WTF??? Four SCIAC teams in??? did not see that coming... lets go now Grapell and Gold and win a few to prove the people east of "the 5" wrong!!!

Again in the late to the part and worst kept secret departments... Congrats to Erik Scherer on the new gig... program in good hands!!!

You all are asleep at the wheel... Slim retired a few weeks ago, made it social media official today... a dear friend and an all around great guy... congrats to him on a great career but nothing, not even a national championship can replace that first year... Shock the World!!! Love ya Slim and hope to see you and Donna soon!!!... DW#6

Not privy to any of that information,  but this ain't Slim's first rodeo... I would think that he applies every year, but without lights it makes it hard to secure the bid...

Done get me wrong, loving the 2 pool C  bids, but if CalLu had not won the tourney there would have been only two...

However... why not give CalLu or PP that best of five host.... I mean Chapman technically didnt have to show up and still get the host and #1 seed...however I understand the logistics-no lights at either PP or CalLu (and this former CalLu baseball alum doesnt have the $$$ to donate those lights)... BUT... they could have flown in both those two teams....

CalLu hasnt hosted a regional since 1997 and that was at Moorpark College because let's face it, our field sucked.... but we now have a beautiful stadium and the committee wont let us show it off... and dont think for a second that Slim didnt put in to host... perennial powerhouse with a 2017 ring and still no nod...

We swept the SCIAC tourney and only get some tshirts and a plaque to show for it....

Reboot next weekend....

A lazy cop-out by the committee in my eyes...

Doesnt matter anyway, our 1990 team would have wiped the floor with all of them!!!

It is not often that I chime in... HOWEVER... so, lets just reset the SCIAC tourney and replace LaVerne with Pacific??? BS in my mind and quite lazy to take the easy way out...and don't give me this "is all about who they fly in" garbage... the NCAA has the scratch to pay for it... Just lazy in my eyes... maybe the hotel will give them a frequent traveler discount...

Yep, its me, same guy, and while I still don't fit into the old game worn uni's, I still can snugly fit into the "alumni" version of our old uniform... but really didn't need it since I was covered up in layer upon layer of gore-tex...

Rough weekend for the graple to say the least... rain, sun, rain, delay, sun, rain, thunder, delay, sun, rain, hail, delay, etc etc etc... not making any excuses, just not the most memorable trip for the boys. As a native of the PNW, I grew up playing in this crap and reason #1 why I went south to find a better baseball environment at the Lu... but baseball is about adjusting to what your opponent (or Mother Nature) gives you and we just didn't get the job done... give PLU props for stringing together hits when needed and getting that timely hit to plunge the dagger into us... for some reason, I feel we are gonna see these guys again in May... and should be a different result...

It was fun, however, meeting and getting to know some of the parents that traveled up to our soggy corner of the country. I have noticed at the football games, and now with baseball this weekend - CLU travels well... met some nice people, hung out with my old college roommate (emphasis on OLD), and was able to watch a little baseball in the meantime... but on the better side of things, a friend of mine has a daughter who is a senior in H.S. and her decision between PLU and CLU was in the balance - we made a deal that the winner of the series got her... whoops, that didnt go as planned... but - after sitting in the rain Friday afternoon, she made the right choice - she is on her way to T.O.!!!

Finally - great to have dinner with Slim and the coaching staff Wednesday evening... Refreshing to know that Slim is, and always will be Slim. he is a one of a kind guy, and I will forever value his friendship, guidance, and above his ability to just be Slim... and yes, he did throw BP back in the day (not very well,I might add but better than Hill)... it was fun to share with his staff stories from yesteryear - van wars, The Mighty Quinn, and the Kingsmen Surprise were all discussed in detail... but, it did make me feel a little old....  Cal-Lu, Cal-Lu...

Long time lurker, few time poster... so happy to finally see the alma mater come up north and play a few up here. So glad I don't have to drive to Linfield to catch one game and go home - this weekend I get 4 games!!! only snag is I have to leave eeeaarrrllly Friday during game 1 to get my kids from school then have them come out for the afternoon game - with all of us sporting the graple... hopefully we can snag a few wins and force that Pool C bid if we stumble in the conference tourney... hopefully the less than desirable weather (low 50's, a little wind and rain in the forecast) won't trip us up these next few days... here's hoping.... and, as always Cal-Lu, Cal-Lu...

OK... I am a SCIAC fan but since I live in the PNW I have a different, yet fragmented opinion to a few things...
1) Jack - PLU and UPS are in Tacoma, Whitworth is in Spokane, Whitman is in Walla Walla (about 90+ minutes apart from each other)
2) Rea$on$ why the $CIAC doe$n't come north for a late $ea$on $erie$??? E$pecially after the rain $quall$ la$t Friday during the fir$t PLU/GFU game... would not be a good bang for their buck...
3) I was at the PLU/GFU and PLU/Whitworth games and I have a few observations...
    a) PLU didn't come as advertised
    b) Whitworth was quite impressive and scrappy enough to make a little noise in a regional
    c) the PLU/Linfield game this coming weekend should be for "all the marbles" as far as who could maybe get the Pool C bid.

