Is ANYbody out there? I thought that I'd get some discussion going related to the pre-season poll.... I know it's winter, but, let's get the Hot-Stove League going.

It's good you started this early Big Poppa! I know it has always been the North Division winning the MWC and The Knights are favored with the Red Hawks losing some of its power stroke with the graduation of Polcyn and seniors as well.  Are the Knights senior loaded this year ? How about those senior laden teams from the South especially Cornell and Grinnell? Do they have the weapons to finally dethrone the North? Cornell gave the Redhawks a run for their money last year during the MWC tournament.

Grinnell sweeps the Blueboys to take the South crown and host the conference championships vs. SNU.

Good backstory to the win - winning the third game put GC over the top to clinch.  It came on a walk-off double by one Yuki Kawahara, a little used senior who, along with another little used senior Ross Voelker, got playing time the last couple weeks due to an injury to the starting 2B.  Kawahara only has played in 11 games all year, and now leads the team with a .450 BA (give or take)!  Except for the injury to his teammate, a nice ending to a career of hanging in there for this kid.

That is indeed a good back story MadRedFan! Thanks for sharing. Could be the year of the darkhorse! Who's your pick to win it all?

It was a great championship game. Bases loaded with 1 out after the Pioneers made it 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th. Good Luck to the Knights in the Regionals! Which players stood out in the tournament gbpuckfan?

http://www.midwestconference.org/news/2014/5/10/BB_0510145356.aspx

Second weekend of conference games gets started this afternoon!

South Division
Grinnell @ Monmouth (Thu. DH), Illinois C. @ Knox (Sat. DH), Monmouth @ Grinnell (Sat. DH), Knox @ Illinois C. (Sun. DH)

North Division
Carroll @ Lawrence (Sat. DH), Ripon @ St. Norbert (Sat. DH), Lawrence @ Carroll (Sun. DH), St. Norbert @ Ripon (Sun. DH)

What are key match-ups this weekend?

Just a quick recap of the MWC preview. It would be interesting to see how it shapes up. Have seen most teams in action during pre-conference games. Yeah, it would be interesting to see how Caroll does.

Midwest Conference

In most years, the MWC’s NCAA representative hails from the North Division and it will be no different this year. St. Norbert returns a pair of All-Region players in outfielder Alex Larson and utility Travis Mason and they will be challenged by Ripon in the MWC North Division who adds Michael Polcyn, an All-WIAC performer who transfered to the Red Hawks from UW-Oshkosh.

Only the top two in this division qualify for the MWC tournament so Beloit, Carroll and Lawrence have their work cut out for them if they are make the leap to the upper echelon in their division. The Southern Division is always wide open and this year is no exception. Monmouth will be led by All-Region second baseman Ryan Crandall while Cornell returns All-Region outfielder Joe Gerace and this program also produced the Regional Player of the Year in 2013 in shortstop Zach Rogers. Illinois College is always at or near the top of this division so expect them to be in contention when the dust settles. Our pick is Monmouth and Cornell advancing to the MWC playoffs from the South with St. Norbert outlasting Ripon for the MWC’s NCAA bid.

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.

  Someone might....

Congratulations to the Red Hawks! Good luck in the Regionals! 

Official NWC awards in D3 news link. Congratulations to all players given recognition!