PM
I don't know the distances to the various parts of the field, but I'd guess right-center is actually the shortest distance, then the right-field line, then the left-field line.  Because of the orientation of the bleachers, the distance gets pretty significant fairly quickly past right-center.

This really becomes apparent when you look at the satellite picture on Google Maps, as augie_superfan suggested. Right-center is actually closer to home plate than the right-field foul pole is. Of course, Deutscher's home run on Sunday was a good forty to fifty feet up the air and only beginning its downward arc when it hit the fence atop the press box, so it was no right-center cheapie by any stretch of the imagination.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 20, 2010, 07:20:47 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 20, 2010, 02:49:56 PM
I think this is a huge week for CCIW matchups, so I dug up some stats that might be interesting.

               Avg.         ERA           Conf. Avg.  Conf. ERA         FLD %
   
Augustana      .332        4.36      .317             5.47                .938

Carthage        .359         5.63     .394             7.62               .950

Elmhurst          .327       9.30      .345             11.60             .943

Ill. Wesleyan   .263        6.10      .264            6.01                .952

Millikin            .286        7.14      .276           7.82                .940

North Central   .357        4.88      .369           7.13                .957

North Park       .336        4.32     .355             5.68              .962

Wheaton         .347        4.51      .338           5.67              .956


Anyone have any predictions for the games?  ??? I personally cannot wait to watch Wheaton vs. NCC on live stats, and NPU vs. IWU, as well

           (Matchups)

*Wheaton vs North Central
*North Park vs. Ill. Wesleyan
*Augustana vs. Carthage
*Elmhurst vs. Millikin

What an exciting weekend of baseball upcoming!! Here is my source for the 95.5 MPH reference. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=5108902&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d5108902

Either way, throwing strikes, keeping hitters off-balance while locating the ball well leads to pitching success. I am going to take a crack at it predictions. Good point, Sager, Augie certainly seems out of the hunt without anything short of something Colorado Rockies-like  

Wheaton 2 out of 3 against NCC
IWU 2 out of 3 against NPU
Carthage sweeps Augustana
Elmhurst 2 out of 3 against Millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 20, 2010, 07:34:42 PM
Just saw this on the main d3baseball page.  >>>

http://d3baseball.com/pressreleases/North+Central/2010/04/20/North-Central-Earns-First-National-Ranking-Since-99/5864 (http://d3baseball.com/pressreleases/North+Central/2010/04/20/North-Central-Earns-First-National-Ranking-Since-99/5864)

Congrats to North Central for making a statement in the polls and revisiting their roots of a strong baseball dynasty.  It looks like the Cardinals have made a progress in aspects of pitching, hitting, and defense.  Truly a big turn-around from last season's record (11-25-1).

Also, Wheaton had collected 14 votes in the recent poll, along with Augustana receiving 7 votes.  (still confused about Augustana's votes  ???)  But way to represent the CCIW!  :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2010, 09:13:47 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2010, 05:12:03 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 20, 2010, 03:24:14 PM
If you haven't seen the new rankings yet here are the two links:

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-8

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll42010.pdf

Augie is in sixth place in the CCIW, two games out of a possible playoff spot and four games out of the lead with only nine CCIW games left, and yet the Doggies are still getting votes in both polls? Augustana has gone 6-9 in its last fifteen games and is 5-7 in league play. That's a lot of forbearance on the part of the pollsters towards Augie.

Don't look at me. I avoided every Central region team with my vote.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 21, 2010, 11:52:57 AM
I'm just curious to see what everyone has to think about the comparison of this year's stats versus last year's stats because of the recent ban of composite barrel bats?  Do you think it has made a difference or no  ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 21, 2010, 12:22:15 PM
Interesting question. What's readily apparent from a look at the stats is how much more the hitters have dominated the league than last year. In 2009 CCIW hitters had a collective .297 batting average in league play, and the pitchers had a collective ERA of 5.69. Thus far this year, CCIW hitters are up to a whopping .333 in league play, and the league's ERA is at 7.09, almost a run and a half more than last season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 21, 2010, 08:56:26 PM
I was scoping around the league and it looks like the Cardinals of North Central have gotten some revenge on the Maroons of University of Chicago.  The Maroons took 2 games out of 3 last year from the Cardinals, but today it seems like a different story because  the Cards pounded out 14 runs off of 17 hits.

http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2010/4/21/MTEN_0421104228.aspx  (http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2010/4/21/MTEN_0421104228.aspx)

I am starting to jump on the Cardinal bandwagon, but I am anxious to see how they fare against Wheaton this weekend  :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 12:08:12 PM
In my exposure to D2 baseball, I honestly don't think it's made much of a difference... The team that I follow in D2 this year has 7 of 9 returning starters from last year and last year they averaged roughly one home run per game and this year they are averaging nearly 1.5 home runs per game.  The new players have not significantly contributed to that total.  So I would argue that overall, it has not had any effect.  I'm interested to see the data on injury total at the end of the year... I'd be surprised if it had any true effect.  The non-composite technology is good enough, that while the exit speed may still be a few MPH slower than composite, it is not significant enough to reduce the chance of injury.  I remember back in the 90's when the Iowa Conference experimented with wood bats for a couple years.  They struggled to justify the increased expense of wood bats with the very minor improvement in injury and after only a couple years reverted back to using metal... although I'm sure metal bats are even better now.  I just don't know that any metal regulation is really going to significantly reduce injury.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on April 22, 2010, 12:27:12 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 12:08:12 PM
In my exposure to D2 baseball, I honestly don't think it's made much of a difference... The team that I follow in D2 this year has 7 of 9 returning starters from last year and last year they averaged roughly one home run per game and this year they are averaging nearly 1.5 home runs per game.  The new players have not significantly contributed to that total.  So I would argue that overall, it has not had any effect.  I'm interested to see the data on injury total at the end of the year... I'd be surprised if it had any true effect.  The non-composite technology is good enough, that while the exit speed may still be a few MPH slower than composite, it is not significant enough to reduce the chance of injury.  I remember back in the 90's when the Iowa Conference experimented with wood bats for a couple years.  They struggled to justify the increased expense of wood bats with the very minor improvement in injury and after only a couple years reverted back to using metal... although I'm sure metal bats are even better now.  I just don't know that any metal regulation is really going to significantly reduce injury.
[/b]

Solution is Wood Composite bats.  Peform like wood but last longer and would reduce the expense. Already approved for professional baseball.

http://www.justbats.com/product.view.aspx?p=9249

http://www.baumbat.com/
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 05:15:26 PM
I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 22, 2010, 08:59:37 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 05:15:26 PM
I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.

I agree with you on the defensive comment, warrior35.

I think the "crack" of a wood bat would be an awesome thing to bring to the CCIW.  But I feel like it would give a major advantage to the pitchers.  It would keep most games under 10 runs (what normal games should be).  So it seems like there are two sides to this. 

I don't know how much it would cost for schools to buy wood bats in max quantities, but most likely it would be quite costly.  This is the main factor that would keep schools/conferences from changing from metal to wood bats (even if wood bats are safer for the kids).

One more thing...having wood bats would take away little "dinkers" or any other "cheap" hits from the hitters (unless it's a broken bat hit).  So I feel it would put hitters into different categories, metal from wood,  based on if they can really use the "sweet spot" of the bat to put on the ball.  So in other words, if the can really hit or not.  :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 23, 2010, 12:03:27 AM
I really hope this rain they are calling for this weekend doesn't really make things confusing here in the CCIW  :'(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 12:22:49 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 05:15:26 PM
I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.


Not sure how many college AD's would agree with you that baseball is revenue sport.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 23, 2010, 01:05:42 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 12:22:49 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 22, 2010, 05:15:26 PM
I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.


Not sure how many college AD's would agree with you that baseball is revenue sport.
Agreed CCIWFAN, there isn't an athletic director out there that relies on revenue from baseball. Articles I have read on this subject only have 2 powerhouse baseball programs (Oregon State and LSU) "out of the red" for the 2007 baseball season. Breaking even would be a blessing, and, at least at the major Division I level, bats are not a legitimate cost concern. However, at the D3 level, I am sure the switch away from metal would leave more of an eventual cost onto the player realistically. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2010, 01:15:34 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 22, 2010, 08:59:37 PMI don't know how much it would cost for schools to buy wood bats in max quantities, but most likely it would be quite costly.  This is the main factor that would keep schools/conferences from changing from metal to wood bats (even if wood bats are safer for the kids).

Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 23, 2010, 01:05:42 PMBreaking even would be a blessing, and, at least at the major Division I level, bats are not a legitimate cost concern. However, at the D3 level, I am sure the switch away from metal would leave more of an eventual cost onto the player realistically.

Switching to wood bats would be so prohibitively expensive that I can't imagine even the wealthy D3 schools, or the D3 schools with the biggest athletic budgets, approving the change. Wood composite bats, such as the Baum Bat cited in CrashDavisD3's link, could be the answer -- that is, if they really are as durable as the manufacturer insists that they are.

That's the ideal marriage that D3 baseball programs seek: The durability of a metal bat combined with the feel, reduced action, and added safety of a wood bat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 23, 2010, 05:10:29 PM
First of all, I said that it's BECOMING a revenue sport.  I'm not sure that it ever will be at the D3 level.

Secondly, I'm not sure where you guys are getting your information, but it's really hard for me to believe that a lot of southern DI schools aren't breaking even... and if they're not, they really need to hire new marketing executives.  Most stadiums down there, and new DI baseball stadiums everywhere, rival minor league parks and seat 5,000 or more. For example, Florida State's average attendance has steadily been on the rise for years.  The latest data I could find showed an average home attendance of 3,305.  3,305 over 35 games, that's 115,680 fans a year.  I don't know what they charge, but even if it was just $5, that's just over $575,000 a year. I'm not involved with the daily operation of a baseball program, but I would hope that's enough money to at least break even.  College baseball is more popular now that it was in 2004, most of the numbers I've seen for attendance in the south from the past few years ranges between an average of 3,500-upwards of 6,000.  If you still don't agree, take a look at some of the stadiums that have been built/completely remodeled in the last 2 years...

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/view.gal?id=41534 (UNC)
http://www.spinatour.com/usc2/tour.html (South Carolina)
http://www.thetigerblog.com/wp-content/gallery/alexbox/dsc_7470.jpg (LSU)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/480433897_c7ead79b45.jpg?v=0 (The Citadel)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/tul/graphics/zephyr-field-main-lg.jpg (Tulane)
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204893537 (Oregon)
http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=52685 (Michigan)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 08:01:56 PM
A schools ability to generate donations for stadiums has little to do with their ability to generate operational revenues.  Most of those stadiums are built because of private donations of alumni.  In regards to your example of Florida State's attendance generating an estimated $575,000 a year.  I would personally be surprised if that didnt simply cover the salary of one of the most successful coaches in the history of NCAA baseball entering his 31st season. Obviously, certain schools are afforded more opportunities with sponsorships, but to say that baseball programs generate a positive cashflow for more than a handful of schools simply isn't true.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 08:05:25 PM
According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 23, 2010, 09:44:06 PM
North Central takes game one of the series against Wheaton 11-3. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 23, 2010, 10:29:07 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 08:05:25 PM
According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.
North Park defeated IWU 5-2 in Bloomington. Mike Giovenco struck out 13 Titans in a complete-game 6-hitter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2010, 11:19:55 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 08:01:56 PM
A schools ability to generate donations for stadiums has little to do with their ability to generate operational revenues.  Most of those stadiums are built because of private donations of alumni.  In regards to your example of Florida State's attendance generating an estimated $575,000 a year.  I would personally be surprised if that didnt simply cover the salary of one of the most successful coaches in the history of NCAA baseball entering his 31st season. Obviously, certain schools are afforded more opportunities with sponsorships, but to say that baseball programs generate a positive cashflow for more than a handful of schools simply isn't true.

Additionally, though I have no idea what FSU's tuition, fees, books, and room-and-board run, I'd imagine scholarships alone would eat up most of the $575,000.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 23, 2010, 11:41:46 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 23, 2010, 05:10:29 PM
First of all, I said that it's BECOMING a revenue sport.  I'm not sure that it ever will be at the D3 level.

Secondly, I'm not sure where you guys are getting your information, but it's really hard for me to believe that a lot of southern DI schools aren't breaking even... and if they're not, they really need to hire new marketing executives.  Most stadiums down there, and new DI baseball stadiums everywhere, rival minor league parks and seat 5,000 or more. For example, Florida State's average attendance has steadily been on the rise for years.  The latest data I could find showed an average home attendance of 3,305.  3,305 over 35 games, that's 115,680 fans a year.  I don't know what they charge, but even if it was just $5, that's just over $575,000 a year. I'm not involved with the daily operation of a baseball program, but I would hope that's enough money to at least break even.  College baseball is more popular now that it was in 2004, most of the numbers I've seen for attendance in the south from the past few years ranges between an average of 3,500-upwards of 6,000.  If you still don't agree, take a look at some of the stadiums that have been built/completely remodeled in the last 2 years...

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/view.gal?id=41534 (UNC)
http://www.spinatour.com/usc2/tour.html (South Carolina)
http://www.thetigerblog.com/wp-content/gallery/alexbox/dsc_7470.jpg (LSU)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/480433897_c7ead79b45.jpg?v=0 (The Citadel)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/tul/graphics/zephyr-field-main-lg.jpg (Tulane)
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204893537 (Oregon)
http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=52685 (Michigan)
Yeah, having high attendance at college baseball games is great, but there are serious operating expenses when dealing with 30-40 baseball players, transportation, food, and a beautiful facility. Here is one article that I found to be interesting. There are hundreds of schools competing in college baseball who already understand the high costs that come with it, and wood bats would increase them...we all agree it seems, even though it would be a beautiful thing.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=120423505333048300
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2010, 01:28:27 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 23, 2010, 10:29:07 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 23, 2010, 08:05:25 PM
According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.
North Park defeated IWU 5-2 in Bloomington. Mike Giovenco struck out 13 Titans in a complete-game 6-hitter.

As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: tjcummingsfan on April 24, 2010, 03:18:18 PM
NP wins game #2 of the series 4-2
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 24, 2010, 08:18:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2010, 01:28:27 PM
As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

In another news North Central beat Wheaton 23 - 14 and continue to put runs on the board.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 24, 2010, 08:36:09 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 24, 2010, 08:18:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2010, 01:28:27 PM
As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

In another news North Central beat Wheaton 23 - 14 and continue to put runs on the board.

I agree with Droppinbombs47 on this one...Giovenco needs to prove to me that he can beat Carthage and Wheaton.  Once he does that, then I'll tip my cap to him.  I agree he has the tools to be a great pitcher, but can he produce against the top teams?  We've seen him struggle against the playoff-bound North Central team already.  So I am excited to see him perform against the others.

Anyways...

I just saw that North Central scored in every inning in the contest vs. Wheaton.  I haven't seen that in a long time, and I mean a long time. 

If the Cards can get a sweep on Monday, then that would be huge news in the CCIW. 

North Central is just mashing right now, watch out they are hot  8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 24, 2010, 08:43:43 PM
North Central scored in every inning today HitandRun !!! Wow I haven't seen that since the Helsinki incident of 1919 .... and I think we all know how that one turned out  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 24, 2010, 09:42:37 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 24, 2010, 08:36:09 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 24, 2010, 08:18:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2010, 01:28:27 PM
As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

In another news North Central beat Wheaton 23 - 14 and continue to put runs on the board.

I agree with Droppinbombs47 on this one...Giovenco needs to prove to me that he can beat Carthage and Wheaton.  Once he does that, then I'll tip my cap to him.  I agree he has the tools to be a great pitcher, but can he produce against the top teams?  We've seen him struggle against the playoff-bound North Central team already.  So I am excited to see him perform against the others.

Anyways...

I just saw that North Central scored in every inning in the contest vs. Wheaton.  I haven't seen that in a long time, and I mean a long time. 

If the Cards can get a sweep on Monday, then that would be huge news in the CCIW. 

North Central is just mashing right now, watch out they are hot  8-)

NC's been hot all year long HitandRun.... It looks like at this point the conference tournament is destined to be in Naperville this year  ;D. The baseball team is contributing to a very respectable athletic program and it will be great if they were able to host and put the school on the stage it deserves to be on  :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 24, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
Wow, NCC bats exploded today.  Rough start coming off an injury for Urbanowicz.  How much did the weather play into this game?  Wheaton is certainly in a tighter spot than I think they thought they would be after struggling against IWU and NCC so far.  Who knows what the final standings are going to be anymore?  I'm clueless!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 24, 2010, 11:56:22 PM
Half the battle is admitting the obvious
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2010, 09:17:26 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 24, 2010, 08:18:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2010, 01:28:27 PM
As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

Sorry, droppinbombs. I didn't realize that Pat had given you authority to police the topics in this room. From now on, I'll clear it with you before I post anything. ::)

For the record, I was responding to this post:

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 19, 2010, 08:54:39 PM
Gregory,  I was just going off of the game that I saw at North Park, but thanks for the extended information about Giovenco's other starts (that explains his win-loss record).  I wasn't taking anything away from the fact that he is a good pitcher, I was just stating that I thought he had more of a presence last year.  I will agree on the fact that the weather at North Park did play a factor in the outcome, but their short porch-hitter friendly ballpark could be the main cause.    It seems that most games played at North Park will be high scoring affairs.

It looks like the perennial power pitchers are struggling this year.

Giovenco's start on Friday was his first appearance since the post above was sent.

Quote from: cardsalum on April 24, 2010, 09:42:37 PM
NC's been hot all year long HitandRun.... It looks like at this point the conference tournament is destined to be in Naperville this year  ;D.

That's premature. There's still six or seven games left for everybody in a pretty tight CCIW race.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on April 26, 2010, 12:53:44 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 24, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
Wow, NCC bats exploded today.  Rough start coming off an injury for Urbanowicz.  How much did the weather play into this game?  Wheaton is certainly in a tighter spot than I think they thought they would be after struggling against IWU and NCC so far.  Who knows what the final standings are going to be anymore?  I'm clueless!

Weather not so much...horrific umpiring played a much bigger role. Possibly one of the worst umped games, as home field umping definitely took place.  Wheaton walked 18 or so on the day with NCC walking only 1. That was definitely not because NCC's pitching was better.  It was a complete joke and the umpires should be ashamed.

Not to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 26, 2010, 02:18:42 AM
Quote from: The General Public on April 26, 2010, 12:53:44 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 24, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
Wow, NCC bats exploded today.  Rough start coming off an injury for Urbanowicz.  How much did the weather play into this game?  Wheaton is certainly in a tighter spot than I think they thought they would be after struggling against IWU and NCC so far.  Who knows what the final standings are going to be anymore?  I'm clueless!

Weather not so much...horrific umpiring played a much bigger role. Possibly one of the worst umped games, as home field umping definitely took place.  Wheaton walked 18 or so on the day with NCC walking only 1. That was definitely not because NCC's pitching was better.  It was a complete joke and the umpires should be ashamed.

Not to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

CCIW umping is never any better than average. Playing through calls is part of the game, and is a small part of what makes baseball perfect. Of course, unless the umpires have a hidden agenda...but I could guarantee they're doing the best they can even if they stink
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:40:58 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 24, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
Weather not so much...horrific umpiring played a much bigger role. Possibly one of the worst umped games, as home field umping definitely took place.  Wheaton walked 18 or so on the day with NCC walking only 1. That was definitely not because NCC's pitching was better.  It was a complete joke and the umpires should be ashamed.

Not to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

I had wanted to stay for this whole game but had a niece's birthday party instead, so I left after the 1st inning. It sounds like a missed quite a contest. What was so bad about the umpiring in the game?

BTW, I happen to be somewhat acquainted with the person who had assigned North Central's umpires for the last several years. I don't know him personally, just know of him. He and many of his umpires work D1 and D2 ball as well.

He's not assigning them this year, from what I hear. From what one of the players who knows this assignor from summer college ball said, NCC's head coach got rid of this assignor after he tossed NCC's head coach from a game at the end of last season.

I guess Saturday's result is what you get when you dump what was regarded as a reputable umpires association. I do know that I recognized the plate umpire from high school games I've seen. Don't know if that means anything.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2010, 12:41:58 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:40:58 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 24, 2010, 10:42:31 PM
Weather not so much...horrific umpiring played a much bigger role. Possibly one of the worst umped games, as home field umping definitely took place.  Wheaton walked 18 or so on the day with NCC walking only 1. That was definitely not because NCC's pitching was better.  It was a complete joke and the umpires should be ashamed.

Not to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

I had wanted to stay for this whole game but had a niece's birthday party instead, so I left after the 1st inning. It sounds like a missed quite a contest. What was so bad about the umpiring in the game?

BTW, I happen to be somewhat acquainted with the person who had assigned North Central's umpires for the last several years. I don't know him personally, just know of him. He and many of his umpires work D1 and D2 ball as well.

He's not assigning them this year, from what I hear. From what one of the players who knows this assignor from summer college ball said, NCC's head coach got rid of this assignor after he tossed NCC's head coach from a game at the end of last season.

I guess Saturday's result is what you get when you dump what was regarded as a reputable umpires association. I do know that I recognized the plate umpire from high school games I've seen. Don't know if that means anything.

In the CCIW, each sport has its own rules as to how officials/referees/umpires are assigned. In football and basketball, the league takes sole responsibility for both compiling the roster of referees and for assigning them to work CCIW games. Each of the two sports has an official who not only works games himself but is in charge of assigning and grading every ref who works a CCIW game. The only say in the matter that coaches get is that they are asked to grade officials and hand in the grades to the CCIW's head official in that sport -- and in basketball, a coach is also given veto power to eliminate one ref from the list from working any of his school's games, which is the CCIW's way of trying to minimize the notorious antagonism often created by spats between coaches and refs.

In soccer, the league office ultimately has a similar responsibility for the assignment of officials, although coaches' recommendations are solicited when refs are chosen to work the CCIW tournament. Baseball seems to be the exception to this league-centric way of doing things vis-a-vis the selection and assignment of officials, in that CCIW coaches are given a free hand to find and select their own umpires for CCIW home games.

It seems to me that baseball's way of doing things is a recipe for abuse and/or incompetence, although I suppose that the CCIW has a specific reason or reasons of which I'm unaware as to why it puts umpire selection in the hands of the coaches rather than the league office.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 01:15:59 PM
Greg,

It has always amazed me that apparently baseball coaches have this much say so on who umpires their games. Based on what you described, it seems that it would be much fairer and more impartial to have the conference utilize a staff than to have the coaches dictate who can and cannot umpire.

This also tends to be the case in high school ball from what I know and have read--coaches have way too much power in selecting their "buddies" to umpire. Also, I would think that umpires would find themselves too beholden to coaches just to get the "good" assignments.

Wouldn't this compromise the very integrity the umpires wish to protect?

Just my 2 cents.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2010, 02:38:49 PM
That's my thinking as well, which is why I suggested that the current system seems to be a recipe for abuse and/or incompetence. I'm hoping that an old CCIW hand like Big Poppa or Mr. B might have some insight as to why umpiring assignments are left in the hands of the league's coaches rather than the league office, as opposed to the way it's done in the other major sports in the CCIW. There must be a reason or reasons behind it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2010, 02:44:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2010, 02:38:49 PM
That's my thinking as well, which is why I suggested that the current system seems to be a recipe for abuse and/or incompetence. I'm hoping that an old CCIW hand like Big Poppa or Mr. B might have some insight as to why umpiring assignments are left in the hands of the league's coaches rather than the league office, as opposed to the way it's done in the other major sports in the CCIW. There must be a reason or reasons behind it.

I'd guess that being around long enough like Augie Schmidt and Dennis Martel have, they know ALL of the umpires quite well. As for the reasoning behind it, it may have to do with so many games being rained out that coaches can find guys locally in a hurry if a game is re-scheduled. Football and Basketball do not normally run into that issue. It would be chaos if it rained all weekend (like it just did) and one person had to find umpires for all of the makeup games the next day if the original umps were already scheduled.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2010, 03:45:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 26, 2010, 02:44:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2010, 02:38:49 PM
That's my thinking as well, which is why I suggested that the current system seems to be a recipe for abuse and/or incompetence. I'm hoping that an old CCIW hand like Big Poppa or Mr. B might have some insight as to why umpiring assignments are left in the hands of the league's coaches rather than the league office, as opposed to the way it's done in the other major sports in the CCIW. There must be a reason or reasons behind it.

I'd guess that being around long enough like Augie Schmidt and Dennis Martel have, they know ALL of the umpires quite well.

Maybe, maybe not. I have no idea how many umps do CCIW games, or how large the potential umpiring pool is, or if there are any standard qualifications for an ump (the CCIW baseball sports guide only gives the vague recommendation for assigning umps that "the most highly qualified should be sought for conference games"). But why would the familiarity that a Schmidt or a Martel have with umps who work CCIW games be any different than the situation in basketball or football? Hoops coaches such as Bosko Djurickovic, Mark Scherer, and Paul Brenegan who have been in the CCIW for a long time are very familiar with the usual suspects who don striped shirts for CCIW games, and the same goes for their long-time gridiron counterparts such as Mike Swider, Norm Eash, and Doug Neibuhr.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 26, 2010, 02:44:40 PMAs for the reasoning behind it, it may have to do with so many games being rained out that coaches can find guys locally in a hurry if a game is re-scheduled. Football and Basketball do not normally run into that issue. It would be chaos if it rained all weekend (like it just did) and one person had to find umpires for all of the makeup games the next day if the original umps were already scheduled.

That makes sense to a certain degree, BP. But why should the league give coaches carte blanche to determine umpiring assignments when the schedule is first set? Because of the cramped schedule, the vulnerability of baseball games to weather-related postponements, and the fact that bad weather often simultaneously affects different CCIW ballparks, I agree with you that it may put an undue burden upon the league office to expect a CCIW umpiring coordinator to assign umps for multiple games on short notice.

But I'm not sure that putting it into the hands of the coaches is a reasonable alternative. First, in terms of traveling distance, location is not an issue in any of the other sports; officials who work games in Decatur or Bloomington or Rock Island are also expected to be available for games in Chicagoland and Kenosha. Second, why the lack of a roster of league-approved umpires, when such rosters of approved officials exist in other CCIW sports? If there was such a list of approved CCIW umps, it would be a lot easier for a CCIW umpiring coordinator to find and assign umps on short notice for rescheduled rainouts. Third, getting back to the original point, it doesn't make sense to give coaches the power to find and assign umps when the schedule is first set if the reasoning behind it is strictly rainout-related.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2010, 07:01:02 PM
I'll weigh in on Greg's side on this one.  Having an ump's future paychecks dependent on the goodwill of a home coach is a glaring conflict-of-interest.  Whether or not it results in 'shading' calls, I have no idea - but it sure doesn't pass the 'smell test'.

It is very much like the rating agencies being paid by their clients whom they rate - with the result that absolute garbage-quality derivatives got AAA ratings.  We saw the result of that! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:31:15 PM
Quote from: The General Public on April 26, 2010, 12:53:44 AM
Weather not so much...horrific umpiring played a much bigger role. Possibly one of the worst umped games, as home field umping definitely took place.  Wheaton walked 18 or so on the day with NCC walking only 1. That was definitely not because NCC's pitching was better.  It was a complete joke and the umpires should be ashamed. Not to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

General Public ... were you even at this game to make some of these just outrageous accusations.  First off Urbanowicz gave up a hit and 4 walks in 5 batters, your gonna make the claim that it is the umpires fault.  If he was getting squeezed the coach wouldn't have taken him out of the game.  As for the other comments, North Central walked 4 people not 1 like the made up box score in your head.  Oh and the 4 batters that Wheaton hit and the 2 wild pitches, that must have been the umpires that butchered those calls as well, I mean I know that umps can control a game but I didn't know they could be that bad.  Finally, I have never seen a 9 run game be the reason a team loses a baseball game.  Maybe a couple close calls but there is no way I can believe that North Central scoring every inning was a result of bad umpiring. 

Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:40:58 AM
I had wanted to stay for this whole game but had a niece's birthday party instead, so I left after the 1st inning. It sounds like a missed quite a contest. What was so bad about the umpiring in the game?

BTW, I happen to be somewhat acquainted with the person who had assigned North Central's umpires for the last several years. I don't know him personally, just know of him. He and many of his umpires work D1 and D2 ball as well.

He's not assigning them this year, from what I hear. From what one of the players who knows this assignor from summer college ball said, NCC's head coach got rid of this assignor after he tossed NCC's head coach from a game at the end of last season.

I guess Saturday's result is what you get when you dump what was regarded as a reputable umpires association. I do know that I recognized the plate umpire from high school games I've seen. Don't know if that means anything.

First off, I know plenty of high school umpires who have become very very good college officials, same for basketball, same for football.  Just because you claim you saw the guy doing a high school game means nothing to his credibility as an official and how he umped the game.  I know you "hear" all these things but just an interesting comment on this how can you possibly be acquainted with a person but not personally know them, all of my acquaintances I know just a thought. 

Maybe it is time to stop blaming the officials and just making an argument that North Central and North Park are two very good ball clubs and deserve to be where they are at ... Atop the CCIW standings.  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:37:24 PM
Remember that I am not the one blaming the umpires. I inquired of another poster's comments about the "horrific" umpiring.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:44:01 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:37:24 PM
Remember that I am not the one blaming the umpires. I inquired of another poster's comments about the "horrific" umpiring.

I know this but it was General Public who made these comments, and looking at his previous comments and posts on this site, he is clearly a very jealous and bitter Wheaton fan who needs to blame something other than his teams poor play for losing because he is just still in shock that his team just got swept by NCC 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 26, 2010, 07:46:49 PM
NCC completes sweep of Wheaton today 7-2.  NCC now 12-3 in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 26, 2010, 08:31:37 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 26, 2010, 07:46:49 PM
NCC completes sweep of Wheaton today 7-2.  NCC now 12-3 in the CCIW.

Jigsaw54 and droppinbombs47 beat me to it......NCC completes a big sweep against CCIW rival Wheaton    :o

I bet that was a shock to some who thought NCC had no right to be one of the new CCIW powerhouses

I know I didn't see this coming in the beginning of the season when they were picked to place 5th in the CCIW.  They are definitely making statements with their steady offensive production and their reliable outings on the mound.

I think NCC is for real this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 26, 2010, 08:37:18 PM
All of this umpire business is getting a tad out of hand. What respectable individual who is called to work is going to intentionally sway the outcome of games? Umpires have no incentives to favor particular teams and to accuse coaches at any level of hiring "buddies" on the premise of winning a ballgame is a disgrace. Let's focus a bit more on the positives this season has exhibited. There are two teams at the top of the conference in NCC and NPU who were picked to finish among the bottom of the conference this year and are having fantastic seasons. Lets commend the young men on those programs for their success thus far!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 08:35:23 AM
I am really hoping that Carthage can get on a roll right now. They have won four straight and face a weak Marian in a DH today and a weak Millikin for three games this weekend. They are in the soft spot in their schedule right now and need to iron a few things out before Giovenco and North Park comes to town in to end CCIW play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 27, 2010, 09:58:32 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 26, 2010, 07:46:49 PM
NCC completes sweep of Wheaton today 7-2.  NCC now 12-3 in the CCIW.

Tough stretch for Wheaton.  Pitching has failed them the past 2 weeks.  They need to right the ship quickly if they want to be in the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 10:01:01 AM
Predictions for the weekend:
*Carthage (10-5)/Millikin (4-11)- Carthage should sweep this series...

*Augustana (5-10)/North Central (12-3)- NCC will take two of three

*Elmhurst (3-12)/Illinois Wesleyan (8-7)- IWU takes two of three

*Wheaton (7-8)/North Park (11-4)- NPU takes two of three

Standings if I am correct heading into the last weekend of CCIW play:
NCC 14-4
NPU 13-5
Carthage 13-5
IWU 10-8
Wheaton 8-10
Augustana 6-12
Millikin 4-14

Final weekend schedule:(some big-time playoff implications could be riding on this weekend)
Carthage/NPU
NCC/IWU
Augie/Millikin
Wheaton/Elmhurst





Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on April 27, 2010, 10:41:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 10:01:01 AM
Predictions for the weekend:
*Carthage (10-5)/Millikin (4-11)- Carthage should sweep this series...

*Augustana (5-10)/North Central (12-3)- NCC will take two of three

*Elmhurst (3-12)/Illinois Wesleyan (8-7)- IWU takes two of three

*Wheaton (7-8)/North Park (11-4)- NPU takes two of three

Standings if I am correct heading into the last weekend of CCIW play:
NCC 14-4
NPU 13-5
Carthage 13-5
IWU 10-8
Wheaton 8-10
Augustana 6-12
Millikin 4-14

Final weekend schedule:(some big-time playoff implications could be riding on this weekend)
Carthage/NPU
NCC/IWU
Augie/Millikin
Wheaton/Elmhurst







Anyone know what the tie-breaker rules are?   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 10:46:58 AM
I think it is head-to-head.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2010, 12:24:38 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:31:15 PM
Finally, I have never seen a 9 run game be the reason a team loses a baseball game.

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:44:01 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:37:24 PM
Remember that I am not the one blaming the umpires. I inquired of another poster's comments about the "horrific" umpiring.

I know this but it was General Public who made these comments, and looking at his previous comments and posts on this site, he is clearly a very jealous and bitter Wheaton fan who needs to blame something other than his teams poor play for losing because he is just still in shock that his team just got swept by NCC

To be fair to General Public, he didn't blame Wheaton's defeat on the umpires. This is what he said:

Quote from: The General Public on April 26, 2010, 12:53:44 AMNot to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

It's one thing to complain about officials -- fans of losing teams do it all the time -- but if the fan openly admits that the officiating isn't the reason why his team lost, even as he's grousing about their performance, then he has manned up and accepted the fact that his team was outperformed by its opponent.

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 26, 2010, 08:31:37 PMI bet that was a shock to some who thought NCC had no right to be one of the new CCIW powerhouses

I know I didn't see this coming in the beginning of the season when they were picked to place 5th in the CCIW.  They are definitely making statements with their steady offensive production and their reliable outings on the mound.

I think NCC is for real this season.

Big Poppa may be right about the CCIW killing its chances for getting multiple teams into the D3 tourney because of the way it's cannibalizing itself in conference play. But, while I'm obviously biased, I think it's a good thing that there has been a changing of the guard this season. The league has been completely dominated by the triumvirate of Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and Augustana for so long that it's gotten stale (unless you're a fan of one of those three programs, that is). Those three schools have been in the CCIW tournament in each of the past five springs, and nine of the past eleven -- and in seven of those past eleven seasons they finished 1-2-3. Even in the two years in which one of the three missed the CCIW tourney, 2003 and 2004, the other two were in it (and in both cases Carthage won the tournament). Either Carthage or IWU has won the league every season of that eleven-year span. It's time for some new blood, and it's good to see the likes of NCC, NPU, and Wheaton more than holding their own this spring.

You bring up a good point, too, H&R. North Central was picked to finish fifth this season. What's more, North Park was picked to finish sixth. The CCIW's head coaches must be some of the most surprised people around to see the Cardinals and the Vikings doing so well.

Quote from: cardsalum on April 26, 2010, 08:37:18 PM
All of this umpire business is getting a tad out of hand. What respectable individual who is called to work is going to intentionally sway the outcome of games? Umpires have no incentives to favor particular teams and to accuse coaches at any level of hiring "buddies" on the premise of winning a ballgame is a disgrace.

Nobody's accusing anybody of anything, cardsalum. This discussion concerns the appearance of impropriety, or the potential for it, not the existence of it. Chuck is right when he says:

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2010, 07:01:02 PMHaving an ump's future paychecks dependent on the goodwill of a home coach is a glaring conflict-of-interest.  Whether or not it results in 'shading' calls, I have no idea - but it sure doesn't pass the 'smell test'.

I'm still waiting to find out why the CCIW has chosen this particular method of selecting umpires. I suspect that the league has a good reason or reasons for doing so, but I haven't seen it yet. A thought occurred to me today: What if it has something to do with the fact that the CCIW sked frequently requires weekday afternoon contests? Unlike CCIW basketball games, which are always played on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, or CCIW football games, which are always played on Saturday afternoons or evenings, baseball intrudes upon the work week. I'm still not sure why that would require coaches to handle umpire locating and assigning rather than having the league office do it, but I wonder if it's a factor.

Finally, I know that I'm not allowed to say his name anymore, but a certain NPU pitcher (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_8.php) was just named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2010, 03:39:54 PM
Quote from: TurtleHead on April 27, 2010, 10:41:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 10:01:01 AM
Predictions for the weekend:
*Carthage (10-5)/Millikin (4-11)- Carthage should sweep this series...

*Augustana (5-10)/North Central (12-3)- NCC will take two of three

*Elmhurst (3-12)/Illinois Wesleyan (8-7)- IWU takes two of three

*Wheaton (7-8)/North Park (11-4)- NPU takes two of three

Standings if I am correct heading into the last weekend of CCIW play:
NCC 14-4
NPU 13-5
Carthage 13-5
IWU 10-8
Wheaton 8-10
Augustana 6-12
Millikin 4-14

Final weekend schedule:(some big-time playoff implications could be riding on this weekend)
Carthage/NPU
NCC/IWU
Augie/Millikin
Wheaton/Elmhurst

Anyone know what the tie-breaker rules are?   

Here's Section II, Article C of the CCIW baseball sports guide:

QuoteC.   The best record, including winning percentage, after the 21-game CCIW schedule will be used to determine the seeds for the conference tournament.  In case of a tie, the following will be used as a tie-breaker:

1.   Head-to-head competition
2.   Record versus the other CCIW tournament teams
3.   Record against 5th place team to 8th place team until tie is broken.

If a team or teams are eliminated at any step, they are eliminated from tournament consideration at that point.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 27, 2010, 03:47:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2010, 12:24:38 PM
Finally, I know that I'm not allowed to say his name anymore, but a certain NPU pitcher (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_8.php) was just named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row. ;)

Touche Gregory  :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2010, 05:31:54 PM
BP, I hope your predictions for the weekend come true (though I'd prefer for IWU to sweep Elmhurst, just to be safer)!  Since IWU has the h-to-h tie-break on Wheaton, a 2-game lead with 3 to go ought to be safe, but they finish with Elmhurst while we finish with surprising NCC - I'd feel a whole lot better if we could clinch a tourney spot this weekend! ;)

Barring major upsets, the tourney field seems nearly set, though the specific order could still change.  NCC, NPU, and Carthage are virtually assured of being in, while the fourth spot is highly likely to be IWU (though everyone, even Elmhurst [I think], still has a mathematical shot at getting in).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 27, 2010, 08:55:58 PM
I really want to know how Augustana is still receiving votes.  They were just swept this weekend by Carthage and are 6th in the conference.  Got any ideas?  Poppa I know you got a take on the matter. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2010, 08:59:37 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 27, 2010, 08:55:58 PM
I really want to know how Augustana is still receiving votes.  They were just swept this weekend by Carthage and are 6th in the conference.  Got any ideas?  Poppa I know you got a take on the matter. 
My guess is it is an out-of-region voter who simply sees Augie's 20-11 record and assumes they are playing solid baseball. Still, stranger things have happened. The NJAC had a team miss its own conference tourney a few years ago and still get a bid on selection Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 27, 2010, 09:04:37 PM
That's just a shame that a team's playoff fate can be jeopardize by uninformed voters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 27, 2010, 10:57:27 PM
On a side note ....

If North Central sweeps Augustana this weekend ...
If Wheaton takes 2 out of 3 from North Park this weekend ...
and If Carthage loses 1 game to Millikin ....

North Central will clinch its first conference victory since 1996 and the days of Ed Mathey  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UpperDeck85 on April 27, 2010, 11:51:19 PM
droppinbombs47 that is a very interesting statistic NCC is playing very well, I have been an avid CCIW fan for many years and it is nice to see new teams other than the historical dominant Augie or Carthage at the top this year.  I have made it to a few conference games and overall am impressed with the play of NPU and also NCC.  I feel pitching is somewhat down but there are many potent offenses throughout the CCIW, Kudos to the hitting coaches.  ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2010, 08:26:57 AM
As solid as Augustana has been in the past, they have not won the CCIW since 1974. Traditionally, they have quite a number of two sport players who play football in the fall. It is a small thing, but those extra 8 weeks of baseball other players get in the fall may be an advantage over the course of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 28, 2010, 10:09:29 AM
Psst ... two Carthage pitchers combined to no-hit Marian yesterday.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 28, 2010, 10:48:08 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 27, 2010, 09:04:37 PM
That's just a shame that a team's playoff fate can be jeopardize by uninformed voters.

I presume that you and BP are talking about the NCBWA/d3baseball.com Top 25, in which Augustana received eight votes in this week's poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-9). But that poll has nothing to do with the playoff fate of Augie or any other team. The Pool B and Pool C (at-large) selections to the D3 tournament are made by the NCAA's D3 baseball committee, as stipulated by Bylaw 31.3.3 of the NCAA manual, and the details of how those selections are made can be found here in the D3 baseball championship handbook. (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/baseball/2010/10_3_baseball.pdf) The selection process is outlined on page ten of the handbook.

In other words, the poll is irrelevant as far as postseason selections are concerned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2010, 11:09:37 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 28, 2010, 10:48:08 AM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 27, 2010, 09:04:37 PM
That's just a shame that a team's playoff fate can be jeopardize by uninformed voters.

I presume that you and BP are talking about the NCBWA/d3baseball.com Top 25, in which Augustana received eight votes in this week's poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-9). But that poll has nothing to do with the playoff fate of Augie or any other team. The Pool B and Pool C (at-large) selections to the D3 tournament are made by the NCAA's D3 baseball committee, as stipulated by Bylaw 31.3.3 of the NCAA manual, and the details of how those selections are made can be found here in the D3 baseball championship handbook. (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/baseball/2010/10_3_baseball.pdf) The selection process is outlined on page ten of the handbook.

In other words, the poll is irrelevant as far as postseason selections are concerned.

You are correct.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: UpperDeck85 on April 28, 2010, 11:46:07 AM
Gregory I don't care what it says in this by law or that championship handbook, it's common sense that voters should not be giving away votes to teams that do not deserve them.  :'(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on April 28, 2010, 11:56:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 28, 2010, 08:26:57 AM
As solid as Augustana has been in the past, they have not won the CCIW since 1974. Traditionally, they have quite a number of two sport players who play football in the fall. It is a small thing, but those extra 8 weeks of baseball other players get in the fall may be an advantage over the course of the season.

This is a pretty remarkable stat considering the quality of teams Augustana has put on the field over the years to not have won the CCIW in the last 36 years.  However, I just looked at their roster and compared it with their football and even though they traditionally do have two sport players this year, I didn't match one of their players who get significant time for baseball to anyone on their football roster.  They are a very young team and would be shocked if they didn't make a lot of noise here in the next couple years. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 28, 2010, 11:57:55 AM
predictions for this weekend in the CCIW:

Wheaton vs. North Park: Wheaton 2 / North Park 1 ( this one is hard to predict, but I think Wheaton's pitching has an edge.  Also, Wheaton's hitting has been stellar in the past couple weeks)

IWU vs. Elmhurst: IWU 2/Elmhurst 1 (I have yet to see IWU play, but I think Elmhurst does not have the pitching to compete)

NCC vs. Augustana: NCC 3/ Augustana 0 (If NCC's hitting stays hot then they will come away with 3 wins this weekend.  Also, NCC's pitching has held its ground lately)

Carthage vs. Millikin: Carthage 3/ Millikin 0  (Carthage just seems too strong for a scrappy Millikin team)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 28, 2010, 12:32:57 PM
Quote from: UpperDeck85 on April 28, 2010, 11:46:07 AM
Gregory I don't care what it says in this by law or that championship handbook, it's common sense that voters should not be giving away votes to teams that do not deserve them.  :'(

That's not the point, Upper Deck. Nobody here is disputing the obvious fact that the pollsters who are giving votes to Augie are misguided. The question at hand is whether or not the Top 25 poll affects the D3 tournament selection process, which seems to be a point of confusion for Jigsaw and perhaps others who may not know how the selection process works.

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 28, 2010, 11:56:02 AM
This is a pretty remarkable stat considering the quality of teams Augustana has put on the field over the years to not have won the CCIW in the last 36 years.

Indeed, Augustana has appeared in fifteen of the last 21 CCIW tournaments. And throughout that span of good Augie teams, the Doggies not only failed to win the CCIW title, they also won the CCIW tourney only once (1999). Augie is the perennial bridesmaid of CCIW baseball.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on April 29, 2010, 10:24:16 AM
Wheaton's tailspin continues with a 7-3 loss to U. of Chicago.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/4/28/BB_chicago.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/4/28/BB_chicago.aspx?path=baseball)

For those of you keeping track at home, that is 6 losses in the past 7 games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on April 29, 2010, 11:33:25 PM
Wheaton drops 2 to North Park tonight at home 
17 to 14 and 16 to 10, not your stellar pitching performances
Both these teams and others in  the CCIW just keep pounding away.
Looks like North Central and North Park are now in the tournament, looks like its between IWU and Augustana for the 4th spot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 30, 2010, 08:55:28 AM
Greg, I hate to bring up this topic again, but your favorite pitcher continues to struggle against the top offensive teams in the conference. Of the top three offensive teams in the conference, North Park has played two so far with the Carthage series next weekend.  In those two starts, his line is:
11 IP, 17hits, 14 runs, 13 er, 11 bb, and 12 k's. I want to make this clear; I am not saying he isn't a good pitcher, just don't see how you can say he is having as good of a season this year as last. He has performed very well against the weaker opponents and struggled against the better offenses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on April 30, 2010, 09:42:30 AM
What a pitcher's duel that NPU @ Wheaton DH was yesterday--NOT.

Game time 3:00 p.m. Teams left the field for the day around 10:30 p.m. Wow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2010, 10:06:18 AM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 30, 2010, 09:42:30 AM
What a pitcher's duel that NPU @ Wheaton DH was yesterday--NOT.

Game time 3:00 p.m. Teams left the field for the day around 10:30 p.m. Wow.

Why are they playing a Thurs/Fri series instead of the usual Fri/Sat for Wheaton?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on April 30, 2010, 10:23:37 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2010, 10:06:18 AM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 30, 2010, 09:42:30 AM
What a pitcher's duel that NPU @ Wheaton DH was yesterday--NOT.

Game time 3:00 p.m. Teams left the field for the day around 10:30 p.m. Wow.

Why are they playing a Thurs/Fri series instead of the usual Fri/Sat for Wheaton?
My guess would be either graduation or weather
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 30, 2010, 11:56:01 AM
Dominican also uses Alexian Field for its home field so they may have a home game or something planned.  I think the doubleheader sweep by North Park probably just locked in the field for the CCIW tourney.  Wheaton has fallen apart since their ninth inning collapse at Concordia and it's going to be too little too late before they can pick on Elmhurst next weekend.  Wheaton just can't put it together on both sides of the ball.  The offense has been on lately but the pitching has been poor and even when they get a good outing like Dennison had on Monday they offense can't string hits together.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 30, 2010, 01:49:36 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 30, 2010, 08:55:28 AM
Greg, I hate to bring up this topic again, but your favorite pitcher continues to struggle against the top offensive teams in the conference. Of the top three offensive teams in the conference, North Park has played two so far with the Carthage series next weekend.  In those two starts, his line is:
11 IP, 17hits, 14 runs, 13 er, 11 bb, and 12 k's. I want to make this clear; I am not saying he isn't a good pitcher, just don't see how you can say he is having as good of a season this year as last. He has performed very well against the weaker opponents and struggled against the better offenses.

Actually, NPU is itself one of the top three offensive teams in the conference.

I admit that Giovenco's numbers are tailing off from last year, but two bad outings are not an indictment of his season. Yesterday his problem wasn't Wheaton's hitting -- he gave up seven hits in five innings, which is hardly a disaster, and those seven hits consisted of five singles and two doubles -- it was his location. He walked six in those five innings, and that's undoubtedly why he left the game, not because Wheaton was pounding him with the bats. Five of the six batters he walked ended up scoring.

The bigger story was how well NPU hit Wheaton. The Vikings had thirty-four hits in yesterday's doubleheader, batting .415 and slugging .646 as a team. Granted, Wheaton is reeling, having lost eight in a row now, and Driggers is not getting good performances from his pitchers -- but that's still a very good afternoon's work for a North Park team that has apparently not yet convinced everyone that it's for real:

Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 28, 2010, 11:57:55 AMWheaton vs. North Park: Wheaton 2 / North Park 1 ( this one is hard to predict, but I think Wheaton's pitching has an edge.  Also, Wheaton's hitting has been stellar in the past couple weeks)

(Incidentally, NPU's pitching was over two runs lower per game in terms of ERA than Wheaton's going into yesterday's doubleheader out in the 'burbs.)

Quote from: DirtyJersey on April 30, 2010, 10:23:37 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2010, 10:06:18 AM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 30, 2010, 09:42:30 AM
What a pitcher's duel that NPU @ Wheaton DH was yesterday--NOT.

Game time 3:00 p.m. Teams left the field for the day around 10:30 p.m. Wow.

Why are they playing a Thurs/Fri series instead of the usual Fri/Sat for Wheaton?
My guess would be either graduation or weather

Can't be graduation; both NPU and Wheaton have their commencements next weekend, not this weekend.

Quote from: yank52 on April 29, 2010, 11:33:25 PM
Looks like North Central and North Park are now in the tournament, looks like its between IWU and Augustana for the 4th spot.

* NCC clinched a tournament spot with Wheaton's first loss yesterday.

* NPU clinched a tournament spot when it beat Wheaton in the nightcap.

* Two more wins by Carthage, or two Wheaton losses and an Augie loss, or some combination thereof, clinches a tournament spot for the Red Men.

* Some combination of three Wesleyan wins and Wheaton losses, and four Wesleyan wins and Augie losses, clinches a tournament spot for IWU.

* Wheaton is actually in slightly better shape than Augie in terms of competing for a playoff spot, as WC is 7-10 and Augie is 5-10; furthermore, Wheaton owns the tiebreaker over Carthage, while Augie doesn't. Augie's chief advantage is that it owns the tiebreaker over fourth-place IWU, while Wheaton doesn't. But it certainly doesn't look good for either the team in orange or the Rock Islanders right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 30, 2010, 07:10:38 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 30, 2010, 11:56:01 AM
Dominican also uses Alexian Field for its home field so they may have a home game or something planned.  I think the doubleheader sweep by North Park probably just locked in the field for the CCIW tourney.  Wheaton has fallen apart since their ninth inning collapse at Concordia and it's going to be too little too late before they can pick on Elmhurst next weekend.  Wheaton just can't put it together on both sides of the ball.  The offense has been on lately but the pitching has been poor and even when they get a good outing like Dennison had on Monday they offense can't string hits together.

I don't know how you can say North Park will get the field for the tournament.  There are still 2 important weekends of CCIW baseball left.  You are getting too far ahead of yourself
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 30, 2010, 07:51:17 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 30, 2010, 07:10:38 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 30, 2010, 11:56:01 AM
Dominican also uses Alexian Field for its home field so they may have a home game or something planned.  I think the doubleheader sweep by North Park probably just locked in the field for the CCIW tourney.  Wheaton has fallen apart since their ninth inning collapse at Concordia and it's going to be too little too late before they can pick on Elmhurst next weekend.  Wheaton just can't put it together on both sides of the ball.  The offense has been on lately but the pitching has been poor and even when they get a good outing like Dennison had on Monday they offense can't string hits together.

I don't know how you can say North Park will get the field for the tournament.  There are still 2 important weekends of CCIW baseball left.  You are getting too far ahead of yourself
I think he means "qualified for the field of four teams," not "will host the CCIW tournament."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cardsalum on April 30, 2010, 08:26:22 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 30, 2010, 07:10:38 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 30, 2010, 11:56:01 AM
Dominican also uses Alexian Field for its home field so they may have a home game or something planned.  I think the doubleheader sweep by North Park probably just locked in the field for the CCIW tourney.  Wheaton has fallen apart since their ninth inning collapse at Concordia and it's going to be too little too late before they can pick on Elmhurst next weekend.  Wheaton just can't put it together on both sides of the ball.  The offense has been on lately but the pitching has been poor and even when they get a good outing like Dennison had on Monday they offense can't string hits together.

I don't know how you can say North Park will get the field for the tournament.  There are still 2 important weekends of CCIW baseball left.  You are getting too far ahead of yourself

Yes hit and run he means getting in the tournament. Don't get all jumpy! We know you're rooting for the Cardinal bandwagon you have been aboard all season... ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on April 30, 2010, 10:18:32 PM
Quote from: cardsalum on April 30, 2010, 08:26:22 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on April 30, 2010, 07:10:38 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on April 30, 2010, 11:56:01 AM
Dominican also uses Alexian Field for its home field so they may have a home game or something planned.  I think the doubleheader sweep by North Park probably just locked in the field for the CCIW tourney.  Wheaton has fallen apart since their ninth inning collapse at Concordia and it's going to be too little too late before they can pick on Elmhurst next weekend.  Wheaton just can't put it together on both sides of the ball.  The offense has been on lately but the pitching has been poor and even when they get a good outing like Dennison had on Monday they offense can't string hits together.

I don't know how you can say North Park will get the field for the tournament.  There are still 2 important weekends of CCIW baseball left.  You are getting too far ahead of yourself

Yes hit and run he means getting in the tournament. Don't get all jumpy! We know you're rooting for the Cardinal bandwagon you have been aboard all season... ;)

Sorry for getting jumpy, my apologies thunder38illini. I just misread the post  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 01, 2010, 01:35:45 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2010, 12:24:38 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:31:15 PM
Finally, I have never seen a 9 run game be the reason a team loses a baseball game.

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on April 26, 2010, 07:44:01 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on April 26, 2010, 07:37:24 PM
Remember that I am not the one blaming the umpires. I inquired of another poster's comments about the "horrific" umpiring.

I know this but it was General Public who made these comments, and looking at his previous comments and posts on this site, he is clearly a very jealous and bitter Wheaton fan who needs to blame something other than his teams poor play for losing because he is just still in shock that his team just got swept by NCC

To be fair to General Public, he didn't blame Wheaton's defeat on the umpires. This is what he said:

Quote from: The General Public on April 26, 2010, 12:53:44 AMNot to say NCC shouldnt have won, because they should have, but the umping did play a big role in the game.

It's one thing to complain about officials -- fans of losing teams do it all the time -- but if the fan openly admits that the officiating isn't the reason why his team lost, even as he's grousing about their performance, then he has manned up and accepted the fact that his team was outperformed by its opponent.


Greg,

I have not been on here lately but thanks for the defense. Its good to see that some on here have a reading comprehension level greater than 6th graders.  I guess it was a pretty complex sentence for North Central alum/current students.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 01, 2010, 01:39:44 AM
my post got tied up in my quote...heres my piece..


Greg,

I have not been on here lately but thanks for the defense. Its good to see that some on here have a reading comprehension level greater than 6th graders.  I guess it was a pretty complex sentence for North Central alum/current students.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 01, 2010, 04:22:44 PM
Not sure what happened, but Mario Perez was lifted after 2.1 innings today...potentially bad news coming soon??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 01, 2010, 10:17:51 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 01, 2010, 01:39:44 AM
my post got tied up in my quote...heres my piece..


Greg,

I have not been on here lately but thanks for the defense. Its good to see that some on here have a reading comprehension level greater than 6th graders.  I guess it was a pretty complex sentence for North Central alum/current students.

at least they know how to quote correctly.  ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 01, 2010, 10:20:23 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 01, 2010, 04:22:44 PM
Not sure what happened, but Mario Perez was lifted after 2.1 innings today...potentially bad news coming soon??

I was wondering the same thing too, mwunder. I hope its nothing too serious. 

Hopefully someone has an update coming...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2010, 10:40:38 PM
The CCIW website is showing NCC and NPU as clinching tourney spots - they have missed that IWU has also clinched (being 3-up on Wheaton w/ 3 to go, and having the tie-break).  I'm not sure on Carthage (though, realistically, it is a done deal).  I can't find a third game between Carthage and Wheaton, and they are 1-1 on the one's I found - anyone know the tie-break status (or might they play a sudden-death game)?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 01, 2010, 10:43:20 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 01, 2010, 01:39:44 AM
my post got tied up in my quote...heres my piece..

Greg,

I have not been on here lately but thanks for the defense. Its good to see that some on here have a reading comprehension level greater than 6th graders.  I guess it was a pretty complex sentence for North Central alum/current students.

Since some of us on here are not at a 6th grade school level I need help with just a little bit of math that I'm struggling with.  What is 1+1 ... Because the answer to that is North Central's magic number to clinch the CCIW conference championship ... I'm trying to figure it out but without a 6th grade education I just can't quite figure it out  ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 01, 2010, 10:49:09 PM
Arrogance comes before the fall.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 01, 2010, 10:57:58 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 01, 2010, 10:49:09 PM
Arrogance comes before the fall.

"I am who I am and your approval isn't needed"  ~ Me
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 01, 2010, 11:01:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2010, 10:40:38 PM
The CCIW website is showing NCC and NPU as clinching tourney spots - they have missed that IWU has also clinched (being 3-up on Wheaton w/ 3 to go, and having the tie-break).  I'm not sure on Carthage (though, realistically, it is a done deal).  I can't find a third game between Carthage and Wheaton, and they are 1-1 on the one's I found - anyone know the tie-break status (or might they play a sudden-death game)?
Wheaton defeated Carthage 11-1 (April 7), then split a twin bill on April 14 (Carthage 11-1, then Wheaton 14-5).

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball)

Wheaton still holds out hope of a tie with Carthage at 11-10 (and the Thunder hold the tiebreaker), but they would have to sweep Elmhurst and hope that Carthage drops its next four contests (one vs Millkin and three vs North Park).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2010, 12:07:14 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 01, 2010, 11:01:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2010, 10:40:38 PM
The CCIW website is showing NCC and NPU as clinching tourney spots - they have missed that IWU has also clinched (being 3-up on Wheaton w/ 3 to go, and having the tie-break).  I'm not sure on Carthage (though, realistically, it is a done deal).  I can't find a third game between Carthage and Wheaton, and they are 1-1 on the one's I found - anyone know the tie-break status (or might they play a sudden-death game)?
Wheaton defeated Carthage 11-1 (April 7), then split a twin bill on April 14 (Carthage 11-1, then Wheaton 14-5).

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball)

Wheaton still holds out hope of a tie with Carthage at 11-10 (and the Thunder hold the tiebreaker), but they would have to sweep Elmhurst and hope that Carthage drops its next four contests (one vs Millkin and three vs North Park).

Thanks.  My elderly eyes somehow skipped over the Wheaton win on the 14th.

Realistically, the tourney is NCC, NPU, IWU, and Carthage (in whatever seeding order), but technically, Carthage has not yet clinched.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 02, 2010, 12:13:12 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 01, 2010, 10:57:58 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 01, 2010, 10:49:09 PM
Arrogance comes before the fall.

"I am who I am and your approval isn't needed"  ~ Me

Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2010, 12:27:57 AM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2010, 12:13:12 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 01, 2010, 10:57:58 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 01, 2010, 10:49:09 PM
Arrogance comes before the fall.

"I am who I am and your approval isn't needed"  ~ Me

Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.
That's mighty optimistic, and quite charitable of you.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Millikin??????? Millikin!!!!! Carthage loses to Millikin. Unreal. In 24 years of baseball under Augie Schmidt I am not certain there has been a more devastating loss... Millikin??!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2010, 12:59:50 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 02, 2010, 12:49:07 AM
Millikin??????? Millikin!!!!! Carthage loses to Millikin. Unreal. In 24 years of baseball under Augie Schmidt I am not certain there has been a more devastating loss... Millikin??!!
I had to look it up -- the last time Millikin defeated Carthage was in 2003, 16-9 in Kenosha.

What makes this loss even more surreal (or at least improbable) is that the key play was a ninth-inning, two-on, two-out catcher's interference that set the stage for a walk-off grand slam.  

However, the loss might not be all that surprising if you look at recent scores between the two teams: quite a few close games (and, others not-so-close) -- last year, 4-3; 2008, 1-0, 5-3, 4-3; 2007, 6-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2010, 08:53:05 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 01, 2010, 10:43:20 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 01, 2010, 01:39:44 AM
my post got tied up in my quote...heres my piece..

Greg,

I have not been on here lately but thanks for the defense. Its good to see that some on here have a reading comprehension level greater than 6th graders.  I guess it was a pretty complex sentence for North Central alum/current students.

Since some of us on here are not at a 6th grade school level I need help with just a little bit of math that I'm struggling with.  What is 1+1 ... Because the answer to that is North Central's magic number to clinch the CCIW conference championship ... I'm trying to figure it out but without a 6th grade education I just can't quite figure it out  ???


I hate to chide you on your not-yet-sixth-grade math ;), but your calculation regarding NCC's magic number is incorrect. The magic number for the Cardinals isn't two, it's one. Either a North Park loss to Carthage next weekend or a North Central win over Illinois Wesleyan will give NCC the 2010 CCIW crown. That's because NCC holds a one-game lead over NPU, plus NCC owns the tiebreaker over NPU --  so the Vikings in effect have two games to make up in the standings in order to win the title, which means that they have to sweep the Red Men while the Cardinals get swept by the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 02, 2010, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2010, 08:53:05 AM
I hate to chide you on your not-yet-sixth-grade math ;), but your calculation regarding NCC's magic number is incorrect. The magic number for the Cardinals isn't two, it's one. Either a North Park loss to Carthage next weekend or a North Central win over Illinois Wesleyan will give NCC the 2010 CCIW crown. That's because NCC holds a one-game lead over NPU, plus NCC owns the tiebreaker over NPU --  so the Vikings in effect have two games to make up in the standings in order to win the title, which means that they have to sweep the Red Men while the Cardinals get swept by the Titans.

That would be correct Gregory. However, this is based on the assumption that North Central completes the sweep over Augustana today.

http://www.communitychurchsoftball.org/MagicNumberCalculator.htm

This was a tool I used a week ago. Granted it does not take into account the tie breaker scenarios but you simply alter it by one game accordingly. Let's assume this scenario as an example for the magic number:

North Central loses and falls to 14-4 on the year.
This would put both teams through the same amount of games as North Park would be at 13-5.
For illustration purposes, let's say North Central does in fact win one as you said to clinch. This would put NCC at 15-6 on the year. But in this case North Park can STILL get the one seed by sweeping Carthage! This would put them at 16-5. If NCC loses today the magic number remains at two. However, if they win it drops to one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 12:49:34 PM
 Wow Jigsaw ... not bad for a 6th grade education ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2010, 04:06:39 PM
Carthage defeated Millikin 12-6 today. The Redmen take 2 of 3 on the weekend, but that one loss could be the one that keeps them out of a Pool C... not that I think they had much of a chance at one anyway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 02, 2010, 08:45:09 PM
Just saw North Central took game 3 from Augustana for the sweep. 

4-3 with a walk off hit in the bottom of the 9th.

This game was a very low scoring affair (something North Central is rarely related with)
Does anyone have insight on what the cause of this was?  Weather? Umpires? Pitching duel?

On a different note,  North Central needs to win one more conference game (vs. IWU) or have North Park lose one game on Friday (against Carthage) to win the CCIW

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 02, 2010, 08:56:01 PM
BigPoppa

I am new to the board how are pool C bids awarded?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 02, 2010, 10:41:08 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

If you want to bash a player do it in person instead of hiding behind a nickname.  Classless.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 02, 2010, 10:44:12 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

And you go even further to prove your unintelligence.  Congrats!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on May 02, 2010, 11:00:42 PM
This board has been sad lately. I think we have a few players on it or something.

These next 13 days of CCIW play will be very exciting even with all 4 teams clinched. IWU vs NCC, a possible first round matchup going at it the weekend before. I think this will be interesting as NCC will see Pankau and Kabbes, while IWU will be able to see Arenson and Kloss on the bump for a taste before a potential rematch.

Also, NPU vs Carthage, same story. Giovenco and Sparacino for NPU and Perez and co. for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2010, 11:17:27 PM
It is an amazing scheduling coincidence that next weekend's games match up the four tourney teams, and quite possibly is a preview of the first round match-ups.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2010, 11:44:16 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2010, 10:41:08 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

If you want to bash a player do it in person instead of hiding behind a nickname.  Classless.
It makes one wonder what motivates such a posting... jealousy, perhaps.  I agree with Dirty Jersey that recent postings have been sad and out of character for the CCIW board at the very least.

My take on this whole boards thing is that theyshould be used to inform (scores, rules, schedule changes),  speculate (match-ups, line-ups, who'll qualify for a tournament), and support (one's favorite team, recognize the accomplishments of a player).  Banter and respectful ribbing are entertaining and sometimes clever, and they highlight the competitive nature of the game and the conference as a whole.

Droppinbombs, surely you support a team and probably can celebrate the accomplishments of the players on that team.  Why not do that rather than criticize a player on another team?  You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 03, 2010, 01:45:01 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2010, 11:44:16 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2010, 10:41:08 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

If you want to bash a player do it in person instead of hiding behind a nickname.  Classless.
It makes one wonder what motivates such a posting... jealousy, perhaps.  I agree with Dirty Jersey that recent postings have been sad and out of character for the CCIW board at the very least.

My take on this whole boards thing is that theyshould be used to inform (scores, rules, schedule changes),  speculate (match-ups, line-ups, who'll qualify for a tournament), and support (one's favorite team, recognize the accomplishments of a player).  Banter and respectful ribbing are entertaining and sometimes clever, and they highlight the competitive nature of the game and the conference as a whole.

Droppinbombs, surely you support a team and probably can celebrate the accomplishments of the players on that team.  Why not do that rather than criticize a player on another team?  You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Fellas, I mean no harm in my posts I am just having a good time and I don't mean any disrespect towards any other team or players on any of the CCIW teams.  It is obviously that North Central, North Park, Carthage, and Wesleyan are very good ball clubs, and that Giovenco is a great pitcher.  I just give people are hard time because I think it is fun to see their rebuttals about my comments.  I love the CCIW and have been ever since I played for it and I really like the way it is shaping up these next couple weeks.  Carthage as Wesleyan has battled through adversity and are in the tournament and have the chance to make something happen.  As well as North Central and North Park surprising people and finishing 1 and 2 this year.  This is a great year for the CCIW and only is a start in many great and epic battles in the upcoming years especially with Wheaton and Augustana on their tales as well as Elmhurst and Millikin being right behind with a couple strong players away from being contenders.  I am sorry if I have offended anyone but it is all in good fun and I as well as I know all of your guys are, enjoy the change of the guard and excitement this year has brought in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 09:35:34 AM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 02, 2010, 08:56:01 PM
BigPoppa

I am new to the board how are pool C bids awarded?

Pool C bids are awarded to teams that do not win their conferences automatic bid (in the CCIW the bid goes to the tourney winner). All of the teams nation wide are then dumped into a single pool and the best of the best get bids... there are 13 bids this year in Pool C. The CCIW will not get a Pool C unless North Central fares well in the CCIW tourney but gets beat in the final. For some reason, NCC is not getting the national respect (probably due to a very weak central region when compared to other regions in the nation).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 03, 2010, 09:40:02 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

I really hope the NCC people on this and any other board represent themselves with some class!  I'm sure many are beating their chests with the season we are having, but hopefully this isn't a one year deal.  The last 10+ years or so of baseball at NCC have been embarrassing!  Tom Purcell left a program that he built from almost nothing and Ed Mathey picked it up and kept it going.  After that, there hasn't been much to cheer about.   Hopefully the program becomes a consistent winner year after year!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 10:11:29 AM
Quote from: CardinalAlum on May 03, 2010, 09:40:02 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 02, 2010, 09:37:42 PM
In other news, does anyone think Stephen Strasburg I mean Mike Giovenco is going to win his 3rd consecutive CCIW pitcher of the week ??  :P

I really hope the NCC people on this and any other board represent themselves with some class!  I'm sure many are beating their chests with the season we are having, but hopefully this isn't a one year deal.  The last 10+ years or so of baseball at NCC have been embarrassing!  Tom Purcell left a program that he built from almost nothing and Ed Mathey picked it up and kept it going.  After that, there hasn't been much to cheer about.   Hopefully the program becomes a consistent winner year after year!
We do not think poorly about NCC fans and alums, we just think poorly of droppinbombs:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 03, 2010, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 10:11:29 AM
We do not think poorly about NCC fans and alums, we just think poorly of droppinbombs:)

Oh Poppa I just like to play devil's advocate on here sometimes and I use my comments in doing so as you could see with my previous post.  Last games of the year can't hold anything back  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2010, 01:39:45 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 02, 2010, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2010, 08:53:05 AM
I hate to chide you on your not-yet-sixth-grade math ;), but your calculation regarding NCC's magic number is incorrect. The magic number for the Cardinals isn't two, it's one. Either a North Park loss to Carthage next weekend or a North Central win over Illinois Wesleyan will give NCC the 2010 CCIW crown. That's because NCC holds a one-game lead over NPU, plus NCC owns the tiebreaker over NPU --  so the Vikings in effect have two games to make up in the standings in order to win the title, which means that they have to sweep the Red Men while the Cardinals get swept by the Titans.

That would be correct Gregory. However, this is based on the assumption that North Central completes the sweep over Augustana today.

Yeah, for some reason I thought that Augie and NCC had played a Friday/Saturday doubleheader rather than a Saturday/Sunday doubleheader, and that NCC had already thus completed its slate for the weekend. Serves me right for not checking it first, and for posting on three hours' sleep. :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2010, 01:54:48 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 09:35:34 AM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 02, 2010, 08:56:01 PM
BigPoppa

I am new to the board how are pool C bids awarded?

Pool C bids are awarded to teams that do not win their conferences automatic bid (in the CCIW the bid goes to the tourney winner). All of the teams nation wide are then dumped into a single pool and the best of the best get bids... there are 13 bids this year in Pool C. The CCIW will not get a Pool C unless North Central fares well in the CCIW tourney but gets beat in the final. For some reason, NCC is not getting the national respect (probably due to a very weak central region when compared to other regions in the nation).

A small addendum: Pool C bids are handed out after Pool A and Pool B bids are awarded. Pool A bids go to the teams that win the automatic berths of their respective conferences, as BP mentioned. However, not all D3 schools are members of conferences that have automatic bids. Some are independents, and some are members of conferences that don't have autobids due to either not having enough members or being too new. Those schools vie for Pool B bids. Once Pool A and Pool B are fully slotted, all of the remaining teams are then considered for Pool C.

If you want the full details of how the Pool C bids are awarded, Blue Jay Boy, they can be found here in the 2010 D3 baseball championship handbook. (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/baseball/2010/10_3_baseball.pdf) The selection process is outlined on page ten of the handbook.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 03, 2010, 01:56:57 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 03, 2010, 11:26:49 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 10:11:29 AM
We do not think poorly about NCC fans and alums, we just think poorly of droppinbombs:)

Oh Poppa I just like to play devil's advocate on here sometimes and I use my comments in doing so as you could see with my previous post.  Last games of the year can't hold anything back  ;D

I enjoy reading the witty remarks from droppinbombs47, but I do not enjoy reading posts that ridicule current players  :-X

All in all, I think droppinbombs47 adds a little spice to the boards with his little "zingers"

Lets reward his apologetic posts with a little karma boost, shall we?  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 02:33:39 PM
CCIW Weekend Preview
NCC 15-3
NPU 13-5
Carthage 12-6
IWU 11-7

Carthage vs NPU- I'll take Carthage in two of three this weekend. Oddly, I think Carthage beats Giovenco and loses one of the other two. This series has HUGE seeding implications for the CCIW post-season. (Fri/Sun-DH)

NCC vs IWU- I'll take NCC in two of three here as well. IWU is really starting to put it together, but I think NCC has too many arms. (Sat-DH/ Sun)

Standings if it plays out as I expect:
1.   North Central- 17-4
2.   Carthage 14-7
3.   North Park 14-7 (Carthage wins tie-breaker...seeding is nearly irrelevant here as they'll (Carthage/NPU)most likely face one another either way in round one)
4.   Ill Wesleyan- 12-9
What I find interesting here is nearly everyone can either move up/drop a spot or two this weekend. These games are ALL about playoff positioning. I think Carthage, NPU and NCC all have outside shots at a Pool C bid so I expect them to let it all out in case they stumble in the CCIW tourney. Carthage is in ok shape in the regional rankings because of SoS and I think NCC has a shot at a Pool C if they finish strong and get beat in the tourney. NPU is a bit of a different story as they have a weaker SoS.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 03, 2010, 04:24:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2010, 09:35:34 AM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 02, 2010, 08:56:01 PM
BigPoppa

I am new to the board how are pool C bids awarded?

Pool C bids are awarded to teams that do not win their conferences automatic bid (in the CCIW the bid goes to the tourney winner). All of the teams nation wide are then dumped into a single pool and the best of the best get bids... there are 13 bids this year in Pool C. The CCIW will not get a Pool C unless North Central fares well in the CCIW tourney but gets beat in the final. For some reason, NCC is not getting the national respect (probably due to a very weak central region when compared to other regions in the nation).
There are 15 Pool C bids this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 03, 2010, 06:29:21 PM
Great info from everyone - thank you. Based on SoS I would think that the CCIW, whoever it is, should get a shot at a pool C bid. You can not argue with NCC's overall record. I am not really sold on them as a complete team, but they sure can hit it. North Park has 2 solid starters and again hits it well. IWU i know little about, and Carthage, I know alot about, if they can pick it up - they can play with anyone. The problem is they can't pick it up. Going to be a fun weekend and a great tourney, plus NCC has a very nice facility. Does anyone know if the CCIW assigns the umpires for the tourney or does the host team ?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2010, 06:40:45 PM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 03, 2010, 06:29:21 PMDoes anyone know if the CCIW assigns the umpires for the tourney or does the host team ?

Unlike regular-season CCIW games, the host school does not select the umpires. From Section III, Article L of the CCIW baseball sports guide:

QuoteL. The tournament director will be the coach of the host school. The CCIW coaches will select four umpires from different geographical locations at the fall meeting to officiate the CCIW tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 03, 2010, 06:43:04 PM
That's correct. One umpire is chosen from Carthage's area, one from the Chicago metropolitan area, one from the Augustana area, and one from the Bloomington-Decatur area.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 03, 2010, 09:48:18 PM
Thanks for that piece of information. Best news I've heard all month ;D ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 03, 2010, 11:41:29 PM
How about a little chat about CCIW Player and Pitcher of the Year? My vote goes to Giovenco and Corrigan, however I really liked Herrera from Elmhurst and Aiello from Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on May 04, 2010, 01:41:18 AM
Mercy!  Wheaton's football team beat Aurora 23-20 today.   :P

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/5/3/BB_aurora.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/5/3/BB_aurora.aspx?path=baseball)

Was there any pitching at all?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 04, 2010, 09:16:36 AM
Here's links to the new rankings out today:

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll5410.pdf

http://d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-10
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 04, 2010, 01:39:56 PM
Oh My - How does Augustana receive votes?  That is silly, someone has no idea what they are doing - or it is a friend of the program. They have been swept their last 2 series in CCIW play and are currently 5-13 in league play and 21-15 overall. I guess there is a reason they schedule cupcakes on their Spring trip. North Park is currently 24-12 overall and 13-5 in league play and Carthage is 23-12 overall and 12-6 in league play, plus their Spring trip was a monster of a schedule, and neither one of them received any votes. Come on!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2010, 01:44:43 PM
For some reason, voters like Augustana. Until last week, they were still getting votes in the D3baseball.com poll as well.

The expanded Pool C (15 bids) may be a savior for NPU or Carthage as both look to be on the bibble. I see Carthage with an advantage right now with a better SoS, but that can all change this weekend when they face off.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 04, 2010, 01:47:03 PM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 04, 2010, 01:39:56 PM
Oh My - How does Augustana receive votes?  That is silly, someone has no idea what they are doing - or it is a friend of the program. They have been swept their last 2 series in CCIW play and are currently 5-13 in league play and 21-15 overall. I guess there is a reason they schedule cupcakes on their Spring trip. North Park is currently 24-12 overall and 13-5 in league play and Carthage is 23-12 overall and 12-6 in league play, plus their Spring trip was a monster of a schedule, and neither one of them received any votes. Come on!

While I do agree that it is fairly ridiculous that Augustana received votes in the ABCA poll, this poll, along with the d3baseball.com poll, do not mean anything towards a teams potential post season chances.  This is the ultimate goal of these teams, not to simply show up in a poll on May 3.

The regional rankings came out last week from the NCAA and this is the poll that ultimately counts:
April 29, 2010



NCAA Release

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA Division III Baseball Committee has released its first 2010 regional poll.  The committee has ranked the top 15 percent of eligible teams in each region.  The following teams, with records through April 27, were included in this week's regional poll.  The next poll will be released May 6.

Central Region In-Region Record Overall Record
1. Buena Vista 18-10 18-10
2. St. Norbert 10-6 13-9
3. North Central (Illinois) 19-5 24-5
4. Carthage 12-8 17-11
5. Webster 21-1 26-7
6. North Park 18-9 22-11
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on May 04, 2010, 02:38:17 PM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 04, 2010, 01:39:56 PM
Oh My - How does Augustana receive votes?  That is silly, someone has no idea what they are doing - or it is a friend of the program. They have been swept their last 2 series in CCIW play and are currently 5-13 in league play and 21-15 overall. I guess there is a reason they schedule cupcakes on their Spring trip. North Park is currently 24-12 overall and 13-5 in league play and Carthage is 23-12 overall and 12-6 in league play, plus their Spring trip was a monster of a schedule, and neither one of them received any votes. Come on!

I also don't know how Augie is still getting votes, but I think you are a bit off base on them scheduling cupcakes for Spring Break.  First, Augie is certainly hurt by the fact their 1st spring trip is so early.  When I was there, we played just about the same teams every year because there were so few of us DIII teams down there at that time.  Here are the records of their 1st week opponents:

Grove City  16-16
Farmingdale St.  23-13
Widener  21-10
Beloit  21-12
MSOE  12-25
Rose Hulman  25-9

Sure, it's not a Carthage schedule but I don't think its that bad given the options.  Also, when they fly down for the second weekend, the plan is to obviously play as many in-region games as possible.  I don't think the cupcake schedule is the thing to blame for Augustana falling apart in conference this season.  They started out hot against some decent teams and while those teams found their way, Augustana's youth and lack of depth have been exposed as many expected.  I think the bigger shock is the record that Augie amassed against the teams they did rather then where they are sitting now.

If Augie had played the spring break schedule Carthage had, they might have lost just about every game.  Would Augie have performed better in conference if it had been crushed versus had the opportunity to play close games against competition more on their level?  I don't know the answer to that question but maybe someone else has an opinion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 04, 2010, 04:24:06 PM
Augie_superfan,

Good research, and I stand corrected on my cupcake statement. I am not a huge fan of the Augie coach therefore I am probably biased in my opinion. When the facts are laid out, you make a fine case that it was in fact - not a cupcake schedule. I still do not know how they are receiving votes in a National ranking? However playing the Spring schedule that Carthage did, certainly did not help them against Millikin this weekend. as Bigpoppa pointed out - that could be the loss that dooms them, but everyone does not bring their "A" game everyday. Once again - good info - and the "cupcake" will be dropped
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 09:30:55 PM
It's awesome to see a CCIW team (North Central) crack the Top 25!


Other News on NCC

- beat Univ. of Chicago today 11-5

- face Rockford tomorrow

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2010, 09:43:28 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 09:30:55 PM
It's awesome to see a CCIW team (North Central) crack the Top 25!


Other News on NCC

- beat Univ. of Chicago today 11-5

- face Rockford tomorrow



Until the last week or two, it was years since the CCIW did NOT have one or more teams in the top 25.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 10:05:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2010, 09:43:28 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 09:30:55 PM
It's awesome to see a CCIW team (North Central) crack the Top 25!


Other News on NCC

- beat Univ. of Chicago today 11-5

- face Rockford tomorrow



Until the last week or two, it was years since the CCIW did NOT have one or more teams in the top 25.

wow, that's an interesting fact.  That just shows how strong the CCIW is.

Also,  I too am still stunned that Augustana received votes in the most recent poll.  This seems to be getting out of hand.  Augustana is fresh out of getting swept twice, so I am somewhat confused here.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 04, 2010, 10:43:06 PM
I'm confused about the postings that state Augustana received votes in the most recent poll.  I am not seeing Augie on the list anywhere -- they were in the "received votes" category last week (Week 9 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-9)), but I don't see them anywhere in the Week 10 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-10).  Maybe I'm (not) seeing things.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 10:53:47 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 04, 2010, 10:43:06 PM
I'm confused about the postings that state Augustana received votes in the most recent poll.  I am not seeing Augie on the list anywhere -- they were in the "received votes" category last week (Week 9 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-9)), but I don't see them anywhere in the Week 10 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-10).  Maybe I'm (not) seeing things.

Sorry, Mr_B, for not putting the link in

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll5410.pdf
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 04, 2010, 11:02:07 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 10:53:47 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 04, 2010, 10:43:06 PM
I'm confused about the postings that state Augustana received votes in the most recent poll.  I am not seeing Augie on the list anywhere -- they were in the "received votes" category last week (Week 9 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-9)), but I don't see them anywhere in the Week 10 Poll (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2010/week-10).  Maybe I'm (not) seeing things.

Sorry, Mr_B, for not putting the link in

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/abcapoll5410.pdf

Thanks... I see it's the ABCA poll that has Augie with RV.  That makes no sense at all!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 05, 2010, 10:06:03 AM
A very enjoyable evening at North Park last night meeting some old Viking baseball alums.

With the new portable fence installed the left and left center dimensions are a throwback to the original layout of the baseball field, when there was a gas station between the field and foster avenue - its a long poke.

The original field had no fence in centerfield, so a blast to the parking pad or off the fieldhouse was in-play.

I never saw anyone hit a homerun down the old rightfield line as it was further than the leftfield line.

but watching the game from the grandstrand and seeing how beautiful a game is played on sports-turf was amazing - a far cry from the old grass field which occasionally was more mud than grass and every once in a while produced a metal shard from its distant past when the area was an auto-wrecking grave yard.

The wind was howling out to left last night - both pitchers were wild - and it was a long game - glad to see North Park won.

dgp
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on May 05, 2010, 11:41:39 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2010, 09:43:28 PM
Quote from: HITandRUN463 on May 04, 2010, 09:30:55 PM
It's awesome to see a CCIW team (North Central) crack the Top 25!


Other News on NCC

- beat Univ. of Chicago today 11-5

- face Rockford tomorrow



Until the last week or two, it was years since the CCIW did NOT have one or more teams in the top 25.

Yeah, No kidding, this has been a disappointing season for a few CCIW who are used to competing for post-seaon positions. Before last year, Carthage, Augie, and IWU made back to back postseason appearances. NCC fans, welcome back to the party
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2010, 02:06:24 PM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 05, 2010, 10:06:03 AM
A very enjoyable evening at North Park last night meeting some old Viking baseball alums.

With the new portable fence installed the left and left center dimensions are a throwback to the original layout of the baseball field, when there was a gas station between the field and foster avenue - its a long poke.

The original field had no fence in centerfield, so a blast to the parking pad or off the fieldhouse was in-play.

I never saw anyone hit a homerun down the old rightfield line as it was further than the leftfield line.

but watching the game from the grandstrand and seeing how beautiful a game is played on sports-turf was amazing - a far cry from the old grass field which occasionally was more mud than grass and every once in a while produced a metal shard from its distant past when the area was an auto-wrecking grave yard.

The wind was howling out to left last night - both pitchers were wild - and it was a long game - glad to see North Park won.

dgp


Yesterday was Senior Day at North Park, and after the game the NPU Diamond Club hosted a cookout at the fieldhouse beyond the centerfield fence. The brats were terrific. Sorry you had to miss it, Mr. B.

NPU's win over Benedictine yesterday gives the Vikings 25 wins on the season. I don't know the most recent year before this one in which North Park won 25 games, but I'm pretty sure that it's been awhile.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 05, 2010, 02:09:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2010, 02:06:24 PM
Yesterday was Senior Day at North Park, and after the game the NPU Diamond Club hosted a cookout at the fieldhouse beyond the centerfield fence. The brats were terrific. Sorry you had to miss it, Mr. B.

I was sorry to miss the game, too.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2010, 02:06:24 PM

NPU's win over Benedictine yesterday gives the Vikings 25 wins on the season. I don't know the most recent year before this one in which North Park won 25 games, but I'm pretty sure that it's been awhile.

The 1987 team went 25-19.  Before that, the 1983 team piled up 33 wins.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 05, 2010, 09:23:55 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland today 20-1 and 23-0. Hopefully some of those bats show up this weekend. I am most impressed with the Carthage pitching which has struggled as of late.

Will Hodges goes seven-for-nine with three HR and 11 RBI.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: yank52 on May 05, 2010, 09:36:14 PM
This weeks contests between the 4 teams that will meet in the conference tournament,  North Central should sweep IWU, I favor NPU over Carthage 2 to 1 but probably will be wrong there. NPU pitching relys on starters going 9 or 10 innings an outing , lately they've been squeaking by with hitting and opponents poor pitching and fielding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2010, 10:02:54 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 05, 2010, 09:23:55 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland today 20-1 and 23-0. Hopefully some of those bats show up this weekend. I am most impressed with the Carthage pitching which has struggled as of late.

YIKES!  43-1! :o

Since Carthage seems to be less than their usual powerhouse self this year, how BAD is Lakeland?!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2010, 10:04:59 PM
Quote from: yank52 on May 05, 2010, 09:36:14 PM
This weeks contests between the 4 teams that will meet in the conference tournament,  North Central should sweep IWU, I favor NPU over Carthage 2 to 1 but probably will be wrong there. NPU pitching relys on starters going 9 or 10 innings an outing , lately they've been squeaking by with hitting and opponents poor pitching and fielding.


While IWU is definitely below their usual standards this year, a sweep would very much surprise me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 05, 2010, 10:31:14 PM
Lakeland entered todays doubleheader with Carthage at 21-15. BigPoppa the Redman pitching staff seems to be coming around. Rohe at 4-1 and two newbies, Dahm at 2-1 and McQuade at 4-0. Plus the big boys, if Perez stays healthy, it will be fun to see. Either way it is going to be a fun last weekend.

I have to believe a Pool C bid awaits the CCIW runner-up, only time will tell.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2010, 08:24:17 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2010, 10:04:59 PM
Quote from: yank52 on May 05, 2010, 09:36:14 PM
This weeks contests between the 4 teams that will meet in the conference tournament,  North Central should sweep IWU, I favor NPU over Carthage 2 to 1 but probably will be wrong there. NPU pitching relys on starters going 9 or 10 innings an outing , lately they've been squeaking by with hitting and opponents poor pitching and fielding.


While IWU is definitely below their usual standards this year, a sweep would very much surprise me.


Saying North Central "should" sweet IWU is a little bit of a stretch in my mind.  While NCC may very well go out and do just that, it would surprise me as well.  IWU is a team that is starting to swing it a little bit better as of late, and it is a team that is leading the conference in pitching by almost a run a game. I have to think that their pitching will key them to at least one victory.

The other thing you have to think about is if NCC wins one game they clinch the conference title and may allow some of the kids who have not had a chance to play all season to get more time than usual.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I'd be surprised if IWU was swept by NCC this weekend. I am not sur ethat NCC would sit players either as they are fighting for a Pool C if they stumble in CCIW tourney play next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2010, 11:52:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I'd be surprised if IWU was swept by NCC this weekend. I am not sur ethat NCC would sit players either as they are fighting for a Pool C if they stumble in CCIW tourney play next week.

BigPoppa, you would know better than I, but NCC has put together a pretty good resume for a Pool C bid, even if they win just 1 game this weekend and go 2 and out in the CCIW tourney.  In that situation, they would be 30-10 and a CCIW regular season championship. Included in their 30 wins, sweeps of Wheaton (22-15) and Augustana (22-15), 2/3 against Carthage (25-12) and North Park (25-12), 2 wins over Franklin College (23-12), and another win over Luther (23-14).

At 29-6, it would not surprise me to see NCC take over the #1 spot in the regional rankings when they are released today. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2010, 12:26:52 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2010, 10:02:54 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 05, 2010, 09:23:55 PM
Carthage sweeps Lakeland today 20-1 and 23-0. Hopefully some of those bats show up this weekend. I am most impressed with the Carthage pitching which has struggled as of late.

YIKES!  43-1! :o

Since Carthage seems to be less than their usual powerhouse self this year, how BAD is Lakeland?!

Lakeland is now 21-17, and the 12-8 conference record of the Muskies is good for sixth place in the twelve-team NAthCon. All in all, it's not the kind of record you'd expect of a team that got swept by a cumulative 43-1 score.

Here's hoping that Carthage has peaked for the week. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 12:34:37 PM
My guess is that Lakeland has solid #1-2 pitchers that they use on the weekends and Carthage faced their #4 and #5 guys (who would probably not make the Carthage roster) and lit them up a bit. Still, for Lakeland to get shutdown that bad in a DH shows that Carthage may be back on track:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2010, 12:41:20 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2010, 11:52:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I'd be surprised if IWU was swept by NCC this weekend. I am not sur ethat NCC would sit players either as they are fighting for a Pool C if they stumble in CCIW tourney play next week.

BigPoppa, you would know better than I, but NCC has put together a pretty good resume for a Pool C bid, even if they win just 1 game this weekend and go 2 and out in the CCIW tourney.  In that situation, they would be 30-10 and a CCIW regular season championship. Included in their 30 wins, sweeps of Wheaton (22-15) and Augustana (22-15), 2/3 against Carthage (25-12) and North Park (25-12), 2 wins over Franklin College (23-12), and another win over Luther (23-14).

At 29-6, it would not surprise me to see NCC take over the #1 spot in the regional rankings when they are released today. 

Without seeing a comprehensive breakdown of Pool C criteria rankings (the basketball boards have numbers-crunchers who do a great job of this, but there doesn't seem to be any baseball guys who are doing something similar over on the Pool C board), it's hard to know just where North Central stands at the moment in terms of the national Pool C outlook. But I tend to think that Big Poppa is right; this is a weak region, and nobody in it has any guarantees as far as Pool C berths are concerned. I would expect NCC's coach to keep playing his starters even if his Cards win Game One against IWU and thereby clinch the CCIW title, because losses could hurt NCC's Pool C case.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 07, 2010, 02:03:42 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2010, 12:41:20 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2010, 11:52:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I'd be surprised if IWU was swept by NCC this weekend. I am not sur ethat NCC would sit players either as they are fighting for a Pool C if they stumble in CCIW tourney play next week.

BigPoppa, you would know better than I, but NCC has put together a pretty good resume for a Pool C bid, even if they win just 1 game this weekend and go 2 and out in the CCIW tourney.  In that situation, they would be 30-10 and a CCIW regular season championship. Included in their 30 wins, sweeps of Wheaton (22-15) and Augustana (22-15), 2/3 against Carthage (25-12) and North Park (25-12), 2 wins over Franklin College (23-12), and another win over Luther (23-14).

At 29-6, it would not surprise me to see NCC take over the #1 spot in the regional rankings when they are released today.  

Without seeing a comprehensive breakdown of Pool C criteria rankings (the basketball boards have numbers-crunchers who do a great job of this, but there doesn't seem to be any baseball guys who are doing something similar over on the Pool C board), it's hard to know just where North Central stands at the moment in terms of the national Pool C outlook. But I tend to think that Big Poppa is right; this is a weak region, and nobody in it has any guarantees as far as Pool C berths are concerned. I would expect NCC's coach to keep playing his starters even if his Cards win Game One against IWU and thereby clinch the CCIW title, because losses could hurt NCC's Pool C case.
No need to crunch numbers on the boards. It's all accessible from the front page of D3baseball.com. Regional rankings, in-region records, OWP, OOWP, SOS ... it's all a few mouse clicks away.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 07, 2010, 12:19:01 PM
Do any Carthage posters have any info on Trace Ruffie?  I had the pleasure of coaching him at Hersey, and was very bummed to hear that he was probably out for the year after Tommy John surgery.

However, after looking at Carthage's stats, I see that he has a couple of appearances and saves.  Is he back?  And if so, how does his velocity look?  (A lot of guys tend to come back throwing even harder after Tommy John).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2010, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 07, 2010, 12:19:01 PM
Do any Carthage posters have any info on Trace Ruffie?  I had the pleasure of coaching him at Hersey, and was very bummed to hear that he was probably out for the year after Tommy John surgery.

However, after looking at Carthage's stats, I see that he has a couple of appearances and saves.  Is he back?  And if so, how does his velocity look?  (A lot of guys tend to come back throwing even harder after Tommy John).

I saw him throw a bit earlier in the year and he is not exactly what he used to be. He is not as hard of a thrower he once was, but that may have changed over that last month. Still, having him back on the mound has been a huge plus for Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2010, 12:57:15 PM
Looking around this morning, I found that Carthage has won 21 straight games against North Park. I'd expect that streak to come to an end this weekend (but I would love to be wrong on this one).

Luke Johnson has done a great job since taking over at NPU and brought back some good baseball to the NPU campus after taking command of a 1-39 team prior to his arrival.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2010, 02:24:45 PM
Quote from: OshDude on May 07, 2010, 02:03:42 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2010, 12:41:20 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2010, 11:52:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I'd be surprised if IWU was swept by NCC this weekend. I am not sur ethat NCC would sit players either as they are fighting for a Pool C if they stumble in CCIW tourney play next week.

BigPoppa, you would know better than I, but NCC has put together a pretty good resume for a Pool C bid, even if they win just 1 game this weekend and go 2 and out in the CCIW tourney.  In that situation, they would be 30-10 and a CCIW regular season championship. Included in their 30 wins, sweeps of Wheaton (22-15) and Augustana (22-15), 2/3 against Carthage (25-12) and North Park (25-12), 2 wins over Franklin College (23-12), and another win over Luther (23-14).

At 29-6, it would not surprise me to see NCC take over the #1 spot in the regional rankings when they are released today.  

Without seeing a comprehensive breakdown of Pool C criteria rankings (the basketball boards have numbers-crunchers who do a great job of this, but there doesn't seem to be any baseball guys who are doing something similar over on the Pool C board), it's hard to know just where North Central stands at the moment in terms of the national Pool C outlook. But I tend to think that Big Poppa is right; this is a weak region, and nobody in it has any guarantees as far as Pool C berths are concerned. I would expect NCC's coach to keep playing his starters even if his Cards win Game One against IWU and thereby clinch the CCIW title, because losses could hurt NCC's Pool C case.
No need to crunch numbers on the boards. It's all accessible from the front page of D3baseball.com. Regional rankings, in-region records, OWP, OOWP, SOS ... it's all a few mouse clicks away.

Yes, I know. But what I'm talking about is the sort of comprehensive analysis that blends the various criteria (in-region records, SOS, etc.) together, which the late Patrick Abegg and now KnightSlappy have done for men's basketball.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2010, 12:57:15 PM
Looking around this morning, I found that Carthage has won 21 straight games against North Park. I'd expect that streak to come to an end this weekend (but I would love to be wrong on this one).

Luke Johnson has done a great job since taking over at NPU and brought back some good baseball to the NPU campus after taking command of a 1-39 team prior to his arrival.

He has, indeed ... and, based upon what NPU has coming back, my guess is that the Vikings will be pretty formidable next year as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2010, 02:43:53 PM
Congratulations to the following CCIW players who have been named to the Academic All-District team for College Division (D2, D3, NAIA) District Five:

First team
Ryan Javech, C, North Park (4.00, Business & Economics)
Vince Mathe, IF, Elmhurst (3.97, Finance)

Second team
Brian Kolb, IF, Wheaton (3.34, Business & Economics)

Third team
Mike Giovenco, P, North Park (3.54, Accounting)

Javech and Mathe are now on the ballot for the Academic All-American team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 07, 2010, 06:28:57 PM
Is this NPU Carthage game still on for Friday? Trying to look at live stats but there not up.  Anybody have any news.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2010, 09:05:39 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 07, 2010, 06:28:57 PM
Is this NPU Carthage game still on for Friday? Trying to look at live stats but there not up.  Anybody have any news.
Just posted on the Carthage website (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2010/5/7/Baseball_0507100104.aspx?path=baseball): North Park defeated Carthage 14-2, in a game halted after the 8th inning.  I'll have to check the archives to see the last time North Park beat Carthage by the ten-run rule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 08, 2010, 12:08:09 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 07, 2010, 09:05:39 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 07, 2010, 06:28:57 PM
Is this NPU Carthage game still on for Friday? Trying to look at live stats but there not up.  Anybody have any news.
Just posted on the Carthage website (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2010/5/7/Baseball_0507100104.aspx?path=baseball): North Park defeated Carthage 14-2, in a game halted after the 8th inning.  I'll have to check the archives to see the last time North Park beat Carthage by the ten-run rule.

It may be inconsequential to some, but for those of us North Park baseball alums....YES!  Ten-running Carthage in Kenosha is saweeet.  Keep that good mojo rollin'.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 08, 2010, 12:09:57 AM
Might be a little too cold for Carthage to take BP with their shirts off at North Park this year, too. (Yes, they did at one time.  Classy indeed...)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2010, 12:27:32 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 08, 2010, 12:08:09 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 07, 2010, 09:05:39 PM
Just posted on the Carthage website (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2010/5/7/Baseball_0507100104.aspx?path=baseball): North Park defeated Carthage 14-2, in a game halted after the 8th inning.  I'll have to check the archives to see the last time North Park beat Carthage by the ten-run rule.

It may be inconsequential to some, but for those of us North Park baseball alums....YES!  Ten-running Carthage in Kenosha is saweeet.  Keep that good mojo rollin'.
I somehow knew you'd enjoy seeing that result!  Still a lot of work to do on Sunday... 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2010, 04:07:51 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 30, 2010, 08:55:28 AM
Greg, I hate to bring up this topic again, but your favorite pitcher continues to struggle against the top offensive teams in the conference. Of the top three offensive teams in the conference, North Park has played two so far with the Carthage series next weekend.  In those two starts, his line is:
11 IP, 17hits, 14 runs, 13 er, 11 bb, and 12 k's. I want to make this clear; I am not saying he isn't a good pitcher, just don't see how you can say he is having as good of a season this year as last. He has performed very well against the weaker opponents and struggled against the better offenses.

Carthage SID Steve Marovich hasn't posted a box score for yesterday's NPU win over the Red Men on the Carthage website yet, but his game recap states that Mike Giovenco got the win and Carthage only had three hits on the day.

I think that we can put to rest the idea that Giovenco struggles against good offenses.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2010, 05:28:33 PM
North Central defeated IWU 4-1 in game one of Saturday's DH.  That clinches the CCIW title for the Cardinals, since they hold the tiebreaker over North Park. Congratulations to the Cardinals, and we look forward to facing you again in next week's tournament!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 08, 2010, 07:54:36 PM
It doesn't clinch the CCIW title, just the seeding for the tournament. There is no tie-breaker for the conference title; rather, they have co-champions. However, for tournament seeding, they utilize tie-breakers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2010, 08:33:36 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on May 08, 2010, 07:54:36 PM
It doesn't clinch the CCIW title, just the seeding for the tournament. There is no tie-breaker for the conference title; rather, they have co-champions. However, for tournament seeding, they utilize tie-breakers.
Thanks for the clarification on that.  IWU managed a split in game two, so the co-championship is still in play pending the outcome of tomorrow's contests.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 08, 2010, 09:10:53 PM
Tomorrow's Carthage @ NPU ought to be interesting. They're usually high scoring affairs there, too!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sherlockholmes on May 09, 2010, 10:28:15 AM
Wheaton ends the year on a positive note setting the school record for wins at 24. Hard to imagine that setting such a record happens on the day the season ends with no post season possibility. Kinda sums up the season for the Thunder though, some good some not so good. Brian Kolb also becomes the all-time hits leader in the CCIW after going 3-4 in game 2 of the doubleheader with Elmhurst. Wheaton figures to be back in the mix next year as well. While they lose a good number of arms, Kolb and Josh Weaver are the only losses from a potent lineup. Both will be sorely missed but it wouldnt surprise me if Wheaton bounces back for a strong 2011 campaign
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 09, 2010, 10:58:22 AM
I really hope none of us, posters, get too excited or too upset with this weekends results. There's no clearcut favorite in the CCIW and the 4 teams are set. It's anyones tournament come Thursday and I'd like to think, playoff experience is going to play a Big part ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 09, 2010, 11:00:32 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 08, 2010, 05:28:33 PM
North Central defeated IWU 4-1 in game one of Saturday's DH.  That clinches the CCIW title for the Cardinals, since they hold the tiebreaker over North Park. Congratulations to the Cardinals, and we look forward to facing you again in next week's tournament!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 10, 2010, 12:39:02 AM
North Park vs Carthage on Sunday = U G L Y

in the 3 game series with North Park the Redman committ 16 errors
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 08:48:41 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 09, 2010, 10:58:22 AM
I really hope none of us, posters, get too excited or too upset with this weekends results. There's no clearcut favorite in the CCIW and the 4 teams are set. It's anyones tournament come Thursday and I'd like to think, playoff experience is going to play a Big part ;D

I think NCC is the favorite. They have beaten everybody all season long. Still, this might be the most wide open CCIW tourney in many, many years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 08:48:41 AM
I think NCC is the favorite. They have beaten everybody all season long. Still, this might be the most wide open CCIW tourney in many, many years.

I can't wait to head out to Naperville to see this years tournamentt it is going to be some great baseball.  Does anyone from here plan on making the trip out to watch the games any of the days?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 10, 2010, 11:51:19 AM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 08:48:41 AM
I think NCC is the favorite. They have beaten everybody all season long. Still, this might be the most wide open CCIW tourney in many, many years.

I can't wait to head out to Naperville to see this years tournamentt it is going to be some great baseball.  Does anyone from here plan on making the trip out to watch the games any of the days?

Yea I should be out there for Friday and Saturday at least might not make Thursday.  Your right droppinbombs it's going to be some great baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 12:54:47 PM
Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 10, 2010, 12:39:02 AM
North Park vs Carthage on Sunday = U G L Y

in the 3 game series with North Park the Redman committ 16 errors

The second game of yesterday's doubleheader was certainly ugly; Carthage committed seven errors and both teams hit like the ball was laid on a tee. But the first game was a well-played contest; Pete Sparacino pitched a complete-game five-hitter for NPU, and Eric Rohe was pitching well for Carthage in response until he tired in the seventh and the Vikings touched him up for four runs. Only three errors were committed between the two teams in that first game, two by Carthage and one by the Park.

Sparacino ends the regular season 8-1 overall and 6-0 in CCIW play.

I'm not sure, but I think that this is the first time that North Park has taken the season series from Carthage since the league went to the present format in 1999.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 01:04:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 12:54:47 PM
I'm not sure, but I think that this is the first time that North Park has taken the season series from Carthage since the league went to the present format in 1999.

You are correct, Greg. NPU beat once in 2001 and once in 1999. NPU winning twince this weekend against the Redmen equaled their total from the last eleven seasons. Great work by NPU.

This is setting up to be a wide-open CCIW race for the Pool A bid right now. I am not sure where I see NPU in the Pool C chances, but a deep run this weekend will only help them. They should leapfrog Carthage this week and position themselves for a potential Pool C, if needed. I think Carthage needs to win it to get into the dance... same with IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 01:20:26 PM
This is what the preseason coaches poll predicted, and this is how the CCIW actually played out:

teampts1st    team  W-L  GB
1. Carthage  47  5    1. North Central  17-4    --
2. Illinois Wesleyan  42  2    2. North Park  15-6    2
3. Wheaton  40  1    3. Carthage  13-8    4
4. Augustana  29  0    4. Illinois Wesleyan  12-9    5
5. North Central  25  0    5. Wheaton  10-11    7
6. North Park  20  0    6. Augustana    8-13    9
7. Millikin  11  0    7. Millikin    5-16  12
8. Elmhurst  10  0    8. Elmhurst    4-17  13

That's pretty poor prognosticating, although the CCIW's baseball coaches have a long way to go to match the record of futility of their basketball counterparts when it comes to preseason coaches polls. ;) To be fair, though, in the past the CCIW has been (as several of us have pointed out) a drearily predictable baseball league from year to year as compared to other CCIW-sponsored sports. It's why their being off so badly this year seems so glaring. And at least they got the bottom two right!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:28:54 PM
 believe the NP will win this year solely on the ability to trot out three quality starters. I don't believe that North Central has enough pitching to amass the minimum of three wins needed to win the championship. If the third pitchers for IWU or Carthage can come through they have an outside chance at winning the tournament but I see that as a longshot.

IWU over NCC
NPU over Carthage

NPU over IWU
NCC over Carthage

NCC over IWU

NPU over NCC
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 01:39:01 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:28:54 PM
believe the NP will win this year solely on the ability to trot out three quality starters. I don't believe that North Central has enough pitching to amass the minimum of three wins needed to win the championship. If the third pitchers for IWU or Carthage can come through they have an outside chance at winning the tournament but I see that as a longshot.

IWU over NCC
NPU over Carthage

NPU over IWU
NCC over Carthage

NCC over IWU

NPU over NCC

I'd be very surprised if Carthage went 0-2 this weekend... and even more surprised if NCC lost the opener to IWU. NCC was solid all season and they took two of three against all three CCIW opponents this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2010, 01:42:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 01:20:26 PM
This is what the preseason coaches poll predicted, and this is how the CCIW actually played out:

teampts1st    team  W-L  GB
1. Carthage  47  5    1. North Central  17-4    --
2. Illinois Wesleyan  42  2    2. North Park  15-6    2
3. Wheaton  40  1    3. Carthage  13-8    4
4. Augustana  29  0    4. Illinois Wesleyan  12-9    5
5. North Central  25  0    5. Wheaton  10-11    7
6. North Park  20  0    6. Augustana    8-13    9
7. Millikin  11  0    7. Millikin    5-16  12
8. Elmhurst  10  0    8. Elmhurst    4-17  13

That's pretty poor prognosticating, although the CCIW's baseball coaches have a long way to go to match the record of futility of their basketball counterparts when it comes to preseason coaches polls. ;) To be fair, though, in the past the CCIW has been (as several of us have pointed out) a drearily predictable baseball league from year to year as compared to other CCIW-sponsored sports. It's why their being off so badly this year seems so glaring. And at least they got the bottom two right!

Now, Greg, be fair.  If you look at it as four pairs of teams (1,2; 3,4; etc.), they got the internal order of all four pairs correct! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:54:12 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 01:39:01 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:28:54 PM
believe the NP will win this year solely on the ability to trot out three quality starters. I don't believe that North Central has enough pitching to amass the minimum of three wins needed to win the championship. If the third pitchers for IWU or Carthage can come through they have an outside chance at winning the tournament but I see that as a longshot.

IWU over NCC
NPU over Carthage

NPU over IWU
NCC over Carthage

NCC over IWU

NPU over NCC

I'd be very surprised if Carthage went 0-2 this weekend... and even more surprised if NCC lost the opener to IWU. NCC was solid all season and they took two of three against all three CCIW opponents this weekend.

But now the pitching matchups change the complexity of each game. I believe  the starters for NP (as a collective whole) are better than any other team. Get past game two and NCC has nothing in they can confidently through out there.  Carthage's pitchers have not shown they can shut down their opponents.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 02:06:17 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:54:12 PM
But now the pitching matchups change the complexity of each game. I believe  the starters for NP (as a collective whole) are better than any other team. Get past game two and NCC has nothing in they can confidently through out there.  Carthage's pitchers have not shown they can shut down their opponents.

North Park has proven that they have collectively as a whole a very solid pitching staff as well as hitting however I don't think saying that NCC has nothing they can confidently throw out there after game two is an accurate statement.  Looking at the box score of the Wesleyan game yesterday, Hecimovich a freshman left hander, held down Wesleyan's offense for 8 innings allowing 0 runs.  This is the same offense who scored 17 runs the day before in a game where the conference's era leader was on the mound for NCC.  So maybe North Parks pitching is a little bit better, but going into this weekend North Park's conference ERA was 5.94 and NCC's was 6.02, and with both teams going 2 - 1 and their era's both going down, I think it is a little bit more balanced than it shows.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 10, 2010, 02:33:10 PM
BigPoppa,

I would agree with you that Carthage would not go 0-2 this upcoming weekend until I saw them play yesterday. Routine and I do mean routine plays could not be made. Pop ups dropped in the infield. It was not very pretty. I will say this - North Park is a very solid team! plus I do not think these teams like each other very much - so it should be fun to watch on Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 02:46:02 PM
Anybody want to take a stab at the All-CCIW Team?
Player/Pitcher of the year?

Pitcher of the Year- Nate Arenson (North Central)
Player of the Year- Joey Aiello (Carthage) or Nick Robinson (North Central)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 02:50:24 PM
The CCIW tourney sked has just been released:

First Day - Thursday
Game 1: #2 North Park (27-13, 15-6) vs. #3 Carthage (26-14, 13-8), 12 PM
Game 2: #1 North Central (31-7, 17-4) vs. #4 Illinois Wesleyan (19-19, 12-9), approx. 3:00 PM

Second Day – Friday
Game 3: Losers of Game Nos. 1 and 2, 9:30 AM
Game 4: Winners of Game Nos. 1 and 2, approx. 12:30 PM
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, approx. 3:30 PM
     
Third Day – Saturday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 12:00 PM
Game 7: if necessary (approx. 30 minutes after game 6)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 02:58:09 PM
Are there any lights at North Central? (Just wondering in case of bad weather)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 10, 2010, 03:05:01 PM
No. The field is wired, but one neighbor has held up the installation of light poles for years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 03:18:04 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 10, 2010, 01:28:54 PM
believe the NP will win this year solely on the ability to trot out three quality starters. I don't believe that North Central has enough pitching to amass the minimum of three wins needed to win the championship. If the third pitchers for IWU or Carthage can come through they have an outside chance at winning the tournament but I see that as a longshot.

IWU over NCC
NPU over Carthage

NPU over IWU
NCC over Carthage

NCC over IWU

NPU over NCC

Thanks, but no thanks, Norfrank. I'm perfectly happy with host and champion North Central being the favorite. I'd rather NPU be the hunter than the hunted.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2010, 01:42:05 PMNow, Greg, be fair.  If you look at it as four pairs of teams (1,2; 3,4; etc.), they got the internal order of all four pairs correct! :D

You math types are all alike. I suppose that if the predicted order turned out to be a Fibonacci or Fourier series you'd give the coaches extra credit for that as well. ;)

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 02:06:17 PM
North Park has proven that they have collectively as a whole a very solid pitching staff as well as hitting however I don't think saying that NCC has nothing they can confidently throw out there after game two is an accurate statement.  Looking at the box score of the Wesleyan game yesterday, Hecimovich a freshman left hander, held down Wesleyan's offense for 8 innings allowing 0 runs.  This is the same offense who scored 17 runs the day before in a game where the conference's era leader was on the mound for NCC.

Keep in mind, though, that that seventeen-run outburst against Arenson (who gave up eight runs in 2.1 IP) and the NCC relievers who succeeded him was an aberration. Illinois Wesleyan had a poor offense this CCIW season. The Titans were dead last in BA and OBP, next-to-last in slugging and homers, and sixth in runs and RBI this season. That takes a bit of the luster away from Hecimovich's performance, laudable though it was.

Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 02:06:17 PMSo maybe North Parks pitching is a little bit better, but going into this weekend North Park's conference ERA was 5.94 and NCC's was 6.02, and with both teams going 2 - 1 and their era's both going down, I think it is a little bit more balanced than it shows. 

FWIW, North Park's team ERA in CCIW play winds up at 5.88 and North Central's is 6.00, which is fairly close.

Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 10, 2010, 02:33:10 PM
BigPoppa,

I would agree with you that Carthage would not go 0-2 this upcoming weekend until I saw them play yesterday. Routine and I do mean routine plays could not be made. Pop ups dropped in the infield. It was not very pretty.

Carthage certainly has more than its share of fielding woes. The Red Men were dead last in the league in fielding percentage, both in CCIW play and overall, coming into this past weekend's series -- and against NPU the Red Men committed an epic thirteen errors in three games. They came in all flavors, too: Botched popups, misplayed grounders, throwing errors, and even an obstruction error, as on one occasion the shortstop got in the way of a runner who was rounding second and headed for third on a hit that was rolling to the wall.

Quote from: BlueJay Boy on May 10, 2010, 02:33:10 PMplus I do not think these teams like each other very much - so it should be fun to watch on Thursday.

Yes, when Carthage pitcher Brett McQuade turned to the NPU dugout and yelled, "F*** your mother!" at the end of the third inning in Game Two yesterday, it set a nice Mother's Day tone for everyone. :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 03:22:58 PM
If what McQuade said is true, then I'd bet that Augie dealt with it in a way that only Augie can. He preaches playing against the game, not the opponent.

I am really looking forward to the scores rolling in on Thursday and Friday... is NCC having a live audio feed in addition to live stats?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2010, 03:48:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 03:22:58 PM
If what McQuade said is true, then I'd bet that Augie dealt with it in a way that only Augie can. He preaches playing against the game, not the opponent.

It's true. I was in the North Park dugout and heard it loud and clear. It had most of the Vikings howling with laughter.

Dunno how Augie Schmidt ultimately dealt with it, but McQuade went on to pitch for three more innings after his outburst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 10, 2010, 03:56:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 02:58:09 PM
Are there any lights at North Central? (Just wondering in case of bad weather)

This is a shame that NCC doesn't have lights.  It is such a nice field and would be great with lights.  They even have extra lights that are on the football field that are not being used but are available from the days the Chicago Fire used to play at the Stadium.  However, the softball field is in more of a residential neighborhood and in order to get lights on the baseball field, both fields are required by the school to have them and there is an issue with the neighbors at the softball field.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2010, 03:22:58 PM
If what McQuade said is true, then I'd bet that Augie dealt with it in a way that only Augie can. He preaches playing against the game, not the opponent.

I am really looking forward to the scores rolling in on Thursday and Friday... is NCC having a live audio feed in addition to live stats?

I would assume there would be a live audio feed in addition to this.  I know that all the NCC home games this year were broadcasted on their home radio station WONC. 

http://www.wonc.org/

So even though I am not positive I would definitely check in on this website and tune in at the times of the game because there is a good possibility that the games would be getting broadcasted on the radio station in addition to live stats.  :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 10, 2010, 04:16:17 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on May 10, 2010, 03:05:01 PM
No. The field is wired, but one neighbor has held up the installation of light poles for years.

sorry can't resist - are the players wired, too?   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 10, 2010, 08:15:10 PM
With the offensive explosion by NCC this year, one might say yes to your question.  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2010, 03:31:03 PM
When do the All-CCIW teams come out?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 11, 2010, 11:26:40 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2010, 03:31:03 PM
When do the All-CCIW teams come out?

The coaches meet Monday at North Central to select the teams.  I would assume it would be much like softball was this weekend and released on Tuesday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 12, 2010, 09:31:37 AM
My All CCIW Team: Notable Stats Listed after name
1st Team
INF                                               
Joey Aiello (Carthage) POY- Avg:.456, Slg .773, 2b 12, hr 3, rbi 30         
Nick Robinson (NCC)- Avg.438, 2b 6, Runs 31, sb 5
Trevor Popp (NPU)- Avg.438, 2b 7, Runs 29, sb 18
Ryan Javech (NPU)- Avg.426, Slg .649, 2b 10, hr 3, Runs 29
Josh Albers (Carthage)-Avg .407, Slg .630, 2b 6, hr 4

OF
Trevor Whately (Carthage)- Avg.414, Slg .621, hr 4, rbi 19
Blaise Sylvester (Millikin)- Avg.398, 2b 5, hr 4, rbi 18
Justin Zeller (Wheaton)- Avg.395, 2b 9, hr 6, rbi 25, runs 27
Stefen Edwards (Millikin)- Avg.380, runs 26, 2b 4, hr 2, sb 11 

Utility

Dave Hoffman (Augustana)- Avg.436, Slg .617, 2b 8, hr 3, rbi 24

DH
Joe Turek (NCC)- Avg.398, Slg.687,  2b 9, hr 5 rbi 34

Catcher
Michael Corrian (NCC)- Avg.388, Slg.659, 2b 8, hr 5, rbi 42

Pitchers
Jason Pankau (IWU) POY- 4-2, 3.45 ERA (Was the lone bright spot for IWU this year)
Nate Arenson (NCC)-4-1, 3.63 ERA (Best stats for the Conference Champs)
Eric Rohe (Carthage)- 4-2, 3.93 (Put up good #'s on a staff that struggled)
Pete Sparacino (NPU)/Mike Giovenco (NPU)- 6-0, 4.04 ERA - 3-1, 4.15 ERA, .199 BAA, w/ 55k's in 43 innings

*It was hard for me to leave a guy off this list who goes 6-0, with the 4th best ERA among guys who started all year, so my last spot was split between two NPU guys.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 12, 2010, 11:52:39 AM
Poppa you got any predictions on all conference selections. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2010, 12:07:15 PM
Congrats to North Park's Pete Sparacino upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week. (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/POW10_10.php) He, teammate Mike Giovenco, and Jason Pankau of Illinois Wesleyan are the only hurlers to win two POW awards this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 12:32:37 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 12, 2010, 11:52:39 AM
Poppa you got any predictions on all conference selections. 

I am working on it, but I am not sure if the CCIW is list players as infields or as positions. Some years is is different and can really change the way that it lays out. This is a wide-open year for the all-CCIW teams.

I think I'd put either Carthage's Joey Aiello or NCC's Nick Robinson as Player of the Year. I think the coaches will lean towards Robinson as NCC won the league.

As for Pitcher of the Year, it could be a toss-up with Kloss and Arenson from NCC, NPU's Sparacino or Pankau for IWU who posted a solid 4-2 record on a team that could not score any runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 12, 2010, 12:53:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 12:32:37 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 12, 2010, 11:52:39 AM
Poppa you got any predictions on all conference selections. 

I am working on it, but I am not sure if the CCIW is list players as infields or as positions. Some years is is different and can really change the way that it lays out. This is a wide-open year for the all-CCIW teams.

I think I'd put either Carthage's Joey Aiello or NCC's Nick Robinson as Player of the Year. I think the coaches will lean towards Robinson as NCC won the league.

As for Pitcher of the Year, it could be a toss-up with Kloss and Arenson from NCC, NPU's Sparacino or Pankau for IWU who posted a solid 4-2 record on a team that could not score any runs.

According to the CCIW sports guide, it will be broken down how I have it.  5 infielders, 4 outfielders, 1 utility, 1 catcher, 1 DH and 4 Pitchers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 01:39:20 PM
Here is the team I'd put up as the all-CCIW team:

All CCIW

1B- Joey Aiello (Carthage)

2B- Trevor Popp (North Park)

SS- Brian Kolb (Wheaton)

3B- Nick Robinson (North Central)

C- Michael Corrigan (North Central)

OF-
     Trevor Whately (Carthage)
     Steve Hlavac (North Central)
     Blaise Sylvester (millikin)

Pitchers-
     Jason Pankau (IWU)
     Paul Sparacino (North Park)
     Nate Arenson (North Central)
     Mike Kloss (North Central)

UTL- Dave Hoffman (Augustana)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 12, 2010, 01:58:50 PM
Looking at the weather forecast in Naperville tonight as well as tomorrow, does anyone know what happens to the tournament if weather becomes a factor, especially since NCC doesn't have lights and games can't be played later at night?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 02:09:05 PM
Quote from: droppinbombs47 on May 12, 2010, 01:58:50 PM
Looking at the weather forecast in Naperville tonight as well as tomorrow, does anyone know what happens to the tournament if weather becomes a factor, especially since NCC doesn't have lights and games can't be played later at night?

Bumps into sunday... or maybe play a game or two at Wheaton's facility.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 12, 2010, 02:42:58 PM
Wheaton's home field is Alexian Field in Schaumburg, home of the Northern League's Schaumburg Flyers, who have spring exhibition games scheduled there. In 2006, the host Carthage, which also does not have lights, refused to relinquish their host field to another site when drenching rains and cold wind were happening for 2 1/2 days straight. As a result, the tournament was reduced to a single elimination one that took 2 days.

This is a possibility if North Central doesn't want to give up its home field hosting privilege. However, the weather on Friday through Sunday is forecast to be good, so I don't think anything more than a day's delay will occur.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 03:00:23 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on May 12, 2010, 02:42:58 PM
Wheaton's home field is Alexian Field in Schaumburg, home of the Northern League's Schaumburg Flyers, who have spring exhibition games scheduled there. In 2006, the host Carthage, which also does not have lights, refused to relinquish their host field to another site when drenching rains and cold wind were happening for 2 1/2 days straight. As a result, the tournament was reduced to a single elimination one that took 2 days.

This is a possibility if North Central doesn't want to give up its home field hosting privilege. However, the weather on Friday through Sunday is forecast to be good, so I don't think anything more than a day's delay will occur.

I can't blame a team for not wanting to give up its home field advantage for these HUGE games.

FYI: Carthage installed lights this spring and they are now fully functional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2010, 03:02:10 PM
Quote from: ChiSoxMan on May 12, 2010, 02:42:58 PM
Wheaton's home field is Alexian Field in Schaumburg, home of the Northern League's Schaumburg Flyers, who have spring exhibition games scheduled there. In 2006, the host Carthage, which also does not have lights, refused to relinquish their host field to another site when drenching rains and cold wind were happening for 2 1/2 days straight. As a result, the tournament was reduced to a single elimination one that took 2 days.
Doesn't Carthage's field now have lights?

I remember the 2006 tournament -- three straight times I hustled out of the office after class and drove up to Kenosha, only to sit in the rain for a couple of hours.  The switch to single-elimination was a travesty.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ChiSoxMan on May 12, 2010, 03:07:19 PM
No one was more upset about that than Luke Johnson, who got NPU into the tournament that year for the first time in a long time, and what happens? He had to face Carthage in game 1 of a single elimination tourney. NPU was one and done as a result.

BigPoppa, you are correct. I had meant to say that in 2006 Carthage didn't have lights. I used the present tense when I intended to mean past tense. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 03:11:08 PM
Makes me wonder if Carthage is going to bid to host the Central in a few years? Their central location (more central than Augustana) would make them an ideal place to host NCAA Regional games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 12, 2010, 04:28:15 PM
one would think that since Wheaton is not in the tourney the games can go until Sunday
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 12, 2010, 06:24:18 PM
Looks like the tourney will be postponed till Friday.

http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2010/5/12/MTEN_0512105202.aspx
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2010, 06:37:21 PM
That's all well and good for this year, but with the rise of Wheaton, let's hope they can find a better alternative than a single-elimination tourney. 

Since Sunday is selection day for pool C, they can't skip Sunday and play Monday.  Perhaps the tourney should commence on Wednesday?  (I realize that means an extra missed day of school, most years for no reason, but what about that year the tourney cannot be completed?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 08:18:34 PM
If it cannot be completed then the team with the best record wins the bid (Happened in New York last week)

If it cannot be played at all, the #1 seed gets the bid
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dawilliams24 on May 13, 2010, 03:35:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 08:18:34 PM
If it cannot be completed then the team with the best record wins the bid (Happened in New York last week)

If it cannot be played at all, the #1 seed gets the bid

First time poster, long time reader on these boards... I prefer to let you guys duke out all your differences while I just sit back and laugh at them  :D... But without any real allegiance to any program in the CCIW, and with the boards being somewhat dull the last few days, I would just like to comment that it seems to me that NCC was sick of losing and really came out ready to play this year.  I don't think NCC wants the regional birth just handed to them, rather they want to go out there and win the conference tournament and earn it themselves.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2010, 03:37:33 PM
Quote from: dawilliams24 on May 13, 2010, 03:35:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 08:18:34 PM
If it cannot be completed then the team with the best record wins the bid (Happened in New York last week)

If it cannot be played at all, the #1 seed gets the bid

First time poster, long time reader on these boards... I prefer to let you guys duke out all your differences while I just sit back and laugh at them  :D... But without any real allegiance to any program in the CCIW, and with the boards being somewhat dull the last few days, I would just like to comment that it seems to me that NCC was sick of losing and really came out ready to play this year.  I don't think NCC wants the regional birth just handed to them, rather they want to go out there and win the conference tournament and earn it themselves.  Thoughts?
No allegiances? Why do you have a North Central email address then? It's ok to admit you have a favorite. I make it very clear that I am a Carthage guy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dawilliams24 on May 13, 2010, 04:21:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2010, 03:37:33 PM
Quote from: dawilliams24 on May 13, 2010, 03:35:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2010, 08:18:34 PM
If it cannot be completed then the team with the best record wins the bid (Happened in New York last week)

If it cannot be played at all, the #1 seed gets the bid

First time poster, long time reader on these boards... I prefer to let you guys duke out all your differences while I just sit back and laugh at them  :D... But without any real allegiance to any program in the CCIW, and with the boards being somewhat dull the last few days, I would just like to comment that it seems to me that NCC was sick of losing and really came out ready to play this year.  I don't think NCC wants the regional birth just handed to them, rather they want to go out there and win the conference tournament and earn it themselves.  Thoughts?
No allegiances? Why do you have a North Central email address then? It's ok to admit you have a favorite. I make it very clear that I am a Carthage guy.

I said "no real allegiances"... my son plays football at NCC (I used his email address)  and I moved back to Wheaton so my kids could attend my wife and my alma mater Wheaton North, about 20 years ago... so yes I do have somewhat of an allegiance to both schools, though I do not really care how either do in the longrun.  I just like the current competitive balance in the conference and thought I'd might comment... Nice catch though poppa
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2010, 04:27:22 PM
Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to put one past you, Big Poppa. ;)

Seriously, though, Mr. Williams, know what we do to someone who claims to hold no CCIW allegiance while posting from an e-mail address that has a CCIW school as its domain name? We sit back and laugh at them. :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2010, 04:54:01 PM
Quote from: dawilliams24 on May 13, 2010, 03:35:29 PM
I would just like to comment that it seems to me that {fill in the blank} was sick of losing and really came out ready to play this year. 
Which team in any sport anywhere is not sick of losing?  Do you think a team just wills itself to win?  It sure hasn't worked for the Cubs!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2010, 01:43:40 PM
5-0 Carthage, top 3.  Appears as though Giovenco is struggling with his command (as far as I can see through live stats, anyway)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2010, 02:22:01 PM
6-2 Carthage over NPU. Top of 5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2010, 02:52:34 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 14, 2010, 01:43:40 PM
5-0 Carthage, top 3.  Appears as though Giovenco is struggling with his command (as far as I can see through live stats, anyway)


I won't argue that he's struggled with his command, and I also understand that one inning does not a game make, but look at the impressive 3rd inning...20 pitches, 19 strikes, 3 strikeouts...although he did give up a double and a single on 0-2 counts.  Maybe he found too much of the plate in the 2nd!!??  (I know...nit-picking again).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2010, 02:55:27 PM
7-2 Carthage.  Top 6.  This is painful to "watch".  Hope Sparacino is ready to step up again!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2010, 03:01:26 PM
Make that 10-2.  3 run, 2 out double after an error by the first baseman that would have ended the inning.  Ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2010, 03:58:37 PM
Final:  Carthage 11, North Park 2.  The Vikings are behind the 8 ball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 04:38:06 PM
IWU up 1-0 after 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 05:06:48 PM
Maybe, just maybe, the Titan bats are finally waking up!

4-0 in the middle of the third.  Here's hoping Pankau is up to the task.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 05:19:49 PM
Well, it's not gonna be as easy as I was starting to hope - in the bottom of the third Pankau got an out, yielded a single, then got out number two.  Three runs scored before he got out number three.  IWU 4, NCC 3 after 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 05:46:42 PM
At least for now, Pankau back in control - 5-3 after 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 05:56:59 PM
Where, oh where, has this offense been all season??

Top of the sixth, Brett Moore gets a 2-run tater and Casey McIntosh adds a solo shot.

8-3, middle of the sixth.  The way Pankau is going, that should be enough, but NCC scares me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 06:28:30 PM
Titans add another in the 7th.  Entering the 8th, it is 9-3.

Unfortunately, baseball is not like basketball or football where at some point of the clock you can say "This one is history"!  I am still nervous. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 06:30:03 PM
There's a little something to be said for, Big Game, experience. All 4 teams used or are using their Pitching #1's. Lets see how the #2's do tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 06:34:25 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 06:30:03 PM
There's a little something to be said for, Big Game, experience. All 4 teams used or are using their Pitching #1's. Lets see how the #2's do tomorrow.

Yeah, that is where depth of pitching comes in.

There is also something to be said for program experience.  I've thought all along (but was afraid to say it, and still may regret saying it now) that some way or other Carthage or IWU would still emerge as the pool A.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2010, 06:37:29 PM
Giovenco didn't have it today, that's for sure ... but the Vikings lost it as a team. They didn't hit well, either, and they made some crucial errors that made Giovenco's job even harder. Tip your hat to Carthage for bringing its 'A' game today, and go get 'em tomorrow behind Mr. Steady, Pete Sparacino.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 06:39:24 PM
Titans get 3 more in the 8th - 12-3 entering the bottom of the 8th.

Unless the pitching falls totally apart, this is beginning to be a pounding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 06:50:23 PM
I know exactly what your saying Ypsi. First name I think of when it comes to , who to beat, it's Wesleyan. Last week I posted not to get too excited or upset about last weekends results. It's a whole new season now. I stick by that, only because of so many returning players on Carthage and IWU whom just aren't ready to give up the top spots yet. Not to Disrespect the great years that both NPU and NCC are both continuing to have and might stiill come out on top, but I kinda felt that Carthage and IWU were pretty much, written off, by the majority of our posters. It's good to see the Pride show up in both these teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 06:55:18 PM
16 - 4 in the Bottom of the 9th, Ypsi. Where's  your confidence level at ?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 06:56:49 PM
Titans add four more in the ninth.  Entering the bottom of the ninth, 16-4 had BETTER mean 'game over'! :D  But I'd be even more confident if there was a clock!

Where the heck was this offense all season??!! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 06:59:17 PM
Even more importantly - will this offense show up tomorrow?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 07:03:33 PM
Hope not !!! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 07:27:38 PM
Final: IWU 16, NCC 5.

Two teams are going home (or staying home, but not at the ballpark ;)) tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 14, 2010, 07:33:21 PM
Congrats to IWU and Carthage.   Experience rules.  No way NCC wns tourney now.  Pitching is much too weak.  My pick NPU will have a real tough time winning three games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2010, 07:46:01 PM
It should be a nice pitching match-up with Sparacino and Arensen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on May 14, 2010, 11:21:55 PM
I don't think you can really judge NCC off of one game in the CCIW tourney....baseball is a weird game.   I think they've proved themselves well enough throughout the entire regular season and are a legit NCAA qualifier. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2010, 11:44:55 PM
Quote from: BigG296 on May 14, 2010, 11:21:55 PM
I don't think you can really judge NCC off of one game in the CCIW tourney....baseball is a weird game.   I think they've proved themselves well enough throughout the entire regular season and are a legit NCAA qualifier. 

Agreed.  They have an awfully compelling pool C resume if they don't win the A.  North Park and Carthage are both 'bubble' teams.  In a way it is comforting to be a Titan fan - I know they are 'win or the season is over'. ::)

My fantasy would be: NPU over NCC (but NCC still gets a bid); IWU over Carthage; the loser of NPU /Carthage still gets a bid (doubtful); IWU wins it all, but the losing finalist gets a bid (possible, but iffy).  Dare I dream of four bids if all plays out by my scenario? :D

Probably not, but it's my dream and I'm sticking to it! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 15, 2010, 12:12:14 AM
NCC is the only team in the tourney with a shot at a, Pool C bid. Everyone else has to win the tourney and take the A Bid to advance. In a 4 Team double Elimination format, you really put yourself in a bad spot to win the tourney though. You'll play a minimum 3 more games and possibly 4 and have to win them all. One of the winners bracket teams needs only to hold court for 2 more games and it's off to Augustana or in Carthages case, maybe Osh Kosh. GO REDMEN !!!!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 15, 2010, 09:12:54 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 15, 2010, 12:12:14 AM
NCC is the only team in the tourney with a shot at a, Pool C bid. Everyone else has to win the tourney and take the A Bid to advance. In a 4 Team double Elimination format, you really put yourself in a bad spot to win the tourney though. You'll play a minimum 3 more games and possibly 4 and have to win them all. One of the winners bracket teams needs only to hold court for 2 more games and it's off to Augustana or in Carthages case, maybe Osh Kosh. GO REDMEN !!!!!!!!
Whitewater this season. Even closer.
Don't think I could take another depressing Oshkosh Regional like last year, watching the Titans rake the field and shag fouls instead of playing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2010, 10:39:34 AM
I think Carthage and NPU can both a make a strong case for a Pool C with a nice CCIW tourney run. The majority of their games this weekend are against regionally ranked opponents and their SoS is bound to climb as a result of it. Pool C hopefuls in other Central region tourneys (MWC, SLIAC and IIAC)are playing mostly non-regionally ranked teams so their SoS will not jump as much as Carthage, NPU and North Central's will.

If both Carthage and NPU were bubble teams heading to the weekend, then a solid showing will only move them up on the bubble, off the bubble and into a safer spot or a Pool A bid outright. I don't think the CCIW is a three bid conference, but NCC is solid in my eyes and two others have a shot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on May 15, 2010, 11:25:17 AM
I'm just curious, I thought SOS is calculated as being only counted once per opponent, regardless of how many times a team plays that opponent.  Wouldn't that mean that almost all conference tourneys would result in no change in the SOS?  Expect for a conference like the MWC where the North hasn't played the South before the tourney?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 15, 2010, 11:45:08 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on May 15, 2010, 11:25:17 AM
I'm just curious, I thought SOS is calculated as being only counted once per opponent, regardless of how many times a team plays that opponent.  Wouldn't that mean that almost all conference tourneys would result in no change in the SOS?  Expect for a conference like the MWC where the North hasn't played the South before the tourney?
Nope it's weighted on the number of times you play them....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2010, 11:49:50 AM
North Park up 6-0 in the 4th on North Central in an elimination game. Could North Central play themselves out of the tourney?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 15, 2010, 11:58:13 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 15, 2010, 11:45:08 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on May 15, 2010, 11:25:17 AM
I'm just curious, I thought SOS is calculated as being only counted once per opponent, regardless of how many times a team plays that opponent.  Wouldn't that mean that almost all conference tourneys would result in no change in the SOS?  Expect for a conference like the MWC where the North hasn't played the South before the tourney?
Nope it's weighted on the number of times you play them....
Yeah, the Handbook is written rather poorly. Pat Coleman set us straight on that a weeks or so ago. Each game a new SOS is established. Of course you wouldn't know that by reading the Handbook, but ...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 12:37:51 PM
NCC is making a game of it.  They now trail only 7-5 in the middle of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 01:10:44 PM
NCC came all the way back to tie, 7-7, in the top of the 8th, but NPU responded with 3 runs in their 8th.  Entering the 9th, it is NPU 10, NCC 7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 01:20:51 PM
WOW!  NCC came back again - it's extra innings, tied at 10.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2010, 01:37:02 PM
What a finish -- North Park wins 11-10.  Mike Sommerfield singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.  Jake Hollinsaid picks up win #7 in relief of Pete Sparacino.  The Vikings play the loser of the Carthage/IWU game later today.

North Central now waits on the sidelines, though the Cardinals should have a lock on a Pool C berth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 01:43:23 PM
mr_b is correct.  Although I had the livestats right in front of me, my brain was locked into the idea that, since the game was at NCC, NCC must be the 'home' team. :P

Barring a flood of upsets around the country, NCC seems pretty safe for a C.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2010, 02:55:15 PM
IWU takes a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 03:07:57 PM
I'm still waiting for my pulse to go down after the Park blew that big lead and almost lost the game because of it. I let out a mighty big exhale after Sommerfield's game-winning hit for NPU!

I went to yesterday's game and didn't go back out to Naperville today; since baseball's a game for the superstitious, perhaps my staying away from the North Central campus today is a good omen. ;)

One thing that worries me is that NPU's #3 starter Jake Hollinsaid was used in relief in both yesterday's game and the earlier game today. I hope he's got enough gas left in the tank to hold down the bats of the loser of the game currently in progress.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2010, 03:52:01 PM
IWU leads Carthage 4-2... Carthage has four more errors today:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 04:15:40 PM
The Titans dodged a bullet in thetop of the seventh.  Carthage loaded the bases with one out and Froehlich went to 3-0 on the next batter; but then induced an inning-ending DP.  Whew!

Still 4-2, IWU, heading to the bottom of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 15, 2010, 04:17:19 PM
IWU pitchers Alex Tossi and Joe Froelich have pitched in and out of serious trouble in this game.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 04:47:02 PM
The Titans added two more in the 7th, which is looking big as Carthage got 3 in the top of the 8th.

IWU clinging to a 6-5 lead, batting in the bottom of the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 04:59:50 PM
Carthage has just tied it up at 6 with two outs in the top of the ninth. Lotta drama in Naperville thus far today!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:07:14 PM
Carthage has a new pitcher in the game, and according to Live Stats his name is "97." Oddly enough, I can't find anyone on the Carthage roster with that name. Or that uniform number, either.

Whoever 97 is, he managed to induce a flyout from IWU's most dangerous hitter (McIntosh) to lead off the bottom of the ninth before plunking two straight batters. Winning run for the Titans is now on second base with one out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:08:37 PM
... aaaand 97 has now dealt three batters in a row a free trip to first base with a HBP. Winning run's now on third with one out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:11:31 PM
Scott strikes out swinging. Two outs now, bases loaded.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:14:33 PM
McDermott pops out to short. Extra innings!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 05:16:18 PM
I was quite surprised to see #97 (whoever he is) still pitching after hitting 3 straight batters on only four pitches!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:17:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 05:16:18 PM
I was quite surprised to see #97 (whoever he is) still pitching after hitting 3 straight batters on only four pitches!

Live Stat update: 97 now has a name. It's Trace Ruffie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2010, 05:25:55 PM
Carthage up 8-6 in 10th...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:26:22 PM
Carthage has tacked on two runs via five singles in the top of the tenth. Now we'll see if the Titans can answer in the bottom of the frame.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2010, 05:31:12 PM
Carthage wins!!!!!!!!!

IWU vs North Park tonight... winner faces Carthage tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 15, 2010, 05:33:53 PM
14 runs, 26 hits, 9 errors, 5 HBP, 8 BB ... wait, don't tell me. Carthage played in that game, right? I kid, Pops. I kid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 05:39:01 PM
Memo to the Titans: when you lead 6-2 after 7 innings, you're supposed to win the danged game! :(

They've dug quite a hole now - win three games before Carthage can win one. :o  Since NPU is in similar dire straits, it looks awfully likely that the RedMen will be in the tourney yet again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:42:38 PM
I'm not conceding anything, Chuck. NPU took two out of three from Carthage last weekend -- and it should've been a sweep, except that the Vikings couldn't hold a five-run lead in Game Three -- and they're certainly capable of winning two straight against the Red Men again. The trick is to get there, of course; the Vikings have to focus on the task at hand, which is beating IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 05:48:04 PM
Today's third game was supposed to start at 3:30 pm. Not sure when it's actually going to start, but it's already a quarter to five. NCC's baseball field doesn't have lights. Sundown in Naperville's supposed to take place at 8:06 pm. Given the fact that outs seem to be hard to come by in this score-a-thon of a tournament, anyone wonder whether they'll get the entire game in?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 15, 2010, 05:51:25 PM
What a swing.  So close to being in the driver's seat...only to end up now having to win 3 games.  Ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 06:16:56 PM
The Titans draw first blood - up 1-0, 2 men on, nobody out in the bottom of the first.

Kulavic is pitching for IWU.  If he can even faintly resemble his 2008 self, I like our chances. :)

NPU is replacing their starter (Hollinsaid) already, giving him an infinite e.r.a. for the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 06:27:23 PM
With IWU up 5-0, bases loaded and two outs (still in the first inning!), NPU goes to pitcher number three! 

How many pitchers they got?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 06:32:24 PM
First inning is FINALLY over - since it is already 5:30, how quickly can NCC install lights? :D

IWU 6, NPU 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 06:38:55 PM
As I said before, Chuck, Jake Hollinsaid pitched both yesterday and earlier today:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2010, 03:07:57 PM
One thing that worries me is that NPU's #3 starter Jake Hollinsaid was used in relief in both yesterday's game and the earlier game today. I hope he's got enough gas left in the tank to hold down the bats of the loser of the game currently in progress.

He apparently wasn't able to get it back again late this afternoon. He was replaced by Joel Bonnett, who pitched two innings yesterday, and didn't appear to be able to bounce back on short notice, either.

Luke Johnson is probably going to have to get a string of good innings out of Tito Garza in order to get NPU back into this game. That, and the Vikings are going to have to touch up Kulavic. He's the one pitcher that managed to beat the Park earlier this year when the Vikings took two out of three in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 15, 2010, 06:56:59 PM
With Giovenco going 149 pitches an Sparacino going 143 today it is clear that North Park was riding out their two studs.  But after beating NCC today, it would have been a large task beating a Wesleyan team with someone as good as Kulavic in their back pocket as a number 3 starter.  However, with the way IW is swinging the bats now and their arms in the bullpen I wouldn't quite count them out right away against Carthage if that is the case.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 06:59:50 PM
My bad, Greg - I don't follow CCIW baseball closely enough to recognize NPU pitchers past their two aces.

So far, Kulavic is looking like 2008 - 3 innings of one-hit, shutout, ball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 07:03:38 PM
Bottom of the third, and NPU does for their fourth pitcher!  Now 7-0, with one out and two men on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on May 15, 2010, 07:05:32 PM
Ypsi make that 8 - 0 with 1 out looks like the with the light situation in Naperville the CCIW is praying for a 10 run rule  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 07:13:34 PM
I may have jinxed Kulavic - NPU opens the fourth with 4 straight singles (only one run so far).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 07:21:36 PM
Gotta love those 'two-for-the-price-of-one' plays (as the late, great Ernie Harwell often said - after yet a fifth single, Kulavic gets a DP to end the uprising.  8-2 IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 07:31:04 PM
The Vikes may have finally found their pitcher - Soldano has gotten 5 outs without giving up a run.

Still 8-2 as we enter the fifth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 07:37:03 PM
Kulavic (at least for now) back in command - a 1,2,3 top of the fifth.

Does anyone know the conference tourney rule - since the game will now go beyond the fifth, if is ended by darkness is it a game, or do they resume tomorrow?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:16:34 PM
After seven, IWU 9-4.

Soldano was finally the solution for NPU - 4.2 innings, 1 (unearned) run.  For the Titans' sake, I hope they either found him too late, or he is running out of gas. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:23:15 PM
Both teams went 1,2,3 in the 8th.  Last chance for the Vikes, and Kulavic is looking very 2008 so far!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:32:48 PM
Kulavic finally ran out of gas.  2 runs in, men at the corners, but two outs; Kevin Sullivan replaces him.

Now 9-6, so tying run at the plate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:39:01 PM
It's over - IWU 9, NPU 7.

With memories of the Carthage game fresh in mind, that got much too scary in the ninth!  A single brought in run number 7, so the winning run came to bat.  Fortunately, a fly-out ended it.

I have no clue who IWU has left to pitch against Carthage tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:40:29 PM
Congratulations to NPU on a great season!

I'm hoping for a C for you, but it looks gloomy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 15, 2010, 10:02:03 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2010, 08:39:01 PM
I have no clue who IWU has left to pitch against Carthage tomorrow.

My best guess is that Paul Kabbes (1-4, 4.50) will get the start in Game 1 tomorrow...

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1171&path=baseball

I won't be surprised if they roll the dice and try Jason Pankau (8-2, 2.86) at some point tomorrow.  He just pitched 8 innings Friday vs NCC, but this is "win or go home" time.

The Titans are not in good pitching shape tomorrow at all.  They'll need to have the bats going and hope some pitchers step up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 12:07:09 AM
NPU certainly found someone out of the bullpen - Soldano (after that horrendous start that saw the Vikes down 8-0) went 5.2 innings with only one (unearned) run.  Hopefully, someone (who knows who it may be) can be the Titan Soldano tomorrow.

I'm not very optimistic, but I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 16, 2010, 09:02:52 AM
Congratulations to North Park on a heck of a year.  It brought back great memories being able to get out there and watch yesterday's game vs. Wesleyan (even if the result wasn't what I was looking for).  As a high school coach myself, it's nearly impossible for me to ever get out and watch a college game, so the 5:00 start was exactly what I needed.

Say this for D3 sports, and the CCIW specifically:  it's such a breath of fresh air to see these non-scholarship athletes, their coaches, and their fan bases, giving all they have in a tournament like this.  It truly shows the amount of desire some of these kids have, and the love they have for the game.  Baseball proves, more than any other sport, to truly be a team game in a tournament like this.  Unlike football or basketball, a team can't simply ride one stud throughout the entire tournament.  A team effort (especially on the pitching side of things) is a must in order to advance.

I really felt for Jake Hollinsaid yesterday as he was unable to get out of the first inning in his start against IWU.  It was clear he had some sort of physical ailment, and was pitching in his 3rd straight tournament game.  As a senior, he had to know that this might be his last time on a college mound, yet he didn't shy away from taking the ball.

Another plus:  I loved to see the attitude on North Park's bench throughout the game.  It appeared as though, until the very last pitch was thrown, that every single guy wearing NP blue was all about their TEAM.  We constantly hear about the selfishness of today's athletes, yet here are kids who are basically PAYING to play, many of whom have not seen the field once this year, and they are supporting their teammates 100%.

I know this rambled a bit, but it was just so refreshing to see.  Kudos to the Vikings on bringing respect back to our program, and here's hoping we can find a way to sneak into a regional bid!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 16, 2010, 09:24:27 AM
The Titans do have a couple of good arms left.  I do not know if it is 18 innings worth, but talented arms nonetheless.  Kabbes is a big righty who throws hard and has a good breaking ball.  He was IWU's closer to start the year, but over the last couple of conference series, Martel has used him as the third starter.  If IWU was able to pull off a win in the first game, I would assume Joe Sweeney would get the nod in game two. He has started 4 games this year, thrown in 10.  He also has a good arm, but has constantly fallen victim to the big inning.  Good luck to both teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2010, 10:59:46 AM
Central scenarios: regardless of who wins Pool A bids in SLIAC and CCIW, I have them ranked:
* denotes Pool A bid

If BV and Carthage win:
1. BV
2. Carthage
3. North Central
4. Webster*
5. SNC
6. North Park

If Wartburg and Carthage win:
1. Carthage
2. BV
3. North Central
4. Webster*
5. SNC
6. North Park

If BV and IWU win:
1. BV
2. North Central
3. Carthage
4. Webster*
5. SNC
6. North Park

If Wartburg and IWU:
1. BV
2. Webster*
3. North Central
4. Carthage
5. SNC
6. North Park

*** I have left off IWU and Wartburg as even if they win the Pool A bid, they do not warrant regional ranking in my eyes, but they would be in nonetheless.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigG296 on May 16, 2010, 11:39:46 AM
Hmmmm Carthage vs. IWU in the championship....how strange ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2010, 11:59:00 AM
Quote from: BigG296 on May 16, 2010, 11:39:46 AM
Hmmmm Carthage vs. IWU in the championship....how strange ;)

Agreed! Make it twelve straight seasons that one of those two walks away with the title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 16, 2010, 12:53:42 PM
Does anybody have any idea when the bids will come out today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on May 16, 2010, 12:57:57 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 16, 2010, 12:53:42 PM
Does anybody have any idea when the bids will come out today?

Very very late.Set your clock to MIDNIGHT plus or minus a few hours. Others
can give more exact times from prior years. I would be suprise if any earlier.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 01:37:24 PM
IWU wins game one, 7-4. :)

Second game is for all the marbles, especially for the Titans.  (The RedMen would seem to have a fairly decent shot at a Pool C.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 02:14:58 PM
Second game underway - no score after one.

IWU is pitching Joe Sweeney; Carthage counters with Chris Krepline.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 02:43:32 PM
Titans lead, 2-0, after three.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 03:51:20 PM
Titans get a run in the top of the 8th; lead 4-2 in the middle of the 8th.

Sure hope this isn't deja vu from yesterday! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 04:15:10 PM
Joe Sweeney came through with a complete game, 7-hitter!  IWU wins 6-2.

Quite frankly, I thought they were pretty much dead after blowing the 6-2 lead yesterday - I'm ecstatic to be wrong! ;D

Here's hoping Carthage can still get a C (and NCC as well).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2010, 04:16:22 PM
Titans win the second game 6-2 to win the tournment and the Pool A berth.  Sweeney turned in a complete game performance.

Who would have predicted that outcome -- taking two from Carthage on the final day of the tournament?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 16, 2010, 05:10:12 PM
Poppa what do you think are the chances for Carthage and NCC to get a C bid
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2010, 06:11:18 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on May 16, 2010, 05:10:12 PM
Poppa what do you think are the chances for Carthage and NCC to get a C bid

North Central- yes
Carthage- no
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 16, 2010, 11:03:28 PM
I'm very proud of the Titans for the way they played today.  Huge kudos to senior Paul Kabbes and sophomore Joe Sweeney...


http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1171&path=baseball

http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1184&path=baseball


To have your back completely against the wall and get two complete games is really something.

Good luck to the Pool C hopefuls!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2010, 11:06:26 PM
D3baseball.com is predicting that both NCC (12th pick) and Carthage (15th pick) will make the tourney - here's hoping they're right!

Keep your chin up, Big Poppa! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 16, 2010, 11:58:08 PM
Let's hope D 3 baseball is on the money - 3 CCIW teams would be sweet
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 17, 2010, 02:35:58 AM
3 CCIW teams make the tourney.  Congrats to all

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051710aaa.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2010, 09:21:48 AM
I think NCC and IWU got a much better draw than Carthage. Nice for the Redmen to only have to travel an hour though I suppose.  Good luck to all CCIW teams, represent well!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2010, 09:32:56 AM
Quote from: REDMENFAN on May 17, 2010, 09:21:48 AM
I think NCC and IWU got a much better draw than Carthage. Nice for the Redmen to only have to travel an hour though I suppose.  Good luck to all CCIW teams, represent well!

Carthage got a brutal bracket to play in, but rightfully so as they won neither the regualr season or post-season title. I think that the Midwest region would prefer to have North Central or IWU instead of Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HITandRUN463 on May 17, 2010, 10:53:13 AM
Congrats to the 3 CCIW teams!  It should be a very interesting week but nonetheless, a fun one  8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2010, 11:18:14 AM
IWU is a very dangerous team as they have the pitching to do some serious damage this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 17, 2010, 11:36:24 AM
Well, the pitching went south for NPU this weekend, but the Vikings win and lose as a team. They didn't hit well in Game One, and they couldn't muster enough runs to claw all the way back from that 8-0 deficit in Game Three. Since there were games this year in which the pitching was there and the hitting wasn't, it all evens out.

It's disappointing to be the only CCIW tourney team to not make the D3 tourney field, but I think that the Vikings knew going into the weekend that they had to win at least a couple of games to get themselves into Pool C position. Regardless of the sour ending to the season, it was a fantastic year for the Vikings. This was the most successful baseball season for NPU in two decades, and I would think that everyone who follows CCIW baseball agrees that Luke Johnson has the North Park program back on the map. He's going to need to get a couple of solid arms, or have current pitchers develop to the point of being reliable out-getters in CCIW competition, but he does have Pete Sparacino and every starting position player except for Nick Marino returning next year.

Things are really looking up for NPU on the baseball side of things, unhappy finish notwithstanding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2010, 11:39:53 AM
I am still in shock that the CCIW got THREE teams into the post-season while other great conferences got one bid. I knew NCC was getting a Pool C bid, but Carthage getting one shocked me. I thought yesterday sealed their fate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 17, 2010, 11:46:58 AM
It was an amazing weekend at North central. Congratulations to IWU. They played like the warriors they have always been from the time I've been following the CCIW. Kabbes and Sweeney stepped up Big Time.The outcome iis'nt what I wanted, but that's what happens when you get Beat !!! Great Job IWU and best of luck at Augustana !!!! Go Titans !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 17, 2010, 11:52:08 AM
Wow !!! We got a C bid. You Guys know so much more than I do. I think we've played evey team in the field at Whitewater over the last 2 years. It's a really tough draw, but better than being out !!! I'm losing my voice again !!!! Reservations for the Whitewater area, aye !!! Go Redmen !!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2010, 11:54:24 AM
Carthage vs St. Thomas is a great first round match-up. Last time they met in March, Schuld out-dueled Perez in a 2-1 UST extra inning win. Here hoping that Perez brings his A-game again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on May 17, 2010, 12:04:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 17, 2010, 11:39:53 AM
I am still in shock that the CCIW got THREE teams into the post-season while other great conferences got one bid. I knew NCC was getting a Pool C bid, but Carthage getting one shocked me. I thought yesterday sealed their fate.

ASC got 2 TLU stayed home
SCIAC 1 Cal Lu and Redlands stayed home
NWC 1 Pac Lu stayed home.

One these other teams should have gotten a Pool C but it is what is...

Not sure about this one...in the West.....Just seems to be a bias against the West at times...Region is stacked with very good teams.Would have been nice to ship one of the West teams to another Region. Last time that happen 2 teams ended up in Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TurtleHead on May 17, 2010, 12:28:56 PM
NCAA did Carthage no favors putting them in the Midwest this year.  The opening day pitching match-ups look brutal.   



The Rose Hulman / NCC  and IWU / Buena Vista games look like they will be good.  Not that familiar with NCC.  Who does it look like they will throw?  Rose will probably throw Eitel. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 17, 2010, 12:32:11 PM
I hope so to Big Poppa. Perez has been battling , Arm problems all year. I'm hoping he leaves it all out on the field one more time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 17, 2010, 06:09:58 PM
It was indeed a great weekend of baseball in Naperville this weekend. Amazing that the CCIW got 3 teams in. I do not know what happened to NCC, but I am sure they will play well in Rock Island. North Park, as I have stated before is a very solid team, Carthage seemed to have the tourney under control until they ran into the Titan Buzzsaw. I will say that this weekend the best team won.

Here's hoping all 3 teams play well this coming week. NCC and IWU both should have a great shot in Rock Island, Carthage has a rough road ahead of them, hope their bats wake up, because they threw it and fielded it well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 19, 2010, 02:40:21 PM
Its a final from Rock Island - the Titans continue to roll 2 to 1 over Buena Vista. Carthage is up 4 to 0 over St. Thomas early
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 19, 2010, 02:43:39 PM
Spoke to soon - St. Thomas with a 3 run bomb, it is now 4 to 3 at the end of 2
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 19, 2010, 03:57:07 PM
Spoke way to soon, end of 6 - St. Thomas 9 Carthage 4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 19, 2010, 04:40:37 PM
It's a final - St. Thomas 14 Carthage 6 - a long road for Carthage now
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 05:24:23 PM
NCC trails RHIT, 3-0, in the bottom of the 4th.

The Cardinals so far have but two hits.

Go, NCC - the CCIW doesn't want two losses in one day! :o

[Besides, I picked IWU over NCC in the regional final!]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 05:46:28 PM
RHIT and NCC each got one run in the 5th - entering the 6th it is 4-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 06:50:02 PM
NCC gets one in the 8th.  Going to the bottom of the 9th, they trail 4-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 07:00:00 PM
Can NCC pull this one out?!

First man walks, second strikes out, third walks - winning run at the plate with the heart of the order up and only one out.

An rbi ground out and a single and the game is tied!

And we're going to extra innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 07:20:27 PM
NCC ends a mild threat in the top of the tenth with a DP.

Bottom of the tenth and the winning run is on first with no outs.

Dang!  Hlavac got himself picked off first - now two outs, nobody on.

And we're on to the 11th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2010, 07:47:20 PM
Alas, the Cards ran out of comebacks. :(

RHIT scored one in the top of the 11th (2 singles and a sac fly); NCC went 1,2,3 in the bottom of the 11th, and fall 5-4.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 20, 2010, 01:38:34 PM
Carthage over Aurora today 9-5. The Redmen survive to play another day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2010, 02:01:39 PM
After 5 innings, NCC trails BV 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 20, 2010, 02:05:19 PM
CCIW is back to .500 at 2-2... c'mon NCC and IWU!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2010, 02:34:51 PM
BV got another run in the 6th.  At the end of seven, NCC trails 4-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2010, 03:38:19 PM
Both teams' pitching faltered in the final two innings.  BV defeats NCC, 8-5.

NCC is the first team eliminated in the Central regional; may Ripon be the second (as they are playing IWU next game).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2010, 04:17:16 PM
The tourney website says the IWU/Ripon game is 'delayed by rain'.  While they haven't called it off, the report for Moline on Yahoo Weather doesn't look promising (though rain should end by around noon tomorrow).

If the tourney goes an extra day, players are in for a shock on Sunday - sunny and 93!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: REDMENFAN on May 21, 2010, 01:09:25 PM
Rained pretty much all morning in the Whitewater area, but not much more is expected and the Carthage/St. Thomas game is still on for 1:00 this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dansand on May 21, 2010, 03:53:17 PM
OK. Pending weather (which should be all right now, if you trust the forecast), the times for the rest of the tournament in Moline will be:

Game 6 (Webster vs. Rose-Hulman) 3:30 today

Tomorrow's Games:
11:00 a.m.
2:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.

Sunday:
11:00 a.m.
2:30 p.m. (if needed)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2010, 05:13:50 PM
Alas, Carthage fell to St. Thomas, 7-5. :(

IWU is now the sole standard-bearer for the conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2010, 05:47:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2010, 05:13:50 PM
Alas, Carthage fell to St. Thomas, 7-5. :(

IWU is now the sole standard-bearer for the conference.

Carthage had a chance in the 8th and did not get it done. Loaded the bases with the top of the order hitting and could not push across a run. Still, it was a good season for the Redmen after the tumultuous off-season they had. Here's hoping this off-season is quiet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2010, 01:17:52 PM
IWU leads Webster, 4-2, after four.  In the bottom of the 4th, the Titans chased DuHadway, then Zach Scott greeted all-star rreliever Bryan Stanley with a 3-run tater! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2010, 02:45:19 PM
TITANS WIN, 8-3!!!!

Now they get to rest and watch BV, RHIT, and Webster eliminate each other.  Anyone know if Pankau will be available tomorrow?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2010, 10:08:13 PM
BV rolled through RHIT and Webster, setting up a rematch of day one tomorrow at 11.

My guess would be that game 10 will be a resumption of the pitching duel between Pankau and Probasco.  If (God forbid!) there is a game 11, I'd assume that IWU would go with either Kabbes (who hasn't yet pitched) or Sweeney (who had a pretty easy two innings earlier today against Webster); who BV would throw I haven't a clue (though their #2 pitched on Thursday, as opposed to Tosi pitching on Friday; no idea if they would bring him back on short rest).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 23, 2010, 02:13:36 PM
Congratulations Titans!  What an impressive run this is.  It's still hard for me to believe they're heading to the Division III World Series after the regular season they had.  Kudos to all of the players and the entire coaching staff for hanging in there and fighting.

Go get 'em in Appleton!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 23, 2010, 02:15:10 PM
The Titans knocked out BV ace Probasco (who held them to two runs on Wednesday) after only three innings, and coasted to a 10-3 win.

We're off to Appleton!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 23, 2010, 02:26:50 PM
The way the Titans have played the last two weekends makes it a total mystery how they could have lost 20 games. ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 23, 2010, 02:36:33 PM
IWU plays the late game Friday...

Friday, May 28

#1 10 a.m. Cortland State vs. UW-Stevens Point
#2 1:15 p.m. Mass-Boston vs Linfield
#3 4:30 p.m. Heidelberg vs. (Johns Hopkins or Kean)
#4 7:45 p.m. Shenandoah vs Illinois Wesleyan

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-basebl/champpage/m-basebl-div3-index.html


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 23, 2010, 10:32:42 PM
You have no idea just how badly this hurts me to say, but... CONGRATS to IWU.

Clearly, they were the best team the last two weekends. They are finally playing to the level I expected them to from the start of the season. I had the Titans #21 in my preseason poll and they quickly fell out after a struggle at the start. Congrats and represent the CCIW well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 23, 2010, 11:23:02 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2010, 10:32:42 PM
You have no idea just how badly this hurts me to say, but... CONGRATS to IWU.

Clearly, they were the best team the last two weekends. They are finally playing to the level I expected them to from the start of the season. I had the Titans #21 in my preseason poll and they quickly fell out after a struggle at the start. Congrats and represent the CCIW well.

Thanks, BP.  And I empathize with your pain.

I'm VERY cautiously optimistic about their chances.  Pankau lately has pitched like a national pitcher-of-the-year candidate - may it continue.  I've never been a big fan of Tosi, but Martel likes him, and has a helluva lot more wins than I do, so maybe he can come up big.  Kulavic I just have to hope can channel his 2008 self.  But once we get to #4 and #5 (Sweeney and Kabbes, in whichever order), I have trouble imagining that ANY team can top them at that position of the order.  Most of the season, the batters have not scared anyone, but when they get on a roll, they GET on a roll (just ask NCC about that!).  IF IWU can make it to Sunday, I like their chances.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 25, 2010, 01:46:05 PM
The All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2010bballconferenceteam1.htm)  Congratulations to all the players that made the teams!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on May 25, 2010, 02:49:49 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 03:27:58 PM
DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 25, 2010, 02:50:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 25, 2010, 01:46:05 PM
The All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2010bballconferenceteam1.htm)  Congratulations to all the players that made the teams!

Pretty incredible that a team on its way to Appleton gets only 1 1st teamer and 1 2nd teamer.  Just shows you how mediocre they were during the regular season, and how special they have been during the postseason.

Congrats to everyone on this list.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 25, 2010, 02:51:58 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on May 25, 2010, 02:49:49 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 03:27:58 PM
DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Consider me impressed, DJ. Any bold predictions for this weekend?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 25, 2010, 05:15:40 PM
Quote from: upandin on May 22, 2010, 08:51:19 PM
Hey Pappa remember back when you and I were having a little head to head banter at the beginning of the season?  I remember how crazy people thought I was for having Webster, Buena Vista and Ill Wesleyan, in my top 6.  (ex. Captain Morgan)  I also had Carthage in there as well.   By my count 4 of my top 6 made the regional.  Now I will admit my other 2 picks, Coe and Beloit, ( both picked by the coaches to win or be at the top of their conference) Choked Big Time.  All though if you remember right I thought Beloit was way over rated, and I thought you were wrong in crowing Carthage the champs even with obvious holes to fill.  I think I even said Ill Wesleyan could be the team to knock Carthage off. ( I know they were 3-3 on the year but they won the two that counted and are sitting in a good spot to take the central)  BV was not even in your top 8 now they are the top seed and playing well. Webster was your 6.  My whole beef with you was that there are good teams outside the CCIW that should be recognized. 
Now I just love to see you giving some of your love to other schools outside the CCIW.  BV is for real and Webster is a good team as well.  Congrats to you Pappa!  You have come a long way.  I look forward to next years preview.  ( if you want some info feel free to contact me )

O Ya.....our Arizona Freshman predictions:  Blumenrich (Grinnell) hit .250 with 1 2B in only 9 starts... Stien (Coe) hit .330 with 10 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 16 SB, and 1st team All-IIAC OF. 


Quote from: DirtyJersey on May 25, 2010, 02:49:49 PM
Quote from: DirtyJersey on March 02, 2010, 09:17:47 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 02, 2010, 03:27:58 PM
DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Looks like it's Blow Your Own Horn Week here in the Central Region. ;)

Congrats to all of the All-CCIW members, and especially to Co-Pitcher of the Year Pete Sparacino of NPU and his Vikings teammates Ryan Javech, Trevor Popp, Mike Giovenco, Zach Deutscher, and Devin Melecio. Incidentally, here's what the league looks like next year in terms of All-CCIW returnees: North Central, six; North Park, five (I'm assuming that Giovenco gets drafted again and signs this time); Carthage, four; Augustana, two; Wheaton, two; Elmhurst, one; Illinois Wesleyan, one; and Millikin, zero.

Probably doesn't mean much, but I note it, anyway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on May 25, 2010, 05:44:16 PM
hahha Congrats to all players who have been honored...

A special congrats to COY Fitzgerald. I am confident NCC will be in the CCIW tourney annually as long as he is there. NPU has also proved to be a true challenger.

CCIWFAN, your guess is as good as mine. As long as the pitching and defense shows up every inning for the Titans, they can get deep. I just hope they still have the right mindset and are not satisfied with being participants in Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 28, 2010, 10:05:05 AM
Article about IWU heading into this weekend...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_38e01fb0-69f4-11df-ab4f-001cc4c03286.html


Sounds like the pitching order will be:

- Pankau
- Kulavic
- Kabbes
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 28, 2010, 10:22:27 AM
Congrats to Carthage's Joey Aiello (soph) and Will Hodges (junior) on being named to the Rawlings/ABCA all-region team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 29, 2010, 07:36:11 AM
Article on IWU's win over #9-ranked Shenandoah...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_e81971b0-6adb-11df-9dfc-001cc4c002e0.html


The Titans face #2 Heidelberg tonight at 7:45pm.  Go Titans!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 30, 2010, 09:08:15 AM
On IWU's win over #2-ranked Heidelberg...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_ce92c9a4-6bac-11df-822f-001cc4c002e0.html


And on IWU's two-sport standout Kraig Ladd...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_474776c4-6b9e-11df-aa63-001cc4c002e0.html



What an amazing run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: usee on May 30, 2010, 11:08:25 PM
I am not a baseball poster and I ask the following out of ignorance more than anything:

IWU is playing for the d3 title and the CCIW had 3 teams in the national field but as I read it the CCIW had not a single player on the d3.com all American team? Not even an honorable mention? Is that at all surprising? (I know IWU's run is a surprise).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 31, 2010, 01:44:26 AM
Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 31, 2010, 07:58:09 AM
On IWU's huge win over Linfield...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_d2a71d4c-6c6f-11df-94b0-001cc4c002e0.html


The game IWU has to play today, which I believe is new in the format, is very important.  Winning means getting two shots at a national championship tomorrow...losing sets up one game for the title.

Relatively speaking, the Titans are in great pitching shape.  They still have not used Alex Tossi or Joe Sweeney, two solid starters.  And ace Jason Pankau is pretty much a lock to go tomorrow.

This is just an incredible run.  Congratulations to Dennis Martel and the Titans on earning their way into the national championship game.  Stay loose and bring it home!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: usee on May 31, 2010, 09:22:06 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 31, 2010, 01:44:26 AM
Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.

Well, at least Ann Curry will be pleased to know a couple of Wheaton players made the team! :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 31, 2010, 09:39:44 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 31, 2010, 01:44:26 AM
Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.
Thank you for the operation and the D3sports.com!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: devildog29 on May 31, 2010, 12:05:00 PM
Have always been a lurker on the baseball board, and with IWU's amazing run have been watching much closer lately.  This is pretty petty and unimportant, but has anyone ever noticed this Subject Title is incorrect?  We play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, as opposed to the Collegiate Conference?  Ok, enough of my anal retentive musings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 31, 2010, 12:35:16 PM
Quote from: devildog29 on May 31, 2010, 12:05:00 PM
Have always been a lurker on the baseball board, and with IWU's amazing run have been watching much closer lately.  This is pretty petty and unimportant, but has anyone ever noticed this Subject Title is incorrect?  We play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, as opposed to the Collegiate Conference?  Ok, enough of my anal retentive musings.
+1! and thanks.   :)

Correction made.  Join us by posting on the baseball board in 2011!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on June 01, 2010, 06:00:50 PM
Congratulations Titans - what an amazing run!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BoomerIL on June 01, 2010, 09:05:32 PM
Congratulations to Coach Martel and the Illinois Wesleyan Titans!!!!   Son went to Lyons Township in La Grange and played against a few of the present day Titans in high school, and together with a few in travel ball.  Great job guys!!!!  Gotta love Illinois baseball!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on June 01, 2010, 10:26:21 PM
What a special day for Illinois Wesleyan.  Congratulations to Dennis Martel and the Titans.  Thanks for making us proud, boys!

An amazing run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on June 01, 2010, 10:33:17 PM
Wow!  Gotta love collegiate sports were anything can happen.  Outstanding run by the IWU baseball team.  Congrats on a remarkable season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 01, 2010, 11:43:46 PM
I wonder if there has ever been a more improbable champion in the history of D3 baseball.  If you trace the season, the Titans were 13-15 overall and 7-7 in the CCIW after dropping the first two against North Park in Bloomington.  They then put together enough wins in conference to gain a fourth seed in the CCIW tournament.  They battled through the tournament, edging North Park 9-7 in the loser's bracket and taking two from Carthage on Sunday.    They closed out the season with 11 wins in their last 12 games. Quite a story!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2010, 12:10:14 AM
Quote from: mr_b on June 01, 2010, 11:43:46 PM
I wonder if there has ever been a more improbable champion in the history of D3 baseball.  If you trace the season, the Titans were 13-15 overall and 7-7 in the CCIW after dropping the first two against North Park in Bloomington.  They then put together enough wins in conference to gain a fourth seed in the CCIW tournament.  They battled through the tournament, edging North Park 9-7 in the loser's bracket and taking two from Carthage on Sunday.    They closed out the season with 11 wins in their last 12 games. Quite a story!

34 years ago Cal State Stanislaus won it all with a 33-20-2 record, but I suppose even that is better than 31-21! ;)

It doesn't matter how you do most of the season as long as you are good enough to MAKE the conference tourney, then good enough to win it, the regional, and the CWS! :D

My gut hunch is that this very talented but horribly underperforming group of guys gave up on expectations about five weeks ago, and decided to just have fun and see what happened.  And, WOW!!, see what happened! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on June 02, 2010, 01:45:45 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2010, 12:10:14 AM
Quote from: mr_b on June 01, 2010, 11:43:46 PM
I wonder if there has ever been a more improbable champion in the history of D3 baseball.  If you trace the season, the Titans were 13-15 overall and 7-7 in the CCIW after dropping the first two against North Park in Bloomington.  They then put together enough wins in conference to gain a fourth seed in the CCIW tournament.  They battled through the tournament, edging North Park 9-7 in the loser's bracket and taking two from Carthage on Sunday.    They closed out the season with 11 wins in their last 12 games. Quite a story!

34 years ago Cal State Stanislaus won it all with a 33-20-2 record, but I suppose even that is better than 31-21! ;)

It doesn't matter how you do most of the season as long as you are good enough to MAKE the conference tourney, then good enough to win it, the regional, and the CWS! :D

My gut hunch is that this very talented but horribly underperforming group of guys gave up on expectations about five weeks ago, and decided to just have fun and see what happened.  And, WOW!!, see what happened! ;D
EXACTLY...It now how you start the race but how you finish......
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on June 02, 2010, 10:52:35 AM
Love hearing about stories like Wesleyan....just another reason why Division 3 athletics are so outstanding, and baseball is the best game there is.

I have a hard time seeing a similar story unfolding in many other sports.  The double-elimination format lends itself to a true team victory over time.

Congrats to the Titans and the CCIW as a whole.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on June 06, 2010, 07:59:27 AM
I've heard that IWU had an outstanding year on the recruiting trail.  One player expected to make an immediate impact is Naperville Central's Bobby Czarnowski...

http://www.triblocal.com/Naperville/detail/182406.html

Here is a post made on the CCIW basketball board a few weeks back about Czarnowski...

Quote from: AndOne on April 20, 2010, 01:33:38 AM
Wesleyan "recruit"

CCIW followers and Wesleyan fans in particular may be interested in the story of a new "recruit."

Please note that some of the details of this story may well be a bit sketchy, but I'm quite sure I have the major points correct

It seems this young man, a very good 6'4" basketball player whose stats this past season included marks of 11.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg, is an even better baseball player who currently sports a .538 batting average while splitting his diamond time between 1B and RF. It seems he was initially contacted by the Wesleyan baseball coach last summer.
However, late last summer or early last fall, he was apparently offered a D1 baseball scholarship. As it was widely assumed he would accept this baseball offer, he was not actively further pursued, either for baseball, OR basketball. 

However, as time passed last fall and early in the winter, 2 things became evident. First, he wasn't that interested in the school that offered him for baseball, and, while he might be a better baseball player than basketball, he really preferred playing basketball in college. Accordingly, North Central became very interested and conducted a strong recruiting effort throughout the basketball season. The young man liked NCC, and recognized the opportunity he would have to earn meaningful playing time there next season due to NCC's graduating 9 seniors over the last 2 seasons, the 9 having played the overwhelming majority of minutes over that time. His parents also were fond of North Central as they felt it afforded their son the opportunity for both an outstanding academic experience, and a real opportunity to earn playing time on the basketball court. Accordingly, they looked forward to his enrollment at NCC. The only problem with this is that while the recruit indicated he felt he would rather play basketball, and recognized NCC afforded him a wonderful opportunity to do so sooner rather than later, he felt an overwhelming desire to "get out of town" and not attend college in the town where he has lived his entire life, or close to it. This is not unusual, and we have all seen kids voice this desire when making a college choice. In conjunction with this desire, and knowing of Wesleyan's prior contact for baseball, I believe his HS coach made a couple of calls resulting in his talking further with both the Wesleyan baseball coach and then also with basketball coach Ron Rose. While he realizes the chance to earn playing time, at least in basketball, would be greater at NCC, he will be attending Wesleyan where he will evidently play baseball for sure, and will also explore the possibility of playing basketball.

It seems that if he lived anywhere else besides Naperville he would be attending North Central. However, because he does live in Naperville, he'll instead fulfill his wish to attend school in a different locale.

Accordingly, Wesleyan will be getting an outstanding athlete in Bobby Czarnowski from Naperville Central. Again, it looks like he'll be playing baseball for sure, and quite possibly will also be a member of the Titan basketball team.
Going beyond his athletic prowess, Bobby is a great guy, and his parents, Bob & Pam, are 1st class         


He sounds like a great recruit for Dennis Martel and the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on June 06, 2010, 08:10:01 AM
Here is a website that lists college commitments from some of the top prep players in Illinois.  Some CCIW-bound players included...

http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/Home/Commitments/tabid/326/Default.aspx
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on June 08, 2010, 04:55:56 PM
Congrats to NPU Righthander Mike Giovenco.  Was drafted in the 14th round by the Kansas City Royals.  Best of luck in the future.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 08, 2010, 04:59:40 PM
That's twelve rounds earlier than Giovenco was drafted last June, when the Twins picked him. I'm pretty sure that he's going to sign this time. Best of luck, Mike!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: droppinbombs47 on June 09, 2010, 02:22:27 PM
Nick Robinson, shortstop from North Central College in Illinois drafted by the Red Sox in the 39th Round
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on June 09, 2010, 06:10:51 PM
Wheaton junior Steve Dennison drafted by Marlins in 34th round.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/6/9/BB_Draft.aspx?path=baseball (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2010/6/9/BB_Draft.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D O.C. on June 10, 2010, 12:36:50 PM
Things have probably calmed down a little bit and I'd like to congratulate the coach and team for the solid accomplishment and pure entertainment at the end of the 2010 season. Hats off!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 12, 2010, 10:56:03 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 08, 2010, 04:59:40 PM
That's twelve rounds earlier than Giovenco was drafted last June, when the Twins picked him. I'm pretty sure that he's going to sign this time. Best of luck, Mike!

I hope so... get him out of the CCIW:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 12, 2010, 11:36:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 12, 2010, 10:56:03 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 08, 2010, 04:59:40 PM
That's twelve rounds earlier than Giovenco was drafted last June, when the Twins picked him. I'm pretty sure that he's going to sign this time. Best of luck, Mike!

I hope so... get him out of the CCIW:)

Now, now, BP.  Carthage and IWU welcome the competition.  Make the CCIW as strong as possible! :D

[I admit, I probably wouldn't say this if I weren't still giddy over the d3 CWS results! ;D]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on June 22, 2010, 10:35:16 PM
Looks like the CCIW will not have to deal with trying to be Giovenco anymore.  Baseball America reports that the right hander has signed with the Kansas City Royals.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/2010xteam.php?team=1010
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on July 02, 2010, 09:48:38 AM
On IWU recruit Jason Kotecki...

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/illinois/illinois-lutheran/baseball/article_3579d298-6981-521e-b391-e5192145f571.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on July 14, 2010, 11:29:40 PM
CCIW alum Steve Duncan (Wheaton '02) just got the head coaching job at Washu.  Duncan had been an assistant at Johns Hopkins over the past three years with two CWS appearances. 

Great hire by the Bears in my opinion.  I won't be surprised if he turns them into a top 10 program.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/releases/baseball7-13-10.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: theoneandonly on August 16, 2010, 04:04:52 PM
big poppa, I know this is the cciw board, but take a look at the new sliac.org site. MAJOR upgrade!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on August 16, 2010, 09:23:37 PM
Quote from: theoneandonly on August 16, 2010, 04:04:52 PM
big poppa, I know this is the cciw board, but take a look at the new sliac.org site. MAJOR upgrade!

Much better than it has been in the past. It should make it easier to follow the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on October 11, 2010, 03:24:40 PM
IWU's Ricky Angel was named to the to All-Decade Team (2000s). Congrats to the IWU faithful as he was the only CCIW player named to the team. In fact, he was the only Central Region player named to the tea. I am guessing that will change with the announcement of the All-90s team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on December 07, 2010, 10:49:12 PM
Here's a story on Mike Giovenco and his off-season sojourn in the Instructional League. (http://www.northpark.edu/Athletics/Viking-News/Current-News/Giovenco-completes-MLB-Instructional-League) Sounds as though the Royals organization might have him pitching very close to home in 2011.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on December 16, 2010, 04:57:57 PM
Being relatively new to DIII baseball, is there a general consensus on which conference year in and year out is the toughest. Thanks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 17, 2010, 09:11:30 AM
Quote from: ILLhoops1 on December 16, 2010, 04:57:57 PM
Being relatively new to DIII baseball, is there a general consensus on which conference year in and year out is the toughest. Thanks.

I'd put the Jew Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) as two of the top. There are other conferences that may have some better teams at the top, but from top to bottom, both of the these conferences usually have 3-4 teams in the top 25.

If you are looking for an up-and-coming conference, look west to the Northwest Conference (NWC). The emergence of their baseball programs in the past few seasons on the national level is really shifting the balance of power out west(George Fox, Linfield, Pacific Lutheran).


One also needs to look South at the Southwest conference as the Texas schools beat the snot out of each other in a 16 team conference with only one regional bid rewarded.

I'd also be in trouble if I did not mention the Litte East Conference (LEC).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on December 17, 2010, 03:45:01 PM
As soon as I read ILLhoops1's question, I thought to myself, "Now, that's definitely a question that we should let BigPoppa answer." ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 17, 2010, 04:17:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on December 17, 2010, 03:45:01 PM
As soon as I read ILLhoops1's question, I thought to myself, "Now, that's definitely a question that we should let BigPoppa answer." ;)

I am not sure that I am the expert on this, but year in and year out, they seem to be in the mix. I'd put the CCIW in the second-tier of power conferences. Carthage seems to be the constant, IWU and Augustana usually spend a little time in the top 25 each season and once in a while another program creeps in (North Park (early 2010) and North Central (late 2010)).

In fact, IWU went from unranked in the last regular season poll to #1 in the final poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 18, 2010, 05:37:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D

Can you feel my envious glare directed in your general direction?! I still don't know what to make of IWU this coming season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on December 18, 2010, 05:57:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 18, 2010, 05:37:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D

Can you feel my envious glare directed in your general direction?! I still don't know what to make of IWU this coming season.

Not a surprise - I still don't know what to make of them LAST season! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on December 18, 2010, 11:01:40 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D

IWU picked up a great transfer in AJ Nathan from Lawrence. He was a teammate of Kevin Sullivan (HP '08)and Anthony Kopp (HP '09) at Highland Park HS. AJ set the season hit record at HP (66 hits in 33 games) and the BA season record, with .546 during his senior year at HP ('09). His primary position is catcher (1.80 pop time) but can be used as a closer, or play the infield. A great pickup of a great athlete for IWU.
My son played with them during HS, but attends college out East.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: DirtyJersey on December 22, 2010, 05:44:28 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on December 18, 2010, 11:01:40 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D

IWU picked up a great transfer in AJ Nathan from Lawrence. He was a teammate of Kevin Sullivan (HP '08)and Anthony Kopp (HP '09) at Highland Park HS. AJ set the season hit record at HP (66 hits in 33 games) and the BA season record, with .546 during his senior year at HP ('09). His primary position is catcher (1.80 pop time) but can be used as a closer, or play the infield. A great pickup of a great athlete for IWU.
My son played with them during HS, but attends college out East.

aj nahan hit .318 at lawrence university-- a team that went 7-29 last year, who played against very average teams in their own right...hopefully he helps the titans
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on December 22, 2010, 06:05:02 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on December 18, 2010, 11:01:40 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D

IWU picked up a great transfer in AJ Nathan from Lawrence. He was a teammate of Kevin Sullivan (HP '08)and Anthony Kopp (HP '09) at Highland Park HS. AJ set the season hit record at HP (66 hits in 33 games) and the BA season record, with .546 during his senior year at HP ('09). His primary position is catcher (1.80 pop time) but can be used as a closer, or play the infield. A great pickup of a great athlete for IWU.
My son played with them during HS, but attends college out East.

Great to hear that IWU has gotten some new talent in, as they lost a very good group of seniors that were instrumental in their National Championship run last year. Not taking anything away from AJ, but if he really has a 1.80 pop time, not only should he be catching at IWU, he should be behind the plate for the Cubs as long as he could hit his weight. 1.8 would put him in the top 2% of ML catchers.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on December 22, 2010, 08:20:08 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on December 17, 2010, 04:52:26 PM
I just spent a very nostalgic hour re-reading the threads from last spring's CWS.  I again have a huge smile on my face from the Titan's 9-run 5th inning in the title game! ;D
Very Nice !!!  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on December 22, 2010, 08:36:20 PM
Saw AJ's pop time with these old eyes. There were 3 coaches there..they all looked at each other because they thought their stop watches  malfunctioned. It was laughable, looking at the expression on their faces. He did it quite a few times.
Still, everyone has to show what they can do. I had the pleasure of watching Kopp, Sullivan, and Nathan for about 10 years between travel ball and high school ball.
We rib AJ, telling him he learned to block balls in the dirt so well because he caught my son's splitter for a good number of years. I expect IWU do do very well, again. They have a good, solid, team and AJ should fit in very nicely.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 23, 2010, 01:28:26 AM
Pudge Rodrigurez and Johnny Bench throw 1.8 for POP times. The average college catcher is 2.0-2.1. If this kid is really a 1.8, someone missed the boat for two reasons (and no offense intended):
1. 1.8's do not got undrafted out of high school, and
2. 1.8's do not choose Lawrence as their school... their future is in baseball and even a transfer to IWU is beneath them. They should be starting at a major D1 university. The best I have EVER seen with my own eyes is a consistent 1.91 and that kid was a D2 simply because he could not hit a lick.

We'll see the true numbers once the season begins.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on December 23, 2010, 02:17:56 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 23, 2010, 01:28:26 AM
Pudge Rodrigurez and Johnny Bench throw 1.8 for POP times. The average college catcher is 2.0-2.1. If this kid is really a 1.8, someone missed the boat for two reasons (and no offense intended):
1. 1.8's do not got undrafted out of high school, and
2. 1.8's do not choose Lawrence as their school... their future is in baseball and even a transfer to IWU is beneath them. They should be starting at a major D1 university. The best I have EVER seen with my own eyes is a consistent 1.91 and that kid was a D2 simply because he could not hit a lick.

We'll see the true numbers once the season begins.
Honestly POP times mean nothing...WHY ?

Look at the catchers numbers  How many runners were caught stealing, what percentage were caught stealing...

Guess who most players steal on..The PITCHER....If he is slow too the plate, 1.8 pop times mean nothing...If your pitcher keeps runners close and picks runners off. Catchers can look like Johnny Bench throwing guys out...if they dont have great POP times but make very accurate throws to the base....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on December 23, 2010, 10:22:21 AM
Maybe he can take some catching pointers from Domingo Ayala...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14q8lkJVl1A
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 07, 2011, 04:12:07 PM
Looking at All-CCIW players coming back in 2011: (1st and 2nd Team):

North Central- 6
North Park- 5
Carthage- 4
Augustana- 2
Wheaton- 2
Illinos Wesleyan-1 (but that one guy put the team on his back and carried them to a national title)
Elmhurst-1
Millikin-1

It should make for interesting 2011 season. I have IWU at #16 in my poll and North Park at #21. It appears that I SHOULD have North Central in there somewhere, but I guess I am not a believer yet. I am curious to see where the CCIW coaches poll has teams land.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ballfan55 on January 10, 2011, 11:47:55 AM
If they were coming back in 2001 isn't their eligibility about up?  Just sayin'.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 10, 2011, 11:56:20 AM
Quote from: ballfan55 on January 10, 2011, 11:47:55 AM
If they were coming back in 2001 isn't their eligibility about up?  Just sayin'.

Nice catch... corrected:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on January 21, 2011, 07:37:41 PM
Five out of eight schools received votes in D3baseball poll. IWU the only one to crack the top 25. NCC 22 votes, Carthage 21, North Park and Augie followed down the pack. What happened to the Thunder?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 27, 2011, 02:03:31 PM
The way their ERA exploded last year I don't question why Wheaton isn't getting votes.  They were in a great spot heading out of their nonconference schedule and even with the doubleheader comeback sweep of Augie at Alexian Field but after the freak injury to Urbanowitz that pitching staff just went downhill.  I think the pieces are there for the Thunder to return to the CCIW tournament but they're gonna have to find a way to throw strikes at a more efficient rate.

They return Pyne and Martin at the corner INF and I would assume Miller would move over to SS.  Whartnaby is now a three year starter behind the dish and they return all three outfielders with Zeller, Antal, and Golz although there's some questions regarding the health of Zeller and Antal coming out of football.

Dennison is going to have to take a big step forward to ace this pitching staff.  Scouts are understandably drooling over his size as they would with any 6'7" lefty that can walk and chew gum at the same time but he needs to step up and lead this pitching staff or it might be another situation where Wheaton is going to have to score massive amounts of runs to win ball games.

Wheaton has a very favorable spring trip schedule that they could come back north on a roll.


Like you BP, I'm still a little skeptical of North Central just based on the egg they layed in the conference tournament last year but their brand of ball is a lot like Carthage has been over the past couple of years.  That's a good young coaching staff for the Cards and they have speed at a lot of positions that puts a ton of pressure on your defense.  On top of that they're very fundamentally sound with the hit and run which can be a killer when executed.  At least they were last year and that's what I'm basing all this off of.  It'll be interesting to see if they can continue what they started last season.  If they do that fourth spot for the conference tourney is going to quite a competition.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 27, 2011, 07:41:58 PM
MY CCIW top four:
1. IWU
2. North Park
3. Carthage
4. North Central
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on January 27, 2011, 09:45:05 PM
I hear health issues are a concern too!  Plus they have lost a starting pitcher due to eligibility and a recruit from Poway decided he no longer wanted to play baseball. Pitching is a concern for this team. At least they have a pitching coach this year after going without one last year.

They are good at the corner spots in the infield. But, up the middle is going to be a challenge. Catcher should be fine as they have seven catchers on the roster.

So much more I want to say; but, I want to be nice.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 28, 2011, 01:02:16 PM
I agree norfrank there's some issues building with this program that starts with health as the injuries keep piling up especially with an outfield that looked to be one of the league's best as they returned everyone including the last two conference home run leaders with Antal and Zeller.  Now there's big questions at the corner spots and second base is a toss-up.  I think they'll be just fine at shortstop as Miller is a solid defender who came in as a 3B at Poway and played a lot of short during fall ball his fresh and sophomore years.

This team is either going to rise or sink with the pitching staff.  It will certainly help for them to have a pitching coach again if for no other reason than it allows Coach Driggers to not be tied down with the pitchers and can be a better overseer.  Driggers' background is in pitching so it's not out of the question for him to work without a pitching coach.  I thought this staff was in good hands with Derek Wolloshyn two years ago but apparently that didn't work out despite the staff having their best year statistically in the Driggers era.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on January 29, 2011, 08:33:09 PM
Problems at the corners?  Pyne is one of the finest defensive 1st basemen I have seen. He is also very talented at bat. He may not hit for power but he is very good. Martin played hurt most of the year and put up pretty good numbers. It looks like corner infield spots might be their strength if the injuries to the outfield do not heal. From what I am hearing that is a big if.

Wolloshyn was a huge loss to the team last year. More than anyone is willing to admit. The staff's numbers and mental approach to the game were greatly impacted by his absence.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 31, 2011, 12:20:55 AM
correct the corner infield is most likely the strength currently.  i was referring to the corner outfield spots where question marks are stacking up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on January 31, 2011, 07:49:25 PM
Quote from: thunder38illini on January 27, 2011, 02:03:31 PM

Xxxxxxxx is going to have to take a big step forward to ace this pitching staff.  Scouts are understandably drooling over his size as they would with any 6'7" lefty that can walk and chew gum at the same time but he needs to step up and lead this pitching staff or it might be another situation where Wheaton is going to have to score massive amounts of runs to win ball games.


GOOD LUCK!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 16, 2011, 08:00:28 PM
http://cciw.org/news/2011/2/16/BB_0216114825.aspx

No surprises here.  Coaches pick the defending champs to win the conference.  I am actually surprised that 2 coaches didn't simply default to the Titans coming off a national championship.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 16, 2011, 08:00:28 PM
http://cciw.org/news/2011/2/16/BB_0216114825.aspx

No surprises here.  Coaches pick the defending champs to win the conference.  I am actually surprised that 2 coaches didn't simply default to the Titans coming off a national championship.

North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

1. IWU
2/3. NPU/Carthage
4. North Central
5. Wheaton
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2011, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 16, 2011, 08:00:28 PM
http://cciw.org/news/2011/2/16/BB_0216114825.aspx

No surprises here.  Coaches pick the defending champs to win the conference.  I am actually surprised that 2 coaches didn't simply default to the Titans coming off a national championship.

North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

1. IWU
2/3. NPU/Carthage
4. North Central
5. Wheaton

Yeah, I'm not sure why CCIWFAN6 thinks that there are "no surprises" in the poll when you consider how low NPU was picked. Are the other seven coaches aware that North Park only lost one position-player starter, shortstop Nick Marino, from last year's team? That two of the top three starters, Pete Sparacino (8-1 overall, 6-0 CCIW) and Jake Hollinsaid (7-3 overall, 2-2 CCIW), are back, as well as three of the four relievers who saw double-digit appearances last season (Nick Soldano, Alex Silverthorne, and Joel Bonnett)?

It's as if the coaches said, "Well, the Park doesn't have Mike Giovenco anymore, so I guess that we can write them off this year."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 17, 2011, 09:59:42 PM
I am interested t see how Sparacino fares against everyone's #1 arm. Giovenco had a few losses last year in the CCIW when facing other aces. We will find out so if Sparacino is as good as advertised or was he simply the best #2 pitcher in the CCIW.

On another note, I think that Carthage's Mario Perez bounces back from a "down year" in 2010 and regains his elite status in the CCIW pitching ranks this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 18, 2011, 07:26:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2011, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

Yeah, I'm not sure why CCIWFAN6 thinks that there are "no surprises" in the poll when you consider how low NPU was picked. Are the other seven coaches aware that North Park only lost one position-player starter, shortstop Nick Marino, from last year's team? That two of the top three starters, Pete Sparacino (8-1 overall, 6-0 CCIW) and Jake Hollinsaid (7-3 overall, 2-2 CCIW), are back, as well as three of the four relievers who saw double-digit appearances last season (Nick Soldano, Alex Silverthorne, and Joel Bonnett)?

It's as if the coaches said, "Well, the Park doesn't have Mike Giovenco anymore, so I guess that we can write them off this year."

Jake Hollinsaid graduated in the spring.  He came in as a junior transfer and played two years for the Vikings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 18, 2011, 10:31:40 AM
Quote from: mr_b on February 18, 2011, 07:26:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2011, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

Yeah, I'm not sure why CCIWFAN6 thinks that there are "no surprises" in the poll when you consider how low NPU was picked. Are the other seven coaches aware that North Park only lost one position-player starter, shortstop Nick Marino, from last year's team? That two of the top three starters, Pete Sparacino (8-1 overall, 6-0 CCIW) and Jake Hollinsaid (7-3 overall, 2-2 CCIW), are back, as well as three of the four relievers who saw double-digit appearances last season (Nick Soldano, Alex Silverthorne, and Joel Bonnett)?

It's as if the coaches said, "Well, the Park doesn't have Mike Giovenco anymore, so I guess that we can write them off this year."

Jake Hollinsaid graduated in the spring.  He came in as a junior transfer and played two years for the Vikings.

Hmm, I was under the impression, based upon my interview with Luke Johnson at halftime of one of the NPU men's basketball broadcasts we did this winter, that Hollinsaid was going to be back for another season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 18, 2011, 11:13:17 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 18, 2011, 10:31:40 AM
Quote from: mr_b on February 18, 2011, 07:26:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2011, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

Yeah, I'm not sure why CCIWFAN6 thinks that there are "no surprises" in the poll when you consider how low NPU was picked. Are the other seven coaches aware that North Park only lost one position-player starter, shortstop Nick Marino, from last year's team? That two of the top three starters, Pete Sparacino (8-1 overall, 6-0 CCIW) and Jake Hollinsaid (7-3 overall, 2-2 CCIW), are back, as well as three of the four relievers who saw double-digit appearances last season (Nick Soldano, Alex Silverthorne, and Joel Bonnett)?

It's as if the coaches said, "Well, the Park doesn't have Mike Giovenco anymore, so I guess that we can write them off this year."

Jake Hollinsaid graduated in the spring.  He came in as a junior transfer and played two years for the Vikings.

Hmm, I was under the impression, based upon my interview with Luke Johnson at halftime of one of the NPU men's basketball broadcasts we did this winter, that Hollinsaid was going to be back for another season.
From what I understand, Hollinsaid is back. There is a reason I have NPU so high on my BIG BOARD this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 18, 2011, 01:59:13 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2011, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 16, 2011, 08:42:54 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 16, 2011, 08:00:28 PM
http://cciw.org/news/2011/2/16/BB_0216114825.aspx

No surprises here.  Coaches pick the defending champs to win the conference.  I am actually surprised that 2 coaches didn't simply default to the Titans coming off a national championship.

North Park, 6th?! WOW! I have them as a solid #2 or #3 in the CCIW. Maybe I am wrong, but I think they will be pretty good. In fact, I have them in the top 5 or 6 of the entire central region.

1. IWU
2/3. NPU/Carthage
4. North Central
5. Wheaton

Yeah, I'm not sure why CCIWFAN6 thinks that there are "no surprises" in the poll when you consider how low NPU was picked. Are the other seven coaches aware that North Park only lost one position-player starter, shortstop Nick Marino, from last year's team? That two of the top three starters, Pete Sparacino (8-1 overall, 6-0 CCIW) and Jake Hollinsaid (7-3 overall, 2-2 CCIW), are back, as well as three of the four relievers who saw double-digit appearances last season (Nick Soldano, Alex Silverthorne, and Joel Bonnett)?

It's as if the coaches said, "Well, the Park doesn't have Mike Giovenco anymore, so I guess that we can write them off this year."

My comment of "no surprises" was in reference to IWU being picked as the favorite after coming off of a National Championship.  I would agree that North Park is likely to finish well ahead of where the coaches have picked them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on February 24, 2011, 04:03:45 PM
Keep an eye on North Park's Luis Diaz (transfer junior OF from Oakton).  In talking to a few different sources, he may be a diamond in the rough finding for the Vikings.

As far as the polls go, I've never understood why anyone would give pre-season polls much of anything more than a glance.  Not a game has yet been played...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 25, 2011, 10:59:59 AM
A few CCIW teams get underway this weekend and into next week. I am really curious to see North Park vs Birmingham-Southern next weekend.

March 6

North Park vs. Berry at Birmingham-Southern, 11 a.m.

North Park at Birmingham-Southern, 2 p.m.

North Central (Ill.) at Franklin, Noon, EST

Illinois Wesleyan at Fontbonne (DH), Noon



March 5

North Central (Ill.) at Franklin (DH), Noon, EST

Illinois Wesleyan at Greenville (DH), Noon

North Park at Birmingham-Southern, Noon

North Park vs. Berry at Birmingham-Southern, 3:30 p.m.

Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Eastern Nazarene in Fort Myers, Fla., 5 p.m., EST

Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Monmouth in Fort Myers, Fla., 8 p.m., EST



March 4
Augustana (Ill.) vs. St. John Fisher in Winter Haven, Fla., 10:30 a.m., EST



March 3
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Rose-Hulman in Auburndale, Fla., 11:30 a.m., EST



March 2
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Widener in Winter Haven, Fla., 11 a.m., EST



Feb. 28
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Wartburg in Auburndale, Fla., 11:30 a.m., EST



Feb. 26
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Rochester Institute of Technology in Winter Haven, Fla., 2:30 p.m., EST



Feb. 25
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Grove Cit in Winter Haven, Fla., 11:30 a.m., EST



Feb. 24
Augustana (Ill.) vs. Brandeis in Auburndale, Fla., 2:30 p.m., EST

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2011, 03:12:29 PM
Good grief, I can't believe it's almost March already.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 25, 2011, 03:32:08 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2011, 03:12:29 PM
Good grief, I can't believe it's almost March already.
Time flies when you spend your winters watching basketball. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 01, 2011, 02:47:27 PM
OUCH! Augustana fires a one-hitter but is done in by 4 errors in a 2-0 loss to Wartburg!

http://www.augustana.edu/x33366.xml (http://www.augustana.edu/x33366.xml)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on March 06, 2011, 10:33:51 AM
Guessing there must be some weather in Birmingham.  North Park and Berry suspended at 1-1 in the 6th inning, and no report of a game between the Vikings and Birmingham-Southern.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2011, 02:55:02 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on March 06, 2011, 10:33:51 AM
Guessing there must be some weather in Birmingham.  North Park and Berry suspended at 1-1 in the 6th inning, and no report of a game between the Vikings and Birmingham-Southern.

I think you are correct. Yesterday was a complete washout. Would suck for NPU to travel to Alabama and not get any games in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 07:49:04 AM
North Park was able to get in three games in Birmingham and finished 1-2:

Game one was started on Saturday and was suspended after 5 1/2 innings with the Vikings and Berry (GA) College tied 1-1.  The game resumed Sunday after the NPU-Birmingham Southern game.  North Park rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth and scored the winning run in the 11th for a 4-3 win.  Wade Yunker had the big hits -- a single to tie the game in the 9th and the game-winner in the 11th.  Pete Sparacino pitched six innings on Saturday and Nick Soldano worked all five on Sunday for the win.

Birmingham Southern won the Sunday contest, 5-2.  Good pitching by the Vikings: Steve Kuligowski started and worked six innings, Paul Garcia, Joel Bonnett, and Merrick McGrady held the Panthers pretty much in check over the last frames.  

Berry won game three 4-3.  Alex Silverthorne allowed all four runs, three unearned, while Travis Boyer and Shelby Wood handled relief duties.

Both opponents were solid teams.  Birmingham (12-2)  is definitely a formidable squad, and Berry -- which defeated BSC in the nightcap -- is very good fundamentally and has pitchers that throw a lot of strikes. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:21:38 PM
Berry is a solid, and often nationally ranked, NAIA school.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:25:12 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:21:38 PM
Berry is a solid, and often nationally ranked, NAIA school.
They have moved to NCAA DIII and are provisional members.  If you appreciate small ball, you'd enjoy watching them play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:28:55 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:25:12 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:21:38 PM
Berry is a solid, and often nationally ranked, NAIA school.
They have moved to NCAA DIII and are provisional members.  If you appreciate small ball, you'd enjoy watching them play.

Wow... thanks for the update. I had no idea they made the switch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:28:55 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:25:12 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:21:38 PM
Berry is a solid, and often nationally ranked, NAIA school.
They have moved to NCAA DIII and are provisional members.  If you appreciate small ball, you'd enjoy watching them play.

Wow... thanks for the update. I had no idea they made the switch.
When I first heard that we'd be playing Berry, I thought of the DII school in Florida (spelled "Barry").  But we played the school from Georgia.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mugsy on March 07, 2011, 02:39:23 PM
Wheaton has started the 2011 season with 2 wins.  10-5 victory over Eastern Nazarene U. and 12-3 victory over Monmouth (Ill.).

Soph. Trey Martin has started 2011 with a bang, going 5 for 8 with 3 HR's and 2 triples.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 09, 2011, 09:24:15 AM
Thiel beats Wheaton 4-2.  Here's the game summary: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2011/3/8/BB_thiel.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2011, 03:25:08 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:43:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:28:55 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 07, 2011, 12:25:12 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2011, 12:21:38 PM
Berry is a solid, and often nationally ranked, NAIA school.
They have moved to NCAA DIII and are provisional members.  If you appreciate small ball, you'd enjoy watching them play.

Wow... thanks for the update. I had no idea they made the switch.
When I first heard that we'd be playing Berry, I thought of the DII school in Florida (spelled "Barry").  But we played the school from Georgia.

NPU played Berry in soccer this past fall as well. Now that Berry is going D3, perhaps the two schools are setting up a network of athletics relationships for long-term travel purposes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2011, 04:53:22 PM
Carthage defeated Muskingham 2-1 in the season opener. A walk off single by Chris D'Angelo to score Josh Albers with one out in the seventh.

Live stats available on the Carthage Baseball website.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on March 12, 2011, 08:55:43 AM
IWU if off to a 3-0 start, with a double-header sweep over Greenville and a win over Rust.  Dennis Martel went with the following lineup in the Rust game yesterday...

SS - Zach Scott, So. (St. Charles East H.S.)
CF - Jon Frericks, Fr. (Warren Township H.S.)
LF - Mark McDermott, Jr. (Andrew H.S.)
DH - Kevin Sullivan, Jr. (Highland Park H.S.)
1B - Kevin Callaghan, So. (Brother Rice H.S.)
2B - Jonathan Erickson, Fr. (St. Charles East H.S.)
LF - Bobby Czarnowski, Fr. (Naperville Central H.S.)
C - A.J. Green, So. (Highland Park H.S.)
3B - Anthony Lopez, So. (Naperville Central H.S.)

Regulars who did not play in that out-of-region game were...

CF - Ryan Hopp, Sr. (Hinsdale South H.S.)
3B - Jeff Grodecki, Sr. (Glenbrook South H.S.)

IWU's top 2 starters are:

1. Jason Pankau, Sr. (York H.S.)
2. Joe Sweeney, Jr. (Fenwick H.S.)

Both won their season debuts.  Not quite sure who #3 is yet.


Looks like the Titans have a nice blend of experienced guys and talented newcomers.  And they have a whole bunch of kids from the Chicago area (every single guy above)!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 12, 2011, 11:34:12 AM
Carthage takes two yesterday and is down 3-2 in the 5th to 8th rated Marietta this morning.

Potential issue for Carthage however as Mario Perez only gets through 3 innings in today's game after giving up only 2 hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 12, 2011, 02:00:51 PM
North Park held on to defeat Thiel 10-9.  They overcame four Tomcat home runs (two barely cleared the fence) and two deficits.  Pete Sparacino picked up the win and Merrick McGrady was credited with the save.

The Vikings move to 2-2 on the season.  Next up is Bethel (MN).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 12, 2011, 02:17:01 PM
Carthage loses the first game to Marietta , 3-2 in 9.  They are up 4-2 in the top of the 5th in the second game. 

Listening to the live stream from Marietta and the announcer mentioned that Carthage just got their new bats delivered last week.  I wonder what the problem was with that since the changes were announced effective Jan 1st.

Marietta is 9 - 1 on the season and has given up 8 runs total on the season.  The 4 runs for Carthage through 5 are the most they've given up in a game this season.  I'm betting they will be heard from again later in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 12, 2011, 03:46:28 PM
Marietta loads the bases in the bottom of the 10th (tied at 4) and proceeds to ground out to 3rd for the force at the plate, pop out to 2nd, and fly to right to end the inning.

Freshman Sam Wilhelms came in with the bases loaded to get all three outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 12, 2011, 04:45:08 PM
Carthage moves to 2-2 on the season with a 5-4 loss in 14 innings to Marietta.  The Express had chances to win it in the 10 and 11th (getting a runner thrown out at home to end the inning), but finally came through in the 14th.  Winning run reached base on Carthage's 5th error of the game.

14 K's for Marietta pitchers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2011, 03:06:27 PM
Carthage commits four errors on the day (to go with the five yesterday in game #2) but hangs on to defeat Rhodes 3-2. Defense appears to be an issue for the Redmen early on. Hopefully some time on the field instead of the gym will help solve that problem.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 13, 2011, 03:43:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2011, 03:06:27 PM
Carthage commits four errors on the day (to go with the five yesterday in game #2) but hangs on to defeat Rhodes 3-2. Defense appears to be an issue for the Redmen early on. Hopefully some time on the field instead of the gym will help solve that problem.



AMEN!

Also, some good news.  Mario is just behind in his throwing according to the Marietta post-game write-up.

"Mario Perez pitched the first three innings of the opener and blanked the Pioneers on two hits and a walk. Matt Martinski took over in the fourth for the big lefty, who is a little behind the other pitchers, due to some floating bone chips in his elbow. The bone chips will not requires surgery, but Perez missed some time during indoor practice due to the injury."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2011, 10:30:34 PM
Two things that scare me right now about Carthage as a team:

1. 14 errors in 5 games... averaging nearly 3 errors a game is gonna catch up with them if they they don't bring their A-game against heidelberg tomorrow.

2. I know we are only 5 games in, but when was the last time you saw a Carthage team hitting .231 as a team?

it appears they have the pitching with 1.52 ERA right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2011, 12:05:02 PM
Lizcaino leads off with a 3B for Heidelberg and scores on sac fly. 1-0 in top of one over Carthage. Could get ugly today as the Redmen are out of arms after extra innings on Saturday with Marietta.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2011, 10:51:42 PM
NPU upped its record to 3-2 with an 8-4 win over Bethel today in Fort Myers. The Vikings take on Dubuque tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 14, 2011, 11:06:18 PM
IWU rained out of its game at Miss Col today; they'll try to make it up tomorrow at 1, then play at Millsaps at 6.  Fortunately, Clinton and Jackson are very close together! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 07:55:56 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 14, 2011, 12:05:02 PM
Lizcaino leads off with a 3B for Heidelberg and scores on sac fly. 1-0 in top of one over Carthage. Could get ugly today as the Redmen are out of arms after extra innings on Saturday with Marietta.

The Redmen ran out of arms and gave up 5 in the 9th in an 8-5 loss to #1 Heidelberg. They drop to 3-3 with three close losses to top ten teams. I think the Redmen are going to be fine. They seem to have some solid pitching this year and it is just a matter of time before the Carthage bats get going.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 12:50:25 PM
Carthage currently up 7-4 in the 9th on Montclair State. Eric Rohe has just been pulled after 8.1 innings of work.

Anyone know why Aiello was not in the line-up today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 12:53:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 12:50:25 PM
Carthage currently up 7-4 in the 9th on Montclair State. Eric Rohe has just been pulled after 8.1 innings of work.

Anyone know why Aiello was not in the line-up today?

Carthage hangs on for a 7-4 win. 16 hites for the Redmen today. Nice to see the bats come alive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 02:38:59 PM
I am hoping that Carthage brings Eric Rohe back for Friday's game vs Oshkosh. He'd have the same rest he had between starts in his first two game and then the Redmen take a week off before heading to St. Louis for a weekend of four game vs. WashU and Platteville.

Even at 4-3, I am VERY optimistic about this Carthage team right now. Their three losses are to teams with a 19-1 combined record.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2011, 02:45:37 PM
Today will be a good barometer for IWU.  They play Mississippi College who is coming off of back to back 30 win seasons and Millsaps, who is one of the better teams they play every year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 02:47:17 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2011, 02:45:37 PM
Today will be a good barometer for IWU.  They play Mississippi College who is coming off of back to back 30 win seasons and Millsaps, who is one of the better teams they play every year.
It would be nice to see the Titans get a pair today (did I really just say that?).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 15, 2011, 05:26:32 PM
1 down, 1 to go as the Titans beat Mississippi College 7-5 in 10 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: devildog29 on March 15, 2011, 05:28:54 PM
According to Mississippi College website, IWU wins 7-5 in 10.  No details.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on March 15, 2011, 06:13:49 PM
Me being a fan of NCC I want to get some talk about them going.  I know they have played only 2 games and we will know more in this weekends series against Rose I really think there offense is going to be back to where they were last year.  There returning almost everyone on O with one more year of experience I think we can expect the same from the NCC squad.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2011, 08:35:48 PM
NPU was nipped by Dubuque this morning, 4-3, down in Fort Myers. That's a bad loss in my book, as the Spartans have been near or at the low end of the IIAC totem pole for the past several seasons (although they're now 4-1 this year).

The Vikings will try to snap back on Thursday against Plattsburgh State in their fourth game of the Gene Cusic Classic.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 15, 2011, 09:02:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2011, 08:35:48 PM
NPU was nipped by Dubuque this morning, 4-3, down in Fort Myers. That's a bad loss in my book, as the Spartans have been near or at the low end of the IIAC totem pole for the past several seasons (although they're now 4-1 this year).

The Vikings will try to snap back on Thursday against Plattsburgh State in their fourth game of the Gene Cusic Classic.
In the past that would be a very bad loss, but I think Dubuque is much improved this year. I still see them no higher than 6-8th in the IIAC, but way better tha year's past.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 08:54:59 AM
IWU split the day winning game one at Mississippi College 7-5 before dropping the nightcap 15-4 at Millsaps.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 02:18:27 PM
Does anyone know if Joey Aiello is hurt for Carthage? He was pulled early yesterday and is not in the line-up today vs. Utica.

Live stats vs Utica: http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/livestats/xlive.htm (http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/livestats/xlive.htm)


Hopefully Carthage can swing it a little today as Utica (0-3) is giving up just over 11 runs per game right now, though they did play Heidelberg and Wooster right out of the gate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 02:31:36 PM
Carthage is opening up a can on Utica in the second inning. 5 runs off 6 hits and still only one out. It is now a 5-1 lead for the Redmen in a game that has all the markings of a 5-inning affair. Carthage could use a short one today to rest some pitching for their final three games after Thursday's off day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 02:58:51 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 02:31:36 PM
Carthage is opening up a can on Utica in the second inning. 5 runs off 6 hits and still only one out. It is now a 5-1 lead for the Redmen in a game that has all the markings of a 5-inning affair. Carthage could use a short one today to rest some pitching for their final three games after Thursday's off day.

Carthage explodes for ten run in the second. 10-1 Carthage in the third right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 16, 2011, 03:30:18 PM
Filed under headlines that are darn funny as long as it's not you!


"Carthage pops Zitt"

poor guy... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2011, 05:38:46 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 16, 2011, 03:30:18 PM
Filed under headlines that are darn funny as long as it's not you!


"Carthage pops Zitt"

poor guy... ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)

Cue Bluto ... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u48PvBTl3u8)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 17, 2011, 11:25:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2011, 10:30:34 PM
Two things that scare me right now about Carthage as a team:

1. 14 errors in 5 games... averaging nearly 3 errors a game is gonna catch up with them if they they don't bring their A-game against heidelberg tomorrow.

2. I know we are only 5 games in, but when was the last time you saw a Carthage team hitting .231 as a team?

it appears they have the pitching with 1.52 ERA right now.

#1 -- 17 errors through 8 games.  Average is going in the right direction (down)

#2 -- 278 as a team through 8 games.  Again, average is going in the right direction (UP)

#3 -- 2.54 through 8.  I won't quibble about this one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 18, 2011, 12:09:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 16, 2011, 02:18:27 PM
Does anyone know if Joey Aiello is hurt for Carthage? He was pulled early yesterday and is not in the line-up today vs. Utica.


He's back in the line-up today vs. Otterbein.  You know Augie better than most?  Sending a message early maybe??
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2011, 12:28:28 PM
It appears to be working as Carthage already has 4 in the first with only two hits. 4 unearned runs after an Otterbein error.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2011, 02:24:04 PM
Carthage hangs on for a 5-4 win today over Otterbein in game #1. got dicey at the end as an errors extended the 9th inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2011, 03:09:44 PM
Carthage knocks off Oshkosh today 6-1. Mario Perez earned the win for Carthage who has won five straight to finish 8-3 on its spring trip. Perez's out is a huge boost for the Redmen who have already had solid pitching so far.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2011, 05:44:12 PM
North Park follows up an 8-2 win over Plattsburgh State on Thursday with a 26-3 pasting of Westminster (MO) yesterday.

No word yet on how NPU did against St. Lawrence this morning in the Vikings' last appearance of the Gene Cusic Classic down in Ft. Myers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 19, 2011, 10:44:37 PM
North Park topped St. Lawrence, 4-1.  Steve Kuligowski struck out 17 batters in a complete-game effort.  the Vikings finished their spring break trip 5-1 and are 6-3 overall.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2011, 09:02:53 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2011, 10:44:37 PM
Steve Kuligowski struck out 17 batters in a complete-game effort. 


That's a VERY impressive number right there!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2011, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2011, 10:44:37 PM
North Park topped St. Lawrence, 4-1.  Steve Kuligowski struck out 17 batters in a complete-game effort.  the Vikings finished their spring break trip 5-1 and are 6-3 overall.

I've checked out the North Park record book (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/records.html) on your NPU baseball website, but I can't figure out whether or not this is a single-game school record for strikeouts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 20, 2011, 05:05:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2011, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2011, 10:44:37 PM
North Park topped St. Lawrence, 4-1.  Steve Kuligowski struck out 17 batters in a complete-game effort.  the Vikings finished their spring break trip 5-1 and are 6-3 overall.

I've checked out the North Park record book (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/records.html) on your NPU baseball website, but I can't figure out whether or not this is a single-game school record for strikeouts.
I don't have single-game records on my website.  The record keeping has not been complete enough to warrant that category, though I wish I could add it.  That said, assistant coach (and former North Central ace) Mike Kloss noted that when he struck out 17 batters in a game last year, he was told it tied a CCIW record.  I think we'll have to ask the folks at the CCIW office for confirmation. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 20, 2011, 05:41:15 PM
IWU avenged yesterday's loss at WashU with a 7-4 win this afternoon.  They are now 6-4 on the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 21, 2011, 01:16:27 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on December 18, 2010, 11:01:40 PM
IWU picked up a great transfer in AJ Nathan from Lawrence. He was a teammate of Kevin Sullivan (HP '08)and Anthony Kopp (HP '09) at Highland Park HS. AJ set the season hit record at HP (66 hits in 33 games) and the BA season record, with .546 during his senior year at HP ('09). His primary position is catcher (1.80 pop time) but can be used as a closer, or play the infield. A great pickup of a great athlete for IWU.
My son played with them during HS, but attends college out East.

Quote from: BigPoppa on December 23, 2010, 01:28:26 AM
We'll see the true numbers once the season begins.

So far AJ Nathan has thrown out 4 of 21 (19%)...not exactly Pudge or Johnny Bench-like numbers.  Argue all you want about stealing bases off the pitcher, it goes down in the stat book against the catcher.  Either someone's number was timed wrong, or someone is allowing runner's to get jumps that are entirely too big for anyone's 1.80 pop time to overcome.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 21, 2011, 01:59:57 PM
The inability to catch the ball has been the achilles heel for IWU so far this year.  They are averaging 2 errors a game.  In the 4 losses, they have averaged 2.5 making 4,2,1,and 3, respectively.

It is never a good thing when one of your starting infielders had as many errors as assists going into yesterdays game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 22, 2011, 06:54:04 PM
Congratulations to North Park's Steve Kuligowski on his selection as CCIW Pitcher of the Week!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2011, 07:55:39 PM
Back from Florida, and extremely optimistic about our, Redmens chances. The Errors are coming down to a manageable level, Kyle Pusateri looks strong at shortstop. The Hitting all the way around as a team looks better . Will Hodges and Joey Aiello didn't have to carry it. A real nice addition in 1st Base / DH John Hassar ( Trans UW Parkside ), And expect LF Billy Herrin to be in the top 3 Outfielders in this conference. This Kids Great !!! Mike Petti looks like he's gonna make some noise in RF also. Matt Soderland is looking strong behind the plate and with the bat also. The Pitching runs much deeper than it did last year. Perez and Rohe will Anchor, With Seniors Dan Dahm and Nic Jensen looking good, Sophmore Mitch Lochen looks like a machine. Freshmen Tyler Johansen, Sam Wilhelms and Luke Watson, don't throw at all like freshmen. This is my 1st post this year so I'll take it easy on the Bold predictions. I will say this is a similar feeling to what I had in 2009.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on March 22, 2011, 07:58:40 PM
Congrats to North Park on the Kuligowski pick up. I watched him play in HS for Grayslake Central. The 17 K's dosen't surprise me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 24, 2011, 02:20:09 PM
North Park won its home opener against Concordia (WI) yesterday, 3-2. Pete Sparacino upped his record to 3-0 on the year for the Vikings. He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and held down the Falcons for six innings. The only run he allowed was a classic Holmgren AC right-field first-row cheapie, and he only gave up three hits. Merrick McGrady picked up his second save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth.

NPU, which improved to 7-3 on the season, plays a home doubleheader today against Lakeland (5-3).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2011, 03:28:55 PM
Carthage vs Elmhurst is setting up to be a nice opening weekend match-up in the CCIW. Elmhurst moved to 8-2 yesterday while Carthage sits at 8-3.