Good Luck to all who make it to Texas in a few weeks, but, in my opinion, only Whitworth deserves to go...

the car was gassed up and ready but to no avail... heartbreaking loss but that is the way the game goes at times... the boys represented the graple well, and Hats off to UWSP - at least the Kings beat the Ducks... next up, Alumni Game 2015 - the 25th anniversary that "Shocked the World"... great season Slim, look forward to seeing you in late Jan 2015, you have my word there will be a solid turnout from the 1990 guys!!!

Cal-Lu, Cal-Lu

LuDawg6

Heart or head – which do I go with... well... a little reverse psychology on myself and we will see where this takes us... predictions... (Nice move heart, listen to reason)
LeTu over IWU;   LC over TU;    CLU over UWSP...

The LC/TU game should be a prize fight – and could give a 5-team format going into Friday (shut up heart, you have been banned from this conversation)...

SoxFan – a couple points of note...
1) That jersey is my "Tommy Boy" version from the 2002 alumni game, my daughters wear my gamers from yesteryear... but thanks for the compliment...
2) Folklore – the "box and one"; "your mother hates you"; "you're not doing your job"; "Mas Tardy"; and, of course, "Shock the World" that started it all... let's just hope that my next roadie comes with an overnight stay and my daughters seeing just exactly what a true celebration feels like... (Heart - you are overstepping your boundaries!!!)

One game at a time, but hopefully that game is at 7pm tomorrow night (LuDawg6 rips his own heart out and feeds it to the geese in the field across the street)

Rich Hill ingrained this into our heads way back when - Good pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting – make those happen and you will win, slip up on one and you have a good chance of a loss... no better way to describe this game this afternoon... After 7 total hours of drive time with a 2:18 instant classic sandwiched inbetween... well worth the time spent... now, my graple induced observations...
Cal-Lu travels well – way to go – nice to see a good assortment of graple in the stands...even though most won't know that graple is actually a color... always nice to tear up with an old friend, and no, promises will not be broken...

Was nice to have the LiveStream Video feed – fellow LuDawg(20) was able to see me on the broadcast (sorry IWU fans, he told me to sit over there) as well as my kids – technology, simply amazing– back in our day Dad was calling Mom from the Brick cell phone as I was at the plate at SCC (now Vanguard University) – I seem to recall a certain coach's wife sitting behind him making bunny ears as I got up to the plate – boy the things we remember...

Good Pitching – CLU – Petersen came as advertised. He can bring it, however IWU hit him hard. I was a little concerned there for a bit. He did come out throwing all strikes, until I gooched it and said "does all this guy do is throw strikes---- DOSE"... IWU – no disrespect here but the pitcher appeared hitable, not dominant, but he was crafty, and kept our boys on their front foot – the dreaded "at-em" balls for many innings. And give that kid credit – he battled...

Solid Defense – on both sides, and the one slip up resulted in an unearned run, while maybe not the deciding factor, it allowed some air to CLU windpipe while they were getting their neck stepped on. Numerous highlight plays in the field from both teams was also a welcome sight. Much more fun to watch good defense as opposed to a boat race...

Timely hitting – IWU manufactured theirs – double, bunt, sac fly – I love fundamentals... CLU kept chipping away and got the break (error)... but the epitome of a timely hit came right after the missed squeeze (more on that in a minute) –and, I think, it was the very next pitch that he lined the double – timely hit indeed... and as us old school LuDawgs used to say – he's got some figs...

Squeeze – positive/negative – if he gets the bunt down and scores the run, nobody bats an eye, but for that 27 seconds between the tag out and the double, Slim was public enemy #1... however... Might I add a second look – the result of the botched squeeze was Petersen making it to second, with one out and your #4 hitter at the plate... so, just like a single and sacrifice... I guess... all worked out in the end for the Graple (again, no Violet runs thru my veins!!!)

#6 for CLU – way to represent the number young man, a bit of an adventure on that pop fly but you stayed with it and made the play... Wear that number with pride!!!

Rihanna reference – maybe, since I am from a less kinder, less gentler, woebegone era, and I am just looking for something to rag on –  I seem to recall a game 24 years ago, in the same area code that required umbrellas but for a different reason – and the CLU fans were upset about that (except my parents, I grew up in the shi---stuff)... thus – be thankful Graple Faithful – a cooling trend is forecast for Fri/Sat...

Looks like no rematch as of yet as UWSP won, making it a purple hued sweep today (hey even the KINGS won – I LOVE L.A.... WE LOVE IT!!! – I know, a stretch)...

Personally, for me today was a win-win... however no dice for me on the trip tomorrow – I guess that puts the nail in the coffin of my long-haul trucking career aspirations... my hope will be to take my kids out of school "eeeaaarrrlllyyy" Friday afternoon and hit the 7pm game Friday evening... and hopefully some Saturday action!!!

Cal-Lu, Cal-Lu!!!

