Quote from: basenock2 on March 12, 2006, 01:47:48 PM
Im kind of surprised with how much attention Brady Salter gets on this site...Lets not forget he left a DI program because he was not going to get any innings there...Coming from somebody who has hit off him, he does have good velocity, but his fastball is straight as an arrow...Ask his redbird teammates from ISU, they'll tell you the same thing

Ask the New York Yankees about Salter, they'll tell you why they drafted him.

I believe in the 2004 regional championship Aurora beat Carthage by a score of 21-4.  Team to beat this year:  Wooster College. 

Quote from: crusaders on February 27, 2006, 02:06:19 PM
I'll be sure to remember that when I'm walking by the trophy case.

It will be hard not to remember that while walking by the trophy case which holds only one trophy.  Actually, it would be more of a "shelf" than a "case."  Best of luck in whatever conference accepts the Crusaders. 

Talent means nothing without performance.  We all know of players who had "all the talent in the world" (sorry for the cliche, but it fits), but struggled to turn that talent into success. 

Give a coach a player with mediocre talent and excellent performance, and he'll love the kid.  Give a coach a player with tons of talent and mediocre performance, and he'll be disappointed and bald by the end of the season (if we wasn't bald to begin with).  That, my friends, is keeping it real.

IRONY:
n. pl. i·ro·nies

1.  a)  The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

      b)  An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.

      c)  A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect. See Synonyms at wit1.

2.  a)  Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs: "Hyde noted the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated" (Richard Kain).

      b)  An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic.

      c)  Dramatic irony.

      d)  Socratic irony.

All of those AU pitchers mentioned were excellent.  However, only one has been named "National Pitcher of the Year."  Enough said.

Quote from: hoops0 on February 25, 2006, 04:38:49 PM
Hahahaha! Way to jinx your team. Franklin was supposed to run away with it and they choked in the championship game at home. That's great. Congrats to Manchester...picked last in the conference and wins the championship. I love it!

Picked last, finished first.  Hell of a coaching job by coach Dzruich, or however you spell it.  Young team stepped up in a big game.  This could be the start of many big wins for the MC women. 

Man, did I call that or what.  I should go to the boat.  And in honor of MC's win, I'll throw it all on BLACK!

"as far as i can see it, clarke won the championship, so take that aurora fans!!!!  you finally didn't win the championship for year, the last year..." ~ Crusader

Again Crusader, you really shouldn't act like this is the first championship Clarke has ever won.  Wouldn't it be ironic to see Clarke finally win a NIIC championship but still get snubbed from the NCAA tourney???  I believe it would. 

Manchester will win the HCAC tourney and advance to the NCAA tourney.

It's a bad year to be good in the NIIC.  The NIIC championship game may be the last game any NIIC team plays.

Congrats to Clarke on the victory over Aurora.  I would love to see the game tape.  Holding Welton to 4 points is not an easy task, thier coaching staff (along with defenders) must have had a solid game plan and excellent execution. 

Just a note to all the overvealous Clarke fans: act like your program has won a big game before.  It's a little thing called "class," Mr. Webster and his dictionary have a great definition if your unfamiliar.  Remember, this was an important regular season game and not the national championship.  I'm well aware that this may be Clarke's first NIIC regular season title.  The program and it's fans should be proud that they have an opportunity to leave the NIIC as champs.  But calling out people on the message board, other Dubuque schools, and the CCIW just portrays ignorance. 

I hope the players and coaching staff are not discussing how they "could" beat the Dubuque schools, or CCIW schools, or that "they are so hot they are on fire" because the season isn't over (Rockford and their "poor attitudes" on Saturday) and anything can happen in the tournament.  Be happy for the moment, and try not to let others know that success is a new accomplishment.   

Again, congratulations to the Crusaders on a great victory.  Let's all hope that the top team from the NIIC (which will be decided by the Pool B voters rather than this message board) gets an opportunity to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament. 

Looking ahead, does anybody have any thoughts on the new conference being developed for next season?  (LMC + NIIC = ?)