April 1

*Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Augustana (Ill.) at the Benedictine Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill., 3 p.m.


April 2

*Elmhurst at Carthage (DH), Noon

*Millikin at Illinois Wesleyan (DH), 1 p.m.

*North Park at North Central (Ill., DH), 1 p.m.

*Wheaton (Ill.) vs Augustana (Ill., DH) at Brunner Field in Moline, Ill., 1 p.m.

April 3

*Carthage vs. Elmhurst at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst Ill., Noon

*Illinois Wesleyan vs Millikin at Sunnyside Park in Decatur, Ill., 1 p.m.

*North Central (Ill.) at North Park, 1 p.m.


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2011, 03:37:11 PM
North Park looked impressive in a doubleheader sweep of Lakeland yesterday. The Park crushed the Muskies 19-1 in an opener that was abbreviated at seven innings due to the slaughter rule, and then took the nightcap by a 12-6 score. NPU pounded out 39 hits on the day, and 28 of the 31 runs that the Vikings pushed across the plate were earned against a Lakeland staff that had sported a 2.03 team ERA in the team's eight previous games.

North Park (9-3) has a doubleheader coming up on Saturday against Dominican (3-9).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 26, 2011, 07:49:19 PM
Congratulations are in order for North Park Coach Luke Johnson, who recorded his 100th career victory, as the Vikings swept Dominican on Saturday by the scores of 9-0 and 5-2.  In game one, Merrick McGrady allowed two singles over seven innings while striking out ten, and Angel Carrasco hit a grand slam.  In game two, Travis Boyer allowed three hits for the win and Alex Silverthorne worked three scoreless innings for the save.  Andy Athans finished the afternoon 7-for-8 with six doubles, three in each game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 27, 2011, 09:05:10 AM
Wheaton played #11 Chapman 3 times on Saturday losing all 3.  Here's the write up by Wheaton: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball and by Chapman: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/releases/0326
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2011, 03:06:05 PM
Three games in one day is a lot of baseball. But it's easier to tolerate 27 innings of baseball in the sunny climes of Orange, CA than it would be in northern Illinois during an early-spring cold spell. After operating the scoreboard for six hours apiece during Thursday's and Saturday's Vikings doubleheaders at Holmgren Athletic Complex I had to check my fingers and toes for frostbite.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on March 27, 2011, 10:30:04 PM
Congratulations to Luke.  He's done an amazing job with that team both on and off the field. 

On a completely separate note, does anyone connected to NP know what's up with Ryan Javech?  Is he hurt?  I see that he's only played in 4 games this year.  He was a big piece of last year's team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2011, 10:43:59 PM
IWU was scheduled to have a DH against Webster today, but SL got 5 inches of snow yesterday!  The IWU schedule says 'cancelled', rather than postponed; with conference play looming, I don't know if there will be any attempt to make up the games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2011, 11:15:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2011, 10:43:59 PM
IWU was scheduled to have a DH against Webster today, but SL got 5 inches of snow yesterday!  The IWU schedule says 'cancelled', rather than postponed; with conference play looming, I don't know if there will be any attempt to make up the games.

Carthage lost four games to weather this weekend. I think we will see a lot of mid-week games late in the season as teams try to boost their resumes and SoS.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2011, 08:53:31 PM
Pete Sparacino upped his record to 4-0 today as North Park downed Benedictine, 5-1, in Lisle. The Vikings (12-3) will put their nine-game winning streak on the line tomorrow afternoon as they host Rockford (3-6).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2011, 08:37:29 PM
North Park ran the winning streak to ten this afternoon as the Vikings dispatched Rockford, 9-2, at Holmgren AC. NPU (13-3) travels to Naperville on Saturday for a doubleheader against defending champion North Central (6-4) that will open the CCIW season for both teams.

Congrats to Andy Athans and Merrick McGrady of North Park for being named CCIW Players of the Week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2011, 08:57:49 PM
IWU was snowed out of a DH at Webster this past weekend.  The IWU website lists it as 'canceled' (not 'postponed').  They are scheduled to host a DH against Webster April 28.  With conference slates beginning, I'm guessing that 'canceled' IS correct, but does anyone know if any attempt will be made to reschedule it?  (If either team is 'on the bubble', these in-region games could make a difference.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 31, 2011, 10:31:04 AM
Wheaton beat Chicago yesterday.  Here's the write ups:
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2011/3/30/BB_chicago.aspx?path=baseball
http://athletics.uchicago.edu/news-2010-11/bb-wheaton-033011.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on March 31, 2011, 10:43:22 PM
IWU picked up two in-region wins today over Beloit...

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2011/3/31/BB_0331115304.aspx?path=baseball


In game 2, freshman Bobby Czarnowski (Naperville Central H.S.) went 5-5 with his first collegiate HR. 

The Titans are 5-1 in-region heading into CCIW play Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2011, 10:46:00 AM
OPENING DAY IN THE CCIW! It's like Christmas for baseball fans!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2011, 02:09:47 PM
Anybody have CCIW in-game updates?

Carthage is up 3-0 7-2 on Elmhurst in the 7th in game #1 right now.

I'd love to hear some other scores if anyone is either there or hearing reports.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 02, 2011, 03:25:32 PM
NCC was up 11-4 but in the top of the 7th gave up 8 runs to make it a 12-11 NP lead.  This games far from over.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2011, 03:43:13 PM
Carthage beats Elmhurst 10-2 in game #1. Looks like the bullpen fell on some hard times for the Bluejays as HBPs and BBs did them in by loading the bases before Carthage hitters unloaded in the later innings to blow it open.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 02, 2011, 03:47:43 PM
Heres a link to the live stats of the NCC NP game

http://sidearmstats.com/ncc/baseball/index.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 02, 2011, 04:10:30 PM
NCC wins game #1  14 12 by a walk off home run by Matt Burke.  Game #2 to follow
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 02, 2011, 06:06:15 PM
Augie wins game one against Wheaton 6-5 in 12 innings. Trey Martin pitches 11 innings and gets the no decision. Great outing for Trey!! But, does this make sense to anyone. Why pitch a kid 11 innings in the first week of conference?  I know Wheaton is struggling but is this one game worth risking the kids arm?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 02, 2011, 07:19:16 PM
And....Wheaton loses 16-1 in the second game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2011, 08:48:42 PM
North Park bounces back with a 9-3 win in the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2011, 08:51:47 PM
According to IWU's website, the Titans swept Millikin 10-0 and 11-1.  No further details at this time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2011, 08:55:05 PM
Carthage sweeps Elmhurst 10-2 and 16-11. The Redmen's defensive trouble continued today with six errors in the double-header. Hopefull it is just from being back inside for two weeks and it will sort itself out in the coming days.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2011, 04:28:00 PM
Carthage pounded elmhurst pitching for a 14-4 win today sweeping the three game series.

Most importantly, no errors for the redmen. Will Hodges blasted a pair of HRs today, giving him three for the weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 03, 2011, 05:21:15 PM
According to the live stats, Carthage hit 4 dingers on the day.  John Hasser hit 3 and Billy Herrin hit 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2011, 05:54:43 PM
IWU won in Decatur, 4-2, completing a 3-game sweep by a cumulative 25-3 margin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 03, 2011, 08:51:43 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 03, 2011, 05:21:15 PM
According to the live stats, Carthage hit 4 dingers on the day.  John Hasser hit 3 and Billy Herrin hit 1.


Wow...I've never seen a live stats feed that was soooooo different than what actually happened in the game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 05, 2011, 08:34:09 AM
A big doubleheader today in Rock Island, with Augie hosting IWU.

Should be an interesting contest with the teams top 3 pitchers most likely unavailable to throw. I can only assume McCullough and Sullivan will throw for the Titans. Even though it is very early in the year, these 16 innings could prove crucial to bringing home the CCIW crown.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 05, 2011, 09:53:31 AM
Disappointing series for North Park against North Central to start out the year, but the bigger question is....

does anyone have any updates on Sparacino's health (and I'm guessing that no one has any information on Ryan Javech, who I asked about a week and a half ago)?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 06:45:14 PM
First game from the home of the "River" Vikings is now complete: in 10 innings, IWU downs Augie 18-13.

No pitcher performances I'd probably like to highlight (though most damage for both teams was done in the first few innings - plus the 10th, of course - there may have been relief performances worthy of notice, but I didn't notice them!).  But how about this stat line:

Kevin Callahan (IWU, 1st base): 5 3 5 6 (with a HR, a double, and two walks). :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 08:05:09 PM
There WAS a relief appearance worthy of note: IWU's Pay Hayn went 3.1 scoreless innings to allow the Titans to catch up and win (he got the win).

Augie leads the nightcap after 3.  I won't state the score because:

a) I don't rmember if it was 5-1 or 5-2, and

b) after that slugfest in the first game, does any score after 3 really matter?! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 10:25:36 PM
IWU came back from a 5-2 deficit to lead 6-5, but Augie prevails 9-6.  I'd say the hero is Augie pitcher Brian Knoecke, who relieved for 3.2 scoreless innings.

The Titans and the "River" Vikings are now each 4-1 in conference play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2011, 10:35:16 PM
NPU bounced back from those two heartbreaking last-inning losses to North Central this past weekend by sweeping a doubleheader against Elmhurst today, 6-5 and 9-7.

The Park (16-5, 3-2) will head to Decatur next for a Saturday afternoon twinbill with Millikin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 10:38:30 PM
BTW, Kevin Callahan had a 'human' second game.  His line for the DH: 10 4 7 8. :o ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2011, 10:38:59 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 05, 2011, 08:34:09 AM
A big doubleheader today in Rock Island, with Augie hosting IWU.

Should be an interesting contest with the teams top 3 pitchers most likely unavailable to throw

Such is the case every year, from what I'm told. It's an annual tradition for Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan to play their series during the week, precluding their top starters from facing each other.

In the CCIW's other games today, Carthage beat Wheaton, 9-5, and North Central swept Millikin, 17-4 and 10-7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2011, 11:02:47 PM
Two things:

1. Carthage's Will Hodges was named the CCIW player of the week. Hodges went eight-for-12 at the plate, as the Red Men swept a three-game series from Elmhurst College on April 2-3. Hodges had four runs scored, a double, three home runs, seven RBI and a 1.500 slugging percentage.

2. Does anyone know why Carthage and Wheaton played a single game today while the rest of the CCIW played double-headers?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2011, 11:21:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2011, 11:02:47 PM
2. Does anyone know why Carthage and Wheaton played a single game today while the rest of the CCIW played double-headers?

I'm not sure why, but according to the sked Carthage and Wheaton will finish their season series with a doubleheader a week from tomorrow in Kenosha, the same day that NPU and Elmhurst finish their season series with a single game in Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dansand on April 06, 2011, 08:20:44 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 10:25:36 PM
IWU came back from a 5-2 deficit to lead 6-5, but Augie prevails 9-6.  I'd say the hero is Augie pitcher Brian Knoecke, who relieved for 3.2 scoreless innings.

The Titans and the "River" Vikings are now each 4-1 in conference play.

Konecke was great, but you might wanna include Mike Lamb as a hero for Augie in the second game.

http://www.augustana.edu/x34094.xml (http://www.augustana.edu/x34094.xml)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 06, 2011, 08:39:13 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2011, 10:38:59 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 05, 2011, 08:34:09 AM
A big doubleheader today in Rock Island, with Augie hosting IWU.

Should be an interesting contest with the teams top 3 pitchers most likely unavailable to throw

Such is the case every year, from what I'm told. It's an annual tradition for Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan to play their series during the week, precluding their top starters from facing each other.

In the CCIW's other games today, Carthage beat Wheaton, 9-5, and North Central swept Millikin, 17-4 and 10-7.

The series between the two has really only been played on a weekend, with the last two years as the exception.  There were even a couple of Friday night games that had electric atmostphere at Jack Horenberger Field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2011, 10:34:27 AM
Quote from: dansand on April 06, 2011, 08:20:44 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2011, 10:25:36 PM
IWU came back from a 5-2 deficit to lead 6-5, but Augie prevails 9-6.  I'd say the hero is Augie pitcher Brian Knoecke, who relieved for 3.2 scoreless innings.

The Titans and the "River" Vikings are now each 4-1 in conference play.

Konecke was great, but you might wanna include Mike Lamb as a hero for Augie in the second game.

http://www.augustana.edu/x34094.xml (http://www.augustana.edu/x34094.xml)

You're right; but all I had when I posted was livestats, and great catches don't show up there!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 08, 2011, 03:09:49 PM
Was told by someone that Kevin Sullivan, IWU's RF/DH, injured his shoulder diving back into a base in Tuesday's game against Augustana.  He will be sidelined for two weeks and re-evaluated at that point.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2011, 11:09:50 PM
The CCIW already appears to be a five team race for the four playoff spots. Which of the bottom three teams is going to cost one of the top five teams a playoff spot?

Carthage 4-0
IWU 5-1
NCC 4-1
Augustana 4-1
North Park 3-2

---------------------------HUGE GAP-----------------------

Wheaton 0-5
Millikin 0-5
Elmhurst 0-5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 09, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Poppa whats your prediction this weekend with NCC and Carthage.  Want to hear your thoughts on the matchup.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2011, 02:29:05 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 09, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Poppa whats your prediction this weekend with NCC and Carthage.  Want to hear your thoughts on the matchup.

I see Carthage taking 2 of 3 at minimum or sweeping in best case scenario. It is a good chance to find out if NCC is for real right now. Their Rose-Hulman series makes me think they are more pretender than contender, but today will help make that clearer.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 09, 2011, 04:03:22 PM
iwu beats wheaton 3-2 in first game
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 09, 2011, 04:20:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2011, 02:29:05 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 09, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Poppa whats your prediction this weekend with NCC and Carthage.  Want to hear your thoughts on the matchup.

I see Carthage taking 2 of 3 at minimum or sweeping in best case scenario. It is a good chance to find out if NCC is for real right now. Their Rose-Hulman series makes me think they are more pretender than contender, but today will help make that clearer.

I believe it's 4 games this weekend with a pair of games each day.  Carthage wins the first of the series 5-4 with a walk-off in the 9th.  http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2011, 05:52:42 PM
NPU took the first game of today's rain-delayed doubleheader in Decatur, beating Millikin, 9-0. Steve Kuligowski (5-1, 2.72) went the distance for North Park, scattering three hits without allowing a walk. He also struck out nine and pitched to only one batter above the minimum. No Big Blue player reached second base in the game.

The second game of the doubleheader will start shortly.

Quote from: mwunder on April 09, 2011, 04:20:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2011, 02:29:05 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 09, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Poppa whats your prediction this weekend with NCC and Carthage.  Want to hear your thoughts on the matchup.

I see Carthage taking 2 of 3 at minimum or sweeping in best case scenario. It is a good chance to find out if NCC is for real right now. Their Rose-Hulman series makes me think they are more pretender than contender, but today will help make that clearer.

I believe it's 4 games this weekend with a pair of games each day.  Carthage wins the first of the series 5-4 with a walk-off in the 9th.  http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx)

No, it's only a three-game series -- two today, one tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2011, 06:44:50 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 08, 2011, 11:09:50 PM
The CCIW already appears to be a five team race for the four playoff spots. Which of the bottom three teams is going to cost one of the top five teams a playoff spot?

Carthage 4-0
IWU 5-1
NCC 4-1
Augustana 4-1
North Park 3-2

---------------------------HUGE GAP-----------------------

Wheaton 0-5
Millikin 0-5
Elmhurst 0-5

Dunno about it costing anyone a playoff spot, but one of the three winless teams at the bottom just broke through. Wheaton topped Illinois Wesleyan in the nightcap of today's doubleheader, 7-5, to salvage a game in the three-game series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2011, 07:04:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 09, 2011, 04:20:29 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2011, 02:29:05 PM
Quote from: jigsaw54 on April 09, 2011, 09:39:41 AM
Poppa whats your prediction this weekend with NCC and Carthage.  Want to hear your thoughts on the matchup.

I see Carthage taking 2 of 3 at minimum or sweeping in best case scenario. It is a good chance to find out if NCC is for real right now. Their Rose-Hulman series makes me think they are more pretender than contender, but today will help make that clearer.

I believe it's 4 games this weekend with a pair of games each day.  Carthage wins the first of the series 5-4 with a walk-off in the 9th.  http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2011/4/9/Baseball_0409113100.aspx)

North Central came back to win the nightcap, 6-3.

Also, Augie held off Elmhurst in the first game of their doubleheader today in Rock Island, 3-2.

Update: Augie won the second game as well, 8-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 09, 2011, 07:23:04 PM
Greg, you're probably right, but I was going by what the Carthage website still says...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2011, 07:26:15 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 09, 2011, 07:23:04 PM
Greg, you're probably right, but I was going by what the Carthage website still says...

CCIW teams play three-game series against each other. The CCIW website indicates correctly that tomorrow's NCC vs. CC contest is a single game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2011, 08:31:48 PM
North Park swept the doubleheader by cruising over Millikin, 9-1. Nick Soldano (4-0, 1.80) went the distance, giving up five hits and striking out nine without walking anybody. The Big Blue certainly didn't help its cause by committing seven errors that helped lead to five unearned runs.

The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow afternoon with a noon game in Decatur.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2011, 04:25:09 PM
NCC just scored three in the bottom of the 9th to tie it at 7-7. Unearned run as Carthage comitted an error to extend the inning.

Three great games on the weekened between these two teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2011, 04:51:37 PM
I get frustrated when Carthage misplays the ball, but who am I to talk?! I hold the NCAA record for most errors in a world series game (4) and in a single series (8). Just had one of those weeks and I have been trying to live it down ever since that moment in '94.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 10, 2011, 05:17:35 PM
Carthage wins 8 -7 in 10 innings. A defensive struggle with only 2 combined earned runs !!lol
Get used to it BP, I have.  :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 10, 2011, 05:20:56 PM
You gotta give these guys credit. They seem to be pretty good at overcoming mistakes and coming out with the win. Big Lead Off Homer by Kyle Pusateri in the top of the 10th !!!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 10, 2011, 10:40:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 10, 2011, 04:51:37 PM
I get frustrated when Carthage misplays the ball, but who am I to talk?! I hold the NCAA record for most errors in a world series game (4) and in a single series (8). Just had one of those weeks and I have been trying to live it down ever since that moment in '94.


It's a good thing you could hit!! 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 11, 2011, 01:29:24 PM
I see my Cousin is leading the Augie Vikes with 5 wins.  Wow,  keep up the good work Michael J.   In years past I would have said why are you bruising my Alma Mater, but glad to see you ripping them up now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2011, 03:16:25 PM
NPU completed the sweep in Decatur yesterday by walloping Millikin, 18-2, in a game shortened by the seven-inning slaughter rule. Pete Sparacino picked up his fifth victory without a defeat in the win for the Vikings.

Elmhurst, which has been consistently coming close only to fall short in CCIW play, finally broke through with a 16-15 win over Augustana yesterday to prevent Augie from getting the sweep.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 13, 2011, 09:21:51 AM
In what seems to have become an annual tradition, IWU loses to a mediocre Benedictine team during a midweek meeting.  The Titans ran out 7 different pitchers in this game as Coach Martel tries to see what unproven guys can possibly step up and pitch in bigger conference games.

Tonight is a much more importantant game, as the Titans host Augie for the 3rd and final meeting of the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2011, 09:33:26 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 13, 2011, 09:21:51 AM
In what seems to have become an annual tradition, IWU loses to a mediocre Benedictine team during a midweek meeting.  The Titans ran out 7 different pitchers in this game as Coach Martel tries to see what unproven guys can possibly step up and pitch in bigger conference games.

Tonight is a much more importantant game, as the Titans host Augie for the 3rd and final meeting of the year.

Still, that is a BAD in-region loss for the Green-Weenies.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2011, 02:44:38 PM
Carthage gives up three first inning walks and one hit (a grand slam) to go down 4-0 to Wheaton in the first and has stromed back to take a 15-4 lead after 5.

Wheaton has committed 5 errors so far. It appear the wind is howling oout today as Carthage is piling up the HRs today with four HRs through five innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2011, 07:30:49 PM
NPU completed the series sweep with a 9-4 victory over Elmhurst out in the western suburbs today. Mike Coduto won his first career game as a Viking, throwing 4 2/3rds innings of scoreless relief, while Mike Domenick drove in four runs to lead the North Park offense.

In other CCIW games, North Central topped Millikin, 8-2, and Carthage swept Wheaton, 20-10 and 10-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 13, 2011, 09:57:12 PM
Jason Pankau pitched like the All American he is tonight.  He went the distance scattering 7 hits over his 9 innings while striking out 10 and walking none. 

IWU gets a big 2-1 win over Augustana at home. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 13, 2011, 10:03:11 PM
I have followed the CCIW for 8 years now, and this season has by far the most parity since I have been following the league. Through 9 games there are 5 teams that have a legitimate chance to take home the crown.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2011, 12:22:45 AM
I'm just too confused to know what to root for.  In 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008, IWU won the conference title, and collectively went 2-8 in the regionals (in 2007 they went 20-1(!!) in conference, then 0-2 in regionals).  Last year, they barely snuck into the conference tourney, then won the CWS!  Aside from making the conference tourney (without which there is NO hope), does the regular season mean anything at all?  Someone throw me a lifeline here - should I be rooting for the Titans to win as much as possible, or to go 14-17 (worked pretty well last year :D)?

[I will of course root for the Titans to win every single game, but it really is mystifying.  In case anyone couldn't tell, I am STILL giddy over that out-of-the-blue title on June 1, 2010! ;D  I dare say we were universally considered the 7th or 8th place team of the 8 present in Grand Chute.]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on April 14, 2011, 01:13:24 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 21, 2011, 01:16:27 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on December 18, 2010, 11:01:40 PM
IWU picked up a great transfer in AJ Nathan from Lawrence. He was a teammate of Kevin Sullivan (HP '08)and Anthony Kopp (HP '09) at Highland Park HS. AJ set the season hit record at HP (66 hits in 33 games) and the BA season record, with .546 during his senior year at HP ('09). His primary position is catcher (1.80 pop time) but can be used as a closer, or play the infield. A great pickup of a great athlete for IWU.
My son played with them during HS, but attends college out East.

Quote from: BigPoppa on December 23, 2010, 01:28:26 AM
We'll see the true numbers once the season begins.

So far AJ Nathan has thrown out 4 of 21 (19%)...not exactly Pudge or Johnny Bench-like numbers.  Argue all you want about stealing bases off the pitcher, it goes down in the stat book against the catcher.  Either someone's number was timed wrong, or someone is allowing runner's to get jumps that are entirely too big for anyone's 1.80 pop time to overcome.

mwunder,
I didn't see your update for AJ Nathan, catcher at IWU. AJ has now thrown out 30.5% of the runners. If you look at his offsive stats, he is in the top 5 of almost every category, certainly all the good ones. 5th in BA, 2nd in RBI's, 3rd in OB%, T3 in hits, etc.

As I stated, he makes a great team even greater.

Patience, sir, he's just getting warmed up. Buy a ticket to get on board his train!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2011, 01:19:19 PM
The majority of bases at the college level are stolen off the pitcher, not the catcher. Could it be that IWU's pitchers are quick to the plate?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 14, 2011, 01:42:15 PM
Looks like Wheaton's run has officially come to an end. Three consecutive 20+ win years to be followed by a year where they will be lucky to win 15. Don't see it getting any better next year. What has caused this downfall?  It is has to be more than just Kolb moving on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 14, 2011, 01:43:38 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on April 14, 2011, 01:13:24 PM
mwunder,
I didn't see your update for AJ Nathan, catcher at IWU. AJ has now thrown out 30.5% of the runners. If you look at his offsive stats, he is in the top 5 of almost every category, certainly all the good ones. 5th in BA, 2nd in RBI's, 3rd in OB%, T3 in hits, etc.

As I stated, he makes a great team even greater.

Patience, sir, he's just getting warmed up. Buy a ticket to get on board his train!

Guilty as charged of not putting up an update on the young catcher's % of runner's thrown out.  I also stated that something was amiss, whether it be the mechanics of the catcher or the fact that IWU pitchers weren't holding runners.  As is the case in most team sports, it looks as those there was an adjustment made (probably in both areas) and the catcher's numbers look better because of that.  It's good to see his number going up.

I don't remember saying anything negative regarding his offensive skill set and don't see where those numbers are relevant to what I mentioned in your previous quote.  I'm sure he'll be one of the better players in the CCIW, but as a fan of the only CCIW school to never win a DIII title, I won't be getting on any greenie weenie's train!!   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2011, 02:16:28 PM
Quote from: norfrank on April 14, 2011, 01:42:15 PM
Looks like Wheaton's run has officially come to an end. Three consecutive 20+ win years to be followed by a year where they will be lucky to win 15. Don't see it getting any better next year. What has caused this downfall?  It is has to be more than just Kolb moving on.

"It's not the X's and O's... it's the Jimmys and Joes." My guess is recruiting...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2011, 06:01:21 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 14, 2011, 02:16:28 PM
"It's not the X's and O's... it's the Jimmys and Joes." My guess is recruiting...

That's a great line, BP. Is that an Augie Schmidt bon mot? I want to know to whom I should attribute it, since I plan to quote it whenever the need arises.

Quote from: mwunder on April 14, 2011, 01:43:38 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on April 14, 2011, 01:13:24 PM
mwunder,
I didn't see your update for AJ Nathan, catcher at IWU. AJ has now thrown out 30.5% of the runners. If you look at his offsive stats, he is in the top 5 of almost every category, certainly all the good ones. 5th in BA, 2nd in RBI's, 3rd in OB%, T3 in hits, etc.

As I stated, he makes a great team even greater.

Patience, sir, he's just getting warmed up. Buy a ticket to get on board his train!

Guilty as charged of not putting up an update on the young catcher's % of runner's thrown out.  I also stated that something was amiss, whether it be the mechanics of the catcher or the fact that IWU pitchers weren't holding runners.  As is the case in most team sports, it looks as those there was an adjustment made (probably in both areas) and the catcher's numbers look better because of that.  It's good to see his number going up.

I don't remember saying anything negative regarding his offensive skill set and don't see where those numbers are relevant to what I mentioned in your previous quote.  I'm sure he'll be one of the better players in the CCIW, but as a fan of the only CCIW school to never win a DIII title, I won't be getting on any greenie weenie's train!!   ;D

Is it my imagination, or is the CCIW loaded with top-notch catchers this year? Zach Deutscher of NPU and Michael Corrigan of NCC are two of the league's best hitters, and Nathan of IWU also has to contend with two other solid backstops, T.J. O'Donnell of Augie and Matt Soderlund of Carthage, for a spot on the All-CCIW team. (Corrigan was first team All-CCIW last season, Deutscher was second team).

Quote from: norfrank on April 14, 2011, 01:42:15 PM
Looks like Wheaton's run has officially come to an end. Three consecutive 20+ win years to be followed by a year where they will be lucky to win 15. Don't see it getting any better next year. What has caused this downfall?  It is has to be more than just Kolb moving on.

Looks to me like Wheaton doesn't have the pitching staff of a competitive CCIW team this year. An overall team ERA of 5.78 and a CCIW team ERA of 8.44 isn't going to cut the mustard.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2011, 08:34:54 PM
Greg, I've heard the 'Jimmys and Joes' line before - not sure but I seem to recall it was a prominent d1 basketball coach who coined it (or at least who I first heard it from) - sorry I can't be more helpful.

(HALF-recalled memories are even more frustrating than not-at-all-recalled 'memories'!  Especially since I'm probably wrong. :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2011, 08:47:36 PM
Did a google search on "It's not the Xs and Os, it's the Jimmys and Joes".  One source attributed it to Jimmy Johnson, but it appears to be even older than that.  How far back it goes, who knows, but it has been around for quite a few years.

Every 'source' I checked sounded like it had already been around for a while.

Appears to be one of those 'Yogi-isms' that even Yogi admits he didn't invent! ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2011, 09:07:35 PM
I always assumed it came from Jimmy Johnson, but who knows.

Augie's quote was "You can't polish a turd. All the extra work and you still have a piece of $H!t when you are finished."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: upandin on April 15, 2011, 09:25:55 AM
I don't think "Polishing terds" is a Augie original either.  Coaches across generations have been polishing terds.  Some more than others. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Hound Dog on April 15, 2011, 01:47:36 PM
BigPoppa,

Please refrain from using profanity in the chat room.  It violates policy and your user terms and agreement.


Thank you,

Mr. Dog
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: upandin on April 15, 2011, 03:20:32 PM
Ha ha ha. That was funny
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 15, 2011, 07:27:28 PM
There's a nice little piece in the Chicago Tribune, college section on Mike Petti, that can be pulled up from the Carthage website. He was due to show what he's capable of. Congrats Mike and keep it up !!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 16, 2011, 03:24:42 PM
Well, what looked to be a pitchers duel for the first 4 1/2 innings has really opened up at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.  North Park jumped out to a 6-1 lead with 6 in the bottom of the 5th, but IWU has come back and taken an 8-6 lead on a 3-run HR in the top of the 7th and knocked Kuligowski out of the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 16, 2011, 03:34:37 PM
Make that 12-6.  Ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 16, 2011, 03:52:05 PM
After 11 runs by the Titans in the 7th, they now lead 16-6 going into the 8th inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 16, 2011, 03:52:40 PM
Sophomore 1B Kevin Callahan had 2 3-run HR's in that 11-run 7th inning  (gotta give a fellow Brother Rice Crusader a little love!).

Freshman Bobby Czarnowkski (Naperville Central H.S.) had a HR in that inning as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 16, 2011, 04:05:12 PM
No 8th inning in that game.  Those 11 runs put the ten run rule in effect.  What a strange game to follow on live stats.  Hope the boys can come back in the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2011, 04:24:09 PM
No nightcap either -- they'll play two tomorrow, starting at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2011, 04:30:38 PM
The Titans DO love those big innings! ;D  On June first, they had 4 in the 4th then NINE in the 5th to all-but-end the title game. :)  (Apparently there is no ten-run rule in the CWS, so I had to wait 4 more innings to officially celebrate!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2011, 03:56:39 PM
In the first of two, IWU downs NPU, 13-7.

For the Titans, Kevin Callahan continued his big hitting with two solo HRs (and was walked twice).  The Vikings perhaps should have saved those walks instead for Zach Scott, whose line was 5 4 4 6, with THREE HRs!  Nick Mehn had a rough outing, yielding 11 hits and 7 runs in 5 innings.  Jason Pankau relieved him and yielded NO hits or runs in 4 innings.

For the Vikings, Zach Deutscher matched Callahan's line with a 3 2 2 2 day, including 2 HRs.  Angel Carrasco and Brad Medina also homered.  Nick Saldano was treated quite rudely by the guests, yielding 10 hits and 10 runs in 5.1 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2011, 04:33:48 PM
Augie knocks off Carthage in game #1 3-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 17, 2011, 06:38:08 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2011, 03:56:39 PM
In the first of two, IWU downs NPU, 13-7.

For the Titans, Kevin Callahan continued his big hitting with two solo HRs (and was walked twice).  The Vikings perhaps should have saved those walks instead for Zach Scott, whose line was 5 4 4 6, with THREE HRs!  Nick Mehn had a rough outing, yielding 11 hits and 7 runs in 5 innings.  Jason Pankau relieved him and yielded NO hits or runs in 4 innings.

For the Vikings, Zach Deutscher matched Callahan's line with a 3 2 2 2 day, including 2 HRs.  Angel Carrasco and Brad Medina also homered.  Nick Saldano was treated quite rudely by the guests, yielding 10 hits and 10 runs in 5.1 innings.

The wind was blowing out to right field at Holmgren Field today about 15-20 mph.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2011, 07:01:58 PM
The wind must have died in time for the second game - NPU had 1 HR, IWU had none! ;)

The Vikings avoided the sweep with a 12-9 win in the nightcap.

Note to BigPoppa: Callahan is having a Ricky Angel-type season.  He was 2 for 3 in the second game, with two more walks.  I believe that puts his BA at .489, his OBA just over .600, and his slugging % over .900! :o  Be afraid; be very afraid! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2011, 07:41:30 PM
Augie sweeps Carthage today... ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on April 17, 2011, 09:27:37 PM
Here are the CCIW's Top 5 as of April 17

Illinois Wesleyan  9-3   17-8
Augustana      8-3   19-5
Carthage              8-3   16-6
North Central      8-3   14-7
North Park      8-4   21-7

It's going to be a great finish for the tourney. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2011, 03:25:34 PM
Carthage is leading 11-0 in the 7th over Augie, looking to end this game early.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2011, 04:05:36 PM
Of the top 5 (IWU, Augie, Carthage, NCC, and NPU), each has so far played two of the others with two still to go.  While one or more may completely fall out of the picture (and Wheaton could conceivably join the chase), here is a VERY early look at the H-to-H tie breaks:

IWU over both Augie and NPU
Carthage over NCC (but under Augie)
Augie over Carthage (but under IWU)
NCC over NPU (but under Carthage)
NPU under both IWU and NCC

With so many games still remaining, I'm not even gonna bother with the 3 or more way tie breaks! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 18, 2011, 06:44:50 PM
There is no way in the world that Wheaton joins the playoff race.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2011, 09:18:03 PM
Quote from: norfrank on April 18, 2011, 06:44:50 PM
There is no way in the world that Wheaton joins the playoff race.

Probably, you are correct.

But their last three series are Elmhurst (sweep?) and NCC and NPU (who seem the most vulnerable of the top five to me).  "Sneaking" in to the playoffs does not seem at all impossible to me.

At this WAY too early point, I'm gonna predict the playoffs will be IWU, Augie, and Carthage, with either NCC or NPU possible and Wheaton a long shot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 18, 2011, 11:30:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2011, 09:18:03 PM
At this WAY too early point, I'm gonna predict the playoffs will be IWU, Augie, and Carthage, with either NCC or NPU possible and Wheaton a long shot.


Not a big fan of going out on a limb are you??  :-)


Unrelated topic, but has a CCIW school ever had a worse season in the big three men's sports than Millikin is having this season?  I know some of the late 80's / early 90's seasons at Carthage weren't fun to watch at all, but I don't think they compared to this...a total of 9 wins???  OUCH!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2011, 11:50:13 PM
Hey, I said it is way early! ;D

Milliiin IS having a horrible year (Joe Hakes, I KNOW you can turn this around!)  If anyone has had as bad a year in the last 3 decades I would have to guess Elmhurst (pick your year), NCC (before they became the monster in football) or NPU (after their basketball run was over).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2011, 08:05:49 AM
An un-named CCIW coach (not Augie Schmidt) told me in January that this was the most balanced the CCIW was in a long time and what we are seeing today is exacxtly what was expected. Five teams in a dogfight for four spots. I hate that Carthage's chances may come down to the final weekend vs NPU... NPU scare the bejeezus out of me. They are the type of team that is built to beat Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 19, 2011, 06:14:02 PM
We have had many discussions doing football games that Elmhurst should look at the NAC.  For years,  other than Volleyball   we were sub 500 in the conference in (name that sport),  yet competitive enough to hold our own vs. teams like Benedictine, Concordia, Dominican, MWC opponents, etc.
The facts don't deny this
2 football titles
1 basketball title
and baseball which was powerful in the 70's/80's hasn't had much to hoot about

I know trends are cyclical, however Elmhurst has always seemed to cycle from dormat to 500 and back down again. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Thunder11 on April 19, 2011, 10:55:40 PM
First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2011, 08:50:13 AM
Wheaton is 6th in the CCIW(conference games only) in batting avg (.315), 6th in ERA (7.42) and 6th in fielding percentage (.942).

It seems to me that they are right where they should be in the CCIW race... 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2011, 10:37:20 AM
Carthage and Lakeland DH today is snowed out. Rescheduled for 3pm on May 5th in Kenosha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: metaljacket on April 20, 2011, 10:43:52 AM
snowed out on April 20th, depressing
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 20, 2011, 12:59:12 PM
Quote from: metaljacket on April 20, 2011, 10:43:52 AM
snowed out on April 20th, depressing

Tell me about it.  As an Illinois high school baseball coach, we haven't played in over a week.  Looking at playing every day Monday through Saturday for the next three weeks. 

This is ridiculous.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 20, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 19, 2011, 10:55:40 PM
First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!

interesting, but tainted, points of view. Wheaton does not have a shot at the playoffs. You talk about sweeping NCC or NP. Wheaton has neither the defense, consistent pitching or hitting to pull this off. I don't even think they will sweep Elmhurst. There are a few players that are having good years, notably Martin and Driggers (would someone please throw him a curve ball) but many others on the team have not lived up to expectations. The games may have been close score wise but that is all. Even last year, the Wheaties should have swept IWU. Alas, they did not. It has to do with more than just the on field play. 

I am very familiar with this program and feel that they hit their peak two years ago. There may be a bit of a rebound next year but I don't think it last beyond that. Unless the "recruiting" picks up, many of the "stars" graduate this year and next. There is not a whole lot of experience on the bench. Fortunately, only two of the seven catchers on the roster graduate. We sure are deep at that position.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2011, 06:12:23 PM
Quote from: norfrank on April 20, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 19, 2011, 10:55:40 PM
First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!

interesting, but tainted, points of view. Wheaton does not have a shot at the playoffs. You talk about sweeping NCC or NP.

Since NPU plays Wheaton in the last series of the regular season, the Vikings could be in the middle of a win-or-die dogfight for a CCIW tourney berth at that point. And that would make it that much tougher for Wheaton to sweep NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on April 20, 2011, 11:17:17 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2011, 06:12:23 PM
Quote from: norfrank on April 20, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 19, 2011, 10:55:40 PM
First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!

interesting, but tainted, points of view. Wheaton does not have a shot at the playoffs. You talk about sweeping NCC or NP.

Since NPU plays Wheaton in the last series of the regular season, the Vikings could be in the middle of a win-or-die dogfight for a CCIW tourney berth at that point. And that would make it that much tougher for Wheaton to sweep NPU.


The season is over for Wheaton.  They will not make the playoffs, they will not sweep or take the series from NPU or NCC. They will also not sweep Elmhurst. 

Right now they have one pitcher who has preformed consistently throughout the year in Martin.  Besides that, they don't have the pitching or the hitting to win the games they need to.  They do not have the talent of one of the top 4 teams in Conference and I think Big Poppa is right when he says they are right where they need to be in 6th place.

The best team statistical team Wheaton had in the past 10 years was in 2008, so I will compare this years stats to that year.  (The most talent they have had was last year)


2008- AVG- .355  HR- 25 Runs- 342 OB%- .440 SH- 20 SB- 80-97
2011- AVG- .317  HR- 25 Runs- 222 OB%- .401 SH- 8   SB- 25-31


All other categories on the offense are pretty comparable but these show a shift in the emphasis of the team.

They have become a strictly homerun seeking team.  There is no longer an emphasis on moving runners around, going for the extra base, or moving the runner over.  They live and die by the long ball.  Because of that they aren't scoring as many runs and despite much better pitching numbers they can't win games.  They are in 6th and will finish no better than 5th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:21:18 PM
"norfrank" I didn't say Wheaton would make the CCIW playoffs and yes I admitted they are quite the long shot to do so. Tainted "no" a true fan desiring a turnaround "yes." To say they are unlikely to make the playoffs I wouldn't argue.

To say Wheaton has no shot, is to ignore that Wheaton does have a lot of talent (since you are so acquainted with the program), and more so to ignore sports history. Time and time again, unlikely things happen, especially in the "craziest" but "greatest" sport on earth - Baseball. Just look at IWU's run last year - no one could have predicted or expected that (and yes I readily admit the Titans pitching staff last year was better than what the Thunder currently have on the mound.) What I do know is that Martin, Rahn and Golz (assuming that rotation) are all capable of besting NCC, which doesn't mean any of them will. If NCC takes the series this weekend, then I will admit Wheaton has no shot except statistically. While I'm at it, I wouldn't disrespect Elmhurst by assuming a sweep over them either, because they are quite competitive as well this year. Most balanced year in the conference in years! But as to the Thunder, yes the rotund lady is warming up her vocal cords but she is not singing quite yet.

And, yes it has a lot more to do than just the on field play, but out of respect I will not share my opinions about any of that right now. Small point but, NP and Wheaton, play the second to last series but yes NP will be quite difficult to win 2 from, let alone sweep - and yes, I must admit their Coach Johnson is quite tenacious, and of course they probably want to beat Wheaton above all others.

Beyond the Wheaton/NCC series it should be a very interesting weekend in the CCIW. For starters if Augie takes the NP series, NP could be in big trouble in the race for 4th place. The Carth/IWU clash of course is big and oh so interesting. And if Elmhurst sweeps the Big Blue (and I think they will) they will be battling for at least 6th place the rest of the way. Not to mention that the top 5 teams in the standings are fighting to stay in contention for an NCAA at large bid!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TheSportsFan on April 20, 2011, 11:35:56 PM
Loras 7, Augustana 1......Augie goes down to the 8th team in the IIAC, worth taking note of?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:40:27 PM
Quote from: The General Public on April 20, 2011, 11:17:17 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2011, 06:12:23 PM
Quote from: norfrank on April 20, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 19, 2011, 10:55:40 PM
First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!

interesting, but tainted, points of view. Wheaton does not have a shot at the playoffs. You talk about sweeping NCC or NP.

Since NPU plays Wheaton in the last series of the regular season, the Vikings could be in the middle of a win-or-die dogfight for a CCIW tourney berth at that point. And that would make it that much tougher for Wheaton to sweep NPU.


The season is over for Wheaton.  They will not make the playoffs, they will not sweep or take the series from NPU or NCC. They will also not sweep Elmhurst. 

Right now they have one pitcher who has preformed consistently throughout the year in Martin.  Besides that, they don't have the pitching or the hitting to win the games they need to.  They do not have the talent of one of the top 4 teams in Conference and I think Big Poppa is right when he says they are right where they need to be in 6th place.

The best team statistical team Wheaton had in the past 10 years was in 2008, so I will compare this years stats to that year.  (The most talent they have had was last year)


2008- AVG- .355  HR- 25 Runs- 342 OB%- .440 SH- 20 SB- 80-97
2011- AVG- .317  HR- 25 Runs- 222 OB%- .401 SH- 8   SB- 25-31


All other categories on the offense are pretty comparable but these show a shift in the emphasis of the team.

They have become a strictly homerun seeking team.  There is no longer an emphasis on moving runners around, going for the extra base, or moving the runner over.  They live and die by the long ball.  Because of that they aren't scoring as many runs and despite much better pitching numbers they can't win games.  They are in 6th and will finish no better than 5th.


There are sure a lot of definitive "nots" and statements in your opinions "The General Public" (unless you have a clear view of the future?) and analysis. You may well end up being right about Wheaton, but fortunately they still have to play the games. And by the way who are the top 4 most talented teams in the conference. That is right, no one knows yet do they. For sure Wheaton is the 6th best team in the conference as of today. I guess we will all have to let the young men we root for, play it out on the field. One game at a time..... starting tomorrow!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2011, 11:45:21 PM
Quote from: TheSportsFan on April 20, 2011, 11:35:56 PM
Loras 7, Augustana 1......Augie goes down to the 8th team in the IIAC, worth taking note of?

One game - probably not. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: metaljacket on April 20, 2011, 11:48:01 PM
What are the chances that the CCIW can get three teams into the Regional....

Obvioulsy the winner will get in, but can the 2nd and 3rd best team (Carthage and IWU???) get in at large?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2011, 08:19:02 AM
Quote from: TheSportsFan on April 20, 2011, 11:35:56 PM
Loras 7, Augustana 1......Augie goes down to the 8th team in the IIAC, worth taking note of?

That is a BAD in-region loss for Augie (I am guessing it may cost them a #1 ranking in the region next week) I had them and Carthage as co-#1s. Still, in the big picture, it will not hurt them too much.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 21, 2011, 08:21:21 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2011, 06:12:23 PM
Since NPU plays Wheaton in the last series of the regular season, the Vikings could be in the middle of a win-or-die dogfight for a CCIW tourney berth at that point. And that would make it that much tougher for Wheaton to sweep NPU.
North Park plays Carthage in the last series of the regular season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 21, 2011, 08:31:53 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 21, 2011, 08:19:02 AM
Quote from: TheSportsFan on April 20, 2011, 11:35:56 PM
Loras 7, Augustana 1......Augie goes down to the 8th team in the IIAC, worth taking note of?

That is a BAD in-region loss for Augie (I am guessing it may cost them a #1 ranking in the region next week) I had them and Carthage as co-#1s. Still, in the big picture, it will not hurt them too much.

I think this loss, along with the recent losses of IWU to Benedictine and Monmouth, go to a larger problem for these two teams who have high playoff aspirations and that is depth on the mound.  I think both teams are talented, but when you lose those midweek non-conference games most often it is because you have your #4, #5, or #6 starter going.  These pitchers become very important for teams trying to make runs in the postseason.  It was also the main reason IWU was able to make their imporbable run last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2011, 08:47:25 AM
Agree 100%... the team that will be on top of the regional rankings are the teams that do not lose those midweek games with their back end of the rotation arms on the bump.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 21, 2011, 01:27:26 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:40:27 PM
And by the way who are the top 4 most talented teams in the conference. That is right, no one knows yet do they. For sure Wheaton is the 6th best team in the conference as of today.


I think if you look at the CCIW website and then drill into the conference stats, you'll get a much clearer picture of who the top 4 talented teams are.  Look at the team stats of hitting, pitching and fielding.  Look at the individual stats of hitting and pitching.  Look at team stats like OB%, Runs scored, Runs Batted in which indicate a solid line-up 1-9.  Look at team ERA and WINS.  Those will also help guide you in the right direction.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on April 21, 2011, 08:23:19 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:40:27 PM

There are sure a lot of definitive "nots" and statements in your opinions "The General Public" (unless you have a clear view of the future?) and analysis. You may well end up being right about Wheaton, but fortunately they still have to play the games. And by the way who are the top 4 most talented teams in the conference. That is right, no one knows yet do they. For sure Wheaton is the 6th best team in the conference as of today. I guess we will all have to let the young men we root for, play it out on the field. One game at a time..... starting tomorrow!

Step 1...Complete.

Wheaton loses to NCC 4-2 throwing Martin...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 21, 2011, 11:48:15 PM
You have to feel sorry for Martin. The kid consistently goes out and throws great. Just can't plate enough runs for him to get a couple of conference wins. He could have had five conference wins at this point.  Might even have been in the running for pitcher of the year. At this point he is displaying all conference credentials.  

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2011, 02:15:12 PM
Quote from: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:21:18 PMSmall point but, NP and Wheaton, play the second to last series

You're right. NPU ends the season with a series against Carthage. My bad.

Quote from: Thunder11 on April 20, 2011, 11:21:18 PMbut yes NP will be quite difficult to win 2 from, let alone sweep - and yes, I must admit their Coach Johnson is quite tenacious, and of course they probably want to beat Wheaton above all others.

You can remove the word "probably" from that sentence. It's Wheaton. That's all you need to know if you wear an NPU uniform in any sport.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2011, 02:17:14 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 21, 2011, 08:47:25 AM
Agree 100%... the team that will be on top of the regional rankings are the teams that do not lose those midweek games with their back end of the rotation arms on the bump.

That's why, as a North Park fan, I was so encouraged that NPU's fourth starter, Travis Boyer, blanked the University of Chicago the other day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2011, 02:22:37 PM
The Augie @ NPU doubleheader scheduled for today was postponed by rain. Tomorrow's single game will become a doubleheader instead, and the third game will be rescheduled as a TBA.

The games weren't called for today until the Augie bus came in from Rock Island. There were a lot of surly-looking Doggie ballplayers wandering around the corner of Foster & Kedzie when I was over there about an hour ago. Gave me a real warm feeling inside. ;)

(Lest anyone think that North Park is being a bad host, or that Augie came all that way for nothing today, it should be noted that the Doggies are having an indoor practice in NPU's Helwig Rec Center. I don't think that the Park has ever opened Helwig's doors for an opposing team before, and it's all the more notable because today is Good Friday and all of the buildings on campus are closed except for the dorms and the dining hall.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 22, 2011, 07:49:11 PM
IWU and Carthage will play 3 tomorrow in Bloomington...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_293f2e98-6d36-11e0-b8a0-001cc4c03286.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 10:59:12 AM
Carthage and IWU have to be the toughest matchup to get a , decent feel for , before the games. I liked the matchup at 9 innining games due to the Redmens pitching depth. It's an entirely diffierent story at 7 innings. The Pitchers are in a sprint and position players in a marathon.

Heres hoping that the Redmen can put up at least a 3 spot on Pankau !!! lol
Damn !! That Kids good

Go Redmen !!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2011, 11:04:26 AM
As a Carthage fan, I'd be happy with 2 of 3 today... but I would not be surprised to see either team take all three games. I think both teams blow out their bullpens today if needed and take their chances on next week's games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 11:33:01 AM
2 out of 3 would be just fine with me BP. We have a DH with Marian during the week and a single game with Aurora also. As close as things are looking at the top of the CCIW, I would really hate to see it come down to the last series of the year against North Park. I , like you, see matchup problems there.

It could also come down to not dropping a bad, in-region, non-CCIW game. This is my 4th year associated with the program and we have seen two pool C bids in that time. Everygame counts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2011, 11:40:28 AM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 11:33:01 AM
2 out of 3 would be just fine with me BP. We have a DH with Marian during the week and a single game with Aurora also. As close as things are looking at the top of the CCIW, I would really hate to see it come down to the last series of the year against North Park. I , like you, see matchup problems there.

It could also come down to not dropping a bad, in-region, non-CCIW game. This is my 4th year associated with the program and we have seen two pool C bids in that time. Everygame counts.

A lot more will be clearer once the NCAA releases it regional rankings this Thursday. It will give us a good idea of where the CCIW teams stand. (I see them as #s 1-3 right now... the team I am struggling to place is WashU).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 11:55:24 AM
Definitely. They did'nt do themselves any favors splitting with Coe and Central, though they are playing a pretty tough schedule. I was looking forward to the eary season match up with them, but that's how things go in the Central region. I would'nt think you'd have them in the top 3 though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2011, 12:06:29 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 11:55:24 AM
Definitely. They did'nt do themselves any favors splitting with Coe and Central, though they are playing a pretty tough schedule. I was looking forward to the eary season match up with them, but that's how things go in the Central region. I would'nt think you'd have them in the top 3 though.

If WashU can sweep their triple-header today vs U of Chicago, then I can see them landing anywhere between#3-5... much of that is based on how the CCIW plays out this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2011, 05:02:54 PM
IWU just took a 5-4 lead in the 3rd game and Pankau is in to pitch for IWU.  A Win and possible save in the same day...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 23, 2011, 05:30:43 PM
IWU won 2 of 3 today against Carthage.

Jason Pankau threw an absolute gem in Game 1.  In 7 IP, all he allowed was a single hit...no walks, 7 K.

In Game 3, Pankau pitched the final 2 innings, giving up just one hit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on April 23, 2011, 06:26:03 PM
I said before the game. Here's hoping Carthage could put up a 3 spot against Pankau. That would have done it. Little did I know that we would'nt even 3 hits against him !! That kids a Stud !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 23, 2011, 06:54:58 PM
North Park took two from Augustana today.  In game one, North Park rallied from two runs down in the bottom of the ninth as Angel Carrasco hit a two-run homer to tie the game and Mike Domenick hit a game-winning single to score Eric Sousanes from second for a 6-5 victory.

In game two, Jeremy Juhl hit a leadoff home run, but that was all the offense Augie could muster against Pete Sparacino.  Andy Athans had two 2-run singles to give the Chicago Vikings a 6-1 win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 23, 2011, 10:34:59 PM
That's the kind of big win North Park needed.  What a huge comeback in game 1!  Wondering though....why did IWU-Carthage play the tripleheader, but NP-Augie did not.  It would seem to make the same sense.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on April 24, 2011, 12:15:40 AM
Anybody happen to know what the CCIW standings look like after today's games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 24, 2011, 07:48:24 AM
Quote from: cubs on April 24, 2011, 12:15:40 AM
Anybody happen to know what the CCIW standings look like after today's games?

Here is a link to the CCIW website (http://www.cciw.org/index.aspx?path=baseball&tab=baseball), which has the updated standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 24, 2011, 08:10:27 AM
Amazing fact - the 3 IWU/Carthage games yesterday were played in 4 hours, 15 minutes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2011, 11:31:10 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 23, 2011, 10:34:59 PM
That's the kind of big win North Park needed.  What a huge comeback in game 1!  Wondering though....why did IWU-Carthage play the tripleheader, but NP-Augie did not.  It would seem to make the same sense.

Luke didn't want to play three. The concluding game of the Augie @ NPU series will be played on Monday afternoon at Holmgren Athletic Center.  Tentative time for the first pitch is 3 pm.

This should work out well for both schools. North Park has no weekday games this coming week, and Augie's lone weekday game is a contest against Knox on Tuesday. Knox doesn't appear to be very good at all, so it probably shouldn't cause Augie's pitching staff too much stress to play the extra game at NPU on Monday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2011, 11:34:45 AM
North Central and Wheaton split yesterday. NCC won the opener, 6-5, and Wheaton took the nightcap, 9-8.

That loss could come back to haunt the Cardinals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2011, 01:17:47 PM
Updating the H-to-H tie-breaks for the 5 contenders:

IWU over Augie, NPU, and Carthage
Carthage over NCC, but under IWU and Augie
Augie over Carthage, but under IWU and NPU
NCC over NPU, but under Carthage
NPU over Augie, but under IWU and NCC
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 26, 2011, 08:42:00 AM
Congratulations to the North Park Viking baseball team for breaking into the NCBWA Top 25  (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2011/week9).  I don't know if it's a first for North Park (the baseball team had several excellent seasons in the 80s and early 90s), but it marks another achievement by Coach Luke Johnson & Associate Coach Steve Hardman in moving a team that went 1-39 in 2005 to one with national ranking.  Of course, there's still work to do over the next few weeks, but I wanted to recognize the achievement.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 26, 2011, 09:47:10 AM
Absolutely, DR. B!  It is certainly a very proud moment for all former NP players, and it's certainly nice to have some national attention for recruiting purposes.  However....there' still work to be done!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 26, 2011, 01:10:04 PM
Luke is getting the NPU players to play with the same mindset and confidence that he played with as a player.  He is a great teammate and friend of mine.  He has been active in his recruiting and getting players to want to play for both him/NPU.  Keep it up Luke!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2011, 02:46:57 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 26, 2011, 08:42:00 AM
Congratulations to the North Park Viking baseball team for breaking into the NCBWA Top 25  (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2011/week9).  I don't know if it's a first for North Park (the baseball team had several excellent seasons in the 80s and early 90s), but it marks another achievement by Coach Luke Johnson & Associate Coach Steve Hardman in moving a team that went 1-39 in 2005 to one with national ranking.  Of course, there's still work to do over the next few weeks, but I wanted to recognize the achievement.

Absolutely. It's a big milestone for the NPU baseball program, which appears to be returning to the perennial CCIW contender status it enjoyed back in the 1980s and early '90s, when Bosko Djurickovic led North Park to four CCIW titles, and it's a tribute to the hard work put in by Luke Johnson and his coaching staff as well as the Vikings themselves.

Incidentally, there are four CCIW teams that are currently receiving votes in the d3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25. Carthage is ranked 22nd, North Park is ranked 25th, and Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana are among the other teams receiving votes. The only other league that has four teams that are receiving votes in the current poll is the NJAC.

The third game between North Park and Augustana, which was originally going to be rescheduled for Monday, continues to be up in the air in terms of when it will be played. Given where NPU and Augie are in the CCIW standings, it's obviously an important game that needs to be squeezed in somewhere. Also, NPU has added an extra game, at Concordia (WI) tomorrow, to make up for the rainout against Birmingham Southern at the beginning of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2011, 04:15:38 PM
Not merely 'receiving votes' - IWU would be #26 and Augie #28 if the poll were enlarged beyond 25.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2011, 07:32:58 PM
Correction: Tomorrow night's newly-added CUW @ NPU contest will be under the lights at Holmgren AC at 7:30 pm.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 28, 2011, 06:41:53 AM
North Park beat Concordia of Wisconsin last night at home, 4-0.  Travis Boyer struck out 12 in seven innings and Brad Medina hit HR #5 for the Vikings.

Good call on Boyer earlier in the week, Greg.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2011, 07:50:21 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 28, 2011, 06:41:53 AM
North Park beat Concordia of Wisconsin last night at home, 4-0.  Travis Boyer struck out 12 in seven innings and Brad Medina hit HR #5 for the Vikings.

Good call on Boyer earlier in the week, Greg.
A correction (on my part) -- Boyer fanned a baker's dozen.  I'll change it on my website later.  It was a close game till the 8th when Athan's single scored Yunker (who made a great slide around the catcher) and Medina followed with his two-run round-tripper.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 28, 2011, 02:12:39 PM
IWU has an extremely important in-region doubleheader against Webster today (weather permitting).  After taking 2 of 3 from North Park, Augustana, and Carthage, it is imperative they win this matchup is they want any shot at getting an at-large.  Even with they still probably have some work to do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 28, 2011, 05:47:04 PM
The first regional rankings were released today by the NCAA:

Central Region
1 Coe 18-9 20-10
2 Carthage 11-5 18-8
3 Buena Vista 17-9 18-11
4 Illinois Wesleyan 17-7 19-10
5 Augustana 12-9 19-9
6 Washington U. 25-15 25-16

Given the fact that NPU is 21-5 in regional play (and 25-7 overall, although that's not relevant), the Vikings must be held back in the eyes of the committee by a weak SOS or something.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on April 28, 2011, 06:48:28 PM
Very Interesting - I am not sure that a couple of those teams are that strong and the Vikings are playing very well. Big series this weekend between North Central and Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2011, 08:44:14 PM
I am befuddled at NPU not being on the list.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 28, 2011, 11:07:14 PM
IWU sophomore 1B Kevin Callahan had his second 2 HR inning of the season today...

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2011/4/28/BB_0428114448.aspx?path=baseball


Callahan is just an absolute stud.  He is hitting .477 with 12 HR and 42 RBI, and has an on-base % of .590.  He is heading towards 1st Team All-American status.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: metaljacket on April 28, 2011, 11:39:13 PM

North Park not getting in the top 6????

I guess it doesnt matter if they are there now or not, they will probably be there in the end
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2011, 11:47:37 PM
Ricky Angel still gives BigPoppa nightsweats.  Kevin Callahan is having a season Ricky never had.  Kevin is only a sophomore.

BigPoppa, enjoy! ;D

[Now may Kevin be especially a Carthage-killer, not just a stud in general! :D]

In terms of CCIW-only stats, Kevin is
 Batting average: .531 (.049 above 2nd place)
 On base %: .642 (.100 above 2nd place)
 Slugging %: 1.020 (.242 above 2nd place)

Barring a complete meltdown, the race for MVP is over.

AND Jason Pankau is way out front for pitcher of the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: forheavendial4999 on April 29, 2011, 02:49:22 AM
Any insight on how Callahan has transformed this year? Last year he was just a decent hitter even with the juiced bats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2011, 07:17:56 AM
Quote from: forheavendial4999 on April 29, 2011, 02:49:22 AM
Any insight on how Callahan has transformed this year? Last year he was just a decent hitter even with the juiced bats.

Somebody better test his urine:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2011, 10:25:50 AM
Quote from: metaljacket on April 28, 2011, 11:39:13 PM

North Park not getting in the top 6????

I guess it doesnt matter if they are there now or not, they will probably be there in the end

Exactly.  It takes a while for people to notice a program, and North Park's rise has been a consistent one.  My guess is that some may be still waiting to see if this team is for real.  And that's OK.  As exciting as it was to see the Vikings in the Top 25, mid-season rankings truly do not mean a thing.  And if it serves as a little extra motivation for the team, so be it.  There is still work to be done.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2011, 11:24:49 AM
IF NPU deserves to be there in the end, they'll be there in the end. My guess is they will make an appearance next week if they take care of business this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2011, 02:03:50 PM
NP 1, Wheaton 0, top 6. 

Zack Deutscher homered for the Vikings.  Steve Kuligowski has shut Wheaton down on one hit through 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2011, 03:03:30 PM
North Park beats Wheaton, 3-2.  According to livestats, Kuligowski struck out Trey Martin (who represented the winning run) to end his complete-game effort.

Nice "road" win for the Vikes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 29, 2011, 03:03:36 PM
North Park hangs on for a 3-2 win over Wheaton.  Kuligowski and Martin both pitched very well -- and following the game on live stats is more nerve-wracking than seeing the action from the dugout :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFan on April 29, 2011, 04:34:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 29, 2011, 11:24:49 AM
IF NPU deserves to be there in the end, they'll be there in the end. My guess is they will make an appearance next week if they take care of business this weekend.

Doubt it. Playing Wheaton will hurt their SOS.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Thunder11 on April 30, 2011, 11:56:32 AM
Very well pitched game between NP and Thunder yesterday. Martin is the hard luck kid of the conference this year - because of his duel role roll I think he may actually be best overall player in conf. this year. But I do agree that Callahan and Pankau should get hitter and pitcher of year in CCIW.

After now seeing all the CCIW teams, except Elmhurst (great accomplishment defeating Pankau!) here are my last minute conf predictions.

1 IWU      15-6 (tourney host)
2 Carth    15-6 
3 NP       14-7
4 Augie    14-7
5 NC       13-8
6 Wheaton  8-13
7 Elmhurst 4-17
8 Millikin 1-20

I see no dominate team this year. It is clear any of the teams 1-7 are capable of beating any team in the conference - most balanced year in many. But I do think Carthage is best overall team by a hair but that 3 - 7 inning game format got the best of them at IWU last weekend. I believe Carthage will win tourney to get the automatic Pool A. Assuming the other 3 can avoid any other bad out of conference wins, the 4th place tourney team (Augie?) may be the odd man out for a Pool C bid.

As a die-hard Thunder fan, I don't believe their finish is due to lack of Talent of at least their top 18 or so players (yes our depth is and always will be an issue due to our recruiting challenges). But talent doesn't win baseball games in a tough and tight conf like the CCIW. Consistently poor defense on routine plays with few coaching adjustments to resolve them and a regular inability to get clutch hits is why Wheaton won't finish in the top 4 this year. The pitching staff has done amazingly well, especially considering losing a couple key guys to injury and eligibility. Defensive errors and non-box score miscues have really hurt the starters who have been forced into longer outings due to lack of pitching depth. Now off to see if Thunder can at least take one from NP today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 02:45:45 PM
I went to the Elmhurst site, but could find no livestats for the DH against the Titans.  Anyone have a link, or don't they have them? :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
At least all the first games should be in by now, but CCIW.org has nothing (nor does Elmhurst.edu) - anyone got any scores to pass on?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:35:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
At least all the first games should be in by now, but CCIW.org has nothing (nor does Elmhurst.edu) - anyone got any scores to pass on?

With the game being in Bloomington, I'd check IWUsports.com.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:41:37 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:35:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
At least all the first games should be in by now, but CCIW.org has nothing (nor does Elmhurst.edu) - anyone got any scores to pass on?

With the game being in Bloomington, I'd check IWUsports.com.

CCIW.org, IWU.edu, and Elmhurst.edu all have today's games in Elmhurst.

Yesterday was in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:48:42 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:41:37 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:35:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
At least all the first games should be in by now, but CCIW.org has nothing (nor does Elmhurst.edu) - anyone got any scores to pass on?

With the game being in Bloomington, I'd check IWUsports.com.

CCIW.org, IWU.edu, and Elmhurst.edu all have today's games in Elmhurst.

Yesterday was in Bloomington.

Gotcha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 05:04:23 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:48:42 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:41:37 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on April 30, 2011, 04:35:26 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
At least all the first games should be in by now, but CCIW.org has nothing (nor does Elmhurst.edu) - anyone got any scores to pass on?

With the game being in Bloomington, I'd check IWUsports.com.

CCIW.org, IWU.edu, and Elmhurst.edu all have today's games in Elmhurst.

Yesterday was in Bloomington.

Gotcha.

Toying with the foreigner again, are we? :o ;D

Actually, if your move from Columbia has already gone through, I may be closer to B'town than you (I've forgotten where you were going, except that it was totally into non-d3 territory).  But even I knew enough to check the sites, even though IWU vs. Chicagoland series are often just one site or the other. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2011, 05:06:30 PM
Carthage 12-2 over Millikin in game 1... Redmen up 5-1 in game 2. No surprises here. Carthage should take all three.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 05:14:58 PM
BP, that is what I thought about IWU-Elmhurst, and then the Jays go and beat the likely pitcher-of-the-year Jason Pankau! :o  And now I can't get news about today's DH - I am frustrated! :(

I certainly expected that outcome of Carthage-Millikin, but hope others can provide something on the other games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2011, 05:23:35 PM
NPU up 6-3 in the 4th on Wheaton...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 05:46:35 PM
For conference tourney purposes, the big games (probably) are Augie-NCC - anyone hear anything?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 05:49:20 PM
Nevermind - just noticed those games only started 18 minutes ago in Naperville. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 06:14:56 PM
In a true pitchers' duel, NCC up on Augie 3-1, with each team having only 3 hits, after 7.

Unless this game started much earlier than listed, these results do not seem possible - that would be 7 innings in 42 minutes.

I am losing all faith in livestats (and don't have much left for CCIW.org or college sites either).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 06:59:27 PM
Apparently the start times were listed wrong.

The NCC site lists a sweep over Augie, 11-1 and 5-1.  If so, that puts Augie at 8-8 and in grave danger of missing the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 07:50:11 PM
IWU lost late in the first game, 7-5, then won the nightcap, 9-4.  Losing the series to Elmhurst SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, but at 12-6, they're still pretty safe for the tourney.

After an 0-4 yesterday, Callhan went 4-5, including a HR, in the first game.  No box yet for the second game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2011, 08:35:58 PM
IWU/NCC and Carthage/NPU make for great final weekend matchups:) The top four battling for playoff seeds and Pool C position.

In other news, another late-season collapse for Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 30, 2011, 08:51:02 PM
NPU split with Wheaton today. The Vikings lost the opener, 7-2, and came back to win the nightcap, 9-7.

Only taking two out of three against Wheaton hurts; this was a series that NPU folks all thought provided a serious opportunity for a sweep. However, seeing Illinois Wesleyan lose two out of three to lowly Elmhurst certainly helps take some of the sting out of the failure to sweep the Wheaties for the Park; I'm still stumped as to how the 'jays managed to beat not only Pankau but Sweeney as well.

Since the scoreboard on the CCIW website hasn't been updated yet, here's how the standings look:

North Central  13-4  @ Augie, @ IWU, @ IWU, vs. IWU
North Park  12-5  vs. Augie*, @ Carthage, @ Carthage, vs. Carthage
Carthage  12-5  vs. Millikin, vs. NPU, vs. NPU, @ NPU
Illinois Wesleyan  12-6  vs. NCC, vs. NCC, @ NCC
Augustana    8-8  vs. NCC, @ NPU*, @ Millikin, @ Millikin, @ Millikin
Wheaton    6-12  @ Elmhurst, vs. Elmhurst, vs. Elmhurst
Elmhurst    4-13  vs. Millikin*, vs. Wheaton, @ Wheaton, @ Wheaton
Millikin    1-16  @ Elmhurst*, vs. Augie, vs. Augie, vs. Augie

* Date and time TBA. These games might not end up being played at all, particularly the MU @ EC game. The AC @ NPU game will definitely be played if the outcome will affect standings and/or tourney seeding.

Speaking on behalf of the Park, it'd sure be nice to see Augie take that third game from the Cardinals tomorrow in Moline.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 10:21:31 PM
Greg, agree on Augie-NCC.  Also agree on mystification at Elmhurst beating both Pankau and Sweeney - as Yogi (probably didn't) put it: "good pitching beats good hitting, and vice versa". ::)

Right now there are too many scenarios to list - tomorrow will sort it out (somewhat).  Even Augie cannot be counted out, finishing with 3 games against Millikin.

As IWU has H-toH tie-breaks over Carthage, NPU, and Augie, their chances of falling out entirely are slim - though a total sweep by NCC would be dangerous.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 10:36:27 PM
Shocker of the day - despite a 9-4 win in the nightcap, Kevin Callahan went 0-6! :o

Barring an 0-for-the weekend against NCC, I'd say he is still a lock for the MVP.  But it sure would be nice if he got back to destroying CCIW pitchers! :D

Even 1-2 against NCC would assure IWU a spot in the tourney (since they have the H-to-H against Augie), but I'm greedy - I want a title after series wins against Carthage, NPU and Augie! ;D  AND I want hitter-of-the-year for Callahan AND I want pitcher-of-the-year for Pankau! :D

Given what happened before this weekend, I don't think that is asking too much! ::)

Tough weekend. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 01, 2011, 11:39:06 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2011, 10:36:27 PM
Shocker of the day - despite a 9-4 win in the nightcap, Kevin Callahan went 0-6! :o

Barring an 0-for-the weekend against NCC, I'd say he is still a lock for the MVP.  But it sure would be nice if he got back to destroying CCIW pitchers! :D

Even 1-2 against NCC would assure IWU a spot in the tourney (since they have the H-to-H against Augie), but I'm greedy - I want a title after series wins against Carthage, NPU and Augie! ;D  AND I want hitter-of-the-year for Callahan AND I want pitcher-of-the-year for Pankau! :D

Given what happened before this weekend, I don't think that is asking too much! ::)

Tough weekend. :(
You certainly seem quite happy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2011, 04:23:41 PM
Carthage finishes the sweep wih a 12-2 win over Millikin.

The four playoff seeds in the CCIW will come down to the final weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 02, 2011, 11:37:08 AM
This may be a slight overreaction to a bad weekend, but the question came up in my head if Friday night might be an indication that Pankau is a little tired/overworked.  His line was not terrible as he struck out 8 and walked only one, but giving up 8 hits to a team that is 2nd worst in the CCIW would seem to be surprising to me. 

He has been a workhorse all year, throwing complete games and then coming back later in the day/later in the week and pitching relief.  Add on the fact that he threw a lot of innings last year in the extended run to the National Championship.  As he will have a minimum of 2 starts left, might be something to keep an eye on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 11:44:16 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 02, 2011, 11:37:08 AM
This may be a slight overreaction to a bad weekend, but the question came up in my head if Friday night might be an indication that Pankau is a little tired/overworked.  His line was not terrible as he struck out 8 and walked only one, but giving up 8 hits to a team that is 2nd worst in the CCIW would seem to be surprising to me. 

He has been a workhorse all year, throwing complete games and then coming back later in the day/later in the week and pitching relief.  Add on the fact that he threw a lot of innings last year in the extended run to the National Championship.  As he will have a minimum of 2 starts left, might be something to keep an eye on.

No question this may become an issue.  Not saying that it necessarily is, but one of the problems with being a D3 pitcher is that you usually are on a staff that does not possess more than 5 or 6 truly dependable arms.  When you get to spots late in the year, the competitive edge in a lot of guys may lead them to make decisions that are not in their best interests, and ask to go into games which they really should not be pitching in (i.e. pitching in relief the day after a start, etc.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 11:46:51 AM
Consequently, you may see some tired arms by the end of the year.  This is in no way a shot at any coaches who make the decision to allow their top guys to throw....it's the nature of the beast.  Seniors in college are 21-23 years old.  If they make the decision that they would rather pitch than rest, it's on them.

I speak from experience here, as I know for certain this came into play by the time I made my own start in the CCIW tourney.  What had been a great year turned into a very sub-par start.  I just didn't have much left in the tank.  But you have to get to the tourney before you start resting guys in order to win it....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 01:12:58 PM
One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 03:47:00 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 01:12:58 PM
One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2011, 04:06:05 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 03:47:00 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 01:12:58 PM
One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.
I wasn't quite sure how the comment was being framed, but if it's being directed to Viking Blue, I can tell you that he had quite a bit of gas in the tank during his four years on the mound.  He holds the career record for games pitched;  fourth in games started; is tied for 7th all-time in wins; third in innings pitched; and ninth in career strikeouts.  And as Casey Stengel once said, "You kin look it up" (on my website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/records.html)) if you need further evidence.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 02, 2011, 04:22:30 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2011, 04:06:05 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 03:47:00 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 01:12:58 PM
One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.
I wasn't quite sure how the comment was being framed, but if it's being directed to Viking Blue, I can tell you that he had quite a bit of gas in the tank during his four years on the mound.  He holds the career record for games pitched;  fourth in games started; is tied for 7th all-time in wins; third in innings pitched; and ninth in career strikeouts.  And as Casey Stengel once said, "You kin look it up" (on my website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/records.html)) if you need further evidence.
What a great website - and act of love - thanks for doing this.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 02, 2011, 05:54:31 PM
Carthage takes game 1 vs. Marian, 9-1.

The live stats site for game two shows Carthage with a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 3rd.  A few names in the starting line-up that I'm not used to seeing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2011, 06:25:47 PM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 02, 2011, 04:22:30 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2011, 04:06:05 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 02, 2011, 03:47:00 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 01:12:58 PM
One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.
I wasn't quite sure how the comment was being framed, but if it's being directed to Viking Blue, I can tell you that he had quite a bit of gas in the tank during his four years on the mound.  He holds the career record for games pitched;  fourth in games started; is tied for 7th all-time in wins; third in innings pitched; and ninth in career strikeouts.  And as Casey Stengel once said, "You kin look it up" (on my website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/records.html)) if you need further evidence.
What a great website - and act of love - thanks for doing this.

Thanks for the kind words.  It took a lot of work to get it set up, but it's my small contribution to the legacy of North Park baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 11:09:41 PM
People relax, Viking Blue is a great guy.  I was just having a little fun.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 03, 2011, 10:01:57 AM
Quote from: norfrank on May 02, 2011, 11:09:41 PM
People relax, Viking Blue is a great guy.  I was just having a little fun.

well I don't know about the "great guy" bit - all right guy maybe....   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 03, 2011, 04:29:02 PM
Carthage down 3-0 to Concordia after 2 innings.

Pucher is pitching for Carthage today, but he's had his share of walks and wild pitches early.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 03, 2011, 05:22:35 PM
6-4 after 5, Carthage on top.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 03, 2011, 09:06:48 PM
Carthage wins 9-7, but may have lost leading hitter Mike Petti to a broken forearm when he dove for a ball in right.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 03, 2011, 09:17:24 PM
Anyone have any word on Petti ? Not a good time to have your MVP go down.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 03, 2011, 09:38:04 PM
North Park loses 3-0 to Chicago State today. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2011, 11:01:16 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 03, 2011, 09:06:48 PM
Carthage wins 9-7, but may have lost leading hitter Mike Petti to a broken forearm when he dove for a ball in right.

DAMMIT!!!! Hope it is a quick heal and he can be back for the regional. Time for Hodges to put the team on  his back and carry them to a CCIW title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2011, 01:38:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 03, 2011, 09:06:48 PM
Carthage wins 9-7, but may have lost leading hitter Mike Petti to a broken forearm when he dove for a ball in right.

Any updates on Petti?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 04, 2011, 01:58:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 04, 2011, 01:38:13 PM
Any updates on Petti?


Was just about to post the same thing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 04, 2011, 09:51:05 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 04, 2011, 01:38:13 PM
Any updates on Petti?


The game summary from yesterday has been updated.   Grammatically incorrect as it is, the news is not good for the Red Men.

"Carthage rightfielder Mike Petti (Sr., Mundelein, Ill.) was broke his arm diving for the ball and will miss the rest of the season Petti leads the Red Men with a .418 batting average."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2011, 11:10:20 PM
OMG, IWU lost (at home! :o) to Rockford today.

So much for a pool C - win or go home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 05, 2011, 04:07:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2011, 11:10:20 PM
OMG, IWU lost (at home! :o) to Rockford today.

So much for a pool C - win or go home.

As of today they are still second in the Central Region...if the Elmhurst loses didn't push them off the Pool C charts, I don't think this will either....


CENTRAL         
1   Coe                   22-9   24-10
2   Illinois Wesleyan   20-9   22-12
3   Buena Vista       19-11   20-13
4   Carthage           16-5   23-8
5   Augustana (Ill.)   14-11   21-11
6   Washington-St. Louis   28-15   29-17
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 05, 2011, 08:01:22 PM
Carthage up 19-0 on Lakeland as Carthage hits in the bottom of the 4th.  Every Carthage starter has at least 1 hit so far (7 starters have 2 or more) and at least 1 RBI.  

Of Carthage's 24 hits, 13 are for extra bases (11 2b, 1 3b, and 1 HR).  The HR came from Petti's replacement in RF, C D'Angelo.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 07, 2011, 08:54:10 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 05, 2011, 04:07:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2011, 11:10:20 PM
OMG, IWU lost (at home! :o) to Rockford today.

So much for a pool C - win or go home.

As of today they are still second in the Central Region...if the Elmhurst loses didn't push them off the Pool C charts, I don't think this will either....


CENTRAL         
1   Coe                   22-9   24-10
2   Illinois Wesleyan   20-9   22-12
3   Buena Vista       19-11   20-13
4   Carthage           16-5   23-8
5   Augustana (Ill.)   14-11   21-11
6   Washington-St. Louis   28-15   29-17
I don't think the Rockford loss will push them off the list; conference and overall record similar to other ranked teams; and, last year's national title will carry some weight for some on committee (whether it should or not).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 02:14:48 PM
Park jumps on Perez for 3 in the first....not a good start depending on where you allegiances lie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 03:01:01 PM
The Titans DO love the big inning!  Bottom of the third in a scoreless game, they send SIXTEEN batters to the plate and score ELEVEN runs.  With Pankau on the mound (after 3, he has a one-hit shutout going), I think it is safe to say that the Titans have clinched a spot in the tourney! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 03:49:44 PM
At the end of 6, IWU 15, NCC 0.  Does the mercy rule kick in after the next half inning (assuming NCC doesn't finally get to Pankau)?

Update: if NCC finally comes through, it won't be against Pankau - with a 15-run lead, McCullough has come in to pitch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 03:54:38 PM
NP up 11-3 in the 7th.  Medina is 4-3 with 4 RBIs for the Parkers...Perez only lasted 12 outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 04:03:00 PM
It's a final in B'town, and the Titans have clinched a spot in the tourney: 15-0.

The last two games are for the seed (and, perhaps even home field).

Augie will have to find a different route into the tourney. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 04:44:53 PM
Vikings 13 - Red Men 6 in game 1.

That would put NP all alone at the top of the CCIW at 13-5.  Three teams tied for second at 13-6 if my math is correct.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 05:23:05 PM
After 4 in the 'nightcap', IWU 2, NCC 0.  The bottom of the third was again the time for the Titans, but this time only 2 instead of 11! ;)  At the risk of jinxing him (I assume he is not following the boards at the moment :P), Joe Sweeney has a no-hitter so far.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 05:27:31 PM
And a tip of the cap to my favorite MLB pitcher - Justin Verlander has a perfect game going after 4 (I assume he's not following these boards either ;D).

Sweeney issued a walk, so his no-no is not perfect. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 05:30:20 PM
Sparacino has a perfect game going through two.  NPU up 1-0 (2 errors in the same inning on Aiello led to an unearned run).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 06:02:36 PM
Hopefully it will not matter (Titans are up 6-0 after 6), but do not understand that play at all.  With two outs and runners at first and third and friggin' Kevin Callahan at the plate, they tried a double steal!  Runner out at home, leaving the best hitter in the CCIW at the plate. >:( :(

I applaud aggressive baseball, but sometimes Earl Weaver was right - wait for the 3-run tater!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 06:38:16 PM
Sweeney gets the no hitter!! ;D  Titans win 8-0.

Verlander lost his perfect game with a walk in the 8th, but still has a no hitter going into the 9th.

A marvellous day for this Titan and Tiger fan, with the only possible downside being that Callahan may need a big day tomorrow to win the Triple Crown for the conference - he had a lousy day and may lose the BA depending on how #2 (sorry, forgot who that was) did/does.

Pankau IMO iced the Pitcher-of-the-year today.  Despite today, Callahan probably iced Player-of-the-Year a couple of weekends ago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 07, 2011, 06:40:38 PM
Congratulations to Joe Sweeney (JR, Fenwick H.S.) on the no-no!  Talk about coming up big in a huge game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 07:07:21 PM
Carthage wins 3-2.  4 of the 5 runs were unearned.

Carthage and IWU back on top at 14-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 08:01:34 PM
Attempting to determine home field for the tourney (please check my calculations):

Having a winning record against everyone (except freakin' Elmhurst! :o), IWU hosts if they win tomorrow.

If IWU loses, Carthage hosts with a win tomorrow.

I don't think NPU or NCC can host with any scenario.  And I can't find a scenario where Augie makes the tourney - I think they have been eliminated.  (Which makes me wonder if they will bother with the Augie/NPU make-up game.)

If IWU loses and NPU beats Carthage, I'm pretty sure IWU hosts, having a winning record against all teams they might tie with.  (It would be so much simpler if IWU had not laid an egg against freakin' Elmhurst! ::))

Sorry, jaybird, for saying 'freakin' Elmhurst' so may times in one post! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: acvikings on May 07, 2011, 08:39:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 08:01:34 PM
Attempting to determine home field for the tourney (please check my calculations):

Having a winning record against everyone (except freakin' Elmhurst! :o), IWU hosts if they win tomorrow.

If IWU loses, Carthage hosts with a win tomorrow.

I don't think NPU or NCC can host with any scenario.  And I can't find a scenario where Augie makes the tourney - I think they have been eliminated.  (Which makes me wonder if they will bother with the Augie/NPU make-up game.)

If IWU loses and NPU beats Carthage, I'm pretty sure IWU hosts, having a winning record against all teams they might tie with.  (It would be so much simpler if IWU had not laid an egg against freakin' Elmhurst! ::))

Sorry, jaybird, for saying 'freakin' Elmhurst' so may times in one post! ;D

So here is a big what if. What happens if North Park beats Carthage tomorrow and North Central beats Illinois Wesleyan? Would Augustana and North Park have to make up there game to see who would actually host the tourney. And what would happen if Augustana were to beat North Park? Wouldn't that leave all teams in the conference tournament at 14-7? Who would host? Still IWU? Again, a big what if...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 09:04:04 PM
Under your scenario, NPU and Augie might have to make up their game to see what team is 'odd-man-out' (not sure on that), but I'm pretty sure IWU would host, since they have the tie-break against all four other teams.

The ONLY conference series they lost was against freakin' Elmhurst.  (Again, my apologies to jaybird or any other Elmhurst supporter - I can't stop saying 'freakin' Elmhurst! ;D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2011, 09:28:35 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 09:04:04 PM
Under your scenario, NPU and Augie might have to make up their game to see what team is 'odd-man-out' (not sure on that), but I'm pretty sure IWU would host, since they have the tie-break against all four other teams.

The ONLY conference series they lost was against freakin' Elmhurst.  (Again, my apologies to jaybird or any other Elmhurst supporter - I can't stop saying 'freakin' Elmhurst! ;D)

Under the IWU and Carthage lose scenario, technically NPU would have the higher winning % since they played one fewer game right?  Carthage and IWU would be 14-7 while NPU would be 14-6.  If the missed game is not made up, I think NPU would host.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 09:38:06 PM
mwunder, I would certainly hope that the conference would not allow a missed game to determine the title! 

But you are certainly right that I overlooked a scenario where NPU could host.  IF they win tomorrow (and IWU loses) and beat Augie in the make up game, the tourney is in Chicago.

I'm fairly certain the tourney cannot be in Naperville.

All is moot if IWU wins tomorrow. ;)  Go Titans! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2011, 10:19:15 PM
Not sure if I'm missing something, but the CCIW website shows that Carthage and Wesleyan as having clinched a CCIW berth, but North Park has not.  At 13-6 with two games to play, the worst North Park can do is 13-8.  If North Central wins tomorrow, the Cardinals will also be 13-8 but hold the tie-breaker over Augustana.  Augie, for their part, sit at 11-8; if they win two, they would also finish 13-8, but North Park holds the tiebreaker over Augie, as does North Central.  As such, North Park should have also clinched a berth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 10:31:48 PM
As I see it, Augie is out (they could still tie NCC and/or NPU, but lose tie-breakers to either).  All four berths are determined; what is still up for grabs is seeding and hosting.

If IWU wins, they host.

If IWU loses, but Carthage wins, Carthage hosts.

If IWU loses and Carthage loses, NPU hosts IF they beat Augie; IWU hosts if Augie beats NPU.

I THINK I finally have it right (and would hate to see NPU host just because the Augie game was not made up :o).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2011, 10:53:57 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2011, 10:31:48 PM
I THINK I finally have it right (and would hate to see NPU host just because the Augie game was not made up :o).
I don't think it's an option not to play the game; it could potentially play a big role in the tournament seeding and even the hosting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 07, 2011, 11:47:44 PM
Article on Joe Sweeney's no hitter...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_367771bc-7900-11e0-9613-001cc4c002e0.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2011, 12:32:33 AM
I am still in shock over today's DH.  Prior to today, NCC had not been shut out all season long, and held under 3 runs only once.  23-0 - are you kidding me?!

I don't think IWU has the depth of pitching it takes to have a miracle run like last season, but Pankau and Sweeney sure make a nice front two!  If someone else can come to the fore, that could get them to Appleton again.

Their hitting is a bit suspect, but they didn't go today against tomato cans - Rashid was 5-0, Arenson was 4-1 - and they did it virtually without Kevin Callahan.

While my waking self doesn't even dare dream of last season's finish, you may have gathered that I'm getting pretty fond of this team! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2011, 03:11:50 PM
After 3.5 in Naperville, IWU 4, NCC 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 08, 2011, 04:29:46 PM
north park 5, carthage 4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2011, 04:34:10 PM
After 8.5 in Naperville, IWU 8, NCC 2.

Barring a miracle comeback, looks like the conference tourney will be in B'town. :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2011, 04:37:19 PM
No miracles for NCC, as they go 1,2,3 in the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 08, 2011, 05:39:19 PM
accordion to north park's schedule - augiestana is coming to chicago tomorrow (Monday), time TBA

north park can tie for the conference title with a win
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 08, 2011, 05:51:48 PM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 08, 2011, 05:39:19 PM
accordion to north park's schedule - augiestana is coming to chicago tomorrow (Monday), time TBA

north park can tie for the conference title with a win

accordion?

Man, you must have some weird voice recognition patterns in the Dragon Naturally Speaking!

:D   ;D   :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2011, 06:08:31 PM
Carthage made it interesting, coming back from being down 3-0 to take a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, but NPU showed a lot of heart and pushed two runs over the plate in that inning, and then held on in the ninth for a huge win. As disheartening as yesterday's 3-2 loss in the nightcap was for the Park -- and sitting there in the cold made it even worse for those of us who were up in Kenosha for the doubleheader -- today's comeback win was that much more satisfying.

NPU will play Augustana tomorrow at Holmgren AC, with the first pitch at either 4 pm or 7:30 pm. It's going to mean a lot of reshuffling of schedules for everybody -- tomorrow evening is NPU's Senior Athletics Banquet, with Trevor Popp up for Senior Male Athlete of the Year and Angel Carrasco up for Sportsman of the Year -- but the Vikings certainly don't mind having to pre-empt banquets or studying or anything else.

Why? After all, the fact that North Central apparently dressed up the NCC Chess Club or the WONC deejays in baseball uniforms this weekend meant that Illinois Wesleyan clinched both a share of the CCIW title today and hosting privileges for the CCIW tourney ($^&*!#@* Cardinals!). North Park will not only have to go on the road for the CCIW tourney, the Vikes will also presumably be facing Carthage in the first round of the tourney next week no matter what.

Well, the reason why a win tomorrow over the Doggies is so important for NPU is because it would mean that the Park will be CCIW co-champion as well. And that's a big deal here on the North Side, as the last time that North Park won a CCIW baseball title was all the way back in 1990, when the last of Bosko Djurickovic's great Vikings baseball teams featured Tony D'Andrea, Kevin Krawczyk, Mike Miscevich, Jeff Pearson, John Valentin, John Klebba, and Chris Nelson.

A Monday win over Augie would also enhance NPU's SOS and help boost the team's fortunes in the Central Region rankings -- if, knock on wood, the Vikings get ranked next week -- and it would get the team to thirty wins on the season. But, mostly, a share of the title would be very big for the NPU baseball program, and it would mean a tremendous amount to Luke Johnson and his staff and to the players who've worked so hard to put themselves in this position.

Travis Boyer (3-1, 2.25) will make his sixth start of the season tomorrow for NPU. In his last two starts (shutouts over Chicago and Concordia WI) Boyer's pitched thirteen innings of scoreless ball, striking out twenty while giving up only eight hits and seven walks. I strongly doubt that Greg Wallace is going to let Augie roll over for NPU, even though the Doggies are no longer playing for anything but pride. In fact, my guess is that Wallace will put his ace, Jared McIntosh (4-0, 2.68), on the mound for Augie, as he didn't use McIntosh in Augie's sweep over Millikin in Decatur this weekend. (Unless McIntosh is hurt, of course, in which case it's anybody's guess as to who Wallace will trot out to the mound tomorrow.)

The Park will have to earn it tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 08, 2011, 08:09:19 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 08, 2011, 05:51:48 PM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 08, 2011, 05:39:19 PM
accordion to north park's schedule - augiestana is coming to chicago tomorrow (Monday), time TBA

north park can tie for the conference title with a win

accordion?

Man, you must have some weird voice recognition patterns in the Dragon Naturally Speaking!

:D   ;D   :)
started taking lessons when I was 7 years old - still have it - though i haven't played it in 18 years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 08, 2011, 08:37:50 PM
Nice work Titans
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2011, 10:14:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 27, 2011, 07:41:58 PM
MY CCIW top four:
1. IWU
2. North Park
3. Carthage
4. North Central


My pre-season prediction made on January 27th was perfect. I hit the top four in order, but I am not happy about that at all. Watching Carthage slide from first to third in two days was hard on my gut.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2011, 10:30:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2011, 10:14:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 27, 2011, 07:41:58 PM
MY CCIW top four:
1. IWU
2. North Park
3. Carthage
4. North Central


My pre-season prediction made on January 27th was perfect. I hit the top four in order, but I am not happy about that at all. Watching Carthage slide from first to third in two days was hard on my gut.
Wow, great prediction!  It should be a fun tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 08, 2011, 10:47:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2011, 10:14:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 27, 2011, 07:41:58 PM
MY CCIW top four:
1. IWU
2. North Park
3. Carthage
4. North Central
My pre-season prediction made on January 27th was perfect. I hit the top four in order, but I am not happy about that at all. Watching Carthage slide from first to third in two days was hard on my gut.
+K Shannon!!!!  Nice prediction!!!!  Any idea what the Powerball numbers are going to be on Wednesday? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 10:42:37 AM
Post-season Awards:

I am not sure how the Pitcher of the Year can go to anyone other than IWU's Jason Pankau.

My Vote:
1. Pankau- IWU (Unanimous?)

Player of the year: I think it goes to IWU's Kevin Callahan, but only after some serious debate about Carthage's Will Hodges. Very comparable CCIW-only stats which is what is looked at first.

My vote:
1. Kallahan- IWU
2. Hodges- Carthage
3. Petti- Carthage

CCIW Coach of the year will go to IWU's Dennis Martel, but I think it SHOULD go to NPU's Luke Johnson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 09, 2011, 11:34:11 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 10:42:37 AM
Post-season Awards:

I am not sure how the Pitcher of the Year can go to anyone other than IWU's Jason Pankau.

My Vote:
1. Pankau- IWU (Unanimous?)

Player of the year: I think it goes to IWU's Kevin Callahan, but only after some serious debate about Carthage's Will Hodges.

My vote:
1. Kallahan- IWU
2. Hodges- Carthage
3. Petti- Carthage

CCIW Coach of the year will go to IWU's Dennis Martel, but I think it SHOULD go to NPU's Luke Johnson.


I could see the COY being shared by Martel and Johnson.  Especially if North Park wins tonights game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 01:21:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 10:42:37 AM
Post-season Awards:

I am not sure how the Pitcher of the Year can go to anyone other than IWU's Jason Pankau.

My Vote:
1. Pankau- IWU (Unanimous?)

Player of the year: I think it goes to IWU's Kevin Callahan, but only after some serious debate about Carthage's Will Hodges. Very comparable CCIW-only stats which is what is looked at first.

My vote:
1. Kallahan- IWU
2. Hodges- Carthage
3. Petti- Carthage

CCIW Coach of the year will go to IWU's Dennis Martel, but I think it SHOULD go to NPU's Luke Johnson.


Nolt saying he necessarily deserves to win, but I would think North Park's Zack Deutscher deserves some votes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2011, 02:16:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 10:42:37 AMCCIW Coach of the year will go to IWU's Dennis Martel, but I think it SHOULD go to NPU's Luke Johnson.

... particularly since the CCIW coaches, who sorely lack your prognosticative abilities, BP, ;) picked NPU to finish sixth in the conference this year.

If the coaches are going to declare that NPU had a higher degree of difficulty in winning the league than did IWU, whom they picked to win the title, then the least that they could do is be consistent and give Luke Johnson the CCIW Coach of the Year award.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 02:24:50 PM
From my preview of the CCIW. I am not sure how it looks now, but I did ok. I was right on about Carthage and their unproven, inconsistent arms.
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin-(CCIW): First the first time ever, a CCIW baseball team has a massive target on its back as the defending national champion. The Titans of Illinois Wesleyan head into 2011 with that target as they carry lofty expectations from multiple pre-season polls. The Titans are lead by senior all-American pitcher Jason Pankau (11-2, 2.60 ERA) who put the Titans on his back for the second half of 2010 and carried them to a CCIW crown as the #4 seed. Looking to challenge the Titans is who some consider to be the darkhorse in the region, North Park. The Vikings return CCIW co-Pitcher of the Year Pete Sparacino (8-1, 3.83 ERA) along with utility man Trevor Popp (.371, 38 SBs) and infielder Ryan Javech (.393, 16 2B). Lurking in the shadows is Carthage whose success will rely on a set of mostly unproven arms and they make lack the big gun on the mound that has come to define this program in the past two decades. Second team all-CCIW pitcher Eric Rohe (4-2, 4.11 ERA) looks to lead the charge along with two time all-CCIW pitcher Mario Perez (5-3, 3.69 ERA). At the plate, the Red Men are led by a pair of 2010 all-CCIW and all-Region performers in Joey Aiello (.400, 18 2Bs) and OF Will Hodges (.358, 60 RBI). Hodges is a pre-season all-American and Aiello is making the switch from 1B to 2B in 2011. The Cardinals of North Central return six all-CCIW players (three first-team and three second-team). Was 2010's success a flash in the pan or are they for real? They are led by catcher Michael Corrigan (2010 CCIW Player of the Year, .406, 67 RBI) and they return two all-CCIW arms in Nate Arenson and TJ Hecimovich. The CCIW looks to be a four-team race with the above mentioned battling for league and region supremacy. While the other teams may find themselves in a battle for a playoff spot, they certainly offer some talent to help make their case. If Augustana and Wheaton are expecting promise this season, it will have to be built on the shoulders Dave Hoffman and Kurt Schmidt of Augustana, and Justin Zeller and Drew Golz of Wheaton. Though each is a fantastic offensive force, they do not appear to have the arms in their own dugouts to make them postseason factors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 07:14:06 PM
What time does the North Park-Augie game start?!  Sager says 4 or 730, the NP site says 5 but there are currently no live stats, and the Augie site says 6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 08:11:12 PM
Thanks to Kevin Shepke for texting me back....North Park is up 5-0 in the 7th.  Guess it started at 5. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 08:13:32 PM
Due to the several conflicts on campus (some of which Greg was referring to last night), live stats are unavailable.  I will try to update this as often as I hear anything from Kevin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2011, 08:30:10 PM
I expect to see NPU in the regional rankings this week. Maybe as high as 4th?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 08:32:18 PM
FINAL... NP 5, augie 0. I'm VERY proud to be a north park viking. Cciw (co) champs! Congrats!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 09, 2011, 08:38:28 PM
congrats to north park, coach johnson, his coaches and players
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2011, 09:16:20 PM
While I'm very comfortable with Pankau as (unanimous) pitcher-of-the-year, and Callahan as (heavy majority) player-of-the-year (CCIW.org has not updated conference-only stats for the weekend, and he did not have a good weekend, but I'd certainly bet he still has the OB% and slugging% titles, even if he was overtaken for the batting title), but, even as a loyal Titan, I would have no problem at all with Luke Johnson being the sole COY.

A coach (Martel) should not be penalized for continuing excellence, but a coach (Johnson) should be rewarded for restoring excellence to a long-dormant program.  My vote (if I had one) would go to Johnson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 09, 2011, 09:50:25 PM
One thing to note, regarding the Coach of the Year discussion, is how many young position players the Titans have.  Here are IWU's top 5 hitters (by batting average):

Kevin Callahan (1B), .415 (135 AB) - Sophomore
Johnathan Erickson (2B), .375 (120 AB) - Freshman
Bobby Czarnowski (DH), .341 (129 AB) - Freshman
A.J. Nathan (C), .341 (132 AB) - Sophomore
Zach Scott (SS), .326 (129 AB) - Sophomore


I believe success in recruiting and developing young talent is relevant to a "coach of the year" discussion,  and it seems Dennis Martel has done both in impressive fashion this year. 

I think 2011 should be a co-COY situation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2011, 10:44:50 PM
Travis Boyer gave up three hits and struck out 13 in a complete-game victory against Augie.  That gives North Park a well-deserved share of the CCIW title, plus 30 wins on the season for only the third time in school history.  The game ended at 7.25 PM, just in time for the team to head to Hamming Hall for the senior sports awards.  Trevor Popp was named Male Athlete of the Year.  Quite an evening for Viking baseball!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 10:45:59 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 09, 2011, 09:50:25 PM
One thing to note, regarding the Coach of the Year discussion, is how many young position players the Titans have.  Here are IWU's top 5 hitters (by batting average):

Kevin Callahan (1B), .415 (135 AB) - Sophomore
Johnathan Erickson (2B), .375 (120 AB) - Freshman
Bobby Czarnowski (DH), .341 (129 AB) - Freshman
A.J. Nathan (C), .341 (132 AB) - Sophomore
Zach Scott (SS), .326 (129 AB) - Sophomore


I believe success in recruiting and developing young talent is relevant to a "coach of the year" discussion,  and it seems Dennis Martel has done both in impressive fashion this year.  

I think 2011 should be a co-COY situation.

Let's not forget that North Park lost its top starter to the draft, it's top offensive player to injury, and a projected top-4 pitcher to injury, as well.  If Pankau is as dominant as most seem to say he is (I've never seen him pitch...high school coaches never get to see these games in person), then I wonder where Martel would be if he was playing pro ball this year, as Giovenco is doing rather than pitching his senior season at North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2011, 11:13:09 PM
Good point, Bob - I had not noticed that their top hitters were THAT young!  I had noticed at the end of last season that they were losing a ton, but kind of forgot just HOW young they would be.

Co-COYs seems like a good call.

Staying on top with THAT big a target on your back (and a team THAT young) IS IMO as impressive as bringing a dormant team back to life.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 11:30:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2011, 11:13:09 PM
Good point, Bob - I had not noticed that their top hitters were THAT young!  I had noticed at the end of last season that they were losing a ton, but kind of forgot just HOW young they would be.

Co-COYs seems like a good call.

Staying on top with THAT big a target on your back (and a team THAT young) IS IMO as impressive as bringing a dormant team back to life.
This is not about bringing a dormant team back to life.  This is not 2007.  It may be that kind of thinking that has kept North Park out of the regional rankings, inexplicably, to this point. 

Luke Johnson, as I remember, has already won a COY for bringing  dormant team back to life, and that was a while ago.  This team was not, has not been, and is not dead.  This is a team that was nationally-ranked last week, and will be again if rankings make any sense.

What Johnson HAS done is what I described in my earlier post....take a group of guys that were ranked pre-season 6th (except by BP), lost a starter to the draft, a starter to injury, a leading hitter to injury, won 30 games, and a share of the conference title.

I'm sorry if my paints me as a bit irritated, but it almost seems as if some people still want to think about North Park baseball as being a bottom-division team.  And they haven't been that team for a while.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 11:32:01 PM
I should say, sorry if my post paints me.  Tongue-twisting post.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 10, 2011, 09:59:36 AM
North Park is back in the D3 baseball Top 25 this week at #25.  Carthage drops to #22.  Wesleyan and Augustana also received votes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 12:25:09 PM
Congratulations to NPU, to Luke Johnson and his assistant coaches, and, most of all, to the Vikings themselves on their CCIW co-championship!

Yesterday was a special day, with the 5-0 shutout, the on-field celebration (including a well-deserved Gatorade bath for Luke Johnson), and the seniors hustling over to Hamming Hall while still in their uniforms to be recognized at Senior Awards Night. I hope it's a day that those Vikings seniors will always remember. Personally, I had a lot of fun working the mic for the game, as I discovered that it's a terrific pleasure to be able to announce over the stadium P.A. that your alma mater is the conference co-champion.

That 21-year drought was a heavy burden for the program to bear. Glad to see it go.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 12:38:41 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 10:45:59 PM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 09, 2011, 09:50:25 PM
One thing to note, regarding the Coach of the Year discussion, is how many young position players the Titans have.  Here are IWU's top 5 hitters (by batting average):

Kevin Callahan (1B), .415 (135 AB) - Sophomore
Johnathan Erickson (2B), .375 (120 AB) - Freshman
Bobby Czarnowski (DH), .341 (129 AB) - Freshman
A.J. Nathan (C), .341 (132 AB) - Sophomore
Zach Scott (SS), .326 (129 AB) - Sophomore


I believe success in recruiting and developing young talent is relevant to a "coach of the year" discussion,  and it seems Dennis Martel has done both in impressive fashion this year.  

I think 2011 should be a co-COY situation.

Let's not forget that North Park lost its top starter to the draft, it's top offensive player to injury, and a projected top-4 pitcher to injury, as well.  If Pankau is as dominant as most seem to say he is (I've never seen him pitch...high school coaches never get to see these games in person), then I wonder where Martel would be if he was playing pro ball this year, as Giovenco is doing rather than pitching his senior season at North Park.

Well said, TD. Plus, as I said yesterday, NPU was picked to finish sixth. IWU was picked to finish first. Sure, Dennis Martel has had a fine year. But if the coaches have any sense of integrity with regard to their preseason poll, they'll make Luke Johnson the CCIW Coach of the Year.

Quote from: Viking Blue on May 09, 2011, 11:30:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2011, 11:13:09 PM
Staying on top with THAT big a target on your back (and a team THAT young) IS IMO as impressive as bringing a dormant team back to life.

This is not about bringing a dormant team back to life.  This is not 2007.  It may be that kind of thinking that has kept North Park out of the regional rankings, inexplicably, to this point. 

Luke Johnson, as I remember, has already won a COY for bringing  dormant team back to life, and that was a while ago.  This team was not, has not been, and is not dead.  This is a team that was nationally-ranked last week, and will be again if rankings make any sense.

What Johnson HAS done is what I described in my earlier post....take a group of guys that were ranked pre-season 6th (except by BP), lost a starter to the draft, a starter to injury, a leading hitter to injury, won 30 games, and a share of the conference title.

I'm sorry if my paints me as a bit irritated, but it almost seems as if some people still want to think about North Park baseball as being a bottom-division team.  And they haven't been that team for a while.

Again, well said, TD. The NPU baseball program was not dormant coming into this season, Chuck. You're forgetting that the Vikings finished second in the CCIW last season, two games ahead of Carthage and three games ahead of Illinois Wesleyan.

Luke Johnson already brought a dormant program back to life, back when Jack Surridge hired him to revive the NPU baseball program six years ago. As Mr. B has pointed out before, the Vikings were 1-39, 1-20 in 2005, the season before Luke was hired; in 2006 the Vikings finished in a fourth-place tie and Luke was named CCIW Coach of the Year. As Viking Blue said, that was quite a while ago. The Coach of the Year award should not be a career-recognition plaudit. It should go to the coach who earned it specifically for the season in question ... and for 2011, that coach should be Luke Johnson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 12:56:28 PM
I would be remiss if I didn't give a special shout-out to NPU junior hurler Travis Boyer for his complete-game gem yesterday. As Mr. B pointed out, he shut out Augustana on three hits, walking five while striking out thirteen. Very few Augie hitters made even halfway-decent contact against him.

Boyer (4-1, 1.70) currently has a 23-inning scoreless streak going. Not bad for a #4 starter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2011, 02:37:19 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 12:56:28 PM
I would be remiss if I didn't give a special shout-out to NPU junior hurler Travis Boyer for his complete-game gem yesterday. As Mr. B pointed out, he shut out Augustana on three hits, walking five while striking out thirteen. Very few Augie hitters made even halfway-decent contact against him.

Boyer (4-1, 1.70) currently has a 23-inning scoreless streak going. Not bad for a #4 starter.
Boyer was chosen as CCIW co-pitcher of the week, along with Wesleyan's Jose Sweeney, who pitched a no-hitter.  Congratulations, Travis!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM
I want to preface this comment by saying I believe Luke Johnson should be the COY more so than Dennis Martel, and that I think the coaches will probably vote for the two men to share the honor.

That being said, to base the job a coach did on their preseason ranking as voted on by the coaches is silly to me.  I think most people would agree that IWU was voted to win the conference based simply on the fact that they were National Champions last year.  In looking at their roster turnover, of their top 5 pitchers in terms of innings, Pankau is the only returning pitcher. Their top 4 hitters in the lineup were either not on the team last year or played a very limited role.

In my opinion, this is the best coaching job Martel has done in the 12 years that I have been following IWU baseball.

In 2006, Luke did win Coach of the Year after finishing in a tie for fourth (with an 8-13 record).  Maybe I am reading the previous posts incorrect or just interrupting them in a way to create conflict (I have been known to do this over my life and for that i apologize), but this notion that North Park would have been shorted in the event that Luke is not COY just seems like whining. He has done great things with that program and has done something this year that Coach Wallace has never been able to do at Augustana and that is win a conference championship.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 05:34:43 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM
I want to preface this comment by saying I believe Luke Johnson should be the COY more so than Dennis Martel, and that I think the coaches will probably vote for the two men to share the honor.

That being said, to base the job a coach did on their preseason ranking as voted on by the coaches is silly to me.

Why is it silly? You give no reason as to why there should be a discontinuity between the preseason poll and the COY award. Who votes in the preseason poll? The CCIW's head coaches. Who votes for the COY award? The CCIW's head coaches. Same constituency.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMI think most people would agree that IWU was voted to win the conference based simply on the fact that they were National Champions last year.

Why should the coaches' reasons behind their preseason votes matter? The poll is what it is. Regardless of their rationale(s), the CCIW's head coaches selected IWU to win the CCIW title in 2011.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMIn looking at their roster turnover, of their top 5 pitchers in terms of innings, Pankau is the only returning pitcher. Their top 4 hitters in the lineup were either not on the team last year or played a very limited role.

Again, it's irrelevant with regard to how the coaches view it, because they've already spoken to this point by selecting IWU first. If they had agreed with you that the Titans had been hollowed out by graduation, would they have picked them to finish first in the league? Sure doesn't seem like it to me. And, as for overcoming the loss of key contributors from last season, Viking Blue has already spelled out in detail how North Park has had to compensate for the untimely loss of Mike Giovenco, Ryan Javech, and Alex Silverthorne.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM
In my opinion, this is the best coaching job Martel has done in the 12 years that I have been following IWU baseball.

In my opinion, this is the best coaching job any Vikings baseball coach has done in the 32 years that I have been following NPU baseball.

And I say that while mindful of the fact that Bosko Djurickovic had some really, really good years helming the Vikings back in the '80s and early '90s.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMIn 2006, Luke did win Coach of the Year after finishing in a tie for fourth (with an 8-13 record).

That's already been established. Are you insinuating that he therefore doesn't deserve another one?

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMMaybe I am reading the previous posts incorrect or just interrupting them in a way to create conflict (I have been known to do this over my life and for that i apologize)

Why apologize? Arguments are what makes these rooms fun. ;)

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM, but this notion that North Park would have been shorted in the event that Luke is not COY just seems like whining.

Not whining so much as really, really angry complaining about an injustice.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMHe has done great things with that program and has done something this year that Coach Wallace has never been able to do at Augustana and that is win a conference championship.

... and, given how many good teams Augie has had during Wallace's tenure, that certainly puzzles me. After all, you'd think that a coach whose teams have won 30 or more games seven times over his thirteen-year tenure would've won the title at least once.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 09:45:13 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2011, 10:44:50 PMTrevor Popp was named Male Athlete of the Year.

Congrats to Trevor. Winning NPU Male Athlete of the Year was a significant accomplishment in 2010-11, as one of the other three contenders, Lars Tenglin, has a very good shot at winning a Walnut and Bronze in the javelin at the D3 national track & field championships later this month. Tenglin is the only three-time CCIW javelin champion in league history, and he owns the league's record distance as well. Beating him out for Male Athlete of the Year speaks well of Trevor Popp's body of work in four years as a North Park baseball player.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 10, 2011, 10:07:37 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 05:34:43 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM
I want to preface this comment by saying I believe Luke Johnson should be the COY more so than Dennis Martel, and that I think the coaches will probably vote for the two men to share the honor.

That being said, to base the job a coach did on their preseason ranking as voted on by the coaches is silly to me.

Why is it silly? You give no reason as to why there should be a discontinuity between the preseason poll and the COY award. Who votes in the preseason poll? The CCIW's head coaches. Who votes for the COY award? The CCIW's head coaches. Same constituency.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMI think most people would agree that IWU was voted to win the conference based simply on the fact that they were National Champions last year.

Why should the coaches' reasons behind their preseason votes matter? The poll is what it is. Regardless of their rationale(s), the CCIW's head coaches selected IWU to win the CCIW title in 2011.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMIn looking at their roster turnover, of their top 5 pitchers in terms of innings, Pankau is the only returning pitcher. Their top 4 hitters in the lineup were either not on the team last year or played a very limited role.

Again, it's irrelevant with regard to how the coaches view it, because they've already spoken to this point by selecting IWU first. If they had agreed with you that the Titans had been hollowed out by graduation, would they have picked them to finish first in the league? Sure doesn't seem like it to me. And, as for overcoming the loss of key contributors from last season, Viking Blue has already spelled out in detail how North Park has had to compensate for the untimely loss of Mike Giovenco, Ryan Javech, and Alex Silverthorne.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM
In my opinion, this is the best coaching job Martel has done in the 12 years that I have been following IWU baseball.

In my opinion, this is the best coaching job any Vikings baseball coach has done in the 32 years that I have been following NPU baseball.

And I say that while mindful of the fact that Bosko Djurickovic had some really, really good years helming the Vikings back in the '80s and early '90s.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMIn 2006, Luke did win Coach of the Year after finishing in a tie for fourth (with an 8-13 record).

That's already been established. Are you insinuating that he therefore doesn't deserve another one?

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMMaybe I am reading the previous posts incorrect or just interrupting them in a way to create conflict (I have been known to do this over my life and for that i apologize)

Why apologize? Arguments are what makes these rooms fun. ;)

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PM, but this notion that North Park would have been shorted in the event that Luke is not COY just seems like whining.

Not whining so much as really, really angry complaining about an injustice.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 10, 2011, 04:51:01 PMHe has done great things with that program and has done something this year that Coach Wallace has never been able to do at Augustana and that is win a conference championship.

... and, given how many good teams Augie has had during Wallace's tenure, that certainly puzzles me. After all, you'd think that a coach whose teams have won 30 or more games seven times over his thirteen-year tenure would've won the title at least once.

Yeah, what he said.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2011, 10:29:48 PM
My apologies to Viking Blue and Greg (and any other NPU supporters who might have taken offense) for saying Luke Johnson deserved the COY for bringing "a dormant team back to life".  I realize now that he already did that some years ago; but I wasn't paying attention.  When IWU went 20-1, once they swept Carthage I hardly paid attention to who else had a winning record as it was all over.  Last season I well remember that IWU finished fourth, but was so shell-shocked when they won the CWS I could not even recall who finished above them.  I'm fairly new to CCIW baseball and did not do my historical homework - again my apologies for any offense I may have inadvertantly given.

Greg, I thought you were a bit unfair to FAN6 in your reply to the fifth quote.  In his very first sentence he said he thought Luke Johnson deserved COY MORE than Dennis Martel, so why the snide: "...insinuating that he therefore doesn't deserve another one."?

I, for one, would be perfectly happy with Johnson, Martel, or (especially) both as COY.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2011, 10:45:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2011, 10:29:48 PM
My apologies to Viking Blue and Greg (and any other NPU supporters who might have taken offense) for saying Luke Johnson deserved the COY for bringing "a dormant team back to life".  I realize now that he already did that some years ago; but I wasn't paying attention.  When IWU went 20-1, once they swept Carthage I hardly paid attention to who else had a winning record as it was all over.  Last season I well remember that IWU finished fourth, but was so shell-shocked when they won the CWS I could not even recall who finished above them.  I'm fairly new to CCIW baseball and did not do my historical homework - again my apologies for any offense I may have inadvertantly given.

No problem, Chuck.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2011, 10:29:48 PMGreg, I thought you were a bit unfair to FAN6 in your reply to the fifth quote.  In his very first sentence he said he thought Luke Johnson deserved COY MORE than Dennis Martel, so why the snide: "...insinuating that he therefore doesn't deserve another one."?

I didn't really intend any offense by it. I'm just puzzled as to why he brought up that previous COY award of Luke Johnson's, since both Viking Blue and I had already made mention of it. The only reason I can fathom behind his bringing it up yet again is that he's trying to make some sort of point about the worthiness (or lack thereof) of Luke's having won it in 2006 in spite of NPU's rather pedestrian fourth-place-tie finish that year. In other words, is he saying that this year -- in which, by his own admission, Luke deserves the award -- is offset by 2006, when he didn't deserve to win it?

I'm just trying to figure out what he's getting at.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on May 11, 2011, 03:42:01 PM
Congrats to my good friend/teammate Luke and his NPU squad. Well deserved honor and great to see Luke putting the pride back in NPU.  I talked to Luke yesterday and COY awards aren't his main focus or importance.  Winning ball games by playing fundamentally sound and getting into the post season is his #1 goal.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2011, 10:13:51 PM
Quote from: 79jaybird on May 11, 2011, 03:42:01 PM
Congrats to my good friend/teammate Luke and his NPU squad. Well deserved honor and great to see Luke putting the pride back in NPU.  I talked to Luke yesterday and COY awards aren't his main focus or importance.  Winning ball games by playing fundamentally sound and getting into the post season is his #1 goal.



I wouldn't be making an argument for him as COY if I thought that was his main focus.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2011, 10:43:37 PM
Just prior to him landing at NPU, Luke and I coached a team of midwest kids against teams in the Dominican Republic. It was a great week of baseball and I knew within minutes of meeting him that he was going to be a great head coach once he got in the door somewhere. Single-minded focus on the field and very introspective off it. We spent most of the week picking each other's brains about the game and sharing CCIW stories. We missed playing against each other by a few seasons.

If, in fact, he gets the CCIW coach of the year, it is very well-deserved, but I would not expect this to be his last one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2011, 10:54:35 PM
When are all the awards announced?  Right after the CCIW Tournament?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2011, 11:21:50 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2011, 10:54:35 PM
When are all the awards announced?  Right after the CCIW Tournament?
I think the coaches meet the tuesday after the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 12, 2011, 11:06:45 AM
wonderful photo on north park's facebook page of the senior members of the baseball team receiving their diplomas in a special ceremony yesterday afternoon.  a very nice gesture by the school for the players and their families.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2011, 11:46:40 AM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 12, 2011, 11:06:45 AM
wonderful photo on north park's facebook page of the senior members of the baseball team receiving their diplomas in a special ceremony yesterday afternoon.  a very nice gesture by the school for the players and their families.


It was a very nice gesture indeed.  Each student-athlete was applauded as he received his diploma, and there were many photo ops during and after the ceremony.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2011, 11:56:21 AM
The great part about the picture on Facebook is that they're all wearing their North Park baseball caps, rather than their mortarboards, with their gowns.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2011, 12:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2011, 11:56:21 AM
The great part about the picture on Facebook is that they're all wearing their North Park baseball caps, rather than their mortarboards, with their gowns.
They all wore traditional mortarboards until after the ceremony, but the caps were a nice touch afterwards.

My blue cap clashed with my burgundy gown, but I didn't mind :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 12, 2011, 04:05:42 PM
The comment about Luke winning the COY in 2006 with an 8-13 and a tie for 4th place was intended to show that he won the award with a very mediocre season.  Off of the top of my head (not really wanting to try and look back), I do not recall any outrage for him winning.  Obviously, it was a dramatic improvement from the previous season, but I still think it was a mediocre season. 

In regards to the CCIW preseason coaches poll, I do not think that the coaches put that much thought into it.  I have had an opportunity to talk to a couple of the coaches in the league and they have said they typically go off of history. Why in the world would the coaches pick a team that finished fourth in the conference the previous year, go into the conference tournament with a 19-19 record, and lost 4 of their top 5 pitchers, to win the conference in the preseason poll if they really looked at the teams closely?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2011, 04:38:54 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 12, 2011, 04:05:42 PM
The comment about Luke winning the COY in 2006 with an 8-13 and a tie for 4th place was intended to show that he won the award with a very mediocre season.  Off of the top of my head (not really wanting to try and look back), I do not recall any outrage for him winning.  Obviously, it was a dramatic improvement from the previous season, but I still think it was a mediocre season.

Aside from arguing the merits of the 2006 award (why wouldn't the improvement from gut-wrenchingly horrible to mediocre be worthy of a COY award?), I'm still trying to fathom your reasoning here. Are you saying that NPU fans should not show outrage if Luke fails to win in 2011 because no opposition fans showed outrage when he won in 2006? That's the same sort of balancing-out thesis that I thought you were putting forth in the first place. 

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 12, 2011, 04:05:42 PMIn regards to the CCIW preseason coaches poll, I do not think that the coaches put that much thought into it.  I have had an opportunity to talk to a couple of the coaches in the league and they have said they typically go off of history. Why in the world would the coaches pick a team that finished fourth in the conference the previous year, go into the conference tournament with a 19-19 record, and lost 4 of their top 5 pitchers, to win the conference in the preseason poll if they really looked at the teams closely?

You answered your own question. If the CCIW coaches use history as their primary rationale in sorting out the league in the preseason poll, then their selection of IWU for first is obviously a tribute to the esteem in which they hold Dennis Martel's coaching acumen and their belief in his ability to consistently win CCIW ballgames year in and year out.

But, again, the poll is what it is. For the sake of consistency and integrity, the coaches need to follow through and make sure that the coach whose team they picked to finish sixth but whose team instead won a co-championship is properly rewarded with the COY.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 05:17:27 PM
IWU and NCC tied at 3 in the third in the opening game of the CCIW tourney. IWU is throwing Pankau while NCC countered with Rashid.

I am curious to see who Carthage and NPU send to the mound tonight. Does either roll the dice and save a guy for the second round?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 06:19:30 PM
At the end of 6, IWU 4, NCC 3, with Pankau and Rashid still duelling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 06:37:13 PM
Those pesky Cardinals refuse to go away, tying the game in the 7th.  After 7, it is 4-4.

After last week's sweep by a combined 31-2 score, I foolishly took this first game for granted.  It's tourney time, Chuck! :o  Some foolish people no doubt took the Titans for granted last spring, too. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 06:48:33 PM
After 8, still 4-4.  Pankau still in, but Rashid left after 7; Herman got the Titans 1,2,3 in the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 07:05:06 PM
Titans are threatening in bottom of 9. Two on with one out (int walk of Callahan).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 07:08:11 PM
Titans win - 5-4!

I was very worried they were gonna waste a grand opportunity: winning run on third with only one out, then Herman struck out Czarnowski.  An error brought in the winning run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 07:13:29 PM
I feel like IWU escaped here. Did not play well, but somehow found a way to win. A walk, and wild pitch and an error did NCC in the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2011, 07:19:02 PM
Looks like a self-destruct job by NCC in some ways. Not only did an error bring in the winning run -- since there were two outs, a clean play would've gotten the Cards out of the inning -- but the wild pitch that sent the eventual winning run from second to third with one out was huge as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 07:44:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 05:17:27 PM
I am curious to see who Carthage and NPU send to the mound tonight. Does either roll the dice and save a guy for the second round?

If Live stats is correct, Carthage is starting Nic Jensen??!!  NP starting Sparacino who lost 3-2 vs. Carthage on Sat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:01:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 07:44:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 05:17:27 PM
I am curious to see who Carthage and NPU send to the mound tonight. Does either roll the dice and save a guy for the second round?

If Live stats is correct, Carthage is starting Nic Jensen??!!  NP starting Sparacino who lost 3-2 vs. Carthage on Sat.

;D I will never question what Augie does. There is a reason he has won 707 more college baseball games than I have. Maybe he knows something we don't.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:02:13 PM
... and just like that Jensen loads the bases with a single and two HBPs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 08:05:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:02:13 PM
... and just like that Jensen loads the bases with a single and two HBPs.

I was thinking the exact same thing...don't get the call, but we'll roll with it!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 08:07:35 PM
The ol' 2-6-2 out to end the inning on a double steal attempt.  NPU up 2-0 after 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:26:32 PM
Billy Herrin just hit a three-run HR. Carthage up 3-2 in third
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:30:00 PM
Speaking of Herrin, I have seen him play a few times in the past two seasons and each time I am immediately reminded of Glen Braun('99) as far as mannerisms and the way he plays. There is something about this kid that just makes you want to watch him play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:31:04 PM
D'angelo and Hodges have both just homered as well. 5-2 Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:11:04 PM
NPU cut the lead to 6-4 and Carthage makes the move to the bullpen to........ MARIO PEREZ??  Not sure I saw this coming but sometimes "you gotta dance with the girl that brung ya."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 09:16:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:11:04 PM
NPU cut the lead to 6-4 and Carthage makes the move to the bullpen to........ MARIO PEREZ??  Not sure I saw this coming but sometimes "you gotta dance with the girl that brung ya."

I have a feeling that's a move that Augie didn't want to make, but the HR by Medina helped make the decision for him.  If Jensen gets out of the 6th, I wonder if we see someone else in the 7th besides Perez?  Would be interesting to know if anyone else was warming up in the bullpen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 09:24:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:30:00 PM
Speaking of Herrin, I have seen him play a few times in the past two seasons and each time I am immediately reminded of Glen Braun('99) as far as mannerisms and the way he plays. There is something about this kid that just makes you want to watch him play.

He's having a night tonight...that's for certain!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 09:25:52 PM
If Perez pitches more than an inning or two, is he likely out for the tourney?  I don't know his resiliency/arm strength.

Tomorrow would be a helluva good time for Joe Sweeney to pull a Johnny VanderMeer! ;D  (For you confused youngsters, that means consecutive no hitters. :D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:35:14 PM
I am beginning to think that Augie went with Jensen and Perez (both lefties)as a way to slow down the running game of NPU. They are the team most likely to run wild on Carthage. Since the running game is crucial to NPU's offense, it might be a great move to slow them down a bit... unless it backfires and then it is the WORST decision ever ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:37:28 PM
NPU gets a walk and two Carthage erros to load the bases ion the 7th with no out... and somehow Perez pitches his way out of it with no runs.

I am starting to get that warm fuzzy feeling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 09:37:47 PM
WOW!!!!!!


Bases loaded with nobody out and NU doesn't score!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:59:19 PM
Herrin is a monster tonight. Another rbi hit... 3 hits and 5 RBI on the night. Carthage up 9-4 in 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2011, 10:02:57 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 09:59:19 PM
Herrin is a monster tonight. Another rbi hit... 3 hits and 5 RBI on the night. Carthage up 9-4 in 9th.

Last to RBI's were both 2 out doubles that scored the runner from first who reached via the walk.  Those walks will kill you!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 12, 2011, 10:31:23 PM
North Park drops game one, which is disappointing.  However, I feel a lot better about the situation knowing that Kuligowski is going to the mound tomorrow (I assume).  He's been pretty darn good for NP this year, and I actually have to think it was a pretty tough call for Luke to pick his game one starter.  Sparacino deserved the start, though....

BP, I agree 100% with your assessment of the use of the lefties against NP.  That sounds spot-on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2011, 10:46:00 PM
While I certainly have no insider knowledge, I would certainly assume Joe Sweeney will pitch against Carthage tomorrow.  Any idea who he will face?

(Joe, channel your inner Johnny VanderMeer! ;))

Anyone know whether conference player and coach awards are already done, or do they include the tourney?  Kevin Callahan has picked a terrible time to go into a horrendous slump (though his teammates covering for him may pay off in the longer run).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 11:06:22 PM
My guess is Carthage counters Sweeney with Dahm, but then again, I NEVER expected Augie to run out Nic Jensen tonight for only his third start of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 11:16:47 PM
Quoting Augie Schmidt:

"I started Nic Jensen," said Carthage coach Augie Schmidt IV, "because North Park hadn't seen him. Nic has been great all year, and I wanted to give North Park a different look. After Nic, everybody else was in relief. I didn't necessarily plan to have Mario Perez as the first guy out of the bullpen, but I felt like we were going to need two guys. Once we got the lead, I decided to use Mario, and I think he had a bit of payback thing going after he got roughed up by North Park last weekend. He was emotionally into it, and those two guys made me look pretty smart. The back-to-back-to-back home runs were really a lift. We've been chasing runs so much lately, and it's hard to play that way. We needed a lift, which we just haven't had the past few weeks."

As I said, there is a reason he now has 708 more college coaching victories than I do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 12, 2011, 11:24:09 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 08:30:00 PM
Speaking of Herrin, I have seen him play a few times in the past two seasons and each time I am immediately reminded of Glen Braun('99) as far as mannerisms and the way he plays. There is something about this kid that just makes you want to watch him play.
The Mayor of Valders?   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2011, 11:34:45 PM
I believe he is the KING of Valders.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?

In year's past, it has been the higher seed in round one and then a coin flip after that. I am thinking this might still be the same.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 12:48:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?

In year's past, it has been the higher seed in round one and then a coin flip after that. I am thinking this might still be the same.
That doesn't sound fair to me.  The higher seed has earned some privileges based on past performance.  Why would they leave such an important decision up to the flip of a coin?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:52:31 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 12:48:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 12:41:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?

In year's past, it has been the higher seed in round one and then a coin flip after that. I am thinking this might still be the same.
That doesn't sound fair to me.  The higher seed has earned some privileges based on past performance.  Why would they leave such an important decision up to the flip of a coin?

I agree.  Does seem to be a bit strange to me.  It's not like the team who has the lower seed has any room to complain, in my opinion.  Oh well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dansand on May 13, 2011, 12:55:22 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?

I'm wondering if it works like the regionals do. Since North Park was a home team in the first round and North Central was a visitor, they flip switch them for the second round. That would also mean Carthage would be the home team against IWU in the second game. I'm just speculating, but that would be my guess.

Just to clarify, I didn't mean a coin flip.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:59:49 PM
Three unearned runs for North Central so far in the bottom of the fourth.  North Park takes a 2-run lead in the top of the inning, and gives it right back in the "home/coinflip/magic switcheroo" half.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 13, 2011, 01:03:47 PM
My understanding was that the higher seed was home team in the first game and in the second game if a team had not yet been a home team they were awarded it.  If both teams were home in their first game, then it defaulted back to the higher seed. 

I could be wrong but this is my memory of it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:27:57 PM
Through 6 innings, Kuligowski has given up 2 hits.....and trails 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 01:29:58 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:27:57 PM
Through 6 innings, Kuligowski has given up 2 hits.....and trails 3-2.

Gotta catch the ball in the post-season. NPU may be done in by its defense today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 01:39:47 PM
Huge play by NPU to escape a jam in the seventh. With one out and NCC runners on second and third, Mike Sommerfield caught a fly ball in left, hit the cutoff man, and then the Vikings got the runner at third when he attempted to get back to third.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:41:50 PM
Popp singles with 2 outs in the 8th.  If there was ever a time when everyone in the park knows what he has to do now, this is it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:43:46 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:41:50 PM
Popp singles with 2 outs in the 8th.  If there was ever a time when everyone in the park knows what he has to do now, this is it.

And this is why watching games on live stats is difficult.  Before I was even done typing this, it says Sousanes hit into a FC to end the inning.  One is left wondering how many pitches he saw, and whether or not he truly did his job and tried to let the most prolific base stealer in the conference do his thing.

3-4-5 for the Vikings in the ninth.  Here's hoping....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 01:47:19 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 01:39:47 PM
Huge play by NPU to escape a jam in the seventh. With one out and NCC runners on second and third, Mike Sommerfield caught a fly ball in left, hit the cutoff man, and then the Vikings got the runner at third when he attempted to get back to third.
Live Stats corrected the play to show that the runner left from third early.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 01:48:26 PM
Crap. Bad time to give up a homer.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 01:51:39 PM
NPU is probably going to have to score a pair here in the ninth in order to keep its season alive. I am not sanguine about the Park's chances of garnering a Pool C berth if the Vikes go 0-2 in the tourney after only being ranked fifth in the region this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:54:55 PM
WOW.  one run in, tying run at third, nobody out for NP
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 01:55:36 PM
Sac fly by Medina ties the score.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 01:55:42 PM
An 0-2 would be death for NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 01:55:56 PM
Yes! NPU has tied it up!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:58:03 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 01:54:55 PM
WOW.  one run in, tying run at third, nobody out for NP

....and we're tied.  Domenick singled, Athans tripled, and Medina hit a sac fly to tie it up.

I REALLY hope our earlier discussion about coin flips, etc. doesn't come back to haunt a team that won 30 games this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 13, 2011, 01:59:42 PM
And it all comes down to this
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 02:03:06 PM
McGrady in for Kuligowski, nobody out, runner on first. Big situation for the NPU freshman hurler.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 02:03:37 PM
Lead off single in the ninth for NC.

Kuligowski out, McGrady in.  Too bad for Kuligowski.  Seems like he pitched a very nice ball game, as he has all year long for North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 02:06:38 PM
Successful sac bunt, intentional walk ... and now McGrady has to get through the heart of the Cardinals' order.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 02:08:31 PM
Wow.  What an awful way to lose.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2011, 02:09:30 PM
Vikes lose.

Bad time for the well to run dry for NPU. As I said, I don't think that North Park has much of a chance for a Pool C bid after an 0-2 tourney that comes on the heels of only being ranked fifth in region.

We'll see.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 02:23:57 PM
Very sad results from Bloomington.   I couldn't make the trip this year because I had to give a final exam this morning, so I was forced to watch the games on live stats.  It's better than not knowing till later, but it's very nerve-wracking.

I don't know enough about the decisions that go into Pool C bids, and I truly hope that the Vikings get a bid.  They've had a fine season thus far, winning 30 games for the first time in years, and grabbing a share of the CCIW title.  The senior leadership has been phenomenal, and they deserve a shot at regionals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 02:31:21 PM
If NPU has any chance at a Pool C, they need to get to the table as soon as possible. They need to cheer for Buena Vista (who is just ahead of them in the regional rankings) to go 0-2 in the IIAC tourney and hope that their improved SoS can help them slide ahead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 02:40:02 PM
Interesting... Carthage does not have Chris D'Angelo in today's line-up after solid game for him last night. . Once again, Augie surprises me.  


And Martel surprises me by running Nick Mehn out to the mound today. IWU is saving Sweeney for later. Not a bad call as they are most likely already a Pool C lock.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 02:41:16 PM
Quote from: dansand on May 13, 2011, 12:55:22 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2011, 12:32:03 PM
Can anyone explain to me why North Central (4 seed) is the home team in a game against North Park (2 seed)?

How is that determined?

I'm wondering if it works like the regionals do. Since North Park was a home team in the first round and North Central was a visitor, they flip switch them for the second round. That would also mean Carthage would be the home team against IWU in the second game. I'm just speculating, but that would be my guess.

Just to clarify, I didn't mean a coin flip.

Carthage is the home team. You were right.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2011, 02:59:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 02:40:02 PM
Interesting... Carthage does not have Chris D'Angelo in today's line-up after solid game for him last night. . Once again, Augie surprises me.  


And Martel surprises me by running Nick Mehn out to the mound today. IWU is saving Sweeney for later. Not a bad call as they are most likely already a Pool C lock.


Think one had to do with the other??  Lefty vs. righty potentially?  The line-up is a lot different than yesterday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 03:19:59 PM
It's scoreless after 2.  Carthage got two 2-out singles in the first, but those are the only hits for either team.  The game may be over in an hour at this pace! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 03:42:55 PM
1-0 Carthage in the 5th. Fast game so far...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 03:52:15 PM
In the top of the 5th, IWU finally got a man to third, but no further.  To this point, Dahm has a 2-hit shutout going (Mehn has been almost as good with 3 hits, 1 run after 4).  Carthage still up 1-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 03:54:39 PM
And the second I hit 'post', Pusateri leads off with a HR! :(  Carthage up 2-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:04:18 PM
Aaarrrgh - with two outs, an error kept the inning alive - naturally, Carthage added another run!  3-0 after 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:06:29 PM
Dahm is still not allowing hits, but the Titans start the 6th with an error and a HBP - 2 on with no outs - comeback time?!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:10:21 PM
YES!!  McDermott clears the bases with a double - now 3-2!

Come on, Titans, let's have one of those patented BIG innings!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 04:10:42 PM
Tied at 3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:16:03 PM
Not as big as I hoped, but an Erickson double right after McDermott's tied the score.  Going to the bottom of the 6th tied at 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:30:26 PM
Mehn gets Carthage 1,2,3 in the bottom of the 6th.

In the top of the 7th, Hopp gets an infield single, Nathan bunts him to 2nd (a call I DO not understand - you KNOW that just means they'll walk Callahan - and they did).  That's it for Dahm; Lochen now pitching.

Czarnowski flied out, but McDermott comes through again!  Just a single this time, but IWU takes the lead, 4-3.  Alas, that is all, but the Titans finally have the lead!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:36:23 PM
Mehn gets 'em 1,2,3 again in the 7th.  He seems to be getting stronger as the game goes on - alas, livestats gives no pitch count, so I don't know if he is anywhere near running out of gas.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:47:22 PM
Mehn's consecutive outs streak stopped after 9, but we're going to the 9th with IWU still up 4-3.

The Titans will bat the top of the order, while the RedMen will bat the bottom - I'm cautiously optimistic.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 04:49:42 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:47:22 PM
Mehn's consecutive outs streak stopped after 9, but we're going to the 9th with IWU still up 4-3.

The Titans will bat the top of the order, while the RedMen will bat the bottom - I'm cautiously optimistic.

True, but the bottom of the Carthage order has done the damage today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 04:58:11 PM
Lochen went to 7 straight outs before Callahan got an infield single.  Czarnowski then walked.  2 on, 2 out.  Dang - McDermott is human today after all - third out.

Hopefully either the bottom of Carthage's order has done all the damage they're entitled to for the day, or Mehn will keep it going so it doesn't matter WHO he faces (I'd settle for both!). ;D

Callahan went to the plate 5 times today, and had 2 at bats!  He was HBP twice and walked once.  Sissy pitchers! ;D ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 05:00:46 PM
Runner on second with one out... c'mon Carthage. At least give Billy a shot to tie it or win. One more runner.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2011, 05:01:43 PM
2 run HR to win it!!   WALK-OFF!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 05:01:48 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo! Two run, two out walk off bomb for Carthage by the #9 hitter!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 05:02:19 PM
Oh, man - the #9 hitter gets a walk-off HR! :(

Congratulations to Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 05:07:09 PM
Well - at least I get another game of interest to follow tonight! :P

Good to see that the Titan starting pitching is not just Pankau and Sweeney - Mehn had a helluva game, despite the ending.  That could be big if the Titans can't overcome Carthage's extreme advantage tomorrow (assuming they get there); IF they get a Pool C (probable), depth of pitching is the key in tourneys.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 05:16:25 PM
This game went pretty quickly; the next game is not scheduled for nearly two hours.  Any idea whether it will start earlier than that?

I assume the pitching matchup will be Sweeney vs. (any idea?).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2011, 05:21:16 PM
Just so that it's recorded somewhere!

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fusera.imagecave.com%2Fmwunder%2FCarthage.bmp.jpg&hash=a728f2f638e4073d0645e6041388a9bb080120b7)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 05:23:10 PM
Sadist!! :o >:( ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2011, 05:38:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 05:23:10 PM
Sadist!! :o >:( ;D

I won't count my chickens too early...didn't this same scenario (minus the walk-off HR) happen last season and IWU went on to win the whole enchilada?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 06:53:19 PM
Yep - we've got ya right where we want ya! :o ;)

Now if only lightning can strike twice in a row!  I'll be nervous if we don't win this evening's game, but even if not, I'm reasonably sure both Carthage and IWU have earned Pool C bids (and I'll cross my fingers for NPU).

Titan baseball can't seem to handle prosperity.  In that magical 2007 season (an unprecedented 20-1 conference record), we went 0-2 and 0-2 in the conference and regional tourneys.  In 2008 we won the conference again (18-3) and WON the conference tourney, but went 0-2 in the regional.  And of course, you remember last year - we were probably the bottom seed all three weekends.  We'll see how this season plays out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 06:58:46 PM
IWU is the home team.  After 3.5, they lead 5-3.  Joe Sweeney lost his Johnny Vander Meer possibility very early, but seems to have settled in after a shaky start - he now has 5 consecutive outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 07:24:54 PM
In the match to see who has to beat Carthage TWICE tomorrow (;)), IWU still up 5-3 after 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 13, 2011, 07:34:01 PM
We got a 5-5 ballgame in the 6th
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jigsaw54 on May 13, 2011, 07:40:45 PM
6-5  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 07:44:56 PM
Now 6-5 NCC after 5.5 innings.  Giving up a single and double before he got an out, I figured national pitcher-of-the-week Joe Sweeney couldn't escape totally unscathed, but he balked one run in, then gave up two more hits.  He looked VERY strong from the 3rd thru the 5th, but he may be nearly out of gas.  (Or maybe it was just one of those innings?! ::))

I think IWU is probably a Pool C even if they lose, but if they can't come back I will be VERY nervous on selection day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 07:59:59 PM
Save only for bottom of the ninth in a tie game, I do NOT understand the strategy of a sacrifice bunt!  If anyone wishes to study the matter, I'm willing to bet it backfires 90% of the time.  Barring a miracle, it adds an out.  It therefore drastically reduces the likelihood of a big inning.  And I'd be willing to bet that 10% of the time it results in a pop-up, which likely means a double-play!

In the earlier game, Martel had Nathan do it, which simply took the bat out of Callahan's hands (the livestats did not call it an intentional walk, but I'd bet it was at least semi-intentional).  Now he has (lately red-hot) Hopp do it, with no net result.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 08:05:25 PM
Since Dennis Martel has won far more games than I, I'll drop the diatribe.  In the top of the 7th, Hagensee led off with a double, which meant the showers for Joe Sweeney.  He later scored on a Highland double.  No further damage: 7-5 NCC after 6.5 innings.  Kopp is now pitching for IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 08:47:13 PM
Had to go pick up my son from work, but I'm back.  Going to the bottom of the 9th with NCC still up 7-5.  IWU has the middle of the order, with Callahan leading off.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 08:51:40 PM
BTW, Justin Verlander missed out on his Johnny Vander Meer opportunity, too, but he no-hit the Royals for 5.2 innings! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 09:33:34 PM
Callahan gets a single (he's 3-4, including a HR); Czarnowski walked; McDermott did a sacrifice bunt (aarrgh?!, we'll see ;)).  Runners at 2nd and 3rd, 1-out.  PH struck out - now 2 outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 09:36:03 PM
Grodecki struck out to end it: NCC 7, IWU 5.

I'm fairly confident of a Pool C bid, but a bit nervous.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 11:07:44 PM
I see Carthage maybe landing at the #2 slot if they can win it and IWU sliding to maybe the #3/4 slot. I think they are safe for a bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2011, 11:11:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 11:07:44 PM
I see Carthage maybe landing at the #2 slot if they can win it and IWU sliding to maybe the #3/4 slot. I think they are safe for a bid.
What other teams do you seeing getting a bid?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2011, 11:23:38 PM
Still a lot of baseball to go this weekend, but here is what I expect to see:

1. Coe- IIAC Pool A
2. Carthage- CCIW Pool A
3. IWU- CCIW Pool C
4. (This is the tough one... Maybe Buena Vista, but they were terrible this weekend. I think a team may get shipped in from outside the region here.)
5. Webster- SLIAC Pool A
6.  Beloit- MWC Pool A


I think NPU, WashU, NCC, Augustana, and possibly Buena Vista get left out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 11:41:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 09:33:34 PM
Callahan gets a single (he's 3-4, including a HR); Czarnowski walked; McDermott did a sacrifice bunt (aarrgh?!, we'll see ;)).  Runners at 2nd and 3rd, 1-out.  PH struck out - now 2 outs.

Back to the rant. ;)  McDermott had a gazillion RBIs in the first game (well, 3 anyway ;)), and you're giving him an almost automatic out??  To put only the tying runs in scoring position??

True, he might hit into a double play (maybe even a triple play :(), and he may or may not advance the runners on the likely out, but there is also probably at least a one in three chance he will get a hit (with PRs on both first and second, even a single probably means a run and men on first and third WITH NO ONE OUT).

I am convinced that (with rare exceptions) sacrifice bunts are a losing strategy.

Anyone with more baseball experience than I have wanna chime in on this one?  (Though 'received wisdom' in baseball goes for the sacrifice, maybe I should ask for a non-baseball statistician to check into it! :D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 14, 2011, 01:31:09 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 11:41:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2011, 09:33:34 PM
Callahan gets a single (he's 3-4, including a HR); Czarnowski walked; McDermott did a sacrifice bunt (aarrgh?!, we'll see ;)).  Runners at 2nd and 3rd, 1-out.  PH struck out - now 2 outs.

Back to the rant. ;)  McDermott had a gazillion RBIs in the first game (well, 3 anyway ;)), and you're giving him an almost automatic out??  To put only the tying runs in scoring position??

True, he might hit into a double play (maybe even a triple play :(), and he may or may not advance the runners on the likely out, but there is also probably at least a one in three chance he will get a hit (with PRs on both first and second, even a single probably means a run and men on first and third WITH NO ONE OUT).

I am convinced that (with rare exceptions) sacrifice bunts are a losing strategy.

Anyone with more baseball experience than I have wanna chime in on this one?  (Though 'received wisdom' in baseball goes for the sacrifice, maybe I should ask for a non-baseball statistician to check into it! :D)

Ypsi, you are 100% correct.  Bunting is a huge pet peeve of mine.  The key to scoring in sports is opportunity/possession.  Baseball is a game of outs, and with the exception of only a few situations (playing for only 1 run, many NL pitchers etc.), it is wrong to give away outs.  Coaches who adopt "received wisdom" of frequent sacrifice bunting are putting their teams at a significant disadvantage. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2011, 11:18:30 AM
Really looking forward to this NCC - Carthage matchup today. Arenson and Rohe should be a real nice pitching matchup. The Redmen are extremely confident and I promise the Seniors have all reminded everyone what happened last year with IWU. It's nice to know you have to win one to take the tournament, but need I say more than, Remember The Titans. I'm not exactly sure what NCC's pitching depth looks like but I know if needed, Perez, Pucher, Johansen, Lochen, Wilhelms and Arenson are ready to go. I really like our chances :D

On a personal note : I wish I could be there to see which side John Arenson is hanging out on !!
Nate Arenson SR NCC, Andrew Arenson FR Carthage. Hilarious !!!

He has to be proud ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2011, 01:10:27 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2011, 11:18:30 AM
Really looking forward to this NCC - Carthage matchup today. Arenson and Rohe should be a real nice pitching matchup.

Nate Arenson threw 9 innings yesterday n the North Park game.  There's no way he starts today against the Red Men.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2011, 01:16:06 PM
Weather delay in Bloomington?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2011, 01:55:48 PM
Yep. It's 3pm start time now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 14, 2011, 01:58:35 PM
It sounds like they might only get one in today. Tomorrow is a high of 47 and more rain. Lousy weather for a conference tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2011, 05:33:18 PM
Did the game ever get started?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 14, 2011, 05:52:43 PM
Wash out today... 10am start tomorrow at Corn Crib Stadium in Normal.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2011, 06:10:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 14, 2011, 05:52:43 PM
Wash out today... 10am start tomorrow at Corn Crib Stadium in Normal.
Why the change in venue?  Horenberger must really be soggy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2011, 06:59:10 PM
Since the regional will be at Horenberger, it may also be they don't want to risk tearing it up - just guessing here.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2011, 08:44:25 PM
I just checked the forecast on weather.com - doesn't look promising!  Rain tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night, in the 40s, and high winds. :P

Anyone know the conference policy if the game cannot be played before selection time?  I'm guessing Carthage would be declared the AQ as the only undefeated team?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on May 15, 2011, 12:27:23 AM
I've been involved as a parent and coach in youth baseball for many years.  I now have a sophomore.  I cannot recall a "spring" where parents  more often wore winter jackets, hats, scarves, and mittens, and brought blankets to serve as additional coverage or negate the coldness of the aluminum bleachers.  Rainouts have been rare this year - just cold and very windy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2011, 01:18:49 AM
Having coached youth soccer, I hear ya.  Though I'm not sure this has been any worse than some other years.

Some years back I coached a game in a sleet storm.  Half my team was taken home by their parents, but the rest had a ball.  (We won, and those who stayed got more playing time. ;D)

The other coach and I agreed that we would have postponed the game (WE were freezing), but it wasn't up to us. ::)

Our very next game it was too damned hot to play well! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 15, 2011, 08:49:10 AM
A couple years ago our coach had to put on cross country ski to make his trips to the mound. The pitching was so bad he made the trips were much faster because the grooves in the snow were more defined.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 15, 2011, 11:26:10 AM
Carthage puts up 4 in the top of the 1st !!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 15, 2011, 02:04:25 PM
Carthage Redmen, CCIW Tournament Champions !!! Congratulations to the Coaches and Players and a special congrats to Eric Rohe for pitching his behind off !!!

GO REDMEN !!!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2011, 08:45:56 AM
The NCAA Regional selections have been posted. (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2011/05/ncaa-tournament-selections-announced)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2011, 05:03:08 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 14, 2011, 01:43:38 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on April 14, 2011, 01:13:24 PM
mwunder,
I didn't see your update for AJ Nathan, catcher at IWU. AJ has now thrown out 30.5% of the runners. If you look at his offsive stats, he is in the top 5 of almost every category, certainly all the good ones. 5th in BA, 2nd in RBI's, 3rd in OB%, T3 in hits, etc.

As I stated, he makes a great team even greater.

Patience, sir, he's just getting warmed up. Buy a ticket to get on board his train!

Guilty as charged of not putting up an update on the young catcher's % of runner's thrown out.

Just crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's"...AJ threw out 20 of 52 on the season for a 38.5% season total. 

Other CCIW catchers
Soderlund threw out 37%
Deutscher threw out 32%
Corrigan threw out 21%
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 16, 2011, 10:17:31 PM
I have been following the CCIW all year aned the stats for Nathan those must be team stats correct?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2011, 10:59:06 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 16, 2011, 10:17:31 PM
I have been following the CCIW all year aned the stats for Nathan those must be team stats correct?


Not sure exactly what you're saying here...but this is taken directly from the IWU stats page...

"SBA/ATT - Nathan, AJ (32-52), McCullough (8-11), Pankau (5-8), Sweeney, J. (6-7), Johnson, J. (4-7), Kopp, A. (2-5), Sullivan, K. (2-4), Kerber, P. (1-3), Hayn, P. (1-3), Frueh, J. (2-2), Hamm, R. (0-1), Mehn, N. (1-1), Scott, T. (1-1), Szykowny, Z. (1-1)"

Looks like he threw out 20 of 52 if I'm reading that correctly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 17, 2011, 12:44:33 PM
I just didn't know if those rankings were in the CCIW or on his team. Thats all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 17, 2011, 01:18:30 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 17, 2011, 12:44:33 PM
I just didn't know if those rankings were in the CCIW or on his team. Thats all.


I still have no idea what you're asking.  Those aren't rankings at all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2011, 01:21:19 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 17, 2011, 01:18:30 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 17, 2011, 12:44:33 PM
I just didn't know if those rankings were in the CCIW or on his team. Thats all.


I still have no idea what you're asking.  Those aren't rankings at all.

Give him a break... not everyone had high enough test scores to attend Carthage like we did ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 17, 2011, 01:30:15 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 16, 2011, 05:03:08 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 14, 2011, 01:43:38 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on April 14, 2011, 01:13:24 PM
mwunder,
I didn't see your update for AJ Nathan, catcher at IWU. AJ has now thrown out 30.5% of the runners. If you look at his offsive stats, he is in the top 5 of almost every category, certainly all the good ones. 5th in BA, 2nd in RBI's, 3rd in OB%, T3 in hits, etc.

As I stated, he makes a great team even greater.

Patience, sir, he's just getting warmed up. Buy a ticket to get on board his train!

Guilty as charged of not putting up an update on the young catcher's % of runner's thrown out.

Just crossing the "t's" and dotting the "i's"...AJ threw out 20 of 52 on the season for a 38.5% season total. 

Other CCIW catchers
Soderlund threw out 37%
Deutscher threw out 32%
Corrigan threw out 21%


I had a chance to see about 8 IWU games this year and came away impressed by Nathan's defensive ability.  That being said, the kid does not have a 1.8 pop time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: rob on May 17, 2011, 01:51:58 PM
20 cs out of 52 attempts is correct and is good
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:36:59 PM
I have also been pleased with AJ this year. I think it is fair to say that Pudge would throw out 100% of DIII runners. Remember, Pudge also throws 95+ to second. If AJ could throw that hard, we would have him on the mound. It is unfair to AJ to compare him to any catcher in MLB.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2011, 02:38:13 PM
Quote from: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:36:59 PM
I have also been pleased with AJ this year. I think it is fair to say that Pudge would throw out 100% of DIII runners. Remember, Pudge also throws 95+ to second. If AJ could throw that hard, we would have him on the mound. It is unfair to AJ to compare him to any catcher in MLB.

Then don't give him an fictitious MLB caliber POP time of 1.8 ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:52:08 PM
That post was written many weeks ago. Certainly, we would mostly agree 1.80 POP was a slight exaggeration. But it is fair to say that he has done an outstanding job this year. As a Titan fan, I am glad we have him. BTW, there are many MLB catchers that only wished their POP time was 1.80.  A 2.0 is pretty good.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 17, 2011, 03:00:22 PM
Quote from: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:52:08 PM
That post was written many weeks ago. Certainly, we would mostly agree 1.80 POP was a slight exaggeration. But it is fair to say that he has done an outstanding job this year. As a Titan fan, I am glad we have him. BTW, there are many MLB catchers that only wished their POP time was 1.80.  A 2.0 is pretty good.

My post was in now way, shape, or form, intended to negate the claim of a 1.8 pop time.  As I stated in the post, I was just doing due diligence and posting AJ's final numbers (which are impressive) compared to other top catchers in the CCIW.  I have no idea why people ran soooo much more on IWU than on Carthage (52 attempts on Nathan vs 19 on Soderlund), nor do I claim that AJ didn't help the Greenie Weenies in many ways besides his arm.  I was showing that he did a great job behind the plate throwing out runners.  Almost 40% at that level is a pretty decent clip!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 17, 2011, 03:57:57 PM
Quote from: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:52:08 PM
That post was written many weeks ago. Certainly, we would mostly agree 1.80 POP was a slight exaggeration. But it is fair to say that he has done an outstanding job this year. As a Titan fan, I am glad we have him. BTW, there are many MLB catchers that only wished their POP time was 1.80.  A 2.0 is pretty good.

ILLhoops1, I think everyone who commented on this issue is agreeing with your point that Nathan has done a great job this year.  I was not trying to short the young man at all.  As a Titan fan as well, it scares me to think what would have happened if he had not made the decision to come to Bloomington.  From talking with the coaches, the alternative would not have been a desirable one.  I was simply reiterating a point that his pop time was not 1.8. (Probably overkill at this point)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: youcantseemestill on May 17, 2011, 03:59:05 PM
Quote from: ILLhoops1 on May 17, 2011, 02:36:59 PM
I think it is fair to say that Pudge would throw out 100% of DIII runners. Remember, Pudge also throws 95+ to second.


This is extreme hyperbole.  Even major league catchers struggle to get into the 1.90 and below pop time range.  You steal on pitchers just as much, if not more, than catchers.  But even then, Pudge is not going to throw out everyone that runs on him in DIII.  There are a lot of kids out there that are running sub 4.6 forty meter times.  Those kids can run on anyone, at any level, if they are good base runners.

My guess is that IWU gets stolen bases attempted on them more is because their pitchers don't pay a ton of attention to the running game knowing that they have a good kid behind the plate to back them up.  
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: RedmanFan35 on May 17, 2011, 08:24:12 PM
Anyone have any Idea on what basis D3.com would pick Thomas More to come out of the central region ?Is it just the 351 batting average? After looking at their, team page, I'm positve it's not SOS.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 17, 2011, 10:11:02 PM
Quote from: RedmanFan35 on May 17, 2011, 08:24:12 PM
Anyone have any Idea on what basis D3.com would pick Thomas More to come out of the central region ?Is it just the 351 batting average? After looking at their, team page, I'm positve it's not SOS.


For the real inside scoop, ask BigPoppa!

To paraphrase though, I think he's saying that after game 2 or 3, you have to score a bunch of runs to win since the pitching is so thin...and TM can score them some runs.  I will agree with you on SOS though.  They didn't play a ranked team all season long.  We'll see how real they are in the first game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2011, 10:25:09 PM
IF Pankau shuts down Thomas More (and I think he will), they are kaput.

AND I'm becoming very fond of both Sweeney and Mehn.  I've become cautiously optimistic about IWU's chances for Appleton.

Unlike last year! :P ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 18, 2011, 09:36:24 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2011, 10:25:09 PM
IF Pankau shuts down Thomas More (and I think he will), they are kaput.

AND I'm becoming very fond of both Sweeney and Mehn.  I've become cautiously optimistic about IWU's chances for Appleton.

Unlike last year! :P ::)

I assume by kaput, you don't mean that if they lose game one that they have ZERO percent chance to get to Appleton, correct??   ;D ;D ;D 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 18, 2011, 10:37:20 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2011, 10:25:09 PM
IF Pankau shuts down Thomas More (and I think he will), they are kaput.

AND I'm becoming very fond of both Sweeney and Mehn.  I've become cautiously optimistic about IWU's chances for Appleton.

Unlike last year! :P ::)

In this case, I would prefer you be very pessimistic!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2011, 12:27:45 AM
Nice ripostes, guys!  Yeah, TMC still has a non-zero chance, and as I pointed out on the regional board, I was VERY nervous! ;D

Carthage fell to BV, 8-1, and faces #1 seed Coe (who also lost) in an elimination game at noon (CDT) tomorrow.  IWU beat TMC, 3-2, and will face BV (and seek to avenge Carthage's loss) at 7.  It's CCIW vs. IIAC day! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 19, 2011, 03:33:24 PM
carthage beats coe 5-3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2011, 11:52:15 PM
So, the two CCIW reps went 1-4 against BV, and 4-0 against everyone else!  I think it is safe to say that (for this tourney, at least), BV was the best team, and the CCIW guys can argue over #2 and #3.

Coe, Thomas More, and Ripon need not enter the discussion. ;)

As a CCIW guy, I was rooting for Carthage to pull it off today.  As a Central Region guy, I'll be rooting for BV this coming week.  They will be considered VERY long shots, but (I dare say) no longer than IWU was last year. ;)

GO BEAVERS!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 23, 2011, 04:56:44 PM
The All-CCIW team has been announced. (http://www.cciw.org/sports/2011/5/23/BB_0523113415.aspx?id=685)

Congratulations to Luke Johnson for his selection as CCIW Coach of the Year!  Very well deserved.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2011, 04:21:23 PM
Yes! Congratulations to Luke Johnson on his much-deserved COY award!

The interesting thing about the All-CCIW team is how Chicagocentric it is. Of the 32 players named, only four are not Chicagolanders. I don't think that that's ever happened before. Even when you consider the fact that the CCIW has always been dominated in most sports by student-athletes from the Chicago metropolitan area, an 88% Chicagolander rate is still extraordinarily high -- especially when you consider how large the All-CCIW baseball team is.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 24, 2011, 05:13:57 PM
Congratulations to Jason Pankau on being the Central Regions Pitcher of the Year, along with all the CCIW representatives.

http://cciw.org/sports/2010/6/1/BB_0601104502.aspx?id=273

Jason ends a truly remarkable career at IWU, as the schools all-time leader in wins and strikeouts, while leading his team to a National Championship in 2009. Along with those accomplishments he was pitcher of the year in the CCIW twice and 3 time all conference performer.

Hopefully he receives a chance to pitch at some level after graduation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hasbeen on May 25, 2011, 10:18:50 AM
Having seen Pankau pitch nearly every time he took the mound, he may be the most dominant pitcher I've seen in the CCIW in a long time.  He not only performed at a high level for one year, he was conistently a show stopper since his sophomore year.  Congratulations on a tremendous career. 

Congratulations to Angel Carrasco, Trevor Popp, A.J. Nathan, and Ryan Hopp on making the Gold Glove Team as well.

While I agree that Luke Johnson is well deserving of the CCIW Coach of the Year award, I do believe that it should have been shared with Dennis Martel.  I am biased toward IWU; however, if you compare what was lost from last year's CCIW 4th place IWU team and the 2nd place North Park Team, the losses are as large if not larger for IWU.  They lost top hitter Casey McIntosh, leaders and former all-conference/all-region players in Brett Moore, Mike Morrissey, and Kraig Ladd, and nearly their entire pitching staff (Brent Kulavic-2008 All-American/Central Region Pitcher of the Year, Paul Kabbes, Joe Froelich, Alex Tosi, Marty Roche) except for Pankau and Sweeney.  Coach Martel was working this season with two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshman as every day position players.  And of those position players, only Grodecki, Hopp, Z Scott, Sullivan, and McDermott started for the national championship team.  Pankau and Sweeney were his only pitchers with significant game experience.

I have always been a big fan of Coach Johnson, and I am not taking anything away from his honor.  He is very deserving of the award, but saying the losses of North Park were greater because of Giovenco going pro and some other injuries is not fair to Dennis Martel and his staff.  I believe we are overlooking his tremendous accomplishment this year because of the success of the IWU program.

Congrats to the Titans on another great season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hasbeen on May 25, 2011, 11:13:50 AM
Congratulations to Jason Pankau (3rd Team) and Kevin Callahan (Honorable Mention) on making the D3baseball.com 2011 All-America team!

http://d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2011
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 25, 2011, 06:33:16 PM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 25, 2011, 10:18:50 AM
Having seen Pankau pitch nearly every time he took the mound, he may be the most dominant pitcher I've seen in the CCIW in a long time.  He not only performed at a high level for one year, he was conistently a show stopper since his sophomore year.  Congratulations on a tremendous career. 

Congratulations to Angel Carrasco, Trevor Popp, A.J. Nathan, and Ryan Hopp on making the Gold Glove Team as well.

While I agree that Luke Johnson is well deserving of the CCIW Coach of the Year award, I do believe that it should have been shared with Dennis Martel.  I am biased toward IWU; however, if you compare what was lost from last year's CCIW 4th place IWU team and the 2nd place North Park Team, the losses are as large if not larger for IWU.  They lost top hitter Casey McIntosh, leaders and former all-conference/all-region players in Brett Moore, Mike Morrissey, and Kraig Ladd, and nearly their entire pitching staff (Brent Kulavic-2008 All-American/Central Region Pitcher of the Year, Paul Kabbes, Joe Froelich, Alex Tosi, Marty Roche) except for Pankau and Sweeney.  Coach Martel was working this season with two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshman as every day position players.  And of those position players, only Grodecki, Hopp, Z Scott, Sullivan, and McDermott started for the national championship team.  Pankau and Sweeney were his only pitchers with significant game experience.

I have always been a big fan of Coach Johnson, and I am not taking anything away from his honor.  He is very deserving of the award, but saying the losses of North Park were greater because of Giovenco going pro and some other injuries is not fair to Dennis Martel and his staff.  I believe we are overlooking his tremendous accomplishment this year because of the success of the IWU program.

Congrats to the Titans on another great season.

I don't agree with you. Personnel losses or not, the Titans were picked to win the CCIW by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. NPU was picked to finish sixth. You can't spin away the fact that the league's braintrust felt that IWU had significantly more talent coming into this season than did NPU; the difference between first place and sixth place is far too big a discrepancy for that.

Dennis Martel had a great season, but the CCIW coaches did the right thing in selecting Luke Johnson as the sole recipient of the award. The guy who deserved to win the COY won it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.

Looking at CCIW-only stats one could have made the argument that it was Hodges' award to lose. Hodges had a better CCIW season, Callahan a better overalll season..
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 09:39:38 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 25, 2011, 06:33:16 PM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 25, 2011, 10:18:50 AM
Having seen Pankau pitch nearly every time he took the mound, he may be the most dominant pitcher I've seen in the CCIW in a long time.  He not only performed at a high level for one year, he was conistently a show stopper since his sophomore year.  Congratulations on a tremendous career. 

Congratulations to Angel Carrasco, Trevor Popp, A.J. Nathan, and Ryan Hopp on making the Gold Glove Team as well.

While I agree that Luke Johnson is well deserving of the CCIW Coach of the Year award, I do believe that it should have been shared with Dennis Martel.  I am biased toward IWU; however, if you compare what was lost from last year's CCIW 4th place IWU team and the 2nd place North Park Team, the losses are as large if not larger for IWU.  They lost top hitter Casey McIntosh, leaders and former all-conference/all-region players in Brett Moore, Mike Morrissey, and Kraig Ladd, and nearly their entire pitching staff (Brent Kulavic-2008 All-American/Central Region Pitcher of the Year, Paul Kabbes, Joe Froelich, Alex Tosi, Marty Roche) except for Pankau and Sweeney.  Coach Martel was working this season with two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshman as every day position players.  And of those position players, only Grodecki, Hopp, Z Scott, Sullivan, and McDermott started for the national championship team.  Pankau and Sweeney were his only pitchers with significant game experience.

I have always been a big fan of Coach Johnson, and I am not taking anything away from his honor.  He is very deserving of the award, but saying the losses of North Park were greater because of Giovenco going pro and some other injuries is not fair to Dennis Martel and his staff.  I believe we are overlooking his tremendous accomplishment this year because of the success of the IWU program.

Congrats to the Titans on another great season.

I don't agree with you. Personnel losses or not, the Titans were picked to win the CCIW by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. NPU was picked to finish sixth. You can't spin away the fact that the league's braintrust felt that IWU had significantly more talent coming into this season than did NPU; the difference between first place and sixth place is far too big a discrepancy for that.

Dennis Martel had a great season, but the CCIW coaches did the right thing in selecting Luke Johnson as the sole recipient of the award. The guy who deserved to win the COY won it.

Agree to Disagree
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 09:41:35 AM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 09:39:38 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 25, 2011, 06:33:16 PM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 25, 2011, 10:18:50 AM
Having seen Pankau pitch nearly every time he took the mound, he may be the most dominant pitcher I've seen in the CCIW in a long time.  He not only performed at a high level for one year, he was conistently a show stopper since his sophomore year.  Congratulations on a tremendous career. 

Congratulations to Angel Carrasco, Trevor Popp, A.J. Nathan, and Ryan Hopp on making the Gold Glove Team as well.

While I agree that Luke Johnson is well deserving of the CCIW Coach of the Year award, I do believe that it should have been shared with Dennis Martel.  I am biased toward IWU; however, if you compare what was lost from last year's CCIW 4th place IWU team and the 2nd place North Park Team, the losses are as large if not larger for IWU.  They lost top hitter Casey McIntosh, leaders and former all-conference/all-region players in Brett Moore, Mike Morrissey, and Kraig Ladd, and nearly their entire pitching staff (Brent Kulavic-2008 All-American/Central Region Pitcher of the Year, Paul Kabbes, Joe Froelich, Alex Tosi, Marty Roche) except for Pankau and Sweeney.  Coach Martel was working this season with two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshman as every day position players.  And of those position players, only Grodecki, Hopp, Z Scott, Sullivan, and McDermott started for the national championship team.  Pankau and Sweeney were his only pitchers with significant game experience.

I have always been a big fan of Coach Johnson, and I am not taking anything away from his honor.  He is very deserving of the award, but saying the losses of North Park were greater because of Giovenco going pro and some other injuries is not fair to Dennis Martel and his staff.  I believe we are overlooking his tremendous accomplishment this year because of the success of the IWU program.

Congrats to the Titans on another great season.

I don't agree with you. Personnel losses or not, the Titans were picked to win the CCIW by the league's coaches in the preseason poll. NPU was picked to finish sixth. You can't spin away the fact that the league's braintrust felt that IWU had significantly more talent coming into this season than did NPU; the difference between first place and sixth place is far too big a discrepancy for that.

Dennis Martel had a great season, but the CCIW coaches did the right thing in selecting Luke Johnson as the sole recipient of the award. The guy who deserved to win the COY won it.

Agree to Disagree

Preseason Polls mean nothing once you step on the field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 10:11:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.

Looking at CCIW-only stats one could have made the argument that it was Hodges' award to lose. Hodges had a better CCIW season, Callahan a better overalll season..

Callahan had a better BA, Slugging, OBP, Runs Scored, HR, and was tied for RBI in CCIW only statistics for the conference championship team. He also had more walks and less strikeouts. Not sure how that equals Hodges having a better CCIW season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 26, 2011, 10:49:00 AM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 09:41:35 AM
Preseason Polls mean nothing once you step on the field.
It all depends on the source.  A straw poll will carry very little weight.  The CCIW Preseason poll is made by the eight head coaches, and they know their competitors pretty well.  Of course, they won't be able to project injuries or outlier performances, and they won't know how new players (freshmen and transfers) will contribute.  I would put a lot more stock in that poll because it's made on an informed basis.

As for the coach of the year award, we need to consider what criteria are used: Winning the CCIW outright?  Conference wins?  Overall win total?  Expectations met?  Expectations exceeded?  Making the most out of a difficult situation?  Unless you are in that inner circle (and I'm certainly not!), you won't know the answer.

Two years ago, North Central was coming off an 11-25-1 record and a 6th-place finish in the CCIW.  They were picked fifth in the CCIW and ended up going 31-11 and 17-4 in the conference to take the title.  Coach Fitzgerald was chosen CCIW Coach of the Year, and deservedly so.  In 2006, Luke Johnson took the reins of a 1-39 team, with few returning players.  He brought in some key transfers and groomed some first-year players, and the team played well enough to make the CCIW tournament.    Coach Johnson won the award that year, again, deservedly so, not because of final results (W-L record or performance in the abbreviated CCIW tournament), but because of the unexpected turnaround in a year.  In both cases, the primary criterion appears to be "expectations exceeded."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 02:00:08 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 10:11:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.

Looking at CCIW-only stats one could have made the argument that it was Hodges' award to lose. Hodges had a better CCIW season, Callahan a better overalll season..

Callahan had a better BA, Slugging, OBP, Runs Scored, HR, and was tied for RBI in CCIW only statistics for the conference championship team. He also had more walks and less strikeouts. Not sure how that equals Hodges having a better CCIW season?

And even with the slight wins in most of those categories, Will still managed to have more total bases, more hits, more doubles, more triples, and more stolen bases.  I will grant you the fact that Callahan may have surpassed those totals if he was pitched to a few more times.  But, on the flip side, if he gets pitched to twice more and doesn't get a hit in those two at-bats, his BA is now below Will's as well.

"Conference championship team" SHOULDN'T determining factor for player of the year.  Look at the D3baseball hitter of the year...he's not in Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 02:20:42 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 02:00:08 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 10:11:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.

Looking at CCIW-only stats one could have made the argument that it was Hodges' award to lose. Hodges had a better CCIW season, Callahan a better overalll season..

Callahan had a better BA, Slugging, OBP, Runs Scored, HR, and was tied for RBI in CCIW only statistics for the conference championship team. He also had more walks and less strikeouts. Not sure how that equals Hodges having a better CCIW season?

And even with the slight wins in most of those categories, Will still managed to have more total bases, more hits, more doubles, more triples, and more stolen bases.  I will grant you the fact that Callahan may have surpassed those totals if he was pitched to a few more times.  But, on the flip side, if he gets pitched to twice more and doesn't get a hit in those two at-bats, his BA is now below Will's as well.

"Conference championship team" SHOULDN'T determining factor for player of the year.  Look at the D3baseball hitter of the year...he's not in Appleton.

I believe being the best player on the best team SHOULD be taken into consideration when it comes down to determining player of the year.  I agree that it shouldn't be the most important factor, but it should be noted.  Will had great stats and had a great season, but baseball is a game that is judged by the categories in which Callahan led in.  If we were judging just based on hits, doubles, etc.  I believe that Petti from Carthage should have shared.  However, in recent years, that is not how it is awarded. 

IMO I would have liked to see Callahan get it by himself.  Congratulations to them both on great seasons, but when you are in the running (actually held until the last weekend of the season) for the CCIW Triple Crown...You should win the award outright.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 02:57:40 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 02:00:08 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 10:11:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 07:55:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 25, 2011, 11:24:34 PM
Sincere congratulations to the conference award winners!

Jason Pankau was a no-brainer for Pitcher-of-the-Year - I'd guess it was unanimous.

I personally would have gone for co-COYs (Johnson and Martel), but have no problem whatsoever with Johnson getting it solo.

Likewise, I would have gone with Callahan solo for Player-of-the-Year, but have no problem with him sharing it with Hodges.  With two weeks left, it was CLEARLY Kevin's award, but he tailed off at the end, plus there will always (rightfully, IMO) be some bias towards a senior over a sophomore.

Looking at CCIW-only stats one could have made the argument that it was Hodges' award to lose. Hodges had a better CCIW season, Callahan a better overalll season..

Callahan had a better BA, Slugging, OBP, Runs Scored, HR, and was tied for RBI in CCIW only statistics for the conference championship team. He also had more walks and less strikeouts. Not sure how that equals Hodges having a better CCIW season?

And even with the slight wins in most of those categories, Will still managed to have more total bases, more hits, more doubles, more triples, and more stolen bases.  I will grant you the fact that Callahan may have surpassed those totals if he was pitched to a few more times.  But, on the flip side, if he gets pitched to twice more and doesn't get a hit in those two at-bats, his BA is now below Will's as well.

"Conference championship team" SHOULDN'T determining factor for player of the year.  Look at the D3baseball hitter of the year...he's not in Appleton.

In his plate appearances, Callahan was a more productive hitter.  Plain and simple. And unfortunately for Hodges, Callahan didn't have two more at bats that he didn't get a hit in.

To say that a players team winning a championship as a result of their play shouldn't be a consideration is slightly ridiculous to me.  It should not be a major factor, but to not consider it is to not consider the reason they play the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2011, 03:00:45 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 26, 2011, 10:49:00 AM
Quote from: hasbeen on May 26, 2011, 09:41:35 AM
Preseason Polls mean nothing once you step on the field.
It all depends on the source.  A straw poll will carry very little weight.  The CCIW Preseason poll is made by the eight head coaches, and they know their competitors pretty well.  Of course, they won't be able to project injuries or outlier performances, and they won't know how new players (freshmen and transfers) will contribute.  I would put a lot more stock in that poll because it's made on an informed basis.

As for the coach of the year award, we need to consider what criteria are used: Winning the CCIW outright?  Conference wins?  Overall win total?  Expectations met?  Expectations exceeded?  Making the most out of a difficult situation?  Unless you are in that inner circle (and I'm certainly not!), you won't know the answer.

Two years ago, North Central was coming off an 11-25-1 record and a 6th-place finish in the CCIW.  They were picked fifth in the CCIW and ended up going 31-11 and 17-4 in the conference to take the title.  Coach Fitzgerald was chosen CCIW Coach of the Year, and deservedly so.  In 2006, Luke Johnson took the reins of a 1-39 team, with few returning players.  He brought in some key transfers and groomed some first-year players, and the team played well enough to make the CCIW tournament.    Coach Johnson won the award that year, again, deservedly so, not because of final results (W-L record or performance in the abbreviated CCIW tournament), but because of the unexpected turnaround in a year.  In both cases, the primary criterion appears to be "expectations exceeded."


In addition, the same eight men who make the preseason poll make the COY decision. This implies a sense of continuity between the two processes, preseason and postseason, because their professional judgment as the league's head coaches is held up in light of the season's outcome in terms of the standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 05:21:59 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 02:57:40 PM
To say that a players team winning a championship as a result of their play shouldn't be a consideration is slightly ridiculous to me.  It should not be a major factor, but to not consider it is to not consider the reason they play the game.

Don't agree at all here.

In CCIW basketball, everyone knew for the last 2 years who the best player in the conference was.  He only had one conference championship, but 2 CCIW MOP awards.  (And don't get me started on how he should have had one as a sophomore).

The best player for the conference champ is RARELY the best player in the league.  Check the CCIW history books.  Since 1990, only 7 conference champs have also had the hitter of the year.  12 seasons, the hitter of the year was from a different team.  3 times, including this season, the award was shared by a player on the conference championship team and another player.

I argue my point because it's not a TEAM award, it's an individual one.  And, in this case, voted on by people who know a lot more about baseball than you or I.

Also, let the record show that Callahan didn't have to face Pankau once this season when it counted!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 06:13:20 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 05:21:59 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 02:57:40 PM
To say that a players team winning a championship as a result of their play shouldn't be a consideration is slightly ridiculous to me.  It should not be a major factor, but to not consider it is to not consider the reason they play the game.

Don't agree at all here.

In CCIW basketball, everyone knew for the last 2 years who the best player in the conference was.  He only had one conference championship, but 2 CCIW MOP awards.  (And don't get me started on how he should have had one as a sophomore).

The best player for the conference champ is RARELY the best player in the league.  Check the CCIW history books.  Since 1990, only 7 conference champs have also had the hitter of the year.  12 seasons, the hitter of the year was from a different team.  3 times, including this season, the award was shared by a player on the conference championship team and another player.

I argue my point because it's not a TEAM award, it's an individual one.  And, in this case, voted on by people who know a lot more about baseball than you or I.

Also, let the record show that Callahan didn't have to face Pankau once this season when it counted!!

If there was a clear cut winner that was  not on a championship team, I would agree with you.  But that is not the case this season.  For instance, in 2008 Brian Kolb was obviously the best player in the conference.  The fact that Wheaton did not win the conference championship did not matter. He deserved the award.

This season, there were two candidates, and the coaches took the easy way out and split the award.  I am not saying I disagree with this. I am simply saying that if the award had gone to one player, I think the statistics would support the award going to Callahan more so than Hodges.  He was a more productive hitter in his plate appearances.

This is the second consecutive post that you end with a completely arbitrary and meaningless comment.  Are you trying to hold it against Callahan the fact that the best pitcher in the conference is on his team?  The coaches didn't do that to Hughes in 2009 when Ruffie was on his team or against Angel in 2007 when Aronson was on his team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2011, 06:27:47 PM
Actually, I found his final line both witty and germane.  On April 23, Hodges DID go 0 for 3 against Pankau.  Not that he was exactly alone - Jason threw a one-hit shutout! :D

A minor issue in any case - players would have only one game against Ruffie, Aronson, or Pankau (and perhaps a second in the conference tourney, if those stats count in the voting).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 26, 2011, 10:00:05 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 26, 2011, 06:13:20 PM?
This is the second consecutive post that you end with a completely arbitrary and meaningless comment.  Are you trying to hold it against Callahan the fact that the best pitcher in the conference is on his team?  The coaches didn't do that to Hughes in 2009 when Ruffie was on his team or against Angel in 2007 when Aronson was on his team.

Meaningless only to those without any sense of humor or are so butt deep in their own opinions that they can't see the light of day.

You're arguing over something that has absolutely nothing to do with you personally (unless you are really K. Callahan.....are you??) (MORE HUMOR, in case you missed that).  We both agree that Kevin was the hitter who we wouldn't want to face when a hit would win it all....and THAT should be the bottom line in determining who should be the Hitter of the year.  All I was saying is that unlike you, I can see why the vote was split.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2011, 06:27:47 PM
Actually, I found his final line both witty and germane.  On April 23, Hodges DID go 0 for 3 against Pankau.  Not that he was exactly alone - Jason threw a one-hit shutout! :D

THANK YOU!  Someone gets me!  Technically, he was 0-4 against Pankau (He led off the first inning that Pankau came in for relief in the 3rd game of the tripleheader).  Without the 0-4, he would have hit .436, but since I can't end the post on a meaningless and arbitrary comment, I won't.  (Sarcasm)

Ypsi, I fully expected a comment regarding my comment about the SAC that helped IWU beat Thomas More!!  (Is that last sentence good enough for you CCIWFAN6?)  (That's more sarcasm)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2011, 11:08:44 PM
Just checked the IWU/Carthage series for Callahan and Hodges.  Compared with their overall stats, the pitchers beat 'em both.  Callahan was 6-2-2-1 (and was walked twice); Hodges was 8-1-2-2.  Basically a push.  Because of weather, this was a triple-header of 7-inning games.

I didn't comment on the sac bunt against TM because I had already said it SOMETIMES works - I just don't like the odds. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 26, 2011, 11:11:08 PM
I'd say Callahan was more consistent while Hodges was more streaky. You knew what Callahan was going to do nearly every day. Hodges was just as likely to go 2-8 in a DH as he was to 9-10. Potato vs potawto...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 27, 2011, 09:10:29 AM
I never said I didn't understand how the vote was split.  I simply made a response to another poster who said Hodges had a better conference only season.  I disagreed with that point.

I appreciate you letting me know when you were using humor/sarcasm in your previous point.  Occassionally, it is hard to see in posts.

FWIW, I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on June 02, 2011, 10:45:47 PM
Per IWUsports.com, IWU's baseball recruits are...

Chris Beard, Lexington, Ill. (HS)
Craig Berberich, Wheaton, Ill. (North HS)
Chris Bobo, Hinsdale, Ill. (Central HS)
Dalton Davis, Galesburg, Ill. (HS)
John Dillon, Downers Grove, Ill. (South HS)
Pat Domke, (Lockport HS)
David Gow, St. Charles, Ill. (North HS)
Nick Hahn, (Burlington Central HS)
Matt Hart, (Wheeling HS)
Derek Idstein, Grayslake, Ill. (Central HS)
Billy Meyer, (Fenwick HS)
Taylor Morgan, Pontiac, Ill. (HS)
John Munyon, St. Charles, Ill. (North HS)
Trey Rogers, (Normal West HS)
Robert Romano, (St. Viator HS)
Adam Seifert, Normal, Ill. (Normal West HS)
Dan Truesdale, Tinley Park, Ill. (Andrew HS)



http://www.iwusports.com/sports/2011/4/26/GEN_0426114557.aspx?tab=classof2015recruits


I was in Bloomington for work a couple of weeks ago and an IWU alum who follows the baseball team closely told me that Dennis Martel had landed some very good pitching recruits.  I have no idea who those are though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on June 20, 2011, 12:50:04 PM
Jason Pankau made his first appearance for the River City Rascals of the Frontier League on Sunday.  It was not a great outing.  It appears he was unable to pitch over a costly error.

http://frontier.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=40688
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 23, 2011, 08:22:54 AM
Congratulations to Mike Giovenco on picking up the victory in Idaho Fall's extra-inning win over Ogden.  Mike struck out three batters in the ninth for the win.  Ogden had taken the first two games against Idaho Falls by a combined score of 32-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dansand on July 21, 2011, 08:40:07 AM
Congrats to Augie pitcher John Peters, who has signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Nationals.

http://www.augustana.edu/x35938.xml (http://www.augustana.edu/x35938.xml)

http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=553377 (http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=553377)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on August 05, 2011, 02:56:55 PM
Luke Johnson has tabbed Kevin Tomasiewicz to be NPU's new pitching coach. (http://www.northpark.edu/Athletics/Viking-News/Current-News/Baseball-names-new-pitching-coach) He replaces Steve Hardman, who was named the head coach at Dominican in late June.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on August 25, 2011, 02:07:06 PM
I neglected to mention that Mike Giovenco was promoted from Idaho Falls to Kane County last month. After posting a 1.64 ERA for Idaho Falls, he's struggled out of the gate for the Cougars, going 7.13 in his first nine appearances for Kane County. But that's deceiving; take away a nightmarish inning and two-thirds a week ago yesterday in which he gave up six earned runs to Beloit, and he's pitching at a 3.33 clip. In his latest appearance, which was on Sunday at Clinton, he threw two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out five.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 04, 2012, 01:00:20 PM
Carthage has released their Spring Trip schedule. Instead of their traditional Florida trip, they are heading to the Southwest in Tucson, AZ.

3/17/2012  Sat.   Dickinson State University TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/18/2012  Sun.   University of Wisconsin-Superior TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/19/2012  Mon.   Luther College TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/19/2012  Mon.   Carleton College TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/20/2012  Tue.   Luther College TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/23/2012  Fri.   Nebraska Wesleyan University (DH) TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 
3/24/2012  Sat.   Middlebury College (DH) TBA Tucson, Ariz. Details 

UW-Superior made a nice run in the WIAC last year and could pose a threat to Carthage. The two games versus Luther could be big in the region as both teams are traditionally strong. Nebraska Wesleyan is a NAIA/NCAA dual member, but the games should still count as in-region regardless. Dickinson State is an NAIA program from North Dakota. These games will give the Redmen a good opportunity to test thier young arms expected to fill new spots in the rotation this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on February 15, 2012, 10:13:24 AM
Wheaton's season preview (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/2/13/BB_season_preview_2012.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 15, 2012, 03:33:40 PM
Coaches Poll is out...

http://cciw.org/news/2012/2/15/BB_0215122453.aspx
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 16, 2012, 09:18:00 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 15, 2012, 03:33:40 PM
Coaches Poll is out...

http://cciw.org/news/2012/2/15/BB_0215122453.aspx

No real surprises here. Carthage, IWU, North Park as the top three.... I'd be surprised if it were any other team in the top three. The real battle in the CCIW is going to be for 4th place and the final playoff spot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TheSportsFan on February 16, 2012, 01:13:27 PM
The points indicate that Carthage and IWU are far above the rest, and that North Park, Wheaten and Augustana could fall anywhere between 3-5.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 16, 2012, 01:42:35 PM
Quote from: TheSportsFan on February 16, 2012, 01:13:27 PM
The points indicate that Carthage and IWU are far above the rest, and that North Park, Wheaten and Augustana could fall anywhere between 3-5.

This is nearly exactly how it looks every year... Carthage and IWU sitting at 1 and 2 (or 1a and 1b in this case). Still, I think NPU is going to be there at the end.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TheSportsFan on February 16, 2012, 02:07:48 PM
Ya, I agree with you that North Park will likely get third (You may even think higher).  But looking at the poll numbers rather than seed tells you that the conference thinks North Park is in the 3-5 category, not the 1-3 category.  The numbers show a very distinct Tier between Carthage and IWU compared to the next grouping of 3.  NPU was only 2 points away from being predicted 5th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TheSportsFan on February 16, 2012, 02:08:55 PM
....and yes, I know that we will now get all the posters that say "Predictions don't matter, it's what the standings say at the end of the season that counts."  I'm just pointing out what you see if you look closer at what the poll suggests.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 16, 2012, 06:26:39 PM
First, third, fifth, whatever. I would've been perfectly happy to see NPU picked to finish eighth.

The NPU locker room has a bulletin board. And Luke Johnson has a printer and a thumbtack, and he knows how to use them. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on February 18, 2012, 10:33:20 AM
So it looks like Wheaton is making some substantial upgrades to their facility... anyone seen it?  Anyone have more pictures other than what's already on their website?  I'm excited for them.  Now if Elmhurst and Millikin would follow suit, no players could complain about playing surfaces anymore... haha.  Like that's going to happen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 21, 2012, 05:24:15 PM
Augustana starts the 2012 campaign tomorrow with a DH against Brandeis down in Winter Haven, FL.  Not sure what to expect out of the Augustana squad this year.  There are some definite holes to fill so it will be fun to watch some of the youngsters get a chance to step up and fill some much needed roles.  The top of the rotation looks to be good if McIntosh and Trotta can continue their success.  Josiah Martin returns after having a very nice year in the bullpen but Augustana will need to find a few more pitchers to fill out the bullpen and rotation depth.

In the field, Augustana lost two very good players in Dave Hoffman and Pat Wilson.  They also lost starting catcher T.J. O'Donnell.  Augustana does return some pretty good bats at 2B, SS and 3B.  Joe Cecchi hit 0.425 in limited at-bats (40).  Jeremy Juhl hit 0.370 in 35 games and Kurt Schmidt hit 0.336 over the course of the season.  In the outfield, they return 3 players (including McIntosh) who started 15, 25, and 30 games last year.  There are also several reserves who look to press for more playing time this year. 

Should be fun to watch the results out of Florida and see how things are shaping up.  At quick glance, their early schedule doesn't look super difficult but will probably still pose a decent challenge.  3 games against a decent Brandeis team to start off.  Then Augie plays HCAC preseason favorite, Franklin.  They then get a breather against MSOE.  Then back to the HCAC for a single game against the usually tough Engineers from Rose Hulman.  They will finish up with 3 games against IIAC foes.  First is a DH against middle-of-the-road Loras and they finish up with a single game against a tough Wartburg squad.

Augustana seems to always get out of the gates pretty well and then fade down the stretch.  I'm hoping one of these years they will snap out of that cycle for good.  Should be a fun year to follow the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 23, 2012, 12:35:39 AM
Augustana opened the season with a split vs. Brandeis.  Augie won game one 12-0 behind a complete game 4-hit, 1 BB, 4 K game from Mike Trotta.  Augie was 10 for 23 for the game.  They were lead by Kevin Serna (3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI), and Jeremy Juhl and Kurt Schmidt with 2 hits apiece.  Joe Cecchi led the team with 3 RBIs.  A few new names in the starting lineup today.  Hitting 3rd and playing CF was a Blackhawk CC junior transfer, Mark VanNatta.  Looks like another transfer hit 4th and played 1B, Grant Stewart, a junior from Ellsworth CC.  Starting DH was a freshman catcher from Downers Grove South, Nicholas Tenerelli. 

Game two saw the big hits disappear as Augie had 9 hits but could only come up with 1 run in a 3-1 loss.  Ben Heaton started the game and was relieved by Matthew Mistretta, who is listed as a catcher on the roster.  Mike Barker started in LF and went 2-3. 

Augustana plays a thrid game against Brandeis on Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on February 23, 2012, 12:40:19 PM
Glad to see my Cousin get a W for Augie pitching game 1. I know he (Mike Trotta) is going to be one of the senior leaders looked upon to carry the team all year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 23, 2012, 06:08:34 PM
Looks like Augie won 16-2 today against Brandeis again.  I'll update later once a box score gets posted.  Augie is off Friday before playing Franklin, the HCAC preseason favorite, on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 24, 2012, 12:31:06 PM
Augustana has always piled up the runs and has a solid offense. They always get a few two-sport players from football that turn out to be great baseball players. The problem with Augustana has always been the lack of pitching depth. I see that as a major reason why they have yet to win the CCIW. Everything else is in place... just always seem to be an arm or two short in May.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 26, 2012, 12:25:41 PM
Augustana dropped to 2-2 on the year with a 12-4 loss to Franklin.  This was Franklin's first game so they faced Franklin's #1 pitcher who was 9-2 last year.  Not much to say on the offensive side for this game.  Augustana started freshman Seth Davis.  He pitched 4 innings while giving up 6 runs.  Senior Josiah Marting came on in relief to give up 2 runs in 3.1 IP. 

As Poppa said earlier, I think Augie should be able to score runs but the key to their season will be seeing how deep the pitching staff can become but it is still very early in the season and Franklin should be a very good team.

Next up for Augustana is a single game vs. MSOE on Monday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 26, 2012, 12:36:12 PM
I'd be Surprised if they don't beat MSOE by 12-15 runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 26, 2012, 05:05:29 PM
North Park went 2-2 on its weekend trip to northern Georgia to inaugurate the 2012 season. On Friday the Vikings split a doubleheader with Bates, winning the opener, 6-5, and losing the nightcap, 8-4. The games were played at Berry College's ballpark. Yesterday, NPU lost to Berry, 8-3. Today, the Park came back to beat Berry in fifteen innings, 6-5. Not bad, considering that Berry had already played ten games before NPU had played its first.

Lots of unfamiliar names in the NPU lineup ... and a few familiar names are playing in unfamiliar positions.

The Vikings next play on Thursday up in the Metrodome in the Twin Cities against St. Olaf before swinging down south to Fort Myers to participate in the Gene Cusic Classic again. They'll play six games down there, and then return to Chicago for the home opener against Dominican (and a familiar face in new Stars head coach Steve Hardman) on March 20.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 28, 2012, 06:45:53 PM
Augustana had a come-from-behind win over MSOE yesterday by a score of 4-2.

Today they beat Rose-Hulman 10-8.  They spread around 18 hits with 6 players having at least 2 hits apiece including 3B Joe Cecchi with a 4-5, 2 RBI day.  Ben Heaton went 8 innings giving up 10 hits and 6 ER.  He struck out 6 and walked only 2.  He improves to 1-1 on the year.

I can't believe I've overlooked it so far but Augie's #1 or #2 pitcher, Jared McIntosh, has yet to play this year.  He also figure to start in the outfield when not pitching.  I'm not sure what the reason for his absence from the lineup is but it will definitely hurt Augie's pitching depth which was already going to be a question mark for this team this year.  Several young arms have gotten some time in the first 6 games of the season so that can only help once conference play comes around.

Augustana now stands at 4-2 and plays a doubleheader vs. Loras tomorrow before finishing up the spring trip with a matchup vs. Wartburg.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on March 01, 2012, 10:15:52 PM
Augustana finished up their spring trip by sweeping Loras by scores of 9-5 and 3-1 along with beatin Wratburg 3-2 today.  They now stand at 7-2 on the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 01, 2012, 11:54:07 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 01, 2012, 10:15:52 PM
Augustana finished up their spring trip by sweeping Loras by scores of 9-5 and 3-1 along with beatin Wratburg 3-2 today.  They now stand at 7-2 on the season.

Ooh - better not visit certain parts of Iowa anytime soon - though 87% of the IIAC would love you! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on March 02, 2012, 01:15:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 01, 2012, 11:54:07 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on March 01, 2012, 10:15:52 PM
Augustana finished up their spring trip by sweeping Loras by scores of 9-5 and 3-1 along with beatin Wratburg 3-2 today.  They now stand at 7-2 on the season.

Ooh - better not visit certain parts of Iowa anytime soon - though 87% of the IIAC would love you! ;D

Haha, I actually live in Iowa so I'll keep an eye out.

One good thing in the Wartburg game is that Jared McIntosh was the starting pitcher, going 6 innings and giving up only 1 ER.  His appearance should be good news for the pitching staff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 03, 2012, 11:01:31 PM
NPU swept an early-morning doubleheader from St. Olaf on Friday, winning the opener, 4-1, and the nightcap, 4-2. Two solid starting performances from Steve Kuligowski and Nick Soldano.

Now the Vikings (4-2) will fly down to Ft. Myers for the Gene Cusic Classic, which they'll open next Saturday with a game against Mitchell.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 04, 2012, 04:26:03 PM
Wheaton splits their games on opening day.  Beating Coast Guard Academy 15-0 and falling short to Muhlenberg 10-9.

It appears that Wheaton has some offensive power, coming out swinging with 34 hits and 5 home runs on opening day... the defense is a different story, 6 errors and 11 walks combined in two games isn't going to get it done in the CCIW.  At least it was yesterday.  I'm looking forward to seeing how these boys progress!  I think Driggers likes to see what he has, starting a true freshman pitcher in the second game.  Since he has been coaching at Wheaton he has seemed to coach games down south different than he coaches when they get back up north.  Wheaton has their work cut out for them early this week with Haverford on Monday who finished 32-10 last year, and Heidelberg on Tuesday who is currently ranked #10 and got knocked out of the regionals last year by the eventual National Champs.  Hopefully the defense and pitching gets better in a hurry!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 05, 2012, 08:36:52 AM
IWU swept a doubleheader over Fontbonne this weekend in St. Louis.  Not sure this game showed us anymore than we already know about this team.  With victories of 12-0 and 10-2, they scored a lot of runs and their top 2 pitchers pitched well.  Where this team's season will be won or lost is in arms behind these top 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2012, 11:03:27 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on March 05, 2012, 08:36:52 AM
IWU swept a doubleheader over Fontbonne this weekend in St. Louis.  Not sure this game showed us anymore than we already know about this team.  With victories of 12-0 and 10-2, they scored a lot of runs and their top 2 pitchers pitched well.  Where this team's season will be won or lost is in arms behind these top 2.

... and I am not sure that Fontbonne was a true test for the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 07, 2012, 08:02:46 AM
North Central opened their season taking two of three from Franklin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 10, 2012, 09:26:11 AM
Wheaton is playing pretty well after splitting with what seems to be 2 pretty good teams in Muhlenberg and Haverford (Muhlenberg is now 9-1 and Haverford was 32-10 last year), the loss to Heidelberg 9-8 in extras would've been a nice win for them... but they have since won 3 straight over Fredonia St. and Ohio Northern.  Would be great for them and the CCIW if they could get a sweep today and come home 7-3 with losses only to quality opponents.  I love this part of the season, b/c we get to pull for all the CCIW schools!  Even the ones we don't necessarily like the most, lol.  Hey, it's all for the sake of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 12, 2012, 09:04:25 AM
I have officially given up on the Titans season.  Over the weekend, they beat Millsaps twice in Jackson, MS.  Millsaps is one of the best teams IWU plays every year, and given the fact they have played 10+ games before the Titans have played 1, always seems to be the biggest test for them.  Over the past 11 seasons, they have swept the season series with them only once, in 2006, and missed the NCAA regional that year while finishing 4th in the league.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on March 12, 2012, 10:15:01 AM
Quite the optimist CCIW  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: motorman on March 12, 2012, 10:48:49 AM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on March 12, 2012, 10:15:01 AM
Quite the optimist CCIW  ;D

Reread his post, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek. There really needs to be a special font here for sarcasm. 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on March 12, 2012, 04:55:53 PM
I realized that he was not Serious and was just playing along. Hence the smiley face.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 12, 2012, 06:02:42 PM
Quote from: motorman on March 12, 2012, 10:48:49 AM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on March 12, 2012, 10:15:01 AM
Quite the optimist CCIW  ;D

Reread his post, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek. There really needs to be a special font here for sarcasm. 8-)

That would work across the boards! ;D ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 12, 2012, 06:03:28 PM
North Central is now 4-2 and heading to North Carolina for their spring break trip this week-end.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2012, 09:01:36 PM
NPU has now gone 3-0 thus far on its spring break trip to Fort Myers for the Gene Cusic Classic. On Saturday the Vikings pounded Mitchell, 16-2, behind another Steve Kuligowski gem. They followed it up on Sunday with an 11-6 win over Dubuque, and today North Park knocked off previously undefeated Salem State, 11-5.

NPU (7-2) is now off until Thursday, when the Vikings will continue Gene Cusic play by taking on Principia.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2012, 09:53:22 PM
I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip. I have taken a lot of flack for liking NPU as much as I do this year, but they have the look of a team that will be hard to beat as the season wears on.

It may not be long before other voters are swayed my way...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 12, 2012, 10:33:20 PM
First time poster here. Have been reading throughout my time playing in the CCIW, and am excited to start commenting with you guys. I'll keep my identity secret for the time being  :P

BigPoppa I definitely can see North Park being the team to beat in the CCIW. Although pitching they are struggling to find a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (Garcia got the first nod, but has been coming out of the pen after just 1 start, and McGrady is still recovering from his elbow injury), they are going to be a tough team to play down the stretch.

Luke Johnson is going for his 7th straight season with an improving record from the season before, which means they need to win at least 31 games this year! Can't wait for conference play to start!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on March 12, 2012, 11:52:16 PM
IWU (nine) and Mississippi College (10) combined to use 19 pitchers (http://www.gochoctaws.com/custompages/baseball/2012/mcvsiwu.htm) in their nine-inning game today. That ties two D-III records:
Most relief pitchers used, one team
Most relief pitchers used, both teams

IWU and Blackburn played a similar game in 2008 (http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/bb2008/iwubb38.htm), when the teams also combined to use 17 relievers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: motorman on March 13, 2012, 07:35:49 AM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on March 12, 2012, 04:55:53 PM
I realized that he was not Serious and was just playing along. Hence the smiley face.
Sorry leftiesdad, I got taken in by the old double sarcasm ploy. I thought the smiley face was just you trying to cheer him up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 13, 2012, 08:41:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2012, 09:53:22 PM
I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip.

We have three more games on the spring break: Principia, Monmouth, and Bethel. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 13, 2012, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 13, 2012, 08:41:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2012, 09:53:22 PM
I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip.

We have three more games on the spring break: Principia, Monmouth, and Bethel.

I think they cruise the first two and face a tougher than expected Bethel squad who has already knocked off Whitewater and swept CCIW opponent North Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on March 13, 2012, 12:11:00 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on March 12, 2012, 11:52:16 PM
IWU (nine) and Mississippi College (10) combined to use 19 pitchers (http://www.gochoctaws.com/custompages/baseball/2012/mcvsiwu.htm) in their nine-inning game today. That ties two D-III records:
Most relief pitchers used, one team
Most relief pitchers used, both teams

IWU and Blackburn played a similar game in 2008 (http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/bb2008/iwubb38.htm), when the teams also combined to use 17 relievers.

Coach Martel frequently uses this philosophy of throwing 9 different pitchers for an inning a piece in non-conference games.  He feels it allows him to get younger players an opportunity/experience and also see who can go out and impress him. 

I don't ever remember him using this strategy so early in the year, but then again, after a conversation with him before the season started in which he was very optimistic about the quality of depth (although inexperienced as some of it was) in the pitching staff, I am not that surprised.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 13, 2012, 02:28:18 PM
What happened to Jason Pankau? Last time I saw him he was pitching for the Vee Pak Hawks...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2012, 11:01:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 12, 2012, 10:33:20 PM
First time poster here. Have been reading throughout my time playing in the CCIW, and am excited to start commenting with you guys. I'll keep my identity secret for the time being  :P

BigPoppa I definitely can see North Park being the team to beat in the CCIW. Although pitching they are struggling to find a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (Garcia got the first nod, but has been coming out of the pen after just 1 start, and McGrady is still recovering from his elbow injury), they are going to be a tough team to play down the stretch.

Luke Johnson is going for his 7th straight season with an improving record from the season before, which means they need to win at least 31 games this year! Can't wait for conference play to start!

I think that Travis Boyer will settle in as the third starter for NPU. He finished the year strong in 2011. He probably just needs to get two or three starts in before he's consistently zeroing in on the plate.

I'm a little concerned about the Vikings' glovework. They've made 19 errors and given up ten unearned runs in their first nine games. However, this is a team whose position players are almost all new to the lineup this season. The fielding problems may take care of themselves as the season goes along and the team gets more experience. I am encouraged about the 15 double plays thus far; looks like Sousanes and Coduto might turn out to be a good combo up the middle, even though they're both playing new positions this year.

I'm psyched to see their home opener a week from today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 15, 2012, 07:02:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2012, 11:01:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 12, 2012, 10:33:20 PM
First time poster here. Have been reading throughout my time playing in the CCIW, and am excited to start commenting with you guys. I'll keep my identity secret for the time being  :P

BigPoppa I definitely can see North Park being the team to beat in the CCIW. Although pitching they are struggling to find a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (Garcia got the first nod, but has been coming out of the pen after just 1 start, and McGrady is still recovering from his elbow injury), they are going to be a tough team to play down the stretch.

Luke Johnson is going for his 7th straight season with an improving record from the season before, which means they need to win at least 31 games this year! Can't wait for conference play to start!

I think that Travis Boyer will settle in as the third starter for NPU. He finished the year strong in 2011. He probably just needs to get two or three starts in before he's consistently zeroing in on the plate.

I'm a little concerned about the Vikings' glovework. They've made 19 errors and given up ten unearned runs in their first nine games. However, this is a team whose position players are almost all new to the lineup this season. The fielding problems may take care of themselves as the season goes along and the team gets more experience. I am encouraged about the 15 double plays thus far; looks like Sousanes and Coduto might turn out to be a good combo up the middle, even though they're both playing new positions this year.

I'm psyched to see their home opener a week from today.


Boyer has 11 walks in 7 innings and has brought his command struggles from last year with him to Florida. I think that if North Park is going to be successful in the 3rd games of series they either need to keep sticking it, or have someone step up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 16, 2012, 06:20:47 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 15, 2012, 07:02:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2012, 11:01:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 12, 2012, 10:33:20 PM
First time poster here. Have been reading throughout my time playing in the CCIW, and am excited to start commenting with you guys. I'll keep my identity secret for the time being  :P

BigPoppa I definitely can see North Park being the team to beat in the CCIW. Although pitching they are struggling to find a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (Garcia got the first nod, but has been coming out of the pen after just 1 start, and McGrady is still recovering from his elbow injury), they are going to be a tough team to play down the stretch.

Luke Johnson is going for his 7th straight season with an improving record from the season before, which means they need to win at least 31 games this year! Can't wait for conference play to start!

I think that Travis Boyer will settle in as the third starter for NPU. He finished the year strong in 2011. He probably just needs to get two or three starts in before he's consistently zeroing in on the plate.

I'm a little concerned about the Vikings' glovework. They've made 19 errors and given up ten unearned runs in their first nine games. However, this is a team whose position players are almost all new to the lineup this season. The fielding problems may take care of themselves as the season goes along and the team gets more experience. I am encouraged about the 15 double plays thus far; looks like Sousanes and Coduto might turn out to be a good combo up the middle, even though they're both playing new positions this year.

I'm psyched to see their home opener a week from today.


Boyer has 11 walks in 7 innings and has brought his command struggles from last year with him to Florida. I think that if North Park is going to be successful in the 3rd games of series they either need to keep sticking it, or have someone step up.

But you are right, if Boyer can settle in, NP will have one of the toughest starting pitching in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2012, 09:08:43 AM
NPU's Steve Kuligkowski has been impressive to this point. 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 36Ks in 26 IP. He appears to be a legit #1 for the Vikings that can match up with just about anyone. NPU's #2 and #3 starters (at least accoring to the number of starts so far) could be the thorn in NPU's side as they sit with ERAs in the 6-7 range right now.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on March 16, 2012, 01:01:43 PM
Why was the North Park vs Monmouth game cancelled today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2012, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 16, 2012, 09:08:43 AM
NPU's Steve Kuligkowski has been impressive to this point. 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 36Ks in 26 IP.

... and an outstanding WHIP of exactly 1.000.

Quote from: BigPoppa on March 16, 2012, 09:08:43 AMHe appears to be a legit #1 for the Vikings that can match up with just about anyone. NPU's #2 and #3 starters (at least accoring to the number of starts so far) could be the thorn in NPU's side as they sit with ERAs in the 6-7 range right now.

Yep, Soldano and Boyer need to step it up. Fortunately, NPU has a nice run of non-conference home games before the CCIW season starts.

I wonder if we'll see Paul Garcia get any more starts in the non-con interval, just in case Soldano or Boyer doesn't get things straightened out.

Quote from: jester13 on March 16, 2012, 01:01:43 PM
Why was the North Park vs Monmouth game cancelled today?

Dunno. I guess that Dr. B will let us know, next time he's here on the site, since he's down in Florida with the Vikings.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 17, 2012, 12:31:15 PM

Quote from: jester13 on March 16, 2012, 01:01:43 PM
Why was the North Park vs Monmouth game cancelled today?

Yesterday's game against Monmouth was canceled because Monmouth had half of their team out with the flu. North Park played St. Lawrence University this morning and are currently playing Bethel University to round out their Spring trip in Ft. Meyer's.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 17, 2012, 05:13:52 PM
Carthage opens the season with a 14-1 win over Dakota Wesleyan.  They're an NAIA school with 22 games under their belts, but don't seem to be that good based on their 7-11 record (last 3 games aren't up to date on their website).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2012, 06:53:11 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 17, 2012, 12:31:15 PM

Quote from: jester13 on March 16, 2012, 01:01:43 PM
Why was the North Park vs Monmouth game cancelled today?

Yesterday's game against Monmouth was canceled because Monmouth had half of their team out with the flu. North Park played St. Lawrence University this morning and are currently playing Bethel University to round out their Spring trip in Ft. Meyer's.

Not St. Lawrence University, as in the school in northern New York, but plain ol' Lawrence University, the school in northern Wisconsin. The NPU website shows that the Park took down Lawrence, 4-0, this morning. Although there is no score posted either on the NPU baseball page or Dr. B's page for the noon game against Bethel, the Bethel website shows that North Park won that game as well by an identical 4-0 score.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 17, 2012, 09:23:37 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2012, 06:53:11 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 17, 2012, 12:31:15 PM

Quote from: jester13 on March 16, 2012, 01:01:43 PM
Why was the North Park vs Monmouth game cancelled today?

Yesterday's game against Monmouth was canceled because Monmouth had half of their team out with the flu. North Park played St. Lawrence University this morning and are currently playing Bethel University to round out their Spring trip in Ft. Meyer's.

Not St. Lawrence University, as in the school in northern New York, but plain ol' Lawrence University, the school in northern Wisconsin. The NPU website shows that the Park took down Lawrence, 4-0, this morning. Although there is no score posted either on the NPU baseball page or Dr. B's page for the noon game against Bethel, the Bethel website shows that North Park won that game as well by an identical 4-0 score.

Yes, thank you Greg!  North Park downed Lawrence University 9-2 in the first game and then beat a very good Bethel team 4-0. It was nice to see Nick Soldano step up and pitch a good game today against Bethel. The Vikings come away 10-2 and will face off against former pitching coach Steve Hardman, now head coach at Dominican University.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 17, 2012, 09:24:29 PM
Seems maybe a bit over-the-top for a season opener, but here's a quote from Augie regarding today's game...


"The real story, said Schmidt, "not even Rohe, was how good we played, defensively.  I haven't seen a Carthage team play defense like this in a long time, and a lot of that was freshman shortstop Drew Bailey (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley).  He played about as good a shortstop today as I've seen in my coaching career.  He put on a show, and he may become the best defensive shortstop we've ever had.  He had the other team talking.  Bailey playing short has also allowed us to move Kyle Pusateri to third, and he made every play today.  Our pitcher are going to love this.  We haven't been the best defensive team around, by any means, the past few years.  Every team is different, and maybe defense will be this team's calling card."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 17, 2012, 10:39:10 PM
North Central opened their spring break tour with a 4-3 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 18, 2012, 12:51:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2012, 06:53:11 PM
The NPU website shows that the Park took down Lawrence, 4-0, this morning. Although there is no score posted either on the NPU baseball page or Dr. B's page for the noon game against Bethel, the Bethel website shows that North Park won that game as well by an identical 4-0 score.
We are back in Chicago after posting a 6-0 mark in Ft. Myers. I've just uploaded the stories to both of today's games (click here (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html)) and will work on inserting some photos tomorrow.  The scores were 9-2 vs Lawrence and 4-0 over Bethel.

We were very fortunate to get a game with Lawrence today on such short notice.  Paul Garcia started and pitched a solid game, scattering six hits to pick up his first victory.

The game against Bethel was a real treat to watch, especially if you appreciate great defensive efforts. The Vikings reached lefty David Freed for a pair of runs in the first, but some great outfield throws by the Royals cut down two more potential runs -- one on a runner trying to score from second on a base hit, and the other trying to score on a sac fly.  The Vikings also flashed some leather, turning a 3-6-3 double play one inning, a line-drive 5-3 DP another, and three spectacular catches: two diving grabs by Matt Rice in center, and one by Kyle Williams in right -- running away from the play, diving near the warning track, a real web-gem.  The Vikings got some insurance runs in the ninth when the third Royals pitcher threw away an attempted pickoff to second, which set up a sac fly for one run and a single for the other.  Nick Soldano pitched a complete-game shutout for his second win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 18, 2012, 08:26:31 AM
Quote from: newcardfan on March 17, 2012, 10:39:10 PM
North Central opened their spring break tour with a 4-3 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan.
...and then drop yesterday's game, 4-6
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2012, 09:27:19 AM
North Park is on the cusp of moving from good to elite in the Central region. Carthage, though only one game in, looks to be very very good again. Mix in a good IWU and solid Augustana and the CCIW appears loaded.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2012, 04:22:53 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 18, 2012, 12:51:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2012, 06:53:11 PM
The NPU website shows that the Park took down Lawrence, 4-0, this morning. Although there is no score posted either on the NPU baseball page or Dr. B's page for the noon game against Bethel, the Bethel website shows that North Park won that game as well by an identical 4-0 score.
We are back in Chicago after posting a 6-0 mark in Ft. Myers. I've just uploaded the stories to both of today's games (click here (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/schedule/current.html)) and will work on inserting some photos tomorrow.  The scores were 9-2 vs Lawrence and 4-0 over Bethel.

We were very fortunate to get a game with Lawrence today on such short notice.  Paul Garcia started and pitched a solid game, scattering six hits to pick up his first victory.

The game against Bethel was a real treat to watch, especially if you appreciate great defensive efforts. The Vikings reached lefty David Freed for a pair of runs in the first, but some great outfield throws by the Royals cut down two more potential runs -- one on a runner trying to score from second on a base hit, and the other trying to score on a sac fly.  The Vikings also flashed some leather, turning a 3-6-3 double play one inning, a line-drive 5-3 DP another, and three spectacular catches: two diving grabs by Matt Rice in center, and one by Kyle Williams in right -- running away from the play, diving near the warning track, a real web-gem.  The Vikings got some insurance runs in the ninth when the third Royals pitcher threw away an attempted pickoff to second, which set up a sac fly for one run and a single for the other.  Nick Soldano pitched a complete-game shutout for his second win.

The improving defense for the Park is great to see, but I really take heart in reading about the performance of the starting pitching for NPU yesterday. Given Garcia's fine performance over eight innings in the win over Lawrence, and the fact that Travis Boyer relieved him, I wonder if Luke Johnson might be contemplating changing his rotation. What really encouraged me, though, was Soldano's complete-game shutout of a solid Bethel squad. That's just what the doctor ordered, considering his rough beginning to the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2012, 04:26:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2012, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 13, 2012, 08:41:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2012, 09:53:22 PM
I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip.

We have three more games on the spring break: Principia, Monmouth, and Bethel.

I think they cruise the first two and face a tougher than expected Bethel squad who has already knocked off Whitewater and swept CCIW opponent North Central.

Actually, BP, as it turned out, the North Central that Bethel beat was the other North Central in D3, North Central University up in the Twin Cities. Still, that win by Bethel over #11 UW-Whitewater was very impressive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 18, 2012, 05:07:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2012, 04:26:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 13, 2012, 08:48:42 AM
Quote from: mr_b on March 13, 2012, 08:41:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2012, 09:53:22 PM
I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip.

We have three more games on the spring break: Principia, Monmouth, and Bethel.

I think they cruise the first two and face a tougher than expected Bethel squad who has already knocked off Whitewater and swept CCIW opponent North Central.

Actually, BP, as it turned out, the North Central that Bethel beat was the other North Central in D3, North Central University up in the Twin Cities. Still, that win by Bethel over #11 UW-Whitewater was very impressive.

Travis Boyer, when consistent, is extremely effective. Just look at his game he had against a very good Augustana offense last season (9 ip, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 13 K) in the CCIW Title clincher. Paul Garcia was very effective last year out of the pen, and I think that Boyer in the rotation and Garcia in the pen is the ideal situation, but if Garcia continues to pitch effectively and Boyer continues to struggle then it almost forces Luke Johnson's hand to have to start Garcia and have Boyer relieve. Soldano will continue to be a solid number 2 starter for the Vikings and I expect a big season out of him.

Their defense will pick up, as that is Luke Johnson's MO. He has the knack for turning mediocre defensive players into semi-decent ones. NPU will be the team to beat out of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 18, 2012, 10:12:38 PM
North Central takes 2 of 3 from North Carolina Wesleyan with today's 4-1 win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 19, 2012, 08:24:19 AM
Quote from: newcardfan on March 18, 2012, 10:12:38 PM
North Central takes 2 of 3 from North Carolina Wesleyan with today's 4-1 win.

The baseball team travels to Fayetteville, NC to take on Methodist tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2012, 08:18:08 PM
Looks like Carthage is about to fall to Luther. Down 11-7 in the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TheSportsFan on March 19, 2012, 09:37:25 PM
It's a final.  Luther 13, Carthage 7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 19, 2012, 09:50:59 PM
Quote from: TheSportsFan on March 19, 2012, 09:37:25 PM
It's a final.  Luther 13, Carthage 7.

Not a good loss for Carthage. I expect they'll rebound against Hamline tomorrow though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2012, 10:16:17 PM
Don't be so sure. Hamline is very very good this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 19, 2012, 10:25:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 19, 2012, 10:16:17 PM
Don't be so sure. Hamline is very very good this season.

With losses to Dubuque, Oshkosh, and Stout, I think Carthage should have the upper hand in this game. But as we know, this is baseball...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2012, 11:13:32 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 19, 2012, 10:25:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 19, 2012, 10:16:17 PM
Don't be so sure. Hamline is very very good this season.

With losses to Dubuque, Oshkosh, and Stout, I think Carthage should have the upper hand in this game. But as we know, this is baseball...

Just like they should have had the upper hand against Luther today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 20, 2012, 08:42:14 AM
Big Poppa, I'm looking forward to seeing your Top 25. Does Trinity (Texas) belong in the 1 spot? How does Carthage continue to move up in the polls? And what has happened to Heildelberg?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2012, 05:07:36 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 20, 2012, 08:42:14 AM
Big Poppa, I'm looking forward to seeing your Top 25. Does Trinity (Texas) belong in the 1 spot? How does Carthage continue to move up in the polls? And what has happened to Heildelberg?

Carthage will not move up this week.  2-2 so far in AZ after loses to Luther and Hamline.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2012, 09:07:05 PM
North Park slaughter-ruled Dominican today in seven innings, 14-2, in the home opener for the Vikings.

NPU (11-2) will host Wisconsin Lutheran in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2012, 06:19:21 PM
Carthage is getting throttled 7-0 in the 5th by UW Superior. Not a Good start for the Redmen
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on March 21, 2012, 06:26:08 PM
Not sure if any posters here follow Wheaton ,but does anyone know why Trey Martin hasn't seen the mound this season?   He was clearly Wheaton's ace last year.  His bat sure seems fine.   

Wheaton's offense seems to have some pop again.  In 12 games, 116 runs, 15 HRs, .355 average, .552 SLG and my favorite, 67 BBs.   Not bad numbers in the new BBCOR era regardless of the pitching it's against.   Like Augie, the key for the Thunder will be what the arms can do during the CCIW schedule to go with that offense. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2012, 07:42:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 21, 2012, 06:19:21 PM
Carthage is getting throttled 7-0 in the 5th by UW Superior. Not a Good start for the Redmen
Now down 10-2 in the 7th:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 22, 2012, 08:18:12 AM
North Central closed out their spring break tour witha 9-4 victory over Greensboro College. Next up is a double header on March 25 at home beginning at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 22, 2012, 03:55:51 PM
Carthage loses 6-8 to a bad Carlton College team. Not a good start for the Red Man as they are about to face off against their toughest opponent of the year, Eastern Connecticut. Carthage continues to struggle defensively having committed 4 errors in their loss to Carlton.

The Red Man are going to have to figure it out very soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2012, 05:55:09 PM
Incidentally, it was great to see so many of last year's seniors, and a number of other recent North Park baseball alumni, in attendance at yesterday's DU @ NPU contest. It says a lot about the sense of ownership, pride, and emotional investment in the NPU baseball program that the Vikings take with them even after they've graduated and entered the working world.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 23, 2012, 11:26:42 PM
I've wondered the same thing Izzy. It leads me to believe that either Wheaton doesn't have another 1st baseman that Drigger trusts, or Drigger has so much faith in his pitching staff that he has elected to have a stronger fielding defense and offense. I think it's probably the first, and perhaps Trey might be dealing with a little arm trouble? He did make the move to 1B too... not sure if that says anything about an arm issue?

I'm sure Wheaton is a bit frustrated today.  Wheaton loaded the bases in the top of the 8th down 5-3 and the umpires called the game do to unplayable field conditions. It may have been a good call... I'm not sure, I wasn't there... but, knowing some of the field conditions many of us former college baseball players have played in, I'm sure it's frustrating for those boys to have a game called in the middle of an inning like that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 24, 2012, 06:19:23 PM
Wheaton splits today. They get UW Platteville 4-2 but fall again to Wash U. by 1 run in 12 innings.  Would've liked to see Wheaton get at least one of those from Wash U.  That would be a great quality win, but they just fell short.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 25, 2012, 12:10:58 AM
North Park splits a double header today against Wisconsin Lutheran with an 8-3 win in the first game and 10-6 loss in the second. Nick Soldano put in another solid game with 8 IP 1 BB 11 K's. In the second game, defense was what hurt the Vikings with 5 of the 10 runs being unearned. Garcia gets tagged with the loss, while Boyer works 1.2 innings with 5 K's and 0 BB's on the day. This loss ends their 11 game win streak, and although it was a bad loss, I expect Luke Johnson to get them back on track starting with UW-Platteville tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2012, 01:32:11 AM
IWU split a pair with CUC (or CURF, for those who care about geography!), winning 8-6, then losing 6-9.  Rubber game tomorrow.  Titans currently 8-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2012, 11:52:32 AM
Thoughts as we head into CCIW play this week:
1. The biggest surprise to me is Carthage at 5-5 in a relatively non-threatening schedule to this point.

