I am also coming from Denver, CO.  This will be my 5th trip for the game in the last 7 years.

Wabash gets the needed win over Witt taking the first game 3-0 behind a stellar performance by Andrew Swart.  The win clinches the NCAC West #2 seed. Little Giants head back to post-season for the second straight year.

Wabash just needs a split on Saturday for the #2 seed.  They already swept Witt earlier in the year thus guaranteeing a head to head advantage on the Tigers.  If Witt wins both games they get the #2.

Congratulations to Denison from me as well.  They won it the best way possible going to Crawfordsville and taking 4 games last weekend from Wabash.

Wabash sweeps Witt in Crawfordsville today.  scores are 7-1 & 8-0.  Good day for the LG's as they jump out to a nice 5-1 record in the NCAC West.

Wabash takes both games today from the Bishops.
6-5 & 8-1.

Little Giants get off to a nice 3-1 record in conference play.  Seems the pitching woes thay had down south have improved.  I am now encouraged.

I went back and looked at OWU's losses this year and came away a little more impressed...
Carthage (split), Heidelberg, Otterbein makes their record more understandable.  As I mentioned, Wabash had a very difficult 12 game spring break trip with multiple losses to Birmingham Southern and Adrian.  So maybe I have spoken too quickly in regards to these West Division teams.  They may be good but not upper tier.  I guess we'll need more games to find out.  I still like Denison though.

Ohio Wesleyan and Wabash split the first two games yesterday in one run contests (6-5, 8-7)
2 more scheduled today.

If these are the two top dogs in the West Division then I'd say that Denison has a wide open door to walk through and take command.  OWU stands at 4-7 while Wabash is 5-10 overall.

Needless to say, teams can turn things around quickly in April, but the early indications suggest the West is weak this year.

today's conference action -

Wabash 6 OWU 5 (final)
OWU 8 Wabash 4 (4th inn)

Proud to announce that construction is planned to restart for the new baseball stadium at Wabash.

We were supposed to have been opening the first game there this week but construction was put on hold after the disastrous economic tumble in late 2008 killed the school's endowment and started a series of cost-cutting measures.  Luckily, this campus upgrade has been deemed a high priority and is going to happen for next season.

Recuiting, recruiting, recruiting.... it's all about recruiting.......

Bash fans got a quick but extensive look at our 2010 team this week after an aggressive 12 game road trip to Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma.  The Little Giants finished this very tough test 4-8.  Competition included a four game start at Birmingham Southern and Adrian - both top 25 teams. Coupled with playing all southern schools (except Adrian) we were a bit overmatched this early in the season but hopefully better tested and prepared.

The key points taken from the box scores: 1. pitching woes (team ERA 10.20) 2. 1B Jon Holm - 6 HR 19 RBI .386 BA.

The first point surprises me and I'm optimistic this will get better as the team heads north.  Last year's staff was clearly a reason they competed so well in conference play and the staff is essentially the same this year.
The second point is no surprise as I predicted earlier a big year from Holm.  Those are POW numbers.

Little Giants get a good test with Franklin this week before a big 4 game set with OWU next weekend.  The bash surprised the Bishops last year by taking 3 of 4 and really setting themselves up well for the conference standings.  They clearly need to right the ship if they plan to repeat a trip to the conference tourney.

Gramps -
I love your enthusiasm!

I'm with you with the sights and smells of the game that still turn me on even as I am quickly approaching middle age (yikes).  Add to the list the smell of pine tar, sunflower seeds and freshly cut grass.  Add the sounds of dugout chatter, leather popping and umpire yelling "Steeeeeerike" on the first pitch of a ballgame as he points a finger at the visitor dugout.  All of these make my heart warm even when I look outside at the snow on the ground.

OWU Dad - games in Xenia were cancelled.

Earlham leaving the NCAC has sparked a lot of discussion on the football board the past couple of months.  As Scots Fan mentioned - nobody appears to be immediately stepping in and the possible suitors are all educated guesses as far as anyone on these boards are concerned.  FWIW John Carroll and Washington and Jefferson have also been mentioned as replacements.

From a Wabash standpoint, DePauw would make the most sense to be added.  Could you imagine the strength of the western division in baseball then? WC/DPU, Den/OWU & Witt.  Would be carnage.  However, adding W&J to the east would maybe balance power a little better?

For now I'm with everyone else on this board however and would scrap the east/west divisions and play everybody in conference 3 games each without an Earlham.

Here's what Wabash has to say about themselves and their pre-season #3 tab by the coaches: http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=7802

Basically they have all but 2 starters back from last year's team that made the NCAC tourney and took Wooster to 3 games in the conference playoffs.  Problem is the 2 starters lost to graduation were two of the most prolific players in Wabash history - Matt Dodaro and Jake Thomas.

Here's the inside scoop I'm getting.  Last year's freshman class was special.  If they develop, then Wabash Baseball will continue its rise in respect and wins.  Been there before.. its not a guarantee players get better each year in D3 where other things sometimes take priority over working towards baseball greatness.  So we'll have to see.  But, the names I'm watching this spring are all sophs: Lares (leadoff hitter), Holm (1st/DH - 6'5 260 - massive power) and Swart (starting pitcher).  These three played a lot last year and were playing big roles by the end of the season.  It should be fun to see how it all plays out.

For what it's worth.  Pre-season coaches poll is out.


http://www.northcoast.org/ba/ba.html