Really tough loss for BSC today...The rain in Demorest last night forced them to use both Stevens and Nordgren for 4+ innings. Now they face the #1 seed Shenandoah with probably their #3 going vs SU's #2. BSC has the pitching talent to work their way back from the loser's bracket but it wont be easy. The schedule for Friday will be interesting. Will they play 3 or 4 games Friday and if BSC wins will they have to play again Friday or get an extra day and bring back Stevens Saturday? I don't think they will bring him back on 1 day rest after throwing about 70 pitches.

Rhodes needs to score some runs vs Covenant if they want to stay alive, they've had trouble all year scoring consistently vs good pitching.

SAA all conference team announced and no surprises in the major award winners. Radack is a dynamite player and was clearly the best player in the conference. Stevens also was the best pitcher in the conference..even though teammate Miles Nordgren and Rhodes' Glauben were close behind.

However, after looking at the list more closely how in the world is Patrick Kulick from Oglethorpe not on the first team? And for that matter how is Patrick Kilkenny not on the 2nd team? Andrew Rafferty is a good player for Millsaps and he had a fine year, and nothing against him...but I don't see how he is 1st team over Kulick or even Kilkenny?

Kulick - .364 BA (5th), 1.041 OPS... 56 hits, 16 doubles, 7 HR's, 37 Runs, 33 RBI's, 95 total bases
Kilkenny - .336 BA (15th), .902 OPS...51 Hits, 17 doubles, 3 HRs, 29 Runs, 25 RBI's, 77 total bases
Rafferty - .373 BA (3rd), .850 OPS...  50 hits, 5 doubles, 0 HRs, 17 runs, 17 RBI's, 55 total bases

Is there something I'm missing here?

I know this is late but SAA stepped in and gave the kid 8 games. So, he missed nearly a quarter of the season. I don't think he's pitched very much since that incident however.

Batters 4, 5 and 7 are unearned.

So, 2 earned runs.

To 108Stiches: The split was very necessary because schools out East were tired of flying to Texas/Colorado twice a year. In baseball, how was the SCAC ever a real conference when when teams never played each other? How many times did Centre and Southwestern play in baseball in the 20 years of SCAC play? How about Oglethorpe and Hendrix? You can count the times on one hand...over 20 YEARS! The new alignment for the old SCAC east allows them to play 21 conference games, instead of 15 and they get to play every team every year. Now from a monetary issue it washes out for baseball or maybe costs those schools a bit more. But for the rest of the sports like football, basketball, soccer the will save money by eliminating ALL flights.

Word is SAA conference schedule will be all nine inning games and left up to the coaches to when they will play their games over the course of the weekend. The teams I've heard from are all playing single games from Friday-Sunday.

Friday - 9
Saturday - 9
Sunday- 9

BigPoppa: Obviosuly, only time will tell, but I can't disagree with you more about Piedmont. They are very deep on the hill including two top of the line starters (Caleb/Caldwell) and an All American closer (Cook). Check out the schduele they have played and will play. 9-2 vs. Millsaps, Emory, CNU and Adrian, et all. They are not playing any slouches in there...they have Marietta coming up and then will dive into conference play. Now I will agree that the conference is weak this year but they don't back away from anyone.

First thing is first: The SCAC takes the top three teams from each division to the tournament. In the West Trinity, Dallas and Hendrix look to be the top three teams. Klimesh and Lucero are the best 1-2 punch in the league and that offense is scary. Hendrix plays with a different kind of passion and they will always be in games. What has happened to SW? They were once a powerhouse in this conference. Austin is rebuilding with a new coach so give them a couple of years. Hendrix has to be the most excited about Millsaps leaving the West, as it gives them a clear path to the tourny.