2. Can the 11-2 Augustana avoid another collapse in the CCIW? They seem to be here every year and peak in mid-April before falling off the radar at tourney time.

3. As I have said over and over, I think NPU is the team to beat this year. I am confused by their loss to Wisconsin Lutheran yesterday...

4. Still don't know what to make of IWU... Maybe my dislike of the green weenies clouds my judgement, but they don't seem as formidable as recent squads have... Though Callahan scares the bejesus out of me.

5. Driggers looks to have Wheaton pointed in the right direction.

6. Millikan is just awful... Again! I struggle to recall a time when they were relevant.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2012, 02:43:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 25, 2012, 11:52:32 AM3. As I have said over and over, I think NPU is the team to beat this year. I am confused by their loss to Wisconsin Lutheran yesterday...

Yeah, it's a bad loss for the Park. Wisconsin Lutheran isn't nearly as awful as its record indicates, but that's still a team that North Park should've swept. Nevertheless, it's still relatively easy to explain what happened. As I've said before, the early-season fielding for the Vikings has not been sharp, and as D3Vike11 indicated, errors plagued NPU quite a bit in the nightcap -- although you have to give credit to the Warriors for being able to take advantage of those errors. Paul Garcia had a hard time finding the strike zone early on, and the errors behind him made his control problems worse.

It was altogether not that good of a day for the Vikings. Even in the 8-3 win they had to come from behind -- I figured that they'd put WLC away early in both games -- and they got picked off three times in the opener. First time I've ever seen a team get picked off three times in a game and still win! But, like D3Vike11, I expect to see the Vikings snap back this afternoon against UWP. I don't think that the Vikings want to have to face another postgame harangue from Luke Johnson like they got yesterday.

The upside for the doubleheader was that Travis Boyer looked fantastic in both of his appearances, and Nick Soldano battled through some early difficulty and ended up putting in a solid start for NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2012, 06:23:32 PM
IWU was pummeled today, 8-0, by CUC, falling to 8-4.  Five hits against what is presumably pretty deep in the CUC pitching order just ain't gonna get it done! :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 25, 2012, 06:34:47 PM
North Central swept Beloit today, by the scores of 8-7 and 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2012, 06:37:53 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2012, 06:23:32 PM
IWU was pummeled today, 8-0, by CUC, falling to 8-4.  Five hits against what is presumably pretty deep in the CUC pitching order just ain't gonna get it done! :P

It's not as bad as you think. I have CUC in the top ten nationally... Though other voters have yet to follow suit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2012, 07:06:50 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 25, 2012, 06:37:53 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2012, 06:23:32 PM
IWU was pummeled today, 8-0, by CUC, falling to 8-4.  Five hits against what is presumably pretty deep in the CUC pitching order just ain't gonna get it done! :P

It's not as bad as you think. I have CUC in the top ten nationally... Though other voters have yet to follow suit.

Oh, I know they're pretty good - I believe both IWU and CUC are top 25 in the coaches' poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 25, 2012, 08:39:58 PM
North Park improved to 13-3 on the season by beating UW-Platteville, 3-1. Steve Kuligowski improved his record to 5-1, and Alex Silverthorne picked up his second save. Next up for the Vikings is Benedictine, which will travel to Holmgren Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 25, 2012, 11:02:13 PM
Coach Augie has to be beside himself with the defense!  That was what always made his teams so good... seems like most all of the 2000's they had ridiculously high fielding percentages, it's like an Augie staple!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 26, 2012, 08:02:08 AM
North Central brings a 9-4 record into CCIW play. They open with a DH against Elmhurst at home, on March 31st, beginning at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 27, 2012, 04:33:57 PM
Some exciting news for the CCIW, Wheaton finally got their stadium upgrades zoning approved... so they've started work.  The stadium itself probably won't be done for a year or two, depending on fundraising, but it's a huge step for the CCIW to have teams upgrading facilities.  Now if Elmhurst and Millikin will do something, the CCIW would probably be the best D3 conference in terms of facilities, and arguably in baseball period!  Unfortunately unless Elmhurst and Millikin turn their programs around and have some continued success, I'm not sure we'll see it any time soon... especially since they both play at city parks, that makes it more difficult.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/3/24/BB_Stadium.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2012, 04:52:28 PM
Congrats to NPU's Steve Kuligowski and Tony Sanchez, who were named the CCIW's Players of the Week (http://www.cciw.org/news/2012/3/27/BB_0327121938.aspx) today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on March 28, 2012, 09:41:59 PM
Old news:  North Park swept a doubleheader against St. Olaf in the HHH Metrodome. FYI:  Baseball was meant to be played indoors where the wind can't influence a hit, the sun can't adversely affect a fielder, and no bad hops occur.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2012, 10:07:25 PM
North Park edged Benedictine this evening, 7-6, behind five shutout relief innings from freshman Wesley Mleziva and the third save of the season for Alex Silverthorne. NPU (14-3) will start off the CCIW slate by hosting Millikin for three games this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2012, 10:13:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2012, 10:07:25 PM
North Park edged Benedictine this evening, 7-6, behind five shutout relief innings from freshman Wesley Mleziva and the third save of the season for Alex Silverthorne. NPU (14-3) will start off the CCIW slate by hosting Millikin for three games this weekend.
Maybe somebody besides myself will finally notice NPU in the poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2012, 10:35:29 PM
Speaking of which, the d3baseball.com top 25 that came out on Sunday didn't have any CCIW teams in it. NPU is sitting in 26th place, one point behind Concordia (IL), with Augustana, Carthage, and Illinois Wesleyan all receiving a fair amount of points as well.

The only other team from the region that's getting even the merest nod from the pollsters is Wash U, which got four points in Sunday's poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2012, 10:55:24 PM
... And WashU's four point came from my #22 ranking of them. I am pretty sure that I am one of the few who sees NPU and Concordia-Chicago as borderline top ten teams. Love them both right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on March 29, 2012, 09:26:40 PM
This may not be the forum for it, but Concordia picked up a gem when Anthony Even landed in their laps this year.  Former all-stater at Leyden and All-American JUCO player.  Was pissed he didn't wind up in a North Park uniform. 

Poppa-as a North Parker, I'm interested as to what makes you so high on the Vikings.  As a HS coach, I have to follow on line without the luxury of really ever getting to see them in person. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2012, 09:47:08 PM
I have a trusted network of coaching friends that keep me in the loop. I trust my variety of sources deeply and value their info and opinions as a way to validate my own eyes. I too am a high school coach so it is tough to see games but the Internet has made it possible once in a while. NPU always finishes higher than expected under Luke Johnson... I love the pitching they have this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on March 29, 2012, 11:15:08 PM
Regarding Luke Johnson, I am in complete awe regarding his tenure at NPU.

Separately, my kids enjoyed and improved by attending the US Baseball Academy late winter baseball camp on NPU's campus at the Helwig Center, overseen by Coach Johnson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2012, 11:32:19 PM
Luke's a good coach, no two ways about it. He knows the game, and he most certainly knows how to motivate his players to get the best out of them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 29, 2012, 11:38:50 PM
I think you have to be certain kind of guy to play under Coach Johnson, he certainly has some mannerisms that aren't for everyone... but you absolutely cannot argue with the results he's had the past 2 seasons.  Plus, who wouldn't want to play at a park that you can hit a pop fly for a home run :-P  haha, just kidding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 12:45:04 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 29, 2012, 11:38:50 PM
I think you have to be certain kind of guy to play under Coach Johnson, he certainly has some mannerisms that aren't for everyone...

Yep. His rather colorful language does tend to freak out some North Park fans. I'm sure that most Wheaton fans would swoon if they ever got close enough to the NPU dugout to hear him. ;)

He prefers hard-nosed, tough-as-nails kids, too. NPU baseball exudes a certain kind of blue-collar aura, even among the kids who come from well-to-do backgrounds. Luke does not like the sort of player that he refers to as a "suburban cake-eater" -- he wants a grinder type of player who has never had anything handed to him before and who has a healthy respect for the meaning of hard work. And most of the NPU baseball kids who aren't initially like that tend to adopt that sort of blue-collar, never-back-down-to-anyone persona, partly out of peer pressure but mostly, I think, because they respect Luke so much.

At least, these are my impressions. Some of the baseball alums and Dr. B might have a different (and undoubtedly more accurate) picture of things, but this is sort of the image that I've gotten from being in the dugout and around the team.

Bosko Djurickovic was a lot like that when he ran the NPU baseball program in terms of that blue-collar mentality. He loved kids from the bungalow belt. He used to think of it as an asset if a kid was from Calumet City or Berwyn or the Northwest Side, and a liability if he was from Wilmette or Hinsdale.

Quote from: warrior35 on March 29, 2012, 11:38:50 PMbut you absolutely cannot argue with the results he's had the past 2 seasons.  Plus, who wouldn't want to play at a park that you can hit a pop fly for a home run :-P  haha, just kidding.

The short porch in right and right-center at Holmgren Athletic Complex is certainly tempting to hitters, but it doesn't cause as many cheap homers as outsiders think. One big reason why is because the wind off the lake tends to push back balls hit to right -- and in the spring there usually seems to be a harsh, cold wind blowing in off the lake from the northeast or the east.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 30, 2012, 01:24:20 AM
Yeah, I can definitely see that exuding from Coach Johnson.  And, I do think it takes more than a few years for that kind of system to fully take root... even if they are all his kids, sometimes it takes some time to weed out the ones who aren't sure whether they want to adopt that style or not.  Then you end up with Junior/Senior leadership that helps make the whole team buy in to the leadership, it's either that or tell the young buck to jump on the Kennedy Expressway and head home.  And yes, I'm sure some hair would stand on the back of some Wheaton old-timer's necks, lol.  I think during my playing days, he may have been a little bit overboard with some of his antics b/c the culture he was going for really hadn't taken root yet and he was just trying to make a point. Ok, maybe a lot of points... lol.

As far as the stadium goes, I'm sure that most days the wind blows plenty off the lake... but I did have the chance to play there for probably 6 games during my career, and I can't recall ever thinking that a ball didn't go out b/c of the wind... but it is Chicago, there are bound to be days that the wind holds balls up.  And, in the case that the wind is blowing out of the west... the geese on the water better watch out!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 02:09:42 AM
The weather tends to be a little nicer at the end of the season when CCIW teams come in to visit Holmgren, so the elements aren't working against the hitters so much. And, of course, the hitters in the CCIW tend to be better than those of the non-conference opponents, anyway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on March 30, 2012, 03:15:34 PM
Forget the wind. That porch is close.  Trust me, I know.  One of my teammates for 4 years there hit something like 22 home runs in his career, and I think 17 or 18 of them came to RF at home.

That said, the park is a little bigger since its reconfiguration, and let's not forget that, as nice as it is for hitters, it's equally as difficult for pitchers.  Both teams have to play with the dimensions.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 30, 2012, 09:24:29 PM
Wheaton blows a 9-4 lead over Wesleyan to lose 14-10... Wheaton's pitching might be the death of them this year.  I hope they prove me wrong, but clearly blowing a 5 run lead is just not acceptable.  It's not the first time it's happened this year either... that's what's scaring me.  Credit IWU of taking advantage of the opportunities that were given to them too.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 10:22:58 PM
Loss or no loss, you guys rocked Joe Sweeney, and that's impressive. He gave up nine earned runs on nine hits in only an inning and two-thirds.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 30, 2012, 10:44:26 PM
I think we've covered that Wheaton's offense has been impressive this year, even despite that new bats... and actually, Wheaton's offense has been the primary reason for its success since 2008... if they could put together a season where they hit above .325, field above .950 and get their ERA below 5 for the season, they could really challenge for the CCIW title.  So far this year they have managed to do all of the above except the fielding %.  But, that was in NC schedule.  Let's just say 13 earned runs and a 3:7 strike out to walk ratio is not even close to what's going to let you compete in the CCIW.  Take away even just a couple of those walks, the game tonight might have been different.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 30, 2012, 10:52:07 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 30, 2012, 10:44:26 PM
I think we've covered that Wheaton's offense has been impressive this year, even despite that new bats... and actually, Wheaton's offense has been the primary reason for its success since 2008... if they could put together a season where they hit above .325, field above .950 and get their ERA below 5 for the season, they could really challenge for the CCIW title.  So far this year they have managed to do all of the above except the fielding %.  But, that was in NC schedule.  Let's just say 13 earned runs and a 3:7 strike out to walk ratio is not even close to what's going to let you compete in the CCIW.  Take away even just a couple of those walks, the game tonight might have been different.

There are currently 4 teams with a higher team BA than Wheaton, all of which are higher than .325. I don't think that that, on top of an ERA below 5 (which there are currently 7 teams at 5.00 or below), would boost Wheaton up to a CCIW title. It takes more than that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 10:57:57 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 30, 2012, 10:44:26 PM
I think we've covered that Wheaton's offense has been impressive this year, even despite that new bats... and actually, Wheaton's offense has been the primary reason for its success since 2008... if they could put together a season where they hit above .325, field above .950 and get their ERA below 5 for the season, they could really challenge for the CCIW title.  So far this year they have managed to do all of the above except the fielding %.  But, that was in NC schedule.  Let's just say 13 earned runs and a 3:7 strike out to walk ratio is not even close to what's going to let you compete in the CCIW.  Take away even just a couple of those walks, the game tonight might have been different.

Yeah, but Wheaton wasn't just teeing off on any old pitcher. Sweeney is Wesleyan's ace. He was first-team All-CCIW last season. He came into today's game with a 2.45 ERA, and left it with a 5.70 ERA. That's impressive no matter how you look at it.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 30, 2012, 10:52:07 PM
There are currently 4 teams with a higher team BA than Wheaton, all of which are higher than .325. I don't think that that, on top of an ERA below 5 (which there are currently 7 teams at 5.00 or below), would boost Wheaton up to a CCIW title. It takes more than that.

That's true, too. Heck, Elmhurst meets those three criteria of a team BA above .325, a team fielding % above .950, and an ERA below 5 (although the Bluejays are sitting right on 5 at the moment). Does anybody really think that the 'jays are a threat to win the league?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 01:45:17 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 30, 2012, 10:52:07 PM
There are currently 4 teams with a higher team BA than Wheaton, all of which are higher than .325. I don't think that that, on top of an ERA below 5 (which there are currently 7 teams at 5.00 or below), would boost Wheaton up to a CCIW title. It takes more than that.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 10:57:57 PM
That's true, too. Heck, Elmhurst meets those three criteria of a team BA above .325, a team fielding % above .950, and an ERA below 5 (although the Bluejays are sitting right on 5 at the moment). Does anybody really think that the 'jays are a threat to win the league?

It's early yet boys.  And, I need to clarify my statement.  You boys forget that we're not even half-way through the season yet and we have barely touched CCIW play.  The numbers I referenced are what I think they should be at the end of the season, not currently.  Also, I think that those levels are to even have a shot at competing for the title.  It absolutely may take more, or possibly less... Wheaton made it to the conference championship game in 2009 when their season stat line was .326 BA, .948 FLD%, and 6.50 ERA.

For the sake of reference, the season stat lines of recent CCIW champs.
2008- .329 BA, .959 FLD%, 4.50 ERA.
2009- .329 BA, .958 FLD%, 3.40 ERA.
2010- .302 BA, .956 FLD%, 5.00 ERA. 
2011- .327 BA, .951 FLD%, 3.18 ERA.

There is nothing magical about the numbers I wrote... teams have won the CCIW with far better numbers, and they have won with worse numbers (and the national championship for that matter). But as a general rule, to have a shot, I believe those numbers to be a pretty true for Wheaton and most teams.  May I stress "general rule"... if this game was played on paper it wouldn't be any fun.  Also, It's not uncommon for teams to come into conference play with great stats... the CCIW can be a bit of a meat grinder, if you know what I mean.  It's good, tough baseball!  I would hope that most teams would come in with great ERAs, I wish I could dig up stats from teams heading into conference play compared to their final ERA over the past several years, that would be an interesting stat!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 02:01:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 10:57:57 PM
Yeah, but Wheaton wasn't just teeing off on any old pitcher. Sweeney is Wesleyan's ace. He was first-team All-CCIW last season. He came into today's game with a 2.45 ERA, and left it with a 5.70 ERA. That's impressive no matter how you look at it.

That may be true, but games are 9 innings... not 1 2/3.  I really don't want to minimize what Wheaton did, but if it was so impressive they should have been able to score more than 1 run off of guys who aren't as good as Sweeney when the team needed it... at the end of the day, it is nice to see Wheaton hitters do well off of good competition but if it isn't putting Ws in the win column it's not good enough.  The ability is there, Wheaton is just not putting together well rounded games at the moment.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on March 31, 2012, 02:33:37 AM
Wheaton got all the runs you could ask for.  They didn't get the outs. 

There is an easy gold standard when it comes to measuring team offense and it's runs scored.   BA is a poor metric for individual offense and even worse when looking at entire teams.  Wheaton leads the conference in offense at this point in the season and I would bet will end up in the top 2 or 3 in conference play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:14:41 AM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on March 31, 2012, 02:33:37 AM
Wheaton got all the runs you could ask for.  They didn't get the outs. 

There is an easy gold standard when it comes to measuring team offense and it's runs scored.   BA is a poor metric for individual offense and even worse when looking at entire teams.  Wheaton leads the conference in offense at this point in the season and I would bet will end up in the top 2 or 3 in conference play.

I agree. Every year Wheaton is near the top of the conference for offense. As previously stated though, they don't pitch well. You have to be able to pitch well if you want to have success in the CCIW. You might get away with outscoring some opponents, but as the year goes on, and as you get farther into the postseason, pitching becomes even more crucial. You rarely see a 14-10 game in conference tourneys, let alone regionals. If Wheaton is going to compete, they need someone to step up on the mound now that conference play has started.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 11:52:00 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 01:45:17 AMAlso, I think that those levels are to even have a shot at competing for the title.  It absolutely may take more, or possibly less... Wheaton made it to the conference championship game in 2009 when their season stat line was .326 BA, .948 FLD%, and 6.50 ERA.

For the sake of reference, the season stat lines of recent CCIW champs.
2008- .329 BA, .959 FLD%, 4.50 ERA.
2009- .329 BA, .958 FLD%, 3.40 ERA.
2010- .302 BA, .956 FLD%, 5.00 ERA. 
2011- .327 BA, .951 FLD%, 3.18 ERA

Actually, those aren't the numbers for the recent CCIW champs. Those are the numbers for the recent CCIW tourney champs, which is a different thing altogether -- although, in terms of team statistics, it's a distinction without a difference. Carthage, which won the CCIW tourney last season and whose 2011 numbers you quoted, actually outperformed CCIW co-champions North Park and Illinois Wesleyan in the team BA and team ERA categories.

Quote from: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 02:01:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2012, 10:57:57 PM
Yeah, but Wheaton wasn't just teeing off on any old pitcher. Sweeney is Wesleyan's ace. He was first-team All-CCIW last season. He came into today's game with a 2.45 ERA, and left it with a 5.70 ERA. That's impressive no matter how you look at it.

That may be true, but games are 9 innings... not 1 2/3.  I really don't want to minimize what Wheaton did, but if it was so impressive they should have been able to score more than 1 run off of guys who aren't as good as Sweeney when the team needed it.

Again, though, that was not my point. I was simply saying that I was impressed that Wheaton got to Sweeney so heavily. It was as much a comment about Sweeney as it was about Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 12:24:52 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on March 31, 2012, 02:33:37 AM
Wheaton got all the runs you could ask for.  They didn't get the outs. 

There is an easy gold standard when it comes to measuring team offense and it's runs scored.   BA is a poor metric for individual offense and even worse when looking at entire teams.

I agree, although I think that the scoring metric should be more properly expressed as runs per game. Here are some relevant team offensive metrics, current as of this morning:

team  SLG%  OBP  OPS  RPG
Wheaton  .503  .430  .933  8.71
Illinois Wesleyan  .467  .426  .893  8.47
Augustana  .473  .423  .896  7.87
North Park  .444  .435  .879  7.59
North Central  .408  .389  .797  7.15
Elmhurst  .470  .414  .884  7.08
Carthage  .428  .375  .803  6.50
Millikin  .317  .363  .690  4.33

Nevertheless, D3Vike11 is absolutely correct when he states:

Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:14:41 AMYou have to be able to pitch well if you want to have success in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on March 31, 2012, 01:36:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 12:24:52 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on March 31, 2012, 02:33:37 AM
Wheaton got all the runs you could ask for.  They didn't get the outs. 

There is an easy gold standard when it comes to measuring team offense and it's runs scored.   BA is a poor metric for individual offense and even worse when looking at entire teams.

I agree, although I think that the scoring metric should be more properly expressed as runs per game. Here are some relevant team offensive metrics, current as of this morning:

team  SLG%  OBP  OPS  RPG
Wheaton  .503  .430  .933  8.71
Illinois Wesleyan  .467  .426  .893  8.47
Augustana  .473  .423  .896  7.87
North Park  .444  .435  .879  7.59
North Central  .408  .389  .797  7.15
Elmhurst  .470  .414  .884  7.08
Carthage  .428  .375  .803  6.50
Millikin  .317  .363  .690  4.33

Nevertheless, D3Vike11 is absolutely correct when he states:

Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:14:41 AMYou have to be able to pitch well if you want to have success in the CCIW.

Yes, without being that explicit, I was referring to runs per game. 

Agree on pitching also, which is why I favor North Park in the conference race. 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 31, 2012, 05:30:40 PM
sitting in beautiful downtown naperville getting see NCC dominate on the track and the diamond. NC won game 1, 3-2 and is leading 8-1 in game 2 against Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 05:51:50 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 11:52:00 AM
Actually, those aren't the numbers for the recent CCIW champs. Those are the numbers for the recent CCIW tourney champs, which is a different thing altogether -- although, in terms of team statistics, it's a distinction without a difference.

Indeed, tourney champs may differ from the regular season leaders... but let's not kid ourselves, only the tourney champion is what truly matters.  CCIW doesn't recognize regular season "champs", so I don't even consider them champions at all.  Hence the reason I used the numbers I did.

Bottom line, Wheaton still has some improvement to do if they want to compete for the CCIW title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2012, 06:15:40 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 05:51:50 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 11:52:00 AM
Actually, those aren't the numbers for the recent CCIW champs. Those are the numbers for the recent CCIW tourney champs, which is a different thing altogether -- although, in terms of team statistics, it's a distinction without a difference.

Indeed, tourney champs may differ from the regular season leaders... but let's not kid ourselves, only the tourney champion is what truly matters.  CCIW doesn't recognize regular season "champs", so I don't even consider them champions at all.  Hence the reason I used the numbers I did.

Bottom line, Wheaton still has some improvement to do if they want to compete for the CCIW title.

Not true.  The conference champion is the regular season winner (with the trophy and banner to prove it); the tournament winner is the only one guaranteed to play in the postseason, though (without checking) I believe the CCIW has become respected enough that 'the champions' too will play in the postseason if they lose in the tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on March 31, 2012, 06:29:27 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on March 31, 2012, 05:30:40 PM
sitting in beautiful downtown naperville getting see NCC dominate on the track and the diamond. NC won game 1, 3-2 and is leading 8-1 in game 2 against Carthage.
Final in game 2: NC 8, Carthage 1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 07:01:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2012, 06:15:40 PM
Not true.  The conference champion is the regular season winner (with the trophy and banner to prove it); the tournament winner is the only one guaranteed to play in the postseason, though (without checking) I believe the CCIW has become respected enough that 'the champions' too will play in the postseason if they lose in the tournament.

That's news to me, and I played in the CCIW... oh well, shows that we never won it... lol.  I guess it is an honor to have the best conference record, but I'd prefer to win the tourney.  I don't know for sure, but I don't think it's a guarantee that the reg. season winner from any conference automatically qualifies for Regionals.  But, clearly I don't know everything, haha.  Times change quickly if you don't keep up... I was focused on D2 ball for the past few years.  But, I do believe that the current status of the CCIW should get at least 2 schools in every year, unless the conference falls off... but I don't see the CCIW getting worse any time soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 07:50:02 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2012, 06:15:40 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 05:51:50 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 11:52:00 AM
Actually, those aren't the numbers for the recent CCIW champs. Those are the numbers for the recent CCIW tourney champs, which is a different thing altogether -- although, in terms of team statistics, it's a distinction without a difference.

Indeed, tourney champs may differ from the regular season leaders... but let's not kid ourselves, only the tourney champion is what truly matters.  CCIW doesn't recognize regular season "champs", so I don't even consider them champions at all.  Hence the reason I used the numbers I did.

Bottom line, Wheaton still has some improvement to do if they want to compete for the CCIW title.

Not true.  The conference champion is the regular season winner (with the trophy and banner to prove it); the tournament winner is the only one guaranteed to play in the postseason, though (without checking) I believe the CCIW has become respected enough that 'the champions' too will play in the postseason if they lose in the tournament.

Not necessarily. NPU was co-champs last season, and the Vikes didn't make it in to the D3 tourney as an at-large.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 08:02:36 PM
NPU swept the doubleheader today against Millikin with a pair of slaughter-rule wins, 20-3 and 10-0. Steve Kuligowski upped his record to 6-1, 1.42 in the opening-game rout, while Nick Soldano improved to 5-1, 3.27 with a five-hit shutout in the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2012, 08:06:20 PM
The other two CCIW doubleheaders played today were splits. Down in Bloomington, Wheaton held off another late Wesleyan rally to win, 8-6, in the opener, while IWU took the nightcap, 12-2. In Elmhurst, the 'jays took down Augie, 5-2, in the first game, before falling to the Doggies, 4-2, in the second game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:11:24 PM
Nice to see North Park flex their muscles today against a weak Millikin. Their pitching continues to be their strength despite them scoring 30 runs on 37 hits. Kuligowski and Soldano are quite the 1-2 punch.

Zach Hofer doesn't show up in the box scores of the Elmhurst DH today. If he is hurt, that is a huge loss for an improved Elmhurst squad looking to take the series from Augustana tomorrow.

I think the biggest surprise of the day is seeing an egg in the win column for Carthage. At 5-7 overall, 0-2 in conference, Coach Schmidt must be getting a little worried. They need a win tomorrow at home against a North Central team that looks to be middle of the road this year.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 05:40:19 PM
Millikin won a moral victory today by avoiding the slaughter rule, as North Park romped to a 9-0 win. Paul Garcia (2-1, 2.73) scattered four hits over seven innings for the Park, while Merrick McGrady and Alex Silverthorne each hurled a hitless inning of relief to preserve the shutout.

Today's box score isn't up yet, but if my calculations are correct, NPU outhit MU this weekend by a tally of .392 to .189. Millikin is, to put it diplomatically, not exactly the 1927 Yankees. Still, it was a solid, efficient three games for the Vikings, especially the pitching.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 05:44:20 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:11:24 PMZach Hofer doesn't show up in the box scores of the Elmhurst DH today. If he is hurt, that is a huge loss for an improved Elmhurst squad looking to take the series from Augustana tomorrow.

Hofer didn't play today, either, but Elmhurst nevertheless whipped Augie, 11-5, in Rock Island, to take the series.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 31, 2012, 10:11:24 PMI think the biggest surprise of the day is seeing an egg in the win column for Carthage. At 5-7 overall, 0-2 in conference, Coach Schmidt must be getting a little worried. They need a win tomorrow at home against a North Central team that looks to be middle of the road this year.

The Red Men did manage to hold off North Central and win today's game in Kenosha, 5-3, preventing a sweep by the Cardinals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2012, 05:52:22 PM
Carthage/NPU DH on Tuesday is huge for both programs. Carthage cannot afford a loss while NPU can bury one of it's expected title contenders in the first week of CCIW play. Expect NPU to make a jump in the polls this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 01, 2012, 06:14:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 05:40:19 PM
Today's box score isn't up yet, but if my calculations are correct, NPU outhit MU this weekend by a tally of .392 to .189. Millikin is, to put it diplomatically, not exactly the 1927 Yankees.

Well, I don't know about that. Imagine how old the 1927 Yankees would be now...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 01, 2012, 06:14:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 05:40:19 PM
Today's box score isn't up yet, but if my calculations are correct, NPU outhit MU this weekend by a tally of .392 to .189. Millikin is, to put it diplomatically, not exactly the 1927 Yankees.

Well, I don't know about that. Imagine how old the 1927 Yankees would be now...

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-4BU4M5jGGfM%2FTs5TnlHWqhI%2FAAAAAAAABzs%2F-n4_eDOWsb0%2Fs1600%2FRimshotBadumtsh.jpg&hash=019921b8f7e52678fad6e38f4015bf3701695570)

Incidentally, the final hitting comparison turned out to be NPU .410, MU .184.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 01, 2012, 06:51:25 PM
Who does NPU throw against the Red Men on Tuesday. Do they bring Kuligowski and Soldano back on 2 days rest?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2012, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 01, 2012, 06:51:25 PM
Who does NPU throw against the Red Men on Tuesday. Do they bring Kuligowski and Soldano back on 2 days rest?

This early in the CCIW slate I don't see them coming back on short rest... But I can easily see them throwing in relief if needed. Curious to see who Carthage runs out to the bump as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 01, 2012, 07:53:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2012, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 01, 2012, 06:51:25 PM
Who does NPU throw against the Red Men on Tuesday. Do they bring Kuligowski and Soldano back on 2 days rest?

This early in the CCIW slate I don't see them coming back on short rest... But I can easily see them throwing in relief if needed. Curious to see who Carthage runs out to the bump as well.

These midweek games always runs down each teams pitching. Unless a team has 5 major starters (which no one does) then it almost forces you to stretch out your starters the weekend prior so that you save your bullpen for the DH during the week. The CCIW really needs to figure out a way to eliminate these midweek games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 08:29:40 PM
I don't know what their respective pitch counts were, but Kuligowski and Soldano threw to 21 and 23 batters, respectively, in yesterday's doubleheader for North Park, while Rohe and Dahm threw to 30 and 32 batters, respectively, for Carthage yesterday against NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 08:25:58 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 31, 2012, 07:01:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2012, 06:15:40 PM
Not true.  The conference champion is the regular season winner (with the trophy and banner to prove it); the tournament winner is the only one guaranteed to play in the postseason, though (without checking) I believe the CCIW has become respected enough that 'the champions' too will play in the postseason if they lose in the tournament.

That's news to me, and I played in the CCIW... oh well, shows that we never won it... lol. I guess it is an honor to have the best conference record, but I'd prefer to win the tourney.  I don't know for sure, but I don't think it's a guarantee that the reg. season winner from any conference automatically qualifies for Regionals.  But, clearly I don't know everything, haha.  Times change quickly if you don't keep up... I was focused on D2 ball for the past few years.  But, I do believe that the current status of the CCIW should get at least 2 schools in every year, unless the conference falls off... but I don't see the CCIW getting worse any time soon.

I am curious why you would rather have one good weekend as oppposed to season long consistency?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Because the reward is greater.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 12:07:47 PM
BigPoppa's Updated rankings as of 4/2:

01 Trinity (Texas)
02 Christopher Newport
03 Marietta
04 Eastern Connecticut
05 Concordia-Austin
06 Salisbury
07 North Park
08 St. Thomas
09 DePauw
10 Wheaton (Mass.)
11 Kean
12 UW-Stevens Point
13 Adrian
14 Texas-Tyler
15 Washington U.
16 Birmingham-Southern
17 Misericordia
18 Rowan
19 Shenandoah
20 Washington and Jefferson
21 Piedmont
22 UW-Whitewater
23 Cortland State
24 Washington College
25 Emory
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:42:58 PM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Because the reward is greater.

Will do some investigation later to see if the facts support this, but I would guess that the regular season winner of this conference has almost always been invited to play in the NCAA tournament, regardless of showing in the conference tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 12:45:31 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:42:58 PM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Because the reward is greater.

Will do some investigation later to see if the facts support this, but I would guess that the regular season winner of this conference has almost always been invited to play in the NCAA tournament, regardless of showing in the conference tournament.

CCIW tourney winner is the only CCIW team that is automatically given a bid. The others must fight it out in the Pool C  venue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:56:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 12:45:31 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:42:58 PM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Because the reward is greater.

Will do some investigation later to see if the facts support this, but I would guess that the regular season winner of this conference has almost always been invited to play in the NCAA tournament, regardless of showing in the conference tournament.

CCIW tourney winner is the only CCIW team that is automatically given a bid. The others must fight it out in the Pool C  venue.

I know.  That is why I stated they would be invited and not given an automatic bid.

The post was merely to say, I think the CCIW regular season winner is almost always given a Pool C invite.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 01:00:43 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:56:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 12:45:31 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 12:42:58 PM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 02, 2012, 10:12:11 AM
Because the reward is greater.

Will do some investigation later to see if the facts support this, but I would guess that the regular season winner of this conference has almost always been invited to play in the NCAA tournament, regardless of showing in the conference tournament.

CCIW tourney winner is the only CCIW team that is automatically given a bid. The others must fight it out in the Pool C  venue.

I know.  That is why I stated they would be invited and not given an automatic bid.

The post was merely to say, I think the CCIW regular season winner is almost always given a Pool C invite.

But it's not a guarantee. Someday the balance of power may shift or you may get a CCIW champ with a weak SOS and poor non-conference performance.

You asked which I'd rather have? I'll take the sure thing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 02, 2012, 02:12:58 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on March 31, 2012, 06:29:27 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on March 31, 2012, 05:30:40 PM
sitting in beautiful downtown naperville getting see NCC dominate on the track and the diamond. NC won game 1, 3-2 and is leading 8-1 in game 2 against Carthage.
Final in game 2: NC 8, Carthage 1

The Cards could not close out the week-end with a sweep of Carthage as they dropped yesterday by the score of 3-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 02, 2012, 02:17:06 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 01, 2012, 06:14:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2012, 05:40:19 PM
Today's box score isn't up yet, but if my calculations are correct, NPU outhit MU this weekend by a tally of .392 to .189. Millikin is, to put it diplomatically, not exactly the 1927 Yankees.

Well, I don't know about that. Imagine how old the 1927 Yankees would be now...

...and how fat The Babe would be!!!! He could probably win the hot dog eating contest as well!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 06:29:07 PM
It appears that the newly renovated Legion Field will be ready for the North Park game this weekend.  Would love a report of what people think of it if anyone is planning on going to the game.  The stadium isn't going to be done this year, but new turf and lights should make for a very nice environment to watch a game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.

Indeed, and it's probably even a better example of one of the many reasons why the NCAA doesn't give auto bids to regular season conference champs.  There's never a "co-champion" of a conference tournament, whereas it would be entirely possible to have 3 regular season co-champs on any given year.  It's just easier for the conference tourney to sort it out, maybe not necessarily the fairest way but that's why most conferences limit the number of teams that actually get in to the conference tourney.  I think it's smart for the CCIW to limit to 4 and while I enjoy the ability of allowing 6 teams in (like the IIAC) to motivate the bottom of the conference throughout the year, if I was put at gun point I would prefer to have the best teams in the tourney.  Btw, I don't know of a single time a #4 seed has won the CCIW... any stats guys out there know?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2012, 10:38:11 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.

Indeed, and it's probably even a better example of one of the many reasons why the NCAA doesn't give auto bids to regular season conference champs.  There's never a "co-champion" of a conference tournament, whereas it would be entirely possible to have 3 regular season co-champs on any given year.  It's just easier for the conference tourney to sort it out, maybe not necessarily the fairest way but that's why most conferences limit the number of teams that actually get in to the conference tourney.  I think it's smart for the CCIW to limit to 4 and while I enjoy the ability of allowing 6 teams in (like the IIAC) to motivate the bottom of the conference throughout the year, if I was put at gun point I would prefer to have the best teams in the tourney.  Btw, I don't know of a single time a #4 seed has won the CCIW... any stats guys out there know?

How soon they forget!  I'm pretty sure that would be 2010.  IWU proceeded to win the conference tourney, the regional, and the World Series! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 02, 2012, 11:34:57 PM
North Park finally moves up the Top 25 rankings and sit at 20th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 11:42:29 PM
Hat tip to Big Poppa for that. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 03, 2012, 01:20:54 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.

Indeed, and it's probably even a better example of one of the many reasons why the NCAA doesn't give auto bids to regular season conference champs.

Actually, it's the conference that determines who its automatic bid goes to, not the NCAA. If a conference wanted to give its automatic bid to the regular-season champion, it could do so. And the CCIW did in men's basketball for years, while a few conferences still do so in baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 03, 2012, 08:46:36 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2012, 10:38:11 PM
How soon they forget!  I'm pretty sure that would be 2010.  IWU proceeded to win the conference tourney, the regional, and the World Series! ;D

Yikes!  Shows how closely I paid attention in 2010... My bad. When was the last time before that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Just Bill on April 03, 2012, 10:05:16 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 03, 2012, 01:20:54 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.

Indeed, and it's probably even a better example of one of the many reasons why the NCAA doesn't give auto bids to regular season conference champs.

Actually, it's the conference that determines who its automatic bid goes to, not the NCAA. If a conference wanted to give its automatic bid to the regular-season champion, it could do so. And the CCIW did in men's basketball for years, while a few conferences still do so in baseball.

Conferences can hand out the AQ virtually any way they see fit. I know a league who once had a point system which combined regular season and tournament play for soccer. One time a team lost the tournament championship game, but still won the AQ.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2012, 11:51:11 AM
The CCIW used to assign a point value for game and post season games... most points earned got the bid. Carthage once lost the conference tourney and got the auto-bid regardless based on higher points.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 03, 2012, 02:04:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2012, 11:51:11 AM
The CCIW used to assign a point value for game and post season games... most points earned got the bid. Carthage once lost the conference tourney and got the auto-bid regardless based on higher points.

That actually seems to make a lot more sense.  That might sound like sour grapes coming from a North Park fan, but wouldn't it be more logical to take an automatic bid from a larger body of work than a single weekend in a tournament?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 03, 2012, 03:49:38 PM
North Park 4, Carthage 0, Bot 5 in Game 1 at North Park.

Bottom of the line-up doing all of the damage for the Vikings, as #5-9 are a combined 8 for 14 through the first 5 frames. Carthage has only managed 2 hits against NP starter Travis Boyer.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on April 03, 2012, 04:33:22 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 03, 2012, 02:04:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2012, 11:51:11 AM
The CCIW used to assign a point value for game and post season games... most points earned got the bid. Carthage once lost the conference tourney and got the auto-bid regardless based on higher points.

That actually seems to make a lot more sense.  That might sound like sour grapes coming from a North Park fan, but wouldn't it be more logical to take an automatic bid from a larger body of work than a single weekend in a tournament?
I've always liked the balance of the OAC volleyball AQ structure. Most years, if not all, the OAC VB regular season champ will be a Pool C lock anyway, but I like the safety net. It's an eight-team single-elimination event. Higher seeds host Round 1. Highest remaining seed hosts semis and finals.

The regular-season winner is the automatic qualifier of the NCAA tournament as long as that team makes it to the finals of the OAC tournament championship.

If the regular season champion does not advance to the tournament championship match, then the automatic qualifier will be the tournament winner.

If there are co-champions of the regular season and only one advances to the Tournament final, that team is the automatic qualifier.

If there are co-champions of the regular season and both (or two) advance to the Tournament final, then the Tournament champion is the automatic qualifier.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 03, 2012, 05:10:08 PM
Do you think money has anything to do with the way conferences select their AQ?  I don't have any idea if the CCIW benefits as a whole from having more teams in the playoffs, but I'd like to think that conferences would always make decisions to get more schools in the playoffs both from a pride standpoint of course, but also potentially money?  The conference is a good conference, and you would hope the 2 teams would get in every year... but the reg. season champs only win the tourney a fraction of the time, so in a way it's kind of like playing the odds to make sure 2 teams get in.  I don't know if any of that is true or not... but it makes logical sense to me... lol.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:22:35 PM
North Park swept Carthage today, 9-0 and 9-6. According to Carthage SID Steve Marovich, this is the first time in 23 years that the Vikings have swept the Red Men. It was an occasion that was long overdue, I say.

Travis Boyer (5 ip), Merrick McGrady (3 ip), and Mike Coduto (1 ip) shut out the visitors on four hits in the opener. In the nightcap, Carthage finally got the bats rolling, taking early leads of 3-0 and 5-3 against Wes Mleziva (4-0), who had his first shaky outing of the year before finishing strong in the fourth and fifth innings. McGrady came in and did another great job in middle relief, handcuffing the Red Men after the NPU bats had come alive in the bottom of the fifth to stake Mleziva to a three-run lead before he left in favor of McGrady. Alex Silverthorne then came in and closed things out, as each team added a run in the late innings that didn't ultimately affect the game.

NPU looked very sharp today, particularly in the field. The keystone combo of Eric Sousanes and Mike Coduto turned five double plays, while Ryan Javech and Jeff Paulson took away a bunch of hits with sharp glovework at the corners. The bullpen only gave up one meaningless run in eight innings of work, and Boyer was by far the most effective starter out there today. I see by the Carthage press release that Augie Schmidt is still up to his old tricks in terms of spin-doctoring today's outcomes to be more a matter of Carthage not playing well than anything else, but nobody who was at Holmgren Athletic Complex today left the park with any doubt as to which team is better.

Carthage looks surprisingly ordinary. Because Schmidt has done so much for so long with so many different Carthage teams, I'll never count out the Red Men. It wouldn't shock me at all if he whips his team into shape and finds a way to get it into the CCIW tourney. But it just doesn't appear to me that his raw material on hand is anything special in any phase of the game, be it pitching, hitting, or defense.

This North Park team really has a chance to be something special. Today was an eye-opener for anyone who's doubted them up to now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:23:52 PM
Quote from: Just Bill on April 03, 2012, 10:05:16 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 03, 2012, 01:20:54 AM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 02, 2012, 10:30:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2012, 07:15:52 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 02, 2012, 02:03:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2012, 01:01:28 PM
North Park was left out last year.

Yes they were left out, however, IWU shared that regular season championship and got an at large bid after Carthage won the AQ.

Nevertheless, that is an example of a CCIW champ that was left out of the D3 tourney.

Indeed, and it's probably even a better example of one of the many reasons why the NCAA doesn't give auto bids to regular season conference champs.

Actually, it's the conference that determines who its automatic bid goes to, not the NCAA. If a conference wanted to give its automatic bid to the regular-season champion, it could do so. And the CCIW did in men's basketball for years, while a few conferences still do so in baseball.

Conferences can hand out the AQ virtually any way they see fit. I know a league who once had a point system which combined regular season and tournament play for soccer. One time a team lost the tournament championship game, but still won the AQ.

The CCIW used that same points system in soccer for a few years in the early part of the last decade as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:26:17 PM
Congrats to NPU junior Nick Soldano upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 03, 2012, 10:29:47 PM
Congrats to North Park on this DH sweep.  I know many, many alumni over the last 23 years will smile after seeing this result.  Great start for the Vikes...maybe this year we ought to go ahead and take the suspense out of it and wrap up a regional bid without having to worry about the CCIW tournament.

A man can dream, can't he?

I know....a LOT of baseball left to play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:32:15 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 03, 2012, 10:29:47 PM
Congrats to North Park on this DH sweep.  I know many, many alumni over the last 23 years will smile after seeing this result.  Great start for the Vikes...maybe this year we ought to go ahead and take the suspense out of it and wrap up a regional bid without having to worry about the CCIW tournament.

NPU's in-region record is now 15-1. It's a start. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 03, 2012, 10:38:45 PM
The hurdle NP could never clear when I was an undergrad during the very successful Bosko era was Marietta.  Two times, maybe three.  Marietta remains a power.  Go North Park!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:42:48 PM
To absolutely nobody's surprise, Wesleyan swept Millikin today, 11-1 and 8-2, in Decatur. I'll predict right now that MU goes 0-21 in the league, and I don't feel as though I'm crawling out on a limb in making that prediction.

The other doubleheaders today were pretty surprising. Elmhurst took a pair from a reeling Wheaton squad by 4-2 and 6-4 scores in Elmhurst. What's even more surprising is that the 'jays are still without star hitter Zach Hofer; since he went down in the first Augie game last weekend, the 'jays have gone 4-0 in his absence. Two questions: Where the heck did Elmhurst suddenly get all this pitching, and what the heck has happened to Wheaton's formidable hitting all of a sudden?

No less surprising is the fact that North Central went out to the Quad Cities today and took a pair from Augustana, 9-8 and 5-4. Thus far, the Augustana m.o. that Big Poppa has pointed out -- Augie tears through the non-con portion of the schedule and then stumbles once it hits conference play -- has borne out according to form. But, as Viking Blue said, there's still a lot of baseball left to play.

Quote from: markerickson on April 03, 2012, 10:38:45 PM
The hurdle NP could never clear when I was an undergrad during the very successful Bosko era was Marietta.  Two times, maybe three.  Marietta remains a power.  Go North Park!

Let's not worry about Marietta right now. That's too far off in a future that is by no means guaranteed for the Park. Take 'em as they come. NPU needs to stick to the task at hand, and right now that task is beating Wheaton on Friday afternoon at Holmgren.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 03, 2012, 11:47:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2012, 10:42:48 PM
Where the heck did Elmhurst suddenly get all this pitching, and what the heck has happened to Wheaton's formidable hitting all of a sudden?

My thoughts exactly. Wheaton had better turn it around quick, the CCIW schedule can get away from you in hurry if you want a chance to play in the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 04, 2012, 08:13:38 AM
North Central was able to take two from Augie yesterday. Game one took 11 innings for the Cards to pull out a 9-8 victory. Game two was another battle, but the Cardinals won 5-4. North Central is now 13-5, 4-1(CCIW).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2012, 10:07:00 AM
My weekend predictions:


Carthage sweeps Augustana (and gets back on the winning track)
North Park takes two of three vs Wheaton (though I can easily see a NPU sweep)
Elmhurst sweeps Millikin (Jays quickly move to 7-1)
IWU takes two of three from North Central (NCC has not convinced me yet)


Predicted Standings after Saturday's games:
North Park 7-1
Elmhurst 7-1
IWU 6-2
North Central 5-4
Carthage 4-4
Wheaton 2-6
Augustana 1-7
Millikin 0-8
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 04, 2012, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 04, 2012, 10:07:00 AM
My weekend predictions:


Carthage sweeps Augustana (and gets back on the winning track)
North Park takes two of three vs Wheaton (though I can easily see a NPU sweep)
Elmhurst sweeps Millikin (Jays quickly move to 7-1)
IWU takes two of three from North Central (NCC has not convinced me yet)


Predicted Standings after Saturday's games:
North Park 7-1
Elmhurst 7-1
IWU 6-2
North Central 5-4
Carthage 4-4
Wheaton 2-6
Augustana 1-7
Millikin 0-8

I agree with most of it except a couple:

I think North Park sweeps Wheaton
Carthage only takes 2 of 3 from Augustana.

Does anyone know what happened to Hofer?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2012, 10:46:56 AM
I was looking over NPU's stats this morning trying to find out what, in addition to their pitching, has led to their 19-3 start. The answer was easy... the have 41 HBPs and 55 stolen bases in 22 games. That is 96 extra bases that they did not have to swing to get.

CCIW free bases:

NPU- 96
Augustana- 52
Wheaton- 46
IWU- 42
Elmhurst- 41
North Central- 35
Carthage- 35
Millikin- 27

*Just sayin'... draw your own conclusions. NPU has more than doubled most of the CCIW conference. I know they have played a few more games, but they are still averaging aroun 4 free bases per game... in some way that HAS to lead to a few extra runs hear and there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 05, 2012, 11:50:24 AM
North Park has led the league the last 2 years in stolen bases and HBP, something that Luke Johnson stresses.

Going off of what you said BigPoppa, there are a few more reasons why North Park is having success. They have twice thus far scored 5 or more runs in an inning with 2 outs. Their 63 2-out RBIs leads the conference, and they are hitting an astounding .354 with 2-outs. Extending innings and not leaving guys on base has been key for the Vikings.

**They are also 18-0 when leading after the 6th inning, which speaks to how well their bullpen has done so far.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 06, 2012, 10:10:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2012, 10:46:56 AM
I was looking over NPU's stats this morning trying to find out what, in addition to their pitching, has led to their 19-3 start. The answer was easy... the have 41 HBPs and 55 stolen bases in 22 games. That is 96 extra bases that they did not have to swing to get.

CCIW free bases:

NPU- 96
Augustana- 52
Wheaton- 46
IWU- 42
Elmhurst- 41
North Central- 35
Carthage- 35
Millikin- 27

*Just sayin'... draw your own conclusions. NPU has more than doubled most of the CCIW conference. I know they have played a few more games, but they are still averaging aroun 4 free bases per game... in some way that HAS to lead to a few extra runs hear and there.

I'd be interested in a full "freebie" list that includes walks, wild pitches, pass balls, and errors.  I'm sure North Park will still be the leader by far, but I've always considered free bases to be more than just HBP and stolen bases.

Btw, Coach Johnson has always been very aggressive on the base path.  Early on in his career,  I don't know that his athletes fully understood the method to his madness.  They certainly do now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 04:36:16 PM
Augustana knocks off Carthage 2-1 in game one today. Carthage falls to 1-5 in CCIW play and 6-10 overall. Augie Schmidt must be beside himself... Unreal!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2012, 04:40:42 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 04:36:16 PM
Augustana knocks off Carthage 2-1 in game one today. Carthage falls to 1-5 in CCIW play and 6-10 overall. Augie Schmidt must be beside himself... Unreal!

Is this starting to shape up as the worst season of the Augie Schmidt era?  When was his worst, and how bad was it?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 05:28:40 PM
He went 4-28 in his first season in 88 and 20-20 the next season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2012, 05:43:56 PM
NPU 7
Wheaton 1

Steve Kuligowski (7-1, 1.20) scattered ten hits over eight innings to pick up the win, with Alex Silverthorne finishing up in the ninth for the Park. Wheaton only reached third base twice. Evan Rahn took the loss for the visitors, as the Vikings notched a dozen hits off of him and WC relievers Phillip Tuttle and Barrett Ahrberg. I figured that all of the big sticks in Wheaton's lineup might result in some homers today, but the only player who went yard was Tony Sanchez for the Vikes, who stuck one in the softball dugout out beyond the leftfield fence, just shy of Foster Avenue.

The two teams wind up their series tomorrow with a doubleheader out in Carol Stream.

Quote from: warrior35 on April 06, 2012, 10:10:02 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2012, 10:46:56 AM
I was looking over NPU's stats this morning trying to find out what, in addition to their pitching, has led to their 19-3 start. The answer was easy... the have 41 HBPs and 55 stolen bases in 22 games. That is 96 extra bases that they did not have to swing to get.

CCIW free bases:

NPU- 96
Augustana- 52
Wheaton- 46
IWU- 42
Elmhurst- 41
North Central- 35
Carthage- 35
Millikin- 27

*Just sayin'... draw your own conclusions. NPU has more than doubled most of the CCIW conference. I know they have played a few more games, but they are still averaging aroun 4 free bases per game... in some way that HAS to lead to a few extra runs hear and there.

I'd be interested in a full "freebie" list that includes walks, wild pitches, pass balls, and errors.  I'm sure North Park will still be the leader by far, but I've always considered free bases to be more than just HBP and stolen bases.

Btw, Coach Johnson has always been very aggressive on the base path.  Early on in his career,  I don't know that his athletes fully understood the method to his madness.  They certainly do now.

Wheaton made two key errors in today's game, both of which came when NPU had runners in motion -- one on a double steal that resulted in a run, the other on a bunt that resulted in two runs. Putting pressure on the Wheaton defense with aggressive baserunning was certainly a big part of the equation in NPU's win today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2012, 06:28:55 PM
Millikin blew a five-run lead, but still managed to beat Elmhurst, 10-9, on a Theo Facer homer in the bottom of the ninth. So much for my prediction that the Big Blue would go 0-21. In fact, MU is leading Elmhurst in the nightcap of their Good Friday doubleheader even as I type, 5-3 in the seventh.

Carthage is in danger of spiraling even further downward. The Red Men are losing in the eighth in the nightcap to Augustana, 9-3.

NCC @ IWU is scoreless in the second inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 07:11:06 PM
Augie sweeps Carthage... Redmen drop to 1-6 in CCIW play:( I cannot say that I saw this coming. They can't score runs and can't catch the ball. 6-7 errors today...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 06, 2012, 07:26:24 PM
North Central leads Illinois Wesleyan 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th. Looking at the schedules, the end of the year series of North Park versus North Central could be for the conference title. The way North Park is playing, there's no doubt in my mind that the conference tourney will be hosted in Chicago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 06, 2012, 08:38:30 PM
Illinois Wesleyan comes back in the 5th with 4 runs and beats NCC 4-3. Updated standings:

North Park      6-0
Ill. Wesleyan   5-1
NCC               4-2
Elmhurst         4-3
Augie             3-4
Millikin           2-5
Wheaton         1-5
Carthage         1-6
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 06, 2012, 11:49:38 PM
10 hits... 10 hits and Wheaton only gets 1 run... that hurts. Aren't going to win too many games that way.  Not to take anything away from Kuligowski, I know he's a great pitcher.  It's just one of those stats that makes me scratch my head... not sure what's happened to Wheaton's bats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 11:56:33 PM
No offense... There is a reason that Wheaton is Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 07, 2012, 12:42:45 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 06, 2012, 11:56:33 PM
No offense... There is a reason that Wheaton is Wheaton.

What is the reason?   I am curious. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 07, 2012, 08:11:56 AM
North Cental's loss to IWU yesterday dropped them to 13-5, 4-2 in CCiW play. the Cards play two today in Naperville against the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 07, 2012, 02:27:00 PM
Saturday Scores:

NCC 3 IWU 0 Top 7
Elmhurst 5 Millikin 4 Top 7
Carthage 4 Augustana 4 4th Inning
North Park 3 Wheaton 0 Bot 2
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 07, 2012, 06:23:49 PM
North Central defeats IWU in game 1,8-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2012, 06:24:59 PM
NCC swept the DH from IWU today, 3-2, and 8-1.  The Titans nearly came back in the first game, scoring 2 runs late while down 3.  In the second game, Nick Mehn maintained his consistent inconsistency, taking the loss without retiring a batter (Joe Sweeney was very good as the first reliever, yielding only 3 hits in 5 innings).  Mehn can be very good (even after today, he is 3-2 for the season), but you just never know which Mehn will show up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2012, 06:27:09 PM
North Park defeated Wheaton, 6-4, in the first game out in Carol Stream. I just got on the computer, and there's no box score or details up on the Wheaton site, so I have nothing to report on that game yet other than the NPU win.

In the second game, the Vikings lead, 7-2, in the fifth, but Wheaton is threatening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2012, 06:30:07 PM
Four words I never thought I'd type this season: Millikin completes the sweep. The Big Blue dispensed with Elmhurst today, 13-5, in Decatur.

Carthage salvaged the final game of its series with Augustana, winning by a score of 10-7.

Justin Zeller just hit a granny for Wheaton, so it's now a ballgame in Carol Stream. NPU's lead is cut to 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 07, 2012, 07:34:56 PM
North Park and Wheaton are tied 7-7 as they head into the 10th inning. Wheaton's lights are not yet installed, which could make it interesting if this game doesn't end quickly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2012, 07:37:35 PM
Still 45 minutes of daylight left. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2012, 08:14:05 PM
NPU loses its first CCIW game of the year and has a nine-game winning streak snapped as the Vikings fall to Wheaton in 11 innings, 8-7. Not a good game for NPU pitching, as the Vikes coughed up a five-run lead in this one, but the hitters had their chances, too. The Park had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out in the top of the 11th, for example, but couldn't come through. Give credit to Wheaton's Matt MaLossi, who pitched five very strong innings in relief for the win.

A bad way to end the day. Nevertheless, North Park takes two of three from Wheaton and ends the day the way it started it -- in first place. And, as every North Parker knows, any day that you beat Wheaton -- at anything -- is a good day. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 07, 2012, 09:09:27 PM
Updated Standings:

North Park    7-1
NCC             6-2
IWU             5-3
Elmhurst       4-4
Augie           3-5
Millikin         3-5
Wheaton       2-6
Carthage       2-6
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 07, 2012, 11:25:36 PM
Was able to get out and watch about 45 minutes of baseball at the new Wheaton facility today.  Very nice.  My immediate reaction?  The ball JUMPS there.  Lots of extra base hits....and the grand slam?  I was standing next to a co-worker of mine who happened to pitch at Wheaton when I was at North Park, and he said, "that was a home run?!".  I was thinking the same thing.

Don't be fooled by the numbers on the fences.  They don't call it an American Legion field for nothing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 08, 2012, 07:30:44 PM
I don't know if they have changed the signs for the fence since I was there last... but I thought they were pretty accurate 4 years ago.  One thing about Legion is the wind is almost always blowing harder 5-10mph harder than in Wheaton.  On sunny/warm days, the wind usually blows out and balls do jump; on cold/gloomy days the wind tends to blow in.  I think it was a nice day, yesterday... so I'm guessing the wind was blowing out.  And jokingly, I'm pretty surprised to hear someone from NP wondering how a fly ball becomes a home run. =)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 08, 2012, 07:33:19 PM
Big difference between right field and left field being the homer haven, warrior.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 08, 2012, 07:45:12 PM
For those of you keeping track, there have been seven home runs hit so far this season (11 games) at the Holmgren Complex: three to right, one to right-center (a longer shot), and three to left (even further).  There were three hit yesterday in two games at Legion Field, all to left-center.  Brad Medina hit a long poke down the left-field line that was just foul -- the foul pole has not yet been put up, and the home plate umpire had to make a visual call on that one.  If it had stayed fair, it would have cleared the fence by plenty. 

Look for a lot of round-trippers in Carol Stream.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 08, 2012, 08:24:25 PM
I still think that the brisk winds off the lake and the heavy, cold air help keep baseballs in the park at Holmgren in March and April (similar to the way that Wrigley Field is never a homer-happy park in the first month of the year), which makes me glad that NPU isn't hosting Wheaton next month. Again, though, like I said, most homers are hit to left field, because right-handed hitters are the predominant type and left field is the pull field for a right-handed hitter -- so a park that has a jet stream to left field, as Wheaton's park apparently does, is going to play more favorably for the long ball than will Holmgren, despite Holmgren's short right-field fence.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 09, 2012, 08:22:39 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 08, 2012, 07:33:19 PM
Big difference between right field and left field being the homer haven, warrior.

Sure, depending on where the wind is coming from... which changes a lot more in the suburbs that people might think for the windy city.  It's not the standard wind off the lake on a daily basis out West.  As I said before, on warm days it's typically blowing out most typically to left/left-center but on occasion to right.  On cold gloomy days it will blow in typically from right.  We played a game against Millikin where it was cold and there was a 35-40 mph wind in from right.  The right fielder was effectively another infielder playing 20-30 feet off the infield.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 09, 2012, 08:52:09 PM
Is Wheaton playing at home this Saturday? I will be there for a track meet, but between events it would be nice to catch part of a game if they are playing. Thanks to anyone who can answer-yes, I'll admit it-I'm too lazy to look it up myself. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 09, 2012, 11:16:35 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on April 09, 2012, 08:52:09 PM
Is Wheaton playing at home this Saturday? I will be there for a track meet, but between events it would be nice to catch part of a game if they are playing. Thanks to anyone who can answer-yes, I'll admit it-I'm too lazy to look it up myself. ;D

Yes.  They host Millikin starting at Noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 09, 2012, 11:30:43 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 09, 2012, 11:16:35 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on April 09, 2012, 08:52:09 PM
Is Wheaton playing at home this Saturday? I will be there for a track meet, but between events it would be nice to catch part of a game if they are playing. Thanks to anyone who can answer-yes, I'll admit it-I'm too lazy to look it up myself. ;D

Yes.  They host Millikin starting at Noon.
Thanks! Now, hopefully the rain holds off.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 10, 2012, 04:43:12 PM
Congrats to Cardinal pitcher Connor Brown on being named CCIW pitcher of the week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 11:57:23 AM
Today's games:

North Park (7-1) @ Carthage (2-6) : The Vikings look to sweep the season series versus Carthage for the 1st time under Luke
                                                  Johnson.
Augustana (3-5) @ North C. (6-2)  : The Cardinals look to stay hot as they play host to Augustana, who come off of a much
                                                  needed series win over Carthage.
Millikin (3-5) @ Ill. Wesleyan (5-3): The Big Blue are coming off a surprising weekend sweep of Elmhurst, but now face the
                                                 Titans who need a conference win to get back on track.
Elmhurst (4-4) @ Wheaton (2-6)   : After taking one away from North Park in their home-opener, Wheaton looks to climb
                                                 back into the standings with a needed win over the Blue Jays.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:10:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 11:57:23 AM
Today's games:

North Park (7-1) @ Carthage (2-6) : The Vikings look to sweep the season series versus Carthage for the 1st time under Luke
                                                  Johnson.
Augustana (3-5) @ North C. (6-2)  : The Cardinals look to stay hot as they play host to Augustana, who come off of a much
                                                  needed series win over Carthage.
Millikin (3-5) @ Ill. Wesleyan (5-3): The Big Blue are coming off a surprising weekend sweep of Elmhurst, but now face the
                                                 Titans who need a conference win to get back on track.
Elmhurst (4-4) @ Wheaton (2-6)   : After taking one away from North Park in their home-opener, Wheaton looks to climb
                                                 back into the standings with a needed win over the Blue Jays.

I'll take:
Carthage over NPU
North Central over Augie
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over elmhurst
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 12:15:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:10:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 11:57:23 AM
Today's games:

North Park (7-1) @ Carthage (2-6) : The Vikings look to sweep the season series versus Carthage for the 1st time under Luke
                                                  Johnson.
Augustana (3-5) @ North C. (6-2)  : The Cardinals look to stay hot as they play host to Augustana, who come off of a much
                                                  needed series win over Carthage.
Millikin (3-5) @ Ill. Wesleyan (5-3): The Big Blue are coming off a surprising weekend sweep of Elmhurst, but now face the
                                                 Titans who need a conference win to get back on track.
Elmhurst (4-4) @ Wheaton (2-6)   : After taking one away from North Park in their home-opener, Wheaton looks to climb
                                                 back into the standings with a needed win over the Blue Jays.

I'll take:
Carthage over NPU
North Central over Augie
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over elmhurst

NPU over Carthage
Augie over North Central
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over Elmhurst
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:45:57 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 12:15:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:10:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 11:57:23 AM
Today's games:

North Park (7-1) @ Carthage (2-6) : The Vikings look to sweep the season series versus Carthage for the 1st time under Luke
                                                  Johnson.
Augustana (3-5) @ North C. (6-2)  : The Cardinals look to stay hot as they play host to Augustana, who come off of a much
                                                  needed series win over Carthage.
Millikin (3-5) @ Ill. Wesleyan (5-3): The Big Blue are coming off a surprising weekend sweep of Elmhurst, but now face the
                                                 Titans who need a conference win to get back on track.
Elmhurst (4-4) @ Wheaton (2-6)   : After taking one away from North Park in their home-opener, Wheaton looks to climb
                                                 back into the standings with a needed win over the Blue Jays.

I'll take:
Carthage over NPU
North Central over Augie
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over elmhurst

NPU over Carthage
Augie over North Central
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over Elmhurst

I'd expect nothing less from you:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 12:54:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:45:57 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 12:15:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2012, 12:10:19 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 11:57:23 AM
Today's games:

North Park (7-1) @ Carthage (2-6) : The Vikings look to sweep the season series versus Carthage for the 1st time under Luke
                                                  Johnson.
Augustana (3-5) @ North C. (6-2)  : The Cardinals look to stay hot as they play host to Augustana, who come off of a much
                                                  needed series win over Carthage.
Millikin (3-5) @ Ill. Wesleyan (5-3): The Big Blue are coming off a surprising weekend sweep of Elmhurst, but now face the
                                                 Titans who need a conference win to get back on track.
Elmhurst (4-4) @ Wheaton (2-6)   : After taking one away from North Park in their home-opener, Wheaton looks to climb
                                                 back into the standings with a needed win over the Blue Jays.

I'll take:
Carthage over NPU
North Central over Augie
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over elmhurst

NPU over Carthage
Augie over North Central
IWU over Millikin
Wheaton over Elmhurst

I'd expect nothing less from you:)

It's going to be a good game. I will be driving up there shortly. I would expect NP to throw Boyer again who shut down the Red Men in his last outing. Carthage is desperate to climb back in the race and this is a MUST WIN for them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 11, 2012, 02:03:47 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 12:54:04 PM
It's going to be a good game. I will be driving up there shortly. I would expect NP to throw Boyer again who shut down the Red Men in his last outing. Carthage is desperate to climb back in the race and this is a MUST WIN for them.

I think there are a lot of teams that have a must win situation today or darn close to it... losses for Wheaton and Carthage will REALLY hurt their CCIW Tourney hopes.  And, if Augie or Millikin loses they'll be in a tough hole too.  If any of these teams want to climb out their hole it's gonna get a heck of a lot tougher if they lose today.  I still do a double take at Carthage's record every time I see it... I just can't believe it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2012, 06:25:44 PM
Carthage drilled NPU, 7-0, as Eric Rohe went the distance and scattered four hits. The Red Men clearly played like a team whose back is against the wall; NPU played like ... well, I'll let D3Vike11 describe it, since he was there, but if the live stats are any indication the Vikings played their ugliest game of the year. They committed four errors and were picked off three times.

Given that NPU was pitching its #4 (Travis Boyer) while Carthage sent its ace to the bump, I would've figured that Big Poppa had a better chance of an accurate prediction than D3Vike11. But that's no excuse for the poor game that the Park played today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2012, 06:31:08 PM
Augie downed host North Central, 5-3, so NPU stays in first place going into this weekend's play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2012, 07:08:26 PM
Wheaton beat Elmhurst, 9-5. Illinois Wesleyan is crushing Millikin in the fifth, 13-1. Looks like after today it'll be:

North Park  7-2  21-5
North Central  6-3  15-7
Illinois Wesleyan  6-3  17-7
Augustana  4-5  16-8
Elmhurst  4-5  12-10
Wheaton  3-6  13-12
Carthage  3-6    8-11
Millikin  3-6    7-17

Tomorrow, Carthage hosts CUW and Elmhurst visits Benedictine. This weekend, the matchups are:

NPU @ AC (3x)
IWU @ CC (3x)
EC @ NCC (2x), NCC @ EC (1x)
MU @ WC (3x)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw. Every game for Carthage here on out is a must win. 

North Park got outplayed in almost every aspect of the game. Carthage threw strikes, played better defense, and got guys on base. It looked as if the Vikings came out playing "Not To Lose" and let Carthage dictate the pace of the game. The Vikings are still in the driver's seat thanks to Augustana, whom they play this weekend.

**It was also unfortunate to see/hear the Carthage fans acting so classless. As a former player, I had gotten used to it and drowned it out. Being in the stands, I finally was able to hear just exactly how much class they lacked.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 11, 2012, 10:33:43 PM
Hopefully North Central can bounce back this week-end.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 11, 2012, 10:54:36 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on April 11, 2012, 10:33:43 PM
Hopefully North Central can bounce back this week-end.

Elmhurst seems to be reeling after getting swept by Millikin and getting out to slow start against Wheaton.  I think Elmhurst will come out strong against NCC, because if they lose this they're probably on a downward slide the rest of the year with series against Carthage, IWU, and NPU left.  But, I think based on recent history if NCC can get a big lead early Elmhurst probably lacks the mental ability to overcome it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 12, 2012, 09:05:43 AM
Not taking an early lead yesterday most likely hurt NC. With th probability of scattered t-storms this week-end I wonder if they'll get that DH in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 12, 2012, 09:32:47 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw. Every game for Carthage here on out is a must win. 

North Park got outplayed in almost every aspect of the game. Carthage threw strikes, played better defense, and got guys on base. It looked as if the Vikings came out playing "Not To Lose" and let Carthage dictate the pace of the game. The Vikings are still in the driver's seat thanks to Augustana, whom they play this weekend.
**It was also unfortunate to see/hear the Carthage fans acting so classless. As a former player, I had gotten used to it and drowned it out. Being in the stands, I finally was able to hear just exactly how much class they lacked.

Driver's seat might be slightly optimistic seeing as though they have their next 6 conference games all on the road against Augie and IWU, while finishing the season with 3 against NCC.

As of right now, any of the top 3 teams has a very good chance of hosting the conference tournament, although with NCC holding a tie-breaker over IWU, I might give them a slight edge.

Rohe throwing last night significantly improves IWU's chances in my estimation.  Going up to Carthage this weekend and potentially missing their ace (although I think he probably ends up throwing Sunday, if only in relief), and playing NP at home for all three games, they are in a position where they potentially control their own destiny.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw.

I would not be surprised to see Carthage find a way to bring him back in some role this weekend. Maybe a Sunday start or out of the bullpen in a tight game. Augie Schmidt has always been a bit unconventional in his pitching approach.

Secondly, I fully expect the Redmen to rally their way back into the CCIW tourney. At this point, they are not going to be a Pool C contender so that means they will empty thier gun of bullets every CCIW series and not worry about saving arms for in-region non-conference games to keep their Pool C chances alive. After the IWU series this weekend, they finish with Elmhurst, Millikin and Wheaton (the three teams near the bottom with Carthage right now).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 12, 2012, 10:54:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw. 

I would not be surprised to see Carthage find a way to bring him back in some role this weekend. Maybe a Sunday start or out of the bullpen in a tight game. Augie Schmidt has always been a bit unconventional in his pitching approach.

Secondly, I fully expect the Redmen to rally their way back into the CCIW tourney. At this point, they are not going to be a Pool C contender so that means they will empty thier gun of bullets every CCIW series and not worry about saving arms for in-region non-conference games to keep their Pool C chances alive. After the IWU series this weekend, they finish with Elmhurst, Millikin and Wheaton (the three teams near the bottom with Carthage right now).

I agree, they have the easiest schedule of any CCIW team going into the final series. The only problem is assuming they lose 2 of 3 from IWU, that would put them at 4-8. They would have to sweep Elmhurst, Millikin, AND Wheaton. If they lose 1 of those the best they could finish would be 12-9. Remember last year standings finished 15-6, 15-6, 14-7, 13-8. If they can somehow find a way to take 2 of 3 from IWU then they have a chance, but if they lose this series I don't see them climbing back up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2012, 01:33:40 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 12, 2012, 09:32:47 AM
Driver's seat might be slightly optimistic seeing as though they have their next 6 conference games all on the road against Augie and IWU, while finishing the season with 3 against NCC.

NPU is still in first place until further notice, so "driver's seat" is not an inaccurate description of where the Vikings sit.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 12, 2012, 09:32:47 AMAs of right now, any of the top 3 teams has a very good chance of hosting the conference tournament, although with NCC holding a tie-breaker over IWU, I might give them a slight edge.

NCC does have a comparatively easy schedule remaining, what with lowly Elmhurst and Millikin lurking the next two weekends, but I wouldn't sell Wheaton short as NCC's third upcoming CCIW opponent -- it's completely conceivable that the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance could take two, or even three, against the Cards. And the final weekend series between NPU and NCC could be an all-bets-are-off situation.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 12, 2012, 09:32:47 AMRohe throwing last night significantly improves IWU's chances in my estimation.  Going up to Carthage this weekend and potentially missing their ace (although I think he probably ends up throwing Sunday, if only in relief), and playing NP at home for all three games, they are in a position where they potentially control their own destiny.

I agree that Rohe's limited ability to pitch this weekend helps Wesleyan, but it's still more of a do-or-die series for the Red Men than it is for the Titans, and all three games are in Kenosha. I still like Carthage's chances of taking two out of three, which would then put IWU on the hot seat when NPU comes to Bloomington the following weekend.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw.

I would not be surprised to see Carthage find a way to bring him back in some role this weekend. Maybe a Sunday start or out of the bullpen in a tight game. Augie Schmidt has always been a bit unconventional in his pitching approach.

The convention he may be using for Rohe is the Dennis Martel "use Pankau every day until his arm falls off" pitching approach. ;)

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AMSecondly, I fully expect the Redmen to rally their way back into the CCIW tourney. At this point, they are not going to be a Pool C contender so that means they will empty thier gun of bullets every CCIW series and not worry about saving arms for in-region non-conference games to keep their Pool C chances alive. After the IWU series this weekend, they finish with Elmhurst, Millikin and Wheaton (the three teams near the bottom with Carthage right now).

Good point, BP.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 12, 2012, 10:54:32 AM
I agree, they have the easiest schedule of any CCIW team going into the final series. The only problem is assuming they lose 2 of 3 from IWU, that would put them at 4-8. They would have to sweep Elmhurst, Millikin, AND Wheaton. If they lose 1 of those the best they could finish would be 12-9. Remember last year standings finished 15-6, 15-6, 14-7, 13-8. If they can somehow find a way to take 2 of 3 from IWU then they have a chance, but if they lose this series I don't see them climbing back up.

I wouldn't put too much stock in last season's standings, though. The fourth-place CCIW team has finished with a record of 13-8 only three times in the last dozen seasons, and it's never been better than 13-8. In the other nine seasons, the fourth-place team finished with a record worse than 13-8, often considerably worse.

Of course, the dynamic of the CCIW has changed over the past three or four years -- it's no longer Carthage, Wesleyan, Augie, and the five dwarfs -- but I still wouldn't bank on the proposition that the fourth-place team will finish 13-8 or better. Given what appears to be more balance in the league, I could see 12-9 or 11-10 winning that final tourney slot. And in that case, head-to-head series advantages could loom very large, since the chances of a fourth-place tie would likely be increased.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 12, 2012, 11:52:56 PM
My predictions for this weekend:

North Park sweeps Augustana:
The matchup of Trotta and Kuligowski will be a good one, but I think NP's starting pitchers will be too much for Augustana.

Wesleyan takes 2 of 3 from Carthage:
Carthage has their back up against the wall and I think they are able to take 1 from Wesleyan, but not having Rohe to start one of these games will come back to haunt them.

North Central sweeps Elmhurst:
I think that North Central's pitching will be too much for Elmhurst to handle. Elmhurst has started to fall off the table and this is the week they get knocked back to reality.

Wheaton sweeps Millikin:
Wheaton has the tools to be a playoff team, and should be able to take care of business against Millikin.

Predicted standings after this weekend:
North Park     10-2
North Central  9-3
Il Wesleyan    8-4
Wheaton        6-6
Augustana      4-8
Elmhurst        4-8
Carthage        4-8
Millikin          3-9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 13, 2012, 10:55:11 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 12, 2012, 11:52:56 PM
My predictions for this weekend:

North Park sweeps Augustana:The matchup of Trotta and Kuligowski will be a good one, but I think NP's starting pitchers will be too much for Augustana.

Wesleyan takes 2 of 3 from Carthage:
Carthage has their back up against the wall and I think they are able to take 1 from Wesleyan, but not having Rohe to start one of these games will come back to haunt them.

North Central sweeps Elmhurst:
I think that North Central's pitching will be too much for Elmhurst to handle. Elmhurst has started to fall off the table and this is the week they get knocked back to reality.

Wheaton sweeps Millikin:
Wheaton has the tools to be a playoff team, and should be able to take care of business against Millikin.

Predicted standings after this weekend:
North Park     10-2
North Central  9-3
Il Wesleyan    8-4
Wheaton        6-6
Augustana      4-8
Elmhurst        4-8
Carthage        4-8
Millikin          3-9

I would be pretty surprised if NPU sweeps 3 games on the road against a decent Augie team.  That would be quite the accomplishment.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 13, 2012, 11:18:39 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 12, 2012, 11:52:56 PM
My predictions for this weekend:

North Park sweeps Augustana:
The matchup of Trotta and Kuligowski will be a good one, but I think NP's starting pitchers will be too much for Augustana.

Wesleyan takes 2 of 3 from Carthage:
Carthage has their back up against the wall and I think they are able to take 1 from Wesleyan, but not having Rohe to start one of these games will come back to haunt them.

North Central sweeps Elmhurst:
I think that North Central's pitching will be too much for Elmhurst to handle. Elmhurst has started to fall off the table and this is the week they get knocked back to reality.

Wheaton sweeps Millikin:
Wheaton has the tools to be a playoff team, and should be able to take care of business against Millikin.

I think on paper it seems North Park should sweep Augie, and I definitely think it is well within the possibilities of happening although I think Augie might squeak one out.  I also think Wesleyan should win the series against Carthage, but I think Carthage will be hungry and fully aware that this series is their season.  For that reason, and that reason only, I think Carthage might gut it out to get 2 of 3.  I also think that NCC and Wheaton should get sweeps, as long as Wheaton's bullpen holds it together.  Wheaton hasn't had many games where the starter blew it for them, it's typically been the pen.  They need to prove themselves to earn a sweep.

That would make the standings:
North Park     9-3
North Central  9-3
Il Wesleyan    7-5
Wheaton        6-6
Augustana      5-7
Carthage        5-7
Elmhurst        4-8
Millikin          3-9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:32:20 AM
As of today, Carthage is only one game out of the final playoff spot... and they have the easiest remaining schedule of the CCIW teams.

Did I really just wonder if Carthage was going to miss the CCIW tourney (which they have not missed since 1988 in Augie Schmidt's first season)?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 13, 2012, 11:38:46 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:32:20 AM
As of today, Carthage is only one game out of the final playoff spot... and they have the easiest remaining schedule of the CCIW teams.

Did I really just wonder if Carthage was going to miss the CCIW tourney (which they have not missed since 1988 in Augie Schmidt's first season)?

That "easy" schedule is AFTER this weekend's series versus Wesleyan. They could very well get swept by IWU. Let's not forget why Carthage is only 3-6 in conference (.940 defense and .280 average)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:50:37 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 13, 2012, 11:38:46 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:32:20 AM
As of today, Carthage is only one game out of the final playoff spot... and they have the easiest remaining schedule of the CCIW teams.

Did I really just wonder if Carthage was going to miss the CCIW tourney (which they have not missed since 1988 in Augie Schmidt's first season)?

That "easy" schedule is AFTER this weekend's series versus Wesleyan. They could very well get swept by IWU. Let's not forget why Carthage is only 3-6 in conference (.940 defense and .280 average)

Even with the IWU series this weekend, I still think Carthage has the easiest road the rest of the way in CCIW play. I am not suggesting that they will get it done, but the CCIW schedule appears to help more than hurt them from this point forward.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 13, 2012, 12:00:21 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:50:37 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 13, 2012, 11:38:46 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2012, 11:32:20 AM
As of today, Carthage is only one game out of the final playoff spot... and they have the easiest remaining schedule of the CCIW teams.

Did I really just wonder if Carthage was going to miss the CCIW tourney (which they have not missed since 1988 in Augie Schmidt's first season)?

That "easy" schedule is AFTER this weekend's series versus Wesleyan. They could very well get swept by IWU. Let's not forget why Carthage is only 3-6 in conference (.940 defense and .280 average)

Even with the IWU series this weekend, I still think Carthage has the easiest road the rest of the way in CCIW play. I am not suggesting that they will get it done, but the CCIW schedule appears to help more than hurt them from this point forward.

Agreed. I can see the final season series against Wheaton as a "win and your in" series. Plays into Carthage's advantage as they play the final 2 at home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 13, 2012, 01:20:22 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 13, 2012, 12:00:21 PM
Agreed. I can see the final season series against Wheaton as a "win and your in" series. Plays into Carthage's advantage as they play the final 2 at home.

Wheaton's got a lot of ground to cover between now and then.  Wheaton still has NCC, Augie, and Carthage.  Wheaton has the ability to put themselves in the position to make the tourney, the question is can they put it all together to get themselves in that situation.  Seems like there's been something misfiring every game so far, be it relief pitching, offense, defense... or a combination.  If they just play sound baseball, they're fully capable of winning each of those series.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 13, 2012, 01:40:40 PM
Now I'm feeling old at 32 and 10 yrs out of college ('02) seeing my cousin's name (Trotta) being discussed on these boards. We annually play home run derby at G&G's house.  Anyway, those that have seen him pitch,  what are his chances of getting CCIW Pitcher of the Year?  And, does Augie have a shot at postseason?  With a 2 yr old and 1 on the way,  my time to get out and see CCIW action has been limited.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 13, 2012, 03:35:17 PM
Quote from: 79jaybird on April 13, 2012, 01:40:40 PM
Now I'm feeling old at 32 and 10 yrs out of college ('02) seeing my cousin's name (Trotta) being discussed on these boards. We annually play home run derby at G&G's house.  Anyway, those that have seen him pitch,  what are his chances of getting CCIW Pitcher of the Year?  And, does Augie have a shot at postseason?  With a 2 yr old and 1 on the way,  my time to get out and see CCIW action has been limited.

I haven't seen your cousin throw either.  But, from a statistics perspective he's got a chance.  I would like to see some more out of him though.  There are 3 other guys in the top 6 ERA's that have more innings than he does, all but one of which have a lower Batting Average against.  He also has the 2nd highest WHIP of that top 6. Only 2 of his wins are against teams with winning records, and those are Loras and Elmhurst who are in the bottom half of their conferences right now.  So, with all of that said... I can't downplay the job he's done, he's been an excellent pitcher by all measurements... but in order to win the CCIW Pitcher of the Year Award, he still has some work to do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2012, 05:55:02 PM
Quote from: 79jaybird on April 13, 2012, 01:40:40 PM
Now I'm feeling old at 32 and 10 yrs out of college ('02) seeing my cousin's name (Trotta) being discussed on these boards. We annually play home run derby at G&G's house.  Anyway, those that have seen him pitch,  what are his chances of getting CCIW Pitcher of the Year?  And, does Augie have a shot at postseason?  With a 2 yr old and 1 on the way,  my time to get out and see CCIW action has been limited.

He'll be in a head-to-head duel tomorrow against the current leading candidate for CCIW Pitcher of the Year, NPU's Steve Kuligowski, so we'll know by tomorrow evening whether your cuz has a legit shot at the award or not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 13, 2012, 06:00:35 PM
Wheaton puts a complete game together in beating Millikin 12-2 in 7 today.  Evan Rahn gave up just 4 hits and the Thunder scored 12 runs on 17 hits, including 2 home runs. 

Hopefully the weather will hold off tomorrow so we can get some CCIW action in!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 03:34:08 PM
Wheaton completes the sweep of Millikin 2-0 in Game 2 and 5-0 in Game 3.

Elmhurst beats North Central 3-2 in Game 1 of the series. Elmhurst leads 4-0 in the 7th in Game 2.

Wesleyan beats Carthage 3-2 in Game 1. Carthage leads 8-0 in the 4th inning of Game 2.

Augustana beats North Park 12-5 in Game 1. North Park currently leads 3-0 in the 1st inning of Game 2.

Current standings:
North Park     7-3
Il. Wesleyan   7-3
North Central  6-4
Wheaton        6-6
Augustana      5-5
Elmhurst        5-5
Carthage       3-7
Millikin          3-9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 04:03:47 PM
Both Kuligowski and Silverthorne have gotten knocked around for NPU today. Not a good omen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 14, 2012, 04:32:30 PM
Soldano will have to throw a gem in game 2 and hopefully the bats will come around. This could be 3 straight conference losses? Whats going on?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 14, 2012, 04:37:09 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 03:34:08 PM
Wesleyan beats Carthage 3-2 in Game 1.

Carthage pissed a few opportunities away in the game...in the 4th, they had 2nd and 3rd with no one out and failed to score a run and only put one ball in play even.  In the 6th, they had 2nd and 3rd with one out and only scored once.  In the 9th, they failed to move the lead-off hitter to second after a single.  Too many missed opportunities against a good team.

Oh well, that's baseball I guess.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 04:46:39 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 14, 2012, 04:32:30 PM
Soldano will have to throw a gem in game 2 and hopefully the bats will come around. This could be 3 straight conference losses? Whats going on?

North Park has had 2 horrendous games in a row. It was hard to watch even on live stats. As a North Park fan, not sure if I'm rooting for Carthage or not to beat Wesleyan.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 04:49:35 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 04:46:39 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 14, 2012, 04:32:30 PM
Soldano will have to throw a gem in game 2 and hopefully the bats will come around. This could be 3 straight conference losses? Whats going on?

North Park has had 2 horrendous games in a row. It was hard to watch even on live stats. As a North Park fan, not sure if I'm rooting for Carthage or not to beat Wesleyan.

Yeah, it's been a team-wide breakdown. The Vikes are playing poorly in every phase of the game: Pitching, hitting, fielding, and even baserunning.

Augie obviously came to play today, but 12-5 with 17 hits surrendered is by far the worst pitching day that NPU has suffered thus far this season -- and Kuligowski was on the mound. The hitters only got six hits -- and the team committed four errors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 05:27:36 PM
To no one's surprise, Wheaton sweeps the doubleheader with Millikin by blanking the Big Blue for the second time today, 5-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 06:27:41 PM
Carthage came back to skunk IWU in seven, 10-0, as Danny Dahm handcuffed the Titans on six hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 06:40:38 PM
Go figure. Elmhurst sweeps the doubleheader by taking down North Central, 5-3 ... a sweep on NCC's home field, no less.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 14, 2012, 07:04:05 PM
Folllowing the NPU vs Augie online. What does it mean when someone singles to third base or singles to ss. Just wondering
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 07:28:07 PM
I'm not exactly sure how this particular live stats program works, but my guess is that it means that that was the infielder closest to the ball when it went into the outfield. Either that, or that particular infielder fielded the ball but was unable to throw out the batter, and the play was scored a single rather than an error or a fielder's choice.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 08:29:41 PM
Saturday Games:

Wheaton completes the sweep 2-0, 5-0:
Trey Martin hits his 10th homerun of the year as the Thunder (6-6) complete the sweep of Millikin (3-9). Wheaton now looks ahead to next weekend when they face Augustana in a key series.

Elmhurst takes 2 from North Central 3-2, 5-3:
Elmhurst (6-5) comes out and surprises North Central (6-5) as they secure a much needed series win in just one day. Elmhurst scored 8 runs on the day and pitched well enough to hold the Cardinals in check. After getting swept by Millikin, the Blue Jays will look to use their own brooms as they wrap up the series with North Central tomorrow.

Carthage splits with Wesleyan 2-3, 10-0:
In Game 1, Carthage (4-7) had a couple late opportunities to score, but Wesleyan's (7-4) bullpen held the Red Men just enough to pick up the victory 3-2. Game 2 was a different story as Carthage comes out with 5 unearned runs in the bottom half of the 1st inning and won in convincing fashion 10-0 in 7 innings. Carthage looks to win the series tomorrow in a much needed series victory against IWU.

North Park splits with Augustana 5-12, 9-5:
Game 1 looked like a pitcher's duel as Trotta and Kuligowski faced off, but a 5-run 6th inning highlighted a 7 run lead over #20 North Park. Augustana (5-6) pounded out 17 hits while North Park (8-3) committed 4 errors in an ugly game for the Vikings. North Park came back swinging in Game 2 with 9 runs on 12 hits winning by a score of 9-5. North Park looks to get back to their winning ways and secure the series win in tomorrow's single game at noon.


Updated Standings:
North Park      8-3
Il. Wesleyan    7-4
North Central   6-5
Elmhurst         6-5
Wheaton         6-6
Augustana       5-6
Carthage         4-7
Millikin           3-9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 08:32:41 PM
Not very pretty baseball played today by either team in Rock Island. But the bottom line is that NPU comes out of the day with its CCIW lead intact.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 14, 2012, 08:40:16 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 08:29:41 PM
Saturday Games:

Wheaton completes the sweep 2-0, 5-0:
Trey Martin hits his 10th homerun of the year as the Thunder (6-6) complete the sweep of Millikin (3-9). Wheaton now looks ahead to next weekend when they face Augustana in a key series.

Elmhurst takes 2 from North Central 3-2, 5-3:
Elmhurst (6-5) comes out and surprises North Central (6-5) as they secure a much needed series win in just one day. Elmhurst scored 8 runs on the day and pitched well enough to hold the Cardinals in check. After getting swept by Millikin, the Blue Jays will look to use their own brooms as they wrap up the series with North Central tomorrow.

Carthage splits with Wesleyan 2-3, 10-0:
In Game 1, Carthage (4-7) had a couple late opportunities to score, but Wesleyan's (7-4) bullpen held the Red Men just enough to pick up the victory 3-2. Game 2 was a different story as Carthage comes out with 5 unearned runs in the bottom half of the 1st inning and won in convincing fashion 10-0 in 7 innings. Carthage looks to win the series tomorrow in a much needed series victory against IWU.

North Park splits with Augustana 5-12, 9-5:
Game 1 looked like a pitcher's duel as Trotta and Kuligowski faced off, but a 5-run 6th inning highlighted a 7 run lead over #20 North Park. Augustana (5-6) pounded out 17 hits while North Park (8-3) committed 4 errors in an ugly game for the Vikings. North Park came back in Game 2 pounding out 9 runs on 12 hits winning by a score of 9-5. North Park looks to get back to their winning ways and secure the series win in tomorrow's single game at noon.


Updated Standings:
North Park      8-3
Il. Wesleyan    7-4
North Central   6-5
Elmhurst         6-5
Wheaton         6-6
Augustana       5-6
Carthage         4-7
Millikin           3-9

Should be a great second-half of the conference race.   Anyone want to predict 1-4 at this point? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2012, 08:53:16 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 14, 2012, 08:40:16 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 08:29:41 PM
Saturday Games:

Wheaton completes the sweep 2-0, 5-0:
Trey Martin hits his 10th homerun of the year as the Thunder (6-6) complete the sweep of Millikin (3-9). Wheaton now looks ahead to next weekend when they face Augustana in a key series.

Elmhurst takes 2 from North Central 3-2, 5-3:
Elmhurst (6-5) comes out and surprises North Central (6-5) as they secure a much needed series win in just one day. Elmhurst scored 8 runs on the day and pitched well enough to hold the Cardinals in check. After getting swept by Millikin, the Blue Jays will look to use their own brooms as they wrap up the series with North Central tomorrow.

Carthage splits with Wesleyan 2-3, 10-0:
In Game 1, Carthage (4-7) had a couple late opportunities to score, but Wesleyan's (7-4) bullpen held the Red Men just enough to pick up the victory 3-2. Game 2 was a different story as Carthage comes out with 5 unearned runs in the bottom half of the 1st inning and won in convincing fashion 10-0 in 7 innings. Carthage looks to win the series tomorrow in a much needed series victory against IWU.

North Park splits with Augustana 5-12, 9-5:
Game 1 looked like a pitcher's duel as Trotta and Kuligowski faced off, but a 5-run 6th inning highlighted a 7 run lead over #20 North Park. Augustana (5-6) pounded out 17 hits while North Park (8-3) committed 4 errors in an ugly game for the Vikings. North Park came back in Game 2 pounding out 9 runs on 12 hits winning by a score of 9-5. North Park looks to get back to their winning ways and secure the series win in tomorrow's single game at noon.


Updated Standings:
North Park      8-3
Il. Wesleyan    7-4
North Central   6-5
Elmhurst         6-5
Wheaton         6-6
Augustana       5-6
Carthage         4-7
Millikin           3-9

Should be a great second-half of the conference race.   Anyone want to predict 1-4 at this point?

Hey, I'm just looking at the fact that one of the teams that is tied for third, two games out of the lead, was swept by Millikin, and I'm shaking my head in total disbelief.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 09:14:31 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 14, 2012, 08:40:16 PM
Should be a great second-half of the conference race.   Anyone want to predict 1-4 at this point?
Here's my predictions:

North Park     15-6 (2-1 @ Augie, 1-2 @ IWU, 3-0 @ Elmhurst, 2-1 vs NCC)
IWU              14-7 (1-2 @ Carthage, 2-1 vs NPU, 2-1 @ Augie, 3-0 @ Elmhurst)
Carthage        12-9 (2-1 vs IWU, 2-1 @ Elmhurst, 3-0 @ Millikin, 2-1 vs Wheaton)
North Central  11-10 (1-2 vs Elmhurst, 2-1 @ Millikin, 1-2 vs Wheaton, 1-2 @ NPU)
Augustana        11-10 (1-2 vs NPU, 2-1 @ Wheaton, 1-2 @ IWU, 3-0 vs Millikin)
Wheaton          10-11 (1-2 vs Augie, 2-1 @ North Central, 1-2 @ Carthage)
Elmhurst          7-14 (2-1 @ North Central, 1-2 vs Carthage, 0-3 vs NPU, 0-3 vs IWU)
Millikin             4-17 (1-2 vs North Central, 0-3 vs Carthage, 0-3 @ Augustana)


I think Carthage comes back and gets the 3 seed going into the tournament as the schedule plays into their favor. I think North Park holds on to the conference title despite losing 2 of 3 to Wesleyan. North Central barely gets into the tourney as the 4 seed based on their head-to-head versus Augustana. Wheaton plays tough to the end, but just doesn't have enough.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2012, 09:31:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw.

I would not be surprised to see Carthage find a way to bring him back in some role this weekend. Maybe a Sunday start or out of the bullpen in a tight game. Augie Schmidt has always been a bit unconventional in his pitching approach.

Secondly, I fully expect the Redmen to rally their way back into the CCIW tourney. At this point, they are not going to be a Pool C contender so that means they will empty thier gun of bullets every CCIW series and not worry about saving arms for in-region non-conference games to keep their Pool C chances alive. After the IWU series this weekend, they finish with Elmhurst, Millikin and Wheaton (the three teams near the bottom with Carthage right now).
Augie Schmidt announces that Eric Rohe, who threw a CG on weds will start tomorrow's game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 09:35:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 14, 2012, 09:31:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 11, 2012, 08:07:14 PM
Just got back from the North Park/Carthage game. I was surprised to see Carthage go with Rohe, but it makes sense the more you think about it. They really needed that win. The downside is they go into their weekend series against Wesleyan without their ace being able to throw.

I would not be surprised to see Carthage find a way to bring him back in some role this weekend. Maybe a Sunday start or out of the bullpen in a tight game. Augie Schmidt has always been a bit unconventional in his pitching approach.

Secondly, I fully expect the Redmen to rally their way back into the CCIW tourney. At this point, they are not going to be a Pool C contender so that means they will empty thier gun of bullets every CCIW series and not worry about saving arms for in-region non-conference games to keep their Pool C chances alive. After the IWU series this weekend, they finish with Elmhurst, Millikin and Wheaton (the three teams near the bottom with Carthage right now).
Augie Schmidt announces that Eric Rohe, who threw a CG on weds will start tomorrow's game.

Which is why I have Carthage winning the series vs Wesleyan:

Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 14, 2012, 09:14:31 PM
Carthage        12-9 (2-1 vs IWU, 2-1 @ Elmhurst, 3-0 @ Millikin, 2-1 vs Wheaton)

He has thrown 18 innings in just over a week. Wonder if that will effect him tomorrow. Carthage needs this win I think since they do not have any tiebreakers with Augustana, North Central, or North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 14, 2012, 10:47:18 PM
Tough day for the Cards. They need a win tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 15, 2012, 12:10:16 AM
Quote from: jester13 on April 14, 2012, 07:04:05 PM
Folllowing the NPU vs Augie online. What does it mean when someone singles to third base or singles to ss. Just wondering

This may have already been answered, but it does mean someone beats out an infield grounder, or knocks down a ball in the hole but can't throw them out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2012, 09:55:11 AM
Is it me or does it feel like Carthage's entire season hinges on today's game with IWU. Logically I know that is not true, but emotionally it feels that way. I think if the Redmen win today then the rest of the CCIW pauses to see just how far ahead they are and tries to calculate if they will be caught or not... Especially NCC and Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2012, 02:41:20 PM
Carthage up 6-3 in 7th on IWU. Each team has 7 hits. Carthage has left a lot of runners on today. Eric Rohe still throwing for the Redmen. Sweeney was just chased in the 6th for IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2012, 03:49:24 PM
Carthage ten runs IWU again today.  15-5... Redmen appear to have found their groove:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 15, 2012, 03:53:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2012, 09:55:11 AM
Is it me or does it feel like Carthage's entire season hinges on today's game with IWU. Logically I know that is not true, but emotionally it feels that way. I think if the Redmen win today then the rest of the CCIW pauses to see just how far ahead they are and tries to calculate if they will be caught or not... Especially NCC and Augustana.

If their season did hinge on today's game, they sure took a big step forward!

When the weekend started, I rationalized that one win for IWU would be a good performance in consideration of rivalry, Carthage's current position in standings, etc.  I guess today I'm just happy the beatdowns they took in the last two games only count as two losses!  IWU really really needs to get more consistency with their pitching - they were fortunate to escape Kenosha with one win.

Look forward to three home games against NP next weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 15, 2012, 06:45:20 PM
Crazy weekend of baseball. North Park loses 2 of 3 to Augie; Carthage takes out their anger on Wesleyan; and Elmhurst upsets North Central 3 games in a row. Updated standings:

North Park     8-4
Il. Wesleyan   7-5
Elmhurst??     7-5
Augustana      6-6
North Central  6-6
Wheaton        6-6
Carthage        5-7
Millikin          3-9

3 Predictions:

1.) North Park versus Wesleyan this weekend is a crucial series. Winner will win the conference.

2.) Carthage will make the tourney. No doubt in my mind.

3.) Elmhurst has the toughest remaining schedule (Carthage, North Park, Wesleyan), but if they can avoid getting swept and maybe win one of those series, they make the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 15, 2012, 07:18:46 PM
The Park needs someone to step up. Now is the time they are missing the senior leadership they had last year. Did i see that they made 14 errors? Unexcusable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 16, 2012, 12:03:56 AM
Quote from: jester13 on April 15, 2012, 07:18:46 PM
The Park needs someone to step up. Now is the time they are missing the senior leadership they had last year. Did i see that they made 14 errors? Unexcusable.
Not to rub salt in a wound, but I believe it was 15... 4, 5, and 6 in the games.  I can only imagine what was going through Coach Johnson's head!  I know what would be going through mine if I were the coach...

Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 15, 2012, 06:45:20 PM
3 Predictions:

1.) North Park versus Wesleyan this weekend is a crucial series. Winner will win the conference.

2.) Carthage will make the tourney. No doubt in my mind.

3.) Elmhurst has the toughest remaining schedule (Carthage, North Park, Wesleyan), but if they can avoid getting swept and maybe win one of those series, they make the conference tourney.
I agree with the first two but for #3 it's certainly been a crazy year, and I'm no mathematician to know the chances, but I don't see Elmhurst winning one of those series... but hey, look at my predictions from this week. Haha.

Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 14, 2012, 08:40:16 PM
Should be a great second-half of the conference race.   Anyone want to predict 1-4 at this point? 
Nope, that way I don't look like a fool at the end when I probably would get it WAY wrong ;D  It's such an unusual year in the CCIW!  Elmhurst tied for 2nd with IWU with 3 series to play, who called that one at the beginning of the year?  Even if they don't finish there, it's still crazy!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2012, 07:16:09 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 15, 2012, 07:18:46 PM
The Park needs someone to step up. Now is the time they are missing the senior leadership they had last year.

Amen and amen. NPU has more than hit a rough patch. The Vikings are faltering in every phase of the game. Their pitching has gone south in a big way over the past five games, even including the Saturday win; the hitting has collectively slumped; baserunners are more likely to get picked off now than to steal a base; and the fielding ...

Quote from: jester13 on April 15, 2012, 07:18:46 PMDid i see that they made 14 errors? Unexcusable.

The Vikings started off the year performing poorly in the field, which I chalked up to the fact that the entire cast of starting position players were either newbies, former reserves newly promoted to starter status, or returning starters who had switched positions. When NPU went on its hot streak, the fielding solidified and became a strong point. Now it's become a weakness again. I'm not sure what to think.

IWU is also reeling at the moment, and I don't think that that's a good thing for the Park. I'd rather take on a team next weekend that's feeling its oats a bit at the moment (a la Carthage or Wheaton) than a team that has the same sense of panic and frustration as NPU. A desperate team is more likely to draw comfort and inspiration from the home crowd and familiar surroundings than it is from going into a hostile environment.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2012, 07:32:16 PM
It's Going to be a great finish in the CCIW. Almost the entire conference within striking distance as of this morning. Who will the pressure get to most?!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2012, 10:03:14 PM
My innate pessimism as a Cubs fan is apparently beginning to bleed into my feelings as a North Park baseball fan. :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 17, 2012, 08:56:19 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2012, 07:16:09 PM
I'd rather take on a team next weekend that's feeling its oats a bit at the moment (a la Carthage or Wheaton) than a team that has the same sense of panic and frustration as NPU. A desperate team is more likely to draw comfort and inspiration from the home crowd and familiar surroundings than it is from going into a hostile environment.

Greg---you may be slightly over-analytical here.  I would much rather play a team that's not playing good baseball rather than one that is hot.  I don't care if that game is at our place, their place, or on the moon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2012, 06:15:02 PM
Carthage scores 5 in the 3rd with two outs and no one on to win at Marian in the first game of their double-header today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 07:36:08 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 17, 2012, 08:56:19 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2012, 07:16:09 PM
I'd rather take on a team next weekend that's feeling its oats a bit at the moment (a la Carthage or Wheaton) than a team that has the same sense of panic and frustration as NPU. A desperate team is more likely to draw comfort and inspiration from the home crowd and familiar surroundings than it is from going into a hostile environment.

Greg---you may be slightly over-analytical here.  I would much rather play a team that's not playing good baseball rather than one that is hot.  I don't care if that game is at our place, their place, or on the moon.

Me? Slightly over-analytical? That's never happened before. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 09:54:50 PM
North Park (23-7) beat Rockford (13-14) this evening up in the Forest City, 7-4. Freshman starter Wes Mleziva picked up the win. The top of the order did most of the damage for NPU, as new leadoff man Matt Rice went 4-4 with a pair of steals and three runs, Zak Worsley went 3-3 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBI, and Ryan Javech and Tony Sanchez each had two hits and accounted for three of the other four RBI.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 17, 2012, 09:57:52 PM
Wheaton (17-12) upsets Concordia, IL (21-8) today 12-10.  Good win for the Thunder as they try to build momentum going into a tough stretch of games.  Also, Trey Martin appears to be pitching a couple innings again, but only in relief.  Makes me wonder if he was having some shoulder issues to start the year?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 10:02:18 PM
That's a good win for Wheaton.

I've been told that Martin has floating bone chips in his arm that are restricting the number of pitches for which Driggers can use him.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 10:06:41 PM
Is anybody following this marathon Carthage @ Marian second game of the day-night doubleheader? It's still 3-3 in the 13th inning, and if Carthage wins the Marian coach may just put a gun to his head when he gets home. His team was unable to score with the bases loaded and only one out not once, but twice in the extra frames. In one of those thwarted innings, the Sabres baserunner on third apparently got picked off. How in the world does that happen in that situation?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 10:24:44 PM
Baseball's a funny game. After beating up on North Park pitching last weekend, Augustana (18-10) could only muster five hits in a 2-1 home loss to a Loras (15-13) team that they had beaten twice in Florida earlier this season. Augie's second and third errors of the game, which came on a play with two outs and a Duhawks runner on second in the top of the ninth, cost the Doggies the ballgame.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 11:22:14 PM
Carthage (14-12) finally won the marathon in the 17th inning (and at 10:18 pm), 4-3, on an unearned run. Marian (14-12) had the tying run on third, but couldn't get him across.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 11:25:57 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 10:24:44 PM
Baseball's a funny game. After beating up on North Park pitching last weekend, Augustana (18-10) could only muster five hits in a 2-1 home loss to a Loras (15-13) team that they had beaten twice in Florida earlier this season. Augie's second and third errors of the game, which came on a play with two outs and a Duhawks runner on second in the top of the ninth, cost the Doggies the ballgame.

It is indeed. Something about Augie the past few years, I think they've had the talent to make the conference tourney every year... they've just struggled mentally.  They should get back on track today with Knox.  That shouldn't be a tough win for them.  If not, they better watch out with a Wheaton team coming to town that's won 6 straight and coming off a very quality win.  Could be ugly for Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 12:10:36 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2012, 11:22:14 PM
Carthage (14-12) finally won the marathon in the 17th inning (and at 10:18 pm), 4-3, on an unearned run. Marian (14-12) had the tying run on third, but couldn't get him across.

... and after a LONGGGGGGG night at Marian and the 17 inning second game, Concordia-Chicago comes to town today. I wonder which arm Augie will send out there today (if they have any left at all)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 12:36:35 PM
By the way, I got my official intro to the new Carthage stadium in the mail yesterday. It will be called Augie Schmidt Field (honoring both Augie III and Augie IV in the process). A fully turfed infield to go with the upgraded stadium seating, lights  and new pressbox will be a welcome addition to the campus starting this summer. It should be ready by next spring. I think this addition makes Carthage a viable host for Central Region tourneys in the future. I amlooking forward to visiting it once it is finished.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 01:15:57 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 12:36:35 PM
By the way, I got my official intro to the new Carthage stadium in the mail yesterday. It will be called Augie Schmidt Field (honoring both Augie III and Augie IV in the process). A fully turfed infield to go with the upgraded stadium seating, lights  and new pressbox will be a welcome addition to the campus starting this summer. It should be ready by next spring. I think this addition makes Carthage a viable host for Central Region tourneys in the future. I amlooking forward to visiting it once it is finished.

Turf only on the infield?  Does that include the mound?  I think it will be a nice upgrade, even though Carthage already has a pretty good baseball facility for the North.  But, I'm glad they're staying ahead of the curve.  Stadium seating would be great for them.  How many will it seat? I don't necessarily understand turfing just the infield, I think the extra money you save in cost for upkeep of grass returns itself for just a little bit more turf to put it on the whole field... but maybe I'm wrong.  I do agree that either way, it will put them in contention for hosting a regional. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 18, 2012, 01:43:44 PM
Can some of these upgrades and facility tweaks rub off on Elmhurst? I mean my Alma Mater continues to miss the boat when it comes to facilities and giving their athletes a shot?  I remember running after a fly ball in Butterfield Park and stumbling on some tire tracks in left field.  We lose countless of recruits (in all sports) because compared to other local schools (not just CCIW), are facilities are no comparison.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 01:15:57 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 12:36:35 PM
By the way, I got my official intro to the new Carthage stadium in the mail yesterday. It will be called Augie Schmidt Field (honoring both Augie III and Augie IV in the process). A fully turfed infield to go with the upgraded stadium seating, lights  and new pressbox will be a welcome addition to the campus starting this summer. It should be ready by next spring. I think this addition makes Carthage a viable host for Central Region tourneys in the future. I amlooking forward to visiting it once it is finished.

Turf only on the infield?  Does that include the mound?  I think it will be a nice upgrade, even though Carthage already has a pretty good baseball facility for the North.  But, I'm glad they're staying ahead of the curve.  Stadium seating would be great for them.  How many will it seat? I don't necessarily understand turfing just the infield, I think the extra money you save in cost for upkeep of grass returns itself for just a little bit more turf to put it on the whole field... but maybe I'm wrong.  I do agree that either way, it will put them in contention for hosting a regional.

My understanding is the mound will be dirt/clay with the batter's box being turf.

The added cost to do the oufield would be between 400-500k.  It is not an insignificant amount.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 07:19:02 PM
Final scores from this afternoon:

Chicago (16-9) defeated North Central (15-11) by a score of 12-7 at Zimmerman Stadium in Naperville.

Rockford (14-14) defeated Elmhurst (15-12) by a touchdown and a field goal ten runs in a seven-inning skunker, 20-10, at the home stadium of the Regents.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM
Anyone have a Carthage/Concordia update? No live stats today...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 10:00:12 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
My understanding is the mound will be dirt/clay with the batter's box being turf.

The added cost to do the oufield would be between 400-500k.  It is not an insignificant amount.

I'm glad the mound will still be clay.  And that is a lot more money for the outfield than I had anticipated.  I know some respectable companies have gotten football fields down to a respectable ballpark of $750,000, so I assumed an outfield wouldn't be terribly expensive, but I was obviously wrong!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 10:08:14 PM
An outfield is not far off from a full football field corner to corner. Gonna be spendy either way...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 10:11:22 PM
Millikin beat RMC-Springfield, 4-3, in Decatur.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM
Anyone have a Carthage/Concordia update? No live stats today...

The game's scheduled for tomorrow, according to the Carthage website.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 11:05:57 PM
Illinois Wesleyan (19-9) came back from a five-run deficit in the fifth to beat Benedictine (14-13), 10-9, in Bloomington on a two-run single with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. Not a good feeling if you're the Bennies and you've just squandered 20 -- count 'em, 20 -- hits by coughing up the lead and losing the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on April 18, 2012, 11:25:22 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 10:00:12 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
My understanding is the mound will be dirt/clay with the batter's box being turf.

The added cost to do the oufield would be between 400-500k.  It is not an insignificant amount.

I'm glad the mound will still be clay.  And that is a lot more money for the outfield than I had anticipated.  I know some respectable companies have gotten football fields down to a respectable ballpark of $750,000, so I assumed an outfield wouldn't be terribly expensive, but I was obviously wrong!

Warrior,

Think maybe you might want to get off of this board. First you start with insulting North Park fans and their facility by claiming home runs fly out of their ballpark at a rate that would have them run out of baseballs by the third inning. Not sure why you feel you are an expert at how easy it is to hit a home run, since the last one you hit was in tee ball.

Then you start putting out some hocus pocus numbers for turfing a baseball field. Save your comments for sports in which you have more experience (such as badminton or baggo) and free up some time for the rest of us. Reading your posts takes some much needed time out of my day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 19, 2012, 12:02:21 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 11:05:57 PM
Illinois Wesleyan (19-9) came back from a five-run deficit in the fifth to beat Benedictine (14-13), 10-9, in Bloomington on a two-run single with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. Not a good feeling if you're the Bennies and you've just squandered 20 -- count 'em, 20 -- hits by coughing up the lead and losing the game.

Just returned for the game.  Pretty ugly early for IWU - seemed Coach Martel was trying to get some work in for his freshmen pitchers, and they weren't responding.  But the pitching tightened up, the offense chipped away and a pinch hitting backup catcher that rarely plays gets the winning RBI.  The pitch before he hit one foul into the trees down the left field line that would have been in the soccer field if fair.  Fortunately, he got the job done.

There was a pretty big transformation from the early innings to the late innings by the Titans - they had good at bats (admittedly, Benedictine probably didn't have their top line staff out there just as IWU didn't).  That being said, hopefully the Titans can gain some momentum going into a critical weekend.  The pitching needs to show up....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2012, 12:28:47 AM
In the final game of the evening, Augustana (19-10) downed Knox (8-13) by a score of 7-2 in the QC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 19, 2012, 08:45:33 AM
IWU AA Kevin Callahan is starting to find his power stroke.  Two HRs Sunday against Carthage, another one last night.  This team needs him if they hope to take the series this weekend against North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2012, 09:19:25 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 10:11:22 PM
Millikin beat RMC-Springfield, 4-3, in Decatur.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM
Anyone have a Carthage/Concordia update? No live stats today...

The game's scheduled for tomorrow, according to the Carthage website.

I am an idiot:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on April 19, 2012, 11:50:23 AM
Quote from: norfrank on April 18, 2012, 11:25:22 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 10:00:12 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
My understanding is the mound will be dirt/clay with the batter's box being turf.

The added cost to do the oufield would be between 400-500k.  It is not an insignificant amount.

I'm glad the mound will still be clay.  And that is a lot more money for the outfield than I had anticipated.  I know some respectable companies have gotten football fields down to a respectable ballpark of $750,000, so I assumed an outfield wouldn't be terribly expensive, but I was obviously wrong!

Warrior,

Think maybe you might want to get off of this board. First you start with insulting North Park fans and their facility by claiming home runs fly out of their ballpark at a rate that would have them run out of baseballs by the third inning. Not sure why you feel you are an expert at how easy it is to hit a home run, since the last one you hit was in tee ball.

Then you start putting out some hocus pocus numbers for turfing a baseball field. Save your comments for sports in which you have more experience (such as badminton or baggo) and free up some time for the rest of us. Reading your posts takes some much needed time out of my day.

How bout you quit trolling other people. Not like you have anything useful to say.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 19, 2012, 01:06:30 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2012, 09:19:25 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 10:11:22 PM
Millikin beat RMC-Springfield, 4-3, in Decatur.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2012, 08:06:01 PM
Anyone have a Carthage/Concordia update? No live stats today...

The game's scheduled for tomorrow, according to the Carthage website.

I am an idiot:)

I actually went looking for the Live stats yesterday too (thanks to your post earlier)....however, I figured out for myself that the game was today, not yesterday!  Thanks Poppa!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 19, 2012, 01:51:50 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 18, 2012, 10:00:12 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 18, 2012, 02:43:43 PM
My understanding is the mound will be dirt/clay with the batter's box being turf.

The added cost to do the oufield would be between 400-500k.  It is not an insignificant amount.

I'm glad the mound will still be clay.  And that is a lot more money for the outfield than I had anticipated.  I know some respectable companies have gotten football fields down to a respectable ballpark of $750,000, so I assumed an outfield wouldn't be terribly expensive, but I was obviously wrong!

Average football field is around 85k-90k square feet.  An outfield, depending out dimensions and foul territory (which Carthage has a considerable amount of both) can be over 100k square feet. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 19, 2012, 02:53:39 PM
My predictions: (which turned out so well last time)  :P

North Park takes 2 of 3 from Wesleyan:
Earlier I predicted Wesleyan to take 2 of 3 from NPU, but their lack of pitching depth scares me almost as much as Callahan at the plate. Game 1 should be a treat to watch as Kuligowski faces off against Sweeney. This series could be a preview to the conference tourney title game.

Carthage sweeps Elmhurst:
Elmhurst is about as hot or cold as you can be. If they play hot, maybe they take 1 from Carthage, but the Red Men are on a role right now and their pitching should carry them through this series. Eric Rohe has been phenomenal his last 3 outings.

Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Augustana:
I don't think this will be as much of Wheaton winning the series as it will be Augustana losing it. I think the Vikings pitching matches up well against Wheaton's offense, but if Augustana commits as many errors as they did against North Park, Wheaton could be looking to take the sweep.

North Central takes 2 of 3 from Millikin:
I think Millikin takes 1 away from North Central, who desperately need to sweep before they face off against Wheaton and North Park. This could be an ugly game defensively, which most games are when played at Millikin's field.


Predicted Standings:
North Park       10-5
North Central    8-7
Carthage          8-7
Il. Wesleyan     8-7
Wheaton          8-7
Elmhurst          7-8
Augustana        7-8
Millikin            4-11
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 19, 2012, 03:15:35 PM
It makes a lot of sense to tell someone to stop insulting people by insulting them.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 19, 2012, 01:51:50 PM
Average football field is around 85k-90k square feet.  An outfield, depending out dimensions and foul territory (which Carthage has a considerable amount of both) can be over 100k square feet. 

Thanks for the data CCIWFAN, I was definitely wrong about the outfield dimensions!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 19, 2012, 03:21:28 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 19, 2012, 02:53:39 PM
My predictions: (which turned out so well last time)  :P

North Park takes 2 of 3 from Wesleyan:
Earlier I predicted Wesleyan to take 2 of 3 from NPU, but their lack of pitching depth scares me almost as much as Callahan at the plate. Game 1 should be a treat to watch as Kuligowski faces off against Sweeney. This series could be a preview to the conference tourney title game.

Carthage sweeps Elmhurst:
Elmhurst is about as hot or cold as you can be. If they play hot, maybe they take 1 from Carthage, but the Red Men are on a role right now and their pitching should carry them through this series. Eric Rohe has been phenomenal his last 3 outings.

Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Augustana:
I don't think this will be as much of Wheaton winning the series as it will be Augustana losing it. I think the Vikings pitching matches up well against Wheaton's offense, but if Augustana commits as many errors as they did against North Park, Wheaton could be looking to take the sweep.

North Central takes 2 of 3 from Millikin:
I think Millikin takes 1 away from North Central, who desperately need to sweep before they face off against Wheaton and North Park. This could be an ugly game defensively, which most games are when played at Millikin's field.


Predicted Standings:
North Park       10-5
Carthage          8-7
North Central    8-7
Il. Wesleyan     8-7
Wheaton          8-7
Elmhurst          7-8
Augustana        7-8
Millikin            4-11

Freshman Chris Bobo has started game 1 the last two weeks.  Coach Martel seems to be down on Sweeney as of late.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 19, 2012, 04:45:09 PM
Quote
Freshman Chris Bobo has started game 1 the last two weeks.  Coach Martel seems to be down on Sweeney as of late.

I would agree with CCIWFAN6, I would think Bobo will start Game 1.  I'd like to see Sweeney regain form, but he just hasn't been consistent.  And unfortunately, I'm not sure Nick Mehn is even in the rotation right now.

Still a lot of baseball to be played.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on April 19, 2012, 08:16:56 PM
The Cardinals have dropped to 15-11, with their loss today to the University of Chicago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 20, 2012, 12:39:55 PM
The NPU vs. IWU game for 7pm tonight has already been canceled due to weather.

I think this is in fact a positive for NPU as a Friday night game at Jack would have been an electric atmosphere for the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2012, 05:25:46 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 20, 2012, 12:39:55 PM
The NPU vs. IWU game for 7pm tonight has already been canceled due to weather.

Not cancelled, simply postponed. Doubleheader tomorrow afternoon, then a single game on Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2012, 05:38:18 PM
Quote from: newcardfan on April 19, 2012, 08:16:56 PM
The Cardinals have dropped to 15-11, with their loss today to the University of Chicago.

??? The game was played the day before yesterday, not yesterday, and I had already posted the score:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2012, 07:19:02 PM
Final scores from this afternoon:

Chicago (16-9) defeated North Central (15-11) by a score of 12-7 at Zimmerman Stadium in Naperville.

Rockford (14-14) defeated Elmhurst (15-12) by a touchdown and a field goal ten runs in a seven-inning skunker, 20-10, at the home stadium of the Regents.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 20, 2012, 10:28:05 PM
Augustana beats Wheaton 1-0 in a pitcher's duel out in Rock Island. Augustana struck for a run in the bottom of the 4th on an RBI double from Joe Cecchi. That would be all that Mike Trotta needed as he goes the distance, scattering 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking 1. Wheaton couldn't get a runner to third base until the 7th, but then got gunned down at the plate trying to score on a grounder to third. Augustana improves to 7-6 while Wheaton drops to 6-7. The two teams face off tomorrow in a double header at Wheaton's home field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 21, 2012, 10:13:28 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 20, 2012, 10:28:05 PM
Augustana beats Wheaton 1-0 in a pitcher's duel out in Rock Island. Augustana struck for a run in the bottom of the 4th on an RBI double from Joe Cecchi. That would be all that Mike Trotta needed as he goes the distance, scattering 4 hits, striking out 4 and walking 1. Wheaton couldn't get a runner to third base until the 7th, but then got gunned down at the plate trying to score on a grounder to third. Augustana improves to 7-6 while Wheaton drops to 6-7. The two teams face off tomorrow in a double header at Wheaton's home field.

One heck of an outing for Trotta.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2012, 04:07:50 PM
Carthage over Elmhurst 3-2 in game #1 today. Does Elmhurst not have live stats? Final score is posted, but nothing else.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 21, 2012, 04:09:18 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on March 27, 2012, 04:33:57 PM
Some exciting news for the CCIW, Wheaton finally got their stadium upgrades zoning approved... so they've started work.  The stadium itself probably won't be done for a year or two, depending on fundraising, but it's a huge step for the CCIW to have teams upgrading facilities.  Now if Elmhurst and Millikin will do something, the CCIW would probably be the best D3 conference in terms of facilities, and arguably in baseball period!  Unfortunately unless Elmhurst and Millikin turn their programs around and have some continued success, I'm not sure we'll see it any time soon... especially since they both play at city parks, that makes it more difficult.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/3/24/BB_Stadium.aspx?path=baseball
I missed this so I am catching up on the old news in the CCIW...

Congratulations to Coach Driggers!

That is a huge step forward for the Wheaton program.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2012, 04:44:32 PM
NPU up 8-2 over IWU in 8th inning of game one.

North Central over millikin  10-4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2012, 05:06:48 PM
IWU just can't seem to find any consistent pitching.  Today Chris Bobo didn't even make it out of the first inning, while consistently inconsistent Nick Mehn was excellent in relief. :P  A lot of talent on the staff - if they ever come together at the same time, watch out!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 21, 2012, 05:13:21 PM
North Park beats Wesleyan 8-3 in the first game of the double-header.

Elmhurst is up 4-0 on Carthage in the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 21, 2012, 05:16:36 PM
Wheaton over Augie 8-0 in game 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 21, 2012, 07:19:04 PM
After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 21, 2012, 10:19:02 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 21, 2012, 07:19:04 PM
After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.

Pretty eventful day in Bloomington.  IWU salvaged a split, but I felt like North Park definitely had the upper hand all day until the final two innings of Game 2.  Quite frankly, the bullpen didn't get it done for NP - both of their starters were very good today.

There was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.   ;D 

I look forward to game 3 tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 21, 2012, 10:23:14 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 21, 2012, 10:19:02 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 21, 2012, 07:19:04 PM
After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.

Pretty eventful day in Bloomington.  IWU salvaged a split, but I felt like North Park definitely had the upper hand all day until the final two innings of Game 2.  Quite frankly, the bullpen didn't get it done for NP - both of their starters were very good today.

There was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.   ;D 

I look forward to game 3 tomorrow.

I'll take Luke Johnson in 2 Rounds in that fight.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2012, 10:17:50 AM
Big game today in Bloomington. NPU can take a major step forward towards winning the CCIW again and hosting the league tourney with a win. Here's hoping that Paul Garcia has his good stuff today when he takes the mound for the Vikes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 02:46:28 PM
In Bloomington, IWU went up 4-1 (Garcia left after 4), but NPU got 3 unearned runs on a hit, 2 errors and 2 SFs in the top of the fifth.  After 5, it's 4-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 03:16:04 PM
What is with the Titan defense all of a sudden?! >:(

In the top of the 7th, NPU goes up 6-4 on 1 hit and THREE errors - 5 of NPU's 6 runs today have been unearned. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 05:00:16 PM
The Titans get one back in the 7th, and get three in the 8th - final is IWU 8, NPU 6.

There is now a tie logjam at the top of the standings, with NPU, IWU, NCC, and Elmhurst all 9-6, with Augie 1 game back, Wheaton 2, and Carthage 3.  What a finish is looming!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 22, 2012, 05:14:39 PM
Updated Standings

North Park             9-6
Illinois Wesleyan     9-6
North Central          9-6
Elmhurst                9-6
Augustana              8-7
Wheaton                7-8
Carthage               6-9
Millikin                  3-12

My takeaways from this weekend:
Carthage looks to be in trouble. They need to sweep Millikin and win the Wheaton series to have a chance.
North Park's pitching is really struggling. Their bullpen gives up a 2-run lead in the 8th today after giving up a 5-run lead in the 8th yesterday.
Elmhurst has to be taken seriously. They now have some momentum going into their weekend series vs North Park. Who ever wins the series should cement a playoff spot. 
North Central came out and did what they had to do. Now they have a tough series against Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 06:36:07 PM
How much must Elmhurst be kicking themselves about the Millikin series?!  Everyone else is treating the Little Blue like a Little League team, and the (very) Blue Jays turned them into BIG Blue! ;)  They would have a veritable lock on hosting the conference playoffs if not for that disastrous weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 22, 2012, 06:43:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 06:36:07 PM
How much must Elmhurst be kicking themselves about the Millikin series?!  Everyone else is treating the Little Blue like a Little League team, and the (very) Blue Jays turned them into BIG Blue! ;)  They would have a veritable lock on hosting the conference playoffs if not for that disastrous weekend.

For the sake of everyone else, I'm glad they got swept then.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 10:21:15 PM
Remaining games - contenders:

NPU: Elmhurst (1 home, 2 away) NCC (2 home, 1 away)
IWU: Augie (2 home, 1 away) Elmhurst (2 home, 1 away)
NCC: Wheaton (2 home, 1 away) NPU (2 away, 1 home)
Elmhurst: NPU (2 home, 1 away) IWU (1 home, 2 away)
Augie: IWU (1 home, 2 away) Millikin (who cares where ;D)
Wheaton: NCC (1 home, 2 away) Carthage (1 home, 2 away)
Carthage: @ Millikin, Wheaton (2 home, 1 away)

I tried to do the tie-breakers, but my eyes glazed over before I finished - though it is actually pretty easy since everyone plays each other 3 times, so no secondary ties.  Elmhurst has the tie-break against everyone they have already played.  Wheaton and Carthage are in a death match on the final weekend - I'm guessing a sweep is necessary for one to make the tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 22, 2012, 10:42:15 PM
I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 11:18:25 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 22, 2012, 10:42:15 PM
I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2012, 07:15:16 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 11:18:25 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 22, 2012, 10:42:15 PM
I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.
I'd have to agree. I saw Elmhurst as the 6th or 7th CCIW team and Carthage as the second best behind NPU. That's why they play the games!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 23, 2012, 10:34:36 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 23, 2012, 07:15:16 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 11:18:25 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 22, 2012, 10:42:15 PM
I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.
I'd have to agree. I saw Elmhurst as the 6th or 7th CCIW team and Carthage as the second best behind NPU. That's why they play the games!

I concur as well.  I haven't seen Elmhurst yet, but will get that opportunity in a couple weeks.

I've never been to their field?  Should they end up winning the regular season, is it a good place to host the tournament?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 23, 2012, 11:56:30 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 23, 2012, 10:34:36 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 23, 2012, 07:15:16 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2012, 11:18:25 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 22, 2012, 10:42:15 PM
I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.
I'd have to agree. I saw Elmhurst as the 6th or 7th CCIW team and Carthage as the second best behind NPU. That's why they play the games!

I concur as well.  I haven't seen Elmhurst yet, but will get that opportunity in a couple weeks.

I've never been to their field?  Should they end up winning the regular season, is it a good place to host the tournament?


Aside from the fact that it's 3 blocks from my house,

NO.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 23, 2012, 12:01:10 PM
All of you who are enjoying this conference race and how tight it is have me to thank. 

My comments a few weeks ago about North Park's success broke every reasonable rule of baseball when it comes to thinking ahead.  If one of my high school kids talked like that, I'd have to smack them upside the head (figuratively, of course).

At any rate, looking forward to the opportunity to see the Vikings in action this weekend against Elmhurst.  Hope it turns out well!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2012, 12:07:14 PM
I think Carthage needs to win out to even have a shot at making the conference tourney. They are three games back with six left to play. A sweep of Elmhurst by NPU would help and them provided they can take all three from Millikin this weekend. The it would set up a tied in which Carthage would face Wheaton while Elmhurst faced IWU. Of all the teams in the four-team tie in the CCIW, Elmhurst has the toughest road ahead based on opponents yet to play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.

The flying pig comes only when Carthage roots for IWU to win... and, as a true Carthaginian, I would rather miss the playoffs than cheer for the Green Weenies ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 09:23:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.

The flying pig comes only when Carthage roots for IWU to win... and, as a true Carthaginian, I would rather miss the playoffs than cheer for the Green Weenies ;)

Had a chance to talk to several Carthage parents when IWU played up in Kenosha a couple of weeks ago, and the general consensus is they are starting to dislike NPU more than IWU.  Were some very interesting comments being made.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 24, 2012, 09:47:59 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 09:23:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.

The flying pig comes only when Carthage roots for IWU to win... and, as a true Carthaginian, I would rather miss the playoffs than cheer for the Green Weenies ;)

Had a chance to talk to several Carthage parents when IWU played up in Kenosha a couple of weeks ago, and the general consensus is they are starting to dislike NPU more than IWU.  Were some very interesting comments being made.

Good!  Glad to hear that as a North Park fan.  You don't "hate" another team until they pose a distinct threat to you. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 11:16:05 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I would venture to guess that it is more Coach Martel than IWU as a team, but you would know better than I. Or maybe those two things are one in the same.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 24, 2012, 11:55:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I guess I am a bad fan.  I am an IWU supporter, but I've always had a lot of respect for Carthage and what Augie has accomplished there.  I look forward to that series every year, because I always assume good baseball will be played.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:58:55 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 24, 2012, 11:55:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I guess I am a bad fan.  I am an IWU supporter, but I've always had a lot of respect for Carthage and what Augie has accomplished there.  I look forward to that series every year, because I always assume good baseball will be played.

I have a ton of respect for what Martel has done at IWU, I just was raised to hate IWU from the second I was handed a Carthage jersey. It is always a good series from a baseball point of view.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 24, 2012, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:58:55 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 24, 2012, 11:55:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I guess I am a bad fan.  I am an IWU supporter, but I've always had a lot of respect for Carthage and what Augie has accomplished there.  I look forward to that series every year, because I always assume good baseball will be played.

I have a ton of respect for what Martel has done at IWU, I just was raised to hate IWU from the second I was handed a Carthage jersey. It is always a good series from a baseball point of view.

I thought your comment about North Central was a little curious, so I just looked up your head to head against IWU during your playing days.  Clearly looks like Carthage got the better of it during that era, and three World Series also (if I read it right).  I have to give credit where credit is due - that was a pretty impressive era.  I didn't move to Bloomington until 1990, so I really wasn't too engaged in Titan sports until around 1998 - I'm sorry I missed those teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 12:16:55 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:58:55 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 24, 2012, 11:55:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I guess I am a bad fan.  I am an IWU supporter, but I've always had a lot of respect for Carthage and what Augie has accomplished there.  I look forward to that series every year, because I always assume good baseball will be played.

I have a ton of respect for what Martel has done at IWU, I just was raised to hate IWU from the second I was handed a Carthage jersey. It is always a good series from a baseball point of view.

I guess that is a difference between programs.  When I was at IWU, we respected Carthage, not hate them (with the exception of the"TWOOOOOOO"). We really saw them as the only team that could knock us off. There were a couple of other teams around the conference we didn't like, but none of that had anything to do with baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 12:46:25 PM
You are assuming that we did not respect IWU (we did), but we just really did not care for them at all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 01:04:11 PM
Not assuming that at all... Just stating we obviously viewed the other in different ways.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 02:41:56 PM
Changing the subject...

If the season ended right now, who would deserve Pitcher of the Year?

Kuligowski (North Park): 8-2, 66 IP, 2.17 ERA, 68/20 K/BB

Trotta (Augustana): 6-0, 51 IP, 1.75 ERA, 33/15 K/BB

Rohe (Carthage): 4-2, 53 IP, 2.35 ERA, 30/11 K/BB

Singh (North Central): 4-2, 55 IP, 2.09 ERA, 37/22 K/BB
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 03:43:22 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 02:41:56 PM
Changing the subject...

If the season ended right now, who would deserve Pitcher of the Year?

Kuligowski (North Park): 8-2, 66 IP, 2.17 ERA, 68/20 K/BB

Trotta (Augustana): 6-0, 51 IP, 1.75 ERA, 33/15 K/BB

Rohe (Carthage): 4-2, 53 IP, 2.35 ERA, 30/11 K/BB

Singh (North Central): 4-2, 55 IP, 2.09 ERA, 37/22 K/BB

I was under the impression the coaches made the decisions for All-Conference/ POY awards based on conference stats only.  Am I wrong on this?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2012, 06:09:09 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.

The flying pig comes only when Carthage roots for IWU to win... and, as a true Carthaginian, I would rather miss the playoffs than cheer for the Green Weenies ;)

This is exactly how NPU folks feel about Wheaton in any and every sport ... but, in this case, I will nevertheless swallow the psychic cod liver oil and root for the Orange DuPage team this coming weekend. Better to see North Central tumble in the standings than to indulge my dyed-in-the-wool antipathy towards Wheaton as a North Park alumnus.

Quote from: Viking Blue on April 24, 2012, 09:47:59 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 24, 2012, 09:23:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 08:55:45 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:56 AM
So you are saying Carthage is rooting for North Park to win?

Wait, I think I just saw a flying pig.

The flying pig comes only when Carthage roots for IWU to win... and, as a true Carthaginian, I would rather miss the playoffs than cheer for the Green Weenies ;)

Had a chance to talk to several Carthage parents when IWU played up in Kenosha a couple of weeks ago, and the general consensus is they are starting to dislike NPU more than IWU.  Were some very interesting comments being made.

Good!  Glad to hear that as a North Park fan.  You don't "hate" another team until they pose a distinct threat to you. 

I echo that sentiment. While Parkers in general have it in for Wheaton in a generic, across-the-board sense, the NPU baseball program in particular has always targeted Carthage as the ultimate enemy -- mostly out of respect for the Red Men's accomplishments and annual prowess on the diamond, but due quite a bit to Augie Schmidt's gamesmanship as well. And, no, I don't think that Dennis Martel is well-liked around the league, either (and I would imagine that Luke Johnson's beginning to get some of that same sort of dislike), but if you asked current Vikings players as well as NPU baseball alumni (such as Viking Blue and D3Vike11), I think that they'd identify Carthage as Public Enemy Number One as far as North Park baseball is concerned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2012, 06:16:50 PM
Carthage (15-14) defeated Aurora (25-8) today in Kenosha, 8-2. That's a nice win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2012, 06:20:42 PM
North Central (19-11) skunked Dominican (16-18), 11-0 in seven innings in Naperville today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on April 24, 2012, 09:27:56 PM
Wesleyan beat Wash U 2-1 tonight in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 09:55:48 PM
IWU is starting to set itself up for a possible Pool C bid... Carthage is doing it too late. Nice win vs Aurora today but they need win the CCIW tourney (if they even get in) to get a NCAA bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 10:32:54 PM
North Park faces off against Chicago tomorrow. Chicago is coming off a nice series win against Wash U (who have now gone 1-6 in their last 7 games).

IWU does look to be in a good position to get a Pool C bid. The NCAA currently has them IWU ranked 27th, and I can see them putting them at Number 1 in the Region (considering they don't have anyone else in the Central region ranked higher than Wesleyan).

Will be interesting to see where the NCAA puts North Park...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2012, 10:54:48 PM
April 29, 2010: IWU was 14-17.
June 1, 2010, IWU was the National Champion.

Their success this year is scaring the hell out of me! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 79jaybird on April 25, 2012, 08:37:29 AM
D3Vike11- My biased, "kin" vote would be Trotta (1st Cousin), however either him or Kuligowski would be my choices.  I think you also have to look at who's more valuable to their respective team. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 25, 2012, 09:34:31 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2012, 11:12:50 AM
A true Carthage fan, while having no fear of another team, feels general disdain for IWU, not NPU. When I played, North Central was our biggest CCIW rival, but we did not hate them... we still hated IWU. (And you can +K or -K me based on the honesty of that statement.) Ask Augie who he cannot stand and the answer will always be IWU.

I would say that is true of a lot of teams in lots of sports.  From the perspective of Wheaton in the 2000's I know there was respect for Carthage and IWU, and while North Central was the closest and theoretically should have been our natural rival... Augustana was always the big rival... we made Beat Augie shirts, never anything for NCC. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 25, 2012, 09:51:30 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 10:32:54 PM
North Park faces off against Chicago tomorrow. Chicago is coming off a nice series win against Wash U (who have now gone 1-6 in their last 7 games).

IWU does look to be in a good position to get a Pool C bid. The NCAA currently has them IWU ranked 27th, and I can see them putting them at Number 1 in the Region (considering they don't have anyone else in the Central region ranked higher than Wesleyan).

Will be interesting to see where the NCAA puts North Park...

The ABCA poll you are refering to that has IWU 27th has nothing to do with the NCAA or regional rankings. The central region rankings are not determined by the NCAA but by the regional committe (a handful of central region coaches) and their interpretation of the "criteria" (in-region win%, sos, etc..). 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2012, 10:02:00 AM
I think IWU comes in at either #2 or #3 in the regional poll.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 25, 2012, 02:23:00 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 25, 2012, 09:51:30 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 24, 2012, 10:32:54 PM
North Park faces off against Chicago tomorrow. Chicago is coming off a nice series win against Wash U (who have now gone 1-6 in their last 7 games).

IWU does look to be in a good position to get a Pool C bid. The NCAA currently has them IWU ranked 27th, and I can see them putting them at Number 1 in the Region (considering they don't have anyone else in the Central region ranked higher than Wesleyan).

Will be interesting to see where the NCAA puts North Park...

The ABCA poll you are refering to that has IWU 27th has nothing to do with the NCAA or regional rankings. The central region rankings are not determined by the NCAA but by the regional committe (a handful of central region coaches) and their interpretation of the "criteria" (in-region win%, sos, etc..).

That was a test. You passed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 25, 2012, 07:40:40 PM
North Park loses to University of Chicago 5-4 in 10 innings. The Vikings went up 4-0 in the first two innings, but 2 errors in the 6th allowed the tying run to score and in the 10th a 1-out double drove in the winning run for Chicago. North Park drops to 24-10 and 20-8 in region play after starting off 17-1. Big weekend series against Elmhurst for the Vikings if they want to get back on track.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2012, 09:40:58 PM
I think tomorrow's ranking may reflect that NPU is in a win the CCIW Pool A bid or be left out... Again. And Chicago will be sitting pretty.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 25, 2012, 09:47:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 25, 2012, 09:40:58 PM
I think tomorrow's ranking may reflect that NPU is in a win the CCIW Pool A bid or be left out... Again. And Chicago will be sitting pretty.

It hurts me to agree, but the committee has not shown as much love to North Park in the past and I think until they win a conference tourney, Pool C bid's are going to be tough for North Park to get.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 27, 2012, 04:23:23 PM
Trey Martin getting a start today on the bump for Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 27, 2012, 04:30:43 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 27, 2012, 04:23:23 PM
Trey Martin getting a start today on the bump for Wheaton.

And he's perfect through 3 with 4 k's.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 27, 2012, 04:57:54 PM
Since there seems to be a big possibility of ties in the final standings this year, I was wondering how people thought the tiebreaker is interpreted.  If 3 or more teams are tied, it seems to be cumulative head-to-head record of the 3 or more teams.  Here is what the website says:

The following are tiebreaker procedures for conference tournament seeding.
Note: "Head to Head should be interpreted as the cumulative record of head to head records between all the tied teams. In the case of a tie involving more than two teams, the tiebreaker criteria should be used to remove one team before going back to the original criteria (at the start) and attempting to break the teams that remain tied.  For example, when separating Teams A, B and C, which finished tied, the cumulative head to head records should be used.  In this case, the tiebreaker criteria may remove one team (Team C for example) from contention.  At that point, the process starts over with the applicable tiebreaker criteria when attempting to break the tie between Teams A and B."


So, if we are just to remove one team and then go back to head-to-head, what would happen in the following situation:

Team A vs. Team B   1 win to 2 wins
Team A vs. Team C   3 wins to 0 wins
Team B vs. Team C   1 win to 2 wins

Cumulative record:
Team A   4-2
Team B   3-3
Team C   2-4

If we just take the result that the order should be A,B,C then we get a different outcome than if we first take Team A as first place but then compare B and C again.  If we do that, C beat B 2 games to 1 thus meaning the order should be A,C,B.  Does anyone have a definitve answer on that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 27, 2012, 05:01:10 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 27, 2012, 04:30:43 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on April 27, 2012, 04:23:23 PM
Trey Martin getting a start today on the bump for Wheaton.

And he's perfect through 3 with 4 k's.

No-hitter broken up in the 5th.  It will be a huge boast to Wheaton if he can provide innings like this at the top of the rotation.  Interested to see if he's on a strict pitch count.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 05:48:30 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 27, 2012, 04:57:54 PM
Since there seems to be a big possibility of ties in the final standings this year, I was wondering how people thought the tiebreaker is interpreted.  If 3 or more teams are tied, it seems to be cumulative head-to-head record of the 3 or more teams.  Here is what the website says:

The following are tiebreaker procedures for conference tournament seeding.
Note: "Head to Head should be interpreted as the cumulative record of head to head records between all the tied teams. In the case of a tie involving more than two teams, the tiebreaker criteria should be used to remove one team before going back to the original criteria (at the start) and attempting to break the teams that remain tied.  For example, when separating Teams A, B and C, which finished tied, the cumulative head to head records should be used.  In this case, the tiebreaker criteria may remove one team (Team C for example) from contention.  At that point, the process starts over with the applicable tiebreaker criteria when attempting to break the tie between Teams A and B."


So, if we are just to remove one team and then go back to head-to-head, what would happen in the following situation:

Team A vs. Team B   1 win to 2 wins
Team A vs. Team C   3 wins to 0 wins
Team B vs. Team C   1 win to 2 wins

Cumulative record:
Team A   4-2
Team B   3-3
Team C   2-4

If we just take the result that the order should be A,B,C then we get a different outcome than if we first take Team A as first place but then compare B and C again.  If we do that, C beat B 2 games to 1 thus meaning the order should be A,C,B.  Does anyone have a definitve answer on that?

As I read the rule, it is the lowest team which drops out; once C is eliminated, B beat A h-to-h, so the order would be B,A,C.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 27, 2012, 06:34:07 PM
Zach Hofer is in the starting lineup for Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 07:09:56 PM
Despite his very disappointing season, Joe Sweeney seems to be Martel's #1 again after Chris Bobo's trainwreck against NPU - after 2 in RI, IWU 1, Augie 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 08:02:52 PM
A pitchers' duel in Rock Island - after 6.5, IWU 2, Augie 1.  Trotta has given up 5 hits, 2 earned runs; Sweeney but 4 hits and 0 earned runs.  I haven't checked the past records, but the Titans seem unusually error-prone this year - in the final game against NPU plus the first six innings today, 6 of 7 runs have been unearned! >:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 27, 2012, 08:20:21 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 07:09:56 PM
Despite his very disappointing season, Joe Sweeney seems to be Martel's #1 again after Chris Bobo's trainwreck against NPU - after 2 in RI, IWU 1, Augie 0.

I'm not sure Martel has a definitive #1 at present.  He used Bobo briefly Tuesday.  I think it's a matter of using a veteran pitcher on the road in a big game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 27, 2012, 08:24:44 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 27, 2012, 08:20:21 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 07:09:56 PM
Despite his very disappointing season, Joe Sweeney seems to be Martel's #1 again after Chris Bobo's trainwreck against NPU - after 2 in RI, IWU 1, Augie 0.

I'm not sure Martel has a definitive #1 at present.  He used Bobo briefly Tuesday.  I think it's a matter of using a veteran pitcher on the road in a big game.

And the veteran gets the job done.  Big win for IWU and Sweeney in Rock Island.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 08:29:50 PM
Trotta was very good - 7 hits, 3 runs - but today Sweeney was better - 5 hits, NO earned runs (one unearned).  Final, IWU 3, Augie 1.

Wheaton downed NCC, 5-4.  NCC is now 9-7, Wheaton 8-8.  (IWU is 10-6, Augie, 8-8.)

NPU/Elmhurst must be over or finishing up - any word?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on April 27, 2012, 09:31:57 PM
Live stats reporting a blowout in Chicago: 15-1 North Park over Elmhurst.  Top of the 7th. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2012, 09:36:45 PM
Quote from: TitanPride on April 27, 2012, 09:31:57 PM
Live stats reporting a blowout in Chicago: 15-1 North Park over Elmhurst.  Top of the 7th.
My guess is that NPU being left out of the regional rankings is being taken out on Elmhurst this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2012, 09:57:30 PM
Not official, but by my count:

IWU 10-6
NPU 10-6
NCC 9-7
Elmhurst 9-7
Wheaton 8-8
Augie 8-8
Carthage 6-9
Millikin 3-12

To have any chance, Carthage had better sweep Millikin - heck, everyone but Elmhurst has! :D

Tomorrow: IWU and Augie, 2 in B'town; NPU and Elmhurst, 2 in Elmhurst; Wheaton and NCC, 2 in Naperville.  IF my standings and schedule are correct, the Titans are fighting for the wheel of the bus! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2012, 10:12:02 PM
As a Carthage fan I have to say " go NPU" and "go Wheaton." knocking Elmhurst and NCC down puts them closer to Carthage and Carthage will have three with Wheaton next week to make a last run at the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 27, 2012, 10:27:01 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 27, 2012, 10:12:02 PM
As a Carthage fan I have to say " go NPU" and "go Wheaton." knocking Elmhurst and NCC down puts them closer to Carthage and Carthage will have three with Wheaton next week to make a last run at the CCIW tourney.

A Carthage sweep puts them in the mix, that's for sure.  If NP and IWU split tomorrow, that would make them 2 games out for the last weekend - easily in striking distance.  Still a lot of baseball to play....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2012, 11:01:07 PM
NPU skunked Elmhurst in seven, 15-4, with Kuligowski picking up the easy win. Home field and freezing weather seem to be the magic combination for the Park this season. The Vikings rocked Hanlon today; here's hoping that they can do the same to Luft and Parr tomorrow out in DuPage County.

And here's something I don't post very often: Go both sets of Vikings! Go NPU, and go Augie!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2012, 10:56:22 AM
The North Park-Elmhurst DH has been postponed until Sunday due to field conditions in Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 01:31:39 PM
I wrote a little computer program last night that simulates all the possible outcomes of the remaining series and then figures out the standings and tiebreakers.  This way we can see what the chances are that a team can make the tourney and also host the tourney.  These are probably slightly off because some of the tiebreakers get pretty complicated and I didn't have time to fully implement everything but it should be pretty close.  It'll have some inconsistencies with the 5 and 6 way ties..yes, there were 7 instances of 6 way ties possible.

These are calculated after Friday's 3 games and also I simplified the simulation by assuming Millikin will only win 0 or 1 games in each of their remaining series (against Cathage & Augustana).  I'll re run this after this weekend when there will only be 4^4 = 256 possible outcomes.


Team Name              In Tourney            Host
Augustana                   64.9%               7.2%
Carthage                     20.3%               0.2%
Elmhurst                     63.4%               19.8%
Illinois Wesleyan          78.9%               30.7%
Millikin                         0.0%                 0.0%
North Central               61.6%               15.6%
North Park                   80.0%               25.8%
Wheaton                     31.0%                0.7%
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 01:41:56 PM
Wow! Nerd( and I mean that in a good way)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 28, 2012, 01:48:21 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 01:31:39 PM
Team Name              In Tourney            Host
Augustana                   64.9%               7.2%
Carthage                     20.3%               0.2%
Elmhurst                     63.4%               19.8%
Illinois Wesleyan          78.9%               30.7%
Millikin                         0.0%                 0.0%
North Central               61.6%               15.6%
North Park                   80.0%               25.8%
Wheaton                     31.0%                0.7%

Predicted finishing order according to your calculations:

Illinois Wesleyan (Host)
North Park
Augustana
Elmhurst
North Central
Wheaton
Carthage
Millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 02:37:37 PM
Carthage at Millikin is underway with the Big Blue up 1-0 in the 2nd inning. Are others games on as planned? NPU/Elmhurst is off...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 28, 2012, 02:39:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 02:37:37 PM
Carthage at Millikin is underway with the Big Blue up 1-0 in the 2nd inning. Are others games on as planned? NPU/Elmhurst is off...

IWU and Augie are underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on April 28, 2012, 03:00:40 PM
Augie up 3-0 in the 4th.  Cloudy and chilly in Bloomington, but glad to be able to get the games in today.  Graduation tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: tjcummingsfan on April 28, 2012, 03:06:40 PM
Looks like NP and Elmhurst have to push things back until tomorrow
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 03:13:45 PM
Millikin still up 1-0. 5th inning. Carthage has only mustered two hits
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2012, 03:15:09 PM
Wheaton tops North Central, 6-4.  Augie is up 7-0 in the 4th, bases loaded.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 03:45:26 PM
After 5 in B'town: Augie 8, IWU 3.  Augie committed a big no-no in the bottom of the fifth - walking two men with Kevin Callahan coming up!  He made 'em pay with a 3-run tater, but it may be too-little, too-late.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 03:50:46 PM
Augie leads off the 6th with a triple and RBI single, now up 9-3.  The Vikes have 14 hits, the Titans 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 04:17:30 PM
Dang - missed opportunity! >:(  Bottom of the 7th, bases loaded with 1 out - DP.

Still 9-3 after 7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2012, 04:41:51 PM
Final: Augie 9, IWU 5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 05:00:47 PM
Carthage trails Millikin 2-1 in the 9th...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2012, 05:11:33 PM
Final from Decatur: Millikin 2, Carthage 1.  When was the last time the Big Blue defeated Carthage?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 05:13:08 PM
Millikin beats Carthage 2-1 in game 1. This is rock-bottom for me as a Carthage fan. What a $h!++y season:(

UGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on April 28, 2012, 05:54:19 PM
Callahan with another 3-run bomb, his 2nd of the doubleheader.  This one puts the Titans up 3-1 in the 3rd. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 28, 2012, 05:59:58 PM
Wheaton takes care of business and finishes out the series sweep over NCC.  They've put themselves in a position to really have a shot at the tourney.

What's really crazy is that if Augie wins game 2 today against IWU, and Elmhurst splits with NPU tomorrow... we could have a 4 way tie for 2nd going into the last weekend... with Elmhurst, Augie, Wheaton, and IWU all being tied at 10-8 in CCIW play.  Wheaton is at a clear disadvantage because they've lost the series to all 3 of those teams.  What a finish next weekend will be regardless of what happens this weekend!  It appears that Augie will lock up a tourney spot with a 2nd win this afternoon, having Millikin in the last series.  It's possible that Wheaton might end up having to sweep Carthage to get in, something I'm not sure they've ever done.  Even though they could be tied for 2nd in the conference after this weekend, record wise.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 06:49:21 PM
The CCIW site is reporting TWO 2-1 victories for Millikin over Carthage.  Misprint, or unbelievable truth?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 28, 2012, 06:53:13 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 06:49:21 PM
The CCIW site is reporting TWO 2-1 victories for Millikin over Carthage.  Misprint, or unbelievable truth?

Misprint.  According to live stats, Carthage is up 7-5 in the 5th inning of game 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2012, 07:24:54 PM
Quote from: warrior35 on April 28, 2012, 05:59:58 PM
... if Elmhurst splits with NPU tomorrow... we could have a 4 way tie for 2nd going into the last weekend... with Elmhurst, Augie, Wheaton, and IWU all being tied at 10-8 in CCIW play. 
If North Park splits with Elmhurst tomorrow, the Vikings will be 11-7 and Elmhurst will be 10-8.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 07:33:19 PM
Great game going on in Bloomington, Augie came back to tie the game at 3.  IWU got a man on 2nd with none out in the bottom of the 9th but come up empty.  Heading to the 10th tied at 3.

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 07:40:33 PM
Put one on the board for Augustana in the top of the tenth.  4-3 Augie.  After hearing some of the details about last weekend in Bloomington....GO VIKINGS!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 07:50:53 PM
FINAL:

Augie 4, IWU 3.  BIG sweep for Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 08:09:13 PM
Some real bad baseball being played in Decatur today.  Carthage losing 11-7 going to the top of the 9th.  Each team has 5 errors in this 2nd game alone.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2012, 08:21:47 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 08:09:13 PM
Some real bad baseball being played in Decatur today.  Carthage losing 11-7 going to the top of the 9th.  Each team has 5 errors in this 2nd game alone.

This season cannot end fast enough for Carthage. I am curious to see how they respond this off-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Carthage falls, 11-7; they are effectively eliminated.  This is just TOO weird - is a conference tourney legal if Carthage is not in it? :o

Standings as of now:

NPU   10-6
Elmh    9-7
Augie  10-8
IWU    10-8
Wheat 10-8
NCC     9-9
Carth   6-11
Milli      5-12

Tie-breaker headaches on the horizon! 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 08:45:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Carthage falls, 11-7; they are effectively eliminated.  This is just TOO weird - is a conference tourney legal if Carthage is not in it? :o

Standings as of now:

NPU   10-6
Elmh    9-7
Augie  10-8
IWU    10-8
Wheat 10-8
NCC     9-9
Carth   6-11
Milli      5-12

Tie-breaker headaches on the horizon! 8-)

I just re-ran my simulation.  Out of the 1536 possible combinations of outcomes, Carthage gets 4th place in 16 of them!  Basically if they win out, and Elmhurst loses out, then it'd be Wheaton and Carthage tied for 4th with Carthage winning the tiebreaker.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 09:07:11 PM
Here are the updated numbers:

Team Name                Tourney           Host
Augustana                    72.8%           16.3%
Carthage                       1.0%             0.0%
Elmhurst                      69.5%            23.6%
Illinois Wesleyan           65.0%            16.4%
Millikin                          0.0%              0.0%
North Central                42.1%            2.3%
North Park                    82.6%            36.9%
Wheaton                       67.0%            4.6%
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2012, 09:30:12 PM
Quote from: augie_superfan on April 28, 2012, 09:07:11 PM
Here are the updated numbers:

Team Name                Tourney           Host
Augustana                    72.8%           16.3%
Carthage                       1.0%             0.0%
Elmhurst                      69.5%            23.6%
Illinois Wesleyan           65.0%            16.4%
Millikin                          0.0%              0.0%
North Central                42.1%            2.3%
North Park                    82.6%            36.9%
Wheaton                       67.0%            4.6%

OUCH!  IWU's 65% probability of making the tourney sounds really good until you notice that they are the FIFTH most likely for a four-team tourney! :o

Fortunately, I am confident they will win AT LEAST 2 of 3 from Elmhurst.  (Of course, having already won the game in RI, I was also confident they would win AT LEAST 2 of 3 from Augie. :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 28, 2012, 09:46:11 PM
North Park now controls it's own destiny. Big day for North Park fans (IWU loses both AND Carthage loses both).
Smell the blood.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2012, 12:25:37 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 28, 2012, 09:46:11 PM
North Park now controls it's own destiny. Big day for North Park fans (IWU loses both AND Carthage loses both).
Smell the blood.

Careful now - I may have to root for NCC next weekend, just for revenge! 8-)

(Actually, as long as IWU wins enough next weekend to make the tourney, I'm unconcerned who else makes it. ;D  Gotta beat everyone to make it to Appleton (actually Grand Chute) anyway!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2012, 02:48:51 PM
Np 6, ec 0, bot 7 in elmhurst
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2012, 04:22:02 PM
Final: np 9, ec 0. Cg shutout for nick soldano.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2012, 04:33:12 PM
Not that it matters in the CCIW race but Carthage beat Millikin 13-4 today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 29, 2012, 04:39:18 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 29, 2012, 04:33:12 PM
Not that it matters in the CCIW race but Carthage beat Millikin 13-4 today.

Actually, it was not completely irrelevant.  With a loss, Carthage would have been mathematically eliminated; with the win they are still on life support!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2012, 04:51:08 PM
Game 2 in elmhurst : ec 2, np 0 top 4.  Luft looks sharp thus far for the Jays
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 29, 2012, 05:35:36 PM
2-2 Top 6th 4-3 Blue Jays 4-4 (North Park ties it up) 7-4 Blue Jays top 9th in Elmhurst. North Park can take a commanding lead in the conference with a win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 29, 2012, 07:08:58 PM
Final, game 2: ec 7,np5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 29, 2012, 07:20:00 PM
Updated standings:

North Park      11-7
Augustana       10-8
Il. Wesleyan    10-8
Wheaton         10-8
Elmhurst         10-8
North Central   9-9
Carthage         7-11
Millikin           5-13

**Not even going to try and attempt the tie breakers.

Next week's matchups:

North Park vs North Central (2 @ NP, 1 @ NCC)

Elmhurst vs Illinois Wesleyan (2 @ IWU, 1 @ Elmhurst)

Wheaton vs Carthage (2 @ Carthage, 1 @ Wheaton)

Millikin vs Augie (3 @ Augie)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on April 29, 2012, 09:13:13 PM
Updated:

Team                         In-Tourney             Host
Augustana                     70.7%               18.8%
Carthage                        1.2%                 0.0%
Elmhurst                       68.0%                15.6%
Illinois Wesleyan            64.5%                16.4%
Millikin                           0.0%                  0.0%
North Central                 40.2%                 2.3%
North Park                     88.3%                41.4%
Wheaton                        67.2%                 5.5%

Basically getting to 12 wins gets you in.  Augustana has a very good chance of hosting which would've seemed crazy a few weeks ago.  Hopefully these percentages are correct, the tiebreakers get pretty fuzzy at times.  These also take into account a 50-50 chance of winning any game.  Should be a great last weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2012, 01:23:46 AM
Carthage has a tie-break loss against all contenders except IWU.  Sorry Big Poppa, but I can't root for you to pull off the miracle!  We can't both make it, and I'm sure you understand who I'm rooting for! ;D

For Carthage to make their 497th consecutive tourney, they must:

a. sweep Wheaton.  AND

b. have Elmhurst sweep IWU.  AND

c. have Millikin sweep Augie OR NPU sweep NCC (2 of 3 might be enough).

(C is where it gets foggy.  If NPU swept NCC, it would just be a 3-way tie, and Carthage would be in after Wheaton was eliminated and Augie beats IWU h-to-h.  In a 4 [or 5]-way tie, my head hurts to much to figure it out. 8-))

My rooting preference would be IWU sweeps, no one else does, and the tourney is in B'town! (We've got the h-to-h over NPU.) ;D

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 06:33:01 AM
I think IWU has a longer consecutive CCIW tourney streak than Carthage... Unless I am mistaken. Carthage streak of 22 straight will all but end this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on April 30, 2012, 01:07:31 PM
It would take just shy of a miracle for Carthage to get in with a sweep, but Wheaton also probably needs to sweep to have reasonable chance as well.  Both teams are needing some help, and I just can't see either team sweeping this series.  It's possible, with the kind of pressure they have to make the tourney, that one team will just crack under the pressure but I doubt it.  It should be a dog fight.

The commissioner, or whoever figures this stuff out, better get his rule book out.  Could be a crazy weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:18:48 PM
I love this stuff!  (Though it would have been so nice if North Park could have pulled out that second game yesterday)...

This, once again, speaks to what a solid conference the CCIW is.  I think Millikin being able to take 2 of 3 from Carthage (albeit a Carthage team that's not quite what it usually is) speaks to that strength even more.

It's never a good thing to have one team in the conference that is an automatic win, and it's nice to see the "spoiler effect" that the Big Blue have had on this race.  Just think where Elmhurst would be!)

Have to see whether I'll be driving to Naperville on Sunday to cheer on the Vikings or taking in the Elmhurst/IWU game in Elmhurst but either way, it sure is going to be intense.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:20:02 PM
Question to the brain trust:

Does this past weekend's events give North Park a chance to be back in the regional rankings?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:07:07 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:20:02 PM
Question to the brain trust:

Does this past weekend's events give North Park a chance to be back in the regional rankings?

They did not pick up any wins vs regioanlly ranked opponents. On the other hand, Augustana did.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 30, 2012, 02:13:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:07:07 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:20:02 PM
Question to the brain trust:

Does this past weekend's events give North Park a chance to be back in the regional rankings?

They did not pick up any wins vs regioanlly ranked opponents. On the other hand, Augustana did.

Agreed. Central went 3-2 and could drop out, but if its between Augie and NP, Augie just took 2 of 3 from IWU, and have beat NP 2 of 3. Augie has a better SOS. Oh, and Wallace is on the Regional Committee.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:16:46 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 30, 2012, 02:13:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:07:07 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:20:02 PM
Question to the brain trust:

Does this past weekend's events give North Park a chance to be back in the regional rankings?

They did not pick up any wins vs regioanlly ranked opponents. On the other hand, Augustana did.


Agreed. Central went 3-2 and could drop out, but if its between Augie and NP, Augie just took 2 of 3 from IWU, and have beat NP 2 of 3. Augie has a better SOS. Oh, and Wallace is on the Regional Committee.

If NPU is behind Augie, it will not be because Augie's coach is on the committee, it will be cause Augie deserves to be in front of NPU. Actually, coaches are prohibited from participating in a discussion related to their own team. They are required to leave the room (or conference call... or whatever they have set up).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 30, 2012, 02:38:21 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:16:46 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on April 30, 2012, 02:13:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 02:07:07 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:20:02 PM
Question to the brain trust:

Does this past weekend's events give North Park a chance to be back in the regional rankings?

They did not pick up any wins vs regioanlly ranked opponents. On the other hand, Augustana did.


Agreed. Central went 3-2 and could drop out, but if its between Augie and NP, Augie just took 2 of 3 from IWU, and have beat NP 2 of 3. Augie has a better SOS. Oh, and Wallace is on the Regional Committee.

If NPU is behind Augie, it will not be because Augie's coach is on the committee, it will be cause Augie deserves to be in front of NPU. Actually, coaches are prohibited from participating in a discussion related to their own team. They are required to leave the room (or conference call... or whatever they have set up).

Augie does deserve it this year with how they have been playing recently. Last year is a different story though.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 30, 2012, 09:09:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:18:48 PM
I love this stuff!  (Though it would have been so nice if North Park could have pulled out that second game yesterday)...

NPU has been demonstrating a frustrating habit of losing close ones lately. The only twist to the loss to the 'jays in the nightcap yesterday was that the Vikes didn't blow a lead, which had been the m.o. of most of their losses in the second half of the season. Instead, they came back from a couple of deficits yesterday to twice tie the score before succumbing.

Kuligowski and Soldano are as solid a 1-2 mound combo as the league has this year, but beyond them the pitching for NPU has been very iffy over the past three weeks.

Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:18:48 PMThis, once again, speaks to what a solid conference the CCIW is.  I think Millikin being able to take 2 of 3 from Carthage (albeit a Carthage team that's not quite what it usually is) speaks to that strength even more.

Agreed, and I also agree that it's to the CCIW's benefit not to have an in-house patsy. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing Millikin continue to play spoiler into next weekend; my root-for-Augustana stance is now officially over.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2012, 06:33:01 AM
I think IWU has a longer consecutive CCIW tourney streak than Carthage... Unless I am mistaken. Carthage streak of 22 straight will all but end this week.

Nope, you're mistaken. Wesleyan has missed two CCIW tourneys since Carthage last missed one, in 2003 and 1993.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 01, 2012, 08:11:31 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 30, 2012, 01:18:48 PM
I love this stuff!  (Though it would have been so nice if North Park could have pulled out that second game yesterday)...

This, once again, speaks to what a solid conference the CCIW is.  I think Millikin being able to take 2 of 3 from Carthage (albeit a Carthage team that's not quite what it usually is) speaks to that strength even more.

It's never a good thing to have one team in the conference that is an automatic win, and it's nice to see the "spoiler effect" that the Big Blue have had on this race.  Just think where Elmhurst would be!)

Have to see whether I'll be driving to Naperville on Sunday to cheer on the Vikings or taking in the Elmhurst/IWU game in Elmhurst but either way, it sure is going to be intense.

The conference definitely has more parity and depth than in years past, however, the conference in relation to the rest of the nation seems down to me this year.  I don't see a team in the conference that is a complete team (North Park being the closest to this) that has the ability to contend in a regional.  Maybe the Central is so down one gets through by default.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 01, 2012, 11:53:09 PM
Augustana loses to Iowa Conference last place team Dubuque tonight 10-9.  Ouch.  I hope I'm not posting the same thing this time tomorrow night after IWU hosts 10-21 Monmouth, last place in their side of the Midwest Conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on May 02, 2012, 12:51:42 PM
Interesting team stats:
North Park 10 HR
Carthage 10 HR
North Central 10 HR
Augie 6 HR
Wheaton's Trey Martin 11 HR
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2012, 01:35:18 PM
Quote from: blue_jays on May 02, 2012, 12:51:42 PM
Interesting team stats:
North Park 10 HR
Carthage 10 HR
North Central 10 HR
Augie 6 HR
Wheaton's Trey Martin 11 HR

Maybe Trey Martin could qualify for the CCIW tourney fourth spot on his own:) Those numbers are pretty solid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 02, 2012, 04:44:12 PM
Benedictine is up 5-0 on North Central (who's coming off a nice win over #1 Chicago).

With rain in the forecast for the entire weekend, it will be interesting to see how that affects CCIW play. Would hate to see teams have to play into next week and then come back and play in the tournament a couple days later.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2012, 04:58:53 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 02, 2012, 04:44:12 PM
Benedictine is up 5-0 on North Central (who's coming off a nice win over #1 Chicago).

The Bennies are having a nice run against CCIW competition over the past seven days. Last week they defeated both Wheaton and Elmhurst.

The interesting thing is that Benedictine has also lost to North Park -- interesting because NPU lost to Chicago last week, while both Wheaton and Elmhurst have defeated the Maroons.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 02, 2012, 04:44:12 PMWith rain in the forecast for the entire weekend, it will be interesting to see how that affects CCIW play. Would hate to see teams have to play into next week and then come back and play in the tournament a couple days later.

The chance of rain locally for this weekend seems to show around 30-40% for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That means that it will likely be a wet but playable weekend for baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2012, 06:48:51 PM
Wow. Down 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded and one out, NCC hit into a double play and lost the game to Benedictine.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 02, 2012, 10:13:53 PM
IWU took care of business and pounded Monmouth 13-3 in 8 innings tonight.  Sadly, nothing to hang their hat on - Monmouth just isn't very good.  No disrespect intended - just stating the facts.

I believe Kevin Callahan hit his 10th home run of the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2012, 10:25:31 PM
Carthage outlasted CUW, 12-9, this evening up in Mequon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 03, 2012, 10:19:48 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
I guess there are some folks out there who just enjoy target practice.  Although you bleed Carthage red, I have always found your postings to be fair, insightful, and well-reasoned.  Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 03, 2012, 10:25:33 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
Another thought: you post on other boards as well -- the Midwest ones, for example.  Maybe someone's feathers get ruffled more easily west of the Mississippi?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:28:03 AM
Most likely from my statement about the WEST being weaker than most years in 2012... which I think is true.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 03, 2012, 10:48:58 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.

I guess I'm not on here frequently enough - I don't even know what that karma item means or how it's altered....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dahlby on May 03, 2012, 12:11:01 PM
BigPoppa..
Don't sweat the Karma bit. I agreed with you that the west was down this year.
But here is a plus K to offset those that didn't have the courage to sign their name.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 03, 2012, 12:58:23 PM
The Frontier League held there draft on Tuesday and I saw a couple names I recognized from CCIW play. Matt Soderlund from Carthage and Zach Deutscher from NPU both were selected.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 03, 2012, 02:42:23 PM
BigPoppa,
Can I borrow a couple Karma points? I'm running in the wrong direction..
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 03, 2012, 03:15:30 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
Don't feel bad they have gotten me too....  +K to you!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2012, 05:33:27 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 03, 2012, 10:19:48 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
I guess there are some folks out there who just enjoy target practice.  Although you bleed Carthage red, I have always found your postings to be fair, insightful, and well-reasoned.  Keep up the good work!

I'll second that. Don't let the karma pirates get you down, BP. You do good work here.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2012, 05:40:40 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 03, 2012, 12:58:23 PM
The Frontier League held there draft on Tuesday and I saw a couple names I recognized from CCIW play. Matt Soderlund from Carthage and Zach Deutscher from NPU both were selected.

Both were taken in the second round, Deutscher by the River City Rascals (based in O'Fallon, MO, a suburb of St. Louis) and Soderlund by the Southern Illinois Miners (located in Marion, IL, which isn't near anything). I don't know if Soderlund had any foreknowledge that he'd be drafted, or by whom, but Zach told me at an NPU game earlier this season that he was pretty sure he was going to end up with the Rascals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 03, 2012, 06:12:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2012, 10:13:49 AM
For some reason, I have been dinged in my karma all week long. If I offended someone... sorry. The only possible reasons would be my criticism of Carthage's weekend series against Millikin As an alum of the Carthage program, I think my Redmen passion allows me to have that voice.
Same here. Put your name on All-Region selections sometime.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 04, 2012, 03:43:47 PM
Day of truth for Wheaton and Carthage.  Whichever team loses drastically hurts their chances of making the tourney, and I believe Carthage is mathematically eliminated if they lose... Wheaton can still get in with a loss, but they are going to need a LOT of help if they do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: warrior35 on May 04, 2012, 05:45:46 PM
It's been quite the pitcher's dual in the game today.  Carthage is up 2-0 going into the 9th.  Wheaton has had 7 baserunners, but haven't been able to do anything with it... Trey Martin is still pitching in the 9th and has given up 1 earned run with 0 BB's and 8 K's.  Danny Dahm has had quite the outing as well, 8 innings, no runs, 1 bb, 4 k's.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2012, 06:02:40 PM
Carthage wins the pitchers' duel, as Dahm beats Martin, 2-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on May 04, 2012, 06:10:20 PM
Updated after today's games (Carthage keeps the hopes alive):

Team                       In-Tourney           Host
Augustana                  72.4%               19.8%
Carthage                     1.6%                 0.0%
Elmhurst                     69.8%               16.7%
Illinois Wesleyan          67.7%               17.2%
Millikin                         0.0%                 0.0%
North Central               41.7%                3.1%
North Park                   90.6%               42.2%
Wheaton                      56.3%                1.0%
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 03:20:14 PM
After 4.5 in B'town, IWU 2, Elmhurst 1.

Earlier today, the Titans took the softball championship game, 7-5, over Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 03:56:05 PM
Joe Sweeney totally dominated the first five innings (1 hit, 1 run), but the Jays finally got to him.  After 6.5, Jays up 5-4 (but in the bottom of the 7th, Titans have 2 on with only one out).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 04:06:49 PM
Derek Idstein (even this Titan fan says 'who?' :P) hits a grand slam - Titans back on top, 8-5, and the inning is still not over. ;D

EDIT: I forgive myself for not recognizing Derek - prior to today, he had 8 at bats for the season, with 0 hits!  What an amazing first hit! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 05, 2012, 04:11:13 PM
North Park wins 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th on a walk-off walk.

Augie takes care of business in the 1st game 5-2 over Millikin. Closer than Augie would have liked.

Wheaton and Carthage are tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 04:37:09 PM
AAARRGH!  Titan pitching!  Joe Sweeney was great for 5 innings, then ran out of gas (1 hit first 5, 1 run in the 6th, 3 in the 7th).  Pat Hayn got the first four batters he faced, then never got another out.  Anthony Kopp heard 'fireman' and thought they meant 'arsonist' - going to the bottom of the 9th, Elmhurst back on top, 9-8.

My hope is that the Jays' bullpen is as bad as ours today! 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 05, 2012, 04:37:37 PM
Carthage wins in the bottom of the 11th and keeps their hope alive.

Elmhurst scores 4 in the top of the 9th and wins 9-8 in game 1 over Wesleyan.

Will be a great finish no matter how it ends!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 04:45:07 PM
Alas, Erik Swanson was finally the answer for the Jays from the pen - in the 8th and 9th, 6 up, 6 down.

(Losing the game really puts a crimp in the stories Derek Idstein could bore his grandchildren with in 40-60 years!  Still, your first collegiate hit being a grand slam that seemingly won the game deserves a few [thousand] tellings! 8-))
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 05, 2012, 05:31:48 PM
9-0 9-3 10-4 Millikin bottom of the 8th in Rock Island.


4-0 4-3 4-4 Top of 8th at North Park.

1-1 2-2 in Bloomington 5th inning

1-0 2-1 3-1 Wheaton 6th inning in Game 3 at Carthage
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
IWU now down 4-2 in the 7th.  If this doesn't turn around soon, I fear we may join Carthage in the 'dustbin of history'. 

Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 05, 2012, 06:54:03 PM
North Park clinches Conference Title as they win on a walk-off single by Javech in the 9th. North Park will host the tournament! Great day to be a VIKE! (North park that is...)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 07:46:18 PM
IWU tied it up in the bottom of the 9th.  They are now in the 11th, still 4-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 07:49:38 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 05, 2012, 06:54:03 PM
North Park clinches Conference Title as they win on a walk-off single by Javech in the 9th. North Park will host the tournament! Great day to be a VIKE! (North park that is...)

Indeed!

Congratulations, NPU Vikings!

Still some work to do, but it's now definite -- the CCIW tourney will be held at the corner of Foster & Albany on Chicago's beautiful North Side next weekend. Times and dates TBA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 07:59:42 PM
Both wins by NPU were hard-fought, come-from-behind affairs that resulted in a walkoff in the bottom of the ninth. The Vikes had to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win game one, with Kuligowski picking up the win after going the distance. In game two, the Vikes had to rally after falling behind 4-0 early. Nick Soldano, who went the distance for the win, gave up only one hit in the last five-plus innings that he pitched. As D3Vike11 said, Ryan Javech -- who was just named Academic All-District this past week (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2012/5/4/BB_0504124942.aspx?path=baseball) -- drilled a hit into right center to bring home Mike Coduto with the winning run.

This marks the first time since 1984 that North Park has repeated as CCIW champions.

The magic number for an outright CCIW title is now one. If Elmhurst loses the game currently underway (it's 4-4 in the 12th in Bloomington) or the game in Elmhurst tomorrow, or NPU wins in Naperville, the Vikings are the sole champions. But even if everything breaks Elmhurst's way, NPU will still host the tourney based upon the head-to-head tiebreaker, as NPU beat the 'jays two out of three last weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o

Not only legit, but beautiful as well. ;) ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o

Not only legit, but beautiful as well. ;) ;D

CLEAR proof of the old adage:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:13:48 PM
Titans have the bases loaded, one out bottom of the 12th! ...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:16:50 PM
DANG!  After Frericks hit into a fielder's choice (runner out at the plate), Idstein was unable to duplicate his heroics in the first game - going to the 13th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:35:02 PM
Wesleyan wins in the 13th, which means that NPU wins the CCIW outright!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:38:39 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o

Not only legit, but beautiful as well. ;) ;D

CLEAR proof of the old adage:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 8-)

My definition of beauty involves Dennis Martel having to pay to get into the ballpark to watch the CCIW tourney as a spectator. Can't happen now, since 11-10 Wheaton loses tiebreakers to all three of the other teams vying for playoff spots, as Augie, Elmhurst, and IWU are all 11-9 as of today -- but I would have loved to see it. So would basically everyone who follows NPU baseball, as Viking Blue can attest. He posted this during the Augie vs. IWU series:

Quote from: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 07:40:33 PM
Put one on the board for Augustana in the top of the tenth.  4-3 Augie.  After hearing some of the details about last weekend in Bloomington....GO VIKINGS!

... and I think he spoke for all of us who root for the Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o  Winning run moments later.

Millikin was already eliminated.  I believe that IWU's win eliminated Carthage and that Carthage eliminated Wheaton.  Are the other five still all alive, or is the 'Final Four' already determined?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 05, 2012, 08:55:20 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o  Winning run moments later.

Millikin was already eliminated.  I believe that IWU's win eliminated Carthage and that Carthage eliminated Wheaton.  Are the other five still all alive, or is the 'Final Four' already determined?

Tourney is set:  NPU, IWU, EC, AC
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:57:33 PM
Updated standings
team  CCIW  region  overall
1North Park  13-7  25-9  28-11
*Elmhurst  11-9  17-16  22-17
*Augustana  11-9  21-12  25-14
*Illinois Wesleyan  11-9  21-12  25-13
Wheaton  11-10  15-14  22-18
North Central    9-11  15-14  20-17
Carthage    9-12  19-16  21-17
Millikin    6-14    9-26  11-26
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:58:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o

No, Callahan was the one who was intentionally walked. Nathan got on (a single, I believe) and then took second on a passed ball before Callahan was intentionally walked.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 09:02:24 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 05, 2012, 08:55:20 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o  Winning run moments later.

Millikin was already eliminated.  I believe that IWU's win eliminated Carthage and that Carthage eliminated Wheaton.  Are the other five still all alive, or is the 'Final Four' already determined?

Tourney is set:  NPU, IWU, EC, AC

Yep. As I said in my post from about twenty minutes ago, Wheaton lost two out of three to all three teams that are currently tied for second: AC, EC, and IWU. Thus, Wheaton is eliminated.

The second, third, and fourth tourney spots still need to be sorted out. Here's how the head-to-head tiebreakers stand:

Elmhurst > Augustana (2-1)
Augustana > Illinois Wesleyan (2-1)
Elmhurst = Illinois Wesleyan (1-1), pending tomorrow's outcome
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 09:24:23 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:58:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o

No, Callahan was the one who was intentionally walked. Nathan got on (a single, I believe) and then took second on a passed ball before Callahan was intentionally walked.

Nope - I had it right.  Men on second and third, they intentionally walked Nathan.  Callahan made them pay for the 'insult', his third RBI of the game.

Thanks to all - I figured out even before I came back on that NPU had eliminated NCC, so the 'Final Four' was set.  Tomorrow is just for who gets NPU at home first!

Titans, tomorrow DOES matter!  By my prognostications, if you lose tomorrow, you are on life-support for a Pool C next weekend.  If you win, you are probably on the good side of the bubble as long as you win at least one game.  Nonetheless, win the AQ and leave no doubt!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 09:38:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:38:39 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o

Not only legit, but beautiful as well. ;) ;D

CLEAR proof of the old adage:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 8-)

My definition of beauty involves Dennis Martel having to pay to get into the ballpark to watch the CCIW tourney as a spectator. Can't happen now, since 11-10 Wheaton loses tiebreakers to all three of the other teams vying for playoff spots, as Augie, Elmhurst, and IWU are all 11-9 as of today -- but I would have loved to see it. So would basically everyone who follows NPU baseball, as Viking Blue can attest. He posted this during the Augie vs. IWU series:

Quote from: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 07:40:33 PM
Put one on the board for Augustana in the top of the tenth.  4-3 Augie.  After hearing some of the details about last weekend in Bloomington....GO VIKINGS!

... and I think he spoke for all of us who root for the Park.

This is an interesting post.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 09:51:01 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 09:24:23 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:58:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:43:06 PM
With men on second and third, one out, Elmhurst intentionally walked A. J. Nathan to get to  ... Kevin Callahan?!! :o

No, Callahan was the one who was intentionally walked. Nathan got on (a single, I believe) and then took second on a passed ball before Callahan was intentionally walked.

Nope - I had it right.  Men on second and third, they intentionally walked Nathan.  Callahan made them pay for the 'insult', his third RBI of the game.

You're right. I was looking at the 12th inning, when Nathan was HBP to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a PB, and then Callahan was intentionally walked.

But, as far as the 13th inning was concerned, Elmhurst skipper Joel Southern played it by the book. By walking Nathan in that situation, he put the force play back into effect. Callahan, who is both hard-hitting and slow-moving, is a prime double-play target.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 09:38:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:38:39 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 08:00:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Is a CCIW tournament legal with NEITHER Carthage or IWU in it?! :o

Not only legit, but beautiful as well. ;) ;D

CLEAR proof of the old adage:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 8-)

My definition of beauty involves Dennis Martel having to pay to get into the ballpark to watch the CCIW tourney as a spectator. Can't happen now, since 11-10 Wheaton loses tiebreakers to all three of the other teams vying for playoff spots, as Augie, Elmhurst, and IWU are all 11-9 as of today -- but I would have loved to see it. So would basically everyone who follows NPU baseball, as Viking Blue can attest. He posted this during the Augie vs. IWU series:

Quote from: Viking Blue on April 28, 2012, 07:40:33 PM
Put one on the board for Augustana in the top of the tenth.  4-3 Augie.  After hearing some of the details about last weekend in Bloomington....GO VIKINGS!

... and I think he spoke for all of us who root for the Park.

This is an interesting post.

I don't know if it's interesting or not. All I know is that Dennis Martel is not exactly a much-beloved figure as far as NPU is concerned. He wasn't before (and that goes back aways, both among baseball people and basketball people), and he most certainly isn't now after the incident in question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 05, 2012, 10:11:49 PM
Why parse language? Say what happened or don't. It doesn't do much good to make in-crowd references that lead to inferences.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 10:37:37 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on May 05, 2012, 10:11:49 PM
Why parse language? Say what happened or don't. It doesn't do much good to make in-crowd references that lead to inferences.

I'm not sure that it would be constructive to do so. Let's just say that this incident:

Quote from: voiceofseason on April 21, 2012, 10:19:02 PMThere was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.   ;D

... involved Martel saying some things that were way over the line, as far as the NPU baseball team and its supporters are concerned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 10:55:43 PM
Greg, I totally agree that walking Nathan with one out, men on second and third was by-the-book (heck, almost all mangers would do it if Babe Ruth himself was the next batter! 8-)); doesn't mean Callahan can't feel offended! ;)  Just a 'tad' more incentive. ;D

And I LIKE it when Kevin gets a 'tad' more incentive! ;D  It could mean the difference between Grand Chute and staying home next weekend!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 10:37:37 PM
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on May 05, 2012, 10:11:49 PM
Why parse language? Say what happened or don't. It doesn't do much good to make in-crowd references that lead to inferences.

I'm not sure that it would be constructive to do so. Let's just say that this incident:

Quote from: voiceofseason on April 21, 2012, 10:19:02 PMThere was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.   ;D

... involved Martel saying some things that were way over the line, as far as the NPU baseball team and its supporters are concerned.

I did not realize you were at the game - I would have introduced myself.

Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NPU dugout - and probably addressed it in a way that isn't normally expected.  I think there was a point there - but I also think it wasn't the best way to handle things.  I would rather see teams perform on the field - who cares what is said in the dugouts.  The scoreboard is the final measure.

I do know the coach's had a discussion the next morning before game 3.  Whether Coach Johnson thought it was productive or not I don't know - I've never talked to him.

At this point, I would rather just say congrats to NPU on winning the conference, and I look forward to seeing the tournament play out.  I would love to go but it isn't likely - IWU will also be hosting the NCAA Regional softball tournament next weekend, so will likely stay in town for that.

I saw two very competitive games between IWU and Elmhurst today.  I would expect that to carry over to the tournament next weekend, as the margin of error between teams seems very miminal this year.  If North Central had pulled out the two games today instead of North Park, we would be going into the final day with FIVE 11-9 teams.  That would have been crazy!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 11:30:53 PM
Elmhurst gets no love in this room, since there's no Elmhurst fans here to sing the praises of the 'jays. But I have to tip my cap to the job that Joel Southern has done this season. The 'jays were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll this year, with six of the other seven coaches putting them next to the bottom, just above Millikin. But if Elmhurst wins at home tomorrow, EC will finish no worse than in a tie for second, and will clinch the #2 seed in next weekend's tourney. That's a mighty big leap from low expectations to high finish, so congrats to Southern and the 'jays for that.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMI did not realize you were at the game - I would have introduced myself.

I wasn't there. I heard afterwards about what Martel said from Luke Johnson.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMCoach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NPU dugout - and probably addressed it in a way that isn't normally expected.  I think there was a point there - but I also think it wasn't the best way to handle things.  I would rather see teams perform on the field - who cares what is said in the dugouts.  The scoreboard is the final measure.

I agree with you there.

As for what the Vikings were saying in the dugout, it's true that they lead the league in bench jockeying. Luke Johnson wants an active and noisy dugout, but he does have to police them when they get out of line -- they're 18-to-21-year-olds, after all -- and he has done so fairly often.

Aside from what Dennis Martel specifically said in that conversation that has inflamed matters so much, though, I think that the idea at work here is that you're probably not going to get much cooperation between head coaches in this kind of a context. What I mean by that is that I've been struck over the years by how little love lost there is between several of the head coaches in CCIW baseball. It's a marked contrast to CCIW basketball and CCIW football, where all of the coaches are either on friendly terms or at least tolerate each other (with the glaring exception of Carthage's and Augie's basketball coaches). Given the history between Johnson and Martel, and between Martel and NPU in general, it's no surprise that things degenerated immediately between them in that game. The question is, though: At what point does the matter go from gamesmanship and/or legitimate grievances to something that is much, much worse?

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMAt this point, I would rather just say congrats to NPU on winning the conference, and I look forward to seeing the tournament play out.  I would love to go but it isn't likely - IWU will also be hosting the NCAA Regional softball tournament next weekend, so will likely stay in town for that.

Sorry to hear that. I'd enjoy meeting you. Perhaps next season.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMI saw two very competitive games between IWU and Elmhurst today.  I would expect that to carry over to the tournament next weekend, as the margin of error between teams seems very miminal this year.  If North Central had pulled out the two games today instead of North Park, we would be going into the final day with FIVE 11-9 teams.  That would have been crazy!

There indeed has been a lot of balance in the league this season. In fact, NPU is going to end up with the worst record for a CCIW champion (either 14-7 or 13-8) since the CCIW went to the current format in 1999. (Not that this bothers us one bit, mind you. ;)) And the number of sweeps in CCIW play thus far -- five -- has to be an all-time low as well.

It's a much more fun league to follow with so many teams being competitive, rather than the "Carthage, Wesleyan, Augie, and the five dwarfs" syndrome that had been the norm for about two decades or so up until a couple of seasons ago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 11:55:38 PM
Greg, five years ago IWU romped to the best season any CCIW team ever had (20-1) then totally flamed out in both the conference and regional tourneys (0-2 in each, both at home).  Two years ago they barely limped into the conference tourney and went on to win the big Walnut-and-Bronze doorstop.  Aside from making the conference tourney, I've given up worrying about regular-season records - it just doesn't matter! 8-)

At this point, NPU, Augie, Elmhurst, and IWU are all 0-0.  May a CCIW team win it all in Grand Chute!  (Preferably IWU, but I'll root for whoever gets there!)

(And, yes, I realize there is still a conference and regional tourney before worrying about the World Series - that is the luxury of a fan vs. a coach or player - we can dream ahead! ;D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 06, 2012, 08:54:46 AM
Delayed reaction:  YES!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on May 06, 2012, 10:56:17 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2012, 11:30:53 PM
Elmhurst gets no love in this room, since there's no Elmhurst fans here to sing the praises of the 'jays. But I have to tip my cap to the job that Joel Southern has done this season. The 'jays were picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll this year, with six of the other seven coaches putting them next to the bottom, just above Millikin. But if Elmhurst wins at home tomorrow, EC will finish no worse than in a tie for second, and will clinch the #2 seed in next weekend's tourney. That's a mighty big leap from low expectations to high finish, so congrats to Southern and the 'jays for that.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMI did not realize you were at the game - I would have introduced myself.

I wasn't there. I heard afterwards about what Martel said from Luke Johnson.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMCoach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NPU dugout - and probably addressed it in a way that isn't normally expected.  I think there was a point there - but I also think it wasn't the best way to handle things.  I would rather see teams perform on the field - who cares what is said in the dugouts.  The scoreboard is the final measure.

I agree with you there.

As for what the Vikings were saying in the dugout, it's true that they lead the league in bench jockeying. Luke Johnson wants an active and noisy dugout, but he does have to police them when they get out of line -- they're 18-to-21-year-olds, after all -- and he has done so fairly often.

Aside from what Dennis Martel specifically said in that conversation that has inflamed matters so much, though, I think that the idea at work here is that you're probably not going to get much cooperation between head coaches in this kind of a context. What I mean by that is that I've been struck over the years by how little love lost there is between several of the head coaches in CCIW baseball. It's a marked contrast to CCIW basketball and CCIW football, where all of the coaches are either on friendly terms or at least tolerate each other (with the glaring exception of Carthage's and Augie's basketball coaches). Given the history between Johnson and Martel, and between Martel and NPU in general, it's no surprise that things degenerated immediately between them in that game. The question is, though: At what point does the matter go from gamesmanship and/or legitimate grievances to something that is much, much worse?

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMAt this point, I would rather just say congrats to NPU on winning the conference, and I look forward to seeing the tournament play out.  I would love to go but it isn't likely - IWU will also be hosting the NCAA Regional softball tournament next weekend, so will likely stay in town for that.

Sorry to hear that. I'd enjoy meeting you. Perhaps next season.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 05, 2012, 11:06:45 PMI saw two very competitive games between IWU and Elmhurst today.  I would expect that to carry over to the tournament next weekend, as the margin of error between teams seems very miminal this year.  If North Central had pulled out the two games today instead of North Park, we would be going into the final day with FIVE 11-9 teams.  That would have been crazy!

There indeed has been a lot of balance in the league this season. In fact, NPU is going to end up with the worst record for a CCIW champion (either 14-7 or 13-8) since the CCIW went to the current format in 1999. (Not that this bothers us one bit, mind you. ;)) And the number of sweeps in CCIW play thus far -- five -- has to be an all-time low as well.

It's a much more fun league to follow with so many teams being competitive, rather than the "Carthage, Wesleyan, Augie, and the five dwarfs" syndrome that had been the norm for about two decades or so up until a couple of seasons ago.

I'll give the 'Jays some love.......also love to IWU. Brian Evans, the second-baseman for the 'Jays was a high school teammate of AJ Nathan, Anthony Kopp, and Kevin Sullivan. My son (plays out East) played with them. I'm very excited that Elmhurst & IWU will be in the tourney regardless of the outcome today. If my sons' team does not make the playoffs then I'll gladly drive down to my old neighborhood and watch the playoffs at NPU. But, I'm hoping that I'll need to be out east!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 11:04:45 AM
I am guessing that NPU may sneak into the regional rankings this week. Wheaton should drop out altogether. Not sure where IWU will land this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 11:25:13 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 11:04:45 AM
I am guessing that NPU may sneak into the regional rankings this week. Wheaton should drop out altogether. Not sure where IWU will land this week.

If Wesleyan loses 2 of 3 to Elmhurst then they could drop down to 4/5. Also, I noticed that the 3rd game of Wesleyan and Millikin is missing on Wesleyan's schedule. Did they play that game? After today they will only have played 39 games according to all of their schedules (CCIW, D3baseball, Wesleyan's, and Millikin's)

Found it, but they still only have 39 games total on their schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 11:45:21 AM
They were rained out with Illinois state last week. Doubt it will be made up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 12:09:21 PM
Will be interesting to see where North Park ends up in the Regional Rankings. Augustana could drop, having lost at least 1 to Millikin, same with IWU. Wash U will stay 1, Chicago could drop having lost to North Central. I'd say the highest for North Park would be 3, lowest 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 12:19:18 PM
Chicago also has a game w Carthage today that could drop them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 02:27:37 PM
Millikin beats Augustana 8-1. Definitely did not see that happening. Augustana could drop out of this week's Regional Rankings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 02:49:10 PM
Here are the CCIW Tournament match-ups for the first game:

IF Elmhurst beats Wesleyan:
(1) North Park vs (4) Il. Wesleyan
(2) Elmhurst vs (3) Augustana

IF Wesleyan beats Elmhurst:
(1) North Park vs (4) Augustana
(2) Il. Wesleyan vs (3) Elmhurst



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 02:49:36 PM
Augustan holds true to history... Great start, out of gas in mid-April and limp to the finish.
They also appear to have more talent than their results indicate... Hard to figure them out but they can beat or lose to just about anyone at any time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 03:09:29 PM
The North Park vs North Central game has been moved to Monday at 3:30 pm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2012, 03:54:20 PM
Today's IWU @ Elmhurst contest has been moved to Wheaton's Lee Pfund Stadium. No definite start time has been announced, as per the EC website.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2012, 11:55:38 PM
Greg, five years ago IWU romped to the best season any CCIW team ever had (20-1) then totally flamed out in both the conference and regional tourneys (0-2 in each, both at home).  Two years ago they barely limped into the conference tourney and went on to win the big Walnut-and-Bronze doorstop.  Aside from making the conference tourney, I've given up worrying about regular-season records - it just doesn't matter! 8-)

I agree with you. As I sorta indicated before, I think that the comparatively modest conference record NPU's racked up this year has more to do with the overall competitiveness of the league than anything else.

Quote from: BBFan62 on May 06, 2012, 10:56:17 AMI'll give the 'Jays some love.......also love to IWU. Brian Evans, the second-baseman for the 'Jays was a high school teammate of AJ Nathan, Anthony Kopp, and Kevin Sullivan. My son (plays out East) played with them. I'm very excited that Elmhurst & IWU will be in the tourney regardless of the outcome today. If my sons' team does not make the playoffs then I'll gladly drive down to my old neighborhood and watch the playoffs at NPU. But, I'm hoping that I'll need to be out east!

Sorry if I've asked this question before, but for which school out east does your son play?

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 11:45:21 AM
They were rained out with Illinois state last week. Doubt it will be made up.

It just says "rained out" on the IWU website, but on the CCIW website it says "canceled".

Of course, I've noticed over the years that people often say "canceled" when what they really mean is "postponed", so I'm not sure that this helps much.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 12:19:18 PM
Chicago also has a game w Carthage today that could drop them.

Go Redmen!

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 02:49:36 PM
Augustan holds true to history... Great start, out of gas in mid-April and limp to the finish.
They also appear to have more talent than their results indicate... Hard to figure them out but they can beat or lose to just about anyone at any time.

What surprises me is the relative ease with which Millikin beat Augie in games two and three. Of course, two of Elmhurst's three losses to MU weren't close, either, but it nevertheless strikes me that the one team in the league that really doesn't measure up to the other seven in terms of talent should be winning whatever CCIW games it can by narrow, or at least modest, margins; 12-5 and 8-1 don't really qualify as either narrow or modest in terms of margins.

Augie got 12 hits in the game today, but only plated one run. Pitchingwise, it's not a shock to see that the Big Blue touched up Jared McIntosh, who has struggled this year ... but they also got to reliever Josiah Martin for four runs on five hits in two and a third innings, and Martin had been lights-out all season long for the Doggies.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 04:22:01 PM
Carthage goes up 1-0 in the 3rd before lightning puts the game in a delay.

They called the game and it will not be made up, which is good news for Chicago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2012, 07:50:18 PM
Anyone have any info on the IWU/Elmhurst game?  I know they moved it to Wheton's field, with no definite starting time.  IWU website just says 'rain delay'.  I would think by now they have either played the game or postponed it, but I can't find any news.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2012, 08:34:38 PM
The CCIW website reporting IWU wins 7-4 in 11 innings
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2012, 08:57:50 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 06, 2012, 08:34:38 PM
The CCIW website reporting IWU wins 7-4 in 11 innings

Thanks - I'd checked there about an hour ago, and nothing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 09:12:52 PM
Thursday's matchups:

(2) Il. Wesleyan vs (3) Elmhurst - 2:00 pm

(1) North Park vs (4) Augustana - 5:00 pm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 09:27:22 PM
Does NPU have lights? What is the Friday schedule? Three games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 06, 2012, 09:33:30 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2012, 09:27:22 PM
Does NPU have lights? What is the Friday schedule? Three games?

Yes North Park does have lights, not sure what the schedule will be Friday. I'm assuming the same as last year:

Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser - 11:00 am
Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner - 2:00 pm
Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Loser - 5:00 pm

**Here is a link to the CCIW Tournament schedule and info**
http://cciw.org/sports/2012/5/5/BB_0505124601.aspx?id=745
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 07, 2012, 02:19:33 PM
North Park and North Central's final game of the series has yet again been postponed. Not sure if this game is going to be made up since it doesn't affect the standings in any way. Although another win would help North Park's chances (not by much) at getting a Pool C bid if they falter in the tourney, there are only 2 days left before the tourney kicks off in the Windy City.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2012, 02:31:44 PM
I think NPU may sneak into the lower half of the regional rankings this week, but I am still convinced they need to make a deep CCIW tourney run to be considered for a Pool C. either WashU or Chicago (both ohead of them in the rankings) will be pulled off the table as a Pool B so that leaves them behind at least one of them at selection time Sunday night. They need to leapfrog IWU in this week's rankings to have any shot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 07, 2012, 02:37:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2012, 02:31:44 PM
I think NPU may sneak into the lower half of the regional rankings this week, but I am still convinced they need to make a deep CCIW tourney run to be considered for a Pool C. either WashU or Chicago (both ohead of them in the rankings) will be pulled off the table as a Pool B so that leaves them behind at least one of them at selection time Sunday night. They need to leapfrog IWU in this week's rankings to have any shot.

Agreed...I don't think they'll be ahead of IWU this week, but if they can make a deep tourney run (championship game), and IWU loses early, then they have a shot at a Pool C bid.

All that could be irrelevant if they win the Tourney. Should be an exciting weekend of baseball.

**Also, if North Park does lose the tournament, their only chance is if Wesleyan is the one that wins it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 07, 2012, 02:59:39 PM
A little off topic and I am not sure if someone had mentioned this previously, but NPU alum Mike Giovenco was assigned to the local Kane County Cougars.  The closest affiliate to the Chicagoland Area. He has made 8 appearances.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=571709

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2012, 03:36:27 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 07, 2012, 02:59:39 PM
A little off topic and I am not sure if someone had mentioned this previously, but NPU alum Mike Giovenco was assigned to the local Kane County Cougars.  The closest affiliate to the Chicagoland Area. He has made 8 appearances.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=571709

It's already been mentioned several times, although not recently. He's actually been with Kane County since the middle of last season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 07, 2012, 04:58:32 PM
I've never been to a baseball game at North Park.  I've been there for soccer so have some concept of how the baseball field is laid out, but I wondered if anyone had the actual baseball dimensions or could comment more on the configuration?  Thanks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 07, 2012, 06:43:18 PM
Lets not go into that debate again about the dimensions at the Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 07, 2012, 07:18:26 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 07, 2012, 06:43:18 PM
Lets not go into that debate again about the dimensions at the Park.

I thought it was a pretty simple question.  I've never been there before (for baseball).  If this has been rehashed - please send me a link.  I wasn't looking for a debate.

Nevermind, I found the info.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2012, 07:59:28 PM
I'll leave the dimensions discussion aside, as jester13's right that we'd be beating a dead horse by bringing it up again. Suffice it to say that, although the right-field line is a reasonable length from home plate, most of right field -- especially right-center -- has very short dimensions. That's because the diamond itself is laid out according to the strict north-south-east-west axes of the property (i.e., the north-south axis of N. Albany Avenue), but the stands adjacent to Hedstrand Field (the soccer and football field that takes up most of Holmgren Athletic Complex and includes most of the baseball outfield) run from NNW to SSE, so they cut inward into right field.  It is a fairly high wall out there, though. And since it's padded, it deadens balls hit against it to a great degree.

Left field is fairly deep, although not overly so. Left-center and straightaway center are very deep; the left-field fence, which cuts across the softball diamond's infield (it's a portable fence, of course), extends all the way to the end of the Hedstrand Field stands. If you go to Google Maps and use the satellite function, you can get a good idea of how the baseball field at Holmgren looks with the left-field fence up, even though the fence is not up in the satellite picture.

(If you're looking at the satellite picture of Holmgren, the softball diamond is the full-cutout infield in the top left corner, at the corner of Foster and Albany, while the baseball diamond is in the lower left corner, at the corner of Winona and Albany and along the north bank of the Chicago River. The baseball diamond only has cutouts at the bases.)

The backstop is practically flush against the Albany curb and the edge of the river embankment, so there's no room there for stands, press box, etc. The press box atop the soccer/football stands is used for broadcasting and P.A. purposes, but, because that's too far away to see the home-plate umpire well, the scoreboard operator (which is me, by the way) has to stand in the first-base dugout to operate the scoreboard. The baseball diamond was redesigned this way a decade ago in order to make the right-field distance more honest. As a result of the diamond abutting the curb and the riverbank, there's only standing room behind the backstop on either side, and a small section of seats up the line from the third-base dugout (which is where visiting fans usually sit), near the infield. Most of the seating is in the Hedstrand Field stands out in right field and right-center, where you would also sit if you were watching a soccer or football game at NPU. There isn't much room in foul ground on either side of the diamond, except for down the right-field line beyond first base. At that point, which is where the football end zone starts, the field opens up and foul territory becomes massive. Lots and lots of foul balls fall harmlessly to earth down the right-field line. Of course, lots of foul balls end up in the Chicago River, too -- or thudding off of the roofs and hoods of cars belonging to those bold enough to park on Albany, or off the roofs of the buildings on the other side of Albany. NPU usually has to pay for a broken front window or shattered windshield or two every year.

Of course, there's occasionally a hard-hit ball to right that will sail over the soccer/football stands completely, as well as the trees behind, and splash down in the North Shore Channel, the canal that runs from the Chicago River at that very spot to Lake Michigan at the Ba'hai Temple in Wilmette. That's a legitimate, and very seriously-hit, home run, not one of those cheapies to right that is dubbed a "Holmgren Homer".

It's an ideosyncratic and unusually-shaped ballpark, because it's the city, where space is at a premium. NPU has to make do with what limited land it has available, which is why five sports share a piece of land and one of those sports -- baseball -- has to do so with such an odd configuration. But the turf is sound and true, the mound is good, and the park plays more honest than most people think. There's usually no more than a handful of those "Holmgren Homers" per year, although NPU and NCC hit three or four between them on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 07, 2012, 08:11:36 PM
As noted, I have been there before, noted where baseball and softball infields were, etc.  I was there for soccer though.  I really should have qualified my question - I was most interested in what happens in left field, and you answered that with the portable fence.  I've looked at the aerial view (there's also a serviceable photo on NPU's website that shows the complex) - I just didn't know how left field was handled.

Thank you.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 07, 2012, 09:09:31 PM
I'll say this about the dimensions at North Park (and remember, I pitched there when the fence was even closer):  I actually LIKED pitching there.  Sure, the occasional cheapie doinked into those stands over the old net that used to be out there.

But the proximity of home plate to the river, and the tight backstop, always made me feel like I was right on top of the hitter.  60'6" felt more like 55 feet, for whatever reason. 

There's also this--there just haven't always been a ton of left-handed power hitters in the CCIW.  Fact is, that deep left-center and center field actually allow for mistakes that normally would be out of a lot of parks off the bats of righties to land safely in the arms of a swift centerfielder.

In the end, no one really has the right to complain about a park's dimensions.  That's one of the beauties of baseball--there are no set standards for such things.  Each team has to pitch (and hit) for 27 outs using the same field of play.

Glad to see the spotlight shining on Holmgren this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 07, 2012, 09:13:46 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 07, 2012, 09:09:31 PM
I'll say this about the dimensions at North Park (and remember, I pitched there when the fence was even closer):  I actually LIKED pitching there.  Sure, the occasional cheapie doinked into those stands over the old net that used to be out there.

But the proximity of home plate to the river, and the tight backstop, always made me feel like I was right on top of the hitter.  60'6" felt more like 55 feet, for whatever reason. 

There's also this--there just haven't always been a ton of left-handed power hitters in the CCIW.  Fact is, that deep left-center and center field actually allow for mistakes that normally would be out of a lot of parks off the bats of righties to land safely in the arms of a swift centerfielder.

In the end, no one really has the right to complain about a park's dimensions.  That's one of the beauties of baseball--there are no set standards for such things.  Each team has to pitch (and hit) for 27 outs using the same field of play.

Glad to see the spotlight shining on Holmgren this weekend.

I know what you mean about the short backstop - I didn't see many games there, but when IWU played in their football stadium it seemed like there was barely enough room for the catcher and umpire.  It would give a confining feel to the hitter.

I'm pretty sure Horenberger is only 310' down the right field line, but the fact that they have the high fence there makes the HR's honest.  Plus, it's a pretty good place to park on the street and not get a windshield shattered....   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2012, 09:36:24 PM
Yeah, I forgot to mention Holmgren's tight backstop. You can usually count on one hand the entire season's worth of foul pop-ups behind home plate that a catcher is able to snag. It also makes advancing on passed balls and wild pitches more of an adventure for baserunners, especially if they're coming from third to home.

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 07, 2012, 09:13:46 PM
I'm pretty sure Horenberger is only 310' down the right field line, but the fact that they have the high fence there makes the HR's honest.  Plus, it's a pretty good place to park on the street and not get a windshield shattered....   ;D

A hard-hit baseball bouncing off of a car hood or roof makes a very loud and emphatic thud. It's actually kind of a cool sound, and the players in the NPU dugout (who never park on Albany, of course) tend to express their appreciation for a foul that bonks off of a car with enough force for the entire complex to hear. Since I don't own a car, I can perhaps be accused of not demonstrating enough sympathy for the unfortunate owners of said vehicles. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 07, 2012, 10:09:43 PM
north park's baseball diamond is laid out the way it was until 1978 when the first permanent bleachers were installed along the sanitary district canal.  Except now the temporary fences are in left, where there were no fences pre-1978.  Home runs to left field were almost non-existent at North Park back then.
back then north park's career homerun record was six (dan Gooris) and the season record was 2.  I never saw anyone hit one down the right field line, but there were very few lefthanders.

Dick Mahoney hit the fieldhouse twice in one doubleheader in 1967, but got only 2 triples.

The longest home run i ever saw hit at north park was by elmhurst thirdbaseman rich dzismela (sic) who cleared the canal in right center.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 07, 2012, 10:49:21 PM
Quote from: dennis_prikkel on May 07, 2012, 10:09:43 PM

The longest home run i ever saw hit at north park was by elmhurst thirdbaseman rich dzismela (sic) who cleared the canal in right center.

Keith Born hit one for us in 96 that landed in the middle of Foster Avenue and bounced onto the Marine Corps reserve center front lawn (wind was blowing out at a 45 mph clip, but still a blast).

Aside from that, I was catching one day when Todd Trunk from North Central hit one that I'm pretty sure was still going up when it hit the fieldhouse in center.

Not to be outdone, I gave one up that landed in River Park (on the other side of the drink) on about the 5th pitch of my first home start at North Park.

Again, the place has character, and lends itself to some interesting stories.

(modified by GS for formatting)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2012, 10:53:16 PM
Todd Trunk (whitest teeth in history of CCIW) hit a ton of long HRs. He carried NCC that entire season. Keith Born was a solid SS for NPU. Pretty solid guard for the hoops team as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on May 07, 2012, 11:55:58 PM
oops
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 08, 2012, 06:33:24 AM
Quote from: markerickson on May 07, 2012, 11:55:58 PM
Mr. Born received the Outstanding Student/Athlete award in CA and then matriculated at Stanford.  He later transferred to NPU.  I never saw him on the diamond.  He was the fastest WR I've ever seen in the CCIW (I admit I attend <50% of the home games).  He certainly hustled end to end on the hardwood faster than anyone when he played.  He was a pre-med major and I believe his father was a physician.

Huh?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Dennis_Prikkel on May 08, 2012, 09:49:05 AM
Quote from: markerickson on May 07, 2012, 11:55:58 PM
Mr. Born received the Outstanding Student/Athlete award in CA and then matriculated at Stanford.  He later transferred to NPU.  I never saw him on the diamond.  He was the fastest WR I've ever seen in the CCIW (I admit I attend <50% of the home games).  He certainly hustled end to end on the hardwood faster than anyone when he played.  He was a pre-med major and I believe his father was a physician.

i think you are thinking of greg siwek.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on May 08, 2012, 10:14:47 AM
You are correct, Dennis.  No wonder I never saw him on the diamond!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 08, 2012, 10:24:16 AM
LOL.  Born was a St. Pat's guy, and no offense to him, but Stanford was definitely not in the cards (no pun intended)!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 02:29:06 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on winning his 3rd Pitcher of the Week Award this year, his second in a row. He has emerged as one of the more dominant starters in the CCIW, leading the league in strikeouts (86), complete games (5), and shut outs (3), and is now being recognized as one. North Park has a strong 1-2 punch on the mound in Kuligowski and Soldano, and it will be interesting to see how far these two can take them in the playoffs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on May 08, 2012, 03:33:03 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 02:29:06 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on winning his 3rd Pitcher of the Week Award this year, his second in a row. He has emerged as one of the more dominant starters in the CCIW, leading the league in strikeouts (86), complete games (5), and shut outs (3), and is now being recognized as one. North Park has a strong 1-2 punch on the mound in Kuligowski and Soldano, and it will be interesting to see how far these two can take them in the playoffs.

Actually, Wheaton's Drew Golz leads the CCIW in complete games with 8 on the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 03:41:20 PM
Quote from: blue_jays on May 08, 2012, 03:33:03 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 02:29:06 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on winning his 3rd Pitcher of the Week Award this year, his second in a row. He has emerged as one of the more dominant starters in the CCIW, leading the league in strikeouts (86), complete games (5), and shut outs (3), and is now being recognized as one. North Park has a strong 1-2 punch on the mound in Kuligowski and Soldano, and it will be interesting to see how far these two can take them in the playoffs.

Actually, Wheaton's Drew Golz leads the CCIW in complete games with 8 on the year.

That was a test, you passed. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2012, 05:46:26 PM
North Park's remaining game with North Central has been moved to next Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in Naperville. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2012/5/6/BB_0506122042.aspx?path=baseball) This is an interesting development. I can't remember any years past in which CCIW regular-season games have been played after the conference tournament was completed. Anyone else remember such a post-tourney game taking place before?

I'm wondering what the thinking is behind rescheduling this game. The Pool C selection takes place on Monday, the day after the game will be played. Is it to NPU's advantage to play this game if the Vikings don't win the tourney? Would it even make any difference, one way or the other? Is one team forcing the other to play this game, or is the league office forcing both of them to play it?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 08, 2012, 06:08:34 PM
Seems like a good idea to have an option of whether to play another game. NPU would have an understanding of where it is in terms of selection at that time.

The NESCAC and MIAC play their finals on Sunday, so NPU would still have the committee's attention.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 06:37:44 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2012, 05:46:26 PM
North Park's remaining game with North Central has been moved to next Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in Naperville. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2012/5/6/BB_0506122042.aspx?path=baseball) This is an interesting development. I can't remember any years past in which CCIW regular-season games have been played after the conference tournament was completed. Anyone else remember such a post-tourney game taking place before?

I'm wondering what the thinking is behind rescheduling this game. The Pool C selection takes place on Monday, the day after the game will be played. Is it to NPU's advantage to play this game if the Vikings don't win the tourney? Would it even make any difference, one way or the other? Is one team forcing the other to play this game, or is the league office forcing both of them to play it?
Quote from: Ricky Nelson on May 08, 2012, 06:08:34 PM
Seems like a good idea to have an option of whether to play another game. NPU would have an understanding of where it is in terms of selection at that time.

The NESCAC and MIAC play their finals on Sunday, so NPU would still have the committee's attention.

Makes sense to me. North Park will want as many wins as possible in-region if they falter in the tourney. If they win it, then I don't really see this game being played.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 08, 2012, 06:41:49 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 02:29:06 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on winning his 3rd Pitcher of the Week Award this year, his second in a row. He has emerged as one of the more dominant starters in the CCIW, leading the league in strikeouts (86), complete games (5), and shut outs (3), and is now being recognized as one. North Park has a strong 1-2 punch on the mound in Kuligowski and Soldano, and it will be interesting to see how far these two can take them in the playoffs.
Does Nick Soldano deserve some recognition as a possible pitcher of the year candidate?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 07:08:02 PM

Potential CCIW Pitcher of the Year Candidates:

1.) Nick Soldano     NPU        (5-0, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 12 BB)
2.) Eric Rohe         Carthage  (3-3, 1.86 ERA, 58 IP, 37 K, 7 BB)
3.) Mike Trotta      Augustana (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 43.1 IP, 22 K, 10 BB)
4.) Drew Golz        Wheaton  (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 54.2 IP, 23 K, 17 BB)
5.) Steve Kuligowski NPU      (5-1, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP, 27 K, 17 BB)
6.) Josiah Martin   Augustana (3-0, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA, 26.2 IP, 23 K, 3 BB)

Potential CCIW Player of the Year Candidates:

1.) Kevin Callahan      IWU  (.397 avg, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .731 slg, .510 obp)
2.) Trey Martin    Wheaton  (.308 avg, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .551 slg, .404 obp)
3.) Joe Turek          NCC    (.319 avg, 3 HR, 24 RBI, .542 slg, .438 obp)
4.) AJ Nathan          IWU    (.407 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .556 slg, .495 obp)
5.) Tony Sanchez       NPU  (.326 avg, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .523 slg, .389 obp)       


**I think Callahan will be a unanimous selection for Player of the Year. He's 1st or 2nd in almost every category. Pitcher of the Year will be closer, but I think Soldano will take it, going undefeated in conference and leading it in K's as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2012, 12:07:04 AM
Weather forecast for Thursday and Friday here in the Chi (60625 zip code, to be exact) is for clear and sunny skies, with highs in the high 60s and low 70s. Saturday's gonna have some rain mixed in, with a high in the high 60s as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 09, 2012, 10:38:33 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2012, 12:07:04 AM
Weather forecast for Thursday and Friday here in the Chi (60625 zip code, to be exact) is for clear and sunny skies, with highs in the high 60s and low 70s. Saturday's gonna have some rain mixed in, with a high in the high 60s as well.
Hmmm...
Highs in the upper 60's with a chance of rain...

That sounds like great weather for Texas...in February. :)   ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 09, 2012, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 07:08:02 PM

Potential CCIW Pitcher of the Year Candidates:

1.) Nick Soldano     NPU        (5-0, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 12 BB)
2.) Eric Rohe         Carthage  (3-3, 1.86 ERA, 58 IP, 37 K, 7 BB)
3.) Mike Trotta      Augustana (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 43.1 IP, 22 K, 10 BB)
4.) Drew Golz        Wheaton  (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 54.2 IP, 23 K, 17 BB)
5.) Steve Kuligowski NPU      (5-1, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP, 27 K, 17 BB)
6.) Josiah Martin   Augustana (3-0, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA, 26.2 IP, 23 K, 3 BB)

Potential CCIW Player of the Year Candidates:

1.) Kevin Callahan      IWU  (.397 avg, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .731 slg, .510 obp)
2.) Trey Martin    Wheaton  (.308 avg, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .551 slg, .404 obp)
3.) Joe Turek          NCC    (.319 avg, 3 HR, 24 RBI, .542 slg, .438 obp)
4.) AJ Nathan          IWU    (.407 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .556 slg, .495 obp)
5.) Tony Sanchez       NPU  (.326 avg, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .523 slg, .389 obp)       


**I think Callahan will be a unanimous selection for Player of the Year. He's 1st or 2nd in almost every category. Pitcher of the Year will be closer, but I think Soldano will take it, going undefeated in conference and leading it in K's as well.

Something you won't see in the box score (unless you study the play by play) - Callahan got thrown out at first base on a hit (I guess I should say batted ball) to right field last weekend in game 1 against Elmhurst (bang-bang play).  That would have raised his conference batting average to .410.   ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2012, 06:01:19 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 09, 2012, 10:38:33 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2012, 12:07:04 AM
Weather forecast for Thursday and Friday here in the Chi (60625 zip code, to be exact) is for clear and sunny skies, with highs in the high 60s and low 70s. Saturday's gonna have some rain mixed in, with a high in the high 60s as well.
Hmmm...
Highs in the upper 60's with a chance of rain...

That sounds like great weather for Texas...in February. :)   ;)

April and May are roll-the-dice months in Chicago in terms of weather. You simply never know what you're going to get. There were several days in April in which the weather was much warmer than the forecast for this weekend. This is the time of year when Chicagoans are always a little uncertain as to how they ought to dress, even if they hear the weather report on the morning news.

The weather has been abominable for every single NPU home game this season. Since the Vikings have gone 13-1 at Holmgren, I'm actually kinda hoping that it turns abominable again this weekend. Baseball is a superstitious sport, and I fall as easily into the habit of being superstitious as any other baseball fan. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2012, 08:33:23 PM
And this year has been even weirder - in Ypsi we had two weeks straight (in early/mid!) March where temperatures were 70+ to upper 80s (normal would be 30s and 40s; two months later, we have yet to exceed a couple of those days).  I know (my hometown) Peoria got that same weird stretch, so I assume Chicago probably did too.

Alas, near 90 in March, then 20s in April and May have pretty well killed off the Michigan fruit crop for this year. :P  It did in the Holland Tulip Festival too - they kept up the spirit, but admitted it was the Holland 'Stem' Festival this year - the tulips were long gone!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on May 10, 2012, 09:30:10 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 09, 2012, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 07:08:02 PM

Potential CCIW Pitcher of the Year Candidates:

1.) Nick Soldano     NPU        (5-0, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 12 BB)
2.) Eric Rohe         Carthage  (3-3, 1.86 ERA, 58 IP, 37 K, 7 BB)
3.) Mike Trotta      Augustana (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 43.1 IP, 22 K, 10 BB)
4.) Drew Golz        Wheaton  (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 54.2 IP, 23 K, 17 BB)
5.) Steve Kuligowski NPU      (5-1, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP, 27 K, 17 BB)
6.) Josiah Martin   Augustana (3-0, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA, 26.2 IP, 23 K, 3 BB)

Potential CCIW Player of the Year Candidates:

1.) Kevin Callahan      IWU  (.397 avg, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .731 slg, .510 obp)
2.) Trey Martin    Wheaton  (.308 avg, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .551 slg, .404 obp)
3.) Joe Turek          NCC    (.319 avg, 3 HR, 24 RBI, .542 slg, .438 obp)
4.) AJ Nathan          IWU    (.407 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .556 slg, .495 obp)
5.) Tony Sanchez       NPU  (.326 avg, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .523 slg, .389 obp)       


**I think Callahan will be a unanimous selection for Player of the Year. He's 1st or 2nd in almost every category. Pitcher of the Year will be closer, but I think Soldano will take it, going undefeated in conference and leading it in K's as well.

