Very well pitched game between NP and Thunder yesterday. Martin is the hard luck kid of the conference this year - because of his duel role roll I think he may actually be best overall player in conf. this year. But I do agree that Callahan and Pankau should get hitter and pitcher of year in CCIW.
After now seeing all the CCIW teams, except Elmhurst (great accomplishment defeating Pankau!) here are my last minute conf predictions.
1 IWU 15-6 (tourney host)
2 Carth 15-6
3 NP 14-7
4 Augie 14-7
5 NC 13-8
6 Wheaton 8-13
7 Elmhurst 4-17
8 Millikin 1-20
I see no dominate team this year. It is clear any of the teams 1-7 are capable of beating any team in the conference - most balanced year in many. But I do think Carthage is best overall team by a hair but that 3 - 7 inning game format got the best of them at IWU last weekend. I believe Carthage will win tourney to get the automatic Pool A. Assuming the other 3 can avoid any other bad out of conference wins, the 4th place tourney team (Augie?) may be the odd man out for a Pool C bid.
As a die-hard Thunder fan, I don't believe their finish is due to lack of Talent of at least their top 18 or so players (yes our depth is and always will be an issue due to our recruiting challenges). But talent doesn't win baseball games in a tough and tight conf like the CCIW. Consistently poor defense on routine plays with few coaching adjustments to resolve them and a regular inability to get clutch hits is why Wheaton won't finish in the top 4 this year. The pitching staff has done amazingly well, especially considering losing a couple key guys to injury and eligibility. Defensive errors and non-box score miscues have really hurt the starters who have been forced into longer outings due to lack of pitching depth. Now off to see if Thunder can at least take one from NP today.
After now seeing all the CCIW teams, except Elmhurst (great accomplishment defeating Pankau!) here are my last minute conf predictions.
1 IWU 15-6 (tourney host)
2 Carth 15-6
3 NP 14-7
4 Augie 14-7
5 NC 13-8
6 Wheaton 8-13
7 Elmhurst 4-17
8 Millikin 1-20
I see no dominate team this year. It is clear any of the teams 1-7 are capable of beating any team in the conference - most balanced year in many. But I do think Carthage is best overall team by a hair but that 3 - 7 inning game format got the best of them at IWU last weekend. I believe Carthage will win tourney to get the automatic Pool A. Assuming the other 3 can avoid any other bad out of conference wins, the 4th place tourney team (Augie?) may be the odd man out for a Pool C bid.
As a die-hard Thunder fan, I don't believe their finish is due to lack of Talent of at least their top 18 or so players (yes our depth is and always will be an issue due to our recruiting challenges). But talent doesn't win baseball games in a tough and tight conf like the CCIW. Consistently poor defense on routine plays with few coaching adjustments to resolve them and a regular inability to get clutch hits is why Wheaton won't finish in the top 4 this year. The pitching staff has done amazingly well, especially considering losing a couple key guys to injury and eligibility. Defensive errors and non-box score miscues have really hurt the starters who have been forced into longer outings due to lack of pitching depth. Now off to see if Thunder can at least take one from NP today.