In the East, the addition of Millsaps and BSC becoming eligible has evened the strength of the conference. I think Rhodes and Millsaps are the clear favorites, and maybe I'm the only person who thinks BSC will be down this year. Yes, they return Maxwell and Meier but you don't replace guys like Leachman, Hulse, Ricco, and Malcolm right away. Looking at their box scores it seems teams simply will not pitch to Maxwell in any big situation. And as talented as their pitching is, its not as easy to pitch when games are close as compared to the last few years when the offense would blast teams. Rhodes is strong, very strong...deep on the mound as any team not name Trinity. Millsaps is going to be tough as usual. Sewanee, Centre and OU round out the group. I can see one of them pushing BSC for that third spot in the east...

So...Trinity, Dallas, Hendrix and Rhodes, Millsaps, BSC at the tourny.

Give me Trinity vs. Rhodes on Sunday with the Tigers getting the trophy and the AQ. I think Trinity goes deep this year and gets to Appleton.

Just for clarification...Millsaps is not in the SCAC West in 2012. They have moved to the SCAC East to replace DePauw.

Casual,

Love IT! As much as I follow OU and like that team they would need A LOT of breaks this weekend to pull off the Championship. I think they can win a game or two but Trinity and Millsaps have more depth, better pitching and the experience to take home the crown. But let's hope your right!!!!!! Look foward to watching the games online. Good luck everyone.

Ok, I'll go first. Here is my bracket and predictions:

Trinity over OU -- TU too much for OU to handle, close game until late.
Millsaps over Rhodes -- This game is nip and tuck, but Chandler wears down late. MC gets to RC pen.
DePauw over Austin -- DePauw gets a W here, but very, very close.

Trinity over Austin (Austin Eliminated) -- Same story, TU too much for Austin. Tough seeding for AC.
Millsaps over DePauw -- Millsaps bats come alive.
OU over Rhodes (Rhodes Eliminated) -- First upset of tourny.

Trinity over Millsaps -- TU draws first blood.
OU over DePauw (DePauw Eliminated) -- OU plays spolier again.
Millsaps over OU (OU Eliminated) -- Millsaps overcomes some poor defense, OU runs out of pitching and MC outslugs OU.

Millsaps over Trinity -- MC bats continue to stay hot.
Trinity over Millsaps (Millsaps Eliminated) -- I have to think at some point in the tournament MC defense will cost them a game. TU wins the crown.

Trinity SCAC Champions

Watching that series this weekend between OU/BSC was eye opening. OU is a very good club. They lack pitching depth but defensivley and offensivley thay are very solid. But BSC came out and just was flat out better in all three phases. I want to back up what Batr441 said about BSC. They are offensively and defensively the most complete D3 team I have seen. I would love to see them in this tournament face off against the likes of Trinity and/or Millsaps. 1-9 they are the best offense club I've ever seen. They ALL have power, speed and athleticism. They grind out AB's and make you work for every out. They very rarely swing and miss and getting a strikeout is very tough. The biggest thing is they wear down pitchers throughout the game and series. Also, they are fantastic on the base paths. Going 1st to 3rd and they are always taking the extra base.

They are a very solid defensive ballclub. OU actually has less errors this season than BSC but the difference is BSC's range all over the field. Their outfield play was flawless.

Pitching is probably their weakness,( if you want to call it that) but they lead the SCAC in pitching too.

BSC, if eligible, is a World Series team. I've seen some great Emory teams in the past and this BSC would run them into the ground. No disrepect to Millsaps or Trinity, they are both very, very good, but I think BSC would be very tough to beat in this tournament .

Alas, BSC is not at the tourney. So....Any predictions out there???

Frank,

The East is up for grabs. You have it a bit wrong with the current standings, OU is in first right now by virtue of taking 2 out of 3 from DePauw. They would be the #1 seed if the season ended today...but with BSC coming to town it will be tough  to hold on to the top spot. It is interesting that if all three schools end up with the same record what would be the seeding?

OU has the tiebreaker over DPU
DPU has it over Rhodes
Rhodes has it over OU

Honestly, there are so many scenerios here anything can happen.

OU wins twice at Centre today to clinch a tournament spot. Hopefully box scores are posted soon.

Good W for the Petrels today at Emory. They are now 2-0 vs. Emory with both victories coming on Emory's home field. OU heads to Centre this weekend in another big SCAC weekend.