Something you won't see in the box score (unless you study the play by play) - Callahan got thrown out at first base on a hit (I guess I should say batted ball) to right field last weekend in game 1 against Elmhurst (bang-bang play).  That would have raised his conference batting average to .410.   ::)
Any vote that does not include AJ Nathan is a vote worse than one cast by a Floridian in a Presedential election. First, AJ is too fast to be thrown out at first from right field. Secondly, he has great offensive numbers but his defense has been a boost to IWU. You need to consider the whole package, not just BA. Besides, how many catchers can hold Nathan's jockstrap?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 10, 2012, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: BBFan62 on May 10, 2012, 09:30:10 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 09, 2012, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 07:08:02 PM

Potential CCIW Pitcher of the Year Candidates:

1.) Nick Soldano     NPU        (5-0, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 12 BB)
2.) Eric Rohe         Carthage  (3-3, 1.86 ERA, 58 IP, 37 K, 7 BB)
3.) Mike Trotta      Augustana (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 43.1 IP, 22 K, 10 BB)
4.) Drew Golz        Wheaton  (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 54.2 IP, 23 K, 17 BB)
5.) Steve Kuligowski NPU      (5-1, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP, 27 K, 17 BB)
6.) Josiah Martin   Augustana (3-0, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA, 26.2 IP, 23 K, 3 BB)

Potential CCIW Player of the Year Candidates:

1.) Kevin Callahan      IWU  (.397 avg, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .731 slg, .510 obp)
2.) Trey Martin    Wheaton  (.308 avg, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .551 slg, .404 obp)
3.) Joe Turek          NCC    (.319 avg, 3 HR, 24 RBI, .542 slg, .438 obp)
4.) AJ Nathan          IWU    (.407 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .556 slg, .495 obp)
5.) Tony Sanchez       NPU  (.326 avg, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .523 slg, .389 obp)       


**I think Callahan will be a unanimous selection for Player of the Year. He's 1st or 2nd in almost every category. Pitcher of the Year will be closer, but I think Soldano will take it, going undefeated in conference and leading it in K's as well.

Something you won't see in the box score (unless you study the play by play) - Callahan got thrown out at first base on a hit (I guess I should say batted ball) to right field last weekend in game 1 against Elmhurst (bang-bang play).  That would have raised his conference batting average to .410.   ::)
Any vote that does not include AJ Nathan is a vote worse than one cast by a Floridian in a Presedential election. First, AJ is too fast to be thrown out at first from right field. Secondly, he has great offensive numbers but his defense has been a boost to IWU. You need to consider the whole package, not just BA. Besides, how many catchers can hold Nathan's jockstrap?

AJ has had a great year.  He is a VERY clutch hitter too.  Sadly, I'm not sure he'll even get the all-conference vote over the NPU catcher (maybe they pick two?).  Two players that have had stellar seasons it seems.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 10, 2012, 10:47:11 AM
Quote from: BBFan62 on May 10, 2012, 09:30:10 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 09, 2012, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 08, 2012, 07:08:02 PM

Potential CCIW Pitcher of the Year Candidates:

1.) Nick Soldano     NPU        (5-0, 2.33 ERA, 46.1 IP, 47 K, 12 BB)
2.) Eric Rohe         Carthage  (3-3, 1.86 ERA, 58 IP, 37 K, 7 BB)
3.) Mike Trotta      Augustana (4-1, 2.28 ERA, 43.1 IP, 22 K, 10 BB)
4.) Drew Golz        Wheaton  (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 54.2 IP, 23 K, 17 BB)
5.) Steve Kuligowski NPU      (5-1, 3.64 ERA, 42 IP, 27 K, 17 BB)
6.) Josiah Martin   Augustana (3-0, 4 SV, 1.69 ERA, 26.2 IP, 23 K, 3 BB)

Potential CCIW Player of the Year Candidates:

1.) Kevin Callahan      IWU  (.397 avg, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .731 slg, .510 obp)
2.) Trey Martin    Wheaton  (.308 avg, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .551 slg, .404 obp)
3.) Joe Turek          NCC    (.319 avg, 3 HR, 24 RBI, .542 slg, .438 obp)
4.) AJ Nathan          IWU    (.407 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .556 slg, .495 obp)
5.) Tony Sanchez       NPU  (.326 avg, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .523 slg, .389 obp)       


**I think Callahan will be a unanimous selection for Player of the Year. He's 1st or 2nd in almost every category. Pitcher of the Year will be closer, but I think Soldano will take it, going undefeated in conference and leading it in K's as well.

Something you won't see in the box score (unless you study the play by play) - Callahan got thrown out at first base on a hit (I guess I should say batted ball) to right field last weekend in game 1 against Elmhurst (bang-bang play).  That would have raised his conference batting average to .410.   ::)
Any vote that does not include AJ Nathan is a vote worse than one cast by a Floridian in a Presedential election. First, AJ is too fast to be thrown out at first from right field. Secondly, he has great offensive numbers but his defense has been a boost to IWU. You need to consider the whole package, not just BA. Besides, how many catchers can hold Nathan's jockstrap?

@BBFan62

You might want to get off your knees. AJ has had a solid year, best he's had yet. BUT Callahan has superior numbers in every category except BA. I don't believe the coaches take into account their defensive ability. Sorry. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2012, 11:03:40 AM
I am guessing BBFAN62 either is AJ Nathan or related to him. Why else would an IWU guy point out the flaws of another IWU guy if it was not for personal gain? Makes no sense to me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 10, 2012, 12:03:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2012, 11:03:40 AM
I am guessing BBFAN62 either is AJ Nathan or related to him. Why else would an IWU guy popint out the flaws of another IWU if it was not for personal gain? Makes no sense to me.

Agreed.  That seemed awfully transparent.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 03:37:17 PM
IWU and Elmhurst, scoreless after two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 04:45:16 PM
Titans explode for 8 in the 3rd!  Now up 9-2 in the bottom of the 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 04:58:25 PM
Joe Sweeney was the masterful pitcher he has shown he can be for five shutout innings, but seems to have run out of gas.  Elmhurst got two in the 6th and three more (with no outs) in the seventh.  Hart now in for Sweeney.  Titans' lead cut to 9-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 10, 2012, 06:02:48 PM
Which Park shows up today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 06:41:05 PM
Matt Hart allowed only two hits and no runs in three innings of relief - IWU 9, Elmhurst 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 07:06:57 PM
Cumulative line for IWU's 1, 2, and 3 guys in the batting order: 13 4 8 5!  Not too shabby! ;D

Kevin Callahan (seemingly the front-runner for POY) was 5 1 3 3.  Lead-off man Mark McDermott was an even more impressive 4 3 3 2.  (#2 A J Nathan was a still quite good 4 0 2 0.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 10, 2012, 08:53:41 PM
The Park squeaks one out. I think they have lost faith in the bull pen. Hopefully Nick Soldano can throw another gem tomorrow. 4 more errors doesn't help either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2012, 10:13:23 PM
Steve Kuligowski was lights-out today for NPU for eight innings, but ran out of gas in the ninth with the Park up, 4-0. He gave up two runs and left with two outs and the bases loaded, and Nick Soldano came into the game. After walking in a run, Soldano induced a groundout to second and NPU escaped with the 4-3 win.

Mike Trotta looked pretty ordinary for Augie today, but NPU did not do a good job of converting opportunities against him, especially early on when he was most vulnerable. The first four North Park batters got hits today to start off the game, and yet NPU only came away with one run in the inning. Situational hitting as well as the defense are going to have to improve some tomorrow. Still, a win's a win -- especially come tournament time.

Great to see CCIW batting champion Joel Bonnett go yard today for his first homer of his college career.

Quote from: jester13 on May 10, 2012, 08:53:41 PM
The Park squeaks one out. I think they have lost faith in the bull pen. Hopefully Nick Soldano can throw another gem tomorrow. 4 more errors doesn't help either.

FWIW, there should only be three errors on NPU when the box is posted.

I don't think it's a matter of Luke Johnson losing faith in his bullpen. I think it was more a matter of this being too important a win not to use your best available pitcher to get one out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 10:15:51 PM
With IWU and NPU both winning, I think they are both in the national tourney, though I'll be more confident if the loser tomorrow makes it back to the final game.  (And if either Augie or Elmhurst wins it all, either or both of IWU and NPU are probably toast.)

How do others see it?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2012, 10:28:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 10:15:51 PM
With IWU and NPU both winning, I think they are both in the national tourney, though I'll be more confident if the loser tomorrow makes it back to the final game.  (And if either Augie or Elmhurst wins it all, either or both of IWU and NPU are probably toast.)

How do others see it?
I think each needs one more win to secure a Pool C. Hard to disagree with you, Ypsi.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on May 10, 2012, 10:38:38 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2012, 11:03:40 AM
I am guessing BBFAN62 either is AJ Nathan or related to him. Why else would an IWU guy point out the flaws of another IWU guy if it was not for personal gain? Makes no sense to me.
Sorry Big Poppa, as knowledable as you are a big wrongo here! My son plays out east; I have no involvement with IWU other than I've had the pleasure of seeing AJ, Kopp, Sullivan ( a year ahead) and Evans (Elmhurst) play since they were 9.  Not dissing any other player, teammate of AJ's or not, Just stating facts. AJ is as solid as they come. He has always been a winner, along with his former temmates and will help his team succeed. How many catchers get intentionally walked??? That's peer recognition at it's best.  I'm hoping we meet them in Appleton!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 10, 2012, 10:43:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2012, 10:28:22 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2012, 10:15:51 PM
With IWU and NPU both winning, I think they are both in the national tourney, though I'll be more confident if the loser tomorrow makes it back to the final game.  (And if either Augie or Elmhurst wins it all, either or both of IWU and NPU are probably toast.)

How do others see it?
I think each needs one more win to secure a Pool C. Hard to disagree with you, Ypsi.

Tomorrow's matchup should be a good one (Nick Soldano vs. Chris Bobo). Winner puts themselves in a good position for getting a bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 10, 2012, 11:13:03 PM
Any North Park faithful/former players from back in my time zone or before:

I drove through nasty traffic and ran down Foster from the parking lot at Foster and Kedzie to catch the top of the 9th today at Holmgren (which, by the way, took way longer to complete than I needed to endure).

Just wanted to share how awesome it was to see the CCIW tournament at OUR place.  Some nice upgrades put into place to spruce the joint up.

All North Parkers should be as lucky as I was to experience the strong sense of pride I did in seeing that sight...and get out there to support your Vikings!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 12:25:32 PM
At work watching the games on Live Stats in my down time :)

Mike Barker hits his 2nd home run of the day in the bottom of the 5th, Augie goes up 4-3.

Elmhurst comes back with a home run in the 7th and 3 runs in the 8th to take a 7-4 lead over Augie. Josiah Martin did not have his stuff today.

Augustana's comeback falls short in the bottom of the 9th as Elmhurst escapes elimination 7-6. Elmhurst will play the loser of the North Park and Wesleyan game which is about to start.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:27:09 PM
I'm very interested to hear how pre-game infield went before the NP-IWU game today....anyone there for it, please feel free to chime in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 02:30:54 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:27:09 PM
I'm very interested to hear how pre-game infield went before the NP-IWU game today....anyone there for it, please feel free to chime in.

Why? Am I missing something?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 02:34:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:27:09 PM
I'm very interested to hear how pre-game infield went before the NP-IWU game today....anyone there for it, please feel free to chime in.

I wasn't there, but I heard Dennis Martel wouldn't let his catchers "throw down" to second. He wanted to save them for later.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 02:42:07 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 02:34:23 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:27:09 PM
I'm very interested to hear how pre-game infield went before the NP-IWU game today....anyone there for it, please feel free to chime in.

I wasn't there, but I heard Dennis Martel wouldn't let his catchers "throw down" to second. He wanted to save them for later.

I don't see that as odd... it's not like NPU hasn't seen their catchers throw this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:49:15 PM
Poppa-the cryptic discussions regarding the NP-IWU series earlier this year revolved around an incident that took place PRIOR to the actual game, and involved pre-game infield.  That's why I'm wondering if there were any incidents today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 03:02:37 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:49:15 PM
Poppa-the cryptic discussions regarding the NP-IWU series earlier this year revolved around an incident that took place PRIOR to the actual game, and involved pre-game infield.  That's why I'm wondering if there were any incidents today.

Gotcha... I must be out of the loop on that one. Feel free to fill me in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 03:21:10 PM
In the bottom of the third NPU has tied it at 2 apiece.  Jeff Johnson has been replaced on the mound - he gave up only 2 hits, but walked 3 and the Vikings runs came on a WP and a HBP with the bases full.

Reliever Matt Conrad gets a foul out to end the third, tied at 2-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 03:53:22 PM
Not sure why yet, but Luke Johnson got thrown out of the game. Could be crucial.

IWU up 4-2, but North Park has bases loaded, no outs, and Tony Sanchez up to the plate in the bottom of the 5th.


****GRAND SLAM!!!!! 6-4 VIKINGS!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 04:16:52 PM
Top of the 6th, Titans put men at the corners with no outs, but couldn't score (that may be painful!).  Robert Romano struck out the Vikings in the bottom of the inning.

End of 6, still NPU 6, IWU 4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on May 11, 2012, 04:22:32 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 10, 2012, 11:13:03 PM
Any North Park faithful/former players from back in my time zone or before:

I drove through nasty traffic and ran down Foster from the parking lot at Foster and Kedzie to catch the top of the 9th today at Holmgren (which, by the way, took way longer to complete than I needed to endure).

Just wanted to share how awesome it was to see the CCIW tournament at OUR place.  Some nice upgrades put into place to spruce the joint up.

All North Parkers should be as lucky as I was to experience the strong sense of pride I did in seeing that sight...and get out there to support your Vikings!

I've had the privilege of assigning umpires to work at North Park (I don't assign the conference tournament, however, as that's done in a different manner), and umpire there myself, since Luke Johnson became head coach, and I will be not the first and not the last umpire to compliment your alma mater for its wonderful facility, including providing us with the proper facility in which to change and freshen up. NPU has always taken care of us well. I shared this in an Email to Dr. Jack Surridge last week, thanking him for the many years of service our association has been able to provide and for the support both he and Luke have shown us.

It has been nothing but a pleasure to work at NPU, and I am happy for its players, staff, and alumni that they were fortunate this year to be able to host the tournament. Having had the privilege of working the tournament several years in a row, including as crew chief, I know it's a fun and rewarding event. Lastly, I have also had the privilege of seeing Luke Johnson grow up from a 15-year-old Colt League player, when he played for the Elmhurst team in the long defunct West Suburban Colt League (I was umpiring him way back then) to the successful head coach he has become today.

I often hear from umpires outside of our association how Luke is a not too pleasant head coach, Something with which I do not agree. I see him as a tough but firm head coach who, like the rest of them, wants to win but to do so in a competitive, skillful manner. I admire his accomplishments and respect his achievements.

Disclaimer: my brother is an alma mater of Wesleyan and played for Dennis Martel when Dennis was coaching basketball way back then. I am not a graduate of the CCIW.

To those who are alumni of the other schools in the CCIW, allow me to simply but honestly say that the CCIW is one of the nation's premier D3 conferences, IMHO, one in which I and many of my peers have long enjoyed working.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 04:48:05 PM
Can't wait to hear sagers recap of this one. Got a feeling live stats aren't doing it justice
...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 04:56:48 PM
The Vikings added 3 more in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th; now up 11-4 entering the 9th.

Aside from Johnson's obvious wildness, I have no way of telling from livestats whether the day was more due to good Viking hitting or bad Titan pitching - any thoughts?

11-4 is the final; complete game victory for Soldano.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 11, 2012, 06:10:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 03:02:37 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 02:49:15 PM
Poppa-the cryptic discussions regarding the NP-IWU series earlier this year revolved around an incident that took place PRIOR to the actual game, and involved pre-game infield.  That's why I'm wondering if there were any incidents today.

Gotcha... I must be out of the loop on that one. Feel free to fill me in.

That isn't the only reason the discussion between Martel and Johnson took place, but the fact that North Park lined their team up along the left field line was discussed.  I've never understood why that is done - assume they (NP) were scouting the arms in the outfield?  At any rate, they didn't do that the next day (game 3) of the series.  Not sure if they've continued to do that in future series.

I just got back from the IWU softball game in the NCAA, so have limited knowledge of today's IWU-NP baseball game?  Sounds like the Vikings must have hit the ball well!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 06:36:41 PM
In the middle of the fourth, IWU and Elmhurst all tied at 1.  (Blue Jays are the 'home' team.)

Loser goes home; winner plays NPU for the AQ tomorrow (twice, if necessary).  By most prognostications, Elmhurst has essentially no chance of a pool C; without at least one more win, Titans would be very nervous, but hoping to get in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2012, 06:43:53 PM
I think Elmhurst needs to win it to get in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 09:26:19 PM
With a win tomorrow, Luke Johnson will have had an improving record for 7 straight seasons. If I am not mistaken, I believe that would be an NCAA record.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 09:27:04 PM
I went out to dinner, so know no details - but IWU won 4-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM
I just spent a loooong, interesting day in the first-base dugout running the scoreboard. I have a lot to report:

* Balls went flying out of the yard today at a breakneck pace -- but only one of them (a 290-footer onto the walkway in right-center by Elmhurst's Brian Evans off of Augie's Seth Davis in the first game) was a cheapie. There were some serious bombs hit today. Augie's Mike Barker hit two taters in his team's losing cause in the first game, and the second one traveled about 380 feet to left-center. In the second game, Wesleyan's Mark McDermott hit one in almost the exact same spot in left-center off of NPU's Nick Soldano. Not one, but two bombs went crashing through the press-box windows today: Josh Levy of Wesleyan broke a window on the left-hand side of the press box in the IWU @ NPU game, and later in the game Vikings rightfielder Kyle Williams broke one in the main area of the press box, bouncing it off of the stadium's sound system and silencing it for an inning. North Park SID Kevin Shepke was hit by flying glass on that one, and is lucky that he didn't get hurt. And, in game three, the big hit was a Bobby Czarnowski bomb for Wesleyan that broke a 1-1 tie late in the game; it flew over the stands and the trees and into the North Shore Channel.

* The biggest homer of the day, though, by far, was the ball launched by NPU catcher Tony Sanchez in the fifth inning. Wesleyan had all of the early momentum, and was up by a score of 4-2 when the Vikings led off by getting their first three batters -- Matt Rice, Zach Worsley, and Ryan Javech -- aboard against IWU reliever Matthew Conrad. Conrad got a quick 0-2 count on Sanchez, and then decided to get cute by throwing him a curveball over the plate. The curve hung, and Sanchez deposited it into the upper rows of the stands in right (the Wesleyan fans who were sitting up there threw it back onto the field, probably figuring that this protocol covers all North Side baseball teams ;)). In one swing of the bat, NPU went from 4-2 down and biting its nails to 6-4 up and screaming with jubilation. After that, Soldano bore down, giving up only a few scattered hits but no runs, while the Vikings bats continued to notch runs off of the IWU staff. It was about as big a one-pitch momentum swing as I've ever seen. And a real novelty, too; how many 0-2 grannies do you ever see?

* The play immediately before the Sanchez granny was what got Luke Johnson tossed out of the game. He'd already antagonized the umps by arguing at length about two calls in the field; one a force play at second base in which he claimed that IWU 2b Anthony Lopez came off the bag before he caught the ball, and the other a tag play following a Mike Coduto single in which IWU rf Kevin Sullivan threw the ball in to first, where Czarnowski tagged Coduto and the ump called Coduto out for making an aggressive turn -- a highly questionable call, since Coduto was basically retracing his steps back to the bag after running through the bag and straight up the line. So Luke was already on thin ice. On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous). Luke argued that one pretty vehemently, and it got him the thumb. Assistant head coach Kevin Tomasiewicz took over running the game for NPU, and, as he tells it, promptly instructed Sanchez to run up an 0-2 count and then hit a grand slam. ;)

* The second game was easily the most expensive baseball game in NPU history. Not only did Levy and Williams break windows in the press box (only the second and third time anyone's hit balls into the press box during a game in the last eight years, according to Shepke), but Callahan broke a window in the condo building on the other side of N. Albany Ave. with a rocket of a foul ball.

* Soldano didn't have his best stuff today, and the Titans are a team that can certainly swing the bat, but he really soldiered through it all for nine innings. Sometimes the most impressive win that a pitcher can get is one in which he doesn't have his best stuff, but still manages to beat a good-hitting team. The key was that he didn't allow many extraneous baserunners; Wesleyan only got one walk and one HBP out of him. The Vikings, by contrast, worked five walks and two HBP out of the four Titans pitchers, although only one of those runners ended up scoring.

Fun day at the ballpark. Gotta turn around and do it again tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:06:51 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 10, 2012, 11:13:03 PM
Any North Park faithful/former players from back in my time zone or before:

I drove through nasty traffic and ran down Foster from the parking lot at Foster and Kedzie to catch the top of the 9th today at Holmgren (which, by the way, took way longer to complete than I needed to endure).

Just wanted to share how awesome it was to see the CCIW tournament at OUR place.  Some nice upgrades put into place to spruce the joint up.

All North Parkers should be as lucky as I was to experience the strong sense of pride I did in seeing that sight...and get out there to support your Vikings!

Amen. The NPU athletic department staff has really done an excellent job of putting this weekend together, too. Kudos to each of them, including the various coaches from other Vikings sports who have acted as team hosts for the three visiting teams this weekend.

I'm hoping it's a trial run for many more CCIW tournaments at Holmgren to come. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 10:23:54 PM
Greg, I wondered earlier if the NPU/IWU result was more a matter of good Viking hitting or poor Titan pitching - any thoughts?  (Titan starter Johnson was clearly wild - he walked 3, and the first two Viking runs came from a WP and, a couple batters later, a HBP with the bases full; but otherwise livestats sheds little light on the action.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:50:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2012, 10:23:54 PM
Greg, I wondered earlier if the NPU/IWU result was more a matter of good Viking hitting or poor Titan pitching - any thoughts?  (Titan starter Johnson was clearly wild - he walked 3, and the first two Viking runs came from a WP and, a couple batters later, a HBP with the bases full; but otherwise livestats sheds little light on the action.)

I'd say it was a combination of both. NPU belted the ball around the park pretty thoroughly today, and some very good Titans fielding kept the damage from being even more severe. But the Titans pitchers were pretty wild, and were consistently behind on the count for the last two-thirds of the game.

Quote from: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

I have no insight into whom Luke Johnson's going to hand the ball to tomorrow, but my guess is Paul Garcia. He's a senior, and he has a lot of experience. Your guess is as good as mine as to whom Martel will use tomorrow. I, and a lot of other people, were surprised that he turned to Johnson today against NPU rather than Bobo. As it turned out, Bobo was much more effective against Elmhurst than Johnson was against NPU, even though Bobo got yanked early as well. (The best pitching performance by far that IWU's had this weekend was from John Munyon, who relieved Bobo and went most of the way, getting the win without giving up a run to the 'jays.) Seems like Martel's got a whole raftload of pitchers who all seem to be about the same level.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 10:53:03 PM
Quote from: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Sweeney come back. Only threw 6 innings on Thursday, and the Titans need a win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 11:08:25 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 10:53:03 PM
Quote from: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Sweeney come back. Only threw 6 innings on Thursday, and the Titans need a win.

No doubt about it.  If he's truly an ace, he's been lobbying for the ball tomorrow since the last out against North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 11:15:45 PM
I was laughing at myself today when I got home.  I followed these games so closely online today at work, I couldn't wait to get home and see the highlights on TV. 

Then I remembered it wasn't the big leagues, and there wasn't TV.   ???

For those of us over the age of 30, how cool is it to be able to follow games on line with live stats, etc?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 11:28:51 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 11:15:45 PMFor those of us over the age of 30, how cool is it to be able to follow games on line with live stats, etc?

I was just talking about this yesterday with CCIW commissioner Chris Martin. It wasn't all that long ago that, in order to find out what had happened with your favorite D3 team (or with other D3 teams in your favorite team's conference, not to mention other D3 leagues around the nation), you had to wait for the paper the next day and cross your fingers that the score would be in the agate type at the back of the sports section. Then came the Internet, and you could at least follow teams online, although everything was still after the fact. Then came live stats, which allowed you to follow the game statistically as it happened. Now there's live webstreaming (although baseball lags behind basketball and football as far as schools using this technology is concerned), which allows you to see and hear a D3 game broadcast either live or via archive.

D1 gets all the fancy advances first, and then the technology becomes commonplace enough for the cost to come down so that the D3 schools can buy it as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:00:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2012, 12:03:32 AM
Quote from: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:00:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out. ;)
Obstruction was indeed the call.  But he did not award the runner the following base... not sure why not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:09:00 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 12, 2012, 12:03:32 AM
Quote from: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:00:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out. ;)
Obstruction was indeed the call.  But he did not award the runner the following base... not sure why not.

I wasn't there, so I couldn't substitute my judgment for his, but if he believes the runner would not have advanced to the next base anyway, then he could choose to not award him such advance base. A runner who is obstructed when there is no concurrent play on him (commonly called Type B Obstruction) is not automatically granted his next advance base. We try to take in to account many factors, including, but not limited to, the speed and effort of the runner, where the ball is, etc.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 12, 2012, 12:26:12 AM
Who would have thought in just 7 short years Luke would have turned that program around and playing for a CCIW Conference tournament championship?? That says alot for Luke and the quality of players that wanted to go somewhere and make a difference instead of going to an established program already. Congrats again guys and go get them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 12:48:45 AM
Box score for the IWU win over Elmhurst:

http://iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1791&path=baseball

Something quite curious: all four runs were charged to Dave Parr, yet the loss was charged to Jeff Guzzi!  If it is just a box score error, it sure is a doozy!  Am I missing something?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 12, 2012, 03:51:11 AM
Quote from: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

I have no special insight since I'm not there, but my guess would be Matt Hart or John Freuh.  Both have been spot starters and are capable. 

The wildcard could be Nick Mehn, who has been capable in the past but lost confidence earlier in the year and hasn't pitched well.  In fact, I'm not sure he's pitched at all in the last few weeks, so guess there could be an injury or something.  The last time I recall him pitching was a short stint against Augie where he was somewhat ineffective.

From IWU's perspective, they need to get to the "if" game and then it's likely pitcher by attrition.  I'm sure NP would be the same way - try to stitch in a couple innings by the best arms and mix and match the final nine innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: tjcummingsfan on May 12, 2012, 01:53:15 PM
Why is IWU the home team in this game?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 01:58:55 PM
Quote from: tjcummingsfan on May 12, 2012, 01:53:15 PM
Why is IWU the home team in this game?

Since batting last is such an advantage in baseball, in tournament play 'home team' gets rotated.  IF there is a second game today, I assume NPU would be the home team.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:04:53 PM
In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 12, 2012, 02:09:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:04:53 PM
In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)

Kopp has started exactly ZERO games this year (14 appearances, 17.1 IP).  If they can get 5 innings out of him I would think that would be a great outing - he's usually an 8th or 9th inning guy.  But he is a senior, so nice he's getting this opportunity.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:21:40 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 12, 2012, 02:09:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:04:53 PM
In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)

Kopp has started exactly ZERO games this year (14 appearances, 17.1 IP).  If they can get 5 innings out of him I would think that would be a great outing - he's usually an 8th or 9th inning guy.  But he is a senior, so nice he's getting this opportunity.

Well, he sure is dancing on thin ice - the Vikings strand 2 more in the 4th, but still no runs! ;D

(That's 10 LOB in 4 innings - anyone have any idea what the record might be?)

Titans threatening in the bottom of the 4th - HBP, sac. bunt, triple means one run and man on 3rd with one out.  (I'm not at all fond of bunts, unless it is a late, low-scoring tie game!  Too big a risk of missing a big inning.)

Two-out single (McDermott) drives in the runner; 5-0 at the end of four.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:32:31 PM
The thin ice finally broke through - Vikes start the fifth with walk, double, two-run single.  Pat Hayn takes over the pitching duties.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 02:50:52 PM
Hayn greeted with a single, bunt, fly out, two-run single.  After 4.5, Titans 5, Vikings 4.

NPU finally got some timely hits: 11 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings will usually produce more than 4 runs!  IWU is not hitting well (5 hits), but have made them all count.

(In case anyone is pursuing that elusive record, NPU now has 12 LOB in 5 innings.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 04:07:39 PM
LET'S PLAY TWO!!

Final: IWU 11, NPU 5.  Titans got 6 runs on 8 hits off four pitchers in the bottom of the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 04:45:56 PM
BTW, the 8th was the ONLY inning where IWU pitching prevented the Vikings from leaving men on base; in EVERY other inning the Vikes stranded at least two men - final tally: 18 LOB!

I doubt that is the all-time record, but I can't ever recall more than that.  If NPU could have managed timely hits (they had 19(!) but managed only 5 runs), they'd already have the AQ, probably in a 'laugher'.  Again, from livestats alone, I have no way of knowing whether Titan pitchers performed the ultimate in 'bend, don't break' pitching, or the baseball gods just didn't like the Vikes in game one. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 04:47:51 PM
I'm off to a party soon; I'll expect commentary on game two when I get back!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 05:39:42 PM
I'd really love to have someone truly explain to me how the #1 seed, who is hosting the tournament, is the visitor in both games today. I don't get that one. ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: tjcummingsfan on May 12, 2012, 05:48:09 PM
I'm with you, that seems absurd!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 12, 2012, 06:04:50 PM
Two hits, two solo home runs for the Titans.   Need some more baserunners soon.  Down 5-2 in the 6th.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 06:20:31 PM
Make that 8-2, as it appears IWU's pitching staff has finally hit a wall.  18 LOB not good for North Park in game 1, but certainly led to a lot of stressful pitches for that pitching staff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 06:22:48 PM
By the way, quite the lightning-in-a bottle situation for North Park at DH.  Joe Belmonte, a freshman from Conant, has 4 RBI today and has been quite the force in this tournament.  I feel bad for Brad Medina, the mainstay at that spot, but this frosh sure picked the right time to seize the day!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 12, 2012, 06:47:02 PM
Czarnowski with a 2-run shot.  3rd homer of the game for the Titans.  Brings them to within 8-4 after 8.  Knocked Garcia, NPU's starter, out of the game.  We'll see if they can do anything against NPU's bullpen in the 9th. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 07:06:58 PM
YES!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 12, 2012, 07:12:27 PM
Congrats to North Park on a conference title!  My take after following live stats, you have to credit Garcia and the North Park pitching staff in Game 2.  IWU's #1 and #2 hole hitters combined to go 0-10.  You would think that 3 home runs would produce more than 4 runs, but not today.  NPU's pitching staff seemed to do a nice job limiting the damage, which is so important in a late round, tournament setting.

Interested to see the NCAA selections and pairings.  Good luck to NPU (and hopufully IWU) in the Regional!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 09:04:24 PM
Man, does this feel good! Back in the '80s, it felt as though regular-season titles, tournament titles, and D3 tourney appearances were practically a matter of routine for North Park baseball. I took it for granted. Moral of the story: Never take success for granted. Ever.

Luke Johnson has done an amazing job of turning around the NPU baseball program. And today was a huge milestone. But, as I said to him during the celebration party afterwards, it's a milestone ... not a destination.

Congratulations to the 2012 CCIW tournament champion, and NCAA tourney-bound, North Park University Vikings!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 09:08:36 PM
Great day to be a Viking! Couldn't be at the game, but was getting fed live updates. I will DEFINITELY be at the regionals! Look for North Park to get a 3-seed or 2-seed in the Central Regional. Would be surprised if IWU doesn't get a Pool C bid. If they do, they are probably going to get shipped to Whitewater.

Question: Does winning the conference tourney automatically put you in the Central Region, or could North Park get shipped to Whitewater since it is closer than Rhodes???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 09:10:35 PM
Wish I knew. Everyone at the postgame party at NPU today seemed convinced that the Vikings will be hopping on a plane to Memphis this week, but I don't see that written in stone anywhere.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 09:12:14 PM
Quote from: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:00:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out. ;)

You're right. I meant "obstruction". Thanks, and thanks for the follow-up explanation regarding the obstruction rule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 09:27:44 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 05:39:42 PM
I'd really love to have someone truly explain to me how the #1 seed, who is hosting the tournament, is the visitor in both games today. I don't get that one. ???

In the first round's games, home and away are determined by seeding. After that, home and away rotate so that everyone either plays an even number of home and away games, or is never more than one game away from playing an even number of home and away games.

Going into today's final game, NPU had been home for two and away for one. IWU had been home for two and away for two. Since NPU needed another away game to balance out at two and two, the Vikings had to be the away team again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 10:06:18 PM
The story line today was that Luke Johnson was able to go into the final game with a well-rested veteran starter available in Paul Garcia (3-3, 3.42), with talented sophomore Merrick McGrady in his back pocket, while on the other side of the field Dennis Martel was scraping the bottom of the barrel. There's a reason why IWU's Game Seven starter Nick Mehn had fallen out of favor with Martel; his 6.99 ERA coming into the game was not a typo. The Vikings had him squared up pretty consistently, and when they finally broke through they were able to seize a 5-1 lead off of him that they would not relinquish. After that, it was more or less Martel throwing anybody out there that he could in an effort to stave off the Vikings, but nothing really worked for him. Garcia, meanwhle, threw an awesome game. He made two bad pitches -- one to Kevin Sullivan and the other to Kevin Callahan -- both of which were knocked out of the park. After Callahan reached on an error with one out in the eighth, Bobby Czarnowski golfed a shin-high Garcia fastball into the right-field stands. Nothing wrong with the pitch; a very strong hitter simply went down outside the zone and lifted it into the seats. But that was it for Garcia. Can't take anything away from him for that, or for anything he did today. For a guy whose work load had been much reduced lately -- he didn't pitch at all against NCC last weekend, and hadn't started since getting knocked around by Augustana back on April 15 -- Garcia came up absolutely huge today. And, as I said, Luke Johnson had Merrick McGrady in his back pocket. He hadn't been used against NCC last weekend, either, nor had he been brought in out of the pen yet in the tourney. His fresh arm was exactly what the Vikings needed in the eighth and ninth innings to get them over the top.

Quote from: Viking Blue on May 12, 2012, 06:22:48 PM
By the way, quite the lightning-in-a bottle situation for North Park at DH.  Joe Belmonte, a freshman from Conant, has 4 RBI today and has been quite the force in this tournament.  I feel bad for Brad Medina, the mainstay at that spot, but this frosh sure picked the right time to seize the day!

Belmonte really came up big today. Joel Bonnett and Kyle Williams had huge tournaments at the plate as well, and every Viking, really, got in on the action. If I remember correctly, the Vikings collected 33 hits total in today's two games, and 23 combined hits in the Thursday and Friday games. But Tony Sanchez was the man. Not only was his grand slam yesterday the biggest hit of the tournament, but he did a lot of damage today as well, going 5-10 with a pair of doubles, two runs, and three RBI. I think A.J. Nathan is a tremendous hitter and catcher, but he's only the second-best player at his position in this league. Tony Sanchez rocked this tournament the way that he's rocked the entire CCIW this season.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 04:45:56 PM
BTW, the 8th was the ONLY inning where IWU pitching prevented the Vikings from leaving men on base; in EVERY other inning the Vikes stranded at least two men - final tally: 18 LOB!

I doubt that is the all-time record, but I can't ever recall more than that.  If NPU could have managed timely hits (they had 19(!) but managed only 5 runs), they'd already have the AQ, probably in a 'laugher'.  Again, from livestats alone, I have no way of knowing whether Titan pitchers performed the ultimate in 'bend, don't break' pitching, or the baseball gods just didn't like the Vikes in game one. :P

I don't think it was Titans pitching, which was distinctly unimpressive all day today. I think it was more a matter of the Titans making a lot of key plays behind their pitchers -- their defense was outstanding throughout the tournament -- and overanxious Vikings losing some plate discipline and swinging at some bad pitches. But that first game today was a hair-pulling ordeal for Vikings fans. How do you get 19 hits and lose?

Fortunately, it didn't matter in the end. NPU couldn't match all the spectacular moonshots that the Titans hit today, but you can't live on homers alone. The Vikings were much more offensively consistent in terms of pecking away with singles and doubles, drawing walks, moving over runners, and (in game two, at least) getting timely hits -- and in the long run their better pitching prevailed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 12, 2012, 10:07:55 PM
How is this prediction looking now?

Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 10, 2010, 11:24:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

I think you are giving Coach Driggers too much credit for the voting.  This Wheaton team lost two relief pitchers and a back up catcher.  Only one, Ed McCaskey, made a significant impact. Not to mention, they have a few players who transfered or coming off injury.

With a second place finish in the conference tournament, I think the Coach's voting has them right where they should be, maybe even a spot too low. 

Carthage is the clear cut favorite...regardless of who they lost.
Coach Driggers will turn the program around.

They will be a regional contender by his 5th season (2013).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 10:34:49 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 12, 2012, 10:07:55 PM
How is this prediction looking now?

Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 10, 2010, 11:24:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on February 10, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 10, 2010, 06:24:32 PM
I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman! :o

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

I think you are giving Coach Driggers too much credit for the voting.  This Wheaton team lost two relief pitchers and a back up catcher.  Only one, Ed McCaskey, made a significant impact. Not to mention, they have a few players who transfered or coming off injury.

With a second place finish in the conference tournament, I think the Coach's voting has them right where they should be, maybe even a spot too low. 

Carthage is the clear cut favorite...regardless of who they lost.
Coach Driggers will turn the program around.

They will be a regional contender by his 5th season (2013).

An interesting dredge-up from the archives! 8-)

1. We don't yet know of course whether or not Wheaton will be a contender in 2013.

2. Kulavic was definitely NOT back 100%.  Nonetheless, IWU merely won the national championship in 2010! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 10:35:53 PM
So I take it North Park and North Central will NOT be playing tomorrow's matchup??

I was just told, to my surprise, that they ARE still playing their make-up game tomorrow. Not sure what benefit it gives them to play this, other than getting some guys a look who haven't played in a while.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 10:45:35 PM
No, they'll be playing it, at NCC's insistence. It's Senior Day for the Cardinals, and, let's be fair, the North Central seniors deserve their day as much as does any other group of seniors.

What we'll almost certainly see from the Vikings is a lot of reserves, particularly on the mound. I'll especially be shocked if Tony Sanchez, whom I think has caught every single inning that the Vikings have played this season (and has the aching knees and back to prove it), is even allowed to strap on the shinguards to catch in the bullpen tomorrow.

It's basically a meaningless game for both teams -- NCC's season is over, for all intents and purposes, and I doubt that a win or loss will affect NPU's seeding in any significant way -- but Senior Day decorum demands that it be played. I just hope nobody gets hurt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 10:58:30 PM
There had been speculation that Joe Sweeney would be called upon today.  He wasn't.

I haven't studied his outings, but my impression from the last few is that he is an 'ace' (possibly even a POY-level ace) for 4-5 innings, then runs out of steam.  In Thursday's game, he was unscored upon for 5 innings, then yielded 2 runs in the 6th and 3 (without an out) in the 7th.  The last game before that was similar.  For someone closer to the scene, does he have a strength problem (arm-specific, or general conditioning); or am I over-reacting?  He seems to start games like Pankau, Kulavic (before the injury), or Aronson, then suddenly become Joe Schmo.

I sure hope I'll be proved an idiot and he pitches a no-hitter next game! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:19:10 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2012, 10:58:30 PM
There had been speculation that Joe Sweeney would be called upon today.  He wasn't.

In light of this sort of thinking:

Quote from: Viking Blue on May 11, 2012, 11:08:25 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 11, 2012, 10:53:03 PM
Quote from: TitanPride on May 11, 2012, 10:30:28 PM
Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Sweeney come back. Only threw 6 innings on Thursday, and the Titans need a win.

No doubt about it.  If he's truly an ace, he's been lobbying for the ball tomorrow since the last out against North Park.

... either last night or this morning prior to the arrival of the two teams at Holmgren, Sweeney told a friend of his who's on the NPU team (whose name is being withheld for safety reasons ;)) that he (Sweeney) would not be pitching today. Speculation was rife among the Vikings that this was simply a strategic fib on Sweeney's part, but it turns out that it was true. He never went into the bullpen the entire afternoon, in spite of the fact that Martel ran through seven of his teammates (Kopp, Hayn, Frueh, Mehn, Conrad, Hart, and Johnson) on the day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 12, 2012, 11:26:19 PM
Sanchez had a good tournament but kind of faltered down the stretch for the Vikes. I don't think he threw a baserunner out at all during thru conference play ::). ALso had problems throwing the ball towards the end. I think Nathan still had a better year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 11:44:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

Gregory Sager 1      Jester 0
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 11:51:28 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 09:12:14 PM
Quote from: Randy Borow on May 12, 2012, 12:00:30 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2012, 10:01:06 PM

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out. ;)

You're right. I meant "obstruction". Thanks, and thanks for the follow-up explanation regarding the obstruction rule.

You're quite welcome, and congratulations to North Park on its tourney title. I am sure it's great to be an alumnus now, too. You alumni have every right to be proud. Your head coach did a fantastic job. It has been more than just enjoyable seeing him progress from that 15-year-old Elmhurst Colt League player whom I used to umpire to the successful head coach he is today and has been for the last few years. Of course, it makes me feel a bit old, but when one has been an umpire for 35 years, I guess this is to be expected.

Best wishes to NPU in the Regionals, and may their contests be free from injuries and issues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2012, 02:08:42 AM
I've now gone through Joe Sweeney's stats game-by-game for the 2012 season.  (Lest anyone think I am picking on a player, I am one of his biggest fans; just worried about his seeming lack of stamina.)

Only twice has he been rocked early: in the first conference game of the season, Wheaton nailed him for 9 earned runs in 1.2 innings (his era never did recover); Carthage got him for 5 runs in 4.1 innings on 4-15.  Otherwise he has been lights out for 5-6 innings (I didn't attempt a calculation, but my eyeball estimate would be about a 1.50 era for innings 1-5 or 6 if those games are omitted).  On the other hand, only twice has he been effective past the sixth inning: he gave up only 2 runs in 8 innings (none past the 5th) against CUC on 3-18, and had a complete game win against Augie (1 run; 0 earned runs) on 4-27.  In his last two games (both against Elmhurst), he had 1 run in the first (combined) 5 innings, 3 in the 6th, and 6 in the 7th (and no outs in one of those games).  Barring the Wheaton and Carthage fiascos, he seems to be nearly Aronson or Palkau early on, but rarely seems able to finish.

Anyone closer to the scene who can elaborate?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 13, 2012, 10:11:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2012, 02:08:42 AM
I've now gone through Joe Sweeney's stats game-by-game for the 2012 season.  (Lest anyone think I am picking on a player, I am one of his biggest fans; just worried about his seeming lack of stamina.)

Only twice has he been rocked early: in the first conference game of the season, Wheaton nailed him for 9 earned runs in 1.2 innings (his era never did recover); Carthage got him for 5 runs in 4.1 innings on 4-15.  Otherwise he has been lights out for 5-6 innings (I didn't attempt a calculation, but my eyeball estimate would be about a 1.50 era for innings 1-5 or 6 if those games are omitted).  On the other hand, only twice has he been effective past the sixth inning: he gave up only 2 runs in 8 innings (none past the 5th) against CUC on 3-18, and had a complete game win against Augie (1 run; 0 earned runs) on 4-27.  In his last two games (both against Elmhurst), he had 1 run in the first (combined) 5 innings, 3 in the 6th, and 6 in the 7th (and no outs in one of those games).  Barring the Wheaton and Carthage fiascos, he seems to be nearly Aronson or Palkau early on, but rarely seems able to finish.

Anyone closer to the scene who can elaborate?

I have watched Joe the last four years, including his no-hitter at home last year.  Recall that he had some arm issues in the summer/fall.  I don't know if there is any specific reason, but he obviously wasn't as strong late.  That being said, what pitcher is, as a rule? 

When you break down a season, Joe had some good wins, especially the veteran performance in beating Augie the first game of their series.  He will be missed in the IWU rotation.  But the Titans have a LOT of young arms that have big upsides - and lose only two starting position players.  I look for them to be a factor again next year.

Of course, I don't think this year is finished yet as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on May 13, 2012, 11:58:17 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.
Sanchez did indeed have a good year and was certainly a force for NPU. You're right about the roles each played in the lineup. Nathan is a great contact hitter. Nathan only struck out 3 times in 164 AB while Sanchez K'd 15 times in 177.
However, when it comes to base running, Nathan threw out 21 of 35 runners versus Sanchez throwing out only 6 of 30 runners.
Nathan is a fast runner, his job was to be on base for the thumpers. Sanchez was a thumper.
The bottom line is both played giant roles for their teams and perhaps IWU will get the call and they can meet again in the regionals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 02:37:27 PM
North Park continues to stroke the ball as they score 4 runs in the 2nd. 7 of the 9 starters are in the game for North Park (No Rice or Sanchez). UPDATE: North Park scored 8 runs in the top of the 9th, getting 11 consecutive batters on base before North Central could record an out.

UPDATE: North Park beats North Central with a final score of 16-9. The Vikings pounded out 21 hits and recorded their 32nd win of the season. It was a long day for North Central pitchers as they used 6 different pitchers in the game, 3 of which were used in the top half of the 9th inning. Joel Bonnet stayed hot with a 4-5 day, 2 rbi's, 1hr. Mike Coduto recorded 5 rbi's on 3 hits as well.

**I would not want to face this North Park team in the Regionals as they are really heating up at the right time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2012, 05:23:35 PM
NPU beats NCC in the league's meaningless regular-season finale, 16-9. As usual for such a game, there was a lot of roster craziness and substitutions for both sides.

One notable matter is that Joel Bonnett, who came into the game leading the league in batting average, secured the batting title by going 4-5 to finish with a .458 batting average in CCIW play. He had a big day today, with a homer, a steal, four runs, and a pair of RBI. Although he only became NPU's starting first baseman about halfway through the CCIW season, he had more than enough AB to qualify for the title. He is the first North Park batting champion since Dan Casas led the CCIW at a .539 clip all the way back in 1993. Congrats to Joel on that accomplishment!

Now it's on to bigger and better things for NPU (and, most likely, IWU).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on May 13, 2012, 06:46:23 PM
Got to watch some of this game. North Park looked very good. Good Luck to them in the post season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2012, 08:37:26 PM
Does anyone know exactly when the announcements come out regarding regionals, and where that information can be found?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 08:47:00 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2012, 08:37:26 PM
Does anyone know exactly when the announcements come out regarding regionals, and where that information can be found?

Supposed to be Midnight, but last year they didn't come out until about 5:30 am :/
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: NCF on May 13, 2012, 09:14:57 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 08:47:00 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 13, 2012, 08:37:26 PM
Does anyone know exactly when the announcements come out regarding regionals, and where that information can be found?

Supposed to be Midnight, but last year they didn't come out until about 5:30 am :/
Why such odd hours? Does it have to do with late Sunday games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 09:21:55 PM
Each regional committee meets tonight and then sends a final list to the national selection committee afterwards. Then the real game begins... Not only are teams selected, but placed into a region and then seeded... It's a looooooong process full of debate and justification of seeds.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 13, 2012, 09:23:10 PM
I heard talk that NPU could get sent out West. Any chance that happens?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 09:24:56 PM
Now that they won the Pool A bid I think they stay in the central. I could see IWU going to west or Midwest
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 13, 2012, 10:09:47 PM
Who foots the bill for travel? If NPU gets sent to Tennessee do they fly or bus it?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:12:21 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 13, 2012, 10:09:47 PM
Who foots the bill for travel? If NPU gets sent to Tennessee do they fly or bus it?
NCAA pays the bill... Anything over 500 miles is flown, bussed under 500 miles. If NPU goes to TN, they will likely fly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2012, 10:15:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:12:21 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 13, 2012, 10:09:47 PM
Who foots the bill for travel? If NPU gets sent to Tennessee do they fly or bus it?
NCAA pays the bill... Anything over 500 miles is flown, bussed under 500 miles. If NPU goes to TN, they will likely fly.

Not sure of the 'official' mileage, but if NPU would have to be flown, my guess would be IWU to TN, NPU to Whitewater.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 10:18:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2012, 10:15:33 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:12:21 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 13, 2012, 10:09:47 PM
Who foots the bill for travel? If NPU gets sent to Tennessee do they fly or bus it?
NCAA pays the bill... Anything over 500 miles is flown, bussed under 500 miles. If NPU goes to TN, they will likely fly.

Not sure of the 'official' mileage, but if NPU would have to be flown, my guess would be IWU to TN, NPU to Whitewater.

I believe North Park is 535 miles away from Tennessee.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 13, 2012, 10:18:58 PM
Wow.  Lots of questions answered there!  Thanks to all of you guys.  And based on everything I read, I would have to agree with Ypsi that the NCAA would not want to foot an unnecessary bill and the Vikings will be heading north.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:23:20 PM
Sadly, I think NPU's reward for winning will be shipping out to the Midwest region... While IWU lost and will get to stay in the central region... Logically it makes no sense but economically it makes perfect sense.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 10:34:06 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:23:20 PM
Sadly, I think NPU's reward for winning will be shipping out to the Midwest region... While IWU lost and will get to stay in the central region... Logically it makes no sense but economically it makes perfect sense.

If true, the good news is that St. Thomas should get shipped out West as well, which makes the Midwest a little more inviting for North Park. Birmingham Southern will be in the Central, and should have an easy road to Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:37:45 PM
NOTHING is easy at this point in the season... All wins are good wins and all losses hurt more than the rest combined.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 13, 2012, 10:43:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:37:45 PM
NOTHING is easy at this point in the season... All wins are good wins and all losses hurt more than the rest combined.

True, but I'm sure other teams, if given the choice, would go to the Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2012, 10:59:22 PM
That's what they thought in 2010 (and thought in Appleton about IWU)! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 03:31:47 AM
NCAA playoff field released (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2012/05/playoff-field)

North Park will go to the Midwest Regional (Whitewater), along with Aurora and Concordia-Chicago.  Illinois Wesleyan will go the the Central (Millington, TN) also with Wash U and Webster.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2012, 09:05:21 AM
Had the opportunity to see Concordia and Aurora square off earlier this year (5 former players playing for those two teams).  Quite a battle, and a seemingly-heated rivalry between those two.  Glad to see a couple other schools from the area represented in the Whitewater regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 14, 2012, 09:26:54 AM
Interesting to see that Wesleyan got the 6 seed in the tourney. They will face a tough first round opponent in Birmingham Southern. I would have thought that Webster, who's the 5 seed, and Wesleyan would have been switched, considering Wesleyan has a stronger SOS, and better record vs In-Region opponents.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: badgerwarhawk on May 14, 2012, 10:42:01 AM
Greg, will you be coming to WW for the tournament? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 14, 2012, 11:41:08 AM
Quote from: badgerwarhawk on May 14, 2012, 10:42:01 AM
Greg, will you be coming to WW for the tournament?

I'll be there! I know you were concerned :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 14, 2012, 01:05:57 PM
The All-Conference team was announced today.

http://cciw.org/sports/2012/5/14/BB_0514123120.aspx?id=748

Nick Soldano and Mike Trotta share the Pitcher of the Year Award. Callahan receives the Player of the Year Award, and Luke Johnson wins his 2nd Coach of the Year Award in a row, splitting it with Joel Southern this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 01:18:12 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 14, 2012, 01:05:57 PM
The All-Conference team was announced today.

http://cciw.org/sports/2012/5/14/BB_0514123120.aspx?id=748

Nick Soldano and Mike Trotta share the Pitcher of the Year Award. Callahan receives the Player of the Year Award, and Luke Johnson wins his 2nd Coach of the Year Award in a row, splitting it with Joel Southern this year.
Outstanding!  Congratulations to all the players from every school who earned the honors!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 14, 2012, 01:38:41 PM
Man....outstanding news for Coach Johnson, though you have to really respect the job that Joel Southern has done at Elmhurst.  I know that thought has been tossed out there earlier in this forum.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 01:46:35 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 14, 2012, 01:38:41 PM
Man....outstanding news for Coach Johnson, though you have to really respect the job that Joel Southern has done at Elmhurst.  I know that thought has been tossed out there earlier in this forum.
Joel Southern has done a great job this year, and had he won it outright, it would have been very well deserved.  How many picked Elmhurst to make the CCIW Tournament this year? 

That said, I'm very happy to see Luke Johnson earn co-coach honors.  He has done a great job of rebuilding a team that had one returning position player from last year's squad.  Now they are heading for the NCAA Regionals.  Well done!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 05:44:41 PM
Congrats to everyone who made the All-CCIW team, particularly the seven Vikings who earned All-CCIW status. And a special congrats to Luke Johnson upon repeating as COY, and to Nick Soldano upon his Co-Pitcher of the Year award.

Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 01:46:35 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 14, 2012, 01:38:41 PM
Man....outstanding news for Coach Johnson, though you have to really respect the job that Joel Southern has done at Elmhurst.  I know that thought has been tossed out there earlier in this forum.
Joel Southern has done a great job this year, and had he won it outright, it would have been very well deserved.  How many picked Elmhurst to make the CCIW Tournament this year? 

That said, I'm very happy to see Luke Johnson earn co-coach honors.  He has done a great job of rebuilding a team that had one returning position player from last year's squad.  Now they are heading for the NCAA Regionals.  Well done!

My thoughts exactly, on both counts.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:37:45 PM
NOTHING is easy at this point in the season... All wins are good wins and all losses hurt more than the rest combined.

Very well said, BP.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2012, 10:23:20 PM
Sadly, I think NPU's reward for winning will be shipping out to the Midwest region... While IWU lost and will get to stay in the central region... Logically it makes no sense but economically it makes perfect sense.

The downside is that NPU got placed into what appears to be a stronger regional than IWU's. The upside is that, as a higher seed, the Park appears to be in a better position than IWU is for their respective first games.

I figured it was going to play out this way. I know the NCAA and its cost-conscious habits vis-a-vis D3 tournaments far too well to have put much stock in the idea that the Vikings would be sent to a regional where they'd have to fly in on the NCAA's dime when they were within busing distance of another regional.

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on May 14, 2012, 10:42:01 AM
Greg, will you be coming to WW for the tournament? 

At this point, I'm tentatively planning to be at UWW for the CSS @ NPU game on Wednesday afternoon, BW. It all depends upon how my ride holds up, but he appears to be leaning towards making the drive up there for it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:03:21 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 11:44:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

Gregory Sager 1      Jester 0
Are you sure about this score now? Seems people in the CCIW agreed with me and not Mr. Sager. Seems they do take both sides into consideration. I thought the way Greg was talking that Sanchez was going to win POY also. Seems the score should now be Jester 1 Sager 0
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:08:04 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on his Pitcher of the Year award. Also congrats to the rest of the NPU Vikings for being named All Conference.  Is this a record for NPU on the number of All Conference selections?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 06:42:52 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:08:04 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on his Pitcher of the Year award. Also congrats to the rest of the NPU Vikings for being named All Conference.  Is this a record for NPU on the number of All Conference selections?
A quick look at the historical data (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/honors.html) shows that this ties the number of honors for the 1983 squad.  The 1984 team had five first-team selections.  More recently, the 2009, 2010, and 2011 teams each had six all-CCIWs, plus three Rawlings Golden Gloves thrown in for good measure.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 06:44:40 PM
Jester: See my PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 06:45:08 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:03:21 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 11:44:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

Gregory Sager 1      Jester 0
Are you sure about this score now? Seems people in the CCIW agreed with me and not Mr. Sager. Seems they do take both sides into consideration. I thought the way Greg was talking that Sanchez was going to win POY also. Seems the score should now be Jester 1 Sager 0
I don't think Greg was talking up Sanchez to the point of POY.  But having watched Sanchez for all of the home games, and having seen Nathan for just a few games in the CCIW Tournament, I daresay he was basing his argument not just on the numbers but also on observed performance.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 07:10:46 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 06:45:08 PMI don't think Greg was talking up Sanchez to the point of POY.  But having watched Sanchez for all of the home games, and having seen Nathan for just a few games in the CCIW Tournament, I daresay he was basing his argument not just on the numbers but also on observed performance.

Precisely. Thanks, DB.

Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 06:42:52 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:08:04 PM
Congrats to Nick Soldano on his Pitcher of the Year award. Also congrats to the rest of the NPU Vikings for being named All Conference.  Is this a record for NPU on the number of All Conference selections?
A quick look at the historical data (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/history/honors.html) shows that this ties the number of honors for the 1983 squad.

One of those '83 All-CCIWers, shortstop Randy Ross, is the best player I've ever seen don a Vikings uni. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Dodgers in 1983.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 14, 2012, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2012, 06:45:08 PM
Quote from: jester13 on May 14, 2012, 06:03:21 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 12, 2012, 11:44:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

Gregory Sager 1      Jester 0
Are you sure about this score now? Seems people in the CCIW agreed with me and not Mr. Sager. Seems they do take both sides into consideration. I thought the way Greg was talking that Sanchez was going to win POY also. Seems the score should now be Jester 1 Sager 0
I don't think Greg was talking up Sanchez to the point of POY.  But having watched Sanchez for all of the home games, and having seen Nathan for just a few games in the CCIW Tournament, I daresay he was basing his argument not just on the numbers but also on observed performance.

Being a former catcher myself, I know first hand there is a lot of wear and tear on individuals playing that position.  Both of these athletes caught the majority of innings for the year.  For either of them to have the offensive year they had is very impressive - I would advocate TWO catchers on the 1st team anyway.  It only seems fair if there were five pitchers.

I'm a fan of the IWU program, but watched Sanchez play locally at Heartland Community College before he moved on to Chicago State.  In fact, he sort of got a raw deal at the end of his sophomore year - his playing time was cut significantly without a lot of explanation (or so I was told).  With that being said, it was nice to see him have such a successful year his senior year.  You can't go wrong with either player on your team - they both deserved first team accolades in my opinion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 09:39:37 PM
Catchers always seem to stick up for one another. Catchers must be like the Marines -- you're never an ex-catcher, just a retired one. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
Hopefully North Park can continue their recent good play as they face a tough St. Scholastica team.  They are currently 3rd in the nation in team batting average.  One kid is actually hitting .459 on the season!!   :o :o :o

I think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:15:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 09:39:37 PM
Catchers always seem to stick up for one another. Catchers must be like the Marines -- you're never an ex-catcher, just a retired one. ;)

There is some truth to that.  But try doing up downs for 8 innings and then see how much bat speed you have left in that critical moment in the 9th.   :D 

Plus, we have to deal with pitchers more than anyone, which, as most know, are a weird breed anyway.....

Fire away.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
Hopefully North Park can continue their recent good play as they face a tough St. Scholastica team.  They are currently 3rd in the nation in team batting average.  One kid is actually hitting .459 on the season!!   :o :o :o

I think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 15, 2012, 11:09:06 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:15:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 09:39:37 PM
Catchers always seem to stick up for one another. Catchers must be like the Marines -- you're never an ex-catcher, just a retired one. ;)

There is some truth to that.  But try doing up downs for 8 innings and then see how much bat speed you have left in that critical moment in the 9th.   :D 

Plus, we have to deal with pitchers more than anyone, which, as most know, are a weird breed anyway.....

Fire away.

I'd consider what you just said catchers do, and then ask yourself....who's the weird one? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2012, 11:25:07 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

I am a little late to the conversation, but are we talking about all game stats or conference stats?

My knowledge of the all-conference was that it was selected based on conference statistics.  Am I wrong?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 15, 2012, 03:47:12 PM
Congrats to former North park pitching coach Steve Hardman who won the NAC Coach of the Year award. He took Dominican University to a 21-22 overall record as they reached the NAC tournament in his first year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: biggio34 on May 15, 2012, 05:14:21 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
Hopefully North Park can continue their recent good play as they face a tough St. Scholastica team.  They are currently 3rd in the nation in team batting average.  One kid is actually hitting .459 on the season!!   :o :o :o

I think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).

I can speak to the quality of their conference opponents... outside of two teams, they are brutal.  Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern are decent programs who always give the Saints a good game, but outside of that its pretty thin.

As far as how battle tested they are... they have played St Thomas (#1 seed), Lacrosse (#2 seed), Whitewater (#4 seed), Keystone (#1 seed), Washington U (#2 seed).  I think that probably stacks up against anyone else in the country as far as a non conference schedule goes.  They also have many players back who last year went to the regional championship, so they have some experience. 

But yes, their conference sucks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2012, 05:16:46 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PMI think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

I'll probably get to the UWW ballpark sometime in the middle of the St. Thomas vs. St. Norbert game, which precedes the NPU vs. St. Scholastica game.

(Given the lineup of teams in this regional, perhaps I should start referring to my alma mater as St. North Park, or as UWNPU. ;))

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
Hopefully North Park can continue their recent good play as they face a tough St. Scholastica team.  They are currently 3rd in the nation in team batting average.  One kid is actually hitting .459 on the season!!   :o :o :o

I think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).

Along those lines, check out the season standings in the UMAC:

St. Scholastica   21-0   33-9
Bethany Lutheran   14-5   22-17
Northwestern   14-6   25-16
Northland     9-12   16-25
Presentation     9-12   13-24
Martin Luther     7-14     8-22
Minnesota-Morris     6-13     6-30
Crown     2-19     3-23

Food for thought.

Quote from: Viking Blue on May 15, 2012, 11:09:06 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:15:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 09:39:37 PM
Catchers always seem to stick up for one another. Catchers must be like the Marines -- you're never an ex-catcher, just a retired one. ;)

There is some truth to that.  But try doing up downs for 8 innings and then see how much bat speed you have left in that critical moment in the 9th.   :D 

Plus, we have to deal with pitchers more than anyone, which, as most know, are a weird breed anyway.....

Fire away.

I'd consider what you just said catchers do, and then ask yourself....who's the weird one? ;D

In case you haven't figured it out, Viking Blue was a pitcher. ;)

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2012, 11:25:07 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

I am a little late to the conversation, but are we talking about all game stats or conference stats?

Both. Sanchez dominated the overall stats. The CCIW stats were split, with Nathan winning the on-base stats and Sanchez winning the power stats.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2012, 11:25:07 AMMy knowledge of the all-conference was that it was selected based on conference statistics.  Am I wrong?

Conference statistics and tournament statistics, as far as I know. I believe that that's why the coaches wait until the tournament is over before selecting the All-CCIW team. And, as has been pointed out, Sanchez probably would've been the CCIW tourney MVP this year, if there was such an award, while Nathan had a pretty undistinguished (.273/.292/.364, with a run and two RBI) tourney.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 15, 2012, 03:47:12 PM
Congrats to former North park pitching coach Steve Hardman who won the NAC Coach of the Year award. He took Dominican University to a 21-22 overall record as they reached the NAC tournament in his first year.

I'll second that. The Stars improved by 12 games this season, with one of those 21 wins they accumulated being a 21-4 romp over Elmhurst at the end of March.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 16, 2012, 08:56:52 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2012, 05:16:46 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PMI think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

I'll probably get to the UWW ballpark sometime in the middle of the St. Thomas vs. St. Norbert game, which precedes the NPU vs. St. Scholastica game.

(Given the lineup of teams in this regional, perhaps I should start referring to my alma mater as St. North Park, or as UWNPU. ;))

Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:17:45 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 14, 2012, 11:59:07 PM
Hopefully North Park can continue their recent good play as they face a tough St. Scholastica team.  They are currently 3rd in the nation in team batting average.  One kid is actually hitting .459 on the season!!   :o :o :o

I think UW-Lacrosse is the team to beat in the regional, but it's loaded.  Greg, if you're going to be there, let me know.  I might leave work early to see a game or two.

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).

Along those lines, check out the season standings in the UMAC:

St. Scholastica   21-0   33-9
Bethany Lutheran   14-5   22-17
Northwestern   14-6   25-16
Northland     9-12   16-25
Presentation     9-12   13-24
Martin Luther     7-14     8-22
Minnesota-Morris     6-13     6-30
Crown     2-19     3-23

Food for thought.

Quote from: Viking Blue on May 15, 2012, 11:09:06 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 15, 2012, 09:15:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2012, 09:39:37 PM
Catchers always seem to stick up for one another. Catchers must be like the Marines -- you're never an ex-catcher, just a retired one. ;)

There is some truth to that.  But try doing up downs for 8 innings and then see how much bat speed you have left in that critical moment in the 9th.   :D 

Plus, we have to deal with pitchers more than anyone, which, as most know, are a weird breed anyway.....

Fire away.

I'd consider what you just said catchers do, and then ask yourself....who's the weird one? ;D

In case you haven't figured it out, Viking Blue was a pitcher. ;)

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2012, 11:25:07 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2012, 11:39:53 PM
Nope. Sanchez beat Nathan in almost every non-counting-stat hitting category, and he beat him in most counting-stat categories as well -- in spite of the fact that the Titans have played three more games to date than the Vikings. And are you really serious about Sanchez and CCIW baserunners, or is the smiley indicating that you're not? 'cause only seven CCIW baserunners even tried to run on Sanchez (and, thus, NPU). That's less than half of what each other team in the league had to face in terms of attempted steals.

I realize that Sanchez and Nathan are different types of hitters; Nathan's a table-setter, while Sanchez is a run-producer. But Sanchez basically had to function as NPU's only legitimate power threat this year due to Brad Medina's struggles at the plate. For him to thrive in a situation in which he hardly ever got to see a serious fastball due to the lack of protection behind him in the lineup is a testament to his ability as a hitter.

I am a little late to the conversation, but are we talking about all game stats or conference stats?

Both. Sanchez dominated the overall stats. The CCIW stats were split, with Nathan winning the on-base stats and Sanchez winning the power stats.
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 15, 2012, 11:25:07 AMMy knowledge of the all-conference was that it was selected based on conference statistics.  Am I wrong?

Conference statistics and tournament statistics, as far as I know. I believe that that's why the coaches wait until the tournament is over before selecting the All-CCIW team. And, as has been pointed out, Sanchez probably would've been the CCIW tourney MVP this year, if there was such an award, while Nathan had a pretty undistinguished (.273/.292/.364, with a run and two RBI) tourney.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 15, 2012, 03:47:12 PM
Congrats to former North park pitching coach Steve Hardman who won the NAC Coach of the Year award. He took Dominican University to a 21-22 overall record as they reached the NAC tournament in his first year.

I'll second that. The Stars improved by 12 games this season, with one of those 21 wins they accumulated being a 21-4 romp over Elmhurst at the end of March.

The single most important statistic for quantifying offensive value is OBP.  Nathan's OBP was over 100 pts higher than Sanchez.  That is a much larger gap than the difference between their power statistics (3 HR vs. 2 HR, 6 2b vs. 4 2b). 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2012, 03:28:52 PM
The Titans fall to #1 seed Birmingham-Southern, 7-4.  Sweeney pitched a heckuva a game, leading 3-2 after six, but was chased in the 7th, with BSC getting 3 runs.  They added 2 more (unearned) in the 8th after a throwing error on what would have been the third out in a 1,2,3 inning - I HATE when that happens! >:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 16, 2012, 06:31:49 PM
Have a day Joe Belmonte ;D.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: OshDude on May 16, 2012, 06:40:01 PM
It's been a frustrating game to listen to. Let's see who gives away more runs. In a twist of the phrase, it's a shame one team has to win this game. I'm sure it'll be beautiful to the winning team, but this is a war of attrition.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bronko7 on May 16, 2012, 08:31:12 PM

[/quote]

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).[/quote]
[/quote]

They looked pretty battle tested today coming back against the mighty CCIW squad. Especially giving NP a nice early lead with poor D.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on May 16, 2012, 10:52:37 PM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 16, 2012, 08:31:12 PM


For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).[/quote]
[/quote]

They looked pretty battle tested today coming back against the mighty CCIW squad. Especially giving NP a nice early lead with poor D.

[/quote]

Well stated.  Any baseball man knows not to take his opponent lightly.  Not that the Vikings did (or didn't).  Either way, time to get back after it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 17, 2012, 08:00:30 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on May 16, 2012, 10:52:37 PM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 16, 2012, 08:31:12 PM

Quote

For a team to go 21-0 in their conference like Scholastica did, you sure have to wonder about the quality of opponents they face.  I'm certain they have some good players, but wonder how battle tested they will be (especially in an 8-team regional).


They looked pretty battle tested today coming back against the mighty CCIW squad. Especially giving NP a nice early lead with poor D.


Well stated.  Any baseball man knows not to take his opponent lightly.  Not that the Vikings did (or didn't).  Either way, time to get back after it.


It was a comment about their ability to compete throughout the entire tournament, not just win one game.  Everybody generally has one arm to throw out there that's going to make them competitive (today's score not withstanding).  If you're suggesting Scholastica could approach that record in the CCIW, I'd sure like to see that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 10:44:36 AM
Not sure reading is a strong point on here, but I don't believe I stated anything about them going 21-0 I get the CCIW. The comment was based on a prior post questioning how tested St. Scholastica was. Yes the conference is bad, not a secret. The teams they've played outside the UMAC include: St. Thomas, Keystone, Lacrosse, Whitewater, Messiah, Wash U. All these teams are in a regional. Think they had some decent games to test them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 17, 2012, 11:14:56 AM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 10:44:36 AM
Not sure reading is a strong point on here, but I don't believe I stated anything about them going 21-0 I get the CCIW. The comment was based on a prior post questioning how tested St. Scholastica was. Yes the conference is bad, not a secret. The teams they've played outside the UMAC include: St. Thomas, Keystone, Lacrosse, Whitewater, Messiah, Wash U. All these teams are in a regional. Think they had some decent games to test them.

We can debate reading comprehension, but that isn't the point.  I "wondered" how battle tested they were since they hadn't been playing good competition every weekend during the conference season.  I'm working from memory here, but I thought most of those other contests were earlier in the season.  I sensed sarcasm with the "mighty CCIW squad" comment, which is why I made the point I did.

That being said, is it really a big stretch to dismiss any school from that conference as a contender?  When was the last team from St. Scholastica's conference to win a Regional?  I'm just asking - I don't know - but I'm thinking none of those teams jump out as perennial contenders.  It's tough for any team that far north to be a powerhouse every year, IMO.

Credit where credit is due - nice win yesterday.  It will be interesting to see how the Region plays out - they were picked as the Cinderella team in the D3baseball.com regional preview.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 11:34:46 AM
Neither CSS, nor any UMAC team, has moved beyond a regional setting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: biggio34 on May 17, 2012, 11:54:58 AM
"It's tough for any team that far north to be a powerhouse every year, IMO."




Where is the geographical point of latitude on the map where teams start becoming powerhouses?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 12:01:35 PM
Quote from: biggio34 on May 17, 2012, 11:54:58 AM
"It's tough for any team that far north to be a powerhouse every year, IMO."




Where is the geographical point of latitude on the map where teams start becoming powerhouses?

It appears to be at whatever latitude St. Thomas resides at ;)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: biggio34 on May 17, 2012, 12:03:54 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 12:01:35 PM
Quote from: biggio34 on May 17, 2012, 11:54:58 AM
"It's tough for any team that far north to be a powerhouse every year, IMO."




Where is the geographical point of latitude on the map where teams start becoming powerhouses?

It appears to be at whatever latitude St. Thomas resides at ;)

Touché
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 12:39:23 PM
Each individual sport doesn't get to pick they're conference unfortunately so playing 21 games in the UMAC does CSS no favors, hence they're #6 seed. And yes CSS has not advanced to the World Series, but I will argue that the Midwest Regional is consistently one of the toughest in the country year in and year out. Has a CCIW that got moved to the Midwest ever made it through? I do know that the two times a CCIW has had to play CSS in a regional (Carthage 09 & North Park 12) they've lost. Not bad with their geographic crutch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 01:13:02 PM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 12:39:23 PM
Each individual sport doesn't get to pick they're conference unfortunately so playing 21 games in the UMAC does CSS no favors, hence they're #6 seed. And yes CSS has not advanced to the World Series, but I will argue that the Midwest Regional is consistently one of the toughest in the country year in and year out. Has a CCIW that got moved to the Midwest ever made it through? I do know that the two times a CCIW has had to play CSS in a regional (Carthage 09 & North Park 12) they've lost. Not bad with their geographic crutch.

Why are you so angry? No one is saying that CSS is not a great team... If you want to play the "CCIW vs UMAC" card, the CCIW has 10 World Series appearance (Carthage-7, IWU-2, and North Central-1) and one National Title (IWU in 2010... and that hurts me to say that)... and the UMAC, none.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 17, 2012, 01:18:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 01:13:02 PM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 12:39:23 PM
Each individual sport doesn't get to pick they're conference unfortunately so playing 21 games in the UMAC does CSS no favors, hence they're #6 seed. And yes CSS has not advanced to the World Series, but I will argue that the Midwest Regional is consistently one of the toughest in the country year in and year out. Has a CCIW that got moved to the Midwest ever made it through? I do know that the two times a CCIW has had to play CSS in a regional (Carthage 09 & North Park 12) they've lost. Not bad with their geographic crutch.

Why are you so angry? No one is saying that CSS is not a great team... If you want to play the "CCIW vs UMAC" card, the CCIW has 10 World Series appearance (Carthage-7, IWU-2, and North Central-1) and one National Title (IWU in 2010... and that hurts me to say that)... and the UMAC, none.

I truly wasn't trying to start any animosity with this either.  Congrats to CSS on what has already been a very good year, and could continue to get better.  From the very start, I just "wondered" if the fact that they don't play a good team every weekend during the conference season would be a hindrance during the playoffs.  Since they won yesterday, apparently not - good for them and their conference.  Best of luck going forward.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AO on May 17, 2012, 01:37:16 PM
Scholastica has only been playing in the NCAA since 2005.  They've only had the auto-bid for the last two years, yet they've made it to the regional every year and won a game in all but 2010.  Last year they advanced to the title game of the regional.   

The CCIW is definitely a great baseball conference compared to the UMAC, but CSS doesn't really fit the mold of the team from the poor conference that gets run over in the playoffs.

on geography, if you haven't ever been to duluth, know that it is usually 2-3 weeks and 10 degrees behind minneapolis.  Most years they'd consider themselves lucky to get a home game with a temp above 50.  These guys know how to work out in a fieldhouse.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2012, 01:41:56 PM
Lopez and Scott both singled to open the bottom of the third, but the top of the order then went 1,2,3.  Titans and Bears both still scoreless after three.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 02:04:25 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 01:13:02 PM
Quote from: Bronko7 on May 17, 2012, 12:39:23 PM
Each individual sport doesn't get to pick they're conference unfortunately so playing 21 games in the UMAC does CSS no favors, hence they're #6 seed. And yes CSS has not advanced to the World Series, but I will argue that the Midwest Regional is consistently one of the toughest in the country year in and year out. Has a CCIW that got moved to the Midwest ever made it through? I do know that the two times a CCIW has had to play CSS in a regional (Carthage 09 & North Park 12) they've lost. Not bad with their geographic crutch.

Why are you so angry? No one is saying that CSS is not a great team... If you want to play the "CCIW vs UMAC" card, the CCIW has 10 World Series appearance (Carthage-7, IWU-2, and North Central-1) and one National Title (IWU in 2010... and that hurts me to say that)... and the UMAC, none.
Anger comes in the fact that people believe that CSS get a free pass into the tournament by playing in a bad conference.  As was stated before the auto bid has only been there for the past two seassons. Prior to that it was the Pool B route when you were essentially you were playing for one spot since Chapman was a guarantee to take the other. As a program CSS has to schedule and play any good team that will take them on the schedule to offset the poor UMAC and get game experience against quality opponents. The one benefit the UMAC provides is the ability to get plenty of guys work and game time. The CCIW top to bottom is FAR superior, will not argue that one bit and believe me St. Scholastica has tried to get into the MIAC on a couple different occasions to no avail. But being in the regional every season since 05 and in the Regional final in 09 & 11 it gets old defending the qualify of the program and how they go about getting it done.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2012, 02:18:20 PM
The Titans finally break through in the bottom of the 5th - at the end of 5, Titans 2, Bears 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 02:24:16 PM
Bronk- no need to defend CSS. The truly educated D3 fan knows they are a great program stuck in a sub-par conference. Not much different than Webster who pounds the SLIAC every year and makes noise in the NCAA post-season yet still has to defend their program at times. I am sure there are many top teams in the same situation as this.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 17, 2012, 02:26:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 17, 2012, 02:24:16 PM
Bronk- no need to defend CSS. The truly educated D3 fan knows they are a great program stuck in a sub-par conference. Not much different than Webster who pounds the SLIAC every year and makes noise in the NCAA post-season yet still has to defend their program at times. I am sure there are many top teams in the same situation as this.

Couldn't agree more.  All along my questions were about their competition, not their ability.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AO on May 17, 2012, 04:20:20 PM
looks like North Park should look at upgrading their conference, clearly, they were not battle-tested.   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2012, 06:29:08 PM
The Titans increased the lead to 3-0 in the 6th, then barely held on in the 9th to win 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 18, 2012, 11:49:18 PM
IWU beat DePauw, but dropped a heartbreaker to BSC, despite 6 shutout innings by SOPHOMORE Jeff Johnson.

Against DePauw, FRESHMAN Chris Bobo would have had a complete game shutout except for a ninth inning implosion by the defense.  After two base-reaching errors and an out, Coach Martel decided to bring in a fresh arm to close it out.  FRESHMAN John Munyon did just that, inducing the first batter into a game-ending DP.

Thus ends a very good, but not great, season.

Graduation losses are significant, but far from devastating, given the apparent replacements.  Joe Sweeney was often a Palkau/Aronson level ace for 5-6 innings, but he rarely was able to finish - nonetheless, a guy who can pretty consistently handcuff the opposition for two-thirds of a game WILL be missed.  Pat Hayn had moments of brilliance, but was rarely really in the rotation.  In the field, we WILL miss lead-off man Mark McDermott (the runs leader for 2012), and perhaps Kevin Sullivan (despite a very disappointing senior year, where he hit .228 - a 'red flag' for players [and fans] who expect that kids automatically do better with age).  Otherwise, and overall, I am MUCH more impressed with who will be back.  The future looks VERY bright if most young'uns grow up to their potential!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2012, 09:12:13 PM
Now that the CCIW season is (prematurely >:() ended, how about some (WAY too early) thoughts about 2013?!  Unlike in many sports, freshmen DO often star, so no one is held to their opinions at this point! ;)

With the return of 2-time CCIW POY and 2012 Central Region POY Kevin Callahan anchoring 6 of 8 position players (7 of 9 hitters, since the usual DH lately is a FR), plus some REALLY good looking underclass pitchers, I would think IWU has to be A favorite (if not THE favorite) for next year, but I confess to being woefully under-informed about who other teams are bringing back.

What say ye?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 19, 2012, 09:23:04 PM
I think IWU will be solid but I find it hard to believe that Carthage won't be back in the mix after the season they had this year. I also like NPU...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2012, 09:31:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 19, 2012, 09:23:04 PM
I think IWU will be solid but I find it hard to believe that Carthage won't be back in the mix after the season they had this year. I also like NPU...

Agreed that the CCIW rarely (if ever) has a THE favorite.  Especially for the AQ, since in a short tourney anything can (and probably will) happen. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 19, 2012, 11:00:10 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 19, 2012, 09:23:04 PM
I think IWU will be solid but I find it hard to believe that Carthage won't be back in the mix after the season they had this year. I also like NPU...

Based on Carthage's history and the quality of their coaching, I would tend to agree, but aren't they hit hard by graduation?  Top two pitchers, top hitter, etc.?  I have no feel for their younger classes - maybe they are really really solid.  I just wondered how heavy they will be hit, and who will fill those spots?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2012, 08:24:17 PM
ABCA names 16 from CCIW to all-region squad (http://www.cciw.org/news/2012/5/22/BB_0522122927.aspx)

Congratulations to all who earned this honor!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 23, 2012, 08:28:33 AM
IWU's Callahan earns 1st Team AA Honors.  While not a 3rd baseman, Coach Martel used him there this year and it lead to him being a 1st Teamer. Congrats Kevin.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (WC) and Nick Soldano (NPU) for being 3rd team and honorable mention selections, respectively.

http://d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2012
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2012, 07:03:47 PM
Well, two and out was not the way North Park fans envisioned the regional turning out for the Vikings, but it doesn't mar a fantastic season that really saw NPU baseball take a couple more big steps forward. Now that the Vikes have had a taste of what it takes to win at the next level, they can put the knowledge to good use. Former Vikings star Tony D'Andrea said it best when he pointed out that the returning Vikings should remember the disappointment they felt in Whitewater and use it as motivation next year.

Farewell, and thanks, to all of the Vikings seniors. You were all a part of something pretty special -- the complete turnaround of a moribund program, and back-to-back conference championships, to boot. Job well done, guys.

I think that NPU is situated very well as far as next season is concerned. Six of the ten position players who were starting at the end of the year will be back next season, as will the CCIW's best pitcher and some pretty good up-and-coming arms. I would expect NPU to be a preseason top three pick again in 2013 -- but I also expect Luke Johnson not to sit back and rest on his laurels. He recruits hard, and he recruits well, and I'm sure that he will bring in some talent next season that will be in the mix for playing time from Day One.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 23, 2012, 10:45:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2012, 07:03:47 PM
Well, two and out was not the way North Park fans envisioned the regional turning out for the Vikings, but it doesn't mar a fantastic season that really saw NPU baseball take a couple more big steps forward. Now that the Vikes have had a taste of what it takes to win at the next level, they can put the knowledge to good use. Former Vikings star Tony D'Andrea said it best when he pointed out that the returning Vikings should remember the disappointment they felt in Whitewater and use it as motivation next year.

Farewell, and thanks, to all of the Vikings seniors. You were all a part of something pretty special -- the complete turnaround of a moribund program, and back-to-back conference championships, to boot. Job well done, guys.

I think that NPU is situated very well as far as next season is concerned. Six of the ten position players who were starting at the end of the year will be back next season, as will the CCIW's best pitcher and some pretty good up-and-coming arms. I would expect NPU to be a preseason top three pick again in 2013 -- but I also expect Luke Johnson not to sit back and rest on his laurels. He recruits hard, and he recruits well, and I'm sure that he will bring in some talent next season that will be in the mix for playing time from Day One.

Already heard that the North Park has a strong catcher coming in and a an outfielder who will both make an impact right away for the Vikings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on May 25, 2012, 06:26:13 PM
C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 25, 2012, 08:09:34 PM
Congratulations to all of the CCIW All-Americans.

I don't want to belabor the Sanchez v. Nathan discussion; I would bet most D3 teams would be very happy to have Nathan behind the plate and in the batter's box.  I just ran Sanchez's stats for the post-season (I didn't have time to do the same for Nathan -- I'll leave that to someone else), but in six games (four in the CCIW Tournament and two at Regionals, facing some very good arms), Tony was 11-for-25 (.440) with 9 RBIs, 7 runs scored, 3 doubles, a grand slam, and three walks.  That's a .500 OBP and a .680 slugging percentage.

I think to qualify for All-American status, you have to be first-team All-Regional, so Nathan could not have been considered for AA status in any event.  Maybe more surprising is that Kevin Callahan did not garner AA honors as well.  There were five first basemen and only one third baseman (Anthony Even of CUC) named to the three teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 25, 2012, 10:32:24 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 25, 2012, 06:26:13 PM
C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.

Pretty sure the conference vote is conducted by CCIW coaches, who would have the most opportunities to view both players.  I'm not going to get suckered into a conversation where I have to take anything away from Tony Sanchez - I'm a fan of his back to Heartland days and think he's an excellent player, just as Nathan is.  But to make a statement like you did when the most informed parties (coaches) who witnessed the two play the most chose Nathan, well, I don't give much credibility to your statement.

I do still contend there should be two catchers named to the CCIW team, and they both should have been on there.

Thank you mr_b for providing a more rational viewpoint on things.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BBFan62 on May 25, 2012, 10:53:00 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on May 25, 2012, 06:26:13 PM
C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.
Guys, BOTH catchers are great ballplayers and earned their respective status. So, I guess the only fair way to settle this is to have them race from home to second base and see who wins.
Oh wait, I said 'Fair", so I guess we have to have Nathan run backwards so when Sanchez gets to second Nathan can greet him with a candygram and they can shake hands and enjoy competing with each other. Opinions - they are fun and insane at the same time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2012, 02:28:18 PM
Quote from: BBFan62 on May 25, 2012, 10:53:00 PM
Guys, BOTH catchers are great ballplayers and earned their respective status. So, I guess the only fair way to settle this is to have them race from home to second base and see who wins.
Oh wait, I said 'Fair", so I guess we have to have Nathan run backwards so when Sanchez gets to second Nathan can greet him with a candygram and they can shake hands and enjoy competing with each other. Opinions - they are fun and insane at the same time.

No, I think that a much fairer way to settle this would be to see which one can hit a baseball farther than the other. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 27, 2012, 04:23:10 PM
Wheaton had two All-Americans and does not even make the CCIW tournament.  This plus another who made all region and two others on the All-Conference team. Given the fact there are so many stars on the team...what does this say about their overall performance?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 28, 2012, 11:21:18 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 29, 2012, 01:57:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 28, 2012, 11:21:18 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 02:39:13 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 29, 2012, 01:57:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 28, 2012, 11:21:18 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.

I always wondered if Driggers would leave as soon as his son graduated.   Probably a good idea to hire someone who is looking for more than just four years to be near/coach his son. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 07:36:46 PM
And there we have it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 09:21:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 29, 2012, 01:57:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 28, 2012, 11:21:18 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.

From what Wheaton had to what he has attained this far, I would say "woop te doo", too.

I went to the Wheaton web site to look at the facilities that Wheaton has.

McCully is spectacular for football and track and field.

King Arena is one of the finest in the country for basketball, volleyball and wrestling.

I quote the website about Joe Bean Stadium.

QuoteThe Wheaton College men's and women's soccer programs play their games in one of the finest facilities in all of NCAA Division III.

Here is what they say about Chrouser Natatorium.

QuoteIn addition to providing recreation and fitness opportunities for Wheaton's students, faculty and staff, the Chrouser Natatorium is home to the competitive swim and water polo teams at the college, plus the local high school and USA Swimming Club programs.  It the annual site of the Wheaton Invitational for Swimming and Water Polo and the bi-annual site of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Swimming Championships.

The natatorium houses a 61 foot wide by 110 foot long pool, with a flow-thru moveable divider which enables multiple configurations for programming.  The eight lane racing course can be set at 25 yards or 25 meters of total deep water for swimming or water polo competition.  The pool water is temperature and chlorine regulated by a computerized filter system, with rough water during competition being minimized by triple lane lines.

Tennis is workable with 6 lighted courts.

When Coach Driggers left McMurry for Wheaton, he was leaving a facility that has hosted the West Regionals on two separate occasions and going to essentially "nothing" by Wheaton standards.

With a Wheaton endowment of 6 times that of McMurry, he thought that he could begin to get baseball up to Wheaton standards. He has gotten the field turf this year, after 3 seasons of trying.

Please listen to this 2-minute video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=k34farJeROc).

Next Wheaton needs seating, press box, dressing rooms and rest rooms!

Honestly, please grade Wheaton baseball facilities relative to the rest of the college.  What do you get, a C minus?  How many other CCIW baseball facilities are worse than Wheaton's and who are they? Getting to this point must have been like pulling eye teeth.

Coach Driggers has hosted a Regional, been the chair of the West Regional Evaluation committee, and won conference championships.  He has credentials.  The last time I spoke with family members in 2009 and then 2010, he was happy.

Maybe the next coach will get a more favorable reception or a more successful response of support from the Wheaton community.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 09:46:18 PM
Good rebuttal, Ralph.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:00:38 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 09:46:18 PM
Good rebuttal, Ralph.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original posting was in reference to the baseball field only, not the entirety of all the facilities recently built at the college.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:00:38 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 09:46:18 PM
Good rebuttal, Ralph.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original posting was in reference to the baseball field only, not the entirety of all the facilities recently built at the college.
Thanks for the chance to clarify.

Yes, Wheaton has wonderful facilities, except for baseball.

Yes, there is a strong community pull for baseball players to attend Wheaton.  Can we call Wheaton the "Notre Dame" of evangelical universities?  (Just like North Park is the Notre Dame of Covenant congregations.  Or is that too far of a reach?   ;) )  That alone will pull players.  The CCIW is a strong balanced conference.  It is tough to win there.

I did not want casual readers of the board to get the wrong impression of what Coach Driggers has done.

He built the field. Has he lost the momentum?  Is it time to get a new CEO of baseball on board now that he has gotten the turf?  That strategic decision may work for Wheaton.

He is going to a tough job at ETBU.  UT-Tyler "poaches" players from other ASC schools.  The ETBU field is better than Wheaton's, so that is one less thing that he needs to worry about.  With Centenary, McMurry and Texas Lutheran, which are 3 of the best 7, (and Schreiner) leaving the ASC, there is room for a program to develop.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 10:48:22 PM
One, the rebuttal is talking about the facilities. All the facilities listed are on campus. Wheaton is land locked and has no room on campus for a baseball field.  The facilities they are currently using is being leased from the American Legion Hall. Wheaton basically sunk a boat load of money into a facility in which they have no financial interest.  I'd say that was pretty gracious. Driggers was brought in to help raise funds for a new field. Properties in Wheaton and the surrounding areas are quite expensive. Wheaton College has cut sports programs and athletic department programs. There was no way they were going to buy property and build a new stadium without outside donors committing the money. Doesn't seem that anyone won a lottery again that would allow them to contribute to the stadium.

I think the biggest concern as pointed out in the previous posts was the decline on the field not the field itself. The team had talent. Two all-americans, another all region and another all conference on this year's team. Yet, they failed to make the playoffs. Injuries were not to blame. The team went from conference playoffs in 2008 (year before Driggers), conference championship game (with Bobby Elder's players) to missing the playoffs for three straight years. Why?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:48:35 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:00:38 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original posting was in reference to the baseball field only, not the entirety of all the facilities recently built at the college.
Thanks for the chance to clarify.

Yes, Wheaton has wonderful facilities, except for baseball.

Yes, there is a strong community pull for baseball players to attend Wheaton.  Can we call Wheaton the "Notre Dame" of evangelical universities?  (Just like North Park is the Notre Dame of Covenant congregations.  Or is that too far of a reach?   ;) )  That alone will pull players.  The CCIW is a strong balanced conference.  It is tough to win there.

I did not want casual readers of the board to get the wrong impression of what Coach Driggers has done.

He built the field. Has he lost the momentum?  Is it time to get a new CEO of baseball on board now that he has gotten the turf?  That strategic decision may work for Wheaton.

He is going to a tough job at ETBU.  UT-Tyler "poaches" players from other ASC schools.  The ETBU field is better than Wheaton's, so that is one less thing that he needs to worry about.  With Centenary, McMurry and Texas Lutheran, which are 3 of the best 7, (and Schreiner) leaving the ASC, there is room for a program to develop.
Thanks for the clarification. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:51:03 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 10:48:22 PM
One, the rebuttal is talking about the facilities. All the facilities listed are on campus. Wheaton is land locked and has no room on campus for a baseball field. 
Consider how North Park has shoe-horned a four-sport facility into an urban setting.  And then we still have to listen to gripes about a short right-field porch!   ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 11:01:38 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:51:03 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 10:48:22 PM
One, the rebuttal is talking about the facilities. All the facilities listed are on campus. Wheaton is land locked and has no room on campus for a baseball field. 
Consider how North Park has shoe-horned a four-sport facility into an urban setting.  And then we still have to listen to gripes about a short right-field porch!   ::)
Yes.  Thanks for bringing that up.  (I have been on the North Park campus.   :)  )
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 11:04:27 PM
The football field at Wheaton would not be real conducive to adding a diamond. They do not have the excess space in the same format that North Park does. IE, there isn't a lot of additional space outside of the sidelines on the football field. The dimensions would be worse than North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 11:09:37 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:00:38 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 09:46:18 PM
Good rebuttal, Ralph.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original posting was in reference to the baseball field only, not the entirety of all the facilities recently built at the college.
Thanks for the chance to clarify.

Yes, Wheaton has wonderful facilities, except for baseball.

Speaking as someone who is very familiar with Wheaton's sports facilities, I'd say that you're guilty of grade inflation in giving Wheaton's baseball field a C- in comparison to its other sports facilities, Ralph. ;) Admittedly, I haven't seen the new turf field yet, though; still, it's docked a few points compared to the rest of Wheaton's facilities simply because, if nothing else, it's not on campus. Heck, it's not even in the same town as the college.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PMYes, there is a strong community pull for baseball players to attend Wheaton.  Can we call Wheaton the "Notre Dame" of evangelical universities?

Blecch. Well, at least it's better than calling it "the Harvard of evangelical universities," a phrase I've heard from more than one Wheatie. (Incidentally, Jerry Falwell was on record as saying that he wanted Liberty to become the Notre Dame of evangelical universities. I think that he had sports in mind as much as anything else when he said that, and in that department, if nothing else, the fact that Liberty is D1 may make it more of a parallel to Notre Dame among evangelicals in that regard.)

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PM(Just like North Park is the Notre Dame of Covenant congregations.  Or is that too far of a reach?   ;) )

Since we're the only Covenant school that there is, that makes us the Notre Dame, the Harvard, the Wheaton, the Liberty, the Bluffton, and the UMPI of Covenant universities. ;)

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PMThat alone will pull players.  The CCIW is a strong balanced conference.  It is tough to win there.

True. But each year Wheaton typically finishes in the top half of the CCIW in just about every sport, and over the years baseball has been a glaring exception to this. Given the school's plentiful resources and its national reputation, there's no reason why Wheaton shouldn't be doing better in baseball, even if it doesn't win as consistently as it does in soccer, football, and basketball. The lack of an on-campus baseball field certainly doesn't help, but if the upgrades that Driggers got are as impressive as they're supposed to be once they're finished, that should mitigate the off-campus problem somewhat.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PMI did not want casual readers of the board to get the wrong impression of what Coach Driggers has done.

He built the field. Has he lost the momentum?  Is it time to get a new CEO of baseball on board now that he has gotten the turf?  That strategic decision may work for Wheaton.

This makes it sound as though he was pushed out the door by Wheaton, Ralph. Did he not resign of his own accord -- because, presumably, his kid had graduated?

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 10:41:16 PMHe is going to a tough job at ETBU.  UT-Tyler "poaches" players from other ASC schools.  The ETBU field is better than Wheaton's, so that is one less thing that he needs to worry about.  With Centenary, McMurry and Texas Lutheran, which are 3 of the best 7, (and Schreiner) leaving the ASC, there is room for a program to develop.

One thing that I never envied about your soon-to-be-ex-conference, Ralph, is the fact that it's a public/private mix. I see all kinds of problems with making a mixed league work, and you've just spelled out one of them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 11:17:33 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 11:04:27 PM
The football field at Wheaton would not be real conducive to adding a diamond. They do not have the excess space in the same format that North Park does. IE, there isn't a lot of additional space outside of the sidelines on the football field. The dimensions would be worse than North Park.
:) :)

Can we say LA Coliseum?   ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 11:33:05 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 10:51:03 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 10:48:22 PM
One, the rebuttal is talking about the facilities. All the facilities listed are on campus. Wheaton is land locked and has no room on campus for a baseball field. 
Consider how North Park has shoe-horned a four-sport facility into an urban setting.  And then we still have to listen to gripes about a short right-field porch!   ::)

Don't sell us short, DB. We shoehorn five sports into Holmgren (men's soccer, football, baseball, women's soccer, and softball), not four. ;)

Quote from: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 10:48:22 PMOne, the rebuttal is talking about the facilities. All the facilities listed are on campus. Wheaton is land locked and has no room on campus for a baseball field.  The facilities they are currently using is being leased from the American Legion Hall. Wheaton basically sunk a boat load of money into a facility in which they have no financial interest.  I'd say that was pretty gracious. Driggers was brought in to help raise funds for a new field. Properties in Wheaton and the surrounding areas are quite expensive. Wheaton College has cut sports programs and athletic department programs. There was no way they were going to buy property and build a new stadium without outside donors committing the money. Doesn't seem that anyone won a lottery again that would allow them to contribute to the stadium.

File under: Cry Me A River. ::) Wheaton has an endowment that is half again as large as that of the next-wealthiest school in the CCIW, Illinois Wesleyan, and which is over four times larger than the endowments of conference paupers NPU and Carthage. Properties in Wheaton and the surrounding area are quite expensive, you say? Ever priced any property on the North Side of Chicago? The fact that Driggers -- who was not a Wheaton guy and who thus didn't have the in-house contacts that a Wheaton alumnus would have for fundraising -- went out and raised the money to upgrade what is now Pfund Stadium is impressive. It speaks not only to his own abilities and to the willingness of people to contribute to the school, but also to the sheer volume of deep pockets that he was able to reach. Don't think for a moment that this potential donor pool is paralleled anywhere else within the CCIW, because it isn't.

At North Park, teams wait their turn to practice at Holmgren every day, because three teams share the facility in the fall and two share it in the spring. The baseball team not only has to do field maintenance before and after each practice and each game, it has to set up and take down the left-field fence, which cuts across the softball diamond. The two soccer teams have to set up and take down their nets before each practice and game because of football, and football has to get the tackling dummies out of the way after each practice. Holmgren is not a selling point for potential recruits, unless they or their parents are impressed by a school's ability to multitask within limited space.

Oh, and by the way, NPU does not own the land upon which Holmgren Athletic Complex sits. It's held under a long-term lease from the Water Reclamation District, just as Wheaton leases Pfund Stadium from the Carol Stream American Legion. So, when Holmgren was upgraded a decade ago, NPU sunk a bunch of its money into a facility in which it has no financial interest.

If you're looking for sympathy for Wheaton's baseball field problems, you're barking up the wrong tree as far as NPU fans are concerned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 11:40:47 PM
I don't know the terms of his leaving.  He is an honorable man, a "hand-shake" kind of honorable, and a mutual agreement may have been reached that meets the needs of both.

The Wheaton family may have identified a younger man.  There may be other issues about which I can only speculate, and I do not wish to do that.

He was sincere in that video. I am happy for that success.

As for "being in a different city", there are several arrangements among schools and non-school facilities in D3, e.g. Chapman and Shenandoah. I would expect Wheaton could make it work somewhere.   :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 29, 2012, 11:42:11 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2012, 11:33:05 PM
At North Park, teams wait their turn to practice at Holmgren every day, because three teams share the facility in the fall and two share it in the spring. The baseball team not only has to do field maintenance before and after each practice and each game, it has to set up and take down the left-field fence, which cuts across the softball diamond.
For fall baseball, the practices are usually scheduled to start as soon as the football or soccer team clears the field.  That can sometimes cut into our practice time.  I'm sure the softball team faces the same challenges.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 29, 2012, 11:42:55 PM
Mr. Sager, not looking for sympathy in any way. I know the main donor was not part of the "Wheaton" family. Yes he was able to poke into deep pockets. Don't forget there are many players that have parents with deep pockets. I merely was pointing out that Wheaton was not going to buy any property and by the way there really is not property around Wheaton College to by anyway. Just like there is no property to buy around North Park.

My points about property, field and team performance are made merely to point out that Mr. Driggers was not the "savior" many thought he was going to be. The field may have improved but the team performance digressed. The next sign he gives from third base will be exceed the total he gave over the four years at Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 11:50:08 PM
It is true that Driggers was brought in to raise money to build a field.  I believe he was successful in this (~$1.5 million in 3+ years) and I don't think anyone at Wheaton is surprised he is moving on.   

The site for a new baseball facility was always an issue.  The original plan was to build a permanent baseball facility on Lawson field. This would have been ideal as it is college-owned and only a block north of campus.  Delivering a huge blow to the program, the surrounding residential neighborhood blocked the construction.   

If it were up to me, whatever they call that over-the-top-for-D3 soccer stadium would've been simply replaced with the new baseball facility.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 12:03:00 AM
I'll add this, I don't think Wheaton has anyone lined up to be their next coach.   There is a coach in St. Louis who should be their obvious choice if (and a big IF) he wants the job.                         
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 12:21:22 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 11:40:47 PMAs for "being in a different city", there are several arrangements among schools and non-school facilities in D3, e.g. Chapman and Shenandoah. I would expect Wheaton could make it work somewhere.   :)

Elmhurst also plays off-campus in facilities it leases from somebody else. The Bluejays play at Butterfield Park, which is owned by the village of Elmhurst (specifically, the Elmhurst Park District), and it's located three miles from campus.

Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 11:50:08 PMIf it were up to me, whatever they call that over-the-top-for-D3 soccer stadium would've been simply replaced with the new baseball facility.

Do I detect a note of inter-sport rivalry within the overall ranks of Wheaton fans?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AM
Let's face the truth... Baseball is always the stepchild at any school. Are there any other sports where the players have to maintain the field?  No revenue means no money spent on facilities unless there are significant contributions. 

As for earlier comments about maybe Wheaton will be more accepting of the new coach,  I really don't understand where that is coming from. Acceptance is a two way street. Forced out? Really? He took a job that had been open for less than a month. Does this mean that East Texas had someone (Driggers) in mind and forced their coach out?  Strange timing for all actions that have happened. I do not believe that Wheaton was in any way knew this resignation was coming.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 12:52:20 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 12:21:22 AM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 11:50:08 PMIf it were up to me, whatever they call that over-the-top-for-D3 soccer stadium would've been simply replaced with the new baseball facility.

Do I detect a note of inter-sport rivalry within the overall ranks of Wheaton fans?

Okay, a little off topic here but I just don't understand a game that rejects the use of a human's most biomechanically advanced feature-- the hand.  It's like having a bird species compete physically in an activity that involves walking but not flying.  Let's build a stadium to watch birds walk around a track.     

Soccer is a good game for those who haven't fully developed their ability to coordinate their upper extremities with a necessary degree of strength----------3, 4 and 5 year olds.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 08:07:38 AM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AM
Let's face the truth... Baseball is always the stepchild at any school. Are there any other sports where the players have to maintain the field?  No revenue means no money spent on facilities unless there are significant contributions. 

As for earlier comments about maybe Wheaton will be more accepting of the new coach,  I really don't understand where that is coming from. Acceptance is a two way street. Forced out? Really? He took a job that had been open for less than a month. Does this mean that East Texas had someone (Driggers) in mind and forced their coach out?  Strange timing for all actions that have happened. I do not believe that Wheaton was in any way knew this resignation was coming.
Not necessarily the case. 

Maintaining the field?  I know plenty of coaches who do not want any other "Maintenance Guy" touching their field.  Having 25 players doing 20 minutes of work each is 500 "man-minutes", better than an 8-hour day.

:)  Besides most ballplayers do field maintenance any chance they get, be it on the mound or the batter's box...   ;)

http://media.photobucket.com/image/mark%20fidrych/NurseJoker/fidrych.jpg?o=2

Mark Fydrich preparing the mound.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 01:03:10 PM
Any ideas of who could be the next head coach at Wheaton?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 30, 2012, 04:36:09 PM
This might be crazy, but would Luke Johnson entertain the idea of going there?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 04:55:22 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AM
Let's face the truth... Baseball is always the stepchild at any school.

Tell that to Marietta.

Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AMAre there any other sports where the players have to maintain the field?

Ralph is right. I think that the maintenance issue has more to do with the anal-retentiveness of baseball coaches than anything else.

Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AMNo revenue means no money spent on facilities unless there are significant contributions.

Revenue? This is D3 we're talking about. Since when is revenue a significant factor in any sport in D3?

Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AMAs for earlier comments about maybe Wheaton will be more accepting of the new coach,  I really don't understand where that is coming from. Acceptance is a two way street. Forced out? Really? He took a job that had been open for less than a month.

I'm not quite sure you get the gist of how long it takes to fill head coaching jobs at this level. A month is actually a pretty long time for a job to remain vacant, especially a head-coaching job at a nice warm-weather school (i.e., perfect for baseball) with a great home stadium.

Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 12:34:59 AMDoes this mean that East Texas had someone (Driggers) in mind and forced their coach out?

ETBU hired Sam Blackmon to coach the baseball team six years ago. And for six years he's posted losing records -- and this followed on the heels of at least eight straight winning seasons for the Tigers. Occam's razor says that Blackmon was fired because he couldn't produce winning baseball teams, not because ETBU wanted to hire Driggers.

Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 30, 2012, 04:36:09 PM
This might be crazy, but would Luke Johnson entertain the idea of going there?

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.squidoocdn.com%2Fresize%2Fsquidoo_images%2F-1%2Fdraft_lens2289748module12617049photo_1230839804Why-Laughter-is-Contagious-2.jpg&hash=368cff8ccedb9f7d3858f1e734bf881a431e19f3)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[sniff]

Thanks, man. That made my day! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 05:08:15 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 12:52:20 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 12:21:22 AM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 11:50:08 PMIf it were up to me, whatever they call that over-the-top-for-D3 soccer stadium would've been simply replaced with the new baseball facility.

Do I detect a note of inter-sport rivalry within the overall ranks of Wheaton fans?

Okay, a little off topic here but I just don't understand a game that rejects the use of a human's most biomechanically advanced feature-- the hand.  It's like having a bird species compete physically in an activity that involves walking but not flying.  Let's build a stadium to watch birds walk around a track.

Depends upon the bird. Penguins have pretty entertaining waddles, and I'd probably pay to watch a penguin race. A kiwi race might not be as much fun. Ostriches are pretty darned fast, so an ostrich race would be fairly exciting -- but that's running around a track, not walking, so I suppose that ostriches are technically disqualified from this discussion.

Seriously, though, I see your point, and I agree with it somewhat. The fact that hands are verboten in soccer is one of the sport's two big drawbacks, along with the sad truth that defensive strategies make it possible to completely suppress a score at either end throughout the entire match if that's what one of the coaches deems wise (See: NPU @ Elmhurst last season). But the sport does have some aesthetically pleasing factors that compensate for it. When it's played well in terms of passing and ball-handling, the term that the Brazilians use for soccer -- "the beautiful game" -- is entirely apt.

Every sport has its drawbacks, and, thus, its naysayers. We all post here because we love baseball, but there's plenty of people who would consider the pejorative term "nine-man stand-around" to be an entirely accurate alternative name for the sport.

Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 12:52:20 AMSoccer is a good game for those who haven't fully developed their ability to coordinate their upper extremities with a necessary degree of strength----------3, 4 and 5 year olds.

... and yet it's your school's signature sport. You'll have to pardon me, Iz, while I draw a mild chuckle from that fact. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 30, 2012, 06:14:00 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 29, 2012, 09:21:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 29, 2012, 01:57:43 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 28, 2012, 11:21:18 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 28, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time
Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.

From what Wheaton had to what he has attained this far, I would say "woop te doo", too.

I went to the Wheaton web site to look at the facilities that Wheaton has.

McCully is spectacular for football and track and field.

King Arena is one of the finest in the country for basketball, volleyball and wrestling.

I quote the website about Joe Bean Stadium.

QuoteThe Wheaton College men's and women's soccer programs play their games in one of the finest facilities in all of NCAA Division III.

Here is what they say about Chrouser Natatorium.

QuoteIn addition to providing recreation and fitness opportunities for Wheaton's students, faculty and staff, the Chrouser Natatorium is home to the competitive swim and water polo teams at the college, plus the local high school and USA Swimming Club programs.  It the annual site of the Wheaton Invitational for Swimming and Water Polo and the bi-annual site of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Swimming Championships.

The natatorium houses a 61 foot wide by 110 foot long pool, with a flow-thru moveable divider which enables multiple configurations for programming.  The eight lane racing course can be set at 25 yards or 25 meters of total deep water for swimming or water polo competition.  The pool water is temperature and chlorine regulated by a computerized filter system, with rough water during competition being minimized by triple lane lines.

Tennis is workable with 6 lighted courts.

When Coach Driggers left McMurry for Wheaton, he was leaving a facility that has hosted the West Regionals on two separate occasions and going to essentially "nothing" by Wheaton standards.

With a Wheaton endowment of 6 times that of McMurry, he thought that he could begin to get baseball up to Wheaton standards. He has gotten the field turf this year, after 3 seasons of trying.

Please listen to this 2-minute video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=k34farJeROc).

Next Wheaton needs seating, press box, dressing rooms and rest rooms!

Honestly, please grade Wheaton baseball facilities relative to the rest of the college.  What do you get, a C minus?  How many other CCIW baseball facilities are worse than Wheaton's and who are they? Getting to this point must have been like pulling eye teeth.

Coach Driggers has hosted a Regional, been the chair of the West Regional Evaluation committee, and won conference championships.  He has credentials.  The last time I spoke with family members in 2009 and then 2010, he was happy.

Maybe the next coach will get a more favorable reception or a more successful response of support from the Wheaton community.

The product on the field is a reference to the record of the team not the turf that is on the field. Thank you for a senior research paper on the facilities at Wheaton College though.

No coach could have gotten a more favorable reception than him when he arrived. However, after under performing for 3 straight years it is time to be excited about a change. I know that you are a Driggers Disciple so there is really no point in debating his success but I am going to try.  He "has" been successful elsewhere and maybe that is a problem with your blindness. He achieved great things elsewhere but at Wheaton he didn't get anything done. I am speaking from a wins perspective, a conference tourney perspective, a real results perspective, and not a HE BUILT A FIELD!!! perspective.  He was able to raise funds for a field, but once again who cares when the team isn't winning. Ask those Elmhurst fans, players and coaches who got to taste the conference tourney this year after consistant losing seasons...would you rather have a new field...or would you rather make the conference tourney?

No alumni, fan, or player will say they want a new field over on the field success and the fact of the matter is 3 straight years of missing the tourney is not achieving anything. Yeah Wheaton hasn't made the tournament on a regular basis but after two straight years in it, including making it to the championship game the 2nd of those two years, to not making it 3 years in a row is once again, not achieving anything. On the same accord, he took that team who made the conference tournament championship game, lost 1 relief pitcher from that team, and they missed the tournament the next year suffering a huge collapse at the end. Can you blame everything on the coach...absolutely not. But it stems from the top down.

Ralph you say that he has been happy coaching at Wheaton, you should have come to a game at Wheaton and then tell me that with a straight face. He walked around with his head down constantly complaining about players. That doesn't sound like someone who is happy. As norfrank said, I went to several games over the past 4 years and I don't think I saw him give a sign more than a handful of times. The players may as well have been out there on their own. You can speak to his achievements elsewhere and thats great. But if you were to look objectively at his achievements at Wheaton College from a success standpoint (Success=conference tourneys not building a field), how would you say he did?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 06:33:30 PM
Mr Sager I am actually a North Park fan too. I wish Wheaton would have done half the things NP has done with their baseball team. Starting with a head coach that actually cared about the team. My points made in previous posts are only made to debunk some of the points made about Wheaton and the previous tenure. They could have had much better teams except for mismanagement.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 06:57:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 01:03:10 PM
Any ideas of who could be the next head coach at Wheaton?
I am hearing Neal Reasland
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 07:26:04 PM
I'm getting mixed signals from you Wheaton folks. Are you mad at Driggers because he's leaving Wheaton, because he's leaving after only four years, or because you believe that his teams underachieved? It seems to me that a couple of these stances are contradictory.

Quote from: The General Public on May 30, 2012, 06:14:00 PMThe product on the field is a reference to the record of the team not the turf that is on the field. Thank you for a senior research paper on the facilities at Wheaton College though.

Just make sure that you don't give Ralph a C- for it. ;)

Quote from: The General Public on May 30, 2012, 06:14:00 PMNo coach could have gotten a more favorable reception than him when he arrived.

Is that really true, or is baseball really the forgotten stepchild of Wheaton sports that some of you have made it out to be? Because, again, this seems contradictory. If your sport is disrespected and/or ignored by the school's powers-that-be, it would stand to reason that any other coach could have gotten a more favorable reception.

Quote from: The General Public on May 30, 2012, 06:14:00 PMHowever, after under performing for 3 straight years it is time to be excited about a change. I know that you are a Driggers Disciple so there is really no point in debating his success but I am going to try.  He "has" been successful elsewhere and maybe that is a problem with your blindness. He achieved great things elsewhere but at Wheaton he didn't get anything done. I am speaking from a wins perspective, a conference tourney perspective, a real results perspective, and not a HE BUILT A FIELD!!! perspective.  He was able to raise funds for a field, but once again who cares when the team isn't winning. Ask those Elmhurst fans, players and coaches who got to taste the conference tourney this year after consistant losing seasons...would you rather have a new field...or would you rather make the conference tourney?

No alumni, fan, or player will say they want a new field over on the field success and the fact of the matter is 3 straight years of missing the tourney is not achieving anything. Yeah Wheaton hasn't made the tournament on a regular basis but after two straight years in it, including making it to the championship game the 2nd of those two years, to not making it 3 years in a row is once again, not achieving anything. On the same accord, he took that team who made the conference tournament championship game, lost 1 relief pitcher from that team, and they missed the tournament the next year suffering a huge collapse at the end. Can you blame everything on the coach...absolutely not. But it stems from the top down.

Ralph you say that he has been happy coaching at Wheaton, you should have come to a game at Wheaton and then tell me that with a straight face. He walked around with his head down constantly complaining about players. That doesn't sound like someone who is happy. As norfrank said, I went to several games over the past 4 years and I don't think I saw him give a sign more than a handful of times. The players may as well have been out there on their own. You can speak to his achievements elsewhere and thats great. But if you were to look objectively at his achievements at Wheaton College from a success standpoint (Success=conference tourneys not building a field), how would you say he did?

A couple of thoughts:

1) Wheaton baseball doesn't exist in a vacuum. It plays in a league that is pretty darned competitive in baseball. It goes in cycles as to who is competing the best. In the '80s it was North Park, North Central, Elmhurst, and Illinois Wesleyan; in the '90s it was Carthage, North Central, Illinois Wesleyan, and Elmhurst; in the '00s it was Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and Augustana; and nowadays, it's any team that shows up without an 'M' on their caps. But the point is that there's always a dogfight going on at the top. Just because Wheaton has some good players, and just because Wheaton may be trying to win, doesn't mean that Wheaton is going to win. This is one of the easiest things to lose sight of when you're a fan: Your team is not the only team out there.

2) You can disparage Driggers all you like -- and I should make it plain here that I'm acting as a devil's advocate rather than truly defending him out of sentiment, principle, or sheer cussed contentiousness -- but the bottom line is that he did no better and no worse than his nine predecessors in the category that counts, CCIW championships. Wheaton's won exactly one of those, and that was back in 1951 when the league was still in its infancy (and Mickey Mantle was a rookie!).

Yes, you made a passing reference to the fact that Wheaton has not been a familiar face at the CCIW tourney over the years, but you undersold that point with regard to Wheaton's historical futility in this sport, at least within the confines of the CCIW. Wheaton has a losing all-time record against every opponent except for Elmhurst, and this is probably the only sport in which you can say that about Wheaton. In terms of the CCIW tourney, which dates back to 1985, here is the tally of appearances:

school  apps  first  latest  titles
Augustana  16  1989  2012    1
Carthage  24  1985  2011  11
Elmhurst  13  1985  2012    1
Illinois Wesleyan  26  1985  2012    5
Millikin    2  1986  1990    0
North Central  18  1985  2011    7
North Park  11  1987  2012    3
Wheaton    2  2008  2009    0

Given that woeful historical record, is it really fair to lay so much blame at Driggers' feet?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 07:35:39 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 06:33:30 PM
Mr Sager I am actually a North Park fan too. I wish Wheaton would have done half the things NP has done with their baseball team. Starting with a head coach that actually cared about the team. My points made in previous posts are only made to debunk some of the points made about Wheaton and the previous tenure. They could have had much better teams except for mismanagement.

Well, I feel your pain to a certain degree (not too much, because, after all, this is NPU's archrival we're talking about). NPU baseball was certainly woebegone prior to Luke Johnson's arrival; in the three years before he was hired, North Park went 6-108-1 overall and 3-60 in the CCIW. That's beyond bad. But, again, that's part of what plays up the dramatic improvement that the program has made under Luke. The farther you have to climb, the more impressive the ascent. Basically, Lee Driggers has kept Wheaton at status quo, which is to say that it's been a good-but-not-great Central Region program within the region's most elite league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2012, 08:15:24 PM
Greg, I think you are treading MUCH too lightly on Wheaton's baseball 'heritage'! ;)

Let's face it, until the middle of the last decade, Wheaton baseball was NPU football, or (lately) Millikin basketball.  MOST years they finished dead last.  For Driggers to even keep them from backsliding is a MAJOR accomplishment.  And this year they tied for THIRD (done in by tie-breakers from being in the tourney).  Despite the carping from the newbie (sorry for the slur, norfrank 8-)), I think Driggers did a helluva job.

While I'd like to see all CCIW teams remain competitive, I fear Wheaton fans may look back on Driggers' time as 'the good old days'.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 08:30:00 PM
Give us s coach with a little fire in his belly. This years team as well as three previous two years had plenty of talent and should have been much better and should have been in the tourney. If Wheaton had had Johnson as coach I believe they would have made regionals. This is based on their cuurent talent level and knowledge that Johnson can recruit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Mr. Y.   Driggers'success came with Elder's players. While I would love to go into specifics about why Wheaton can do better I don't want to go further down the path of negativity.  I have gone too far already.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 09:09:00 PM
I'm not sure what Wheaton fans are thinking when they wistfully look at a coach like Luke Johnson and think how great it would be to have someone like him wearing a cap that has the big 'W' on it. The idea of a Johnsonesque coach at Wheaton is pretty comical. He'd last about five seconds before the Wheaton administration threw him out on his kiester for subverting its idea of what a leader and molder of young Christian men should be. There were plenty of people around Wheaton who found former men's basketball coach Bill Harris to be a little too "edgy" (an adjective I heard employed about him from Wheaton folks a time or two), and Bill Harris, ex-Marine or not, was a total marshmallow compared to Luke Johnson. Luke is intense, he is profane, he has a glare that could reduce a Navy SEAL to tears, he will go toe-to-toe with anyone who crosses him and will not back down from any confrontation, he will play the sort of mind games with his players, opposing players, opposing coaches, and umpires that would fill Wheaton administrators with dismay, and he is so totally competitive that if his mother was wearing an opponent's uniform and crowding the plate he'd tell his pitcher to give her some 85 mph chin music.

The typical Wheaton student-athlete -- affluent, well-mannered, likeable, a bit milquetoast -- is definitely not the Luke Johnson type. And I don't think that they'd respond well to a coach like him. Heck, lots of Wheaton basketball players whined about the far less ferocious Bill Harris -- and he recruited them. ;)

To go back to the Marines thing, picturing Luke Johnson as the Wheaton baseball coach is like picturing Gunnery Sgt. Hartman from Full Metal Jacket running a Cub Scout camp. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 09:17:16 PM
There is no way Luke Johnson lands at Wheaton!!! Doesn't fit the mold there and would not recruit Wheaton-like ball players. I doubt he'd make it through the move in process before the first alum complaint arrived.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 09:25:18 PM
Granted Johnson might be a little rough for Wheaton. I guess we just would like someone that displays a little passion. I have seen Johnson play those mind games with opponents. I guess when I see him, I see a coach you hate if you play against him but love if you play for him.

Take away the profanity and I have no issue with someone who has coaches with passion and can be rough on his players. Players don't need to be babied, they need to be pushed to get better. From what I saw of Johnson, he was always thinking ahead, he had his players backs and was not afraid to take chances to succeed. This is what I mean when I say a coach of Johnson's nature would have helped Wheaton to be more successful. I have seen enough CCIW games to understand it is a tough conference. However, it is a conference that Wheaton could have been very successful in over the past few years. They should have been in the playoffs at least two of the last three years. 

The talent was there. The team had two All Americans (Martin and Golz) this year and one player (Zeller) that was previously named an All American. Combine this with another player(Mller) that was two time all region. Another player that was a quality starter (Rahn) and another all conference player (Swider).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 09:27:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 09:17:16 PM
There is no way Luke Johnson lands at Wheaton!!! Doesn't fit the mold there and would not recruit Wheaton-like ball players. I doubt he'd make it through the move in process before the first alum complaint arrived.
This is obvious. We just want someone with the baseball saavy and drive that Johnson displays.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 10:07:57 PM
From my outside observation of Coach Driggers, he and his family lived the lives compatible and respectful of Wheaton life and moral codes, but the players that he brought to McMurry were a bit rougher than the Wheaton mold.  Maybe that explains the success at McMurry.

(There are no BMW's or Lexus's on the McMurry Campus.  Kids got sent off to college with the family 2003 Corolla or the ten-year-old F-150 pickup.  McMurry is basically 2/3's Caucasian, 1/6 Hispanic/Tejano, and 1/6 black. We are standard middle class/working middle class Texas. These kids' parents probably report at work to the Wheaton kids' parents.  We have a very large number of first generation college graduates.  The contrast in demographics between McMurry and Wheaton was on full display at a men's basketball game at Wheaton in November 2010.  We are definitely cut from different bolts of cloth.   ;)     :)  )

The interesting speculation will be what he does at ETBU.  They, too, are a mid-level ASC team which lost out on the playoffs in a three-way tie for third on tie-breakers. McMurry and ETBU are from the same Texas demographics.  Let's see if he can turn the ETBU program around and get them into the playoffs on a consistent basis.

I hope that Wheaton can build on what he has done.  This is clearly a team that is in the mid-level of the CCIW, well-established conference with a real core of high quality program. Losing a playoff slot by tie-breakers is tough.  I don't have a CCIW favorite. I like the banter of the fans in the conference, so I follow it regularly.  I wish you the best.



Respectfully, thank you for the kind words for my discussion of Wheaton's facilities. I tried to provide as much information as possible for outside-of-CCIW fans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 10:09:28 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 29, 2012, 11:50:08 PM
It is true that Driggers was brought in to raise money to build a field.  I believe he was successful in this (~$1.5 million in 3+ years) and I don't think anyone at Wheaton is surprised he is moving on.   

The site for a new baseball facility was always an issue.  The original plan was to build a permanent baseball facility on Lawson field. This would have been ideal as it is college-owned and only a block north of campus.  Delivering a huge blow to the program, the surrounding residential neighborhood blocked the construction.   

If it were up to me, whatever they call that over-the-top-for-D3 soccer stadium would've been simply replaced with the new baseball facility.
$1.5M!  That is nice!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 10:17:34 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 06:57:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 01:03:10 PM
Any ideas of who could be the next head coach at Wheaton?
I am hearing Neal Reasland

I hinted at this earlier, but at the top of Wheaton's wish list (and by a wide margin) will be Steve Duncan of WashU (Wheaton '02).  Duncan is a young, intense, highly driven competitor.  He is in a great situation at WashU, so luring him to Wheaton will be difficult.  Duncan was a assistant on two Johns Hopkins World Series teams. He took WashU to the regionals in his second season this year with a very strong first recruiting class and only 3 seniors.   

After Duncan, I have no idea. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 10:27:06 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 10:07:57 PM
From my outside observation of Coach Driggers, he and his family lived the lives compatible and respectful of Wheaton life and moral codes, but the players that he brought to McMurry were a bit rougher than the Wheaton mold.  Maybe that explains the success at McMurry.


Put quite frankly, I take a lot of offense when people try and make the comment that Chrisitan athletes aren't tough or successful. We display emotion, we are intense and we as hard as possible to be successful. Someone referenced Bill Harris (Wheaton Basketball) as someone who could display intensity in the right way.  Another example is Mike Singletary. There are many other examples I could give but I don't want to turn this into a religious discussion. And yes, before someone mentions this I could be accussed of (and probably deservingly so) of being unchristian in expressing my dissatisfaction at how the program has been run. Being a christian does not mean we are meek. Being a christian does not mean we can't excel at our endeavors. No serious athlete (christian or not) will ever accept losing as being a part of their life. Your assessment of why McMurry may have been more successful is a missplaced statement. You also make the assessment that every Wheaton student comes from a privileged background. Again, another false assessment. Sure some come from money but that does not apply to every student athlete.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 10:28:27 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 10:17:34 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 06:57:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 30, 2012, 01:03:10 PM
Any ideas of who could be the next head coach at Wheaton?
I am hearing Neal Reasland

I hinted at this earlier, but at the top of Wheaton's wish list (and by a wide margin) will be Steve Duncan of WashU (Wheaton '02).  Duncan is a young, intense, highly driven competitor.  He is in a great situation at WashU, so luring him to Wheaton will be difficult.  Duncan was a assistant on two Johns Hopkins World Series teams. He took WashU to the regionals in his second season this year with a very strong first recruiting class and only 3 seniors.   

After Duncan, I have no idea.

Agree that Duncan would be a huge upgrade.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2012, 10:35:53 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Mr. Y.   Driggers'success came with Elder's players. While I would love to go into specifics about why Wheaton can do better I don't want to go further down the path of negativity.  I have gone too far already.

First year - sure (true of any coach).

Fourth year (tied for 3rd, when the Wheaton norm until 7-8 years ago was 7th or 8th) - not so much. ;)

I've never seen them play, so I certainly won't try to debate specifics, but based on past history, you may well miss Coach Driggers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 10:51:04 PM
Tied for third; but, lost the tiebreaker with every team in front of them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2012, 11:43:13 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 10:07:57 PM
From my outside observation of Coach Driggers, he and his family lived the lives compatible and respectful of Wheaton life and moral codes, but the players that he brought to McMurry were a bit rougher than the Wheaton mold.  Maybe that explains the success at McMurry.

(There are no BMW's or Lexus's on the McMurry Campus.  Kids got sent off to college with the family 2003 Corolla or the ten-year-old F-150 pickup.  McMurry is basically 2/3's Caucasian, 1/6 Hispanic/Tejano, and 1/6 black. We are standard middle class/working middle class Texas. These kids' parents probably report at work to the Wheaton kids' parents.  We have a very large number of first generation college graduates.  The contrast in demographics between McMurry and Wheaton was on full display at a men's basketball game at Wheaton in November 2010.  We are definitely cut from different bolts of cloth.   ;)     :)  )

I think that you've pretty accurately described the difference between the kind of guys that Luke Johnson recruits and the typical Wheaton student-athlete as well, Ralph. As I've mentioned before, Luke fosters a real blue-collar feel among his players that's adopted even by the kids who come from a bit of money.

Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 30, 2012, 10:17:34 PM
I hinted at this earlier, but at the top of Wheaton's wish list (and by a wide margin) will be Steve Duncan of WashU (Wheaton '02).  Duncan is a young, intense, highly driven competitor.  He is in a great situation at WashU, so luring him to Wheaton will be difficult.  Duncan was a assistant on two Johns Hopkins World Series teams. He took WashU to the regionals in his second season this year with a very strong first recruiting class and only 3 seniors.

That would be quite a steal. A head-coaching position at Wash U is typically considered to be a destination job, not a springboard to something else. But, on the other hand, you can't discount the allure of coaching at your alma mater. For a lot of coaches, taking the job at your alma mater can be a strong motivation to leave what others might consider to be the perfect job.

Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 10:27:06 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2012, 10:07:57 PM
From my outside observation of Coach Driggers, he and his family lived the lives compatible and respectful of Wheaton life and moral codes, but the players that he brought to McMurry were a bit rougher than the Wheaton mold.  Maybe that explains the success at McMurry.


Put quite frankly, I take a lot of offense when people try and make the comment that Chrisitan athletes aren't tough or successful. We display emotion, we are intense and we as hard as possible to be successful. Someone referenced Bill Harris (Wheaton Basketball) as someone who could display intensity in the right way.  Another example is Mike Singletary. There are many other examples I could give but I don't want to turn this into a religious discussion. And yes, before someone mentions this I could be accussed of (and probably deservingly so) of being unchristian in expressing my dissatisfaction at how the program has been run. Being a christian does not mean we are meek. Being a christian does not mean we can't excel at our endeavors. No serious athlete (christian or not) will ever accept losing as being a part of their life. Your assessment of why McMurry may have been more successful is a missplaced statement. You also make the assessment that every Wheaton student comes from a privileged background. Again, another false assessment. Sure some come from money but that does not apply to every student athlete.

I think that you've misunderstood what Ralph meant by "rougher." I think that he was speaking in socioeconomic terms, not competitive terms. Ralph's about the last person who posts on d3boards.com who would ever badmouth a Christian athlete for any reason.

I don't think that anyone who is familiar with Wheaton athletics would ever doubt the competitive fire and dedication to success of which its student-athletes are capable. The school's across-the-board success over the years in this league speaks for itself. Wheaton's men's basketball players are usually considered to be the best-conditioned and most disciplined players in the CCIW, and I'm sure that if you went into the CCIW football room and asked you'd get similar high kudos with regard to the mental makeup and competitiveness of Wheaton football players. As for soccer, which as I said has been Wheaton's signature sport, one former NPU soccer player said it best when he said about Wheaton, "We may beat them, but we don't outwork them." It's a very strong rivalry, but NPU's respect for Wheaton on the soccer pitch has as much to do with Wheaton's collective drive as a team to succeed as it does with Wheaton's tremendous history in that sport.

And, yeah, the stereotype that Wheaton players are all the products of upper-middle-class or wealthy homes is not entirely true. But there's certainly enough truth to the stereotype for it to be noted and remarked upon around the league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 31, 2012, 01:07:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2012, 10:35:53 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Mr. Y.   Driggers'success came with Elder's players. While I would love to go into specifics about why Wheaton can do better I don't want to go further down the path of negativity.  I have gone too far already.

First year - sure (true of any coach).

Fourth year (tied for 3rd, when the Wheaton norm until 7-8 years ago was 7th or 8th) - not so much. ;)

I've never seen them play, so I certainly won't try to debate specifics, but based on past history, you may well miss Coach Driggers.

Wheaton baseball had been very bad, but this was historically in the setting of almost no administrative support. Until Bobby Elder's second year, there was no full-time head coach.  He predecessors were a full-time grad student and a State Farm agent. A good portion of the Wheaton administration tried to get rid of what existed of the baseball program all together in 2002.  It didn't happen (among several reasons, the CCIW bylaws require its members compete in baseball) and eventually the administration decided that if they were going to (have to) field a team, they should probably try to win.  Once this decision was made, things slowly turned around and the results were visible on the field a few years later. 

I think it's fairly reasonable that many Wheaton fans are now expecting more success, however, 3rd in the conference and showing up the the regional rankings is not a bad season.  21 games in baseball is a very short season, and a few breaks in a couple to those extra inning losses and things could've ended up looking much better. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 31, 2012, 01:20:45 AM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 31, 2012, 01:07:27 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2012, 10:35:53 PM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 08:37:29 PM
Mr. Y.   Driggers'success came with Elder's players. While I would love to go into specifics about why Wheaton can do better I don't want to go further down the path of negativity.  I have gone too far already.

First year - sure (true of any coach).

Fourth year (tied for 3rd, when the Wheaton norm until 7-8 years ago was 7th or 8th) - not so much. ;)

I've never seen them play, so I certainly won't try to debate specifics, but based on past history, you may well miss Coach Driggers.

Wheaton baseball had been very bad, but this was historically in the setting of almost no administrative support. Until Bobby Elder's second year, there was no full-time head coach.  He predecessors were a full-time grad student and a State Farm agent. A good portion of the Wheaton administration tried to get rid of what existed of the baseball program all together in 2002.  It didn't happen (among several reasons, the CCIW bylaws require its members compete in baseball) and eventually the administration decided that if they were going to (have to) field a team, they should probably try to win.  Once this decision was made, things slowly turned around and the results were visible on the field a few years later. 

I think it's fairly reasonable that many Wheaton fans are now expecting more success, however, 3rd in the conference and showing up the the regional rankings is not a bad season.  21 games in baseball is a very short season, and a few breaks in a couple to those extra inning losses and things could've ended up looking much better.
Excellent point.  +1!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on May 31, 2012, 08:29:24 AM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 09:25:18 PM
Granted Johnson might be a little rough for Wheaton. I guess we just would like someone that displays a little passion. I have seen Johnson play those mind games with opponents. I guess when I see him, I see a coach you hate if you play against him but love if you play for him.

Take away the profanity and I have no issue with someone who has coaches with passion and can be rough on his players. Players don't need to be babied, they need to be pushed to get better. From what I saw of Johnson, he was always thinking ahead, he had his players backs and was not afraid to take chances to succeed. This is what I mean when I say a coach of Johnson's nature would have helped Wheaton to be more successful. I have seen enough CCIW games to understand it is a tough conference. However, it is a conference that Wheaton could have been very successful in over the past few years. They should have been in the playoffs at least two of the last three years. 

The talent was there. The team had two All Americans (Martin and Golz) this year and one player (Zeller) that was previously named an All American. Combine this with another player(Mller) that was two time all region. Another player that was a quality starter (Rahn) and another all conference player (Swider).

All of the good teams I played on had players who pushed themselves to get better and didn't need a coach to push them.  Maybe this is an indictment more on the players than the coach. 

Naming a few players that received accolades after the season is great, but a great baseball team is not made by 4 or 5 players.  With the accolades received, that looks like a team that would have finished 3rd in the CCIW....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 31, 2012, 09:31:58 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 31, 2012, 08:29:24 AM
All of the good teams I played on had players who pushed themselves to get better and didn't need a coach to push them.  Maybe this is an indictment more on the players than the coach. 

Naming a few players that received accolades after the season is great, but a great baseball team is not made by 4 or 5 players.  With the accolades received, that looks like a team that would have finished 3rd in the CCIW....
Why Dallas Cowboy HOF Coach Tom Landry never gave his players "pep talks".
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 31, 2012, 09:43:00 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 31, 2012, 09:31:58 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 31, 2012, 08:29:24 AM
All of the good teams I played on had players who pushed themselves to get better and didn't need a coach to push them.  Maybe this is an indictment more on the players than the coach. 

Naming a few players that received accolades after the season is great, but a great baseball team is not made by 4 or 5 players.  With the accolades received, that looks like a team that would have finished 3rd in the CCIW....
Why Dallas Cowboy HOF Coach Tom Landry never gave his players "pep talks".
Sorry, I don't buy that.  With the Cowboys, you are talking about professional players who had a very high level of understanding of the game (or at least should have if they were in the bigs).  At the D3 level, you have a pretty wide range of talent, from the top-flight talent we are blessed to see in the CCIW (Golz, Callahan, Soldano, etc.) to players who transfer from other programs and fit right in (Sanchez, Kuligowski, Giovenco, Batinger) to players who were not recruited by D1 or D2 but caught on with a D3 program and flourished (you can provide the names of your own choosing here).  Then you get first-year players who are on a roster and look pretty raw, but with good coaching and direction, they end up with pretty good careers.  And I don't mean pep talks, but solid work on developing fundamentals.  Finally, you get players that are high-driving self-starters who might not need a coach but do benefit from good coaching.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 31, 2012, 09:46:24 AM
I think you are confusing a pep talk with coaching. They are two very different things.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 31, 2012, 11:36:38 AM
So, when looking at the situation at Wheaton a few names have been tossed around(on this board and some have been shared privately with me):

1. Steve Duncan- Wheaton grad, assistna t and Johns Hopkins during their runs to the World Series, current head coach at WashU. May be tough to lure him away from WashU as he has them in contention right now and Wheaton appears to be a few years away.

2. Neal Reasland- 2007 Wheaton grad, not much more info on him that I can find.

3. Brian Kolb- Wheaton Grad, all-American shortstop at Wheaton. A current assistant on the staff... very young, which may hurt his chances. Alos, still playing professionally in an independent league.

4. Kevin Rios- NAIA all-American shortstop at Concordia-Irvine, drafted by Mets in 2003. Recently finished an 8 year professional career. Lives in the Wheaton area.


Are there others that are possibilities? Who is the favorite?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 31, 2012, 11:44:28 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on May 31, 2012, 08:29:24 AM
Quote from: norfrank on May 30, 2012, 09:25:18 PM
Granted Johnson might be a little rough for Wheaton. I guess we just would like someone that displays a little passion. I have seen Johnson play those mind games with opponents. I guess when I see him, I see a coach you hate if you play against him but love if you play for him.

Take away the profanity and I have no issue with someone who has coaches with passion and can be rough on his players. Players don't need to be babied, they need to be pushed to get better. From what I saw of Johnson, he was always thinking ahead, he had his players backs and was not afraid to take chances to succeed. This is what I mean when I say a coach of Johnson's nature would have helped Wheaton to be more successful. I have seen enough CCIW games to understand it is a tough conference. However, it is a conference that Wheaton could have been very successful in over the past few years. They should have been in the playoffs at least two of the last three years. 

The talent was there. The team had two All Americans (Martin and Golz) this year and one player (Zeller) that was previously named an All American. Combine this with another player(Mller) that was two time all region. Another player that was a quality starter (Rahn) and another all conference player (Swider).

All of the good teams I played on had players who pushed themselves to get better and didn't need a coach to push them.  Maybe this is an indictment more on the players than the coach. 

Naming a few players that received accolades after the season is great, but a great baseball team is not made by 4 or 5 players.  With the accolades received, that looks like a team that would have finished 3rd in the CCIW....

Both good points.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 31, 2012, 11:50:42 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 31, 2012, 11:36:38 AM
So, when looking at the situation at Wheaton a few names have been tossed around(on this board and some have been shared privately with me):

1. Steve Duncan- Wheaton grad, assistna t and Johns Hopkins during their runs to the World Series, current head coach at WashU. May be tough to lure him away from WashU as he has them in contention right now and Wheaton appears to be a few years away.

2. Neal Reasland- 2007 Wheaton grad, not much more info on him that I can find.

3. Brian Kolb- Wheaton Grad, all-American shortstop at Wheaton. A current assistant on the staff... very young, which may hurt his chances. Alos, still playing professionally in an independent league.

4. Kevin Rios- NAIA all-American shortstop at Concordia-Irvine, drafted by Mets in 2003. Recently finished an 8 year professional career. Lives in the Wheaton area.


Are there others that are possibilities? Who is the favorite?

Are there any top CCIW assistants that would be considered?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 31, 2012, 03:24:05 PM
Recently heard Mike Gaski may be in the running after his departure from UNC Greensboro.

http://uncgspartans.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/201205266zx1b5
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on May 31, 2012, 03:25:24 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 31, 2012, 09:46:24 AM
I think you are confusing a pep talk with coaching. They are two very different things.

Exactly right Big Poppa.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 31, 2012, 03:34:53 PM
Quote from: The General Public on May 31, 2012, 03:24:05 PM
Recently heard Mike Gaski may be in the running after his departure from UNC Greensboro.

http://uncgspartans.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/201205266zx1b5
In 22 years at UNG he won 657 games... "What have you done for us lately, Mike?"  Tough crowd!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 31, 2012, 05:07:52 PM
Gaski's resume is sterling, to say the least -- not just the UNCG record, but his administrative work on behalf of USA baseball and a couple of summer Olympics as well.

A couple of thoughts:

* He's sixty years old. Even if he's willing to relocate and start over again -- at a D3 school, after spending his entire professional life in D1 -- is he going to have the energy and the drive that Wheaton baseball needs, especially given the minimal support he's going to get in terms of assistants?

* He certainly seems to have made his fair share of enemies at UNCG. While online fan chatrooms should always be taken with a grain of salt, as we all know well ;), this three-page conversation from earlier this week is worth reading. (http://www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183062)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on May 31, 2012, 06:45:18 PM
The posts about "Gaski'sound eerily familiar to....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 31, 2012, 10:28:22 PM
To whom?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 01, 2012, 10:40:07 PM
Tony Sanchez signed with the Joliet Slammers. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2012/6/1/BB_0601120941.aspx?path=baseball)  Congratulations, Tony, and best of luck!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Coach Driggers' (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/index) resignation and move to ETBU article in Notables, June 1, 2012.

From the article...

Accomplishments as head coach...

QuoteDriggers served at the helm of the Thunder program for the past four years. His .531 winning percentage at Wheaton is the highest in school history, and his 86 career wins in those four seasons is the third-highest total in school history. During his tenure, Driggers guided Wheaton to three of the four 20-win seasons in school history.

The Thunder baseball program set 16 team records in the past four years, including the school's single-season record for victories with 24 in the 2010 season.

About the fundraising...

QuoteWith Driggers' leadership, Wheaton has completed the first two phases of building Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field, the first permanent home for Wheaton baseball since 2008. The completed portion of the stadium includes artificial turf, lights, dugouts, fencing, a suspended cable backstop and a wall as part of the backstop. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of the project, which includes chairback seating for 242 spectators, a pressbox, restrooms, a locker room and a concession stand.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 12:50:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Coach Driggers' (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/index) resignation and move to ETBU article in Notables, June 1, 2012.

From the article...

Accomplishments as head coach...

QuoteDriggers served at the helm of the Thunder program for the past four years. His .531 winning percentage at Wheaton is the highest in school history, and his 86 career wins in those four seasons is the third-highest total in school history. During his tenure, Driggers guided Wheaton to three of the four 20-win seasons in school history.

The Thunder baseball program set 16 team records in the past four years, including the school's single-season record for victories with 24 in the 2010 season.

About the fundraising...

QuoteWith Driggers' leadership, Wheaton has completed the first two phases of building Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field, the first permanent home for Wheaton baseball since 2008. The completed portion of the stadium includes artificial turf, lights, dugouts, fencing, a suspended cable backstop and a wall as part of the backstop. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of the project, which includes chairback seating for 242 spectators, a pressbox, restrooms, a locker room and a concession stand.

There's more than one side to every story. A public press release from a school website is generally not the place to get the real information.

That 2010 team was 19-6 before going 5-10 to end the season and miss the tournament. So yes...24 wins is nice but could have, should have been much better.

Also regarding the statement made earlier about good teams not needing motivational "pep" talks. From what I have heard, from people on that team is they were given some very interesting "motivational" speeches at that time. None of which had any pep, motivation, or constructive criticism. Being told their season was over with 8 games left and 2 conference series remaining

Again, I heard this third hand but from a number of reliable sources.

Players ultimately are to blame for the play on the field but when that is coming from your leadership...there is a bit of an issue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 01:14:01 PM
Quote from: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 12:50:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Coach Driggers' (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/index) resignation and move to ETBU article in Notables, June 1, 2012.

From the article...

Accomplishments as head coach...

QuoteDriggers served at the helm of the Thunder program for the past four years. His .531 winning percentage at Wheaton is the highest in school history, and his 86 career wins in those four seasons is the third-highest total in school history. During his tenure, Driggers guided Wheaton to three of the four 20-win seasons in school history.

The Thunder baseball program set 16 team records in the past four years, including the school's single-season record for victories with 24 in the 2010 season.

About the fundraising...

QuoteWith Driggers' leadership, Wheaton has completed the first two phases of building Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field, the first permanent home for Wheaton baseball since 2008. The completed portion of the stadium includes artificial turf, lights, dugouts, fencing, a suspended cable backstop and a wall as part of the backstop. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of the project, which includes chairback seating for 242 spectators, a pressbox, restrooms, a locker room and a concession stand.

There's more than one side to every story. A public press release from a school website is generally not the place to get the real information.

That 2010 team was 19-6 before going 5-10 to end the season and miss the tournament. So yes...24 wins is nice but could have, should have been much better.

Also regarding the statement made earlier about good teams not needing motivational "pep" talks. From what I have heard, from people on that team is they were given some very interesting "motivational" speeches at that time. None of which had any pep, motivation, or constructive criticism. Being told their season was over with 8 games left and 2 conference series remaining

Again, I heard this third hand but from a number of reliable sources.

Players ultimately are to blame for the play on the field but when that is coming from your leadership...there is a bit of an issue.
This suggests that there is a considerable faction in the Wheaton family who are glad for the change at the top, and that change has not come too soon.

With the changes in the facilities, the next coach has something on which to build and make his mark.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 02, 2012, 02:49:15 PM
I expect Wheaton to move quickly on this hiring. I know of one candidate that has already been on campus to meet about the position.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on June 02, 2012, 04:03:56 PM
Was it  Mike Quade'.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on June 02, 2012, 05:00:43 PM
Terry Bevington
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 09:30:21 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 01:14:01 PM
Quote from: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 12:50:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Coach Driggers' (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/index) resignation and move to ETBU article in Notables, June 1, 2012.

From the article...

Accomplishments as head coach...

QuoteDriggers served at the helm of the Thunder program for the past four years. His .531 winning percentage at Wheaton is the highest in school history, and his 86 career wins in those four seasons is the third-highest total in school history. During his tenure, Driggers guided Wheaton to three of the four 20-win seasons in school history.

The Thunder baseball program set 16 team records in the past four years, including the school's single-season record for victories with 24 in the 2010 season.

About the fundraising...

QuoteWith Driggers' leadership, Wheaton has completed the first two phases of building Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field, the first permanent home for Wheaton baseball since 2008. The completed portion of the stadium includes artificial turf, lights, dugouts, fencing, a suspended cable backstop and a wall as part of the backstop. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of the project, which includes chairback seating for 242 spectators, a pressbox, restrooms, a locker room and a concession stand.

There's more than one side to every story. A public press release from a school website is generally not the place to get the real information.

That 2010 team was 19-6 before going 5-10 to end the season and miss the tournament. So yes...24 wins is nice but could have, should have been much better.

Also regarding the statement made earlier about good teams not needing motivational "pep" talks. From what I have heard, from people on that team is they were given some very interesting "motivational" speeches at that time. None of which had any pep, motivation, or constructive criticism. Being told their season was over with 8 games left and 2 conference series remaining

Again, I heard this third hand but from a number of reliable sources.

Players ultimately are to blame for the play on the field but when that is coming from your leadership...there is a bit of an issue.
This suggests that there is a considerable faction in the Wheaton family who are glad for the change at the top, and that change has not come too soon.

With the changes in the facilities, the next coach has something on which to build and make his mark.

You are starting to get closer to the truth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 11:45:08 PM
Quote from: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 09:30:21 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 01:14:01 PM
Quote from: The General Public on June 02, 2012, 12:50:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on June 02, 2012, 09:00:19 AM
Coach Driggers' (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/index) resignation and move to ETBU article in Notables, June 1, 2012.

From the article...

Accomplishments as head coach...

QuoteDriggers served at the helm of the Thunder program for the past four years. His .531 winning percentage at Wheaton is the highest in school history, and his 86 career wins in those four seasons is the third-highest total in school history. During his tenure, Driggers guided Wheaton to three of the four 20-win seasons in school history.

The Thunder baseball program set 16 team records in the past four years, including the school's single-season record for victories with 24 in the 2010 season.

About the fundraising...

QuoteWith Driggers' leadership, Wheaton has completed the first two phases of building Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field, the first permanent home for Wheaton baseball since 2008. The completed portion of the stadium includes artificial turf, lights, dugouts, fencing, a suspended cable backstop and a wall as part of the backstop. Fundraising is ongoing for the next phase of the project, which includes chairback seating for 242 spectators, a pressbox, restrooms, a locker room and a concession stand.

There's more than one side to every story. A public press release from a school website is generally not the place to get the real information.

That 2010 team was 19-6 before going 5-10 to end the season and miss the tournament. So yes...24 wins is nice but could have, should have been much better.

Also regarding the statement made earlier about good teams not needing motivational "pep" talks. From what I have heard, from people on that team is they were given some very interesting "motivational" speeches at that time. None of which had any pep, motivation, or constructive criticism. Being told their season was over with 8 games left and 2 conference series remaining

Again, I heard this third hand but from a number of reliable sources.

Players ultimately are to blame for the play on the field but when that is coming from your leadership...there is a bit of an issue.
This suggests that there is a considerable faction in the Wheaton family who are glad for the change at the top, and that change has not come too soon.

With the changes in the facilities, the next coach has something on which to build and make his mark.

You are starting to get closer to the truth.
I appreciate the dialogue that we have had over the last 5-6 pages on this issue.

Is there something to be learned from Wheaton's bringing in an outsider from another part of the country to such a high profile position in the athletic department?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 02, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Gen. Public- who would you like to see as the next head coach at Wheaton? Is Steve Duncan even a possibility for Wheaton or is he content at WashU?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 02, 2012, 11:53:31 PM
Ralph- Wheaton is a bit of an odd-duck as a CCIW baseball program. They have always had some very talented all-American caliber players but struggled to surround those players with complimentary talent. It must also be frustrating as a coach to see the massive endowment at Wheaton and struggle to find a field to play on. I think there will be a lot of interest in this position, so I am curious to see which direction the Wheaton admin leans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 03, 2012, 10:35:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 02, 2012, 11:53:31 PM
Ralph- Wheaton is a bit of an odd-duck as a CCIW baseball program. They have always had some very talented all-American caliber players but struggled to surround those players with complimentary talent. It must also be frustrating as a coach to see the massive endowment at Wheaton and struggle to find a field to play on. I think there will be a lot of interest in this position, so I am curious to see which direction the Wheaton admin leans.

Not just the massive endowment, but the first-class facilities and the long-term, high-level success enjoyed by most of the other Wheaton athletics programs must have driven the various Wheaton baseball coaches right up the wall. It's like letting a classroom full of kids into a candy store and telling one of them that he has to wait outside.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: HopeConvert on June 05, 2012, 09:44:09 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 02, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Gen. Public- who would you like to see as the next head coach at Wheaton? Is Steve Duncan even a possibility for Wheaton or is he content at WashU?

Would Trey Martin's dad Jay be a candidate? He has been a manager at the college level, played his college ball at Wheaton, and his dad (Trey's grandfather) J.C. was, depending on your point of view, the hero of the 1969 World Series for the Miracle Mets. He certainly would fit in with Wheaton's general hiring guidelines.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 07, 2012, 03:36:31 PM
Wheaton has posted the baseball job on their website.http://www2.wheaton.edu/HR/employment/openings_staff.php?id=519 (http://www2.wheaton.edu/HR/employment/openings_staff.php?id=519)

Anyone hearing any names related to this yet?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: norfrank on June 21, 2012, 11:22:21 PM
Interesting but unsubstantiated rumor has it that Jody Davis has applied for the Wheaton job.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 22, 2012, 05:28:16 PM
The Jody Davis? Or his son Josh, who is also a baseball coach -- and a college baseball coach, at that? (http://www.gobluehose.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18100&ATCLID=204995321)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on August 01, 2012, 05:48:29 PM
Wheaton has a new coach:

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2012/8/1/BB_coachannc.aspx?path=baseball

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/husted_matt00.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on October 15, 2012, 08:03:12 PM
North Park held its annual alumni game yesterday as part of Homecoming weekend. There was a pretty good turnout for the game among the fans, but the great thing was what a large turnout there was among participating NPU baseball alumni. There were so many that there were two games scheduled, a varsity vs. recent alumni game, and a second game that involved only alums that haven't played for the Vikings within the past two or three years. Unfortunately, a lightning warning and a subsequent rainstorm washed out most of the second game, but it was nevertheless gratifying to see such a huge turnout of both baseball alumni and fans. The devotion to, and interest in, North Park baseball is very strong.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 08, 2013, 06:32:23 PM
Here's a story about NPU and preseason rankings, with the 2013 schedule for the Vikings included as well. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/1/8/BB_0108135347.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Randy Borow on January 12, 2013, 03:43:06 PM
Good luck to Coach Johnson and his North Park program. I have had the privilege of knowing Luke since his playing days in the Elmhurst Colt League decades ago when I was umpiring that league. It was an honor to continue my officiating while an umpire at NPU (and to have been the assignor at NPU since his hiring there). I'm going to miss working there and seeing Luke, as I left last August that sewer known as Illinois. To Luke and the others in the CCIW, including to the many fans of the teams in that fine conference, I wish nothing but the best.

Godspeed...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on January 18, 2013, 11:05:56 AM
Congrats to the following for being recognized as Preseason All-Americans by D3Baseball:

1st Team: 1B Kevin Callahan, IWU
2nd Team: SP Nick Soldano, NPU; UTL Trey Martin, Wheaton

The CCIW looks to be strong again this year.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on January 21, 2013, 03:22:36 PM
Who are the impact freshmen/transfers for the upcoming season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on January 24, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
I've heard good things about NPU's incoming transfers.

D3 top 25 poll is out and IWU received the most votes followed by NPU.  I'm fairly new to following the CCIW.  Does this seem realistic?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 24, 2013, 02:22:41 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on January 24, 2013, 01:42:05 PM
I've heard good things about NPU's incoming transfers.

D3 top 25 poll is out and IWU received the most votes followed by NPU.  I'm fairly new to following the CCIW.  Does this seem realistic?

I'd say that most, but not all, educated observers on the CCIW would put IWU and NPU 1 and 2.

Here is how I see the CCIW playing out this year:
1. NPU
2. IWU
3. North Central
4. Carthage
5. Wheaton
6. Augustana
7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 24, 2013, 03:47:25 PM
Pic of Carthage's new Augie Schmidt Field:
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.carthage.edu%2Fimages%2F2012%2F11%2F28%2Frp_primary_Infield_3_November_2012.jpg&hash=57302e3f5c11b3340aae57ad43199e7194d60823)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2013, 05:52:39 PM
You certainly can't accuse Luke Johnson of ducking anybody this year. The teams on NPU's non-conference docket this coming season include:

@ #6 Birmingham Southern
@ ORV Washington (MO)
@ #10 Webster
@ ORV LaVerne (2x)
vs. #17 UW-LaCrosse (@ Tucson, AZ)
#24 Aurora
ORV St. John's
ORV Chicago

Nine of NPU's sixteen non-conference games will be against teams that received votes in the d3baseball.com preseason poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on January 24, 2013, 06:40:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 24, 2013, 03:47:25 PM
Pic of Carthage's new Augie Schmidt Field:
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.carthage.edu%2Fimages%2F2012%2F11%2F28%2Frp_primary_Infield_3_November_2012.jpg&hash=57302e3f5c11b3340aae57ad43199e7194d60823)
Very nice -- what a big improvement.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2013, 08:27:40 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2013, 05:52:39 PM
You certainly can't accuse Luke Johnson of ducking anybody this year. The teams on NPU's non-conference docket this coming season include:

@ #6 Birmingham Southern
@ ORV Washington (MO)
@ #10 Webster
@ ORV LaVerne (2x)
vs. #17 UW-LaCrosse (@ Tucson, AZ)
#24 Aurora
ORV St. John's
ORV Chicago

Nine of NPU's sixteen non-conference games will be against teams that received votes in the d3baseball.com preseason poll.

They should finish with a solid SoS this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on January 25, 2013, 07:29:44 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 25, 2013, 08:27:40 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2013, 05:52:39 PM
You certainly can't accuse Luke Johnson of ducking anybody this year. The teams on NPU's non-conference docket this coming season include:

@ #6 Birmingham Southern
@ ORV Washington (MO)
@ #10 Webster
@ ORV LaVerne (2x)
vs. #17 UW-LaCrosse (@ Tucson, AZ)
#24 Aurora
ORV St. John's
ORV Chicago

Nine of NPU's sixteen non-conference games will be against teams that received votes in the d3baseball.com preseason poll.

They should finish with a solid SoS this year.
Two other Viking opponents include Buena Vista and Bethany Lutheran.  This will provide some very, very good competition.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 25, 2013, 07:34:58 PM
Thanks for the other two Carthage games.  The math was not working for a 40 game season. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on January 28, 2013, 03:38:42 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 25, 2013, 08:27:40 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2013, 05:52:39 PM
You certainly can't accuse Luke Johnson of ducking anybody this year. The teams on NPU's non-conference docket this coming season include:

@ #6 Birmingham Southern
@ ORV Washington (MO)
@ #10 Webster
@ ORV LaVerne (2x)
vs. #17 UW-LaCrosse (@ Tucson, AZ)
#24 Aurora
ORV St. John's
ORV Chicago

Nine of NPU's sixteen non-conference games will be against teams that received votes in the d3baseball.com preseason poll.

They should finish with a solid SoS this year.
I'm glad that North Park's SOS this year will be higher. That has always been an "issue" with North Park in the past.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 30, 2013, 01:45:03 PM
Carthage Coach Augie Schmidt to be inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2013.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2013/1/30/Baseball_0130130159.aspx (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2013/1/30/Baseball_0130130159.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on January 31, 2013, 03:53:18 PM
Pardon me as I'm a little late to the party as far as the conversation regarding the success/lack of success of the Driggers era but there's a couple of things that have been overlooked and I apologize if this turns into a diatribe. 

- Some of the lack of progress in the facilities in Driggers time at Wheaton is the result of the track record of the program. Because the program has been at the bottom of the food chain for so long, progress was not a priority to administration and thus Driggers likely found himself slamming into a wall whenever he wanted progress. One would guess that if it came down to the football or soccer programs, this process would have been much more streamlined.

- IMO, Wheaton's underachievement on the field the past three years can be chalked up to culture.  Bobby Elder was a very hands-on micromanager of sorts that was incredibly detailed and because of his background preached heavily on the mental side of the game, leadership and accountability.  His practices were scheduled down to the minute and challenged players to respond physically and mentally and as a result the 2007-08 Wheaton team was a team that got the most out of the talent they had and with the exception of a total buttkicking at the hands of Augustana, was never really out of a game despite being outclassed in the talent category in a lot of circumstances. Also evidenced by the fact that Brian Kolb had his best career year as a sophomore, hitting a ridiculous .527. Elder's approach was to constantly have players in motion and putting pressure on the defense, which played to the strengths of a Wheaton team that had a fair amount of speed (four guys with 10+ SB). Another part of that team's success was that a majority of that team had experienced a lot of losing and knew that winning was not something that would be given to them.

In contrast, Driggers was a very hands-off coach that let the players play and was more about reactionary baseball rather than being the aggressor. The incoming recruiting class in Driggers' first year was a talented class that put a lot of young guys on the field. With the leadership in place still a product of the Elder era, the lapses were minimal the first year as Wheaton made the championship game of the CCIW tournament. With so many young guys playing a role and experiencing the success, the culture started to turn to one of entitlement and that winning was a given and talk began to become more prevalent than walk. As that continued, Wheaton had more individual talent than a lot of teams in the conference but consistently missed the tournament because of a lack of focus and a lack of the ability to do the little things. An inability to take personal responsibility turned into a riff between players and the coaching staff and it eventually came to a head last year when Wheaton led the league in slugging and was second in ERA but still missed the conference tournament. Last year's team was probably the most individual talent that a Wheaton baseball team has ever put on the field but they didn't have the leadership to know how to win.

- Wheaton has also had very little in the pitching department over the past few years. Wheaton has had some decent starters but the bullpen continues to be a problem and has undoubtedly been the weak link for the Thunder the last few years.

Hopefully the additude is something Matt Husted can address or Wheaton will continue to talk like a conference contender but produce like a pretender.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2013, 06:20:38 PM
The coaches have made their preseason picks:

1. Illinois Wesleyan 47 (5)
2. North Park 40 (2)
3. Carthage 31
4. North Central 30 (1)
5. Augustana 28
6. Wheaton 23
7. Elmhurst 18
8. Millikin 7
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 14, 2013, 11:43:39 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2013, 06:20:38 PM
The coaches have made their preseason picks:

1. Illinois Wesleyan 47 (5)
2. North Park 40 (2)
3. Carthage 31
4. North Central 30 (1)
5. Augustana 28
6. Wheaton 23
7. Elmhurst 18
8. Millikin 7

This similar to my own take on the CCIW. It seems that most agree that Carthage's stumble last year was an anomoly, and not a trend. This is going to be a battle between NPU's arms and IWU's bats... a classic question of which is better. Still, with the CCIW being so strong every year, just being in the top four gives you a chance to make a deep post-season run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 15, 2013, 02:55:40 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 14, 2013, 11:43:39 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2013, 06:20:38 PM
The coaches have made their preseason picks:

1. Illinois Wesleyan 47 (5)
2. North Park 40 (2)
3. Carthage 31
4. North Central 30 (1)
5. Augustana 28
6. Wheaton 23
7. Elmhurst 18
8. Millikin 7

This similar to my own take on the CCIW. It seems that most agree that Carthage's stumble last year was an anomoly, and not a trend. This is going to be a battle between NPU's arms and IWU's bats... a classic question of which is better. Still, with the CCIW being so strong every year, just being in the top four gives you a chance to make a deep post-season run.

I think it is North Park's conference to defend, but I wouldn't sleep on Wheaton either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2013, 05:30:17 PM
Chris Bobo, who was Wesleyan's ERA leader last season as a freshman, has transferred to Harper College.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 15, 2013, 06:10:39 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2013, 05:30:17 PM
Chris Bobo, who was Wesleyan's ERA leader last season as a freshman, has transferred to Harper College.

I hadn't seen that before - thanks for ruining my day! :(

If we merged IWU's bats with NPU's arms, would we have an Appleton favorite? ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 19, 2013, 06:32:43 PM
I'll be interviewing NPU head baseball coach Luke Johnson at halftime of tonight's Carthage @ North Park men's basketball game. Webcast link is here. (http://www.northpark.edu/Events/Live-Events)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

Either way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on February 21, 2013, 09:22:08 AM
Very interesting the way Coach Johnson is getting a large number of transfers.  Getting guys with collegiate experience will definitely help North Park get immediate production from their newcomers.

Is Coach Johnson targeting these players or are they seeking out North Park?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gotberg on February 21, 2013, 09:44:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.

That is the best season preview I have ever read from North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 10:33:06 AM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 21, 2013, 09:22:08 AM
Very interesting the way Coach Johnson is getting a large number of transfers.  Getting guys with collegiate experience will definitely help North Park get immediate production from their newcomers.

Is Coach Johnson targeting these players or are they seeking out North Park?

It is a combination of both, but give credit to Luke Johnson. He is one of the top recruiters and really does a heck of a job bringing in talent. Ask any incoming baseball player why they chose North Park, and he will tell you because of Luke Johnson. Over the past few years he's brought in Division I transfers who have made an immediate impact on the team. For example: Mike Giovenco (UIC), Pete Sparacino (UIC), tony Sanchez (Chicago state), deven melecio (UIC), Mike Domenick (ISU).

It will be interesting to see how well the transfer from NIU does, as he is projected to contribute right away.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 11:31:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.

So in terms of the Trevor Popp comparison, does that mean he'll be mouthy with opponents and try to start fights like Trevor did?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 11:50:14 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 11:31:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.

So in terms of the Trevor Popp comparison, does that mean he'll be mouthy with opponents and try to start fights like Trevor did?

...Said no one who's ever played with or against Trevor Popp before
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 03:00:49 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 11:50:14 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 11:31:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.

So in terms of the Trevor Popp comparison, does that mean he'll be mouthy with opponents and try to start fights like Trevor did?

...Said no one who's ever played with or against Trevor Popp before

... says the guy who watched Trevor Popp try to pick a fight with both Ryan Miller and Tim Urbanowicz and helped cause benches clear, yes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 03:11:48 PM
Now I know all the Parkers will run to Popp's defense, as you should. I'm sure he was a great teammate, etc. in your experiences with him. He was also a pest to opponents, and that's how I view him.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 03:32:38 PM
Quote from: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 03:00:49 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 11:50:14 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on February 21, 2013, 11:31:55 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2013, 06:31:56 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AM
Is that interview archived anywhere on the NPU website?

We've been having some trouble with the archiving of basketball games thus far, so last night's interview is not yet available. I'm going to stay on top of NPU's marketing department to see that that gets done.

Quote from: Chantastic on February 20, 2013, 09:55:33 AMEither way, I'd be curious of your impression on Johnson's take on the strength of his team going into a very rough non-con schedule.

He's very upbeat on his newcomers. He actually talked about them more than he talked about the returnees, although I suspect that this might have as much to do with his familiarity with the returnees, and with what he might've believed was the viewership's familiarity with them, as anything else. (We did discuss Nick Soldano at length and the expectations with which he'll have to deal, scouts with radar guns included, and we also touched upon projected starters Alex Silverthorne and Wes Mleziva as well as the Coduto/Sousanes keystone combo, the health of Jeff Paulson, and the emergence in last season's CCIW tourney of Joe Belmonte as a middle-of-the-lineup bat.)

The newbies whom Luke talked about at length included:

* Junior RHP Nick Vidas from Taft, via Oakton CC. Luke called him "a battler" and compared him to Pete Sparacino. I know that Luke doesn't make Pete Sparacino comparisons lightly, nor should he. All I needed to hear was that comparison to have a good idea as to Vidas' makeup ... and to feel good about what he can contribute to NPU. (As you can tell, I have a very high opinion of Pete Sparacino both in terms of his skill and his internal makeup.)

* Freshman 3B/RHP Jason Meger from Niles West. Luke's very excited about this kid. It sounds as though he's going to step into a big role right away. He's a possibility as the successor to Ryan Javech as the starting 3B, and it sounds as though he's also going to see some mound time at the varsity level in spite of NPU already having a pretty crowded and experienced staff.

* Senior IF/OF Rick DeVito from Crest Hill, via LSU-Alexandria. He's a versatile speed-and-glove guy whom Luke likened to Trevor Popp. Again, a comparison that I don't think he made lightly and one that tells me a good deal about what he's expecting from DeVito. Sounds like he and Meger are the two guys duking it out for the starting 3B slot.

* Junior 1B/OF Dan Anderson and sophomore C/1B/DH Nick Burger, both juco players from Minnesota. They sound like pretty accomplished hitters who should be able to immediately contribute.

* RHP Josiah Carlson from Glenview South.

* Sophomore RHP Kenny Blanchard from Niles West, via Knox.

The NPU season prospectus was just put online this afternoon. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2013/2/20/BB_0220130757.aspx?path=baseball) There's a lot more detail in it than in what I've shared here, of course. Luke and I really only had a chance to skim the surface in terms of talking about the roster during our 17-minute interview.

So in terms of the Trevor Popp comparison, does that mean he'll be mouthy with opponents and try to start fights like Trevor did?

...Said no one who's ever played with or against Trevor Popp before

... says the guy who watched Trevor Popp try to pick a fight with both Ryan Miller and Tim Urbanowicz and helped cause benches clear, yes.

I remember that game and I believe that started with Desmond Cato going into 2b spikes up and then Angel came in and sent Cato to the ground.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 03:45:21 PM
And then the following week Miller tried to start a fight against Elmhurst on a play at the plate...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 03:49:09 PM
Trevor Popp is 5'6 and weighs maybe 140 pounds soaking wet. He looks like a tagalong kid brother right out of Hollywood central casting. I've seen more threatening-looking boys than Trevor knocking on doors trying to sell popcorn to earn a Boy Scout merit badge.

Tim Urbanowicz was 6'4, 190, and Ryan Miller was 6'0, 180. The only action that Trevor Popp should've been able to provoke in either one is gales of laughter. When it comes to mixing it up with Trev, it's all on them.

And if this is related to the WC @ NPU fiasco of two years ago, D3Vike11 is exactly right: Desmond Cato of Wheaton started it by coming in spikes up.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 03:45:21 PM
And then the following week Miller tried to start a fight against Elmhurst on a play at the plate...

Oh, but he can't possibly be guilty of any sort of misbehavior, because he plays for Wheaton, right? ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 05:15:27 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on February 21, 2013, 09:22:08 AM
Very interesting the way Coach Johnson is getting a large number of transfers.  Getting guys with collegiate experience will definitely help North Park get immediate production from their newcomers.

Is Coach Johnson targeting these players or are they seeking out North Park?

Luke's a terrific recruiter with a lot of area connections, as D3Vike11 said, but some of it is the nature of North Park itself. NPU is an urban school, and urban schools tend to draw high numbers of transfer students. DePaul, Loyola, UIC, Roosevelt, etc., have high percentages of transfers as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 05:53:39 PM
Speaking of North Park and Wheaton, one of NPU's new D1 transfers is a junior RHP from Hartford named Charlie Moran. His hometown is Williamsville, NY (a suburb of Buffalo), and he was home-schooled. Wheaton has a freshman RHP this year named Peter Moran. He, too, is from Williamsville, NY, where he went to Christian Central Academy.

Here is Charlie:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.fanbase.com%2Fmedia.fanbase.com%2F8%2F15326%2F54b5d3f650b190fc4afded693e33f7acda00b334.jpg%3Fx%3D185%26amp%3By%3D261%26amp%3Bsig%3D05ad631e5aab526cbc29b7fbfd56bf4c&hash=298734bd09f638b4d62978f0f01fd40440ff3ceb)

Here is Peter:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.wheaton.edu%2Fimages%2F2013%2F1%2F17%2Fheadshot_1_moran.jpg&hash=8134afc8ea4c10bdf011bfe4e5e74fa85085a532)

Related, or coincidence?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on February 21, 2013, 10:21:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 05:53:39 PM
Speaking of North Park and Wheaton, one of NPU's new D1 transfers is a junior RHP from Hartford named Charlie Moran. His hometown is Williamsville, NY (a suburb of Buffalo), and he was home-schooled. Wheaton has a freshman RHP this year named Peter Moran. He, too, is from Williamsville, NY, where he went to Christian Central Academy.

Here is Charlie:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.fanbase.com%2Fmedia.fanbase.com%2F8%2F15326%2F54b5d3f650b190fc4afded693e33f7acda00b334.jpg%3Fx%3D185%26amp%3By%3D261%26amp%3Bsig%3D05ad631e5aab526cbc29b7fbfd56bf4c&hash=298734bd09f638b4d62978f0f01fd40440ff3ceb)

Here is Peter:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.wheaton.edu%2Fimages%2F2013%2F1%2F17%2Fheadshot_1_moran.jpg&hash=8134afc8ea4c10bdf011bfe4e5e74fa85085a532)

Related, or coincidence?

Gotta be related.  Bigger issue I have from your post is why are Wheaton's new hats so ugly!?   Who designed that?     
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 10:39:19 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on February 21, 2013, 10:21:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 05:53:39 PM
Speaking of North Park and Wheaton, one of NPU's new D1 transfers is a junior RHP from Hartford named Charlie Moran. His hometown is Williamsville, NY (a suburb of Buffalo), and he was home-schooled. Wheaton has a freshman RHP this year named Peter Moran. He, too, is from Williamsville, NY, where he went to Christian Central Academy.

Here is Charlie:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.fanbase.com%2Fmedia.fanbase.com%2F8%2F15326%2F54b5d3f650b190fc4afded693e33f7acda00b334.jpg%3Fx%3D185%26amp%3By%3D261%26amp%3Bsig%3D05ad631e5aab526cbc29b7fbfd56bf4c&hash=298734bd09f638b4d62978f0f01fd40440ff3ceb)

Here is Peter:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.wheaton.edu%2Fimages%2F2013%2F1%2F17%2Fheadshot_1_moran.jpg&hash=8134afc8ea4c10bdf011bfe4e5e74fa85085a532)

Related, or coincidence?

Gotta be related.  Bigger issue I have from your post is why are Wheaton's new hats so ugly!?   Who designed that?     

I wasn't going to mention that, izzy, but you're right -- that is one wildebeest-ugly cap design.

Wheaton's old cap design was simple, basic ... a classic baseball look:

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosida.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F2012%2F5%2FDrewGolz_D3_Base_AAA_of_Yr_2012.jpg&hash=63b4ea069b5e767bf394210f322f8901cf45d437)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 22, 2013, 11:45:36 AM
Much like politics, when it come to a "fight" we will always support the side we like best, regardless of facts and evidence. Now... a Carthage guy would never do anything like that. We would have gone in looking to keep the peace:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on February 23, 2013, 05:32:32 PM
North Park loses Game 1 to Translyvannia 5-1.
They are down 3-1 vs Birmingham-Southern in the bottom of the 5th.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 23, 2013, 05:38:19 PM
Doesn't look like the Vikings are fielding very well today.

This is BSC's seventh game of the year already.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 23, 2013, 06:59:13 PM
Vikes lose on a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth, 4-3.

Not a good way to start the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on February 24, 2013, 08:33:13 AM
I noticed Eric Sousanes didn't play in the game vs Transylvania. Is he hurt?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 24, 2013, 01:49:25 PM
Quote from: jester13 on February 24, 2013, 08:33:13 AM
I noticed Eric Sousanes didn't play in the game vs Transylvania. Is he hurt?

He suffered a concussion in practice this past week. No word on how long he'll be out. Mr. B might have that info.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on February 24, 2013, 03:41:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2013, 03:49:09 PM
Trevor Popp is 5'6 and weighs maybe 140 pounds soaking wet. He looks like a tagalong kid brother right out of Hollywood central casting. I've seen more threatening-looking boys than Trevor knocking on doors trying to sell popcorn to earn a Boy Scout merit badge.

Tim Urbanowicz was 6'4, 190, and Ryan Miller was 6'0, 180. The only action that Trevor Popp should've been able to provoke in either one is gales of laughter. When it comes to mixing it up with Trev, it's all on them.

And if this is related to the WC @ NPU fiasco of two years ago, D3Vike11 is exactly right: Desmond Cato of Wheaton started it by coming in spikes up.

Quote from: D3Vike11 on February 21, 2013, 03:45:21 PM
And then the following week Miller tried to start a fight against Elmhurst on a play at the plate...

Oh, but he can't possibly be guilty of any sort of misbehavior, because he plays for Wheaton, right? ::)

I think anyone who played against Trevor Popp or Ryan Miller can agree that they were both mouthy.

And if I can remember correctly, the players at Wheaton did laugh about Popp running his mouth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on February 25, 2013, 12:31:50 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on February 23, 2013, 05:32:32 PM
North Park loses Game 1 to Translyvannia 5-1.
They are down 3-1 vs Birmingham-Southern in the bottom of the 5th.

My son could be pitching against Transy on Saturday. I saw that Transy also put a hurting on BSC 16-0 last weekend as well. Anyone see these games? Was Transy really that good or did they have help from the other teams?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 01, 2013, 01:04:47 PM
I still don't believe in Augustana's start... this is their deal every season and then they falter down the stretch. Can this be the year they finally put a full 40 games together?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 04, 2013, 03:39:33 PM
With their 3-0 loss to Wash U, North Park falls to 0-5 on the season. I can't remember the last time they started 0-5, at least not under Coach Johnson. Although this is a tough schedule, they need a win against one of these opponents to show they they are legitimate.

They are currently tied up with #11 Webster 1-1 in the 2nd. A win against them would definitely help get this team back on track. Their pitching has been solid, but they have committed costly errors and haven't been able to produce enough runs yet.

I still think they are the team to beat in the conference, and this tough schedule will definitely help prepare them for the CCIW.

North Park wins big 8-1 scoring 5 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 04, 2013, 07:53:27 PM
Quote from: D3Vike11 on March 04, 2013, 03:39:33 PM
With their 3-0 loss to Wash U, North Park falls to 0-5 on the season. I can't remember the last time they started 0-5, at least not under Coach Johnson. Although this is a tough schedule, they need a win against one of these opponents to show they they are legitimate.
Several of Luke Johnson's teams have started the season 1-5 or 2-5 (but never 0-5).  However, this year's team is not far removed from being 3-3.  The Vikings lost a pair of one-run contests to ranked Birmingham Southern (currently 10-3), a third consecutive one-run game to Buena Vista (2-1), and then came out on the short end against a strong pitching performance Wash U (4-2) pitcher Stephen Bonser (last week's D3 pitcher of the week.  I was happy to see them put together a solid win against yet another quality ranked opponent in Webster.  Let's hope this tough schedule really prepares them for the grind against CCIW opponents!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 08, 2013, 08:22:17 AM
North Park's tough schedule continues as they travel this weekend to California to take on La Verne twice and Whittier once. Whittier is 5-1 in conference and sits atop the SCIAC, while La Verne is 9-4 and is 3rd.

North Park is coming off a solid 8-1 victory over #11 Webster. 3 wins here could get North Park to 4-5 and back into the swing of things.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 08, 2013, 10:52:02 AM
Wheaton's new coach talks about the season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXQXFH5TQ-A&list=UUc7gBoPNxd3EmNnzGNtKOYw&index=1.

Some coach speak, but I like when he talks about players he expects a lot from.  As usual, pitching seems to be the issue...........
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2013, 04:47:07 PM
Carthage opened with a 8-6 win at Rose-Hilman in game 1 today. Sloppy pitching for the Redmen. Walked a few runs in after an error or two. Hopefully, it is due to early season jitters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on March 10, 2013, 06:11:30 PM
North Park got back on the board with a second-straight win today, this time defeating The University of Laverne by a final of 6-5.

The Vikings jumped ahead early with 3 in the first, highlighted by a 2-run triple from freshman Dan Sabin.

LaVerne fought back to tie the game after 6, but North Park's 3 in the top of the 8th on the strength of Mike Codut's 3-run bomb were enough to hold off LaVerne's 2-run rally in the bottom of the 9th.

Nick Soldano started for North Park, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 7 in 6 2/3.

Nick Vidas earned the win in relief, with Kenny Blanchard picking up the save.

The Vikes take on Whittier College tomorrow at 3:00 pacific time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 10, 2013, 09:08:14 PM
Quote from: Viking Blue on March 10, 2013, 06:11:30 PM
North Park got back on the board with a second-straight win today, this time defeating The University of Laverne by a final of 6-5.

The Vikings jumped ahead early with 3 in the first, highlighted by a 2-run triple from freshman Dan Sabin.

LaVerne fought back to tie the game after 6, but North Park's 3 in the top of the 8th on the strength of Mike Codut's 3-run bomb were enough to hold off LaVerne's 2-run rally in the bottom of the 9th.

Nick Soldano started for North Park, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 7 in 6 2/3.

Nick Vidas earned the win in relief, with Kenny Blanchard picking up the save.

The Vikes take on Whittier College tomorrow at 3:00 pacific time.
Nice win for the Vikings today.  I posted the game story along with several photos on my website (http://www.cadillac76.com/baseball/).  Vidas and Blanchard both looked good in relief, and Sabin's first-inning triple nearly left the yard.  Coduto's was a no-doubter to right.

Tomorrow's game may get moved up half an hour (to 2.30 PST).  We had a great contingent of North Park fans, and we always appreciate their support!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2013, 03:07:24 PM
One thing that concerns me with Carthage right now is their pitching. Over the three game series at Rose-Hulman they walked 18 batters and hit three more. 21 free passes is NEVER a recipe for victory. Couple those with five errors and we are looking at 27 runners on base that did not deserve it.

Let's hope they get it figured out before arriving at the MetroDome this weekend.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 11, 2013, 06:23:17 PM
North Park is up 3-1 early on Whittier College. Nice to see the bats starting to come around  ;D

NP wins 10-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2013, 10:19:34 PM
Good to see Jeff Paulson finally playing again for NPU. He's had a rough go of it since he messed up his shoulder last season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2013, 01:02:54 AM
Along those same coming-back-from-injury lines, good to see Merrick McGrady make his season debut on the mound for NPU yesterday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 12, 2013, 01:14:39 AM
This season is already officially nuts. ;D

IWU (17 points in the ORV category of the poll) opened the season at the Birmingham-Southern tournament.  First game: beat #8 Adrian.  Second game: lost to no votes Huntingdon.  Third game: beat #10 Birmingham-Southern on their own field.

Try explaining THAT. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 12, 2013, 04:33:35 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 12, 2013, 01:14:39 AM
Try explaining THAT. ::)

They won twice and lost once.  Explained!  :P ;D ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on March 13, 2013, 10:43:54 AM
Wheaton is now 3-2 on the season after splittling with Bethel, a loss to Monmouth, and sweeping MacMurray 2-0.  Wheaton next takes on Baldwin-Wallace on Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on March 13, 2013, 12:45:01 PM
Based on the early returns, I suspect Wheaton does not have the horses to seriously contend for a playoff spot this year.  I don't think they are going to be able to replace the offense they graduated last year and they are going to have trouble generating runs against CCIW wk. end pitching.

It also appears that Trey Martin is not full-strength - playing DH and not pitching.  Anyone know what is going on there?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 16, 2013, 09:42:41 AM
Carthage dropped to 1-4 last night after being swept by Concordia-Moorehead in the MetroDome. Not a good start for the Redmen. I was hoping that last year's stumble was an anomoly, but it appears this season may be headed in that same direction.

Not sure what the change in the system is, but it has been whispered (privately from those close to the program, but not in it) that the massive increase in tuition recently has really limited their recruiting base.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on March 16, 2013, 12:13:59 PM
North Park came back in the bottom of the 6th down 16-5 to take an 18-16 lead. They won 28-17 vs Macalister...and yes I mean in baseball and not football.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2013, 03:07:34 PM
NPU staggers back to Chicago to start the home portion of the schedule this week. The three southern road trips with which the Vikings started the season resulted in a 5-7 record, and, tough competition or not, I think that everyone around the program expected better than that. It seems as though the hitting isn't there on the days where the pitching is, and vice-versa. Yesterday was a case in point; the bats, which really broke through in a big way on Friday against Macalester, had another fine performance against UW-LaCrosse, but the pitching broke down. The one constant is that the fielding hasn't been good at all this season. Yesterday the Vikings made six errors in their 10-9 loss to UWL, and I don't think that there's any way in the world that you can beat a team of the caliber of the Eagles when you make six errors.

Fortunately, NPU gets four home games over the next week and a half to sort things out before starting the CCIW slate on Easter weekend in Decatur. The Park's home opener is Wednesday afternoon against Aurora. It'll be NPU's first-ever live baseball webcast. I'll be doing the play-by-play, and I'm looking forward to calling a win against the Spartans as the Vikings right the ship.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 17, 2013, 04:04:37 PM
Congratulations on the live broadcasts for NPU.

Have fun and I hope that it is a success!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2013, 04:25:57 PM
Thanks, Ralph! I'm really looking forward to it.

It's gonna be interesting. Baseball has a much different pace than football or basketball, so it'll take a while to get used to calling baseball. I'm going to be doing the PBP for North Park softball as well.

I'll miss the experience of being with the guys in the dugout, as I've been the scoreboard operator for NPU for the past several seasons. The baseball scoreboard at Holmgren Athletic Complex is operated from the first-base dugout, so I've spent much of the past few springs interacting with the Vikings during home games and have had a lot of fun doing so. The upside is that the press box tends to be much warmer in March than the dugout. Wednesday's predicted high here on the city's North Side is a not-so-balmy 27 degrees. Let me tell you, there is no way to dress for mid-twenties weather when you're forced to stand still for three hours.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Spence on March 17, 2013, 08:54:35 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 12, 2013, 01:14:39 AM
This season is already officially nuts. ;D

IWU (17 points in the ORV category of the poll) opened the season at the Birmingham-Southern tournament.  First game: beat #8 Adrian.  Second game: lost to no votes Huntingdon.  Third game: beat #10 Birmingham-Southern on their own field.

Try explaining THAT. ::)

The way things have shaken out, you may have lost to the best of the 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 21, 2013, 10:30:32 PM
I haven't checked yet to see if the frigid weather is having an impact upon anybody else's schedule, but it's impacted NPU's. The Wednesday game against Aurora was postponed, and Saturday's doubleheader against St. John's has been called off. Fortunately, the bad weather has also opened up space in Concordia (IL)'s schedule, so the Vikings will add a perennial strong Cougars team as a last-minute addition to the schedule. The Vikings will face Concordia (IL) at noon on Saturday, followed by Aurora at 3 pm in a rather unconventional NAthC @ NPU doubleheader. I'll be doing the online play-by-play for both games.

The temperature will be in the 30s on Saturday, so this will be a test of wills as well as a test of skills.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on March 25, 2013, 10:09:09 AM
Wheaton's Trey Martin will be red-shirting this season due to injury.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2013, 05:22:08 PM
Dominican @ North Park about to begin. Listen to the PBP here: http://athletics.northpark.edu/sports/2013/3/21/BB_0321131330.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 26, 2013, 08:25:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2013, 05:22:08 PM
Dominican @ North Park about to begin. Listen to the PBP here: http://athletics.northpark.edu/sports/2013/3/21/BB_0321131330.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball

Congratulations on the win!  I enjoyed the webcast, Greg.  +1! :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 26, 2013, 09:31:11 PM
Carthage falls to 5-7 after a 10-5 loss to St John's today. Not looking good for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2013, 07:49:56 PM
Thanks, Ralph!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2013, 04:34:22 PM
Game One:
North Central- 4
Carthage-2

Looks to be a long season for the Redmen as they fall to 5-8.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2013, 05:20:19 PM
The first weekend of CCIW play is now in the  books. North Park and Illinois Wesleyan sit atop the standings, as both completed sweeps; NPU took down Millikin by scores of 10-4, 5-3, and 4-0, while IWU erased Wheaton by 4-2, 7-2, and 13-12. North Central is in third, as the Cardinals sandwiched 4-2 and 11-1 wins over Carthage around an 11-3 loss to the Red Men; and Elmhurst and Augustana split on Friday, EC winning the opener, 4-3, and AC winning the nightcap, 6-5. The rubber game between the two has been postponed indefinitely.

Nick Vidas threw a gem for NPU today at Sunnyside Park in Decatur, hurling a complete-game five-hit shutout. He's now 3-1, 0.67 on the year, and opponents are hitting only .196 off of him in 27 innings pitched.

Millikin's a better team than it has been in recent years. The Big Blue actually have some halfway-decent pitching. They're not going to finish in the first division, but they'll be a tougher out than they've been.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2013, 11:31:57 AM
Looking forward to watching the Carthage/NPU battle today via live-stats. It will also be the innaugural game at Carthage Augie Schmidt Field.

Predictions?

I am curious to see who each team runs out to the mound today... both coming off a three game weekend series. Will Friday's starters be ready to go today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: D3Vike11 on April 02, 2013, 01:08:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2013, 11:31:57 AM
Looking forward to watching the Carthage/NPU battle today via live-stats. It will also be the innaugural game at Carthage Augie Schmidt Field.

Predictions?

I am curious to see who each team runs out to the mound today... both coming off a three game weekend series. Will Friday's starters be ready to go today?

I suspect Soldano and Silverthorne will be starting today. Soldano threw only 4 2/3 innings on Friday while Silverthorne only threw 5 2/3 as well. Going to be a good series!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2013, 01:37:00 PM
I am not sure it will be a good series today... I think NPU overpowers Carthage today and sweeps. You have no idea of how that hurts me to say that, but I am a realist who sees with his eyes, not his heart. I'd be happy with a split today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2013, 09:24:01 PM
Carthage and NPU split today's DH. I am happy with that result. While Carthage is struggling a bit, they ARE 2-3 in CCIW play vs two teams that I had in the league's top three this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2013, 02:14:34 PM
I'm not happy with yesterday's result, and I can guarantee that Luke Johnson was fuming over it. Carthage came from behind to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the nightcap against NPU. The winning run reached on a throwing error, and, with two outs and the bases loaded, that winning run came home on a HBP.

I tip my cap to the Red Men for sticking to it and not giving up, but that was a game in which NPU spit out the bit and threw away what should've been a win and a road doubleheader sweep.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2013, 08:57:46 PM
Incidentally, Carthage coach Augie Schmidt is in the midst of a five-game suspension (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2013/4/3/Baseball_0403134643.aspx) that will cover Carthage's Saturday twinbill at Augustana as well. The NCAA has a new rule that coach ejections will result in an automatic two-game suspension, and three extra games were tacked on to the suspension as well. The article by Carthage SID Steve Marovich linked to above states that Schmidt was suspended the extra three games for failing to be out of "sight and sound" of the field following his ejection in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against North Central; what I heard, which comes secondhand from Carthage folks via a North Park fan who was up in Kenosha on Tuesday for the NPU @ CC doubleheader, was that there was a bat-throwing tantrum by Schmidt after his ejection that entered into it.

Kind of a shame that he was not allowed to be in the Carthage ballpark on the day that it was newly renamed in honor of his father.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2013, 09:51:14 PM
I saw that scroll across Twitter this afternoon. Coaches getting tossed is, and always has been, a part of the game. I have no problem with the ejection... the NCAA adding on three games is part I don't understand. Carthage is struggling a bit and, apparently, it is showing a bit in Augie's demeanor.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2013, 11:05:06 AM
Found this blast form the past... while Augie out for a few games, we can still enjoy his U of New Orleans pic:

http://web.usabaseball.com/goldenspikes/images/past_winners/schmidt_augie_195.jpg (http://web.usabaseball.com/goldenspikes/images/past_winners/schmidt_augie_195.jpg)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 04:54:21 PM
Strange first game in B'town: after NCC took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Titans scored five runs on ONE hit!  After getting the first two outs, 3 Card pitchers totally imploded with a double, 2 hit batters, 4 walks, and the final indignity - balking in the winning (losing) run.  (OUCH!  Even a Greenie can feel sympathy after that!)

With one more this afternoon and one tomorrow, the Titans currently stand at 6-0, the Cards fall to 3-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 07:28:05 PM
Titans win the nightcap, 7-4.  IWU moves to 7-0, Cards fall to 3-4.

I'm starting to dream of the conference seasons of 2007 (20-1), or at least 2005 or 2008 (both 18-3), though I'd gladly give them up for the post-season of 2010 (barely limped into the conference tourney, #4 seed by winning several at the end, then won the walnut-and-bronze). ;D

I am NOT predicting anything (nor even really expecting any reruns), but a guy can DREAM! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2013, 07:39:07 PM
NPU ended up taking two out of three from Wheaton this weekend. The Vikings beat WC in the opener at Holmgren yesterday, 9-2, but lost the nightcap, 6-3. The change of venue to Carol Stream today apparently helped the Vikings get their mojo back, as they slaughter-ruled Wheaton by a score of 15-5.

I don't consider it a successful weekend, though; Wheaton's not good, and anything less than a sweep of the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance has to be viewed as a disappointment. NPU's struggling with a lot of injuries right now, and it's visibly having an effect upon the ability of the Vikings to get the job done. The bright spot was the continued excellence of reigning CCIW Pitcher of the Week Nick Vidas. He threw a complete game yesterday in Game One, holding Wheaton to six hits and two runs, only one of them earned, and he didn't walk anybody. North Park, incidentally, swept the CCIW player awards last week, as Kyle Williams was the CCIW Hitter of the Week.

Augie swept Carthage today in the QC, 15-4 and 5-2, and Illinois Wesleyan swept North Central, 10-9 and 7-4. Elmhurst skunked Millikin in the opener of their doubleheader in the western suburbs by a score of 20-7. The second game was rained out and will be played tomorrow as part of a doubleheader.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 06, 2013, 10:53:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 04:54:21 PM
Strange first game in B'town: after NCC took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Titans scored five runs on ONE hit!  After getting the first two outs, 3 Card pitchers totally imploded with a double, 2 hit batters, 4 walks, and the final indignity - balking in the winning (losing) run.  (OUCH!  Even a Greenie can feel sympathy after that!)

With one more this afternoon and one tomorrow, the Titans currently stand at 6-0, the Cards fall to 3-3.

What is even more ironic is that the balk came by the reliever before he even threw a pitch.  It's the first time I've ever seen such a thing.  Couldn't stay for game 2, but obviously happy with the result.

Crazy ending to game 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2013, 12:22:53 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 06, 2013, 10:53:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 04:54:21 PM
Strange first game in B'town: after NCC took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Titans scored five runs on ONE hit!  After getting the first two outs, 3 Card pitchers totally imploded with a double, 2 hit batters, 4 walks, and the final indignity - balking in the winning (losing) run.  (OUCH!  Even a Greenie can feel sympathy after that!)

With one more this afternoon and one tomorrow, the Titans currently stand at 6-0, the Cards fall to 3-3.

What is even more ironic is that the balk came by the reliever before he even threw a pitch.  It's the first time I've ever seen such a thing.  Couldn't stay for game 2, but obviously happy with the result.

Crazy ending to game 1.

I was only on livestats, so didn't realize that.  That IS crazy - the reliever loses the game without throwing a pitch! :o

Now I can REALLY feel for the Card's players. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Viking Blue on April 11, 2013, 09:00:13 AM
Yesterday's North Park-Carthage game is only listed as "postponed" on both teams' websites.  Has anyone heard anything about a make-up date?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 11, 2013, 10:24:35 AM
Quote from: Viking Blue on April 11, 2013, 09:00:13 AM
Yesterday's North Park-Carthage game is only listed as "postponed" on both teams' websites.  Has anyone heard anything about a make-up date?

It's tentatively scheduled for Monday (15th) in the afternoon -- on the Carthage site, it's a 3.00 PM start.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2013, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2013, 12:22:53 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 06, 2013, 10:53:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 04:54:21 PM
Strange first game in B'town: after NCC took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Titans scored five runs on ONE hit!  After getting the first two outs, 3 Card pitchers totally imploded with a double, 2 hit batters, 4 walks, and the final indignity - balking in the winning (losing) run.  (OUCH!  Even a Greenie can feel sympathy after that!)

With one more this afternoon and one tomorrow, the Titans currently stand at 6-0, the Cards fall to 3-3.

What is even more ironic is that the balk came by the reliever before he even threw a pitch.  It's the first time I've ever seen such a thing.  Couldn't stay for game 2, but obviously happy with the result.

Crazy ending to game 1.

I was only on livestats, so didn't realize that.  That IS crazy - the reliever loses the game without throwing a pitch! :o

Now I can REALLY feel for the Card's players. :(

When I was a college head coach, I had a lefty WIN a game without throwing a pitch. Came in a game down a run with bases loaded in 8th and picked a guy off... we scored two in the bottom of the 8th and I pulled him in favor of another arm. Hence, a WIN without throwing a pitch... I love the quirks of the scoring system.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 11, 2013, 01:10:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2013, 12:30:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2013, 12:22:53 AM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 06, 2013, 10:53:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2013, 04:54:21 PM
Strange first game in B'town: after NCC took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Titans scored five runs on ONE hit!  After getting the first two outs, 3 Card pitchers totally imploded with a double, 2 hit batters, 4 walks, and the final indignity - balking in the winning (losing) run.  (OUCH!  Even a Greenie can feel sympathy after that!)

With one more this afternoon and one tomorrow, the Titans currently stand at 6-0, the Cards fall to 3-3.

What is even more ironic is that the balk came by the reliever before he even threw a pitch.  It's the first time I've ever seen such a thing.  Couldn't stay for game 2, but obviously happy with the result.

Crazy ending to game 1.

I was only on livestats, so didn't realize that.  That IS crazy - the reliever loses the game without throwing a pitch! :o

Now I can REALLY feel for the Card's players. :(

When I was a college head coach, I had a lefty WIN a game without throwing a pitch. Came in a game down a run with bases loaded in 8th and picked a guy off... we scored two in the bottom of the 8th and I pulled him in favor of another arm. Hence, a WIN without throwing a pitch... I love the quirks of the scoring system.
Here's another quirky situation for you official scorers out there.  Back in 2003, North Park was leading North Central 4-0 late in the game.  The Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out.  The batter lifts a fly to left field, the outfielder makes the catch, the runner scores from third... North Park's coach makes a visit to the mound to remove the pitcher, and when he gets to the mound he is told that the runner on third left early.  The relief pitcher comes in, throws to third on the appeal, and the runner is called out, so the run comes off the board and the score reverts to 4-0.  End of inning.  The reliever finishes the game (1 more innings, as I recall), which ends up 4-0.

Here's the quirky question: after the game, the reliever asks, "Do I get a save?"
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2013, 01:19:33 PM
I think he does get a save... it WAS a 3 run game when he entered.

I am likely wrong as the save rule has always been confusing to me(I know an MLBer once earned a save in a 30-3 win).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2013, 02:42:14 PM
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
- (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
- (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or
- (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 12, 2013, 03:14:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2013, 02:42:14 PM
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
- (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
- (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or
- (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.


The question is whether the relief pitcher came in when the Vikings had a three- or a four-run lead.  Technically it was 4-1, then he took the mound, threw to third on the appeal, and the run came off the board. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2013, 03:59:15 PM
Nick Mehn just completed a complete game shutout, 2-0, to finish a Titan sweep of Elmhurst. 

The Titans move to 12-0.  Unless Augie and/or North Park (the only remaining 3-loss teams) can sweep the Titans, the conference race may be all but over.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 14, 2013, 06:21:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2013, 03:59:15 PM
Nick Mehn just completed a complete game shutout, 2-0, to finish a Titan sweep of Elmhurst. 

The Titans move to 12-0.  Unless Augie and/or North Park (the only remaining 3-loss teams) can sweep the Titans, the conference race may be all but over.

Nick threw a great game today, but no way do I feel like the Titans have won anything.  They have an upcoming series with Augie, then home for three with Carthage (it doesn't matter if Carthage is up or down, this is always a war).  Then finish the conference with three games AT North Park.  They need this cushion - heck, they really need North Central to beat Augie tomorrow.

Kudos to them not losing games they should not lose, but they need to stay on top of their game.

Nick was effective today, but so was Marquis for Elmhurst.  The game was less than two hours.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2013, 10:35:21 PM
Don't worry - I'm not prematurely claiming anything! :D

And I'm a little worried if they DO finish first!  In 2005 and 2008, they won it overwhelmingly at 18-3, DID win the conference tourney, but then flamed out in the regional.  In 2007 they had the best record ever in the CCIW (20-1), then imploded, going 1-2 in the conference tourney and 0-2 in the regional.  On the other hand, in 2010 they barely made the conference tourney (4th seed), then went on an 8-1 run to win 'the big doorstop' (I hope Greg never had that copyrighted! ;D).

But up 3 on Augie, and now up 4 on NPU, with only 9 to go is a pretty nice cushion. :)  And if they can avoid losing more than 4 or 5 more games, they should be pretty much a lock for the NCAA tourney even if they don't win the conference tourney.

It's certainly not over, but I can't imagine anyone wants to bet very much that the conference tourney will be somewhere other than Horenberger Field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2013, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2013, 10:35:21 PM
It's certainly not over, but I can't imagine anyone wants to bet very much that the conference tourney will be somewhere other than Horenberger Field.
Having the right to host the conference tournament is quite a bit different from saying the "the conference race may be all but over."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2013, 11:28:14 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 15, 2013, 08:07:26 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2013, 10:35:21 PM
It's certainly not over, but I can't imagine anyone wants to bet very much that the conference tourney will be somewhere other than Horenberger Field.
Having the right to host the conference tournament is quite a bit different from saying the "the conference race may be all but over."

The regular-season champion hosts the tourney; seems to me it IS two ways of saying the same thing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 15, 2013, 03:30:35 PM
I must say I miss the days of the point system determining the conference champion and the automatic qualifier.  It was a nice way to value the entire season as part of picking an automatic qualifier.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2013, 10:37:36 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2013, 02:42:14 PM
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
- (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
- (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or
- (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.


3b would be the reason he gets the save.  Potential tying run was in the on deck circle BEFORE the out was recorded at third.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2013, 10:55:05 AM


                             CCIW   Overall
Illinois Wesleyan   12-0   22-5
Augustana             8-3     21-5
North Park             8-4     15-13
Carthage               5-7     12-14
Elmhurst                4-6     12-11
Wheaton               4-7     8-18
North Central        4-8     11-14
Millikin                   1-11    7-15


IWU appears to have control of this right now but they still have to play Carthage, Augustana and North Park... While I don't think they will run the table and go 21-0, or even 19-2, it is going to be tough to catch them without some help from Carthage (who I am not sure can provide much help at this point). I see the #4 seed coming down to Carthage and North Central, in which NCC already took two of three form Carthage. This should be a fun finish to the CCIW as Carthage appears to be starting to put it together a bit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 17, 2013, 12:57:41 PM
Trying to weigh performance vs. competition, the most surprising development of the new season is the performance of the IWU pitching staff.  Not only do they lead the league in ERA (2.56 vs. next closest at 2.94), but they have an astounding strikeout to walk ratio of 91-16.

Limiting walks is a very large part of limiting runs, and they are currently only allowing a little over 1 walk per game.  This is by far the least in the league, even though in most instances they have played 1 or 2 more games than most teams in the league.  If this continues, I expect IWU to win the conference pretty easily.

All that being said, the next 9 games are against the next top 3 in the standings, so this seems to be when the conference season really begins for them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2013, 10:13:24 PM
... And just like that the race in the CCIW changes. Augustana takes a pair from IWU on Saturday  while Carthage has won 7 of 8 to get back in the playoff picture. Carthage vs IWU next weekend is looming large as the Titans HAVE to be looking in the rearview to see who is gaining on them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2013, 05:43:14 PM
The Titans avoided the sweep with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th.  Kevin Callahan's third double of the game tied the score, Johnathon Erickson followed with his second double to drive in what proved to be the winning run, 7-6.  John Munyon got the win with 2.2 innings of 1 hit, scoreless relief.

The Titans go to 13-2, 2 games up on Augie with 6 games to go.  If the Vikings had completed the sweep, it would be a whole new race; if the Titans had taken 2 of 3, it would be essentially game over.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2013, 11:39:03 PM
In last week's poll, IWU was 21, Augie was 22.  It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Augie was the only ranked team this week (say about 20, with IWU among the ORVs at 27 or 28).  The CCIW does not receive much national respect; but that's fine - they haven't yet earned it.  Conference teams have gone to Appleton (and previous locations) a number of times, but only once come home victorious - and that was probably the most unexpected winner ever - the 2010 Titans (we were the bottom seed in the conference tourney, probably either the bottom or next to bottom in the regional, and likewise the bottom or next to bottom in the WS).

I'll take a wild guess at the national poll and say Augie 19, IWU 24.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2013, 01:22:03 AM
Just checked Augie's remaining schedule: 3 v. Wheaton, 1 v. Elmhurst, 3 v. Millikin.  Now 10-4, they could definitely end 16-5 (or even 17-4).

IWU better not stumble against Carthage and North Park! :P  3-3 might do it, 4-2 should probably do it, but let's guarantee it with 5-1! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2013, 06:29:53 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2013, 11:39:03 PM
In last week's poll, IWU was 21, Augie was 22.  It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Augie was the only ranked team this week (say about 20, with IWU among the ORVs at 27 or 28).  The CCIW does not receive much national respect; but that's fine - they haven't yet earned it.  Conference teams have gone to Appleton (and previous locations) a number of times, but only once come home victorious - and that was probably the most unexpected winner ever - the 2010 Titans (we were the bottom seed in the conference tourney, probably either the bottom or next to bottom in the regional, and likewise the bottom or next to bottom in the WS).

I'll take a wild guess at the national poll and say Augie 19, IWU 24.


Considering I didn't check at all how other ranked teams had fared, not too shabby a guess!  Augie juped all the way to 16th, IWU was indeed 24th.  Wheaton, who had zero points the previous week, received 18 points, good enough for (31st).  (However, given that they are 10-19 overall, I strongly suspect a voter made an error, and the points really belong to Wheaton, MA. :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2013, 07:09:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2013, 01:22:03 AM
IWU better not stumble against Carthage and North Park! :P  3-3 might do it, 4-2 should probably do it, but let's guarantee it with 5-1! ;D

Let's not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2013, 08:03:00 PM
Carthage was destroyed by Concordia-Chicago today 17-1. Ouch. Knowing Concordia Coach Adam Smith is a Redmen alum, this game had to hurt him as much as it hurt Carthage coaches and players.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2013, 01:48:53 PM
I am shocked at how quiet this board is...

Can Carthage take a game or two from IWU this weekend?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 26, 2013, 11:21:22 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 25, 2013, 01:48:53 PM
I am shocked at how quiet this board is...

Can Carthage take a game or two from IWU this weekend?

It is quiet.  I hope they don't take any games from the Titans, but I'm sure they are capable.  Looking forward to a first pitch at 7pm tonight.

I wonder if Wheaton can take a game from Augie.  Sure hope so.....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 27, 2013, 08:22:04 AM
Well contested game last night.  Carthage actually loaded the bases in the 9th with no outs in the 9th and trailing 4-1, but a double play and a foul out ended the game, 4-2.

Senior day today for IWU - noon first pitch for game 1 of the twin bill.

A few wins between these two coaches:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/voiceofseason/8686058166/in/photostream
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2013, 06:39:56 PM
IWU gets the sweep over Carthage, moving to 16-2.  Nick Mehn pitched a strong 8 innings for the comeback win (Titans scored 2 in the bottom of the 8th); John Munyon pitched a scoreless 9th for the save in a 4-3 game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2013, 08:10:50 PM
Augie and Wheaton split their DH today, so Augie falls to 12-5.  Unless Augie finishes 4-0 AND IWU finishes 0-3, the conference tourney will be at Horenberger Field (IF the unlikely does happen, Augie has the tie-break).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2013, 10:12:39 PM
IWU and Augie are assured of the conference tourney.  Millikin is out.  All the others are still in play.

NPU is obviously in the best shape of those five, at 10-7.  They play @Elmhurst tomorrow (they split @home today, 9-5, then 0-10).  An 0-4 finish is certainly not impossible, but 2-2 (and in the tourney) seems more likely.

NCC is at 8-9, with a home game tomorrow against Millikin, then 3 games against Elmhurst (1 home, 2 away).  4-0 and they are almost certainly in; 3-1 puts them in a likely 11-10 tie-breaker.

Carthage (8-10) and Wheaton (7-10); Wheaton has a make-up game @Millikin, then they play each other the final three games (1 in Kenosha, 2 in Wheaton).  Assuming Wheaton beats Millikin, a sweep by either team likely puts them in; whoever wins 2 of 3 is likely to be in a tie-breaker.

Elmhurst is at 6-10, with make-up games tomorrow (both at home) against NPU and Augie), then a season finale against NCC (2 at home).  Their only hope is to win all five games, then win a tie-breaker.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 04:24:42 PM
In today's first final, NPU downed Elmhurst, 4-3.  I believe Elmhurst, now 6-11, is mathematically eliminated.  NPU moves to 11-7 and almost certainly is in the tourney.

Upset alert: after 6, 1-15 Millikin is ahead of NCC, 4-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 05:12:06 PM
Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2013, 05:20:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 05:12:06 PM
Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.
North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 06:20:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 28, 2013, 05:20:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 05:12:06 PM
Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.
North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.

I suspected they might already be in, but I hadn't checked the tie-breakers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 08:20:23 PM
Elmhurst beat Augie this afternoon, 8-4, making the nearly inevitable now definite: the conference tourney is coming to Horenberger Field.  Augie is now only one game up on NPU, but with Augie finishing against Millikin while the other Vikings finish with IWU, Augie is a pretty good bet to be the #2 seed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2013, 10:13:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 06:20:32 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 28, 2013, 05:20:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 05:12:06 PM
Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.
North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.

I suspected they might already be in, but I hadn't checked the tie-breakers.
The CCIW website has only IWU and Augie as securing tournament berths so far. I'm trying to think of a scenario whereby NPU does not qualify, and I can't come up with one (unless I'm misinterpreting some order of tiebreakers).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2013, 11:18:00 PM
Since IWU has already clinched home field (the CCIW.org site also says IWU has only clinched a tie for first, when they have clinched undisputed first), so they have less to play for than your Vikings.  They could still get the second best conference record ever (and never underestimate sheer pride and competitiveness), but I think it is likely that the eastern Vikings win at least one game in the series (maybe more).  And I agree - I think you have already clinched (and are almost certainly #3) despite what the conference website says.

And I retract what I said about Elmhurst once they upset Augie.  IF they can sweep NCC, 10-11 just might get them a tie-breaker for #4 (but I haven't checked out the options for that scenario).  IF Wheaton loses @Millikin, then beats Carthage 2-1, they both finish 9-12, as does NCC, and Elmhurst wouldn't even need a tie-break!  BUT that is a lot of IFs! ;)

More likely is if Wheaton defeats 2-15 Millikin, Elmhurst is eliminated, as the winner of the Wheaton/Carthage series would then have 11 (or 12) wins, which Elmhurst can't match.  If Wheaton wins tomorrow, Elmhurst can play spoiler for NCC, but could no longer win a spot in the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cciwposter13 on April 29, 2013, 09:19:27 AM
Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA? 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 29, 2013, 10:41:18 AM
Quote from: cciwposter13 on April 29, 2013, 09:19:27 AM
Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Not trying to be a homer here, but I'd have to believe Jeff Johnson and Nick Mehn of IWU would both be in consideration.  As pleasant of a surprise as Mehn has been this year after an off year in 2012, Johnson has been consistently impressive, is undefeated and sports a 1.55 ERA overall (might be a little higher in conference play, I don't have that info in front of me).  There's still a weekend left, but he would get my vote at this point, despite Mehn's low ERA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CCIWFAN6 on April 29, 2013, 11:18:36 AM
Quote from: cciwposter13 on April 29, 2013, 09:19:27 AM
Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Kaufman, in CCIW play, is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA.  Mehn is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA, however, 3 of his appearances have been in relief. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 29, 2013, 05:11:19 PM
Quote from: CCIWFAN6 on April 29, 2013, 11:18:36 AM
Quote from: cciwposter13 on April 29, 2013, 09:19:27 AM
Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Kaufman, in CCIW play, is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA.  Mehn is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA, however, 3 of his appearances have been in relief.

Conference stats on CCIW site today:

Michale Kaufman   3-1  2.59 ERA  41.2 IP   27K  9BB
Jeff Johnson   4-0  1.98 ERA  41.0 IP  37K  6BB

I haven't seen Kaufman pitch.  Sounds like a good one - look forward to it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 29, 2013, 05:11:54 PM
How each team gets in:

North Central
1. Sweep Elmhurst AND 2-1 result either way in Wheaton/Carthage series
2. Beat Elmhurst 2-1 AND Carthage defeat Wheaton 2-1

Carthage
1. Sweep Wheaton AND 2-1 result either way in Elmhurst/North Central series
2. Beat Wheaton 2-1 AND Elmhurst defeat North Central 2-1

Wheaton (Tuesday win at Millikin)
1. Sweep Carthage
2. Beat Carthage 2-1 AND North Central defeat Elmhurst 2-1

Wheaton (Tuesday loss at Millikin)
1. Sweep Carthage AND Elmhurst defeat North Central 2-1

Elmhurst
1. Sweep North Central AND Wheaton defeat Carthage 2-1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2013, 09:47:50 PM
Wheaton was cruising along, up 8-0 after 4.  Since then, they have not scored, while Millikin had 1 in the 5th and SEVEN in the 8th.  Going to the 9th tied at 8.

IF Wheaton loses this game, it sets up a fascinating possibility (however unlikely): if Wheaton then beat Carthage 2 out of 3, while Elmhurst beat NCC by the same margin, there would be a FOUR-way tie for 4th, at 9-12.  No way would I even attempt to disentangle that one! :o ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2013, 10:01:09 PM
To quote the immortal Emily Litella: "Nevermind".  Wheaton got one in the top of the ninth and held on to win, 9-8.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on May 01, 2013, 12:23:18 AM
Certainly would've been a fun one to try to dissect if it came about Ypsi. The Wheaton victory also eliminates the possibility of a three-way tie for the fourth spot so we will have a nice easy boring head to head tiebreaker if we have one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on May 01, 2013, 12:27:58 AM
Recent history favors Carthage in the Wheaton/Carthage series. Last year Wheaton just needed to win the series against the Red Men to get into the conference tournament and Carthage played spoiler by taking the first two games of the series. Two years ago Carthage swept the Thunder. If Wheaton drops game one on Friday, that's a ton of pressure to fall on the shoulders of the freshman Kauffman in game two of the series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2013, 12:36:06 AM
Quote from: thunder38 on May 01, 2013, 12:23:18 AM
Certainly would've been a fun one to try to dissect if it came about Ypsi. The Wheaton victory also eliminates the possibility of a three-way tie for the fourth spot so we will have a nice easy boring head to head tiebreaker if we have one.

Actually, there could still be a 3-way tie for 3rd/4th: if NPU loses all three, NCC wins all 3, and either Wheaton or Carthage gets a sweep, there are three teams at 11-10.

If you are betting on this happening, I am NOT sponsoring you in Las Vegas.  Unless, of course, you turn out to be right! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 01, 2013, 07:26:36 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2013, 12:36:06 AM
Quote from: thunder38 on May 01, 2013, 12:23:18 AM
Certainly would've been a fun one to try to dissect if it came about Ypsi. The Wheaton victory also eliminates the possibility of a three-way tie for the fourth spot so we will have a nice easy boring head to head tiebreaker if we have one.

Actually, there could still be a 3-way tie for 3rd/4th: if NPU loses all three, NCC wins all 3, and either Wheaton or Carthage gets a sweep, there are three teams at 11-10.

If you are betting on this happening, I am NOT sponsoring you in Las Vegas.  Unless, of course, you turn out to be right! ;)
If that happens, NCC is third and NPU is fourth: the Cardinals hold the tiebreaker over the Vikings, and the Vikings took 2 of 3 from both Carthage and Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cciwposter13 on May 01, 2013, 12:05:25 PM
But if wheaton sweeps they have head to head over ncc. How will that be decided?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on May 01, 2013, 04:38:03 PM
 Baseball
In case of a tie, the following will be used as a tiebreaker to seed the conference tournament:

1. Head-to-head competition (each team will be 1-1 against the other two teams in the tie)
2. Record versus the other CCIW tournament teams
3. Record against 5th place team to 8th place team until tie is broken.

Using the scenario provided by Mr. Ypsi of:
North Park gets swept
North Central and Wheaton or Carthage sweep

In that case I believe it would go to the record against IWU and Augie since they are the only two locks.

Carthage is 0-6
Wheaton is 1-5
North Central is 1-5
North Park would be 1-5 due to the sweep setting up this situation


So if it comes down to the three-way between Wheaton/North Central/North Park, Carthage is the 6th place team:
Wheaton would have been 3-0 against Carthage due to a necessary sweep to set up the scenario
North Central is 2-1 against Carthage
North Park is 2-1 against Carthage


Thus, Wheaton would come out of the tiebreaker and North Central would get the head to head over North Park. Wheaton would then get the #3 based on head to head with North Central.

HOWEVER:
If Carthage sweeps instead of Wheaton, they would be out of the three-way tie right away because they're 0-6 against IWU and Augie. Thus, North Central would get the #3 and North Park would get the #4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 08:30:46 PM
Wheaton 6, Carthage 1 - final from Kenosha.

IWU and NPU tied up at 6, w/ one out in the bottom of the 7th (NPU batting).

The only two conference games today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 09:11:25 PM
IWU got 1 in the top of the 8th, and Tim Coonan hit a grand slam in the top of the 9th, to lead 11-6.  But the Vikes are not going quietly - they have runners at the corners with 1 out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 09:40:41 PM
Titans take game one, 11-8.  Matt Hart went the distance for IWU, despite yielding 18 hits and 8 runs (all earned).  Perhaps the key play of the game (aside from Coonan's grand slam) was in the bottom of the 9th: with the lead cut to 4, Dan Sabin (4 for 4, including a HR, to that point) was at bat with one out and runners at second and third - Hart struck him out.  Hart was far from great (or even good) today, but what a gutty performance!  (Each team had 18 hits, and 17 of the 18 starters had at least one - not exactly a pitchers' duel! :P)

Carthage is on life support after their loss - they would have to sweep the DH at Wheaton tomorrow, AND get some help from Elmhurst vs. NCC.

If NPU wins at least one tomorrow (I think they will), they will almost certainly finish as the 3rd seed.  Augie has the tie-break on them, so even if NPU wins both tomorrow, the West Vikings would have to get swept this weekend by Millikin (yeah, right!) for the East Vikings to move up to 2nd.  The fourth team is now almost certainly (NOT guaranteed, but highly likely) between Wheaton and NCC - and Wheaton has the tie-break.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2013, 10:08:01 PM
Missing the CCIW tourney in back-to-back seasons hurts my Carthage heart. Never thought I'd see the day...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2013, 10:11:19 PM
Today was kind of the season in a nutshell for NPU. It's been one step forward, one step back for the Vikings all spring. Bad enough to lose Nick Soldano and Merrick McGrady for the year, plus two starting position players, all due to arm injuries (although Dan Sabin's been able to come back and DH this week). But, injuries aside, the Vikings just haven't looked like the team that won the last two CCIW titles. And it's been a total team affair. When the pitching is there, the hitting isn't. When the hitting is there, the pitching isn't. And the fielding and baserunning have been off all year, too.

Today was a case in point. The Vikings didn't pitch well, but they did hit well enough to keep themselves in the game. But they shot themselves in the foot in the field with a couple of physical errors and several mental errors -- the most catastrophic being the ninth-inning inside-the-park Wesleyan grand slam that should've been a one-run single, had the NPU leftfielder not chosen to try to make a highlight-reel play by attempting a sliding catch of a line drive dropping in front of him rather than playing it on one hop. Instead, the ball got past him and went to the wall, and a ninth inning that should've ended 8-8 instead resulted in an 11-8 loss. But that was not the only misplay; the Vikings also had their catcher drop the ball on what would've otherwise been an easy tagout at home, a five-foot toss at the bag at second was thrown away for an error, a throw to third that should've had a Titans runner tagged out was instead thrown too wide to result in a timely tag. And on, and on.

It's been that kind of a year for the Vikings. They look great one day, dicey the next. I keep hoping that they'll catch fire and string together a bunch of games at the end of the season that'll take advantage of all of the talent that's there on that roster, but they're running out of time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2013, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 09:40:41 PMMatt Hart went the distance for IWU

No, he didn't. John Munyon pitched the last three innings for Wesleyan. You should've been listening to the webcast, Chuck. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 11:46:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2013, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 09:40:41 PMMatt Hart went the distance for IWU

No, he didn't. John Munyon pitched the last three innings for Wesleyan. You should've been listening to the webcast, Chuck. ;)

Obviously! :P  The livestats (from NPU ;)) had Matt Hart still pitching right to the end!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2013, 12:30:01 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 11:46:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2013, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2013, 09:40:41 PMMatt Hart went the distance for IWU

No, he didn't. John Munyon pitched the last three innings for Wesleyan. You should've been listening to the webcast, Chuck. ;)

Obviously! :P  The livestats (from NPU ;)) had Matt Hart still pitching right to the end!

I don't know why Kevin did that. He was also the P.A. announcer, and he announced Munyon's entry into the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 02:01:34 PM
Today it IS a pitchers' duel in Chicago.  It is scoreless after 4 full innings.  Nick Vidas has yielded three singles; Jeff Johnson had a no hitter thru 3, was greeted by a lead off double (Sousanes) in the fourth, but never let him advance.

Carthage @ Wheaton just about to begin.  I've been unable to find any livestats for NCC @ Elmhurst - anyone know how to get them?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 04:26:26 PM
NPU took game one of the DH, 5-4, to clinch at least 3rd seed in the tourney.

Carthage came back from a 4-1 deficit to down Wheaton, 6-5.  The loser of the second game is out; the winner awaits the results of NCC's games.

The CCIW website reports NCC beat Elmhurst in game one, 3-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 05:25:27 PM
Wheaton leads Carthage, 3-1, end of three.

IWU ahead of NPU, 3-0, after 3.5.

I can't find info on the second NCC @ Elmhurst game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 05:39:28 PM
Just checked the Millikin website; curious. ???  The DH scheduled today hosting Augie, and the single game tomorrow, are all listed as 'postponed'.  A DH IN ROCK ISLAND is now listed for Monday (with no indication of a third game).  Millikin played home games as recently as Wednesday or Thursday.  Anyone have a clue what is going on??

