I was just checking in on how our old friends JCU were doing in the NCAC tourney.  They gave Denison a heck of a game in the opener with Denison taking the lead late.  But their elimination game against Witt did not go well.  18-4 Tigers.  In JCU's defense Witt absolutely rakes.  They're going to be a handful in a regional.  That's the type of team that if they can hang around for multiple games and start getting into everyone's #3/4/5 arms you could be in trouble against them.  Team BA is .382 and OPS is 1.027.  That's insane.  The lowest BA of any starter are their catchers both at .319 for the year.

BW is going to win this one.  They're up 9-2 in the 9th.  Mount did what they had to do which is when it's time to pull your SP and you're down 6-0 to Kostura you put in the freshman who hasn't pitched for 4 weeks.  Jung has started a game and had multiple inning IP relief outings so he was the perfect choice.  He did his job (5IP, 3R) and left them arms to try battle back next game.

Yesterday went chalk.  Mount and BW win with BW pummeling ONU 17-3.  Like last year, BW seems to be playing really well at the right time of year.  They have Kostura today against Mount so they are sitting in a good spot.  Mount really needs to win today to preserve pitching.

Twiddy has paid his dues being Fuline's right hand guy for years.  And he's a local guy.  I'm fine with him getting his shot to take over the program he's had a hand in building. 

Also, I was listening to Zac Jackson's podcast.  As a fellow Manchester guy he knows Fuline well (and had him on as a guest regularly).  The thing Zac mentioned that caught my attention was something about how Fuline would be successful because his entire life people naturally like him.  I thought that was a good point.  Other coaches, families, players, etc. he seems to be universally liked.  That sounds like a home run hire to be an Ohio D1 program's HS relations coordinator.

The parallels to Ryan Day are blinding.  HC tried to be HC and play caller.  Changes course and hires coordinators he trusts and lets them run with it.  It worked out well in Columbus.  Hopefully the same is true in Alliance.  He's got two guys he can completely trust to run their side of the house. 

Not football related, but a great week for the Raiders!

Men's track & field won their 15th straight OAC outdoor title.  The dominance of the track program over the decades is incredible.

Women's lax won the OAC tourney after winning the regular season title.  Even better, they beat BW 11-10 on a goal with 3 seconds left.  Beautiful. 

Men's golf won the OAC team title for the first time in 15 years.

#12 softball clinched the OAC regular season title.  They swept 2nd place Muskie 9-1, 6-0 on the road Saturday.

#14 baseball clinched the OAC regular season title with their sweep of Muskie.  They've won back to back titles for the first time ever.

Aside from our own tourney, the MIAA tourney should be a really good watch.  Adrian, Kalamazoo and Alma are so competitively matched you'd have to think it's going to be some good games up north this week.  Adrian is the proven program and won the regular season, but lost 2 of 3 to both the others.  Kalamazoo seems like the team of destiny this year and already has 30 wins.  And Alma went 5-1 against the other two including sweeping Kalamazoo in three 1 run games.

I had the DH on while I was working.  That chopper I thought the 1B was going to catch it.  I agree I think the 2B got caught by surprise a little when it got by.  I didn't see the throw in from RF

The other one that was a head scratcher was the grounder to 3B that was a routine play.  I couldn't tell 100% whether it was a bad throw or a bad catch at 1B, but it was not a tough play on either end and the runner was safe.  Those are the ones as a pitcher that you're just shaking your head.  Not that Mount is the '27 Yankees, but they've got some sticks and I don't want to give them free ABs.

Mount sweeps Muskie 12-5 and 7-3 to lock up the OAC title at 14-2.  Back to back OAC titles for the first time in program history so that's pretty cool.  Also became the first team in program history to win 30 games in the regular season (before the OAC tourney).

Individually Denham tied the single season record for doubles with 18.  Dennison struck out 14 in 7 IP to break the single season strikeout record of 101 from 1957.  Dennison has 104 strikeouts in 84 IP to go with his 8-0 record.  Incredible season.

In all likelihood the field will be Mount, BW, ONU and Muskie.  Berg is not going to sweep ONU (although Wilm almost did so maybe I shouldn't be so confident).  Etta will likely sweep Wilm.  A tie between Etta and Muskie would go to Muskie thanks to their split with BW trumping Etta being swept.

That is an absolutely crushing loss.  I don't know how you can come close to replacing someone like Fuline.  He gave us a helluva 15 years and a lot of fun as a fan.  I've said before that he turned Mount hoops into appointment viewing for me.  I knew every tip time because I was going to watch every game if I could.  Sad day for all of us, but a wonderful day for Fuline and his family. 

My hope is that he goes to UC for a stint and then gets a D1 HC job at somewhere like YSU/MAC school if that's what he wants.  He's certainly paid his dues.  And I will certainly be rooting for him no matter where he goes in the future.  Thanks for the ride, Coach!   

Mount drops 6 spots to #14.  They dropped games at Behrend 7-1 and home to Westminster 11-6.  They just didn't hit the ball at Behrend and it was not like they were facing studs.  Just one of those days.  Gernert started and pitched well, but the pen didn't hold up.  Then Westminster was senior day so the first two arms were seniors who haven't pitched much followed by two freshmen.  Neither of those teams are bad (24-7 and 26-10), but just not the best Mount has played this year.  It also again highlights the tall task they're going to have in tourney play with the lack of reliable arms beyond maybe four guys.  There are other guys who have pitched really well, but not consistently.

ONU escapes a sweep with a bases loaded 1 out GIDP up 9-8.  Not to be mean, but you should be disqualified from the OAC tourney for at least this year as a result of that embarrassing effort.  You lucked out to split with a 3-26 team. 

WOW.  Wilm comes back and then hangs on to beat ONU 9-6.  That's shocking.

Interesting to look at the current NPI rankings.  Witt is just outside the top 25 poll but currently #7 nationally in NPI.  Denison is #1 but I'd think if Witt holds serve otherwise they should be in line for an at large bid. 

Casenhiser committed to D2 Eckerd (FL).  I barely know about the D2 schools in OH so I have no clue about D2 schools elsewhere.  At a minimum he moves up a level and gets to wear shorts and slides walking back to his dorm after games and that's not a bad start.  Good luck, Chance!