Quote from: CoachKs on February 06, 2006, 04:43:00 PM
Those are good Numbers but nothing like a guy who graduated a few years ago! What was his name again? Man that guy was awesome?

Quote from: huskie19 on February 02, 2006, 05:39:15 PM
Brady Salter-RHP- (Aurora Univ.) 6'5-215
7-2
3.84 era
IP-63.1
SO-49
B/Avg.-.288

CoachKs, you might be mistaken with Murphy.  Here are some reasons why:

1.  Murphy just graduated in 2005.
2.  His best season came in 2004 with these stats, which aren't too far off from Salter:
     8-1; 3.81 era; 75.2 IP, 52 SO; .261 B/Avg.
3.  His senior season he posted these numbers with a depleated BU offense:
    4-6; 4.59 era; 66.2 IP; 33 SO; 73 H

Murphy would have had better numbers his senior season with a better squad around him, but that's how it goes in team sports.  Look through the list again, maybe another name will "ring a bell."

Quote from: crusader on February 09, 2006, 12:47:10 PM
with only one game left against a decent opponent, I see clarke knocking off aurora, just like last year at home, and walking away with the conference title.  clarke played aurora tough at au without our starting 3 guard, now he's back and they will not be denied. 

The NIIC has always been a three team league, with those teams being Aurora, Benedictine, and Rockford (in alphabetical order).  Crusader, you say that the NIIC has done nothing for Clarke.....how about this:  Clarke has done nothing in the NIIC.  Don't get me wrong, the Crusaders are playing very very well in conference this season.  But don't knock the NIIC becuase Clarke has never won a conference title.  Other than a long, scenic drive through Iowa, Clarke basketball hasn't done much for the NIIC.

I have to question your description of the Rockford squad as well.  Rockford has some very talented individuals, and a similar 12-10 overall record to the Crusaders.  Unexpectedly losing your head coach cannot be easy on any team, in any sport.  "Poor attitude" is a vague term as well, and 40 minutes of basketball is not enough to judge these kids' personalities.  Officials or not, Clarke would not have defeated RC by 30.  Leave the zebras out of the discussion.  They get bad mouthed enough in person, they don't need to get it on the internet as well.

As far as "not being denied" the NIIC title, the Crusaders are already behind the 8 ball.  Let me list the reasons why:

1.  AU's youth has led to some inconsistent play so far, but they always have a good chance to win with Welton on the court.  29.9 points per NIIC game is quite impressive for a sophomore, who didn't play his final two years of high school and sat out his "true" freshman year. 

2.  Even though both AU and CC have 6-1 conference records, AU currently holds the head-to-head tie-breaker.  So Clarke has to beat Aurora to stay in the race for the #1 seed. 

3.  If CC does defeat AU and both teams end up with 8-2 records (meaning Eureka or RC would have to beat CC), AU would hold the tie-breaker of overall record (AU 15-10, CC 14-11). 

Clarke has a quality squad this year.  They lead the NIIC in scoring defense and scoring field goal percentage, and they are second in the NIIC in scoring margin and field goal percentage.  I don't want to be misread, so:  I AM NOT TRASHING CLARKE COLLEGE.  I just disagree with Crusader's comments, and felt the need to respond (which is why we have this discussion board, correct?). 

Hopefully whoever win the NIIC will get a chance to play in the NIIC tournament.  It would be a shame for the conference not to have a representitive in it's final year of existence. 

Some of the more successful NIIC pitchers in the recent past have been:

Aurora: Chapple (All-Region), Paddock(National POY, Drafted), Quieles (All-Region), Salter (Drafted), Salzmann (All-Region)

Benedictine: Mannering (All-Region), Murphy (All-Region), Lansu, Astrouski

Clarke: Wentzlemen (All-NIIC)

Concordia: Paduch (Drafted), Van Spankerin (All-NIIC)

Eureka: Van Winkle (All-NIIC)

Rockford: Durlack (NIIC POY), Miller