(The games are nearly irrelevant anyway: Millikin was eliminated from the tourney weeks ago, and unless NPU comes back against IWU AND Augie lost all three games, Augie is locked into the #2 seed.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 06:49:40 PM
IWU 3, NPU 0 - final.

Wheaton 3, Carthage 1 - final.  Wheaton has the tie-break over NCC, so is in as the #4 seed unless NCC sweeps Elmhurst.

Carthage, perennially a title contender, has a shortened season for the second straight year.  Big Poppa, has something gone seriously wrong in Kenosha, or is this just a two-year blip?

The tourney field:

1. IWU
2. Augie
3. NPU
4. NCC if they sweep Elmhurst; otherwise Wheaton.

[UPDATE]: The CCIW website reports that NCC also won the second game, 6-5.  The whole season for NCC and Wheaton comes down to Elmhurst @ NCC tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2013, 07:34:21 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 05:39:28 PM
Just checked the Millikin website; curious. ???  The DH scheduled today hosting Augie, and the single game tomorrow, are all listed as 'postponed'.  A DH IN ROCK ISLAND is now listed for Monday (with no indication of a third game).  Millikin played home games as recently as Wednesday or Thursday.  Anyone have a clue what is going on??

Big storm out in the western part of the state today. It was supposed to hit Chicago late this afternoon, which is why Luke Johnson and Dennis Martel (with CCIW commish Chris Martin's concurrence) agreed to play two seven-inning games today. As it turned out, the storm completely missed the North Side today. Nothing but picture-perfect weather at Holmgren this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: forheavendial4999 on May 04, 2013, 07:40:15 PM
I wonder if I could get contract work providing forecasts to baseball coaches...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 07:42:01 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2013, 07:34:21 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2013, 05:39:28 PM
Just checked the Millikin website; curious. ???  The DH scheduled today hosting Augie, and the single game tomorrow, are all listed as 'postponed'.  A DH IN ROCK ISLAND is now listed for Monday (with no indication of a third game).  Millikin played home games as recently as Wednesday or Thursday.  Anyone have a clue what is going on??

Big storm out in the western part of the state today. It was supposed to hit Chicago late this afternoon, which is why Luke Johnson and Dennis Martel (with CCIW commish Chris Martin's concurrence) agreed to play two seven-inning games today. As it turned out, the storm completely missed the North Side today. Nothing but picture-perfect weather at Holmgren this afternoon.

Must have been a helluva storm to already postpone tomorrow's game too, then move the make-ups from Decatur to Rock Island. :P

Oh, well, moot point anyway.  With NPU losing the second game today, the Augie/Millikin series is utterly irrelevant for tourney seeding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2013, 07:53:05 PM
Quote from: forheavendial4999 on May 04, 2013, 07:40:15 PM
I wonder if I could get contract work providing forecasts to baseball coaches...

As the old saying goes: Nice work, if you can get it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2013, 07:56:47 PM
I know that carthage's recent trouble have oddly coincided with massive tuition increases which really limited their recruiting area. Much of their recruiting in their best season focused on the area I grew up in(the Fox Valley) and they are now forced to recruit only the wealthier suburbs of Chicago. That really pushed them head to head with other CCIW schools whereas they used to have a lock down on the Fox Valley region.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 04, 2013, 10:19:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 04, 2013, 07:56:47 PM
I know that carthage's recent trouble have oddly coincided with massive tuition increases which really limited their recruiting area. Much of their recruiting in their best season focused on the area I grew up in(the Fox Valley) and they are now forced to recruit only the wealthier suburbs of Chicago. That really pushed them head to head with other CCIW schools whereas they used to have a lock down on the Fox Valley region.
Combine that with the fact that Whitewater and Stevens Point are both now pounding the Fox Valley area for recruits and it thins out the amount of talent that is available....

Ironically, I was talking to Carthage alum Dean Muthig today and asked him what was up with Carthage missing the CCIW tourney two years in a row.  His immediate reply?  Not enough Wisconsin kids on the roster!!! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2013, 02:25:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2013, 10:08:01 PM
Missing the CCIW tourney in back-to-back seasons hurts my Carthage heart. Never thought I'd see the day...

This will also be the first Carthage senior class to graduate without winning a CCIW title since the class of '91.

On the bright side, if you're a Red Men fan, the length of that streak is a testament to just how good Carthage was for so long.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 02:57:27 PM
After three innings in Naperville: NCC 1, Elmhurst 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 03:39:46 PM
In Naperville, both teams scored 2 in the 4th, neither scored in the 5th or 6th - now NCC 3, Emhurst 2.

I wonder if the Thunder players went en masse to Naperville to root for the Jays? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 05, 2013, 04:08:00 PM
A bases-loaded triple by Dave Wolak puts Elmhurst up 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 04:15:12 PM
Elmhurst got 2 in the top of the 7th to go ahead 4-3.  The Cards tied it back up in the bottom of the 7th.  As Mr. B reported, the Jays then got 3 in the top of the 8th; this time NCC did not respond.  Entering the 9th, Jays 7, Cards 4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 04:17:39 PM
One out in the top of the 9th and the bases are full of Blue Jays.  The Cards are turning to their 4th pitcher of the day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 04:24:54 PM
Van Dyck got a K and a ground-out to first to avoid further damage.  The Cards have three outs to get three or more runs or the season is over.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 05, 2013, 04:30:08 PM
Final from Naperville: Elmhurst 7, North Central 6.  Ciolkosz hit a two-run double to pull the Cardinals to within a run, but Swanson got the final out on a fly ball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 04:31:55 PM
The Cards certainly did not surrender easily.  Two singles, two outs, and a double made it 7-6.  But then came the third out.  Wheaton in, NCC out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2013, 04:51:15 PM
At 14-24, 10-11, Wheaton is the first CCIW team to make the league tourney while sporting either a losing overall record or a losing CCIW record, to say nothing of both, since Elmhurst got into the 2007 tourney at 16-20, 10-11.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 07:44:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2013, 04:51:15 PM
At 14-24, 10-11, Wheaton is the first CCIW team to make the league tourney while sporting either a losing overall record or a losing CCIW record, to say nothing of both, since Elmhurst got into the 2007 tourney at 16-20, 10-11.

With the three 4th place teams entering the weekend at 8-10, I was guessing that Carthage, Wheaton, or NCC would get a sweep, but I certainly wasn't surprised that it ended with a 10-11 tie - just for that eventuality, I carefully checked the tie-breakers! ;)

But I didn't check the history - thanks for the lesson.  I would have thought a 4th place tie at 10-11 would be more common than that.

Greg, are you heading to B'town?  I'll be in Peoria that weekend, but seriously doubt I'll make it over.  I only make it down about 3 times a year to see my 95-year-old mom, and can only manage Friday evening to Sunday morning so don't want to leave her.  (Alas, one of these visits will be the last, and one never knows which one it may be; the time is precious.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2013, 09:46:06 PM
Unfortunately, my dad is in the hospital and is doing poorly, so I can't commit to following the NPU baseball team on the road at this point.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2013, 10:34:09 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2013, 09:46:06 PM
Unfortunately, my dad is in the hospital and is doing poorly, so I can't commit to following the NPU baseball team on the road at this point.

Sorry to hear that - I have him in my thoughts.  My parents, alas, have always been pretty tight-lipped on such things, so my dad passed away in the hospital Easter morning, 2012, when I didn't even know he was in any danger (aside from being 93).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: dahlby on May 06, 2013, 12:37:23 AM
G.S.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2013, 12:46:16 AM
Thanks, guys. Appreciated.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2013, 10:22:49 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 04, 2013, 10:19:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 04, 2013, 07:56:47 PM
I know that carthage's recent trouble have oddly coincided with massive tuition increases which really limited their recruiting area. Much of their recruiting in their best season focused on the area I grew up in(the Fox Valley) and they are now forced to recruit only the wealthier suburbs of Chicago. That really pushed them head to head with other CCIW schools whereas they used to have a lock down on the Fox Valley region.
Combine that with the fact that Whitewater and Stevens Point are both now pounding the Fox Valley area for recruits and it thins out the amount of talent that is available....

Ironically, I was talking to Carthage alum Dean Muthig today and asked him what was up with Carthage missing the CCIW tourney two years in a row.  His immediate reply?  Not enough Wisconsin kids on the roster!!! ;D

An observation: in the mid-late 1990, Carthage and Oshkosh locked down the top recruits in the Fox Valley and went to multiple World Series'... in the 2000s, Point and Whitewater locked down those same areas, with the same results. The formula is simple, if you want to compete on a national level at D3, lock down the best players in the Fox Valley.

When I played at Carthage, our entire lineup was from Wisconsin with only a few guys form Illinois... now that tuition has skyrocketed, those numbers have flipped.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2013, 06:16:03 PM
Rain has changed the CCIW Tournament schedule, with game one starting Friday at 9 AM.  The revised schedule is now available on the CCIW website (http://www.cciw.org/news/2013/5/8/BB_0508132006.aspx).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 09, 2013, 07:29:44 PM
Article on IWU catcher A.J. Nathan...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/catcher-nathan-a-real-gamer-for-iwu-baseball-team/article_e585616e-b864-11e2-a70f-0019bb2963f4.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 10, 2013, 11:37:56 AM
CCIW tournament live streaming...

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

Live stats...

http://sun.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/live/Baseball/xlive.htm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 10, 2013, 12:21:24 PM
IWU beats Wheaton 3-2 in game 1.  Both teams scored twice in the 1st inning.  IWU tallied the game-winning run in the bottom of the 8th. 

Any word on why IWU starting pitcher, Matt Hart was removed after the 1st?  Would seem to be a quick hook unless it was due to injury.  Jeff Johnson was outstanding in relief, going 8 innings and giving up only 2 hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 11, 2013, 06:51:00 PM
IWU clawed back into the CCIW tournament by winning two games today - 10-2 over North Park and 4-2 over Augustana.  The Titans used just 3 pitchers in 18 innings today, all sophomores.  Matt Hart went the distance vs North Park, and Robert Romano and John Munyon split the Augie game.

IWU and Augie meet tomorrow at 11:00am at Horenberger Field for the CCIW tournament title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2013, 08:07:10 AM
Pretty certain both IWU and Augie are locks for bids... just playing for seeding today (or possibly the loser being shipped out to another region).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 08:24:56 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2013, 08:07:10 AM
Pretty certain both IWU and Augie are locks for bids... just playing for seeding today (or possibly the loser being shipped out to another region).

Could also be playing for the opportunity to host a regional - that's pretty significant.  Last regional ranking...

CENTRAL                  
1   Webster   23-6   29-8         
2   Illinois Wesleyan   25-6   29-9         
3   Wartburg   30-8   31-9         
4   Augustana (Ill.)   22-7   29-8         
5   Coe   25-11   26-12         
6   Washington (Mo.)   22-11   23-15
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 12, 2013, 08:51:15 AM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 08:24:56 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2013, 08:07:10 AM
Pretty certain both IWU and Augie are locks for bids... just playing for seeding today (or possibly the loser being shipped out to another region).

Could also be playing for the opportunity to host a regional - that's pretty significant.  Last regional ranking...

CENTRAL                  
1   Webster   23-6   29-8         
2   Illinois Wesleyan   25-6   29-9         
3   Wartburg   30-8   31-9         
4   Augustana (Ill.)   22-7   29-8         
5   Coe   25-11   26-12         
6   Washington (Mo.)   22-11   23-15


I believe the regional hosting assignments have already been made. Augustana is a host site, IWU is not this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 08:57:56 AM
Quote from: TitanPride on May 12, 2013, 08:51:15 AM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 08:24:56 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2013, 08:07:10 AM
Pretty certain both IWU and Augie are locks for bids... just playing for seeding today (or possibly the loser being shipped out to another region).

Could also be playing for the opportunity to host a regional - that's pretty significant.  Last regional ranking...

CENTRAL                  
1   Webster   23-6   29-8         
2   Illinois Wesleyan   25-6   29-9         
3   Wartburg   30-8   31-9         
4   Augustana (Ill.)   22-7   29-8         
5   Coe   25-11   26-12         
6   Washington (Mo.)   22-11   23-15


I believe the regional hosting assignments have already been made. Augustana is a host site, IWU is not this year.

Thanks.  I'm not in the loop on how the baseball hosting stuff works.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 09:17:05 AM
Augustana appears to be in much better pitching shape than IWU today (no surprise considering Augie has played one less game).  Augie has Jared McIntosh fresh - 6-3, 3.49 ERA (10 appearances, all starts).  IWU really doesn't have any regular starters fresh - Johnson, Mehn, Hart, Munyon, and Romano have all pitched significant innings in the last two days.  Sounds like Dennis Martel will have to piece things together today inning by inning.  Anthony Kopp (2.41 ERA, 12 appearances, 1 start) has not pitched yet in the CCIW tournament.  He started last on April 4 vs Beloit.

Augie's surprise start, and 8-inning gem, by freshman Chris Sauer on Friday vs IWU was really huge.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 12, 2013, 03:03:28 PM
Final...

Augustana 12
IWU 1


Augie pitcher Jared McIntosh was outstanding, holding IWU hitless until the 6th inning I think.  On the other side, the Titans were in bad pitching shape and it showed.

IWU should be a safe bet for an at-large bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2013, 02:25:26 PM
IWU will play in the Mideast Regional, hosted by RHIT in Terre Haute.  They begin at 11 am (CDT) Wednesday as the home team facing Washington & Jefferson.  If the format is standard for an 8-team bracket, their second game (Thursday) will be against Mount Union or Manchester, with winner against winner or loser against loser.

Teams in the other half of the bracket are Marietta, Wooster, Penn St.-Behrend, and Thomas More.

Here's to Augie and IWU BOTH going to Appleton! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on May 13, 2013, 08:07:35 PM
The all-conference team...

http://www.cciw.org/sports/2013/5/13/BB_0513130136.aspx?id=815&


Last year Kevin Callahan became just the second player to win back-to-back CCIW Player of the Year honors...he is now the only 3-time winner of the award.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2013, 08:52:02 PM
And John Munyon wins Pitcher of the Year.  Also Dennis Martel is COY (pretty easy selection when the team wins by three games; unless pre-season #8 finishes second, that's gonna do it!)

Not falling into the losers' bracket is always very important, but this year perhaps even more than most.  Although three Titan pitchers made first team all-CCIW, it just doesn't feel like a very deep staff (as the final against Augie showed).  I have faith that every pitcher on the team is capable on a given day of looking like an ace, but for most that day seems unlikely to occur very regularly. :P  I strongly suggest the Titans go with the 2010 strategy: win the first three games in Terre Haute (and, baseball gods willing, in Appleton), so you can always throw a higher-rated pitcher and/or a better-rested pitcher than the other guys! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: forheavendial4999 on May 14, 2013, 01:03:14 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2013, 08:52:02 PM
And John Munyon wins Pitcher of the Year. 

Isn't Munyon like their #4 guy? I was thinking Johnson and Mehn were their top two.

Also, for anyone, was Sauer of Augustana injured? Saw he made his first start in the 2nd game of the conference tournament...seemed odd unless there was an injury.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 14, 2013, 02:43:50 PM
Quote from: forheavendial4999 on May 14, 2013, 01:03:14 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2013, 08:52:02 PM
And John Munyon wins Pitcher of the Year. 

Isn't Munyon like their #4 guy? I was thinking Johnson and Mehn were their top two.

Also, for anyone, was Sauer of Augustana injured? Saw he made his first start in the 2nd game of the conference tournament...seemed odd unless there was an injury.

Munyon was mostly a closer/reliever - very effective this year.  I assumed Jeff Johnson would get the award, but didn't turn out that way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2013, 12:27:37 PM
The Titan season is in grave danger, as they fall to W&J 5-3 in the opening game of the Mideast Regional.  Obviously it is possible to recover from an opening defeat, but it is a VERY tough row to hoe. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2013, 02:47:27 PM
The Titans next play tomorrow morning at 10 (EDT); the opponent looks likely to be Mount Union, as they trail Manchester 6-0 after 6.  (Fortunately, it is baseball, not football! :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2013, 03:46:17 PM
Mount Union fell behind 12-0 before getting 3 in the top of the ninth - too little, too late.  They will indeed be the Titans opponent at 10 EDT tomorrow - win or go home for both teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2013, 10:10:35 PM
Concordia Chicago defeats Augustana, 2-0.  Seth Davis gave up a walk to the leadoff batter and the next hitter, Shawn Miller, hit a home run for the only scoring of the game.  Davis gave up three hits and the Cougars' Dan Kluss scattered four.

Tomorrow's matchups for CCIW teams: Augustana takes on Webster (Central Regional) and Illinois Wesleyan faces Mount Union (Mideast Regional).

Another familiar team, Benedictine, lost in 10 innings to UW Stevens Point (Midwest Regional).  They face St. Thomas, a 1-0 loser to St. Scholastica.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2013, 11:45:14 AM
Through 6 innings, Titans and Raiders in a pitching duel - 1-1.  IWU finally broke through for 4 runs in the top of the 7th, but Nick Mehn is still going strong with another 1,2,3 inning.  After 7, IWU 5, UMU 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2013, 02:19:33 PM
Nick Mehn goes all the way in a 5-2 win (he threw 144 pitches, so I suspect he's done for the weekend).

No word yet on who or when they next play (my guess would be the Wooster/Penn St-Behrend winner in the first game tomorrow).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on May 16, 2013, 02:28:15 PM
IWU plays at 1:15 PM tomorrow afternoon against the loser of tonight's Marietta vs. Thomas More match up. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2013, 05:20:26 PM
Matt Hart was cruising along with a shutout through 5 (and a 3-0 lead), but then the roof caved in.  IWU trailed 10-4 with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, but gave it a helluva try - the game ended with the bases loaded and trailing by 4.  Season ends for the Titans, 10-6.

A very nice season (including the CCIW regular-season title), but I sure wish it had ended one way or the other in Appleton! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2013, 03:36:44 PM
Concordia Chicago tops Augustana, 9-6, to eliminate the remaining CCIW team from the regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on September 17, 2013, 03:47:06 PM
The Luke Johnson head-coaching tree grew a new branch this month, as NPU pitching coach Kevin Tomasiewicz has been hired as the new head coach at UW-Oshkosh. (http://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/20130906e3d6z4) Best of luck to Kevin as he takes over the reins of that storied D3 baseball program.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on October 24, 2013, 03:59:17 PM
North Park has hired a new pitching coach / assistant head coach, Jake Upwood. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/coaches.aspx?rc=157&path=baseball) As you can see from his bio, he has very good credentials -- including a background in D3, as he played for Ithaca, and a lot of pro experience both as a pitcher and as a pitching coach.

The departure of Kevin Tomasiewicz for UWO made for an awkward transition, as fall isn't usually the time when a lot of coaches are looking for a job. Luke Johnson's candidate pool was therefore smaller than it would've otherwise been, and there was some concern during the search that he might have to settle for someone whom he might not have otherwise chosen had this been a summertime search. But I'm certain that Luke doesn't feel that way at all about Jake Upwood. He found the right-hand man that he wanted.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 07, 2014, 09:25:04 AM
My 2014 CCIW Prediction:

1.   Illinois Wesleyan
2.   Augustana
3.   North Park
4.   Wheaton
5.   Carthage
6.     North Central
7.     Elmhurst
8.     Millikin

Pound away at it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 07, 2014, 03:11:57 PM
Fine with me. I'd rather be the hunter than the hunted.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 07, 2014, 03:36:41 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 07, 2014, 03:11:57 PM
Fine with me. I'd rather be the hunter than the hunted.

Greg- any thoughts that NPU will be better/worse than I anticipate?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 07, 2014, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 07, 2014, 03:11:57 PM
Fine with me. I'd rather be the hunter than the hunted.

I'm not afraid of wearing a target.  Any time Big Poppa has IWU #1, it looks good to me! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2014, 11:46:12 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 07, 2014, 03:51:03 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 07, 2014, 03:11:57 PM
Fine with me. I'd rather be the hunter than the hunted.

I'm not afraid of wearing a target.  Any time Big Poppa has IWU #1, it looks good to me! ;D

I think the Titans return the best stable of arms in the region, not just the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 09, 2014, 12:23:08 PM
The way this winter is going, they may have trouble getting in much of a season! :o

I am SO sick of winter!  There is no longer anywhere to shovel the snow to, but it just keeps coming.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on February 11, 2014, 08:27:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 07, 2014, 09:25:04 AM
My 2014 CCIW Prediction:

1.   Illinois Wesleyan
2.   Augustana
3.   North Park
4.   Wheaton
5.   Carthage
6.     North Central
7.     Elmhurst
8.     Millikin

Pound away at it.

I'd swap Wheaton and Carthage.  The Thunder have a couple all-american type talents but I still don't think they have the overall depth in their program that they had a few years ago. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on February 11, 2014, 08:28:31 PM
Wheaton season preview interview with Coach Matt Husted:

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/custompages/sports_report/2013-14/Jan_TSR/Matt%20Husted%20Season%20Preview%20941.MP3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2014, 08:03:09 AM
I thought about flipping those two, but I felt others would think I was a Carthage homer (which I am). The past two seasons have been tough as a Red Men fan, but I feel some good things are in order for 2014.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2014, 01:55:48 PM
CCIW preseason poll


1. Augustana  45 (3)
2. Illinois Wesleyan  44 (4)
3. Wheaton  34 (1)
4. North Park  32
5. North Central  27
6. Carthage  20
7. Elmhurst  15
8. Millikin    7
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2014, 08:17:47 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2014, 01:55:48 PM
CCIW preseason poll


1. Augustana  45 (3)
2. Illinois Wesleyan  44 (4)
3. Wheaton  34 (1)
4. North Park  32
5. North Central  27
6. Carthage  20
7. Elmhurst  15
8. Millikin    7

Interesting that IWU got more first place votes(4) than Augustana(3), but was projected second in the CCIW. My prediction was not too far off this coaches poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: coachmrclean on February 17, 2014, 02:37:33 PM
This season is going to be a close one!  Augustana College is picked to win it all with IWU right behind them.  Last years tourney was great to watch and came down to the last game with the host Augustana winning it!  Play Ball!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 18, 2014, 10:52:08 PM
NPU season preview (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2014/2/18/BB_0218142326.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 22, 2014, 08:26:19 AM
The CCIW is finally in action as NPU opens today with Piedmont and Millsaps before a single game tomorrow with Birmingham Southern. Should give us a feel for how strong the Vikes are going to be and if they are a legit contender in the CCIW. I think they may be a bit better than I advertised, and I advertised them as pretty good.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on February 22, 2014, 08:30:45 AM
Wheaton beats Centre yesterday
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2014/2/21/BB_0221140358.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 108 Stitches on February 22, 2014, 09:19:39 AM
Piedmont beat a very good Millsaps team, you never know from just one game, but they held them to 5 hits so pitching (at least yesterday) was good. I would think they will be a good test
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on February 25, 2014, 04:42:17 PM
Kenyon from the NCAC plays Augustana on 3/2. So I was looking at schedules and it looks to me like Augustana takes 2 separate trips down to Florida:

http://www.athletics.augustana.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&

From 2-23 to 2-26 they are in the RussMatt.
2 day break
from 3-1 to 3-4 they are in the Gene Cussic.
9 day break
they play one game at home on 3-15.
Another 5 day break
from 3-21 thriugh 3-23 they are back in Florida at the Gene Cussic again.

Doesn't look like they miss much class as 3-21 through 3-23 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

But it does look like they would have a hefty travel budget.

Do they fly or bus? If they take a bus the 3-21 through 3-23 seems a little brutal.

Also there schedule is broken up. Clearly the coach is able to keep them in a rhythm, and the week layoffs do not hurt.

Do other teams in this region do the same thing due to weather? Or is Augustana the exception?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 25, 2014, 07:52:54 PM
Quote from: 108 Stitches on February 22, 2014, 09:19:39 AM
Piedmont beat a very good Millsaps team, you never know from just one game, but they held them to 5 hits so pitching (at least yesterday) was good. I would think they will be a good test
Piedmont beat North Park 6-4 on Saturday, and also topped both Millsaps and Birmingham-Southern (which was 5-0 going into the contest).  Piedmont looked to be a very solid squad. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2014, 08:52:30 PM
NPU came back to beat Millsaps on Saturday, 5-4, before losing to Birmingham Southern on Sunday, 4-2.

I try not to get too worked up about a loss on the opening weekend down south. North Park's season opener was game #7 for Piedmont, and the game later that day was #2 for NPU and #10 for Millsaps. Sunday's contest was North Park's third and BSC's fifth.

It looked to me as though T.D. Conway did alright in his college pitching debut on Sunday against a nationally-ranked team. Your thoughts, mr_b?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 25, 2014, 09:02:33 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2014, 08:52:30 PM
NPU came back to beat Millsaps on Saturday, 5-4, before losing to Birmingham Southern on Sunday, 4-2.

I try not to get too worked up about a loss on the opening weekend down south. North Park's season opener was game #7 for Piedmont, and the game later that day was #2 for NPU and #10 for Millsaps. Sunday's contest was North Park's third and BSC's fifth.

It looked to me as though T.D. Conway did alright in his college pitching debut on Sunday against a nationally-ranked team. Your thoughts, mr_b?
I think Conway looked very good. He showed a lot of poise against a strong Birmingham team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Lancers22 on February 27, 2014, 02:30:03 PM
What are the chances  for games @ GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL  be played this weekend? 4 teams - North Park, Wartburg, Webster and Grinnell College?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 27, 2014, 03:07:10 PM
Quote from: Lancers22 on February 27, 2014, 02:30:03 PM
What are the chances  for games @ GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL  be played this weekend? 4 teams - North Park, Wartburg, Webster and Grinnell College?

I had to hold in my scream when I read this... as I drove to work in -35 wind chills this morning with  22 ft snow drift just outside my window. Hard to understand that somewhere, someone is playing baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Lancers22 on February 27, 2014, 03:52:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 27, 2014, 03:07:10 PM
I had to hold in my scream when I read this... as I drove to work in -35 wind chills this morning with  22 ft snow drift just outside my window. Hard to understand that somewhere, someone is playing baseball.

;D Someone might.... ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 27, 2014, 04:42:06 PM
Quote from: Lancers22 on February 27, 2014, 02:30:03 PM
What are the chances  for games @ GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL  be played this weekend? 4 teams - North Park, Wartburg, Webster and Grinnell College?

I just checked weather.com for Sauget.  Friday, high of 40 with rain and snow.  Saturday, overcast and high of 41.  Sunday, high of 26 with wintry mix.  IF the field is playable, Saturday might possibly accommodate a game or two, but the rest of the weekend, uh-uh.

Who in their right mind would schedule baseball games in Illinois on March 1?? ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Lancers22 on February 27, 2014, 05:04:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 27, 2014, 04:42:06 PM
I just checked weather.com for Sauget.  Friday, high of 40 with rain and snow.  Saturday, overcast and high of 41.  Sunday, high of 26 with wintry mix.  IF the field is playable, Saturday might possibly accommodate a game or two, but the rest of the weekend, uh-uh.

Who in their right mind would schedule baseball games in Illinois on March 1?? ::)

Thanks Ypsi! Yeah, I think Saturday will be the only day that it's possible. I heard it is a turf grass field so maybe... just maybe :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on February 28, 2014, 02:55:36 AM
Wheaton was planning on having its games against WashU and Central there on Friday but those games have been cancelled due to weather. Just for a point of reference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 01, 2014, 04:13:36 PM
NPU's games against Grinnell and Webster at Sauget yesterday were canceled. The three-game stint that the Vikings were planning to play down there this weekend has been reduced to one game, as they are currently facing Wartburg.

No word yet on whether or not Luke Johnson is going to fit some extra games into the schedule.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 02, 2014, 12:33:53 AM
Apparently the first notice was wrong. The Vikings played two games on Saturday, splitting with Wartburg. The Vikings blew an 8-1 lead (argh!) and lost to the Knights in the opener, 9-8. In the nightcap, T.D. Conway gave up two runs (one earned) over 7 1/3 before Charlie Moran mopped up in a 9-3 win.

Now NPU gets to enjoy the cold with the rest of us peons for another week before departing to sunny Fort Myers to take on Ohio Northern next Saturday in game one of the snowbird trip.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 02, 2014, 12:40:29 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 02, 2014, 12:33:53 AM
Apparently the first notice was wrong. The Vikings played two games on Saturday, splitting with Wartburg. The Vikings blew an 8-1 lead (argh!) and lost to the Knights in the opener, 9-8. In the nightcap, T.D. Conway gave up two runs (one earned) over 7 1/3 before Charlie Moran mopped up in a 9-3 win.

Now NPU gets to enjoy the cold with the rest of us peons for another week before departing to sunny Fort Myers to take on Ohio Northern next Saturday in game one of the snowbird trip.

T. D. Conway is the perfect moniker for your QB, but in the 'spring', as a pitcher, he needs to go to some nickname that results in K. O. Conway! ;D  (I suppose W. P. Conway would also do the trick (if strikeouts are not his strong suit)!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: MadRedFan on March 02, 2014, 04:54:43 PM
Friend of the family plays at Grinnell, and the way it was explained to me, Grinnell and Webster wanted to cancel, North Park didn't, and apparently Wartburg didn't either, so NPU and Wartburg kept the date and drove down there to play.  The other games weren't played.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2014, 04:20:29 PM
My Updated CCIW Prediction:

1.   Illinois Wesleyan 0-0 (pretty high on the Titans this year)
2.   Augustana 6-2 (good, but not sold on them yet)
3.   North Park 2-3 (very tough schedule out of the gate)
4.   Wheaton 1-2 (both 1-run losses)
5.   Carthage 0-0 (open this weekend in St. Louis)
6.   North Central 0-0 (open this weekend in Southern Ill)
7.   Elmhurst 0-0 (open this weekend in Ohio)
8.   Millikin 0-2 (pair of losses to Greenville)

I am not willing to shuffle my pre-season rankings just yet... should have a better feel after this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 05, 2014, 07:21:37 PM
Thanks for the explanation, MadRedFan.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 05, 2014, 08:22:40 PM
I see IWU is scheduled to open the season with a home DH against Blackburn this Saturday.  Surely the field is not playable, is it?

We've still got at least a foot of snow on the ground here in Ypsi, and the weather has mostly seemed pretty comparable in B'town.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2014, 08:18:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 05, 2014, 08:22:40 PM
I see IWU is scheduled to open the season with a home DH against Blackburn this Saturday.  Surely the field is not playable, is it?

We've still got at least a foot of snow on the ground here in Ypsi, and the weather has mostly seemed pretty comparable in B'town.

Only a foot!? Close to three feet on the ground in the Twin Cities yet. Gonna be another late spring for UMAC and MIAC teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 06, 2014, 05:32:02 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 06, 2014, 08:18:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 05, 2014, 08:22:40 PM
I see IWU is scheduled to open the season with a home DH against Blackburn this Saturday.  Surely the field is not playable, is it?

We've still got at least a foot of snow on the ground here in Ypsi, and the weather has mostly seemed pretty comparable in B'town.

Only a foot!? Close to three feet on the ground in the Twin Cities yet. Gonna be another late spring for UMAC and MIAC teams.

They're really gonna miss the Metrodome up there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 06, 2014, 07:32:02 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 06, 2014, 05:32:02 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 06, 2014, 08:18:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 05, 2014, 08:22:40 PM
I see IWU is scheduled to open the season with a home DH against Blackburn this Saturday.  Surely the field is not playable, is it?

We've still got at least a foot of snow on the ground here in Ypsi, and the weather has mostly seemed pretty comparable in B'town.

Only a foot!? Close to three feet on the ground in the Twin Cities yet. Gonna be another late spring for UMAC and MIAC teams.

They're really gonna miss the Metrodome up there.

I suspect there are gonna be a ton of games having to be made up in northern cities.  Those grounds crews are virtually miracle workers, but I can't see how they can possibly have usable grass before mid-April or even May in some places (even with the money for giant blowers and space heaters).  With repeated 'polar vortices (vortexes?)', the ground is just frozen too deep this year.

And, of course, for d3 games it is likely to be even worse - the season may start VERY late this year, then be very compressed with conference make-up games (and probably many non-con games just not being made up at all).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 06, 2014, 08:54:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 06, 2014, 08:18:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 05, 2014, 08:22:40 PM
I see IWU is scheduled to open the season with a home DH against Blackburn this Saturday.  Surely the field is not playable, is it?

We've still got at least a foot of snow on the ground here in Ypsi, and the weather has mostly seemed pretty comparable in B'town.

Only a foot!? Close to three feet on the ground in the Twin Cities yet. Gonna be another late spring for UMAC and MIAC teams.

I measured today.  Enough wind and drifting that it is hard to tell for sure, but appears to be 15 inches.

I would never get into a 'pissing match' with Minnesota about winter - I live in what a now-deceased former Detroit Free Press columnist called the 'banana belt' of Michigan! ;)

But next five days supposed to be above 32 - might get the snow down to single digits!

From needing to drive the cars before shoveling, our driveway has built up about 3 inches of ice.  Between the thaw and rock salt (and a maul), we hope to have it cleared within a week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2014, 08:37:44 AM
St Scholastica (Duluth, MN) played its home opener in the first round of the UMAC conference tourney last year... somewhere around the first week of May. My own high school season last year consisted of squeezing 19 games into a 22 day window. Brutal on our pitching staffs, but it was a ton of fun as kids got a true feel of what it would be like to play pro-ball or major college baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on March 07, 2014, 08:39:51 AM
I do not envy the teams that have to go through this. I hope the  spring comes early and the snow melts quickly. Good luck to all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2014, 09:21:17 AM
The players in the cold-weather states don't know any other way... that is how we have always played:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on March 07, 2014, 11:57:19 AM
And I thought we had it bad in Ohio.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on March 07, 2014, 12:00:53 PM
I will have to look at some rosters and check out where these teams recruit from. I know an Ohio school that is trying to recruit kids form warm weather states like Texas and California. I can imagine the shock for young men who have never experienced this type of weather.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2014, 05:22:10 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on March 07, 2014, 12:00:53 PM
I will have to look at some rosters and check out where these teams recruit from. I know an Ohio school that is trying to recruit kids form warm weather states like Texas and California. I can imagine the shock for young men who have never experienced this type of weather.

NO ONE has experienced weather quite this bad!  But, yeah, northern schools not infrequently lose southern kids after they go thru one winter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 08, 2014, 10:24:35 PM
Another frustrating loss for the Vikings today, this time in extra innings. Ohio Northern scored three times in the tenth inning to top NPU, 8-5, in the opening game of the Florida trip for the Park. The Vikings had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and nobody out with the game tied at 5, and couldn't get the winning run across.

The good news is that Nick Soldano is starting to look like his old self again. He gave up only one earned run in seven innings today. Unfortunately, he gave up four runs total; NPU's fielding has not been particularly good thus far this season, at least according to the numbers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on March 09, 2014, 05:27:14 PM
I've heard that Soldano's velo is significantly down post injury. Is anyone able to confirm or deny that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 13, 2014, 07:37:36 PM
The hazards of being a northern team going south: IWU was 3-0 when they started.  Tuesday they lost to apparently a bad Mississippi College team (it was their 13th game; our 4th); Wednesday they were no-hit by a so-so Millsaps team and lost 3-1 (their 17th game; our 5th). :P

I was quite surprised to see that IWU got in the games this weekend (and won them all).  I thought there wasn't a snowball's (sorry!) chance in hell that the fields would be playable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 13, 2014, 07:55:30 PM
BTW, we did get the snowpack down to about 6-7 inches during a warmup, but yesterday got another 5-6 inches of snow.  Tomorrow and Saturday will be another thaw, then next week we'll be in the 40s from Tuesday thru at least Saturday.  That should pretty much clear us out from all but the largest snow piles.  (There are some mountains of plowed snow in parking lots that may not completely go until May!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 17, 2014, 06:04:59 PM
I see that IWU opens conference play in Kenosha on March 29 and 30 - anyone know if the field is likely to be playable by then?

I just checked the boxscore on the Blackburn game that I thought had been in Bloomington - it was actually in Mississippi!  So I don't know whether or not the Titan's field is yet playable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CrashDavisD3 on March 17, 2014, 10:24:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 17, 2014, 06:04:59 PM
I see that IWU opens conference play in Kenosha on March 29 and 30 - anyone know if the field is likely to be playable by then?

I just checked the boxscore on the Blackburn game that I thought had been in Bloomington - it was actually in Mississippi!  So I don't know whether or not the Titan's field is yet playable.
Weather may be a factor. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Kenosha+WI+USWI0360
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2014, 05:15:34 PM
NPU's home opener has been pushed back to Friday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2014, 10:52:45 AM
Carthage was BLASTED by Buena Vista last night in AZ by a 15-2 score. Either the Redmen are not as good as I thought or the Beavers are much better than I thought.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2014, 02:08:29 PM
Being a Carthage fan could be the death of me this season. It appears they don't have much interest in getting anyone out. After allowing 15 vs Buena Vista, they allowed 13 vs Carleton (13 to CARLETON!!), and a currently tied in the 9th with Middlebury... all programs they have routinely pounded in years past.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 25, 2014, 02:18:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 25, 2014, 02:08:29 PM
Being a Carthage fan could be the death of me this season. It appears they don't have much interest in getting anyone out. After allowing 15 vs Buena Vista, they allowed 13 vs Carleton (13 to CARLETON!!), and a currently tied in the 9th with Middlebury... all programs they have routinely pounded in years past.
That's got to be frustrating... Carthage teams in the past have featured some outstanding pitching. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2014, 05:35:49 PM
Conference play starts this weekend.  Anyone know of any fields that are not yet playable?  (Since the Titans open in Kenosha, I'm especially interested in whether or not that field is now snow free.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: The General Public on March 25, 2014, 10:58:56 PM
Just picked up one of these bad boys....not sure if it actually supports D3 athletics or not but figured my boys would like this.

http://teespring.com/D3Athlete
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 26, 2014, 05:24:01 PM
Just took a look at the baseball scoreboard - very depressing.  There were more games postponed or cancelled than games played!  Northern conferences are going to have very compressed schedules this year, and many non-con games will probably have to be jettisoned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 26, 2014, 09:18:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2014, 05:35:49 PM
Conference play starts this weekend.  Anyone know of any fields that are not yet playable?  (Since the Titans open in Kenosha, I'm especially interested in whether or not that field is now snow free.)

I can't speak to Kenosha, but there's a chance that the NPU vs. EC doubleheader on Saturday might be moved from Butterfield Park to Holmgren. There's apparently some question as to the playability of Butterfield. Holmgren has hosted five games already and is in great shape.

Speaking of which, the homestanding Vikings beat Benedictine today, 6-5, to raise their record on the season to 9-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2014, 08:37:54 AM
... and Carthage drops another game today 6-3 to Luther. Starting to get painful to check scores every day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2014, 06:51:04 PM
The scoreboard does NOT list the games in Kenosha as 'postponed', so that is an encouraging sign.  If the field still had snow, I'm sure the games would have already been postponed, since it is a long drive up from B'town.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2014, 08:12:19 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2014, 06:51:04 PM
The scoreboard does NOT list the games in Kenosha as 'postponed', so that is an encouraging sign.  If the field still had snow, I'm sure the games would have already been postponed, since it is a long drive up from B'town.

With a turf infield, it should at least be playable. Knowing Coach Schmidt, the guys manually cleared snow (if any) from the outfield when they returned form Arizona.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: sncsid on March 28, 2014, 11:24:24 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2014, 08:12:19 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2014, 06:51:04 PM
The scoreboard does NOT list the games in Kenosha as 'postponed', so that is an encouraging sign.  If the field still had snow, I'm sure the games would have already been postponed, since it is a long drive up from B'town.

With a turf infield, it should at least be playable. Knowing Coach Schmidt, the guys manually cleared snow (if any) from the outfield when they returned form Arizona.

Edgewood and UW-Milwaukee just played a game at Carthage earlier in the week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2014, 11:56:33 AM
IWU @ Carthage update. Saturday will now be a single game at 1pm with a DH on Saturday at 11am. (I am guessing it a way to let the field dry a bit more on Saturday and let it warm up as well.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 28, 2014, 12:53:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2014, 11:56:33 AM
IWU @ Carthage update. Saturday will now be a single game at 1pm with a DH on Saturday at 11am. (I am guessing it a way to let the field dry a bit more on Saturday and let it warm up as well.)
The North Park-Elmhurst DH has been moved to Chicago: a single game on Saturday starting at 5 PM (to accommodate the softball DH earlier in the day) and a DH on Sunday, starting at 1 PM.  Elmhurst will be the home team for the first two contests.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2014, 04:05:36 PM
Wheaton and Augie open the CCIW slate this afternoon in the Quad Cities, and they'll conclude their series tomorrow with a DH in Carol Stream.

North Central at Millikin in a DH tomorrow and a single game down in Decatur on Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 29, 2014, 04:39:21 PM
IWU over Carthage, 4-2, in ten innings.  Jeff Johnson pitched the entire game, and yielded no earned runs, but 2 unearned runs in the bottom of the 9th spoiled his shutout and sent the game to the tenth.  In the top of the tenth, the Titans promptly got 2 unearned runs of their own for the win.

Amazing how ten innings with no earned runs can help your ERA - Johnson's fell from a bad 5.40 to about 3.35!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2014, 02:43:12 PM
IWU wins the opener of the twinbill in Kenosha, 11-3.  The Titans had 3 HRs; Carthage had five errors.  Coach Schmidt has got to find him some players who can catch and throw the ball!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2014, 06:57:46 PM
IWU gets the sweep, 13-10.  It looked like it would be a laugher, as the Titans got ELEVEN runs in the third, on a walk, 2 HBPs, 3 errors and 7 hits, including Hahn's grand slam.  A tip of the cap to Carthage for not throwing in the towel - down 13-2, they got 4 in the 5th and 4 more in the 6th to make a game of it, but neither team ever scored again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on March 30, 2014, 09:05:22 PM
Surprises (to me) this wk. end:

Carthage didn't pick up one win.

Elmhurst didn't pick up one win and doesn't appear to have any pitching (4o runs in today's doubleheader!)

Top 5 teams (in no particular order) appear to be IWU, NPU, Augie, Wheaton, and North Central. I believe there is a real gap from there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2014, 10:18:49 PM
NPU swept Elmhurst today, 27-5 and 13-9, after taking yesterday's game, 6-4. The Vikings scored 46 runs and accumulated 60 hits this weekend off of Elmhurst pitching, hitting .472 as a team (the 60 hits included 13 doubles and 6 homers, and none of the homers were of the cheap variety). The Park batted around in three different innings in the opener, which they won in seven innings. I shudder to think of how many more runs the Vikes would've scored if the slaughter rule wasn't in effect. The second game was more entertaining, as the 'jays jumped on NPU starter Jason Meger and held an 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning. But NPU scored nine unanswered runs over the course of the next four frames, spurred by a pair of Brett Bernal homers -- he had three dingers on the day -- and got a great game out of freshman lefty Alex Vannucci, who came in for Meger in the second inning and held the 'jays down while the North Park bats did the rest. Vannucci is a real find. That kid's gonna be a serious pitcher in this league.

The Bluejays can rake big-time, and I would not take them lightly. They will bludgeon more than one CCIW starter this year. However, their pitching staff is gasoline alley. Their team ERA is now 9.06 and the team WHIP is now 2.157. I think that Elmhurst will be involved in a whole bunch of 13-9 types of games.

North Park looked very solid this weekend.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2014, 10:20:51 PM
It feels strange that Carthage has fallen on such hard times.  They were in the conference tourney every single year from 1989 thru 2011, and went to Appleton 6 times, with two thirds and two fourths.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2014, 09:56:21 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on March 30, 2014, 09:05:22 PM
Surprises (to me) this wk. end:

Carthage didn't pick up one win.

Elmhurst didn't pick up one win and doesn't appear to have any pitching (4o runs in today's doubleheader!)

Top 5 teams (in no particular order) appear to be IWU, NPU, Augie, Wheaton, and North Central. I believe there is a real gap from there.

Painfully, this was not a surprise to me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2014, 10:02:54 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2014, 10:20:51 PM
It feels strange that Carthage has fallen on such hard times.  They were in the conference tourney every single year from 1989 thru 2011, and went to Appleton 6 times, with two thirds and two fourths.

In recent years, tuition has skyrocketed at Carthage which has really limited available pool of recruits. I know there is no way many of the guys I played with (myself included) could afford the Carthage tuition where it stands now. I am positive that no one feels the pain more than Hall-of-Fame Coach Augie Schmidt. Sadly, it appears that much of their struggles in getting to the World Series coincide with the firing of long-time pitching coach/baseball recruiter, Brian Mosher, in 2004/2005(?).

I know there are a lot of frustrated baseball alums right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2014, 12:14:35 PM
Pitching has long been the staple of the Redmen. After 14 games they own an ERA of 4.50 and teams are hitting .318 against them (which is even more telling as they have not faced an overall tough schedule to this point).

Mix in their .939 fielding percentage and you have the perfect storm for what is happening right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2014, 07:42:14 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 31, 2014, 12:14:35 PM
Pitching has long been the staple of the Redmen. After 14 games they own an ERA of 4.50 and teams are hitting .318 against them (which is even more telling as they have not faced an overall tough schedule to this point).

Mix in their .939 fielding percentage and you have the perfect storm for what is happening right now.

I'm slightly surprised their fielding percentage is not even lower - they had ELEVEN errors in the three games against the Titans (though several were throwing errors, rather than fielding errors).

I'm delighted (though not surprised) that you are not one of those fair-weather fans who disappears when things go south for their team.  Kudos to you.

At least Carthage is scoring runs - they had 15 against the Titans - that would normally get you at least one win, but not when the pitchers and fielders yield 28! :P  (Ironically, the team ERA actually went down against the Titans, as 17 of their 28 runs were unearned!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2014, 08:37:13 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2014, 07:42:14 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 31, 2014, 12:14:35 PM
Pitching has long been the staple of the Redmen. After 14 games they own an ERA of 4.50 and teams are hitting .318 against them (which is even more telling as they have not faced an overall tough schedule to this point).

Mix in their .939 fielding percentage and you have the perfect storm for what is happening right now.

I'm slightly surprised their fielding percentage is not even lower - they had ELEVEN errors in the three games against the Titans (though several were throwing errors, rather than fielding errors).

I'm delighted (though not surprised) that you are not one of those fair-weather fans who disappears when things go south for their team.  Kudos to you.

At least Carthage is scoring runs - they had 15 against the Titans - that would normally get you at least one win, but not when the pitchers and fielders yield 28! :P  (Ironically, the team ERA actually went down against the Titans, as 17 of their 28 runs were unearned!)

I care too deeply to just walk away...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2014, 02:38:38 PM
Congrats to NPU 1B Joe Belmonte upon winning CCIW Hitter of the Week. He's the third Viking to win the award thus far this season.

I'm broadcaasting the CC@ NPU doubleheader right now, and, man, is it windy here in the Windy City today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2014, 03:30:22 PM
Painful to watch live stats today as a Carthage fan... NPU is blasting them 9-3 in 5th inning of game one of a DH. Redmen pitchers cannot seem to get anyone out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2014, 04:23:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2014, 03:30:22 PM
Painful to watch live stats today as a Carthage fan... NPU is blasting them 9-3 in 5th inning of game one of a DH. Redmen pitchers cannot seem to get anyone out.

Final:
NPU 10
Carthage 6

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2014, 04:33:17 PM
NPU only had ten hits, BP. The Vikes were simply economical about it -- only two LOB for the game. However, when the Vikes did get hits, they were hit with authority. Bernal's HR was a good 420 to 430 feet to deep right-center.

Two fantastic lay-it-out plays in the outfield in a tough wind in Game One: LF Tommy Endres for North Park, and CF Brian Huntsinger for Carthage.

Augie beats NCC in Game One, 6-3. No score reported yet from Wheaton @ Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 01, 2014, 05:54:55 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2014, 04:33:17 PM
NPU only had ten hits, BP. The Vikes were simply economical about it -- only two LOB for the game. However, when the Vikes did get hits, they were hit with authority. Bernal's HR was a good 420 to 430 feet to deep right-center.

Two fantastic lay-it-out plays in the outfield in a tough wind in Game One: LF Tommy Endres for North Park, and CF Brian Huntsinger for Carthage.

Augie beats NCC in Game One, 6-3. No score reported yet from Wheaton @ Elmhurst.

Wheaton beat Elmhurst 13-7 in game one and leads 4-2 in game 2.   Trey Martin has gone deep 3 times so far today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2014, 06:54:29 PM
IWU takes the first of two in Decatur, 8-4.  Bobby Czarnowski had a stat line of 5-2-3-4, while lead-off man Tim Coonan went 6-3-2-0.  Sean Coonan (I assume, he's Tim's younger brother; same high school) gave up 4 runs in two innings; Dan Truesdale pitched 5 innings of shutout relief for the win, Jon Munyon went two scoreless innings for the save.

Second game is just getting started.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2014, 08:27:54 PM
Tough loss for the Vikings in Game Two, 16-15. The Vikings blew a 5-2 lead early on, as Jason Meger had his second rough outing in three days. Carthage ran up an eight-run lead in the sixth, 15-7, before NPU pulled off its second big comeback already in CCIW play, scoring eight unanswered runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th to tie up the game at 15 apiece. But bad fielding was the bugaboo for the Vikes in this one -- they committed four errors, the fourth one a costly one that led to the Red Men scoring the winning run in the top of the tenth. The Vikings had the tying run on third and the winning run on first in the bottom of the tenth, but Mike Coduto was called out on a borderline inside pitch.

This one hurt -- not just because of the big comeback that ended up being for naught, but because this gives the other CCIW contenders a game in hand on NPU. The Red Men just aren't very good, and this is a doubleheader that North Park should've swept.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2014, 08:56:26 PM
Bottom of the fifth in Decatur: IWU 13, Millikin 2.  I suspect this one is safely over.  The Big Blue have already used 4 pitchers in 5 innings, and have committed 5 errors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2014, 09:20:50 PM
Can't recall every seeing this before: Titan reliever Pat Domke hit FOUR Millikin batters in the bottom of the fifth (in addition to getting two outs) - making it 13-3 before (to the relief of both the Titans and Big Blue, no doubt!) being relieved for the third out.

Don't know if he was just wild, or has anger issues! ;D  Can't recall ever seeing a run produced with no hits, no walks, no wild pitches, no nothing but a surplus of hit batters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2014, 10:32:52 PM
IWU wins in seven, 16-5 (I assume the CCIW must have a mercy rule?).

Despite a fairly lackluster 3 innings, starter Snedeker gets the win - I assume the rules about length of a start are different if the game is mercied?

Some impressive stat lines for Titans:
  Czarnowski  5-3-4-4
  Idstein        5-3-3-3
  Hahn          5-2-1-3
  Coonan       5-3-3-1
  Frericks       4-1-2-3

The Titans are 5-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2014, 07:57:23 AM
Carthage pulled it together to salvage a split with NPU, but they CANNOT keep giving up double-digit runs and expect to compete. Gave up 25 run to NPU and somehow didn't get swept.

The Redmen have already allowed double-digits 7 times(in just16 games), including 4 games in a row.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 02, 2014, 01:35:29 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2014, 09:20:50 PM
Can't recall every seeing this before: Titan reliever Pat Domke hit FOUR Millikin batters in the bottom of the fifth (in addition to getting two outs) - making it 13-3 before (to the relief of both the Titans and Big Blue, no doubt!) being relieved for the third out.

Don't know if he was just wild, or has anger issues! ;D  Can't recall ever seeing a run produced with no hits, no walks, no wild pitches, no nothing but a surplus of hit batters.

William Paterson's Vanderbush hit four in an inning in the 1994 World Series.  I do not think it was Shannon's team on the hurting side of that feat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2014, 11:03:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2014, 07:57:23 AM
Carthage pulled it together to salvage a split with NPU

Carthage did a nice job of taking advantage of shaky pitching from NPU's first two moundsmen, BP, as the Red Men hit effectively in the early part of the game until Matt Peterson came in and shut them down. But the Park definitely handed the Red Men that second game on a silver platter. Six of the 16 runs that Carthage scored in the nightcap were unearned, including the fatal one in the top of the tenth.

North Park has got to get it together in terms of making the routine infield plays. That, to me, has been the team's biggest weakness to date. Don't get me wrong; the Vikings are very effective at turning double plays, as can be seen by this chart:


teamopp DPsgames  ODP/G
North Park  28  20  1.400
Carthage  14  16    .875
Illinois Wesleyan  11  17    .647
Wheaton  12  19    .632
Augustana  10  17    .586
North Central    9  17    .529
Millikin    7  17    .412
Elmhurst    3  15    .200

... and yet the NPU team fielding percentage is only .953, which ranks fifth in the league. The Vikings have got to shore up their defense. On Tuesday evening, their inability to make routine plays cost them a ballgame.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2014, 08:19:02 AM
I once had a veteran coach tell me that teams that turned a high number of double plays were letting too many men on first base in the first place.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 03, 2014, 12:35:21 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2014, 08:19:02 AM
I once had a veteran coach tell me that teams that turned a high number of double plays were letting too many men on first base in the first place.
I bet your coach was a big believer in no-hitters and perfect games!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2014, 03:07:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2014, 08:19:02 AM
I once had a veteran coach tell me that teams that turned a high number of double plays were letting too many men on first base in the first place.

True in theory, but not in context. NPU ranks third in the league in team WHIP, and is not that far out of second place:


Augustana  1.379
North Central  1.406
North Park  1.475
Wheaton  1.517
Illinois Wesleyan  1.519
Millikin  1.556
Carthage  1.563
Elmhurst  2.157
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2014, 07:21:00 PM
Yesterday, IWU's Jeff Johnson threw a complete-game 2-hit shutout at Wheaton.  Today, Wheaton's T. Martin did the same to the Titans.  In the first game of the DH, things were very different - each team had 17 hits as the Titans prevailed 9-8.

So, the Titans got to 7-0, but now are 7-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2014, 09:21:30 PM
North Park split with North Central today, with the Vikings taking the opener, 6-3, and the Cardinals owning the nightcap, 5-2.

NPU had scored in double digits for four straight games, the longest double-digit scoring streak that the Park's bats have put together in 18 seasons, but it was pretty obvious coming into today that that streak was going to come to an end before the day was over. The question was whether or not it would matter, as the Vikings were clearly stepping up in competition today. It made for an interesting afternoon of baseball.

NCC has a decent but unexceptional roster of position players. But their starters are something special; coming into today's action, the three Cards weekend starters -- junior Ben Krusen, senior Chris Singh, and sophomore Andrew Houser -- had, in ten starts and 69 innings pitched, assembled a collective ERA of 1.70 and WHIP of 1.000. That kind of starting pitching, if it holds up for another month, will keep North Central right in this thing.

The Vikings got to Krusen in Game One, doubling the number of both runs total and earned runs that he's given up this year. Nick Soldano was solid if not spectacular for the Vikings and raised his record to 4-1, and Matt Peterson came on in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season. But in Game Two, Kris Singh was dealing for the Cards. He came into today's second game ranked second in the league in strikeouts, with 31 in 20 innings pitched, and he now leads that category by a healthy margin after whiffing a dozen Vikings today. North Central nibbled away at Alex Silverthorne and reliever Kenny Blanchard, giving Singh more than enough of a cushion to come away with the win.

The Vikings are going to have to bear down tomorrow against Houser.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2014, 09:27:07 PM
Augie swept Elmhurst pretty easily at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst, 10-1 and 9-6. Meanwhile, down in Decatur, Carthage came away with a 6-1 victory in the opener, but lost the nightcap, 7-6 in 11 innings. Carthage took a 6-5 lead in the top of the tenth, but gave up a game-tying homer to Keith Askins in the bottom of the inning -- only the third dinger launched by a Big Blue batter this season -- and the winning run the next inning. It snapped a ten-game losing streak for MU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2014, 11:47:17 PM
Some notes from Mr. B on today's games, re: Nick Soldano:

QuoteWith today's win, Soldano moves into 2nd place all-time with career victories (21), surpassing Don Mason.  Pete Zajac holds the all-time lead with 24 career wins. Nick has 224 career strikeouts, third best, and needs 23 to tie Mike Giovenco and 24 to tie leader Jeff Hanson.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2014, 06:02:30 PM
Looks like the Vikings may have found their third weekend starter. In his first-ever collegiate start, freshman lefty Alex Vannucci went the distance as North Park defeated North Central, 5-2, in Naperville. Vannucci scattered five hits and walked only one, striking out five as he upped his record on the season to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.38 in 22 2/3 innings of work.

Luke Johnson had some nice praise for the youngster. As quoted on Mr. B's website: "I thought Alex pitched with a lot of poise, which is hard for a first-year guy to do, especially with a series on the line.  Our starting shortstop [Eric Sousanes] made a couple of big-time plays to end some innings."

He was also upbeat about taking the season series from North Central.  "I feel like our team did a very good job of executing, playing against three very good starting pitchers who showed why their numbers are as good as they are.  I feel like our offense worked very hard to the plan we had set.  I thought we got quality starting pitching, and when our bullpen was called upon, they did what they needed to do."

The Vikings stayed tied for second with Augustana, which swept its' series with Elmhurst with a 15-8 win today in Rock Island. Both NPU and AC are 6-2, a game behind Illinois Wesleyan at 7-1, while NCC falls to fourth at 5-3.

Carthage won the other game today, annihilating Millikin in Decatur by slaughter rule, 15-2, on the strength of an eight-run eighth inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2014, 08:14:11 AM
I have a bad feeling that Carthage dropping one against Millikin could come back to haunt them. They will likely be in a battle for the final CCIW playoff spot(NEVER thought I'd say that... let alone three years in a row).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2014, 10:10:51 PM
Not that it matters for the conference, but might matter for pool C: IWU downs Knox, 9-2.

After a rough early going, the Titans have won 8 of their last 9.  And Millikin at home tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2014, 10:01:57 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2014, 10:10:51 PM
Not that it matters for the conference, but might matter for pool C: IWU downs Knox, 9-2.

After a rough early going, the Titans have won 8 of their last 9.  And Millikin at home tomorrow.

I still like the Titans in the CCIW. They were my preseason pick and I will stick with it (Man... that really hurt me to say).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 09, 2014, 06:15:33 PM
Congratulations to Dennis Martel on win #700!

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/iwu-baseball-team-gives-martel-th-career-win/article_7b3eade1-f65a-5340-b9fa-3231386fc493.html
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 06:17:45 PM
NPU loses to Carthage in Kenosha, 3-2. Not a good day for the Vikings, as this is a very costly loss. Somehow, Carthage starter Alex Newberry -- he of the 0-3, 10.64 record -- managed to handcuff the Vikings for eight innings before they finally reached him. A costly baserunning mistake that led to an out on the basepaths in the top of the ninth led to NPU falling a run short, as the tying run was on third when the final out was made.

You have to tip your cap to a guy like Newberry who unexpectedly comes in and deals against your team, but -- no offense, BP -- this is a game that North Park should have won. Carthage simply isn't very good ... and now the argument can be turned around against the Vikings, since they dropped two out of three to the Red Men.

The bright spot was that John Nemcek pitched well in his first-ever start, except for a rough first inning.

They'll just have to put this one behind them and move on, I guess.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 06:47:43 PM
Augie beat North Central, 10-7, in Naperville.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2014, 07:52:52 PM
IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ;)) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 10:36:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2014, 07:52:52 PM
IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ;)) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!

Come on, Chuck. Have you looked at Millikin's game-by-game results and stats? Brandon Townsend's team is 5-16, 1-8 this season. Their team ERA is 6.74. The Big Blue are collectively batting only .250/.310/.342, while their opponents are at .313/.448/.392. MU's team fielding percentage is the worst in the league, and the Big Blue have turned the fewest double plays. The last thing on Earth that's gonna give Townsend nightmares is some opposing senior whom his team has already faced and whom he's never going to see again. If he's having nightmares, it's about how in the world he's gonna manage to squeeze double-digit wins out of his team this season -- if that's even possible.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 10:41:26 PM
Elmhurst got off the schneid in conference play today with a 10-8 win in 10 innings over Wheaton at Lee Pfund Stadium.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2014, 11:09:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 10:36:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2014, 07:52:52 PM
IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ;)) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!

Come on, Chuck. Have you looked at Millikin's game-by-game results and stats? Brandon Townsend's team is 5-16, 1-8 this season. Their team ERA is 6.74. The Big Blue are collectively batting only .250/.310/.342, while their opponents are at .313/.448/.392. MU's team fielding percentage is the worst in the league, and the Big Blue have turned the fewest double plays. The last thing on Earth that's gonna give Townsend nightmares is some opposing senior whom his team has already faced and whom he's never going to see again. If he's having nightmares, it's about how in the world he's gonna manage to squeeze double-digit wins out of his team this season -- if that's even possible.

You're right.  For some reason I thought Bobby was a junior.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2014, 09:44:59 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2014, 06:17:45 PM
NPU loses to Carthage in Kenosha, 3-2. Not a good day for the Vikings, as this is a very costly loss. Somehow, Carthage starter Alex Newberry -- he of the 0-3, 10.64 record -- managed to handcuff the Vikings for eight innings before they finally reached him. A costly baserunning mistake that led to an out on the basepaths in the top of the ninth led to NPU falling a run short, as the tying run was on third when the final out was made.

You have to tip your cap to a guy like Newberry who unexpectedly comes in and deals against your team, but -- no offense, BP -- this is a game that North Park should have won. Carthage simply isn't very good ... and now the argument can be turned around against the Vikings, since they dropped two out of three to the Red Men.

The bright spot was that John Nemcek pitched well in his first-ever start, except for a rough first inning.

They'll just have to put this one behind them and move on, I guess.

No offense was taken:) I am a realist and can see things for what they are, not what I want them to be.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 10, 2014, 12:34:11 PM
That's a rare gift in today's world, BP. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2014, 10:17:13 PM
Carthage is right back in the race, downing Wheaton 8-5.  NCC lost to Elmhurst, 7-4.

So Carthage and NCC each 5-5, Wheaton 4-6, and Carthage and NCC are tied for 4th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2014, 05:01:18 PM
Titans take the first of the DH, 8-4, moving two games up on the field.  Jeff Johnson ran out of gas in the 8th, but Dan Truesdale prevented any further damage, gaining his first save.

The Titans pummeled previously undefeated Seth Davis for 7 earned runs in five innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2014, 08:02:20 PM
The Titans got the DH sweep, 11-8.  The Vikings returned the treatment given to Seth Davis in game one, pummeling Mart Hart for 7 earned runs in five innings, to go up 7-0 - but it was all Titans thereafter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2014, 12:12:03 AM
Other scores around the conference:

NCC and Elmhurst split, NCC 11-2, Elmhurst 4-2.
Carthage and Wheaton split, Carthage 5-0, Wheaton 5-2.
NPU showed no mercy to Millikin, 14-3 and 12-5.

The six contenders for the CCIW tourney:

1. IWU        10-1
2. NPU          8 -3
3. Augie        7 -4
4. NCC          6-6
4. Carthage   6-6
6. Wheaton    5-7

(7. Elmhurst   3-9)
(8. Millikin      1-10)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2014, 12:40:59 AM
I'm going to see Guys and Dolls tomorrow in Detroit, so I'll probably miss the Sunday games.  I'll give an update when I get back, unless someone else steps up to the plate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2014, 04:28:00 PM
North Park swept the series with Millikin by winning today at Holmgren, 6-2. It should've been a much bigger margin than that, but the Vikings found themselves strangely unable to do anything positive with the bases loaded. On three different occasions in the middle of the game the Vikings had the bags full with only one out -- and in all three instances, they came up empty. That made the game quite a bit more tense than should've been the case, but NPU pitching largely held the Big Blue at bay, as Alex Vannucci ran his record to 4-0 on the year and Matt Peterson picked up his third save.

Illinois Wesleyan @ Augustana was postponed (and has yet to be rescheduled). This afternoon's Carthage @ Chicago doubleheader has no live stats available.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2014, 06:48:46 PM
According to the IWU website, the IWU @ Augie game will be made up tomorrow (didn't specify the time).

EDIT:  Either they have updated or I finally looked the right place - the game will start at 3:30.  Both the Augie and IWU websites have links to livestats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2014, 08:00:04 AM
Carthage has quietly crept back into the CCIW picture. They have the most favorable schedule the rest of the way as they have played most of the teams at the top of the standings already.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2014, 09:44:26 AM
Redmen have won 7 of their last 9 games. Hopefully, they can keep this trend going forward. Taking two of three from both Wheaton and NPU is a positive sign that things are heading in the right direction.

I expected IWU to run away from the league so being swept by the Titans did not shock me.

By the way... how BIG is the Carthage loss to Millikin looming right now? Could be the difference between the playoffs and staying home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: TitanPride on April 14, 2014, 12:08:41 PM
IWU @ Augie postponed until Tuesday at 3:30 PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 15, 2014, 10:45:00 AM
Thanks to our never ending winter and yesterday's snow, today's NCC game @ down the street neighbor Benedictine, has already been postponed. No makeup date set yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2014, 05:00:05 PM
Same deal with North Park's game this afternoon @ crosstown foe Chicago. No makeup date as yet for that game.

NPU has re-scheduled a previously postponed game against Concordia IL for Sunday, May 4. That game will be played in River Forest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2014, 07:41:34 PM
Augie defeated Wesleyan today, 11-8, in the QC. Doesn't sound like it was a well-played game; each team made four errors, which brought the number of errors for the series to 15.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 07:42:13 PM
A (wild but sloppy) game in Moline, with Augie prevailing 11-8.  Each team had 4 errors.

Augie went up 4-0 in the bottom of the first.  IWU clawed back and went up 5-4 in the top of the sixth.  But Augie got 4 in the bottom of the sixth, and 3 more in the 7th.  IWU scored 3 in the 8th to make it a ballgame, but couldn't get any in the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2014, 07:55:11 PM
The CCIW standings are now thus:

Illinois Wesleyan  10-2
North Park    9-3
Augustana    8-4
North Central    6-6
Carthage    6-6
Wheaton    5-7
Elmhurst    3-9
Millikin    1-11

The remaining series (number of home games per series):

4/18 thru 4/19
Augustana (2) vs. North Park (1)
Carthage (1) vs. Elmhurst (2)
Illinois Wesleyan (1) vs. North Central (2)
Millikin (0) vs. Wheaton (3)

4/25 thru 4/27
Augustana (0) vs. Carthage (3)
Elmhurst (0) vs. Millikin (3)
Illinois Wesleyan (3) vs. North Park (0)
North Central (2) vs. Wheaton (1)

5/2 thru 5/3
Augustana (3) vs. Millikin (0)
Carthage (2) vs. North Central (1)
Elmhurst (1) vs. Illinois Wesleyan (2)
North Park (1) vs. Wheaton (2)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PM
It's Bobby Czarnowski's Player of the Year award to lose at this point.

He's first in BA (.458), RBIs (23), HRs (5) = Triple Crown, and total bases (42).  He's also second in runs scored (17), and tied for second in hits (22).

Pitcher of the Year is a tight race between Trey Martin (Wheaton) and (Titan) Jeff Johnson (with defending titlist Titan John Munyon not far behind).  Trey has a 2-1 record, 0.75 ERA, .167 Batting average against, and 24 SOs in 24 innings.  Jeff has a 3-0 record, 1.38 ERA, .170 batting average against, and 21 SOs in 26 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2014, 10:00:39 PM
Benedictine is a very nice liqueur.  Turns out, it is also not a bad baseball team - beating the Titans 6-2 tonight.  Both Titan runs came in the 9th, and they were just a Derek Idstein hit or walk away from bringing up Bobby Czarnowski as the tying run.  Alas, it was not to be, as Derek went 0-5.

Pool C may be out of reach for the Titans - win that tourney!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 05:09:26 PM
NPU leads Augie, 3-1, in the 7th in the series opener out in the QC.

Wheaton beat Millikin in the first game of today's DH at Pfund, 7-1. The two teams are deadlocked at 2 in the 4th in Game Two.

Elmhurst beat Carthage, 7-2, in the opener of today's DH at Butterfield. The Bluejays currently lead the Red Men in the 4th in Game Two, 5-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 06:13:44 PM
Elmhurst completes the doubleheader sweep with a 7-1 win over Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 06:21:05 PM
NPU wins the first game in Moline, 7-4. The North Park bullpen hiccuped away Nick Soldano's win after the Vikings' ace had gone six strong innings, but the Park recovered and added three more runs to garner the win. Augie's defense was horrific, as the hosts committed five errors that led to four unearned North Park runs. It helped to offset a bad day on the basepaths for NPU, whose typically aggressive baserunning turned out to be a negative in this game.

Tommy Endres was the Game One hero for North Park, as the junior leftfielder went 4-5 with 3 RBI.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 06:27:44 PM
Wheaton sweeps the doubleheader at Pfund in easy fashion, dumping Millikin in the nightcap by a score of 9-2.

North Central leads Illinois Wesleyan in the second inning at Horenberger, 1-0. It's the only game they're playing today, as the two tomorrow will be played in Napervegas.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 09:46:27 PM
Silverthorne had a rough go of it in Game Two, as NPU fell to Augie, 6-5, to end the day with a split. Fortunately, North Central came from behind to knock off Illinois Wesleyan in 11 innings in Bloomington, 4-3, to keep North Park a half-game behind IWU in the standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 06:16:02 PM
Did NOT see this coming - NCC just completed a sweep of IWU. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on April 19, 2014, 06:20:14 PM
Trey Martin extended his scoreless innings streak to 29, picks up his third-straight shutout and strikes out 15. Pretty, pretty amazing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 06:22:58 PM
IWU, Augie, and NPU are now in a three-way tie for first (10-5), with NCC just behind at 9-6.

NPU is in Bloomington next weekend for a showdown.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 06:49:12 PM
NPU looked awful and Augie looked pretty darned good today in Augie's 11-1 win over the Park. Augie got to Vannucci early and never really took its' foot off the pedal, while weekday starter Zach Morgenstern -- who started today because AC head coach Greg Wallace used his #3, Walter "Heisenberg" White, in relief in yesterday's second game -- kept North Park bats off-balance all day long. NPU had some chances, but the Vikings just never came through with the clutch hit when they needed it.

Fortunately, North Central took care of business today even though the Vikings didn't, and, as Chuck said, we now have a three-way tie for first at 10-5, with North Central a game off the pace at 9-6 and Wheaton very much alive at 8-7. Just not a lot of separation in the CCIW this season.

Carthage got swept this weekend by Elmhurst, losing the last game of the series today in Kenosha by a 12-2 margin. It's the first time that the Red Men have been swept by the 'jays since 2004. EC, which came into the series with a team ERA of 8.48 in CCIW play and an overall ERA of 7.95, posted an earned run average of 1.67 this weekend against the Red Men, who collectively batted .202 (20-99) against Elmhurst hurlers.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PM
It's Bobby Czarnowski's Player of the Year award to lose at this point.

He's first in BA (.458), RBIs (23), HRs (5) = Triple Crown, and total bases (42).  He's also second in runs scored (17), and tied for second in hits (22).

Czarnowski went 2-11 with no extra-base hits and a single RBI this weekend against NCC pitching.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PMPitcher of the Year is a tight race between Trey Martin (Wheaton) and (Titan) Jeff Johnson

No, it isn't.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 06:54:26 PM
CCIW standings:

Illinois Wesleyan   10-5
Augustana   10-5
North Park   10-5
North Central     9-6
Wheaton     8-7
Elmhurst     6-9
Carthage     6-9
Millikin     1-14

The remaining series (number of home games per series):

4/25 thru 4/27
Augustana (0) vs. Carthage (3)
Elmhurst (0) vs. Millikin (3)
Illinois Wesleyan (3) vs. North Park (0)
North Central (2) vs. Wheaton (1)

5/2 thru 5/3
Augustana (3) vs. Millikin (0)
Carthage (2) vs. North Central (1)
Elmhurst (1) vs. Illinois Wesleyan (2)
North Park (1) vs. Wheaton (2)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 07:40:36 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 06:49:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PM
It's Bobby Czarnowski's Player of the Year award to lose at this point.

He's first in BA (.458), RBIs (23), HRs (5) = Triple Crown, and total bases (42).  He's also second in runs scored (17), and tied for second in hits (22).

Czarnowski went 2-11 with no extra-base hits and a single RBI this weekend against NCC pitching.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PMPitcher of the Year is a tight race between Trey Martin (Wheaton) and (Titan) Jeff Johnson

No, it isn't.

Czarnowski is certainly no longer a lock, but he is probably still the leader - I haven't seen updated conference-game stats yet.  And, yes, Trey Martin is now probably as far ahead as Czarnowski used to be - but at the time I posted it was a pretty close race (Martin ahead, but not by a whole lot).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 07:48:21 PM
That was kinda my point, Chuck: You posted that stuff way too early. You just can't make those sorts of calls (" it's ___'s Player of the Year award to lose" and "Pitcher of the Year is a tight race") with three entire weekends left. That's over 40% of the league schedule!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 08:20:55 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 07:48:21 PM
That was kinda my point, Chuck: You posted that stuff way too early. You just can't make those sorts of calls (" it's ___'s Player of the Year award to lose" and "Pitcher of the Year is a tight race") with three entire weekends left. That's over 40% of the league schedule!

Yeah, but what's the fun of waiting 'til all the data is in?! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 19, 2014, 09:03:54 PM
For the benefit of our monochromatic midstate friends ::), I've run the conference numbers for Martin and Johnson including this weekend's performances.  While we are at it, let's also throw Kris Singh into the mix.  His numbers aren't nearly as eye-popping as Martin's, but they certain stack up well against Johnson's.






CCIW stats only    ERA   W-L  IP      H    R    ER    BB    K 
Martin0.55   3-1  33.0  15   4   2   9  39
Johnson2.18   3-0  33.0  21  10  8  12  32
Singh1.91   4-0  33.0  26  9  7  8  34
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 10:19:21 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 19, 2014, 09:03:54 PM
For the benefit of our monochromatic midstate friends ::), I've run the conference numbers for Martin and Johnson including this weekend's performances.  While we are at it, let's also throw Kris Singh into the mix.  His numbers aren't nearly as eye-popping as Martin's, but they certain stack up well against Johnson's.






CCIW stats only    ERA   W-L  IP      H    R    ER    BB    K 
Martin0.55   3-1  33.0  15   4   2   9  39
Johnson2.70   3-0  40.0  26  14  12  16  43
Singh1.91   4-0  33.0  26  9  7  8  34

What's with this 'monochromatic' BS?  Surely you know from kindergarten finger painting that green is a mixture of blue and yellow!  We're bi-chromatic! ;D

I'd certainly agree that after this weekend, Pitcher of the Year is Trey Martin's to lose - it was much closer a week ago.  (And I hadn't noticed Kris Singh's stats - they ARE awfully similar to Johnson's, perhaps even a touch better.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 11:00:06 PM
Conference game-only stats have now been updated.  Despite a very bad weekend, Bobby Czarnowski is still 1st in RBIs, HRs, and total bases, but falls to 6th in BA, t7th in hits, and t2nd in runs scored.  I'd consider him still the favorite for Player of the Year, but nowhere near the lead he had a week ago.

BTW, Johnson's corrected stat line is
  2.18  3-0  33.0  21  10  8  12  32
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 19, 2014, 11:02:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 11:00:06 PM
BTW, Johnson's corrected stat line is
  2.18  3-0  33.0  21  10  8  12  32
OK, I hadn't realized the CCIW site had already posted yesterday's stats.  Very good numbers, but after Martin's streak of shutout innings and 15 K's in his last start, his numbers will be tough to match.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2014, 12:01:26 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 19, 2014, 11:02:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2014, 11:00:06 PM
BTW, Johnson's corrected stat line is
  2.18  3-0  33.0  21  10  8  12  32
OK, I hadn't realized the CCIW site had already posted yesterday's stats.  Very good numbers, but after Martin's streak of shutout innings and 15 K's in his last start, his numbers will be tough to match.

Agreed.  He won't be beaten out unless he totally lays an egg one or both of the next two weekends.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2014, 02:58:57 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 06:13:44 PM
Elmhurst completes the doubleheader sweep with a 7-1 win over Carthage.

I wish the Redmen would make up their mind about what they are... What the heck is going on in Kenosha? Augie Schmidt certainly has not forgotten how to coach(guy is in the ABCA Hall of Fame for a reason), but are they struggling to get same recruits they did on the past?

I know I am not the only Carthage alum that is frustrated with the past three seasons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2014, 03:25:19 PM
Carthage is a senior-dominated team -- seven of the thirteen position players who've played in ten or more games are seniors, and six of the eight pitchers who've appeared in five or more games are seniors. Therefore, if this is a recruiting problem for Augie Schmidt, it's a problem that goes back for a few years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 20, 2014, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 18, 2014, 06:27:44 PM
Wheaton sweeps the doubleheader at Pfund in easy fashion, dumping Millikin in the nightcap by a score of 9-2.

North Central leads Illinois Wesleyan in the second inning at Horenberger, 1-0. It's the only game they're playing today, as the two tomorrow will be played in Napervegas.

Mayor Pradel and the NAPPerville City Council, who work so diligently to promote the city's wholesome image as the Wheaton of South DuPage County, would like to know the origin of the word "Napervegas" which they view as a libelous attempt to besmirch the good name of their morally pure domicile. Support is rapidly building for the initiation of legal proceedings against the offending individual or group.  :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2014, 04:23:13 PM
I would guess that the way to prove that correlation equals causation in this particular instance would be to look at wherever Brian Mosher is coaching now (if he is in a situation in which he's doing the recruiting for a school's baseball team) and see how successful that program has been with his players since 2005.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2014, 06:38:13 PM
Two weeks ago Elmhurst was 0-8, and was battling Millikin for the basement.  Since then, they have gone 6-1!  I used to be salivating over closing the regular season against Elmhurst (much like Augie is no doubt savoring closing against Millikin) - not so much anymore. ::)

Can anyone explain the sudden recovery of the Jays?  Did someone get healthy finally, or it is just one of those things?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 21, 2014, 06:58:58 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2014, 06:38:13 PM
Two weeks ago Elmhurst was 0-8, and was battling Millikin for the basement.  Since then, they have gone 6-1!  I used to be salivating over closing the regular season against Elmhurst (much like Augie is no doubt savoring closing against Millikin) - not so much anymore. ::)

Can anyone explain the sudden recovery of the Jays?  Did someone get healthy finally, or it is just one of those things?
Elmhurst has a potent batting lineup, so they can put a lot of runs on the board in a hurry. Their pitching was very spotty, but it sounds like several pitchers have stepped up their game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2014, 03:04:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2014, 06:38:13 PM
Two weeks ago Elmhurst was 0-8, and was battling Millikin for the basement.  Since then, they have gone 6-1!  I used to be salivating over closing the regular season against Elmhurst (much like Augie is no doubt savoring closing against Millikin) - not so much anymore. ::)

Can anyone explain the sudden recovery of the Jays?  Did someone get healthy finally, or it is just one of those things?

This is what I posted here a month ago:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2014, 10:18:49 PMThe Bluejays can rake big-time, and I would not take them lightly. They will bludgeon more than one CCIW starter this year. However, their pitching staff is gasoline alley. Their team ERA is now 9.06 and the team WHIP is now 2.157. I think that Elmhurst will be involved in a whole bunch of 13-9 types of games.

In that 6-1 stretch you've mentioned, Chuck, the 'jays have scored an average of seven runs per game. As I predicted, their offense has ultimately made them more competitive than people would've thought, given their early record. The big difference has been their pitching; over their last five games (including the 3-1 loss to Concordia WI), the 'jays have allowed only ten runs total, and they've been consistent about it -- a one-run game, three two-run games, and a three-run game.

But, while I think that Elmhurst's pitching is definitely improving, I think that some of this might be a matter of competition as well. I mentioned a couple of days ago how EC managed to more or less silence Carthage bats this past weekend. But, given that Carthage is (if you exclude hapless Millikin) the worst offense in the league in batting average and slugging average, and next-to-worst in on-base percentage, you have to wonder how much of it was improved 'jays pitching and how much of it was just a lack of punch at the plate by the Red Men.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2014, 03:07:17 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2014, 03:04:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2014, 06:38:13 PM
Two weeks ago Elmhurst was 0-8, and was battling Millikin for the basement.  Since then, they have gone 6-1!  I used to be salivating over closing the regular season against Elmhurst (much like Augie is no doubt savoring closing against Millikin) - not so much anymore. ::)

Can anyone explain the sudden recovery of the Jays?  Did someone get healthy finally, or it is just one of those things?

This is what I posted here a month ago:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2014, 10:18:49 PMThe Bluejays can rake big-time, and I would not take them lightly. They will bludgeon more than one CCIW starter this year. However, their pitching staff is gasoline alley. Their team ERA is now 9.06 and the team WHIP is now 2.157. I think that Elmhurst will be involved in a whole bunch of 13-9 types of games.

In that 6-1 stretch you've mentioned, Chuck, the 'jays have scored an average of seven runs per game. As I predicted, their offense has ultimately made them more competitive than people would've thought, given their early record. The big difference has been their pitching; over their last five games (including the 3-1 loss to Concordia WI), the 'jays have allowed only ten runs total, and they've been consistent about it -- a one-run game, three two-run games, and a three-run game.

But, while I think that Elmhurst's pitching is definitely improving, I think that some of this might be a matter of competition as well. I mentioned a couple of days ago how EC managed to more or less silence Carthage bats this past weekend. But, given that Carthage is (if you exclude hapless Millikin) the worst offense in the league in batting average and slugging average, and next-to-worst in on-base percentage, you have to wonder how much of it was improved 'jays pitching and how much of it was just a lack of punch at the plate by the Red Men.

Possibly the most painful reality I have ever read on this board.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2014, 03:14:27 PM
I feel some of that pain secondhand, BP, since your Red Men beat my Vikings two out of three. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 23, 2014, 09:48:22 AM
Wheaton loses to Northwestern in Evanston.  Game is currently being replayed on the Big Ten Network.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2014/4/22/BB_0422143255.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: gbpuckfan on April 25, 2014, 09:49:51 AM
Carroll joining:


Waukesha—(April 25, 2014)—Carroll University will join the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) as a full member in the 2016-17 academic year. It is anticipated the university will become an associate member for women's lacrosse beginning in 2015-16, one year before full membership in the CCIW begins. Carroll returns to the CCIW after a 22-year absence, bringing the total number of full members in the conference to nine.

"We are delighted to return to the CCIW. It is one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences in the country and is comprised of institutions that are widely recognized for academic excellence," said Doug Hastad, president of Carroll University. "We are especially excited for our student-athletes who will be able to test their skills against some of the finest competition in the country. We look forward to renewing our relationship with these outstanding institutions. It is a proud day for the Carroll family."

Carroll was a member of the CCIW conference from 1955 to 1992. Since then, Carroll has been a member of the Midwest Conference. The announcement marks the first change in full membership since the university left the CCIW after the 1991-92 academic year.

"Joining the CCIW is a significant achievement for our Pioneers Athletic Program," said Joe Baker, athletic director for Carroll University. "Future student-athletes have a lot to look forward to as we also prepare to add men's and women's lacrosse to our sports lineup in fall, and begin renovations on our Van Male Fieldhouse this summer."

Founded in 1846, Carroll University serves an enrollment of 3,539 students and an athletics department that sponsors 20 sports (10 men's and 10 women's). The university is adding men's and women's lacrosse for the 2014-15 season.

"Our office will begin the process of incorporating Carroll into all of our conference schedules starting in 2016-17," CCIW Commissioner Chris Martin said. "We will work to create draft schedules for our athletics directors to review and decide upon as we add an additional game or series."

Currently, the CCIW sponsors 21 sports and will sponsor men's & women's lacrosse beginning in 2014-15. CCIW schools have accounted for 46 NCAA Division III National Championships in its 68-year history.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2014, 09:58:46 AM
Quote from: gbpuckfan on April 25, 2014, 09:49:51 AM
Carroll joining:


Waukesha—(April 25, 2014)—Carroll University will join the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) as a full member in the 2016-17 academic year. It is anticipated the university will become an associate member for women's lacrosse beginning in 2015-16, one year before full membership in the CCIW begins. Carroll returns to the CCIW after a 22-year absence, bringing the total number of full members in the conference to nine.

"We are delighted to return to the CCIW. It is one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences in the country and is comprised of institutions that are widely recognized for academic excellence," said Doug Hastad, president of Carroll University. "We are especially excited for our student-athletes who will be able to test their skills against some of the finest competition in the country. We look forward to renewing our relationship with these outstanding institutions. It is a proud day for the Carroll family."

Carroll was a member of the CCIW conference from 1955 to 1992. Since then, Carroll has been a member of the Midwest Conference. The announcement marks the first change in full membership since the university left the CCIW after the 1991-92 academic year.

"Joining the CCIW is a significant achievement for our Pioneers Athletic Program," said Joe Baker, athletic director for Carroll University. "Future student-athletes have a lot to look forward to as we also prepare to add men's and women's lacrosse to our sports lineup in fall, and begin renovations on our Van Male Fieldhouse this summer."

Founded in 1846, Carroll University serves an enrollment of 3,539 students and an athletics department that sponsors 20 sports (10 men's and 10 women's). The university is adding men's and women's lacrosse for the 2014-15 season.

"Our office will begin the process of incorporating Carroll into all of our conference schedules starting in 2016-17," CCIW Commissioner Chris Martin said. "We will work to create draft schedules for our athletics directors to review and decide upon as we add an additional game or series."

Currently, the CCIW sponsors 21 sports and will sponsor men's & women's lacrosse beginning in 2014-15. CCIW schools have accounted for 46 NCAA Division III National Championships in its 68-year history.

It seems like a logical move for Carroll. They did not seem to fit with the MWC. Carthage HAS to be excited to have another member from Wisconsin in the CCIW, which I wanted to rename the CCIC(College Conference of Illinois and Carthage) since Carthage was the only member not in Illinois.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 08:53:21 PM
We've been discussing the Carroll addition since yesterday in the CCIW football and men's basketball rooms. I don't think that baseball is likely to be affected much by Carroll coming into the league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2014, 09:03:06 PM
NPU draws first blood, with 3 runs in the second, 1 more in the third - after 2.5 innings, they lead 4-0.  Soldano looking very solid for NPU; Jeff Johnson of IWU is not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 09:32:45 PM
NPU's leaving too many runners on base, which has been a chronic problem of late.

IWU homers twice, so it's now 4-2 in the fifth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2014, 09:46:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 09:32:45 PM
NPU's leaving too many runners on base, which has been a chronic problem of late.

IWU homers twice, so it's now 4-2 in the fifth.

And IWU is not getting anybody on base before the homers, which is also a problem!

Reminds me of the Tigers last night.  Worth unsuccessfully tried to steal second.  Two pitches later, Davis hit a homer. :P (I told my Tigers buddy, "Rajai, you've got to tell the manager you're hitting a HR - don't do anything stupid!  Communicate!!")
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 09:57:50 PM
Peterson on in relief of Soldano. Still 4-2, NPU, bottom of 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 10:06:58 PM
Nice poke, Danny boy!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 10:09:08 PM
Johnson gets the hook from Martel. Jonathan "I'd Like To Buy A Vowel, Pat" Vlk now on the mound for IWU. Top of 8th, 5-2 in favor of the Vikes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 10:23:25 PM
Vlk exits in favor of sidearming righty Pat Domke, who immediately gives up an RBI single to Zak Worsley. It's now 8-2, NPU, Vikings still batting in the top of the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 10:45:02 PM
In the only other CCIW game played tonight, North Central beat Wheaton, 6-1, at Pfund Stadium. Krusen over Rahn.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 10:45:54 PM
The Vikings have knocked Domke out of the game. Huskisson now in to pitch for the Titans. It's 11-2, NPU, two runners in scoring position, and still nobody out in the top of the 9th.

It's turned into an Xbox game. The Vikings have now knocked out Huskisson; Troy Huber will now make his varsity debut on the mound for IWU. It's 15-2, NPU, still nobody out in the top of the ninth.

After Luke Johnson sent a parade of second-stringers to the plate, the top of the 9th finally came to an end with NPU up, 18-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2014, 11:11:35 PM
North Park 18, Illinois Wesleyan 2

WP: Soldano (6-1)
LP: Johnson (4-2)

NPU now has sole possession of first place. It's not much of a lead -- a half-game over Augie -- but it's a lead.

To say the Vikes swung the bats well tonight would be an understatement: 21 hits on the night for NPU. Aside from the two dingers given up in the fifth, Soldano & Co. more or less kept the Titans bats at bay.

Very nice win ... but there's no resting on laurels here. Gotta come back and play two more in Bloomington tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2014, 11:20:13 PM
I'm by no means shocked that NPU won, but I did NOT see that total beat-down coming.

4-2 entering the 8th, then NPU got 4 in the 8th, and TEN in the ninth. :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 01:20:06 PM
Forgot to mention that yesterday Nick Soldano broke Jeff Hanson's school career strikeout record of 248 Ks set back in 2004, as his six punchouts yesterday brought him to 249 for his career. Congrats, Nick!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 01:35:19 PM
IWU leads NPU in game one after two innings, 1-0.

NCC leads WC in game one after two innings, 2-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 03:10:16 PM
IWU edges NPU in the opener, 1-0, Hart over Silverthorne. The Vikings had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, but couldn't push a run across.

They wasted a great effort by Silvy, who threw a four-hitter. The Vikings bats just didn't come through.

And now it's on to the rubber game, which I'm guessing will be a battle of the paesans: Vannucci versus Romano. Inizia a giocare!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 03:13:46 PM
The good news is that Carthage is leading Augie in the fifth of game one in Kenosha, 4-0. Daniels (CC) vs. Davis (AC).

Wheaton and North Central are deadlocked in the ninth of the first game in Naperville, 4-4. Singh's still on the mound for the Cards, while Pete Moran has relieved Kaufman for WC.

Elmhurst is ripping apart Millikin pitching in game one, 9-1. Hanlon (EC) vs. Owens, who relieved battered starter Paolicchi for the host Big Blue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 03:40:28 PM
Correction: T.D. Conway is starting for NPU in the rubber match. It's his first appearance on the mound in almost two months.

I knew that Luke Johnson was going to try to work him into the Wesleyan series, but I'm a bit surprised that he's actually starting him.

Wheaton and North Central are now in the tenth inning, still tied at 4 apiece. Carthage is still up on Augie, 4-0, in the seventh. Elmhurst is now up on Millikin by 11-1 in the 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 04:01:46 PM
Way to go, Red Men! Josh Daniels threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout, as Carthage knocked off Augustana in the first game, 4-0.

Wheaton and NCC are still deadlocked at 4 in the 12th inning, while Elmhurst is two outs away from skunking Millikin 11-1 in the seventh.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 04:20:51 PM
Wheaton outlasts NCC in the marathon, winning 5-4 in twelve innings.

Elmhurst beat Millikin in seven via slaughter rule, 11-1.

NPU now up on IWU, 1-0, in the third inning of the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 05:04:56 PM
NPU 5, IWU 0, fourth inning

CC 1, AC 0, second inning

WC 2, NCC 0, second inning

EC 4, MU 0, third inning
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 05:31:27 PM
NPU 6, IWU 0, sixth inning

CC 1, AC 1, fourth inning

WC 4, NCC 1, second inning

EC 6, MU 0, fourth inning
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 06:31:23 PM
North Park 8, Illinois Wesleyan 0

WP: Conway (2-1)
LP: Romano (2-2)

T.D. Conway, Alex Vannucci, and Johnny Larson combined to throw a two-hit shutout and give NPU the series. It was particularly gratifying and impressive to see Conway throw so well after missing two months due to a minor injury. (His use on the mound this season, and in this game in particular, has been very conservative; after all, he's the franchise as far as NPU football is concerned, and the coaches of both sports and the NPU training staff are trying not to put too much wear-and-tear on his arm.) In six innings of work he gave up only a single and a walk, striking out four Titans hitters along the way. His ERA is now down to 1.33 for the season.

Taking two out of three in Bloomington was huge. Now it's on to Wheaton next weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 07:02:48 PM
Augie wins the second game over Carthage, 7-4. Sauer over Arenson.

That puts Augustana a half-game behind North Park, with the Red Men due to host the Rock Islanders in the series finale tomorrow at noon at Schmidt Field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 07:15:36 PM
Elmhurst crushes Millikin in game two, 13-4.

North Central came back from a 4-1 deficit to beat Wheaton, 7-5, and earn a doubleheader split while taking two out of three in that series. The Cards were the first team in the league to get to Trey Martin; they touched him up for six runs (five earned) in 6.1 innings of work.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 07:20:08 PM
In spite of being shut out in the middle game of the series, NPU still did well at the plate as a team, batting .342/.421/.340 for the three-game set, numbers not too far off from what the Vikings had previously accomplished this season in CCIW play.

But the real story of this series was North Park's pitching. Soldano/Peterson/Herrick, Silverthorne, and Conway/Vannucci/Larson gave up only three runs all weekend, posting an ERA of 1.00 and a microscopic WHIP of 0.778. Illinois Wesleyan's batting line for the weekend was .161/.241/.223.

This was the best sequence of pitching that the Park has had all season. The optimal time for your pitching to get hot is at the end of the year, especially when first place is on the line and you're in the other team's ballpark.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2014, 06:49:12 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2014, 08:13:42 PM
It's Bobby Czarnowski's Player of the Year award to lose at this point.

He's first in BA (.458), RBIs (23), HRs (5) = Triple Crown, and total bases (42).  He's also second in runs scored (17), and tied for second in hits (22).

Czarnowski went 2-11 with no extra-base hits and a single RBI this weekend against NCC pitching.

Czarnowski went 0-10 against NPU pitching this weekend, with no RBI. He might still win Player of the Year, but as far as it being his to lose is concerned, the Czar has abdicated. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2014, 08:11:14 PM
Yeah, I'll await the updated conference stats to see if Czarnowwski still leads in ANY category. :P

Two weeks ago he looked like a lock; now I'm unsure whether he is even still the leading candidate.  Until I see the stats, not sure who the competition is.

I'll also be interested in seeing whether or not Trey Martin is still a sure thing; Jeff Johnson has fallen off the radar, but I think Singh had a good outing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2014, 08:38:07 PM
Czarnowski's nowhere near the leaderboard in batting average anymore. He still enjoys a one-homer lead over Brett Bernal (NPU), Dan Sabin (NPU), Trey Martin (WC), Dave Wolak (EC), and Ryan Collins (EC), but Wolak and Collins get another shot at Millikin pitching tomorrow afternoon. Czarnowski's RBI lead is down to one over Tommy Endres (NPU) and three over Grant Stewart (AC). Endres and Sam Klein (NCC) have passed him in total bases, and Stewart has tied him. As far as runs scored is concerned, he's now trailing Zak Worsley (NPU) by six, and Mike Coduto (NPU), Stewart, and Jacob Van Duyne (AC) by one apiece. And in the hits category, he's behind at least 14 players by my count, including one of his own teammates (Jon Frericks).

Grant Stewart might be the biggest competition for Czarnowski at the moment. The problem with the North Park guys is that so many of them are enjoying big seasons in offensive categories that they might all cancel each other out.

Singh had a respectable, but not eye-popping, line in the middle game of the series against Wheaton: 9.1 innings, 8 hits allowed, 4 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 1 strikeout.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 27, 2014, 06:03:03 PM
Going into the final week of CCIW action, here are the standings:











TeamRecord  Next opponent
Augustana  12-6   Millikin
North Park  12-6   Wheaton
North Central  11-7   Carthage
IL Wesleyan  11-7   Elmhurst
Wheaton   9-9   North Park
Elmhurst   9-9   IL Wesleyan
Carthage   7-11   North Central
Millikin   1-17   Augustana

Only two teams, Millikin and Carthage, have been mathematically eliminated.  Here are the tie-breakers among the six teams that are still in the running for a conference tournament bid:

Augustana: holds the TB over North Park, Wheaton, North Central, and Elmhurst
North Park: holds the TB over North Central, IL Wesleyan, and Elmhurst
North Central: holds the TB over IL Wesleyan and Wheaton
IL Wesleyan: holds the TB over Augustana and Wheaton
Wheaton: holds the TB over Elmhurst
Elmhurst: holds the TB over North Central

By my calculations (feel free to double-check!!), to qualify for the tournament, here is what needs to happen for each team:

Elmhurst would need to sweep IL Wesleyan and hope that either North Park takes two of three from Wheaton or Carthage takes two from North Central
Wheaton would need to sweep North Park and hope that either North Central or IL Wesleyan gets swept
IL Wesleyan would need to win one against Elmhurst
North Central would need to win one against Carthage and hope that Elmhurst loses one against IL Wesleyan
North Park would need to win one against Wheaton or hope that either Carthage or Elmhurst takes two of three.
Augustana has clinched a berth, since the worst they could finish is 12-9 -- tied with Wheaton and Elmhurst if both these teams would sweep, and Augie holds the TB over both.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:13:36 PM
I strongly suspect the tourney will be in Rock Island (well, the field is actually in Moline ;)).  It is hard to imagine that they will not sweep Millikin, and they hold the tie-break over NPU, the only team that could match 15-6.

BTW, how can IWU hold the tie-break on Elmhurst when they haven't played yet?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 27, 2014, 06:20:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:13:36 PM
I strongly suspect the tourney will be in Rock Island (well, the field is actually in Moline ;)).  It is hard to imagine that they will not sweep Millikin, and they hold the tie-break over NPU, the only team that could match 15-6.

BTW, how can IWU hold the tie-break on Elmhurst when they haven't played yet?
That was a typo -- it should have been Wheaton. I also added more hypotheticals for North Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:37:04 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 27, 2014, 06:20:34 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:13:36 PM
I strongly suspect the tourney will be in Rock Island (well, the field is actually in Moline ;)).  It is hard to imagine that they will not sweep Millikin, and they hold the tie-break over NPU, the only team that could match 15-6.

BTW, how can IWU hold the tie-break on Elmhurst when they haven't played yet?
That was a typo -- it should have been Wheaton. I also added more hypotheticals for North Park.

Yeah, I figured you meant over some other team, but I couldn't remember which and hadn't yet checked.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2014, 07:26:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:13:36 PM
I strongly suspect the tourney will be in Rock Island (well, the field is actually in Moline ;)).  It is hard to imagine that they will not sweep Millikin, and they hold the tie-break over NPU, the only team that could match 15-6.

When I look at how dreadful Millikin's resume is, I'm half-convinced that I could step onto the Lawrence Avenue bus, dragoon the first nine people that I see, and thereby form a team that could beat the Big Blue. But baseball is baseball. You never know. As much of an airtight cinch as Augie appears to be for a sweep this coming weekend in the QC, I will still be following the games online in the cockeyed-optimistic hope that somehow, someway, Jimmy Millikin can pull a rabbit out of a hat and find a way to take a game from the Doggies.

Meanwhile, the Park's got plenty of things to worry about itself. Wheaton still has a razor-thin shot at the CCIW tourney, so you know that the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance isn't going to just roll over for Luke Johnson & Co. The good thing is that NPU's pitching seems to be gelling at the right time.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 08:50:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2014, 07:26:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2014, 06:13:36 PM
I strongly suspect the tourney will be in Rock Island (well, the field is actually in Moline ;)).  It is hard to imagine that they will not sweep Millikin, and they hold the tie-break over NPU, the only team that could match 15-6.

When I look at how dreadful Millikin's resume is, I'm half-convinced that I could step onto the Lawrence Avenue bus, dragoon the first nine people that I see, and thereby form a team that could beat the Big Blue. But baseball is baseball. You never know. As much of an airtight cinch as Augie appears to be for a sweep this coming weekend in the QC, I will still be following the games online in the cockeyed-optimistic hope that somehow, someway, Jimmy Millikin can pull a rabbit out of a hat and find a way to take a game from the Doggies.

Meanwhile, the Park's got plenty of things to worry about itself. Wheaton still has a razor-thin shot at the CCIW tourney, so you know that the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance isn't going to just roll over for Luke Johnson & Co. The good thing is that NPU's pitching seems to be gelling at the right time.

I, too, will hold out (probably futilely) hope that Millikin can win a game, IWU can get the sweep, NCC does NOT get a sweep, and (sorry ;)) that Wheaton takes two from your Vikings.  Then IWU and Augie tie for the title, and IWU has the tie break!  That's a lot of dominoes to all fall the right way, but the tourney COULD still be in Bloomington.

Since that is such an unlikely scenario, I console myself that the Titans did not play at home (in fact, were the fourth seed) the year they won the Walnut-and-Bronze.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2014, 08:29:04 AM
What the heck has happened to Carthage? Once a staple of not only the CCIW, but of the Central regional, let alone the World Series... they will now miss the CCIW tourney for the third straight season after 20+consecutive years of qualifying. I am hoping it is just a bad run of recruits(which is fixable) and not indicative of a larger problem(which may not be).

Anyone have any insights to offer. I feel as though I am the only Carthage fan still on these boards :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AM
A few comments:

I've seen every home game for IWU this year I believe.  I would, at this point, just be happy with one win over Elmhurst and a tournament berth.  The 2010 team was mentioned - they were a LOT better than this team, despite their 20 losses.  For one thing, their pitching depth was great.  IWU has a couple arms that can beat anybody, but they also have some new faces that likely need seasoning before being a factor in game 3, 4 or 5 of a tournament.  Would love to be wrong about that.

I can't imagine Augie not sweeping Millikin and hosting the tournament.  Of the travel options, at least that is the easiest if the tournament won't be in Bloomington.

Carthage is a puzzle. I didn't see them this year, and I realize you don't win by reputation, but it's hard not to see them as a contender every year like they were for so many years. The last big win I recall was the Bobby Thomsonesque home run by Mike Pugliese in the CCIW tournament against IWU in 2011.  It shocks me that they have not been in the mix of late.

I haven't seen Trey Martin this year, but with the exception of Illinois State's Paul DeJong, North Park's Tommy Endres is the best hitter I've seen this season. The kid not only battles every at bat, he battles every pitch.  Very patient as well.  I'm not sure what his weekend stats were at IWU, but he was a tough out every time up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 28, 2014, 08:04:12 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AM
I haven't seen Trey Martin this year, but with the exception of Illinois State's Paul DeJong, North Park's Tommy Endres is the best hitter I've seen this season. The kid not only battles every at bat, he battles every pitch.  Very patient as well.  I'm not sure what his weekend stats were at IWU, but he was a tough out every time up.
Tommy finished 8-for-14 (.571) with 2 runs scored and three driven in.  He also had a double and two stolen bases.  He was driving the ball very well, even when he made outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2014, 06:30:35 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AM
A few comments:

I've seen every home game for IWU this year I believe.  I would, at this point, just be happy with one win over Elmhurst and a tournament berth.  The 2010 team was mentioned - they were a LOT better than this team, despite their 20 losses.  For one thing, their pitching depth was great.  IWU has a couple arms that can beat anybody, but they also have some new faces that likely need seasoning before being a factor in game 3, 4 or 5 of a tournament.

I agree with this, but I'd also add that the Titans are pretty pedestrian offensively. They're fourth in batting average, fourth in slugging percentage, fifth in on-base percentage, and, more importantly, waaay behind the leaders in all three categories. The fielding's not really good, either -- the Titans turn a lot of double plays but have difficulty making the routine play. In their current 1-7 skid over their last eight games (all played against the other three contenders), the Titans have committed 22 errors.

I don't necessarily want to see the Titans in the tourney, because Johnson is an outstanding pitcher, Hart now seems to have found himself, and Truesdale and Munyon have to be respected out of the bullpen. But I certainly don't fear them. If Elmhurst's trend holds up of getting just enough improvement out of that soggy pitching staff to allow those nasty Bluejays bats to keep the team competitive, I think that the 'jays could be just as formidable an opponent as IWU in the conference tourney.

Quote from: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AMI can't imagine Augie not sweeping Millikin and hosting the tournament.  Of the travel options, at least that is the easiest if the tournament won't be in Bloomington.

That may be true for you, but for all of us who live in Chicagoland, that trip to the QC is a killer. :(

Quote from: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AMCarthage is a puzzle. I didn't see them this year, and I realize you don't win by reputation, but it's hard not to see them as a contender every year like they were for so many years. The last big win I recall was the Bobby Thomsonesque home run by Mike Pugliese in the CCIW tournament against IWU in 2011.  It shocks me that they have not been in the mix of late.

... and, as I mentioned last week, Carthage is the most senior-dominated team in the league. It's going to be very interesting to see how Augie Schmidt fares in terms of re-stocking his larder for next season.

The program that really makes me nervous is Augustana. Take a look at the roster for the Doggies. There are only three seniors on it: Stewart, Van Duyne, a little-used backup infielder ... and that's it. Augustana is going to be a monster in 2015.

Quote from: voiceofseason on April 28, 2014, 10:31:38 AMI haven't seen Trey Martin this year, but with the exception of Illinois State's Paul DeJong, North Park's Tommy Endres is the best hitter I've seen this season. The kid not only battles every at bat, he battles every pitch.  Very patient as well.  I'm not sure what his weekend stats were at IWU, but he was a tough out every time up.

Both of the new corner outfielders that Luke Johnson brought in this past off-season as transfers -- Tommy Endres and Brett Bernal -- have been real difference-makers at the plate in 2014 for the Vikings. I'm excited about the fact that they'll be around next year as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 30, 2014, 11:24:55 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 27, 2014, 06:03:03 PM
Going into the final week of CCIW action, here are the standings:











TeamRecord  Next opponent
Augustana  12-6   Millikin
North Park  12-6   Wheaton
North Central  11-7   Carthage
IL Wesleyan  11-7   Elmhurst
Wheaton   9-9   North Park
Elmhurst   9-9   IL Wesleyan
Carthage   7-11   North Central
Millikin   1-17   Augustana

Only two teams, Millikin and Carthage, have been mathematically eliminated.  Here are the tie-breakers among the six teams that are still in the running for a conference tournament bid:

Augustana: holds the TB over North Park, Wheaton, North Central, and Elmhurst
North Park: holds the TB over North Central, IL Wesleyan, and Elmhurst
North Central: holds the TB over IL Wesleyan and Wheaton
IL Wesleyan: holds the TB over Augustana and Wheaton
Wheaton: holds the TB over Elmhurst
Elmhurst: holds the TB over North Central

By my calculations (feel free to double-check!!), to qualify for the tournament, here is what needs to happen for each team:

Elmhurst would need to sweep IL Wesleyan and hope that either North Park takes two of three from Wheaton or Carthage takes two from North Central
Wheaton would need to sweep North Park and hope that either North Central or IL Wesleyan gets swept
IL Wesleyan would need to win one against Elmhurst
North Central would need to win one against Carthage and hope that Elmhurst loses one against IL Wesleyan
North Park would need to win one against Wheaton or hope that either Carthage or Elmhurst takes two of three.
Augustana has clinched a berth, since the worst they could finish is 12-9 -- tied with Wheaton and Elmhurst if both these teams would sweep, and Augie holds the TB over both.

Wheaton just needs to sweep North Park and it doesn't matter what else happens in the other series as it would draw Wheaton and NPU into a tie and Wheaton would hold the tie breaker. If more than two teams end up in a fourth place tie, Wheaton is in and North Park is out regardless of the other teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 30, 2014, 12:34:44 PM
Quote from: thunder38 on April 30, 2014, 11:24:55 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 27, 2014, 06:03:03 PM
Going into the final week of CCIW action, here are the standings:











TeamRecord  Next opponent
Augustana  12-6   Millikin
North Park  12-6   Wheaton
North Central  11-7   Carthage
IL Wesleyan  11-7   Elmhurst
Wheaton   9-9   North Park
Elmhurst   9-9   IL Wesleyan
Carthage   7-11   North Central
Millikin   1-17   Augustana

Only two teams, Millikin and Carthage, have been mathematically eliminated.  Here are the tie-breakers among the six teams that are still in the running for a conference tournament bid:

Augustana: holds the TB over North Park, Wheaton, North Central, and Elmhurst
North Park: holds the TB over North Central, IL Wesleyan, and Elmhurst
North Central: holds the TB over IL Wesleyan and Wheaton
IL Wesleyan: holds the TB over Augustana and Wheaton
Wheaton: holds the TB over Elmhurst
Elmhurst: holds the TB over North Central

By my calculations (feel free to double-check!!), to qualify for the tournament, here is what needs to happen for each team:

Elmhurst would need to sweep IL Wesleyan and hope that either North Park takes two of three from Wheaton or Carthage takes two from North Central
Wheaton would need to sweep North Park and hope that either North Central or IL Wesleyan gets swept
IL Wesleyan would need to win one against Elmhurst
North Central would need to win one against Carthage and hope that Elmhurst loses one against IL Wesleyan
North Park would need to win one against Wheaton or hope that either Carthage or Elmhurst takes two of three.
Augustana has clinched a berth, since the worst they could finish is 12-9 -- tied with Wheaton and Elmhurst if both these teams would sweep, and Augie holds the TB over both.

Wheaton just needs to sweep North Park and it doesn't matter what else happens in the other series as it would draw Wheaton and NPU into a tie and Wheaton would hold the tie breaker. If more than two teams end up in a fourth place tie, Wheaton is in and North Park is out regardless of the other teams.
If Wheaton sweeps NP and Carthage and Elmhurst also sweep, Wheaton and NP would both be at 12-9 and North Central and Wesleyan would be at 11-10.  Elmhurst would qualify with a 12-9 record as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BlueJay Boy on May 02, 2014, 08:43:53 PM
BigPoppa,

There is another Carthage fan on here but he is hiding in the shadows. There is something wrong in Kenosha. I saw them play at Wheaton and even though they won - it was a real struggle. They are below average at the plate and that is rare for a Redmen team, they have always booted the ball in the field and they were average on the mound. We all know it starts with recruiting. I am not a fan of the cheer squad from Chicago, but you can not deny that Coach Johnson has gone out and gotten players. The days of the talent walking into Carthage are over, I don't buy the tuition argument, all the schools in the CCIW are fairly expensive, I think the staff has to get to work!

One mans opinion
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2014, 01:02:40 AM
Augie, NPU (both 13-6; Augie has the tie-break), and NCC and IWU (both 12-7) are the four tourney teams, after today's games.  Who plays whom, and where (probably at Augie), will be determined tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 03, 2014, 08:28:37 AM
Should be an interesting tournament. NPU would be tough to beat. Saw NC play and their pitching seems to be pretty tough. Did not watch Augustana and IWU has struggled down the stretch. Should be fun.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 02:15:47 PM
I couldn't believe that Millikin had the lead going into the bottom of the 8th last night at Augie and coughed it up. Big Blue, you're a tease!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2014, 03:59:00 PM
I doubt the first game in Bloomington will go the full 9 innings - IWU is up 15-4 after five. ;)

The game has continued into the 6th, with the Blue Jays scoring two (so far) and in the process knocking Hart out of the game.  I take it the mercy rule doesn't kick in until after 7?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 04:05:47 PM
Yes, the mercy rule requires seven ABs by the losing team.

Augie's a better bet to win by mercy rule right now than is IWU. The Doggies are up, 15-5, in the sixth. Grant Stewart has 6 RBI in this game.

NCC and Carthage are going into extras in a wild and wooly 10-10 affair. The Red Men blew a 3-1 lead, and the Cards blew a 10-4 lead in this one.

NPU leads Wheaton, 4-1, in the eighth, in the only CCIW game thus far that appears to feature actual pitching. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 04:39:52 PM
NPU tanked it, losing 5-4. Vikings closer Matt Peterson, who has been Mr. Reliable all season long, came on with two out and one on in the eighth and the Vikings up, 4-1, and couldn't manage to get a batter out. Just one of those days for him, I guess. For the second week in a row, Alex Silverthorne pitched a great game and had nothing to show for it at the end of the day. He allowed only four hits and struck out what is I believe a career-high 12 batters (Mr. B will correct me if I'm wrong about that) in 7.2 IP. But give credit to Wheaton's Matt Kaufman, who kept his team in the game by holding the Park close.

Five of North Park's seven CCIW losses have been by one run.

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fperezbox.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2Fpulling-hair-out.jpeg&hash=f0d8727ef3b87da9c12156a94d3b304a82efa791)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 04:44:15 PM
Carthage won a crazy game over NCC in Kenosha in 11 innings, 12-11. The other two games, to nobody's surprise, were seven-inning skunk jobs; Wesleyan over Elmhurst, 17-7, and Augustana over Millikin, 16-6.

Augustana has now clinched a share of the CCIW title. Congrats are due to Greg Wallace & Co., because this is the first time since 1974 that the Doggies have won a CCIW baseball title. For a program that's been as consistently good as Augie's over the years to come up empty for so long has been astonishing.

I hold out very little hope that the Big Blue will keep Augie from clinching the title outright in the nightcap. I think that the Big Blue probably shot their bolt in last night's close loss.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2014, 04:49:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 04:05:47 PM
Yes, the mercy rule requires seven ABs by the losing team.

Augie's a better bet to win by mercy rule right now than is IWU. The Doggies are up, 15-5, in the sixth. Grant Stewart has 6 RBI in this game.

NCC and Carthage are going into extras in a wild and wooly 10-10 affair. The Red Men blew a 3-1 lead, and the Cards blew a 10-4 lead in this one.

NPU leads Wheaton, 4-1, in the eighth, in the only CCIW game thus far that appears to feature actual pitching. ;)

Yep.  Elmhurst got 3 in the 6th, but IWU came right back with 2 more in the bottom of the inning.  After the Jays were held hitless in the top of the 7th, the Titans mercied 'em 17-7.

Matt Hart got the win despite a very bad outing (7 earned runs in 5+ innings); Sean Coonan let in the two runners he inherited, but was otherwise very effective in relief.  Several batters had excellent days, led by Nick Hahn who went 4 for 4, scored 4 runs, and drove in 3.  Despite the 24 combined runs, Bobby Czarnowski had the only homer in the game (his two week slump has pretty well eliminated any chance at a triple crown, but I'd assume his average is back above .400, going 2 for 4 yesterday, and 2 for 4 again today).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 06:48:29 PM
Augie is the undisputed CCIW champ. The Doggies skunked Millikin for the second time today with a 12-2 win in seven.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 07:27:29 PM
Illinois Wesleyan skunks Elmhurst in eight, 10-0. It was an unusual win in that it was pitched by committee -- a situation that usually doesn't lend itself well to holding down an opponent. But Elmhurst only had one hit, so kudos to the Titans for making that work.

Man, Elmhurst really can't pitch. It's a wonder that their games with Millikin ever ended. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 07:29:54 PM
Aargh! Another one-run loss! Wheaton wins, 5-4. NPU outhits the Wheaties -- the Vikings even had five doubles in this game -- but Wheaton got the crucial out every time that it was necessary. The Vikings left the tying run stranded in scoring position in the top of the ninth.

This was not a good weekend at all for North Park. But the Vikings are in the tourney, and, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2014, 07:35:35 PM
With one out in the bottom of the 8th, IWU mercied Elmhurst again, 10-0.  The Titans went pitching by committee, but it worked beautifully: usual closer Jon Munyon started (his first start of the season) and gave up a lead-off double (a no-no for a closer!), then no-hit the Jays the rest of a four inning start; 4 relievers hurled a hitless inning each.

For those bad at math, 5 Titan hurlers combined for a one-hit shutout.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 07:47:35 PM
Carthage completes the sweep in Kenosha with a 7-3 victory over North Central.

Next weekend's first round matchups in Moline are set:

North Park vs. Illinois Wesleyan
North Central vs. Augustana
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 03, 2014, 10:43:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2014, 07:47:35 PM
Carthage completes the sweep in Kenosha with a 7-3 victory over North Central.

Next weekend's first round matchups in Moline are set:

North Park vs. Illinois Wesleyan
North Central vs. Augustana

I like North Park to win the tournament but I will like them a lot more if Soldano is healthy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 04, 2014, 10:43:28 PM
I can't find the info on either cciw.org or the host Augie website - are the game times and schedule for the tourney really not yet announced?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 05, 2014, 06:33:27 PM
I found the schedule in the story about Augie winning conference. Looks like Augie plays NCC at 3:30 Thursday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 08, 2014, 02:05:36 PM
A little prediction for how this tourney will roll out.

NCC upsets Augustana behind Krusen.

North Park outslugs IWU.

Augustana's superior pitching eliminates IWU on Friday.

In the winner's bracket, North Park defeats NCC behind Silverthorne.

NCC will have used the best part of their staff and will fall to Augie.

North Park defeats Augustana to win the conference.

Basically, I like NPU's lineup to more than anyone other team and I think this condensed format is advantageous to the team that is strongest 1-9.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2014, 03:12:25 PM
I'll take NPU to win the CCIW's bid. I think their style of play is best suited for post-season baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2014, 06:18:02 PM
I sure hope that neither of you two are the d3boards.com equivalent to the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 08, 2014, 06:30:15 PM
Can't win with shaky defense. Augie beats NCC. 6 - 3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2014, 08:41:21 PM
Two innings in the books in the nightcap in Moline.  So far, Jeff Johnson has been perfect; Alex Silverthorne most definitely has not: four hits, two walks, three wild pitches, and an error by the pitcher have resulted in a 4-0 lead for the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2014, 09:29:47 PM
After five, IWU 5, NPU 1.  Johnson has now given up two hits; Czarnowski has a solo homer.  Silverthorne has definitely settled in, but still can't get them consistently out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2014, 10:04:35 PM
An error by Mr. Y on the last post: the solo homer was by Frericks, not Czarnowski.

The Titans get 3 more in the bottom of the sixth (including a 2-run double by Czarnowski), and now lead 8-1.  I suspect this one is effectively over.  Silverthorne got knocked out that inning; Johnson is still going.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2014, 10:18:47 PM
Rumors of NPU's demise may have been exaggerated.  Jeff Johnson yielded only two hit in the first six, but the Vikings got six (a double followed by 5 singles) in the seventh, and suddenly it is 8-5 entering the bottom of the seventh.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2014, 11:04:08 PM
Certainly not the laugher it looked like it would be after six, but IWU prevails 8-5.

Greg, Big Poppa and Chantastic apparently are indeed toxic! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2014, 08:07:26 AM


CENTRAL   

1.   Webster   31-4   34-5
2.   Buena Vista   33-7   33-7
3.   Augustana   27-10   27-10
4.   Washington U.   26-14   26-15
5.   Wartburg   25-15   25-15
6.   Illinois Wesleyan   21-14   21-16

THE NCAA is letting NPU that they are only in if they win the CCIW Pool A bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Collegebballfan on May 09, 2014, 01:04:07 PM
Longtime Central region power Aurora appears to be looking for a new Head Coach.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Cubbieboy on May 09, 2014, 01:28:40 PM
Is that the first year for the Head coach at Aurora?  Is Coach leaving or asked to leave?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 04:26:13 PM
To presumably the great surprise of Chantastic and Big Poppa, NPU is the first team eliminated from the tourney.  NCC wins 7-3.

In a few minutes, Augie and IWU do battle, with the loser playing NCC at 7 this evening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 06:00:21 PM
The Titans knock Chris Sauer out of the game in the bottom of the fifth; Darwin Townsend in to relieve.  Titans are up 4-1, with a runner on second and one out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 06:08:59 PM
Townsend got the first batter, but gave up a two-run tater to Juskiewicz; at the end of five, IWU 6, Augie 1.

If the Titans can hang on, they are very much in the driver's seat.  Either NCC or Augie would send the other packing this evening, while the winner would have to beat IWU twice tomorrow.  Of course, if Augie makes a comeback, the same is true for them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 06:20:28 PM
The west-Vikings got one back in the top of the sixth.  It look like John Munyon had dodged the bullet when Grant Stewart (who had reached third with only one out) was thrown out at the plate, but Jacques Camalick followed with a run scoring double: now 6-2.  The Titans have score in the last four innings; let's see if they can continue the streak.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 06:29:54 PM
The streak was broken: IWU went down 1,2,3 in the bottom of the sixth, despite having the 2nd,3rd,and 4th hitters up.  Augie got one run close in the top of the seventh, with Fifer driving in Van Duyne for an unearned run.  Munyon left after 6.2 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 06:51:07 PM
In the bottom of the seventh, IWU plates four (knocking out Townsend in the process), and is now up 10-3.

IF the Titans can do it again in the eighth, does anyone know if they use the mercy rule in the tourney?  (I know they don't in Appleton, since IWU was up on Cortland by either 17-2 or 17-3 after the Red Dragons batted in the 7th, yet the game went the full way.  Is this just a CCIW rule, or a d3 [or overall NCAA] rule, which gets waived under certain circumstances?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 07:27:40 PM
IWU wins, 12-4.  What a stat line for 2B Jarrod Juskiewicz: 4 4 4 4 with two HRs!  And he is only a freshman - CCIW, be afraid; be very afraid! ;).

For now, on to Augie vs. NCC.  Tomorrow, IWU will play one (or two) for the tourney title.  Since Augie is probably the only conference team with any hope of a Pool C, I hope they win this evening.  And the CCIW part of me says I hope they win the first tomorrow, then lose the second; though the IWU part of me says smash 'em in the first!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2014, 08:13:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 07:27:40 PM
IWU wins, 12-4.  What a stat line for 2B Jarrod Juskiewicz: 4 4 4 4 with two HRs!  And he is only a freshman - CCIW, be afraid; be very afraid! ;).

::)

Juskiewicz was batting .269 with a homer and 15 RBI coming into this weekend, Chuck. In CCIW play, he hit at about the league median in batting average and slugging percentage. But if you want to crown him the next Chase Utley, then by all means, go ahead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2014, 08:27:04 PM
That was a very disappointing end to the season for North Park. Aside from a pretty good trip to Bloomington two weekends ago, which turned out to be fool's gold, the Vikings really didn't look good at all over the latter portion of the season. The two one-run losses to Wheaton last weekend were an indication that things weren't really right, and that some of the issues that had plagued the Vikings in the beginning of the season -- a lack of timely hitting and an absence of effective depth in the bullpen -- were rearing their ugly heads again. Not having Nick Soldano available this weekend was bad news, but NPU didn't bow out in two games simply because the Vikings didn't have their ace. Neither of the Alexes, Silverthorne and Vannucci, pitched well this weekend, and those two guys were going to be counted upon in the CCIW tourney whether Soldano pitched or not.

The bad news is that the Vikings are going to have some serious holes to fill, both in the rotation (as graduate students Soldano and Silverthorne have used up their eligibility) and in the middle of the infield (as four-year-starter SS Eric Sousanes and three-year-starter 2B Mike Coduto graduate). The good news is that NPU doesn't really lose any front-line talent beyond that -- a couple of marginal bullpen guys, some backup infielders, etc. In other words, although the holes are serious, there aren't that many of them.

Luke Johnson's proven in the past that he can go out and get recruits who can hit the ground running in terms of playing at a high level. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's able to put together for next season.

Meanwhile, congratulations and a hearty thank-you from this Vikings fan to all ten departing seniors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 10:44:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2014, 08:13:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 07:27:40 PM
IWU wins, 12-4.  What a stat line for 2B Jarrod Juskiewicz: 4 4 4 4 with two HRs!  And he is only a freshman - CCIW, be afraid; be very afraid! ;).

::)

Juskiewicz was batting .269 with a homer and 15 RBI coming into this weekend, Chuck. In CCIW play, he hit at about the league median in batting average and slugging percentage. But if you want to crown him the next Chase Utley, then by all means, go ahead.

Yeah, I knew his season stats.  But if he can do this against Augie as a freshman, just think of the potential. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2014, 10:48:42 PM
North Central eliminates host Augie, 8-4.

NCC and IWU play one (or two) for the tourney title tomorrow.  Neither is a viable Pool C candidate (and after going 1-2, Augie probably isn't either); looks like a one-team league this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2014, 02:33:50 PM
The Cards are crushing the Titans, 10-0 after six.  Rather uncharacteristically, the Titans have committed more errors (5) than they have hits (4).

Does anyone know if the mercy rule is used in conference tournament games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2014, 02:56:51 PM
The answer is yes, as NCC mercies IWU in game one, 10-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Spence on May 10, 2014, 04:26:37 PM
Augustana was 3rd in the region, so if NCC wins then they might still be top 3. Wash U lost so they probably won't move ahead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2014, 06:40:19 PM
IWU parlayed a 6-run 4th inning into an 8-3 win, and the Pool A berth.

I'll cross my fingers than Augie can join them in the national tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 12, 2014, 01:31:36 AM
Really excited to play someone new in the Regional.  What type of team is Illinois Wesleyan?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2014, 12:27:06 AM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on May 12, 2014, 01:31:36 AM
Really excited to play someone new in the Regional.  What type of team is Illinois Wesleyan?

A very difficult question to answer, as they are so erratic.  In the CCIW tourney, for example, on the final day North Central had to beat them twice to advance.  In the first game, IWU committed three errors in the first inning, and got mercied (10-0) in 6.5 innings.  In the second game, IWU rode a 6-run 4th inning to an 8-3 win.  In the last conference game before the tourney, IWU was reduced to 'pitching by committee' - FIVE Titan pitchers combined for a 1-hit shutout. 

In short, on a good day, they can beat anyone; on a bad day they can be beat by anyone.

My HOPE is a run like 2010 (they had a losing record with one week left in the regular season; they won the national title).  On the other hand, despite a better record than in 2010, people who have seen them both live tell me they have less talent than in 2010.  My hopes are sky high; my expectations are much more modest.

Sorry I can't be more helpful; but they can pound you with 20 hits and/or shutout pitching, but can also be shutout and/or yield 15 runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2014, 08:08:29 AM
IWU always has solid pitching and good defense. Comparatively to the rest of the west regional, the Titans rank at the bottom in ERA, Batting Avg and fielding percentage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: voiceofseason on May 13, 2014, 09:57:12 AM
Like any regional, if a team gets hot, anything can happen. IWU has three pretty solid arms, but not dominating. It is what it is - lots of parity in college baseball.  I can't think the travel is going to help them any either (although I realize compared to the other side of the country, it's true of all the teams except the host).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 13, 2014, 02:02:22 PM
Quote from: voiceofseason on May 13, 2014, 09:57:12 AM
Like any regional, if a team gets hot, anything can happen. IWU has three pretty solid arms, but not dominating. It is what it is - lots of parity in college baseball.  I can't think the travel is going to help them any either (although I realize compared to the other side of the country, it's true of all the teams except the host).

Absolutely.  I think it's great to have a new team in the West Regional and anyone can win this thing.  Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 06:58:58 PM
Totally dominant pitching in the early going of IWU/Cal Lu.  After two innings, Jeff Johnson is still perfect; Jon Frericks was hit by a pitch in the first, and Adam Glogovsky led off the second with a single - the only hit by either team so far.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 07:10:26 PM
In the third, Tim Coonan got the second hit of the game, but did not score.  Jeff Johnson walked a man, so his perfect game is gone, but his no hitter (against the best hitting team in the West Regional) is still intact.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 14, 2014, 07:22:39 PM
Geez, this game is moving right along.  Cal Lu not getting many good swings on Johnson right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 07:24:59 PM
In the fourth, Jarrod Juskiewicz walked with two outs, but was gunned down trying to steal second; Jeff Johnson's no-hitter is still intact after four.

The first four innings took 50 minutes!  I'd say this will be a quick game, except the way it is going it may still be a scoreless tie in the 16th!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 07:36:55 PM
Jake Petersen had his first 1,2,3 inning.  Jeff Johnson's no-hit bid ends after 4.2, with a double by Gabe Gunter, but he got no further.  Still a double shutout.

They may have to resolve this one by declaring any team getting a man as far as third wins! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 07:57:07 PM
Jon Frericks drew another walk, but never advanced.  Jeff Johnson is definitely losing it - he gave up TWO singles, but no one made it to third, so the game continues! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 08:19:30 PM
IWU drew first blood: Adam Glogovsky led off the 7th with a double, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a sac fly by Pat Mollo.  The Titans threatened to blow the game open as Sam Santa Maria walked and Derek Idstein singled, but Tim Coonan lined out.  Cal Lu came right back with a run in the bottom of the 7th.

So, tied at 1-1 into the 16th? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 14, 2014, 08:32:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 08:19:30 PM

So, tied at 1-1 into the 16th? ;D

I might have a heart attack if they go to 16 innings!

Clutch hit by Cal Lu after the failed squeeze.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 08:42:03 PM
Alas, Jake Petersen wins the pitching duel.  Jeff Johnson was magnificent (no hitter for 4.2 innings) early, but faltered late.  Jake not only only yielded 4 hits and 1 run (so far, after 8), but also hits and scored what may turn out to be the winning run.

Cal Lu up 2-1 after 8.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 08:51:00 PM
And that's the final: Cal Lu 2, IWU 1.  An incredible pitchers' duel (though somehow I only enjoy those when my team wins - otherwise it is a dud performance for the batters! ;D).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 14, 2014, 08:52:30 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2014, 08:51:00 PM
And that's the final: Cal Lu 2, IWU 1.  An incredible pitchers' duel (though somehow I only enjoy those when my team wins - otherwise it is a dud performance for the batters! ;D).

That was one hell of a game by both pitchers.  I don't think the seeds mean much in the bracket.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2014, 04:23:34 PM
What a relief it is not facing an AA pitcher like yesterday!  The Titans had a many hits (4) and twice as many runs (2) in the first inning as they had in the entire game before.  Since then, Copeland has settled down - the Titans have three more hits, but no more runs.  Meanwhile, John Munyon has flirted with danger all game, but has so far maintained the shutout - after five innings, IWU 2, LeTourneau 0.

I'll never quite understand how he escaped the 4th unscathed: LeTourneau had runners on 2nd and third with no one out; IWU somehow turned a DP without the man on third scoring, then got the third out.  Probably partly due to the fact the runner on third was the catcher! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2014, 04:31:28 PM
LeTourneau gets one in the 6th.  After six, IWU 2, LeTourneau 1.

Munyon mostly escaped another jam: with one run already in, there were runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out; Munyon got a strike out and a fly-out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2014, 05:08:32 PM
After a scoreless 7th, LeTourneau scored two in the bottom of the 8th, and now lead 3-2. :(

IWU HAS to score in the 9th or the season is over.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2014, 05:19:11 PM
Alas, the season is over, 2-3. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gotberg on June 04, 2014, 09:09:10 PM
Mr. B.  Just read my North Parker and saw you were awarded a Fullbright and wanted to congratulate you.  I hope you have a wonderful experience:

http://www.northpark.edu/news/2014/student-spanish-professor-selected-for-2014-fulbright-awards
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 01:07:17 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on June 04, 2014, 09:09:10 PM
Mr. B.  Just read my North Parker and saw you were awarded a Fullbright and wanted to congratulate you.  I hope you have a wonderful experience:

http://www.northpark.edu/news/2014/student-spanish-professor-selected-for-2014-fulbright-awards
Thanks!  I am looking forward to the experience.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Spence on June 05, 2014, 03:54:49 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 01:07:17 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on June 04, 2014, 09:09:10 PM
Mr. B.  Just read my North Parker and saw you were awarded a Fullbright and wanted to congratulate you.  I hope you have a wonderful experience:

http://www.northpark.edu/news/2014/student-spanish-professor-selected-for-2014-fulbright-awards
Thanks!  I am looking forward to the experience.

Mind if I message you privately to ask about this process?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 09:15:29 PM
Quote from: Spence on June 05, 2014, 03:54:49 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 01:07:17 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on June 04, 2014, 09:09:10 PM
Mr. B.  Just read my North Parker and saw you were awarded a Fullbright and wanted to congratulate you.  I hope you have a wonderful experience:

http://www.northpark.edu/news/2014/student-spanish-professor-selected-for-2014-fulbright-awards
Thanks!  I am looking forward to the experience.

Mind if I message you privately to ask about this process?
Sure, but I can tell you it is a very long process.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Spence on June 05, 2014, 09:22:17 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 09:15:29 PM
Quote from: Spence on June 05, 2014, 03:54:49 PM
Quote from: mr_b on June 05, 2014, 01:07:17 PM
Quote from: Gotberg on June 04, 2014, 09:09:10 PM
Mr. B.  Just read my North Parker and saw you were awarded a Fullbright and wanted to congratulate you.  I hope you have a wonderful experience:

http://www.northpark.edu/news/2014/student-spanish-professor-selected-for-2014-fulbright-awards
Thanks!  I am looking forward to the experience.

Mind if I message you privately to ask about this process?
Sure, but I can tell you it is a very long process.

I know someone else that got one this year so yeah I know that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on November 21, 2014, 12:24:55 AM
Any thoughts on Ed Mathey coming back to run the NCC baseball program?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on November 21, 2014, 02:10:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on November 21, 2014, 12:24:55 AM
Any thoughts on Ed Mathey coming back to run the NCC baseball program?

GS - Was wondering about that. Mathey was there when I was there and I know he was highly thought of by the players. He seems to have been pretty successful at turning the NIU program around. I can't imagine NCC is paying him more than NIU was (not that money is everything). He is an NCC grad, and is from the burbs...so maybe it's just a case of wanting to come "home"?

Either way, great pickup for NCC!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on November 21, 2014, 02:32:14 PM
It sounds like the free tuition that NCC offers to the families of school staff was instrumental in his decision to leave NIU. (http://www.huskiewire.com/articles/2014/11/20/442748a5c0054e26b6a047784e45baea/index.xml)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on November 24, 2014, 09:46:54 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on November 21, 2014, 12:24:55 AM
Any thoughts on Ed Mathey coming back to run the NCC baseball program?

This is a great hire for NCC. He is a great guy (had a lot of conversations with him while playing 3b for Carthage). This will likely put NCC back on the national map and has to shake up the CCIW a bit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 08, 2015, 01:28:06 PM
Carthage released its schedule for 2015. Let's hope the Redmen (one word... my alumnus status will not let me write it any other way) can get back on track this year.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball& (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&)

Nice change of pace by heading to Kentucky (new in 2015) and Indiana for weekend games before heading to Arizona for the Spring Trip. Solid schedule as they get Spalding and Rose-Hulman included in those weekend trips. Additionally, they run into UW-Oshkosh in Indiana as well. The rest of the schedule look pretty similar to years' past. Still waiting for the AZ portion to be posted.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on January 08, 2015, 04:04:48 PM
I will be interested in seeing the result from the Wabash game. I am very familiar with that program. See they are playing Otterbein as well, at the RH invitational. Another team I know of. Good luck to the Redmen this year. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on January 15, 2015, 05:21:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 08, 2015, 01:28:06 PM
Carthage released its schedule for 2015. Let's hope the Redmen (one word... my alumnus status will not let me write it any other way) can get back on track this year.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball& (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&)

Nice change of pace by heading to Kentucky (new in 2015) and Indiana for weekend games before heading to Arizona for the Spring Trip. Solid schedule as they get Spalding and Rose-Hulman included in those weekend trips. Additionally, they run into UW-Oshkosh in Indiana as well. The rest of the schedule look pretty similar to years' past. Still waiting for the AZ portion to be posted.

Any new faces that will make an impact this season?  What have you heard Poppa.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2015, 10:59:07 AM
Carthage finally has their Spring Trip schedule posted...

Gustavus
Hamline (DH)- a tough one of me as I have three former players of mine on Hamline's roster.
Luther
Middlebury
Carleton
Oberlin
Oberlin (back to back days with a single game)

Let's hope my Redmen can get back on track this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2015, 09:51:41 AM
Who is the first CCIW team to get a game in for 2015?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on February 11, 2015, 11:36:48 AM
It doesn't look like the schedules have been loaded into the CCIW site yet, although the least interesting preseason poll imaginable has been released.

http://cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx

Carbon copy of last year's standings.

Wheaton is scheduled to play Rhodes College a week from Friday on Feb. 20th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2015, 11:43:40 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 11, 2015, 11:36:48 AM


Wheaton is scheduled to play Rhodes College a week from Friday on Feb. 20th.

Thanks. I'd assume they open the season for the conference teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 11, 2015, 12:10:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2015, 11:43:40 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on February 11, 2015, 11:36:48 AM


Wheaton is scheduled to play Rhodes College a week from Friday on Feb. 20th.

Thanks. I'd assume they open the season for the conference teams.
That could be the first CCIW team in action this season.  North Park travels to Georgia to play Berry on the 21st-22nd.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2015, 12:44:11 PM
Anybody have any predictions for the CCIW standings this year?

1. North Park
2. IWU
3. Augustana
4. Carthage
5. North Central
6. Wheaton
7. Elmhurst
8. Millikin

Not sure if y'all agree or not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2015, 05:50:26 PM
North Park opened its season with a doubleheader split today at Berry. NPU lost the opener, 11-3, and then took the nightcap, 6-5.

It was 28 degrees and snowing pretty heavily throughout the second game, which seemed to defeat the purpose of traveling all that way to play baseball in a more salubrious climate. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: backbackheyhey on February 20, 2015, 09:27:31 PM
Quote from: mwunder on January 15, 2015, 05:21:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 08, 2015, 01:28:06 PM
Carthage released its schedule for 2015. Let's hope the Redmen (one word... my alumnus status will not let me write it any other way) can get back on track this year.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball& (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&)

Nice change of pace by heading to Kentucky (new in 2015) and Indiana for weekend games before heading to Arizona for the Spring Trip. Solid schedule as they get Spalding and Rose-Hulman included in those weekend trips. Additionally, they run into UW-Oshkosh in Indiana as well. The rest of the schedule look pretty similar to years' past. Still waiting for the AZ portion to be posted.

Any new faces that will make an impact this season?  What have you heard Poppa.

From what I hear, Redmen will start two all-conference level seniors at short and catcher along with 5-6 sophomores.  Lots of good young players but unproven at this level. Their # 1 or 2 starter returns from last year with 3-4 promising JC transfers on the mound and and a handful of other promising freshmen and sophomores- again, unproven at this level. I am cautiously optimistic that they can make a good run, especially if the pitching steps up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 23, 2015, 08:21:09 AM
Quote from: backbackheyhey on February 20, 2015, 09:27:31 PM
Quote from: mwunder on January 15, 2015, 05:21:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 08, 2015, 01:28:06 PM
Carthage released its schedule for 2015. Let's hope the Redmen (one word... my alumnus status will not let me write it any other way) can get back on track this year.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball& (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&)

Nice change of pace by heading to Kentucky (new in 2015) and Indiana for weekend games before heading to Arizona for the Spring Trip. Solid schedule as they get Spalding and Rose-Hulman included in those weekend trips. Additionally, they run into UW-Oshkosh in Indiana as well. The rest of the schedule look pretty similar to years' past. Still waiting for the AZ portion to be posted.

Any new faces that will make an impact this season?  What have you heard Poppa.

From what I hear, Redmen will start two all-conference level seniors at short and catcher along with 5-6 sophomores.  Lots of good young players but unproven at this level. Their # 1 or 2 starter returns from last year with 3-4 promising JC transfers on the mound and and a handful of other promising freshmen and sophomores- again, unproven at this level. I am cautiously optimistic that they can make a good run, especially if the pitching steps up.

Carthage has not gone the JC-transfer route too often in the past, but when they do, it has usually paid big dividends. Augie must have realized they needed to fill holes NOW and was not willing to wait for development of younger players. Kudos to the staff for changing tactics after a few rough seasons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 27, 2015, 02:50:34 PM
 http://www.cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx (http://www.cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx)

My Redmen are projected 6th. I think it's safe to say that Carthage has not had a bad run like this since Augie Schmidt took over the program... there was a time when being voted #6 in the country was cause for concern, now they struggle to gain a Top 5 rank in the conference. Ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2015, 04:14:36 PM
Carthage knocks off Oshkosh 4-1 in game one of today's DH. Five years ago this game would have drawn tons of national interest... But not today. Game two just getting underway in Kenosha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2015, 04:29:52 PM
NPU picked up its second shutout down in Ft. Myers today, as Kenny Blanchard followed in the footsteps of last week's CCIW Pitcher of the Week Alex Vannucci by tossing eight goose eggs in today's 9-0 NPU win over Minnesota-Morris. Blanchard scattered four hits and struck out seven, and did not allow a walk or a HBP before freshman hurler Brett Kessinger came on to finish up with a 1-2-3 ninth.

North Park (5-3) is currently playing the final game of the spring Florida trip, as the Vikings are in the midst of a contest against Montclair State in Port Charlotte.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 15, 2015, 11:07:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 14, 2015, 04:14:36 PM
Carthage knocks off Oshkosh 4-1 in game one of today's DH. Five years ago this game would have drawn tons of national interest... But not today. Game two just getting underway in Kenosha.
Probably closer to ten years, but your point remains the same!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 17, 2015, 02:06:47 PM
Carthage swept UW-O in a three-game series over the weekend. Nice start for the Redmen. Let's hope it continues in Arizona next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2015, 01:02:59 PM
Redmend pound Gustavus Adolphus 17-7... move to 4-0 on season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2015, 04:19:43 PM
Carthage split with Hamline yesterday and beat Luther this morning in Arizona. Red men move to 61- on the season. Off the a nice start but I am still not sold on this squad.

By the way, am I the ONLY poster on this board lately?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 21, 2015, 08:57:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 21, 2015, 04:19:43 PM
Carthage split with Hamline yesterday and beat Luther this morning in Arizona. Red men move to 61- on the season. Off the a nice start but I am still not sold on this squad.

By the way, am I the ONLY poster on this board lately?

Most of us haven't switched gears from basketball to baseball until just now.  After all, the snow is not even completely gone from some of the fields! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2015, 09:08:18 AM
NPU swept a doubleheader with Cornell yesterday, 5-1 and 4-3, raising North Park's record on the year to 9-4. The Vikings have another twinbill today, facing Cornell again and then Dominican at Holmgren Athletic Complex, with Cornell and Dominican facing off in a neutral game that'll be sandwiched by the two NPU games.

Like BP, I'm not entirely sold on my alma mater's team, either. The pitching's been solid, although it's had some hiccups as well. The offense doesn't have as much pop as it did last season, even though the Vikings are as effective as always at getting on base and maximizing their OBP with aggressive baserunning. The defense has me worried; NPU's infield has not looked steady at all, especially up the middle.

Then again, NPU's been so solid across the board over the past several seasons that some of my complaining is simply an outgrowth of the heightened expectations that I've come to have for the team. Which is a good thing, I suppose.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2015, 02:04:49 PM
Per the Carthage live stats, Redmen currently up 8-0 on Middlebury in 6th inning in Arizona today. It appears the Redmen have figured a few things out after the last few seasons of disappointment. I am guessing the others in the CCIW may see the return of Carthage with a bit of nervousness. We'll see how they finish up this trip and open CCIW play this weekend.

I'll assume this one is over and the Redmen will move to 7-1.

Huge series between NPU and Carthage to open the CCIW on Saturday. Time to find out if the Redmen are for real. NPU is a team that is built to beat Carthage. They run and run and run. And Carthage has struggled to throw runners out to this point. Carthage's only chance is to keep the Vikes off the bags.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 23, 2015, 10:58:00 AM
It appears that this Carthage team has made some adjustments at the plate or maybe the pitching in AZ this season is just flat out bad.

Carthage is hitting .396 as a team through 8 games.  Led by Zach Wade at a whopping .548 and Nick Schmidlkofer at .455, they already have 22 doubles and 5 HRs.  These numbers look more like the late 90's teams than anything else.  For those fans of the Red and Black, let's hope this team keeps their hitting shoes on all season.

They will need to do that to compete with the arms in the CCIW.  They will also have to clean up the defense.  14 errors and 12 stolen bases allowed so far this season.  It's still early, so let's hope those numbers drop as more games get played.

Like what I'm seeing out of the 2015 team so far.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2015, 12:13:30 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 23, 2015, 10:58:00 AM
It appears that this Carthage team has made some adjustments at the plate or maybe the pitching in AZ this season is just flat out bad.

Carthage is hitting .396 as a team through 8 games.  Led by Zach Wade at a whopping .548 and Nick Schmidlkofer at .455, they already have 22 doubles and 5 HRs.  These numbers look more like the late 90's teams than anything else.  For those fans of the Red and Black, let's hope this team keeps their hitting shoes on all season.

They will need to do that to compete with the arms in the CCIW.  They will also have to clean up the defense.  14 errors and 12 stolen bases allowed so far this season.  It's still early, so let's hope those numbers drop as more games get played.

Like what I'm seeing out of the 2015 team so far.

I am struggling to determine if it is weak pitching they are facing or if they are finally hitting again after a few rough years. There is a good chance they could enter Saturday's CCIW opener at 10-1. Their pitching still scares me a lot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2015, 10:58:07 AM
As I looked through the Carthage game notes today, I noticed that Carthage's only loss (Hamline) was to one of my former high school players on the mound, Nicho Roessler. If we had to lose one, it might as well have been to someone I helped shape.

Redmen back at it today with a single game vs Oberlin followed by another single with Oberlin tomorrow morning before heading home to prep for NPU on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2015, 02:56:31 PM
Carthage trailing Oberlin 6-2 in the bottom of the 3rd. Redmen starter, Kyle Cibrario (not sure if any relation to former Redmen player and coach Robb Cibrario) is getting hit hard at this point giving up 6 hits including a 2B and a HR.

Let's hope the bats can pick it up and give Carthage a chance to win this one with the back of their rotation today as the top arms are resting for CCIW play this weekend.

EDIT: and just like that Carthage answers with a pair of runs in the 3rd... 6-4, runners on and still no outs.

2nd EDIT: Carthage answers again the 4th knotting it up at 6s. This sure feels like the Redmen of old!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 24, 2015, 04:43:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 24, 2015, 02:56:31 PM
Carthage trailing Oberlin 6-2 in the bottom of the 3rd. Redmen starter, Kyle Cibrario (not sure if any relation to former Redmen player and coach Robb Cibrario) is getting hit hard at this point giving up 6 hits including a 2B and a HR.

Let's hope the bats can pick it up and give Carthage a chance to win this one with the back of their rotation today as the top arms are resting for CCIW play this weekend.

EDIT: and just like that Carthage answers with a pair of runs in the 3rd... 6-4, runners on and still no outs.

2nd EDIT: Carthage answers again the 4th knotting it up at 6s. This sure feels like the Redmen of old!

Carthage hits a 2 run HR in the 7th and another 2 run HR in the 8th to take an 11-7 lead into the 9th.  Wild top of the 9th for Oberlin....K, HBP, Single, K, HBP, bases clearing double to make it 10-11.  Ground out to 2nd to end the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 25, 2015, 04:22:38 PM
Carthage finished their spring trip with a 9-2 mark after pissing one away today against Oberlin by a final score of 7-6.

The Red Men loaded the bases in the first with no outs and came up with 1.  In the second they loaded the bases with 1 out and got a runner picked off and a K to end that inning with nothing to show for it.  In the 3rd they scored 3 on 4 hits.  The 4th started out with a double, but I'm assuming a great play by the CF erased that in a DP.  In the 5th, 1st and 3rd with no outs only led to one run.  6ht and 7th were quiet.  In the 8th, they manufactured a run with two outs and no one on.  18 hits for the boys from Kenosha, but not a lot of them were timely.

The bottom of the 9th was again an adventure as Oberlin scored 4 to win in walk-off fashion.  K, single, doulbe, walk to load 'em up, walk in a run,  new pitcher, K, pinch hitter, 2 run single to tie it, single to win it.

4 errors, 2HBP, and 6 walks...need to clean that up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 25, 2015, 05:09:00 PM
Carthage is hitting a ton right now, but at the end of the day, this game is all about pitching and defense. The Redmen appear to struggle with BOTH of those right now.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2015, 01:57:54 PM
My CCIW predictions:

Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Millikin (Miilkin's smoke and mirrors comes to an end)
IWU sweeps Elmhurst (Titans overpower Bluejays)
Augustana takes 2 of 3 from North Central (Welcome back, Ed Mathey)
NPU takes 2 of 3 from Carthage (Carthage defense needs to be better to stop NPU)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 27, 2015, 04:25:42 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2015, 01:57:54 PM
My CCIW predictions:

Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Millikin (Miilkin's smoke and mirrors comes to an end)
IWU sweeps Elmhurst (Titans overpower Bluejays)
Augustana takes 2 of 3 from North Central (Welcome back, Ed Mathey)
NPU takes 2 of 3 from Carthage (Carthage defense needs to be better to stop NPU)
The Carthage-North Park game has been rescheduled due to the snowfall over night in Kenosha.  As it stands right now, North Park will host Carthage for a single game at 10.30 AM on Saturday, and the Vikings travel to Kenosha for a twinbill on Sunday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on March 28, 2015, 04:30:57 PM
Augie takes 1st game of the DH with NCC, 13-10.  Augie was down10-6 heading in to the ninth inning and scored 7 to get the win. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2015, 09:42:04 AM
Carthage 2-1 over NPU yesterday. DH today in Kenosha. 2 of 3 would be a solid start for Carthage. 3 of 3 would put them back on the national map.

Biggest stat of the day. No errors for Carthage. Cannot afford to give NPU free base runners. Though the walls were a bit high. Dodged a bullet yesterday.

Currently in a rain delay.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2015, 04:48:24 PM
That was a total pull-your-hair-out-by-the-roots performance by NPU bats on Saturday. Thirteen runners left on base? Ridiculous.

NPU's inability to hit in the clutch or get anything going on the bases really ruined a strong effort on the mound by Jason Meger. The Vikings' bats need to get in gear.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 30, 2015, 09:43:46 PM
Looks like Carthage took game #2 tonight and is up in the 8th in game #3.  Couple of errors and a total of 6 walks so far for the Red Men staff.  Alex Vannucci got slapped around pretty good through 5 and a third, giving up 13 hits, but only 2 for extra bases.

Tough back to back double header with tonight's game going until at least 9pm and then having to go to Wheaton tomorrow for another one on a quick turnaround.  Sleep quick boys.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2015, 11:00:56 PM
Love the Carthage bats but their free bases allowed scares me. Feel like we've been dodging bullets for most of the spring.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 06:11:51 PM
If things don't change, expect a truly scathing report from Greg later today.  After 4.5 innings, IWU 4 (2 hits, 3 unearned runs), NPU 0 (5 hits, 4 errors).  Looks like a whole lot of foot-shooting going on. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2015, 07:15:16 PM
Carthage over Wheaton 4-3 in ten innings in game 1. Carthage moves to 4-0 in CCIW play and 14-2 overall.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 08:20:29 PM
IWU won the first game over NPU, 10-2 (no box score yet).

In the top of the first, IWU up 3-0, but at least it was a triple, walk, and HR.  No errors! ::)

The WAY-TOO-EARLY prognostication for the title is Carthage vs. IWU vs. Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 31, 2015, 10:11:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 08:20:29 PM
IWU won the first game over NPU, 10-2 (no box score yet).

In the top of the first, IWU up 3-0, but at least it was a triple, walk, and HR.  No errors! ::)

The WAY-TOO-EARLY prognostication for the title is Carthage vs. IWU vs. Augie.
Does the CCIW do a preseason Coaches/SID poll?

If so, what were the predictions for this season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2015, 10:42:50 PM
CCIW preseason poll:

http://cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 11:22:22 PM
IWU swept the DH against NPU, 10-2 and 12-5.  I haven't yet found a box score for either game, but it appears that IWU hit like crazy in the second game (17, I think), though NPU erred like crazy in both games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2015, 12:13:16 AM
The Vikings are in freefall. They've now lost six in a row -- NPU's longest losing streak in seven years -- and have dropped seven of their last eight. They're playing egregiously bad baseball in just about every phase of the game. The hitting has been terrible (the team batting average has sunk forty points in the past week and a half); the starting pitching has been inconsistent; the bullpen has been atrocious; the baserunning has been an endless parade of mistakes; and the fielding has looked like something out of Little League.

The Vikings just plain stink right now, and it's quite a chore for me to try to scrape up something positive to say about them on the air. This is nowhere near the most talented NPU team Luke Johnson's ever fielded, but it's not 10-11, 0-5, find-a-million-ways-to-lose bad, either. I don't know what it's going to take for them to snap out of this funk that they're in, but if they don't sniff the smelling salts soon and revive themselves, the season's going to pass them by and they'll find themselves down there somewhere in Millikin country in the final standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on April 01, 2015, 08:32:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 31, 2015, 10:42:50 PM
CCIW preseason poll:

http://cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx
Thanks BP!!!!

When I mentioned to co-worker Carthage was off to a good start, including three game sweep of North Park, his response was 'Big Deal...  We always kicked their arse when I played." 

Told him they were better now, but was curious where they fell in preseason rankings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2015, 09:59:01 AM
Cubs- clearly he didn't play when I played. No one "kicked out arses." (Except UW-Oshkosh, but I  not ready to talk about that yet... It's only been 20 years).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 01, 2015, 11:29:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 08:20:29 PM
The WAY-TOO-EARLY prognostication for the title is Carthage vs. IWU vs. Augie.

Carthage has the toughest road to make this happen.  Their CCIW schedule has them on the road for three game series with both of the above.  Always tougher to win on the road.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on April 01, 2015, 11:43:25 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2015, 09:59:01 AM
Cubs- clearly he didn't play when I played. No one "kicked out arses." (Except UW-Oshkosh, but I  not ready to talk about that yet... It's only been 20 years).
Your career was ending, just as his was starting.....

BTW-You misread my post....  He meant it as "big deal, we always beat North Park."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2015, 12:03:47 AM
Quote from: cubs on April 01, 2015, 08:32:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 31, 2015, 10:42:50 PM
CCIW preseason poll:

http://cciw.org/news/2015/2/11/BB_0211150259.aspx
Thanks BP!!!!

When I mentioned to co-worker Carthage was off to a good start, including three game sweep of North Park, his response was 'Big Deal...  We always kicked their arse when I played." 

Told him they were better now, but was curious where they fell in preseason rankings.

I'm always baffled when somebody who hasn't followed D3 ball in the long interval (15 years, in your friend's case) since he graduated speaks about a program as though nothing could've possibly changed since he donned a cap and gown.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 01:05:00 PM
BIG series for Carthage as they head to Augustana for three games starting today. Time to find out if the Redmen are for real. Taking 2 of 3 would be put Carthage in control of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 04:24:52 PM
Redmen up 5-3 on Augustan in 9th... Trying to hang on to a BIG W. Two men on for the Vikings.

Update: Now 5-4 w 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd... why do I watch the live stats... they are killing me!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 03, 2015, 04:28:55 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 04:24:52 PM
Redmen up 5-3 on Augustan in 9th... Trying to hang on to a BIG W. Two men on for the Vikings.

Update: Now 5-4 w 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd... why do I watch the live stats... they are killing me!


You and me both!  Fly ball, CF....game over.  5-4 win for the boys from Kenosha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 04:31:59 PM
Carthage hangs on to knock off Augustana 5-4 on the road in game one of today's DH. Redmen move to 15-2 on the season and have won their 5th game since Monday.

Redmen should be knocking on the door of the Top 25 (maybe even Top 20?) with one more win this weekend in the Augustana series. Redmen now 6-0 in CCIW play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 04:32:59 PM
mwunder- I knew you'd be right there with me on live-stats today!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2015, 07:19:07 PM
With IWU already up 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Titans loaded the bases with no outs.  A DP and a K limited the damage, but the DP brought in a run and a wild pitch during the K brought in another - IWU leads NCC 6-2 after 5.  (Just for the record, though I am hesitant to second guess the scorer based on an internet feed, the wild pitch looked to me like a passed ball. ;))

With John Munyon on the mound, I feel pretty confident.

Tomorrow is a DH in Naperville.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2015, 07:46:42 PM
Munyon left after 7; Acklin held them scoreless in the 8th.  After 7.5, IWU 7, NCC 2.

Just noticed that an NCC player is Sam Carius, from Naperville.  Couldn't help wondering, is he the son (or, more likely, grandson) of the great track and cross-country coach, Al Carius?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2015, 08:13:14 PM
Final from Bloomington: Titans 8, Cardinals 2.

BigPoppa - no coverage of game two? :o  Carthage is now 6-1; IWU is now 6-0! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2015, 08:28:57 PM
Just saw the game two score... Carthage falls to 6-1 in CCIW with a 7-4 loss at Augie. Five more errors in game two for the Redmen... Hard to believe they committed eight errors on the day and managed a spilt. Pitching must be doing a heckuva job.

Gotta clean up the D or it could be a long spring trying to hold on in close games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 04, 2015, 02:39:34 PM
Augustana up 5-4 on Carthage in 6th. Red men's 7th game since Monday and it appears it is catching up to them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 04, 2015, 03:08:12 PM
IWU is likely to fall to 6-1, as they trail NCC by that very score in the bottom of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 04, 2015, 06:39:44 PM
 Is that right? IWU got hammered in both games in Naperville?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 04, 2015, 07:24:41 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 04, 2015, 06:39:44 PM
Is that right? IWU got hammered in both games in Naperville?

Yes, alas - neither the pitchers or the hitters made it on to the bus today. ::)

Augie, Carthage, and IWU are now all at 6-2, and NCC just a game back at 5-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2015, 09:19:24 PM
An 8-run 4th inning allowed IWU to cruise to a 12-3 win over Knox.  They are now 15-6 overall.  Since Knox is only 6-11, the win doesn't do much for any Pool C hopes, but a loss would have been very, very bad.

Tomorrow the Titans host NPU for a single game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2015, 07:50:43 PM
IWU topped NPU, 4-1, in Bloomington today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 11, 2015, 05:41:20 PM
 Why is it that former players don't stay and help the schools they graduate from? I see Brian Kolb with North Park and Zach Deutscher with North Central. Just to name a couple.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2015, 08:35:24 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 11, 2015, 05:41:20 PM
Why is it that former players don't stay and help the schools they graduate from? I see Brian Kolb with North Park and Zach Deutscher with North Central. Just to name a couple.

There wasn't really a place for Zach on the NPU coaching staff. His successor at catcher for the Vikings, Tony Sanchez, is NPU's catching coach.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 11, 2015, 08:50:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2015, 08:35:24 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 11, 2015, 05:41:20 PM
Why is it that former players don't stay and help the schools they graduate from? I see Brian Kolb with North Park and Zach Deutscher with North Central. Just to name a couple.

There wasn't really a place for Zach on the NPU coaching staff. His successor at catcher for the Vikings, Tony Sanchez, is NPU's catching coach.
Actually several Vikings have served in coaching capacities dating back to Luke Johnson's early years on the North Side.  Jeff Hanson was an assistant pitching coach, Joel Bonnett was a grad assistant (he's now a pitching coach at the D2 level), Deutscher helped out one year as a catching coach, and now Sanchez.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2015, 09:34:10 PM
If Carthage expects to stay in the race, they need to NOT split w Elmhurst. Terrible split today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2015, 10:16:29 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 11, 2015, 08:50:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2015, 08:35:24 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 11, 2015, 05:41:20 PM
Why is it that former players don't stay and help the schools they graduate from? I see Brian Kolb with North Park and Zach Deutscher with North Central. Just to name a couple.

There wasn't really a place for Zach on the NPU coaching staff. His successor at catcher for the Vikings, Tony Sanchez, is NPU's catching coach.
Actually several Vikings have served in coaching capacities dating back to Luke Johnson's early years on the North Side.  Jeff Hanson was an assistant pitching coach, Joel Bonnett was a grad assistant (he's now a pitching coach at the D2 level), Deutscher helped out one year as a catching coach, and now Sanchez.

Right. But what I meant was that the slot that Zach fills for NCC (including the fact that he, like Tony, is a GA, which I meant to mention in the first post but didn't ;-) ) had already been filled at NPU by Tony.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 13, 2015, 10:35:38 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2015, 09:34:10 PM
If Carthage expects to stay in the race, they need to NOT split w Elmhurst. Terrible split today.

Wow...Augie loses all three to NP and IWU fails to sweep Milikin.  That'll help keep 'em in the race!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2015, 02:01:57 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 13, 2015, 10:35:38 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 11, 2015, 09:34:10 PM
If Carthage expects to stay in the race, they need to NOT split w Elmhurst. Terrible split today.

Wow...Augie loses all three to NP and IWU fails to sweep Milikin.  That'll help keep 'em in the race!

Yeah, the Titans really missed a golden opportunity to take command of the conference race.  At home on Saturday, they swept a DH over Millikin by a combined 20-1; on Sunday they lost in Decatur in the bottom of the ninth (and why the heck wasn't Truesdale, who has a 0.00 ERA in conference games, on the mound?!).  IWU is setting a disheartening pattern of NOT being 'road warriors' - in CCIW play they are 7-0 in Bloomington, 2-3 on the road (and overall, 10-1 at home, 4-6 on the road).  I'm a bit concerned about this weekend's showdown with Augie, as 2 of the 3 games are in Rock Island.  (I have no clue what happened to Augie against NPU this past weekend, but they are too solid a team to just roll over.)  On the other hand, for the other key showdown remaining, all three games against Carthage are at Horenberger Field.  (BTW, has that always been the case as a concession to distance, that all three games are either in B'town or Kenosha, and just alternate years, or is there a problem with Carthage's field that weekend?  And if it is due to distance, I wonder if the same situation will apply for Carroll once they rejoin the conference?)

If IWU can't shake their road woes, winning the regular season (so as to host the tourney) becomes far more important than usual, when the key is making the tourney field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 13, 2015, 05:04:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2015, 02:01:57 PM
(BTW, has that always been the case as a concession to distance, that all three games are either in B'town or Kenosha, and just alternate years, or is there a problem with Carthage's field that weekend?  And if it is due to distance, I wonder if the same situation will apply for Carroll once they rejoin the conference?)

Can't answer the second part of that question, but I can tell you that both Augie and IWU traveled to Kenosha for all three games last season, and, every other year for a long ways back.  So, alternate years due to distance would be my guess.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2015, 05:28:34 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 13, 2015, 05:04:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2015, 02:01:57 PM
(BTW, has that always been the case as a concession to distance, that all three games are either in B'town or Kenosha, and just alternate years, or is there a problem with Carthage's field that weekend?  And if it is due to distance, I wonder if the same situation will apply for Carroll once they rejoin the conference?)

Can't answer the second part of that question, but I can tell you that both Augie and IWU traveled to Kenosha for all three games last season, and, every other year for a long ways back.  So, alternate years due to distance would be my guess.

Thanks.  I just checked the CCIW master schedule and see that Carthage and Millikin also do it that way.  I had just never noticed that before - probably because I can't ever recall a season where the Titans were so drastically different between home and away. :P  Since the conference sets the schedule, I would imagine they will also do Carroll the same way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 13, 2015, 10:53:25 PM
Does Carroll join next year?

Gonna be a big jump for them coming from the MWC where they struggled to compete... Not going to be easier in the CCIW. Can we assume there will be one team with a CCIW bye weekend once Carroll joins?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2015, 11:16:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2015, 10:53:25 PM
Does Carroll join next year?

Gonna be a big jump for them coming from the MWC where they struggled to compete... Not going to be easier in the CCIW. Can we assume there will be one team with a CCIW bye weekend once Carroll joins?

Not 'til 2016-17 if I recall correctly.

Scheduling is always a bit of a mess with an odd number of teams.  I suppose there would have to be one school with a bye weekend.  With spring weather, I'd imagine there will have to be more midweek conference games to get a whole season in - up to now those have usually just been for weather make-ups, but some will probably now have to be scheduled from the get-go.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2015, 10:31:33 AM
I am guessing that many of the mid-week single games will become DHs. Can't really start any earlier as the weather makes it impossible.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2015, 03:09:23 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 13, 2015, 10:53:25 PM
Does Carroll join next year?

Gonna be a big jump for them coming from the MWC where they struggled to compete... Not going to be easier in the CCIW. Can we assume there will be one team with a CCIW bye weekend once Carroll joins?

That would seem to be a strong possibility, but we don't know that yet. What we do know is that Augie coach Greg Wallace will no longer be the schedulemaker for the league.

I'd like to see the league office take over the task, examine the past schedules of other nine-team D3 leagues, and adopt a fair, consistent CCIW scheduling policy that includes ongoing rotation from year to year based upon those proven models once Carroll begins league play the school year after next.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on April 14, 2015, 04:30:30 PM
Agree with CCIW league office taking over scheduling duties, with no disrespect to effort of Coach Wallace. The league already coordinates the officials, the schools fund the league and the scheduling just makes good sense (cents).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 14, 2015, 05:03:58 PM
Not sure what's up with the Carthage season stats, but they haven't been updated since after the 8th game of the season.  Steve M is usually all over this.  Wunder, yes pun intended, what's going on in K-Town.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on April 14, 2015, 08:26:03 PM
Why wouldn't they look for another team to join to make it more uniform?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 14, 2015, 10:34:40 PM
Carthage beats Rockford today 13-6 to move to 18-6 overall.  17 hits for Carthage in this one.  The game was 10-0 going into the 7th but since the coaches didn't agree on a mercy rule before the game, they played it out.  It did give Jared Helmich one more AB to extend his hitting streak to 24 games, which he did.  3rd longest streak in Carthage history behind Glenn Braun (26) and Justin Hallock (25).  The Red Men play U of Chicago tomorrow in Kenosha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2015, 10:43:24 PM
Quote from: jester13 on April 14, 2015, 08:26:03 PM
Why wouldn't they look for another team to join to make it more uniform?

Do you mean "team" as in "add another baseball program to what will be the nine in the CCIW in order to make it an even ten baseball programs?", or do you mean member, as in ten full-member institutions of higher learning that each have a full-sized athletic department? Because they're not the same thing. F'rinstance, the CCIW added a "team" (technically called an associate member) in both men's and women's swimming, Rose-Hulman, in order to reach the D3 minimum standard for the league to qualify for an automatic berth to the national meets of those two sports. Likewise, the league has added two "teams" apiece, Carroll (which is not yet a full member school of the CCIW) and Dubuque, for men's and women's lacrosse. Rose-Hulman, Carroll, and Dubuque aren't full CCIW members. All of the rest of Rose-Hulman's sports are played within the rubric of the HCAC, of which RHIT is a full member, and likewise Carroll within the MWC and Dubuque within the IIAC.

Going on the perhaps-wrong assumption that you meant "member" instead of "team", the answer is that the CCIW really wasn't looking to expand when the eight CCIW presidents decided to re-admit Carroll to the league. From what I understand, it was more a matter of Carroll applying and the presidents then saying, "Well, Carroll used to be a member of our league, and it's still a good fit for us, so ... why not?"

Now, you and I and perhaps a whole bunch of us who aren't school presidents and who are looking at this from a pragmatic, nuts-and-bolts point of view that involves things such as schedule-making and travel may look at the addition of Carroll and see it as something of a net minus. Nine really does seem like a backward step from eight, especially when we're talking about a school that's located well north of even the northernmost CCIW school and quite a distance altogether from the CCIW's three downstate (or cross-state, if you want to be technical about Augie) schools.

But I don't get the impression that, having arguably created a problem where none previously existed, the presidents feel motivated (or obligated) to correct it by adding a tenth school. They've explicitly said that further expansion is not an immediate agenda item for the league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2015, 11:05:34 PM
Even if they DID want a tenth member, I have no idea where they'd turn. MWC teams seem like a great fit for that conference(and balanced with Carroll leaving). The NathCon schools all appear to be a nice fit for that league as well... Thought I COULD see Aurora, Concordia-Chicago, or Illinois Benedictine being good baseball fits in the CCIW, though not sure about other sports. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 14, 2015, 11:28:38 PM
Benedictine (no "Illinois" in the name since 1996, BP) will never be asked to join the CCIW. North Central would never allow its neighbor down the street to join the league, and there are other CCIW members who are opposed to a Catholic school joining the league, since it would then presumably have a leg up on recruiting Chicago Catholic League and East Suburban Catholic Conference student-athletes. It's a shame, in a sense, because in terms of facilities and overall competitiveness Benedictine is as close as the NACC can muster to having a CCIW-level athletic department. The school's endowment size, however, is tiny when compared to CCIW schools (only $12m or thereabouts).

Concordia (IL) really isn't up to snuff with the CCIW in any sport besides baseball, and it has an even smaller endowment than does BU. The Cougars would not be a good fit for the CCIW at all. Aurora would be marginally better, but really not a good fit, either. The best NACC match for CCIW membership besides Benedictine in terms of facilities and overall competitiveness would be Concordia (WI), and it's not as though CUW would be an ideal member, either -- although it would make a good travel partner with Carroll.

There's been talk of St. Norbert being interested, but that's really not a front-burner thing. I don't see that happening.

The best fit among current D3 members would most likely be DePauw or Rose-Hulman, but those schools are well off the beaten path as far as CCIW geography goes. If Lake Forest ever expressed any interest in rejoining the CCIW it'd make an intriguing choice (excellent location, impeccable academic stature, strong endowment), but I've never heard of there being any interest at LFC in going down that road -- and in terms of competitiveness, LFC would be an even weaker addition than Carroll (although the Foresters have a heckuva handball team ;)).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 14, 2015, 11:50:14 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 14, 2015, 11:05:34 PM
Even if they DID want a tenth member, I have no idea where they'd turn. MWC teams seem like a great fit for that conference(and balanced with Carroll leaving). The NathCon schools all appear to be a nice fit for that league as well... Thought I COULD see Aurora, Concordia-Chicago, or Illinois Benedictine being good baseball fits in the CCIW, though not sure about other sports.

Other sports - we use them for OOC target practice! ;D  While I have nothing against Carroll, I thought (and have often expressed) that EIGHT is the perfect size for a conference.  Just about the right balance of conference and non-conference games, a double-round robin in basketball (and full round-robin in fball, while still having 3 OOC games), and the opportunity for a 'killer' SOS - and no necessity for 'bye' weeks!

So, who should we kick out? :o  For lack of competitiveness in many sports, we could say NPU - but Greg would kick my ass, and there would go 83% of our national titles in men's basketball. ::)  OK, NPU stays.  IF we were to kick out anyone, I would say it is Millikin.  They are an outlier geographically (a whole 30+ miles south of IWU); and in the 'key' sports have lately been uncompetitive.  On the other hand, they do have 1/3 of the national titles in women's basketball for the conference.  While I doubt it is true today, in my day Millikin was the most bitter rival of the Titans (before my senior year, they had Jesse Price, arguably the best player in CCIW basketball history - IWU/Millikin games were BEYOND sell-outs at either location.)  While Millikin would be a geographical fit for the SLIAC (and would be an immediate title contender in most sports), I am in no way suggesting they should go that route.

For better or for worse, I guess we are a nine team conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2015, 12:16:15 AM
"Kick out"? Methinks you misunderstand the purpose of the league, Chuck. It's not at all about intra-league competitiveness, although coaches and athletic directors certainly want every member of the league to hold up their end of the bargain. The purpose of this league -- and pretty much every other league in D3 of which I am aware -- is to bring together like-minded and similarly-profiled institutions for the sake of athletic competition. While the member schools of this league certainly have their distinctives that distinguish them from each other, the general idea is that: a) the league affords student-athletes the opportunities to compete with similar student-athletes in similar environments; and b) the member schools are simpatico on the larger issues regarding intercollegiate athletics.

Yes, Wheaton was asked to leave at one point, but let's be serious -- that was during the Eisenhower Administration, over half a century ago, and the circumstances surrounding the status of the league then were light-years apart from what they are now.

Look at it this way: Has the SCIAC ever tried to kick out Caltech? Heck, when Macalester, whose football futility in the MIAC was a match for NPU's in the CCIW, opted out of that league for football purposes, there was a tremendous hue-and-cry among the other MIAC schools regarding their being abandoned by the Scots.

Nobody's going to be asked to leave the CCIW, and nobody's going anywhere.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2015, 10:40:24 AM
I have always thought that Millikin would be a great fit for the SLIAC.

Adding St. Norbert's (Green Bay) would provide for a brutal road trip for IWU, Millikin and Augustana... looking at 6-7 hours each way. I know that many Texas schools have 10-12 hour trips one-way, but that is because there are few others D3 programs in those regions. Taking SNC would be interesting if only having to bypass a lot of other schools on the ride (almost the entire MWC North as well as much of the NAAC).

I hate unbalanced conferences for that reason alone... open weekend scheduling issues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 10:45:47 AM
Greg, I thought it was pretty clear that I wasn't serious about kicking anyone out.  But I do have mixed feelings about having let Carroll back in - eight is vastly better than nine for scheduling in most sports.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 15, 2015, 11:34:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 10:45:47 AM
Greg, I thought it was pretty clear that I wasn't serious about kicking anyone out.  But I do have mixed feelings about having let Carroll back in - eight is vastly better than nine for scheduling in most sports.

I'd be OK kicking the IWU Green Weenies out, but that is my Carthage blood speaking ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2015, 01:46:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2015, 10:40:24 AM
I have always thought that Millikin would be a great fit for the SLIAC.

For institutional reasons, if nothing else, Millikin really is a better fit for the CCIW than it is for the SLIAC.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 10:45:47 AM
Greg, I thought it was pretty clear that I wasn't serious about kicking anyone out.

Well, you were using the eye-popping smiley rather than the winky smiley or the grinning smiley ... ;)

If nothing else, it was worth posting that just to make it plain to anyone who reads this page that the CCIW really doesn't operate upon a win-or-get-out basis ... and that, as far as I know, no D3 league operates that way. League membership entails so much more than who's winning on the field and who's losing.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 10:45:47 AMBut I do have mixed feelings about having let Carroll back in - eight is vastly better than nine for scheduling in most sports.

Heck, I'll go one step further than you and state outright that I don't like it at all. Nothing against Carroll specifically, but I just don't think that the league needs the conundrum of unbalanced schedules and the extra travel headaches. But it is what it is. Every CCIW athletic department will simply have to learn to make the most of it. In D3, the presidents make the decisions and the athletic departments abide by them. To me, it's an infinitely better way to run an institution of higher learning than the tail-wags-the-dog situation in which so many D1 schools find themselves.

Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2015, 11:34:11 AM
I'd be OK kicking the IWU Green Weenies out, but that is my Carthage blood speaking ;D

I'd be lying if I said that I've never heard that sentiment expressed elsewhere, BP. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 03:59:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 15, 2015, 11:34:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 10:45:47 AM
Greg, I thought it was pretty clear that I wasn't serious about kicking anyone out.  But I do have mixed feelings about having let Carroll back in - eight is vastly better than nine for scheduling in most sports.

I'd be OK kicking the IWU Green Weenies out, but that is my Carthage blood speaking ;D

That does it, BP.  I would've been happy going 2-1 when Carthage comes to town; now it's gotta be 3-0!! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2015, 09:16:53 PM
IWU 5, Benedictine 0.  As often happens in OOC games during the conference season, it was get everyone some game action - NINE pitchers combined for the 3 hit shutout.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2015, 08:40:35 AM
Redmen knock of U of Chicago last night 9-8. Really hoping they can get on a roll this weekend and get back in the top of the mix in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 11:25:31 AM
What is this stat?

Intentional BB allowed
----------------------
1. Carlisle, Adam, MILLIKIN...   96
2. Guzzi, Jeff, ELMHURST......   80
   Snedeker, Kyle, IWU........   80
4. Davidson, Kyle, MILLIKIN...   65
5. 2 tied at..................   64
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on April 17, 2015, 01:03:12 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 11:25:31 AM
What is this stat?

Intentional BB allowed
----------------------
1. Carlisle, Adam, MILLIKIN...   96
2. Guzzi, Jeff, ELMHURST......   80
   Snedeker, Kyle, IWU........   80
4. Davidson, Kyle, MILLIKIN...   65
5. 2 tied at..................   64
Intentional Walk?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_base_on_balls

Are those numbers just for this season. They seem awfully high if it is an Intentional walk.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 02:00:09 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on April 17, 2015, 01:03:12 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 11:25:31 AM
What is this stat?

Intentional BB allowed
----------------------
1. Carlisle, Adam, MILLIKIN...   96
2. Guzzi, Jeff, ELMHURST......   80
   Snedeker, Kyle, IWU........   80
4. Davidson, Kyle, MILLIKIN...   65
5. 2 tied at..................   64
Intentional Walk?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_base_on_balls

Are those numbers just for this season. They seem awfully high if it is an Intentional walk.


The number in the stat line is what threw me.  No way anyone is handing out 4 free passes a game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on April 17, 2015, 02:52:12 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 02:00:09 PM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on April 17, 2015, 01:03:12 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 17, 2015, 11:25:31 AM
What is this stat?

Intentional BB allowed
----------------------
1. Carlisle, Adam, MILLIKIN...   96
2. Guzzi, Jeff, ELMHURST......   80
   Snedeker, Kyle, IWU........   80
4. Davidson, Kyle, MILLIKIN...   65
5. 2 tied at..................   64
Intentional Walk?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_base_on_balls

Are those numbers just for this season. They seem awfully high if it is an Intentional walk.


The number in the stat line is what threw me.  No way anyone is handing out 4 free passes a game.
Yeah my son pitches and he has given maybe one intentional walk all year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2015, 06:19:37 PM
Great opportunity here for North Park grad assistant coach Tony Sanchez. Congrats to Tony! (http://www.midwestcollegiateleague.com/news/index.html?article_id=159)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2015, 02:27:06 PM
The way IWU plays on the road this season, I was afraid of something like this: Titan ace John Munyon (4-1 in conference play, with a 1.91 ERA) gave up five runs in the bottom of the first. :(  After one, Augie is up 5-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2015, 04:51:36 PM
Woo hoo!  After the first inning, Munyon and others gave up no more runs.  They chipped away at the deficit, finally winning 7-5 in ten innings. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2015, 11:37:22 PM
Carthage outhits Millikin 25-4 on the day and only earns a split!? Unreal!

Redmen are too inconsistent to make any post-season noise. (Can you tell I am frustrated!?) Millikin!? Seriously!?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 18, 2015, 11:45:02 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2015, 11:37:22 PM
Carthage outhits Millikin 25-4 on the day and only earns a split!? Unreal!

Redmen are too inconsistent to make any post-season noise. (Can you tell I am frustrated!?) Millikin!? Seriously!?
Actually, it shouldn't come as a big surprise -- Millikin is much improved this season. Still, if you outhit any team 25-4 you should sweep them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2015, 12:57:15 AM
In the second game of the DH, IWU also fell behind (Augie got 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd).  IWU again caught up, 5-5, but this time couldn't hold it - Augie won 8-5.

I grossly underestimated NCC.  Their pre-conference record was 'meh', then we won 8-2 in B'town.  I expected a sweep.  Then we went to Naperville and were swept in the DH.  They've been on fire ever since and are now tied for the conference lead at 10-4.  Their final series look roughly equal in difficulty - might be a 'duel to the death' finish to the race (with the tie-break to NCC).

(And this is NOT meant to rule out Carthage, Wheaton, or Augie - I WILL rule out Millikin, NPU, and Elmhurst for tournament hosting duties, though not quite yet for making the tourney field.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2015, 12:12:33 PM
Carthage is in trouble for even making the conference tourney. They sit at 9-5 in CCIW but have three-games series left with IWU and NCC... Both of which sit ahead of Carthage in the standings. Now, one can easily say the Redmen control their own destiny, but they by far have that toughest road to the post-season.

They really needed to sweep Millikin and the split yesterday was costly. A loss today would be deadly.

Could my mighty Redmen really miss the CCIW tourney for a 4th straight season!? That is almost inconceivable to ANY D3 follower. The same fate has befallen Oshkosh... Two national piers in the 1990s/2000s  and both are struggling to get into the post-season in conferences  they once dominated.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2015, 01:59:57 PM
In a game moved to 10AM to beat the rain, the Redmen beat Millikin 3-0. Carthage now 10-5 in CCIW play and 21-7 overall. Carthage remains a 1/2 game out of first.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2015, 02:24:01 PM
Augie @ IWU did NOT beat the rain.  They'll try again tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2015, 05:06:59 PM
NCC completed their sweep of Elmhurst, and (for the moment) are all alone in first place.  Though realistically, they were already in first by virtue of the tie-break vs. IWU.  The Cards started the conference season 3-3, but are 8-1 since then.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2015, 08:39:19 PM
GACK!!  The Titan prides this season were home field advantage and not beating themselves.  Today, both are going away. 

Augie is now up 10-3, with still only one out in the top of the sixth (they've already scored 8 runs).  I've lost track for sure, but 7 or 8 of their runs are unearned.  This is NOT a proper Titan game. >:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2015, 09:51:15 PM
I imagine that IWU has lost by a worse score than this, but I sure don't recall it.  AT HOME (where they were previously undefeated in CCIW games) they lost to Augie 18-3!! :o >:(

BP, don't get any big ideas.  After your crack about kicking IWU out of the conference, we're gonna whup you but good.  How does a cumulative 36-1 score for the series sound? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2015, 11:09:46 PM
As inconsistent as the Redmen have been, nothing would surprise me... But Id Assume that the 36-1 score would include a 1-0 Carthage win plus a 0-0 draw.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 20, 2015, 11:46:11 PM
That sounds suspiciously similar to last Tuesday against my primary rival in the bowling league.  He won 2 of 3, but I won the series by 36 (I won game one by 42; he won 2 and 3 by 3 each).

Don't get your hopes up - if we win one of the games by 36, we are NOT going scoreless in the other two! :P

36-1 is fantasy; but I AM hoping for a sweep.  NCC is looking dangerously threatening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2015, 08:57:00 AM
Carthage HAS to get at least one vs IWU if they are to stay in the tourney race. Getting two vs IWU would be amazing... three would be almost unbelievable (but the way IWU is playing right now, nothing would surprise).

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2015, 08:04:07 PM
For the first time all season, IWU received votes (9 points) in the D3 poll (Augie received none; Carthage had 6).  Of course, the voting came before IWU lost (at home! :() to Augie by 18-3!  Unless they sweep Carthage this weekend, I suspect their 'receiving votes' time will be brief!  (On the other hand, in 2010 they were certainly receiving no votes whatsoever, and won the WS! ;D  The poll is fun, but it don't mean squat.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2015, 08:16:24 PM
If this holds up, it could ease the sting of yesterday's fiasco against Augie - IWU up at D1 ISU, 3-1, in the bottom of the 4th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2015, 10:25:45 PM
Alas, ISU scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th, and prevails 7-5.  By official criteria, this game was essentially a 'non-game' for Pool C purposes, but I can't help thinking that if a team is 'on the bubble', a win over a D1 team has to be a plus.  But as befits a non-con game during the conference season, it was pitching-by-committee, with IWU using NINE pitchers, none for even 2 full innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2015, 10:29:05 AM
Carthage beats Aurora in a non-conference game last night at Aurora, 5-3.  Carthage moves to 22-7 on the season.  Sean Carroll, a Sr with all of 20 ABs this season, made his 21st AB count by hitting a 2 run pinch hit homer in the 10th.  Jared Helmich's hitting streak has reached 29 games.

Big weekend for the CCIW.  Carthage at IWU, Wheaton and Augie, home and home.  North Park and North Central, home and home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2015, 10:31:53 AM
Interesting fact.

Millikin and Carthage are the only teams without a player of the week representative (hitter or pitcher) this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2015, 10:55:24 AM
With two series remaining, it looks like the single-season CCIW record book is going to be re-written this season.

Runs Scored -- already broken (Jasper, Augie)
HITS -- already broken (Fifer and Jasper, Augie-TIE)
2b -- already broken (Mollo, IWU)
SB -- Coonan of IWU has an outside shot
RBI -- Swiderski needs 3 to tie


Innings Pitched -- already broken (Davis, Auige and Merger, NPU)
Ks -- obliterated (Davis, Augie)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 23, 2015, 01:29:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 23, 2015, 10:55:24 AM
With two series remaining, it looks like the single-season CCIW record book is going to be re-written this season.

Runs Scored -- already broken (Jasper, Augie)
HITS -- already broken (Fifer and Jasper, Augie-TIE)
2b -- already broken (Mollo, IWU)
SB -- Coonan of IWU has an outside shot
RBI -- Swiderski needs 3 to tie


Innings Pitched -- already broken (Davis, Auige and Merger, NPU)
Ks -- obliterated (Davis, Augie)

There is no way all those records are already broken.  You must be looking at stats for all games and comparing them to conference only records. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2015, 04:38:36 PM
I stand corrected...Conference Overall stats is misleading.  There was a second link on the CCIW site.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2015, 09:16:22 PM
This weekend is HUGE for the conference tourney. 

Tied for fourth, both 8-7, Augie has one game at Wheaton, then Wheaton a DH in Moline.
Tied for second, both at 10-5, Carthage plays 3 games in Bloomington.
  (I felt much more confident when IWU was undefeated at home; then Augie beat 'em 18-3 on Monday. :o)
Tied for sixth, NPU (5-10) has a DH in Naperville, then NCC (1st place, 11-4) plays one in Chi-town.
  (With the POSSIBLE exception of Gregory, I will be the Viking's #1 fan this weekend! ;D)
And in the 'Irrelevance Bowl', (5-10) Millikin plays three games at (3-12) Elmhurst.

BTW, re: an earlier discussion about Carthage doing 3 home, 3 away in alternate years against Augie, IWU, and Millikin, it appears that Millikin does that against EVERYONE except IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2015, 09:26:36 PM
BTW, I've also mapped out the schedule for the final week, when NCC plays 2/3 at Carthage and IWU plays 2/3 at Wheaton, but I figured I'd let the dust settle from this weekend before worrying about that!

But THIS weekend - GO NPU!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 24, 2015, 10:22:22 PM
Friday night action in the CCIW:

IWU (11-5) 11, Carthage 1 (10-6) -- a seven-inning affair
Wheaton (9-7) 3, Augustana (8-8) 2 -- on a throwing error while trying to catch a runner stealing 3rd in the bottom of the 9th

North Central vs. North Park rescheduled to a DH in Naperville on Sunday and a single game in Chicago on Monday at 6 PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2015, 10:28:23 PM
Carthage outhit IWU 11-9, and lost the game 11-1!  That can happen when you hit 2 batters, walk 7, have 6 wild pitches, and the team commits 2 errors. ::)  The Titan's Matt Hart went the distance - although he yielded 11 hits, only one was for extra bases and he spread them out nicely (and walked zero).

In Wheaton, Augie fell 3-2.  So for the moment it is #1 NCC, #2 IWU, #3 Carthage, #4 Wheaton, #5 Augie.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 25, 2015, 10:31:15 AM
It may be a slow day for the CCIW due to the prediction of bad weather all day Saturday.  Augie-Wheaton has already rescheduled its twin bill for Monday, and Elmhurst-Millikin may try to squeeze in one game today and two tomorrow.  North Park and North Central will play two on Sunday and one on Monday.  No announcement yet from Bloomington about the IWU-Carthage doubleheader, so maybe the rain is going to be north of the area.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2015, 01:53:05 PM
Still nothing on the IWU site, but the CCIW site lists the games in B'town as 'postponed' (no make-up date listed, but I'd assume tomorrow if the weather allows).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 25, 2015, 01:58:59 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2015, 01:53:05 PM
Still nothing on the IWU site, but the CCIW site lists the games in B'town as 'postponed' (no make-up date listed, but I'd assume tomorrow if the weather allows).
Check the Carthage site (http://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2015/4/24/Softball_0424153521.aspx) instead.  It announced the postponement till Sunday at noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 12:48:09 AM
An entire Saturday with NO CCIW baseball - what a waste!  Mother Nature can be very cruel. :P

I didn't check other locations, but Bloomington's forecast is sunny and mid- to upper-50s at game time tomorrow.  Let's get it on! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2015, 10:33:13 AM
Carthage needs to sweep IWU today in order to stay in the race. Post-season life is on the line for the Redmen today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 01:53:01 PM
Anyone know what's going on in Bloomington?  The game should have started nearly an hour ago, but livestats has nothing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 02:24:44 PM
Nevermind.  Carthage said a noon start, but apparently it started at one.  Munyon got 'em 1,2,3 in the top of the first, with 2 Ks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 03:03:01 PM
Carthage and IWU still scoreless going to the bottom of the fourth.  I'm outa here for a couple of hours.  I hope to hear other reports when I get back. :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 05:51:44 PM
I'm back, and see IWU won the first, 2-1.  They're now going for the sweep - after two innings, they lead 1-0 despite not having a hit!  TWO HBPs, a sac bunt, and a ground out scored the run.

(The Tigers also won, with my favorite player, Miguel Cabrera, going 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs - in six games against Cleveland he is now 15 of 23 with three HRs and 9 RBIs!  If they played Cleveland enough times, he might completely re-write the record books!  If the Titans can complete the sweep, my day will be complete joy! ;D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 08:02:08 PM
It was still a pretty good day, though Carthage avoided the sweep, 5-1.  Alas, NPU dropped a pair of heart-breakers to NCC, 7-6 and 3-2 (10 innings).  Carthage needs to bounce back big time next weekend, or the conference tourney is headed for Naperville.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2015, 10:11:09 PM
I am not sure the Redmen will even be in the conference tourney(an unreal 4th straight season missing it).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2015, 11:55:36 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 26, 2015, 10:11:09 PM
I am not sure the Redmen will even be in the conference tourney(an unreal 4th straight season missing it).

Me thinks you are being too pessimistic.  The Wheaton @ Augie DH is still to be played, but it would be nearly impossible for Carthage to not be at least #4.  (And WS winner IWU was #4 in 2010.)  And (although it didn't seem to have much effect for NPU :(), I will be one of the most vehement Red Men supporters next weekend! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hopefan on April 27, 2015, 04:26:32 PM
Ypsi and CCIW buddies... check out my writeup of the Webster - Eureka Baseball game in the SLIAC room... you'll get a chuckle....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 04:44:12 PM
hopefan, that wasn't a game - it was a massacre!

Wheaton wins the first of two in Moline, 4-2.  Augie falls to 8-9 and is definitely on life-support for the tourney.  Wheaton rises to 10-7, and is very much back in the race.

In the second game of the DH in Moline, it is still scoreless after 2.5 innings.  IF Augie loses, they are eliminated from the tourney unless they sweep Millikin AND NCC sweeps Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 06:04:22 PM
Augie really dodged a bullet in the top of the fourth.  Wheaton started with 3 straight singles to load the bases with nobody out, but Kevin Hodgman struck out the next 2 batters and the third was retired on a fly ball - still scoreless.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 06:46:24 PM
Augie couldn't dodge ALL the bullets - Wheaton breaks through for 3 runs in the 6th.  Augie still scoreless (and only two hits in the first 5 innings).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 06:58:26 PM
Wheaton adds another unearned run in the top of the 7th, and are now up 4-0 with still only one out. 

I'm headed out to dinner now - younger son had his last final today so we're taking him out to celebrate.  By the time I get back, this game should be over, and NCC @ NPU should be underway (GO east Vikings!).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 09:13:47 PM
Augie gave it a shot - scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but falls 5-3.

NCC up on NPU, 5-1, after six.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on April 27, 2015, 10:26:37 PM
From what I can tell the top four teams are essentially set in stone, although seeding is yet to be determined.

NCC 14-4
IWU 12-6
Carthage 11-7
Wheaton 11-7

I suppose Carthage could get swept by NCC and Augie could sweep Millikin and tie Carthage at 11-10. Wheaton could also get swept by IWU and then we'd have a three way tie at 11-10. I don't know what the three-way tiebreaker would be in that case.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2015, 10:50:41 PM
Yes, and the tourney will almost certainly be in Naperville.  Unless Carthage sweeps NCC, NCC hosts.  If Carthage does sweep NCC, the tourney is in Bloomington IF IWU sweeps Wheaton.  If Carthage sweeps but IWU goes 2-1, it is a 3-way tie among Carthage, NCC, and IWU, and I'm not sure who hosts.  If Carthage sweeps but IWU goes 1-2, the tourney is in Kenosha.  Finally, if Carthage sweeps and Wheaton also sweeps, it is a 3-way tie among Carthage, NCC, and Wheaton, and again I don't know who hosts.  Got all that?! ;)

Note also that this weekend is a sneak preview (sort of) of the likely tourney, as Carthage and NCC play 3, and so do IWU and Wheaton.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 29, 2015, 07:40:54 PM
I think I'm reading this right, but Carthage has hit into 3 line drive DP's in 3 innings against Marian to start the game.  Carthage got out of the 2nd inning on a 1-6-3-2 put out to end that inning.  Weird day up in Fond Du Lac.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2015, 05:03:13 PM
In game six of the softball conference tourney, Augie downed previously unbeaten IWU, 4-3, in 10 innings.  They'll play again in a few minutes for the AQ.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2015, 08:15:28 PM
IWU handily won the softball AQ, 9-2.  Hopefully a good omen for the baseball tourney! ;D

In baseball news, NCC downed Carthage, 8-5, so they have wrapped up the #1 seed (and hosting) for the tourney.  They also are the undisputed (no tie-breaker necessary) winner of the regular-season title, as IWU falls to Wheaton, 2-1.  Current standings: NCC 15-4, IWU 12-7, Wheaton 12-7, Carthage 11-8.  Those are the tourney participants UNLESS Carthage gets swept AND Augie sweeps Millikin (game just underway); Augie has the tie-break over Carthage, and would replace them as the #4 seed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2015, 09:47:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 08:20:29 PM
The WAY-TOO-EARLY prognostication for the title is Carthage vs. IWU vs. Augie.

Don't feel bad, Chuck. You've got company:

Quote from: iwu70 on January 09, 2015, 09:51:17 PMAll thought CC would finish in the basement, though looking more and more like it might be NPU this year.   Again.   As Deng Xiaoping would always say, "best to seek truth from facts."

... and then there's this other post from the basketball boards, which makes you and your IWU classmate look like pikers in the "Whoops!" category:

Quote from: MIACMIAC on March 04, 2015, 10:13:33 PM
Illogical to travel to DePere to play that game, yes. Also, just completely pointless to have Northwestern in the field. UMAC team in the tourney, really? Can't say I like the Tommies, but I can't wait to see them blowout Northwestern by 30+ and show that no UMAC team deserves to be in the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2015, 09:51:13 PM
I'm thanking the baseball gods that, as hideous a season as this has been for the Park, at least the Vikings have Elmhurst to cushion their fall. NPU now leads EC 6-2 in the ninth out at Butterfield Park in the western suburbs, thanks in part to Mitch Jordan's first career homer and Dan Sabin's third dinger of the year ... and six errors by the Bluejays.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 01, 2015, 11:36:40 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2015, 08:15:28 PM
IWU handily won the softball AQ, 9-2.  Hopefully a good omen for the baseball tourney! ;D

In baseball news, NCC downed Carthage, 8-5, so they have wrapped up the #1 seed (and hosting) for the tourney.  They also are the undisputed (no tie-breaker necessary) winner of the regular-season title, as IWU falls to Wheaton, 2-1.  Current standings: NCC 15-4, IWU 12-7, Wheaton 12-7, Carthage 11-8.  Those are the tourney participants UNLESS Carthage gets swept AND Augie sweeps Millikin (game just underway); Augie has the tie-break over Carthage, and would replace them as the #4 seed.
Final from Decatur: Millikin defeats Augie 8-7 in ten innings on a bases-loaded error. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2015, 11:40:31 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2015, 09:47:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2015, 08:20:29 PM
The WAY-TOO-EARLY prognostication for the title is Carthage vs. IWU vs. Augie.

Don't feel bad, Chuck. You've got company:

Quote from: iwu70 on January 09, 2015, 09:51:17 PMAll thought CC would finish in the basement, though looking more and more like it might be NPU this year.   Again.   As Deng Xiaoping would always say, "best to seek truth from facts."

... and then there's this other post from the basketball boards, which makes you and your IWU classmate look like pikers in the "Whoops!" category:

Quote from: MIACMIAC on March 04, 2015, 10:13:33 PM
Illogical to travel to DePere to play that game, yes. Also, just completely pointless to have Northwestern in the field. UMAC team in the tourney, really? Can't say I like the Tommies, but I can't wait to see them blowout Northwestern by 30+ and show that no UMAC team deserves to be in the tourney.

Well, hey, I got two of the four in the tourney! :-[

Wheaton doesn't particularly surprise me as a participant, but (as mentioned when they beat IWU 2 of 3 earlier in the season) NCC IS a shock - they were rather poor in the pre-conference, lost badly in the first game against IWU (dropping them to 3-3 in conference play), and are 12-1 since then!!  I did not see that coming.  (But if they are trying to follow the IWU model of 2010, they started a month too early! :o)

You could have included the D3baseball.com poll in the miscalculations above - the ONLY CCIW team to break into the Top 25 this year is Augie, and barring a near-miracle they will not even make the conference tourney. ::)

Update from mr_b: no miracles for Augie - Millikin won in 10.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2015, 01:20:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2015, 11:40:31 PMYou could have included the D3baseball.com poll in the miscalculations above - the ONLY CCIW team to break into the Top 25 this year is Augie

There's a good reason for that. None of the CCIW teams this season have been particularly impressive, historically speaking. Having watched them all, I can say that none of them have wowed me.

That's what makes NPU's lousy season even more galling. This would've been the perfect year to put a strong team on the field and dominate the league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jester13 on May 03, 2015, 10:39:58 AM
The way that NCC did was pretty impressive. You can only play the hand you were dealt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2015, 11:31:43 AM
The return of Coach Ed Mathey to NCC was likely bigger than the addition of any one particular player. The guy just wins... And is it unprecedented for a D1 to willingly step down to take over a D3 program?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 03, 2015, 06:34:48 PM
NCC and Wheaton are coming in as clear favorites. NCC won the league and has a great 1-2 punch on the mound. Wheaton has won 9 of 10 in conference to close the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 03, 2015, 11:11:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2015, 11:31:43 AM
The return of Coach Ed Mathey to NCC was likely bigger than the addition of any one particular player. The guy just wins... And is it unprecedented for a D1 to willingly step down to take over a D3 program?

Mathey was 54-110 (.329) over his last three years at NIU.  He wasn't going to be keeping his job there and was either quietly asked to leave or saw the writing on the wall and took an open job when a he had the chance.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2015, 05:06:00 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on May 03, 2015, 06:34:48 PM
NCC and Wheaton are coming in as clear favorites. NCC won the league and has a great 1-2 punch on the mound. Wheaton has won 9 of 10 in conference to close the season.

I'd agree with this.  A few weeks ago I thought the Titans would be the favorite (especially if they were the hosts), but they have really sputtered of late.  My only remaining hope is that they win game one - surely Wheaton can't beat them FOUR consecutive games, can they? :o  If so, anything can happen.

Chantastic, got a favorite between NCC and Wheaton?  As the home team, I'd give a slight edge to the Cards, but the Thunder are hotter than that place they hope to avoid right now! ;)

Big Poppa, now that your pessimism about Carthage even making the tourney has gone away, do you see any (realistic) hope for either your RedMen or my Titans?

And Greg, since you are one of the very few to have personally seen all the teams, care to chime in?  I know predictions are not your thing, but at least perhaps the keys for each team to have a chance at winning?

And anyone - is there any realistic chance of anyone getting a Pool C this season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 05, 2015, 10:49:58 PM
I see North Central as the favorite. I like their home field advantage, their lineup, and their 1-2 pitching combo (Krusen-Polowy). The interesting thing about NCC is that the kid they start #2 is probably the best pitcher in the league.

Carthage could throw everything off by beating Krusen in game 1.

I like Wheaton's chances against IWU. Their likely starter, Peter Moran, shut down IWU last week. But I am less optimistic about their chances to beat Polowy in game 2.

Even in a four-team field it is hard to win without taking the first two games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on May 06, 2015, 12:16:06 AM
A friend of my family (parents), Phil Lundin, won some Big Ten track titles at the U of Minnesota, I believe, and then switched to St. Olaf, a DIII school, where he has had success.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2015, 08:07:45 AM
Carthage is too inconsistent to be a true threat to win the CCIW tourney. I think the CCIW is a one-bid league this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2015, 05:07:31 PM
I agree with you about the CCIW only getting the one team in, BP. As I said the other day, it's a down year for the league.

I think that North Central's the favorite this weekend, due to the hosting privileges and the fact that NCC's got the best mix of hitting and pitching, but it's not a big enough advantage to make the Cardinals the prohibitive favorite. There's really not that big a gap between the Cardinals and the other three teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2015, 03:49:55 PM
2-2 game, 1 out in the top of the 10th, bases loaded....then this happens....

"Hero, Reed grounded out to c unassisted, interference"  No runners advance, no other force outs.  What happened?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2015, 03:59:50 PM
Carthage takes game 1 of the CCIW tourney.  3-2 over NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2015, 04:37:21 PM
Looks like NCC was jinxed by the Sun-Times:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/colleges/7/71/584495/north-central-alum-cardinals-atop-conference (http://chicago.suntimes.com/colleges/7/71/584495/north-central-alum-cardinals-atop-conference)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2015, 04:57:36 PM
From the Carthage website..."The Red Men loaded the bases with one out in the 10th, and Cardinals starting pitcher Ben Krusen exited after throwing 150 pitches."

Really???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2015, 05:06:01 PM
Justin Theissen of Elmhurst threw 155 pitches against NPU last weekend, and he was lifted in the ninth without getting an out. On the other hand, it was the last collegiate game he was ever going to pitch, so I'm sure that Joel Southern wasn't too worried about Theissen's arm staying healthy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2015, 06:36:52 PM
Really hoping the Redmen can make a nice run this weekend and get a shot to play beyond the CCIW tourney. They have shown they have the talent but consistency has been their Achilles heel.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2015, 07:20:35 PM
Wesleyan dispenses of Wheaton, 7-1.  That means the top two seeds play each other in an elimination game tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2015, 10:05:17 PM
Now THAT'S what I am talking about! Carthage vs IWU in winner's Bracket Day Two IS what the CCIW is all about! 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2015, 10:15:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2015, 10:05:17 PM
Now THAT'S what I am talking about! Carthage vs IWU in winner's Bracket Day Two IS what the CCIW is all about!

Words cannot begin to say how much I disagree with you.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2015, 10:55:39 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2015, 10:15:58 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 07, 2015, 10:05:17 PM
Now THAT'S what I am talking about! Carthage vs IWU in winner's Bracket Day Two IS what the CCIW is all about!

Words cannot begin to say how much I disagree with you.

😃
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 10:47:01 AM
Obviously it is still very early, but Wheaton is in grave danger of being this year's 0-2 team.  NCC has opened the game with 3 singles and 2 walks - already 2-0, no one out, and the bases are full. :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 10:56:14 AM
After five batters with no outs, Kaufmann is relieved by Bayer, who somewhat limited the damage to two additional runs.  Could have been much worse for the Thunder, but they do trail 4-0 before ever coming to bat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2015, 10:58:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 10:47:01 AM
Obviously it is still very early, but Wheaton is in grave danger of being this year's 0-2 team.  NCC has opened the game with 3 singles and 2 walks - already 2-0, no one out, and the bases are full. :o
4-0 Cardinals in the bottom of the first. Kaufmann was knocked out after allowing three hits and two walks while recording no outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 12:03:10 PM
Bayer pitched well (only 2 hits in 4.2 innings), but lost control in the top of the fifth and has been succeeded by Schmitz.  In his final inning, he walked Carius who stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on another wild pitch.  He then hit a batter, who was out trying to steal second.  Then he walked a batter, who got to third on a single - that was enough for the coach.  Schmitz then got the third out with no further damage - 5-0 NCC in the middle of the fifth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2015, 12:21:02 PM
Cardinals up 9-0 in the 6th.  Wheaton has its fourth pitcher in the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 12:35:57 PM
So, do you pull Polowy now so that he could possibly throw tomorrow?  Who does Carthage throw against IWU?  Not Daniels...Hrdlicka?  I assume that Munyon will throw for IWU since Carthage hasn't seen him this season. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 12:50:29 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 12:35:57 PM
So, do you pull Polowy now so that he could possibly throw tomorrow? 


Guess not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 01:01:13 PM
Polowy finally came out after seven.  NCC up 10-1 entering the ninth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 01:03:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 01:01:13 PM
Polowy finally came out after seven.  NCC up 10-1 entering the ninth.


102 pitches
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 08, 2015, 01:27:25 PM
Polowy should be a shoo-in for CCIW pitcher of the year.

Very disappointing performance for Wheaton who came in as the hottest team in the conference. They will not graduate anyone from their pitching staff and should come back stronger in 2016.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2015, 01:29:47 PM
North Central eliminates Wheaton, 13-1.  The Cardinals pounded out 12 hits and worked 11 walks against 6 Wheaton pitchers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 01:37:12 PM
Considering how hot they were lately, a VERY disappointing tourney for the Thunder.  Losing by a combined 20-2 exposed them as the rather average team their overall record (21-21) already said they were.  But Augie and IWU will certainly testify to how hot they were for a while!  Reminds me of IWU in 2010 - but they started too early (save something for the postseason)!

The winner of the upcoming game is clearly in the driver's seat - it is VERY hard to come back from the losers' bracket.  But after this game and the regular season title, and the home field, I am NOT burying NCC just yet!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 04:04:29 PM
Sulik and Munyon both still in after seven.  Both were a bit shaky early, but this has really settled into a pitchers' duel - NCC up 3-2 after seven.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 04:20:41 PM
Munyon being replaced by our closer, Truesdale, after 8.1.  John pitched well enough to win, but will take the loss unless IWU can rally in the bottom of the ninth.

Anyone know if the 'rally monkey' which was so effective in the 2010 postseason is still around? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 08, 2015, 04:29:18 PM
Carthage holds on for a 3-2 victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 08, 2015, 04:31:25 PM
And BP has to be grinning from ear to ear!!!!

I will say, it wouldn't shock me one bit to see Carthage drop two games tomorrow though!!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 04:33:52 PM
Sulik has IWU's number...18 IP, 11 Hits, 13 Ks, 3 ER, 3 BB, but most importantly 2 Wins
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 04:36:10 PM
With Hart and Munyon already used, Martel is desperately seeking a pitcher who can slow down NCC.  If they score 13 again, I don't like our chances of scoring 14! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2015, 04:42:54 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 08, 2015, 04:31:25 PM
And BP has to be grinning from ear to ear!!!!


That is an understatement!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 08, 2015, 04:51:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2015, 04:42:54 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 08, 2015, 04:31:25 PM
And BP has to be grinning from ear to ear!!!!


That is an understatement!

No counting chickens just yet....keep being a pessimist.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2015, 05:35:28 PM
I'm almost certain that game 5 was scheduled for this afternoon - weather problems?  (The conference website now lists game 5 for tomorrow, but I could swear that is a shift from earlier.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2015, 07:06:07 PM
Naperville's in the middle of a protracted thunderstorm period.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: houdini on May 08, 2015, 07:55:54 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2015, 04:42:54 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 08, 2015, 04:31:25 PM
And BP has to be grinning from ear to ear!!!!


That is an understatement!
So your smile went behind your ears?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 10:51:58 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2015, 07:06:07 PM
Naperville's in the middle of a protracted thunderstorm period.

Thanks, Greg - I hoped that was it, and not that my reading comprehension and/or memory was shot!

What's the outlook for today's games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 12:24:52 PM
Game five is underway; IWU leads NCC 1-0 after one.  Evan Blunk going for the Cards; usual closer Dan Truesdale for the Titans.  I don't know anything about Blunk, but IWU has apparently settled on 'pitching by committee', as I doubt a guy used to being a closer can be effective for more than a few innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 01:40:20 PM
I guess I forgot that D3 pitchers are much less specialists than MLB pitchers! :-[  Dan Truesdale is still in and pitching very well - after five, IWU leads 6-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 02:40:21 PM
Dan Truesdale goes all the way to pick up a 6-4 win for the Titans; NCC is eliminated.  So it is #3 seed vs. #4 seed for the AQ, with #3 needing to win both game 6 and game 7; #4 seed Carthage only needs to win one of them.

Big Poppa's team vs. Mr. Ypsi's team - may the better pessimist win! ;D

I have no clue who will pitch game 6 for the Titans, but if there is a game 7 tomorrow I'm hoping Matt Hart can return.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 09, 2015, 03:32:33 PM
I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 04:16:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2015, 03:32:33 PM
I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.
Mr. Ypsi and I would love you to be correct!  Let us at least do an Ernie Banks and play two
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 04:54:37 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 04:16:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 09, 2015, 03:32:33 PM
I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.
Mr. Ypsi and I would love you to be correct!  Let us at least do an Ernie Banks and play two

And that is looking likely.  Hrdlicka pitched commendably for the RedMen (8 hits in 5.1 innings), but leaves with two on, one out, and trailing 3-0.  Reliever Casey does a no-no and hits a .238 hitter to load the bases with still one out - chance for IWU to blow this one wide open!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 04:59:47 PM
Tim Coonan hit a SF to drive in run #4, but Casey struck out Derek Idstein to end the damage.

Anyone know - are Tim Coonan and game 6  pitcher Sean Coonan brothers?  cousins?  Whatever, both have come up big towards forcing game 7! :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:13:20 PM
Idle speculation: if Wheaton rather than NCC had been alive for the rained-out game 5, what would have been the re-scheduling?  Is Wheaton absolute about no Sunday play, or will they bend for tournament play with unforeseen delays?  Game seven cannot be later than Sunday (selection day), but if on Saturday Wheaton would have faced a triple-header if they kept winning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:26:15 PM
Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:33:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:26:15 PM
Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.
could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:37:11 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:33:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:26:15 PM
Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.
could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

I'm hoping for Hart, but you think even Munyon and Truesdale would be available?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:46:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:37:11 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:33:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:26:15 PM
Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.
could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

I'm hoping for Hart, but you think even Munyon and Truesdale would be available?
Munyon or Truesdale I short situational relief, or close it out - yes.  It is Won or Done on Sunday.  But, no sore arms or injuries.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:48:31 PM
Woohoo, play another on Sunday - IWU 5 Carthage 1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:50:06 PM
IWU finishes out a 5-1 win to force game seven. ;D  Since both teams are highly doubtful for a Pool C, this is likely for all the postseason marble.  (Since IWU was #5 in the region, they might have a slight chance; Carthage was not ranked at all, so probably has to win.  Webster, #1 in the region, was eliminated in the SLIAC, so the odds are probably even a bit worse for a CCIW team.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:53:52 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:46:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:37:11 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on May 09, 2015, 05:33:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 05:26:15 PM
Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.
could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

I'm hoping for Hart, but you think even Munyon and Truesdale would be available?
Munyon or Truesdale I short situational relief, or close it out - yes.  It is Won or Done on Sunday.  But, no sore arms or injuries.

My guess will be that Hart is the starter, and on a short leash (and probably gone after 5 even if effective).  After that I suppose most anyone but Coonan and perhaps Vik might be available for a couple of innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 06:01:43 PM
As soon as anyone finds the start time for game seven, please post it here.  No time listed by the CCIW or IWU, and I haven't gotten desperate enough yet to search elsewhere! ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2015, 07:35:35 PM
Well, since no one else jumped in first, game seven is now listed on the CCIW site as at 1 pm (CDT).  That would be 2 pm for iwumichigander and me, God only knows for IWU70 in Hong Kong, and I've lost track of the current time zone for Titan Q and Big Poppa! ;D  (Are you both currently in CDT?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 02:04:10 PM
Game Seven about to begin, and livestats has listed the line-ups.  I was wrong: the Titans are starting Louis Acklin; the RedMen will counter with Luke Mentkowski.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2015, 03:00:54 PM
Redmen pouring it on up 6-0 in 4th on IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 03:06:17 PM
Yeah, Acklin just didn't have it.  Carthage chased him in the second (Matt Hart, who I'd expected to be the starter, replaced him after 4 outs), en route to 6 runs.  But BP put a bit of a jinx on his team, as the Titans got two runs back in the top of the 4th. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2015, 04:00:47 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 03:06:17 PM
Yeah, Acklin just didn't have it.  Carthage chased him in the second (Matt Hart, who I'd expected to be the starter, replaced him after 4 outs), en route to 6 runs.  But BP put a bit of a jinx on his team, as the Titans got two runs back in the top of the 4th. ;D
Wesleyan used two relievers (Truesdale and Acklin) as starters and have used two starters (Hart and Munyon) as relievers.  Any reason why they wouldn't have started Snedekar during the tournament?  He pitched against Wheaton last Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 04:16:17 PM
I don't know re: Snedekar - hurt?

Matt Hart was quite respectable on short rest, but on even shorter rest John Munyon is getting abused.  Carthage in now up 12-2, and the 8th is still not over. :(

My congrats to Big Poppa - from 'Carthage probably won't even make the conference tourney' to the AQ in just a few days! ;)  I'm not particularly hopeful, but just maybe IWU can get a C.  Webster will be ahead of them at the table, but should go fairly early; hopefully a regional ranking of #4 or #5, and reaching game seven of an above average conference, might be enough for them to squeeze in.

Update: Carthage wins 12-2.  I didn't think they used the mercy rule in the conference tourney, but apparently they do as they didn't play the ninth inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 06:02:52 PM
In fact, they didn't even finish out the 8th - IWU was mercied as soon as Carthage went up by ten.  Also, I'm now even less hopeful about a C for the Titans; I now note that Wartburg will also reach the table before they do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 10, 2015, 06:17:45 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2015, 06:02:52 PM
In fact, they didn't even finish out the 8th - IWU was mercied as soon as Carthage went up by ten.  Also, I'm now even less hopeful about a C for the Titans; I now note that Wartburg will also reach the table before they do.
Check out Midwest Board...  I have 14 teams I think are in between the Midwest and Central Regionals. 

That is with leaving out North Central, Bethel, and IWU... 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2015, 09:33:30 AM
Thoughts on the Central Regional? I have not seen any seeds yet, but I'd assume that either Webster of UWSP will be the #1.


My guess on the seeding:
1. UWSP
2. Webster
3. Wartburg
4. Anderson
5. Carthage
6. Greenville

though I can easily see #3 and #4 flipping.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2015, 09:50:58 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2015, 09:33:30 AM
Thoughts on the Central Regional? I have not seen any seeds yet, but I'd assume that either Webster of UWSP will be the #1.


My guess on the seeding:
1. UWSP
2. Webster
3. Wartburg
4. Anderson
5. Carthage
6. Greenville

though I can easily see #3 and #4 flipping.

Agree.  Some hot teams in this regional.  UWSP has won 12 of it's last 13 and Anderson has won it's last 11.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2015, 07:32:53 PM
Big Poppa, Carthage has set things up perfectly to 'shock the world'.  They were 4th seed in the CCIW tourney; so was IWU in 2010.  They are seeded 5th in the regional; so was IWU.  And WHEN you get to Appleton, you will be totally overlooked; so was IWU.  I look forward to another walnut-and-bronze for the CCIW! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2015, 07:34:29 PM
Good grief, Chuck, you'll do just about anything to shoehorn a mention of that 2010 title into a conversation, won't you? ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2015, 12:16:51 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2015, 07:34:29 PM
Good grief, Chuck, you'll do just about anything to shoehorn a mention of that 2010 title into a conversation, won't you? ::)

So far, that is the ONLY CCIW baseball championship.  I figure it is about time for another! :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2015, 10:27:30 AM
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced its all-conference baseball team on Monday.

Carthage's Jared Helmich (Lake Villa, Ill./Grant Community), a first team utility player, earned CCIW Player of the Year honors after hitting .357 (30-84) with 18 runs, 16 RBI, three doubles and five home runs in 21 conference games this season. He was also 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five conference appearances.

North Central's Bryan Polowy (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) was named the CCIW Pitcher of the Year after finishing 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 39 strikeouts in six conference appearances. He is the first player from North Central to be honored with this award, which began in 2006.

Polowy's teammate, Waubonsie Community College transfer outfielder Bobby Smith (Oswego, Ill./East), was named the CCIW Newcomer of the Year after he batted .392 (29-74) with 19 runs, three doubles, three triples, two home runs and 22 RBI in 21 conference games.

Wheaton's Matt Husted earned CCIW Coach of the Year honors after leading the Thunder to a second place finish and an appearance in the CCIW Baseball Tournament this season. He became the first Wheaton coach since Bobby Elder in 2008 to win this award.

FIRST TEAM     School     Pos.     Yr.     Hometown/H.S.
Pat Mollo     Illinois Wesleyan     C     So.     Naperville, Ill./North
Vito DeRango     North Central     INF     Sr.     North Riverside, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield
Sam Klein      North Central     INF     Sr.     Burlington, Ill./Central
Kyle Mellinger     Wheaton     INF     Jr.     Ladera Beach, Calif./Calvary Chapel
Derek Idstein     Illinois Wesleyan     INF     Sr.     Grayslake, Ill./Central
Jake Rone     North Central     INF     Sr.     Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South
Joe Paparone     North Central     OF     Sr.     Elmhurst, Ill./York
Bobby Smith     North Central     OF     Jr.     Oswego, Ill./East
Johnny Peltz     Wheaton     OF     So.     Wheaton, Ill./North
Brandon Jasper     Augustana     OF     Sr.     DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt
Jared Helmich     Carthage     UT     Jr.     Lake Villa, Ill./Grant Community
Danny Fifer     Augustana     DH     Sr.     New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West
Bryan Polowy     North Central     P     Jr.     Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North
John Munyon     Illinois Wesleyan     P     Sr.     St. Charles, Ill./North
Walter White     Augustana     P     Jr.     East Peoria, Ill./H.S.
John Schmitz      Wheaton     P     So.     West Chicago, Ill./Wheaton Academy


SECOND TEAM     School      Pos.     Yr.     Hometown/H.S.
John Swiderski     Augustana     C     Jr.     Geneva, Ill./H.S.
Jarrod Juskiewicz     Illinois Wesleyan     INF     So.     Palatine, Ill./H.S.
Drew Bailey     Carthage     INF     Sr.     Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley
Trace Gingerich     Augustana     INF     Jr.     Sherrard, Ill./H.S.
Matt Mardis      Illinois Wesleyan     INF     Jr.     Bloomington, Ill./H.S.
Matt Schappell     Wheaton     INF     Sr.     Fort Myers, Fla./Evangelical Christian
Tim Coonan     Illinois Wesleyan     OF     Sr.     Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic
Graham Wick     Carthage     OF     Jr.     Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest Academy
Julian Gutierrez     Millikin     OF     Fr.     Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg
Zak Worsley     North Park     OF     Sr.     Ottawa, Ill./Marquette
Ben Havel     Elmhurst     UT     So.     Carol Stream, Ill./Bartlett
Chris Hill     North Central     DH     So.     Bristol, Ill./Yorkville
Justin Theisen     Elmhurst     P     Sr.     Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg
Ben Krusen     North Central     P     Sr.     Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West
Matt Hart     Illinois Wesleyan     P     Sr.     Wheeling, Ill./H.S.
Peter Moran     Wheaton     P     Jr.     Williamsville, N.Y./Christian Central Academy
Tim Sulik     Carthage     P     So.     Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2015, 10:42:43 AM
WOW! NCC with SIX first-teamers!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2015, 10:44:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2015, 07:34:29 PM
Good grief, Chuck, you'll do just about anything to shoehorn a mention of that 2010 title into a conversation, won't you? ::)

I am glad that I was NOT the one to say it ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on May 12, 2015, 12:10:28 PM
NCC needed a third pitcher.

