In order to play in the ECAC's you have to schedule fewer games (36 i believe) AND leave an extra week open at the end of the year (this means taking away a week from indoor practice in the winter) both things wouldn't make sense for a team like wheaton to do since they usually get an AQ bid

Wheaton down 6-4 heading into the 8th @ RIC, tie it at 6 and score 3 with two outs to take a 9-6 lead.  Wheaton has shown a lot of resolve so far this year, coming back in numerous games.  Lets see if the bullpen can hold the lead, would be a very tough loss for RIC

GNAC...
You have made some good points on an at large bid for suffolk and Id have to agree with you... Here is some more info to consider, the number of quality opponents suffolk has played is right up there with any team in NE. A team should not be penalized for scheduling the best available teams in the region day in day out.  Of their 10 loses 6 of them are to teams that have already clinched a tourney bid and 2 of the other ones are to ECONN and TCNJ (most likely will both receive bids)
If you look at both williams and amherts schedule the number or quality in region opponents is not even close to Suffolk or even Roger Williams for that matter.  I'd put both of the ahead of those nescac teams. (granted everything could change this weekend... looking forward to it

on another note, c2 can we please put babson to bed for they year.... they have no shot at an at large bid with they way they folded down the stretch, good year but should not even be considered

pretty sure the wheaton ksc game is friday @ wheaton, and @ econn under the lights thursday

Babson is eliminated from NEWMAC tourney by springfield this afternoon.  Wheaton beats MIT again to move into championship series, springfield will have to beat them twice.... hope the rain holds off at sidell tomorrow

Does anyone still honestly believe Babson deserves an at large bid now?  KSC USM and ECONN all must of enjoyed seeing them being bounced out so early... another huge let down for Babson fans

I think my point was made about Babson being a little to high low come tourney time.  Only Babson can give up 10 runs in one innings to blow a sure win game.  Very interested to see how they bounce back, they certainly have the talent to do so.... but it seems like it's wheaton's tournament to win again...

on another note, is it possible for any coach to run a pitcher further into the ground than wpi's coach has to to fahey?? this is a kid who was lights out last year and all summer in the necbl, but consistently having him throw over 100 pitches and on 3 days rest just does not give him a shot at success.  My hats off to the kid on how well he has performed all things considered.

Looking forward to the weekend. Seems like another Wheaton sweep to me.

thanks for the explanation mr vaughn, makes better sense now

Can someone explain to me why trinity doesn't play more in region games?  Playing only 28 games up to this point seems like a low number.  Does it have to do with the way their conference is set up?  If someone could fill me in i'd appreciate it, just seems like they only have one week day game then weekend games while the other teams in the region are playing upwards to 6 games per week. Thanks

C2,
I agree with a lot of what you are saying, babson is very very good this year and seem like they might have the pitching depth for the first time to matchup with wheaton in the tournament.  Their lineup is very deep and when they are locked in they can all be very tough outs.  The biggest problem ive seen with them in a tournament type atmosphere is they tend to be very high low which we all know doesn't get your very far.
My point was that there are so many quality teams coming out of the northeast this year that in my opinion babson will have to win the NEWMACs to sure up a spot.  I certainly could be wrong though  The committee takes in region wins very seriously and it just doesn't seem they have that many of them.  Granted they could lose and then beat RIC USM and tufts and make a VERY strong case for an at large.  But you're right this is the first year in a while that going into the tournament Wheaton is not the clear cut favorite.  Should be very exciting to see how it plays out.


On another note i was very surprised on how easily Trinity handled eastern at eastern.  I wish trinity had more big in region games vs the powers to be but you can't argue with what they've done, they're clearly the favorite right now.

It will be interesting to see how this weekends tournament ends up.  If Babson loses i have a hard time seeing them getting an at large bid.  They have an impressive record but if you look at their schedule the only 2 key in region wins are against wheaton.  They have been beaten by econn, ksc, curry, plymouth state, and trinity.  Looking forward to it

I don't think any one thing has changed.  It's just the fact the program is getting older and older.  Podbelski started the program from scratch and he deserves all the credit.  I'm glad recruiting got brought up, the types of players econn ksc and the rest of the little east can recruit a lot of the time can't even be looked at by wheaton because of the academic requirements.  It is very impressive that wheaton is consistently in the running for regional titles because of the limitations on the types of student athletes that can be recruited.

on another note it seems like the wheaton usm game was exciting.  Wheaton scores one in the 9th to tie it and wins it in the 10th.  That makes 9 in a row over southern maine, yes 9.

Hey guys been a big fan of the board for a while but never put in my input until now. Hope it's welcomed.
I find it hard to believe that someone could call wheaton overrated. (yes one word) After checking the numbers wheaton is 20-5 vs the little east since 2005.  Those numbers don't lie.  The little east is clearly a deeper conference than the NEWMAC but Wheaton can't be faulted for that because they win it every year.  In that same period of time Wheaton has a record of 109-35 while losing in a regional final, national final and regional semifinal.  Meanwhile Eastern whom i believe to be one of the best programs in the nation has a 104-55 record while making it to 2 world series.  Eastern and Wheaton have had numerous battles going back to the early 2000's when Eastern handed wheaton a heartbreaking lose in the regional finals.  
Keene State is an up and coming program and got on the map in a big way last year by knocking off wheaton twice down in Harwich,  but by no means are they in the class of Eastern or Wheaton yet but it seems like they are having another very strong year and should contend for another regional final but over the last 8 years wheaton and econn are the class of the northeast.
What wheaton has done this year to stay a premier program in the nation is pretty amazing after considering what they lost.  Podbelski had to replace 19 wins and almost 200 innings in his rotation and almost 700 at bats and 100 RBIs.  
Im looking forward to see how the rest of the season ends up with babson  hosting the conference tournament for the first time ever.  Babson is a very good team and could continue to give wheaton trouble.  In terms of the little east i have to give the edge to econn in the tournament.  They always seem to turn it on late in year and until someone beats them they should continue to control the tournament.
Hope everyone had a good weekend at the ball park and look forward to contributing to the board in the future.