Ludawg6

Read my post from page 34 on the 2009 McMinnville Regional right after the Chapman/CLU game... or ask me in person, it was classic but fences were mended the next day so all was good...

Thanks also for the props on the comment... I make no excuses for the fact that I bleed the graple and gold (not Violet, BTW) and have for so many years... many things happened the late 80's/early 90's that shaped the program into what it is today, proud to say that I played a part in that and will continue my support for many years, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Rich as well as Meggs, Taylor, Bernie Kyman, etc... and special mention to Slim for my last two years... that being said, wipe the tears away and cut the cord... to quote a nike commercial from 1991 "now its time to play"... (man I miss talking in vague generalities and using ambiguous quotes from yesteryear...)

Just hope Slim remembers my shirt and hat - don't know how I feel about the "new" CLU logo - I am, of course, old school...

Long time reader, two time poster... I am back in the mix to support the Graple any way I can. It's great to be able to watch the alma mater play in meaningful games, before the 2009 tourney in Oregon, it had been 18 years since I had seen a meaningful game, and not much seeing because I caught the final out in that game – May 4th, 1991 – back in a time when the "Kingsmen Surprise" was in play, the Slim-mobile was the preferred mode of transportation, and Van Wars on the 118 to the 210 to the 10 were a road trip must – but I digress, now just a short 5 years later to watch some meaningful baseball is good for me... making the 3 ½ hour trip tomorrow from Puyallup to make the game (hopefully a win), driving back after and to do it all over again Thursday and hopefully Friday – gonna log some serious miles – hopefully we are still playing Saturday – will make it all worthwhile... and lucky me, I won't get accosted by Chapman fans for walking my kids to the bathroom...

On to the task at hand – my prediction - Linfield, Cal-Lu, Trinity.... I am really hoping to see that Cal-Lu/Trinity rematch... Last year, watched it from work (while not supposed to) and it was a classic... things I noticed from last year was the depth of pitching the Trinity had, used like 12 different pitchers in the tourney??? And I don't think they went to their ace from game one the rest of the tourney... Cal-Lu had the hitting depth but the pitching was in questions – this year, it is the opposite... ain't nothing better than college baseball!!!

I will be sporting the Graple jersey, hat (now old school), and spitting seeds (hopefully reliving some of the past with DC) – and watch out, if we make it to Friday evening, my daughters will be sporting the "authentic, game worn" graple jerseys – yep, they will be taken out of school eeeaaarrrlllyyy to make the trip...

One last point of note – CLU Coaching Legacies –
---1989 CLU Assistant Coach – Lindsay Meggs – University of Washington Head Coach – ranked as high as 5th in the nation now and 2 time D-2 World Series Winner at Chico State. Founder of the moniker "LuDawgs"
---1989 CLU Assistant Coach – Dave Taylor – Chico State University Head Coach – Currently Ranked #6 in Division 2; two time D-2 World Series winner (with Meggs) –
---1990-93 CLU Assistant Coach – Marty Slimak – well, we all know about Slim...
---1988-93 CLU Head Coach – Rich Hill – the ring leader – current Head Coach at University of San Diego – Numerous WCC titles...
Just imagine – UW, Chico State, and CLU national titles this year – ESPN should do a 30 on 30 special about that!!!

See y'all tomorrow!!!

LuDawg6

I apologize for not posting last night - couldn't get the wifi to work on the laptop in the new hotel... however... first off - congrats to Chapman... that is one of the great things about college baseball - "lower seeded teams" sometime come out on top (see Fresno State - CWS 2008)... a few comments on the PP-CLU game...

My Kingmen appeared a step slow... and it showed - especially after a 10-spot in the 3rd...
Hedman came as advertised... the guy can rake - hit the ball on the screws each time... (maybe we should have checked his bat??? - LOL)...
As always happens in college baseball - once you get into a bullpen you have a better shot at things... not that our pen was bad - just, again, a step slow it seemed...
I don't really understand why PP fans don't wear shoes???
It was great to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones - some will be rooting me and their sons on as teammates in next years CLU alumni game - a big one for old ones like me  - I hope you will root as passionate about this 40yr old has been as you will for your own kids next year...
And thank you to the Chapman fan whom I spoke with during the game - take some big figs to come up like you did and I respect you bigtime for that... like I said - I am all about the passion of the game - which speaks volumes for rivalries such as we saw... no harm no foul - its all good...
And - great job to George fox - have to say that I was rooting for them to win... moreso for PLU's sake than anything...  I have spent over35yrs up here and still the NW region gets no respect for our baseball - "how can you play up there - it rains all the time"  its not like GFU won the title and OSU won in Omaha two years in a row.... I feel that PLU got jobbed for not getting into the tourney... and,personally,  as a casualty of a "vote" for not making the playoffs way back when, there is always a place in my heart for the "non-popuular" teams that dont make it (BCS bids, etc)... PLU deserved to be there...

Will be watching the tourney on line as best I can from work... will get back on this next season.... and mabybe somebody can "Blog" the CLU alumni game when some hungover, overweight, "has been" tries to relive it - one last time....

Ludawg6