They were loaded. Very good lineup.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2015, 05:53:20 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2015, 12:16:51 AM
So far, that is the ONLY CCIW baseball championship.  I figure it is about time for another! :)

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but you've worked the 2010 title into a post in this room (without any prompting whatsoever) three times now over the past three weeks.

Please, give it a rest, already.

Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2015, 10:44:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2015, 07:34:29 PM
Good grief, Chuck, you'll do just about anything to shoehorn a mention of that 2010 title into a conversation, won't you? ::)

I am glad that I was NOT the one to say it ::)

I'm only now getting around to addressing my New Year's resolution to be less passive-aggressive this year. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Westside on May 12, 2015, 06:16:27 PM
To be fair, that was a great run in 2010 ;D I went to that World Series and thought they were like... the 7th best team there. So it was very impressive!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2015, 07:42:05 PM
Thanks, Westside.

And sorry, Greg.  As Westside suggests, I go overboard because that title was so 'out of the blue'.  Two weeks before the CCIW tourney, they had a losing record!  (Despite his occasional 'spring cleaning' of deleting obsolete boards, Pat has never erased the 2010 WS board - and I hope he never does!  Every few months, especially around this time of year, I re-read the thread about the final game, and still get giddy every time! ;D)  I no longer do that on the basketball board, because I expect success (though the last two FF trips both came as a complete surprise to me), but Appleton 2010 was very special.  But I'll try to 'curb my enthusiasm'. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2015, 12:52:59 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 12, 2015, 10:44:09 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2015, 07:34:29 PM
Good grief, Chuck, you'll do just about anything to shoehorn a mention of that 2010 title into a conversation, won't you? ::)

I am glad that I was NOT the one to say it ::)

Sheesh, BP.  I wish your team a national title, and this is what I get?! ::)

Tough crowd here tonight. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2015, 05:15:46 PM
Carthage and Webster scoreless after 2.5 (Webster is the home team).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2015, 05:28:06 PM
Webster draws first blood with two unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd.  As I sometimes say when lucky pin action gives me an undeserved strike: "I may not have earned it, but I ain't givin' it back!" ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2015, 07:06:16 PM
Webster tops Carthage, 4-3, on an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth... a bases-loaded walk with two outs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2015, 07:08:24 PM
Carthage falls to Webster, 4-3.  They gave a valiant effort; down 3-0 after 6, they scored one in the 7th then two (with 2 outs) in the top of the ninth.  Alas, Webster scored on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the inning.  (The game could have already been lost earlier, but cf Fortunato threw out the potential winning run at the plate.)  Coach Augie must be sh*ttin' bricks - ALL FOUR Webster runs were unearned. :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: y_jack_lok on May 13, 2015, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2015, 05:28:06 PM
Webster draws first blood with two unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd.  As I sometimes say when lucky pin action gives me an undeserved strike: "I may not have earned it, but I ain't givin' it back!" ;D

Webster dodged a bullet. Not sure why the Webster coach didn't bring in a reliever as soon as Carhage had two outs in the 9th and Webster still had a 3-2 lead. Guess he wanted to let his guy get a complete game. Didn't work out. Webster would not have won that game without all the help from Carthage -- 4 unearned runs. The Carthage starting pitcher looked really good. I feel bad for him and for the reliever who walked in the run in the bottom of the 9th that gave Webster the win. But a W is a W. SLIAC loyalty says I have to root for Greenville against Carthage tomorrow. Sorry.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 05:39:36 PM
Carthage vs. Greenville started late due to rain, and has now been rain-delayed again for about 90 minutes.  The game is scoreless with Greenville having 2 on and one out in the bottom of the first.  Starting to look like they may have to wait 'til tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2015, 06:10:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 05:39:36 PM
Carthage vs. Greenville started late due to rain, and has now been rain-delayed again for about 90 minutes.  The game is scoreless with Greenville having 2 on and one out in the bottom of the first.  Starting to look like they may have to wait 'til tomorrow.
Per the D3 Baseball and Carthage websites, the game has already been suspended and will resume on Friday.  Re-start time has yet to be determined.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 07:09:50 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2015, 06:10:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 05:39:36 PM
Carthage vs. Greenville started late due to rain, and has now been rain-delayed again for about 90 minutes.  The game is scoreless with Greenville having 2 on and one out in the bottom of the first.  Starting to look like they may have to wait 'til tomorrow.
Per the D3 Baseball and Carthage websites, the game has already been suspended and will resume on Friday.  Re-start time has yet to be determined.

Livestats still just says 'rain delay', but it would now be entering its 4th hour, so what you report seems reasonable.  With a game THAT young, do they restart it, or pick up where it left off?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2015, 07:40:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 07:09:50 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 14, 2015, 06:10:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 05:39:36 PM
Carthage vs. Greenville started late due to rain, and has now been rain-delayed again for about 90 minutes.  The game is scoreless with Greenville having 2 on and one out in the bottom of the first.  Starting to look like they may have to wait 'til tomorrow.
Per the D3 Baseball and Carthage websites, the game has already been suspended and will resume on Friday.  Re-start time has yet to be determined.

Livestats still just says 'rain delay', but it would now be entering its 4th hour, so what you report seems reasonable.  With a game THAT young, do they restart it, or pick up where it left off?
It's listed here as suspended (http://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2015/regionals-schedule?date=2015-05-15), so they'll pick it up in the bottom of the first.  The dilemma with that is what to do about the starting pitchers.  Sulik threw just a few pitches, so he will probably pick up where he left off.  In the Trinity-Linfield game Wednesday yesterday, the Trinity pitcher had a no-hitter going through four or five innings before that game was suspended. He returned to the mound today and kept the no-no going through the sixth or seventh, I believe, before finally giving up a base hit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 11:20:11 PM
The first hit against him was the lead-off man in the 8th; quite a performance by Mr. Gray.  Despite the no-hitter, some posters wondered about bringing him back, rather than having him available for a potential championship game.

I would think that both pitchers for Thursday could still go for Friday.  I guess that is what you get when you schedule a regional for WATERloo! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 11:46:51 PM
I'll be heading for North Carolina in the morning, so others will have to shepherd Carthage thru to Appleton! ;D

Good night and good luck.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2015, 08:14:11 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2015, 11:46:51 PM
I'll be heading for North Carolina in the morning, so others will have to shepherd Carthage thru to Appleton! ;D

Good night and good luck.

Gonna be a rough ride for the Redmen, but I'll be riding shotgun with them them whole way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 15, 2015, 02:44:53 PM
Carthage up 8-2 on Greenville in 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 16, 2015, 07:02:20 PM
Carthage hangs on to play again and beats Wartburg 4-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 16, 2015, 10:48:26 PM
Carthage has to beat Webster twice tomorrow.  Let's play 2!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 11, 2015, 09:27:35 AM
Congratulations to Seth Davis of Augustana, the lone CCIW player selected in the 2015 MLB Draft.  He was picked by the Mets in Round 29.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 22, 2015, 10:08:57 AM
Anyone have any early predictions for the CCIW in 2016?

Based on my own scientific algorithm of looking at returning All-CCIW players and awarding points as follows; First-team pitchers (5) First-team hitters (4) Second-team pitchers (4) and Second-team hitters (3)... and rewarding UTL guys as pitchers I have come up with the following prediction:(Note that I place a higher value on pitching than hitting)

School (returning pts)
1. Wheaton (17 pts)
2. North Central (16)
3. Carthage (12)
4. Augustana (11)
5. Ill Wesleyan (6)
6. Elmhurst (4)
7. Millikin (3)
8. North Park (0)

I am sure the NPU and IWU faithful will not be happy with the results, but it is something to help pass the time as the cold settles in. Also, I am not certain I agree with the results 100%, but I think it at minimum gives us a baseline for what is returning in the CCIW. It does not take into account any of the new recruiting added by each program.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 04, 2016, 04:16:40 PM
Anyone out there have any ideas of how the CCIW will shake out? Unlike many years, Carthage has its schedule for CCIW play front-loaded with the traditional powers... most years they play them later in the year. The Redmne open CCIW play with the gauntlet of NPU(no idea what to think of them in 2016), Wheaton(who I think will be a sleeper this season), IWU and Augustana... If they can come out of that within striking distance of the leaders, I like their chances.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 09, 2016, 08:22:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2016, 04:16:40 PM
Anyone out there have any ideas of how the CCIW will shake out? Unlike many years, Carthage has its schedule for CCIW play front-loaded with the traditional powers... most years they play them later in the year. The Redmne open CCIW play with the gauntlet of NPU(no idea what to think of them in 2016), Wheaton(who I think will be a sleeper this season), IWU and Augustana... If they can come out of that within striking distance of the leaders, I like their chances.

I think that Carthage has the edge.  This year will be decided on who is the better coach and hard to back Schmidt on this.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 09, 2016, 09:33:07 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on February 09, 2016, 08:22:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2016, 04:16:40 PM
Anyone out there have any ideas of how the CCIW will shake out? Unlike many years, Carthage has its schedule for CCIW play front-loaded with the traditional powers... most years they play them later in the year. The Redmne open CCIW play with the gauntlet of NPU(no idea what to think of them in 2016), Wheaton(who I think will be a sleeper this season), IWU and Augustana... If they can come out of that within striking distance of the leaders, I like their chances.

I think that Carthage has the edge.  This year will be decided on who is the better coach and hard to back Schmidt on this.

AHEM!!  With due respect to Coach Schmidt, perhaps he can get Coach Martel to show him what a national championship trophy looks like! ;D

(BP, I thought I'd start the trash-talkin' real early this year! ;))
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2016, 09:06:26 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 09, 2016, 09:33:07 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on February 09, 2016, 08:22:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2016, 04:16:40 PM
Anyone out there have any ideas of how the CCIW will shake out? Unlike many years, Carthage has its schedule for CCIW play front-loaded with the traditional powers... most years they play them later in the year. The Redmne open CCIW play with the gauntlet of NPU(no idea what to think of them in 2016), Wheaton(who I think will be a sleeper this season), IWU and Augustana... If they can come out of that within striking distance of the leaders, I like their chances.

I think that Carthage has the edge.  This year will be decided on who is the better coach and hard to back Schmidt on this.

AHEM!!  With due respect to Coach Schmidt, perhaps he can get Coach Martel to show him what a national championship trophy looks like! ;D

(BP, I thought I'd start the trash-talkin' real early this year! ;))

And then Schmidty can show him his Hall of Fame plaque:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2016, 10:04:48 AM
The CCIW Preseason Coaches' Poll Was released yesterday.http://www.cciw.org/news/2016/2/10/BB_0210160209.aspx (http://www.cciw.org/news/2016/2/10/BB_0210160209.aspx)

Look to be a solid race again.
1. Carthage (4)
2. IWU (2)
3. NCC (1)
4. Wheaton (1)
5. Augustana
6. North Park
7. Millikin
8. Elmhurst


With four teams getting first-place votes,the CCIW is as wide open as ever. Can't wait to get this thing started.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2016, 05:31:16 PM
BP, are you surprised that Wheaton's getting this much love in spite of the fact that Johnny Peltz isn't going to play baseball this season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2016, 05:40:54 PM
I think Wheaton's love is well-deserved even without him. They are a program that has been on the verge of turning the corner for a few seasons now and i think this could be the year they get over the hump. On paper, they have some of the best talent back in the CCIW... but we all know games are not played on paper.

Still... I like them to be in the mix for the 3-4-5 slot and with a little luck and a well-timed hot streak, they could make a run at the top.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 12, 2016, 08:36:14 AM
My biggest question in 2016 is was Carthage's post-season run for real and have they returned to their former glory? Or was it simply a hot-streak by an above average team?

Time will tell, but I do have much more optimism regarding the Redmen heading into 2016 than I did last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 12, 2016, 03:54:22 PM
Here's NPU's preseason preview video. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2016/2/11/BB_0211165026.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 27, 2016, 10:21:24 PM
NPU won the season opener over UW-Oshkosh down in Sauget, 4-1, in 13 innings. It's a shame that Brent Kessinger didn't get a win out of this one; he started and pitched seven innings of four-hit, one-walk shutout ball for the Vikings before the bullpen coughed up the 1-0 lead in the eighth. Fortunately for the Vikes, they finally got the timely hits that they needed in the 13th with a pair of bases-loaded singles off of the bats of Alec Strachota and Mitch Jordan to forge the win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 28, 2016, 09:53:50 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 27, 2016, 10:21:24 PM
NPU won the season opener over UW-Oshkosh down in Sauget, 4-1, in 13 innings. It's a shame that Brent Kessinger didn't get a win out of this one; he started and pitched seven innings of four-hit, one-walk shutout ball for the Vikings before the bullpen coughed up the 1-0 lead in the eighth. Fortunately for the Vikes, they finally got the timely hits that they needed in the 13th with a pair of bases-loaded singles off of the bats of Alec Strachota and Mitch Jordan to forge the win.
Yes, it is too bad Kessinger didn't pick up the win, but the bullpen and the Viking defense came through in one clutch situation after another -- six innings of one-run ball against a quality Oshkosh squad, and three double plays.  In fact, the Vikings almost pulled off a triple play in the bottom of the 13th, but the batter beat the second relay by a step.

Lots of new faces this season -- I'm looking forward to seeing some exciting baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2016, 11:09:12 PM
Carthage was swept by a middle of the road Hamline today in AZ. Redmen drop to 1-3. I had high hopes that the Redmen would be able to return to glory this season after their deep NCAA run that left them a game short of the World Series, but right now, I am beyond frustrated with this team. I know it's early, but they are 1-3 vs two mediocre programs. What is going to happen when they face IWU, Augustana and North Central. I am hoping it was first day jitters in AZ, but my gut tells me differently.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2016, 02:12:23 PM
Join the club, BP. North Park is really struggling thus far this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2016, 12:22:12 PM
Carthage falls to 1-4 after another loss on Saturday. Today vs Luther is already a must-win game for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 20, 2016, 02:28:44 PM
While they are not starting QUITE as badly as Carthage and NPU, at 6-6 IWU is not exactly living up to expectations either.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2016, 10:30:19 AM
Carthage falls to Luther and sits at 1-5 on the season... feels like I was just kicked in the gut.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: 108 Stitches on March 21, 2016, 10:45:47 AM
BigPoppa getting kicked in the gut...
(https://www.askideas.com/media/13/Funny-Baseball-Player-Kicking-Picture.jpg)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2016, 05:12:53 PM
Redmen up 13-5 on Buena Vista in 9th right now... looks like the bats finally got going today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 21, 2016, 10:13:11 PM
With their losses Carthage will probably lose the nine points they had as the CCIW's only representative in the Top 25 poll.  But at 8-0 (including a win over previously(?) ranked Wooster), NCC should get some votes, maybe even cracking the lower reaches of the Top 25.  NPU may already be out for the season (in terms of poll votes), and IWU and Carthage would both need a whole slew of wins to start getting votes (or in Carthage's case, resume getting votes).  Millikin has started 5-1, but against tomato cans (including their loss to a 3-11 Greenville team); Elmhurst is 7-3, but hasn't exactly faced 'Murderers Row'.

It's obviously way to early to wave any white flags, but the conference is running low on time to show anything (since conference games show nothing about conference strength).  Someone may yet get hot at the right time (like IWU did so fantastically in 2010), but this may be another down season for the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2016, 09:18:13 AM
Redmen bats awoke yesterday sweeping a pait from Buena Vista 13-8 and Hastings (NAIA) 18-3.

Carthage moves to 3-5 with an off-day today followed by 6 games in the next five days highlighted by a Thursday tilt with Bethel (MN) who I feel will be a major player in the Midwest Region this year. Reeling off 5-6 wins to finish the trip could help right the ship.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2016, 11:13:24 PM
As expected, Carthage lost all their votes.  As expected, NCC got a fair number (23?), but was not that close to breaking into the Top 25.  As further expected, no one else in the conference got any votes.  It is hard for any conference in the Northern and Midwestern areas to get much respect (baseball has become a mostly southern and western sport, due to weather considerations), though the CCIW has had some breakthrough TEAMS.  We need to do better in the non-con games if we are ever to be respected like the basketball and football teams.  It's tough, when the D3 season nationally is nearly half over before we can even practice outside! :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2016, 03:08:58 PM
Redmen are rolling today as they are up 14-0 on Colby after 3 innings. Glad my pep-talk helped!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2016, 01:34:39 PM
Big day ahead for the Redmen today with a split DH vs Buena Vista and Bethel. I'd be crushed if they were swept, happy with a split and ecstatic with a sweep.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 26, 2016, 03:24:11 PM
This Carthage squad is a roller coaster of ups and downs. It appears they have bats rolling, but they blew a late lead to drop one vs Buena Vista and then got boat-raced by Bethel. They have scored double-digit runs in five of their last six games, winning four of those, but that still is not going to get it done.

I will be very interested to see how the CCIW plays out. Next week's matchup with North Park is already looming as a big series for the Redmen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2016, 02:46:21 PM
It's obviously looming as a big series for North Park as well. The Vikings are having trouble putting the pitching, hitting, and defense all together consistently in any given ballgame. They've also been without veteran starter Alex Vannucci thus far this season, although my understanding is that NPU hopes to have him back on the mound pretty soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2016, 11:57:17 AM
Is Elmhurst the real deal or not. While they have faced a relatively weak schedule, they do have a win vs perennial power Eastern Connecticut State. At 11-3, is Elmhurst a contender in the CCIW or will they be exposed in conference play?

Any CCIW predictions for this weekend?

I like Carthage to take 2/3 from NPU
Wheaton to sweep Millikin
IWU to take 2/3 from Elmhurst
NCC to take 2/3 Augustana
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 29, 2016, 04:30:54 PM
New poll is out.  Undefeated (11-0) NCC has entered the top 25 at #19.  Elmhurst picked up 5 points.  No one else received any votes (nor would I have expected them to, unless Carthage got some voter's #25 slot).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2016, 09:16:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 29, 2016, 04:30:54 PM
New poll is out.  Undefeated (11-0) NCC has entered the top 25 at #19.  Elmhurst picked up 5 points.  No one else received any votes (nor would I have expected them to, unless Carthage got some voter's #25 slot).

Anyone voting for Carthage right now at 7-7 would be in danger of being ridiculed...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2016, 09:44:40 AM
Looking over the Carthage stats this morning, two thing stood out to me:
1. Are opponents really hitting .331 against them? If so, wow.
2. 6.19 ERA??

Carthage, a program historically built on front-line pitching, appears to be in trouble on the mound.I am hoping they can get it back together, but it doens't look good when you can't get hitters out consistently. No program can out-hit a 6.19 ERA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 01, 2016, 01:47:23 PM
It is beginning to feel like I am all alone on this board. Does ANY one have a feeling the CCIW?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2016, 02:19:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2016, 01:47:23 PM
It is beginning to feel like I am all alone on this board. Does ANY one have a feeling the CCIW?

I follow as best I can, but baseball doesn't get the coverage (or broadcasts) of basketball and football.  It's hard keeping up from 400 miles away!  Greg sees a lot of games in person; maybe he'll chime in more often.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on April 01, 2016, 02:35:18 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2016, 01:47:23 PM
It is beginning to feel like I am all alone on this board. Does ANY one have a feeling the CCIW?

I do not have a good feel for the league as a whole. However, North Central has to be the clear favorite. Their team E.R.A. is 1.55 right now. I had a chance to see their ace Bryan Polowy last year and he is not a normal D3 talent.

I also like Wheaton College to be in the mix. They came on very strong at the end of last season before a post season flameout, and they will feature a strong pitching staff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 01, 2016, 04:49:00 PM
It looked like Carthage had all the tools needed to be back at the top of the CCIW at the beginning of the season.  maybe they will get it back together but a poor start has North Central getting confidence for a run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 01, 2016, 06:47:56 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2016, 02:19:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 01, 2016, 01:47:23 PM
It is beginning to feel like I am all alone on this board. Does ANY one have a feeling the CCIW?

I follow as best I can, but baseball doesn't get the coverage (or broadcasts) of basketball and football.  It's hard keeping up from 400 miles away!  Greg sees a lot of games in person; maybe he'll chime in more often.

I've only seen my team to date, Chuck. I don't have a feel for the other seven teams in the league, although, based upon what I've seen of the league in past years, I'm not sanguine about North Park's chances this season.

(That doesn't mean that I'm not rooting for a turnaround, though, and I'm certainly looking forward to broadcasting tomorrow's CCIW-opening doubleheader between NPU and Carthage.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 11:16:09 AM
Today's twinbill between Carthage and North Park has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon due to inclement weather.  First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 5 PM at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2016/4/2/baseball-dh-postponed-to-sunday.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2016, 03:44:47 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 11:16:09 AM
Today's twinbill between Carthage and North Park has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon due to inclement weather.  First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 5 PM at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2016/4/2/baseball-dh-postponed-to-sunday.aspx?path=baseball)

Can we assume the final game of the series would move to Monday at Carthage?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 03:54:07 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2016, 03:44:47 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 11:16:09 AM
Today's twinbill between Carthage and North Park has been postponed until tomorrow afternoon due to inclement weather.  First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 5 PM at the Holmgren Athletic Complex. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2016/4/2/baseball-dh-postponed-to-sunday.aspx?path=baseball)

Can we assume the final game of the series would move to Monday at Carthage?
Yes, game three will be in Kenosha. I see a 3.30 PM start on the North Park website.  This will no doubt have an impact on pitching for the midweek games (North Park travels to Bloomington on Tuesday) and Carthage hosts Wheaton.

For the games that are being played, two of them are slugfests -- IWU 9, Elmhurst 3  in the 6th (Live Stats lists "wind 34 mph") and Wheaton is leading Millikin 15-9 in the 6th.  Augie is hosting North Central, also reporting 37 mph winds, but it's a much closer affair with Augie up 5-4 in the 6th.  Not ideal conditions for lowering that team ERA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 05:31:24 PM
Early Saturday results:

Wheaton-Millikin, suspended in the 6th with the Thunder leading, 15-9.  Play will pick up at that point on Monday.
Augie hands North Central its first defeat, 10-8, on a two-run homer by Trace Gingerich in the bottom of the 10th.
IWU took game one from Elmhurst, 15-5 in 7 innings.
The North Park-Carthage twinbill has already been postponed to tomorrow afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2016, 07:44:08 PM
Elmhurst rebounds in game 2 with a 4-2 victory over IWU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2016, 07:55:35 PM
Tomorrow's going to be a long day behind the mic for me. North Park is hosting Olivet in a softball doubleheader at Holmgren prior to the CC @ NPU baseball twinbill, and I'm broadcasting all four games.

The Vikings and Red Men will probably get in a lot of their pregame work over at the Helwig Rec Center while the softball games are going on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2016, 05:07:52 PM
I think IWU just eliminated Elmhurst's 5 points in the poll.  Tied 2-2 after 2 at Elmhurst, the Titans scored SEVENTEEN runs in the third!  They coasted home for a 21-7 win, moving to 2-1 in conference play.  IF the pitching comes around, they obviously have the batting power to be title contenders.  (Although their hitting is either streaky or can be contained by good pitching - yesterday they won game one 15-5, but were stymied in the second game 4-2.  So they outscored Elmhurst 38-16, but only won two of three.)

Exhibit A that pitching/defense is more important than offense - I just realized that the Jays only win on the weekend was the game where they scored the fewest runs!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2016, 01:28:48 AM
Carthage routed NPU in game one, 18-6, in a game in which the Vikings did almost nothing right after the first inning -- with the exception of a Caleb Layden homer that almost killed me as it shattered the press box window right in front of me. Fortunately, it didn't come through the window but bounced back into the stands, but there was glass everywhere. I can't believe that neither I nor Mr. B (who was scoring the game in the press box next to me) got cut by flying glass.

It appeared as though the Vikings were going to sleepwalk their way through game two as well, as they trailed 6-0 going into the bottom of the sixth and 7-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. But at that point the North Park bats awoke, as the Vikings put up six runs in the bottom of the seventh. It stayed 7-7 until the bottom of the 11th, when Greg Grana hit an infield single with one out and Jacob Woolsey on first. The Carthage third baseman, who wouldn't have beaten Grana with the throw, anyway, threw the ball away ... and as it skittered off in foul ground past the right-field line, Woolsey got on his horse and came around to score without a throw, giving NPU a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind win and the split.

Both teams look very, very flawed. Neither had any consistent pitching today, and the defense was somewhere south of atrocious, as the two teams combined for 15 errors in the doubleheader.

I had to broadcast a softball doubleheader at Holmgren today prior to the baseball twinbill, so, all told, I was on the air from noon until 11:30 today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 04, 2016, 02:04:09 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2016, 01:28:48 AM
Carthage routed NPU in game one, 18-6, in a game in which the Vikings did almost nothing right after the first inning -- with the exception of a Caleb Layden homer that almost killed me as it shattered the press box window right in front of me. Fortunately, it didn't come through the window but bounced back into the stands, but there was glass everywhere. I can't believe that neither I nor Mr. B (who was scoring the game in the press box next to me) got cut by flying glass.

It appeared as though the Vikings were going to sleepwalk their way through game two as well, as they trailed 6-0 going into the bottom of the sixth and 7-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. But at that point the North Park bats awoke, as the Vikings put up six runs in the bottom of the seventh. It stayed 7-7 until the bottom of the 11th, when Greg Grana hit an infield single with one out and Jacob Woolsey on first. The Carthage third baseman, who wouldn't have beaten Grana with the throw, anyway, threw the ball away ... and as it skittered off in foul ground past the right-field line, Woolsey got on his horse and came around to score without a throw, giving NPU a dramatic 8-7 come-from-behind win and the split.

Both teams look very, very flawed. Neither had any consistent pitching today, and the defense was somewhere south of atrocious, as the two teams combined for 15 errors in the doubleheader.

I had to broadcast a softball doubleheader at Holmgren today prior to the baseball twinbill, so, all told, I was on the air from noon until 11:30 today.


One, I'll call him rowdy, fan of NPU totally ruined the live broadcast of the game with his loud mouth.  Turned it off after just two innings because I couldn't stand his constant "stinky cheese" comments.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 04, 2016, 04:12:15 PM
The rubber game between North Park and Carthage has been postponed until Wednesday, 4 PM, in Kenosha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2016, 05:10:34 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 04, 2016, 02:04:09 PMOne, I'll call him rowdy, fan of NPU totally ruined the live broadcast of the game with his loud mouth.  Turned it off after just two innings because I couldn't stand his constant "stinky cheese" comments.

At some point North Park's AD showed up in the stands and forced him to tone it down.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 04, 2016, 11:09:11 PM
Greg, I note that NPU plays a DH in Bloomington tomorrow.  Will you be broadcasting, or do you only do home games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2016, 11:12:25 PM
I only do home games for baseball. The only sport for which I travel with the team and broadcast road games is football (although I did do a couple of road men's basketball games this past season and may do so again in 2016-17, circumstances allowing).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 10:37:43 AM
Today will be a good test to see if Wheaton is for real... their 3-0 start is slightly tainted by a weak Millikin sweep, but today will be a test to see if they have the pitching tpo make a run at the top of the CCIW. Doubt they'd bring back Friday's starter today on short rest this early in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 02:40:45 PM
New poll is out.  If anyone needed more proof that just looking at a team in isolation doesn't work, despite going 1-2 since the previous poll, NCC ROSE one slot to 18th.  As expected, Elmhurst lost their five points and no other team from the CCIW replaced them.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on April 05, 2016, 03:15:07 PM
Wheaton does have the horses on the mound - Kaufman, Moran, Schmitz - these are all experienced pitchers who have been all-conference in the past.

They appear to have a good offense this year as well, but that may still be an open question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 03:27:32 PM
Quote from: Chantastic on April 05, 2016, 03:15:07 PM
Wheaton does have the horses on the mound - Kaufman, Moran, Schmitz - these are all experienced pitchers who have been all-conference in the past.

They appear to have a good offense this year as well, but that may still be an open question.

I really like Wheaton in the preseason based on what they had coming back.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 03:28:48 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 22, 2015, 10:08:57 AM
Anyone have any early predictions for the CCIW in 2016?

Based on my own scientific algorithm of looking at returning All-CCIW players and awarding points as follows; First-team pitchers (5) First-team hitters (4) Second-team pitchers (4) and Second-team hitters (3)... and rewarding UTL guys as pitchers I have come up with the following prediction:(Note that I place a higher value on pitching than hitting)

School (returning pts)
1. Wheaton (17 pts)
2. North Central (16)
3. Carthage (12)
4. Augustana (11)
5. Ill Wesleyan (6)
6. Elmhurst (4)
7. Millikin (3)
8. North Park (0)

I am sure the NPU and IWU faithful will not be happy with the results, but it is something to help pass the time as the cold settles in. Also, I am not certain I agree with the results 100%, but I think it at minimum gives us a baseline for what is returning in the CCIW. It does not take into account any of the new recruiting added by each program.

It will be interesting to see how my preseason prediction pans out as CCIW play is finally underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on April 05, 2016, 04:38:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 03:28:48 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 22, 2015, 10:08:57 AM
Anyone have any early predictions for the CCIW in 2016?

Based on my own scientific algorithm of looking at returning All-CCIW players and awarding points as follows; First-team pitchers (5) First-team hitters (4) Second-team pitchers (4) and Second-team hitters (3)... and rewarding UTL guys as pitchers I have come up with the following prediction:(Note that I place a higher value on pitching than hitting)

School (returning pts)
1. Wheaton (17 pts)
2. North Central (16)
3. Carthage (12)
4. Augustana (11)
5. Ill Wesleyan (6)
6. Elmhurst (4)
7. Millikin (3)
8. North Park (0)

I am sure the NPU and IWU faithful will not be happy with the results, but it is something to help pass the time as the cold settles in. Also, I am not certain I agree with the results 100%, but I think it at minimum gives us a baseline for what is returning in the CCIW. It does not take into account any of the new recruiting added by each program.

It will be interesting to see how my preseason prediction pans out as CCIW play is finally underway.

I think you're allowed to take 4 pts away from Wheaton and drop them a slot since Peltz didn't return. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 05:17:26 PM
Well, a pitching duel it ain't.  After 5 innings in B'town, NPU has 11 runs on 14 hits and three Titan errors; IWU has 12 runs on 15 hits and four Viking errors.  Unless things change, this game will do wonders for both teams' hitting stats, not so much for either team's pitching or fielding stats! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 06:00:25 PM
It is still close and exciting (like a trainwreck is exciting ::)): after 7 in B'town, NPU 14 runs on 19 hits and five Titans errors, IWU 15 runs on 19 hits and 4 Viking errors. 

It appears that both teams have the hitting to contend; does either have the pitching or fielding?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:38:29 PM
Illinois Wesleyan beats North Park in game one, 20-16. The two teams combined for 45 hits and 11 errors. It was like a freakin' Little League game.

I don't think that the unspectacular overall W-L records of both NPU and IWU are mirages. Both of these teams look pretty flawed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 06:46:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Yeah, that degree of self-restraint is difficult! ;D

IWU wins game one, 20-16, in a game I'm kinda glad I didn't see.  I love baseball; I'm not sure I'd enjoy whatever it was they were playing today!  Final tally: NPU 16 runs on 21 hits and SEVEN Titan errors; IWU 20 runs on 24 hits and four Viking errors. :o

I'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?  (Greg, when was the last time the Vikings scored 16 runs and lost?)

I assume Horenberger Field has lights?  Otherwise I doubt they can do game two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 05, 2016, 06:50:41 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:38:29 PM
Illinois Wesleyan beats North Park in game one, 20-16. The two teams combined for 45 hits and 11 errors. It was like a freakin' Little League game.

I don't think that the unspectacular overall W-L records of both NPU and IWU are mirages. Both of these teams look pretty flawed.
While the game was no doubt a nightmare to watch, there will be some scoring changes to clean up once we get the file.  For one play, Strachota reached on a bunt, which was scored as a hit and a sacrifice -- leading to the impossible batting line of six hits in five at-bats.  I can't remember the last time a Viking batter had six hits in a game, but if it ever happened, it took him at least six at bats. On another play, a Titan runner moved up from second to third on a flyball out, and the batter was credited with a SAC fly.  That's also wrong -- a SAC fly happens only when a runner on third comes in to score.  Finally, there was a wild play during which the Titan first baseman was charged with two throwing errors -- possible, but it looks strange.  Sorry to be nitpicky but I do like to get the scoring accurately recorded.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 07:05:37 PM
OMG!!  The FIRST batter of the second game and he reaches on a Titan throwing error!  I think I'm packing it in for a couple hours! ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 07:10:27 PM
Yeah, Strachota's line score had me scratching my head, too.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 06:46:14 PMI'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?

Pitching and defense are much too important to do without if you want to contend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 05, 2016, 07:52:18 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 06:46:14 PM
I'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?  (Greg, when was the last time the Vikings scored 16 runs and lost?)
I checked the archived results and found two donnybrooks between North Park and Carthage in which the Vikings came out on the short end: 16-15 (10 innings) in 2013 and 15-14 in 2010.  There was also a 15-14 loss to Wheaton in 1997 and a 20-15 defeat to National Christian College, an NAIA outfit from Texas, back in 2000.  But the wildest result of all was against Concordia-Chicago in 1996, a 28-26 loss.  That's as far back as I looked, but if you are dying to see more, here is the historical website I have put together. (http://www.cadillac76.com/bbrecords/home.html)

My favorite crazy game, which I couldn't be at because I was teaching, was the 31-18 win over the University of Chicago in 1999.  The Maroons were up 12-0 after three and the Vikings stormed back to take a 21-18 lead going into the 8th.  Andrew Postek came in as a reliever and retired the side, then the Vikings exploded for 10 in the bottom of the 8th. Postek worked a scoreless ninth and picked up a save.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 07:56:16 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 07:10:27 PM
Yeah, Strachota's line score had me scratching my head, too.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 06:46:14 PMI'll repeat - both teams seem to have the hitting to contend; does either team have the pitching or defense?

Pitching and defense are much too important to do without if you want to contend.

Agreed, which is why I'm worried.  After three innings in the nightcap, it is NPU 4, IWU 1.  You can out slug teams sometimes, but hitting can come and go.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:34:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Not so fast... he brought IWU's 2010 run up on the West Region board last week ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:38:51 PM
Carthage and Wheaton split in Kenosha today with Carthage winning 5-2 in the opener and then getting walloped 10-0 in game two. No idea what to think of this Redmen team other than they are very inconsistent. And inconsistent doesn't fly with Augie... they'll either change it or find themselves out of  the lineup/rotation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 09:20:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:34:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Not so fast... he brought IWU's 2010 run up on the West Region board last week ;D

Nice catch, BP.

Should we start an off-the-board pool on how long he'll be able to go before his next mention of 2010? ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 05, 2016, 09:22:43 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 09:20:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:34:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Not so fast... he brought IWU's 2010 run up on the West Region board last week ;D

Nice catch, BP.

Should we start an off-the-board pool on how long he'll be able to go before his next mention of 2010? ;)
We could do that because each posting is time-stamped to the exact hour, minute, and second.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 09:45:17 PM
IWU gets the sweep, 8-6.  Except for the combined total of FIVE errors, it appeared to resemble baseball.

As Greg said, it appears that both teams are deeply flawed, but my gut hunch is that the whole conference is, and both will make the conference tourney.

While I didn't realize it at the time, the 2010 team (go ahead and reset your calendars! ;D) was obviously very talented, and simply took a long time to show it.  I'm not getting that feeling from this team (though I didn't get it from that team either until about the third game in Appleton).  And with that glorious track record of predictions ::) I will say I don't see a CCIW team making it out of the regional this year. :( 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 09:56:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 09:45:17 PMWhile I didn't realize it at the time, the 2010 team (go ahead and reset your calendars! ;D)

Calendars? I think we can do it with a stopwatch.

The Vikes wasted a good effort on the mound by Sean Eder in this one. For all the confidence that was put in him when he arrived on campus as a potential weekend starter, he really hadn't done anything but get blown up in a starting role until today. If he can continue along the lines of what he did in this game, it could make a big difference for the Park.

Unfortunately, the bullpen continues to have a bad case of the shakes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 05, 2016, 11:18:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 09:56:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 09:45:17 PMWhile I didn't realize it at the time, the 2010 team (go ahead and reset your calendars! ;D)

Calendars? I think we can do it with a stopwatch.

The Vikes wasted a good effort on the mound by Sean Eder in this one. For all the confidence that was put in him when he arrived on campus as a potential weekend starter, he really hadn't done anything but get blown up in a starting role until today. If he can continue along the lines of what he did in this game, it could make a big difference for the Park.

Unfortunately, the bullpen continues to have a bad case of the shakes.
+1!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2016, 08:55:14 AM
When did the CCIW become so pedestrian as a league?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on April 06, 2016, 09:44:00 AM
What are you basing this off of? 7 of the 8 teams are .500 or above.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2016, 11:07:58 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on April 06, 2016, 09:44:00 AM
What are you basing this off of? 7 of the 8 teams are .500 or above.

Basing it off the fact that in many season 2-3 teams are in the running Pool C bids... with many teams already at 7-9 losses, those Pool C chances are almost gone at this point. NCC appears to be the only team with any Pool C chance unless Wheaton can get rolling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2016, 10:05:50 PM


Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:34:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Not so fast... he brought IWU's 2010 run up on the West Region board last week ;D

In fairness to myself, the 2010 reference on the West Region board was to correct an error by a poster who referenced the 2010 Titans - I did not initiate that reference! ;)

BP, I notice that this weekend is the annual unfairness in scheduling between IWU and Carthage (and I assume for Carthage that also includes Millikin and Augie?) - depending on year, one or the other plays all three games away.  This is, alas, our year to get screwed.  I don't even dare dream of a sweep, would be ecstatic with 2-1, would be resigned to 1-2, would be distraught with 0-3.  It's unfair, but it is also D3 colleges cutting costs.  I understand it, but I don't have to like it.

I'm guessing that Carroll will have the same scheduling 'anomalies' as Carthage next season?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2016, 08:18:22 AM
But to be fair, I am choosing to ignore the facts of the case ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2016, 08:23:10 AM
Carthage and NPU finally finished their three game that series that started on Saturday, was bumped to Sunday, postponed on Monday and then moved to Weds to accommodate the Wheaton DH on Tues.... did you get all that? Redmen knock off the Vikes 18-9 to take the rubber game of the series. While it seems the Redmen have the bats to win on a daily basis it seems tier pitching is very inconsistent.

The CCIW is going to be very interesting in 2016!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 08, 2016, 12:23:56 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2016, 10:05:50 PM


Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2016, 08:34:46 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2016, 06:32:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2016, 04:17:20 PM
Close (though not necessarily well-played) first game in Bloomington.  After three innings, NPU has 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and two Titan errors; IWU has 4 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, an error, and two wild pitches.  A very important DH for both teams if they want to contend. (Yeah, I'm aware it is VERY early, but you don't want to dig TOO deep a hole - runs like IWU had in 2010 are EXTREMELY rare.)

Wow, twelve whole days went by without a mention of 2010 by you, Chuck. That's an impressive display of self-restraint. ::)

Not so fast... he brought IWU's 2010 run up on the West Region board last week ;D

In fairness to myself, the 2010 reference on the West Region board was to correct an error by a poster who referenced the 2010 Titans - I did not initiate that reference! ;)

BP, I notice that this weekend is the annual unfairness in scheduling between IWU and Carthage (and I assume for Carthage that also includes Millikin and Augie?) - depending on year, one or the other plays all three games away.  This is, alas, our year to get screwed.  I don't even dare dream of a sweep, would be ecstatic with 2-1, would be resigned to 1-2, would be distraught with 0-3.  It's unfair, but it is also D3 colleges cutting costs.  I understand it, but I don't have to like it.

I'm guessing that Carroll will have the same scheduling 'anomalies' as Carthage next season?

The schedule 'anomalies' you refer to which also affects the Millikin/Wheaton, Millikin/Elmhurst, Millikin/North Park, Millikin/Carthage, Millikin/Augie, and Augie/Carthage series will soon be a thing of the past since the conference schedule for next year will look very different than the format that we're all used to.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2016, 01:29:01 PM
Curious to see how they handle adding a 9th team... do they use a rotating BYE? Or divisions (if so, do the divisions cross-over to play or not... the MWC North/South only play in post-season)? Or unbalanced scheduling?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 03:08:16 PM
A real pitchers' duel in Kenosha in game one of the DH.  (Alas, I haven't found livestats, and the video gives little info, so I don't even know who the pitchers are!)  After five, Carthage has two hits, one run; IWU has no hits, no runs.  Perhaps best of all, neither team has any errors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 03:24:49 PM
Finally found livestats on the Carthage website, and the stats on the video were wrong.  At the end of six, Carthage is up 3-0.  It was the Titans' Huskisson who had a no hitter, though alas 5 BBs, including 3 in the third which led to a run on a fielder's choice.  In the bottom of the sixth, he lost his no-hitter after 5.2 innings on a double by Rave, followed by a HR by Letto.  Meanwhile, Helmich for Carthage yielded 5 hits (now six), but had walked no one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2016, 03:35:04 PM
I am following on live-stats as well... this is the part that scares me as Carthage has been known to blow late-game leads like this already a few times this season.Hang on Redmen!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2016, 03:46:46 PM
... and right on cue the Titans have two on in the 9th.

BUT, the Redmen hang on to win in 3-0 in game one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2016, 04:02:19 PM
Is the Carthage/IWU series just a single game today? and a DH tomorrow? I am seeing it listed two different ways.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 04:13:07 PM
Both websites list it as 2 today, 1 tomorrow.

Congratulations to Helmich (a complete game shutout, just seven well-scattered hits) and the RedMen.  But congratulations also to Huskisson, yielding just two hits in seven innings (with a no hitter thru 5.2), but cut out those walks! :(  And congratulations to both teams for an errorless game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2016, 04:24:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 04:13:07 PM
Both websites list it as 2 today, 1 tomorrow.

Congratulations to Helmich (a complete game shutout, just seven well-scattered hits) and the RedMen.  But congratulations also to Huskisson, yielding just two hits in seven innings (with a no hitter thru 5.2), but cut out those walks! :(  And congratulations to both teams for an errorless game.

Carthage has a DH listed for tomorrow, the Titans for today... trying to decide if I am waiting in vain for second game to start.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 05:02:40 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2016, 04:24:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 04:13:07 PM
Both websites list it as 2 today, 1 tomorrow.

Congratulations to Helmich (a complete game shutout, just seven well-scattered hits) and the RedMen.  But congratulations also to Huskisson, yielding just two hits in seven innings (with a no hitter thru 5.2), but cut out those walks! :(  And congratulations to both teams for an errorless game.

Carthage has a DH listed for tomorrow, the Titans for today... trying to decide if I am waiting in vain for second game to start.

I must have misread the Carthage site - I thought it (along with IWU and CCIW) listed a DH today, but so far I'm still getting nothing from either livestats or video.  Seems strange - ALWAYS go with the DH first: if there are weather problems on the second day, it is much easier to re-schedule one game than two!

I'll try one more time in an hour or so, but looks like just one game today.  At least it appeared to be a very good game, even if the wrong team won! ;)  I watched a couple of innings on video (before calling it quits due to the lack of any info on the video, except what turned out to be incorrect! :P) - fielding appeared to be very crisp for both teams compared with what I was expecting from previous box scores.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 05:28:09 PM
I may or may not have misread the Carthage site, but I KNOW the CCIW site listed games for 1 and 4 - they no longer list a game for 4, so I guess only one game today.  I wonder if the coaches decided the weather would be better tomorrow and rescheduled on the fly?  (I have no idea what the weather was today.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 09, 2016, 08:58:34 PM
North Park split with North Central today, with the Vikings taking the first game, 13-4 (Meger over Polowy) and the Cardinals bouncing back in game two, 9-3 (Van Dyck over Kessinger).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2016, 09:47:44 PM
Still VERY early, but essentially a four-way tie for first, with NCC just 1/2 game behind:
  IWU/Carthage both 4-2
  Augie/Wheaton both 5-3
  NCC 4-3.

For the conference tourney, nobody in/nobody out (though, realistically, Millikin was out before the season began. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 10, 2016, 11:07:43 AM
Today's contest between North Park @ North Central has been postponed till tomorrow at 4 PM.  Tuesday's non-conference game with Benedictine has been moved to Thursday. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2016/4/2/baseball-dh-postponed-to-sunday.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2016, 12:52:00 PM
Hoping that the turf infield will allow Carthage/IWU to get their games in today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2016, 04:18:18 PM
I had pretty much thrown in the towel on this game and went off to read.  Came back part way thru the Titans' NINE run seventh! ;D

Titans 9, RedMen 5, going to the bottom of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2016, 05:14:11 PM
Titans win, 11-7.  Got a bit dicey in the bottom of the ninth: Rave led off with a HR, then two guys got on, but IWU escaped without further damage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2016, 06:28:03 PM
In this final game, looks like the Titans will have to try to out-slug Carthage - 2 innings in and the Titans are already on their third pitcher!  But they only trail 4-2 heading to the third.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2016, 07:36:13 PM
This is the problem for BOTH teams... lack of a bullpen. It is why neither will be a serious threat if they somehow make it to the NCAA Regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2016, 08:22:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 10, 2016, 07:36:13 PM
This is the problem for BOTH teams... lack of a bullpen. It is why neither will be a serious threat if they somehow make it to the NCAA Regional.

Yeah, in seven innings the Titans have used six pitchers!  As I expected based on the ifrst two innings, it is indeed a slugfest - IWU 13, Carthage 9 after seven.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2016, 09:14:28 PM
IWU 14, Carthage 10 - FINAL.  I didn't actually watch video of any of the game, but apparently rather sloppy - after an error free game yesterday, and IIRC only a Titan error in the first game today (box score not yet up), the Titans had one error and the RedMen had FOUR.

IWU has been getting by in conference play simply by out-muscling teams, not by good pitching or fielding.  That is NOT the usual Titan way and is too subject to cold hitting days (plus, I'm sure their are plenty of teams around D3 that we simply can't out-slug).

But since the Titans are now all alone in first place, I'd better not whine too much - it would be most unseemly! ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2016, 07:52:35 AM
Carthage is a mess right now... able to beat anyone on any day, and then fall apart and implode the next (giving up a 9-run inning in one game, four errors the next).

"It's the same old story," said Carthage coach Augie Schmidt IV.  "We pound people early and give it up late.  It's getting old, even though there were some bright spots with the starting pitching.  It huts to lose these games late.  We were in total control in both games, and then one bad thing leads to another.  We're just not tough enough to overcome that right now.  We'll figure it out, but we have to hurry up and do it.  For most of the day, I thought we were the better team."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Chantastic on April 12, 2016, 09:40:56 AM
It looks like there is a clear top 5 in the CCIW - Augustana, IWU, Wheaton, North Central, and Carthage. I have a very hard time seeing Elmhurst, Millikin, or North Park contending this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2016, 10:47:34 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on April 12, 2016, 09:40:56 AM
It looks like there is a clear top 5 in the CCIW - Augustana, IWU, Wheaton, North Central, and Carthage. I have a very hard time seeing Elmhurst, Millikin, or North Park contending this year.

NPU's slide is a shock to me. Luke Johnson really turned that program around... must just be one of those years right now, because I doubt he forgot how to coach. Which of those five contenders gets left home for the CCIW tourney? Carthage has already face IWU and Wheaton (one game left this week) so they may have some advantage as they one have to face two of other four contenders (Not certain how the other schedules finish out in CCIW play).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2016, 03:13:04 PM
In the poll, NCC barely stayed in the Top 25, falling to #23.  Augie picked up 5 points.

I, too, am surprised to see NPU starting 2-6.  I'm sure Greg will understand and forgive me for hoping they fall to 2-7 on Wednesday. ;)  This weekend they face Millikin - IF they can get a sweep they would be right back in contention for making the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2016, 06:00:24 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 12, 2016, 10:47:34 AM
Quote from: Chantastic on April 12, 2016, 09:40:56 AM
It looks like there is a clear top 5 in the CCIW - Augustana, IWU, Wheaton, North Central, and Carthage. I have a very hard time seeing Elmhurst, Millikin, or North Park contending this year.

NPU's slide is a shock to me. Luke Johnson really turned that program around... must just be one of those years right now, because I doubt he forgot how to coach.

In all honesty, this is the second straight bad year for the Vikings, not the first. Last season NPU went 18-22, and what's worse, the Vikes were only 7-14 in CCIW play, breaking a five-year streak of CCIW tourney appearances.

Injuries have hurt the Vikings -- #2 starter Alex Vannucci has been out all season thus far with a shoulder problem, and the team's mainstay slugger, Dan Sabin, has been a shadow of his former self at the plate due to a nagging hip injury. But it goes beyond that. The Vikings are terrible in the field -- both their .941 fielding average overall and their .927 fielding average in CCIW play are dead last in the league, and the Park is giving up an average of almost two and a half unearned runs per game  -- and the bullpen has been beyond atrocious. The hitting has come around in league play; the Vikings couldn't hit at all on any of their three southern road trips, but their bats have been lively against Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, and North Central. They simply can't score their way out of the deep holes that their pitching and defense continue to put them in. And, actually, those holes are being dug when the Vikings have already established leads; in five of NPU's six CCIW losses to date the Park has coughed up a lead, and in the first four of those five Heimlich maneuvers the leads were four, seven, four, and two runs, respectively.

I honestly don't know if it's a matter of a team that underperforms no matter what buttons Luke and Jake push, or if the talent level of the team has simply declined from that successful stretch that the Park had earlier in the decade, or if it's both. All I know is that I don't like it one bit ... a sentiment that Mr. B shares, and I'm certain that nobody's bothered by the program's downward slide more than Luke and Jake.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2016, 06:38:43 PM
Another NON-pitchers' duel in Chicago - after four innings, NPU has 5 runs on 7 hits, IWU has 7 runs on 5 hits (the difference is walks and errors).  All in all, I prefer to lead in runs rather than hits! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2016, 09:12:49 PM
Final in Chicago: IWU 16, NPU 10.  IWU led through-out until the Vikings got 4 in the bottom of the 6th, to take a 9-8 lead.  The Titans promptly played the Genesis card ("In the big inning"), putting up 8 runs in the top of the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2016, 10:57:09 PM
Make that seven CCIW losses, six blown leads.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2016, 02:58:18 PM
After six in Napperville, NCC all over the Titans, 9-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2016, 03:49:42 PM
NCC 9, IWU 1 is now the final.  Poor fielding was again the killer, as NCC scored six unearned runs in the fifth.  Each team had ten hits, but the Cards made 'em count; the Titans didn't.  End of story.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2016, 05:03:37 PM
And just like that the high hopes the Redmen had are dashed as they continue to drop CCIW games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2016, 11:13:04 PM
NCC completed the sweep of the Titans with a 10-inning, 7-6 win.  The Cards took a 5-3 lead with 3 in the bottom of the 8th, the Titans responded with 3 in the top of the 9th to regain the lead at 6-5, but the Cards got one in the bottom of the ninth and one in the bottom of the tenth for the win (and the CCIW lead).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2016, 04:58:02 PM
IWU decisively salvaged the final game of the series, beating NCC 10-2.  They are now tied for the lead, both 8-4.  One game back are Augie and Wheaton, both 7-5.  Carthage is not as dead as Big Poppa seems to be making them out to be, beating Augie today to go to 6-6.  And Elmhurst can't be ruled out for the tourney at 5-7.  It's promising to be an exciting run to the tourney!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2016, 09:33:57 AM
At 6-6 in the CCIW, Carthage has been very inconsistent. The schedule DOES favor them from this point as they only face one team that is above them in the standings (NCC). I see them going 6-3 the rest of the way... 1-2 vs NCC, 2-1 vs Elmhurst and sweeping Millikin. That would put them at 12-9 and give them a chance to get a CCIW bid.

As for Pool C chances, NCC is the only CCIW with a shot at one... but right now, the CCIW is looking like a one bid league.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 18, 2016, 10:14:47 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2016, 09:33:57 AM
As for Pool C chances, NCC is the only CCIW with a shot at one... but right now, the CCIW is looking like a one bid league.

Parity is a double edged sword.  It makes the conference race more exciting, but you are often limited to one playoff team.  That's the system though, and I think more teams having a shot is definitely better than 2 juggernauts and a bunch of also rans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 18, 2016, 10:15:30 AM
Quote from: matblake on April 18, 2016, 10:14:47 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2016, 09:33:57 AM
As for Pool C chances, NCC is the only CCIW with a shot at one... but right now, the CCIW is looking like a one bid league.

Parity is a double edged sword.  It makes the conference race more exciting, but you are often limited to one playoff team.  That's the system though, and I think more teams having a shot is definitely better than 2 juggernauts and a bunch of also rans.

Unless you are a juggernaut.......... ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2016, 12:48:33 PM
CCIW's only shot at two is for NCC to stay hot enough to grab a Pool C bid and then not win the Pool A bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 18, 2016, 11:50:32 PM
Sunday's win over NCC got me thinking how bright the future looks for the Titans.  I had already noticed that there are only two seniors on the roster.  Sunday's winning pitcher was Nick Brune, throwing a complete game and yielding just two runs (one earned) - he's a freshman.  John Bosco went 3 for 6 - he too is a freshman.  Tim Smyk went 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs - he's a sophomore.  I predict he will win the conference batting title if he can get past teammate Gino Cavalieri, who is also a sophomore.  I'm hoping for a title this year, and a playoff run, but I'm REALLY looking forward to the next couple of years! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2016, 09:53:55 PM
NCC rose from 23 to 21 (hey, beating IWU 2 out of 3 IS impressive! ::)), but Augie lost their 5 points.  Tough crowd in that there poll. :P

I think BP is absolutely correct that the CCIW gets two bids ONLY if NCC stays 'C worthy' but loses in the tourney.

(I volunteer the Titans to win the tourney, just so we can get two bids! ;D)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2016, 11:05:43 PM
Congrats to NPU freshman shortstop Cullen Gilbertson upon being selected CCIW Hitter of the Week (http://www.cciw.org/news/2016/4/19/BB_0419162122.aspx).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 20, 2016, 12:21:41 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 18, 2016, 12:48:33 PM
CCIW's only shot at two is for NCC to stay hot enough to grab a Pool C bid and then not win the Pool A bid.

NCC stayed hot enough this afternoon to defeat #19'Concordia-Chicago 13-6.
The Cardinals record now stands at 20-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2016, 05:13:15 PM
IWU beats Millikin in game one of a DH, 9-7.  The Titans jumped out to a 6-1 lead after two, but it got a little hairy late in the game.

I'm headed out to a movie and dinner with Mrs. Y and her sister, so any report on game two will not be until late evening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2016, 09:25:17 PM
Carthage split today makes tomorrow a must-win for the Redmen. 

Never thought I say this, but just hoping the Redmen MAKE the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2016, 11:20:41 PM
Second game would have been much easier on the nerves if I'd been around to follow it - IWU in a 9-0 laugher.  Millikin never mustered a threat of a comeback this time, getting only 5 hits.

I had assumed that the single game of the weekend would be tomorrow in B'town, but just discovered they already played that game yesterday - a 3-0 home loss against probably the worst team in the conference. :o  That's the problem of over-reliance on outscoring teams: pitching and fielding are much more reliable than hitting (they had only three hits).

Anyone know what happened to Tim Smyk?  Last weekend he was rapidly rising toward a conference batting crown; this weekend he never played - I assume injury, but anyone know the situation?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2016, 10:38:14 PM
I wish the Titans would play more competitive games (if they wish to play in the post-season).  By and large they are either stomping teams or getting shut down.  In their 10 conference wins, they are averaging over eleven runs a game; in their five losses, they have gone over two runs only once.

Giving perhaps unwarranted accuracy to fielding statistics, they are not as bad as I thought - in second place, only .001 behind Augie.  In ERA, they are fourth, but by no means disgraceful.  But still - they seem to rely on STOMP ON THEM or nothing.

They will almost certainly win the team "Triple Crown" - they have comfortable leads in BA, HRs, and RBIs (as well as runs, hits, OB%, slugging%, etc.), but that don't mean squat if you can't win games! :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 24, 2016, 10:48:23 PM
North Park lost three to Augie over the weekend by a combined score of 31-10.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 26, 2016, 02:11:36 PM
Curious to see if Whitewater goes with a pitcher an inning against Carthage like the did against MSOE a week ago.  I assume the weekend four game series vs Oshkosh has used up an arm or two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2016, 01:44:28 PM
NCC lost at Elmhurst, 5-1, but retains a one half game lead over IWU and Augie, who split a DH in Rock Island.  The DH pretty much followed the Titan script for this season, as they lost the low scoring first game, 3-2, then out-muscled Augie in the nightcap, 8-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2016, 08:26:25 PM
NCC swept Elmhurst in the DH today, putting them very much in the driver's seat for home field in the tourney.   Augie plays at IWU tomorrow - the winner will still be a game back, the loser will be two back, with only three to play.  Augie has the tie-break over NCC, but NCC has it over IWU.

Both the west Vikings and the Titans will be in the rather unusual position of rooting for Carthage next weekend!  Meanwhile, Carthage will be rooting for NPU tomorrow and (if necessary) IWU next weekend to whup Wheaton, the only realistic threat to Carthage making the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2016, 10:18:38 PM
Rooting for Carthage is NOT all that unusual... most sane people do it ;D

Carthage is in a tough spot needing possibly two wins over NCC next weekend as one win would only assure them a tie for the final spot, but if I am correct, they lose the tie-breaker to Wheaton??? Some help?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2016, 10:49:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 01, 2016, 10:18:38 PM
Rooting for Carthage is NOT all that unusual... most sane people do it ;D

Carthage is in a tough spot needing possibly two wins over NCC next weekend as one win would only assure them a tie for the final spot, but if I am correct, they lose the tie-breaker to Wheaton??? Some help?

We'll try to help you; now you try to help us!

I always root for Carthage IF and when they are they only CCIW representative.  Before then ... in your dreams (unless desperately needed)! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2016, 10:55:35 PM
Augie 9, IWU 5.  And Wheaton swept NPU in the DH today.  Millikin, NPU, and Elmhurst are mathematically eliminated (Elmhurst is 3 back of Carthage for the 4th spot with 3 games to go, but Carthage has the tie-break).  Thus:

NCC    13-5  (plays Carthage)
Augie   12-6  (plays Millikin)
IWU     11-7  (plays Wheaton)
Carthage 10-8 (plays NCC)
Wheaton   9-9 (plays IWU)

The tourney will almost certainly be in Naperville or Rock Island (Augie has the tie-break if they finish tied, and Augie certainly has the easier final opponent).  For the final spot, Wheaton has the tie-break on Carthage; both have tough opponents.

NCC and Augie are the only two guaranteed a spot in the tourney (Augie is 3 up on Wheaton and has the tie-break).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2016, 08:05:10 AM
There will be a lot of scoreboard watching in BOTH Carthage and Wheaton dugouts this weekend. Those who know me understand that I have never been and IWU fan, but Go Titans (and I think I just threw up in the back of my mouth when I had to say that)!

Or even better... GO Wheaton and sweep the Titans and leave them out completely!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2016, 09:44:16 AM
BP, be careful what you wish for! ;D  Since IWU has the tie-break over Carthage, you would still have to win at least 2 or YOU are the ones left out!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2016, 10:30:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2016, 09:44:16 AM
BP, be careful what you wish for! ;D  Since IWU has the tie-break over Carthage, you would still have to win at least 2 or YOU are the ones left out!

Ouch! It is always better advice to just root against the Titans!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2016, 12:45:39 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2016, 10:30:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 03, 2016, 09:44:16 AM
BP, be careful what you wish for! ;D  Since IWU has the tie-break over Carthage, you would still have to win at least 2 or YOU are the ones left out!

Ouch! It is always better advice to just root against the Titans!

From your perspective, I understand the sentiment.  But with due respect, I think I will ignore your advice! ;D

I hate that IWU is relying so totally on offense (their LOWEST total for a win is 8, and usually 11+ runs) - in their losses they have been above 2 exactly twice.  Offense is MUCH less dependable than defense and pitching.  BUT the upside is that I doubt any CCIW team can hold down their offense three times in a row, and just ONE win over Wheaton puts them in the tourney.

IF their pitching could just step up, their offense could take them to Appleton, but I'm not holding my breath.  I don't see a Pankau on the staff, but I didn't see a 'Pankau' in 2010 until he suddenly destroyed Cortland in the title game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2016, 05:18:33 PM
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstopwatch.onlineclock.net%2Fstopwatch.jpg&hash=894b6a4f32dd1f69d8aa29e49da0dfc56c402792)

One day short of a month since he last mentioned 2010! Is this a new record for self-restraint on Chuck's part? ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2016, 06:54:50 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2016, 05:18:33 PM
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstopwatch.onlineclock.net%2Fstopwatch.jpg&hash=894b6a4f32dd1f69d8aa29e49da0dfc56c402792)

One day short of a month since he last mentioned 2010! Is this a new record for self-restraint on Chuck's part? ;)

Aside from the off-season, it just might be! :-[

My reason for the mention was more bemoaning this year's lack of pitching prowess than a plug for 2010.  Though it would be a shame if Pankau gets prematurely forgotten for his heroics in the title game.  Cortland had been beating the crap out of pitching throughout the series, but from the time IWU trailed 2-1 until they led 17-2, Pankau did not yield a single base runner! 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2016, 06:19:45 PM
IWU has STILL not won a single low scoring conference game, falling 4-2 at Wheaton in the first of two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 06, 2016, 07:54:52 PM
Augie wins 8-2 against Millikin and NCC loses to Carthage 11-4 in the first game of the final series for both teams.  Augie and NCC now tied atop the CCIW standings.  With Augie holding the tiebreak over NCC, at this point, I would say the advantage goes to Augie in terms of hosting the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2016, 09:38:25 PM
IWU is IN the conference tourney, winning the only sort of game they can win this season: a 17-10 slugfest over Wheaton.

So Augie, NCC, and IWU are in (in whatever seeding and location); #4 will be Carthage or Wheaton, with Carthage now the favorite.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 06, 2016, 10:53:51 PM
Augie wins the night cap, 9-6.  A win on Sunday or a loss by NCC in one game of tomorrow's DH with Carthage, means the conference tourney will be in Rock Island. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2016, 01:00:25 AM
Yup - with three games to go (for the various contenders), Augie's magic number to host and Cathage's magic number to participate are each one.  I'll go WAY out on a limb and predict: #1 Augie, #2 NCC, #3 IWU, and #4 Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 07, 2016, 04:45:41 PM
It took the Titans 21 tries, but they FINALLY won a low scoring conference game, 3-2 over Wheaton (knocking the Thunder out of the tourney).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 07, 2016, 06:17:22 PM
NCC comes back to win the second game and sweep today's DH with Carthage.  Augie will have to win tomorrow in the series finale vs Millikin to tie NCC for the regular season CCIW Championship and to host the conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2016, 01:50:12 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 07, 2016, 06:17:22 PM
NCC comes back to win the second game and sweep today's DH with Carthage.  Augie will have to win tomorrow in the series finale vs Millikin to tie NCC for the regular season CCIW Championship and to host the conference tourney.

About 4 o'clock tomorrow (earlier if a total blowout) the four tourney participants will know where to make their motel reservations: Millikin @ Augie begins at 1.  And with the four participants being #4 Carthage, #3 IWU, and #1/2 Augie/NCC, I would assume they will all be staying over - it's not like the tourney is a commuter affair of NCC, Elmhurst, Wheaton, and NPU! ;)

If Millikin pulls the upset, book Naperville.  If (as expected) Augie wins, head for Rock Island (though if memory serves, the field is actually in Moline?).

BTW, kudos to NCC for locking up at least a co-championship.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 08, 2016, 03:24:23 PM
Augie up 7-1 in the top of the 6th.  Unless there is a complete collapse over the next few innings, it looks like Augie and NCC will share the title and the tourney will be in Rock Island (or as Ypsi points out, correctly, in Moline)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 08, 2016, 03:41:47 PM
Millikin comes back with 3 in the top of the 6th to make it a game at 7-4.  Augie with a runner at second with one out in the bottom half.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 08, 2016, 03:57:03 PM
Augie puts up 4 in the bottom half to go up 11-4 with 3 innings to play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2016, 06:04:58 PM
Carthage's Last Four Seasons:
87-75 (.537)

What has happened to the Redmen? If you take out the 2015 30-15 record they are well below .500 in recent years. I am baffled as to the reasons. It's not like Augie Schmidt quit being the Hall-of-Fame coach that he always has been.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 08, 2016, 06:14:52 PM
FINAL:  Augie 14, Millikin 5.  So RI/Moline it is.  I haven't seen the tourney schedule officially, but I would assume game one will be NCC/IWU with Carthage/Augie following.  Then it is winners vs. winners and losers vs. losers (don't recall the order of these games), eliminating one team.  Then the two one-loss teams play, eliminating another team.  Finally, the survivor has to beat the team who started 2-0 twice to advance, so getting hot and winning the first two games is critically important - I haven't checked past tourneys, but I would guess the AQ has started 2-0 probably 70-75% of the time.

BTW, does anyone think Augie now has a chance at a C if need be, or is NCC the only viable C option?  Or has NCC's chances gone a-glimmering (if they don't get the AQ, they would have 10 losses), and the CCIW is almost certainly a one team league?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 08, 2016, 06:26:25 PM
I think NCC could get in even if they lose by winning a game or two in the tourney. Also, I think if augie makes it to the final they have a shot even with a loss.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2016, 01:17:37 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 08, 2016, 06:26:25 PM
I think NCC could get in even if they lose by winning a game or two in the tourney. Also, I think if augie makes it to the final they have a shot even with a loss.

OK, here's the scenario: Carthage or IWU wins the AQ (we'd obviously disagree on which, so leave it at that ;D).  NCC wins one, then loses game 5.  Augie loses in the title game seven.  Is the CCIW a one, two or three-team conference?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2016, 08:44:57 AM
I think in that scenario the CCIW would be a on-team league (assuming all the favorites win their AQs). Likely a two team league and it would be a toss-up to me for NCC/AUGIE.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2016, 12:34:42 AM
Tomorrow:  IWU/NCC at 3:30 CDT, Carthage @ Augie at 7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2016, 06:51:31 PM
Live by the big inning, die by the big inning?  NCC stole a page of the Titan playbook, scoring 7 times in the bottom of the sixth to turn a 4-5 deficit into an 11-5 lead.  That is still the score entering the bottom of the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2016, 07:15:48 PM
Final score, North Central 13, IWU 5

Maybe someone has some insights on the Titans' choice of starting pitcher (Banaitis, no previous starts) rather than Huskisson, Coonan, Goll, or Brune, each with five or more starts this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2016, 07:39:21 PM
I haven't a clue on the starter decision, but I'm in no position to second-guess the coach. 

Carthage @ Augie should get underway shortly.

In other news, the d3 national golf tourneys finished up today - IWU finished 10th in the nation in men's, 11th in women's (both down a bit from usual).  But considering the obvious disadvantage compared to schools who can golf pretty-much year 'round, anything in the top 20 is still rather pleasing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2016, 10:14:07 PM
Game two: Augie 3, Carthage 0. White scattered 4 hits and fanned 8 over 8 innings of work.

Elimination game tomorrow between Carthage vs. IWU, starting at noon, then North Central vs. Augie at 3.30.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 12, 2016, 10:17:29 PM
Augie beats Carthage 3-0.  Walter White goes 8 innings of 4 hit baseball with Kyle McKinley getting the save with a 1,2,3 ninth inning.  Augie had 12 hits in the game, but could only push across two runs in the first and one in the third.  Should be a good match-up between the co-champs tomorrow to see who gets to the championship game. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2016, 10:33:29 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 12, 2016, 10:14:07 PM
Game two: Augie 3, Carthage 0. White scattered 4 hits and fanned 8 over 8 innings of work.

Elimination game tomorrow between Carthage age IWU, starting at noon, then North Central vs. Augie at 3.30.

And winner of the first game against loser of the second game at 7.

IWU has a proud history, but it does NOT date to the age of Carthage!  Despite BP's allegiance, Carthage was destroyed (and salted to never recover) in 146 BC! ;D

Perhaps someone should alert the Schmidt's that Carthage disappeared 2,062 years ago?! :o ;D

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2016, 08:18:07 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2016, 10:33:29 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 12, 2016, 10:14:07 PM
Game two: Augie 3, Carthage 0. White scattered 4 hits and fanned 8 over 8 innings of work.

Elimination game tomorrow between Carthage age IWU, starting at noon, then North Central vs. Augie at 3.30.

And winner of the first game against loser of the second game at 7.

IWU has a proud history, but it does NOT date to the age of Carthage!  Despite BP's allegiance, Carthage was destroyed (and salted to never recover) in 146 BC! ;D

Perhaps someone should alert the Schmidt's that Carthage disappeared 2,062 years ago?! :o ;D

Carthage destroyed???? You must be mistaken. Don't believe everything you read ;D

Redmen vs Green Weenies today... one team heads home... the playoffs officially begin today!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2016, 11:57:41 AM
How do we not get a video stream of the CCIW playoffs?  Weak sauce Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2016, 01:46:09 PM
With the score tied at one and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Titans broke thru for four runs.  5-1 IWU up entering the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2016, 02:42:22 PM
... and the live stats just crashed with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth, two outs, winning run on third.  But according to the Twitter feed on the CCIW Tournament website, IWU won, 7-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 13, 2016, 02:56:27 PM
To say this season was a MASSIVE disappointment is an understatement. I thought the late season run in 2015 had the return of the Carthage swagger all over it and it would carry over to 2016. Take out the 2015 post-season run and the Redmen are on an unprecedented slide that has not happened in the Augie Schmidt era.

Not sure what the issue is with Carthage baseball lately... but it seems tied to the departure of pitching coach (and former Carthage All-American) Cory Everts. I am baffled at their inability to beat the likes of Concordia-Wisconsin, Rockford, (By no means are these perennial power programs) and their complete inability to sweep a CCIW opponent. They need to get back to their blue-collar roots of recruiting Wisconsin kids. They had a total of 8 on the roster this year. Roster was full of kids from the wealthy Chicago suburbs... Look at the years they steam-rolled the CCIW (and the region) and they were full of kids from further north than Milwaukee... they loaded up on players from the Fox Valley, Stevens Point area, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Green Bay and Wausau... these areas are now controlled by UWSP, UWW and St. Norbert. (It should be no surprise that those programs are riding that talent to season and playoff success.

Stepping off my soapbox now to see what I can do to help get players there once again.


***I'm certain I'll take a Karma hit for this post, but I am too passionate about Carthage Baseball to not say anything. It's not about the Xs and Os.... it's about the Jimmys and Joes. Find the players to return to glory ***
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2016, 03:29:54 PM
According to the CCIW Tournament page, it looks like the North Central-Augustana game has been moved to Saturday at noon.  My guess is that they decided against starting now with a fairly sizeable storm approaching.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2016, 05:38:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 13, 2016, 02:56:27 PM
To say this season was a MASSIVE disappointment is an understatement. I thought the late season run in 2015 had the return of the Carthage swagger all over it and it would carry over to 2016. Take out the 2015 post-season run and the Redmen are on an unprecedented slide that has not happened in the Augie Schmidt era.

Not sure what the issue is with Carthage baseball lately... but it seems tied to the departure of pitching coach (and former Carthage All-American) Cory Everts. I am baffled at their inability to beat the likes of Concordia-Wisconsin, Rockford, (By no means are these perennial power programs) and their complete inability to sweep a CCIW opponent. They need to get back to their blue-collar roots of recruiting Wisconsin kids. They had a total of 8 on the roster this year. Roster was full of kids from the wealthy Chicago suburbs... Look at the years they steam-rolled the CCIW (and the region) and they were full of kids from further north than Milwaukee... they loaded up on players from the Fox Valley, Stevens Point area, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Green Bay and Wausau... these areas are now controlled by UWSP, UWW and St. Norbert. (It should be no surprise that those programs are riding that talent to season and playoff success.

Stepping off my soapbox now to see what I can do to help get players there once again.


***I'm certain I'll take a Karma hit for this post, but I am too passionate about Carthage Baseball to not say anything. It's not about the Xs and Os.... it's about the Jimmys and Joes. Find the players to return to glory ***

Cry me a river, BP. At least Carthage played past the fortieth game.

North Park has not only failed to make the CCIW tourney the past two seasons, the Vikings weren't even able to manage a .500 record in either campaign. There's no pretty way of saying this: The NPU baseball program is in a bad way right now. Although the rotation was adequate (albeit unspectacular), the bullpen couldn't get anybody out all season. All told, NPU finished dead last in the league in ERA, hits allowed, and walks allowed. The defense was abysmal, as the Park was, again, dead last in the league in fielding percentage, made 25 more errors than the next-worst team in the league made (16 more in CCIW play), and opponents ran on the Vikes to the tune of 79 steals over the course of the season (the next-worst CCIW team in opponent steals surrendered 45) and half again more than the next-worst team in CCIW games. The offense came around after the midpoint of the season enough to allow NPU to climb to the middle of the pack in runs scored in CCIW play (the Vikes led only Millikin in terms of runs scored over the course of the full season) as well as in batting average. But the team lacked punch; NPU finished in last place in slugging percentage, and, with the running game basically nonexistent (in sharp contrast to seasons past, in which Luke Johnson's teams have been the most aggressive squads on the basepaths in the league), this meant lots and lots and lots of Vikings baserunners getting left on base over the course of the league schedule.

As both a fan and the team broadcaster, I have a lot of faith in Luke Johnson. There isn't anyone I'd rather have running the program, and I'm very sanguine about his ability to turn the past two seasons into just a temporary bump in the road of a long and successful tenure as North Park's head coach. He pulled the program out of a much deeper hole when he arrived than the one it's in now; NPU went 1-39 the season before he was hired, and the Vikings had only won a total of three CCIW games in their last three seasons combined under his predecessor ... but they made it to the CCIW tourney in his first year at the helm and won the school's first CCIW title in a generation in his sixth.

But even the most casual observer can see that the current team needs an overhaul. This year's team either tuned him out or lacked the ability to execute what he asked of them -- I won't speculate as to which. I think it's going to take a pretty big infusion of new talent for Luke Johnson and Jake Upwood to turn things around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2016, 06:10:11 PM
As for your Red Men, BP, I think that you answered your own question, at least in part. If the departure of Cory Everts to Wittenberg has coincided with a downturn in the Carthage baseball program, then one can at least speculate that he was an important cog in the program's recruiting efforts. As for where Carthage is getting its baseball players, again, I think that your answer is right in front of you. If Wisconsin was where the Red Men got most of their good players in the past, then that was a recipe for an eventual decline as private colleges grew ever more expensive. Over the long haul, Carthage simply can't compete on an even playing field with WIAC schools for the best players who reside in l'etat de fromage, regardless of sport, and with tuition prices spiraling ever-upward, that grows more and more true every year. From what I've been told by Carthage athletics staff, the school's previous administration frowned upon Carthage coaches scheduling WIAC teams because of that tuition discrepancy.

If you're a Wisconsin student-athlete who knows that he or she is going to be paying his or her own way to play sports in college (i.e., as a D3 player), are you going to choose the outstanding league of state schools in your own state, or are you going to choose the outstanding league of nearby private schools where you'll pay three or four times as much money for your classes? Sure, some of those student-athletes will opt for the CCIW school (and Carthage and Carroll will get the lion's share of them, due to location and state aid) ... but, let's not kid ourselves, most of them won't. They'll choose the WIAC school.

That's less of a problem for a small-roster sport such as basketball or volleyball. But for a large-roster sport like football, soccer, or baseball, it's a pretty serious concern. That, plus the fact that Chicagoland has a population that dwarfs the number of people who live north of the Cheddar Curtain -- heck, Cook and Lake counties combined have more people than does the entire state of Wisconsin -- means that it's really a no-brainer that Carthage coaches in various sports have to look south of the border for student-athletes.

The one advantage that Carthage baseball has, vis-a-vis Wisconsin, is that the WIAC is smaller in baseball than it is in other sports. Only six of the eight schools in that league offer the sport, and, things being what they are in that state, I doubt that UW-Eau Claire or UW-River Falls will add baseball anytime soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2016, 11:02:31 PM
BP, I fully understand your displeasure with the Carthage season - not what has come to be expected.  But I do want to tip my cap to the pluck of the players today - not very often can a team enter the ninth down by five runs and rally to tie!  It turned out not to be enough, but kudos for not throwing in the towel.

And the conference commissioner owes the Titans and RedMen a thank you note for knocking Wheaton out of the tourney.  The revamped schedule would have been impossible if a 'NO Sunday' team was there.  [I wonder if Wheaton - and Hope, Calvin, Messiah, etc. - might consider the possibility that God would enjoy watching a Sunday D3 game?! ;D]

Saturday noon: NCC vs. Augie (no indication on the website which will be the home team).
Saturday c. 3:30: IWU vs. loser of earlier game (again, don't know which team leads off).

Sunday 10 am: winner of early Sat. game vs. winner of later Sat. game.
(if necessary) re-match of morning game for the AQ, about 30 minutes after morning game ends.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 02:28:52 PM
Well, the first game is NCC AT Augie (perhaps the higher seed is always the home team?) and it is a real pitchers' duel.  1-1 entering the 7th, and the teams have a combined 9 hits.  Winner gets the rest of the day off; loser plays IWU shortly after the game finishes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 14, 2016, 03:18:41 PM
Augie scores 4 in the bottom of the eighth to beat NCC 5-3.  Congrats to the Vikes for reaching the championship game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 03:29:19 PM
NCC vs. IWU coming soon - loser goes home, winner must beat Augie on their own field twice tomorrow to get the AQ (though NCC might move on with a Pool C bid; IWU would definitely be done for the year).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 04:52:06 PM
The Titans erupt early - six hits and four runs in the bottom of the first! ;D  I hope Mike Plecki can hold NCC in check - I hat having to rely on getting 15+ runs to win a game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 05:16:05 PM
IWU scored again in the second to take a 5-0 lead after two before Plecki had given up a single hit.  Alas, all good things must end. :(  In the top of the third, before Plecki got the first out, three straight singles broke the shutout.  An error on an intended sacrifice bunt reloaded the bases; Bobby Smith then unloaded a grand slam to tie the game at 5.  Plecki finally settled back down and escaped with no further damage.

Maybe we'd better get those 15+ runs after all!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 05:46:55 PM
In the bottom of the 4th, IWU retakes the lead, 7-5.  Both starting pitchers (Plecki for IWI; Evan Blunk for NCC) are long gone.  For a time, it looked like the game had become a pitchers' duel, but that only lasted two half-innings! ;)

In four innings, the teams have combined for 18 hits, 12 runs, and (alas) three errors.  I sure wish we could actually WATCH the game (livestats is sorely lacking in some sorts of information).  Memo to the CCIW commissioner: it's 2016.  New rule: from now on, no school can host a conference tournament unless they provide internet video streaming!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 05:58:20 PM
NCC comes right back with three in the top of the fifth.  Halfway thru the game the teams have combined for 21 hits and 15 runs!  IWU had better emphasize the 'plus' in my 15+ comment!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 06:23:33 PM
And the Titans tie it right back up in the bottom of the sixth.  I REALLY wish we had video, as it seemingly should be a 9-8 Titan lead: with Cavalieri (presumably NOT a slow runner - how many slow second basemen do you know?) on second, Jarrod Juskiewicz hit his third double of the game (his line is currently 4 2 4 4), but Cavalieri was thrown out at the plate.  Matthew Mardis followed with a single to bring in Jarrod for the tie.

Did Cavalieri hold up fearing Jarrod's double would be caught?  Did he stumble at some point on his run?  Was it just GREAT defense (or BAD umpiring?) - who knows?  To NOT score from second on a double is sufficiently rare that one can't help wishing to have seen the play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 06:40:05 PM
Things have really settled down in Moline.  After a combined 15 runs in the first 4.5 innings, there has only been one run since.  We enter the ninth, tied at 8.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 07:05:08 PM
Nine innings wasn't enough for these clubs - going to the tenth, still tied at 8.  Alas, Louis Acklin, apparently spent after shutting out NCC for 5 innings, is gone.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 07:07:26 PM
Louis, who?  Rashid puts them down 1,2,3 in the top of the tenth. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 07:32:10 PM
Appropriately, for seemingly a very sloppy game (alas, I couldn't WATCH it), IWU wins, 9-8, on an error in the bottom of the tenth.

I'm having trouble deciding on awarding the game ball.  John Bosco had a line of 6 3 4 0, Jarrod Juskiewicz was 5 2 4 4 (with three doubles), Louis Acklin spun 5 shutout innings when NCC was really threatening (and in fact ahead).  In a close call, I'm going with Acklin over Juskiewicz - despite the first half of the game, this DID become a pitchers' duel.

QUESTION: will NCC's overall performance outweigh going 1-2 in the conference tourney?  I think they deserve a Pool C slot, but they will be sweating bullets as they await the decision.

IWU's situation is absolutely black-and-white.  They have zero chance of a Pool C, so beat Augie twice tomorrow or the season has ended.  I have very limited hope that they can beat Augie twice on their home field, but Mr. Y NEVER has zero hope until the Grim Reaper has made his appearance. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 14, 2016, 07:51:11 PM
Congrats to the Titans on beating NCC to advance to tomorrow's CCIW championship.  Looking forward to a great game(s).  A bit of a connection for me to the IWU baseball team, as Ben Rashid, who got the save today, is the son of my high school baseball coach. Despite that fact, GO AUGIE!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2016, 07:59:51 PM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 14, 2016, 07:51:11 PM
Congrats to the Titans on beating NCC to advance to tomorrow's CCIW championship.  Looking forward to a great game(s).  A bit of a connection for me to the IWU baseball team, as Ben Rashid, who got the save today, is the son of my high school baseball coach. Despite that fact, GO AUGIE!!!

Ben didn't just get a save, he got the win!  (Though Louis Aclkin still gets my game ball.)  GO TITANS!!!

As I said, I only have faint hopes of a sweep, but I never say never 'til the fat lady sings. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2016, 11:51:55 AM
Augie gets two in the top of the first, one more in the top of the third, and entering the bottom of the third it is Augie 3, IWU 0.  Huskisson started for the Titans, but after the third run he was replaced by Ben Rashid, who immediately ended the inning with a DP.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 15, 2016, 12:35:37 PM
The fat lady is warming up (sorry Ypsi).  Augie up 7-0 in the top of the sixth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 15, 2016, 01:34:10 PM
Congrats to the Vikes for winning the CCIW tourney and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 10-1 win over IWU.  Augie is definitely on a roll, winning 12 of their last 13 games.  Here's hoping the can make some noise in the NCAAs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2016, 03:41:08 PM
Congrats to Augie, and good luck to NCC.  Anyone know when regionals will be announced?

The future looks bright for IWU, with only two seniors on the entire roster.  They should be among the favorites entering next season, and if they can recruit some good pitching they should be THE favorite.  Their hitting this season was second to no one in the conference, but as was shown again today, good pitching nearly always tops good hitting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2016, 07:27:05 AM
The NCAA has released the playoff groupings. (http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2016/05/2016-playoff-field)

Augustana is the #3 seed in the Central (UWW is #1). The Vikings play Wash U in game one.

North Central is the #3 seed in the Midwest (UW LaCrosse is #1). The Cardinals play Luther in game one.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2016, 05:22:29 PM
Here are the All-CCIW teams. (http://www.cciw.org/sports/2016/5/16/BB_0516164217.aspx?id=1077&) Congratulations to each player that earned all-conference honors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2016, 01:06:55 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 16, 2016, 05:22:29 PM
Here are the All-CCIW teams. (http://www.cciw.org/sports/2016/5/16/BB_0516164217.aspx?id=1077&) Congratulations to each player that earned all-conference honors.

On the other hand, this makes me slightly less optimistic for next year, since POY Matt Mardis is one of the two seniors!  Still, having been the team leaders in virtually every offensive category, there should be plenty left.  We need top quality PITCHING.

The postseason selections for the tourney raise the interesting possibility of TWO CCIW teams in Appleton, if both Augie and NCC get hot.  Naturally, if both do make it, the Central and Midwest champs are slated to meet in the first game. :(  (Taking the 'glass half full' approach, that guarantees that one of them will be in the winners bracket! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 17, 2016, 08:24:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2016, 01:06:55 AM
The postseason selections for the tourney raise the interesting possibility of TWO CCIW teams in Appleton, if both Augie and NCC get hot.  Naturally, if both do make it, the Central and Midwest champs are slated to meet in the first game. :( (Taking the 'glass half full' approach, that guarantees that one of them will be in the winners bracket! ;D
That would be incorrect....  The Central and Midwest teams are in completely different pools, so the ONLY way they would meet would be in the Championship.....

See the bottom of the following link:
http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2016/05/2016-playoff-field
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2016, 10:04:37 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 17, 2016, 08:24:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2016, 01:06:55 AM
The postseason selections for the tourney raise the interesting possibility of TWO CCIW teams in Appleton, if both Augie and NCC get hot.  Naturally, if both do make it, the Central and Midwest champs are slated to meet in the first game. :( (Taking the 'glass half full' approach, that guarantees that one of them will be in the winners bracket! ;D
That would be incorrect....  The Central and Midwest teams are in completely different pools, so the ONLY way they would meet would be in the Championship.....

See the bottom of the following link:
http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2016/05/2016-playoff-field

My bad.  I saw Central vs. Mideast and thought it was Central vs. Midwest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2016, 09:27:28 PM
Luther tops North Central, 8-6. Augie trails Wash U, 5-0 in the 6th. Live stats for the Augie game are really messed up (at least on my computer) -- the game status is frozen in the 3rd inning, and the home box score (Augie's) shows the box score from the Westminster-Whitewater game, despite trying to refresh each screen.  At least the play-by-play screen seems to be updating.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2016, 10:22:14 PM
Wash U blanks Augie, 8-0. Brad Margolin allowed just 4 hits while walking none in the complete-game shutout. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 18, 2016, 11:08:46 PM
Now Augie and NCC will have to get REALLY hot to have two CCIW teams in Appleton!  (Which has never happened - I just checked.)

Carthage and IWU were both 'reigned' out. :(  The 'sun' will return. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: jaybird44 on May 19, 2016, 04:38:49 PM
Margolin's effort was even more impressive facing an Augie team that was hitting .384 in its last nine games, and had at least 10 hits in each of those nine.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 19, 2016, 05:13:31 PM
Doesn't get any easier for Augie today, as they face Whitewater and MLB pitching prospect Lake Bachar.

Whitewater with an early 4-0 lead after two and a half innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2016, 07:37:02 PM
Whitewater crushes Augie, 15-3, ending the Vikings' season.  North Central held on to defeat Kalamazoo, 4-2, to stay alive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2016, 01:21:40 PM
St. Johns eliminates North Central, 8-2. The CCIW went a collective 1-4 in regional play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 20, 2016, 06:27:04 PM
If I recall correctly, the early talk here in this room was that this was likely to be the end result of the season: A comparatively weak CCIW overall, with nobody from the league garnering any success in the postseason.

I know that I wasn't overly impressed by any of the teams in this league this spring, and I saw them all. But I'm just one observer.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 21, 2016, 02:07:52 PM
The CCIW has slipped a few notches in the past ten years (Ignore the outlier of IWU in 2010). Guessing that much of it has to do with rising tuitions at private schools which really handcuffs the CCIW schools when recruiting head-to-head with public school or much less expensive private school in the Midwest. I'd be interested to see how tuition differs not only between CCIW schools and public schools, but also compared to other regional privates schools in the IIAC, MWC and even the SLIAC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 26, 2016, 02:23:36 PM
Seems a little, let's say, strange that Augie's Greg Wallace was named CCIW Coach of the Year while North Central's Ed Mathey was ignored. Not that Wallace's accomplishment this season wasn't noteworthy, but Augie was picked to win the conference while NCC was picked to finish fourth, and received 17 less points in the pre-season poll than did Augie. The question then becomes who did more with less, and who actually exceeded expectations rather than just meeting them in light of the fact that predicted fourth place finisher NCC finished tied atop the standings with the predicted conference champ. Although AC held a 2-1 advantage over NCC in conference play, it's the entire regular season that is taken into consideration for conference honors. And the award becomes even more of a question when you consider Mathey was named D3baseball Central Region Coach of the Year over Wallace. Mathey was Regional COY, but Wallace was conference COY?  ???

Would it not have been appropriate to name Wallace and Mathey as CO CCIW CoacheS of the Year?

The other goofy point here is the inconsistency of the CCIW in awarding coaching honors. In basketball the conference winning coach is automatically named COY. This in itself is stupid as it does not recognize a coach who leads his predicted fourth or fifth place finisher to second place, but says the COY is automatically the guy who leads his predicted first place team to that first place finish.
However, in basketball, evidently unlike baseball, if two or more teams finish tied for first, BOTH (all) the coaches are named CO Coaches of the Year. And on both the women's basketball side and in football, I believe the award is voted on by the head coaches. Shouldn't there be some consistency within the conference as far as how the conference COY is determined?
It would appear this is a point that needs some attention by the conference administration.



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 26, 2016, 02:54:14 PM
My assumption is that administrators have more on their plates than how coach's are awarded. It's usually up to the sports coaches to decide how to award it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2016, 04:27:50 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 26, 2016, 02:23:36 PM
Seems a little, let's say, strange that Augie's Greg Wallace was named CCIW Coach of the Year while North Central's Ed Mathey was ignored. Not that Wallace's accomplishment this season wasn't noteworthy, but Augie was picked to win the conference while NCC was picked to finish fourth, and received 17 less points in the pre-season poll than did Augie. The question then becomes who did more with less, and who actually exceeded expectations rather than just meeting them in light of the fact that predicted fourth place finisher NCC finished tied atop the standings with the predicted conference champ. Although AC held a 2-1 advantage over NCC in conference play, it's the entire regular season that is taken into consideration for conference honors. And the award becomes even more of a question when you consider Mathey was named D3baseball Central Region Coach of the Year over Wallace. Mathey was Regional COY, but Wallace was conference COY?  ???

Would it not have been appropriate to name Wallace and Mathey as CO CCIW CoacheS of the Year?

Really, Mark? Your first-ever post in this room, and it's to gripe about the North Central coach being short-changed? Ten years and 3,162 posts in the CCIW basketball room, another 667 posts in the CCIW football room, and only now in the wake of a perceived institutional slight to NCC do you finally show up in this room? Do you even attend CCIW baseball games?

Pay a little attention to CCIW baseball and actually post here once in awhile, and perhaps you'll have some credibility on this and other CCIW-baseball-related topics.

Quote from: AndOne on May 26, 2016, 02:23:36 PMThe other goofy point here is the inconsistency of the CCIW in awarding coaching honors. In basketball the conference winning coach is automatically named COY. This in itself is stupid as it does not recognize a coach who leads his predicted fourth or fifth place finisher to second place, but says the COY is automatically the guy who leads his predicted first place team to that first place finish.
However, in basketball, evidently unlike baseball, if two or more teams finish tied for first, BOTH (all) the coaches are named CO Coaches of the Year. And on both the women's basketball side and in football, I believe the award is voted on by the head coaches. Shouldn't there be some consistency within the conference as far as how the conference COY is determined?
It would appear this is a point that needs some attention by the conference administration.

As Big Poppa said, the coaches run their own respective shows in the CCIW with regard to awards. It's always been that way, and I can only imagine the brouhaha it would cause if the league took the awards out of the hands of the coaches. Yes, I agree that the way that the men's basketball coaches do it is stupid, but it's their time-honored prerogative to do it that way. If the league office made them conform to the awards-selection method that another sport uses, the league office would in essence be favoring one sport over another. I doubt that Chris and Mike feel that they need to take on that headache.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 27, 2016, 10:50:57 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2016, 04:27:50 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 26, 2016, 02:23:36 PM
Seems a little, let's say, strange that Augie's Greg Wallace was named CCIW Coach of the Year while North Central's Ed Mathey was ignored. Not that Wallace's accomplishment this season wasn't noteworthy, but Augie was picked to win the conference while NCC was picked to finish fourth, and received 17 less points in the pre-season poll than did Augie. The question then becomes who did more with less, and who actually exceeded expectations rather than just meeting them in light of the fact that predicted fourth place finisher NCC finished tied atop the standings with the predicted conference champ. Although AC held a 2-1 advantage over NCC in conference play, it's the entire regular season that is taken into consideration for conference honors. And the award becomes even more of a question when you consider Mathey was named D3baseball Central Region Coach of the Year over Wallace. Mathey was Regional COY, but Wallace was conference COY?  ???

Would it not have been appropriate to name Wallace and Mathey as CO CCIW CoacheS of the Year?

Really, Mark? Your first-ever post in this room, and it's to gripe about the North Central coach being short-changed? Ten years and 3,162 posts in the CCIW basketball room, another 667 posts in the CCIW football room, and only now in the wake of a perceived institutional slight to NCC do you finally show up in this room? Do you even attend CCIW baseball games?

Pay a little attention to CCIW baseball and actually post here once in awhile, and perhaps you'll have some credibility on this and other CCIW-baseball-related topics


GS -  Couldn't agree more. 

AndOne - If you're going to complain about something like this, at least get your facts straight.  Augie was not picked to finish 1st in the CCIW this year in the coaches poll, Carthage was.  Augie was actually picked to finish 5th.  So Greg Wallace being named as coach of the year seems absolutely correct.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 27, 2016, 12:12:40 PM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 27, 2016, 10:50:57 AM

AndOne - If you're going to complain about something like this, at least get your facts straight.  Augie was not picked to finish 1st in the CCIW this year in the coaches poll, Carthage was.  Augie was actually picked to finish 5th.  So Greg Wallace being named as coach of the year seems absolutely correct.

Augie6 droppin facts...

https://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2016/2/10/Baseball_0210160947.aspx?path=baseball (https://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2016/2/10/Baseball_0210160947.aspx?path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 06:35:55 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 27, 2016, 12:12:40 PM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 27, 2016, 10:50:57 AM

AndOne - If you're going to complain about something like this, at least get your facts straight.  Augie was not picked to finish 1st in the CCIW this year in the coaches poll, Carthage was.  Augie was actually picked to finish 5th.  So Greg Wallace being named as coach of the year seems absolutely correct.

Augie6 droppin facts...

[/i]path=baseball]https://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2016/2/10/Baseball_0210160947.aspx?path=baseball
(https://athletics.carthage.edu/news/2016/2/10/Baseball_0210160947.aspx?%5Bi)

Augie6-

Thank you for waking me up. I was on the CCIW Baseball site and paged back in the "Archived Stories" section. However, in my haste, I went right past this season's pre-season poll to the 2015 poll. Just totally f**ked it up. No ifs, ands, or buts.  :(
Therefore, in keeping with my theory of who most exceeds expectations, the Augie coach absolutely deserved the COY award. I don't think it could have been classified as a travesty had the NCC coach been named CO-COY, but if the baseball rules allow for a coach whose team ties for the conference championship to be excluded, then the right coach won!

What I still think is screwy is that there appears to be several different ways that the COY is awarded across various sports all within the same conference. JMHO which I, as is everyone else, am certainly entitled to despite whatever even someone who might well be looked upon as the dean of CCIW posters, might think.

I think the reason this site and its associated rooms were corrected is for the dissemination of facts and opinions, and discussions about D3 in general, and in here, about the CCIW specifically. Furthermore, whether its someone's first or 500th post in a certain room, nobody needs to be scolded for their opinion even though it may differ from the opinion of a so called expert or veteran in that particular room. Especially, not when the new to that room poster is a veteran D3Sports poster with over 4,200 posts in other rooms. If the post is profane or obviously made to incite, then sure. But that is not what happened in this case. Some people, with the possible exception of the web site creator, need to realize and remember that this is not their eminent domain no matter how voluminous, insightful, and/or valuable their contributions have been.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 28, 2016, 07:09:56 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 06:35:55 PMWhat I still think is screwy is that there appears to be several different ways that the COY is awarded across various sports all within the same conference. JMHO which I, as is everyone else, am certainly entitled to despite whatever even someone who might well be looked upon as the dean of CCIW posters, might think.

The coaches are the ones who are the recipients of these awards, and therefore I think that they should be the ones who have the final word on how these awards are apportioned. If there was a big hue-and-cry among them about the fact that they don't all dole out the COY in the same manner from one sport to another, then it wouldn't bother me if the process was standardized by the league to make every sport conform to one universal COY selection method. As I said, I would be more than happy to see the men's basketball coaches do it differently than they do now. But, since there is no such hue-and-cry among the coaches, I just don't see any reason why the league office should needlessly court the ire of the men and women with the dry-erase boards and whistles whose hard work makes this league possible.

Quote from: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 06:35:55 PMI think the reason this site and its associated rooms were corrected is for the dissemination of facts and opinions, and discussions about D3 in general, and in here, about the CCIW specifically. Furthermore, whether its someone's first or 500th post in a certain room, nobody needs to be scolded for their opinion even though it may differ from the opinion of a so called expert or veteran in that particular room. Especially, not when the new to that room poster is a veteran D3Sports poster with over 4,200 posts in other rooms. If the post is profane or obviously made to incite, then sure. But that is not what happened in this case. Some people, with the possible exception of the web site creator, need to realize and remember that this is not their eminent domain no matter how voluminous, insightful, and/or valuable their contributions have been.

Neither I nor anybody else has claimed that this particular room is anyone's "eminent domain". Nor did I scold you over your opinion, about which I didn't comment at all. Augie6 scolded you about your opinion, since you didn't have your facts straight, but I didn't say anything at all about this year's baseball COY.

It's certainly no crime that you had never posted here before, and of course there's no reason why you can't start posting here now. Everybody's gotta start off with their first post, right? My complaint was that it wasn't baseball-related. It was basically an institutionally-motivated rant by someone who is a fan of the other teams of the institution in question. Had there been a CCIW volleyball room in which to do so, you could've (and probably would've ;)) ranted about the North Central volleyball coach getting ripped off in the COY selection process, or the men's golf coach, or the women's tennis coach, if any one of them had been in this situation. In other words, it looked like a drive-by rather than an honest-to-goodness post about CCIW baseball (and we could use an NCC baseball fan or two to participate regularly in here), which is what set me off.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 10:19:33 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 28, 2016, 07:09:56 PM

Neither I nor anybody else has claimed that this particular room is anyone's "eminent domain". Nor did I scold you over your opinion, about which I didn't comment at all.
It's certainly no crime that you had never posted here before, and of course there's no reason why you can't start posting here now. Everybody's gotta start off with their first post, right? My complaint was that it wasn't baseball-related. It was basically an institutionally-motivated rant by someone who is a fan of the other teams of the institution in question. Had there been a CCIW volleyball room in which to do so, you could've (and probably would've ;)) ranted about the North Central volleyball coach getting ripped off in the COY selection process, or the men's golf coach, or the women's tennis coach, if any one of them had been in this situation. In other words, it looked like a drive-by rather than an honest-to-goodness post about CCIW baseball (and we could use an NCC baseball fan or two to participate regularly in here), which is what set me off.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2016, 04:27:50 PM

Really, Mark? Your first-ever post in this room, and it's to gripe about the North Central coach being short-changed? Ten years and 3,162 posts in the CCIW basketball room, another 667 posts in the CCIW football room, and only now in the wake of a perceived institutional slight to NCC do you finally show up in this room? Do you even attend CCIW baseball games?

Pay a little attention to CCIW baseball and actually post here once in awhile, and perhaps you'll have some credibility on this and other CCIW-baseball-related topics.

Sorry, Greg, but I don't know how "really Mark," "your first ever," "and its to gripe about................," "only now.............do you show up," "do you even attend"?, and "perhaps you'll have some credibility" could have been interpreted as anything other than scolding. Especially when I felt a baseball coach not being selected for conference baseball COY was certainly related to baseball, and should be posted about in the baseball room.
While you might not agree with my train of thought, I assure you i didn't think of or approach the subject as a "drive by," and felt that the post was not only about baseball, but was also an honest expression of my feelings on the subject. I respect your right to defer concurrence. I just didn't expect it to be in such a contentious manner. Didn't say I was right or wrong with regard to the doing more with less theory, (obviously I used the wrong year's numbers as Augie6 observed). Just wanted to present an opinion which I thought was the idea behind creation of the room(s). Thats all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 29, 2016, 09:35:08 AM
Quote from: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 10:19:33 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 28, 2016, 07:09:56 PM

Neither I nor anybody else has claimed that this particular room is anyone's "eminent domain". Nor did I scold you over your opinion, about which I didn't comment at all.
It's certainly no crime that you had never posted here before, and of course there's no reason why you can't start posting here now. Everybody's gotta start off with their first post, right? My complaint was that it wasn't baseball-related. It was basically an institutionally-motivated rant by someone who is a fan of the other teams of the institution in question. Had there been a CCIW volleyball room in which to do so, you could've (and probably would've ;)) ranted about the North Central volleyball coach getting ripped off in the COY selection process, or the men's golf coach, or the women's tennis coach, if any one of them had been in this situation. In other words, it looked like a drive-by rather than an honest-to-goodness post about CCIW baseball (and we could use an NCC baseball fan or two to participate regularly in here), which is what set me off.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2016, 04:27:50 PM

Really, Mark? Your first-ever post in this room, and it's to gripe about the North Central coach being short-changed? Ten years and 3,162 posts in the CCIW basketball room, another 667 posts in the CCIW football room, and only now in the wake of a perceived institutional slight to NCC do you finally show up in this room? Do you even attend CCIW baseball games?

Pay a little attention to CCIW baseball and actually post here once in awhile, and perhaps you'll have some credibility on this and other CCIW-baseball-related topics.

Sorry, Greg, but I don't know how "really Mark," "your first ever," "and its to gripe about................," "only now.............do you show up," "do you even attend"?, and "perhaps you'll have some credibility" could have been interpreted as anything other than scolding.

Oh, it was a scolding for sure, and I didn't say that it wasn't. My point was that it wasn't a scolding about your opinion. It was a scolding about your choice of topic, as seen in the context of your previous lack of participation in this room. As I said before, I made no comment whatsoever about your opinion regarding the choice of the coaches for the 2016 baseball COY award.

Quote from: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 10:19:33 PMEspecially when I felt a baseball coach not being selected for conference baseball COY was certainly related to baseball, and should be posted about in the baseball room.

It wasn't a baseball post, though. It was a post about conference administration, vis-a-vis the selection of conference awards. Baseball posts involve things like, you know, home runs and sliders and double plays and who's got the best pitching this year and who's recruiting whom and which team's hitting has improved the most and why the heck can't Chuck shut up already about that stupid 2010 postseason. ;)

And that's the whole point of it all. As a post about conference administration it was strictly generic. As I said, it could've been about any sport ... and in this case it was about a sport in which you had shown no prior interest in terms of your voluminous posting record on d3boards.com.

It could've easily been a post about baseball if it had contained specifics regarding the play of the Cardinals this season under Ed Mathey -- their pitching, their hitting, their fielding, any sort of reference to metrics or specific game results -- or, conversely, to the play of Augie under Greg Wallace as a means to help prove your point. Instead, as you yourself admitted, it was a post based upon a glance at the preseason poll (the wrong one, in this case) in the light of your prior knowledge that NCC and Augie shared the baseball title, a fact of which I'm sure anyone who follows any NCC sport is aware by now. Your post showed no indication that you either knew the particulars of North Central's performance this baseball season, or cared to.

Quote from: AndOne on May 28, 2016, 10:19:33 PMWhile you might not agree with my train of thought, I assure you i didn't think of or approach the subject as a "drive by," and felt that the post was not only about baseball, but was also an honest expression of my feelings on the subject. I respect your right to defer concurrence. I just didn't expect it to be in such a contentious manner. Didn't say I was right or wrong with regard to the doing more with less theory, (obviously I used the wrong year's numbers as Augie6 observed). Just wanted to present an opinion which I thought was the idea behind creation of the room(s). Thats all.

Look at it from our point of view, Mark. By the standards of the CCIW men's basketball room and the CCIW football room, this room is drastically underrepresented both in terms of the number of posts and the number of participants. For most of the season, it's a four-way conversation between myself, Chuck, Big Poppa, and Mr. B, with an occasional chime-in from mwunder, Augie6, and a Wheaton guy or two. It's very discouraging. I can't remember the last time we had anybody rep North Central in here, and it's not as though NCC has been chopped liver in terms of CCIW baseball competitiveness over the past few seasons.

Then you drop in from out of nowhere with a big complaint about this year's COY award. It's a post with zero baseball content. It rehashes a subject -- the methodology of COY selections in various CCIW sports -- about which you've waxed eloquent in the men's basketball room on more than one occasion. As I said, I could easily see you doing this about any sport, particularly if it's a North Central coach or coaching staff that appears to be getting the shaft, regardless of whether or not you have any interest whatsoever in that sport, given your proclivities to argue this topic and your loyalties as an NCC fan. Can you see, then, why this looked like a drive-by?

And even now we're not discussing CCIW baseball. We've gone from a rant about CCIW administration to an argument about scolding. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 10, 2016, 09:30:45 AM
Not really a CCIW story, but Carthage Coach Augie Schmidt's nephew, Gavin Lux-SS, was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft yesterday by the Dodgers. He has committed to Arizona State but this may change his plans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Captain_Joe08 on June 10, 2016, 11:53:54 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 10, 2016, 09:30:45 AM
Not really a CCIW story, but Carthage Coach Augie Schmidt's nephew, Gavin Lux-SS, was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft yesterday by the Dodgers. He has committed to Arizona State but this may change his plans.

Lux out of Kenosha Indian Trail High School, became the first WI prep player to be drafted in the first round since 1979 and the first Wisconsin player to be drafted altogether in the first round since 1988.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Go Cards on June 24, 2016, 01:45:51 PM
New to this board so will apologize up front if i am not doing things correctly so fill me in if that isn't the case please.

Hopefully can be a regular who will chime in on NCC baseball and CCIW baseball as well. 

Was wondering (saw some conversation in the WIAC forum) if anyone has any insight as far as recruits for next years teams yet?  Also who may be the front runners in the conference and players to watch.  Other question would be with Carroll rejoining next year creates an imbalance of odd number of teams so what will a conference schedule look like - anyone see anything yet?

I started doing some searching on which players via the web have said they are going to NCC to play baseball but waiting to see before posting any names if you all have better sites to search for information like this or if it is ever discussed on the forum.

Was a fun season and unexpected for NC this last year and i followed along on the postings but wanted to wait a while to learn and get my feet wet following along before chiming in.  North Central will have a lot to return being so young this last year but pitching is always needed.  Also the senior leadership on the team, from what i've heard and read in the articles posted by North Central was outstanding.

Seems like a lot of teams will be returning good portions of their starters as well in the conference.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on June 24, 2016, 01:54:21 PM
Quote from: Go Cards on June 24, 2016, 01:45:51 PM
New to this board so will apologize up front if i am not doing things correctly so fill me in if that isn't the case please.

Hopefully can be a regular who will chime in on NCC baseball and CCIW baseball as well. 


Welcome to the boards Go Cards.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Go Cards on June 24, 2016, 02:06:46 PM
Thanks :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 24, 2016, 09:01:14 PM
Quote from: Go Cards on June 24, 2016, 01:45:51 PMOther question would be with Carroll rejoining next year creates an imbalance of odd number of teams so what will a conference schedule look like - anyone see anything yet?

First of all, it'll mean that the CCIW slate will have to begin one weekend earlier. It's the only way to get in all of the games.

In the past, the CCIW schedule has been played over six weekends -- four or five weekends in April, plus one or two in May, depending upon how weekends fall on the calendar for that particular spring. That covered six of the seven CCIW three-game series that each team played. During the first week or two of the CCIW portion of the slate (it was all condensed into the first week this past season), the seventh series per team was played on weekdays; it was the week when every CCIW coach had to do some juggling with his pitching staff and went deeper than his usual three weekend starters.

Pushing the CCIW sked forward into the last weekend of March isn't ideal in terms of weather; the average temperature in Chicago in late March, for example, is between 35 and 50 degrees. But it is what it is. Every league in D3 that has nine or more teams plays league games during the last weekend of March. With Carroll in the mix, each CCIW team is going to have to play an additional series. Seven weekends rather than six means that most teams would still only have to play one weekday series. Since the odd number of teams means that someone will have a bye during each series, those weekday series would have to be stretched out beyond the first week or two of the CCIW sked until each of the nine teams had their weekday series covered (and some unfortunate team will have to play two weekday series).

The point is to keep all CCIW series in the warmer-weather part of the season schedule, because CCIW games take priority over non-conference games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on June 26, 2016, 10:12:16 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on June 24, 2016, 01:54:21 PM
Quote from: Go Cards on June 24, 2016, 01:45:51 PM
New to this board so will apologize up front if i am not doing things correctly so fill me in if that isn't the case please.

Hopefully can be a regular who will chime in on NCC baseball and CCIW baseball as well. 


Welcome to the boards Go Cards.
Welcome and +1!  :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 28, 2016, 09:10:40 AM
Fun note: Carroll University Head Coach, Stein Rear, began his playing career at Carthage before moving closer to home at Whitewater.

How do we see Carroll stacking up in the CCIW in 2017? There is quite a jump from the MWC to the CCIW and Carroll was a middle of the pack MWC program.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Go Cards on June 28, 2016, 11:42:16 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on June 28, 2016, 09:10:40 AM
Fun note: Carroll University Head Coach, Stein Rear, began his playing career at Carthage before moving closer to home at Whitewater.

How do we see Carroll stacking up in the CCIW in 2017? There is quite a jump from the MWC to the CCIW and Carroll was a middle of the pack MWC program.

I know Coach Versnik well from Carroll and he said it will be a huge adjustment for them.  Difficult for sure especially in the first years but really a great move for Carroll getting into a tougher conference in his opinion.

Personally I think it is great that another Wisconsin team is back in.  Would be interesting to know if the CCIW is looking at adding any more teams to balance out to an even number but perhaps this is a good number for other sports such as football?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 28, 2016, 05:17:18 PM
Quote from: Go Cards on June 28, 2016, 11:42:16 AM
Personally I think it is great that another Wisconsin team is back in.  Would be interesting to know if the CCIW is looking at adding any more teams to balance out to an even number but perhaps this is a good number for other sports such as football?

The CCIW's presidents aren't really looking to add a tenth full member, so I don't expect that to happen anytime soon. But associate members are another story entirely. Over the past several years the league has added associate members in certain sports that don't have 100% participation from full members. This was done so that the CCIW meets the seven-team minimum requirement for an automatic NCAA tournament bid. Rose-Hulman is an associate member in men's and women's swimming, and Dubuque is an associate member in men's and women's lacrosse; over the past couple of years Carroll has participated in the CCIW as an associate member for men's and women's lacrosse, too. The CCIW has also added Washington (MO) as an associate member for football, starting in the fall of 2018, in part because football is harder to balance, schedule-wise, for odd-numbered leagues due to the fact that football teams play so few games (and only once a week).

Now that football has set a precedent for the league by adding an associate member for reasons other than meeting the seven-team NCAA minimum, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the CCIW added an associate member for baseball and softball (a tenth member for one sport would pretty likely mean a tenth for the other). As I detailed the other day, adding Carroll means that the CCIW baseball schedule is now going to be extremely cramped. Adding a tenth member would eliminate the byes, but it wouldn't make the CCIW season any shorter. However, it wouldn't make it any longer, either, and it would eliminate any possible unfairness in terms of when each particular team gets its bye. Adding a tenth team would therefore have some logic behind it.

There are only three reasonable candidates for CCIW associate membership in baseball: Chicago, Maranatha Baptist, and Illinois Tech, the latter of which put its baseball program on a one-year hiatus for this past season due to a hazing incident in 2015. Maranatha Baptist and Illinois Tech are independents in every sport; Chicago, like Washington (MO), is a member of the UAA for most sports (although the Maroons are independent in football, baseball, and softball).

Maranatha Baptist is on the very edge of the new CCIW geographical footprint, as it's located 35 miles northwest of Carroll. The thing about MBU, however, is that the Sabercats are never competitive whenever they face a CCIW team in any sport; their baseball and softball teams would get slaughter-ruled on a pretty regular basis if they were to compete in this league. I'm not sure that MBU really wants to play CCIW competition regularly, either. Illinois Tech is actively seeking full membership in a D3 league in order to best serve the needs of its entire athletics department, and the Scarlet Hawks don't have a softball program, so IIT probably isn't a good fit. Chicago, however, would be an ideal fit for CCIW associate membership in baseball and softball. The Maroons are fairly competent in baseball on an annual basis (2-2 against CCIW competition this past year), but they're outstanding in softball; they've made the D3 tourney ten times since 2000, including this past season.

(While the UAA does sponsor baseball and softball, the league's six participating members condense their entire regular-season UAA schedule in those sports to one-week double round-robin tournaments held in early March down in Florida. Chicago doesn't participate in those UAA tourneys in either sport, and the other non-participating UAA school, Carnegie Mellon, doesn't even have baseball or softball programs.)

I wouldn't mind it at all if the CCIW added Chicago as an associate member for baseball and softball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on June 28, 2016, 06:28:15 PM
Chicago would be a great fit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on July 11, 2016, 11:50:59 PM
The UAA is going away from the spring break tournament.  I am not sure what this means for chicago, and if they will compete in the UAA for baseball. But they may be able to compete in both.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 14, 2016, 09:48:52 AM
Anyone have a prediction for the CCIW standings this year?

*Can NPU bounce back?

*Was NCC's run for real (Ed Mathey seems to have them headed in the right direction... again... just like in the early-to-mid-90s)

*Is Wheaton ever going to turn the corner and make the leap from 4-5-6 to 1-2-3? Seems like they have the talent every year.

*What about Carroll? Where do they land in this year's CCIW race?

*Can Elmhurst and Millikin make a push to get out of the basement?

*Can Carthage regain it's former glory? What's to blame for the recent 5-6 year slide? Is the WIAC killing their recruiting of Wisconsin kids?

*Does IWU have enough to make another run in the near future?

*What's up with Augustana this year? Is it time for them to make themselves more than a flash-in-the-pan on the national scene?

Talk to me people.... with projected highs below zero this weekend there is not much I can except think about baseball.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on December 14, 2016, 10:40:11 AM
70 degrees yesterday here in Tyler!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 14, 2016, 03:07:32 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 14, 2016, 10:40:11 AM
70 degrees yesterday here in Tyler!

Ouch... projected HIGH of minus 10 Sunday.... not a typo. -10* for the HIGH! Just more time to read about baseball, I guess.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on December 14, 2016, 10:01:56 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 14, 2016, 03:07:32 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 14, 2016, 10:40:11 AM
70 degrees yesterday here in Tyler!

Ouch... projected HIGH of minus 10 Sunday.... not a typo. -10* for the HIGH! Just more time to read about baseball, I guess.

Wow, that's brutal.  (Can't recall - you're now in the Twin Cities area?)  We've got some predicted LOWS in minus territory over the next couple of weeks, but highs still in the teens or twenties.  Here in SE Michigan we've had two mild winters in a row - not sure we ever went below zero.  After a WAY above average fall, I'm still having trouble with suddenly having a usual winter! :(

Sorry I can't answer any of your questions.  About the only news I get about CCIW baseball is what I READ on here!

And to Ralph: less than a month ago we had a high of 73.  In 36 hours the temp dropped about 50 degrees.  Winter in Michigan is sometimes (delightfully) delayed, but it can never be forever avoided. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 15, 2016, 09:30:07 AM
We had the same fall here in the Twin Cities.... nice and warm and we are paying the price this week. We were in the 50s just weeks ago... when winter arrives she usually "announces her presence with authority!" (Bull Durham reference)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on December 15, 2016, 02:20:15 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 14, 2016, 03:07:32 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 14, 2016, 10:40:11 AM
70 degrees yesterday here in Tyler!

Ouch... projected HIGH of minus 10 Sunday.... not a typo. -10* for the HIGH! Just more time to read about baseball, I guess.

Burrrr.  Today we got above 0 for the first time in two weeks.  Looking forward to the games starting in about six weeks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: ElRetornodelEspencio on December 16, 2016, 12:19:53 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on December 14, 2016, 03:07:32 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 14, 2016, 10:40:11 AM
70 degrees yesterday here in Tyler!

Ouch... projected HIGH of minus 10 Sunday.... not a typo. -10* for the HIGH! Just more time to read about baseball, I guess.

Guess who's flying to Ohio on Sunday morning haha. Silver lining...no need for luggage, I'll be wearing everything I'm traveling with!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on December 17, 2016, 09:09:45 PM
Well, it hit us tonight.

At about 5:30pm it was 76 in Tyler and 36 at DFW Airport.


It rolled in here about 6pm and dropped 28 degrees in the first 45 minutes. It is is 39 at 8pm



Final report... The low this morning was 19 degrees, a 57 degree drop in 12 hours.
Fortunately, no appreciable precipitation .
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on December 19, 2016, 08:57:10 AM
Not too bad... ,it was -23* when I woke up Sunday morning... and just like that it will be 35 tomorrow so a 50 degree swing in the right direction here.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on December 23, 2016, 06:29:28 PM
We've gotten some moderation in the last couple of days (highs in the mid 30s), which has begun to melt the 12-14 inches of white stuff.  A good thing if the forecast is right - for the day after Christmas they're predicting 50+ and rain.  Would have produced horrendous flooding if we weren't already rid of at least 2/3 of the stuff before that happens. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 27, 2017, 01:23:18 PM
A repost from December and I a hoping there is more traffic around it this time as teams are in full-swing gearing up for the season.

Anyone have a prediction for the CCIW standings this year?

*Can NPU bounce back?

*Was NCC's run for real (Ed Mathey seems to have them headed in the right direction... again... just like in the early-to-mid-90s)

*Is Wheaton ever going to turn the corner and make the leap from 4-5-6 to 1-2-3? Seems like they have the talent every year.

*What about Carroll? Where do they land in this year's CCIW race?

*Can Elmhurst and Millikin make a push to get out of the basement?

*Can Carthage regain it's former glory? What's to blame for the recent 5-6 year slide? Is the WIAC killing their recruiting of Wisconsin kids?

*Does IWU have enough to make another run in the near future?

*What's up with Augustana this year? Is it time for them to make themselves more than a flash-in-the-pan on the national scene?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 27, 2017, 01:54:12 PM
Big Poppa, since I (like you) live well outside the conference area, before the season starts (and I can get game reports and read box scores) about the only source of information I have is from posters on here. :(  And this far before spring there just don't seem to be any posters from CCIW-land.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Purple Heys on January 27, 2017, 02:20:04 PM
I think the word you are looking for is hibernation...   ;D

Meanwhile, in Southern California...  8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 27, 2017, 03:07:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 27, 2017, 01:54:12 PM
Big Poppa, since I (like you) live well outside the conference area, before the season starts (and I can get game reports and read box scores) about the only source of information I have is from posters on here. :(  And this far before spring there just don't seem to be any posters from CCIW-land.

I guess I am always in baseball mode... others likely are not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 08, 2017, 01:36:45 PM
CCIW Preseason Coaches Poll:
http://www.cciw.org/news/2017/2/8/BB_0208172459.aspx (http://www.cciw.org/news/2017/2/8/BB_0208172459.aspx)

1. NCC
2. IWU/Augustana (tie)
4. Carthage
5. Wheaton
6. NPU
7. Millikin
8. Elmhurst
9. Carroll (Gonna be hard to remember they are a CCIW team now)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 10, 2017, 01:09:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 27, 2017, 03:07:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 27, 2017, 01:54:12 PM
Big Poppa, since I (like you) live well outside the conference area, before the season starts (and I can get game reports and read box scores) about the only source of information I have is from posters on here. :(  And this far before spring there just don't seem to be any posters from CCIW-land.

I guess I am always in baseball mode... others likely are not.

I cannot think of a day in the last 2 decades I did not think about baseball before noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2017, 01:12:00 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on February 10, 2017, 01:09:19 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 27, 2017, 03:07:04 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 27, 2017, 01:54:12 PM
Big Poppa, since I (like you) live well outside the conference area, before the season starts (and I can get game reports and read box scores) about the only source of information I have is from posters on here. :(  And this far before spring there just don't seem to be any posters from CCIW-land.

I guess I am always in baseball mode... others likely are not.

I cannot think of a day in the last 2 decades I did not think about baseball before noon.

Agree 100%, Jim!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2017, 09:46:19 AM
CCIW baseball begins this weekend as both NPU and Millikin hit the road for season openers. Any predictions?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2017, 12:44:40 PM
I don't know what you want me to say, BP. Do you really want me to predict NPU's outcomes practically blind?

My info on NPU's two opponents this coming weekend, Spalding and Hendrix, is pretty sketchy. I've looked at their rosters; I'm aware that Hendrix made mincemeat out of a not-very-good Vikings team over the course of three games last spring; and I've also noted that the Warriors opened their season this weekend with three tough losses in Texas. Beyond that, all that I can say is that, as usual, the Park will be facing southern teams that have been out in the open air practicing more than the Vikings have (although our unusually mild winter here in Chicago has allowed NPU to uncharacteristically get in some time on the diamond as well over the past couple of weeks).

My focus has been on North Park's basketball team over the past couple of months, so I haven't really thought much about the baseball team. I did interview Luke Johnson at halftime of a basketball game a couple of weeks ago, so I have a bit of an idea how things are going to look. He feels strongly that the Vikings will have more punch in the lineup and better defense up the middle than they have had the past couple of seasons, but that, of course, remains to be seen. Pitching-wise, a lot of NPU's fortunes will rest on the left arm of Alex Vannucci. If he can come back at 100% after missing last season to arm trouble, the Vikings could be competitive. They'll certainly throw an interesting problem at opponents by starting three lefties every weekend in Vannucci, Brent Kessinger, and James Pagni, if Vannucci's ready to go.

Sorry that I can't give you more than that, but I just don't have much of a feel for the Vikings yet.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2017, 09:13:16 PM
Here you go, BP: On the eve of NPU's season opener, the prospectus for the 2017 Vikings, straight from the horse's mouth:

http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2017/2/17/2017-npu-baseball-preview.aspx (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2017/2/17/2017-npu-baseball-preview.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2017, 09:26:30 PM
NPU opened the 2017 campaign with three wild-and-wooly contests down in Conway, AR. On Saturday the Vikes lost to Spalding, 16-10, and to host Hendrix, 8-6. On Sunday, the Vikings broke into the W column with a 6-5 victory over Spalding on a walk-off wild pitch (isn't that actually a run-off wild pitch?) in the bottom of the ninth.

I'm not thrilled about the 29 runs and 40 hits that the Vikings gave up over the weekend, although Zach Colangelo did appear to have a nice start on Sunday (6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER). But at least the Vikings can swing the bats and make some things happen on offense.

Two other teams have started play: Millikin also went to Arkansas this weekend, where the Big Blue took two out of three from College of the Ozarks, and Augustana opened its season with a 2-1 win over Brandeis today in the Sunshine State.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 20, 2017, 11:23:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2017, 09:26:30 PM
NPU opened the 2017 campaign with three wild-and-wooly contests down in Conway, AR. On Saturday the Vikes lost to Spalding, 16-10, and to host Hendrix, 8-6. On Sunday, the Vikings broke into the W column with a 6-5 victory over Spalding on a walk-off wild pitch (isn't that actually a run-off wild pitch?) in the bottom of the ninth.

I'm not thrilled about the 29 runs and 40 hits that the Vikings gave up over the weekend, although Zach Colangelo did appear to have a nice start on Sunday (6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER). But at least the Vikings can swing the bats and make some things happen on offense.

Two other teams have started play: Millikin also went to Arkansas this weekend, where the Big Blue took two out of three from College of the Ozarks, and Augustana opened its season with a 2-1 win over Brandeis today in the Sunshine State.

Depends on HOW wild the pitch was.  Usually it is a run-off, but I've seen cases where someone with a walker could score. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2017, 12:19:04 AM
I've seen pictures of Warrior Field, Chuck. The only way you can throw a wild pitch that would allow the runner at third to walk home is if you throw it over the backstop.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 21, 2017, 12:46:47 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2017, 12:19:04 AM
I've seen pictures of Warrior Field, Chuck. The only way you can throw a wild pitch that would allow the runner at third to walk home is if you throw it over the backstop.

Like I said, depends on HOW wild it was! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on February 23, 2017, 01:34:07 PM
Wheaton season preview video.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2017/2/23/wheaton-baseball-kicks-off-2017-season-on-friday-with-doubleheader-at-sewanee.aspx


Wheaton returns a good roster with all-CCIW selections from 2016 but also a 2015 all-CCIW first teamer in Johnny Peltz.   

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 23, 2017, 02:00:58 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on February 23, 2017, 01:34:07 PM
Wheaton season preview video.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2017/2/23/wheaton-baseball-kicks-off-2017-season-on-friday-with-doubleheader-at-sewanee.aspx


Wheaton returns a good roster with all-CCIW selections from 2016 but also a 2015 all-CCIW first teamer in Johnny Peltz.

I think hopes are high for Wheaton and they have as good a chance to better their predicted finish as any team in the CCIW
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 23, 2017, 04:18:12 PM
Augustana beat Brandeis for the fourth time in four days down in Florida. I think that we can now all safely agree that Augie is better than Brandeis. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 24, 2017, 09:29:14 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on February 23, 2017, 02:00:58 PM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on February 23, 2017, 01:34:07 PM
Wheaton season preview video.

http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2017/2/23/wheaton-baseball-kicks-off-2017-season-on-friday-with-doubleheader-at-sewanee.aspx


Wheaton returns a good roster with all-CCIW selections from 2016 but also a 2015 all-CCIW first teamer in Johnny Peltz.

I think hopes are high for Wheaton and they have as good a chance to better their predicted finish as any team in the CCIW

this has been the case for Wheaton year after year in the CCIW, but they never seem to put it all together... they have not had a great team since Brian Kolb donned the Orange and Blue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 14, 2017, 09:44:43 PM
Poll is up: Augie is #20, NCC is #25, IWU has 12 points.  Good step up from preseason poll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2017, 01:54:04 PM
Is it too early to give up on Carthage? Geez... figure it out, guys.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2017, 02:17:51 PM
You're not the only CCIW baseball fan whose alma mater is off to an ugly start to the 2017 season, BP. :(

At least your team has another week to figure it out on the field before the fun begins.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2017, 08:35:53 AM
Carthage blows its second consecutive 9th inning lead by allowing 5 runs in the 9th on back to back days. Carthage, much like last year, appears to have quality starting pitching and a below average bullpen. Hoping they get on track soon, but it already has the feeling of a long spring. No idea how Augie is handling shaky bullpen without having a heart-attack every time he runs a new arm out there.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 21, 2017, 09:21:12 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 21, 2017, 08:35:53 AM
Carthage blows its second consecutive 9th inning lead by allowing 5 runs in the 9th on back to back days. Carthage, much like last year, appears to have quality starting pitching and a below average bullpen. Hoping they get on track soon, but it already has the feeling of a long spring. No idea how Augie is handling shaky bullpen without having a heart-attack every time he runs a new arm out there.
Should have recruited more of those Fox Valley kids like they did in the past!!!!   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 21, 2017, 03:15:49 PM
Quote from: cubs on March 21, 2017, 09:21:12 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 21, 2017, 08:35:53 AM
Carthage blows its second consecutive 9th inning lead by allowing 5 runs in the 9th on back to back days. Carthage, much like last year, appears to have quality starting pitching and a below average bullpen. Hoping they get on track soon, but it already has the feeling of a long spring. No idea how Augie is handling shaky bullpen without having a heart-attack every time he runs a new arm out there.
Should have recruited more of those Fox Valley kids like they did in the past!!!!   ;D

true, but the issue is that tuition has skyrocketed and most blue-collar family from the Fox Valley (formed the backbone of the Carthage 90s/early2000s teams) simply cannot afford to go there... which is great for Stevens Point and La Crosse who have scooped up the kids that traditionally landed at Carthage. Oshkosh roster is full of northern Chicago suburb kids.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 21, 2017, 05:17:59 PM
New poll is up:  Augie climbs to #16, IWU falls to 3 points, Wheaton gets one point.  NCC (now 2-5) falls from #25 to zero points.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 21, 2017, 05:29:14 PM
BP and Greg, until you miss the conference tourney it is NEVER too late for hope.  On the morning of May 1, 2010 IWU had a losing record; exactly one month (and a few hours) later, they hoisted Walnut-and-Bronze.  Don't bail too early! ;D

(While I promise not to abuse the privilege, Greg gave me permission to mention 2010 on the baseball boards if IWU would knock of the Augie basketball team for NPU, which we proceeded to do by 30 points!  Which gives another example of never lose hope: is there anyone not in the Augie lockerroom [and perhaps even there] who seriously thought then that Augie could come within a blocked layup of winning the bball title? :o)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 22, 2017, 08:47:36 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 21, 2017, 05:29:14 PM
BP and Greg, until you miss the conference tourney it is NEVER too late for hope.  On the morning of May 1, 2010 IWU had a losing record; exactly one month (and a few hours) later, they hoisted Walnut-and-Bronze. Don't bail too early! ;D

Wow! A new record. I assumed we wouldn't hear this until at least early-May ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 22, 2017, 10:40:07 AM
I should've seen it coming, BP. I gave him permission, and he got greedy. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2017, 01:15:30 PM
Well, geez.  You two guys seemed so morose about your teams, I just wanted to give ya a little pep talk! 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2017, 01:38:59 PM
Carthage is supposed to be facing Grinnell today but live stats has them playing Hamline again. Anyone know which is correct?

EDIT: They just updated it... maybe they are watching this site?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 26, 2017, 05:46:08 PM
IWU was swept at Wash U. today, 14-1 (ouch!) and 5-2, dropping them to 7-6 heading into conference play (and surely losing them their remaining three points in the national poll).

Now I need a pep talk! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2017, 08:56:08 AM
It's a brutal start for Carthage on the road but today's game vs Carroll was moved to Kenosha (with Carthage as the visitor).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2017, 12:54:45 PM
It's CCIW Opening Day. Single games only:

Elmhurst (6-7) @ North Central (2-6), 3 p.m.
Carroll (4-10) @ Carthage (7-6), 3 p.m.
Millikin (11-3) @ Augustana (14-2), 5 p.m.
North Park (7-9) @ Wheaton (10-5), 6 p.m.

Is anybody else surprised that North Central has only played eight games to date? The Cards have six more non-conference games remaining to be played, interspersed amidst a much more condensed CCIW sked than we're used to seeing, thanks to the addition of Carroll. (NCC also has the possibility of scheduling yet another game at a date to be named to make it an even forty.) The Cards are practically going to be playing baseball around the clock; they'll have six occasions between now and the last day of the regular season (May 6) in which they get two days off, and the rest of the time they'll either be going every day or every other day -- and that's not figuring doubleheaders into the equation.

That's a recipe for spreading out your innings among a lot more arms than usual. We'll see if Ed Mathey's got the pitching staff to handle it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2017, 01:10:13 PM
I got my first live look at North Park on Sunday, as opposed to watching the Vikings via webstream. (Video feeds for D3 baseball are far more hit-or-miss than they are for D3 football or D3 soccer or D3 basketball, so it's not as though you're going to get a good feel for a team by watching them online the way that you can for those other three sports.) I'm not sure what to think yet. The Vikings dispensed with Roosevelt pretty easily, 9-4. The Lakers are not an NAIA powerhouse in this sport, although they aren't inept, either. Brent Kessinger threw six strong innings and looked sharp, giving up only an unearned run and a "Holmgren homer" to the front row in right. The bats were solid, and the fielding was near-impeccable, with only one error committed by NPU.

I don't feel as though I got the full picture, though. Two of the key pitchers upon whom Luke Johnson is relying have been sidelined by injury, and NPU's pitching depth seems to be problematic this season. The middle of the infield is still a work in progress, although it should be better by the end of the season than it was throughout the entirety of the last two years. This Vikings team is faster and runs the bases better than last season's edition, and the Vikings should be able to score some runs in CCIW play. My worry is that they won't be able to keep other teams from scoring more consistently and in bigger bunches than they score themselves, both due to thin front-line pitching and spotty infield play, although I could just be letting the overall 7-9 mark make me a pessimist rather than letting the current four-game winning streak make me an optimist.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 08:26:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D

You guys do know who makes the CCIW schedule every year, right? Wallace and Martel. And they've been doing this to Carthage for years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2017, 09:40:36 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 08:26:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D

You guys do know who makes the CCIW schedule every year, right? Wallace and Martel. And they've been doing this to Carthage for years.

Doesn't matter... Carthage is tough. They'll find a way. My Soph season we played our first 23 games either at neutral sites or on the road... good teams find a way to win games in those circumstances... great teams find a way to sweep those series.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on March 29, 2017, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 08:26:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D

You guys do know who makes the CCIW schedule every year, right? Wallace and Martel. And they've been doing this to Carthage for years.

Old school that's the way most conference schedules got done but these days with full-time staff in conference offices, most things aren't actually done that way anymore. I'd be shocked if Chris Martin really lets it happen as you suggest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2017, 12:26:14 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 29, 2017, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 08:26:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D

You guys do know who makes the CCIW schedule every year, right? Wallace and Martel. And they've been doing this to Carthage for years.

Old school that's the way most conference schedules got done but these days with full-time staff in conference offices, most things aren't actually done that way anymore. I'd be shocked if Chris Martin really lets it happen as you suggest.

Greg Wallace -- not some sort of Wallace-and-Martel cartel ;) -- used to make the baseball schedule for the CCIW. As Pat indicated, Wallace no longer has that responsibility. The CCIW has contracted with a firm that's run by the wife of former Lake Forest head basketball coach Chris Conger. This outfit specializes in designing athletics schedules that are based upon the predetermined specifications submitted by the client leagues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 12:40:44 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 29, 2017, 11:34:15 AM
Quote from: blue_jays on March 29, 2017, 08:26:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2017, 08:59:39 PM
BP, just checked Carthage's schedule - GEEZ, what did you guys to to piss off the CCIW?!  First five conference games, all on the road, on Tues, Wed, Sat, and Sunday!

The big showdown between you and me comes early this year: the three game set in Bloomington on Sat and Sunday.  May the better team win (and you gotta know who I HOPE that is)! ;D

You guys do know who makes the CCIW schedule every year, right? Wallace and Martel. And they've been doing this to Carthage for years.

Old school that's the way most conference schedules got done but these days with full-time staff in conference offices, most things aren't actually done that way anymore. I'd be shocked if Chris Martin really lets it happen as you suggest.

Well it happened for years and wasn't exactly a secret, ask your local CCIW coach. Good if it's not happening now, it reeked of competitive advantage...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 04:18:31 PM
In the first of two, IWU 3, Carthage 0.  Sean Coonan went the distance for the complete-game shutout.  For Carthage, Chris DeRue pitched pretty well, but not well enough - in 6 innings he yeielded 5 hits and 3 runs, only one earned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 06:33:30 PM
MIGHT be a sweep in B'town.  Bottom of the seventh, tie game, Titans loaded the bases with no outs (ending the day for Carthage starter Tim Sulik).  Ian Maxeiner promptly gave Augie Schmidt a few more grey hairs, walking in a run.  But Carthage then escaped with only one more run scored - so 4-2 IWU entering the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 07:10:22 PM
It got scary in the ninth, but IWU gets the sweep.  Matt Banaitis (being the pitcher when the Titans got two in the 7th) gets the win, though he started the 9th with a walk, an out, and a double.  Nick Brune (despite hitting two batters, the second with the bases loaded) gets the save.  Not sure we deserved it, but a win is a win (and we ain't givin' it back, deserved or not!).  Final was 4-3.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on April 01, 2017, 10:42:10 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 07:10:22 PM
It got scary in the ninth, but IWU gets the sweep.  Matt Banaitis (being the pitcher when the Titans got two in the 7th) gets the win, though he started the 9th with a walk, an out, and a double.  Nick Brune (despite hitting two batters, the second with the bases loaded) gets the save.  Not sure we deserved it, but a win is a win (and we ain't givin' it back, deserved or not!).  Final was 4-3.
Not a sweep yet but we do get another shot Sunday  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 11:17:38 PM
Quote from: iwumichigander on April 01, 2017, 10:42:10 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 01, 2017, 07:10:22 PM
It got scary in the ninth, but IWU gets the sweep.  Matt Banaitis (being the pitcher when the Titans got two in the 7th) gets the win, though he started the 9th with a walk, an out, and a double.  Nick Brune (despite hitting two batters, the second with the bases loaded) gets the save.  Not sure we deserved it, but a win is a win (and we ain't givin' it back, deserved or not!).  Final was 4-3.
Not a sweep yet but we do get another shot Sunday  ;D

Sweep of the DH.  Tomorrow we try for the sweep of the series.

Over the next 5-6 weeks we try for the sweep of the season! 8-)  There are sweeps and then there are SWEEPS. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2017, 02:49:42 PM
Carthage emphatically avoided the sweep, 11-0, in a shortened 'mercy-rule' game.  Kevin Tibor went the distance for Carthage, scattering just 4 hits and running his record to 5-0.  Nick Huskisson gave up 4 earned runs and was pulled after getting only two outs - he is now 0-1 for the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2017, 12:33:25 PM
After one week the CCIW is relatively as I expected. Augustana, IWU and North Central near the top and Carthage struggling to keep pace. I still think it is going to be a two-team race for the last playoff spot between Carthage and Wheaton. I think Carthage can get on a CCIW roll in the next two week to get back into the picture, but the game that looms is with Wheaton next week as they face off three times with a DH vs Elmhurst smashed into the middle of that series.

Any other observations form the week that was?


Augustana   3-1   17-3
North Central   3-1   5-7
Illinois Wesleyan   2-1   9-7
Elmhurst   2-1   8-8
Millikin   2-2   13-5
Wheaton   2-2   12-8
Carthage   2-3   9-9
Carroll   1-3   5-13
North Park   1-4   8-13
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: deepthroat on April 03, 2017, 12:55:09 PM
What has happened with NPU baseball?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2017, 01:34:50 PM
Nearly the entire pitching staff has been throwing batting practice all season, that's what's happened to NPU baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 12:04:03 AM
YIKES!!  It appears that neither Carroll or IWU has pitchers (at least today).

IWU swept the DH in Waukesha by a combined 53-20. :o

Their 30 runs in the first game broke the old school record of 29.  They had seven home runs in EACH game, breaking the old school record of six.  Carroll is NOT good. ;)  IWU moves to 5-1 and temporarily leads the CCIW, but giving up 20 runs is worrisome.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 06:44:39 PM
It would be nice if Carroll would join the 21st century - no links whatsoever for the ball game.  It presumably ended several hours ago, but still no score posted on the Carroll (or CCIW) website.  Anyone know the result?

EDIT: Never mind - IWU was the away team but THEY have the result on their site!  IWU completed the sweep with a 16-0 romp - that's SIXTY-NINE runs for the Titans in the series!  (There are probably posters on here that could bat .300 against Carroll pitching! ;))

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2017, 01:34:50 PM
Nearly the entire pitching staff has been throwing batting practice all season, that's what's happened to NPU baseball.

Wait 'til you see Carroll's pitching!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2017, 07:16:49 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 06:44:39 PM
It would be nice if Carroll would join the 21st century - no links whatsoever for the ball game.

I'm pretty sure that the only sports for which Carroll had live stats this year were football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. Trust me, as a broadcaster I try to keep viewers abreast of out-of-town scores involving CCIW teams as often as I can, and Carroll has made that really difficult for me in several sports this season, including baseball and softball this spring.

It's not fair to describe this as Carroll not being in the 21st century, however, because there are plenty of D3 institutions -- the SLIAC schools come to mind -- that are still lacking live stats in one or more sports that are typically covered by that feature. It's not cheap software, and I'm sure that there are some venues in D3 that aren't even set up for computer connectivity. Don't underestimate just how many D3 member institutions are forced by a lack of resources to run their athletics departments on the sort of budget that makes the adjective "shoestring" an understatement.

Nevertheless, Carroll is back in the CCIW now, and on this level there are some basic expectations that are higher than they are in other circuits when it comes to athletics resources. We've long since passed the point in which live stats for football, volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, and softball are an expectation in this league (unless time conflicts and equipment limitations prevent two sports from simultaneously transmitting live stats from the same school, which sometimes happens in the fall). Carroll really needs to give its SID Mike Schulist the resources for him to full cover all of the sports in which live stats have become an expected feature in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 07:45:27 PM
And even leaving aside the lack of livestats, I found it mighty strange that I finally found the game results not on the Carroll website, or the CCIW website, but on the IWU website!  Since IWU could not have made it back to B'town by the time the result was posted, someone must have called or texted some of the basic info to Stew Salowitz (or staff).  Apparently Carroll has no staff on Sundays! :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on April 09, 2017, 07:52:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 07:45:27 PM
And even leaving aside the lack of livestats, I found it mighty strange that I finally found the game results not on the Carroll website, or the CCIW website, but on the IWU website!  Since IWU could not have made it back to B'town by the time the result was posted, someone must have called or texted some of the basic info to Stew Salowitz (or staff).  Apparently Carroll has no staff on Sundays! :P
I think IWU has the ability to upload on the road.  I have seen stats and write ups in multi sports from road games that had to be sent from the road site or uploaded with a mobile compnnection.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2017, 08:32:28 PM
The score came up on the CU website right after you guys posted. My guess is that Mike Schulist sent it to Mike Krizman at the league office first before posting it on the CU website, and that Stew took it from the CCIW site -- unless Stew or his GA Austin Overmann traveled with the team to Waukesha, which doesn't strike me as being very likely (especially on a Sunday in which IWU was playing host to two softball games widely separated in terms of starting times).

That's what happened yesterday. After checking the CU schedule page fruitlessly a hundred times while calling the doubleheader at NPU, I saw the IWU @ CU doubleheader scores finally pop up on the CCIW website (both of them, simultaneously) and then they appeared on the CU baseball schedule page shortly thereafter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 09, 2017, 08:45:55 PM
PrestoSports gives everyone access to its own livestats software for free -- whether they're a Presto client or not. The baseball and softball Presto livestats apps work well, even on on a tablet. Used the baseball one in beta format at the D-III World Series last year and there were no issues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2017, 08:49:45 PM
You should pass that info along to some of the SLIAC folks as well as CU SID Mike Schulist, Pat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2017, 08:16:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 09, 2017, 06:44:39 PM
It would be nice if Carroll would join the 21st century - no links whatsoever for the ball game.  It presumably ended several hours ago, but still no score posted on the Carroll (or CCIW) website.  Anyone know the result?

EDIT: Never mind - IWU was the away team but THEY have the result on their site!  IWU completed the sweep with a 16-0 romp - that's SIXTY-NINE runs for the Titans in the series!  (There are probably posters on here that could bat .300 against Carroll pitching! ;))

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2017, 01:34:50 PM
Nearly the entire pitching staff has been throwing batting practice all season, that's what's happened to NPU baseball.

Guessing I could hit .340 vs Carroll.... but I AM almost 43 and slightly out of shape.
Wait 'til you see Carroll's pitching!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2017, 05:13:37 PM
Didn't check how other hitters fared last week, but I would guess that Titan catcher Pat Mollo was an easy pick for CCIW hitter-of-the-week.  In four games (all wins) he batted .687, slugged 1.750, had 5 HRs, scored 11 runs, and knocked in 15 RBIs.  Geez, Louise ... that's a good MONTH, much less a good week!

He's from Naperville North H.S.   I bet NCC really wishes they coulda kept him home!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2017, 04:26:00 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2017, 05:13:37 PM
Didn't check how other hitters fared last week, but I would guess that Titan catcher Pat Mollo was an easy pick for CCIW hitter-of-the-week.  In four games (all wins) he batted .687, slugged 1.750, had 5 HRs, scored 11 runs, and knocked in 15 RBIs.  Geez, Louise ... that's a good MONTH, much less a good week!

He's from Naperville North H.S.   I bet NCC really wishes they coulda kept him home!


also made d3baseball.com team of the week at C.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2017, 07:41:03 PM
Something I can't recall seeing before.  NPU escaped the top of the 4th with no further damage when the Titan at first was picked off on a throw from the catcher.  The bases were loaded, so what the heck was he doing far enough off first to be picked off - it's not like he could steal second! :(

Titans lead the (north) Vikings 7-4.  Pat Mollo hit ANOTHER HR.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on April 11, 2017, 08:51:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2017, 07:41:03 PM
Something I can't recall seeing before.  NPU escaped the top of the 4th with no further damage when the Titan at first was picked off on a throw from the catcher.  The bases were loaded, so what the heck was he doing far enough off first to be picked off - it's not like he could steal second! :(

Titans lead the (north) Vikings 7-4.  Pat Mollo hit ANOTHER HR.
up by 3, the base runner or first base coach may have thought the pitcher or catcher would not gamble with a pickoff throw with the possibility of throwing the ball away allowing runs to score on an error.
Never a good idea to take an extended lead where you can not get back to the bag under any circumstance.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2017, 10:14:21 PM
Final from Chi-town:  IWU 17, NPU 14.  (Yes, baseball, not football. ;))

Other scores:
  NCC 6, Augie 5
  Elmhurst 17, Millikin 6
  Wheaton 6, Carthage 5

IWU and NCC remain tied for first, now 7-1.  Elmhurst is at 6-2.  Everyone else with 4 or more losses.

Augie remained the only CCIW team receiving votes in the poll, falling from 14 to 24, but they are now 4-5 in the CCIW so I suspect their days are numbered.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2017, 10:51:03 PM
That game took nearly four hours to complete, and it only went nine innings. Neither team could pitch its way out of a wet paper bag. Heck, the EC @ MU game finished 20 minutes earlier than the IWU @ NPU game, and the game in Decatur started an hour later than the one in Chicago. I probably got some NPU parents watching online mad at me by comparing it on the air to a bar-league softball game, but when there's 31 runs scored and nearly 40 hits between the two teams, it's a pretty apt analogy.

Good to see my man Greg Grana go yard with a granny today. He's one of my camera operators for NPU basketball broadcasts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2017, 12:35:17 AM
For all the ragging I've done about North Park's pitching, I owe it to the team's hurlers to give them their props when they turn out good performances -- and they turned out two of them today, as NPU swept Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, 6-2 and 5-2. Brent Kessinger went 8.1 in the opener for the Vikings, scattering eight hits and giving up only the two runs, before Josh Smith came on to get the two final outs via strikeout. Then freshman Matt Pizur took the mound in the nightcap and similarly handcuffed the Titans, going the distance to pick up the win while only giving up one earned run. Vikings DH Tyler Woolbright homered in each game.

I don't know why it took NPU pitchers so long to string together two good starts, but it's very encouraging -- especially against a team that hits as well as IWU does. This doesn't really mean that the Park's bullpen problem is solved, but this is a big leap forward for the rotation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 15, 2017, 02:05:24 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 15, 2017, 12:35:17 AM
For all the ragging I've done about North Park's pitching, I owe it to the team's hurlers to give them their props when they turn out good performances -- and they turned out two of them today, as NPU swept Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, 6-2 and 5-2. Brent Kessinger went 8.1 in the opener for the Vikings, scattering eight hits and giving up only the two runs, before Josh Smith came on to get the two final outs via strikeout. Then freshman Matt Pizur took the mound in the nightcap and similarly handcuffed the Titans, going the distance to pick up the win while only giving up one earned run. Vikings DH Tyler Woolbright homered in each game.

I don't know why it took NPU pitchers so long to string together two good starts, but it's very encouraging -- especially against a team that hits as well as IWU does. This doesn't really mean that the Park's bullpen problem is solved, but this is a big leap forward for the rotation.
It was a well-played DH by both teams, and according to my records, it marks the first time in program history the Vikings have *ever* swept the Titans in Bloomington.  Game one featured a 2:09 rain delay, and we were in doubt of continuing the contest.  I'm glad we did -- Kessinger and Pizur made lots of quality pitches and each walked only two.  Woolbright's two home runs were legit shots to left -- one stayed just fair, while the other cleared the fence by plenty.  It's the best I've seen the Vikings play in all phases of the game in quite some time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2017, 07:29:41 PM
Elmhurst and IWU split the DH in B'town:  IWU taking the opener, 14-5; Elmhurst returning the favor 7-2.  They remain in a second-place tie, both 8-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2017, 11:05:09 PM
Baseball is a funny game - and North Park showed just how weird this weekend. :P  Friday they play a DH at a team then tied for first in the conference, and sweep 'em.  Saturday they play a DH at a team then in last place, and get swept. :o

I think it was Yogi who said "Nobody knows nothing." 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2017, 12:03:00 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 15, 2017, 11:05:09 PM
Baseball is a funny game

I'm not laughing. >:(

If "blown saves that result in losses" is an NCAA category, NPU's got a realistic shot at leading it this season, as the bullpen blew yet another ninth-inning lead in Game One. Game Two was really more a demonstration of how thin the list of reliable Vikings pitchers is than anything else.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 08:58:18 AM
Carthage continues to baffle me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 17, 2017, 12:41:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 08:58:18 AM
Carthage continues to baffle me.
Carthage needs a "Jimmie Foxx 'No crying in baseball' League of Their Own dugout inspirational talk" from Big Poppa.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 01:52:00 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 17, 2017, 12:41:00 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 08:58:18 AM
Carthage continues to baffle me.
Carthage needs a "Jimmie Foxx 'No crying in baseball' League of Their Own dugout inspirational talk" from Big Poppa.


HA! I am sure speech would result in multiple parent calls to administration:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2017, 07:33:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 08:58:18 AM
Carthage continues to baffle me.

I'd say they are a puzzle to everyone.  They lead the conference in team batting average, are third in team ERA, are second in team fielding%.  Somehow that doesn't seem to add up to sitting in sixth place! :o

I haven't gone thru game-by-game (heck, I haven't even done that for my own team!), but the only explanation I can see for those stats is that they generally lose close or win by a ton.  So, timing?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 18, 2017, 09:29:49 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2017, 07:33:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2017, 08:58:18 AM
Carthage continues to baffle me.

I'd say they are a puzzle to everyone.  They lead the conference in team batting average, are third in team ERA, are second in team fielding%.  Somehow that doesn't seem to add up to sitting in sixth place! :o

I haven't gone thru game-by-game (heck, I haven't even done that for my own team!), but the only explanation I can see for those stats is that they generally lose close or win by a ton.  So, timing?

Exactly! THIS is why is is so frustrating to see. It's like they have a staff full of #3 arms who keep it close each game, but can't shut down the opponent completely. At the same time, their bats destroy middle-to-bottom of the rotation arms. I don't think they'll make the CCIW tourney (which is astounding to me... the fact that Carthage is struggling to make the CCIW post-season year after year while ten years ago they seemed to be a good bet to make the World Series every other year is...... UGH!!!!!!!)



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2017, 11:39:06 AM
Does anyone think the CCIW will add a tenth member? Maybe one of the NathCon schools as that seems to be a large conference. Or maybe Chicago leaves the UAA? Geographically they are a great fit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 19, 2017, 12:33:23 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2017, 11:39:06 AM
Does anyone think the CCIW will add a tenth member? Maybe one of the NathCon schools as that seems to be a large conference. Or maybe Chicago leaves the UAA? Geographically they are a great fit.

Chicago can certainly join just for baseball as they do not participate in the UAA in baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2017, 12:46:00 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on April 19, 2017, 12:33:23 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2017, 11:39:06 AM
Does anyone think the CCIW will add a tenth member? Maybe one of the NathCon schools as that seems to be a large conference. Or maybe Chicago leaves the UAA? Geographically they are a great fit.

Chicago can certainly join just for baseball as they do not participate in the UAA in baseball.

Might be a nice option for the CCIW as it would help balance the schedule a bit and eliminate the BYE... and many schools are already playing U of Chicago so it would change much except those games would count more. (FYI: I forgot they an independent for baseball. Good catch, Jim.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2017, 04:03:10 PM
I take it that by "tenth member" you're referring to baseball only, BP. In that respect, yeah, the CCIW has plenty of associate members who only participate in one or two sports:


Concordia (WI)  wrestling
Dubuque  men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse
Lakeland  wrestling
Milwaukee Engineering  wrestling
Rose-Hulman  men's swimming, women's swimming
Washington (MO)  football (beginning in 2018)

... so it's possible that the league could opt to do that for baseball as well.

Each of the CCIW's six associate members has a baseball program, and each is already playing in that school's full-membership league: NACC for Concordia (WI), Milwaukee Engineering, and Lakeland; IIAC for Dubuque; HCAC for Rose-Hulman; and UAA for Washington (MO). The interesting thing is that the UAA only has seven members that have baseball programs -- Carnegie Mellon doesn't field a team in this sport -- and two of the seven choose not to play in the UAA for baseball. The league, for reasons unknown, allows them to do that. As Jim mentioned, Chicago is one of the two; the Maroons play an independent schedule. The other UAA stray, Rochester, plays in the Liberty League. One can hardly blame those two programs, as the UAA's tournament-based league schedule makes the league an odd duck in the D3 baseball world.

If the CCIW were to add an associate member for baseball, Chicago would be a natural fit. Nobody likes the headaches involved in scheduling as an independent, and the CCIW is a solid (albeit unspectacular) baseball league. From the CCIW's point of view, the Maroons are a competitive program based well within the league's geographical footprint, and you can never underestimate the cachet involved in getting an academic institution as high-powered as the University of Chicago into your circuit, even if it's just for one sport. But the CCIW, if it were to seek a tenth baseball program, might decide instead to give Wash U first right of refusal out of courtesy, since the Bears are already a nascent associate member of our league for football, and the UAA does not have an automatic bid to the D3 baseball tournament.

If, however, what you meant in asking if the CCIW will add a tenth member is whether or not the CCIW will add a tenth full member, the league's presidents have said that they're not actively seeking that. The league's needs seem to be amply met for the most part by having associate members in various sports in order to get the CCIW up to the seven-team minimum required for autobids to D3 tournaments, and if the nine-team sports in the CCIW want to follow the lead of football by adding a tenth for scheduling purposes, the CCIW could go the associate-member route in those sports as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2017, 10:20:30 PM
IWU 3, Elmhurst 1.  I almost posted earlier when I noted that Nick Brune had a no-hitter thru 4, but even from 300 miles away I didn't want to risk jinxing him!  Apparently even the mere thought was enough, as he gave up a hit and a run in the 5th. ::)

Barring something really bizarre, NPU, Millikin, and Carroll are effectively eliminated from the conference tourney.  Carthage needs a winning streak to get back into the conversation, but should definitely not be counted out.

Current standings:
                      GB
NCC     9-2     --
IWU     9-4      1
Augie   7-5     2.5
Elmhurst 8-6  2.5
Wheaton  8-6  2.5
Carthage 6-7    4
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2017, 09:05:41 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2017, 10:20:30 PM
IWU 3, Elmhurst 1.  I almost posted earlier when I noted that Nick Brune had a no-hitter thru 4, but even from 300 miles away I didn't want to risk jinxing him!  Apparently even the mere thought was enough, as he gave up a hit and a run in the 5th. ::)

Barring something really bizarre, NPU, Millikin, and Carroll are effectively eliminated from the conference tourney.  Carthage needs a winning streak to get back into the conversation, but should definitely not be counted out.

Current standings:
                      GB
NCC     9-2     --
IWU     9-4      1
Augie   7-5     2.5
Elmhurst 8-6  2.5
Wheaton  8-6  2.5
Carthage 6-7    4

Carthage certainly has a favorable schedule in the coming weeks with Carroll and NPU on the docket (but this is not the usual Carthage squad that didn't drop games when favored). It will likely come down to how the Redmen(One word, not two... I am a proud alum!) fare against Augustana, and NCC. Id the can sweep 5 straight this week vs Carroll and NPU, they should climb back into the mix quickly. The they need to scrap to salvage a game or two in the Augustana series and take at least one from North Central.
Understandably, those are BIG ifs and I fear Carthage may be on the outside looking in when the CCIW tourney begins. (Can't believe I am typing that again... tired of the inconsistency).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 20, 2017, 09:21:52 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2017, 04:03:10 PM
I take it that by "tenth member" you're referring to baseball only, BP. In that respect, yeah, the CCIW has plenty of associate members who only participate in one or two sports:


Concordia (WI)  wrestling
Dubuque  men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse
Lakeland  wrestling
Milwaukee Engineering  wrestling
Rose-Hulman  men's swimming, women's swimming
Washington (MO)  football (beginning in 2018)

... so it's possible that the league could opt to do that for baseball as well.

Each of the CCIW's six associate members has a baseball program, and each is already playing in that school's full-membership league: NACC for Concordia (WI), Milwaukee Engineering, and Lakeland; IIAC for Dubuque; HCAC for Rose-Hulman; and UAA for Washington (MO). The interesting thing is that the UAA only has seven members that have baseball programs -- Carnegie Mellon doesn't field a team in this sport -- and two of the seven choose not to play in the UAA for baseball. The league, for reasons unknown, allows them to do that. As Jim mentioned, Chicago is one of the two; the Maroons play an independent schedule. The other UAA stray, Rochester, plays in the Liberty League. One can hardly blame those two programs, as the UAA's tournament-based league schedule makes the league an odd duck in the D3 baseball world.

If the CCIW were to add an associate member for baseball, Chicago would be a natural fit. Nobody likes the headaches involved in scheduling as an independent, and the CCIW is a solid (albeit unspectacular) baseball league. From the CCIW's point of view, the Maroons are a competitive program based well within the league's geographical footprint, and you can never underestimate the cachet involved in getting an academic institution as high-powered as the University of Chicago into your circuit, even if it's just for one sport. But the CCIW, if it were to seek a tenth baseball program, might decide instead to give Wash U first right of refusal out of courtesy, since the Bears are already a nascent associate member of our league for football, and the UAA does not have an automatic bid to the D3 baseball tournament.

If, however, what you meant in asking if the CCIW will add a tenth member is whether or not the CCIW will add a tenth full member, the league's presidents have said that they're not actively seeking that. The league's needs seem to be amply met for the most part by having associate members in various sports in order to get the CCIW up to the seven-team minimum required for autobids to D3 tournaments, and if the nine-team sports in the CCIW want to follow the lead of football by adding a tenth for scheduling purposes, the CCIW could go the associate-member route in those sports as well.

THIS is great stuff, Greg. Thanks for your insight. I don't think it will be long until they add an associate member for baseball, but I had not considered WashU. I assumed it would be U of Chicago simply based on ease of travel for those Chicago-land schools.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on April 20, 2017, 02:39:19 PM
The UAA plays a regular schedule now -- Wash U hosted Emory for a four-game set March 31-April 2, went to Case for four games on April 14-15, travels to Brandeis then hosts NYU.

Chicago still the odd team out in this arrangement as well, although they are playing Case and Wash U in four-game sets.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2017, 12:13:19 AM
IWU and Carthage certainly have diametrically opposed schedules this weekend.  IWU has a DH Saturday at conference-leading NCC, then a DH Sunday at #3 (and national vote-getting) Augie.  Carthage HOSTS bottom-feeder Carroll in a DH on Saturday, then plays a DH at also bottom-feeding NPU on Sunday. 

While I think IWU is better than Carthage, I don't think I'd put any money on them having a better record this weekend! ;)  Anyone who doesn't want to go to Naperville for the conference tourney better hope for a Titan sweep on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2017, 08:52:26 AM
I think IWU goes 2-2 on the weekend with a pair of splits. Carthage HAS to go 4-0 if they wish to remain in the mix. These are the games they HAVE to win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2017, 10:37:26 PM
IWU swept NCC today to move into first place.  Carthage got the sweep over Carroll to move into the tourney picture.  Augie/Wheaton and Elmhurst/Millikin were both splits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2017, 05:11:27 PM
Augie takes game one over IWU, 14-5.  The Vikings battered Jonathon Vik early (1 in the first, 2 in the second, 3 in the third), before he settled down and shut them out for the next two.  In the top of the 6th, the Titans got four to climb back within one, 6-5.  But once Vik left the game, the floodgates opened on the Titan bullpen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2017, 07:55:24 PM
IWU gets the split in Moline, 12-2.  It was still a possibly winnable game for the Vikings entering the ninth, but then the Titans poured on 6 more runs.  To his credit, the Augie coach then sent in three pinch hitters, getting some scrubs some game action.

NCC hosted Millikin and only got a split ( :o), so IWU retains first place.  I'll update standings once I hear other scores (i.e., once cciw.org scoreboard updates, since I'm too lazy to track them all down ;)).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 23, 2017, 09:41:15 PM
North Park and Carthage split, with the Redmen escaping with an 8-7 victory in game one and the Vikings clawing back in game two, 12-10. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2017, 10:12:41 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 23, 2017, 09:41:15 PM
North Park and Carthage split, with the Redmen escaping with an 8-7 victory in game one and the Vikings clawing back in game two, 12-10.

ALL EIGHT teams that played today (with it being Sunday, Wheaton of course did not play) split their double-headers.

CURRENT STANDINGS:
TEAM       RECORD     GB
   IWU          12-5         --
   NCC          10-5          1
   Augie        10-7          2
   Elmhurst   10-8          2.5
   Wheaton     9-8          3
   Carthage    9-8          3

   Millikin        6-12        6.5
   NPU            5-11        6.5
   Carroll        5-12        7

I haven't checked carefully the schedules to see if the bottom three are mathematically eliminated from the conference tourney, but, realistically, they are goners.  But a close six-team fight for the tourney, and several teams could still host it.
 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2017, 10:37:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2017, 05:11:27 PM
Augie takes game one over IWU, 14-5.  The Vikings battered Jonathon Vik early (1 in the first, 2 in the second, 3 in the third), before he settled down and shut them out for the next two.  In the top of the 6th, the Titans got four to climb back within one, 6-5.  But once Vik left the game, the floodgates opened on the Titan bullpen.

It's "Vlk", Chuck, not "Vik". Seriously. He forgot to tell Pat Sajak that he would like to buy a vowel.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2017, 12:24:32 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2017, 10:37:15 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2017, 05:11:27 PM
Augie takes game one over IWU, 14-5.  The Vikings battered Jonathon Vik early (1 in the first, 2 in the second, 3 in the third), before he settled down and shut them out for the next two.  In the top of the 6th, the Titans got four to climb back within one, 6-5.  But once Vik left the game, the floodgates opened on the Titan bullpen.

It's "Vlk", Chuck, not "Vik". Seriously. He forgot to tell Pat Sajak that he would like to buy a vowel.

Geez, you're right.  My eyes are not what they once were.  I've gotta wonder what the origin is for a name with NO vowels whatsoever?  And how are we outsiders supposed to guess whether it is Valk, Velk, Vilk, Volk, or Vulk?  (It's Velk.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2017, 12:46:10 AM
Mr. B's theory is that it's of Czech origin. That sounds like a plausible guess to me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 24, 2017, 07:29:27 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2017, 12:46:10 AM
Mr. B's theory is that it's of Czech origin. That sounds like a plausible guess to me.
the Surnames website (http://forebears.io/surnames/vlk).  It's a Czech word meaning "wolf."  Czech has several words with no written vowels but with resonants (l, r, ř), sounds that contain vowel-like qualities.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2017, 08:52:28 AM
Carthage is in trouble... they have NCC and Augie left on the schedule... plus a game w Elmhurst. Tough road ahead for the Redmen (which is why losing one this weekend will be the dagger in their season).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: matblake on April 24, 2017, 01:14:18 PM
Here's a follow up article from the Daily Herald re: the death of Ethan Roser at Wheaton:
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170423/family-wheaton-college-community-lean-on-faith-after-studentx2019s-death
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2017, 01:59:32 PM
Quote from: matblake on April 24, 2017, 01:14:18 PM
Here's a follow up article from the Daily Herald re: the death of Ethan Roser at Wheaton:
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170423/family-wheaton-college-community-lean-on-faith-after-studentx2019s-death

Kind of puts baseball in perspective, doesn't it?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2017, 04:30:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2017, 08:52:28 AM
Carthage is in trouble... they have NCC and Augie left on the schedule... plus a game w Elmhurst. Tough road ahead for the Redmen (which is why losing one this weekend will be the dagger in their season).

They should've lost two. NPU outhit Carthage in the opener by a pretty large margin, 16-11, and all of the extra-base hits -- a double and two homers -- came off of North Park bats. The Vikings did themselves in by committing a couple of costly infield throwing errors that led to four Carthage runs, and even in spite of that the Vikings had the tying run at second when the Red Men finally closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth.

I was not impressed by Carthage. The Red Men do have decent hitting, but, heck, everybody in this league seems to be able to hit well this season ... or perhaps it's more a matter of what I suspect is a serious lack of pitching ability in the CCIW. Granted, NPU missed seeing two of Carthage's better pitchers in Tim Sulik and Chris DeRue, but the Vikings roughed up Carthage ace Kevin Tibor pretty badly, and I didn't see anyone among the half-dozen relievers that Augie Schmidt trotted out to the mound yesterday who looked anything like a reliable out-getter.

To be fair to the Red Men, the only CCIW team that I've seen all season that's really looked better than decent is Wheaton -- and Wheaton's been largely indifferent in CCIW games against everybody other than North Park. I haven't seen Augustana yet, but, that caveat aside, this doesn't look like a year in which the league really has any better-than-average teams. (That actually makes me even more upset that NPU is performing so badly this season.)

The nightcap of yesterday's seven-hour marathon at Holmgren involved the first game that I've ever seen in which a team blew a seven-run lead and then came from behind to win. I've never even seen that in church-league softball or Little League. North Park scored five in the bottom of the fifth to boost the hosts' lead to 8-1, and then, amply demonstrating that no lead is safe in the hands of the NPU pitching staff, the Red Men erupted for nine runs in the top half of the sixth to wipe out that huge Vikings lead and put Carthage ahead, 10-8. The Vikes got one back in the bottom of the seventh, and then added three more in the bottom of the eighth to move back out in front, 12-10. Josh Smith, who got hit pretty hard by Schmidt's boys in the opener, came out of the pen again in the nightcap at the end of that nightmarish top of the sixth -- and this time he was dominant, as the only two Carthage batters who reached base in Smith's 3.1 innings of work got there via Vikings errors. Smith and Andrew Davis were the only two relievers for either team who saw more than an inning of work who acquitted themselves well.

I will say this: North Park showed great fortitude in sticking with it and pulling out that comeback win, as it would've been all-too-easy to just shut down mentally and emotionally after that sixth-inning disaster, especially in the wake of a season that has involved so much losing. It was very encouraging and gratifying to see the Vikings go to work on offense and do what was necessary to reclaim the ballgame while Smith did his thing on the mound. Still, a lot of that comes back to the inability of the Carthage bullpen to do its job, an inability which seems to be widespread around the league this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2017, 10:34:16 PM
I just noticed a truly bizarre stat (which has eased any worries about where the CCIW tourney will be held) - in conference games, IWU is 3-4 in B'town, 9-1 on the road! :o

Obviously largely a factor of WHO they played WHERE, but still jaw-dropping.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2017, 09:44:39 PM
Carthage walloped  Elmhurst, 16-8.  IWU handled Augie, 5-2.  Wheaton jumped out to a 9-1 lead over NCC, but NCC plated five in the top of the 7th - now 9-6 in the bottom of the 7th. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2017, 11:11:10 PM
NCC rallied, but Wheaton held on for a 10-8 win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2017, 01:22:55 AM
NPU smashed Carroll up in Waukesha, 19-13. It was basically what I expected, given that one team had an ERA barely under 7.00 and the other team had an ERA well over 7.00 going into the game. The Vikings probably had an uh-oh-here-we-go-again moment when Carroll started plating runs to cut into what looked like an insurmountable 19-4 Vikings lead in the bottom of the fourth. But as ugly as it got for the North Park pitching staff, a 15-run lead is still too big to blow.

The Vikings bats have been absolutely tearing it up over the past two weeks (three games vs. Illinois Wesleyan, three games vs. Millikin, two games vs. Carthage, and Tuesday's game against Carroll). Leadoff hitter Jared Cantu hit .439 over that stretch; #3 hitter Seth Dvorak hit .410 with 13 RBI in those nine games; cleanup hitter Anthony Bragg hit .537 with six doubles, two homers, and 13 RBI; and DH Tyler Woolbright hit .459 with four doubles, three homers, and 18 RBI.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 26, 2017, 08:52:28 AM
Can ANYBODY in the CCIW pitch this year? Watching these scores roll in and I wonder if I could help someone's pitching staff with my 63mph heater (it fools hitters as they think it's a change-up)and my JV curveball?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 26, 2017, 01:42:05 PM
Yeah, as I've been saying, CCIW pitching is brutal this season. The league ERA is 5.57; it was 5.17 season. An ERA hike of almost half a run for an entire league is absolutely massive.

Adding Carroll to the league hasn't helped matters, as the Pioneers have chalked up a 7.60 ERA and a horrid 2.05 WHIP, and opposing batters are feasting on them to the tune of a ridiculous .347/.424/.764 slash line. But the CCIW's pitching woes can't all be blamed upon the return of the league's prodigal son from the Midwest Conference. Carroll's only one team out of nine. The eight incumbent members of the CCIW really haven't done their part to hold up the league in the pitching department, either; Wheaton's pitching has improved significantly from last season, and Carthage has put up marginally better overall pitching numbers while Augie's have remained roughly the same. But everybody else has taken a pretty big tumble.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2017, 01:43:23 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2017, 04:03:10 PM
I take it that by "tenth member" you're referring to baseball only, BP. In that respect, yeah, the CCIW has plenty of associate members who only participate in one or two sports:


Concordia (WI)  wrestling
Dubuque  men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse
Lakeland  wrestling
Milwaukee Engineering  wrestling
Rose-Hulman  men's swimming, women's swimming
Washington (MO)  football (beginning in 2018)

... so it's possible that the league could opt to do that for baseball as well.

Each of the CCIW's six associate members has a baseball program, and each is already playing in that school's full-membership league: NACC for Concordia (WI), Milwaukee Engineering, and Lakeland; IIAC for Dubuque; HCAC for Rose-Hulman; and UAA for Washington (MO). The interesting thing is that the UAA only has seven members that have baseball programs -- Carnegie Mellon doesn't field a team in this sport -- and two of the seven choose not to play in the UAA for baseball. The league, for reasons unknown, allows them to do that. As Jim mentioned, Chicago is one of the two; the Maroons play an independent schedule. The other UAA stray, Rochester, plays in the Liberty League. One can hardly blame those two programs, as the UAA's tournament-based league schedule makes the league an odd duck in the D3 baseball world.

If the CCIW were to add an associate member for baseball, Chicago would be a natural fit. Nobody likes the headaches involved in scheduling as an independent, and the CCIW is a solid (albeit unspectacular) baseball league. From the CCIW's point of view, the Maroons are a competitive program based well within the league's geographical footprint, and you can never underestimate the cachet involved in getting an academic institution as high-powered as the University of Chicago into your circuit, even if it's just for one sport. But the CCIW, if it were to seek a tenth baseball program, might decide instead to give Wash U first right of refusal out of courtesy, since the Bears are already a nascent associate member of our league for football, and the UAA does not have an automatic bid to the D3 baseball tournament.

If, however, what you meant in asking if the CCIW will add a tenth member is whether or not the CCIW will add a tenth full member, the league's presidents have said that they're not actively seeking that. The league's needs seem to be amply met for the most part by having associate members in various sports in order to get the CCIW up to the seven-team minimum required for autobids to D3 tournaments, and if the nine-team sports in the CCIW want to follow the lead of football by adding a tenth for scheduling purposes, the CCIW could go the associate-member route in those sports as well.

And wouldn't you know it? One week to the day after I post this, the CCIW announced that it is adding Chicago as an associate member for women's lacrosse. (http://www.cciw.org/news/2017/4/26/WLAX_0426172542.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 27, 2017, 08:47:59 AM
Which increases the chances that Chicago joins as an Asscociate Member for baseball. Though it would make the conference schedule much tighter. Maybe move back to North South Divisions with three games vs in-division opponents and two vs out of division opponents? Would be 22 CCIW games at that point.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2017, 03:15:21 PM
Given the short weather window in spring and the fact that it requires a minimum of two days to complete a baseball series (rather than one, as is the case in softball), a return to the old two-division setup would seem to be the logical way to go for the CCIW. And, as you said, having Chicago in the fold as an associate member in a different sport increases the chance that the Maroons could be added for baseball as well.

How would you divide the league, though? If you put the two city teams and the three suburban teams in the same division, with the five outlying teams in the other, IWU and Millikin would howl about having to make those long journeys to Carroll and Carthage, and vice-versa, while the games played in the geographically-compact division would be easy road trips. So I suspect that the divisions would look like this:


North Division  South Division
Carroll  Augustana
Carthage  Illinois Wesleyan
Chicago  Millikin
Elmhurst  North Central
North Park  Wheaton

Your suggestion, that the league have each team play three games against each intradivisional opponent and two against each interdivisional opponent for a total of 22 games, is sound. It would require only 13 game days per team -- 14 if you wanted to balance home and away evenly by having one interdivisional series be split into a home-and-away set on two separate days rather than a doubleheader -- rather than the current 16, and of course there'd be no byes to create an additional league-wide scheduling burden. The playoffs would likely feature the top two teams from each division, cross-matched #1N vs. #2S, #1S vs. #2N in the first round.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2017, 08:28:42 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2017, 03:15:21 PM
Given the short weather window in spring and the fact that it requires a minimum of two days to complete a baseball series (rather than one, as is the case in softball), a return to the old two-division setup would seem to be the logical way to go for the CCIW. And, as you said, having Chicago in the fold as an associate member in a different sport increases the chance that the Maroons could be added for baseball as well.

How would you divide the league, though? If you put the two city teams and the three suburban teams in the same division, with the five outlying teams in the other, IWU and Millikin would howl about having to make those long journeys to Carroll and Carthage, and vice-versa, while the games played in the geographically-compact division would be easy road trips. So I suspect that the divisions would look like this:


North Division  South Division
Carroll  Augustana
Carthage  Illinois Wesleyan
Chicago  Millikin
Elmhurst  North Central
North Park  Wheaton

Your suggestion, that the league have each team play three games against each intradivisional opponent and two against each interdivisional opponent for a total of 22 games, is sound. It would require only 13 game days per team -- 14 if you wanted to balance home and away evenly by having one interdivisional series be split into a home-and-away set on two separate days rather than a doubleheader -- rather than the current 16, and of course there'd be no byes to create an additional league-wide scheduling burden. The playoffs would likely feature the top two teams from each division, cross-matched #1N vs. #2S, #1S vs. #2N in the first round.

Seems like a win-win for all involved including less class time missed. (and more flexibility for rain dates).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2017, 09:17:20 PM
YIKES!!  IWU is down 9-0 after 5 to lowly Millikin!  Sean Coonan and Nick Huskisson have both crapped out on the mound for the Titans tonite.

Matt Banaitis, a leading candidate for CCIW Pitcher-of-the-Year (5-0, 1.91 ERA), has been virtually the only exception for the Titans to Greg and BP's claim that CCIW pitching stinks this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2017, 11:12:41 PM
Well, the only good thing about game one is the Titans didn't get mercied.  Final was 9-0, Millikin.

In game two, Matt Banaitis may have blown his possible post-season honors: he lasted 1.2 innings, yielding 9 hits and 8 runs (all earned).  C'mon guys, this is freakin' Millikin you're playing! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2017, 12:13:47 AM
Banaitis isn't going to win CCIW Pitcher of the Year, Chuck. Zach Morganstern of Augie is going to win it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2017, 12:44:59 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2017, 12:13:47 AM
Banaitis isn't going to win CCIW Pitcher of the Year, Chuck. Zach Morganstern of Augie is going to win it.

I don't understand this post unless some nefarious backroom deal is in.  Morganstern is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA (conference games).  Even after his one horrendous game, Banaitis is still 5-1, with a 3.96 ERA.  Even two of Morganstern's teammates (Mike Powers and Brad Dubow) seem to have better stats than him.  Based just on conference stats, Morganstern would not even be in my top five.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 30, 2017, 09:17:06 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2017, 12:44:59 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2017, 12:13:47 AM
Banaitis isn't going to win CCIW Pitcher of the Year, Chuck. Zach Morganstern of Augie is going to win it.

I don't understand this post unless some nefarious backroom deal is in.  Morganstern is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA (conference games).  Even after his one horrendous game, Banaitis is still 5-1, with a 3.96 ERA.  Even two of Morganstern's teammates (Mike Powers and Brad Dubow) seem to have better stats than him.  Based just on conference stats, Morganstern would not even be in my top five.
Maybe this summary of conference-only stats  (http://cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/Baseball/Stats/2017/lgconf.htm)will help:

















Player  ERA   W-L    IP   K
McCraith, Michael, WHEATON      0.62    4-0    29.0    29 
Tovell, Nathan, ELMHURST     2.01    2-0    22.1    11 
Sulik, Tim, CARTHAGE    2.41    3-2    37.1    28 
Powers, Mike, AUGIE    2.83    4-1    35.0    25 
Dubow, Brad, AUGIE    3.13    3-0    23.0    27 
Ferraro, Kyle, WHEATON    3.27    0-1    22.0    20 
Tibor, Kevin, CARTHAGE    3.34    4-1    35.0    23 
Paolicchi, Max, MILLIKIN    3.46    1-3    39.0    13 
Kessinger, Brent, NPU    3.60    3-2    40.0    17 
Bayer, Daniel, WHEATON    3.62    2-2    27.1    17 
Polezoes, Austin, NCC    3.64    2-0    29.2    25 
Morgenstern, Zach, AUGIE   3.73    3-1    41.0    45 
DeRue, Chris, CARTHAGE   3.90    1-2    30.0    24 
Banaitis, Matt, IWU   4.20    5-1    30.0    21 

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 30, 2017, 09:42:50 AM
Today's contest between North Park and Elmhurst has already been postponed.  The game is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 PM, followed by a game versus Carroll at 6 PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2017, 10:59:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2017, 12:44:59 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2017, 12:13:47 AM
Banaitis isn't going to win CCIW Pitcher of the Year, Chuck. Zach Morganstern of Augie is going to win it.

I don't understand this post unless some nefarious backroom deal is in.  Morganstern is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA (conference games).  Even after his one horrendous game, Banaitis is still 5-1, with a 3.96 ERA.  Even two of Morganstern's teammates (Mike Powers and Brad Dubow) seem to have better stats than him.  Based just on conference stats, Morganstern would not even be in my top five.

My bad. I meant Mike Powers, not Morganstern. Although, looking at the stats again, I think that McCraith from Wheaton now has the inside track.

But Banaitis is not going to win it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 01, 2017, 12:15:27 PM
Carthage dug themselves a huge hole losing a pair to Augustana on Friday. They NEED a win there tomorrow or face another season without the CCIW tourney (can't believe I just wrote that).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2017, 06:20:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2017, 10:59:43 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2017, 12:44:59 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2017, 12:13:47 AM
Banaitis isn't going to win CCIW Pitcher of the Year, Chuck. Zach Morganstern of Augie is going to win it.

I don't understand this post unless some nefarious backroom deal is in.  Morganstern is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA (conference games).  Even after his one horrendous game, Banaitis is still 5-1, with a 3.96 ERA.  Even two of Morganstern's teammates (Mike Powers and Brad Dubow) seem to have better stats than him.  Based just on conference stats, Morganstern would not even be in my top five.

My bad. I meant Mike Powers, not Morganstern. Although, looking at the stats again, I think that McCraith from Wheaton now has the inside track.

But Banaitis is not going to win it.
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2017, 09:17:20 PM
YIKES!!  IWU is down 9-0 after 5 to lowly Millikin!  Sean Coonan and Nick Huskisson have both crapped out on the mound for the Titans tonite.

Matt Banaitis, a leading candidate for CCIW Pitcher-of-the-Year (5-0, 1.91 ERA), has been virtually the only exception for the Titans to Greg and BP's claim that CCIW pitching stinks this year.
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2017, 11:12:41 PM
Well, the only good thing about game one is the Titans didn't get mercied.  Final was 9-0, Millikin.

In game two, Matt Banaitis may have blown his possible post-season honors: he lasted 1.2 innings, yielding 9 hits and 8 runs (all earned).  C'mon guys, this is freakin' Millikin you're playing! :o

Please note that I never predicted Banaitis would win the honor, only that he was a leading candidate - which with his pre-meltdown stats he sure better have been a leading candidate!

I'm never gonna understand baseball. :P  IWU is now 9-1 in conference road games and 4-6 in conference home games - and contrary to an earlier post I made it is NOT primarily a matter of WHO they played WHERE: 4 of their 6 home losses are to bottom-third NPU and Millikin!  They've somehow developed an allergy to Horenberger Field! :o

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2017, 06:24:10 PM
NCC has a busy week - better hope for no rain-outs!  DH today, single games T and W, DH on F, DH on Sat! :o  That's 8 games in 6 days - they may need to try to sneak in Naperville LL pitchers by the weekend. ::)

Anyone know if this 'Final Week from Hell' was always on the schedule, or are there some make-up games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2017, 09:48:45 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2017, 06:20:05 PM
I'm never gonna understand baseball. :P  IWU is now 9-1 in conference road games and 4-6 in conference home games - and contrary to an earlier post I made it is NOT primarily a matter of WHO they played WHERE: 4 of their 6 home losses are to bottom-third NPU and Millikin!  They've somehow developed an allergy to Horenberger Field! :o

What's to understand, Chuck? I've already explained it:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2017, 04:30:52 PMTo be fair to the Red Men, the only CCIW team that I've seen all season that's really looked better than decent is Wheaton -- and Wheaton's been largely indifferent in CCIW games against everybody other than North Park. I haven't seen Augustana yet, but, that caveat aside, this doesn't look like a year in which the league really has any better-than-average teams. (That actually makes me even more upset that NPU is performing so badly this season.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2017, 12:36:26 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2017, 09:48:45 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2017, 06:20:05 PM
I'm never gonna understand baseball. :P  IWU is now 9-1 in conference road games and 4-6 in conference home games - and contrary to an earlier post I made it is NOT primarily a matter of WHO they played WHERE: 4 of their 6 home losses are to bottom-third NPU and Millikin!  They've somehow developed an allergy to Horenberger Field! :o

What's to understand, Chuck? I've already explained it:

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2017, 04:30:52 PMTo be fair to the Red Men, the only CCIW team that I've seen all season that's really looked better than decent is Wheaton -- and Wheaton's been largely indifferent in CCIW games against everybody other than North Park. I haven't seen Augustana yet, but, that caveat aside, this doesn't look like a year in which the league really has any better-than-average teams. (That actually makes me even more upset that NPU is performing so badly this season.)

That explains why (now that Augie no longer is receiving votes) the conference is getting totally shut out of the poll.  It doesn't at all explain why IWU is so dominant on the road and so pathetic at home.  After all, with the possible exception of really quirky basketball courts, whose deficiencies are vastly more familiar to the home team than to visitors, baseball probably has the greatest home field/court advantage of any sport by virtue of the home team batting last.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 11:51:34 AM
It's a random function of rampant mediocrity, that's all. Flip a coin long enough, and either heads or tails will occasionally come up in streaks or seven or eight straight flips.

The other aspect is that I don't think home field offers that much of an advantage in D3 college baseball, or at least in the CCIW version of it. Yes, the home team has an advantage in this sport in terms of batting last, but it's not nearly as big an edge as you think. Check out this interesting article by Joe Posnanski, who knows a thing or two about baseball. (http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/home-field-advantage-important/) And on the D3 level, unlike football or basketball, there aren't sizeable crowds that can affect the emotional swing of a game. The only real difference in terms of the field itself is whether or not it's grass or Field Turf, because it's not as though coaches tailor their recruiting with their home ballparks in mind.

The CCIW's cumulative home record this season is 54-50 (.519), and the league's cumulative overall record is 163-146 (.528).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 02, 2017, 12:52:49 PM
Beyond the cumulative record, at this date. -  in conference play 6 of 9 teams are .500 or higher, in overall record, 7 of 9 te,as above .500 - it is not a matter of home field advantage in baseball unless you have a home park with quirky dimensions or conditions. (Like a Fenway in MLB or the high school That I Played against that deliberately titled the base paths and first three fee of the infield towards the dug outs making it difficult to bunt)

It is more, as Greg noted, a coin flip - when you have the better pitching and produce runs through hitting or being able to manufacture a run or two - you usually win regardless of home or away. And, like other sports, wether home or away, you beat the teams you, and the better league teams, are supposed to beat.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2017, 01:00:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 11:51:34 AM
It's a random function of rampant mediocrity, that's all. Flip a coin long enough, and either heads or tails will occasionally come up in streaks or seven or eight straight flips.

The other aspect is that I don't think home field offers that much of an advantage in D3 college baseball, or at least in the CCIW version of it. Yes, the home team has an advantage in this sport in terms of batting last, but it's not nearly as big an edge as you think. Check out this interesting article by Joe Posnanski, who knows a thing or two about baseball. (http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/home-field-advantage-important/) And on the D3 level, unlike football or basketball, there aren't sizeable crowds that can affect the emotional swing of a game. The only real difference in terms of the field itself is whether or not it's grass or Field Turf, because it's not as though coaches tailor their recruiting with their home ballparks in mind.

The CCIW's cumulative home record this season is 54-50 (.519), and the league's cumulative overall record is 163-146 (.528).

They should. I know certain parks play differently. Wind almost always blow out to right at Carthage. The Short porch in right at NPU, etc... should load up on big lefties at each of those schools.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 03:26:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 02, 2017, 01:00:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 11:51:34 AM
It's a random function of rampant mediocrity, that's all. Flip a coin long enough, and either heads or tails will occasionally come up in streaks or seven or eight straight flips.

The other aspect is that I don't think home field offers that much of an advantage in D3 college baseball, or at least in the CCIW version of it. Yes, the home team has an advantage in this sport in terms of batting last, but it's not nearly as big an edge as you think. Check out this interesting article by Joe Posnanski, who knows a thing or two about baseball. (http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/home-field-advantage-important/) And on the D3 level, unlike football or basketball, there aren't sizeable crowds that can affect the emotional swing of a game. The only real difference in terms of the field itself is whether or not it's grass or Field Turf, because it's not as though coaches tailor their recruiting with their home ballparks in mind.

The CCIW's cumulative home record this season is 54-50 (.519), and the league's cumulative overall record is 163-146 (.528).

They should. I know certain parks play differently. Wind almost always blow out to right at Carthage. The Short porch in right at NPU, etc... should load up on big lefties at each of those schools.

That's what people tend to think the first time that they get a look at Holmgren. But the reality is that the field plays very differently than the way it looks. It's not the homer-happy bandbox that you think it is. It's true that this season there's been 2.36 homers hit there per game over the span of 11 games, but most of that has to do with the weak pitching that's been on display there this year (a lot of it North Park's). In 2016 there were only 1.13 homers per game hit at Holmgren in 17 games, and in 2015 there were only a miniscule 0.41 homers per game hit there in 17 games. In 2014 the rate was 1.44, and in 2013 it was 0.65.

Wind is very much a determining factor at Holmgren, because of the proximity of Lake Michigan (three miles to the east). As any astute Cubs fan will tell you, being close to a massive weather generator like Lake Michigan plays a huge role in field conditions. As often as not, the wind blows off the lake from the east, pushing against balls hit to right field. And because the stands at Holmgren are fairly low, they aren't much of a shield against easterly winds. The second-most common wind direction is from the north (i.e., down the fetch of Lake Michigan), which blows in from left field and generally knocks down everything hit in the air at Holmgren that isn't driven hard and low.

Yesterday was one of the rare days in which the wind was coming from one of the other directions; it came in from the southwest. The raindrops kept messing up my view and forcing me to repeatedly clean my press-box window, and that doesn't happen very often (I've watched massive rainstorms from the press box through clear windows, because the wind was coming from the east, i.e., from behind the stands). Still, even on a day that featured the three worst pitching staffs in the CCIW (NPU played Elmhurst in the first game and Carroll in the second game) and the wind blowing out to right, there were only four homers hit during those two games -- and only one of them was a so-called "Holmgren homer" hit to the front couple of rows in the shallowest part of the park (straightaway right field). In fact, as Mr. B will attest, most homers hit in Holmgren are not "Holmgren homers". I'd say that somewhere between a third and forty percent of them are.

The other thing that you have to keep in mind is that Holmgren's odd configuration, in which the stands are on a diagonal relative to the 1st-2nd and 3rd-home baselines, means that the directional window for a "Holmgren homer" is actually fairly narrow. The distance down the right-field line is pretty standard for a CCIW ballpark, about 320 feet or so if I recall correctly. The wall then slopes in sharply until you've got that short porch in straightaway right, then the distance recedes along that diagonal line until you get to the ramp area where the wall meets the portable fence in left. Dead center is marked as 405 feet, but the deepest part of the park, which is to the right of dead center at the end of the ramp area, is actually deeper than that. Speed is actually an important attribute for a left-handed hitter to have in Holmgren, because if you can find the gap in right-center you're going to have to hit it a long way to put it in the seats -- but you can leg out plenty of doubles there if you're fast enough, even if the ball doesn't bounce or roll all the way to the wall.

It's like Fenway's Green Monster. It's an inviting target for every right-handed hitter, but it's not as though balls constantly sail over the Monster during Red Sox games. Not counting notorious juicer Manny Ramirez, the only Red Sox right-handed hitters who hit 40 homers in a season are Jimmie Foxx (who did it twice), Jim Rice, Tony Armas, Dick "Dr. Strangeglove" Stuart, and Rico Petrocelli.

Loading up on big lefty bats (presumably to the detriment of other attributes) isn't nearly as sound a recruiting strategy for NPU as you think.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2017, 08:44:08 PM
A couple of interesting games under way:

In Decatur, bottom of the 7th, MU already up over NCC 9-6, loads the bases with one out on two consecutive errors by the NCC ss.

In Moline, Carthage cruising at 6-3 after 6, then meltdown - 2 errors and 4 hits give Augie 4 unearned runs in the bottom of the 7th.

UPDATES:  NCC escapes with only one run allowed; now trail 10-6 in the 8th.  And I suppose it is only fitting in this season of sub-par CCIW baseball that Carthage goes back ahead 8-7 on two UNEARNED runs. ::)

(Remember, I said they were interesting games, not necessarily well-played games! ;))
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 02, 2017, 09:25:11 PM
Millikin holds on to beat NCC, 10-7.  Carthage gets 2 more runs in the 9th to also win 10-7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 03, 2017, 09:37:46 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 03:26:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 02, 2017, 01:00:30 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2017, 11:51:34 AM
It's a random function of rampant mediocrity, that's all. Flip a coin long enough, and either heads or tails will occasionally come up in streaks or seven or eight straight flips.

The other aspect is that I don't think home field offers that much of an advantage in D3 college baseball, or at least in the CCIW version of it. Yes, the home team has an advantage in this sport in terms of batting last, but it's not nearly as big an edge as you think. Check out this interesting article by Joe Posnanski, who knows a thing or two about baseball. (http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/home-field-advantage-important/) And on the D3 level, unlike football or basketball, there aren't sizeable crowds that can affect the emotional swing of a game. The only real difference in terms of the field itself is whether or not it's grass or Field Turf, because it's not as though coaches tailor their recruiting with their home ballparks in mind.

The CCIW's cumulative home record this season is 54-50 (.519), and the league's cumulative overall record is 163-146 (.528).

They should. I know certain parks play differently. Wind almost always blow out to right at Carthage. The Short porch in right at NPU, etc... should load up on big lefties at each of those schools.

That's what people tend to think the first time that they get a look at Holmgren. But the reality is that the field plays very differently than the way it looks. It's not the homer-happy bandbox that you think it is. It's true that this season there's been 2.36 homers hit there per game over the span of 11 games, but most of that has to do with the weak pitching that's been on display there this year (a lot of it North Park's). In 2016 there were only 1.13 homers per game hit at Holmgren in 17 games, and in 2015 there were only a miniscule 0.41 homers per game hit there in 17 games. In 2014 the rate was 1.44, and in 2013 it was 0.65.

Wind is very much a determining factor at Holmgren, because of the proximity of Lake Michigan (three miles to the east). As any astute Cubs fan will tell you, being close to a massive weather generator like Lake Michigan plays a huge role in field conditions. As often as not, the wind blows off the lake from the east, pushing against balls hit to right field. And because the stands at Holmgren are fairly low, they aren't much of a shield against easterly winds. The second-most common wind direction is from the north (i.e., down the fetch of Lake Michigan), which blows in from left field and generally knocks down everything hit in the air at Holmgren that isn't driven hard and low.

Yesterday was one of the rare days in which the wind was coming from one of the other directions; it came in from the southwest. The raindrops kept messing up my view and forcing me to repeatedly clean my press-box window, and that doesn't happen very often (I've watched massive rainstorms from the press box through clear windows, because the wind was coming from the east, i.e., from behind the stands). Still, even on a day that featured the three worst pitching staffs in the CCIW (NPU played Elmhurst in the first game and Carroll in the second game) and the wind blowing out to right, there were only four homers hit during those two games -- and only one of them was a so-called "Holmgren homer" hit to the front couple of rows in the shallowest part of the park (straightaway right field). In fact, as Mr. B will attest, most homers hit in Holmgren are not "Holmgren homers". I'd say that somewhere between a third and forty percent of them are.

The other thing that you have to keep in mind is that Holmgren's odd configuration, in which the stands are on a diagonal relative to the 1st-2nd and 3rd-home baselines, means that the directional window for a "Holmgren homer" is actually fairly narrow. The distance down the right-field line is pretty standard for a CCIW ballpark, about 320 feet or so if I recall correctly. The wall then slopes in sharply until you've got that short porch in straightaway right, then the distance recedes along that diagonal line until you get to the ramp area where the wall meets the portable fence in left. Dead center is marked as 405 feet, but the deepest part of the park, which is to the right of dead center at the end of the ramp area, is actually deeper than that. Speed is actually an important attribute for a left-handed hitter to have in Holmgren, because if you can find the gap in right-center you're going to have to hit it a long way to put it in the seats -- but you can leg out plenty of doubles there if you're fast enough, even if the ball doesn't bounce or roll all the way to the wall.

It's like Fenway's Green Monster. It's an inviting target for every right-handed hitter, but it's not as though balls constantly sail over the Monster during Red Sox games. Not counting notorious juicer Manny Ramirez, the only Red Sox right-handed hitters who hit 40 homers in a season are Jimmie Foxx (who did it twice), Jim Rice, Tony Armas, Dick "Dr. Strangeglove" Stuart, and Rico Petrocelli.

Loading up on big lefty bats (presumably to the detriment of other attributes) isn't nearly as sound a recruiting strategy for NPU as you think.

I get that but it seems that if you need a 1B, you should be able to go find a LH power hitting corner infielder. Just like teams with huge outfields need fast outfielders to cover the gaps.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2017, 09:31:55 AM
As we head into the final weekend, the CCIW has become a very tight race. Top four get to keep playing baseball. Any predictions? In the even of rain, what is the CCIW policy if games cannot be played?

Illinois Wesleyan  13-8 Wheaton (3)   
Elmhurst               13-9 NCC (2)
North Central       11-8 Elmhurst (2), Carthage (2), Wheaton (1)
Augustana       12-9 NPU (3)
Wheaton               11-9 IWU (3), NCC (1)
Carthage               12-10 NCC (2)

Man... this could be be the best weekend EVER for CCIW scoreboard watching. Every 3 hours the entire conference scenario could shift based on each round of games. I really hope it doesn't come down to the Monday game between NCC and Wheaton. Carroll and Millikin square off in a three-game series, but neither is a factor for the post-season. There is a great chance I am checking the Carthage live stats while in the dugout at my own conference games this weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2017, 01:12:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2017, 09:37:46 AMI get that but it seems that if you need a 1B, you should be able to go find a LH power hitting corner infielder. Just like teams with huge outfields need fast outfielders to cover the gaps.

I don't have a beef with Luke Johnson using the right-handed Anthony Bragg at 1B. He's leading the league in hitting, he's ranked in the top five in doubles and the top ten in RBI, and Mr. B and I agree that he's the best defensive first baseman we've ever seen in this league -- and I've seen a lot of CCIW baseball over the years, and he's seen even more than I have.

As for your own team, BP, your Red Men had better get it done this weekend, because it looks like tough times ahead for your alma mater. While every team in the CCIW is going to lose key players to graduation, Carthage's losses this year will be absolutely catastrophic. The Red Men have 19 seniors and only 25 players who are eligible to return, according to the current roster posted (which is probably outdated by now, so there's likely fewer than 25). Seven of the eight everyday position players; 12 of the 15 position players who've been used in a dozen games or more; two of the three weekend starting pitchers from what is one of the three best weekend rotations in the league; and four of the eight pitchers who've hurled double-digit innings for the Red Men this season, will all be gone when 2018 rolls around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2017, 01:28:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2017, 01:12:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 03, 2017, 09:37:46 AMI get that but it seems that if you need a 1B, you should be able to go find a LH power hitting corner infielder. Just like teams with huge outfields need fast outfielders to cover the gaps.

I don't have a beef with Luke Johnson using the right-handed Anthony Bragg at 1B. He's leading the league in hitting, he's ranked in the top five in doubles and the top ten in RBI, and Mr. B and I agree that he's the best defensive first baseman we've ever seen in this league -- and I've seen a lot of CCIW baseball over the years, and he's seen even more than I have.

As for your own team, BP, your Red Men had better get it done this weekend, because it looks like tough times ahead for your alma mater. While every team in the CCIW is going to lose key players to graduation, Carthage's losses this year will be absolutely catastrophic. The Red Men have 19 seniors and only 25 players who are eligible to return, according to the current roster posted (which is probably outdated by now, so there's likely fewer than 25). Seven of the eight everyday position players; 12 of the 15 position players who've been used in a dozen games or more; two of the three weekend starting pitchers from what is one of the three best weekend rotations in the league; and four of the eight pitchers who've hurled double-digit innings for the Red Men this season, will all be gone when 2018 rolls around.

Please don't remind me. Carthage is senior heavy and not much proven depth behind it. And still they are an outside shot to reach the CCIW post-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2017, 01:44:09 PM
Yep. Most of the teams in the CCIW are mediocre (or worse) because that's what their rosters dictated that they were. But North Central and Carthage are mediocre because they've underachieved. Forget the preseason poll; a team that has 19 seniors and which returned 12 of its top 13 position players and two of its three weekend starters from a team that had made the CCIW tourney the previous year should not be scuffling like this and trying to leapfrog two teams in the final weekend just to get into the CCIW tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 04, 2017, 02:02:25 PM
Carthage's starting pitching seems to be good... it's their bullpen that has done them in. One of those times where you consider taking your third starter and putting him in the pen to close out the games with a quality arm when you have a late lead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2017, 03:36:47 PM
It is good, at least in relative terms. As I said, it's one of the top three weekend rotations in the league, along with Augustana's and Wheaton's. Those are the only three teams in the league that have three starters who don't get lit up like firecrackers every weekend by opposing bats.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on May 05, 2017, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2017, 03:36:47 PM
It is good, at least in relative terms. As I said, it's one of the top three weekend rotations in the league, along with Augustana's and Wheaton's. Those are the only three teams in the league that have three starters who don't get lit up like firecrackers every weekend by opposing bats.

Wheaton sophomore Michael McCraith is having a helluva year on the mound. 8-1, 3.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 9.8 K/9
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2017, 03:13:40 PM
Yes, he is. And so is Daniel Bayer. And, although Christian Bolhuis got bombed in a few outings in April, he pitched a gem against North Central last weekend that makes it look like he's back to his early-season form.

McCraith is actually pitching better against CCIW pitching than he did against non-conference competition, which definitely runs counter to the trend. Here's a look at the 25 pitchers who've started at least four CCIW games in terms of their CCIW ERA and WHIP and their overall ERA and WHIP, as well as how those numbers change from overall stats to league stats:


player  CCIW ERA  overall ERA  CCIW WHIP  overall WHIP  CCIW ERA +/-  CCIW WHIP +/-
Michael McCraith, WC    0.77    3.25  0.86  1.08  -2.48  -0.22
Tim Sulik, CC    2.41    3.57  1.21  1.25  -1.16  -0.04
Mike Powers, AC    2.83    3.25  1.17  1.16  -0.44  +0.01
Chris DeRue, CC    3.00    4.06  1.23  1.62  -1.06  -0.39
Kevin Tibor, CC    3.02    3.18  1.32  1.27  -0.16  +0.05
Brad Dubow, AC    3.13    3.80  1.09  1.12  -0.67  -0.03
Kyle Ferraro, WC    3.27    3.60  1.86  1.71  -0.33  +0.15
Max Paolicci, MU    3.46    3.42  1.23  1.25  +0.04  -0.02
Brent Kessinger, NPU    3.60    3.32  1.40  1.50  +0.28  -0.10
Daniel Bayer, WC    3.62    2.98  1.46  1.42  +0.64  +0.04
Austin Polezoes, NCC    4.15    5.01  1.24  1.31  -0.86  -0.07
Zach Morganstern, AC    4.47    2.73  1.51  1.17  +1.74  +0.34
Ben Havel, EC    5.21    4.37  1.58  1.51  +0.84  +0.07
Sean Coonan, IWU    5.34    4.66  1.47  1.36  +0.68  +0.11
Logan Talkington, MU    5.40    4.11  1.76  1.57  +1.29  +0.19
Jonathan Vlk, IWU    5.54    7.15  1.62  1.85  -1.61  -0.23
Matt Banaitis, IWU    5.56    3.96  1.56  1.45  +1.60  +0.11
Matt Pizur, NPU    5.61    5.28  1.68  1.63  +0.33  +0.05
Christian Bolhuis, WC    6.27    3.86  1.77  1.47  +2.41  +0.30
Nick Drago, EC    6.35    6.25  2.00  1.93  +0.10  +0.07
Cam Godinsky, CU    6.88    6.45  2.04  1.91  +0.43  +0.13
Brett Pyburn, NCC    7.82    4.65  1.58  1.35  +3.17  +0.23
Josh Smith, NPU    8.07    7.47  1.90  1.74  +0.60  +0.16
Andrew Stone, CU    8.10    8.10  2.13  2.03    ---  +0.10
Austin McMillan, EC  10.02    9.18  2.13  2.07  +0.84  +0.06
Carter Howard, CU  11.17  10.80  2.55  2.18  +0.37  +0.37

As you can see, the trend is for starters' numbers to worsen once they hit league play -- sometimes pretty drastically (Zach Morganstern, Christian Bolhuis, Logan Talkington, Matt Banaitis, and Brett Pyburn pretty much fell off a cliff once CCIW play began). But the elite pitchers -- Michael McCraith, Tim Sulik, Mike Powers, Chris DeRue, and Brad Dubow -- have either brought their numbers down significantly over the course of the season, or, as in the case of Kevin Tibor, Max Paolicci, Brent Kessinger, and Daniel Bayer, they've more or less maintained modestly low numbers throughout the course of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 06:11:53 PM
Greg, nice summary.  One quibble: Matt Banaitis did not 'f(a)ll off a cliff once CCIW play began."  He began the conference season 5-0 with a 1.91 era.  It is just his last two starts where he totally crapped the bed. :o :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2017, 06:47:37 PM
I didn't say that they all immediately and in unison fell off a cliff once CCIW play began. Morganstern pitched a complete-game victory over Millikin in his first CCIW outing, giving up only two runs, then followed it up with a decent performance against Carroll and won that game as well. Pyburn pitched a great game against NPU in his league debut, giving up only two runs over seven innings but taking the loss because Brent Kessinger was just a little bit better that day. And Talkington did OK and got a win over Wheaton his first time out against a CCIW opponent. Don't think of it as this (https://thumbs.gfycat.com/PhonyHandyEthiopianwolf-size_restricted.gif) ... think of it as this. (http://www.gifbin.com/bin/320sw0sw7847.gif)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 07:27:09 PM
Nice graphics! ;D  But surely 'fell off a cliff once CCIW play began' is drastically different than being a leading candidate for POY until just two starts ago! ::)

In today's action, I assume NCC beat Elmhurst in game one (they were up 10-5 entering the bottom of the 9th; then I got busy elsewhere and game two had started before I saw the final on game one).  In game two, NCC jumps out to a 4-0 lead after one.  Elmhurst might be in trouble - if they don't rally they would finish at 13-11, which might not be enough to make the field (I don't know how they are on tie-breakers).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 08:47:19 PM
Elmhurst didn't go down without a fight in game one, but NCC prevailed 10-6.  In the second game, NCC now leads 5-0 in the bottom of the 6th, though the Jays have loaded the bases with only one out.  In B'town, IWU 3, Wheaton 2, entering the 7th.  In Moline, NPU is shocking the 'other' Vikings, 8-2 in the top of the 5th.

And Carroll is at Millikin, but who the hell cares! ::)  (Actually, Millikin might be the hottest team in the CCIW in the second half of the conference season; unfortunately for them, the first half also counts! ;))

UPDATE: Elmhurst got only one run out of that golden opportunity; NCC still up 5-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 09:50:46 PM
IWU and Wheaton headed to the 10th, tied at 3.

NCC 11, Elmhurst 3 heading to the bottom of the 9th.

Augie got 6 in the bottom of the 6th to make it a game, but NPU up 13-9 in the top of the 8th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 10:04:09 PM
NCC wins 11-3.

Wheaton goes down 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th.

NPU now up 15-9, bottom of the 8th
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 05, 2017, 10:26:34 PM
North Park shocks Augie at home, 17-9.  The Chicago Vikings scored two or more runs in every inning except the first two, pounding out 20 hits against five Augie pitchers.  Augie committed seven -- seven! -- errors, which led to eight unearned runs.  Augie battled back from a 10-3 deficit with six in the bottom of the sixth, but NPU kept grinding out hits and taking advantage of miscues to earn the victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2017, 10:36:54 PM
It was a little reminiscent of that game against Carthage two weeks ago in which the Vikings blew a 9-1 lead when the Red Men scored nine runs in the top of the sixth, only to have the Vikings come back with three more runs in the late innings to win, 12-10. NPU didn't blow the entire lead this time, but it came pretty close to doing so. After knocking Brad Dubow out of the game and posting a 10-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, they gave up six runs in the bottom half as the Augie bats knocked Brent Kessinger out of the game. But sophomore Andy Robbins came in and stopped the bleeding, leaving North Park clinging to a 10-9 lead. NPU then kept tacking on every inning (with a lot of help from Augie's bewildering defensive ineptitude), and Robbins did as great a job in late relief as Josh Smith had done in that win over Carthage.  Robbins went three and two-thirds and held Augie scoreless, giving up only a single and a walk and earning his first career save for his pains.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 10:46:16 PM
Wheaton downs IWU 5-3 in 11.

Tonite's standings:

NCC       13-8
IWU        13-9
Wheaton 12-9
Augie      12-10
Carthage  12-10
Elmhurst  13-11

Cripes!  Who the hell knows where the tourney will be, or which teams will be playing? :o

It certainly looked destined for B'town, but they have lost four straight games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2017, 10:50:06 PM
North Park 17, @ Augustana 9
Wheaton 5, @ Illinois Wesleyan 3 (11)
North Central 10-11, @ Elmhurst 6-3
@ Millikin 6, Carroll 4


North Central  13-8
Illinois Wesleyan  13-9
Wheaton  12-9
Augustana  12-10
Carthage  12-10
Elmhurst  13-11
Millikin  10-12
North Park    8-14
Carroll    6-16

Saturday's games
Carroll @ Millikin (2), 12 p.m.
North Central @ Carthage (2), 12 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan @ Wheaton (2), 1 p.m.
Augustana @ North Park (2), 1 p.m.

Sunday's games
Washington (MO) @ Millikin (2), 12 p.m.

Monday's game
Wheaton @ North Central, 3:30 pm

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2017, 10:51:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 05, 2017, 10:46:16 PM
It certainly looked destined for B'town, but they have lost four straight games.

The Titans had the bases loaded with nobody out in the ninth and the score tied 3-3, and still couldn't get what would've been the winning run across the plate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2017, 11:19:33 AM
Is this the most parity we've ever seen in the CCIW. Fun to watch as a CCIW fan, frustrating to watch as a Carthage fan.

Today is a HUGE day for the CCIW as three of the four series today feature teams going head to head for the right to advance (or be eliminated from) the CCIW post-season. I have never seen a final weekend where so many teams could either be the tourney host or be eliminated altogether. I am assuming that in some way, tie-breakers will need to be used to sort it all out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2017, 12:43:17 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2017, 11:19:33 AM
Is this the most parity we've ever seen in the CCIW. Fun to watch as a CCIW fan, frustrating to watch as a Carthage fan.

Trust me, BP, it's a million times more frustrating for Mr. B and I than it is for you.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2017, 12:56:16 PM
Tiebreakers:

North Central: IWU > NCC; WC > NCC; NCC > AC;  NCC 1-0 to date over CC; NCC > EC
Illinois Wesleyan: IWU > NCC; WC 1-0 to date over IWU; IWU > AC; IWU > CC; IWU > EC
Wheaton: NCC > WC; WC 1-0 to date over IWU; AC > WC; WC > CC; EC > WC
Augustana: NCC > AC; IWU > AC; AC > WC; AC > CC; AC > EC
Carthage: NCC 1-0 to date over CC; IWU > CC; WC > CC; CC > EC
Elmhurst: NCC > EC; IWU > EC; EC > WC; AC > EC; CC > EC
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 03:16:20 PM
NCC tops Carthage, 3-1, in the first final of the day.  Wheaton leads IWU, 4-1, after 4.  Augie and NPU scoreless in the 2nd.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2017, 03:45:32 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2017, 12:56:16 PM
Tiebreakers:

North Central: IWU > NCC; WC > NCC; NCC > AC;  NCC 1-0 to date over CC; NCC > EC
Illinois Wesleyan: IWU > NCC; WC 1-0 to date over IWU; IWU > AC; IWU > CC; IWU > EC
Wheaton: NCC > WC; WC 1-0 to date over IWU; AC > WC; WC > CC; EC > WC
Augustana: NCC > AC; IWU > AC; AC > WC; AC > CC; AC > EC
Carthage: NCC 1-0 to date over CC; IWU > CC; WC > CC; CC > EC
Elmhurst: NCC > EC; IWU > EC; EC > WC; AC > EC; CC > EC

The only tie-breaker Carthage would win is with Elmhurst... painful realization that the season ends today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 06:19:36 PM
NPU was cruising over the other Vikings, up 7-3 after 7.  Then Augie got 8 in the 8th and 6 more in the 9th, winning 17-7.  Something tells me Greg will have some choice words about the bullpen! :o

A real pitchers' duel in the second game in Wheaton - after 5 innings, IWU has 3 hits, Wheaton has 2.  Alas, Wheaton's hits all came in the bottom of the 5th - a single walk, and a double produced 2 runs: Wheaton up 2-0 entering the 6th.

Bottom of the 8th in Kenosha, with NCC up 8-7.

Haven't double-checked the possible remaining results, but it appears that Carthage and Elmhurst will be the two left out of the tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 07:43:02 PM
NCC has clinched at least a share of the title with a sweep of Carthage, 11-7.  Wheaton's sweep of IWU means that Monday's make-up game vs. NCC if BIG - Wheaton would tie for the title and have home field for the tourney with a win.  IF Augie  beats NPU (up 5-3 in the 2nd) they would finish 2nd if Wheaton loses Monday, 3rd if Wheaton wins.  If Augie loses, IWU is 3rd and Augie 4th.

I THINK that is right. :P

Just over a week ago I would have bet big money that the tourney would be in B'town.  Now the Titans limp into the tourney on a six-game losing streak - NOT an auspicious omen. :o  (But at least their early conference season results gave them the tie-breakers to make it at all - I'm sure Greg and BP would gladly trade places. ;))
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 08:47:14 PM
After 5.5, Augie 8, NPU 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 10:27:49 PM
FINAL: Augie 12, NPU 6.

We've got the four teams, but don't know where they will play. :o

If NCC wins on Monday, I believe it is NCC 1, Augie 2, Wheaton 3, and IWU 4.

If Wheaton wins on Monday, I believe it is Wheaton 1, NCC 2, Augie 3, IWU 4.

Fortunately for Augie and IWU schedulers, motel reservations are probably the same whether Wheaton or Naperville! :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 06, 2017, 10:34:13 PM
Is it too late to change my alma mater affiliation?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 06, 2017, 10:47:42 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 06, 2017, 10:34:13 PM
Is it too late to change my alma mater affiliation?
No, you have until 3:29:59 seconds on Monday after which we are locked into our teams. 

Six straight Titans losses has one thinking bad thoughts,  get the damn monkey out of the trophy case please!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 06, 2017, 11:06:19 PM
Wheaton being a win away from a CCIW title and doing it with pitching is pretty wild given their history. 

Sophomore Michael McCraith is now 6-0 in conference allowing only 3 runs and 24 hits in 42 innings with 46 strikeouts (0.64 ERA, .166 BAA).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: USee on May 08, 2017, 04:06:23 PM
After a quick check of the record book, if the Thunder win today it will be their first CCIW Baseball title since 1951. What a job Matt Husted has done with the program in just a few short years. The future is bright for the Thunder baseball team as by all accounts the incoming recruiting class is the best Wheaton has ever seen.

In other news, JP26 is doing a good job of impersonating JP11 with this play from Thursday's game in Bloomington:

(With the game tied) Illinois Wesleyan started the bottom of the ninth with a double and a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. Following an intentional walk to load the bases with no outs, Titan leadoff man Jake Stewart lifted a high fly ball that twisted into foul territory down the right field line. Wheaton right fielder Johnny Peltz (PICTURED RIGHT) closed on the ball to make a sprinting catch, spun and fired a one-hop throw to Andrew Zuber who tagged out the potential winning run at the plate for the second out of the inning.

Wheaton went on to win that game and then sweep IWU at home this weekend setting up the big game for today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 04:19:28 PM
Mr. B and I actually talked about that play in the press box during Saturday's AC @ NPU doubleheader (although I didn't mention it on the air). We both agreed that the Titans baserunner at third (and/or perhaps the IWU third-base coach) must've been seven different flavors of stupid to try to run on Peltz's arm. The CCIW hasn't seen an outfield arm like Peltz's in eons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 07:24:16 PM
North Central defeated Wheaton, 5-2 (Blunk over Hanvey), so NCC wins the title and will host the tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 08, 2017, 10:22:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 04:19:28 PM
Mr. B and I actually talked about that play in the press box during Saturday's AC @ NPU doubleheader (although I didn't mention it on the air). We both agreed that the Titans baserunner at third (and/or perhaps the IWU third-base coach) must've been seven different flavors of stupid to try to run on Peltz's arm. The CCIW hasn't seen an outfield arm like Peltz's in eons.

Huh. Peltz has an arm. Kinda forgot that this past fall.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 08, 2017, 11:18:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 10:27:49 PM
FINAL: Augie 12, NPU 6.

We've got the four teams, but don't know where they will play. :o

If NCC wins on Monday, I believe it is NCC 1, Augie 2, Wheaton 3, and IWU 4.

If Wheaton wins on Monday, I believe it is Wheaton 1, NCC 2, Augie 3, IWU 4.

Fortunately for Augie and IWU schedulers, motel reservations are probably the same whether Wheaton or Naperville! :D

Actually, I believe there are few, if any hotels in Wheaton. The closest, by a slim margin, may be one in Carol Stream. Most hotels in the area are in Naperville with a few in Warrenville.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 11:35:17 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 08, 2017, 11:18:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 10:27:49 PM
FINAL: Augie 12, NPU 6.

We've got the four teams, but don't know where they will play. :o

If NCC wins on Monday, I believe it is NCC 1, Augie 2, Wheaton 3, and IWU 4.

If Wheaton wins on Monday, I believe it is Wheaton 1, NCC 2, Augie 3, IWU 4.

Fortunately for Augie and IWU schedulers, motel reservations are probably the same whether Wheaton or Naperville! :D

Actually, I believe there are few, if any hotels in Wheaton. The closest, by a slim margin, may be one in Carol Stream. Most hotels in the area are in Naperville with a few in Warrenville.

That actually would've been perfect, because Wheaton doesn't play baseball in Wheaton. It plays baseball in Carol Stream, (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/2007/6/24/LegionField.aspx) in a stadium located on property that belongs to the local American Legion post.

