TheSportsFan's Updated Region Rankings

1. Webster (26-4) - Can't argue with their 4 losses and many quality wins.  I'm hoping to see a Webster-BVU matchup at regionals.  I'd drive to see that - especially if BV had Ringblom or Harris available to face the Gorloks.

2. Buena Vista (27-5) - Huge 4-game series this weekend vs. Wartburg.  If they were to sweep Wartburg (which they are more than capable), I would consider putting them above Webster!  The Ringblom-Rettenmeier matchup in Game 1 would be awesome to see.

3. North Park / Augustana - Interchangable

4. North Park / Augustana - Interchangable

5. Wartburg (21-11) - Not all they are creacked up to be.  Have a nice top arm in Rettenmeier and a lineup that can mash at times, but I don't trust them to play well enough to even deserve an at large bid after BV walks through the conference tournament.  Will end the year 26-28 wins and be right on the bubble.

6. Illinois Wesleyan (16-13) - Have played some nice baseball, but I just don't trust a team that has had TWO 5-game losing streaks in a year.  I know they've lost to many good teams, but if you want to be viewed in the same category you need to find a way to play a complete game and be on a more even keel.

My current Regional Rankings:

1. Webster (12-3) - Best team and it's not close.

2. Buena Vista (13-3) - Has to be one of the best and deepest pitching staff's in all of D3.

3. Augustana (10-5) - The top 4 in the CCIW are all jumbled up.  Can't wait to see them start playing each other.

4. Wartburg (10-6) - A different looking Knights team, but still have some of their main cogs with Rettenmeier on the mound and Powers and Wilson in the lineup.  It appears DMACC transfer DJ Utley has been an important addition as well.

5. North Park (12-6) - Starting to get it rolling.  Winning the games they should win.  Now need to see how they do against other top CCIW teams.

6. Illinois Wesleyan (8-7) - I don't care what kind of a funk Carthage is in, sweeping them at least puts IWU into this conversation.

7. North Central (10-4) - Haven't played anybody of real quality thus far.

As usual, the CCIW dominates the Central Region - they may not be the top few teams right now - but clearly the deepest conference.

Saw BV play on the computer down in Oklahoma.  They are very solid - best team in IIAC and will make noise within the region all year long.  It appears that they play ridiculously aggressive - running the bases in a borderline reckless way.  Will win 30 games this year.

Top Central Teams - not based on the goofy "Region Rankings" rules (Overall Records):

1. Webster (26-6)

2. Illinois Wesleyan (23-7)

3. Wartburg (26-6)

4. Augustana (23-6)

5. Spalding (25-8)

6. Wash U (20-11)

7. Coe (20-9)

Wartburg is very solid.  Loras is 8-4 and only 2-0 in the IIAC....nice to include a 2nd IIAC team, but there is no reason to believe Loras is a contender.

Wartburg explodes in 4th quarter.  Knights now up 24-10 with the ball and 6:19 remaining.

BVU beating Central 30-19 in 4th......wow!

Simpson beating Loras 28-7, 6:20 to play.

IIAC Scores

LUT 10, WART 10....6:25 left in 3rd
BVU 23, CENT 13....13 Minutes left in 3rd
SIMP 21, LOR 7......1:56 left in 3rd

I still like Central and Wartburg's chances....but there are some upsets still in the realm of possibility.

Luther 10, Wartburg 10 - Halftime

Luther was up 10-0 after the 1st Quarter.  Luther outgaining Wartburg 231-134.

Tournament Seeding

#1 Central

#2 Coe (unless Cornell defeats Coe AND Wartburg defeats Luther on monday)

#3 Winner of Luther/Wartburg matchup

#4 Loser of Luther/Wartburg matchup

#5 Buena Vista

#6 Simpson

It's setting up to be a pretty decent tournament, all teams have an arm or two that could beat any of the other teams.  I'm looking forward to catching a few games in CR next weekend.

Nicley done BigPoppa.

One clarification, Dubuque actually lost the series 2-1 to Coe, putting them at 12-6.  Dubuque was outscored 12-0 on doubleheader saturday.

Speechless.

It's a final.  Luther 13, Carthage 7.

I now have Dubuque finishing 12-12 in the IIAC for 6th place.....but 12-16 and playing 28 games in the IIAC is highly unlikely seeing as the IIAC only plays a 24-game conference schedule.

....and yes, I know that we will now get all the posters that say "Predictions don't matter, it's what the standings say at the end of the season that counts."  I'm just pointing out what you see if you look closer at what the poll suggests.