(Similarly, Augustana doesn't play baseball in Rock Island. It plays baseball in Moline, in a stadium four miles southeast of the Augie campus. Illinois Wesleyan's baseball stadium is part of the IWU campus and is located mostly in Bloomington, but part of the outfield is across the city line in Normal. And, while Elmhurst, Millikin, and Carroll do play baseball in Elmhurst, Decatur, and Waukesha, respectively, they all play in public parks that are not adjacent to their respective campuses.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: izzy stradlin on May 09, 2017, 01:14:33 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 08, 2017, 10:22:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 04:19:28 PM
Mr. B and I actually talked about that play in the press box during Saturday's AC @ NPU doubleheader (although I didn't mention it on the air). We both agreed that the Titans baserunner at third (and/or perhaps the IWU third-base coach) must've been seven different flavors of stupid to try to run on Peltz's arm. The CCIW hasn't seen an outfield arm like Peltz's in eons.

Huh. Peltz has an arm. Kinda forgot that this past fall.

So did his uncle.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 09, 2017, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 11:35:17 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 08, 2017, 11:18:46 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 06, 2017, 10:27:49 PM
FINAL: Augie 12, NPU 6.

We've got the four teams, but don't know where they will play. :o

If NCC wins on Monday, I believe it is NCC 1, Augie 2, Wheaton 3, and IWU 4.

If Wheaton wins on Monday, I believe it is Wheaton 1, NCC 2, Augie 3, IWU 4.

Fortunately for Augie and IWU schedulers, motel reservations are probably the same whether Wheaton or Naperville! :D

Actually, I believe there are few, if any hotels in Wheaton. The closest, by a slim margin, may be one in Carol Stream. Most hotels in the area are in Naperville with a few in Warrenville.

That actually would've been perfect, because Wheaton doesn't play baseball in Wheaton. It plays baseball in Carol Stream, (http://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/2007/6/24/LegionField.aspx) in a stadium located on property that belongs to the local American Legion post.

(Similarly, Augustana doesn't play baseball in Rock Island. It plays baseball in Moline, in a stadium four miles southeast of the Augie campus. Illinois Wesleyan's baseball stadium is part of the IWU campus and is located mostly in Bloomington, but part of the outfield is across the city line in Normal. And, while Elmhurst, Millikin, and Carroll do play baseball in Elmhurst, Decatur, and Waukesha, respectively, they all play in public parks that are not adjacent to their respective campuses.)
We who, wear the green glasses, prefer to think of it as North Bloomington!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2017, 02:36:52 PM
2017 marks four of the past six CCIW post-seasons that Carthage has missed after qualifying for 23 straight seasons. Does anyone (maybe closer to the program than I) have a better insight as to why the Redmen are struggling... and have not won the CCIW tourney since 2009? What has changed? You can't tell me that Augie forgot how to coach! One shift I have noticed is where their players are coming from... instead of a lot of the roster from the Fox Valley in Wisconsin, they seem to have stocked the roster with Northern Chicago suburb players... could that be a difference? maybe... but is HAS to be something more than that.

Ugh!!!! So frustrated.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on May 10, 2017, 07:38:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2017, 02:36:52 PM
2017 marks four of the past six CCIW post-seasons that Carthage has missed after qualifying for 23 straight seasons. Does anyone (maybe closer to the program than I) have a better insight as to why the Redmen are struggling... and have not won the CCIW tourney since 2009? What has changed? You can't tell me that Augie forgot how to coach! One shift I have noticed is where their players are coming from... instead of a lot of the roster from the Fox Valley in Wisconsin, they seem to have stocked the roster with Northern Chicago suburb players... could that be a difference? maybe... but is HAS to be something more than that.

Ugh!!!! So frustrated.

I hear those Appleton players are far superior to those from N. Chicago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2017, 10:00:53 PM
Just saw that the Minnesota at White Sox game was rained out.  What are the prospects for the CCIW tourney games?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 11, 2017, 09:27:29 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2017, 10:00:53 PM
Just saw that the Minnesota at White Sox game was rained out.  What are the prospects for the CCIW tourney games?

I'm no meteorologist, but a quick look at the Weather Channel app shows no rain in the forecast for the next 48 hours (though a chance for some on Saturday). When I drove by Zimmermann Stadium yesterday I think the tarp was out, so I would assume the field is in good shape for today, but I'm not in a position to know for sure.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2017, 09:43:00 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on May 10, 2017, 07:38:47 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 10, 2017, 02:36:52 PM
2017 marks four of the past six CCIW post-seasons that Carthage has missed after qualifying for 23 straight seasons. Does anyone (maybe closer to the program than I) have a better insight as to why the Redmen are struggling... and have not won the CCIW tourney since 2009? What has changed? You can't tell me that Augie forgot how to coach! One shift I have noticed is where their players are coming from... instead of a lot of the roster from the Fox Valley in Wisconsin, they seem to have stocked the roster with Northern Chicago suburb players... could that be a difference? maybe... but is HAS to be something more than that.

Ugh!!!! So frustrated.

I hear those Appleton players are far superior to those from N. Chicago.

Not superior, just a totally different type of kid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2017, 02:00:31 PM
The tourney is underway.  IWU got 3 runs in the top of the first on a sac fly by Mollo and a HR by Cavlieri.  NCC tied it back up in the bottom of the 3rd with two Titan errors leading to 3 runs (only one earned).  So, 3-3 after 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2017, 03:19:10 PM
Not exactly a pitchers' duel in game one!  After six, IWU 9, NCC 8.  Both starting pitchers (Hoh for NCC, Coonan for IWU) are long gone.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2017, 04:27:36 PM
I was afraid of that - being the home team does it again!  NCC gets 3 in the bottom of the 9th for a come-from-behind 11-10 win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 11, 2017, 08:10:56 PM
Augie wins in 12 innings, 3-2 over Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2017, 08:12:24 PM
In a game rather different from game one, Augie gets a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 12th to win 3-2.  Wheaton outhit Augie 13-7, but couldn't get the key hits at the key times.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 12, 2017, 07:10:41 AM
Quote from: izzy stradlin on May 09, 2017, 01:14:33 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 08, 2017, 10:22:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2017, 04:19:28 PM
Mr. B and I actually talked about that play in the press box during Saturday's AC @ NPU doubleheader (although I didn't mention it on the air). We both agreed that the Titans baserunner at third (and/or perhaps the IWU third-base coach) must've been seven different flavors of stupid to try to run on Peltz's arm. The CCIW hasn't seen an outfield arm like Peltz's in eons.

Huh. Peltz has an arm. Kinda forgot that this past fall.

So did his uncle.

Absolutely hilarious!  +K. 😂
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 12, 2017, 09:28:29 AM
I was fortunate enough to get to my car yesterday afternoon just in time to hear the WONC call of Sotiros' walk off hit. William Dawes, who was doing play by play, was kind enough to share:

https://twitter.com/woncsports/status/862837321565077504
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 11:23:54 AM
After 3, IWU 3, Wheaton 0.  Loser goes home; winner plays again this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 12, 2017, 11:39:16 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 11:23:54 AM
After 3, IWU 3, Wheaton 0.  Loser goes home; winner plays again this afternoon.

No Live Video of the conference tournament??  AGAIN?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 01:53:25 PM
IWU breaks their seven game losing streak in grand fashion, sending Wheaton home for the season by an 11-0 score.

NCC vs. Augie is just about to get started.  IWU will play the loser of this game later this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 03:25:35 PM
After 6, Augie 3, NCC 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 12, 2017, 04:22:24 PM
Augie 4 NCC 3. final
Wheaton eliminated , IWU versus NCC in 3rd game with winner facing Augie Saturday
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 06:06:38 PM
Quite the pitchers' duel in the final game of the day.  After six, NCC 1, IWU 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 06:59:15 PM
Final: NCC 2, IWU 0.  The Titans started the bottom of the 9th with 2 straight singles, then the runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd on a wild pitch.  But, alas, they remained there for the remainder of the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2017, 07:05:01 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 12, 2017, 09:28:29 AM
I was fortunate enough to get to my car yesterday afternoon just in time to hear the WONC call of Sotiros' walk off hit. William Dawes, who was doing play by play, was kind enough to share:

https://twitter.com/woncsports/status/862837321565077504

Nicely done! William Dawes is vastly better than WONC's softball broadcasters. Those guys were so awful that they practically made my ears bleed. I had to turn them off after a half-inning.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 12, 2017, 09:44:42 PM
An outstanding effort by Wesleyan's Braden Miller today that normally could be expected to result in a victory. It took a superlative performance by North Central's Evan Blunk to best him, and that is exactly what Mr. Blunk produced.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 11:08:56 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 12, 2017, 09:44:42 PM
An outstanding effort by Wesleyan's Braden Miller today that normally could be expected to result in a victory. It took a superlative performance by North Central's Evan Blunk to best him, and that is exactly what Mr. Blunk produced.

I definitely tip my cap to Evan Blunk - 8+ innings of shutout pitching (and only 4 hits until a lead-off single chased him in the 9th).

When the Titans led off the 9th with two singles, and the runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd on a wild pitch), I definitely had visions of avenging the first game of the tourney (NCC had 3 runs in bottom of the 9th for a comeback 11-10 win over IWU) - especially since Pat Mollo led the conference with 9 HRs, and the following two batters were no power slouches (9 combined HRs).  I figured at least sending it to extra innings, and, ideally, a walk-off HR.  Alas, reliever Nick Rogalski (despite making that wild pitch) was otherwise perfect and the Titans never scored.

The Titan season, which seemed so promising just two weeks ago when they were 13-5 in conference play and cruising to a title, came to a crushing halt.  The Titans suffer some big-time graduation losses, but the future nevertheless looks bright: BOTH starting pitchers today (Jim O'Brien, with a complete-game shutout over Wheaton, and Braden Miller, who as AndOne correctly noted pitched well enough to deserve a win) are freshmen! ;D  Nevertheless, they do graduate FIVE pitchers: Coonan, Vlk, Acklin, Huskisson, and Henry.  The graduation of Jarrod Juskiewicz at SS and (especially) Pat Mollo at Catcher leave a couple of big holes at very key positions.  Seth Palmby is the only returner listed as a catcher - his stats are not promising, but I'll reserve judgement.  As to replacements for Jarrod, who knows - the roster just lists IF, not specific positions.

IF they have adequate depth on pitching, and IF they adequately fill the SS and C positions, they should be competing for the title again next season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2017, 11:24:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 12, 2017, 11:08:56 PMespecially since Pat Mollo led the conference with 9 HRs

Nope. Ben Havel had 10. Mollo did end up in a three-way tie for the HR title in CCIW play, as he, Brett Albaugh, and A.J. Johnson each had seven.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 04:18:55 PM
In the first game today, North Central took a 10-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th before Augie started chipping away to take an 11-10 lead after 8 innings.  North Central came back with 2 in the 9th (on a 2-out, 3-2 count) for a 12-11 lead.  Augie had one on with one out in the bottom of the 9th but the game ended on a double play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2017, 04:21:24 PM
That was quite an interesting Game Six of the CCIW tourney. North Central blew what had been a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, as Augustana scored 11 unanswered runs. But, down by a run with two outs in the top of the ninth, John Carmody singled home a pair of runs for the Cardinals, and NCC made it stand up in the bottom of the ninth to get the win and force a deciding Game Seven this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 04:24:01 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2017, 04:21:24 PM
That was quite an interesting Game Six of the CCIW tourney. North Central blew what had been a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, as Augustana scored 11 unanswered runs. But, down by a run with two outs in the top of the ninth, John Carmody singled home a pair of runs for the Cardinals, and NCC made it stand up in the bottom of the ninth to get the win and force a deciding Game Seven this afternoon.
The bullpens for both teams must be running on fumes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 05:06:52 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 04:24:01 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2017, 04:21:24 PM
That was quite an interesting Game Six of the CCIW tourney. North Central blew what had been a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, as Augustana scored 11 unanswered runs. But, down by a run with two outs in the top of the ninth, John Carmody singled home a pair of runs for the Cardinals, and NCC made it stand up in the bottom of the ninth to get the win and force a deciding Game Seven this afternoon.
The bullpens for both teams must be running on fumes.
And right on cue: the Cardinals start Michael Mallon (0-1, 11.08 ERA), and he gives up a grand slam in the first inning.  Augie leads 5-0 with only one out in the top of the first.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 08:07:59 PM
After a rocky start to the deciding game, the Cardinals rally for four runs in the bottom of the 9th for a 13-12 victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2017, 08:33:35 PM
I can't quite figure the likelihood of Augie getting a Pool C.  They will probably be second to the table in the Central (if Webster, who failed to win the SLIAC tourney, stays ahead of them.  I think the Central will probably not be shutout, but not sure they were strong enough this year to get two C bids.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2017, 08:47:21 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2017, 08:33:35 PM
I can't quite figure the likelihood of Augie getting a Pool C.  They will probably be second to the table in the Central (if Webster, who failed to win the SLIAC tourney, stays ahead of them.  I think the Central will probably not be shutout, but not sure they were strong enough this year to get two C bids.
I don't know, either, but 30 wins will be hard to overlook.  The Augie pitching staff got roughed up the last two weeks -- North Park hit all three of their top starters hard and took one of three, and North Central put up 12 and then 13 runs on the Quad City Vikings.  The team with the best starting staff -- Wheaton -- lost both games.  Wesleyan got slid performances out of their starters but were also eliminated. Strange times in the CCIW this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 13, 2017, 10:42:06 PM
On the plus side for Augie, they went 2-2 against RR teams (unless Wheaton falls out of the rankings, in which case they went 1-2); Webster only went 0-1 against RR teams in their tourney.  Augie jumping Webster is certainly not out of the question.  I'm gonna predict that EITHER Augie or Webster makes it, but probably not both - and I'm now leaning towards Augie.  (Alas, there is no way of knowing whether the committee had #3 Webster WAY above #4 Augie, or if it was a close call.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 13, 2017, 11:08:56 PM
A very crazy day of baseball in Naperville today. In the first game, Augie came all the way back from a 10-0 deficit to actually take a 11-10 lead before North Central pushed across 2 in the ninth inning to take a 12-11 win. In the nightcap, Augie got out to leads of 8-2 and 10-3, and still led 12-9 going into the ninth where NCC plated 4 to snatch an improbable 13-12 tournament championship victory.

North Central overcame 3 errors in the first game, and 4 more in the second. Should that degree of sloppiness continue, I sense the Cardinals won't be long for the national tournament stage.

Cardinal Nick Rogalski certainly had a productive day, picking up closing victories in BOTH of today's thrillers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 14, 2017, 11:43:24 PM
d3baseball.com has both Webster and Augie making it, with Webster first, then Augie (12th of 13 Pool Cs).  That's cutting it a bit close for my taste! ;)

Anyone know when we can expect the actual brackets?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2017, 07:25:32 AM
Here are the teams that made the tournament (http://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2017/2017-playoff-field)

North Central is the 5th seed in the Central, along with 1. Birmingham-Southern, 2. Washington U., 3. Wartburg, 4. Webster, and 6. Greenville.  That's going to be a very tough regional with lots of good pitching.

Augie did not get a Pool C bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 15, 2017, 02:39:38 PM
So NCC will play Wash U in the first round.
As far as Augie not making the field despite projections it would probably do so, it looks like NCC was really Augie's chief nemesis this year, giving AC 5 of it's 14 losses on the year. Wouldn't think the odds of going 5-0 against AC were very good at all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 03:04:32 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 15, 2017, 02:39:38 PM
So NCC will play Wash U in the first round.
As far as Augie not making the field despite projections it would probably do so, it looks like NCC was really Augie's chief nemesis this year, giving AC 5 of it's 14 losses on the year. Wouldn't think the odds of going 5-0 against AC were very good at all.

Maybe that explains why they went 5-1, rather than 5-0! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 15, 2017, 04:58:10 PM
So, my theory is proven correct!!!  ???  ::)  ;)

(Of course NCC played Augie three times in the tournament-Duh)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2017, 06:14:50 PM
Here is the All-CCIW Team for 2017. (http://cciw.org/news/2017/5/15/cciw-announces-2017-all-conference-baseball-team.aspx) Congratulations to all those honored!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PM
Somewhat surprised and disappointed that Augie didn't get a bid to the tourney.

Good luck to NCC - you're obviously quite a long-shot with the 5th seed.  But once in a blue moon it CAN be done - IIRC IWU was the 6th seed in 2010.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2017, 07:37:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PM
Somewhat surprised and disappointed that Augie didn't get a bid to the tourney.

I'm not. We're talking about an Augie team that opened its season with four games against a Brandeis team that went 6-21 this season. Although Augustana did go 2-1 against the three teams it faced that reached the 30-win threshold (Otterbein, Wartburg, and Bethel), it only played two other teams in in non-con play that had winning records besides those three -- and neither of those two other teams exceeded 22 wins this season. The Doggies clearly didn't have a strength of schedule that warranted a Pool C slot in the estimation of the national committee.

I've said all along that this was not a good year for CCIW baseball -- and the fact that a rather soggy Augie outfit was the only team in the league to surpass the 25-win mark does much to prove that.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PMGood luck to NCC - you're obviously quite a long-shot with the 5th seed.  But once in a blue moon it CAN be done - IIRC IWU was the 6th seed in 2010.

Fifty-five days! A new record! Way to go, Chuck!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/zujkOi1kkLRzG/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2017, 07:47:53 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 15, 2017, 06:14:50 PM
Here is the All-CCIW Team for 2017. (http://cciw.org/news/2017/5/15/cciw-announces-2017-all-conference-baseball-team.aspx) Congratulations to all those honored!

I wouldn't read too much into this, but here's the number of All-CCIW players who are eligible to return next season:


Augustana  3
Carthage  1
Carroll  2
Elmhurst  0
Illinois Wesleyan  1
Millikin  2
North Central  3
North Park  3
Wheaton  3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 09:01:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2017, 07:37:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PM
Somewhat surprised and disappointed that Augie didn't get a bid to the tourney.

I'm not. We're talking about an Augie team that opened its season with four games against a Brandeis team that went 6-21 this season. Although Augustana did go 2-1 against the three teams it faced that reached the 30-win threshold (Otterbein, Wartburg, and Bethel), it only played two other teams in in non-con play that had winning records besides those three -- and neither of those two other teams exceeded 22 wins this season. The Doggies clearly didn't have a strength of schedule that warranted a Pool C slot in the estimation of the national committee.

I've said all along that this was not a good year for CCIW baseball -- and the fact that a rather soggy Augie outfit was the only team in the league to surpass the 25-win mark does much to prove that.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PMGood luck to NCC - you're obviously quite a long-shot with the 5th seed.  But once in a blue moon it CAN be done - IIRC IWU was the 6th seed in 2010.

Fifty-five days! A new record! Way to go, Chuck!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/zujkOi1kkLRzG/giphy.gif)

Yeah, I said somewhat surprised, definitely not shocked.

And my ONLY two references to IWU 2010 were attempts to bolster the spirits of competitors! ;D  The first was when you and Big Poppa sounded like you might throw in the towel on the season (I guess you were both prescient, but I thought premature), and now to cheer on NCC.

My motives were pure.  NOT to bask in the glow of the Walnut-and-Bronze! :o 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 09:08:27 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2017, 07:47:53 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 15, 2017, 06:14:50 PM
Here is the All-CCIW Team for 2017. (http://cciw.org/news/2017/5/15/cciw-announces-2017-all-conference-baseball-team.aspx) Congratulations to all those honored!

I wouldn't read too much into this, but here's the number of All-CCIW players who are eligible to return next season:


Augustana  3
Carthage  1
Carroll  2
Elmhurst  0
Illinois Wesleyan  1
Millikin  2
North Central  3
North Park  3
Wheaton  3

Looks bleak for IWU, except that one (Figus) is the 'Newcomer of the Year'.  Since both starters on Friday (one a complete-game shutout, the other good enough to win most games) are also freshmen, and since 7 of 9 position players return, I'm feeling confident that we'll be right in the mix again.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 15, 2017, 10:01:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 15, 2017, 07:37:16 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 15, 2017, 06:31:17 PM
Somewhat surprised and disappointed that Augie didn't get a bid to the tourney.

I'm not. We're talking about an Augie team that opened its season with four games against a Brandeis team that went 6-21 this season. Although Augustana did go 2-1 against the three teams it faced that reached the 30-win threshold (Otterbein, Wartburg, and Bethel), it only played two other teams in in non-con play that had winning records besides those three -- and neither of those two other teams exceeded 22 wins this season. The Doggies clearly didn't have a strength of schedule that warranted a Pool C slot in the estimation of the national committee.

I've said all along that this was not a good year for CCIW baseball -- and the fact that a rather soggy Augie outfit was the only team in the league to surpass the 25-win mark does much to prove that.

D3Baseball's analysis backs up yours vis-a-vis Augie's relatively low SOS. (http://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2017/breaking-down-at-large)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 16, 2017, 11:35:53 AM
Here is D3 Baseball's Central Region Preview. (http://www.d3baseball.com/playoffs/2017/previews/central-regional-playoff-preview)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2017, 07:02:16 PM
In a pitchers' duel, North Central defeats Wash U, 3-1. Polezoes went the distance for the Cardinals.  North Central awaits the winner of the Wartburg-Webster contest, and the Bears take on Greenville in an elimination game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 18, 2017, 07:52:46 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 18, 2017, 07:02:16 PM
In a pitchers' duel, North Central defeats Wash U, 3-1. Polezoes went the distance for the Cardinals.  North Central awaits the winner of the Wartburg-Webster contest, and the Bears take on Greenville in an elimination game.

Seems that those who voted favored WU by a slightly better than 2:1 margin (203/51).  :o ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2017, 10:27:00 PM
It's not a CCIW contest but worth posting: Wartburg defeated Webster, 3-0, in the Central Regional. Two Wartburg pitchers -- Max Langheinrich and Auston Bohling -- combined to no-hit the Gorloks.  Quite a start to the Regional!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 19, 2017, 02:53:26 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 18, 2017, 10:27:00 PM
It's not a CCIW contest but worth posting: Wartburg defeated Webster, 3-0, in the Central Regional. Two Wartburg pitchers -- Max Langheinrich and Auston Bohling -- combined to no-hit the Gorloks.  Quite a start to the Regional!

Hopefully, NCC won't have to face either one of those hombres in the next game!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2017, 10:55:00 PM
Wartburg scored 3 in the top of the first, but never scored again - NCC 8, Wartburg 3.

Next up is #1 seed Birmingham-Southern - the winner is guaranteed a spot in the title game.

Go Cards - put a 2010 on 'em!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2017, 01:28:12 PM
After 2, NCC 1, Birm.-S 0.  Keep it rolling, Cards!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 20, 2017, 02:12:21 PM
Cardinals score 4 in the top of the 5th.  Up 5-0 on the top seed, Birmingham Southern.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2017, 02:46:32 PM
After 8 innings, still NCC 5, BSC 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2017, 02:56:45 PM
Cardinals win, 5-0. Russell Hoh pitches a complete-game 5-hitter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 20, 2017, 02:59:53 PM
NCC now in the driver's seat - going to the title game.  Of course, Augie was in the same position in the conference tourney ... so don't take the foot off the gas!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: iwumichigander on May 20, 2017, 05:00:54 PM
Congratulations to Cardinals.  Keep it up!
I know this is the baseball board but - IWU Softball won two games in extra innings to win their super regional and advance to World Series !
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2017, 03:50:53 PM
North Central defeats Birmingham-Southern, 3-2, in 11 innings, on a bases-loaded walk to Chris Hill with no outs.  The Cards had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th but failed to score, and the Panthers left a runner on third after a leadoff double in the top of the 11th. Congratulations to the Cardinals!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 21, 2017, 08:25:44 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 21, 2017, 03:50:53 PM
North Central defeats Birmingham-Southern, 3-2, in 11 innings, on a bases-loaded walk to Chris Hill with no outs.  The Cards had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th but failed to score, and the Panthers left a runner on third after a leadoff double in the top of the 11th. Congratulations to the Cardinals!

Congrats to NCC on a terrific showing at the Regional.  Good luck at the DIII World Series. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 21, 2017, 09:25:01 PM
Congrats NCC!  Great tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 21, 2017, 09:34:51 PM
Way to go, Cardinals!  Now, go make some noise in Appleton! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 22, 2017, 10:53:20 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!

... aaaaannnndddddd... que the IWU faithful....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 22, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 22, 2017, 10:53:20 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!

... aaaaannnndddddd... que the IWU faithful....

I'm surprised we've had to wait this long already, honestly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 11:22:11 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 22, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 22, 2017, 10:53:20 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!

... aaaaannnndddddd... que the IWU faithful....

I'm surprised we've had to wait this long already, honestly.

This one is lost one me  ???
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2017, 01:14:58 PM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 11:22:11 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 22, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 22, 2017, 10:53:20 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!

... aaaaannnndddddd... que the IWU faithful....

I'm surprised we've had to wait this long already, honestly.

This one is lost one me  ???

Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint Big Poppa and Pat! ;D  They're referring to 2010, when the Titans actually had a losing record with just a week or so to go in the regular season, and ended up going all the way to the title.

(Forgive me, Greg - they set me up! :P)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 22, 2017, 04:09:53 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 22, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 22, 2017, 10:53:20 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 22, 2017, 10:31:42 AM
What a run by NCC over the last 3 weeks.

On 5/2 they lost to Millikin to drop to 15-15 on the season.

They've since won 14 of their last 15 and enter the World Series at 29-16; a 3-4 loss to Augie on 5/12 is the only blemish since that loss to Millikin. Talk about getting hot at the right time!

... aaaaannnndddddd... que the IWU faithful....

I'm surprised we've had to wait this long already, honestly.

You didn't, Pat. Chuck posted this on Friday:

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2017, 10:55:00 PM
Wartburg scored 3 in the top of the first, but never scored again - NCC 8, Wartburg 3.

Next up is #1 seed Birmingham-Southern - the winner is guaranteed a spot in the title game.

Go Cards - put a 2010 on 'em!

He must've thought he could sneak that by us by posting it late at night. ;)

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2017, 01:14:58 PM
(Forgive me, Greg - they set me up! :P)

Who set you up on Friday night, Chuck? ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 22, 2017, 07:07:18 PM
Aw, gimme a break, Greg - I never even mentioned IWU on Friday night. ;D  Just rooting for a fellow-CCIW member!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 23, 2017, 09:51:05 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central (http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central)

Congrats to the 8 CCIW players named to the D3Baseball.com All-Region Team.


I cannot recall a time (maybe others can) when the Redmen were shutout of the all-region team. I thought at least one of the pitchers would have a shot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 23, 2017, 10:07:07 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2017, 09:51:05 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central (http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central)

Congrats to the 8 CCIW players named to the D3Baseball.com All-Region Team.


I cannot recall a time (maybe others can) when the Redmen were shutout of the all-region team. I thought at least one of the pitchers would have a shot.
Only one CCIW pitcher -- McCraith of Wheaton -- made the all-Central team.  That tells you a lot about the level of pitching in the conference this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on May 23, 2017, 10:32:49 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 23, 2017, 10:07:07 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2017, 09:51:05 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central (http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central)

Congrats to the 8 CCIW players named to the D3Baseball.com All-Region Team.


I cannot recall a time (maybe others can) when the Redmen were shutout of the all-region team. I thought at least one of the pitchers would have a shot.
Only one CCIW pitcher -- McCraith of Wheaton -- made the all-Central team.  That tells you a lot about the level of pitching in the conference this season.

Maybe.  There is that small matter of the NCC pitchers giving up 5 earned runs in 38 innings at the Central Regional Tournament----1.18 ERA by my calculation (but you may need one of the IWU guys to check my math  ;)) which tells me that perhaps the CCIW pitching wasn't all that terrible this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 23, 2017, 11:20:48 AM
Quote from: Kovo on May 23, 2017, 10:32:49 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 23, 2017, 10:07:07 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 23, 2017, 09:51:05 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central (http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2017/central)

Congrats to the 8 CCIW players named to the D3Baseball.com All-Region Team.


I cannot recall a time (maybe others can) when the Redmen were shutout of the all-region team. I thought at least one of the pitchers would have a shot.
Only one CCIW pitcher -- McCraith of Wheaton -- made the all-Central team.  That tells you a lot about the level of pitching in the conference this season.

Maybe.  There is that small matter of the NCC pitchers giving up 5 earned runs in 38 innings at the Central Regional Tournament----1.18 ERA by my calculation (but you may need one of the IWU guys to check my math  ;)) which tells me that perhaps the CCIW pitching wasn't all that terrible this year.
It's very true the North Central pitching rose to the occasion during the regional.  But my point is that throughout the CCIW schedule, there was a dearth of high-quality pitching in contrast to previous seasons.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2017, 02:07:02 PM
CCIW pitchers were underwhelming throughout the entire regular season, really, not just in CCIW play. Take a look at this overall season's cumulative ERA and WHIP (through this past weekend's games) and compare them to the last few seasons:


year  ERA  WHIP
2011  4.97  1.43
2012  4.48  1.53
2013  4.39  1.47
2014  4.70  1.54
2015  4.45  1.48
2016  5.17  1.62
2017  5.40  1.68

The league's pitching is slipping pretty dramatically. Kovo, you can't really challenge the numbers based upon the small sample size of four games by one team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on May 23, 2017, 02:13:37 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2017, 02:07:02 PM
CCIW pitchers were underwhelming throughout the entire regular season, really, not just in CCIW play. Take a look at this overall season's cumulative ERA and WHIP (through this past weekend's games) and compare them to the last few seasons:


year  ERA  WHIP
2011  4.97  1.43
2012  4.48  1.53
2013  4.39  1.47
2014  4.70  1.54
2015  4.45  1.48
2016  5.17  1.62
2017  5.40  1.68

The league's pitching is slipping pretty dramatically. Kovo, you can't really challenge the numbers based upon the small sample size of four games by one team.

They got hot at the right time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2017, 04:12:53 PM
Pretty much.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 24, 2017, 08:29:18 AM
Bracket's out (http://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2017/2017-world-series-bracket), and North Central will open College World Series play on Friday at 4:30 against UMass-Boston as part of Bracket 2. They'll play either Cal Lutheran or Wheaton (MA) in their second game.

...Even though they're in a completely different conference and state and have no affiliation whatsoever with a certain college a few miles north of my alma mater other than sharing a name, am I a bad person for wanting Wheaton (MA) to crash and burn just because it's Wheaton? :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 24, 2017, 12:54:01 PM
Always interesting to see the differences between the D3Baseball All-Region teams and the ABCA All-Region teams.

http://abca.org/awards/all-region/2017/ncaa_div_iii (http://abca.org/awards/all-region/2017/ncaa_div_iii)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Go Cards on May 24, 2017, 04:25:34 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 24, 2017, 12:54:01 PM
Always interesting to see the differences between the D3Baseball All-Region teams and the ABCA All-Region teams.

http://abca.org/awards/all-region/2017/ncaa_div_iii (http://abca.org/awards/all-region/2017/ncaa_div_iii)

From looking at CCIW players and the difference it sure looks like Sotiros from NCC got the shaft by the ABCA.  His stats overall look better than the 2 placed above him and yet the same three players were selected by D3Baseball but in different order. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2017, 04:51:08 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 24, 2017, 08:29:18 AM
...Even though they're in a completely different conference and state and have no affiliation whatsoever with a certain college a few miles north of my alma mater other than sharing a name, am I a bad person for wanting Wheaton (MA) to crash and burn just because it's Wheaton? :P

You might actually want to do the opposite, since Wheaton (MA) is a thoroughly secular institution that takes great pains to point out to one and all just how markedly different it is to Wheaton (IL) in terms of beliefs, policies, and mission:

http://wheatoncollege.edu/in-the-news/2016/01/15/identifying-wheaton/ (http://wheatoncollege.edu/in-the-news/2016/01/15/identifying-wheaton/)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/01/07/my-college-got-caught-up-in-the-horrifying-rage-over-wheatons-muslim-christian-god-debate/?postshare=5721452186920101&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.0f57c7b485b7 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/01/07/my-college-got-caught-up-in-the-horrifying-rage-over-wheatons-muslim-christian-god-debate/?postshare=5721452186920101&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.0f57c7b485b7)

Of course, having said that, I know full well that if North Park was going to play Wheaton (MA) in something, regardless of sport, NPU students would have the same reaction as you. They'd even probably break out some of their specialized anti-Wheaton cheers that so blithely flout the CCIW sportsmanship statement.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 25, 2017, 07:17:26 AM
Here is the D3baseball All-American team for 2017. (http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2017)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 26, 2017, 10:54:33 AM
Here are the ABCA/Rawlings All-American Teams for 2017. (http://abca.org/awards/all-americans/ncaa_div_iii/2017)

Congratulations to Mike Mateja of North Central and Ben Havel of Elmhurst, who were both first-team selections.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2017, 06:20:24 PM
After one inning: Mass-Boston 1, NCC 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2017, 08:13:51 PM
Total pitchers' duel thru 6: each team had only three hits and UMB led 2-1.  Then the Cards chased the UMB starter and feasted on the relievers.  They tied the game at 2 in the top of the 7th, then rang up 3 more in the top of the 8th.  They're entering the ninth, up 5-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2017, 08:18:34 PM
Going to the bottom of the ninth, still 5-2, Cards.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 26, 2017, 08:23:14 PM
NCC wins 5-2!  Way to go, Cards; keep it rollin'!

And congratulations to Austin Polezoes who had a complete-game 4-hitter for the win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on May 26, 2017, 10:18:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2017, 02:07:02 PM
CCIW pitchers were underwhelming throughout the entire regular season, really, not just in CCIW play. Take a look at this overall season's cumulative ERA and WHIP (through this past weekend's games) and compare them to the last few seasons:


year  ERA  WHIP
2011  4.97  1.43
2012  4.48  1.53
2013  4.39  1.47
2014  4.70  1.54
2015  4.45  1.48
2016  5.17  1.62
2017  5.40  1.68

The league's pitching is slipping pretty dramatically. Kovo, you can't really challenge the numbers based upon the small sample size of four five games by one team.



The sample size is growing.   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 26, 2017, 11:15:37 PM
Quote from: Kovo on May 26, 2017, 10:18:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 23, 2017, 02:07:02 PM
CCIW pitchers were underwhelming throughout the entire regular season, really, not just in CCIW play. Take a look at this overall season's cumulative ERA and WHIP (through this past weekend's games) and compare them to the last few seasons:


year  ERA  WHIP
2011  4.97  1.43
2012  4.48  1.53
2013  4.39  1.47
2014  4.70  1.54
2015  4.45  1.48
2016  5.17  1.62
2017  5.40  1.68

The league's pitching is slipping pretty dramatically. Kovo, you can't really challenge the numbers based upon the small sample size of four five games by one team.



The sample size is growing.   ;D

You're absolutely right. It's grown from 1.55% of the overall CCIW season to 1.93%.

At this rate, if North Central's pitching staff can hurl, say, another twenty or so well-pitched games in the playoffs, it might actually start to mean something in the league's overall picture. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 12:17:27 AM
On the other hand, Greg, the pitching staff's of the other 8 schools have an ERA of 0.00 for the last couple of weeks! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 27, 2017, 02:21:40 AM
Correct, Chuck. Not the slightest bit relevant, but ... correct. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 27, 2017, 01:14:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 12:17:27 AM
On the other hand, Greg, the pitching staff's of the other 8 schools have an ERA of 0.00 for the last couple of weeks! ;)

Isn't it technically infinity because they have a combined 0 innings pitched?  :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 01:38:07 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 27, 2017, 01:14:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 12:17:27 AM
On the other hand, Greg, the pitching staff's of the other 8 schools have an ERA of 0.00 for the last couple of weeks! ;)

Isn't it technically infinity because they have a combined 0 innings pitched?  :P

Probably - but when a pitcher has pitched 0 innings so far in a season, his ERA is always listed as 0.00.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 27, 2017, 03:09:23 PM
Yes, that's standard baseball recordkeeping, because typewriter keyboards didn't include a ∞, and it's likewise cumbersome to have to put one in via Unicode when using a computer keyboard. (The ∞ symbol is called a lemniscate, by the way; there's your fun fact for the day. ;))
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 27, 2017, 04:02:59 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 27, 2017, 03:09:23 PM
Yes, that's standard baseball recordkeeping, because typewriter keyboards didn't include a ∞, and it's likewise cumbersome to have to put one in via Unicode when using a computer keyboard. (The ∞ symbol is called a lemniscate, by the way; there's your fun fact for the day. ;))
Wow!  I cannot wait for the opportunity to use the word lemniscate in a sentence.

:)

There!  I just did!   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 27, 2017, 09:32:40 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 27, 2017, 01:14:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 12:17:27 AM
On the other hand, Greg, the pitching staff's of the other 8 schools have an ERA of 0.00 for the last couple of weeks! ;)

Isn't it technically infinity because they have a combined 0 innings pitched?  :P

Thank you!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 27, 2017, 09:39:30 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 27, 2017, 09:32:40 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 27, 2017, 01:14:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 12:17:27 AM
On the other hand, Greg, the pitching staff's of the other 8 schools have an ERA of 0.00 for the last couple of weeks! ;)

Isn't it technically infinity because they have a combined 0 innings pitched?  :P

Thank you!
In Stat Crew, pitchers without an appearance do not show up in the cumulative stats. If a pitcher allows an earned run without recording an out, Stat Crew displays a default ERA of 99.00.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 10:01:56 PM
After three innings, NCC trails Cal Lu 5-1.  The Cards are still hitless, but scored the run on a hit batter, a walk, a bunt, and a fielding error.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 27, 2017, 10:09:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 10:01:56 PM
After three innings, NCC trails Cal Lu 5-1.  The Cards are still hitless, but scored the run on a hit batter, a walk, a bunt, and a fielding error.
It's now 7-1 Kingsmen after a two-run homer in the fourth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 10:35:50 PM
Cards got 3 back in the bottom of the 4th, and this time there were actual hits involved!  In fact, FIVE of them.  Middle of the fifth, Cards trail 7-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 27, 2017, 11:30:43 PM
Game MAY have gone out of reach, as Cal Lu tacks on 4 more in the top of the 7th.  Schell gets them 1,2,3 in the top of the 8th, but the Cards trail 11-4 with only two more chances.

If I'm reading the bracket correctly, if NCC loses they will face UMass-Boston in a rematch at 1:15 tomorrow.  If they rally for a win, they would face the winner of Cal Lu/UMB at 7:45 tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 28, 2017, 12:09:19 AM
The Cardinals take one on the beak, 14-5.  They play UMass Boston tomorrow, and the winner of that game will play Cal Lutheran tomorrow afternoon/evening.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 28, 2017, 05:45:32 PM
NCC leads 4-3 entering the ninth.  IF they hold on (Rogalski is on the mound, so my bet is they will), they get another crack at Cal Lu late this evening (listed as 8:45 Central, but things are getting backed up a bit - it may be even later).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 28, 2017, 06:05:19 PM
Rogalski gave up a single and a double; they're going to the bottom of the ninth tied at 4.

By now, God only knows what time the game against Cal Lu will start.  Roanoke still has to play W&J a half hour after this game ends, then the Cal Lu game starts a half hour after that one finishes.

NCC looks like they want to get on with the day - lead-off batter Weilbacher gets a double!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 28, 2017, 06:15:15 PM
Weilbacher scores on an E-5 and the Cardinals walk off 5-4 to stay alive!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 28, 2017, 06:18:34 PM
And after two outs, NCC wins it on a fielding error by UMB's third baseman.

Doesn't matter if it's pretty - in the postseason it's 'survive and advance'!  And they did. ;D

I'll be cheerin' for NCC tonite, but if it starts as late as I suspect it will, I may not last the whole game.  Cal Lu is looking like a team of destiny, but GO CARDS!

Rogalski gets the BS but, in compensation, the W!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 28, 2017, 09:30:37 PM
Washington & Jefferson 8, Roanoke 1 - which was also the score after two innings!  Wild start; not much after that.

NCC/Cal Lu should start at roughly 8:55 CT.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 28, 2017, 11:31:33 PM
After three: Cal Lu 3, NCC 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 28, 2017, 11:45:59 PM
NCC is battling. Running the bases aggressively. Nick Anderson has settled down a bit after a rocky start but still bouts of wildness.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on May 29, 2017, 10:18:08 PM
But all good things must end.  Great job by the Cards in their run.  Kudos to my NCC classmate Ed Mathey and the boys.  It was a lot of fun to watch this team.  They battled and battled, and fought to the very end.  They had hearts of Lions  Pat----I really enjoyed the coverage from Appleton---very professionally done.

Now we can turn our attention to a long hot summer and perhaps a uniform thread or two on the football board.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 22, 2017, 08:55:13 AM
Congratulations to Anthony Bragg of North Park for winning the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2017/6/21/baseball-bragg-earns-abca-gold-glove-honor.aspx).  The senior first baseman handled 388 chances without an error.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 02, 2018, 02:59:04 PM
Any early predictions for the CCIW?
As we creep closer to the second semesters beginning, what programs appear poised to make a run this season? Any top recruits/transfers land anywhere (D1/D2/JuCo transfers)?

I know the Redmen landed a nice arm over the past few weeks so they could be ready to make a move provided he works out for them. Anyone else?

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 02, 2018, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 02, 2018, 02:59:04 PM
Any early predictions for the CCIW?
As we creep closer to the second semesters beginning, what programs appear poised to make a run this season? Any top recruits/transfers land anywhere (D1/D2/JuCo transfers)?

I know the Redmen landed a nice arm over the past few weeks so they could be ready to make a move provided he works out for them. Anyone else?

I hope someone will respond to your questions, but I find it almost impossible to think about baseball when the temperature is below zero! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 03, 2018, 12:37:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 02, 2018, 03:28:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 02, 2018, 02:59:04 PM
Any early predictions for the CCIW?
As we creep closer to the second semesters beginning, what programs appear poised to make a run this season? Any top recruits/transfers land anywhere (D1/D2/JuCo transfers)?

I know the Redmen landed a nice arm over the past few weeks so they could be ready to make a move provided he works out for them. Anyone else?

I hope someone will respond to your questions, but I find it almost impossible to think about baseball when the temperature is below zero! :(

And to think there are schools in warm weather ready to open with games in about 4 weeks.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on January 03, 2018, 09:27:01 PM
NAIA Hope International, coached by a former Whittier player, opens up with an exhibition game on January 12th against UC San Diego.  They open up the regular season on January 19th.  Crazy to think baseball is right around the corner for some....and for others, not so much.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 03, 2018, 09:51:57 PM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on January 03, 2018, 09:27:01 PM
NAIA Hope International, coached by a former Whittier player, opens up with an exhibition game on January 12th against UC San Diego.  They open up the regular season on January 19th.  Crazy to think baseball is right around the corner for some....and for others, not so much.

Yeah, that's the crazy thing about outdoor sports where you can't just play through bad weather - some teams are nearly halfway through their seasons before some Northern teams can even practice outdoors!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on January 03, 2018, 10:26:43 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 03, 2018, 09:51:57 PM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on January 03, 2018, 09:27:01 PM
NAIA Hope International, coached by a former Whittier player, opens up with an exhibition game on January 12th against UC San Diego.  They open up the regular season on January 19th.  Crazy to think baseball is right around the corner for some....and for others, not so much.

Yeah, that's the crazy thing about outdoor sports where you can't just play through bad weather - some teams are nearly halfway through their seasons before some Northern teams can even practice outdoors!
Yeah, I know. Then we warm-weather-climate university fans complain about the weather in a cold-weather-every-condition sport like football being in some place like Canton OH!   ::)   :o   ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 03, 2018, 11:57:18 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on January 03, 2018, 10:26:43 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on January 03, 2018, 09:51:57 PM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on January 03, 2018, 09:27:01 PM
NAIA Hope International, coached by a former Whittier player, opens up with an exhibition game on January 12th against UC San Diego.  They open up the regular season on January 19th.  Crazy to think baseball is right around the corner for some....and for others, not so much.

Yeah, that's the crazy thing about outdoor sports where you can't just play through bad weather - some teams are nearly halfway through their seasons before some Northern teams can even practice outdoors!
Yeah, I know. Then we warm-weather-climate university fans complain about the weather in a cold-weather-every-condition sport like football being in some place like Canton OH!   ::)   :o   ;D

Ya just gotta root for a "thunder-blizzard" - even football doesn't play thru lightning! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 05, 2018, 02:47:44 PM
2018 Redmen Schedule is out.... and there is a bit of a different feel to this one than previous seasons.

http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?schedule=279 (http://athletics.carthage.edu/schedule.aspx?schedule=279)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on January 18, 2018, 04:26:46 PM
FWIW, the preseason poll is up.  NCC is ranked #9.  Wheaton got 1 point, but even that may have been an error - Wheaton (MA) is ranked #25.  No other CCIW team received any votes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 18, 2018, 05:52:52 PM
North Park's schedule is up. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/schedule.aspx?path=baseball) In addition to the usual trip to Sauget and another Gene Cusic Classic week down in Fort Myers, both preceded as has been the case in the recent past with a doubleheader at Birmingham-Southern, the Vikings will open the season this season with a trip to Mississippi to face LaGrange, Belhaven, and Millsaps, starting one month from yesterday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 19, 2018, 02:55:07 PM
While that seems super early for the season to begin, note that Hope International University (NAIA) opens its season tonight with the first of three games against Saint Katherine College in Southern California.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 19, 2018, 03:46:26 PM
Everything's relative, BP. If this was a room about cross-country skiing, we wouldn't be reading about Hope International starting its season before everybody else. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2018, 04:28:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 19, 2018, 03:46:26 PM
Everything's relative, BP. If this was a room about cross-country skiing, we wouldn't be reading about Hope International starting its season before everybody else. ;)

Is there really a room for Cross Country Skiing? If not, there needs to be!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2018, 01:29:44 PM
Very big news today from the CCIW office regarding the conference baseball tournament. (http://www.cciw.org/news/2018/1/23/mens-basketball-tournament-expansion-release.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2018, 09:02:20 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 24, 2018, 01:29:44 PM
Very big news today from the CCIW office regarding the conference baseball tournament. (http://www.cciw.org/news/2018/1/23/mens-basketball-tournament-expansion-release.aspx)

Wow! That is a major shift for the CCIW. Has it ever NOT been a four-teamer before? I know they have gone through some other formats in the past including two divisions where top two from each moved to tourney, and also the point system which awarded points for season wins and more points for CCIW tourney wins... and whoever had the most points at the end was the awarded the bid, even if they didn't win the CCIW season or CCIW post-season crowns. (I know one season Carthage had it won before the final day of the tourney even began based on running away with the CCIW season and a few tourney wins). Regardless, this is an interesting change for the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 26, 2018, 12:20:26 PM
The CCIW tournament has always been limited to four teams since its inception in 1985, regardless of championship format changes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 26, 2018, 02:29:06 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 26, 2018, 12:20:26 PM
The CCIW tournament has always been limited to four teams since its inception in 1985, regardless of championship format changes.

Thanks, Greg! Any idea of the reasoning behind the move?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 26, 2018, 02:58:09 PM
No, it's a bit of a mystery. Numerous coaches in various CCIW sports have wanted to expand their tournaments for a long time now, but I'm puzzled as to why these four sports expanded theirs while, for instance, softball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's lacrosse didn't. I'm planning to make some inquiries.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 06, 2018, 12:46:26 PM
Does anyone know why Augustana has had so many recruits from Colorado over the past few years?  Is there some connection out there?  It's been several years now where baseball is getting a lot of recruits from Colorado.  It seems other sports have been doing the same (men's and women's basketball, etc).  Maybe it's a school-wide geographical emphasis or something?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 06, 2018, 01:52:20 PM
It's not just Augustana; other schools have also been recruiting Colorado. Augie's just been better at it than have the other CCIW schools.

Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. in terms of population, as the number of people who live there has doubled since 1980. However, the Centennial State is underserved by colleges and universities in terms of the number of institutions of higher learning that are based there, as are all of the mountain states in the western U.S. This means that Colorado, in particular among those western states, has a large pool of high-school student-athletes who could potentially continue to play sports but don't have a school in-state that has a slot for them.

Recruiting is in large part a matter of supply and demand. Demand for student-athletes is very high among Illinois-based small colleges, because there's an awful lot of Illinois-based small colleges. The in-state supply is limited, especially as the state's population shrinks and the average age of Illinoisians increases. Colorado, with a burgeoning number of high-school student-athletes and too few colleges for them to attend and play for, has the overstocked supply that can help meet that demand in Illinois. There's a D2/D3/NAIA school for every 312,000 Illinoisians, but only one for every 500,000 Coloradans.

That's why CCIW coaches from various sports are now working Colorado as a recruiting field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: augie_superfan on February 06, 2018, 04:40:27 PM
Makes sense, I was just a bit shocked to see 10 of Augie's 19 freshman hailing from Colorado this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 08, 2018, 10:04:12 AM
Quote from: augie_superfan on February 06, 2018, 04:40:27 PM
Makes sense, I was just a bit shocked to see 10 of Augie's 19 freshman hailing from Colorado this year.

There is also less recruiting competition in that area from outside schools.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on February 14, 2018, 11:51:45 AM
Coaches' poll is out (http://cciw.org/news/2018/2/14/north-central-predicted-to-win-2018-cciw-baseball-title.aspx). North Central is your favorite with 6 first place votes and 58 total points. Wheaton is second with 2 first place votes and 54 points. Illinois Wesleyan is third with 52 points, Augie fourth with 46 and the remaining first place vote.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 14, 2018, 01:29:47 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on February 14, 2018, 11:51:45 AM
Coaches' poll is out (http://cciw.org/news/2018/2/14/north-central-predicted-to-win-2018-cciw-baseball-title.aspx). North Central is your favorite with 6 first place votes and 58 total points. Wheaton is second with 2 first place votes and 54 points. Illinois Wesleyan is third with 52 points, Augie fourth with 46 and the remaining first place vote.

I think Carthage may surprise some people this year.


2018 Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll
Rank    Institution    Points (1st Pl. Votes)
1    North Central    58 (6)
2    Wheaton    54 (2)
3    Illinois Wesleyan    52
4    Augustana    46 (1)
5    Carthage    36
6    Millikin    30
7    Elmhurst    18
8    North Park    17
9    Carroll    13
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on February 14, 2018, 04:29:31 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 14, 2018, 01:29:47 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on February 14, 2018, 11:51:45 AM
Coaches' poll is out (http://cciw.org/news/2018/2/14/north-central-predicted-to-win-2018-cciw-baseball-title.aspx). North Central is your favorite with 6 first place votes and 58 total points. Wheaton is second with 2 first place votes and 54 points. Illinois Wesleyan is third with 52 points, Augie fourth with 46 and the remaining first place vote.

I think Carthage may surprise some people this year.


2018 Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll
Rank    Institution    Points (1st Pl. Votes)
1    North Central    58 (6)
2    Wheaton    54 (2)
3    Illinois Wesleyan    52
4    Augustana    46 (1)
5    Carthage    36
6    Millikin    30
7    Elmhurst    18
8    North Park    17
9    Carroll    13

In fairness, it's been fairly surprising to me, and probably many others that Carthage has not performed the last two seasons. Knowing how great of a coach Augie is, and the long term pedigree that comes with Carthage Baseball, I expect them to be in the hunt year in and year out. Graduating 19 (!) seniors is surely significant. I always enjoy seeing Carthage play, especially recently since Wheaton has had their number the last two seasons.  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 15, 2018, 07:53:38 AM
Carthage has always been built on young arms producing as they mature and sometimes they miss... in the past, they have been able to overcome that by handing the ball to even younger guys who scrapped and clawed their way to wins. But when back-to-back classes miss, it leaves a whole that is hard to fill. That's when you look to Juco kids and D1/D2 kickback transfers.

I can't see Carthage missing again this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2018, 10:42:16 PM
North Park's season opener was rained out in Mississippi today. The VIkings will instead take on Millsaps tomorrow morning and Huntingdon in the early afternoon, before finishing up with Belhaven on Monday. Sure is nice to have a three-day weekend to use for a Deep South trip.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 18, 2018, 09:06:12 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 17, 2018, 10:42:16 PM
North Park's season opener was rained out in Mississippi today. The VIkings will instead take on Millsaps tomorrow morning and Huntingdon in the early afternoon, before finishing up with Belhaven on Monday. Sure is nice to have a three-day weekend to use for a Deep South trip.
... except it's not a three-day weekend for North Parkers.  We have class tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 18, 2018, 08:38:15 PM
Whoops! I guess that the guys will be missing some classes, then.

It wasn't an auspicious debut for NPU. The Vikings lost the opener to Millsaps, 7-6. Matt Pizur only gave up one run over six innings of work, but the bullpen couldn't hold onto the 4-1 lead to which they'd been staked. Seth Dvorak and Cullen Gilbertson homered for the Vikings.  The second game was ugly, as NPU lost 13-1 to Huntingdon in a game that went the full nine innings, as the Hawks had their way with all four NPU pitchers that they faced. The Vikings did get nine hits and seven walks in the game; it's frustrating to see that, with all of that traffic on the bases, they only managed to score one run.

It was the sixth game for Millsaps this season, and the fifth for Huntingdon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 21, 2018, 10:48:04 AM
Millikin is off to a hot offensive start going 4-0 over the weekend and scoring run totals of 6, 12, 16 and 17 vs Ozarks and Hendrix.

Is this the year the Big Blue makes a move in the CCIW?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on February 21, 2018, 12:20:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 21, 2018, 10:48:04 AM
Millikin is off to a hot offensive start going 4-0 over the weekend and scoring run totals of 6, 12, 16 and 17 vs Ozarks and Hendrix.

Is this the year the Big Blue makes a move in the CCIW?
Respectfully, Ozarks is supposed to finish in the bottom half of the ASC. I am not impressed with the wins over UofOz.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 21, 2018, 12:53:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on February 21, 2018, 12:20:35 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 21, 2018, 10:48:04 AM
Millikin is off to a hot offensive start going 4-0 over the weekend and scoring run totals of 6, 12, 16 and 17 vs Ozarks and Hendrix.

Is this the year the Big Blue makes a move in the CCIW?
Respectfully, Ozarks is supposed to finish in the bottom half of the ASC. I am not impressed with the wins over UofOz.

I assumed that Ozarks was down this season (as in most seasons). Still, Millikin has to be happy with their start. Hendrix seems a better match for Millikin, but the Big Blue piled up runs there as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on February 26, 2018, 09:25:03 AM
Good early start for North Central. Behind 5-1 in the middle of the 7th on Saturday against MacMurray, the Cardinals put up a three spot in their half of the 7th and four more in the 8th to win their opener 8-5. They followed that up by jumping out to a 5-0 lead after one and 12-3 after four, hanging on to beat the Highlanders again 12-8. Mike Wisz homered twice in yesterday's win for the Cardinals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 28, 2018, 08:45:10 AM
Early prediction as the Redmen head to Arizona for the week.... Carthage will return 7-2. This week should give us a look at the revamped Carthage pitching staff and give us an idea of what they did in the off-season to shore up some of those holes that plagued them last year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2018, 10:55:59 AM
The Vikings play their earliest-ever home opener today at Holmgren, squaring off against Dominican at 3 pm. I'll be on the call, as per usual.

The weather is cooperating, as we're looking at an unseasonably-warm high of 58 degrees this afternoon and there's no prediction of rain. Still, this is going to feel very weird; NPU baseball historian Mr. B says that, as far as he can tell, North Park has never held a home opener earlier than St. Patrick's Day before.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 28, 2018, 11:13:52 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2018, 10:55:59 AM
The Vikings play their earliest-ever home opener today at Holmgren, squaring off against Dominican at 3 pm. I'll be on the call, as per usual.

The weather is cooperating, as we're looking at an unseasonably-warm high of 58 degrees this afternoon and there's no prediction of rain. Still, this is going to feel very weird; NPU baseball historian Mr. B says that, as far as he can tell, North Park has never held a home opener earlier than St. Patrick's Day before.

Jealous... still 2 ft of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on March 02, 2018, 10:30:52 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 28, 2018, 11:13:52 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 28, 2018, 10:55:59 AM
The Vikings play their earliest-ever home opener today at Holmgren, squaring off against Dominican at 3 pm. I'll be on the call, as per usual.

The weather is cooperating, as we're looking at an unseasonably-warm high of 58 degrees this afternoon and there's no prediction of rain. Still, this is going to feel very weird; NPU baseball historian Mr. B says that, as far as he can tell, North Park has never held a home opener earlier than St. Patrick's Day before.

Jealous... still 2 ft of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities.

your jealous.  Finally starting to dig out from our last storm with more on the way. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 03, 2018, 12:51:40 PM
Anyone have live stats for Carthage vs Gustavus Adolphus today??? Neither school is providing them... and I am dying to see how the Redmen are out of the gates today. Assuming they'll throw D1 transfer (Gonzaga), Nathan Odahl, who they are VERY high on from his indoor work after arriving on campus in January. I'd love to know how it's going today.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2018, 09:46:56 AM
Redmen split with Gustavus, get shellacked by D2 Northern State and outslug Rockford.... Move to 2-2 on the season.... An off day today followed by 5 games in 4 days. Let's see what they are made of right here.
Will Tibor and Odahl bounce back for Weds/Thur or will they need more time?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2018, 11:30:03 AM
Updated CCIW: Not much of a data sample to go off yet, but some surprises. Millikin continues to win... Wheaton struggled a bit out of the gate...

Illinois Wesleyan   0-0   3-0
Millikin                   0-0   6-0
North Central           0-0   2-0
Elmhurst                   0-0   3-1
Augustana                   0-0   6-2
Carthage                   0-0   2-2
Wheaton                   0-0   2-3
North Park              0-0   2-5
Carroll                   0-0   0-0
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 06, 2018, 04:06:20 PM
After that first-weekend walkathon in Mississippi, NPU's pitching staff has greatly settled down and improved in the control department. I was filled with trepidation coming into this season, considering what the Vikings lost on the mound from a team that didn't pitch well last year to begin with, but, while I'm still not 100% sold, I like what I've seen thus far from North Park's relatively untested staff. Freshman Michael Pritts looks like he's going to have a very strong career as a starter, while, if Matt Pizur can get his unexpected control difficulties harnessed, he could emerge as the #1 starter I figured he'd be. The most impressive performance thus far has come from the staff's most experienced arm, senior Josh Smith, who threw a gem against Transylvania two days ago -- eight IP, seven hits, no walks, seven Ks, and only one unearned run in an 11-1 NPU victory.

The Vikings did cough up a pair of 2-0 leads and lost both games by a 3-2 scores this weekend, and some of that has to do with bad fielding by the Vikings, who have started the year with an ugly .935 team fielding percentage. They have to do a better job of helping out their inexperienced arms by not saddling them with extra baserunners to worry about.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the Vikings can do in Florida next week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2018, 12:15:21 AM
I certainly hope the CCIW is not as unbalanced as the Top 25 Poll suggests it is.  The conference coaches' poll suggested a fairly tight race involving NCC, Wheaton, IWU, and Augie (with Carthage and Millikin as dark horses).  The national poll has NCC #4 in the country, and no one else receiving a single vote! :o

I suspect that NCC is not that good, nor that the rest of the conference is that bad.

We'll begin to find out once CCIW territory can actually permit the playing of baseball! 8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2018, 02:29:56 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2018, 12:15:21 AM
We'll begin to find out once CCIW territory can actually permit the playing of baseball! 8-)

As I indicated last week, we've already gotten in a game here, Chuck. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/boxscore.aspx?id=2748&path=baseball)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2018, 11:05:05 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2018, 02:29:56 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 07, 2018, 12:15:21 AM
We'll begin to find out once CCIW territory can actually permit the playing of baseball! 8-)

As I indicated last week, we've already gotten in a game here, Chuck. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/boxscore.aspx?id=2748&path=baseball)

Yeah, but that was a freak occurrence.  Try annually scheduling a home game the first week of March and see how many actually get played!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2018, 12:24:07 PM
It's actually not that hard to play games here at the end of February or beginning of March, Chuck. The key is to have some flexibility, because you never know when you'll get snow on the ground (as in the light dusting we've had here in Chicago since the day before yesterday) and when it will melt. As for the temperature, cold is cold. It's probably going to be cold at the end of March when home openers are traditionally played, anyway -- there's only an 11-degree variance between the average high at the start of the month in northern Illinois and the end of the month -- so that's not unknown territory for baseball players from this part of the country.

The baseball schedule is becoming more and more compressed for CCIW teams. The return of Carroll to the league packs more games into the latter part of the season, while the expansion of the CCIW tournament that will begin next year will remove the possibility of playing tail-end games following the final weekend of the regular season. I think that coaches are going to have to get more and more creative about scheduling, and that may include playing some home games here and there before teams take their annual snowbird trips.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 08, 2018, 07:55:50 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2018, 12:24:07 PM
It's actually not that hard to play games here at the end of February or beginning of March, Chuck. The key is to have some flexibility, because you never know when you'll get snow on the ground (as in the light dusting we've had here in Chicago since the day before yesterday) and when it will melt. As for the temperature, cold is cold. It's probably going to be cold at the end of March when home openers are traditionally played, anyway -- there's only an 11-degree variance between the average high at the start of the month in northern Illinois and the end of the month -- so that's not unknown territory for baseball players from this part of the country.

The baseball schedule is becoming more and more compressed for CCIW teams. The return of Carroll to the league packs more games into the latter part of the season, while the expansion of the CCIW tournament that will begin next year will remove the possibility of playing tail-end games following the final weekend of the regular season. I think that coaches are going to have to get more and more creative about scheduling, and that may include playing some home games here and there before teams take their annual snowbird trips.

Or make a trip to Minneapolis to play at US Bank Stadium. Teams can quickly get 3-4 games in as the facility hosts college games 24/7 right now. UM-Duluth and Bemidji State played a DH until 4AM last week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2018, 08:04:17 AM
The Redmen move to 5-2 with their 3rd and 4th straight win with a DH sweep yesterday. A single game with Cornell today followed by a single with Rockford tomorrow... 7-2 would be a great start cor Carthage and 6-3 would be "meh." 5-4 would be a disaster in my eyes.... let's get rolling Big Red.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 14, 2018, 12:19:10 PM
Redmen finish the trip with a 7-2 record... this weekend in St. Louis should give us a clear picture of whether or not they are gonna be a contender or not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 18, 2018, 06:25:50 PM
Redmen sweep a three game series at Fontbonne. That is 9 straight wins for Carthage as they move to 10-2. Are they back? Time will tell. While their starters appear to get it done, a shaky bullpen to this point scares me a bit.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 19, 2018, 11:34:35 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 18, 2018, 06:25:50 PM
Redmen sweep a three game series at Fontbonne. That is 9 straight wins for Carthage as they move to 10-2. Are they back? Time will tell. While their starters appear to get it done, a shaky bullpen to this point scares me a bit.
I expect Carthage to sweep Fontbonne, 4 times out of 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 19, 2018, 12:47:29 PM
CCIW so far...


Carthage0-010-2
Augustana0-011-3
Illinois Wesleyan0-08-3
Carroll0-04-2
Millikin0-08-4
Elmhurst0-05-3
Wheaton0-07-5
North Park0-05-7
North Central0-02-4

Totals :  60-33  .645 Winning Pct.  Carthage did play a D2 team in AZ.  Didn't look close enough at the other teams schedules to see if they played outside of D3.

Tough week for North Central.  I'm sure they'll bounce back.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 19, 2018, 03:38:13 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 19, 2018, 11:34:35 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 18, 2018, 06:25:50 PM
Redmen sweep a three game series at Fontbonne. That is 9 straight wins for Carthage as they move to 10-2. Are they back? Time will tell. While their starters appear to get it done, a shaky bullpen to this point scares me a bit.
I expect Carthage to sweep Fontbonne, 4 times out of 5.

As did I, but early in the season, you never know.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 19, 2018, 08:48:00 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 19, 2018, 12:47:29 PM
Tough week for North Central.  I'm sure they'll bounce back.
The week just got tougher: Denison took it to the Cardinals today by the score of 20-4.  The Big Red built up a 17-0 lead before North Central scored 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 10:43:42 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4 (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4)

North Central took a massive nosedive in this week's poll. IWU got a few vote, but not enough to break into the Top 25.

I thought Carthage would get a vote or two this week, but not even a sniff for the Redmen who are 10-2 (10-1 vs D3 teams).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on March 20, 2018, 10:56:48 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 10:43:42 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4 (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4)

North Central took a massive nosedive in this week's poll. IWU got a few vote, but not enough to break into the Top 25.

I thought Carthage would get a vote or two this week, but not even a sniff for the Redmen who are 10-2 (10-1 vs D3 teams).

I'll make sure they are on the short list.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 11:08:49 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on March 20, 2018, 10:56:48 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 10:43:42 AM
http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4 (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-4)

North Central took a massive nosedive in this week's poll. IWU got a few vote, but not enough to break into the Top 25.

I thought Carthage would get a vote or two this week, but not even a sniff for the Redmen who are 10-2 (10-1 vs D3 teams).

I'll make sure they are on the short list.

Granted, they have not truly beaten anyone worth noting, but wins are wins. I think they can legitimately make a run to 14-2/13-3 heading into CCIW play... As an obsessed Redmen alum, I have "watched" almost every inning to this point via live stats when available.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:46:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 11:08:49 AM
Granted, they have not truly beaten anyone worth noting, but wins are wins. I think they can legitimately make a run to 14-2/13-3 heading into CCIW play... As an obsessed Redmen alum, I have "watched" almost every inning to this point via live stats when available.

No one in the CCIW has beat "anyone" this season accept Wheaton who beat a ranked (at the time) Birmingham Southern team in February.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 20, 2018, 03:50:05 PM
BP, alas, IWU's 2 points most probably do not even represent 2 votes, much less a few - the most probably scenario would be a single voter who had them 24th.  A 'big showdown' ::) looming this weekend when IWU travels to St. Louis for three games against WashU - they had THREE points in the poll! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:50:53 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:46:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 20, 2018, 11:08:49 AM
Granted, they have not truly beaten anyone worth noting, but wins are wins. I think they can legitimately make a run to 14-2/13-3 heading into CCIW play... As an obsessed Redmen alum, I have "watched" almost every inning to this point via live stats when available.

No one in the CCIW has beat "anyone" this season accept Wheaton who beat a ranked (at the time) Birmingham Southern team in February.

And North Central beating #7 Wooster today....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:59:31 PM
Wow...NC scores 7 of their 8 9th inning runs after 2 outs to win this one.  Single, ground out, E (runners to 1st and 3rd), single scores 1, ground out, W, W, W, Strike-out reaches passed ball (would have ended the game).  Grand slam.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 20, 2018, 08:20:24 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:59:31 PM
Wow...NC scores 7 of their 8 9th inning runs after 2 outs to win this one.  Single, ground out, E (runners to 1st and 3rd), single scores 1, ground out, W, W, W, Strike-out reaches passed ball (would have ended the game).  Grand slam.
Wow!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 20, 2018, 08:30:29 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 20, 2018, 08:20:24 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:59:31 PM
Wow...NC scores 7 of their 8 9th inning runs after 2 outs to win this one.  Single, ground out, E (runners to 1st and 3rd), single scores 1, ground out, W, W, W, Strike-out reaches passed ball (would have ended the game).  Grand slam.
Wow!!!

From the looks of it, that just added a dramatic BOOM!!  The Wooster bullpen (and catcher, etc.) would have eventually let in the winning run anyway!

Walks and errors are why all managers (coaches, in college) have grey hair! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 21, 2018, 09:11:14 AM
Quote from: mwunder on March 20, 2018, 03:59:31 PM
Wow...NC scores 7 of their 8 9th inning runs after 2 outs to win this one.  Single, ground out, E (runners to 1st and 3rd), single scores 1, ground out, W, W, W, Strike-out reaches passed ball (would have ended the game).  Grand slam.

Actually, looking a little closer, I believe the strike-out, passed ball would have left the game tied.  A run scored on that play to put NCC up 1 and the grand slam bumped the final margin to 5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 22, 2018, 07:29:11 PM
North Park dropped a close 2-0 decision to 6th-ranked Concordia Chicago.  The Vikings had the tying run on second in the bottom of the ninth but could not come up with a clutch hit.  Matt Pizur  yielded only one earned run in his second straight complete-game effort.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.

I must have missed the memo that I'm the designated mouthpiece when a Titan wins an award! :P

Gino Cavalieri was this week's Player of the Week, having a very consistent output: 3 hits in each and every one of their five Florida games, and compiling a 1.593 OPS.

BTW, anyone know what sort of a set-up Auburndale FLA is?  I saw posts about games there on several other boards, and not one of the teams referenced were any of the six teams we played there.  I'm guessing that must be one helluva complex - maybe 6+ diamonds?  Maybe a combo spring-training facility for two or more MLB teams, plus the home of two or more minor-league teams?

EDIT:  Found SOME info.  The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale) has eleven soccer fields and nine baseball diamonds!  No indication of how they stay solvent most of the year - nothing about minor league or major league baseball usage (the site had a lot about Tigers baseball, but although Winter Haven is right next door, this complex is NOT Joker Marchant stadium [the Tigers spring-training facility]; I'd assume it is not used by any MLB team, if the Tigers were the only team talked about).  What I saw gave no indication, but I assume it most be a governmental rather than a commercial facility - seems awfully ambitious for a town of 15,000 people!  Surely they can't justify it on the basis of northern schools' spring break trips!  And that's a helluva lotta fields and diamonds for area hs teams!  I surrender! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 10:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.

I must have missed the memo that I'm the designated mouthpiece when a Titan wins an award! :P

Gino Cavalieri was this week's Player of the Week, having a very consistent output: 3 hits in each and every one of their five Florida games, and compiling a 1.593 OPS.

BTW, anyone know what sort of a set-up Auburndale FLA is?  I saw posts about games there on several other boards, and not one of the teams referenced were any of the six teams we played there.  I'm guessing that must be one helluva complex - maybe 6+ diamonds?  Maybe a combo spring-training facility for two or more MLB teams, plus the home of two or more minor-league teams?

EDIT:  Found SOME info.  The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale) has eleven soccer fields and nine baseball diamonds!  No indication of how they stay solvent most of the year - nothing about minor league or major league baseball usage (the site had a lot about Tigers baseball, but although Winter Haven is right next door, this complex is NOT Joker Marchant stadium [the Tigers spring-training facility]; I'd assume it is not used by any MLB team, if the Tigers were the only team talked about).  What I saw gave no indication, but I assume it most be a governmental rather than a commercial facility - seems awfully ambitious for a town of 15,000 people!  Surely they can't justify it on the basis of northern schools' spring break trips!  And that's a helluva lotta fields and diamonds for area hs teams! I surrender! :o
Those fields may also be used by club and travel teams thruout the year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 11:12:22 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 10:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.

I must have missed the memo that I'm the designated mouthpiece when a Titan wins an award! :P

Gino Cavalieri was this week's Player of the Week, having a very consistent output: 3 hits in each and every one of their five Florida games, and compiling a 1.593 OPS.

BTW, anyone know what sort of a set-up Auburndale FLA is?  I saw posts about games there on several other boards, and not one of the teams referenced were any of the six teams we played there.  I'm guessing that must be one helluva complex - maybe 6+ diamonds?  Maybe a combo spring-training facility for two or more MLB teams, plus the home of two or more minor-league teams?

EDIT:  Found SOME info.  The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale) has eleven soccer fields and nine baseball diamonds!  No indication of how they stay solvent most of the year - nothing about minor league or major league baseball usage (the site had a lot about Tigers baseball, but although Winter Haven is right next door, this complex is NOT Joker Marchant stadium [the Tigers spring-training facility]; I'd assume it is not used by any MLB team, if the Tigers were the only team talked about).  What I saw gave no indication, but I assume it most be a governmental rather than a commercial facility - seems awfully ambitious for a town of 15,000 people!  Surely they can't justify it on the basis of northern schools' spring break trips!  And that's a helluva lotta fields and diamonds for area hs teams! I surrender! :o
Those fields may also be used by club and travel teams thruout the year.

Probably so (though does anyone do outdoor baseball or soccer in a Florida summer?), but where is the revenue?  Spring break college teams bring in motel and restaurant dollars.   What do club and travel teams bring in?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 11:59:02 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 11:12:22 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 10:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.

I must have missed the memo that I'm the designated mouthpiece when a Titan wins an award! :P

Gino Cavalieri was this week's Player of the Week, having a very consistent output: 3 hits in each and every one of their five Florida games, and compiling a 1.593 OPS.

BTW, anyone know what sort of a set-up Auburndale FLA is?  I saw posts about games there on several other boards, and not one of the teams referenced were any of the six teams we played there.  I'm guessing that must be one helluva complex - maybe 6+ diamonds?  Maybe a combo spring-training facility for two or more MLB teams, plus the home of two or more minor-league teams?

EDIT:  Found SOME info.  The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale) has eleven soccer fields and nine baseball diamonds!  No indication of how they stay solvent most of the year - nothing about minor league or major league baseball usage (the site had a lot about Tigers baseball, but although Winter Haven is right next door, this complex is NOT Joker Marchant stadium [the Tigers spring-training facility]; I'd assume it is not used by any MLB team, if the Tigers were the only team talked about).  What I saw gave no indication, but I assume it most be a governmental rather than a commercial facility - seems awfully ambitious for a town of 15,000 people!  Surely they can't justify it on the basis of northern schools' spring break trips!  And that's a helluva lotta fields and diamonds for area hs teams! I surrender! :o
Those fields may also be used by club and travel teams thruout the year.

Probably so (though does anyone do outdoor baseball or soccer in a Florida summer?), but where is the revenue?  Spring break college teams bring in motel and restaurant dollars.   What do club and travel teams bring in?
According to my kids, as they haul grandkids around the country, the families have to stay someplace.  In the affluent suburbs of Dallas Ft Worth, that also includes travel hockey to Denver, Detroit and MSP.

Travel ball can get very expensive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 23, 2018, 12:23:36 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 11:59:02 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 11:12:22 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 22, 2018, 10:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 22, 2018, 09:05:05 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 20, 2018, 03:55:22 PM
Congratulations to NPU sophomore Matt Pizur upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game three-hit shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran last week. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/3/20/baseball-pizur-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx) Pizur did not allow a walk in the game while striking out three, and he lowered his ERA to 1.78 and his OBA to .188 in the process.

I must have missed the memo that I'm the designated mouthpiece when a Titan wins an award! :P

Gino Cavalieri was this week's Player of the Week, having a very consistent output: 3 hits in each and every one of their five Florida games, and compiling a 1.593 OPS.

BTW, anyone know what sort of a set-up Auburndale FLA is?  I saw posts about games there on several other boards, and not one of the teams referenced were any of the six teams we played there.  I'm guessing that must be one helluva complex - maybe 6+ diamonds?  Maybe a combo spring-training facility for two or more MLB teams, plus the home of two or more minor-league teams?

EDIT:  Found SOME info.  The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex (Auburndale) has eleven soccer fields and nine baseball diamonds!  No indication of how they stay solvent most of the year - nothing about minor league or major league baseball usage (the site had a lot about Tigers baseball, but although Winter Haven is right next door, this complex is NOT Joker Marchant stadium [the Tigers spring-training facility]; I'd assume it is not used by any MLB team, if the Tigers were the only team talked about).  What I saw gave no indication, but I assume it most be a governmental rather than a commercial facility - seems awfully ambitious for a town of 15,000 people!  Surely they can't justify it on the basis of northern schools' spring break trips!  And that's a helluva lotta fields and diamonds for area hs teams! I surrender! :o
Those fields may also be used by club and travel teams thruout the year.

Probably so (though does anyone do outdoor baseball or soccer in a Florida summer?), but where is the revenue?  Spring break college teams bring in motel and restaurant dollars.   What do club and travel teams bring in?
According to my kids, as they haul grandkids around the country, the families have to stay someplace.  In the affluent suburbs of Dallas Ft Worth, that also includes travel hockey to Denver, Detroit and MSP.

Travel ball can get very expensive.

You're right.  I think of 'travel' teams in my sons' case, where travel soccer was 30-40 miles.  Travel MIGHT have included dinner, but never a motel.  Travel soccer or baseball teams to Auburndale might well be a financial asset to the community.

But certainly not from unrelated fans - their 'premiere' soccer field seats 1,500; top baseball 'stadium' seats 500! ;)  I would certainly hope the 'pitches' and diamonds are supported mainly by hospitality taxes!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 23, 2018, 09:41:31 AM
I have a feeling that Mother Nature will be the winner this weekend....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 23, 2018, 10:44:37 AM
The snow band of Winter Storm Uma is actually supposed to hit only the South Side of the city, No snow is predicted here on the North Side -- of course, I know better than to take Chicago weather predictions as gospel truth -- and Sunday's forecast is for sunny skies and temps in the low 40s, as the Vikings will move over to Kerry Wood Field, the new baseball stadium adjacent to Lane Tech, to play host there to St. Norbert in a Palm Sunday doubleheader.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 24, 2018, 05:36:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 23, 2018, 09:41:31 AM
I have a feeling that Mother Nature will be the winner this weekend....

Mother Nature killed the IWU @ WashU game today.  We'll see if she grants a stay-of-execution for tomorrow's DH! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 25, 2018, 08:27:13 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 24, 2018, 05:36:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 23, 2018, 09:41:31 AM
I have a feeling that Mother Nature will be the winner this weekend....

Mother Nature killed the IWU @ WashU game today.  We'll see if she grants a stay-of-execution for tomorrow's DH! ;)

She stayed the execution: IWU and WashU split.  The Titans won the opener 6-1; the Bears took the nightcap 8-1.

A shame they can't play the rubber game, but yesterday's game is listed as 'cancelled' rather than 'postponed', so I guess they couldn't find a make-up date.  The hazards of midwestern baseball. :P
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 27, 2018, 12:54:19 PM
Carroll            0-0   9-2
Augustana            0-0   12-3
Carthage            0-0   11-3
Millikin            0-0   10-4
Elmhurst            0-0   9-4
Ill Wesleyan    0-0   9-4
Wheaton            0-0   9-6
North Central    0-0   4-6
North Park            0-0   5-10

CCIW teams are 78-42 (.650) in non-league games as we head into CCIW play this week. Any teams surprise you early?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 27, 2018, 07:33:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2018, 12:54:19 PM
Carroll            0-0   9-2
Augustana            0-0   12-3
Carthage            0-0   11-3
Millikin            0-0   10-4
Elmhurst            0-0   9-4
Ill Wesleyan    0-0   9-4
Wheaton            0-0   9-6
North Central    0-0   4-6
North Park            0-0   5-10

CCIW teams are 78-42 (.650) in non-league games as we head into CCIW play this week. Any teams surprise you early?
North Central and to a lesser degree, Augie and Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2018, 09:32:07 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 27, 2018, 07:33:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2018, 12:54:19 PM
Carroll            0-0   9-2
Augustana            0-0   12-3
Carthage            0-0   11-3
Millikin            0-0   10-4
Elmhurst            0-0   9-4
Ill Wesleyan    0-0   9-4
Wheaton            0-0   9-6
North Central    0-0   4-6
North Park            0-0   5-10

CCIW teams are 78-42 (.650) in non-league games as we head into CCIW play this week. Any teams surprise you early?
North Central and to a lesser degree, Augie and Carthage.

North Central is a big surprise to me, but  I think they'll get on track. Carthage is where I expected them to be heading into CCIW play after a mostly un-challenging schedule . Augustana always gets a great start and stumbles along the way, struggling to recover. Maybe this is the year they can keep it together.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on March 28, 2018, 09:55:12 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 27, 2018, 07:33:52 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 27, 2018, 12:54:19 PM
Carroll            0-0   9-2
Augustana            0-0   12-3
Carthage            0-0   11-3
Millikin            0-0   10-4
Elmhurst            0-0   9-4
Ill Wesleyan    0-0   9-4
Wheaton            0-0   9-6
North Central    0-0   4-6
North Park            0-0   5-10

CCIW teams are 78-42 (.650) in non-league games as we head into CCIW play this week. Any teams surprise you early?
North Central and to a lesser degree, Augie and Carthage.

Remember how North Central started last year.  I am sure they will get things together as they have some solid talent.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2018, 10:23:25 AM
I am also surprised by Carroll's hot start. Stein Rear has done a great job building that program in it's return to the CCIW after 27 years in the MWC. Carthage and Carroll square off in a CCIW-opening DH today so we should have a better feel for those programs after today unless they split.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on March 28, 2018, 01:50:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2018, 10:23:25 AM
I am also surprised by Carroll's hot start. Stein Rear has done a great job building that program in it's return to the CCIW after 27 years in the MWC. Carthage and Carroll square off in a CCIW-opening DH today so we should have a better feel for those programs after today unless they split.
... and Carroll and Carthage splitting a pair of 3-run decisions would help us as well, if you are as impressed with Carroll as you imply.   :)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 28, 2018, 03:58:39 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 28, 2018, 01:50:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 28, 2018, 10:23:25 AM
I am also surprised by Carroll's hot start. Stein Rear has done a great job building that program in it's return to the CCIW after 27 years in the MWC. Carthage and Carroll square off in a CCIW-opening DH today so we should have a better feel for those programs after today unless they split.
... and Carroll and Carthage splitting a pair of 3-run decisions would help us as well, if you are as impressed with Carroll as you imply.   :)

Looks like SOS for Carroll and live-streaming....nothing for basketball and nothing for baseball either.  So glad they're a member of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on March 28, 2018, 07:51:43 PM
North Central gets off to a good start in CCIW play, taking two from Wheaton, 10-0 and 8-2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 28, 2018, 08:03:41 PM
IWU wins game one at Millikin, 11-7; game two rained out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 28, 2018, 08:27:26 PM
North Park earned a split at Elmhurst, dropping game one, 13-6, before bouncing back with four runs in the eighth for an 8-7 victory in the nightcap.  Reliever Justin Woolbright recorded a bases-loaded save to preserve the win for Cody Leuzinger.

Congratulations to Viking Head Coach Luke Johnson on win number 250 at the helm of the North Park program.  Long-time CCIW fans will recall that in 2006 Luke took over a program that had won six games -- six -- in the previous three seasons combined.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 28, 2018, 11:06:10 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 28, 2018, 08:27:26 PM
North Park earned a split at Elmhurst, dropping game one, 13-6, before bouncing back with four runs in the eighth for an 8-7 victory in the nightcap.  Reliever Justin Woolbright recorded a bases-loaded save to preserve the win for Cody Leuzinger.

Congratulations to Viking Head Coach Luke Johnson on win number 250 at the helm of the North Park program.  Long-time CCIW fans will recall that in 2006 Luke took over a program that had won six games -- six -- in the previous three seasons combined.

Congratulations to Coach Johnson!  I didn't recall the specifics at all, but knew that NPU (NPC?) baseball had fallen ALMOST as far as North Park football.  Kudos on making it back to respectability.  Not sure I'd welcome even more competition at the top ;), but the conference can only benefit from not having Earlhams or Wilmingtons at the bottom! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 29, 2018, 09:57:42 AM
Carthage gets 2 from Carroll yesterday by scores of 16-0 and 7-3.  Tibor goes 7 in game one giving up 5 hits, 5 Ks, no runs, no walks, 1 extra base hit allowed.  Odahl gets the game two victory by going 7 as well giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out 7.  Ryan Dalton went 6 for 8 on the day with 8 RBIs and 5 Runs scored.  He had 2 doubles and 3 HRs on the day.  No errors in the 2 games for Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2018, 12:06:25 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on March 28, 2018, 11:06:10 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 28, 2018, 08:27:26 PM
North Park earned a split at Elmhurst, dropping game one, 13-6, before bouncing back with four runs in the eighth for an 8-7 victory in the nightcap.  Reliever Justin Woolbright recorded a bases-loaded save to preserve the win for Cody Leuzinger.

Congratulations to Viking Head Coach Luke Johnson on win number 250 at the helm of the North Park program.  Long-time CCIW fans will recall that in 2006 Luke took over a program that had won six games -- six -- in the previous three seasons combined.

Congratulations to Coach Johnson!  I didn't recall the specifics at all, but knew that NPU (NPC?) baseball had fallen ALMOST as far as North Park football.  Kudos on making it back to respectability.  Not sure I'd welcome even more competition at the top ;), but the conference can only benefit from not having Earlhams or Wilmingtons at the bottom! ;D

Congrats to Luke Johnson! He and I were roomies for a week in the Dominican Republic in 2004 along with another guy who's southern accent was so thick that it was almost easier to talk to him in Spanish, instead of English. Great week of baseball with Johnson that I'll never forget.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 29, 2018, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 29, 2018, 12:06:25 PM


Congrats to Luke Johnson! He and I were roomies for a week in the Dominican Republic in 2004 along with another guy who's southern accent was so thick that it was almost easier to talk to him in Spanish, instead of English. Great week of baseball with Johnson that I'll never forget.

Another coaching milestone with relevance to BigPoppa is close to being achieved by Carthage's Augie Schmidt IV who currently sits at 899 wins.  Augie sits at 899-421-5 in his 31st year with the Carthage College RedMen.  I'm sure BigPoppa contributed to a few of those wins as well as a few of the gray hairs!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 29, 2018, 03:15:31 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 29, 2018, 02:59:03 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 29, 2018, 12:06:25 PM


Congrats to Luke Johnson! He and I were roomies for a week in the Dominican Republic in 2004 along with another guy who's southern accent was so thick that it was almost easier to talk to him in Spanish, instead of English. Great week of baseball with Johnson that I'll never forget.

Another coaching milestone with relevance to BigPoppa is close to being achieved by Carthage's Augie Schmidt IV who currently sits at 899 wins.  Augie sits at 899-421-5 in his 31st year with the Carthage College RedMen.  I'm sure BigPoppa contributed to a few of those wins as well as a few of the gray hairs!

My bat helped lead to the wins. My glove helped lead to both the gray hairs and receding hair line!

On another note, the Carthage/Illinois Tech DH has been moved from Saturday to tomorrow to avoid weather.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 29, 2018, 05:51:02 PM
Dennis Martel also approaching a milestone (though not as impressive as Augie Schmidt IV): as of today he has 793 wins.  That puts him #9 among active D3 coaches (Augie is either 5th or 6th).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2018, 09:52:51 PM
IWU split a DH today at Horenberger Field against Elmhurst.  They lost the first game 11-3, as 8 pitchers combined to walk 10 Jays (in case you wondered why Dennis Martel no longer has much hair :P).  In the second game, they got only 5 hits, but Nick Brune threw a complete game, 4-hit, shutout: 3-0.  As a wise man once said (actually, MANY wise men, I'm sure!): "Momentum is the next game's starting pitcher."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2018, 10:14:40 PM
North Park swept Carroll today up in Waukesha, winning the opener, 5-0, on a complete-game six-hit shutout by freshman hurler Mike Pritts. The Vikings then tore it up in the nightcap en route to a 22-7 win halted by the mercy rule after seven innings. NPU did a nice job of swinging the bats, notching 19 hits in that contest, but they were aided by an astonishing nine errors by the Pioneers, as only 12 of NPU's 22 runs were earned.

Mitch Jordan homered twice for the Vikings in the opener and added a bases-loaded triple in the nightcap, en route to a seven-RBI day, and Cullen Gilbertson hit a pair of dingers in the nightcap as well for the Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 30, 2018, 11:00:17 PM
Due to expected heavy winds -- which could topple the movable fences at the Holmgren Athletic Complex -- the Saturday contest between North Park and Carroll will be held at Wheaton's Pfund Field. Game time is scheduled for 4.30 PM, after the Wheaton-Augie game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2018, 10:46:56 AM
Carthage hammered Illinois Tech in a DH Friday while Augie Schmidt collected his 900th (and 901st) career win. Redmen move to 15-3 on the season. Is it too early to say that the Carthage of old may be back? I am very curious to see how they fare against the top-tier CCIW foes. One of their losses is to a D2 school but their other two are to middle of the road programs in Marian and Gustavus Adolphus. Hopefully those were just blips on the radar and not a sign of weakness.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 02:27:41 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 28, 2018, 07:51:43 PM
North Central gets off to a good start in CCIW play, taking two from Wheaton, 10-0 and 8-2.

And two more from Millikin 15-1 (7 inns), and 8-1. Michael Mateja had 5 hits on the day, and Mike "Wizzer" Wisz, who used to play a (very  ;)) little basketball, had 5 RBIs. ⚾️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2018, 08:47:44 PM
North Park completes the sweep with a 4-2 win over Carroll. NPU is now undefeated all-time as the home team at Lee Pfund Stadium. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 31, 2018, 09:10:41 PM
It was a close contest at Pfund Pfield. Carroll jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead and added an unearned run in the third.  Pioneer starter Logan Johnson held the Viking bats in check and got some strong defense to escape damage until NPU scored three in the fifth and one in the eighth to take the lead.  Justin Woolbright looked sharp after a long first inning and ended up with the victory after seven innings, issuing only two walks and striking out six.  Matt Pizur worked two scoreless innings, striking out three, for his first career save.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 10:25:42 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 02:27:41 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 28, 2018, 07:51:43 PM
North Central gets off to a good start in CCIW play, taking two from Wheaton, 10-0 and 8-2.

And two more from Millikin 15-1 (7 inns), and 8-1. Michael Mateja had 5 hits on the day, and Mike "Wizzer" Wisz, who used to play a (very  ;)) little basketball, had 5 RBIs. ⚾️

Although in nowhere near the dominating fashion of their first four conference victories, the NCC Cardinals chalk up another W by outlasting Millikin 13-10.
The Cards are now 5-0 in conference play. Are they just slow starters, or do they just prefer conference play? Maybe both?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2018, 11:49:33 AM
New D3 Baseball Poll is out: http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-6 (http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2018/2018Top25-week-6)

Spalding is the only Central team in the poll at #18 with Augustana, Wartburg, North Central, WashU and Webster all earning votes... curiously, to me at least, Carthage (15-3) remains without a vote.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 03, 2018, 11:51:02 AM
Quote from: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 10:25:42 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 02:27:41 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 28, 2018, 07:51:43 PM
North Central gets off to a good start in CCIW play, taking two from Wheaton, 10-0 and 8-2.

And two more from Millikin 15-1 (7 inns), and 8-1. Michael Mateja had 5 hits on the day, and Mike "Wizzer" Wisz, who used to play a (very  ;)) little basketball, had 5 RBIs. ⚾️

Although in nowhere near the dominating fashion of their first four conference victories, the NCC Cardinals chalk up another W by outlasting Millikin 13-10.
The Cards are now 5-0 in conference play. Are they just slow starters, or do they just prefer conference play? Maybe both?

Cortland State is a notoriously slow starter as well. Sometimes is just takes a week or two for the cold-weather programs to find the right combination for wins.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2018, 02:54:54 PM
Congrats to NPU freshman Michael Pritts upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game shutout at Carroll on Friday. (http://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/4/3/baseball-pritts-named-cciw-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 04, 2018, 07:21:41 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 03, 2018, 11:51:02 AM
Quote from: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 10:25:42 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 31, 2018, 02:27:41 PM
Quote from: AndOne on March 28, 2018, 07:51:43 PM
North Central gets off to a good start in CCIW play, taking two from Wheaton, 10-0 and 8-2.

And two more from Millikin 15-1 (7 inns), and 8-1. Michael Mateja had 5 hits on the day, and Mike "Wizzer" Wisz, who used to play a (very  ;)) little basketball, had 5 RBIs. ⚾️

Although in nowhere near the dominating fashion of their first four conference victories, the NCC Cardinals chalk up another W by outlasting Millikin 13-10.
The Cards are now 5-0 in conference play. Are they just slow starters, or do they just prefer conference play? Maybe both?

Cortland State is a notoriously slow starter as well. Sometimes is just takes a week or two for the cold-weather programs to find the right combination for wins.

Concordia-Chicago had a must win game in just their fourth game of the season last year and look where they ended.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 04, 2018, 08:45:41 PM
North Park won a real back-and-forth contest against IL Wesleyan, 6-5, on a Dean Emanuele walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.  The Vikings move to 5-1 in CCIW play and 10-11 overall. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2018, 09:25:49 PM
It was a very satisfying win. The Vikings had to come back from three different deficits in the game, but they never stopped hitting. They cranked out 13 hits, three of which left the ballpark, and forced the Titans pitchers into one jam too many from which to extricate themselves. Considering all of the close losses that the Vikings took early on in non-conference play, it's good to see them squeaking out wins when they have to, now that they're playing CCIW teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2018, 08:38:13 AM
It seems that North Park is not a bad as their early record would indicate (Same for North Central).

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 11:03:53 AM
It's a team whose #1 and #2 pitchers are a freshman and a sophomore, and almost every one of the position-player regulars is either new to the team, hasn't played much before, or is playing a new position this season. It took time for NPU to gel.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 05, 2018, 11:53:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 11:03:53 AM
It's a team whose #1 and #2 pitchers are a freshman and a sophomore, and almost every one of the position-player regulars is either new to the team, hasn't played much before, or is playing a new position this season. It took time for NPU to gel.

The CCIW will be a fun race to watch this season if NPU can push itself into the mix. Looks to be a 5-6 teams race:

NCC
Carthage
IWU
Augie
NPU
Wheaton/Elmhurst

Does the CCIW move to a 6-team postseason this year or next year?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 12:03:47 PM
Next year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on April 05, 2018, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2018, 11:53:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 11:03:53 AM
It's a team whose #1 and #2 pitchers are a freshman and a sophomore, and almost every one of the position-player regulars is either new to the team, hasn't played much before, or is playing a new position this season. It took time for NPU to gel.

The CCIW will be a fun race to watch this season if NPU can push itself into the mix. Looks to be a 5-6 teams race:

NCC
Carthage
IWU
Augie
NPU
Wheaton/Elmhurst

Does the CCIW move to a 6-team postseason this year or next year?

From the first pitch today, Wheaton took it to Illinois Wesleyan, topping the Titans 12-1 in 7 innings. The IWU starter came into this contest with a 1.50 era and got jumped for 11 runs (10 earned). After starting off with two terrible games against NCC, and overcoming a series of fielding errors topping Augie twice, it seems Wheaton might be figuring things out. Time will tell!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2018, 08:43:49 PM
Quote from: duckfan41 on April 05, 2018, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2018, 11:53:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 11:03:53 AM
It's a team whose #1 and #2 pitchers are a freshman and a sophomore, and almost every one of the position-player regulars is either new to the team, hasn't played much before, or is playing a new position this season. It took time for NPU to gel.

The CCIW will be a fun race to watch this season if NPU can push itself into the mix. Looks to be a 5-6 teams race:

NCC
Carthage
IWU
Augie
NPU
Wheaton/Elmhurst

Does the CCIW move to a 6-team postseason this year or next year?

From the first pitch today, Wheaton took it to Illinois Wesleyan, topping the Titans 12-1 in 7 innings. The IWU starter came into this contest with a 1.50 era and got jumped for 11 runs (10 earned). After starting off with two terrible games against NCC, and overcoming a series of fielding errors topping Augie twice, it seems Wheaton might be figuring things out. Time will tell!

And IWU follows up that home humiliation by Wheaton by losing (again at home) to Millikin, 6-1.

Big Poppa, unless the Titans can right the ship really soon, you may want to drop them from your contenders list.  For at least the immediate future, I'm switching my attention to softball, where the Titans are 13-3, on an 11-game winning streak (6-0 in conference), and ranked 6th in the country! ;D

After the 'Miracle of 2010", I'll never throw in the towel completely until they are officially eliminated, but you can't have a miracle finish if you don't even make it to the post-season at all.  And right now the IWU baseball team does not look like a CCIW tourney team. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 08:57:21 PM
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpngimg.com%2Fuploads%2Fclock%2Fclock_PNG6614.png&hash=6255b732f2d608a7b462706db207c242caf07e29)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2018, 09:15:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 08:57:21 PM
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpngimg.com%2Fuploads%2Fclock%2Fclock_PNG6614.png&hash=6255b732f2d608a7b462706db207c242caf07e29)

Greg, it's a bit of a stretch to condemn me for mentioning 2010 to explain a cry of pain. ::)

In 2010 I never in my wildest dreams expected a title, but always had the feeling they were better than their record.  This year I'm just not getting the feeling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 09:51:12 PM
Stretch? I read it as a self-induced feel-good moment in the midst of a bad week for your team ... just like the Sheldonian mention of the IWU softball team that immediately preceded it.

I don't think that anybody begrudges you the right to look for a silver lining -- Lord knows I've done my share of silver-lining-hunting as an NPU fan -- but just how many times can somebody go to the well to dredge up that particular silver lining and then post it here?

I actually held off posting about it all of the times that you used the 2010 analogy over on the basketball boards this past month.

Look, I don't want to seem like I'm persecuting you. I'm not a bully by nature. But this 2010 stuff never stops, and it just doesn't seem like you see that, no matter how much we needle you about it. Please, Chuck ... can we just give 2010 a rest, already? Please?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: titanalum94 on April 05, 2018, 10:52:28 PM
The 2018 Titans have more than a handful of issues to work out, a massive one being that there are arguably only two dependable pitchers on the entire staff. Brune is a solid starter, but prone to an outing like he had against La Crosse (7 ER). Becker needs a longer look too I think, he went a very solid 4 1/3 against Elmhurst last week. All other starters have had more bad than good.

On the offensive end, Skopick (a Central Michigan transfer) has been the only player to hit in CCIW play, but he's presumably been out with an injury for the last three games forcing Nick Figus to transition from center to shortstop.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 06, 2018, 09:25:50 AM
Carthage tops Elmhurst 19-12 after falling behind 9-1 after 3.  Augie started Kyle Damon who only last 2 and a third.  After Elmhurst put up 8 in the second, Carthage responded with 7 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 7th, and 5 in the 8th.  Ian Maxeiner earned the win in relief.  Aside from the 2 out, 3 run blast he allowed in the 3rd, he allowed only 3 hits over the next 4 to keep the game within reach.  4-7 in the Carthage order went 13-20 with 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs.  Carthage moves to 3-0 in CCIW, Elmhurst falls to 3-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2018, 09:39:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 05, 2018, 08:43:49 PM
Quote from: duckfan41 on April 05, 2018, 06:44:13 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 05, 2018, 11:53:36 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 05, 2018, 11:03:53 AM
It's a team whose #1 and #2 pitchers are a freshman and a sophomore, and almost every one of the position-player regulars is either new to the team, hasn't played much before, or is playing a new position this season. It took time for NPU to gel.

The CCIW will be a fun race to watch this season if NPU can push itself into the mix. Looks to be a 5-6 teams race:

NCC
Carthage
IWU
Augie
NPU
Wheaton/Elmhurst

Does the CCIW move to a 6-team postseason this year or next year?

From the first pitch today, Wheaton took it to Illinois Wesleyan, topping the Titans 12-1 in 7 innings. The IWU starter came into this contest with a 1.50 era and got jumped for 11 runs (10 earned). After starting off with two terrible games against NCC, and overcoming a series of fielding errors topping Augie twice, it seems Wheaton might be figuring things out. Time will tell!

And IWU follows up that home humiliation by Wheaton by losing (again at home) to Millikin, 6-1.

Big Poppa, unless the Titans can right the ship really soon, you may want to drop them from your contenders list.  For at least the immediate future, I'm switching my attention to softball, where the Titans are 13-3, on an 11-game winning streak (6-0 in conference), and ranked 6th in the country! ;D

After the 'Miracle of 2010", I'll never throw in the towel completely until they are officially eliminated, but you can't have a miracle finish if you don't even make it to the post-season at all.  And right now the IWU baseball team does not look like a CCIW tourney team. :(

I think they'll get on track... they always do.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2018, 09:42:12 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 06, 2018, 09:25:50 AM
Carthage tops Elmhurst 19-12 after falling behind 9-1 after 3.  Augie started Kyle Damon who only last 2 and a third.  After Elmhurst put up 8 in the second, Carthage responded with 7 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 7th, and 5 in the 8th.  Ian Maxeiner earned the win in relief.  Aside from the 2 out, 3 run blast he allowed in the 3rd, he allowed only 3 hits over the next 4 to keep the game within reach.  4-7 in the Carthage order went 13-20 with 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs.  Carthage moves to 3-0 in CCIW, Elmhurst falls to 3-3.

It was an odd game to watch(video feed on-line) that felt like the "end of the bullpen" type of game based on pitching... but clearly, it was not. Baseball is a funny game. I had to go to a meeting down 9-1 and came back to see it 19-12 in 8th (edited).... I was shocked.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 06, 2018, 12:22:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 06, 2018, 09:42:12 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 06, 2018, 09:25:50 AM
Carthage tops Elmhurst 19-12 after falling behind 9-1 after 3.  Augie started Kyle Damon who only last 2 and a third.  After Elmhurst put up 8 in the second, Carthage responded with 7 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 7th, and 5 in the 8th.  Ian Maxeiner earned the win in relief.  Aside from the 2 out, 3 run blast he allowed in the 3rd, he allowed only 3 hits over the next 4 to keep the game within reach.  4-7 in the Carthage order went 13-20 with 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs.  Carthage moves to 3-0 in CCIW, Elmhurst falls to 3-3.

It was an odd game to watch that felt like the "end of the bullpen" type of game based on pitching... but clearly, it was not. Baseball is a funny game. I had to go to a meeting down 9-1 and came back to see it 19-12 in 18th.... I was shocked.

19-12 in the 18th?  Looks like your fingers slipped.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2018, 12:27:10 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on April 06, 2018, 12:22:22 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 06, 2018, 09:42:12 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 06, 2018, 09:25:50 AM
Carthage tops Elmhurst 19-12 after falling behind 9-1 after 3.  Augie started Kyle Damon who only last 2 and a third.  After Elmhurst put up 8 in the second, Carthage responded with 7 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 7th, and 5 in the 8th.  Ian Maxeiner earned the win in relief.  Aside from the 2 out, 3 run blast he allowed in the 3rd, he allowed only 3 hits over the next 4 to keep the game within reach.  4-7 in the Carthage order went 13-20 with 13 RBIs and scored 9 runs.  Carthage moves to 3-0 in CCIW, Elmhurst falls to 3-3.

It was an odd game to watch that felt like the "end of the bullpen" type of game based on pitching... but clearly, it was not. Baseball is a funny game. I had to go to a meeting down 9-1 and came back to see it 19-12 in 18th.... I was shocked.



19-12 in the 18th?  Looks like your fingers slipped.

Yes!!!! Sorry! That would have been a long meeting I was attending.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2018, 03:42:29 PM
One a cold day in Kenosha, Carthage manages only 6 hits, but knocks off Augustana 5-1 behind a complete game from Kevin Tibor who scattered 10 Viking hits over 9 innings. Tibor moves to 5-0 while Carthage is now 17-3 overall and 4-0 in CCIW play. Carthage and Augustana finish the three-game series with a pait from Kenosha tomorrow on what is hopefully a warmer day.

I'd assume Carthage to throw Nate Odahl (4-0) in game one. Game two could be anyone. They have yet to establish a consistent third starter.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 07, 2018, 05:13:04 PM
IWU drops another game to Wheaton today... what is up with the Titans?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2018, 11:21:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 07, 2018, 05:13:04 PM
IWU drops another game to Wheaton today... what is up with the Titans?

Yesterday I expressed great anxiety about the Titans and you pooh-poohed my concern with "I think they'll get on track ... they always do."  Hopefully you were prescient: they smashed Wheaton in the second game, 15-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2018, 02:09:17 AM
Quote from: titanalum94 on April 05, 2018, 10:52:28 PM
The 2018 Titans have more than a handful of issues to work out, a massive one being that there are arguably only two dependable pitchers on the entire staff. Brune is a solid starter, but prone to an outing like he had against La Crosse (7 ER). Becker needs a longer look too I think, he went a very solid 4 1/3 against Elmhurst last week. All other starters have had more bad than good.

On the offensive end, Skopick (a Central Michigan transfer) has been the only player to hit in CCIW play, but he's presumably been out with an injury for the last three games forcing Nick Figus to transition from center to shortstop.

I've been told that Brandon Skopick suffered a severe concussion, and that his return this season is questionable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2018, 02:15:56 AM
Carthage split a pair with Augie on Sunday afternoon, which means that NPU is now tied for second with the Red Men. We're only between a quarter and a third of the way through the conference schedule, but it's good to see the Vikings back in the thick of it after falling behind the pack right from the get-go over the past few seasons.

The problem is that North Central is very much living up to its billing as the defending champ and preseason favorite, as the Cards swept Carroll this weekend. They lead the CCIW in just about every statistical category, and, at 8-0, they have a nice cushion at the moment over NPU and Carthage at 5-1 apiece, with everybody else in the league already saddled with at least four losses and only Elmhurst (5-4) above .500.

NPU and Carthage square off in a doubleheader at Holmgren on Tuesday. Looking forward to calling those games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 09, 2018, 08:10:53 AM
While North Central is off to a great start, they have yet to play Carthage, North Park, Augustana or IWU... teams that still see as having a big say in the CCIW. Carthage vs NPU tomorrow is a huge series in terms of playoff positioning for the post-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 09, 2018, 08:27:04 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 09, 2018, 08:10:53 AM
While North Central is off to a great start, they have yet to play Carthage, North Park, Augustana or IWU... teams that still see as having a big say in the CCIW. Carthage vs NPU tomorrow is a huge series in terms of playoff positioning for the post-season.
It will be a good test for both teams.  Let's see if the weather cooperates.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 10, 2018, 10:33:18 AM
Forecast for today's doubleheader is for temps in the mid-40s, with a wind blowing out of the west at 9 mph.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2018, 10:44:51 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 10, 2018, 10:33:18 AM
Forecast for today's doubleheader is for temps in the mid-40s, with a wind blowing out of the west at 9 mph.

Standard CCIW weather. Enjoy the games... I'll be "watching" online.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2018, 03:22:09 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 09, 2018, 02:15:56 AM
Carthage split a pair with Augie on Sunday afternoon, which means that NPU is now tied for second with the Red Men. We're only between a quarter and a third of the way through the conference schedule, but it's good to see the Vikings back in the thick of it after falling behind the pack right from the get-go over the past few seasons.

The problem is that North Central is very much living up to its billing as the defending champ and preseason favorite, as the Cards swept Carroll this weekend. They lead the CCIW in just about every statistical category, and, at 8-0, they have a nice cushion at the moment over NPU and Carthage at 5-1 apiece, with everybody else in the league already saddled with at least four losses and only Elmhurst (5-4) above .500.

NPU and Carthage square off in a doubleheader at Holmgren on Tuesday. Looking forward to calling those games.

I love being able to watch the games online and get a play by play... I have some students following along as well in my classroom.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 04:27:00 PM
In Naperville, NCC led IWU 8-5 after four, but it has been all Titans ever since.  They got 1 in the 5th, SEVEN in the 6th, and 3 more in the 8th - it's 16-8 entering the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 10, 2018, 04:42:59 PM
NCC takes their first conference loss as they go down to IWU 16-9 in the first game of a doubleheader.
As Mr. Ypsi indicated, the difference was IWU's 7 run 6th inning. 44 degrees in beautiful downtown Naperville with a wind chill of 38!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 04:44:22 PM
The bottom of the ninth got a tad nerve-wracking, as the Titan pitcher lost all control: a walk, a single, and two more walks produced a run.  Fortunately the damage ended there.  IWU hands NCC their first conference loss, 16-9.  Fans of other teams, hold your noses and say "Thanks, Titans"!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 08:29:33 PM
The second game in Naperville was suspended due to darkness, with NCC up 8-4 after 6.  The Cards one-upped the Titans with an EIGHT run 4th inning, greatly abetted by THREE Titan errors.  (Is NCC the only school with no lights?)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 11:32:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 08:29:33 PM
The second game in Naperville was suspended due to darkness, with NCC up 8-4 after 6.  The Cards one-upped the Titans with an EIGHT run 4th inning, greatly abetted by THREE Titan errors. (Is NCC the only school with no lights?)

After posting this, I realized how dumb the question was.  Reversing it, does any conference school have lights? ;)  After all, even Wrigley Field only got lights a relatively few years ago!  Lights for a baseball field are expensive (especially to install, but also to operate), and are probably not particularly welcomed by the neighbors.  But, if the season has to begin so early, it would seem that games either have to start an extra hour or two earlier or lights need to be in place.  Rain-outs (and, alas, snow-outs) are an inevitable part of being in the north; "dark-outs" should probably not happen.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 10, 2018, 11:48:32 PM
Redmen take a pair from NPU today... move to 7-1 in CCIW and 20-4 overall. It's good to see Carthage back in the mix.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 11, 2018, 08:39:25 AM
CCIW race became a bit clearer as Carthage and North Central seem to have seized control of the top, but the middle has really bunched together. Gonna be fun to watch this play out.

North Central   8-1   12-7
Carthage           7-1   20-4
North Park           5-3   10-13
Augustana           4-4   16-7
Wheaton           4-4   13-10
Elmhurst           5-6   14-10
Ill Wesleyan   4-6   13-10
Carroll           2-8   12-10
Millikin           2-8   12-12
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 11, 2018, 09:53:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 11:32:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 08:29:33 PM
The second game in Naperville was suspended due to darkness, with NCC up 8-4 after 6.  The Cards one-upped the Titans with an EIGHT run 4th inning, greatly abetted by THREE Titan errors. (Is NCC the only school with no lights?)

After posting this, I realized how dumb the question was.  Reversing it, does any conference school have lights? ;)  After all, even Wrigley Field only got lights a relatively few years ago!  Lights for a baseball field are expensive (especially to install, but also to operate), and are probably not particularly welcomed by the neighbors.  But, if the season has to begin so early, it would seem that games either have to start an extra hour or two earlier or lights need to be in place.  Rain-outs (and, alas, snow-outs) are an inevitable part of being in the north; "dark-outs" should probably not happen.

Carthage has lights.  Seeing that NP is a football field, I assume they have lights as well.  Augie has to have lights as well given that they have hosted regionals more than once in the past decade.  Carroll plays at Frame park which has lights.  Wheaton's Pfund field has lights.  IWU's Horenberger Field has lights.  Elmhurst's Butterfield has lights.  Milikin's Sunnyside Park seems to have lights, but much like the IWU website for Horenberger, there aren't really good pictures of the field.

I think your original question was better.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 11, 2018, 10:12:49 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 11, 2018, 09:53:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 11:32:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 08:29:33 PM
The second game in Naperville was suspended due to darkness, with NCC up 8-4 after 6.  The Cards one-upped the Titans with an EIGHT run 4th inning, greatly abetted by THREE Titan errors. (Is NCC the only school with no lights?)

After posting this, I realized how dumb the question was.  Reversing it, does any conference school have lights? ;)  After all, even Wrigley Field only got lights a relatively few years ago!  Lights for a baseball field are expensive (especially to install, but also to operate), and are probably not particularly welcomed by the neighbors.  But, if the season has to begin so early, it would seem that games either have to start an extra hour or two earlier or lights need to be in place.  Rain-outs (and, alas, snow-outs) are an inevitable part of being in the north; "dark-outs" should probably not happen.

Carthage has lights.  Seeing that NP is a football field, I assume they have lights as well.  Augie has to have lights as well given that they have hosted regionals more than once in the past decade.  Carroll plays at Frame park which has lights.  Wheaton's Pfund field has lights.  IWU's Horenberger Field has lights.  Elmhurst's Butterfield has lights.  Milikin's Sunnyside Park seems to have lights, but much like the IWU website for Horenberger, there aren't really good pictures of the field.

I think your original question was better.
I believe North Central is the only field in the CCIW that does not have lights.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2018, 01:51:10 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 11, 2018, 09:53:30 AMSeeing that NP is a football field, I assume they have lights as well.

Actually, I think that NPU was the first CCIW school to have lights for baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2018, 02:31:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 10, 2018, 11:48:32 PM
Redmen take a pair from NPU today... move to 7-1 in CCIW and 20-4 overall. It's good to see Carthage back in the mix.

Too many errors yesterday by the Vikings. One opened up the door for Carthage to score the two unearned runs in the eighth that spelled the difference in the 5-3 opener, and another in the nightcap led to two unearned runs in the third that, again, proved to be the difference in the 11-9 outcome. Bad defense has proved to be North Park's undoing in several close losses this season, while the Red Men's defense helped their own cause rather than hurt it. The other problem yesterday was hit placement and slugging percentage. The Vikings outhit the Red Men in both games, but too many NPU hits were of the singles variety, while Carthage had a field day in finding the gap in left center, where the park is cavernous and the ball travels all day before it gets to the wall. Although each team ended the day with three homers, Carthage had five doubles and four triples, while North Park only had one apiece.

Far more bothersome than the two losses was the injury incurred by CF Joe Koutnik, who hit his first career homer yesterday in the nightcap before he had to leave the game because of his throwing arm, which he apparently hurt after jamming it while sliding into third base on a steal attempt. NPU has already lost the services of its returning starting CF and table-setter, Jared Cantu, for the season to a knee injury. If the Vikings have to go without Koutnik for any extended period of time, it's gonna hurt. There aren't an unlimited number of centerfielders sitting on the North Park bench.

There was all kinds of weirdness yesterday. The Carthage starting pitcher in the nightcap got called for three balks in the first inning, leading to Carthage head coach Augie Schmidt IV getting tossed out of the ballpark by the home-plate blue, and the reliever who succeeded him got called for three balks as well -- evenly split between the two of them between not pausing in the windup and going to the mouth while on the mound. A Carthage batter got called out for interfering with NPU catcher Cam Adams while Adams was trying to throw out a baserunner, and the Vikings were awarded an extra base when Carthage shortstop Myles Farley was called for obstructing a baserunner by applying a fake tag to the runner sliding back into second after a pickoff throw had sailed past Farley into centerfield -- the first time that I've ever seen that called. And we also almost saw a "Channel Ball" for the first time in several seasons, as NPU first baseman Cullen Gilbertson's home run just missed exiting the stadium entirely and sailing into the North Shore Channel behind the outfield stands.

Carthage outfielder Colton Klein is a circus freak; the guy made more great plays in one doubleheader than I've ever seen before from a CCIW outfielder.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 11, 2018, 05:06:24 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 11, 2018, 10:12:49 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 11, 2018, 09:53:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 11:32:28 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2018, 08:29:33 PM
The second game in Naperville was suspended due to darkness, with NCC up 8-4 after 6.  The Cards one-upped the Titans with an EIGHT run 4th inning, greatly abetted by THREE Titan errors. (Is NCC the only school with no lights?)

After posting this, I realized how dumb the question was.  Reversing it, does any conference school have lights? ;)  After all, even Wrigley Field only got lights a relatively few years ago!  Lights for a baseball field are expensive (especially to install, but also to operate), and are probably not particularly welcomed by the neighbors.  But, if the season has to begin so early, it would seem that games either have to start an extra hour or two earlier or lights need to be in place.  Rain-outs (and, alas, snow-outs) are an inevitable part of being in the north; "dark-outs" should probably not happen.

Carthage has lights.  Seeing that NP is a football field, I assume they have lights as well.  Augie has to have lights as well given that they have hosted regionals more than once in the past decade.  Carroll plays at Frame park which has lights.  Wheaton's Pfund field has lights.  IWU's Horenberger Field has lights.  Elmhurst's Butterfield has lights.  Milikin's Sunnyside Park seems to have lights, but much like the IWU website for Horenberger, there aren't really good pictures of the field.

I think your original question was better.
I believe North Central is the only field in the CCIW that does not have lights.

The status of which is not likely to change anytime soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2018, 10:33:33 PM
AndOne, is that due solely to objections by neighbors, or something else in addition?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 12, 2018, 09:22:13 AM
A blast from the past.... one of my current players found this document with the 1996 NCAA leaders.. a nice little trip through memory lane if you have some time. I remember facing many of those top players.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Baseball%20Archived%20Stats/1996/1996%20Baseball%20Div%20III.pdf (http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/Baseball%20Archived%20Stats/1996/1996%20Baseball%20Div%20III.pdf)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 12, 2018, 11:15:19 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 11, 2018, 01:51:10 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 11, 2018, 09:53:30 AMSeeing that NP is a football field, I assume they have lights as well.

Actually, I think that NPU was the first CCIW school to have lights for baseball.

As I typed this, I remembered you commenting about the lights starting to come on during the broadcast on Tuesday...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2018, 01:29:00 PM
The lights-are-coming-on comment is one of my standards.  ;) I used it yesterday during the Carthage @ North Park softball doubleheader as well.

There's an awful lot of time to fill during baseball and softball broadcasts. It's the exact opposite of volleyball, where there is never enough time to get everything in and my tongue hurts by the end of the match. :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2018, 03:37:04 PM
IWU mercies Carroll, 19-4, in seven innings.  Game two should begin shortly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2018, 05:16:37 PM
WOW - How bad is Carroll? :o  After two innings of the second game, the Titans are up 15-3!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2018, 05:39:12 PM
I can't recall - what is the minimum number of innings before the 'mercy' rule is invoked?  After three, it is 18-3 - this is starting to get downright sad.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 13, 2018, 07:21:15 PM
Both teams had pretty much emptied their benches by the fourth or fifth.  Final was 19-6 in seven innings (answering my own earlier question, the 'mercy' rule is invoked once the team behind has batted in seven innings).  IWU has now gotten back to 6-6 in conference play - the tourney now seem less unlikely than a week ago.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2018, 10:59:57 AM
The CCIW is shaping up to be a great race for the 3-4 slots in the tourney. It appears that, barring a collapse, NCC and Carthage should be tourney locks. Other than Carroll, the rest seems to be in contention for the remaining two bids.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2018, 03:20:37 PM
Carthage   8-1   0.889   21-4   0.840   W4
North Central   8-1   0.889   13-7   0.650   W1
Augustana   5-4   0.556   17-7   0.708   W3
North Park   5-4   0.556   10-14   0.417   L3
Illinois Wesleyan   6-6   0.500   15-10   0.600   W4
Elmhurst   5-7   0.417   14-11   0.560   L4
Wheaton   4-6   0.400   13-12   0.520   L3
Millikin   4-8   0.333   14-12   0.538   W2
Carroll   2-10   0.167   13-12   0.520   L2
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2018, 08:49:29 PM
Carthage 5
Wheaton 3

Redmen move to 9-1 in CCIW and 22-4 overall.
Carthage is making a nice run this season with a very young team. Bodes well for their future.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2018, 09:36:07 PM
After mercying Carroll twice last weekend (19-4, 19-6), today's game was kinda scary: IWU needed a run in the bottom of the 8th to eke out a 5-4 win.  Ah, well, a win is a win!  IWU moves to 7-6 in conference play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 17, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2018, 09:36:07 PM
After mercying Carroll twice last weekend (19-4, 19-6), today's game was kinda scary: IWU needed a run in the bottom of the 8th to eke out a 5-4 win.  Ah, well, a win is a win!  IWU moves to 7-6 in conference play.

I told you the Titans would get it together. Carthage still has to fave BOTH IWU and North Central... could be an interesting finish on the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 17, 2018, 11:23:35 PM
North Central was a "winning ugly" 15-9 victor over Augie today.
The two teams combined 10 errors, 15 walks, and 21 (12 by Augie) runners left on base.
Both teams used 5 pitchers.
Augie got off to a quick start, scoring 3 times in the first inning. NCC matched that in the bottom of the initial frame. The Cardinals took a 9-6 lead into the top of the 8th, but Augie tied it, plating the tying run on an errant pickoff attempt. North Central then put it away with 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th, aided by 2 AC errors.

For NCC—Joe Rizzo, 4 for 5 with 3 RBI.  Mike Wisz, 3 for 5, 2 runs, and 2 RBI, *Michael Mateja, 3 for 6, 3 runs scored.
For Augie—Ryan Kairis, 4 for 6. John Moraski, 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.

NCC moves to 9-1 in conference, tied with Carthage for the top spot.

* Michael Mateja has now reached base in 64 straight games.



Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2018, 11:45:49 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 17, 2018, 10:40:31 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 17, 2018, 09:36:07 PM
After mercying Carroll twice last weekend (19-4, 19-6), today's game was kinda scary: IWU needed a run in the bottom of the 8th to eke out a 5-4 win.  Ah, well, a win is a win!  IWU moves to 7-6 in conference play.

I told you the Titans would get it together. Carthage still has to fave BOTH IWU and North Central... could be an interesting finish on the CCIW.

Obviously, I hope you are correct, but I'm not gonna count sweeping poor Carroll as necessarily "getting it together"!  The Titans last six conference games are 2 against #3 NPU and 1 against T#1 NCC (all in B'town), and 3 AT T#1 Carthage - if we win 4 or 5 of those, then we "got it together"! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2018, 09:36:53 PM
IWU wins their sixth in a row, but it was a struggle against a weak team: in ten innings, IWU 7, Millikin 6.  Titans are now in third place at 8-6. 

I forgot that their remaining games also include concluding the game that was suspended by darkness in Naperviille.  I'm guessing that the last 3 innings will end up being played in B'town when NCC visits on May 1, but I haven't found confirmation one way or the other.  The continuation is scheduled for May 1, and they surely would not have the teams travel almost 100 miles up the road to complete a couple of innings! :o  The game was suspended with NCC up 8-4 after six.  Since May 1 is a Tuesday, playing the final 3 innings in Naperville BEFORE the scheduled game in B'town would kill a whole day of classes for Titan players; and playing it AFTER the scheduled game would be impossible in Naperville for the same reason it was suspended in the first place.  I guess I've just convinced myself the completion of the game will be in B'town (unless the CCIW commissioner is psychotic :o).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 19, 2018, 09:57:04 PM
Redmen scores 3 in bottom of 9th to walk-off Carroll 6-5.

Sometimes a win is ugly, but it's still a win! Redmen move to 10-1 in CCIW and 23-4 overall. Huge series with North Central this weekend. Both are 10-1 and this should help determine seeding in conference tourney.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 19, 2018, 11:26:48 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 19, 2018, 09:57:04 PM
Redmen scores 3 in bottom of 9th to walk-off Carroll 6-5.

Sometimes a win is ugly, but it's still a win! Redmen move to 10-1 in CCIW and 23-4 overall. Huge series with North Central this weekend. Both are 10-1 and this should help determine seeding in conference tourney.

Carthage almost crapped the bed here...hopefully this was a wake-up call to not take anyone lightly the rest of the way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2018, 03:31:53 PM
Game one final from Carthage:

North Central 1
Carthage 0

It's easy to see why Klemm(NCC) and Tibor(Carthage) win games... both just pound the strike zone... by the time you figured out who is hitting, it was a 0-2 or 1-2 count.

Great game to watch via live video. Both teams are very good and I'd be surprised if they don't meet in the post-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 21, 2018, 03:34:53 PM
North Central with a 1-0 win @Carthage in the first of 2 games. NCC's Charlie Klemm with an excellent complete game, 4 hit shutout. ⚾️
Not often do you pitch as well as CC's Tibor and get tagged with a loss.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 21, 2018, 03:49:13 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 21, 2018, 03:34:53 PM
North Central with a 1-0 win @Carthage in the first of 2 games. NCC's Charlie Klemm with an excellent complete game, 4 hit shutout. ⚾️
Not often do you pitch as well as CC's Tibor and get tagged with a loss.

Tibor was certainly a tough-luck loser as he went 9ip, 6h, 0bb... gave up an run in the first and nothing after. He and Klemm would both great today... both from what I could see online and from reports I was getting from the field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 05:17:45 PM
IWU downs Augie, 4-1, in the first of two.  Second game just getting underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 07:22:40 PM
A probable split in B'town, as Augie gets 3 in the 4th and 4 more in the 6th.  They are up 7-0 going to the bottom of the 6th.

In the semi-related sport of softball, IWU suffered their first conference defeat today to Carroll, 4-0.  The Titan ladies apparently took offense, as they won the second of two by mercying Carroll, 10-0, in 5 innings.  Tomorrow will be huge for the CCIW title, as IWU plays two in Naperville  (7-1 conference; 22-3 overall).  IWU is now 9-1; Carroll is 6-2.

[Apologies for softball on the baseball board, but the softball board is semi-comatose, and has no separate CCIW sub-board.]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 21, 2018, 07:44:01 PM
North Park swept Wheaton today at Pfund Stadium, 3-2 and 11-1 (7 innings). Combined with last night's 4-3 Vikings win at Holmgren, this means a season series sweep for North Park, and, hopefully, the reversal of a bad stretch that saw the Vikings dip down into a fourth-place tie coming into the weekend.

NPU pitching was excellent in this series, as the Vikings held Wheaton to six runs and a .223/.277/.270 slash line over the three games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 09:40:11 PM
The Titans gave it a go, but the "old college try" wasn't quite enough.   Down 7-0 in the bottom of the ninth, they fall short 7-5.  Disappointed in the result, but impressed as all get out by the effort! ;)

Two weeks ago, I had all but given up on them, but I'm starting to like the feistiness of this team.  I will now be shocked if they do NOT make the conference tourney.

Big Poppa, thanks for pulling me back off the edge! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 22, 2018, 09:34:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 09:40:11 PM
The Titans gave it a go, but the "old college try" wasn't quite enough.   Down 7-0 in the bottom of the ninth, they fall short 7-5.  Disappointed in the result, but impressed as all get out by the effort! ;)

Two weeks ago, I had all but given up on them, but I'm starting to like the feistiness of this team.  I will now be shocked if they do NOT make the conference tourney.

Big Poppa, thanks for pulling me back off the edge! ;D

The LAST thing I wanted to do was give a Green Weenie some hope, but alas... I am a realist.

Carthage and NCC split yesterday makes today a likely #1 seed to the winner type of game. (Would give a one game lead with tie-breaker advantage). Both teams now 11-2 with NPU lurking at 8-5 in third slot.... with IWU and Augustana having 7 losses each....

Gonna be a fun finish to watch. Carthage vs IWU in two weekends will be a big series for both team. Carthage needs it to stay in the Pool C race, while IWU needs it to stay in the CCIW race. NCC has the tougher schedule from here on out as they still have to face IWU twice, Augie for three and NPU for three.

IWU
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 22, 2018, 04:51:51 PM
NCC takes over the league lead with a 9-2 shellacking of Carthage.
Austin Polezoes all the way for the complete game victory.
Ryan Scott and Colin Weilbacher each with 3 hits. Rob Marinec with 3 RBIs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 22, 2018, 04:52:52 PM
North Central erupts for five runs in the first inning and wins the rubber game against Carthage going away, 9-2.

Similarly, Augustana jumped on Illinois Wesleyan with a six-run third and wins the rubber game of that series by a 7-4 score, in the priocess moving percentage points ahead of Illinois Wesleyan for fourth place.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 22, 2018, 05:12:40 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 22, 2018, 09:34:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 09:40:11 PM
The Titans gave it a go, but the "old college try" wasn't quite enough.   Down 7-0 in the bottom of the ninth, they fall short 7-5.  Disappointed in the result, but impressed as all get out by the effort! ;)

Two weeks ago, I had all but given up on them, but I'm starting to like the feistiness of this team.  I will now be shocked if they do NOT make the conference tourney.

Big Poppa, thanks for pulling me back off the edge! ;D

The LAST thing I wanted to do was give a Green Weenie some hope, but alas... I am a realist.

Carthage and NCC split yesterday makes today a likely #1 seed to the winner type of game. (Would give a one game lead with tie-breaker advantage). Both teams now 11-2 with NPU lurking at 8-5 in third slot.... with IWU and Augustana having 7 losses each....

Gonna be a fun finish to watch. Carthage vs IWU in two weekends will be a big series for both team. Carthage needs it to stay in the Pool C race, while IWU needs it to stay in the CCIW race. NCC has the tougher schedule from here on out as they still have to face IWU twice, Augie for three and NPU for three.


Actually, NCC only has to face IWU about 1.3 times, not twice.
The Green Team won the first game of a doubleheader at NCC on April 20. The 2nd game was suspended after six innings due to darkness with NCC leading 8-4. The remainder of the game will be played at IWU on May 1 before the originally scheduled series finale.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 22, 2018, 10:21:21 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 22, 2018, 05:12:40 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 22, 2018, 09:34:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 21, 2018, 09:40:11 PM
The Titans gave it a go, but the "old college try" wasn't quite enough.   Down 7-0 in the bottom of the ninth, they fall short 7-5.  Disappointed in the result, but impressed as all get out by the effort! ;)

Two weeks ago, I had all but given up on them, but I'm starting to like the feistiness of this team.  I will now be shocked if they do NOT make the conference tourney.

Big Poppa, thanks for pulling me back off the edge! ;D

The LAST thing I wanted to do was give a Green Weenie some hope, but alas... I am a realist.

Carthage and NCC split yesterday makes today a likely #1 seed to the winner type of game. (Would give a one game lead with tie-breaker advantage). Both teams now 11-2 with NPU lurking at 8-5 in third slot.... with IWU and Augustana having 7 losses each....

Gonna be a fun finish to watch. Carthage vs IWU in two weekends will be a big series for both team. Carthage needs it to stay in the Pool C race, while IWU needs it to stay in the CCIW race. NCC has the tougher schedule from here on out as they still have to face IWU twice, Augie for three and NPU for three.


Actually, NCC only has to face IWU about 1.3 times, not twice.
The Green Team won the first game of a doubleheader at NCC on April 20. The 2nd game was suspended after six innings due to darkness with NCC leading 8-4. The remainder of the game will be played at IWU on May 1 before the originally scheduled series finale.

Yeah, I'm officially back to very nervous. :(  The Titans have no more games against weak teams - just 2 against NPU, 1.3 against NCC (with a 4-run 'spot' to the Cards in the .3 game), and finishing with 3 games in Kenosha.  A bit of an uphill battle to make the conference tourney.

On a more positive note, the Titan softball team swept a DH at (then) second-place NCC.  They are in GREAT shape to win the regular-season title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 23, 2018, 12:29:49 AM
Ypsi,

You are going to have to put the dunce cap on, and go sit in the corner for the next hour. 🃏
You posted about the SOFTBALL wins on the SOFTBALL board, and once in it's proper place would have been quite enough! 🤦‍♂️ 🤢 😏
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2018, 12:55:06 AM
Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera. :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 23, 2018, 08:09:27 AM
Carthage's 5 errors (3 in 1st inning) did not help in any way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 23, 2018, 10:43:27 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 23, 2018, 08:09:27 AM
Carthage's 5 errors (3 in 1st inning) did not help in any way.

Neither did their lack of hitting or lack of patience.  In game one, they recorded at least 5 first pitch outs against Klemm who pitched a heck of a game.  (Lock for CCIW pitcher of the week)

NCC can flat out hit.  They lead the conference in BA (.335), Slugging % (.477) and OBP (.433).  They constantly put pitchers in pressure positions.  It seemed like they always had guys on base over the weekend. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2018, 11:21:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2018, 12:55:06 AM
Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera. :D

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 24, 2018, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2018, 11:21:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2018, 12:55:06 AM
Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera. :D

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it. ;)

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 24, 2018, 10:54:53 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on April 24, 2018, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2018, 11:21:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2018, 12:55:06 AM
Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera. :D

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it. ;)

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.


Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2018, 11:24:26 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on April 24, 2018, 10:49:53 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 23, 2018, 11:21:15 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2018, 12:55:06 AM
Shhh, Mark. He's one step away from posting about opera. :D

Nah, only the other Mark posts about opera.  I'm very proud of the music and drama departments at IWU, but opera is outside my expertise.  IWU softball DID 75% take down UWW today, but I guess you guys don't want to hear about it. ;)

I thought they were doing an opera about the IWU national championship. For them it was never over til the fat lady sang.

(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reactiongifs.com%2Fr%2Fd8DEOtY.gif&hash=4ff977227288fa1bb1269936b2466606d1c1792f)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2018, 08:57:39 PM
Always fun to take on Illinois State, one mile up the road.  In 1970 they declared they would no longer play against IWU since they were D2 and moving to D1 and we wouldn't be competitive.  So we beat them that year in basketball in (so far at least) the last bball game ever between them.  But we still tangle in some sports, and poor "uncompetitive" IWU comes out on top more often than not.  Today it is baseball - they scored one in the top of the first, have not scored since.  We got six in the 4th (Nick Figus's 3-run homer was the big blow), and so far 4 in the 5th (two men on and STILL no outs!).  I may find out if they play "mercy rule"!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2018, 10:21:29 PM
Right after I made the above post, IWU hit into a DP, killing the inning.  But the 10-run outburst apparently took the competitive fire out of both teams, as the Titans coasted to a 10-4 win.

I don't know if anyone tracks D1 vs. D3 in baseball, but at least for today it was D3 1, D1 0. ;D

Some BIG conference games tomorrow, as NPU plays two in Bloomington, NCC plays two at Augie, and Carthage plays two at Elmhurst.  By the end of the afternoon, things will be either more clarified or more hopelessly muddled! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: titanalum94 on April 25, 2018, 02:24:30 AM
For what it's worth, ISU did not pitch any of their "best" arms during the game, mostly using freshman with very little game experience.

Credit to Titan pitcher Jim O'Brien though, who looked the best he or really any other IWU pitcher has all season, against what appeared to be the usual ISU starters.

Also an IWU injury update, John Bosco took a foul ball to the head while in the dugout during game two against Augie on Saturday. Brandon Skopick also seems to be injured again as he hasn't played in the last five games. Those are two of the best three hitters on the team this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 25, 2018, 10:37:14 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2018, 10:54:53 AM
Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.

I still think that Coach Schmidt is the best interview
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2018, 10:46:57 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on April 25, 2018, 10:37:14 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 24, 2018, 10:54:53 AM
Still too soon for me, Jim... still.too.soon.

I still think that Coach Schmidt is the best interview

And I don't think it's even close. Guy is hilarious and 100% honest. You never have to worry about what he is thinking because he wears it all on his sleeve.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2018, 04:08:29 PM
IWU and NPU headed for extra innings in B'town, tied at 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2018, 04:49:44 PM
Pitching depth is apparently not a strong point for IWU. :(  NPU got a run in the top of the 10th before they got a hit!  3 walks and a wild pitch produced run #1; a single then brought in two more.  The Titans used FOUR pitchers in the top of the tenth. :o  East Vikings win in ten, 6-3.

The Titans drop to 9-9, and are definitely on life-support for the conference tourney.

Game two of NPU @ IWU starts soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 07:51:03 PM
Game two of NPU @ IWU is going into the tenth tied at 5-5.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:04:06 PM
The Vikings win in ten, 6-5, sweeping the doubleheader and the season series. Andy Robbins picked up saves in both games.

North Park improves to 10-6, while the Titans drop to 9-10.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2018, 08:05:02 PM
And, again, NPU wins in the tenth: 6-5.

Titans would need some miracles to make the post-season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:09:43 PM
Meanwhile, somewhere near the banks of the Big Muddy, North Central marches on towards a repeat as CCIW champion. The Cards disposed of Augie in their doubleheader by 3-1 and 10-4 scores.

At Butterfield Park, Elmhurst came from behind to dispatch Carthage, 7-6, in Game One. The Red Men and the Blue Jays are headed into the tenth in Game Two tied at 1-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 25, 2018, 08:10:36 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:04:06 PM
The Vikings win in ten, 6-5, sweeping the doubleheader and the season series. Andy Robbins picked up saves in both games, while IWU' reliever Eric Bennes was the loser in both.

North Park improves to 10-6, while the Titans drop to 9-10.
This marks the first time since 1983 that the Vikings have swept a season series from the Titans, when the Vikings took two at home.  This year's Vikings took game one at home on a walk-off single by Dean Emanuele in the bottom of the ninth. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:12:31 PM
That amazes me, because there's been a lot of good Vikings teams since 1983, including several CCIW championship teams.

Anyway, I'm glad to see my boys doing well, as two of my cameramen were difference-makers today. As I mentioned, Andy Robbins picked up saves in both ends of the doubleheader, while Cam Adams singled to lead off the tenth and scored the winning run in the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 25, 2018, 08:14:54 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:12:31 PM
That amazes me, because there's been a lot of good Vikings teams since 1983, including several CCIW championship teams.
I went page by page through the archived results, and every year the Titans managed to win one.  North Park did win three games against IWU in 2012, but two of them were in the conference tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:27:03 PM
Jordan Scrimpsher singled home Reagan McReynolds with the winning run with two out in the bottom of the tenth to give Elmhurst the 2-1 win and the doubleheader sweep over Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:51:41 PM
The standings with regard to the playoff contenders now looks like this:


North Central   14-2   vs EC (2), @ EC, @ IWU (2), vs NPU, @ NPU (2)
Carthage   11-5   @ MU (3), vs NPU, vs IWU (3)
North Park   10-6   @ AC (2), vs AC, @ CC, @ NCC (2), vs NCC, vs MU
Elmhurst     9-8   @ NCC (2), vs NCC, @ CU, @ WC, vs WC (2)
Illinois Wesleyan     9-10   vs NCC (2), @ CC (3)
Augustana     8-9   vs NPU (2), @ NPU, @ MU, vs CU (3)

Looks like Carthage still has a game at Wheaton that has yet to be rescheduled.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 09:04:55 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2018, 08:05:02 PM
Titans would need some miracles to make the post-season.

I think you're overstating it a bit, Chuck. As you can see by the standings, the Titans are only a game out of fourth place, although that's really a two-game lead when you consider that Elmhurst owns the tiebreaker over IWU. The good news for your alma mater's team is that it can earn some tiebreaker magic of its own by beating North Central and Carthage to close out the regular season. The Titans are not a great bet right now, but I don't think that they're in "need some miracles" territory just yet.

The team to watch at the moment is Elmhurst. Over the past week the Bluejays have gone 4-0 in CCIW play, with wins over Augie, North Park, and today's pair over Carthage. Joel Southern's been getting some great pitching and some timely hitting out of his kids. That series this weekend between the two sets of west suburban songbirds should be very interesting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 25, 2018, 09:26:49 PM
Yeah, I was perhaps overreacting - getting swept in a DH AT HOME can do that to a guy! ::)

And don't forget that the "2" games against NCC include finishing a game suspended after 6 where NCC has a 4 run lead.  Realistically, we're gonna have to put a big hurt on Big Poppa's alma mater to make it in.  And since that series is in Kenosha ....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 25, 2018, 09:39:40 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 25, 2018, 08:51:41 PM
The standings with regard to the playoff contenders now looks like this:


North Central   14-2   vs EC (2), @ EC, @ IWU (2), vs NPU, @ NPU (2)
Carthage   11-5   @ MU (3), vs NPU, vs IWU (3)
North Park   10-6   @ AC (2), vs AC, @ CC, @ NCC (2), vs NCC , @ NCC, vs NCC (2) , vs MU
Elmhurst     9-8   @ NCC (2), vs NCC, @ CU, @ WC, vs WC (2)
Illinois Wesleyan     9-10   vs NCC (2), @ CC (3)
Augustana     8-9   vs NPU (2), @ NPU, @ MU, vs CU (3)

Looks like Carthage still has a game at Wheaton that has yet to be rescheduled.

Greg,

I believe the first of the 3 games between NPU and NCC is @ NCC on Fri followed by 2 in Chicago on Sat rather than 2 @ NCC followed by a single finale @ NPU. You had it right on the top (NCC) line. ⚾️  :D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 25, 2018, 09:58:39 PM
NPU and Carthage are now in a battle for the 2-3 seeds... NCC has the 1-seed all but locked up. And the Titans are on life support.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 28, 2018, 07:18:56 PM
North Central moves to 16-2 in conference with a pair of wins over Elmhurst by scores of 8-2, and 12-1.
Austin Polezoes went the first 7 innings of the opener to gain the win, and up his record to 3-0.
In the 7 inning nitecap, Charlie Klemm moved to 5-1 after pitching the first 5 innings.
NCC's Mike Wisz somehow found a way to drive in 3 runs in the first game, and 5 more in the second ;). With 8 RBIs on the day, he now has 50 for the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2018, 03:51:51 PM
Redmen sweep Millikin and close in on the 2-seed.

Heck of a race between 4 team for the 3-4 seeds!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 30, 2018, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

IWU has been an enigma all season. If they want to get into the post-season as the #4 seed (so we can hear ALL about that 2010 team... again and again) they need to step up right now and have a daunting task vs two of the region's best teams. I think the Titans are in trouble.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 30, 2018, 04:46:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2018, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

IWU has been an enigma all season. If they want to get into the post-season as the #4 seed (so we can hear ALL about that 2010 team... again and again) they need to step up right now and have a daunting task vs two of the region's best teams. I think the Titans are in trouble.
Hey Big Poppa, if IWU does not make the playoffs this year, you can rag on them all season that they were not as good as that 2010 team...just did not have the right stuff.   ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 30, 2018, 05:07:17 PM
Don't forget that the first of two NCC @ IWU games tomorrow is already 2/3s over. It is the continuation of a previous game in Naperville which was suspended due to darkness with NCC holding an 8-4 lead after 6 innings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2018, 11:03:18 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 30, 2018, 04:46:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2018, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

IWU has been an enigma all season. If they want to get into the post-season as the #4 seed (so we can hear ALL about that 2010 team... again and again) they need to step up right now and have a daunting task vs two of the region's best teams. I think the Titans are in trouble.
Hey Big Poppa, if IWU does not make the playoffs this year, you can rag on them all season that they were not as good as that 2010 team...just did not have the right stuff.   ;)

Now, now, Ralph - behave yourself!  This IWU team has underperformed  by many expectations (especially mine :(), but to denigrate them because they were not 2010 is unfair.  After all, the 2010 team was  ...
   
                    THE GREATEST 'MIRACLE' TEAM OF ALL TIME; ANY SPORT, ANY LEVEL!!!

Did the "Miracle Mets" of 1969 have a losing record one week before the post-season?  No.

Did the "Miracle on Ice"  hockey team in 1980 bludgeon the "unbeatable" Soviets 17-5?  No

Did the "Murderers Row" Yankees of 1927 have anyone have a stat line of 5-4-5-3 like Jeff Grodecki did?  No.

Would the 17-0 Miami Dolphins have gotten a hit off Jason Pankau?  Regular season, maybe (he didn't make AA that year).  Final game, no way (Cortland was destroying every pitcher in the WS; Jason virtually shut them out).


[I hope everyone sees this as tongue-in-cheek.  I've been eviscerated by Greg and others for reminiscing about 2010.  Now that Big Poppa and Ralph have "piled on", I thought it was time for a satirical response. ;)]
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 01, 2018, 10:57:14 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2018, 11:03:18 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 30, 2018, 04:46:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2018, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

IWU has been an enigma all season. If they want to get into the post-season as the #4 seed (so we can hear ALL about that 2010 team... again and again) they need to step up right now and have a daunting task vs two of the region's best teams. I think the Titans are in trouble.
Hey Big Poppa, if IWU does not make the playoffs this year, you can rag on them all season that they were not as good as that 2010 team...just did not have the right stuff.   ;)

Now, now, Ralph - behave yourself!  This IWU team has underperformed  by many expectations (especially mine :(), but to denigrate them because they were not 2010 is unfair.  After all, the 2010 team was  ...
   
                    THE GREATEST 'MIRACLE' TEAM OF ALL TIME; ANY SPORT, ANY LEVEL!!!

Did the "Miracle Mets" of 1969 have a losing record one week before the post-season?  No.

Did the "Miracle on Ice"  hockey team in 1980 bludgeon the "unbeatable" Soviets 17-5?  No

Did the "Murderers Row" Yankees of 1927 have anyone have a stat line of 5-4-5-3 like Jeff Grodecki did?  No.

Would the 17-0 Miami Dolphins have gotten a hit off Jason Pankau?  Regular season, maybe (he didn't make AA that year).  Final game, no way (Cortland was destroying every pitcher in the WS; Jason virtually shut them out).


[I hope everyone sees this as tongue-in-cheek.  I've been eviscerated by Greg and others for reminiscing about 2010.  Now that Big Poppa and Ralph have "piled on", I thought it was time for a satirical response. ;)]

At least it's not women's softball...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 01, 2018, 03:37:26 PM
ROTFL!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2018, 04:05:41 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 30, 2018, 11:03:18 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 30, 2018, 04:46:53 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 30, 2018, 01:31:04 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 30, 2018, 01:04:35 PM
One week to go:

NCC has a 3.5 game lead and needs two wins this week to lock up the conference championship.  2 @IWU, 2@NPU, 1 NPU
Carthage sits in second with a 4.5 game lead over Augie and NPU.  Need 1 win to clinch second seed.  All 5 games at home.  Wheaton, NPU, 3 IWU
Augie currently in 3rd with a .5 game lead over NPU by virtue of season series.  Augie has easiest remaining schedule with 4 remaining.  @Millikin, 3 Carroll
NPU sits in 4th with a 1.5 game lead with 5 games remaining.  1 @CC, 1@NCC, 2 NCC, and 1 @Millikin -- tough week but not as tough as IWU's.
IWU sits a game and half back of NPU with 5 to play.  2 at home vs NCC, 3 @CC.
Elmhurst is a 1.5 games behind NPU and .5 games behind IWU.  1 @Carroll, 1 @Wheaton, 2 Wheaton

Carroll is mathematically still alive but they don't hold tie breaks over anyone except Elmhurst so I don't see a scenario where they get into the tournament.
Millikin and Wheaton are both eliminated from CCIW tourney action in 2018.

IWU has been an enigma all season. If they want to get into the post-season as the #4 seed (so we can hear ALL about that 2010 team... again and again) they need to step up right now and have a daunting task vs two of the region's best teams. I think the Titans are in trouble.
Hey Big Poppa, if IWU does not make the playoffs this year, you can rag on them all season that they were not as good as that 2010 team...just did not have the right stuff.   ;)

Now, now, Ralph - behave yourself!  This IWU team has underperformed  by many expectations (especially mine :(), but to denigrate them because they were not 2010 is unfair.  After all, the 2010 team was  ...
   
                    THE GREATEST 'MIRACLE' TEAM OF ALL TIME; ANY SPORT, ANY LEVEL!!!

Did the "Miracle Mets" of 1969 have a losing record one week before the post-season?  No.

Did the "Miracle on Ice"  hockey team in 1980 bludgeon the "unbeatable" Soviets 17-5?  No

Did the "Murderers Row" Yankees of 1927 have anyone have a stat line of 5-4-5-3 like Jeff Grodecki did?  No.

Would the 17-0 Miami Dolphins have gotten a hit off Jason Pankau?  Regular season, maybe (he didn't make AA that year).  Final game, no way (Cortland was destroying every pitcher in the WS; Jason virtually shut them out).


[I hope everyone sees this as tongue-in-cheek.  I've been eviscerated by Greg and others for reminiscing about 2010.  Now that Big Poppa and Ralph have "piled on", I thought it was time for a satirical response. ;)]

Oh, I don't blame you at all for this, Chuck. I put the blame right where it belongs, at the feet of BP and Ralph. They should know darned well by now that you can't help yourself.  ;)

(And, to be honest, I got a laugh out of the '72 Dolphins reference.)

Quote from: mwunder on May 01, 2018, 10:57:14 AM
At least it's not women's softball...

(https://www.viralviralvideos.com/wp-content/uploads/GIF/2014/08/GIF-Amused-Chuckle-Chuffed-Pleased-Point-Point-and-laugh-GIF.gif)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 01, 2018, 07:09:46 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 30, 2018, 05:07:17 PM
Don't forget that the first of two NCC @ IWU games tomorrow is already 2/3s over. It is the continuation of a previous game in Naperville which was suspended due to darkness with NCC holding an 8-4 lead after 6 innings.

This game has been completed, and resulted in a final score of NCC 15, IWU 5.
Regularly scheduled game to follow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2018, 09:06:20 PM
The "regularly scheduled game" is now entering the 8th, and is one of those truly aggravating anomalies (if you're on the lesser side):  IWU has so far outhit NCC 13-9, yet trails 8-3!  We're just not getting the timely hits; the Cards are making just about every hit count.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2018, 09:46:08 PM
NCC closes out the win, 8-3.  IWU falls to 9-12.  Unless I've missed something, the ONLY way IWU can make the conference tourney is to sweep Carthage (in Kenosha), while Augie gets swept by Carroll (in Rock Island).  Or, to put it in simpler terms, the Titans were eliminated tonight. :(

For the conference season - the beginning sucked (2-6), the middle was glorious ((7-0), the ending is not lookin' so hot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 02, 2018, 10:53:06 AM
NCC - Lock for #1 seed
CC  -  Lock for #2 seed
Augie - #3 seed all but locked up.  Tie Breakers over NPU and Elmhurst, Carroll coming to town for 3.
NPU - #4 seed but has 3 with North Central.  Half game lead over Elmhurst.
Elmhurst - Three remaining with Wheaton and holds tie breaker over North Park and IWU.

IWU - life support.  Needs Augie to get swept by Carroll AND Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Elmhurst while sweeping Carthage.  Their other scenarion would be for North Park to get swept by NCC AND Wheaton takes 2 of 3 from Elmhurst while sweeping Carthage.  If either of those happen, IWU could sneak in as the #4 seed.  If all both happen, IWU would be the #3 seed.

Carroll, Millikin, and Wheaton relegated to spoiler roles at this time.


Best guess for tournament...NCC, Carthage, Augie, Elmhurst.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 02, 2018, 11:29:29 AM
Nice Work mwunder! I was just looking into it all myself and found you already did the work for me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2018, 10:24:06 PM
A ton of drama played out today at Holmgren, as North Central topped North Park in the opener of the doubleheader, 19-13, and the Vikings came back to win the nightcap, 11-9, to take the series two games out of three.

NCC jumped all over NPU starter Josh Smith with an eight-run third in which the first three Cardinals batters hit home runs -- none of them cheapies, either, although the Cards would hit a couple of "Holmgren Homers" as the day wore on -- to take a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Vikings fought back with a nine-run third of their own to post an improbable 11-10 advantage However, the Vikings never managed to slow down the NCC offense in the first game, as they walked or plunked too many Cardinals batters, and you just can't give a team with a stacked lineup like NCC's that many extra baserunners. Eventually, the Vikings offense slowed to a trickle, while the Cards pulled away.

It looked like the nightcap might become a reprise of the opener, as NCC's Mike Wisz launched a three-run homer in the top of the first. But then the first five Vikings to come to the plate in the bottom half of the inning scored, culminating in a three-run homer from Justin Woolbright. The game seesawed back and forth from there, but eventually the Vikes were able to break a 7-7 tie with a Joe Koutnik RBI double in the fifth, and then the Park added three more in the seventh off of a Seth Dvorak RBI double and a two-run single by Cullen Gilbertson. Woolbright moved to the mound to finish the game, and, in spite of giving up a two-run homer in the ninth that hit the top of the fence in the shallowest part of right field (i.e., the Holmgrenest of Holmgen Homers), he was able to keep the ever-dangerous Cardinals from coming back, and the Royal Blue and Gold got the win.

Meanwhile, over at Butterfield Park, Elmhurst and Wheaton split a pair, which means that the two teams battling for the fourth and final playoff spot maintained the status quo ante in the standings over Friday and Saturday, with NPU and EC each taking two out of three. That's a significant accomplishment for North Park, given that the Vikings had to play the best team in the league while Elmhurst had to play last-place Wheaton. The Cards came into this weekend with the best team ERA in CCIW play by far -- NCC had given up 25 fewer runs than the next-best pitching staff -- and yet the Vikings managed to tattoo North Central pitching to the tune of 32 runs, 30 of them earned. Of course, the Cardinals scored a ton of runs themselves, but to hang around and go blow-for-blow over three games with a team that can hit like North Central (NPU outhit NCC for the weekend, 41-40) says something about how the Vikings bats rose to the occasion.

Nevertheless, it all comes down to tomorrow for North Park. The 12-11 Vikings host Millikin at 3 pm with the season on the line; if the Vikings win, they'll have fourth place all to themselves and will be in the CCIW tourney. If they lose, they wind up in a fourth-place tie with 12-12 Elmhurst, and the Bluejays will go to Zimmerman Stadium in Naperville for next weekend's tourney by virtue of the tiebreaker.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 05, 2018, 10:59:08 PM
With today's split with NPU, North Central finishes the CCIW slate with a record of 20-4, and captures the conference crown for the fourth straight season. The Cardinals will host the CCIW Tournament beginning next Thursday in Naperville. With their 20 wins, NCC becomes just the second team in CCIW history to win 20 games.

The Cardinals Mike Wisz finished the doubleheader with 10 RBI. In so doing, he finished wth 47 RBI over the 24 game conference schedule, breaking the all time NCC season record of 42. With one non-conference game left he has a total of 64 on the season, fifth best in single season history.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 06, 2018, 09:01:44 AM
Quote from: AndOne on May 05, 2018, 10:59:08 PM
With today's split with NPU, North Central finishes the CCIW slate with a record of 20-4, and captures the conference crown for the fourth straight season. The Cardinals will host the CCIW Tournament beginning next Thursday in Naperville. With their 20 wins, NCC becomes just the second team in CCIW history to win 20 games.

The Cardinals Mike Wisz finished the doubleheader with 10 RBI. In so doing, he finished wth 47 RBI over the 24 game conference schedule, breaking the all time NCC season record of 42. With one non-conference game left he has a total of 64 on the season, fifth best in single season history.
How does the .833 winning percentage (20-4) compare with previous "bests"?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2018, 11:07:42 AM
Well, the 1947 Millikin team went 6-0 in conference play, so that winning percentage is never going to be beat. ;)

In the modern era (post-1967), the best winning percentage belongs to the 2007 Illinois Wesleyan team, .952 (20-1). The cautionary note here is that a gaudy winning percentage in league play by the CCIW champion is no guarantee of anything. In 2007 Illinois Wesleyan not only didn't win the CCIW tournament, the Titans didn't even make it to the tourney's final game (Carthage beat Augie). As an added indignity, Illinois Wesleyan was knocked out of the NCAA tourney in two games, losing to Webster and ... Augie.

The only other CCIW team to get through the conference slate with only one loss during the CCIW-tourney era was the 2009 Carthage team (18-1) that finished fourth at the College World Series, and that Red Men team breezed through the CCIW tourney with three relatively easy wins.

Prior to the CCIW tourney era (pre-1985), these championship teams also finished with only one loss in a full-slate (i.e., no divisions) CCIW season:

1971 Carthage (15-1)
1979 Elmhurst (15-1)
1983 North Park (15-1)

Only the '83 North Park team made the NCAA tourney out of those three, as the Vikings lost the regional final to eventual national champion Marietta by a score of 7-6.

Quote from: AndOne on May 05, 2018, 10:59:08 PM
With today's split with NPU, North Central finishes the CCIW slate with a record of 20-4, and captures the conference crown for the fourth straight season. The Cardinals will host the CCIW Tournament beginning next Thursday in Naperville. With their 20 wins, NCC becomes just the second team in CCIW history to win 20 games.

A 20-4 record is a huge accomplishment, but it needs to be said that this season and last season are the only two campaigns in CCIW history that have had 24-game schedules. Prior to the re-entry of Carroll for the 2017 season, CCIW teams never played more than 21 games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 06, 2018, 07:46:16 PM
North Park defeated Millikin, 11-8, in the win-and-get-in contest at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.  North Park took an early 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run single by Justin Woolbright.  The Big Blue tied the game with two in the third, but Cullen Gibertson's triple down the right field line gave NPU a 3-2 advantage.  Millikin regained the lead in the 4th on a walk, three singles, and two sacrifices, but the Vikings tied it in the fifth on a bases-loaded groundout by Cam Adams.  The Big Blue rallied for two runs on four hits in the top of the 6th for a 6-4 lead, but a decisive six-run rally by the Vikings in the bottom half of the frame turned the game around.  The key play, in my estimation, came with two on and nobody out, when Richie Silva laid down a sac bunt and Big Blue starter Connor Gross tried to throw out the lead runner at third, but the throw was not in time.  Niko Buck then cracked a two-run single to ignite the scoring; Joe Koutnik had an RBI groundout, and a balk scored another run. Woolbright came through with another two-run single to put NPU up, 10-6.  Woolbright finished up on the mound as well, hurling 3 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win.  The Vikings edge out Elmhurst for the final playoff spot and finished tied with Augustana for 3rd (but Augie ends up the third seed by virtue of holding the tie-breaker).  Congratulations for a very solid and gritty performance by the Vikings, and best of luck in the CCIW Tournament!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2018, 09:24:25 PM
CCIW strikeout champion Connor Gross, who came into the game ranked sixth in the league in ERA and second in WHIP in league play, had shut down North Park back on April 13, striking out ten Vikings in seven innings en route to Millikin's 12-2 romp over NPU.

Gross started again for the Big Blue today, and this time the Vikings were ready for him. In five and a third innings pitched, Gross gave up nine runs (eight of them earned) on eight hits and four walks. He needed six strikeouts to pass Wheaton's Michael McCraith for the league title in overall-games K's. He got two.

Add that to what the Vikings did to some really strong NCC starters (Charles Klemm and John Clifford saw their respective ERAs go up by about two runs this weekend, while Gross's went from 3.41 to 4.11 overall and from 2.98 to 4.15 in CCIW play), and you can see how sharp the Vikings were at the plate over the past three days. They turned it up a notch (or three) when they had to.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 06, 2018, 10:27:08 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 06, 2018, 09:01:44 AM
Quote from: AndOne on May 05, 2018, 10:59:08 PM
With today's split with NPU, North Central finishes the CCIW slate with a record of 20-4, and captures the conference crown for the fourth straight season. The Cardinals will host the CCIW Tournament beginning next Thursday in Naperville. With their 20 wins, NCC becomes just the second team in CCIW history to win 20 games.

The Cardinals Mike Wisz finished the doubleheader with 10 RBI. In so doing, he finished wth 47 RBI over the 24 game conference schedule, breaking the all time NCC season record of 42. With one non-conference game left he has a total of 64 on the season, fifth best in single season history.
How does the .833 winning percentage (20-4) compare with previous "bests"?

The .833 doesn't compare with IWU's .952 in 2007. And, of course, with 3 extra conference games now, its that much easier to reach the 20 mark. However, all the other teams in the conference had the same chance, and none of them could come within 3 of the Cardinals win total of 20.

North Park should be feeling good right now. They finished strong, and they're the only team in the conference that won the season series over North Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2018, 09:20:54 AM
CCIW is a 1 team league this season if NCC wins the CCIW tourney...discuss.

Carthage late season losses to Elmhurst and IWU have to hurt them in the regional rankings.  They should have been up for discussion early, but I don't believe they have done enough at this point.  Their only hope is that teams above them win their conference playoffs and they win at least 2 more games (preferably the first 2) in CCIW tourney.

Augie and NPU have too many losses as well, but Augie was ranked #7 last week, so if they get to the finals, they may have a shot.  NPU may sneak into rankings this week by virtue of their series win over NCC, but I think winning the tourney is their only path going forward.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 07, 2018, 09:46:46 AM
Carthage has to make it to the CCiW final to have any chance... and that final would be best for them if it were vs NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2018, 02:41:12 PM
A little CCIW tourney historical information (# of appearances includes 2018):


schoolapps (first/latest)  W-L (.pct)chips
Augustana  23 (1989/2018)  29-34 (.460)     3
Carroll    0     0
Carthage  27 (1985/2018)  50-29 (.633)   12
Elmhurst  13 (1985/2012)  17-25 (.405)     1
Illinois Wesleyan  32 (1985/2017)  50-51 (.495)     6
Millikin    2 (1986/1990)    1-3   (.250)     0
North Central  24 (1985/2018)  42-31 (.575)     8
North Park  14 (1987/2018)  12-20 (.375)     3
Wheaton    5 (2008/2017)    2-10 (.167)     0

Head-to-head:

Carthage 12 wins, Augustana 8 wins
North Central 11, Augustana 4
Augustana 3, North Park 2
Carthage 9, North Central 3
Carthage 6, North Park 0
North Central 4, North Park 2

This same configuration of four programs has constituted one prior tournament, 1993, which was also played at North Central as well. Carthage won that tournament, beating NCC 12-5  in the championship game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2018, 03:11:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2018, 02:41:12 PM
A little CCIW tourney historical information (# of appearances includes 2018):


schoolapps (first/latest)  W-L (.pct)c'hips


Fixed it for you...only because I'm dumb.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 09:39:35 AM
No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 11:29:42 AM
Yeah, that ticks me off, too.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 10, 2018, 12:29:14 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 09:39:35 AM
No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

Frustrating.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 01:02:51 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 09:39:35 AM
No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

Unfortunately, my "influence" does not extend to the conference office. ⚾️ ☹️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2018, 01:26:37 PM
Video feed on Twitter (https://twitter.com/woncsports)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 01:36:45 PM
Thanks Mr. B!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 02:02:33 PM
Nice play Mr. B.
+1
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 02:43:13 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 02:02:33 PM
Nice play Mr. B.
+1

Too bad you have two clowns doing the play by play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 02:51:38 PM
Not sure they're clowns, but they are inexperienced student announcers whose analysis and broadcasting style obviously need polishing.
Address your complaints to WONC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on May 10, 2018, 03:15:32 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 02:43:13 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 02:02:33 PM
Nice play Mr. B.
+1

Too bad you have two clowns doing the play by play.

How dare these college students learning how to do radio not be the quality of professionals!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: robertgoulet on May 10, 2018, 03:15:32 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 02:43:13 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 02:02:33 PM
Nice play Mr. B.
+1

Too bad you have two clowns doing the play by play.

How dare these college students learning how to do radio not be the quality of professionals!


"Luke Johnson waddles back to the dug-out"
"That manager should really go sit down and just coach"
"Augustana and Carroll will play in game #2"
"Not sure how North Park made it here with a bunch of guys hitting .235"

Just call the game and keep your opinions to yourself.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 03:46:16 PM
North Central beats North Park in the first game, 12-6. The Cardinals broke open what had been a one-run game with a six spot in the bottom of the eighth, and NPU was only able to pick up one run in the top of the ninth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 03:51:27 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 01:02:51 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2018, 09:39:35 AM
No live stream again for the CCIW tourney?  Come on NCC...AndOne, get that taken care of!

Unfortunately, my "influence" does not extend to the conference office. ⚾️ ☹️

Is this really up to Chris and Mike? I have my doubts abut that. It shouldn't be a conference matter. It should be the responsibility of the host school. IWU provided live video for the CCIW softball tourney. NPU not only provided live video for this past fall's CCIW men's soccer tourney, the athletic department called in an outside production company in order to provide extra camera angles.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 04:23:50 PM
Sorry, I didn't follow the softball or soccer tourneys so I didn't have the background.
I figured, perhaps incorrectly, that since it is the CCIW Conference Tournament most things, including those related to any video production/broadcasting, would be done more under the control of the conference authorities. Sure the host school would take care of things like field prep, locker room assignments, possibly helping with discounted hotel arrangements if a team was staying over—stuff like that. Whether it would have been arranged/paid for by the conference or NCC, I must say I was hoping NCTV would be on scene to broadcast the games (at least those involving NCC), and was a little surprised they weren't.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 04:37:44 PM
No, I'm pretty sure that it's part of the responsibility of the host school.

At any rate, a live Twitter feed is better than nothing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2018, 04:45:27 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 04:37:44 PM
No, I'm pretty sure that it's part of the responsibility of the host school.

At any rate, a live Twitter feed is better than nothing.
Did anyone else have an issue with the view on Twitter flipping sideways in the last few innings?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 04:56:39 PM
NCC was likely using a cellphone as its camera (which would make sense for a Twitter feed). That would explain the phone-like flipping from profile to landscape.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2018, 04:58:35 PM
I don't know who sees it, but I did sign in to the twitter feed and comment that someone should advise the older guys in the red shirt and gold shirt that they were partially blocking the camera, and request that they move. But, of course, that didn't help. I can't believe they were so unaware as to not be able to recognize they were in the way. 😣
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 10, 2018, 05:16:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 04:56:39 PM
NCC was likely using a cellphone as its camera (which would make sense for a Twitter feed). That would explain the phone-like flipping from profile to landscape.
Kinda like when we were happy to get a stream of the audiocast of the game on our 8K modems, back before some of these players were born!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 05:35:58 PM
Yes, back in the days when we had to trudge five miles uphill through the snow to get to our computers. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2018, 05:40:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 05:35:58 PM
Yes, back in the days when we had to trudge five miles uphill through the snow to get to our computers. ;)

You had a computer?!  I had to try to follow the games on my sons' Etch-A-Sketch! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 10, 2018, 06:04:54 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2018, 05:35:58 PM
Yes, back in the days when we had to trudge five miles uphill through the snow to get to our computers. ;)
...uphill, into the wind, both ways
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2018, 06:25:22 PM
Game #2 final: Carthage 5, Augustana 2.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2018, 12:32:09 PM
Game #3 Final:
North Park 4
Augustana 2 (eliminated)

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2018, 12:32:30 PM
Final from Naperville: North Park 4, Augustana 2.  Josh Ward outduels Chris Refka in an elimination game with a 5-hit, 1-walk performance. Two Augie errors led to three unearned runs, capped by Anthony DiNardo's two-run pinch-hit double in the seventh.  Andy Robbins finishes the ninth for a save.

This is the same Augie team that swept NPU two weeks ago, with Refka picking up the win in game three of the series on a complete game six-hitter.  It was nice to see North Park bounce back to take this game.  The eastern Vikings await the loser of the North Central-Carthage contest, which is on deck.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 11, 2018, 03:51:26 PM
North Central over Carthage 15-4 in a game stopped in the seventh inning due to the slaughter rule. With the score at 13-4, the Cardinals' Mike Wisz slammed a 2 run homer to end it. Wisz had earlier hit an inside the park HR, and a 2 run triple, driving in 5 on the day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 11, 2018, 05:06:56 PM
Ouch! Carthage needs to win this game right now. If they can reach the CCIW title round I like their chances for a Pool C.

Up 1-0 on NPU in 3rd.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2018, 05:13:32 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on May 11, 2018, 05:06:56 PM
Ouch! Carthage North Park needs to win this game right now.

FTFY. ;)

NPU leads, 2-1, going into the fourth.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2018, 06:54:56 PM
North Park rode a six-run eighth to a comeback 8-3 win over Carthage, keeping the season alive for the Royal Blue and Gold. The Vikings got a good starting performance out of newly-minted graduate Josh Smith, with Andy Robbins again coming in to shut the door in the late innings. Robbins ended up getting the win.

Carthage certainly did itself no favors, as the Red Men committed six errors. Three of NPU's eight runs were unearned.

Good, solid late hitting by the Vikes, who also coaxed six walks out of Red Men hurlers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 11, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
North Park with a huge 6 run eighth as Carthage self destructs, and the eastern Vikings knock the Redmen out 8-3. Carthage made 6 errors in the game.

NPU will now face NCC in the Championship. NPU must win two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2018, 07:03:07 PM
This was a particularly satisfying day for North Park in that the Vikings not only eliminated two of the teams seeded above them, they also beat a pair of teams that had swept NPU in their respective regular-season series.

I doubt that there's very many people outside of the Vikings dugout who think that North Park has any shot at beating North Central twice tomorrow. But as long as the Vikings are still alive, they have a puncher's chance.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 11, 2018, 07:38:30 PM
Least the people outside the Vikings dugout forget that they were the only conference team to take the regular season series from the Cardinals. ⚾️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 12, 2018, 12:13:19 AM
Carthage's Pool C chances all but evaporated with that ugly loss.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 12, 2018, 12:34:06 AM
Quote from: AndOne on May 11, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
North Park with a huge 6 run eighth as Carthage self destructs, and the eastern Vikings knock the Redmen out 8-3. Carthage made 6 errors in the game.

NPU will now face NCC in the Championship. NPU must win two.
High drama in the CCIW tourney. IF  (That is a big "if" for those of you in Rio Linda.    ;D ) NPU wins both games, they enter the NCAA with a 22-22 season record!

(We would never hear the end of that!  It might be the biggest moment in NPU history since the 5 National Championships in basketball!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2018, 12:52:19 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 12, 2018, 12:34:06 AM
Quote from: AndOne on May 11, 2018, 06:58:27 PM
North Park with a huge 6 run eighth as Carthage self destructs, and the eastern Vikings knock the Redmen out 8-3. Carthage made 6 errors in the game.

NPU will now face NCC in the Championship. NPU must win two.
High drama in the CCIW tourney. IF  (That is a big "if" for those of you in Rio Linda.    ;D ) NPU wins both games, they enter the NCAA with a 22-22 season record!

(We would never hear the end of that!  It might be the biggest moment in NPU history since the 5 National Championships in basketball!)
... or at least since last fall's NCAA runner-up performance by the men's soccer team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2018, 01:19:56 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 12, 2018, 12:52:19 AM
... or at least since last fall's NCAA runner-up performance by the men's soccer team.

This.

The soccer guys set the standard at NPU nowadays, not some ancient national championships in basketball remembered only by creaking old fossils like me. ;) I'm just happy that another squad on campus is taking up the challenge and is trying to match the soccer team's excellence, however belatedly in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2018, 11:44:55 AM
Can anyone else load the complete live stats for this morning's game?  All I'm getting is the banner with the score and no further information.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2018, 03:06:19 PM
North Central wins the tournament with a seven-inning mercy-rule victory over North Park, 13-2. I'm not terribly surprised by the outcome, as NPU didn't really have any front-line pitching left for today, but I am disappointed that the Vikings couldn't at least be competitive in this contest.

Nevertheless, the Vikings had a great run over the past two weekends that redeemed an up-and-down season that looked like it was going to be characterized in the end by squandered opportunities. They buckled down and played terrific ball for the most part in taking three out of four against North Central and Millikin last weekend when they were close to backs-to-the-wall territory, and did so again this weekend in eliminating Augustana and Carthage and getting to the final day of play. Losing overall record or not, they made this season a success with that strong finish.

Congratulations to each of NPU's departing seniors, and thanks to all of them for their hard work and dedication. In particular, the Vikings are especially going to miss shortstop Seth Dvorak and catcher Cam Adams next season, for their production, their excellence at premium defensive positions, and their leadership. They won't be easy to replace. But the Vikings have plenty coming back, and in terms of pitching the only significant loss is Josh Smith -- who was versatile and rose to the occasion this weekend but who is by no means one of NPU's premier hurlers (that would be Michael Pritts and Matt Pizur). The Vikings could definitely use some more pitching help for next season, and the coaching staff will have to account for the loss of Dvorak and Adams, but the outlook seems bright for next season. North Central will be the unanimous favorite to repeat yet again -- almost the entire Cardinals team will return intact -- but NPU is in position to be one of the top challengers to NCC in 2019.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2018, 03:10:48 PM
Just bringing this forward for recording purposes, since the CCIW website doesn't have this table:


schoolapps (first/latest)  W-L (.pct)chips
Augustana  23 (1989/2018)  29-36 (.446)     3
Carroll    0     0
Carthage  27 (1985/2018)  51-31 (.622)   12
Elmhurst  13 (1985/2012)  17-25 (.405)     1
Illinois Wesleyan  32 (1985/2017)  50-51 (.495)     6
Millikin    2 (1986/1990)    1-3   (.250)     0
North Central  24 (1985/2018)  45-31 (.592)     9
North Park  14 (1987/2018)  14-22 (.389)     3
Wheaton    5 (2008/2017)    2-10 (.167)     0
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 12, 2018, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: mwunder on April 23, 2018, 10:43:27 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 23, 2018, 08:09:27 AM
Carthage's 5 errors (3 in 1st inning) did not help in any way.

Neither did their lack of hitting or lack of patience.  In game one, they recorded at least 5 first pitch outs against Klemm who pitched a heck of a game.  (Lock for CCIW pitcher of the week)

NCC can flat out hit.  They lead the conference in BA (.335), Slugging % (.477) and OBP (.433).  They constantly put pitchers in pressure positions.  It seemed like they always had guys on base over the weekend.


As confirmation of mwunder's above assertion, in winning the CCIW Tournament with today's 13-2 victory over North Park, the NCC Cardinals pounded out 20 hits. This was after collecting 17 hits in yesterday's 15-4 win over Carthage, and 18 in Thursday's 12-6 first round win over NPU.

Today's onslaught was led by Colin Weilbacher's 4 for 5. John Carmody and Mike Wisz had 3 hits apiece. Rob Marinec and Ryan Scott both had 3 RBIs. Wisz' 3 hits resulted in 2 RBIs. This brings his season total 72, currently the top figure in the nation.

The Cardinals will now await the date and location of their first round national tournament game where they can hopefully continue their recent torrid hitting.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 14, 2018, 01:48:47 PM
The NCC Cardinals are the 2nd seed (behind the aptly named Concordia Chicago from River Forest, IL)
at the Duluth, MN Regional. They will play the 5th seed, U of Dubuque, at 3:00 on Thurs 5/17. Live video will be available. There are 6 teams in this Regional. Three sites have 6 teams, and five sites have 8 teams.

There is a Regional in Sauget, IL which is about 274 miles from Naperville. Both Aurora and Monmouth will be playing there. Not sure why the #2 ranked team in the Region isn't also headed there instead of to Duluth, MN which is about 469 miles from Naperville.  :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 14, 2018, 05:01:26 PM
2018 CCIW All-Conference Baseball Team

CCIW Pitcher of the Year
Russell Hoh - North Central

CCIW Co-Player of the Year
Michael Mateja - North Central
Mike Wisz - North Central

CCIW Co-Coach of the Year
Augie Schmidt - Carthage
Ed Mathey - North Central

CCIW Newcomer of the Year
Mike Wisz - North Central

FIRST TEAM    School    Pos.    Yr.    Hometown/H.S
Rob Marinec    North Central    C    Fr.    Alsip, Ill./Shepard
Jacob Langford    Carroll    INF    Sr.     Genoa, Ill./Genoa-Kingston
Trey Compton    Elmhurst    INF    Jr.    Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect
Gino Cavalieri    Illinois Wesleyan    INF    Sr.    Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick
Michael Mateja    North Central    INF    Jr.    Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais
Seth Dvorak    North Park    INF    Sr.    Elmhurst, Ill./Oakton C.C.
Jacob McMillan    Elmhurst    OF    Jr.    Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township
John Bosco    Illinois Wesleyan    OF    Jr.     Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North
Nick Figus    Illinois Wesleyan    OF    So.    Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North
Mike Wisz    North Central    OF    So.    Woodridge, Ill./Lemont Township
Gunnar Haskins    Augustana     UT    Jr.    Moline, Ill./Alleman
Jon Walters    Millikin    UT    Jr.    Normal, Ill./Central Catholic
Mike Powers    Augustana    P    Jr.    Westmont, Ill./Benet Academy
Kevin Tibor    Carthage    P    Sr.    Kenosha, Wis./Bradford
Russell Hoh    North Central    P    Sr.    Lockport, Ill./H.S.
Michael McCraith    Wheaton    P    Jr.    Evans, Ga./Westminster Schools of Augusta

SECOND TEAM    School     Pos.    Yr.    Hometown/H.S.
Nick Pierce    Carthage    C    Sr.    Oconomowoc, Wis./H.S.
Cody Phelps    Carthage    INF    So.    O'Fallon, Mo./Timberland
Anthony Bryan    Millikin    INF    Jr.    Plainfield, Ill./East
Eric Outlaw    North Central    INF    So.    Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West
Cullen Gilbertson    North Park    INF    Jr.    Rapid City, S.D./Stevens
Joel Pierce    Wheaton    INF    Fr.    Centennial, Colo./Valor Christian
Carter Amundsen    Augustana    OF    Sr.    Sheboygan, Wis./South
Ryan Kairis    Augustana    OF    Jr.    Chicago, Ill./Marist
Devin Crews    Millikin    OF    Sr.    Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central
Jake Drada    Millikin    OF    Sr.    Orland Park, Ill./St. Rita
Jake Stewart    Illinois Wesleyan    UT    Sr.    St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden
Jordan Scrimpsher    Elmhurst    DH    So.    Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg-Latham
Mitch Malone    Augustana    P    Sr.    Minooka, Ill./H.S.
Nate Odahl    Carthage    P    So.    Twin Cities, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
Nick Drago    Elmhurst    P    Sr.     Naperville, Ill./Wauonsie Valley
Connor Gross    Millikin    P    Jr.    Bement, Ill./Parkland College
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2018, 07:54:35 PM
As I've mentioned (to some disdain from others! ::)), with the downfall of the IWU baseball team this season, but the (again) championship performance of the softball team, I'm for the first time following softball more closely than baseball.  A question occurred to me today, for anyone who has an answer:  are there any schools in the country with varsity men's softball or varsity women's baseball?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 16, 2018, 09:49:04 PM
I've never heard of such a thing. The NCAA doesn't sponsor men's softball or women's baseball, and neither does the NAIA.

Boys 16" softball is a varsity sport in the Chicago Public League (41 schools have teams), but that's as close as I can come to naming any instance of either sport being played on the high school or college level. And, of course, 16" softball is not the same thing at all as the softball played by high school girls and college women; it's a bigger ball by four diameter inches, and you don't use gloves.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 12:30:42 AM
I'm curious how baseball and softball got so gender-identified.  There are many examples of (women) softball pitchers having little trouble striking out MLB stars.  (I suspect that is due mainly to unfamiliarity - with experience, they would probably hit at least as well as the best softball hitters, but underhand softballs do arrive very differently than (mostly) overhand baseballs.)  Logically, due to average size differences, women should use (smaller) baseballs; men should be playing softball (the balls are bigger, but they ain't soft!).  Just one of those quirks of history, I guess.

And, yeah, I've played both slow-pitch softball and 16" softball - VERY different games, and both very different from fast-pitch softball or baseball.  Yet all are also eerily similar.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 17, 2018, 01:51:15 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 12:30:42 AM
I'm curious how baseball and softball got so gender-identified.  There are many examples of (women) softball pitchers having little trouble striking out MLB stars.  (I suspect that is due mainly to unfamiliarity - with experience, they would probably hit at least as well as the best softball hitters, but underhand softballs do arrive very differently than (mostly) overhand baseballs.)  Logically, due to average size differences, women should use (smaller) baseballs; men should be playing softball (the balls are bigger, but they ain't soft!).  Just one of those quirks of history, I guess.

And, yeah, I've played both slow-pitch softball and 16" softball - VERY different games, and both very different from fast-pitch softball or baseball.  Yet all are also eerily similar.

Who says an Illinois Wesleyan education doesn't pay off?  ;D  ;)  8-)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 04:25:40 PM
Not exactly a pitchers' duel so far up in Duluth - Dubuque and NCC each scored three in the first inning! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 17, 2018, 04:44:39 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 04:25:40 PM
Not exactly a pitchers' duel so far up in Duluth - Dubuque and NCC each scored three in the first inning! :o
... ostensibly against each team's #1!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 06:40:44 PM
NCC scores the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 9th.  Final score was 8-7.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: tjcummingsfan on May 18, 2018, 01:23:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 16, 2018, 07:54:35 PM
As I've mentioned (to some disdain from others! ::)), with the downfall of the IWU baseball team this season, but the (again) championship performance of the softball team, I'm for the first time following softball more closely than baseball.  A question occurred to me today, for anyone who has an answer:  are there any schools in the country with varsity men's softball or varsity women's baseball?

Men's fast pitch softball is a pretty big deal in Canada, especially in the Prairies (Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan).  It's not quite as popular as baseball, but still popular enough for a variety of age divisions having provincial and national championships.  Though, even with that said, in my quick google search, I didn't find any Canadian Universities that have men's softball as a varsity sport.   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 18, 2018, 09:28:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 06:40:44 PM
NCC scores the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 9th.  Final score was 8-7.
NCC going to need to mount one heck of a comeback tonight to avoid the loser's bracket... Trail UWO 10-0 after just four innings of play. Polezoes gives up 7 runs (all earned) on 12 hits in 3.1 innings of work.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 19, 2018, 01:36:51 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 18, 2018, 09:28:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 06:40:44 PM
NCC scores the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 9th.  Final score was 8-7.
NCC going to need to mount one heck of a comeback tonight to avoid the loser's bracket... Trail UWO 10-0 after just four innings of play. Polezoes gives up 7 runs (all earned) on 12 hits in 3.1 innings of work.

No comeback ever materialized last night as the Cards were toppled by an 11-1 score.  :(
The winning Oshkosh pitcher is now a perfect 10-0 on the season. Tough stuff.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 19, 2018, 02:40:52 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 19, 2018, 01:36:51 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 18, 2018, 09:28:37 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 17, 2018, 06:40:44 PM
NCC scores the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 9th.  Final score was 8-7.
NCC going to need to mount one heck of a comeback tonight to avoid the loser's bracket... Trail UWO 10-0 after just four innings of play. Polezoes gives up 7 runs (all earned) on 12 hits in 3.1 innings of work.

No comeback ever materialized last night as the Cards were toppled by an 11-1 score.  :(
The winning Oshkosh pitcher is now a perfect 10-0 on the season. Tough stuff.
If North Central is going to advance to the World Series, it looks like they will have to beat UWO twice, as UWO looks to be putting the game out of reach in the 9th inning against Concordia-Chicago in the Winners Bracket final....

Edit:Concordia was able to limit damage, but will still need at least three runs to extend the game as they trail 9-6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 19, 2018, 03:01:20 PM
I'm a CCIW guy, but I'm also rooting for UW-Oshkosh, as Titans head coach Kevin "T" Tomasiewicz was the associate head coach and pitching coach under Luke Johnson at NPU before he took the UWO job.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2018, 06:26:24 PM
The CCIW does have a team in the (softball) world series, as IWU sweeps UWW in a DH today (my understanding is that baseball goes to the super regional format next season).  Now if NCC can only get a CCIW team in the baseball world series! ;D

This is the third straight year that IWU softball has won the super regional.  All three times, they lost the Friday game, then swept the Saturday DH.  I don't LIKE being on the brink of elimination, but with a streak like that I may get nervous if they ever win a Friday game! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2018, 06:37:01 PM
Dubuque eliminates North Central, 8-4.  The Cardinals finish the season 29-14.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 20, 2018, 10:05:13 AM
North Central is the clear and heavy early favorite to repeat yet again as CCIW champs in 2019. The Cardinals will lose their ace, Russell Hoh, but the only other senior on the entire roster is Hoh's fellow righthander, bullpen arm Anthony Serafini. Given how dominant the Cards were this past season, the current gap between them and the rest of the league in terms of returnees is massive.

Carthage probably gets the nod as the early preseason pick for second, but that's a very distant second. The Red Men will have to account for the loss of ace Kevin Tibor, some well-used bullpen arms, and three solid bats in Joe Sisk, Nick Pierce, and Ryan Dalton, but there's a very strong core left among both pitchers and position players.

The bad news for Augustana is that it loses five starting position players to graduation, although Augie fans can be consoled by the fact that Ryan Kairis, Jack Hallmark, and Gunnar Haskins aren't among them. The good news for Augie fans is that the starting rotation of the Rock Islanders returns intact next season, including the league's top returning pitcher in Mike Powers. The Augie staff does lose CCIW saves leader and All-CCIW second-teamer Mitch Malone, however.

North Park, as I said earlier, loses one heavily-used arm who shuttled between starter and reliever (Josh Smith), and two strong bats who played the premium defensive positions (SS Seth Dvorak and C Cam Adams), as well as reliable OF Joe Koutnik. Dvorak and Adams are the biggest losses, but if the Vikings can find a way to adequately replace them NPU should be in good shape going into next season.

Elmhurst loses only four seniors, although they were each an important piece to the puzzle for a team that narrowly missed out on the CCIW tourney. Reagan McReynolds was the team's top offensive threat, James Wick was the primary catcher, Nick Drago was the team's ace, and Austin MacMillan was both a rotation starter and a regular position player when he wasn't pitching. Still, the Bluejays look like a solid bet to contend for a playoff spot in '19.

Illinois Wesleyan loses three position starters next season, one of which is the team's best hitter, Gino Cavalieri. The good news for the Titans is that there's still three very good offensive threats left in the lineup for next season in Nick Figus, Brandon Skopick, and John Bosco, and the pitching staff returns more or less intact (although it wasn't particularly solid this season). Like Elmhurst, IWU looks like a viable candidate to get back into the CCIW tourney next season.

Carroll will be hit hard by graduation. Jacob Langford, one of the league's top hitters, is gone, as is top power guy A.J. Johnson and ace Carter Howard. Around them are a whole lot of useful-pieces kinds of guys who will also depart. Given how far back the Pios finished this season even with such solid producers as Langford, Johnson, and Howard, I don't see them making a move in '19.

Millikin loses a lot of this season's lumber, including power bats Devin Crews and Jake Drada. The good news for the Big Blue is that the pitching staff returns entirely intact. Millikin might be a dark-horse contender for a playoff spot next season.

That leaves last-place Wheaton. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance loses two position players, Johnny Peltz and Seth Meyer, #2 starter Ty Hoeksema, and closer Nick Johnson. WC will return one of the league's best pitchers in Michael McCraith and a solid hitter in Ben Brittain, but that's a team that needs a strong infusion of incoming talent if it wants to make a mark in 2019.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on May 20, 2018, 11:38:11 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 20, 2018, 10:05:13 AM
North Central is the clear and heavy early favorite to repeat yet again as CCIW champs in 2019. The Cardinals will lose their ace, Russell Hoh, but the only other senior on the entire roster is Hoh's fellow righthander, bullpen arm Anthony Serafini. Given how dominant the Cards were this past season, the current gap between them and the rest of the league in terms of returnees is massive.

Carthage probably gets the nod as the early preseason pick for second, but that's a very distant second. The Red Men will have to account for the loss of ace Kevin Tibor, some well-used bullpen arms, and three solid bats in Joe Sisk, Nick Pierce, and Ryan Dalton, but there's a very strong core left among both pitchers and position players.

The bad news for Augustana is that it loses five starting position players to graduation, although Augie fans can be consoled by the fact that Ryan Kairis, Jack Hallmark, and Gunnar Haskins aren't among them. The good news for Augie fans is that the starting rotation of the Rock Islanders returns intact next season, including the league's top returning pitcher in Mike Powers. The Augie staff does lose CCIW saves leader and All-CCIW second-teamer Mitch Malone, however.

North Park, as I said earlier, loses one heavily-used arm who shuttled between starter and reliever (Josh Smith), and two strong bats who played the premium defensive positions (SS Seth Dvorak and C Cam Adams), as well as reliable OF Joe Koutnik. Dvorak and Adams are the biggest losses, but if the Vikings can find a way to adequately replace them NPU should be in good shape going into next season.

Elmhurst loses only four seniors, although they were each an important piece to the puzzle for a team that narrowly missed out on the CCIW tourney. Reagan McReynolds was the team's top offensive threat, James Wick was the primary catcher, Nick Drago was the team's ace, and Austin MacMillan was both a rotation starter and a regular position player when he wasn't pitching. Still, the Bluejays look like a solid bet to contend for a playoff spot in '19.

Illinois Wesleyan loses three position starters next season, one of which is the team's best hitter, Gino Cavalieri. The good news for the Titans is that there's still three very good offensive threats left in the lineup for next season in Nick Figus, Brandon Skopick, and John Bosco, and the pitching staff returns more or less intact (although it wasn't particularly solid this season). Like Elmhurst, IWU looks like a viable candidate to get back into the CCIW tourney next season.

Carroll will be hit hard by graduation. Jacob Langford, one of the league's top hitters, is gone, as is top power guy A.J. Johnson and ace Carter Howard. Around them are a whole lot of useful-pieces kinds of guys who will also depart. Given how far back the Pios finished this season even with such solid producers as Langford, Johnson, and Howard, I don't see them making a move in '19.

Millikin loses a lot of this season's lumber, including power bats Devin Crews and Jake Drada. The good news for the Big Blue is that the pitching staff returns entirely intact. Millikin might be a dark-horse contender for a playoff spot next season.

That leaves last-place Wheaton. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance loses two position players, Johnny Peltz and Seth Meyer, #2 starter Ty Hoeksema, and closer Nick Johnson. WC will return one of the league's best pitchers in Michael McCraith and a solid hitter in Ben Brittain, but that's a team that needs a strong infusion of incoming talent if it wants to make a mark in 2019.

Great summary on all the teams moving into next year, but if I may, I'd like to address your assessment of Wheaton. This season was an anomaly in that nearly 20 of the 35 players on the team dealt with a serious injury of some kind during this season, with nearly 5 guys suffering season ending injuries, three of those before the season even started. Two of those three being Christian Bolhuis (a weekend starter from the time he stepped on campus in 2015) and Brett Albaugh, who had more homers by himself last year than the entire Wheaton squad this year. They are now healthy and looking to come back with force next season. On top of this, Nick Mailman (who did have his struggles this season, along with everyone except for maybe Joel Pierce) returns to anchor a very experienced outfield. I feel that they have talent already that was hurt this year returning that can sure be complimented by incoming guys, but next season won't rest entirely on incoming guys. Just my two cents!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 20, 2018, 03:56:15 PM
Keep in mind, though, that many of the other teams in the league had similar losses to injury that affected their lineups or their rotations in 2018. What may seem to you to have been a mitigating circumstance for Wheaton (and a bright spot for a bounceback season for WC in 2019) might not have been as much of a mitigating circumstance as you think it is.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 22, 2018, 01:56:19 PM
2018 All-Central Region Award Winners in the CCIW
(Link: http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2018/index)

Player of the Year
3B Michael Mateja - North Central

Rookie of the Year
C Rob Marinec - North Central

First Team
3B Michael Mateja - North Central
OF Mike Wisz - North Central
DH Jon Walters - Millikin

Second Team
C Rob Marinec - North Central
SS Seth Dvorak - North Park
3B Gino Cavalieri - Ill. Wesleyan
OF Devin Crews - Millikin
OF Nick Figus - Ill. Wesleyan

Third Team
SP Russell Hoh - North Central
SP Kevin Tibor - Carthage
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 22, 2018, 03:49:26 PM
2018 ABCA All-Central Region Award Winners in the CCIW
(Link: https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Region/NCAA_Div_III/2018.aspx)

First Team
C Rob Marinec - North Central
3B Michael Mateja - North Central
SS Jacob Langford - Carroll
OF Mike Wisz - North Central

Second Team
2B Jon Walters - Millikin
SS Seth Dvorak - North Park
3B Gino Cavalieri - Ill. Wesleyan
OF Devin Crews - Millikin
OF Nick Figus - Ill. Wesleyan
P Mike Powers - Augustana
P Kevin Tibor - Carthage

Third Team
1B Cullen Gilbertson - North Park
2B Trey Compton - Elmhurst
3B Reagan McReynolds - Elmhurst
OF Ryan Kairis - Augustana
P Mitch Malone - Augustana
P Chris Refka - Augustana

17 CCIW student-athletes were represented in ABCA All-Region selections.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 23, 2018, 04:22:03 PM
Congrats to North Central's Michael Mateja and Mike Wisz on being named to the 2018 D3BASEBALL.COM ALL-AMERICA TEAM. They were the only 2 CCIW representatives.

http://www.cciw.org/news/2018/5/23/north-centrals-mateja-wisz-named-to-2018-d3baseball-com-all-america-team.aspx?path=baseball
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 24, 2018, 05:12:54 PM
A brief softball interruption to congratulate the CCIW All-Americans.  Sam Berghoff, IWU shortstop, was named to the first team.  Amy Wiegand, IWU pitcher, and Emily Miller, NCC outfielder, were named to the second team.  Great job to all three young ladies (and they ARE young - Berghoff and Wiegand are both sophs, Miller is a frosh!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2018, 05:13:31 PM
Chuck, there is a softball page on this website, you know.

This isn't it.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 24, 2018, 07:48:56 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2018, 05:13:31 PM
Chuck, there is a softball page on this website, you know.

This isn't it.

Yes, I know, and have posted there.  But they don't have a CCIW thread.  Since this was to congratulate CCIW players in a different, but somewhat related, sport, this seemed the most appropriate location.  Sorry to have offended you. ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2018, 09:08:49 PM
Not offended. Just a little ... um, exasperated is probably too strong a word. Nettled, perhaps?

It's really a matter of the people who follow this room probably not caring even one little bit about softball, despite the similarities between the two sports.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 25, 2018, 02:43:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 24, 2018, 09:08:49 PM
Not offended. Just a little ... um, exasperated is probably too strong a word. Nettled, perhaps?

It's really a matter of the people who follow this room probably not caring even one little bit about softball, despite the similarities between the two sports.

Or maybe caring, but just a little bit. Perhaps something like who won the conference. But, beyond that, preferring to look up any info, stats, articles, etc., that they may be interested in on an individual basis rather than being bombarded with every bit of information available on the subject. Especially when that subject is something outside the title of the room. 🤔
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 30, 2018, 02:00:11 PM
Who won the D3 softball championship??  I've been coming here for the past 48 hours looking for the results.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2018, 02:09:40 PM
https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/News/2018/May/21/Field-set-for-2018-NCAA-Division-III-Softball-Championship

There are some familiar names among the 8 finalists.

Sorry Mr Ypsi.


https://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/article/2018-05-29/division-iii-softball-virginia-wesleyan-wins-second-straight

VWC 3, IWU 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2018, 02:45:54 PM
Ralph, did you forget to activate your sarcasm detector today? ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 30, 2018, 02:57:29 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2018, 02:45:54 PM
Ralph, did you forget to activate your sarcasm detector today? ;)

Ding..ding.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2018, 03:24:06 PM
UT-Tyler almost pulled off a double. The women lost in 10 innings to IWU in the second round and then lost to Ithaca in the elimination game of their bracket.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 30, 2018, 08:54:48 PM
Ralph, sorry you took the hit meant for me.  mwunder was trying to lure me into posting about (shudder!) softball (during the baseball off season).

But now that mwunder has raised the topic (!! ;)), how could I be disappointed when a team barely in the top 25 (#24), and seeded sixth in the "WS", makes it to the final best of three series against the defending national champion, hands that team only their third loss the entire season, and doesn't at all embarrass themselves in the winner-take-all game?!

Best season ever for the Titans' softball program! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2018, 09:52:48 PM
I think that it is fair for me to mention UT-Tyler with men's and women's teams in the Final 8.

There have been numerous occasions on the CCIW Chat (   ;)  ) board when the women's hoops teams were mentioned.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 30, 2018, 10:43:05 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2018, 09:52:48 PM
I think that it is fair for me to mention UT-Tyler with men's and women's teams in the Final 8.

Yeah, I suppose that that's fair, especially since that's your league.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 30, 2018, 09:52:48 PMThere have been numerous occasions on the CCIW Chat (   ;)  ) board when the women's hoops teams were mentioned.

Yeah, and guess who was invariably doing it on those numerous occasions? Hint: His first initial is "iwu", and his second initial is "70". ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2018, 05:30:51 PM
A HUGE difference between women's basketball posts on "CCIW Chat" and softball posts on the baseball board is that there is a rather active conference board for women's basketball (447 pages) while there is NO conference board for softball, and the ENTIRE softball board (ALL conferences) runs 66 pages.  I post on the softball board, but am usually talking to myself.

Under these circumstances, I'm rather miffed and disappointed that an occasional softball post here is met with open hostility.  Didn't your moms and kindergarten teachers teach y'all to share?! ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 03, 2018, 02:21:31 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2018, 05:30:51 PM
A HUGE difference between women's basketball posts on "CCIW Chat" and softball posts on the baseball board is that there is a rather active conference board for women's basketball (447 pages) while there is NO conference board for softball, and the ENTIRE softball board (ALL conferences) runs 66 pages.  I post on the softball board, but am usually talking to myself.

C'mon, Chuck. Are we really supposed to believe that, because you're usually talking to yourself on the softball board, you really think that you're going to find an audience here that cares any more about softball than do the people who actually read the softball board? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I don't think that anybody else is, either.

The volume of activity or rooms in the softball portion of d3boards.com is not our problem. And you can't make it our problem.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2018, 05:30:51 PMUnder these circumstances, I'm rather miffed and disappointed that an occasional softball post here is met with open hostility.  Didn't your moms and kindergarten teachers teach y'all to share?! ;)

"Occasional"? Chuck, you've refused to take the hint, and have repeatedly tried to introduce softball stuff in here, and it has always met with either ridicule or hostility. What does that tell you about the nature of the audience of this room? Here's another hint: It's a baseball board, not a softball board.

It was a bit funny at first, because it gave us a chance to needle you like we do about your 2010 obsession, but now it's just irritating. At least 2010 is germane to this room, because, although we're all sick and tired of hearing about it, at least it has to do with CCIW baseball. Softball doesn't. I think that the people who post here regularly have made it pretty clear that they don't want to read about another sport's updates in this room. It's bad enough that we have to deal with it in the CCIW men's basketball room from your classmate.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 03:22:55 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 03, 2018, 02:21:31 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2018, 05:30:51 PM
A HUGE difference between women's basketball posts on "CCIW Chat" and softball posts on the baseball board is that there is a rather active conference board for women's basketball (447 pages) while there is NO conference board for softball, and the ENTIRE softball board (ALL conferences) runs 66 pages.  I post on the softball board, but am usually talking to myself.

C'mon, Chuck. Are we really supposed to believe that, because you're usually talking to yourself on the softball board, you really think that you're going to find an audience here that cares any more about softball than do the people who actually read the softball board? Sorry, but I'm not buying it. I don't think that anybody else is, either.

The volume of activity or rooms in the softball portion of d3boards.com is not our problem. And you can't make it our problem.

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on June 02, 2018, 05:30:51 PMUnder these circumstances, I'm rather miffed and disappointed that an occasional softball post here is met with open hostility.  Didn't your moms and kindergarten teachers teach y'all to share?! ;)

"Occasional"? Chuck, you've refused to take the hint, and have repeatedly tried to introduce softball stuff in here, and it has always met with either ridicule or hostility. What does that tell you about the nature of the audience of this room? Here's another hint: It's a baseball board, not a softball board.

It was a bit funny at first, because it gave us a chance to needle you like we do about your 2010 obsession, but now it's just irritating. At least 2010 is germane to this room, because, although we're all sick and tired of hearing about it, at least it has to do with CCIW baseball. Softball doesn't. I think that the people who post here regularly have made it pretty clear that they don't want to read about another sport's updates in this room. It's bad enough that we have to deal with it in the CCIW men's basketball room from your classmate.

Ok back to baseball

Michael Mateja taken in the 25th round of the MLB draft by Atlanta.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 06, 2018, 07:40:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?
Hard to predict, but a 25th rounder won't command a lot in terms of a signing bonus.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on June 12, 2018, 09:12:10 PM
North Park senior catcher, Cam Adams, has signed with the Gateway Grizzlies to continue his playing career:

Cam caught almost every game for the Vikings this year and had a team-best 40 RBIs and 15 doubles.

North Park story available here:
https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/6/12/baseball-adams-inks-contract-with-gateway-grizzlies.aspx?prl=636644306026892389 (https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2018/6/12/baseball-adams-inks-contract-with-gateway-grizzlies.aspx?prl=636644306026892389)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 12, 2018, 09:16:13 PM
Congrats to Cam!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on June 13, 2018, 08:52:28 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.

Based on a tweet from NCC yesterday, it appears that he signed. At least that's what I assume he was signing in the picture!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on June 13, 2018, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 13, 2018, 08:52:28 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.

Based on a tweet from NCC yesterday, it appears that he signed. At least that's what I assume he was signing in the picture!

That's the vibe I got too.

I went and looked at the Braves' draft tracker (https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/braves) and they haven't updated with anything on Mateja's signing. But then again, they also said he went to the wrong North Central (Minnesota instead of Illinois).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on June 13, 2018, 10:46:29 PM
As many of you are aware, North Central's Michael Wisz was a bit of a force this season.
Although listed as only a sophomore eligibility wise this year, Mike graduated from NCC with a degree management  this past Saturday. At this point, he is undecided as to whether he'll enroll in NCC's Graduate Studies Program next year, and continue his baseball career.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on June 19, 2018, 11:31:41 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on June 13, 2018, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 13, 2018, 08:52:28 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.

Based on a tweet from NCC yesterday, it appears that he signed. At least that's what I assume he was signing in the picture!

That's the vibe I got too.

I went and looked at the Braves' draft tracker (https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/braves) and they haven't updated with anything on Mateja's signing. But then again, they also said he went to the wrong North Central (Minnesota instead of Illinois).

According to the MLB website Mateja signed for a $100,000 bonus.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on June 20, 2018, 08:53:21 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 19, 2018, 11:31:41 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on June 13, 2018, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 13, 2018, 08:52:28 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.

Based on a tweet from NCC yesterday, it appears that he signed. At least that's what I assume he was signing in the picture!

That's the vibe I got too.

I went and looked at the Braves' draft tracker (https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/braves) and they haven't updated with anything on Mateja's signing. But then again, they also said he went to the wrong North Central (Minnesota instead of Illinois).

According to the MLB website Mateja signed for a $100,000 bonus.

Can anyone recall a CCIW athlete, (in any sport), giving up his final year of eligibility to sign with a professional team after being drafted?  I don't think that NCC has ever had this situation.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on June 20, 2018, 10:07:36 PM
Yes, it happened just last year. A Carthage soccer player gave up his final two years of eligibility in order to sign with an English Premier League's developmental squad.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on June 20, 2018, 11:05:37 PM
Can't recall whether he had been drafted, but in 2006 IWU's Cory Lipinski gave up his senior year to play pro baseball.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on June 21, 2018, 12:51:34 PM
The answer is no.  Not a bad draft as two made the show

2006 Draft

251. Mike Eisenberg, Marietta, rhp, Cleveland (8)
339. Thomas Vessella, Whittier, lhp, Houston (11)
361. Cole Kimball, Centenary, rhp, Washington (12)
399. Chris Salamida, Oneonta State, lhp, Houston Astros (13)
483. Raymond Stokes, Cal State East Bay, 2b, San Diego (16)
504. Chris Heisey, Messiah, cf, Cincinnati (17)
511. Erik Arnesen, Grove City, rhp, Washington (17)
543. Garner Wetzel, RF, Millsaps, rf, San Diego (18)
664. Timothy Stronach, Worcester State, rhp, New York NL (22)   
886. Will Groff, Cortland State, 2b, St Louis (29)
994. Teddy Dziuba, Babson, c, New York NL (33) 
1095. Matt Enuco, Rowan, 2b, Chicago AL (36)
1126. Logan Collier, Guilford, rhp, St Louis (37)
1153. Travis Beazley, Randolph Macon, rhp, Boston (38)
1200. Ted Serro, Franklin and Marshall,  rhp, Toronto (40)
1215. Andy Mead, Cortland State, of, Chicago AL (40)
1290. Cory Anderson, Coast Guard, rhp, Washington (43)
1379. Kyle Johnson, Chapman, rhp, New York NL (46)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 21, 2018, 03:04:11 PM
Quote from: Kovo on June 20, 2018, 08:53:21 AM
Can anyone recall a CCIW athlete, (in any sport), giving up his final year of eligibility to sign with a professional team after being drafted?  I don't think that NCC has ever had this situation.
Steve Schilsky of IWU was drafted by Oakland in 2002 (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=2002) and played three seasons on Low A ball (https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=schils001ste).  He was listed as a junior on the 2002 IWU roster.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: robertgoulet on June 23, 2018, 10:52:33 PM
Mateja went 1-4 with a run scored in his first game. Congrats!!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on June 24, 2018, 02:11:46 PM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 23, 2018, 10:52:33 PM
Mateja went 1-4 with a run scored in his first game. Congrats!!!

Michael is playing with the Danville VA Braves. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1982.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Kovo on August 01, 2018, 01:45:55 PM
Quote from: AndOne on June 24, 2018, 02:11:46 PM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 23, 2018, 10:52:33 PM
Mateja went 1-4 with a run scored in his first game. Congrats!!!

Michael is playing with the Danville VA Braves. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1982.

Mateja has been promoted to the Class A Rome Braves after having batted .304 for the two Braves rookie league affiliates. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on October 31, 2018, 03:50:33 PM
Quote from: Kovo on June 20, 2018, 08:53:21 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 19, 2018, 11:31:41 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on June 13, 2018, 09:40:05 AM
Quote from: robertgoulet on June 13, 2018, 08:52:28 AM
Quote from: Kovo on June 06, 2018, 09:10:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on June 06, 2018, 07:19:17 PM
Wonder if he'll sign. Any idea?

I haven't heard but I agree that the bonus won't be much.  But a huge opportunity to improve his status for next year's draft.

Based on a tweet from NCC yesterday, it appears that he signed. At least that's what I assume he was signing in the picture!

That's the vibe I got too.

I went and looked at the Braves' draft tracker (https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/braves) and they haven't updated with anything on Mateja's signing. But then again, they also said he went to the wrong North Central (Minnesota instead of Illinois).

According to the MLB website Mateja signed for a $100,000 bonus.

Can anyone recall a CCIW athlete, (in any sport), giving up his final year of eligibility to sign with a professional team after being drafted?  I don't think that NCC has ever had this situation.

Carthage's Jim Miller signed with the Brewers after his junior season in '97. 10th round draft pick. While he graduated after his junior year, he still had a season of eligibility left.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 02:31:45 PM
Does anyone know if Carthage is NOT going on a Spring Trip this year?  Their schedule is out and has no trip on it... if so, it's the first time I can ever recall them not taking a trip. They have a very early spring break (first week of March) that may be factoring into that.

Anyone know more details?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 22, 2019, 04:15:50 PM
There are only four non-conference games listed on the Carthage schedule page, so I'm sure that there are more games pending that haven't been posted yet.

North Park is taking four pre-conference road trips. The weekend of February 15-17 the Vikings will be in Montgomery, AL to face Huntingdon, Spalding, and UW-Whitewater. The next weekend, February 23-24, they return to the Yellowhammer State to face DePauw, Alma, and Thomas More at Birmingham-Southern (not sure why the Vikes aren't playing BSC). And the weekend after that, March 2-3, they'll take their usual trip down to the St. Louis area to face Webster, Benedictine, and Buena Vista. The following weekend NPU heads down to Fort Pierce, FL for the annual spring break trip, which will feature a one-day side trip to Vero Beach on Sunday, March 10 to face Gettysburg at the Historic Dodgertown complex, which sounds pretty cool.

There are only 39 games listed, so Luke Johnson has the flexibility to add another game at some point. I like the fact that, as of the moment, all of the non-conference schedule will be finished for NPU by the time CCIW play begins on Wednesday, March 27. The CCIW sked is so crammed with midweek games as it is, why make things even harder on your pitching staff in late March, April, and early May than it already is?

It blows my mind that opening day of NPU's baseball season is only three weeks and three days away. Yesterday the temperature was in the teens, and on Friday we're predicted to have a high of only six degrees.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 04:39:44 PM
Six would be balmy here this week.... I saw a posted temp of -42* in Northern MN yesterday.

I will still be ice fishing when the CCIW starts playing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 23, 2019, 10:08:33 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 22, 2019, 04:15:50 PM
There are only four non-conference games listed on the Carthage schedule page, so I'm sure that there are more games pending that haven't been posted yet.

North Park is taking four pre-conference road trips. The weekend of February 15-17 the Vikings will be in Montgomery, AL to face Huntingdon, Spalding, and UW-Whitewater. The next weekend, February 23-24, they return to the Yellowhammer State to face DePauw, Alma, and Thomas More at Birmingham-Southern (not sure why the Vikes aren't playing BSC). And the weekend after that, March 2-3, they'll take their usual trip down to the St. Louis area to face Webster, Benedictine, and Buena Vista. The following weekend NPU heads down to Fort Pierce, FL for the annual spring break trip, which will feature a one-day side trip to Vero Beach on Sunday, March 10 to face Gettysburg at the Historic Dodgertown complex, which sounds pretty cool.

There are only 39 games listed, so Luke Johnson has the flexibility to add another game at some point. I like the fact that, as of the moment, all of the non-conference schedule will be finished for NPU by the time CCIW play begins on Wednesday, March 27. The CCIW sked is so crammed with midweek games as it is, why make things even harder on your pitching staff in late March, April, and early May than it already is?

It blows my mind that opening day of NPU's baseball season is only three weeks and three days away. Yesterday the temperature was in the teens, and on Friday we're predicted to have a high of only six degrees.

That's a lot of hotel nights to pay for!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on January 23, 2019, 02:10:50 PM
Knowing Luke, he'll probably make the team sleep on the bus and clean themselves in truckstop restrooms in order to toughen 'em up. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on January 23, 2019, 04:14:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 02:31:45 PM
Does anyone know if Carthage is NOT going on a Spring Trip this year?  Their schedule is out and has no trip on it... if so, it's the first time I can ever recall them not taking a trip. They have a very early spring break (first week of March) that may be factoring into that.

Anyone know more details?

It is not uncommon to leave out the spring schedule this late.  Check the schedule on D3baseball.com and if another team has them on their schedule, it should show up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on January 23, 2019, 04:33:17 PM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on January 23, 2019, 04:14:16 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 02:31:45 PM
Does anyone know if Carthage is NOT going on a Spring Trip this year?  Their schedule is out and has no trip on it... if so, it's the first time I can ever recall them not taking a trip. They have a very early spring break (first week of March) that may be factoring into that.

Anyone know more details?

It is not uncommon to leave out the spring schedule this late.  Check the schedule on D3baseball.com and if another team has them on their schedule, it should show up.
That's correct, especially for teams that travel over their spring break to play in a tournament.  Very often the original schedule is subjected to several changes in opponents, days, times, and venues, even as the tournament is underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 24, 2019, 01:43:36 PM
They (Carthage) show up on an Arizona College Baseball website as participating in the tournaments, but the game schedule has yet to be released. They'll be in Tucson with Aurora and NCC so here's hoping they don't have additional games with at least NCC.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on January 24, 2019, 01:51:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 04:39:44 PM
I will still be ice fishing when the CCIW starts playing.
Too bad the walleye season will already be closed though!!!  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on January 25, 2019, 10:34:59 AM
Quote from: cubs on January 24, 2019, 01:51:28 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on January 22, 2019, 04:39:44 PM
I will still be ice fishing when the CCIW starts playing.
Too bad the walleye season will already be closed though!!!  ;)

Ha! Not on Lake of the Woods:) 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 09:48:29 AM
Carthage has finally released their Spring Break schedule in Arizona:

MAR 2 (SAT) 3PM (MT) CALTECH TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 3 (SUN) 11AM (MT) CALTECH TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 4 (MON) 3PM (MT) WABASH COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 4 (MON) 6:30PM (MT) AURORA UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 5 (TUE) 3PM (MT) NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY (MN) TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 7 (THU) 9AM (MT) GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 8 (FRI) 12:30PM (MT) BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 9 (SAT) 3PM (MT) ST. OLAF COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 10 (SUN) 3PM (MT) BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE (DH) TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 10 (SUN) 6PM (MT) BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE (DH) TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 11 (MON) 9AM (MT) WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on February 04, 2019, 01:18:27 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 09:48:29 AM
Carthage has finally released their Spring Break schedule in Arizona:

MAR 2 (SAT) 3PM (MT) CALTECH TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 3 (SUN) 11AM (MT) CALTECH TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 4 (MON) 3PM (MT) WABASH COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 4 (MON) 6:30PM (MT) AURORA UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 5 (TUE) 3PM (MT) NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY (MN) TUCSON, ARIZ.

MAR 7 (THU) 9AM (MT) GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 8 (FRI) 12:30PM (MT) BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 9 (SAT) 3PM (MT) ST. OLAF COLLEGE TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 10 (SUN) 3PM (MT) BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE (DH) TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 10 (SUN) 6PM (MT) BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE (DH) TUCSON, ARIZ.
MAR 11 (MON) 9AM (MT) WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TUCSON, ARIZ

... the meat of the tourney...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 01:54:47 PM
Can't disagree Ralph, but I also worry about the openers vs CalTech who will have a bunch of games in by then... while Carthage will not have been outside.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Bishopleftiesdad on February 04, 2019, 02:08:37 PM
North Central (mn) is not the north Central we all know and love. 6-21 last year, https://ncurams.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=8
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 04, 2019, 02:36:23 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 01:54:47 PM
Can't disagree Ralph, but I also worry about the openers vs CalTech who will have a bunch of games in by then... while Carthage will not have been outside.

It would be more of a concern if Caltech baseball wasn't still as bad as all their teams used to be.  It wasn't until 2017 that they broke a TWENTY-NINE YEAR conference losing streak (and last year they won only one conference game).  And except for Caltech, I notice that they were careful to schedule only other northern teams who are likely in the same boat as Carthage.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 04, 2019, 02:54:01 PM
NPU's baseball opener is eleven days away now. It can't get here quick enough.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 03:10:52 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 04, 2019, 02:36:23 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 04, 2019, 01:54:47 PM
Can't disagree Ralph, but I also worry about the openers vs CalTech who will have a bunch of games in by then... while Carthage will not have been outside.

It would be more of a concern if Caltech baseball wasn't still as bad as all their teams used to be.  It wasn't until 2017 that they broke a TWENTY-NINE YEAR conference losing streak (and last year they won only one conference game).  And except for Caltech, I notice that they were careful to schedule only other northern teams who are likely in the same boat as Carthage.

I don't think they get to choose their opponents as much as we think. It is mostly northern teams in AZ at that time as the warm weather schools don't need to travel to play early in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2019, 09:19:15 AM
Any CCIW predictions????? Here is how I see it shaking out:

1. NCC
2. Carthage
3. Augustana
4. IWU
5. Wheaton
6. NPU
7. Carroll
8. Elmhurst
9. Millikin

Is the CCIW post-season a four-team affair or has it expanded to six? I see the CCIW as a two-bid conference this year with NCC and Carthage earning NCAA bids.

Other thoughts?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on February 11, 2019, 09:57:53 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2019, 09:19:15 AM
Any CCIW predictions????? Here is how I see it shaking out:

1. NCC
2. Carthage
3. Augustana
4. IWU
5. Wheaton
6. NPU
7. Carroll
8. Elmhurst
9. Millikin

Is the CCIW post-season a four-team affair or has it expanded to six? I see the CCIW as a two-bid conference this year with NCC and Carthage earning NCAA bids.

Other thoughts?

CCIW Tourney field is expanded to 6 starting this year! I also feel like Wheaton is going to be better this year IF they can keep the injury bug from attacking them again. Last year was pretty ridiculous. I'm pretty sure NCC lost the bat of Wicz (no idea how to spell his name) to graduation along with Martha who got drafted. If so, they lost their two biggest bats and I'd be interested to see where their offenseive production will come from. Otherwise I think your prediction on the standings is pretty accurate for the most part.

Baseball is always a weird season and I feel like someone is going to surprise us. Just a question of which someone that'll be. Last year it was North Park!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2019, 12:49:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2019, 09:19:15 AM
Any CCIW predictions????? Here is how I see it shaking out:

1. NCC
2. Carthage
3. Augustana
4. IWU
5. Wheaton
6. NPU
7. Carroll
8. Elmhurst
9. Millikin

Is the CCIW post-season a four-team affair or has it expanded to six? I see the CCIW as a two-bid conference this year with NCC and Carthage earning NCAA bids.

Other thoughts?

Wow, you're really down on NPU, aren't you, BP?

Barring injury, this is going to be the best Vikings pitching staff since the glory days of what I used to call "the Spaghetti Staff" of Mike Giovenco, Pete Sparacino, and Nick Soldano back at the beginning of the decade. Starting pitching should be the team's strongest aspect. The day-to-day lineup among the position players ought to be solid, with an extra premium on speed now that NPU has a healthy Jared Cantu back at the top of the order and roaming the outfield with the likewise speedy Niko Buck. The middle of the order will be anchored by one of the best hitters in the region in Cullen Gilbertson. And I know that Luke Johnson is really excited about being able to pencil in Augustana transfer Jake Reinhardt on the lineup card every day, and transfer 3b Ranko Stevanovic (Triton) created a lot of buzz in fall practice with his power.

I think that you're selling NPU short.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on February 13, 2019, 11:24:19 AM
Happy coaches' poll day! (https://cciw.org/news/2019/2/12/north-central-predicted-to-win-fifth-straight-cciw-baseball-title.aspx)

North Central is your pick to win with 60 points and 5 first place votes. Carthage in second with 56 and 2, Augie in 3rd with 47 and 1. Wheaton has the remaining first place vote and is picked to finish 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2019, 12:14:02 PM
NPU is going to have its work cut out for it in Friday's opener against Huntingdon down in Montgomery. The Hawks are already 3-0 and have outscored their opponents by a 16-1 margin. Hawks pitchers have held opposing batters to a .198 BA and have struck out 26 batters in 27 innings. The guy whom I suspect will be on the mound against the Vikings threw a three-hit complete-game shutout in Huntingdon's opener, striking out eight without allowing a walk.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2019, 12:51:21 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 11, 2019, 12:49:39 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 11, 2019, 09:19:15 AM
Any CCIW predictions????? Here is how I see it shaking out:

1. NCC
2. Carthage
3. Augustana
4. IWU
5. Wheaton
6. NPU
7. Carroll
8. Elmhurst
9. Millikin

Is the CCIW post-season a four-team affair or has it expanded to six? I see the CCIW as a two-bid conference this year with NCC and Carthage earning NCAA bids.

Other thoughts?

Wow, you're really down on NPU, aren't you, BP?

Barring injury, this is going to be the best Vikings pitching staff since the glory days of what I used to call "the Spaghetti Staff" of Mike Giovenco, Pete Sparacino, and Nick Soldano back at the beginning of the decade. Starting pitching should be the team's strongest aspect. The day-to-day lineup among the position players ought to be solid, with an extra premium on speed now that NPU has a healthy Jared Cantu back at the top of the order and roaming the outfield with the likewise speedy Niko Buck. The middle of the order will be anchored by one of the best hitters in the region in Cullen Gilbertson. And I know that Luke Johnson is really excited about being able to pencil in Augustana transfer Jake Reinhardt on the lineup card every day, and transfer 3b Ranko Stevanovic (Triton) created a lot of buzz in fall practice with his power.

I think that you're selling NPU short.
I may be selling them short but my predictions are eeirly close to the CCIW COaches' Poll... with just NPU and Wheaton flipped in the 5/6 slots... top four were correct.

By the way... that NPU staff was loaded! And the insane ability for that offense to draw HBPs!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 15, 2019, 11:24:56 PM
Not a very auspicious opening day to 2019 for the Vikings. They were hammered in the early game by preseason #2 UW-Whitewater, 13-1, and blew an early lead in the second game that eventually got away from them, as Huntingdon cruised to a 16-3 win.

Fortunately, the very early start to this season gives them time to get their act together. Tomorrow they play Spaulding -- which actually knocked off UWW today -- before coming home to NPU.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on February 20, 2019, 01:17:53 AM
In the only other games so far, Millikin dropped three against Hendrix College.

One of the league's returning starting pitchers, Connor Gross, only made it 3.2 innings in the Big Blue's season opener. 3 BB's, 7 hits, a hbp and 5 ER.

Augustana beat Bates College today (2/19) by a score of 6-4. Powers: 7IP, 1 earnie, no walks, and scattered 7 hits. They'll play Bates three more times in the next three days...

Elmhurst, North Central, and Carroll all open up their season this Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 20, 2019, 11:37:37 AM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on February 20, 2019, 01:17:53 AMAugustana beat Bates College today (2/19) by a score of 6-4. Powers: 7IP, 1 earnie, no walks, and scattered 7 hits. They'll play Bates three more times in the next three days...

Greg Wallace did this same weird scheduling thing two years ago, when he had Augustana start off in Florida with four straight games against Brandeis.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on February 20, 2019, 12:00:36 PM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on February 20, 2019, 01:17:53 AM

One of the league's returning starting pitchers, Connor Gross, only made it 3.2 innings in the Big Blue's season opener. 3 BB's, 7 hits, a hbp and 5 ER.


One of the league's top* returning starting pitchers, that is
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on February 22, 2019, 02:57:55 PM
I wonder if Sheldon or Leonard will be at the Carthage opener on the 2nd in AZ.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on February 25, 2019, 02:54:40 PM
NPU baseball bounced back with two wins this past weekend, and a near-win against Birmingham Southern - 5-6.

In yesterday's game, the Vikings were hit by ten pitches as a team, tying the second-most all-time for NCAA DIII baseball. Niko Buck was hit 4 times, which also ties for the second-most all-time. He was actually hit a fifth time, but the umpire ruled he did not make an effort to turn away from the pitch... he later singled in that same at-bat, reaching base 6 times in the game.

Freshman Tyler Banks slammed the door against DePauw, working 2.1 innings of perfect relief with no hits or walks.

A good bounce-back weekend for NPU.

Carroll committed 10 errors in a doubleheader against Sewanee, thus losing both games. Augustana and North Central have won all their games since this board's last post. IWU, Elmhurst, Carthage, and Wheaton all have season-openers this Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on February 25, 2019, 03:55:57 PM
Wheaton actually plays this Friday as well. Single game Friday at Covenant, double header Saturday against Covenant. All three down at Covenant
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 25, 2019, 06:13:59 PM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on February 25, 2019, 02:54:40 PM
NPU baseball bounced back with two wins this past weekend, and a near-win against Birmingham Southern - 5-6.

In yesterday's game, the Vikings were hit by ten pitches as a team, tying the second-most all-time for NCAA DIII baseball. Niko Buck was hit 4 times, which also ties for the second-most all-time. He was actually hit a fifth time, but the umpire ruled he did not make an effort to turn away from the pitch... he later singled in that same at-bat, reaching base 6 times in the game.

I'm going to start referring to Niko as the Craig Biggio of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on March 02, 2019, 03:24:55 PM
Wheaton won game one of their twin bill at Covenant 3-1 behind the trusty arm of Michael McCraith who went 7 scoreless fanning 15 and allowing 1 hit with 2 walks. Evan Ogden provided what proved to be the winning runs with a double in the top of the 2nd inning. Covenant scratched across their only run of the game off of sophomore reliever Sam Arnold in the 8th, but freshmen Kevin Champlin closed the door with a 4 out save. Solid start for the Thunder! Last I checked in on game 2, Covenant was up 2-1 in the second inning against Thunder starter Christian Boulhuis making his return from TJ surgery that he had last spring.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 04, 2019, 10:58:29 AM
Carthage starts the season 2-0 with a pair of wins over the CalTech Beavers Saturday and Sunday.  Game one was 6-2 and game two was 15-5.  Pasquale Atteo threw well in game one going 5 and allowing 2 earner.  Hanik came in a threw 4 shutout innings for the win.  Game two saw the Red Men bats come alive with Colton Klien leading the way with 4 hits in 6 ABs.  Kramer and Farley had 2 hits a piece and Farley had 4RBIs.  Today they play Wabash and Aurora.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 04, 2019, 11:19:54 AM
I'd expect Carthage to throw Nate Odahl in one of the two games today. I see him as their #1 and he did not throw in their first two games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2019, 09:24:32 AM
While still early and guys are still adjusting to being outside, the Carthage pitchers did not fare well yesterday allowing 20 runs to Wabash and Aurora in a pair of games. Let's hope the Redmen settle in an play some baseball the rest of the way.... I projected a total of two losses on the trip (with one of those being Aurora, the other vs Bemidji State).

Let's get back on track, Big Red.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2019, 11:17:27 AM
Redmen pile up the runs in a 14-0 drubbing of North Central (MN) on Tuesday afternoon in Arizona. An off day today with a run of four of the next five games versus teams from the MIAC (with the one outlier vs D2 Bemidji Sate, also from MN). A nice run of Ws here could prove the Redmen as contenders  upon thier return to the Carthage (The Harvard of Eastern Kenosha County) campus next week...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2019, 12:06:08 PM
Updated CCIW standings (not sure it means a lot at this point as no one has gone head to head and all are playing vastly different strength-of-schedules).

Ill. Wesleyan      2-0
North Central   3-0
Wheaton      2-0
Augustana      7-1
Carthage      3-2
Elmhurst      1-1
North Park      2-4
Millikin      1-3
Carroll      0-3
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 06, 2019, 02:06:10 PM
May we infer, then, that UW-Parkside is the William & Mary of eastern Kenosha County?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2019, 02:24:36 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 06, 2019, 02:06:10 PM
May we infer, then, that UW-Parkside is the William & Mary of eastern Kenosha County?

That would be a correct assumption:)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 07, 2019, 01:40:35 PM
Redmen drop one to St. Olaf 3-2 after taking a 2-1 lead into the 9th... a two-out single won it for the Oles.

Carthage drops to 3-3 on the season... I'm guessing this is NOT the way they expected this trip to go. At least it gives me something to follow during the school day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 08, 2019, 12:04:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 07, 2019, 01:40:35 PM
Redmen drop one to St. Olaf 3-2 after taking a 2-1 lead into the 9th... a two-out single won it for the Oles.

Carthage drops to 3-3 on the season... I'm guessing this is NOT the way they expected this trip to go. At least it gives me something to follow during the school day.

You call Carthage the Harvard of Eastern Kenosha County, then you get the opponent wrong in your recap....Poppa, you're killing me!

The Gusties beat us 3-2 yesterday, not St. Olaf.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 08, 2019, 05:35:12 PM
Carthage beats Bemidji State 12-11 in a game that features 23 runs and 40 hits.  Vince Schwartz goes 4-6 with 4RBIs to lead the Red Men. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 10, 2019, 08:51:25 PM
IWU is about half-way thru their Florida trip, and are currently 4-2.  They swept Greenville on F 27 (6-3 and 12-2), had games in Greenville (2 against Central, 1 against Greenville) cancelled (no definite word yet if they will get rescheduled), and in Florida, have lost to Illinois College (9-12) and Saint Joseph's College of Maine (7-9, while beating Marymount (8-2) and New Jersey City (12-11).  The scores look like 3 good outings for the pitchers, and 3 very bad.  Nick Figus is starting hot, batting .474 and slugging .789.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 11, 2019, 11:15:26 AM
Carthage moves to 6-4 with a pair of wins over Bethany Lutheran College, 27-14 and 20-2.  In game one, Carthage scored 12 in the first and 10 in the 5th to break this one open.  In the second, they had innings of 5, 7, and 6.  Klein is hitting .591 through the first 10 games and slugging .864.  Schwartz is hitting .488 while slugging .756.  Quite worried about the pitching however, as Odahl has an early ERA of over 16 and the staff ERA is 6.25 overall.  Might be a season where we have to put up crooked numbers to win games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2019, 03:33:24 PM
NPU is now 5-4 and has won its first three games down in Florida, topping SUNY Maritime on Sunday, 6-5, beating Gettysburg yesterday, 10-6, and Northwestern this afternoon, 12-6. In the games yesterday and today the Vikings overcame four-run deficits. This is indicative of an ongoing problem, as the Park still has to figure out how to avoid giving up the big inning; the Bullets and the Eagles each tallied a six-run frame in those two games. But aside from those worrisome half-inning hiccups, the pitching and the fielding are beginning to come around.

Meanwhile, the Vikes' position players are finally starting to hit, and they're also playing good Lukeball -- stretching out at-bats, taking walks and HBPs, stealing lots of bases, and making copious use of the bunt. Cullen Gilbertson has been the mainstay of the lineup, as expected, as he currently sports a slashline of .444/.728/.675 and has a pair of homers and nine RBI to his credit. Newcomer Ranko Stevanovic has been as good as advertised, as he's at .417 at the moment and is one of three Vikings everyday starters who is slugging northwards of .580. The other newcomer who was expected to have a big impact, Augie transfer Jake Reinhardt, is off to a slow start at the plate, but he hit a three-run inside-the-park homer today against Northwestern.

The Vikings now get two days to decompress in the sunshine before they're back at it on on Thursday against Delaware Valley.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 11, 2019, 03:41:21 PM
Carthage ends the southern swing of it's season by scoring two touchdowns against Wesleyan U and winning 14-8.  Wesleyan went for the 2 pt conversion at the end of this one.  The RedMen head back north sporting a 7-4 record. 

Klein ends the trip with a 5/5 to move his batting average to a staggering .633 and OB% to .673.  Those are the kinds of numbers you love from your lead-off hitter!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 11, 2019, 10:27:35 PM
A wild finish today in Florida.  IWU and UMass-Dartmouth finished tied at 6 after 9.  In the top of the tenth, IWU scored SIX - game over?  Not quite - UMD came back with SEVEN in the bottom of the tenth! :o  Titans fall to 4-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2019, 08:26:33 PM
Redmen pitching staff has me worried....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 12, 2019, 11:48:03 PM
I'm also very scared about IWU pitching.  Today they won 14-3 against Westfield  St., but no idea if that is an accomplishment.

In 8 games against unknown (to me) competition, they are now 5-3 and have outscored the opponents 70-45.  But it very much worries me that I don't recognize their opponents.  I'm not a close follower of d3 baseball, but I follow it enough to recognize the usual contenders for the WS, and these ain't them.  45 runs in 8 games is worrisome.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2019, 01:33:39 PM
If you're a North Central, Augustana, or Wheaton fan, you're pretty happy with your pitching staff right now. If you're an Elmhurst fan, you're not sure yet what you've got on the mound, because your 'jays have only played two games -- and they were both against a Lawrence program that hasn't had a winning baseball campaign since 1989. If you're a fan of one of the other five teams, you're very worried about your pitching staff right now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2019, 01:40:22 PM
NPU's propensity to give up the big inning came back to bite the Vikings in a big way today, as they blew an 11-1 fifth-inning lead and and then a 12-9 lead going into the bottom of the ninth and lost to Delaware Valley, 13-12. For the third game in a row the Vikings gave up a six-run inning in the middle of the game. After that, the Aggies whittled away and then caught up with NPU and scored the winning run on a two-out single.

Poor defense played a major role in this loss; the Vikings committed five errors, as six of Del Valley's 13 runs -- including all four in the ninth -- were unearned.

North Park (5-5) will try to get this straightened out tomorrow morning when the Vikings take on Eralham in their penultimate spring-trip contest.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 14, 2019, 04:22:17 PM
The silver lining from today is that the NPU offense is continuing to improve. The Vikings now have a team OPS that's well ahead of their opponents' OPS. Jake Reinhardt has snapped out of his season-opening funk, as his 3-5 morning included his second triple of the season. And the Vikings were 11-13 on the basepaths, setting a new single-game record for stolen bases in the Luke Johnson era.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 15, 2019, 02:57:50 PM
North Park bounced back nicely this morning with a 6-1 victory over Earlham. Vikings DH Anthony DiNardo led the way with a 4-4 game, including 2 RBI. Michael Pritts pitched his way out of several jams before freshman Tyler Banks came in and picked up the victory with 4 2/3 scoreless innings for the Park.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 15, 2019, 04:34:18 PM
Finally a bright spot for Titan pitching: Nick Brune threw a 14-strikeout, 4-hit shutout against previous unbeaten SUNY-Purchase yesterday.  Final score was 7-0; IWU moves to 6-3.

Today's game against Wheaton (MASS) is just getting underway.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 15, 2019, 07:01:38 PM
Back-to-back good outings as IWU downs Wheaton (MASS) 4-2.  Three pitchers combined to yield only 5 hits and two runs.  Wheaton falls to 5-3; IWU improves to 7-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2019, 02:48:51 PM
NPU wrapped up the spring trip with a 14-4 win over Geneva. After a shaky start, Justin Woolbright ended up pitching six strong innings of four-hit ball, giving up only one earned run on four hits and two walks, to record the win. The three Vikings hurlers who were on the mound today combined for a dozen strikeouts. The Vikings were ahead after seven, 14-2, but continued the game in order to get in some extra work, so the Golden Tornadoes picked up single unearned runs in the eighth and ninth to make the final score more palatable for them.

This is North Park's first common opponent with another CCIW team, as Wheaton defeated Geneva earlier this season by a 6-1 score.

In a footnote that probably interests nobody other than Mr. B and myself, for the first time ever a Kiwi student-athlete saw varsity game action for North Park in any sport, as sophomore Matt Thomas, a New Zealand native who was strictly a JV player last season, came in for Cullen Gilbertson to play first base in the bottom of the ninth. Alas, NPU reliever Matt Pizur struck out three Golden Tornadoes in that inning, so Thomas didn't even get to record a putout. :(

The Vikings head northward with a 7-5 record and will next face perennially-formidable Concordia (IL) (6-1) in River Forest a week from tomorrow.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 23, 2019, 09:38:20 PM
Bad day for the Titans in St. Louis, as the batters apparently missed the bus ride.  WashU swept a DH, 6-0 and 2-1.  Nick Brune entered game 1 with an era of 0.50, and dropped it even further with three hitless innings - then the Bears figured him out. :(  He gave up 3 in the 4th and 3 more in the 5th, and that was that.  Quinn Gudaitis was just the reverse of Brune, entering game two with an era north of 5, then pitching seven two-hit innings (one unearned run).  In the bottom of the 9th with a 1-1 tie, the Bears scored the game-winner (also unearned).

The Titans fall to 7-6 with their third straight loss; they play WashU in a single game tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 23, 2019, 09:56:20 PM
BTW, sophomore Matt Blaney took the loss in game two to fall to 1-1 for the season, but, since the run was unearned, he maintains his perfect 0.00 era (6.2 innings over 6 games).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 24, 2019, 10:36:45 AM
Carthage split it's home opener with Defiance yesterday losing 13-10 and winning 14-1. Redmen are now 8-5 on the season heading into CCIW play. The offense lookse almost unstoppable as they continue to pile up double-digit runs game after game. The pitching is all over the place. Head Coach Augie Schmidt referred to the Carthage pitching staff as "Forrest Gump's box of chocolates" in response to the staff's inconsistency to this point.

I had some lofty expectation for this Redmen team in 2019 in terms of getting back on to the national scene, but at this pointI may overestimated them with my Carthage-colored glasses on. If they can find some consistent outings on the bump they could be a dangerous team, but until then, they'll need to keep up the ten-run offensive efforts to have a chance each day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 24, 2019, 03:51:29 PM
IWU fell to 7-7 with their 4th straight loss, 6-2 at WashU.  In the 3 game series at WashU. they scored 3 runs.  It's starting to look like a lo-o-o-ng year! :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 24, 2019, 07:38:42 PM
NPU's game against #4 Concordia (IL) was postponed due to the threat of rain today, and I can almost guarantee that that call by Cougars head coach Mike Stawski didn't make Luke Johnson happy. The best time to play the fourth-ranked team in the country is on a Sunday afternoon after they've already played a game on Friday and two on Saturday. Now they'll have to make up the game on a date that will undoubtedly be more favorable to the Cougars.

It barely sprinkled for more than ten minutes all afternoon at North Park, where we were able to get in three softball games at Holmgren Athletic Complex without any weather problems at all. I can't imagine that there was some sort of biblical-level deluge over in River Forest, which is only about seven miles away as the crow flies.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 24, 2019, 10:18:09 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 24, 2019, 07:38:42 PM
NPU's game against #4 Concordia (IL) was postponed due to the threat of rain today, and I can almost guarantee that that call by Cougars head coach Mike Stawski didn't make Luke Johnson happy. The best time to play the fourth-ranked team in the country is on a Sunday afternoon after they've already played a game on Friday and two on Saturday. Now they'll have to make up the game on a date that will undoubtedly be more favorable to the Cougars.

It barely sprinkled for more than ten minutes all afternoon at North Park, where we were able to get in three softball games at Holmgren Athletic Complex without any weather problems at all. I can't imagine that there was some sort of biblical-level deluge over in River Forest, which is only about seven miles away as the crow flies.

That's CURF for ya - they live in River Forest; they pretend to be in Chicago (maybe it rained there?). ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 25, 2019, 04:57:28 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 24, 2019, 07:38:42 PM
NPU's game against #4 Concordia (IL) was postponed due to the threat of rain today, and I can almost guarantee that that call by Cougars head coach Mike Stawski didn't make Luke Johnson happy. The best time to play the fourth-ranked team in the country is on a Sunday afternoon after they've already played a game on Friday and two on Saturday. Now they'll have to make up the game on a date that will undoubtedly be more favorable to the Cougars.

It barely sprinkled for more than ten minutes all afternoon at North Park, where we were able to get in three softball games at Holmgren Athletic Complex without any weather problems at all. I can't imagine that there was some sort of biblical-level deluge over in River Forest, which is only about seven miles away as the crow flies.
The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd, in River Forest.  That might not be so favorable for the Cougars, since they'll be coming off conference twin bills on the 20th and 22nd.  They'll likely want to use their top four arms in conference games.  The Vikings, on the other hand, have no games over the four-day Easter weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 27, 2019, 09:10:38 PM
Football score from Chicago: North Park 14, Carthage 11.  The Red Men were up 2-0 after one inning (on a Vince Schwartz homer to the shallow porch in right) and 5-0 after two frames, but the Vikings bounced back with two in the second, five in the fourth, and six in the seventh, with key hits from Ranko Stevanovic (a 2 RBI single), Jake Reinhardt (a three-run homer plus another RBI single and a great play at short).  Five Carthage pitchers walked six batters and hit five more.  Schwartz made it interesting with a no-doubter grand slam to left in the ninth (to give him 8 RBIs on the day), but Justin Woolbright came in and retired the next three batters -- two on strikeouts -- to record his third save.  Carthage continues to swing the hot bat with 12 hits, while North Park had ten hits.  Viking hurlers walked only two and fanned 11 in the victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2019, 09:10:57 PM
North Park kicked off the CCIW slate with a 14-11 victory over Carthage on an unusually temperate Wednesday afternoon at Holmgren. The Vikings fought their way back from an early 5-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead; Carthage tied it up with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh before the Vikings exploded for a six-spot in the bottom half of the frame. They added another run on Anthony DiNardo's first career homer to take a full touchdown lead at 14-7 in the eighth before Red Men 1B Vince Schwartz cranked his second homer of the game over the left-field fence (it was hit so hard that it hit the softball retaining fence along Foster Avenue on the roll), this one with the bases loaded, in the top of the ninth to make it interesting. The granny gave Schwartz 8 RBI for the day. But Justin Woolbright came in and shut the door with three straight outs, two of them punchouts, to earn the save and preserve the win.

Neither pitching staff covered itself in glory, although Woolbright and Josh Ward, who handcuffed the Red Men for three innings in the middle of the game, were both solid. The difference is that the Carthage pitchers issued seven walks and hit four Vikings batters, and NPU took advantage of a lot of those extra baserunners. The Vikings also got a great game out of Jake Reinhardt, who hit a three-run homer and finished the day 2-4 with a pair of runs and 4 RBI and made a terrific play at shortstop.

Carthage can certainly hit, but, boy, Augie Schmidt's squad looks like it's really hurting for pitching.

This was a nice way to get the CCIW slate underway. NPU next entertains Augustana in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 27, 2019, 09:16:25 PM
In other CCIW openers, Millikin almost came all the way beck from an 11-4 deficit in the Quad Cities, but fell just short, as Augustana walked away with an 11-10 victory. North Central disposed of Carroll in seven innings in Naperville, 11-1, as Luke Lamm twirled a four-hitter and gave up only an unearned run, walking one and striking out four. And Wheaton grabbed an early 6-0 lead and hung on to beat Illinois Wesleyan, 8-5, at Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2019, 10:46:05 PM
It's shaping up to be a long season in B'town, but perhaps an entertaining one.  The Thunder jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 3; IWU got one in the 5th and 1 more in the 6th, then Wheaton scored two in the 7th to restore a 6-run advantage.  But the Titans refused to fold (unlike me, who went and did other things after the 7th! :-[) and scored one in the eighth and two more in the ninth.  They couldn't get the win, but they certainly didn't quit.  They even eventually outhit Wheaton 14-13. 

They jump from the frying pan into the fire, as the weekend opponent is NCC (10-3, 1-0).  The first two games will be a DH in B'town, then a single game in Naperville.

I'm not at all sure they have the talent of past seasons, but they seem to have the fighting spirit. :)  And that alone can be worth several games (especially if Nick Brune is as good as I think he is, Quinn Gudaitis is as good as I hope he is, and Matt Blaney keeps doing a great job as a closer - and a couple of other pitchers step up).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 27, 2019, 11:12:36 PM
I just studied the schedule.  Unless someone crawls out of the woodwork, the Titans are likely doomed to a very bad start in conference play.  I'm assuming that Brune and Gudaitis will start on Saturday against NCC.  We play a DH in Rock Island against 11-4-1, 1-0 Augie on Tuesday.  Dennis Martell does NOT have any history of risking young arms, so I'm assuming that will mean 3 straight games against the presumed top of the conference (NCC on Sunday, Augie on Tuesday) of pitching by committee (and the Titans have shown little evidence of having a 'committee'). :(

Desperately seeking a silver lining, I suppose that means if they survive, they have strengthened the depth of the pitching staff for the post-season. ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2019, 12:14:38 PM
The Redmen need to find some arms quickly.... I doubt their offense can carry them to the top of the CCIW. I am really hoping Odahl can get back on track and get the team rolling.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2019, 12:47:19 PM
I learned yesterday that Odahl is dealing with injury issues.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on March 28, 2019, 12:49:13 PM
I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing from Wheaton so far. Champlin has stepped up in a big way on the mound as support for McCraith who is shoving again, and Bolhuis who is still trying to find his stuff coming off of Tommy John surgery. Perhaps the biggest emergence has been Evan Ogden who has taken over the every day duties in right field. He was the CCIW hitter of the week last week, and didn't slow down against IWU last night. Consistent at bats have paid huge dividends for him!

Excited to see how this team continues to improve as long as they can stay healthy and continue their stellar defense that they have played so far behind their arms.

The first game of the series with Millikin tomorrow has been moved to Monday because of inclement weather in Decatur (I feel like that's always the case down there), and I haven't heard word on Saturday's double header also slated to be at Millikin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 28, 2019, 02:48:58 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 28, 2019, 12:47:19 PM
I learned yesterday that Odahl is dealing with injury issues.

That makes sense.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on March 29, 2019, 12:36:38 PM
Per the Wheaton College Baseball twitter page, tomorrow's double header with Millikin has been moved to Lee Pfund Stadium for a 1 o'clock first pitch for Game 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 29, 2019, 12:51:10 PM
Quote from: duckfan41 on March 29, 2019, 12:36:38 PM
Per the Wheaton College Baseball twitter page, tomorrow's double header with Millikin has been moved to Lee Pfund Stadium for a 1 o'clock first pitch for Game 1.

It's gonna be frigid in Carol Stream. We're expecting a high of 43 here on the North Side tomorrow -- and that comes with cloudy conditions and 17 mph winds out of the north, too -- so the doubleheader at Holmgren between NPU and Augie will be downright unpleasant to sit through. And we're only three miles from the lake here, so those'll be moderate conditions compared to what Wheaton and Millikin will experience out there in frozen suburbia.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 30, 2019, 07:52:17 PM
NCC and IWU split a DH today, held in Naperville rather than B'town due to weather concerns down south.  The Titans won the opener, 5-2, behind yet another outstanding performance by Nick Brune.  He held the Cards scoreless for 7 innings, before running into some trouble in the 8th.  In the nightcap, Quinn Gudaitis definitely did not live up to my hopes (6 runs in 3.2 innings), and the Titans were steamrolled 16-9.

If the weather cooperates, game three of the series will be in B'town tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 30, 2019, 09:20:59 PM
The wonderful thing about a doubleheader is that it's an immediate opportunity for redemption. After doing absolutely nothing right in any phase of the game and getting skunked in eight innings by Augie, 14-1, NPU rebounded and edged the Doggies in the nightcap, 4-3. And the beautiful thing about it is that Augie's rout of a victory is identical in the win column to the narrow victory won by the Park in Game Two.

All four CCIW doubleheaders were splits today, so, since idle Carroll lost its league opener on Wednesday, there are no undefeated teams left after only two days of play. For 24 hours at least, North Park, Augustana, North Central, and Wheaton have first-place bragging rights at 2-1 apiece.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on March 31, 2019, 12:03:06 AM
Five HBP?  I cannot recall a game when I was a LL parent/coach years ago to the present...LL to MLB
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2019, 08:52:50 AM
Quote from: markerickson on March 31, 2019, 12:03:06 AM
Five HBP?  I cannot recall a game when I was a LL parent/coach years ago to the present...LL to MLB

That's nothing. North Central committed seven -- count 'em, seven -- errors in yesterday's nightcap against Illinois Wesleyan and still managed to win ... by seven runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 31, 2019, 04:54:53 PM
I misread Carthage's pitching staff this season. Their offense is very good but their pitching is atrocious. Gonna be a long season as Carthage falls to 1-3 in the CCIW already and has yet to face the traditional powers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 31, 2019, 09:28:20 PM
To my surprise (but delight ;D), IWU won the rubber game against NCC today, 7-2.  The hitters started en fuego, with four runs in the first and two more in the second.  The Cards never recovered.  Eric Bennes (now 1-1) gets his first win; Jon Clifford (now 3-1) takes his first loss.  Nick Figus continues to knock on the door for conference Player of the Year: he went 3 for 4 today.  For the season he is now .486 BA, 1.305 OPS;  in conference play, .538 BA, 1.263 OPS.  (And, yes, it is WAY to early to be talking conference awards! :-[)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 31, 2019, 11:52:33 PM
... but you're going to do it, anyway. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 01, 2019, 10:15:15 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 31, 2019, 04:54:53 PM
I misread Carthage's pitching staff this season. Their offense is very good but their pitching is atrocious. Gonna be a long season as Carthage falls to 1-3 in the CCIW already and has yet to face the traditional powers.

It physically hurts watching them pitch from behind to every single batter...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2019, 03:31:59 PM
In the first of two at Augie, the final is Augie 6, IWU 5.  The Titans outhit the Vikings 10-8, and led the whole game until yielding 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th, but Augie got the right hits at the right times; IWU didn't. :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Game two in RI is headed to the eleventh, tied at 3.  This time Augie led the whole game, until the Titans got three in the seventh.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2019, 06:52:26 PM
Augie gets the sweep, with a run in the bottom of the 12th.  Braden Miller takes the loss, but I've gotta wonder about Coach Martell on this one.  Braden had only pitched 5 innings all season before today (and not all that well: era of 12.6) - he was magnificent for five entire innings (1-hit, no runs, from the 7th thru the 11th), but come on - that is already equal to his entire season coming in!!  He gave up his 2nd and 3rd hits to the first two batters, then a sac bunt, then the game-winning single for Augie - talk about Miller enduring trial - by - fire!! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 02, 2019, 08:35:44 PM
Anyone have a score from the first Carthage/Wheaton game today?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2019, 09:04:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2019, 08:35:44 PM
Anyone have a score from the first Carthage/Wheaton game today?

Today's scores, from the CCIW website:

Augustana 6, Illinois Wesleyan 5

Augustana 4, Illinois Wesleyan 3

North Park 8, Carroll 6

North Park 10, Carroll 8

Millikin 11, Elmhurst 3

Wheaton 9, Carthage 8

Carthage 10, Wheaton 7
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 02, 2019, 09:18:00 PM
On Tuesday afternoon North Park swept a doubleheader from Carroll, coming from behind in both contests to win by scores of 8-6 and 10-8.  In game one, Tyler Banks worked seven innings in his first career start to pick up the win and move to 4-1 on the season, while Andy Robbins notched his third save.  Ranko Stevanovic went 4-for-4 and Brandon Davis had two clutch hits to drive in four runs.  TJ Pfaffle was 4-for-5 for the Pioneers.  In game two, Jake Reinhardt went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs as the Vikings rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. Ethan Sund turned in a brilliant relief stint, working the final 2 1/3 innings and yielding just one infield single while striking out six of the eight batters he retired to pick up his second victory.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2019, 09:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Game two in RI Moline is headed to the eleventh, tied at 3.  This time Augie led the whole game, until the Titans got three in the seventh.

FTFY. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2019, 10:32:06 PM
It sounds counterintuitive to praise North Park pitchers on a day in which the Vikings gave up 14 runs and 26 hits over the course of the doubleheader, but there were two pretty outstanding pitching performances by the Vikes today. Mr. B has already mentioned Ethan Sund's lights-out performance at the end of game two, but earlier in that game Sund's fellow sophomore Brendan Russ, who had only pitched an inning and a third in two appearances all season, entered the contest in the third inning and pitched three scoreless innings in which the only Pioneer to reach did so via an infield error. Unfortunately, Luke Johnson tried to get Russ through the Carroll order a second time and Russ hit the wall, allowing the first four batters to reach in his fourth inning of work -- all of whom scored -- before he was yanked. But if he can be that effective in short stints in the future, then NPU might have another useful presence in the bullpen.

One of the stories of the day was Matthew Putman -- or, rather, what Matthew Putman didn't do for Carroll. He came into the contest leading all of D3 in batting at .614 and in OBP at .676, and he was also fifth in the nation in slugging at .860. But the Vikings shut him down today; Putman went 1-10 with a walk, his lone hit being a single, and he stranded seven teammates -- including a pair of bases-loaded situations in the first game, with the second being a flyout to right to end the game when the tying run was on second and the go-ahead run was on first. And, speaking of batting leaders, Anthony DiNardo of NPU has now qualified for the batting average leaderboard, and he's taken over for Putman as the CCIW's leading hitter. DiNardo now posts an average of .605 on the season. Since going 4-4 against Earlham back on March 15 down in Florida, the Nard Dog has strung together eight straight multi-hit games.

Quote from: mr_b on April 02, 2019, 09:04:37 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 02, 2019, 08:35:44 PM
Anyone have a score from the first Carthage/Wheaton game today?

Today's scores, from the CCIW website:

Augustana 6, Illinois Wesleyan 5

Augustana 4, Illinois Wesleyan 3

North Park 8, Carroll 6

North Park 10, Carroll 8

Millikin 11, Elmhurst 3

Millikin 24, Elmhurst 0 (That's not a typo.)

Wheaton 9, Carthage 8

Carthage 10, Wheaton 7
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2019, 11:26:43 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 02, 2019, 09:58:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 02, 2019, 06:17:20 PM
Game two in RI Moline is headed to the eleventh, tied at 3.  This time Augie led the whole game, until the Titans got three in the seventh.

FTFY. ;)

I thought the stadium was in Moline (though my memory has gotten more and more suspect in recent years :(), but I was reporting on game two, and livestats located the site as RI (despite saying Moline on the game one livestats!).  Since we all know that livestats never makes mistakes, I figured either the two cities' leaders had redrawn the boundaries at just that moment, or they had physically relocated the stadium between games! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2019, 11:54:33 AM
Or option three: A bad smell blew in off of the river, so they went upwind across the city line to a nearby park to play the nightcap.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 03, 2019, 05:58:26 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 03, 2019, 11:54:33 AM
Or option three: A bad smell blew in off of the river, so they went upwind across the city line to a nearby park to play the nightcap.

Nah - both games were listed as Swanson (Stadium)/Brunner (Field), so mine are the only two options - barring (OMG :o) someone making a silly mistake!  (You can still see the evidence in the box scores on the IWU baseball site.  Which is somewhat alarming as I actually expect occasional errors on livestats, but I assumed posted box scores would be more carefully proofread.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 03, 2019, 11:28:53 PM
Regarding Carthage baseball woes, Bosko had a +++ career as North Park's head baseball coach while doubling in basketball.  The team just could not get past the regional powerhouse, which I think was Marrieta (OH).  Maybe Bosko should switch sports at Carthage to resurrect the program.  I do NOT imply his current job should be in question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2019, 02:04:27 PM
North Park DH Anthony DiNardo has taken over the top spot on the D3 national leaderboard in batting average. He's one of three CCIW players ranked in the top ten:


rank  player, school  yr.  pos.    G  AB    H    BA
  1  Anthony DiNardo, North Park  Sr.  1B  14  38  23  .605
  2  Doug Schaffer, Williams  Sr.  INF  12  49  28  .571
  3  Ryan Serrato, Southern Vt.  Sr.  UT  17  62  34  .548
  4  Dylan Nastri, Colby  Fr.  INF  10  26  14  .538
  5  Matthew Putman, Carroll (WI)  Sr.  INF  18  67  36  .537
  6  Davis Mikell, Castleton  Jr.  1B  17  64  34  .531
  7  Max Lahn, Denison  So.  INF  19  68  35  .515
  8  Brendan Mapes, Oberlin  Sr.  C  14  49  25  .510
  9  Jacob Thompson, Oberlin  Fr.  P  14  53  27  .509
10  Colton Klein, Carthage  So.  CF  19  82  41  .500
      Graham Low, Macalester  Sr.  C  12  42  21  .500
      Nate Vigeant, Rhode Island Col.  Jr.  2B  18  70  35  .500

DiNardo is also seventh in the nation in OBP; Putman is third.

In terms of more obscure statistics, NPU rightfielder Niko Buck is fifth in the nation in hit-by-pitches, and seventh in HBP per game.

(Hat tip to Mr. B for the heads-up on Nard Dog's ascension to the #1 spot in BA.)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 04, 2019, 03:15:36 PM
DiNardo is not only leading D3 in hitting, he's leading all of four-year college baseball in hitting:


NCAA D1:  Nick Gonzales, New Mexico State  .483
NCAA D2:  Bradon O'Connor, Benedict  .490
NCAA D3:  Anthony DiNardo, North Park  .605
NAIA:  Blaine Milheim, Concordia (Mich.)  .524
USCAA:  Jordan Carter, Stratford  .573
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 03:38:28 PM
IWU takes the first of 2 in Waukesha, 13-4.  Nick Brune was excellent as usual - he gave of three earned runs in the 2nd, but otherwise had 7 shutout  innings, before yielding to a relief pitcher in the 9th.

If the Titans are to get back in contention, a sweep would be very welcome!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 03:46:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 03:38:28 PM
IWU takes the first of 2 in Waukesha, 13-4.  Nick Brune was excellent as usual - he gave of three earned runs in the 2nd, but otherwise had 7 shutout  innings, before yielding to a relief pitcher in the 9th.

The Titans hit six homers in that game, three of them by Garrett Shea and two by Steve Billington.

The only thing more fun than hitting against Carroll pitching is hitting against Carroll pitching in Carroll's ballpark.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 03:51:15 PM
North Park scratched out a 2-1 win in game one in Naperville. Josh Ward held North Central to one run over six innings before handing the baton to Ethan Sund, who shut out NCC the rest of the way for his second save of the season.

NPU won the game despite missing three key players from the lineup, leadoff hitter Jared Cantu and middle-of-the-order hitters Jake Reinhardt and Justin Woolbright. I'm not sure what was the reason behind that, but it makes the win over the Cardinals more impressive.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 05:06:34 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 03:46:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 03:38:28 PM
IWU takes the first of 2 in Waukesha, 13-4.  Nick Brune was excellent as usual - he gave of three earned runs in the 2nd, but otherwise had 7 shutout  innings, before yielding to a relief pitcher in the 9th.

The Titans hit six homers in that game, three of them by Garrett Shea and two by Steve Billington.

The only thing more fun than hitting against Carroll pitching is hitting against Carroll pitching in Carroll's ballpark.

How true!  Those were Shea's first three HRs of the season, and Billington's first two.  Carroll seems to have some pretty decent hitting, but their pitching may be historically bad.  They'll probably win a couple of slugfests before the season ends, but I can't see them ever leaving the conference cellar with such pitching.

The second game is already IWU 7, Carroll 2 in the 3rd.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 05:33:15 PM
Carroll's pitching is historically bad every season, Chuck.

The first season that they were back in the league, the Pioneers posed a 7.80 ERA in CCIW play. Last season their team ERA against CCIW hitters was 6.96. And their CCIW ERA coming into today was 8.34.

That ballpark of theirs certainly doesn't help, but Stein Rear can't seem to recruit anybody who knows how to miss bats without walking or plunking anybody.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 05:46:53 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 05:33:15 PM
Carroll's pitching is historically bad every season, Chuck.

The first season that they were back in the league, the Pioneers posed a 7.80 ERA in CCIW play. Last season their team ERA against CCIW hitters was 6.96. And their CCIW ERA coming into today was 8.34.

That ballpark of theirs certainly doesn't help, but Stein Rear can't seem to recruit anybody who knows how to miss bats without walking or plunking anybody.

Yeah, saw a good example of that in the 3rd of game two: Billington walked (on five pitches), took second on a WP, took 3rd on a passed ball, scored on a single - all with two out after IWU had already plated four!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 06, 2019, 07:52:03 PM
Titans get the DH sweep, 16-7.  Tomorrow they will go for the series sweep.  While baseball may be more prone to upsets than any other sport, I suspect IWU will do it.

Ay Caramba, Carroll is worse at baseball than NPU ever was at football!  In the top of the 9th, IWU got FIVE runs on TWO hits, two walks and three errors!  While it is probably hyperbole, I'm not sure Carroll could win at Williamsport. :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 06, 2019, 08:03:31 PM
North Central topped North Park in the nightcap, 10-8. The Vikings faced an 8-2 deficit going into the top of the ninth, but forced NCC's hand by plating a half-dozen runs in that half-inning, sparked by two-run doubles by Ranko Stevanovic and Anthony DiNardo. But Rob Marinec of NCC hit a two-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth with two out and one on to win it.

I'll gladly take the road split on a day in which NPU was playing with one hand tied behind its back with no Cantu, Reinhardt, or Woolbright in the lineup. After that first win, the ninth-inning comeback by the Vikings made it feel as though the Park was playing with house money.

NPU is now a half-game out of second at 5-3 with Wheaton at 6-3, a game and a half behind Augie, as the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance finished their season sweep of Elmhurst today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2019, 02:58:23 PM
Carroll got their first conference win this afternoon.  As expected, it was hitting, not pitching, that got it for them.  IWU scored 12 runs, but in the bottom of the 10th Carroll got run #13.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2019, 03:55:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2019, 02:58:23 PM
Carroll got their first conference win this afternoon.  As expected, it was hitting, not pitching, that got it for them.  IWU scored 12 runs, but in the bottom of the 10th Carroll got run #13.

Carroll did it with small ball, though -- an infield single followed by back-to-back bunt singles and a sac fly.

IWU blew a 9-1 lead in that game, as well as a 12-8 lead going into the bottom of the eighth.

Carthage managed to outslug Millikin, 7-6, to take two out of three from the Big Blue up in Kenosha this weekend.

North Central @ North Park has been pushed back to 5:30 this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 08, 2019, 12:10:32 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2019, 03:55:24 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 07, 2019, 02:58:23 PM
Carroll got their first conference win this afternoon.  As expected, it was hitting, not pitching, that got it for them.  IWU scored 12 runs, but in the bottom of the 10th Carroll got run #13.

Carroll did it with small ball, though -- an infield single followed by back-to-back bunt singles and a sac fly.

IWU blew a 9-1 lead in that game, as well as a 12-8 lead going into the bottom of the eighth.

Carthage managed to outslug Millikin, 7-6, to take two out of three from the Big Blue up in Kenosha this weekend.

North Central @ North Park has been pushed back to 5:30 this afternoon.

The bottom of the 8th was the killer, and so out-of-the-blue.  Matt Blaney entered in the 8th with a 0.00 era for the season (10.1 innings); 5 hits, 4 earned runs (and two outs) later he exited with a 3.27 era and the Titans no longer in the lead.  At that point I definitely saw the writing on the wall! :o :(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 08, 2019, 09:16:31 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2019, 03:55:24 PM
North Central @ North Park has been pushed back to 5:30 this afternoon.


Caught a little of this game on the video feed prior to the lightning delay.  Marinec's bomb in the first was a blast that would have gotten out of anyplace not named the Polo Grounds...Geesh!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 08, 2019, 09:21:42 AM
From Carthage website:
Injury Report:  Third baseman Cody Phelps, third on the team in batting at .378, broke his thumb playing first base in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Wheaton College (Ill.) and will miss the rest of the season...pitcher Nate Odahl injured an elbow during the Tucson trip and remains unavailable.  Odahl could return for the final week of the season. 


Ouch and ouch.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 08, 2019, 10:52:11 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 08, 2019, 09:16:31 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 07, 2019, 03:55:24 PM
North Central @ North Park has been pushed back to 5:30 this afternoon.


Caught a little of this game on the video feed prior to the lightning delay.  Marinec's bomb in the first was a blast that would have gotten out of anyplace not named the Polo Grounds...Geesh!

People think that Holmgren is a bandbox because of the short right-field porch, but you have to hit it a long way to get it out in center. Marinec's homer traveled about 420 feet or so. He also hit a deep two-run triple to center in the ninth to add on to NCC's big lead, and of course he hit the walk-off homer in Saturday's nightcap. He wore out NPU pitching this weekend -- which I suppose is only fair, since his two throwing errors in Saturday's opener proved fatal to the Cardinals.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 08, 2019, 11:56:12 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 08, 2019, 09:21:42 AM
From Carthage website:
Injury Report:  Third baseman Cody Phelps, third on the team in batting at .378, broke his thumb playing first base in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Wheaton College (Ill.) and will miss the rest of the season...pitcher Nate Odahl injured an elbow during the Tucson trip and remains unavailable.  Odahl could return for the final week of the season. 


Ouch and ouch.

Those are both devastating injuries to the program this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2019, 05:28:14 PM
With no explanation (and no details) the IWU game (hosting NPU) has been moved from Horenberger Field to the Corn Crib in north Normal, which apparently is not equipped for any sort of webcasting.  So I guess I'm blacked-out until the IWU website posts about the game. :(

Since I left the twin cities almost 50 years ago, I have no idea what the Corn Crib even is.  Any info anyone can provide would be appreciated (about the Corn Crib, why the move, or especially about the game).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 10, 2019, 05:44:50 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2019, 05:28:14 PM
With no explanation (and no details) the IWU game (hosting NPU) has been moved from Horenberger Field to the Corn Crib in north Normal, which apparently is not equipped for any sort of webcasting.  So I guess I'm blacked-out until the IWU website posts about the game. :(

Since I left the twin cities almost 50 years ago, I have no idea what the Corn Crib even is.  Any info anyone can provide would be appreciated (about the Corn Crib, why the move, or especially about the game).
The IWU website notes poor field conditions at Horenberger.  If you go to the main athletics website menu and hover over "baseball," there is a link to the Twitter feed.  In the 2nd the gamer is tied at 1-1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 10, 2019, 09:09:02 PM
IWU 8, NPU 7.

YIKES!  Errors: NPU 0, IWU 5!!

IWU is scheduled to host Monmouth in a non-con game tomorrow at Horenberger.  If the field was unplayable today, I doubt 24 hours is gonna change much.  I have been unable to find if the game is at Horenberger, at Corn Crib, or has simply been cancelled.  It may well just get rained out anyway. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 11, 2019, 10:04:06 PM
The Monmouth @ IWU game was indeed rained out, but unlike three early season non-con games is listed as postponed, rather than cancelled.  The schools are only maybe 75 miles apart (and almost entirely by I-74), so a make-up is entirely possible.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2019, 10:07:21 PM
In what might be the ultimate man-bites-dog story of the baseball season thus far, Carroll actually shut out a CCIW opponent tonight. The Pioneers edged Millikin down in Decatur, 1-0, as Cameron Godinsky -- he of the 7.58 ERA -- went the distance and notched a five-hit shutout win over the Big Blue.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2019, 10:28:47 PM
North Park went on the road and worked out an ugly win over Wheaton tonight at windy Pfund Field. Wheaton got back into the game in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run homer and put the first two men aboard in the bottom of the ninth, but at that point NPU closer Andy Robbins came in and shut the door, inducing a flyout and a pair of swinging strikeouts to end the game.

The middle of the order had a solid night for the Park, as Anthony DiNardo led the way by going 3-6 with a double and a homer and 5 RBI. Ranko Stevanovic went 2-5 with 3 RBI, and Jake Reinhardt went 3-4 with a pair of RBI.

Wheaton committed five errors, but even if the hosts had fielded cleanly it wouldn't have mattered; only three of NPU's runs were unearned.

The two teams will meet tomorrow at Holmgren for a doubleheader.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 12, 2019, 11:56:48 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 12, 2019, 10:07:21 PM
In what might be the ultimate man-bites-dog story of the baseball season thus far, Carroll actually shut out a CCIW opponent tonight. The Pioneers edged Millikin down in Decatur, 1-0, as Cameron Godinsky -- he of the 7.58 ERA -- went the distance and notched a five-hit shutout win over the Big Blue.

WOW - baseball is indeed a strange game!  Just last weekend, IWU (NOT a particularly potent offensive team) scored 41 runs in three games against the Pios! ;)  Getting their first conference win by beating IWU 13-12 did not surprise me; getting their second win by a 1-0 score is stunning! :o
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2019, 12:58:19 AM
Well, the bandbox that Carroll plays in has something to do with the tavern-league-softball scores that get posted in games played there. But even on the road, Carroll's pitching tends to get knocked around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2019, 09:22:47 PM
North Park split with Wheaton today to take the season series from the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance. Wheaton won the first game, 11-1, and the Park came back to take game two by a score of 8-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2019, 09:32:13 PM
In other games, North Central swept Elmhurst at Butterfield Park, Millikin swept a pair from Carroll in Decatur -- the Big Blue won the series two out of three, but held the Pioneers to only three runs for the entire series -- and Carthage blew a pair of big ninth-inning leads to lose in walkoff fashion twice to Augie in Moline. In game one the Red Men muffed a 14-11 lead to lose 15-14, a game in which the Red Men also held 5-0 and 9-5 leads, and in game two it was a 7-4 lead that they threw away to lose 8-7, despite five Augustana errors. Ouch!

That ain't good for the league, as Augie (and, to a lesser extent, North Central) are achieving separation at the top of the standings.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: markerickson on April 13, 2019, 10:18:24 PM
When was the last time Augie won a conference title in baseball?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 13, 2019, 10:33:33 PM
Quote from: markerickson on April 13, 2019, 10:18:24 PM
When was the last time Augie won a conference title in baseball?
2016: co-champions with North Central; 2014: outright CCIW conference champion (https://static.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/Baseball/History/BB_Records.pdf)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 14, 2019, 11:44:04 AM
Carthage is a mess right now. As I said two weeks ago, their offense will pile up the runs, but their pitching will kill them. The lack of any bullpen consistency is their downfall right now. Every weekend results in a blown lead late in the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on April 16, 2019, 09:33:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 14, 2019, 11:44:04 AM
Carthage is a mess right now. As I said two weeks ago, their offense will pile up the runs, but their pitching will kill them. The lack of any bullpen consistency is their downfall right now. Every weekend results in a blown lead late in the game.

Augie got out their brooms and took game three in the series.

Current CCIW standings

Augustana   9-1   20-5-1
NoCentral   8-3   18-7
Wheaton   8-5   18-8
North Park   7-6   14-11
Millikin   7-6   12-13
IWU     5-5   12-12
Carthage   4-8   14-13
Carroll   2-8   10-16
Elmhurst   2-10   8-17
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2019, 10:33:52 AM
Full slate of doubleheaders today:

Carroll @ North Central, 12 pm & 3 pm
North Park @ Carthage, 3 pm & 6 pm
Wheaton @ Illinois Wesleyan, 3 pm & 6 pm
Augustana @ Millikin, 4 pm & 7 pm
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 16, 2019, 10:39:46 AM
Quote from: mwunder on April 16, 2019, 09:33:01 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 14, 2019, 11:44:04 AM
Carthage is a mess right now. As I said two weeks ago, their offense will pile up the runs, but their pitching will kill them. The lack of any bullpen consistency is their downfall right now. Every weekend results in a blown lead late in the game.

Augie got out their brooms and took game three in the series.

Current CCIW standings

Augustana   9-1   20-5-1
NoCentral   8-3   18-7
Wheaton   8-5   18-8
North Park   7-6   14-11
Millikin   7-6   12-13
IWU     5-5   12-12
Carthage   4-8   14-13
Carroll   2-8   10-16
Elmhurst   2-10   8-17

I cannot believe how far Carthage has fallen in the past few years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2019, 06:32:12 PM
North Park takes game one in Kenosha, 6-2.  Michael Pritts scattered nine singles over 8+ innings, by far his best outing of the season.  Justin Woolbright paced the Viking attack with three RBIs, including a key 2-run single in the 7th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2019, 08:03:48 PM
I went out to dinner with my wife and missed most of the first game in B'town.  IWU topped Wheaton 11-8.

Game two so far looks very promising for the green team, as the Titans scored 4 runs in the first on five singles and a walk, while Quinn Gudaitis struck out the first four Wheaties he faced, then walked one, then got a double play.  Middle of the second: IWU 4, WC 0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 16, 2019, 09:43:07 PM
North Park sweeps the doubleheader in Kenosha (and the season series), shutting out the Red Men, 9-0 in the nightcap.  This has to be the most dominant game I've seen by a Viking hurler since a couple of one-hit gems by Mike Giovenco.  Ethan Sund closed out game one by retiring all three batters he faced, then as the starter in game two, he set down the first 14 batters before Johnny Belskis lined a two-out double down the left field line.  That would be the only Carthage hit of the contest (especially noteworthy for a club that came in with a team BA of .362), and they garnered only two more runners: a walk to Kyle Engstrom and a ninth-inning error.  For their part, Viking batters collected 15 safeties including six doubles; Ranko Stevanovic led the way with a 4-for-5 game.  Sund worked a total of nine scoreless innings to extend his scoreless streak to 30 innings.  Matt Pizur came in to work a scoreless ninth for the Vikings, who move to 16-11 overall and 9-6 in CCIW action.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 16, 2019, 10:10:29 PM
IWU gets the sweep, with an 11-2 win in the nightcap.  The Titans have returned to the tourney hunt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2019, 11:36:56 PM
Boy, I wish I knew what the CCIW record for consecutive scoreless innings was. I've got to imagine that Ethan Sund has either broken it or is getting close to it ... but, unfortunately, it's not listed on the league website. The D3 record is 47 innings, set by Joey Serfass of Eastern Connecticut State back in 2003.

It's great to not only see Michael Pritts get back on track and start to resemble his 2018 self, but to see Matt Pizur come back from a sore elbow that's sidelined him for a month and strike out two Red Men in his inning of mopup work for Sund.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on April 17, 2019, 02:52:11 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 16, 2019, 11:36:56 PM
Boy, I wish I knew what the CCIW record for consecutive scoreless innings was. I've got to imagine that Ethan Sund has either broken it or is getting close to it ... but, unfortunately, it's not listed on the league website. The D3 record is 47 innings, set by Joey Serfass of Eastern Connecticut State back in 2003.

It's great to not only see Michael Pritts get back on track and start to resemble his 2018 self, but to see Matt Pizur come back from a sore elbow that's sidelined him for a month and strike out two Red Men in his inning of mopup work for Sund.

Remembering from a couple years back but Trey Martin had 29 scoreless innings in a row and that was the seventh-longest streak in Division III history.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 17, 2019, 03:03:18 PM
I vaguely remember that. Thanks, thunder38.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2019, 08:46:05 PM
Millikin wins the first to two, 4-3.  IWU earned all three of their runs; Millikin got two of theirs off IWU's 3 errors.  Seems to me it oughta be called a tie! :o ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 19, 2019, 09:51:25 PM
Wheaton did the rest of the conference a favor by sweeping Augustana today in Carol Stream. Michael McCraith, who is making a strong run at CCIW Pitcher of the Year, first shut out the Doggies on two hits in a complete-gamer, 1-0, and the hosts then took the nightcap, 4-3. North Central swept Carthage at Zimmerman, 10-4 and 5-4, so in the space of an afternoon Augustana's lead in the standings completely vanished. NCC is now on top at 12-3, with Augie a half-game behind at 11-3, and North Park (which is idle this weekend) a very distant third at 9-6.

Cellar-dwellers Carroll and Elmhurst split their doubleheader up in Waukesha.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 19, 2019, 09:57:40 PM
In the second game. IWU was down 3-1 in the ninth.  Two doubles made it a 1-run game.  A walk made it first and second with still no outs.  The Titans never scored.  Alas, I think they deserved the loss.  This is not a very good team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 19, 2019, 10:38:57 PM

North Central took both ends of today's doubleheader in Naperville, besting the Redmen 5-4 in the opener, and 10-4 in the nightcap.

Perhaps the most exciting moment in the 2nd game came when the entire Carthage team suddenly vacated their dugout while, seconds later, the Naperville Fire Dept. roared into the parking lot directly behind the stadium. Initial speculation as to the cause of the disturbance centered on a laughable theory propagated by the NCC radio broadcasters suggesting the Carthage coach may have mishandled some type of incendiary device. However, further investigation subsequently seemed to reveal that a propane heater had malfunctioned. As the malfunctioning unit was quickly deemed not to present any further danger, the interruption was short lived, and game action resumed after only a short delay.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 19, 2019, 11:05:32 PM
Wheaton swept Augie, 4-3 and 1-0, so the standings as of right now are:



North Central  12-3   22-7
Augustana  11-3   22-7-1
North Park  9-6   16-11
Wheaton  10-7   20-10
Millikin  9-8   14-15
Illinois Wesleyan  7-7   14-14
Carthage     4-12   14-17
Carroll  3-11   11-19
Elmhurst  3-11   9-19
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2019, 04:51:03 PM
Wheaton beat Augie in Moline, 4-3, and North Central defeated Carthage in Kenosha, 3-1, to push NCC a game and a half ahead of Augie.

Wheaton's sweep of Augie has brought the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance back into third place, a half-game ahead of North Park and a game and a half behind Augie -- but both NPU and Augie have three games in hand as compared to Wheaton.

Millikin, which looks like it's on the verge of sweeping Illinois Wesleyan, is very much in the middle of the pack as well, and even though IWU is fighting just to tread water in the standings, Carthage, Carroll, and Elmhurst are doing so poorly that the Titans look very much like the favorite to take the sixth and final playoff spot.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 20, 2019, 05:33:18 PM
Millikin swept Illinois Wesleyan with a 9-4 win in Decatur, and Carroll took the series against Elmhurst with a 14-12 win at Butterfield Park.

Updated standings:


North Central  13-3    --      23-7
Augustana  11-4  1 1/2      22-8-1
Wheaton  11-7  3      21-10
North Park    9-6  3 1/2      16-11
Millikin  10-8  4      15-15
Illinois Wesleyan    7-8  5 1/2      14-15
Carroll    4-11  8 1/2      12-19
Carthage    4-13  9 1/2      14-18
Elmhurst    3-12  9 1/2        9-20
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 23, 2019, 07:49:09 PM
North Park takes down #1 Concordia-Chicago, 9-7, in 12 innings, handing the Cougars just their third defeat of the season.  Tyler Banks, the fourth Viking pitcher, worked five innings of one-run relief with nine strikeouts for his fifth victory.  Ranko Stevanovic went 3-for-6 with four RBIs, while Jared Cantu and Anthony DiNardo had three hits apiece.  In the top of the 12th, Richie Silva and Logan Peters hit back-to-back sac flies to drive in the go-ahead and winning runs following Justin Woolbright's double with one aboard. Not to be lost in the shuffle was Matt Pizur's four-inning relief stint, one run, no hits, four K's.  Glad to see him returning to form after a long layoff.

Tomorrow, the Vikings travel to Waukesha for a CCIW contest against Carroll.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2019, 10:25:50 PM
That's a very nice win for NPU to have in its back pocket. Here's hoping that it becomes relevant in about three weeks or so.

I do recall North Park getting a win over Marietta when the Pioneers were defending national champions, back when Bosko coached the Vikings baseball team, but -- unless Mr. B says otherwise -- I'm pretty sure that this is the first time that NPU has beaten #1 in the d3baseball.com/NCBWA era.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 24, 2019, 07:52:38 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2019, 10:25:50 PM
That's a very nice win for NPU to have in its back pocket. Here's hoping that it becomes relevant in about three weeks or so.

I do recall North Park getting a win over Marietta when the Pioneers were defending national champions, back when Bosko coached the Vikings baseball team, but -- unless Mr. B says otherwise -- I'm pretty sure that this is the first time that NPU has beaten #1 in the d3baseball.com/NCBWA era.
In the 1984 Regional in Ada, OH, North Park defeated defending champs Marietta 11-7.  The Vikings would then lose consecutive 8-7 contests to the Pioneers. Marietta made it to the championship game that season, but lost to Ramapo, 5-4.  Marietta finished the '84 campaign with a 53-7 record and had two first-team All-American pitchers, Jim Kennedy and Terry Mulholland.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on April 24, 2019, 08:27:13 AM
Quote from: mr_b on April 24, 2019, 07:52:38 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 23, 2019, 10:25:50 PM
That's a very nice win for NPU to have in its back pocket. Here's hoping that it becomes relevant in about three weeks or so.

I do recall North Park getting a win over Marietta when the Pioneers were defending national champions, back when Bosko coached the Vikings baseball team, but -- unless Mr. B says otherwise -- I'm pretty sure that this is the first time that NPU has beaten #1 in the d3baseball.com/NCBWA era.
In the 1984 Regional in Ada, OH, North Park defeated defending champs Marietta 11-7.  The Vikings would then lose consecutive 8-7 contests to the Pioneers. Marietta made it to the championship game that season, but lost to Ramapo, 5-4.  Marietta finished the '84 campaign with a 53-7 record and had two first-team All-American pitchers, Jim Kennedy and Terry Mulholland.
Oh, that Terry Mulholland!

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=mulhote01
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2019, 11:11:39 AM
Yep, Terry "Suitcase" Mulholland, who pitched for eleven different MLB teams, several of them multiple times. He was one of my favorite Cubs of the Jim Riggleman era, due to his D3 background.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on April 24, 2019, 01:01:09 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2019, 11:11:39 AM
Yep, Terry "Suitcase" Mulholland, who pitched for eleven different MLB teams, several of them multiple times. He was one of my favorite Cubs of the Jim Riggleman era, due to his D3 background.

There will always be a spot for a lefthanded pitcher
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on April 24, 2019, 04:44:54 PM
Wanted to share this - first week of central region rankings:

https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1 (https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1)

1   Washington U. in St. Louis
2   Spalding   
3   Coe   
4   Webster   
5   North Central (Illinois)
6   North Park   
7   Luther   
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 24, 2019, 05:03:32 PM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on April 24, 2019, 04:44:54 PM
Wanted to share this - first week of central region rankings:

https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1 (https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1)

1   Washington U. in St. Louis
2   Spalding   
3   Coe   
4   Webster   
5   North Central (Illinois)
6   North Park   
7   Luther
Very interesting... this ranking does not include North Park's win over Concordia.  Surprising is the absence of Augustana, which sits at 22-9-1 after this afternoon's loss to Illinois Wesleyan.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2019, 05:56:19 PM
IWU scored in the bottom of the ninth to edge Augie, 6-5.  The Titans get back to .500 both overall (15-15) and in the conference (8-8).  OTOH, Augie has now lost four straight games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2019, 06:58:51 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 24, 2019, 05:03:32 PM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on April 24, 2019, 04:44:54 PM
Wanted to share this - first week of central region rankings:

https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1 (https://d3baseball.com/playoffs/2019/regional-rankings-week1)

1   Washington U. in St. Louis
2   Spalding   
3   Coe   
4   Webster   
5   North Central (Illinois)
6   North Park   
7   Luther
Very interesting... this ranking does not include North Park's win over Concordia.

Speaking of which, the Cougars beat North Central today, 3-2, at Zimmerman Stadium in Naperville.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 24, 2019, 10:48:43 PM
Well, that didn't last long. North Park dropped an 8-6 decision to lowly Carroll up in the Pios' Waukesha bandbox, deflating all the hubris accumulated over the past 24 hours by the win over #1 Concordia (IL) and the regional ranking.

The only bright spot is that Wheaton got skunked by likewise-lowly Carthage, 10-0 in seven innings, so the Vikings don't lose any ground in the race for third place. The problem, though, is that this is supposed to be a race for second place, since in a six-team tournament it's the top two seeds -- the two teams that get opening-round byes -- that matter. And, since NPU has already lost the season series to both NCC and Augie, catching one of those two teams and passing it is tough enough without dropping games like tonight's.

Baseball is a very humbling game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2019, 11:08:26 PM
Elmhurst made the final score respectable by scoring 3 in the top of the ninth, but IWU wins 6-4.  I'm not sure it is official yet, but the CCIW tourney participants are now known - only the order of NCC, Augie, NPU, Wheaton, Millikin, and IWU to be set.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 27, 2019, 10:24:40 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2019, 11:08:26 PM
Elmhurst made the final score respectable by scoring 3 in the top of the ninth, but IWU wins 6-4.  I'm not sure it is official yet, but the CCIW tourney participants are now known - only the order of NCC, Augie, NPU, Wheaton, Millikin, and IWU to be set.
That's a bit premature.  No team has been mathematically eliminated yet.  There are still several games to play and every team still can finish with as many as ten conference victories.  If Carroll runs the table, for example, the Pioneers would be at 12-12. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 27, 2019, 03:05:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on April 27, 2019, 10:24:40 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 26, 2019, 11:08:26 PM
Elmhurst made the final score respectable by scoring 3 in the top of the ninth, but IWU wins 6-4.  I'm not sure it is official yet, but the CCIW tourney participants are now known - only the order of NCC, Augie, NPU, Wheaton, Millikin, and IWU to be set.
That's a bit premature.  No team has been mathematically eliminated yet.  There are still several games to play and every team still can finish with as many as ten conference victories.  If Carroll runs the table, for example, the Pioneers would be at 12-12.

Yeah, I was having a flashback to the 8-team conference and a 21-game conference season. :-[
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on April 27, 2019, 09:37:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2019, 05:56:19 PM
Augie has now lost four straight games.

Make that six straight losses after dropping yesterday's DH to North Central by scores of 13-2 and 4-1 in Moline.
In the nightcap, with emphasis on night as the game didn't finish until 10:18 PM, three NCC hurlers struck out a combined 14 of the western Vikings. 
Augie and NCC administrators/coaches displayed good foresight in moving the games, which were originally scheduled for today, up to yesterday in light of today's predicted snow. 🌨
Series finale is scheduled for 2:00 tomorrow. ⚾️ ☃️
The Cardinals now hold a 4 game lead in the conference standings, and have 5 of their 6 remaining games at home.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2019, 10:46:11 PM
North Park takes down one of the league's top pitchers, beating Adam Zuk and Millikin, 6-3, at Sunnyside Park in Decatur. Vikings outfielders Brandon Davis and Brad Maurer each hit the first homers of their respective careers, as NPU moved ahead of Wheaton and Millikin into third place, a half-game behind Augie.

As I said a few days ago, the goal is to get second place and that first-round bye.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 28, 2019, 03:12:52 PM
Quote from: AndOne on April 27, 2019, 09:37:17 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 24, 2019, 05:56:19 PM
Augie has now lost four straight games.

Make that six straight losses after dropping yesterday's DH to North Central by scores of 13-2 and 4-1 in Moline.
In the nightcap, with emphasis on night as the game didn't finish until 10:18 PM, three NCC hurlers struck out a combined 14 of the western Vikings. 
Augie and NCC administrators/coaches displayed good foresight in moving the games, which were originally scheduled for today, up to yesterday in light of today's predicted snow. 🌨
Series finale is scheduled for 2:00 tomorrow. ⚾️ ☃️
The Cardinals now hold a 4 game lead in the conference standings, and have 5 of their 6 remaining games at home.

Death, taxes and Augustana getting off to a hot start and stumbling down the stretch. Happens almost every year. As a guy who has followed CCIW baseball since the early 90s, this is not a shock to me.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2019, 05:03:03 PM
In a DH moved from Saturday at Elmhurst to Sunday in Bloomington (though Elmhurst will still be the 'home' team), IWU wins the first, 7-6.  Much like Friday, IWU led big, then Elmhurst tried to rally (3 runs in the bottom of the 8th) but fell short.

NOW, Elmhurst is mathematically eliminated from the conference tourney (and Carthage is all-but-eliminated).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2019, 09:51:50 PM
In a reversal of the first two games, it was IWU who staged the comeback.  In a real "pitchers' duel" ;D,  the Titans scored three runs in the top of the 11th to win, 15-12.  The result eliminates Carthage from the tourney (Elmhurst was already eliminated).*

The two teams combined for 37 hits (and Elmhurst had five errors).  Nick Brune, having already gotten his 3rd save in the first game, finished this one with his 5th win, against one loss.  A wild game, but hardly a good game by any reasonable standard.

*Eliminated from catching IWU - I now see they could catch NPU.  Doubtful, but possible.  I hadn't realized that the sweep of the Titans over the Jays actually moved us from 6th to tied for 4th
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 29, 2019, 11:13:10 AM
The two biggest surprises to me in the CCIW this year are Miilikin's rise, and Carthage's tumble.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 29, 2019, 11:25:20 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 29, 2019, 11:13:10 AM
The two biggest surprises to me in the CCIW this year are Miilikin's rise, and Carthage's tumble.
Millikin has been steadily improving for several seasons. This year they've had really solid pitching and fielding (this weekend seemed to be an aberration, with eight errors).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 29, 2019, 11:32:58 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on April 28, 2019, 09:51:50 PM
*Eliminated from catching IWU - I now see they could catch NPU.  Doubtful, but possible.

Incorrect. The only member of the bottom three that can catch North Park is Carroll -- and that's only if Carroll wins out against Wheaton and Augustana while NPU gets swept by both Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst. The Bluejays are eliminated (they can only get to eight CCIW wins,while NPU already has ten), and the Red Men are eliminated as well (they can tie NPU, but the Vikings own the tiebreaker).

Any win by the Vikings or any loss by the Pioneers sets the six-team playoff field.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 30, 2019, 10:56:14 AM
This evening's doubleheader at Holmgren between North Park and Illinois Wesleyan has been postponed to tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2019, 05:06:33 PM
In the first of two in Chicago, NPU broke a tie game wide open with 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th.  They win, 9-4.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 01, 2019, 05:17:43 PM
Josh Ward pitched the first complete game of the season for North Park. He was ragged in the first, giving up three runs (two of them to batters he'd walked), but settled down and only gave up one run the rest of the way.

Vikings bats did a nice job of tagging IWU ace Nick Brune, who gave up 13 of the 16 hits that the Vikings hit, and eight of the nine runs.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 01, 2019, 09:28:55 PM
IWU retaliates with a split in the DH, 8-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: thunder38 on May 04, 2019, 09:03:56 PM
Not quite the chaotic finish it could have been today but there's still some drama to sort out for seeding.

The following seeds are clinched:
#1 - North Central
#2 - Augustana
#6 - North Park

Two scenarios still remain for seeding depending on the outcomes of the North Central/Millikin doubleheader tomorrow in Naperville.

**Millikin sweep OR split
#3 - Millikin
#4 - Illinois Wesleyan
#5 - Wheaton

**North Central sweep
#3 - Illinois Wesleyan
#4 - Wheaton
#5 - Millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 04, 2019, 10:03:01 PM
On Senior Day in Chicago, the host Vikings treated the fans to two exciting wins over visiting Elmhurst. In game one, The Bluejays' Fred Birr kept North Park at bay after being staked to an early 4-0 after two frames.  The Vikings managed to scratch out single runs in the second and third on RBI hits by Justin Woolbright and Cullen Gilbertson, but after North Park rallied for one in the bottom of the ninth, Birr exited in favor of Elmhurst closer Alec Berry.  He walked Niko Buck and hit Jared Cantu to load the bases, and Jake Reinhardt lashed a double to left-center that cleared the bases and wrapped up a 5-4 comeback win in game one.  In game two, North Park scored five unearned runs in the first on just two hits and three Bluejay errors.  The two teams traded three-run outputs in the fourth before the Vikings added three more in the 6th and on in the eighth for a 12-3 victory.  It was really nice to see appearances by seniors Nolan Lux and Roman Orozov, both four-year players who saw their first action (actually, Roman played one inning of outfield defense his first year before transitioning to the mound).  Nolan ended up with two at bats -- one resulting in  walk -- along with a putout in left, while Roman worked a scoreless, hitless inning of relief in the ninth, ending the game with a flourish on a looping curve that caught the batter looking.  I'll go out on a limb to say that Roman is the first Bulgarian pitcher ever to work a CCIW game.  They are two of the really great guys on a team of really great guys.  A nice touch was the playing of the Bulgarian national anthem prior to the U.S. anthem, since Roman's parents were both in attendance and will be here to see their son graduate this week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2019, 10:32:17 PM
I'll go out even farther on that limb than Mr. B and guess that Roman Orozov is the first Bulgarian pitcher ever in D3, if not the entire NCAA. And I honestly can't remember a CCIW student-athlete in any sport who hailed from Bulgaria prior to the appearance of Roman on the NPU roster four years ago.

(Bulgaria's got a nice national anthem, by the way.)

North Park truly has the most international sports teams around. Everybody knows about our polyglot men's soccer program, and our golf, tennis, and track teams have had lots of Swedes and Norwegians over the years as well. But over the past few weeks we've seen a Vikings pinch-hitter from New Zealand rap out a base hit to right field and a Vikings reliever from Bulgaria (who snapped off some really nasty curveballs today) end a game by striking out an opposing batter. And all while our English midfielder from the soccer team did the P.A. announcing in the press box.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2019, 07:30:45 PM
Millikin and North Central split, so here's next Thursday's schedule:

Game 1: Wheaton vs. Illinois Wesleyan
Game 2: North Park vs. Millikin
Game 3: NPU/MU winner vs. Augustana
Game 4: WC/IWU winner vs. North Central

Game times TBA.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2019, 07:44:44 PM
This new six-team, three-day tourney format is going to be tricky to pull off this year, because Zimmerman Stadium doesn't have lights. There's going to be about fourteen and a half hours of daylight on Thursday, with sunrise at 5:35 am and sunset at 8 pm, but nobody's going to force anybody to play baseball at 6 am. Realistically, I can't imagine games starting before 8 am. Even if Thursday's and Friday's games start at 8 am pronto, that's only three hours allotted per game. If one or more games run into extras, or there's plenty of big-inning baseball with a lot of runners on base and a lot of pitching changes, that fourth game of the day could be finishing in something less than ideal visibility conditions.

Plenty of CCIW baseball games run over three hours. I'm not sure how they're going to pull off this four-games-per-day format.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on May 05, 2019, 11:11:26 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2019, 07:44:44 PM
This new six-team, three-day tourney format is going to be tricky to pull off this year, because Zimmerman Stadium doesn't have lights. There's going to be about fourteen and a half hours of daylight on Thursday, with sunrise at 5:35 am and sunset at 8 pm, but nobody's going to force anybody to play baseball at 6 am. Realistically, I can't imagine games starting before 8 am. Even if Thursday's and Friday's games start at 8 am pronto, that's only three hours allotted per game. If one or more games run into extras, or there's plenty of big-inning baseball with a lot of runners on base and a lot of pitching changes, that fourth game of the day could be finishing in something less than ideal visibility conditions.

Plenty of CCIW baseball games run over three hours. I'm not sure how they're going to pull off this four-games-per-day format.

They could have the games later in the day in the early rounds at Lee Pfund Stadium. Turf would account for the potential rain issues, and lights would allow for might games. Would the conference office even consider a contingency plan like that?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2019, 11:26:43 PM
Turns out that they are, indeed, going to play some of the games at Pfund. (https://cciw.org/sports/2019/3/27/BB_0327195730.aspx) Two of Thursday's four games and two of Friday's four games will be in Carol Stream, with both committed games (and the if-necessary game to follow) on Saturday all scheduled for Zimmerman.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 06, 2019, 03:52:46 PM
Congrats to the 6 teams that continue to play baseball for a CCIW school.  Hopefully one of them makes it to Cedar Rapids!

Can Vince Schwartz win CCIW Hitter of the Year without winning the weekly award once this season?  Or, is it between Figus and Marinec?  Based on the piss-poor showing by the Red Men this season, I'll say No to my first question, and go with Marinec as the odds on favorite.

Is this the first season in memory that a Carthage hitter, or player even, has not won a weekly award?

Anyone know what happened to Colton Klein?  He played in the first game of the 4/26 doubleheader with Carroll and hasn't been heard from since.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 06, 2019, 05:42:45 PM
If awards were handed out strictly as individual achievements -- and baseball and softball are the two sports in which individual achievements should definitely trump team finish in the standings, since hitting and pitching are so uniquely individualistic within the world of team sports -- then Schwartz would be the CCIW Player of the Year. But coaches just don't think that way. Zach Hofer of Elmhurst was the last player to win the award who played for a team that didn't make the CCIW tourney, and that was all the way back in 2009. And Hofer didn't even win the award outright, as he had to share it with a player from CCIW champion Carthage. The last player to win the award who didn't play for a team that was in the tourney was Dave Phillips of Wheaton all the way back in 1993.

Because of that, I've been saying for the better part of a month now that the award is Marinec's to lose.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 07, 2019, 12:00:12 AM
While it's just one play among thousands in an entire season, Rob Marinec may have cemented his selection as the POY on Sunday when, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th inning in the first game of a DH vs. Millikin, he scored the winning run by stealing home.
He had earlier tied the game with a 2 run homer in the 6th. The homer being his league leading 9th of the season. ⚾️ 😎
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 07, 2019, 02:29:01 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 07, 2019, 12:00:12 AM
While it's just one play among thousands in an entire season, Rob Marinec may have cemented his selection as the POY on Sunday when, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th inning in the first game of a DH vs. Millikin, he scored the winning run by stealing home.
He had earlier tied the game with a 2 run homer in the 6th. The homer being his league leading 9th of the season. ⚾️ 😎

Not to pick, but a steal of home in a game that didn't matter due to the fact that NC had already locked up the CCIW title is not cement.  Your second point about leading the league in dingers was more cementing historically however as the league leader in HRs has won the POY 15 times since 1980.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 07, 2019, 06:13:20 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 07, 2019, 02:29:01 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 07, 2019, 12:00:12 AM
While it's just one play among thousands in an entire season, Rob Marinec may have cemented his selection as the POY on Sunday when, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th inning in the first game of a DH vs. Millikin, he scored the winning run by stealing home.
He had earlier tied the game with a 2 run homer in the 6th. The homer being his league leading 9th of the season. ⚾️ 😎

Not to pick, but a steal of home in a game that didn't matter due to the fact that NC had already locked up the CCIW title is not cement.  Your second point about leading the league in dingers was more cementing historically however as the league leader in HRs has won the POY 15 times since 1980.

Well, a steal of home with 2 down in the 11th inning instead of just hoping the batter would drive him in is still pretty impressive. Maybe we can reclassify it as glue instead of cement? 😉
As far as leading the league in homers being somewhat of a tighter seal, I'm happy with a .500 batting average. ⚾️  ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 08, 2019, 08:33:36 PM
Looks like the weather might play havoc with the conference tournament, especially tomorrow. It's forecasted to start raining at about 10:00 tonight, and continue until 11:00 AM or noon tomorrow. Fortunately, things are looking up for Friday and Saturday. In light of tomorrow's forecast, my understanding was that the suggestion was made to begin the tournament under today's ideal conditions, but that was nixed by the Commissioner. Accordingly, there are any number of contingencies in place depending on whether one, two, or no fields are available tomorrow. One of those—I think it's about Plan D—even involves the slight possibility of playing a couple of games at North Park due to their field being turf. Lastly, should the finals have to be pushed back to Sunday and Wheaton is one of the two remaining teams, evidently they, in line with their philosophy, would forfeit with the other team automatically advancing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 08, 2019, 09:08:40 PM
The advantage of playing at Holmgren is that the field dries exceptionally fast, no matter how hard and for how long it's been raining. It never puddles. And, like Pfund, it's all turf -- even the mound and the home-plate area. It's a useful backup if Zimmerman is unplayable.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 09, 2019, 02:29:06 PM
Still no live streaming of games for the tournament?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2019, 02:30:40 PM
Millikin beats North Park, 10-3. There's never been any doubt that the Big Blue can hit, but I'm very disappointed in the performance of NPU's pitching.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2019, 02:53:09 PM
Illinois Wesleyan beat Wheaton in ten innings, 4-3.

Millikin now plays Augustana at Pfund, while Illinois Wesleyan plays North Central at Zimmerman.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: USee on May 09, 2019, 03:40:08 PM
Bottom of the 10th bases loaded and the IWU batter leaned into a curveball that would have been a strike to take a hit batter and score the winner. Controversial at best.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 09, 2019, 04:07:42 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2019, 02:30:40 PM
Millikin beats North Park, 10-3. There's never been any doubt that the Big Blue can hit, but I'm very disappointed in the performance of NPU's pitching.

Big Blue opens up a 4-0 lead to start game #3 of the tourney.  There's still only 1 out so they still add to the lead.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 09, 2019, 06:00:50 PM
Well, now I don't feel so bad. Millikin skunked Augie, 14-1, in seven innings. The Big Blue piled up 19 hits against one of the better pitching staffs in the league.

Millikin is in its first CCIW tournament in 29 years, and the Big Blue are clearly making up for lost time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 06:11:58 PM
For the first 2.5 innings, IWU/NCC was the opposite of a pitchers' duel (7-6 NCC in the middle of the third).  Suddenly, it became for real a pitchers' duel: in the middle of the 7th it is still 7-6! :o ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 07:36:27 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 06:11:58 PM
For the first 2.5 innings, IWU/NCC was the opposite of a pitchers' duel (7-6 NCC in the middle of the third).  Suddenly, it became for real a pitchers' duel: in the middle of the 7th it is still 7-6! :o ;)

I've got to remember to NOT make comments during games, as I immediately jinxed my Titans!  In the bottom of the 7th, NCC got 5 runs on four hits, two errors, and two wild pitches. :(  NCC wins it 14-6.

BTW, does anyone know the rationale for not counting wild pitches (and passed balls) as errors?  I understand that it can add clarity to a box score to list them separately, but they ARE errors, and can be just as costly as any other kind.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2019, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 07:36:27 PM
BTW, does anyone know the rationale for not counting wild pitches (and passed balls) as errors?  I understand that it can add clarity to a box score to list them separately, but they ARE errors, and can be just as costly as any other kind.
In "Baseball Scorekeeping: A Practical Guide to the Rules" (McFarland  Publishing, 2003), author Andres Wirkmaa offers this explanation in conjunction with Rule 10.14 (f): "Although it is never expressly stated in the rulebook, errors are limited to certain fielding misplays. Insofar as the pitcher and the catcher are not in a true sense fielders when they are directly engaged in dealing with a batter in the batter's box, the misplays that arise in that limited context are excluded from being considered (fielding) errors.  Those misplays are nonetheless recorded and tallied, just as errors.  They are simply not categorized or counted as errors. Rather, they are considered separate and distinct from ordinary (fielding) errors.  The rulebook justifies its special treatment of pitchers and catchers when it comes to charging errors by declaring that the pitcher and catcher handle the ball much more than other fielders" (pp. 164-5).  This avoids pitchers and catchers being charged with several errors per game.  Pitchers and catchers are involved in every pitch of the game and warrant special categories for misplays on delivered pitches rather misplays than thrown or batted balls.  Wirkmaa terms WP's and PB's "quasi-errors."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2019, 12:13:30 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2019, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 07:36:27 PM
BTW, does anyone know the rationale for not counting wild pitches (and passed balls) as errors?  I understand that it can add clarity to a box score to list them separately, but they ARE errors, and can be just as costly as any other kind.
In "Baseball Scorekeeping: A Practical Guide to the Rules" (McFarland  Publishing, 2003), author Andres Wirkmaa offers this explanation in conjunction with Rule 10.14 (f): "Although it is never expressly stated in the rulebook, errors are limited to certain fielding misplays. Insofar as the pitcher and the catcher are not in a true sense fielders when they are directly engaged in dealing with a batter in the batter's box, the misplays that arise in that limited context are excluded from being considered (fielding) errors.  Those misplays are nonetheless recorded and tallied, just as errors.  They are simply not categorized or counted as errors. Rather, they are considered separate and distinct from ordinary (fielding) errors.  The rulebook justifies its special treatment of pitchers and catchers when it comes to charging errors by declaring that the pitcher and catcher handle the ball much more than other fielders" (pp. 164-5).  This avoids pitchers and catchers being charged with several errors per game.  Pitchers and catchers are involved in every pitch of the game and warrant special categories for misplays on delivered pitches rather misplays than thrown or batted balls.  Wirkmaa terms WP's and PB's "quasi-errors."

Thanks!  Only sort of satisfying, but rules of games are ultimately arbitrary, and rarely fully satisfying logically!

But I do kind of like the term "quasi-errors".  That is a distinction for pitchers' WP, but why are pitchers' wild throws on bunts not distinguished from pitchers' wild throws on pick-off attempts?

And why am I trying to make logical sense out of the arbitrary rules of a game? ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 08:16:56 AM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2019, 12:13:30 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2019, 09:22:32 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on May 09, 2019, 07:36:27 PM
BTW, does anyone know the rationale for not counting wild pitches (and passed balls) as errors?  I understand that it can add clarity to a box score to list them separately, but they ARE errors, and can be just as costly as any other kind.
In "Baseball Scorekeeping: A Practical Guide to the Rules" (McFarland  Publishing, 2003), author Andres Wirkmaa offers this explanation in conjunction with Rule 10.14 (f): "Although it is never expressly stated in the rulebook, errors are limited to certain fielding misplays. Insofar as the pitcher and the catcher are not in a true sense fielders when they are directly engaged in dealing with a batter in the batter's box, the misplays that arise in that limited context are excluded from being considered (fielding) errors.  Those misplays are nonetheless recorded and tallied, just as errors.  They are simply not categorized or counted as errors. Rather, they are considered separate and distinct from ordinary (fielding) errors.  The rulebook justifies its special treatment of pitchers and catchers when it comes to charging errors by declaring that the pitcher and catcher handle the ball much more than other fielders" (pp. 164-5).  This avoids pitchers and catchers being charged with several errors per game.  Pitchers and catchers are involved in every pitch of the game and warrant special categories for misplays on delivered pitches rather misplays than thrown or batted balls.  Wirkmaa terms WP's and PB's "quasi-errors."
But I do kind of like the term "quasi-errors".  That is a distinction for pitchers' WP, but why are pitchers' wild throws on bunts not distinguished from pitchers' wild throws on pick-off attempts?
Because on pick-off throws and bunts, the player is acting more like a fielder than a pitcher.  The attention has been shifted from the batter to a (potential) base runner.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:34:56 PM
North Park eliminates Wheaton, 9-0, behind Ethan Sund's five-hit shutout.  Sund fanned ten, including two in the ninth inning.  NPU will face Augustana in an elimination game at 4 PM at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream.  According to the CCIW tournament schedule (http://cciw%20tournament%20schedule), if North Park wins again, they will play a third game at 7 PM against Illinois Wesleyan.  Am I misreading the schedule or is there a typo?

In a class move and with the game pretty much out of hand, Wheaton coach Matt Husted called on senior hurlers Luke Kram and Caleb Selk to end their careers by facing a couple of batters in the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 01:39:36 PM
North Park ends Wheaton's season with a 9-0 win over the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance. The Vikings offense did a great job of nickel-and-diming the six Wheaton pitchers they faced with an assortment of walks, singles, and doubles, while on the mound sophomore Ethan Sund was tremendous. Sund went the distance for the complete-game shutout win, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out ten Wheaton batters.

If Sund doesn't throw another pitch this season, he'll end the year with a 1.66 ERA, the seventh-best in program history and the lowest ERA by a qualifying Vikings pitcher since Brian Baldea finished with a 1.59 ERA in 1975. I wish we could clone Sund.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 01:43:37 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:34:56 PMAccording to the CCIW tournament schedule (http://cciw%20tournament%20schedule), if North Park wins again, they will play a third game at 7 PM against Illinois Wesleyan.  Am I misreading the schedule or is there a typo?

Nope, you've got it right. That's the hand North Park has been dealt. If the Vikings want to survive until Saturday, they're gonna have to marathon their way through three wins today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:45:54 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 01:43:37 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:34:56 PMAccording to the CCIW tournament schedule (http://cciw%20tournament%20schedule), if North Park wins again, they will play a third game at 7 PM against Illinois Wesleyan.  Am I misreading the schedule or is there a typo?

Nope, you've got it right. That's the hand North Park has been dealt. If the Vikings want to survive until Saturday, they're gonna have to marathon their way through three wins today.
I seem to recall a prohibition against playing three games in a single day in the CCIW.  Maybe it was specifically against triple-headers. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2019, 02:52:08 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:45:54 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 01:43:37 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 10, 2019, 01:34:56 PMAccording to the CCIW tournament schedule (http://cciw%20tournament%20schedule), if North Park wins again, they will play a third game at 7 PM against Illinois Wesleyan.  Am I misreading the schedule or is there a typo?

Nope, you've got it right. That's the hand North Park has been dealt. If the Vikings want to survive until Saturday, they're gonna have to marathon their way through three wins today.
I seem to recall a prohibition against playing three games in a single day in the CCIW.  Maybe it was specifically against triple-headers.

Perhaps a rule applicable to the regular season, but inconsequential to tournament action?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 04:46:30 PM
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday Millikin looked like the 1927 Yankees against North Park and Augustana. Today the Big Blue only managed three singles and a couple of walks against Charlie Klemm, as North Central topped MU, 4-0.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2019, 06:12:24 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 04:46:30 PM
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday Millikin looked like the 1927 Yankees against North Park and Augustana. Today the Big Blue only managed three singles and a couple of walks against Charlie Klemm, as North Central topped MU, 4-0.

In addition to timely hitting, the Cardinals have certainly benefited from some great pitching over the last couple of days.

Yesterday, after the NCC starter surrendered 3 runs to IWU in both the 2nd and 3rd inning that left the Cards with a slim one run lead, reliever Patrick Schaefer entered the game after one batter in the 4th.
Schaefer then proceeded to finish the game, scattering 6 hits in his full 6 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win in an eventual 14-6 victory in which he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 1.47.

Today, in what I suspect is a rare occurrence within the conference, NCC's Charlie Klemm spun a masterful 3 hit, complete-game, 4-0 shutout of Millikin. Klemm, who surrendered a base hit to the first batter he faced, did not allow another hit until the 5th. The 3 hits he gave up were all singles, and he did not allow a runner past 2nd base while improving his CCIW-leading record to 8-0.

The Cardinals can win the Tournament Championship with a victory in a 1:00 PM game tomorrow vs.
an as yet unknown opponent. They will enter tomorrow's action as the lone unbeaten team from among the 6 tournament participants and, under the double elimination format, would need to be defeated twice in order not to secure the CCIW's automatic qualifier. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 06:28:41 PM
There's been a number of complete games and/or shutouts this season, Mark, some of which have had three hits or less allowed. Klemm's game, great as it was, is hardly a unicorn.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 07:38:14 PM
North Park eliminated Augustana, 4-2, as Matt Pizur and Tyler Banks combined for a solid performance, with Banks picking up his seventh win. Vikings bats, which were pretty much handcuffed by Matt Hoban when he beat NPU back on March 30, were just good enough today to push across the margin of victory plus an insurance run.

Two down, one to go!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2019, 08:06:00 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 10, 2019, 06:12:24 PM

Today, in what I suspect is a rare occurrence within the conference, NCC's Charlie Klemm spun a masterful 3 hit, complete-game, 4-0 shutout of Millikin. Klemm, who surrendered a base hit to the first batter he faced, did not allow another hit until the 5th. The 3 hits he gave up were all singles, and he did not allow a runner past 2nd base while improving his CCIW-leading record to 8-0.


Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 06:28:41 PM
There's been a number of complete games and/or shutouts this season, Mark, some of which have had three hits or less allowed. Klemm's game, great as it was, is hardly a unicorn.

As of this instant, between both the regular season and 7 conference tournament games so far, there have been 223 games played between CCIW conference teams this year. 13 of those 223 conference games (5.8%) have been shutouts. Not a unicorn, no, but hardly a multitudinous sum. And it's very likely that not all of those 13 were complete games as was Charlie Klemm's.
So yes, great as it was. 😊
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 08:17:57 PM
 ::)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 10, 2019, 10:36:46 PM
North Pak's season ends with a 3-2 loss to Illinois Wesleyan. The Vikings had two good chances in the late innings to close the deficit, but couldn't get the clutch hit when they needed it.

Winning three games in one day, and then winning three the next, is about as big of a longshot as they come. While I'm not happy about NPU's season ending, at least the Vikings made a good accounting of themselves in struggling to climb that particular Everest by claiming the first two of the six wins required and then taking the third game right down to the wire.

Thanks to all eleven graduating Vikings -- heck, I think that they've all technically graduated due to having to participate in an early commencement ceremony just for them, haven't they? -- and especially to everyday starters Cullen Gilbertson at 1B, Kyle Balash at 2B, Niko Buck in RF, and Anthony DiNardo at DH, and to #1 starter Josh Ward and to reliever Andy Robbins, for all of the hard work and time that they've put in for the team over the past four years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 10, 2019, 10:38:16 PM
IWU hangs on to defeat NPU, 3-2.  Quinn Gudaitis went the distance for the Titans, yielding zero earned runs (both Viking runs came on passed balls). 

First game tomorrow will be IWU vs. Millikin, with the winner facing the unenviable task of beating NCC TWICE.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 10, 2019, 11:38:56 PM
Perhaps one of tomorrow's hurlers will throw a 🦄. 😏
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2019, 06:32:47 PM
Anyone know the status of the IWU/NCC game?  It has been rain delay top of the fifth for hours now - odds of resuming the game?  For most of the time, gamestats had it as Millikin(!) 5, NCC 2; then for a while they had what I assume was the correct info with NCC 5, IWU 2.  Now they've deleted all that (except the rain delay note) and posted yesterday's IWU/NCC(!) victory for IWU.  I no longer know what to believe!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 11, 2019, 06:42:13 PM
Yes. It seems the rain has finally abated but the NCC field has absorbed too much H2O. The teams are now in route to Pfund Stadium in Wheaton where the game will resume with IWU batting in the top of the 5th inning with the score NCC 5, IWU 2. If NCC maintains the lead, they win the tournament.
Should IWU come back and win, I believe the plan is to play what would then be the tournament championship game tomorrow at 11:00 in Naperville.

* The game at all turf Pfund will begin at 6:30. ⚾️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2019, 08:05:07 PM
Thanks, AndOne.  Soon after I posted, I found that the game had finally resumed (didn't know about the change in venue).  I sense that both teams have run out of reliable pitchers, as IWU immediately scored 5 runs, and NCC came back with one.  Entering the 6th, it is IWU 7, NCC 6.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2019, 09:09:00 PM
North Central tops IWU in 10 innings, 8-7, on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. NCC wins the CCIW Tournament and advances to regional play.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 11, 2019, 09:17:09 PM
Up 7-6 going into the bottom of the 9th, I thought the Titans might survive another day.  Alas, the Cards tied it in the 9th, and won it in the 10th.

I'm reasonably satisfied that the Titans finished 2nd in the tourney, but I never totally give up hoping 'til they are officially eliminated. :(

There just weren't any arms left by the end - and Brune had pitched 8 very solid innings on Thursday, so amazing he could come back at all.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 11, 2019, 10:42:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2019, 09:09:00 PM
North Central tops IWU in 10 innings, 8-7, on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. NCC wins the CCIW Tournament and advances to regional play.

Lots of big hits, great pitches, and dazzling catches by various members of all the tournament teams over the weekend. Congrats to to the NCC Cardinals on a well earned championship.
Things weren't exactly looking great for the host team going into the bottom of the 9th tonight down by one. However, with two out, Jared Wojcik delivered perhaps NCC's biggest hit when he singled in the tying run to send the game to the 10h where the Cards won it.

* The game recap isn't in yet, but the live stats summary indicates NCC's winning run scored when, with one out in the bottom of the 10th, Colin Weilbacher reached on a fielder's choice.
Is anyone aware of the details of that play? Did IWU try for an inning ending double play with Weilbacher beating the throw or what?


Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 11, 2019, 11:38:36 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 11, 2019, 10:42:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2019, 09:09:00 PM
North Central tops IWU in 10 innings, 8-7, on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. NCC wins the CCIW Tournament and advances to regional play.


* The game recap isn't in yet, but the live stats summary indicates NCC's winning run scored when, with one out in the bottom of the 10th, Colin Weilbacher reached on a fielder's choice.
Is anyone aware of the details of that play? Did IWU try for an inning ending double play with Weilbacher beating the throw or what?

https://twitter.com/msr0729/status/1127403628627734530

Whatever happened, it sure looks like the IWU guys were pretty unhappy.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 12, 2019, 12:23:12 AM
Quote from: Jack Parkman on May 11, 2019, 11:38:36 PM
Quote from: AndOne on May 11, 2019, 10:42:48 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2019, 09:09:00 PM
North Central tops IWU in 10 innings, 8-7, on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. NCC wins the CCIW Tournament and advances to regional play.


* The game recap isn't in yet, but the live stats summary indicates NCC's winning run scored when, with one out in the bottom of the 10th, Colin Weilbacher reached on a fielder's choice.
Is anyone aware of the details of that play? Did IWU try for an inning ending double play with Weilbacher beating the throw or what?

https://twitter.com/msr0729/status/1127403628627734530

Whatever happened, it sure looks like the IWU guys were pretty unhappy.

What happened was that Weilbacher hit a little dribbler out in front of the plate which was fielded by the IWU pitcher who shoveled it home, but not quite in time to beat NCC's Matt Sutherland who slid in head first with the winning run. ⚾️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2019, 01:20:40 PM
North Central is the third seed in the UWW regional, behind #1 Webster and the host Warhawks and ahead of #4 Bethany Lutheran.

As expected, the CCIW didn't get any Pool C bids.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2019, 02:04:35 PM
This marks the third season in a row, and the fifth out of the last six, that the CCIW has sent only one team to the D3 baseball tourney. Prior to that, the CCIW had had a stretch of eight seasons out of nine in which it sent multiple teams to the D3 baseball tourney, including a stretch of three years out of four in which it sent three teams.

I don't think it's because the league is slipping in terms of quality. My take is that parity within the league is dragging down the overall records of the second- and third-place teams to the point where they're not viable Pool C contenders anymore.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2019, 03:34:00 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2019, 01:20:40 PM
North Central is the third seed in the UWW regional, behind #1 Webster and the host Warhawks and ahead of #4 Bethany Lutheran.

As expected, the CCIW didn't get any Pool C bids.

I don't mind that UWW gets to host since they are less than a half hour from me, but it's a terrible draw for NCC.  Playing the host is always sucky, even if it makes geographical sense.  I think Concordia-Chicago hosting didn't help the Cardinals. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 13, 2019, 03:34:10 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 13, 2019, 02:04:35 PM
This marks the third season in a row, and the fifth out of the last six, that the CCIW has sent only one team to the D3 baseball tourney. Prior to that, the CCIW had had a stretch of eight seasons out of nine in which it sent multiple teams to the D3 baseball tourney, including a stretch of three years out of four in which it sent three teams.

I don't think it's because the league is slipping in terms of quality. My take is that parity within the league is dragging down the overall records of the second- and third-place teams to the point where they're not viable Pool C contenders anymore.

I think you're 100% right on.  Add to that the fact these teams go down to Florida or Arizona and play teams that can practice outside during the Winter months, while CCIW teams are shaking off rust.  I know NCC played fairly well down South this year but that's not how it's been in recent years.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2019, 02:09:20 PM
All-CCIW Team for 2019 (https://cciw.org/sports/2019/5/13/BB_0513191537.aspx)

Congratulations to all the players honored this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2019, 04:14:57 PM
Three of the five Vikings honored on the All-CCIW team finished at the top of various CCIW statistical categories this season, and of that quintet they're the three that will return for North Park in 2020. Junior C/3B Ranko Stevanovic, a second-teamer who was also named CCIW Newcomer of the Year, led the league in hits with 41. Junior SS Jake Reinhardt won the CCIW batting title with an even .400 average, becoming the first North Park hitter to win the league's batting crown since Joel Bonnett did so back in 2012. Reinhardt also led the CCIW in runs with 33. And sophomore RHP Ethan Sund, like Reinhardt a first-teamer, led the league in ERA with a stingy 0.98, the first CCIW ERA champion from the Park since Tim Dykes hurled a 1.35 ERA for NPU way back in 1999.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2019, 09:32:33 PM
In regional action, North Central dropped its opening game on Friday to Whitewater, 9-2, then rebounded on Saturday with a pair of wins to eliminate Bethany Lutheran, 11-4, and get revenge by knocking out Whitewater, 13-4.  They need to defeat Webster twice on Sunday to advance to the super regional.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 19, 2019, 09:03:15 PM
The Cardinals did what they needed to in the first game, coming away with a 14-9 win.
The big problem is with the 2nd game being their 5th since Friday, they have gone through their 4 starting pitchers. Accordingly, reliever Patrick Schaefer draws the starting assignment. Schaefer has been very effective this season pitching to a 2.13 ERA while giving up only 31 hits in 38 innings.
However, this is is first start of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on May 19, 2019, 11:16:52 PM
Yeah, baseball ain't like softball, where pitchers can continue almost indefinitely.  IWU beat Carthage in the super-regional when Ally Wiegand won BOTH games in a Saturday sweep (after Carthage won the Friday game), yielding 3 hits and zero runs in 11 innings!  IF she isn't named first-team AA, I'm demanding a recount! ;D

As often happens in baseball tourneys, Carthage apparently just ran out of pitchers.  The RedMen trail 11-2 in the ninth to Webster.

Alas, NCC ran out of outs = the game ends with the bases loaded with Cardinals, but the score still 11-2. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: AndOne on May 19, 2019, 11:29:24 PM
Well, the Cardinals gave it the old college try but alas, they fell short by a score of 11-2. They finish the season with a 34-13 record, and with Conference and Conference Tournament Championships.
Much to be proud of looking back over a fine season. ⚾️ 👍
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 23, 2019, 01:47:17 PM
Congratulations to the 10 D3baseball.com All-Central Region picks grown in the CCIW.

https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2019/central (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2019/central)

The league saw six of the 10 selected as First Team recipients, including NCC catcher Rob Marinec as the Player of the Year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 09, 2020, 05:53:44 PM
The season is quickly approaching. Anyone have a prediction on the how the CCIW will shake out in 2020?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 09, 2020, 09:20:41 PM
If I could ask the coaches - wait I can.

1. North Central
2. Illinois Wesleyan
3. Millikin
4. Carthage

Methodology and data very much sketchy with sampling problems.....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2020, 09:00:47 AM
I am very curious to see if Carthage can stay healthy this season. Injuries depleted their pitching staff and lineup last season. If they can stay healthy, they could return to the Carthage of old... Still, I think NCC is head and shoulders above the rest of the CCIW.

A few lucky CCIW teams open this weekend with quick weekend trips South.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 10, 2020, 10:54:01 AM
The CCIW coaches poll comes out on Wednesday.

NPU isn't exactly easing into the new season. The Vikings open up their 2020 campaign a week from Friday at Birmingham-Southern, where they'll play a three-game set over the course of the weekend down there. The Panthers, who reached the CWS last season and finished with a #4 ranking in the d3baseball.com final poll, are already 2-0 this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 10, 2020, 01:55:46 PM
Greg- any predictions on the coaches poll? I see NCC and IWU as 1 and 2, but after that....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 10, 2020, 07:55:45 PM
None whatsoever, aside from North Central being a no-brainer #1 pick by everyone other than Ed Mathey.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 11, 2020, 09:46:18 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 10, 2020, 07:55:45 PM
None whatsoever, aside from North Central being a no-brainer #1 pick by everyone other than Ed Mathey.

;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on February 13, 2020, 04:26:35 PM
CCIW Pre-Season Coaches Poll:
Rank    Institution    Points (1st Pl. Votes)
1    North Central    62 (7)
2    Illinois Wesleyan    53 (1)
3    Millikin    42
4    Augustana    40
5    North Park    38
6    Carthage    36 (1)
7    Wheaton    29
8    Carroll    12
8    Elmhurst    12

I am not sure sure how Carthage got a first place vote from someone if the rest of the league sees them as a 7/8 team? Does someone know somethings the rest of us don't?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 13, 2020, 05:08:03 PM
I'm much more curious as to who other than Ed Mathey didn't slot NCC as their #1 pick.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on February 14, 2020, 12:37:08 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on February 13, 2020, 04:26:35 PM
I am not sure sure how Carthage got a first place vote from someone if the rest of the league sees them as a 7/8 team? Does someone know somethings the rest of us don't?

They are just channeling Big Poppa: "If they can stay healthy, they could return to the Carthage of old."
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 09:22:42 PM
NPU dropped an 8-2 decision to Birmingham-Southern in its 2020 season opener.

Fortunately, I have learned the hard way to lower my expectations when it comes to these February trips to the Deep South.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 21, 2020, 10:37:02 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 09:22:42 PM
NPU dropped an 8-2 decision to Birmingham-Southern in its 2020 season opener.

Fortunately, I have learned the hard way to lower my expectations when it comes to these February trips to the Deep South.

Yeah, they've been practicing outdoors for weeks; northern teams haven't.  Don't know about this specific match-up, but often southern teams have already played several games when the northern team has its opener.  Early season games can be totally misleading.

The flip side (due to cramming the whole season into a much shorter time) is that northern teams get action from LOTS of arms; southern teams may rely way too much on their top 2-3.  In the compressed postseason time frames, that can be a benefit for the northern teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 11:15:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 21, 2020, 10:37:02 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 09:22:42 PM
NPU dropped an 8-2 decision to Birmingham-Southern in its 2020 season opener.

Fortunately, I have learned the hard way to lower my expectations when it comes to these February trips to the Deep South.

Yeah, they've been practicing outdoors for weeks; northern teams haven't.  Don't know about this specific match-up, but often southern teams have already played several games when the northern team has its opener.  Early season games can be totally misleading.

This was BSC's sixth game of the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on February 21, 2020, 11:50:45 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 11:15:36 PM
Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 21, 2020, 10:37:02 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2020, 09:22:42 PM
NPU dropped an 8-2 decision to Birmingham-Southern in its 2020 season opener.

Fortunately, I have learned the hard way to lower my expectations when it comes to these February trips to the Deep South.

Yeah, they've been practicing outdoors for weeks; northern teams haven't.  Don't know about this specific match-up, but often southern teams have already played several games when the northern team has its opener.  Early season games can be totally misleading.

This was BSC's sixth game of the season.

Sounds familiar!  But they may pay for it in the postseason - with such a spread out time to get in 40 games, southern teams tend to go with their 'aces' most of the time, because they can.  With a much more compressed schedule, northern teams have to go with the whole staff.  Individual pitching honors usually go to warm-weather pitchers; postseason team wins are much more diversified.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on February 29, 2020, 01:34:25 PM
North Park picked up its first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over UW Oshkosh.  Matt Pizur escaped a bases-loaded, nobody-out first inning with a pair of strikeouts and went on to hurl seven shutout innings with 9 K's.  Justin Woolbright worked a two-inning save, allowing just one unearned run.  Logan Peters collected three hits for the Vikings, who will play Webster later this afternoon.

UWO's Will Michalski also pitched a fine game, allowing two runs (one earned) while fanning ten.  Hunter Staniske had two hits for the Titans.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on February 29, 2020, 10:58:11 PM
NPU lost to Webster, 11-1, as the Gorloks roughed up starter Tyler Banks pretty badly. But the win over UWO makes it a good day, nevertheless, for a Vikings team that has been scrambling to work around some very significant early-season injuries.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 01, 2020, 05:25:50 PM
North Park bounced back for a 6-2 victory over #21 Concordia Chicago.  They got great pitching from Ethan Sund and Brendan Russ, plus a bases-clearing double by Jake Reinhart to put the game out of reach.  That wraps up a challenging 6-game start to the season in which the Vikings faced ranked opponents in five of the games.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: blue_jays on March 01, 2020, 06:08:29 PM
UChicago swept a doubleheader from IWU, 14-5 and 11-4. The Maroons hit 4 home runs on the day.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on March 03, 2020, 03:07:55 PM
After a 3-0 opening weekend for Wheaton,  David Solfelt and Sam Reichert swept the Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week Awards respectively. Solfelt was dominate through 5 scoreless innings in his debut as a starter: Striking out 8 and was hitless through 3. Sam Reichert came out of the weekend with a .583 average with 7 hits in 3 games including a homer and a few doubles. Congrats to both players!

Wheaton with an understandable amount of errors for it being their first time outside and playing games last weekend, but the fielding needs to get cleaned up sooner rather than later.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 06, 2020, 05:17:35 PM
Today was the first game of the Titans' 8 game spring trip in Auburndale, Florida.  They beat Illinois College 11-8.  (IC is located about 40 miles from Bloomington, but the weather was better in Florida!)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 07, 2020, 10:52:33 PM
North Park opened up its spring-break trip in Auburndale, FL by splitting a pair of seven-inning games with Mount Union. The Purple Raiders took the opener, 4-3, despite a three-run homer by NPU shortstop Jake Reinhardt. In the nightcap, Ethan Sund went the distance for the Vikings and shut out UMU, 9-0, as he scattered four hits and struck out 11 while only allowing one walk. Combined with his big win over Concordia (IL) last weekend, he's off to a heckuva start to his junior season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 08, 2020, 02:58:28 PM
Carthage's Big Red Machine jumped out of the gates quickly yesterday sweeping a DH from Luther in Arizona.

Keith Kutzler went 6 innings with 12 Ks. Nate Odahl returned to the mound after missing nearly all of last season with an injury and K'd two of the three he faced. One down side to the pitching was 13 BBs in the DH. That has to be cleaned up a bit but the arms appear to be solid on the front end of the rotation.

Offensively, Carthage had 8 different players collect multiple hits on the day including triples and 4 RBI from BOTH Johnny Belskis and Jake  Mitchell. Here's to hoping Carthage returns to form in 2020.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on March 09, 2020, 11:03:53 AM
North Central finished off their Florida trip with an 11-7 win over #20 Heidelberg to up their record to 7-0.  The Cardinals starters have been touched up a bit but the bullpen work for the Cards has been very good.   Eric Outlaw leads the Cards with a .586 average on the young season while Justin Rios comes in at .533 to this point.   Great start to the season and a lot of baseball to be played!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 09, 2020, 11:08:52 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 08, 2020, 02:58:28 PM
Carthage's Big Red Machine jumped out of the gates quickly yesterday sweeping a DH from Luther in Arizona.

Keith Kutzler went 6 innings with 12 Ks. Nate Odahl returned to the mound after missing nearly all of last season with an injury and K'd two of the three he faced. One down side to the pitching was 13 BBs in the DH. That has to be cleaned up a bit but the arms appear to be solid on the front end of the rotation.

Offensively, Carthage had 8 different players collect multiple hits on the day including triples and 4 RBI from BOTH Johnny Belskis and Jake  Mitchell. Here's to hoping Carthage returns to form in 2020.

Good start, but short-lived as they fall to Wabash, 8-7 in 10 innings on Sunday.  Wabash scored on a bases loaded BALK in the top of the 10th.  Starting pitcher in the game on Sunday, Dante Guarascio, gave up 7 earned and 10 hits in 4 innings.  Redmen relievers were good until the 10th, where they hit the lead off guy, walked the next, got a ground ball out and then walked the next to load 'em up.

Apparently Jacob Delabio was touching 96 in game one, but much like Todd Greenlee (reference for Poppa)...couldn't find the strike zone however, walking 4 in a third of an inning worked on Saturday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2020, 11:49:24 AM
Quote from: mwunder on March 09, 2020, 11:08:52 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 08, 2020, 02:58:28 PM
Carthage's Big Red Machine jumped out of the gates quickly yesterday sweeping a DH from Luther in Arizona.

Keith Kutzler went 6 innings with 12 Ks. Nate Odahl returned to the mound after missing nearly all of last season with an injury and K'd two of the three he faced. One down side to the pitching was 13 BBs in the DH. That has to be cleaned up a bit but the arms appear to be solid on the front end of the rotation.

Offensively, Carthage had 8 different players collect multiple hits on the day including triples and 4 RBI from BOTH Johnny Belskis and Jake  Mitchell. Here's to hoping Carthage returns to form in 2020.

Good start, but short-lived as they fall to Wabash, 8-7 in 10 innings on Sunday.  Wabash scored on a bases loaded BALK in the top of the 10th.  Starting pitcher in the game on Sunday, Dante Guarascio, gave up 7 earned and 10 hits in 4 innings.  Redmen relievers were good until the 10th, where they hit the lead off guy, walked the next, got a ground ball out and then walked the next to load 'em up.

Apparently Jacob Delabio was touching 96 in game one, but much like Todd Greenlee (reference for Poppa)...couldn't find the strike zone however, walking 4 in a third of an inning worked on Saturday.

YES! Todd Greenlee!!!!! (aka, "Horse") I have stories about THAT guy!  He once tossed a no-hitter and allowed 3-4 runs.... mix in about 8 BBs and 5 HBPs... and a few balls off the backstop... and they were able to scrape together a few runs. I believe he hit the first three batters of the game on three pitches.

While Delabio struggled Saturday, I've always felt the second start is the best indicator of pitchers... many are just throwing off dirt for the first time in 6 months, and have nerves rumbling through them in their first outings of the season. Here's to hoping he settles in for his second appearance.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2020, 12:29:46 PM
North Park edged Dubuque yesterday in Auburndale, 7-5. Tyler Banks picked up his first quality start, and Justin Woolbright came in and pitched two perfect innings at the tail end to pick up the win while also driving in the winning run in the 8th.

Aside from Jake Reinhardt and Jared Cantu the Vikings aren't hitting much, as they're clearly scrambling to account for the temporary absence of two key injured bats in Ranko Stevanovic and Brad Maurer, but, with the exception of their ugly outing against Webster down in Sauget on February 29, they've recovered nicely from getting their ears pinned back by Birmingham-Southern in the third week of February.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 09, 2020, 01:25:32 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2020, 12:29:46 PM
Aside from Jake Reinhardt and Jared Cantu the Vikings aren't hitting much, as they're clearly scrambling to account for the temporary absence of two key injured bats in Ranko Stevanovic and Brad Maurer, but, with the exception of their ugly outing against Webster down in Sauget on February 29, they've recovered nicely from getting their ears pinned back by Birmingham-Southern in the third week of February.

This reminded me...Carthage has been without Vince Schwartz in their first three games.  Not sure what's going on there but he hasn't had an AB yet this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 09, 2020, 03:00:19 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 09, 2020, 01:25:32 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 09, 2020, 12:29:46 PM
Aside from Jake Reinhardt and Jared Cantu the Vikings aren't hitting much, as they're clearly scrambling to account for the temporary absence of two key injured bats in Ranko Stevanovic and Brad Maurer, but, with the exception of their ugly outing against Webster down in Sauget on February 29, they've recovered nicely from getting their ears pinned back by Birmingham-Southern in the third week of February.

This reminded me...Carthage has been without Vince Schwartz in their first three games.  Not sure what's going on there but he hasn't had an AB yet this season.

He'll be back in the lineup soon. Minor injury they are being safe with.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 09, 2020, 06:01:54 PM
I've been remiss in updating from Auburndale. :-[  On Saturday, they beat Ursinus 6-1, with 3rd baseman Jack Schneider having a 4 2 3 3 box line - two HRs.  On Sunday they crushed Gordon in a DH, 13-1 and 17-4.  I have no clue how decent Ursinus or Gordon are or aren't, but I like moving to 6-2!

On Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday they will play Beloit, UMass-Dartmouth, Simpson, and C of NJ, all in single contests.  Again, not familiar with the quality of any of these teams, but wins are wins.  (Though they showed in 2010 that wins prior to the post-season (as long as you win enough to make the conference tourney) don't mean squat - win the right games at the end, and all is golden [or Walnut-and-Bronze]!) ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2020, 01:10:33 PM
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd6gM8GFNcs/UsHMvF1iwkI/AAAAAAAAAzM/T_MgkfH_Epg/s1600/timer+clock+stopwatch.gif)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2020, 01:25:18 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2020, 01:10:33 PM
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd6gM8GFNcs/UsHMvF1iwkI/AAAAAAAAAzM/T_MgkfH_Epg/s1600/timer+clock+stopwatch.gif)

Is this a new record for the earliest reference?!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 10, 2020, 01:36:38 PM
Carthage moved to 3-1 yesterday with a 13-10 win over Marian (WI) in AZ. The Carthage bullpen appears to be a dumpster fire right now (with the exception of Odahl who had another solid relief appearance) as they continue to give up runs. Delabio had his second appearance out of the pen and it left off right where his first ended. He has now walked 6 and only recorded 1/3 inning at this point. He needs to figure it out for Carthage is to have any shot in the CCIW.

In typical Carthage fashion, they are piling up runs. 40 runs in four games.  They are off until Thursday when they face Bethany Lutheran so that should allow the rotation to turn over and we should get a truer sense of how the Carthage arms are this year. Hopefully the bullpen issues have just been nervous hiccups in first outings and they get back on track in their second go-round. If the pens struggles they'll be forced to ride the starters deeper into game and that shows later in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 10, 2020, 10:41:43 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 10, 2020, 01:25:18 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2020, 01:10:33 PM
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd6gM8GFNcs/UsHMvF1iwkI/AAAAAAAAAzM/T_MgkfH_Epg/s1600/timer+clock+stopwatch.gif)

Is this a new record for the earliest reference?!

If not, I blew it!  My intention was to give Greg his jollies; barring some irresistible occasion later on, I have no plans for any further 2010 references! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 10, 2020, 11:33:11 PM
Congrats to NPU hurler Ethan Sund upon being named CCIW Pitcher of the Week. (https://www.cciw.org/news/2020/3/10/elmhursts-scrimpsher-north-parks-sund-named-cciw-baseball-players-of-the-week.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 11, 2020, 03:50:28 PM
I know neither of these is a CCIW program but the NESCAC and Grinnell (IA) just cancelled ALL spring sports. The NESCAC cancelled for the entire conference.

Is there talk of other institutions (or CCIW programs) leaning this way as well?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 11, 2020, 04:00:38 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 11, 2020, 03:50:28 PM
I know neither of these is a CCIW programs but the NESCAC and Grinnell (IA) just cancelled ALL spring sports. The NESCAC cancelled for the entire conference.

Is there talk of other institutions (or CCIW programs) leaning this way as well?

This is absolute horse hockey...an absolute liberal over-react.  The fact that senior seasons/college careers are being ended like this is beyond terrible.  I feel for all of these athletes as they watch their four years of off-season workouts, etc circle down the drain.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 11, 2020, 11:10:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on March 11, 2020, 04:00:38 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 11, 2020, 03:50:28 PM
I know neither of these is a CCIW programs but the NESCAC and Grinnell (IA) just cancelled ALL spring sports. The NESCAC cancelled for the entire conference.

Is there talk of other institutions (or CCIW programs) leaning this way as well?

This is absolute horse hockey...an absolute liberal over-react.

Well, that notoriously liberal institution Wheaton College is the first CCIW school to send its students home for the rest of the semester. (https://www.wheaton.edu/life-at-wheaton/student-development-offices/student-health/student-health-services/covid-19/) Wheaton will finish out its spring semester as an online education institution. The cancellation of Wheaton's spring sports schedule will no doubt follow today's announcement within the next few days.

Quote from: mwunder on March 11, 2020, 04:00:38 PM
  The fact that senior seasons/college careers are being ended like this is beyond terrible.  I feel for all of these athletes as they watch their four years of off-season workouts, etc circle down the drain.

I think that we all feel that way -- including the decision-makers at Wheaton that just told their students not to come back from spring break.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2020, 07:34:19 AM
... and so it begins... will anyone be left playing by the end of the week?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2020, 10:13:01 AM
Good question. The remainder of the 2020 CCIW baseball season is very much in doubt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 12, 2020, 11:34:03 AM
https://www.carthage.edu/live/news/29814-march-12-carthages-response-to-covid-19

Carthage follows suit.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on March 12, 2020, 12:02:59 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 12, 2020, 07:34:19 AM
... and so it begins... will anyone be left playing by the end of the week?

I think the entire 2020 season in done all over the country. Really tough spot for all involved.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2020, 01:24:19 PM
There are a few school districts starting to announce cancellations in MN as well. At least in terms of extending Spring Break an extra week or two.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2020, 01:33:18 PM
It hasn't been officially announced yet, but North Park is going to the online-until-Easter-with-fingers-crossed format as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on March 12, 2020, 01:42:48 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2020, 01:33:18 PM
It hasn't been officially announced yet, but North Park is going to the online-until-Easter-with-fingers-crossed format as well.

I have seen other schools doing the same. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 12, 2020, 09:03:56 PM
IWU lost to Beloit, 0-8, on Tuesday, then came back to beat U-Mass, Dartmouth, 4-2 earlier this afternoon.  Despite all the teams already being in Florida, the planned game against TCNJ on Sunday has been cancelled (and Wash U. has cancelled the three games planned at their field next weekend), so I suspect the game (if it happens ;)) against Simpson tomorrow may be the last game of the season.  While I've seen nothing so far about IWU cancelling the season, there may not be anyone to play!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2020, 09:21:49 PM
If this was the last game of Ethan Sund's season, he went out with a bang. The reigning CCIW Pitcher of the Week tossed six innings of four-hit ball, giving up one run while walking only one and striking out seven, in NPU's 11-1 victory over Cornell in Winter Haven. Jake Reinhardt picked up three more hits, including his second homer of the year, and drove in five runs, while Jared Cantu scored four runs.

The Vikings were supposed to have played PSU-Abingdon later this afternoon. No word from either school as to whether that game was even played or not.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 12, 2020, 09:43:11 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2020, 09:21:49 PM
If this was the last game of Ethan Sund's season, he went out with a bang. The reigning CCIW Pitcher of the Week tossed six innings of four-hit ball, giving up one run while walking only one and striking out seven, in NPU's 11-1 victory over Cornell in Winter Haven. Jake Reinhardt picked up three more hits, including his second homer of the year, and drove in five runs, while Jared Cantu scored four runs.

The Vikings were supposed to have played PSU-Abingdon later this afternoon. No word from either school as to whether that game was even played or not.
The Abington game is still on the schedule for tomorrow, according to the NPU website. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2020, 12:12:00 AM
It's now showing as "canceled," as well as Saturday's game against Wells.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 13, 2020, 07:22:01 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2020, 12:12:00 AM
It's now showing as "canceled," as well as Saturday's game against Wells.
I see the Wells game is cancelled on the site, so the team is probably heading back north.  How disappointing for all the players across the country.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2020, 09:28:34 AM
This afternoon's game against PSU-Abingdon is back on the schedule, after having been marked "cancelled" yesterday, so it looks like NPU is going to get in one last game.

Incidentally, Jake Reinhardt's homer yesterday was a grand slam. (https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2020/3/12/baseball-bounces-back-with-mercy-rule-win-over-cornell.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 13, 2020, 01:02:11 PM
Today's scheduled game against Simpson in Florida is now listed as cancelled.  There has been no official announcement, but I strongly suspect IWU's baseball season is over.  They finish 7-3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: duckfan41 on March 13, 2020, 03:04:17 PM
The NCAA just announced that they will be providing Eligibility Relief to all athletes in spring sports for Division 1. I'm holding out hope that this same relief will be extended to D2 and D3 athletes as well if seasons truly are canceled.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2020, 10:41:07 PM
It's now official. The CCIW has canceled all spring sports. (http://www.cciw.org/news/2020/3/13/general-cciw-announcement-on-covid-19.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 13, 2020, 10:52:31 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2020, 10:41:07 PM
It's now official. The CCIW has canceled all spring sports. (http://www.cciw.org/news/2020/3/13/general-cciw-announcement-on-covid-19.aspx)
Just heartbreaking for all the student-athletes, coaches, and fans.  And announcers.  It was shaping up to be an interesting race for the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2020, 09:27:09 PM
Congrats to NPU's Jake Reinhardt for making the final D3baseball.com Team of the Week. (//http://)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Titan Q on April 18, 2020, 11:55:57 AM
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2020/04/17/college-baseball-coaching-legend-bobby-winkles-arizona-state-dead-90/5158043002/

Bobby Winkles (IWU '52) has passed away. 

Winkles was 524-173 as the baseball coach at Arizona State and won 3 national championships ('65, '67, '69).  Also managed in Angles and A's in MLB.

Certainly a legendary Titan who will be missed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 05, 2021, 03:45:29 PM
Does ANYone care to take a stab at the CCIW this year? With almost no 2020 season to use as a baseline, just about anything is possible in 2021. My top three:

1. North Central
2. IWU
3. Carthage

Tell me I am wrong...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 05, 2021, 10:41:38 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 05, 2021, 03:45:29 PM
Does ANYone care to take a stab at the CCIW this year? With almost no 2020 season to use as a baseline, just about anything is possible in 2021. My top three:

1. North Central
2. IWU
3. Carthage

Tell me I am wrong...

North Park has four All-CCIW players returning this season (3B/C Ranko Stevanovic, SS Jake Reinhardt, CF Jared Cantu, and P Ethan Sund), every one of its starting position players, and a ton of experienced arms besides Sund in seniors Justin Woolbright and Brendan Russ, juniors Tyler Banks, Logan Peters, and Jeremy Meger, and sophomore Bobby Bartlett. While I recognize that NCC is the team to beat, I like NPU's chances.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 12, 2021, 12:33:57 PM
I like NPU as well. Lots back to build on.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 01:23:33 PM
The other coaches don't share my enthusiasm for NPU's chances. Nor do they share yours for Carthage's:


1. North Central  60 (5)
2. Illinois Wesleyan  51 (1)
3. Millikin  45 (1)
4. Augustana  39
5. North Park  38
6. Carthage  36 (1)
7. Wheaton  32 (1)
8. Elmhurst  13
9. Carroll  10

It's hard to draw any conclusions two weeks into the season, except that Elmhurst and Carroll appear to have pretty woeful pitching staffs. Carroll was absolutely dismembered the other day by Concordia (WI) to the tune of 31-11. I mean, kudos to the two coaches for agreeing to play the full nine innings in order to give more players some varsity game action, but still ... .

Ironically, Carthage and North Park are the two teams who have yet to play a game. The Vikings are opening their 2021 campaign today with a doubleheader at Dominican, while the newly-dubbed Firebirds open theirs tomorrow afternoon with a twinbill in Kenosha against hapless Ripon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 04:38:59 PM
North Park wins the season opener, 14-2, in nine innings at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg. Ethan Sund was impeccable over the first four innings, allowing only a single and a pair of walks while striking out seven Dominican batters. Justin Woolbright pitched the remaining five innings; he kept the shutout going until there were two outs in the ninth, which is when the Stars did all of their damage. Looked to me like Woolbright was tired, given that the pitchers aren't stretched out yet, but that Luke Johnson and NPU pitching coach Jake Upwood wanted him to push through it. That can be a big part of what goes on the first couple times out for rotation pitchers. (I suspect that Sund came out after four because Luke Johnson wants to start him on Tuesday at Illinois Wesleyan.)

Woolbright had the batting highlight of the game, a fifth-inning grand slam over the "Cheer On The Boomers" sign in straightaway left.

The nightcap against the Stars will begin shortly.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 05:52:48 PM
Elmhurst dropped a 7-4 decision to previously winless Eureka at the Corn Crib in Normal this afternoon. And, in a bit of a surprise, North Central was blanked by Adrian, 4-0, as Charlie Klemm had a rough outing and his Cardinals teammates could only muster two hits against the Bulldogs pitchers.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 07:52:35 PM
North Park claimed the sweep, beating Dominican in the second game by a 7-1 score. Tyler Banks threw five really solid innings, surrendering a single, a walk, and a hit batsman while striking out seven. Bobby Bartlett finished out the game with four solid innings on the mound.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 12, 2021, 10:16:32 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 07:52:35 PM
North Park claimed the sweep, beating Dominican in the second game by a 7-1 score. Tyler Banks threw five really solid innings, surrendering a single, a walk, and a hit batsman while striking out seven. Bobby Bartlett finished out the game with four solid innings on the mound.
The final score has been corrected to 8-1.  The press box crew missed a run during the fourth-inning rally.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 10:22:21 PM
I was wondering about that. Looked before like there was a phantom RBI for North Park listed in live stats.

Wheaton lost to Calvin at Lee Pfund, 8-4, and Elmhurst beat Rockford at the Corn Crib, 8-5, to go 1-1 on the day down in Normal.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on March 12, 2021, 10:38:30 PM
Good stuff from a veteran group of Vikings today. NACC competition certainly isn't interchangeable with CCIW competition, but very excited to see what these guys can do this year.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 03:50:33 PM
The Vikings had to grind out a game one victory this afternoon over Dominican in Schaumburg, but grind it out they did, 5-3. The North Park defense has had better games, and the Vikings bats had trouble producing with men in scoring position, but after scoring three runs in the first they managed to make the lead hold up for the entire game. Brendan Russ pitched six pretty solid innings to get the win.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 03:56:52 PM
Chicago hammered Wheaton at Lee Pfund, 11-2.

Carthage opened its season with a 5-0 win over a Ripon team that has now been outscored 51-4 in its six games in 2021.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 04:49:22 PM
Millikin topped Central, 7-2, in the first game of their doubleheader in Decatur.

Illinois Wesleyan outlasted Wartburg, 13-10, in a beer-leaguer in Bloomington.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Mr. Ypsi on March 13, 2021, 06:16:36 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 04:49:22 PM
Millikin topped Central, 7-2, in the first game of their doubleheader in Decatur.

Illinois Wesleyan outlasted Wartburg, 13-10, in a beer-leaguer in Bloomington.

In B'town, that's "Beer-Nuts leaguer"! ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 07:35:11 PM
Carthage dropped the nightcap to Ripon, 12-6.

Millikin completed the sweep with an 11-1 mercy-rule win over Central in seven.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 07:57:08 PM
Illinois Wesleyan got a walk-off single in the ninth to beat Wartburg, 6-5, and gain the sweep.

Who knows how Elmhurst is faring today? There's no live stats, no gamers, no nothing, reported from either of the EU games taking place at the Corn Crib today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 13, 2021, 08:32:22 PM
North Park completed a 4-game sweep of Dominican with a wild 12-11 win in Saturday's nightcap. Logan Peters came in from right field to close out both games, the first for a save and the second for a win. He also had two hits in game two. Jake Reinhart led the attack with three hits and four runs batted in.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 08:32:40 PM
Brandon Davis's two-run single in the top of the ninth put North Park ahead by a run in the nightcap, and reliever Logan Peters made it stand up as the Vikings eked out a 12-11 win to claim all four games from Dominican this weekend.

Whenever you play back-to-back doubleheaders to start the season, you're going to see some ragged pitching in the fourth game -- and the pitching was certainly raggedy on both sides. But despite the beer-league final score, Dominican wasn't really raking. The Stars only marked eight hits, while NPU had fourteen. The game was what it was because Vikings hurlers had a lot of trouble putting the ball where they wanted it to go: seven walks, four hit batsmen, and six wild pitches. Give the Stars full credit for taking advantage of what was given to them. But, in the end, the Vikes had just enough pitching to get by (Peters struck out Dominican's best hitter, Johnny Condron, to end the game) and the bats came through.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 13, 2021, 09:10:00 PM
Elmhurst beat Rockford in 14 innings, 5-2.

Wheaton outlasted Calvin, 13-9.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 14, 2021, 08:29:06 PM
North Central's Ryan Behling hurled a nine-inning no-hitter against Spaulding.

https://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20210314mr2ljn (https://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2021/contrib/20210314mr2ljn)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 16, 2021, 07:02:31 PM
Great contest in Bloomington, with the Vikings holding on for a 2-1 win that featured solid play by both sides.  It was a marquee pitching matchup, Sund vs. Gudaitis.  Sund went just 3 IP, allowed one hit and had three K's.  Gudaitis went 5 IP, allowed two runs on three hits, six walks, and seven K's.  Tyler Banks worked 4.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits and four WPs, while recording seven Ks.  The Titan pen held the Vikings scoreless while pitching out of several jams.  Justin Woolbright came in to close out the game, stranding a Titan on second for the save.

Kudos to the Titan broadcaster, who did a really nice job.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2021, 08:00:12 PM
It's a big win for the Vikings, made even bigger by the fact that by divvying up the innings like that between his three top pitchers, Luke Johnson won't throw his rotation off stride. All three of them should be able to start this weekend against a Millikin team that looks pretty potent, with (presumably) Brendan Russ starting on Thursday at home against Concordia (IL) before that.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2021, 08:48:23 PM
The only other game that was actually played on CCIW Opening Day was NCC @ CU. North Central outlasted Carroll, 11-7.

Elmhurst @ Carthage was postponed to tomorrow; the lone non-con game, Cornell @ Augustana, was postponed to Thursday; and Millikin @ Wheaton was pushed back to Saturday, April 3.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2021, 12:49:13 PM
Elmhurst defeated Carthage at Schmidt Field yesterday, 11-7, so the Bluejays join North Central and North Park atop the standings at 1-0.

The current d3baseball.com poll shows North Central dropping from #3 to #6 due to the Adrian loss, but there are now four other CCIW teams represented in the Others Receiving Votes category outside of the Top 25: Millikin (14 points), Augustana (13 points), North Park (6 points), and Wheaton (4 points). I figure that Wheaton's presence in the poll must be a mistake, as some pollster likely mistook Wheaton for its namesake in Massachusetts (that other Wheaton is a long-standing baseball power that was the national runner-up in 2006 and 2012; the Lyons are #24 in the current poll) and inadvertently slotted the CCIW's Wheaton #22 on his ballot. "Our" Wheaton is only 2-4 and hasn't looked all that impressive.

Of course, it's way too early for the poll to really mean anything. I just thought it was interesting that more than half of the league was getting votes.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 18, 2021, 08:59:11 PM
North Park took its home opener against Concordia Chicago in spectacular fashion, 22-6.  The Vikings scored four in the first, and after  CUC rallied for 3 in the 2nd to make it close, NPU scored six in the 2nd and two in the 3rd to take control of the game.  They broke it open with 10 in the 6th.  I thought the game would end in the 7th, but there was no 10-run rule, and the teams kept playing.  The Cougars plated three in the 8th, but that wrapped up the scoring for both sides.  Ranko Stevanovic went 5-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs, but in the one AB that did not result in a hit, he reached third on a bases-loaded error.  He also scored four times. Other big bats for the Vikings included Brandon Davis (3-for-6, 4 RBI) and two hits apiece for Jared Cantu, Ryan Moritsugu, and Brad Maurer.  In all, the Vikings had 19 hits, 10 walks, and three hit batsmen.  Six Viking hurlers saw action and yielded just eight hits and two walks.  With the win, the Vikings go to 6-0, the best start in team history, surpassing the 5-0 start by the 2010 squad.  The streak will be put to the test when the Vikings host 7-1 Millikin for a Saturday twin bill.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2021, 10:37:27 PM
Fun day. Looong day, as the game went 3 1/2 hours and we were on the air for four hours (not counting the power outage in the bottom of the second and the top of the third). It's safe to say that Concordia (IL) does not have the horses it has perennially had throughout the last decade, in which the Cougars have made eight straight D3 tournaments, finishing third in the nation in 2018 and reaching the super-regionals in 2019 while registering 40 wins apiece in those two seasons. But that's still a very shocking final score. Suffice it to say that North Park has looked very impressive thus far. The Vikings are really clicking in every phase of the game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 18, 2021, 10:46:57 PM
Augie's nice start continued as well, as the Doggies completed a three-game sweep of Cornell by stomping the Rams, 8-0, as seven Augustana hurlers combined for a two-hit shutout. Augustana is now 8-0 on the season -- but, just as 6-0 NPU will have its undefeated start put to a stern test this weekend against 7-1 Millikin, so, too, will Augie have to take on a serious challenge to its unblemished record this weekend when Greg Wallace's team squares off against 5-1 North Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 19, 2021, 07:34:03 AM
In a non-CCIW game yesterday, live stats show Maranatha Baptist with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against TBA:

Live stats (https://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2021/boxscores/20210318_erfv.xml)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2021, 11:00:44 AM
LOL!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on March 19, 2021, 12:03:22 PM
Quote from: mr_b on March 19, 2021, 07:34:03 AM
In a non-CCIW game yesterday, live stats show Maranatha Baptist with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against TBA:

Live stats (https://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2021/boxscores/20210318_erfv.xml)

I can say with almost certainty that they were performing a live stats "push" test and didn't delete the play. I've made the same mistake!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 19, 2021, 12:22:55 PM
The funny thing is that Maranatha Baptist actually has it listed on its schedule as a live test.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on March 26, 2021, 08:58:06 PM
Carroll center fielder Nick Angus ran into the wall and went down in a heap at Carthage tonight. Field was cleared and an emergency team carried him off on a stretcher. Pray for him and maybe reach out to anyone you may know at Carroll. Hope everything turns out ok.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 26, 2021, 09:48:21 PM
Quote from: npbaseball40 on March 26, 2021, 08:58:06 PM
Carroll center fielder Nick Angus ran into the wall and went down in a heap at Carthage tonight. Field was cleared and an emergency team carried him off on a stretcher. Pray for him and maybe reach out to anyone you may know at Carroll. Hope everything turns out ok.
So sorry to hear that.  North Park saw that happen a few years ago; season-ending injury but nothing long-term.  Let's hope that Angus' injury is not serious.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2021, 11:01:45 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 05, 2021, 03:45:29 PM
Does ANYone care to take a stab at the CCIW this year? With almost no 2020 season to use as a baseline, just about anything is possible in 2021. My top three:

1. North Central
2. IWU
3. Carthage

Tell me I am wrong...

I withdraw my statement. Carthage pitching is horrendous. This is the worst pitching staff I've seen Carthage run out in at least 30 years. Struggling to gain Ws vs traditional middle-to-bottom dwelling CCIW opponents. I fear for the games vs the top of the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 30, 2021, 11:42:32 AM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 30, 2021, 11:01:45 AM
I withdraw my statement. Carthage pitching is horrendous. This is the worst pitching staff I've seen Carthage run out in at least 30 years. Struggling to gain Ws vs traditional middle-to-bottom dwelling CCIW opponents. I fear for the games vs the top of the CCIW.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating....  I take a look at the Carthage roster and I don't see even ONE kid north of West Bend on the squad... 

When Carthage was the dominant force in the CCIW, their roster was littered with kids from Hortonville, Neenah, Clintonville, Ripon, Reedsville, Sheboygan, Stevens Point, etc...  (I'm sure I'm missing a few, but you get the drift...)  Now they are nowhere to be found, and Carthage has become a mediocre baseball team.  Coincidence?  I don't think so....

Just to add, I also took a look at the UWO roster today...  14/41 kids on the roster from the state of Wisconsin.  There used to be that many just from HWY 21 and north...  (For that matter, I don't think there was ever a four year span where there would be 14 kids on a UWO roster that WERE NOT from Wisconsin!)  Now, Seeing them go 0-4 against Whitewater and Stevens Point thus far has me wondering if this will be yet another losing season for Tomasiewicz, which would make it four times in his seven years at the helm.  (I didn't count the shortened 2020 season.)

It also makes me wonder where all the talent from the Fox Cities and Central Wisconsin is going? Are they all going to scholarship schools now?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 30, 2021, 01:17:02 PM
You gotta recruit the Fox Valley if you want to win in Wisconsin... Carthage used to pound the valley but former pitching coach, Brian Mosher, was from the valley. He recruited it hard. The number of valley kids on the Carthage roster has declined greatly since he left.

It's easier to recruit the North Suburb kids to Carthage but those are VERY different types of kids (upper-middle class white collar kids) than the kids from the Fox Valley (Tough, blue collar kids who know what adversity is).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on March 30, 2021, 03:08:04 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on March 30, 2021, 01:17:02 PM
It's easier to recruit the North Suburb kids to Carthage but those are VERY different types of kids (upper-middle class white collar kids) than the kids from the Fox Valley (Tough, blue collar kids who know what adversity is).
I figured that might go over better coming from a CCIW guy like yourself than an "outsider" like me...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on April 06, 2021, 11:48:26 AM
Regarding talent from the Fox Cities, a lot of mid-major D1s have have worked their way into the Valley and the kids that used to land at UWO, Carthage, Stevens Point, etc... are being scooped up by the likes of Xavier, Bradley, Valpo, St Louis, etc...

Whitewater has maintained its ability to grab top kids and has been very successful as a result. St Norbert has also  done well in the Fox Valley getting some kids to stay home. Granted the academic standards are ridiculous, but I have always been baffled by Lawrence University's inability to build a solid program in Appleton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on April 06, 2021, 03:22:11 PM
Quote from: BigPoppa on April 06, 2021, 11:48:26 AM
Regarding talent from the Fox Cities, a lot of mid-major D1s have have worked their way into the Valley and the kids that used to land at UWO, Carthage, Stevens Point, etc... are being scooped up by the likes of Xavier, Bradley, Valpo, St Louis, etc...

Whitewater has maintained its ability to grab top kids and has been very successful as a result. St Norbert has also  done well in the Fox Valley getting some kids to stay home. Granted the academic standards are ridiculous, but I have always been baffled by Lawrence University's inability to build a solid program in Appleton.
Central Michigan and their St. Norbert laden staff is another one...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on April 27, 2021, 01:01:06 PM
Congratulations to NPU's Reinhardt and NCC's Shanner on being named the league's hitter and pitcher of the week, respectively.

https://cciw.org/news/2021/4/27/north-parks-reinhardt-north-centrals-shanner-named-cciw-baseball-players-of-the-week.aspx (https://cciw.org/news/2021/4/27/north-parks-reinhardt-north-centrals-shanner-named-cciw-baseball-players-of-the-week.aspx)

Reinhardt royally screwed out of national honors, despite having one of the best offensive weeks by a shortstop all season while committing no errors.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2021, 01:16:15 PM
Yep. He clearly had a better week than Colin Kelly of Union.

Perhaps the person(s) who select the d3baseball.com Team of the Week picked Kelly because his performance put him over the top on the Dutchmen career leaderboard and allowed him to break a couple of school career records this week. If so, that's pretty weak sauce (no pun intended), because it's not Team of the Career -- it's Team of the Week. And Reinhardt had a better week than Kelly, straight up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on April 27, 2021, 01:35:47 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2021, 01:16:15 PM
Yep. He clearly had a better week than Colin Kelly of Union.

Perhaps the person(s) who select the d3baseball.com Team of the Week picked Kelly because his performance put him over the top on the Dutchmen career leaderboard and allowed him to break a couple of school career records this week. If so, that's pretty weak sauce (no pun intended), because it's not Team of the Career -- it's Team of the Week. And Reinhardt had a better week than Kelly, straight up.

Maybe I should just start making up career marks to get him recognized. How about "most career home runs by a shortstop who is also the primary stat panel operator"? Or maybe "most career home runs by a shortstop with red hair"?

If this team of the week were a sauce, it'd be ranch dressing.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2021, 01:53:56 PM
(https://media1.tenor.com/images/a242fac0b55922770accaf1f8fd613b7/tenor.gif?itemid=11899494)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on April 27, 2021, 03:33:20 PM
Reinhardt also had better stats than several other POW honorees.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 08:38:27 PM
North Park University shortstop Jake Reinhardt just wrapped up the most amazing four-game offensive production I have ever witnessed in my 20+ years of scorekeeping at the NCAA Division III level. In four games against conference rival Carthage College, Jake went 9-for-18 with 17 RBIs, 10 runs scored, and eight home runs. Most of the round-trippers were no-doubters, probably 370-400+ feet each to center or left field (only one was a relative "cheapie" to the short porch in right field at Holmgren).  What an offensive display.  I just don't understand why he wasn't intentionally walked every time after he hit two homers in the first game of the series.  With this outburst, he has tied the single-season record for home runs (14, set back in 1987 by Steve Zetterlund) and still has several games left to break it... if anyone will pitch to him!  Congratulations, Jake!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2021, 09:47:00 PM
I'm absolutely stunned. As I said on the air today, "Right now, Jake Reinhardt looks like a major-leaguer playing Class A ball." I mean, eight homers in one weekend of baseball? That's nuts!

I've never seen anybody hit one out to dead center at Holmgren before. I guessed that it went about 435 feet; Tyler thinks it was closer to 450. Either way, Luke Johnson told me he watched that ball go out from where he was standing in the third-base coaching box, and he said that it bounced off of the cement in the Holmgren entryway and leaped over the cars parked there and the outer fence and went into the North Shore Channel. That made two channel balls that Jake hit today, as his other Game One homer cleared the stadium on the fly in right center and splashed down in the channel.

Am I correct, Mr. B, in stating that Jake joins Zach Deutscher as only the second Viking ever to hit three homers in one game?

I saw Steve Zetterlund play, and he was a prodigious hitter. I didn't think that his homer record would ever be equaled. And here Jake Reinhardt has tied it while only playing 75% as many games (33 to 44) thus far as Zetterlund played in '87. And to think that a couple of weeks ago all we could talk about was how many triples Reinhardt was hitting when he was leading all of D3 in that category. As my broadcast partner Scot Gladstone said, "I guess that Jake got tired of doing all that running, and switched to hitting homers."

Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 08:38:27 PMI just don't understand why he wasn't intentionally walked every time after he hit two homers in the first game of the series.

On my way out of Holmgren once the doubleheader was over, I stopped to ask a couple of Carthage players, "Why in the world did Augie Schmidt make you guys keep pitching to Reinhardt?" They both burst into laughter, and one of them said, "Well, Augie told us that when he was in college he got intentionally walked all the time, and it made him so mad that he swore he would never intentionally walk an opposing batter when he became a coach."

Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 08:38:27 PMWith this outburst, he has tied the single-season record for home runs (14, set back in 1987 by Steve Zetterlund) and still has several games left to break it... if anyone will pitch to him!  Congratulations, Jake!

When I was in Charcoal Delights afterwards, NPU freshman OF/P Mason Carlisle was standing in line at the counter as some Carthage parents walked in. One of the Carthage dads saw Mason's North Park cap and equipment bag, walked up to him and said, "Hey, can you do me a favor? Can you get #3's autograph for me?"

Funny thing was, Jake later came into the restaurant with Jared Cantu and their dads, and the Carthage people didn't recognize him. I was glad about that, because Jake's so modest that he probably would've been embarrassed.

After Jake launched his third homer of the game (and fifth of the day, and eighth of the weekend) well over the fence in left center, I yelled on the air, "Take that, d3baseball.com!" I'm not proud of that. I meant it ... but I'm not proud of it. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2021, 09:48:46 PM
Lost in all of the Reinhardt hoopla is the fact that Ranko Stevanovic tied the all-time North Park record for doubles in a season (16) today. So congrats to Ranko as well!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 09:59:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 02, 2021, 09:47:00 PM
Am I correct, Mr. B, in stating that Jake joins Zach Deutscher as only the second Viking ever to hit three homers in one game?
Yes, as far as I know, but there are no scorebooks available from the pre-Luke Johnson era, at least none that have been unearthed. As a baseball historian, that is very frustrating. Steve Zetterlund might have hit three in one game, and other Viking greats such as Randy Ross or Anthony D'Andrea could have, too.  I was told that Cory Clark (I think) had a potential third home run ruled foul during the crazy 31-18 win over the University of Chicago back in 1999.  But given our current available data, Reinhardt and Deutscher are the only two players with three round-trippers in a game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 02, 2021, 10:29:42 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 08:38:27 PM
North Park University shortstop Jake Reinhardt just wrapped up the most amazing four-game offensive production I have ever witnessed in my 20+ years of scorekeeping at the NCAA Division III level. In four games against conference rival Carthage College, Jake went 9-for-18 with 17 RBIs, 10 runs scored, and eight home runs. Most of the round-trippers were no-doubters, probably 370-400+ feet each to center or left field (only one was a relative "cheapie" to the short porch in right field at Holmgren).  What an offensive display.  I just don't understand why he wasn't intentionally walked every time after he hit two homers in the first game of the series.  With this outburst, he has tied the single-season record for home runs (14, set back in 1987 by Steve Zetterlund) and still has several games left to break it... if anyone will pitch to him!  Congratulations, Jake!
It reminds me of the "weekend" UWO's Tim Jorgenson had about 25 years ago when he hit 6 HR's in a DH against Eau Claire, including the "HR cycle" in the nightcap.  Those were the only two games UWO played that week as it was the WSUC Championship and the final games of the regular season before the Midwest Regional started the following week.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 03, 2021, 12:18:29 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 02, 2021, 08:38:27 PM
Most of the round-trippers were no-doubters, probably 370-400+ feet each to center or left field (only one was a relative "cheapie" to the short porch in right field at Holmgren).

By my estimation, his furthest homers were 450, 430, and 415. The 450' homer was a ball that landed in the marsh in right-center field at Carthage on Saturday. The 430' homer was the one that bounced on the concrete walkway at Holmgren, and the 415 footer went to right-center and rolled into the River at Holmgren.

I've had the opportunity to watch Jake play since he was 16 - coaching him, Justin Woolbright, Jared Cantu, and newcomer Carson Blatchford - on the Rockford Big Dogs summer travel team with my father, Tom. Jake was a top tier shortstop then, but he's been on another level these past two weeks. I'd say that I can't wait to see where he finishes, but I don't want this special season to end.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 03, 2021, 11:05:25 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 27, 2021, 01:16:15 PM
Yep. He clearly had a better week than Colin Kelly of Union.

Perhaps the person(s) who select the d3baseball.com Team of the Week picked Kelly because his performance put him over the top on the Dutchmen career leaderboard and allowed him to break a couple of school career records this week. If so, that's pretty weak sauce (no pun intended), because it's not Team of the Career -- it's Team of the Week. And Reinhardt had a better week than Kelly, straight up.

I mean, the guy Jim picked did literally have a 2381 OPS for the week. It's not as if he didn't do anything, guys.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 11:52:37 AM
Colin Kelly last week: 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs scored
Jake Reinhardt last week: 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 runs scored
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Caz Bombers on May 03, 2021, 06:38:36 PM
is this Reinhardt kid on the radar for the draft next month? If fans are allowed in your part of the world, anybody seen MLB scouts at the ballpark?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 03, 2021, 07:40:46 PM
Quote from: Caz Bombers on May 03, 2021, 06:38:36 PM
is this Reinhardt kid on the radar for the draft next month? If fans are allowed in your part of the world, anybody seen MLB scouts at the ballpark?

I cannot get into specifics, but he's very much on the radar for the draft.

With COVID protocol in IL, many scouts are utilizing video and analytical data (exit velocity, projected distance, etc.) to evaluate potential draftees. Would be great to see Reinhardt picked up.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 08:32:55 PM
https://www.facebook.com/761062707237795/videos/289947942668020
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 03, 2021, 08:52:24 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 08:32:55 PM
https://www.facebook.com/761062707237795/videos/289947942668020

Nice work by NPU Athletics for putting together this montage!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 04, 2021, 12:45:48 PM
Congrats to Jake Reinhardt on being named one of the National Shortstops of the Week by D3baseball.com. The article also lumped in Jake's stats from the week prior.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2021, 01:29:16 PM
Jake Reinhardt currently leads D3 in total bases with 125. There's quite a gap between him and the #2 player in that category, Austin Denlinger of York (PA), who has 114.

Reinhardt is also fourth in the nation in hits (he has 61; the national leader is Jack Walch of Berry, who has 65), second in the nation in home runs (Denlinger's teammate Jack Barry has 15 to Reinhardt's 14), third in RBI (his 57 trails the 62 amassed by D3 leader Tyler Calvert of Berry), second in triples (his seven trails D3 leader and conference rival Dom Listi of North Central, who has 10), and 12th in runs scored (he has 47; three guys are tied at the top with 54 apiece). I don't see anybody else in D3 whose name is at or near the top of so many counting stats in the offense department.

Percentage stats are another matter; this weird pandemic season is playing havoc with national rankings in percentage stats, because so many teams have played a very limited number of games to date. Just within the Top 25, f'rinstance, Chapman has only played eight games, Babson's played 12, and Wheaton (MA) has played 14, while Reinhardt has been in the lineup for all 33 games that North Park has played thus far. Reinhardt is thus the victim of all kinds of gaudy stats posted by small-sample-size Babe Ruths. Nevertheless, he is ninth in homers per game (the national leader "plays" for Haverford, which has played a grand total of one game thus far this season), tenth in RBI per game (again, the leader is a Haverford guy), 13th in slugging percentage (the leader wears the uniform of -- say it with me, now -- Haverford), and 13th in slugging percentage (take a wild guess which school D3's slugging percentage leader attends). Take out the players from Haverford and other teams that have barely broken a sweat thus far this spring, and Reinhardt also moves way up in batting average, runs per game, etc.

Other Vikings of note statistically are Logan Peters, who is ninth in D3 with seven sacrifice bunts (two players have nine apiece; Millikin's Tommy Shaw leads the CCIW with eight), and Ranko Stevanovic, who is seventh in the nation in doubles with 16 (Jack Surin of Benedictine leads D3 with 19, while Brent Beals of Millikin leads the CCIW with 17).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 04, 2021, 09:11:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 11:52:37 AM
Colin Kelly last week: 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs scored
Jake Reinhardt last week: 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 runs scored

Kelly: 2 games.
Reinhardt: 4 games.

I don't think it makes good policy to hand out awards based on a conference's policy of how many games are played in a weekend, or have it be weather-dependent. Per-game averages are pretty cool that way.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2021, 11:20:07 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 04, 2021, 09:11:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 11:52:37 AM
Colin Kelly last week: 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs scored
Jake Reinhardt last week: 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 runs scored

Kelly: 2 games.
Reinhardt: 4 games.

I don't think it makes good policy to hand out awards based on a conference's policy of how many games are played in a weekend, or have it be weather-dependent. Per-game averages are pretty cool that way.

But you also run into the problem of small sample size.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 05, 2021, 07:07:38 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 04, 2021, 11:20:07 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 04, 2021, 09:11:35 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2021, 11:52:37 AM
Colin Kelly last week: 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 runs scored
Jake Reinhardt last week: 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 runs scored

Kelly: 2 games.
Reinhardt: 4 games.

I don't think it makes good policy to hand out awards based on a conference's policy of how many games are played in a weekend, or have it be weather-dependent. Per-game averages are pretty cool that way.

But you also run into the problem of small sample size.
The challenge of trying to weigh one performance against another over two or three or four games is daunting and is best addressed by recognizing two players at the same position, when appropriate.  This is the case in this week's selections, with two shortstops and two catchers getting the nod.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2021, 11:16:31 AM
Exactly. Why are there two shortstops on this past week's team when there weren't two shortstops on the previous week's team?

Lest this just be interpreted as the partisan grousing of North Park fans, let me state for the record that, like Mr. B, I am convinced that Jim Dixon has a tough task to put together the Team of the Week every seven days throughout the baseball season. More than any other sport covered by d3sports.com, baseball on this level has wildly disparate scheduling (and, thus, wildly disparate outcomes for the players involved), which I think makes his job harder than the parallel work done for football and basketball.

But, given Jake Reinhardt's body of work two weeks ago, and in light of this week's decision to put two shortstops on the Team of the Week, I think that these are fair points that we're raising.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2021, 03:41:11 PM
Congrats to NPU's Jake Reinhardt upon being named Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. (https://cciw.org/news/2021/5/5/baseball-north-parks-reinhardt-ncbwa-national-hitter-of-the-week.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Pat Coleman on May 07, 2021, 11:58:13 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2021, 11:16:31 AM
Exactly. Why are there two shortstops on this past week's team when there weren't two shortstops on the previous week's team?

Lest this just be interpreted as the partisan grousing of North Park fans, let me state for the record that, like Mr. B, I am convinced that Jim Dixon has a tough task to put together the Team of the Week every seven days throughout the baseball season. More than any other sport covered by d3sports.com, baseball on this level has wildly disparate scheduling (and, thus, wildly disparate outcomes for the players involved), which I think makes his job harder than the parallel work done for football and basketball.

But, given Jake Reinhardt's body of work two weeks ago, and in light of this week's decision to put two shortstops on the Team of the Week, I think that these are fair points that we're raising.

I am guessing he only did this because of you guys grousing. I would not have approved of ever putting more than one player on the team at a position, just like a coach cannot start two shortstops at the same time.

Well done, you guys.  >:(
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2021, 12:02:30 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 07, 2021, 11:58:13 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2021, 11:16:31 AM
Exactly. Why are there two shortstops on this past week's team when there weren't two shortstops on the previous week's team?

Lest this just be interpreted as the partisan grousing of North Park fans, let me state for the record that, like Mr. B, I am convinced that Jim Dixon has a tough task to put together the Team of the Week every seven days throughout the baseball season. More than any other sport covered by d3sports.com, baseball on this level has wildly disparate scheduling (and, thus, wildly disparate outcomes for the players involved), which I think makes his job harder than the parallel work done for football and basketball.

But, given Jake Reinhardt's body of work two weeks ago, and in light of this week's decision to put two shortstops on the Team of the Week, I think that these are fair points that we're raising.

I am guessing he only did this because of you guys grousing. I would not have approved of ever putting more than one player on the team at a position, just like a coach cannot start two shortstops at the same time.

Well done, you guys.  >:(

Don't deflect the blame onto us, Pat. If you have a problem with this, take it up with Jim.

Besides, he named two catchers as well as two shortstops. In fact, it's the second time this season that he's named two catchers -- he also did it in Week Eight. Every week he's named four outfielders (as well as a DH, so it's not as though he's only picking nine position players) and a plethora of starting pitchers, and occasionally he'll throw in some extra relief pitchers as well. The "one player on the team at a position" thing does not appear to have been an ironclad rule with Jim before we raised the topic of Jake Reinhardt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: npbaseball40 on May 07, 2021, 02:44:27 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on May 07, 2021, 11:58:13 AM


I am guessing he only did this because of you guys grousing. I would not have approved of ever putting more than one player on the team at a position, just like a coach cannot start two shortstops at the same time.

Well done, you guys.  >:(

This is a bizarre hill for you to die on, Pat. If you truly believe you and/or Jim got this right, there's no need to be so defensive.

Fact of the matter is Reinhardt was deserving of the award in two separate weeks. Let's move on now.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on May 09, 2021, 11:20:51 PM
Occasionally I will put two players in the same position.  I have always done this for starting pitcher and reliever more often than any other position.  You can look back and find out that this was the first year I have done this occasionally for positions other than outfielder. 

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 05, 2021, 11:16:31 AM
Exactly. Why are there two shortstops on this past week's team when there weren't two shortstops on the previous week's team?

Lest this just be interpreted as the partisan grousing of North Park fans, let me state for the record that, like Mr. B, I am convinced that Jim Dixon has a tough task to put together the Team of the Week every seven days throughout the baseball season. More than any other sport covered by d3sports.com, baseball on this level has wildly disparate scheduling (and, thus, wildly disparate outcomes for the players involved), which I think makes his job harder than the parallel work done for football and basketball.

But, given Jake Reinhardt's body of work two weeks ago, and in light of this week's decision to put two shortstops on the Team of the Week, I think that these are fair points that we're raising.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2021, 07:12:28 PM
Wheaton wins the play-in game, 12-4, over Carthage.  The Thunder were up 8-0 after three innings.  They will face North Central on Wednesday as the double-elimination tournament starts.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Next Man Up on May 17, 2021, 07:38:32 PM
The North Central Cardinals just won their sixth consecutive regular season CCIW championship outright. In doing so they, as you would think would be the case, secured the #1 seed in the conference tournament. Rather than conduct the tournament at a single site, North Central and Wheaton are co-hosting. Today, Wheaton, the #8 seed, beat #9 seeded Carthage for the right to meet #1 NCC 2 days from now. One of the normal perks of winning a conference championship is getting to host the conference tournament. As I've indicated, the tournament is being co-hosted this year by NCC and Wheaton. Due to NCC being the #1 seed, you would think the game would be played in Naperville. However, instead of Wednesday's game being played at the home of conference champ NCC, it's scheduled to be played at #8 seed Wheaton. I fail to see the logic in that arrangement. Certainly not the way it's done in most, if not all, other conference sports. The CCIW "brain" trust working in mysterious ways. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 17, 2021, 07:45:18 PM
There's nothing mysterious about it at all, Mark. This tournament configuration was set up a long time ago, long before NCC won the CCIW title and the #1 seed.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 17, 2021, 07:49:07 PM
I don't think Zimmerman Field has lights, so that limits the number of games North Central can host.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 17, 2021, 08:37:38 PM
Yes, and that's precisely why the tourney is being shared with Pfund Stadium, which not only has lights but (unlike Zimmerman) an all-turf surface as well.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
In reading (or RE-reading if helpful) my post, you will find no complaint on my part regarding the tournament games being held at two locations. In fact, with the number of teams participating, coupled with the always unpredictable local weather, it seems prudent. My complaint, solely and simply, is with the conference champion being forced to forgo the usual perk of getting to play tournament games at home as a reward for winning the championship.
The softball tournament wasn't held at Elmhurst, and neither the men's basketball nor volleyball tournament games took place at the lower seeded team's venue.
All I'm saying is that as long as the #1 team is alive, they should be playing at home, weather permitting.
Once the seeds were determined, there was no reason why NCC couldn't be scheduled/switched to play in Naperville.
Why should the baseball tournament be conducted differently than any of the other tournament championships? 🤔
Consistency, gentlemen. Too much to ask? ;D
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2021, 10:26:39 AM
Quote from: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
Once the seeds were determined, there was no reason why NCC couldn't be scheduled/switched to play in Naperville.
The only reason I can think of is that the tournament was set up well in advance, and the #1 seed was assigned to play at Lee Pfund Field.  The tournament managers must have decided to stick with that plan regardless of how the seedings actually worked out.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 18, 2021, 10:26:52 AM
Quote from: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
In reading (or RE-reading if helpful) my post, you will find no complaint on my part regarding the tournament games being held at two locations. In fact, with the number of teams participating, coupled with the always unpredictable local weather, it seems prudent. My complaint, solely and simply, is with the conference champion being forced to forgo the usual perk of getting to play tournament games at home as a reward for winning the championship.
The softball tournament wasn't held at Elmhurst, and neither the men's basketball nor volleyball tournament games took place at the lower seeded team's venue.

No, the softball tournament wasn't held at Elmhurst. It was held at Millikin and Illinois Wesleyan because: a) those two schools fit together as a tandem geographically; and b) it meant that the baseball and softball tournaments would be hosted by different campuses, so as to keep from overburdening any particular school's game staff, training staff, and sports information department. That's a very real concern in a year in which both sports are holding nine-team tourneys for the first time ever. The need to use tandem hosting sites because of the nine-team tourneys has forced the CCIW to set aside the usual practice of allowing the champion to host the entire tourney in these two sports.

What I am saying is that you misunderstand why the tournament is being co-hosted by NCC at Zimmerman. It isn't because the Cardinals won the CCIW title, because, as I said, the tournament format was set up long before that happened. NCC is co-hosting because Naperville and Carol Stream fit together as a co-hosting tandem. It could just as easily have been Schmidt Field in Kenosha and Frame Park in Waukesha that co-hosted this year's baseball tourney, or Butterfield Park in Elmhurst could've co-hosted alongside Zimmerman or Pfund (although it's hard to imagine anybody wanting that option, since Butterfield Park is usually in wretched shape). What's more, the format had the pairings pre-set as well; the play-in game was always going to be held at Pfund, with #1 playing the play-in game winner at Pfund two days later.

Quote from: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AMAll I'm saying is that as long as the #1 team is alive, they should be playing at home, weather permitting.
Once the seeds were determined, there was no reason why NCC couldn't be scheduled/switched to play in Naperville.
Why should the baseball tournament be conducted differently than any of the other tournament championships? 🤔
Consistency, gentlemen. Too much to ask? ;D

You have that exactly backwards, Mark. Consistency -- which, as you define it, means conducting the baseball tourney in the same manner in which the other CCIW tourneys are held -- means sticking with the predetermined format rather than changing it at the last minute after the seeds have been established. It happened to work out nicely for softball that the #1 seed (Millikin) and the #2 seed (Illinois Wesleyan) both got to play in their own ballparks. A similar coincidence didn't come to pass for North Central and Augustana. Them's the breaks.

I happened to be a part of a conversation with Ed Mathey and Luke Johnson after the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader at Holmgren. They're both well aware of how bizarre it is for North Central to have to possibly (and now definitely) play Wheaton in the first round of the tourney proper on Wheaton's home field, with NCC as the "home team" -- but Ed's fine with it. It is what it is. Given all of the complex politics involved in CCIW baseball, it's practically a miracle that they managed to hash out this plan in the first place. Nobody's going to try to change it at the last minute and cause an uproar.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 18, 2021, 10:27:42 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 18, 2021, 10:26:39 AM
Quote from: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
Once the seeds were determined, there was no reason why NCC couldn't be scheduled/switched to play in Naperville.
The only reason I can think of is that the tournament was set up well in advance, and the #1 seed was assigned to play at Lee Pfund Field.  The tournament managers must have decided to stick with that plan regardless of how the seedings actually worked out.

As usual, Mr. B states succinctly in one sentence what it took me four paragraphs to say. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 18, 2021, 10:44:17 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 18, 2021, 10:27:42 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 18, 2021, 10:26:39 AM
Quote from: Next Man Up on May 18, 2021, 12:35:24 AM
Once the seeds were determined, there was no reason why NCC couldn't be scheduled/switched to play in Naperville.
The only reason I can think of is that the tournament was set up well in advance, and the #1 seed was assigned to play at Lee Pfund Field.  The tournament managers must have decided to stick with that plan regardless of how the seedings actually worked out.

As usual, Mr. B states succinctly in one sentence what it took me four paragraphs to say. ;)
That's why you do play-by-play and I never did the color commentary. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: WUPHF on May 18, 2021, 05:45:16 PM
The football talk...

I so wish my team had played this season.

Looks like things are a go for the Fall.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: WUPHF on May 18, 2021, 06:51:33 PM
Wait, this is baseball.

Football has been over for a while.

Pretend that I do not exist.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2021, 07:58:26 PM
CCIW first-round results, top four seeds all winners:

#1 North Central 8, #8 Wheaton 7
#2 Augustana 12, #7 Elmhurst 9
#3 Millikin 6, #6 Illinois Wesleyan 3
#4 Carroll 6, #5 North Park 2

Thursday's matchups:

Wheaton vs. North Park @ Naperville, first pitch at 11 AM
Elmhurst vs Illinois Wesleyan @ Naperville
North Central vs Carroll @ Carol Stream, first pitch at 11 AM
Augustana vs Millikin @ Carol Stream
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2021, 07:19:50 PM
CCIW Tournament results, day 2:

North Park 5, Wheaton 5 (Wheaton eliminated)
Elmhurst 15, Illinois Wesleyan 3 (7 innings; IWU eliminated)
Carroll 11, North Central 6 (10 innings)
Millikin 5, Augustana 3

Friday's schedule can be found on the CCIW Tournament website (https://cciw.org/sports/2021/3/24/BB_0324210448.aspx).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2021, 02:37:09 PM
CCIW Tournament, Day 3:

Elimination games

North Central 9, Elmhurst 2
Augustana 2, North Park 1

The Cardinals and the Vikings square off in Naperville later this afternoon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2021, 05:58:47 PM
CCIW Tournament, championship bracket:

Millikin 4, Carroll 0.  The Big Blue advance to tomorrow's championship game(s) and they continue their quest for their first-ever regional bid.

Augustana leads North Central 1-0 in the 6th in an elimination game between the top two seeds.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2021, 07:36:35 PM
Final from Naperville:

North Central 5, Augustana 4 (Augie eliminated). The Vikings rallied for two in the ninth but stranded two runners.  The Cardinals will play Carroll tomorrow at 11 AM.  The winner of that contest will play Millikin.  All games Saturday will be at Lee Pfund Field in Carol Stream.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 22, 2021, 02:39:10 PM
NCC overcame a 3-0 deficit after 3 and a half innings by putting up a 7 spot in the 4th capped by a Dom Listi grand slam en route to a 13-3 victory over Carroll. Bring on Millikin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Next Man Up on May 22, 2021, 06:28:01 PM
In today's second game, North Central jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over Millikin, and held a 5-1 advantage after six. The Big Blue then posted a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth to knot things up. However, in the bottom of the eighth a Justin Rios single plated Rob Marinec with what proved the winning run after Jason Shanner closed the door in the Millikin ninth.

NCC's win forces the "if necessary" winner take all championship game. The game, which will be the Cardinals third game of the day, will begin at 5:45. Millikin has been designated as the home team.
Its currently 88 degrees at Lee Pfund Stadium.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2021, 09:06:01 PM
Millikin scores twice in the bottom of the 8th to take a 4-3 lead and Jared Buzan works a scoreless ninth to preserve a victory for the Big Blue.  I believe this is Millkin's first trip to the NCAA Regionals.  Best of luck to Coach Townsend and the team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hockeyfan77 on May 23, 2021, 04:49:01 PM
Quote from: Next Man Up on May 22, 2021, 06:28:01 PM
In today's second game, North Central jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over Millikin, and held a 5-1 advantage after six. The Big Blue then posted a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth to knot things up. However, in the bottom of the eighth a Justin Rios single plated Rob Marinec with what proved the winning run after Jason Shanner closed the door in the Millikin ninth.

NCC's win forces the "if necessary" winner take all championship game. The game, which will be the Cardinals third game of the day, will begin at 5:45. Millikin has been designated as the home team.
Its currently 88 degrees at Lee Pfund Stadium.

Last I checked, NCAA wouldn't allow teams to play 3 full games in one day: unless this changed due to COVID
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jim Dixon on May 23, 2021, 05:58:51 PM
you cannot be compelled to play 3 games in one day in the playoffs.  FYI - Coe played three on Friday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: hockeyfan77 on May 24, 2021, 12:14:16 AM
Quote from: Jim Dixon on May 23, 2021, 05:58:51 PM
you cannot be compelled to play 3 games in one day in the playoffs.  FYI - Coe played three on Friday.

Thanks for the clarification
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 27, 2021, 02:27:53 PM
As part of the CCIW's 75th Anniversary Decade series of alumni student-athlete spotlights, my NPU broadcasting colleague Scot Gladstone interviewed former Vikings star LHP Nick Soldano. The interview, which is currently posted on the CCIW website, (https://cciw.org/news/2021/5/27/baseball-cciw-75th-anniversary-decade-series-north-parks-nick-soldano.aspx) is well worth watching if you're a CCIW baseball fan, or just a D3 baseball fan in general.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 01, 2021, 11:53:53 AM
The D3 Baseball All-Central Region teams have been announced. (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2021/central)  The CCIW is well represented, with players from eight different CCIW schools: six first-teamers, three on the second team, and six on the third team.  North Park shortstop Jake Reinhardt was selected as Player of the Year.  First-team selections were Rob Marinec, Brent Beals, Frank Bryan, Luke Lamm, Dylan Callahan, and Reinhardt.

The ACBA/Rawlings All-Central Region teams were also just announced (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Region/NCAA_Div_III/2021.aspx?WebsiteKey=3ae415b1-38c5-4b74-a080-a08919f99788).  The CCIW has several honorees, again recognizing Reinhardt as the Central Region Player of the Year.  Marinec, Callahan, Lamm and Benton Holly all joined Reinhardt on the first team.  The CCIW also had four players on the second team and five on the third team.

Congratulations to all those honored.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 02, 2021, 10:16:08 AM
More post-season accolades, the D3 All-American (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2021) teams: Reinhardt, first team; Lamm, fourth team; Marinec, honorable mention.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 03, 2021, 12:45:50 PM
The ABCA/Rawlings All-American selections have been announced (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Americans/NCAA_Division_III/2021.aspx).  Jake Reinhardt, First Team, and Rob Marinec, Third Team, are the two CCIW representatives.  Congratulations to both!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 23, 2021, 10:50:57 PM
The ABCA Rawlings Gold Glove winners (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/Gold_Glove/NCAA_Div_III/2021.aspx) have been announced.  Jake Reinhardt (https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2021/6/23/baseball-reinhardt-named-a-2021-gold-glove-recipient-by-abca-rawlings.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0kmY1uJAPEfewHZ8Q-76OZGnH7XO6AMpa9E1e4051cg7wFLqNkfU8JoO8) caps off an amazing season with another award.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on March 14, 2022, 12:24:56 AM
In one of the most dominating pitching performances in Viking history, Ethan Sund struck out 16 and allowed just one hit -- an 8th inning lead-off single -- to shut out #9 Texas Dallas, 1-0.  The Comets came into the game sporting a 15-1 record after walking off an earlier game vs. Wash U.  Sund was sharp from the first pitch, striking out seven of the first eight batters he faced (including four in the second, as the leadoff batter fanned but reached on a wild pitch) and 14 of the first 16 batters through 4 2/3 innings.  The 16 strikeouts puts him second all-time, one behind Steve Kuligowski's 17-K performance against St. Lawrence back in 2011.  The Vikings' lone run came in the 3rd when Reece Arakaki's groundout scored Jim Zay from third.  The Comet pitchers were also very sharp, recording 13 strikeouts while allowing just six hits.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on March 16, 2022, 11:07:19 AM
Congratulations to NPU senior hurler Ethan Sund upon being named to the d3baseball.com Team of the Week. (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/team-of-the-week/2022/week05)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on April 13, 2022, 08:48:32 AM
Not much chatter in here on baseball...Cardinals are on a roll having won 11 straight and stay undefeated in CCIW play.  The Cards moved up one spot to #8 in the D3Baseball.com top 25.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2022, 10:45:15 AM
Well, North Park had an interesting day yesterday. It's not every day that you erase a six-run deficit late in the game and then win it in extra innings on a walk-off squeeze play.

As a corollary to that late comeback by the Vikings, it's for certain that no lead is safe for Carthage with that pitching staff of theirs. To be fair, though, the Firebirds aren't the only team in the league that can't seem to get it done on the mound. This compressed schedule is killing CCIW pitching; over half of the teams in the league have team ERAs over 7.00, and Illinois Wesleyan's isn't much better than that, either. Poor Elmhurst, which blew leads of 5-0 and 9-5 yesterday in a 15-12 loss to Dominican, has a team ERA over 10.00. Opposing batters are hittting .349 against Bluejays pitching.

Of the three games played yesterday involving CCIW teams (Elmhurst @ Dominican, Carthage @ North Park, and IIT @ Wheaton), the six teams averaged 13 runs apiece. The last nine games played involving CCIW teams have seen at least one of the two teams reach double figures in runs. It used to be a rarity to see a team score 20 runs in a game; it's happened seven times already this season in a game involving a CCIW team, and Wheaton came close yesterday by putting up 19 against the Scarlet Hawks.

I used to be the commissioner of a church softball league. That was a circuit filled with pitcher's duels compared to what the CCIW has become.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 01, 2022, 05:34:24 PM
With today's 3-2 victory over Elmhurst, NCC wins their 7th straight CCIW Title and have earned home field advantage for the CCIW tournament!  Go Cards!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2022, 08:52:41 PM
Wild final weekend in the CCIW.  Carthage sweeps North Central, and North Park takes two from Illinois Wesleyan at Bloomington.  The first game at Horenberger Field goes extras and the Vikings prevail on a solo homer by Ranko Stevanovic.  In the nightcap, pinch hitter Richie Silva drills a two-run double to put the Vikings up by a run, and Ranko throws out a Titan runner trying to steal second to end the game.  Really nice relief pitching performances by the Vikings' Frank Kalemba (winner in game one) and Brett Brueske (winner in game two).  I thought both games were well played by both sides, with clutch hitting, good defense, and solid pitching.

North Park, Wesleyan, and Carthage all have seven wins. Carthage has finished CCIW play, and the Vikings and Titans each have one game remaining. If North Park beats Wheaton on Monday *or* if Wesleyan loses to North Central tomorrow, the Vikings will end up with the sixth and final slot in the tournament. North Park holds the tiebreaker over both Carthage and Wesleyan. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2022, 09:40:19 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 07, 2022, 08:52:41 PM
Wild final weekend in the CCIW.  Carthage sweeps North Central, and North Park takes two from Illinois Wesleyan at Bloomington.  The first game at Horenberger Field goes extras and the Vikings prevail on a solo homer by Ranko Stevanovic.  In the nightcap, pinch hitter Richie Silva drills a two-run double to put the Vikings up by a run, and Ranko throws out a Titan runner trying to steal second to end the game.

Great to see Ranko play the hero in both wins, since the Illinois Wesleyan P.A. announcer kept pronouncing his name as though it rhymed with "Frank-oh."

That must've left Stevanovic pretty rankled. ;)

Quote from: mr_b on May 07, 2022, 08:52:41 PMReally nice relief pitching performances by the Vikings' Frank Kalemba (winner in game one) and Brett Brueske (winner in game two).  I thought both games were well played by both sides, with clutch hitting, good defense, and solid pitching.

North Park, Wesleyan, and Carthage all have seven wins. Carthage has finished CCIW play, and the Vikings and Titans each have one game remaining. If North Park beats Wheaton on Monday *or* if Wesleyan loses to North Central tomorrow, the Vikings will end up with the sixth and final slot in the tournament. North Park holds the tiebreaker over both Carthage and Wesleyan.

The Titans @ Cardinals game is actually Monday at noon. The Vikings will be at Wheaton at 3 pm Monday.

The good news is that the Vikings control their own destiny. The better news is that IWU has to play #11 North Central, and you know that Ed Mathey is going to play it straight rather than rest his Cardinals starters and give the Titans an advantage. But the bad news is that Wheaton will do the same -- and WC skipper Matt Husted distributed his staff's innings in today's doubleheader split with Augustana in such a way as to have everyone available for Monday, including his ace Brendan Dyer, while NPU's ace Ethan Sund threw 89 pitches today in the first game against Illinois Wesleyan and thus won't be available on Monday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2022, 09:47:34 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2022, 09:40:19 PM

The Titans @ Cardinals game is actually Monday at noon. The Vikings will be at Wheaton at 3 pm Monday.


Thanks for that correction.  I thought I had seen the game scheduled for May 8th, but it is indeed the 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2022, 09:50:34 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2022, 09:40:19 PM
Great to see Ranko play the hero in both wins, since the Illinois Wesleyan P.A. announcer kept pronouncing his name as though it rhymed with "Frank-oh."

That must've left Stevanovic pretty rankled. ;)


He's used to the mispronunciations. I remember at one away game, he was introduced as "Rico," and he just flashed a big smile. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2022, 03:48:25 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2022, 09:40:19 PM
The good news is that the Vikings control their own destiny. The better news is that IWU has to play #11 North Central, and you know that Ed Mathey is going to play it straight rather than rest his Cardinals starters and give the Titans an advantage. But the bad news is that Wheaton will do the same -- and WC skipper Matt Husted distributed his staff's innings in today's doubleheader split with Augustana in such a way as to have everyone available for Monday, including his ace Brendan Dyer, while NPU's ace Ethan Sund threw 89 pitches today in the first game against Illinois Wesleyan and thus won't be available on Monday.
North Central defeats IWU, 8-4, thereby eliminating the Titans from the CCIW tournament.  North Park (7-10) grabs the 6th seed by virtue of holding the tiebreaker over both IWU and Carthage (both finished at 7-11).  I am shocked that the Titans failed to qualify, given their potent offense and solid pitching. But they finished their CCIW schedule 1-9 after such a strong start.

The pitching matchups for NPU and Wheaton will be posted shortly, but I would be very surprised to see the Thunder start Dyer on the hill. My guess is that Matt Husted is holding his ace for the first game of the tournament, which starts on Wednesday.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2022, 03:50:22 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2022, 03:48:25 PM
The pitching matchups for NPU and Wheaton will be posted shortly, but I would be very surprised to see the Thunder start Dyer on the hill. My guess is that Matt Husted is holding his ace for the first game of the tournament, which starts on Wednesday.
The starting pitchers are Peters for NPU and Kloth for Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2022, 03:46:39 PM
CCIW Tournament starts today. (https://cciw.org/sports/2021/6/21/BB_0621212941.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 11, 2022, 03:57:44 PM
North Park wins the tourney opener, downing North Central, 7-1, behind six strong shutout innings from Vikings starter Logan Peters. All seven of NPU's runs were unearned, as the Cardinals defenders were throwing the ball all over the lot today. Peters helped his own cause by knocking a homer over the right-field wall off of NCC starter Luke Lamm.

Carroll vs. Millikin is next.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2022, 03:59:51 PM
OK, I did not have that on my CCIW Tournament bingo card: North Park takes game one from North Central, 7-1.  Logan Peters outduels Luke Lamm as the Vikings score seven unearned runs on four Cardinal errors.  Peters throws six scoreless innings of two-hit ball and helps his cause with a three-run homer in North Park's six-run fifth inning.  North Central scores its only run on a wild pitch in the eighth.  Peters gets the win and Frank Kalemba picks up the save.  Tomorrow the Vikings will play the loser of the Augie-Wheaton game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2022, 07:14:40 PM
Game two was a tight affair, with Millikin eking out a 3-2 win.  The Big Blue played small ball in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 deadlock: Liam McGill singled, stole second, moved to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a Tanner Coleman sac fly.  Millikin next plays the winner of game 3, Augie vs Wheaton, with a projected start time of 6 PM (i.e., Thursday's third contest).  Carroll squares off against host North Central at noon in the first elimination game of the tournament.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2022, 07:33:04 PM
Game three is about to start and features a marquee pitching matching, Dyer (6-0) of Wheaton vs Boushele (5-2) of Augustana.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2022, 11:12:14 PM
Day One, Game Three: Augustana 7, Wheaton 6.  Not quite the pitchers' duel I was anticipating; neither starter figured in the decision.  Each team committed four errors, leading to a total of eight unearned runs. 

Day Two
Game One: elimination contest between Carroll and North Central.  First pitch is scheduled for noon
Game Two: North Park vs. Wheaton
Game Three: Augustana vs. Millikin
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 12:38:34 PM
Day Two, Game One: elimination game between North Central and Carroll, with first pitch set for noon.  Brett Buzzelli (3-3) is on the mound for the Pioneers, and Ryan Behling (4-3) gets the start for the Cardinals.  I'm surprised that Charlie Klemm (7-2) did not get the nod for the Cards.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 03:25:27 PM
North Central defeats Carroll, 10-0, in 7 innings.  Behling worked a complete-game three-hit shutout.  The Pioneers are eliminated and the Cardinals next play the loser of this evening's Millikin-Augustana matchup.  North Park plays Wheaton in the second game of today's triple-header, with first pitch probably ~ 3.15 PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2022, 03:32:59 PM
Seems like Ed Mathey made the right call. Behling was on fire on the mound today.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 06:45:24 PM
The North Park-Wheaton game is headed to extra innings.  North Park had an early 3-0 lead but the Thunder chipped away with single runs in the 6th, 7th, and 9th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 07:26:26 PM
Game Five: North Park 6, Wheaton 3, in 11 innings.  The Vikings survived a bases-loaded (error, double, IBB), one-out situation in the bottom of the 10th, as Julian Ledezma (the fourth Viking hurler of the contest) got Jacob Snyder to fly out to end the threat.  In the top of the 11th, the Vikings strung together six consecutive singles to build a 3-run lead.  In the bottom of the frame, the Thunder managed a one-out single, but Ledezma induced a game-ending double play to seal the victory.  The Thunder see their season come to a close in heartbreaking fashion after dropping a narrow 3-2 game to Millikin.  It marks the second straight year in which the Vikings have eliminated the Thunder in the CCIW tournament.

North Park now awaits the winner of the evening contest that pits Augustana against Millikin.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 08:02:42 PM
Day Two, Game Six: another contest with two really good arms on the hill: Wintroub of Augustana (6-3, 2.73 ERA, 86 K) vs Buehrle (8-4, 3.79 ERA, 73 K).  The winner takes on North Park tomorrow at 3 PM, while the loser faces North Central at high noon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 12, 2022, 09:22:36 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 12, 2022, 07:26:26 PMIt marks the second straight year in which the Vikings have eliminated the Thunder in the CCIW tournament.

If the Vikings want to make that a yearly tradition, it'll be fine with me. ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2022, 07:23:53 AM
Day Two, Game Six: Another extra-inning affair in which the visiting team scored three runs in the top of the 11th for the win.  Augustana tops Millikin, 7-4.  The Big Blue will meet the Cardinals at noon in an elimination game, while in the winner's bracket it will be the battle of the Vikings at 3 PM.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2022, 03:48:20 PM
Day Three, Game Seven: North Central 13, Millikin 3 (7 innings).  The Cardinals eliminate the Big Blue.  Jason Shanner threw seven solid innings for the win.  He allowed just four hits and no earned runs; the Cardinal defense committed another three errors, but the NCC offense stepped up its game, with 13 hits and 12 walks against six Millikin hurlers.  This evening the Cardinals will play the loser of the North Park-Augustana contest, which will be starting soon.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 14, 2022, 10:41:21 AM
In late action yesterday, Augie advanced to the title game with a 2-1 win over North Park, then North Central survived some late North Park rallies to win 10-9 and advance to play Augie for the title.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 14, 2022, 05:25:01 PM
Augustana defeats North Central in 14 innings, 10-9, to win the CCIW tournament.  The Vikings' Cole Green hit a solo home run off Luke Lamm at the top of the frame, and Josh Wintroub picked up the win in relief.  Fourteen pitchers saw action, eight by the Cardinals and six by the Vikings.  Augie won three of their four contests by a single run to earn the automatic qualify for the NCAA Regional.  North Central again plays the waiting game to see if they will pick up an at-large bid.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 14, 2022, 05:25:13 PM
Augustana runs the table to win the CCIW tourney by beating North Central, 10-9 in 14 innings. Augie won all four of its games and beat every tourney participant except Carroll. The winning run was scored on Cole Green's first homer of the season in the top of the 14th off of NCC ace Luke Lamm.

It was a pretty dramatic way to win the tournament, although the drama was lessened somewhat by the fact that if North Central had won the game the two teams would've then had to play another game immediately thereafter to determine the champion.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on May 16, 2022, 12:16:11 PM
Cardinals grab an NCAA at Large bid and will open up vs Coe at Stevens Point.  Augustana draws Aurora at Whitewater.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: lmitzel on May 20, 2022, 09:05:51 PM
So, the end of NCC's tournament opener against Coe was pretty awesome (https://twitter.com/ncc_athletics/status/1527809890093355008?s=21&t=w9kHFBDT63IO4W9cx072WA).
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 20, 2022, 09:10:18 PM
Quote from: lmitzel on May 20, 2022, 09:05:51 PM
So, the end of NCC's tournament opener against Coe was pretty awesome (https://twitter.com/ncc_athletics/status/1527809890093355008?s=21&t=w9kHFBDT63IO4W9cx072WA).
... and if you are a Coe fan, it is death by a thousand cuts until the big cut!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2022, 09:23:48 PM
In the other regional contest featuring a CCIW team, Aurora defeats Augustana, 8-7.  The Vikings play MSOE tomorrow in an elimination contest.  The Spartans square off against UWW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2022, 02:59:54 PM
In an elimination game at the Whitewater Regional, Augustana defeated MSOE in 10 innings, 5-3.  The Raiders went with starting pitcher Tyler Gronert for all 10 innings, and he ended with 165 pitches.  Augie starter Harrison Bousehele hurled 9 innings and threw 135 pitches.

At the Stevens Point Regional, Jack Oberli connected for his second home run of the weekend to put the Cardinals up 4-0 in the 6th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2022, 04:34:00 PM
North Central tops regional host UW Stevens Point, 8-2, to move to 2-0 in the regional.  Jack Oberli's 3-run homer in the 6th gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead, and they added four more runs in the 7th to put the game away.  Point takes on Coe -- winners of a 6-1 elimination game against Lawrence -- later this evening.  The winner moves on to a Sunday matchup against North Central.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 21, 2022, 10:21:19 PM
Aurora scores four in the first inning and cruises to a 10-1 victory over Augustana in the evening elimination game at the Whitewater Regional.  Five Augie pitchers allowed 12 hits and surrendered 7 walks.  The Augie offense managed just one hit and could do almost nothing with 10 bases on balls.  The Spartans' Carlos Garcia logged 5.2 innings of hitless relief to pick up the well-deserved victory.  Aurora will face UW Whitewater tomorrow for the regional crown.  Augie finishes the year with a 34-12 mark.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:15:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.

How about a trivia question to last to eternity...

Name the batter who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional tournement.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:19:49 PM
Yesterday, Texas-Dallas scored in all 9 innings, including 10 in the 2nd, in their 32-9 win over Trinity.
Today, Trinity returns the favor and scores 13 in the 6th in their 21-13 win to take the Regional, 3 games to 1.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 05:06:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:15:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.

How about a trivia question to last to eternity...

Name the batter who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional tournement.
Technically, the pinch-hitter becomes a position player with the second at bat.  But it does make for an interesting trivia question.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 05:07:04 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:19:49 PM
Yesterday, Texas-Dallas scored in all 9 innings, including 10 in the 2nd, in their 32-9 win over Trinity.
Today, Trinity returns the favor and scores 13 in the 6th in their 21-13 win to take the Regional, 3 games to 1.
It was an embarrassment of offensive riches in both games.  I'm amazed at the scores I'm seeing in these regional matchups.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 05:13:35 PM
The Stevens Point-North Central deciding game is shaping up to be a wild affair.  I thought the Cards would have the edge with two of their top pitchers, Charlie Klemm and Jason Shanner, taking the mound.  Klemm pitched pretty well, but the wheels fell of the bullpen wagon in the blowout loss in game one.  North Central struck for two runs in the top of the first in the second game, but UWSP responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame on two hits (highlighted by Lucas Luedtke's three-run homer), two walks, and three hit batsmen.  Stay tuned  :-\
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 05:18:50 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 05:07:04 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:19:49 PM
Yesterday, Texas-Dallas scored in all 9 innings, including 10 in the 2nd, in their 32-9 win over Trinity.
Today, Trinity returns the favor and scores 13 in the 6th in their 21-13 win to take the Regional, 3 games to 1.
It was an embarrassment of offensive riches in both games.  I'm amazed at the score I'm seeing in these regional matchups.
Yes, there are. There are some pretty good football scores all over the country.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 06:39:53 PM
Jack Oberli has just hit his fourth home run of the regional.  Quite a performance on the big stage for Oberli.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:02:57 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:15:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.

How about a trivia question to last to eternity...

Name the batter who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional tournement.
Not to wreck your fun, but only one would be considered a "pinch hit" HR, as he would officially be in the lineup already for his second at-bat...   ;)

EDIT:  Sorry, I didn't see mr_b had already made note of that before I replied....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:26:38 PM
North Central battles back to tie things up 8-8 in the 6th inning, however Stevens Point has scored six times in the 7th inning to retake the lead, 14-8....  Lucas Luedtke with the big blow, a three-run HR, as he is 5x5 with 6 RBI's in the Regional Championship game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 07:31:06 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:26:38 PM
North Central battles back to tie things up 8-8 in the 6th inning, however Stevens Point has scored six times in the 7th inning to retake the lead, 14-8....  Lucas Luedtke with the big blow, a three-run HR, as he is 5x5 with 6 RBI's in the Regional Championship game.
Luedtke has two 3-run homers in the game... quite a show!  The Pointer offense has been absolutely relentless today, but the Cardinal pitchers have also been uncharacteristically wild.  Shanner had 5 HBP's (in just four innings), Jensik had one in 0.2 innings of work, and Kotecki just recorded a seventh hit batsman.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:51:38 PM
Stevens Point had arguably the best lineup in the WIAC this year...  I just wasn't sure they had the pitching depth to win a Regional, however the return of Pickering (despite getting beat by North Central yesterday) was a "shot in the arm" for the rotation.

Should be an interesting best-of-three match-up in the Super Regional against WIAC rival Whitewater next weekend...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:59:08 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 07:31:06 PM
Shanner had 5 HBP's (in just four innings), Jensik had one in 0.2 innings of work, and Kotecki just recorded a seventh hit batsman.
Make that NINE HBP's....
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 08:08:18 PM
Final score, Stevens Point 21, North Central 8.  The Pointers were dominant today, and as cubs just observed, it will be an entertaining super regional with UW Whitewater.  The cardinals wrap up the season with a record of 35-14.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 09:38:53 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:15:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.

How about a trivia question to last to eternity...

Name the batter who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional tournement.
Restated...

Name the pinch hitter who hit 2 home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional Tournament.

Is that statement correct?  Thanks.  ;)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 10:13:49 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 09:38:53 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 22, 2022, 04:15:33 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 22, 2022, 03:53:49 PM
Stevens Point broke open a one-run contest with four runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and 14, yes 14, runs in the 8th for a 27-3 win.  In the 14-run outburst, pinch-hitter Kyle Finger homered twice, one of four round-trippers off Cardinals pitching in that inning.  The Pointers launched eight home runs in the game.  The winner-take-all game for the regional title is scheduled for ~3.30 PM local time.

How about a trivia question to last to eternity...

Name the batter who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional tournement.
Restated...

Name the pinch hitter who hit 2 home runs in the same inning in a D3 Regional Tournament.

Is that statement correct?  Thanks.  ;)
I think that captures the accomplishment very concisely!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 28, 2022, 02:01:48 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 22, 2022, 07:26:38 PM
North Central battles back to tie things up 8-8 in the 6th inning, however Stevens Point has scored six times in the 7th inning to retake the lead, 14-8....  Lucas Luedtke with the big blow, a three-run HR, as he is 5x5 with 6 RBI's in the Regional Championship game.
If it makes North Central fans feel any better, Luedtke is picking up right where he left off in the Super Regional against Whitewater...  He's 3x4 with THREE HR's and 4 RBI's today as Stevens POint leads Whitewater 6-3 in the Top of the 7th inning...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 31, 2022, 09:51:48 AM
The D3 Baseball All-Region Teams have been announced.   (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2022/index)The CCIW is well represented with two on the first team, three on the second team, and six on the third team.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Next Man Up on June 11, 2022, 06:40:37 PM
The home plate umpire for today's White Sox game is Alex Tosi, who is a former (2010) IWU pitcher.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on July 08, 2022, 04:54:03 PM
Jake Reinhardt has signed with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League. (https://athletics.northpark.edu/news/2022/7/8/reinhardt-signs-professional-baseball-contract-with-idaho-falls-chukars.aspx)
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: CardinalAlum on February 20, 2023, 11:16:32 AM
NCC opened their season down in Carbondale this weekend and came away with three solid wins over Ripon (16-5), Blackburn (12-2) and DePauw (8-2). Cardinals return a bunch of experience and talent and were the CCIW Coaches choice to win the league. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on March 06, 2023, 10:50:56 AM
Carthage Redmen (I cannot bring myself to call them Firebirds) split four games in Florida... Return to Kenosha 2-2 with wins over Albion and Anna Maria followed by a pair of losses to Grove City and Fitchburg State. A few things that stand out to me (granted, it's early and likely have not been outside much, if at all):

Hitting .260 as a team (ehhh....)
Allowed 13/18 SBs on the weekend (that's not a good start)
Zuleger hit in the middle of the lineup for the opener with a 3-run bomb and didn't play the rest of the weekend? (Injury?)
Carthage hitters struck out 43 times in 4 games.... that's a ton of unproductive outs.
Pitchers allowed 27 walks in four games ... cannot win many games doing that.

Really hoping they can get it back on track in AZ next week.

Go Big Red!

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 04, 2023, 12:55:42 PM
Not much chat here in CCIW baseball, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in Kenosha?  The team hasn't won 20 games once over the past 4 non-covid seasons.  This season and the last two have produced 25 or more losses.  Since they went 31-12 in 2018, they are 60-101 (29-63 in CCIW).  What happened to the program?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 04, 2023, 01:51:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 04, 2023, 12:55:42 PM
Not much chat here in CCIW baseball, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in Kenosha?  The team hasn't won 20 games once over the past 4 non-covid seasons.  This season and the last two have produced 25 or more losses.  Since they went 31-12 in 2018, they are 60-101 (29-63 in CCIW).  What happened to the program?
They've stopped getting the Wisconsin kids from the Fox Valley to come to Kenosha and play baseball....  Some may think it's not that simple, but consider this:

When Carthage was competing for CCIW, Regional and World Series titles in the past, the entire lineup was from Wisconsin with just the occasional guy from Illinois.  Looking at their roster this year, they have 14 kids from Wisconsin and over half (8) of those are from Kenosha.  There isn't a single kid from north of Highway 21 (the Fox Valley) which used to be where they got the guys like Muthig, Everts, Winfield and Hallock that built the program into what it used to be.

I'll defer to BigPoppa on just about everything Carthage, but I don't think that it's a mere coincidence...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 07, 2023, 08:37:19 AM
The 2023 CCIW Tournament field is set. (https://cciw.org/sports/2022/6/10/BB_0610220830.aspx)  The games start on Wednesday in Moline, with these first-round pairings:

#1 Augustana vs. #6 Carroll
#2 North Central vs. #5 Illinois Wesleyan
#3 Millikin vs. #4 North Park
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2023, 10:22:57 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 04, 2023, 01:51:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 04, 2023, 12:55:42 PM
Not much chat here in CCIW baseball, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in Kenosha?  The team hasn't won 20 games once over the past 4 non-covid seasons.  This season and the last two have produced 25 or more losses.  Since they went 31-12 in 2018, they are 60-101 (29-63 in CCIW).  What happened to the program?
They've stopped getting the Wisconsin kids from the Fox Valley to come to Kenosha and play baseball....  Some may think it's not that simple, but consider this:

When Carthage was competing for CCIW, Regional and World Series titles in the past, the entire lineup was from Wisconsin with just the occasional guy from Illinois.  Looking at their roster this year, they have 14 kids from Wisconsin and over half (8) of those are from Kenosha.  There isn't a single kid from north of Highway 21 (the Fox Valley) which used to be where they got the guys like Muthig, Everts, Winfield and Hallock that built the program into what it used to be.

I'll defer to BigPoppa on just about everything Carthage, but I don't think that it's a mere coincidence...

Here's the thing, though: East central Wisconsin is not the only place to find ballplayers. There is great baseball talent no matter where you look (although there's more of it in warmer climes than there is elsewhere, for obvious reasons). If one recruiting area dries up, there are plenty of others into which to tap. Heck, there really ought to be a larger recruiting footprint than one specific area if a team wants to be a national contender, anyway.

From what I've been told, Carthage's decline is directly tied to the departure of a certain assistant coach (can't remember his name) at some point in the past. It stands to reason that this assistant coach was the one with all of the connections in the Lake Winnebago region. It also makes one wonder just how much Augie Schmidt was directly involved in the recruiting process.

I doubt that anybody at Carthage is going to hustle Schmidt out the door, given the outstanding success Carthage has had over the long arc of his career and the fact that the Schmidt family is practically synonymous with Carthage baseball (as the name of the school's baseball stadium attests). But one wonders, given his age and the program's steep decline into the CCIW basement, how much longer he's going to hang around.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:02:49 PM
The 2023 All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (https://cciw.org/news/2023/5/9/league-champ-augustana-headlines-all-cciw-baseball-teams.aspx)  Congratulations to all of these student-athletes.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 09, 2023, 01:11:10 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:02:49 PM
The 2023 All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (https://cciw.org/news/2023/5/9/league-champ-augustana-headlines-all-cciw-baseball-teams.aspx)  Congratulations to all of these student-athletes.
So when's the last time there wasn't a single player from Carthage on the All-CCIW team?   :-[
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 09, 2023, 01:28:33 PM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 07, 2023, 10:22:57 AM
Quote from: cubs on May 04, 2023, 01:51:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 04, 2023, 12:55:42 PM
Not much chat here in CCIW baseball, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in Kenosha?  The team hasn't won 20 games once over the past 4 non-covid seasons.  This season and the last two have produced 25 or more losses.  Since they went 31-12 in 2018, they are 60-101 (29-63 in CCIW).  What happened to the program?
They've stopped getting the Wisconsin kids from the Fox Valley to come to Kenosha and play baseball....  Some may think it's not that simple, but consider this:

When Carthage was competing for CCIW, Regional and World Series titles in the past, the entire lineup was from Wisconsin with just the occasional guy from Illinois.  Looking at their roster this year, they have 14 kids from Wisconsin and over half (8) of those are from Kenosha.  There isn't a single kid from north of Highway 21 (the Fox Valley) which used to be where they got the guys like Muthig, Everts, Winfield and Hallock that built the program into what it used to be.

I'll defer to BigPoppa on just about everything Carthage, but I don't think that it's a mere coincidence...
Here's the thing, though: East central Wisconsin is not the only place to find ballplayers. There is great baseball talent no matter where you look (although there's more of it in warmer climes than there is elsewhere, for obvious reasons). If one recruiting area dries up, there are plenty of others into which to tap. Heck, there really ought to be a larger recruiting footprint than one specific area if a team wants to be a national contender, anyway.

From what I've been told, Carthage's decline is directly tied to the departure of a certain assistant coach (can't remember his name) at some point in the past. It stands to reason that this assistant coach was the one with all of the connections in the Lake Winnebago region. It also makes one wonder just how much Augie Schmidt was directly involved in the recruiting process.

I doubt that anybody at Carthage is going to hustle Schmidt out the door, given the outstanding success Carthage has had over the long arc of his career and the fact that the Schmidt family is practically synonymous with Carthage baseball (as the name of the school's baseball stadium attests). But one wonders, given his age and the program's steep decline into the CCIW basement, how much longer he's going to hang around.
I'm not disagreeing with that! 

I guess the point I was trying to make was that when Carthage was competing at the National Level, they had a significant footprint in that area.  (Heck, when UWO was making their legendary run of Regional Championships and World Series appearances, it was rare to find even a single kid on the entire roster that wasn't from the state of Wisconsin. Compare that to when they took the field on Opening Day this year and their entire starting lineup was from Illinois!)

Anyway, Carthage was competing with pretty much UWO and nobody else for players in that area.  I don't think it's a coincidence that those players seem to be littering the rosters of Stevens Point and La Crosse now (instead of UWO and Carthage) and those schools have seen more success recently compared to the Titans and Redmen.

Now you have Carthage and UWO (and even Whitewater to a point) competing in Illinois for the same group of players that the rest of the CCIW schools were already recruiting over the years.  Obviously with interest from more schools, it makes it harder to get commitments from every kid versus when it's just between you and one other school.

They departure of an assistant with ties to that are would obviously make sense as to why kids from that area aren't on the roster anymore...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:34:59 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 09, 2023, 01:11:10 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:02:49 PM
The 2023 All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (https://cciw.org/news/2023/5/9/league-champ-augustana-headlines-all-cciw-baseball-teams.aspx)  Congratulations to all of these student-athletes.
So when's the last time there wasn't a single player from Carthage on the All-CCIW team?   :-[
I took a few minutes to look through past All-CCIW teams, as far back as 1988 (no info available for the 1990 season).  In 1988, Carthage had no All-Conference honorees, a year in which the team finished 1-15 in CCIW play.  North Park and Elmhurst dominated the selections for that season (five each), but it appears there was only a single All-CCIW squad rather than first and second teams.  North Park finished first in the North, Elmhurst second, Carroll third, Wheaton fourth, and Carthage was fifth. 

Since 1988, Carthage has always had at least one selection every year -- first or second team -- till this season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2023, 07:53:59 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:34:59 PM

I took a few minutes to look through past All-CCIW teams, as far back as 1988 (no info available for the 1990 season).  In 1988, Carthage had no All-Conference honorees, a year in which the team finished 1-15 in CCIW play.  North Park and Elmhurst dominated the selections for that season (five each), but it appears there was only a single All-CCIW squad rather than first and second teams.  North Park finished first in the North, Elmhurst second, Carroll third, Wheaton fourth, and Carthage was fifth. 

Since 1988, Carthage has always had at least one selection every year -- first or second team -- till this season.

mr_b is correct.  1988.  That was Augie's first season at Carthage.  In 1990, the year that was unavailable, Carthage had 5 first team selections and 3 second team / honorable mentions according to the Carthage archives.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 10, 2023, 08:38:37 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:34:59 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 09, 2023, 01:11:10 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 09, 2023, 01:02:49 PM
The 2023 All-CCIW Teams have been announced. (https://cciw.org/news/2023/5/9/league-champ-augustana-headlines-all-cciw-baseball-teams.aspx)  Congratulations to all of these student-athletes.
So when's the last time there wasn't a single player from Carthage on the All-CCIW team?   :-[
I took a few minutes to look through past All-CCIW teams, as far back as 1988 (no info available for the 1990 season).  In 1988, Carthage had no All-Conference honorees, a year in which the team finished 1-15 in CCIW play.  North Park and Elmhurst dominated the selections for that season (five each), but it appears there was only a single All-CCIW squad rather than first and second teams.  North Park finished first in the North, Elmhurst second, Carroll third, Wheaton fourth, and Carthage was fifth. 

Since 1988, Carthage has always had at least one selection every year -- first or second team -- till this season.
Nice work mr_b!!!

I figured it had been quite some time!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 10, 2023, 01:23:58 PM
Is Augie's live stream limited to that single camera?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 10, 2023, 05:31:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 10, 2023, 01:23:58 PM
Is Augie's live stream limited to that single camera?
I believe so.  That's all I remember seeing from the DH between the east and west Vikings earlier in the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 07:19:29 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.
I would have placed Augie 2nd in the region behind Aurora.  My only thought is that Augie's absence from the regional rankings was an oversight.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 09:27:15 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.

305th in Regional strength of schedule (according to the link on D3baseball)

Aurora-149
Webster-103
Benedictine-110
North Central-93
Washington U-36
Spalding-195
MSOE-206

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 10:06:37 AM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 09:27:15 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.

305th in Regional strength of schedule (according to the link on D3baseball)

Aurora-149
Webster-103
Benedictine-110
North Central-93
Washington U-36
Spalding-195
MSOE-206
They must put a lot of weight on the SOS! 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 11:43:45 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 10:06:37 AM
They must put a lot of weight on the SOS!

Yes they must, but only in certain instances.  Augustana does have 35 wins and has beaten 85% of their opponents, but they have some terrible losses and are 0-2 against regionally ranked opponents.  Eau Claire finished with 12 wins, and St. Olaf finished below .500.  They were also swept by North Central.

Records vs regionally ranked opponents.
Aurora 4-1
Webster 5-1
Benedictine 2-4 (loss head-to-head with NC)
North Central 1-2
Wash U 0-1
MSOE 1-3

Wash U's strength of schedule seems much more important that Augie's 10 more wins.  However, with Benedictine / North Central, the head to head win by NC AND NC's better strength of schedule don't seem to matter??  It's a head scratcher.

Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 12:19:06 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 11:43:45 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 10:06:37 AM
They must put a lot of weight on the SOS!

Yes they must, but only in certain instances.  Augustana does have 35 wins and has beaten 85% of their opponents, but they have some terrible losses and are 0-2 against regionally ranked opponents.  Eau Claire finished with 12 wins, and St. Olaf finished below .500.  They were also swept by North Central.

Records vs regionally ranked opponents.
Aurora 4-1
Webster 5-1
Benedictine 2-4 (loss head-to-head with NC)
North Central 1-2
Wash U 0-1
MSOE 1-3

Wash U's strength of schedule seems much more important that Augie's 10 more wins.  However, with Benedictine / North Central, the head to head win by NC AND NC's better strength of schedule don't seem to matter??  It's a head scratcher.
Thanks for that info. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Jack Parkman on May 11, 2023, 12:49:23 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 11:43:45 AM
Quote from: mr_b on May 11, 2023, 10:06:37 AM
They must put a lot of weight on the SOS!

Yes they must, but only in certain instances.  Augustana does have 35 wins and has beaten 85% of their opponents, but they have some terrible losses and are 0-2 against regionally ranked opponents.  Eau Claire finished with 12 wins, and St. Olaf finished below .500.  They were also swept by North Central.

Records vs regionally ranked opponents.
Aurora 4-1
Webster 5-1
Benedictine 2-4 (loss head-to-head with NC)
North Central 1-2
Wash U 0-1
MSOE 1-3

Wash U's strength of schedule seems much more important that Augie's 10 more wins.  However, with Benedictine / North Central, the head to head win by NC AND NC's better strength of schedule don't seem to matter??  It's a head scratcher.

Wouldn't Webster be a little different as they went 1-3 against RR teams in CA. That's also not a terrible thing as the more results you have against RR teams shows your willingness to schedule tough teams.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 11, 2023, 01:28:39 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 11:43:45 AM

Records vs regionally ranked opponents.
Aurora 4-1
Webster 5-1
Benedictine 2-4 (loss head-to-head with NC)
North Central 1-2
Wash U 0-1
MSOE 1-3
Are these just records against other ranked Region #8 opponents?

The reason I ask, is MSOE defeated UWO twice this season, and the Titans checked in at #6 in the latest Region #9 Regional Rankings that were released yesterday...
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 02:30:31 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 11, 2023, 01:28:39 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 11, 2023, 11:43:45 AM

Records vs region 8 ranked opponents.
Aurora 4-1
Webster 5-1
Benedictine 2-4 (loss head-to-head with NC)
North Central 1-2
Wash U 0-1
MSOE 1-3
Are these just records against other ranked Region #8 opponents?

The reason I ask, is MSOE defeated UWO twice this season, and the Titans checked in at #6 in the latest Region #9 Regional Rankings that were released yesterday...


Fixed it...sorry for the confusion.  I just concentrated on Region 8, but I could expand it to include all regions.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2023, 02:39:25 PM
The CCIW Tournament has reached the all-or-nothing final game after Illinois Wesleyan won its third consecutive game against Augustana, 3-1. The Vikings loaded the bases in the 7th and 8th innings and came away with just one run.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2023, 03:13:54 PM
A real head-scratcher (for me, anyway): Augie starts Sammer (9.95 ERA), and he lasts just 2/3 of an inning, allowing a hit and three walks.  Reusch is on in the top of the 1st after working 4.2 IP in yesterday's start vs. North Central.  Boushele has not appeared at all for the Vikings in the tournament, so I wonder if he has been hurt.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 13, 2023, 03:25:00 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 13, 2023, 03:13:54 PM
A real head-scratcher (for me, anyway): Augie starts Sammer (9.95 ERA), and he lasts just 2/3 of an inning, allowing a hit and three walks.  Reusch is on in the top of the 1st after working 4.2 IP in yesterday's start vs. North Central.  Boushele has not appeared at all for the Vikings in the tournament, so I wonder if he has been hurt.

I've been watching from Wisconsin wondering the same thing.  He pitched last Friday against Wheaton.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 13, 2023, 05:45:02 PM
Matt Ozanic tripled and scored on a short sac fly to right to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth and followed up with a dramatic RBI single to plate the winning run for Augie in the 10th.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2023, 10:46:48 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.


This did generate some discussion on the board, but Augie made it all moot with their play this past weekend.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: Augie6 on May 15, 2023, 01:51:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 15, 2023, 10:46:48 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.


This did generate some discussion on the board, but Augie made it all moot with their play this past weekend.

I appreciate the responses and, have to admit, I was a little worried if Augie would have lost their final against IWU, if they would have even made the tournament.  Thankfully, that didn't happen.  Good luck to Augie in the post season!!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on May 15, 2023, 05:16:40 PM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 15, 2023, 01:51:09 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 15, 2023, 10:46:48 AM
Quote from: Augie6 on May 10, 2023, 10:50:45 PM
I know there are not a lot of posters on this board, but can someone explain to me how Augie drops out of the Central Region rankings this week?  The are in the 1st set of rankings, are somehow 7th in the 2nd week and then drop out all together in week 3 of the rankings, despite winning the CCIW regular season by 4 games, finishing the year on a 16 game win streak, having the 2nd best record in the Central region behind Aurora, and being the 17th ranked team in the country in the D3baseball poll.  This seems extremely odd to me and really hard to understand.


This did generate some discussion on the board, but Augie made it all moot with their play this past weekend.

I appreciate the responses and, have to admit, I was a little worried if Augie would have lost their final against IWU, if they would have even made the tournament.  Thankfully, that didn't happen.  Good luck to Augie in the post season!!

Is Harrison Boushele hurt?
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2023, 01:19:21 PM
Augie drops the regional opener to UW Stevens Point, 6-4.  The Vikings were down 6-1 after five frames but stranded a total of 11 runners.  Boushele pitched four innings after not appearing in the CCIW Tournament.  He allowed three runs on five hits; he struck out five and walked two.  Pickering worked five innings for Point.  The Vikings will face the loser of the Loras-Webster game in the elimination contest tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 19, 2023, 04:57:36 PM
Webster rolls over Loras, 15-0, in the second game of the Stevens Point regional.  The Gorloks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, added two in the second, four in the fifth, six in the seventh, and two in the eighth.  They pounded out 17 hits and four home runs while three Gorlok pitchers scattered four singles.  Webster will face Stevens Points in the winner's bracket while Augie squares off against Loras in the elimination game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2023, 11:56:30 AM
Augie staves off elimination with a 5-4 victory over Loras.  The Vikings will face the loser of the Stevens Point-Webster game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2023, 03:55:38 PM
Point demolished Webster, 20-1 (six round-trippers for the Pointers), so Augie will face the Gorloks in the next elimination game.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 20, 2023, 07:15:26 PM
Webster hangs on for a 9-8 elimination win over Augustana.  The Gorloks will face Stevens Point tomorrow.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: BigPoppa on May 25, 2023, 12:16:31 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 04, 2023, 01:51:13 PM
Quote from: mwunder on May 04, 2023, 12:55:42 PM
Not much chat here in CCIW baseball, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in Kenosha?  The team hasn't won 20 games once over the past 4 non-covid seasons.  This season and the last two have produced 25 or more losses.  Since they went 31-12 in 2018, they are 60-101 (29-63 in CCIW).  What happened to the program?
They've stopped getting the Wisconsin kids from the Fox Valley to come to Kenosha and play baseball....  Some may think it's not that simple, but consider this:

When Carthage was competing for CCIW, Regional and World Series titles in the past, the entire lineup was from Wisconsin with just the occasional guy from Illinois.  Looking at their roster this year, they have 14 kids from Wisconsin and over half (8) of those are from Kenosha.  There isn't a single kid from north of Highway 21 (the Fox Valley) which used to be where they got the guys like Muthig, Everts, Winfield and Hallock that built the program into what it used to be.

I'll defer to BigPoppa on just about everything Carthage, but I don't think that it's a mere coincidence...

I am just as frustrated and baffled as the rest... with Carthage's tuition climbing rapidly, they have often been unable to go after those blue-collar Fox Valley kids (like myself) and have been forced to recruit the more-affluent North Suburbs of Chicago. It may be a stereotype, but the North Suburb kids cannot handle Augie's demanding nature in the same way the kids from the Fox Valley could... Brian Mosher, long-time pitching coach at Carthage, left years ago and the program has struggled to recruit the Fox Valley kids since. Mosher was from the Valley and had a lot of ties.

As an alum, it's frustrating knowing how great of a coach Augie truly is and they are simply unable to get the results they need from their arms.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 30, 2023, 01:12:31 PM
Twelve CCIW representative on the ACBA All-Region teams (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Region/NCAA_Div_III/2023.aspx):

First Team: 2B Justin Swanson, North Park; 3B Kyle Gibson, Millikin; OF Trey Romay; Elmhurst; P Harrison Boushele, Augustana; P Josh Wintroub, Augustana

Second Team: OF Louis Perona, Illinois Wesleyan

Third Team: 1B Andy Niebrugge, Millikin; 1B Rob Marinec, North Central; OF Ben Weaver, Wheaton; P Drew Detmers, Millikin; P Ryan Behling, North Central; P Jacob Reusch, Augustana

Congratulations to all the players on this honor!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: cubs on May 30, 2023, 01:54:37 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 30, 2023, 01:12:31 PM
Twelve CCIW representative on the ACBA All-Region teams (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Region/NCAA_Div_III/2023.aspx):

First Team: 2B Justin Swanson, North Park; 3B Kyle Gibson, Millikin; OF Trey Romay; Elmhurst; P Harrison Boushele, Augustana; P Josh Wintroub, Augustana

Second Team: OF Louis Perona, Illinois Wesleyan

Third Team: 1B Andy Niebrugge, Millikin; 1B Rob Marinec, North Central; OF Ben Weaver, Wheaton; P Drew Detmers, Millikin; P Ryan Behling, North Central; P Jacob Reusch, Augustana

Congratulations to all the players on this honor!
Seeing Augustana have three pitchers make the All Region team, with two of them being 1st Team selections, would sure make you think they were set up to do well at Regionals....  Instead, it was a 1-2 finish to the season.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 30, 2023, 03:58:16 PM
Quote from: cubs on May 30, 2023, 01:54:37 PM
Quote from: mr_b on May 30, 2023, 01:12:31 PM
Twelve CCIW representative on the ACBA All-Region teams (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Region/NCAA_Div_III/2023.aspx):

First Team: 2B Justin Swanson, North Park; 3B Kyle Gibson, Millikin; OF Trey Romay; Elmhurst; P Harrison Boushele, Augustana; P Josh Wintroub, Augustana

Second Team: OF Louis Perona, Illinois Wesleyan

Third Team: 1B Andy Niebrugge, Millikin; 1B Rob Marinec, North Central; OF Ben Weaver, Wheaton; P Drew Detmers, Millikin; P Ryan Behling, North Central; P Jacob Reusch, Augustana

Congratulations to all the players on this honor!
Seeing Augustana have three pitchers make the All Region team, with two of them being 1st Team selections, would sure make you think they were set up to do well at Regionals....  Instead, it was a 1-2 finish to the season.
Augie sure had the pitching to carry them further. They had one of the strongest bullpens in the CCIW.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on May 31, 2023, 10:28:51 AM
D3Baseball announces its All-American selections. (https://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2023)

CCIW honorees are:

First team: SP Harrison Boushele, Augustana
Second team: SP Josh Wintroub, Augustana
Fourth team: RP Nolan Shannon, North Central
Fifth team: OF Trey Romay, Elmhurst

Notable is the choice of Brett Sanchez of Belhaven as Pitcher of the Year, over Boushele and Gabe Van Emon of Endicott, both of whom had very comparable season stats.  Boushele's posted more wins (8-3 vs 6-2) and his ERA was lower (1.63 to Sanchez's 1.81), and Van Emon's numbers are even better: 10-1 and 1.51.  All three hurlers surpassed 100 K's on the season in roughly the same number of innings pitched (83-84).  It will be interesting to see how these selections line up with the ACBA choices. 
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on June 02, 2023, 08:24:07 AM
ACBA announced its All-American teams. (https://www.abca.org/ABCA/Awards/All-Americans/NCAA_Division_III/2023.aspx)

Second Team: Harrison Boushele (Augustana)
Third Team: Trey Romay, Elmhurst
Fourth Team: Justin Swanson, North Park; Josh Wintroub, Augustana
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mr_b on August 08, 2023, 04:22:32 PM
Congratulations to Greg Sager on his induction into the North Park Viking Hall of Fame!  He is well deserving of this honor, given his dedication to and support of all Viking sports and his work as announcer in many of them (and at times, two different sports on the same day!).  The ceremony will take place on December 2nd.
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 03, 2024, 03:00:44 PM
2024 CCIW Baseball season has begun!

It's still early, but the conference is currently 21-26 as of this post. The biggest conference win so far is North Central over Stevens Point 4-3 on 3/2.

Pre-Season, 1st team All American, Harrison Boushele (Augustana) has yet to throw a pitch. Pre-Season, 3rd team All American, Nolan Shannon hasn't thrown one either. Alex Divito (North Park) had 39 hits last season. Through 7 games this season, he has 15 and is hitting .536 to start the year. IWU can hit and pitch this year, leading the CCIW in both Average and ERA early.

There are a lot of games to be played before the CCIW tournament in May. Good luck to all!
Title: Re: BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Post by: mwunder on March 20, 2024, 12:57:17 PM
Alex Divito is still on a tear through 16 games for NP. 33-67 for a .493 average with 16 runs scored, 15 driven in, and 12 steals on 12 attempts. That's an amazing start to the season for him.  Not sure how he's only got 1 POTW to this point.

IWU is still leading the league in batting average and ERA. It's not close (at least when it comes to pitching).

The conference is now 63-58 overall.

Augie has a run of 6 in a row going.
Carthage is 8-1 in March.
North Park has put up 10 or more in 7 of their last 9.
North Central is 2-7 in their last 9.

Other updates: Harrison Boushele is no longer on the Augie roster. Nolan Shannon has faced one batter.