I was at the Carthage/NIU game.  Haven't seen the Redmen in a couple of years but since they were in my backyard and my son goes to NIU I had a good excuse to see them.  A couple of thoughts and questions.  Why was Tolo shooting so much?  Seemed liked he'd be of more use closer to the basket.  Steve is the real deal, took over in the second half but was plagued by foul trouble.  Did he have D1 offers or was it just a given that he would go to Carthage?  Carthage had some chances to pull closer than four in the second half but couldn't get over the hump.  NIU had more overall quickness but a good showing by Carthage against a D1 team. 

North Park team ERA is 5.79.  So if Carhtage is 6-4 and Auguie is 6-1 (not sure what they did yesterday) than the rest of the CCIW is 5-20.  That is bad.

Here's the link to the preseason poll:
http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2007preseasonpoll.php

Carthage gets 6 1st place votes and is the favorite. 

Sounds great REDMENFAN.  My son's only a jr but he's started looking.  Was at Whitewater last for a camp and they want him to come up for a visit already.  Some d1 schools are after him too.  Evansville already had him down there.  My wife and I both went to Carthage so he's familiar with the school and we usually get to at least on Carhtage game a year so he's seen Augie in action and knows about the program.

REDMENFAN-
My son will be at the Carthage winter camp.  Let me know if you'll be there I'd like to meet some ex players.  My son is interested in Carthage and playing ball there.

Another Carhtage recruit- Steve Ideran from Batavia

Adding to Auguie's defensive woes was the catching.  Opponents were 60-69 in SB's against them.  They have two top notch catchers coming in next year.  

Mt St Joe's is in Cincinnati and won the Heartland Conference.  Don't know much about them, just got that info from their website.  From looking at their stats, they look kind of average, no stud pitcher.  No common opponents from any CCIW schools. 

When's Carthage getting lights?  I heard they have plans ot put them up.

Does anyone know if Wash U has lights?  Looking at their website and by the game times I would say no.  I was under the impression that Carthage lost out hosting because of no lights. 

Wetzel was drafted by the Rockies in the 10th round.  Interesting that Baseball America shows him as signing for $58K.

augie_superfan- The Tri Cities are so so this year in baseball.   STC North has probably the best team.  Geneva has struggled with some young guys playing but they have a JR LHP that is D1 material.  Our C from Batavia is playing at Augie next year.  In fact I saw a list of Chicago area recruits for next year and Auguie also has the C from Naperville North and a couple of others, they did the best of the area d3's so far.

Kane County is out, the Cougars have games there on the 17th-19th.  They are also very protective of the field.  My son's supposed to play a HS game there tomorrow and they told them if their is a chance of rain they won't play.  Went to the Carthage/AU playoff game there a few years ago (mid 90's?)and it is a great atmosphere.  I think AU might be out of luck.  They use Oswego HS for most of their home games and that is being used on the 18th and 19th.  Too bad, it's a nice field with lights that could host a regional. 

BipPoppa, did you play at Kane County against AU?

Tom Crean is having a press conference to announce he's not interested in the IWU job.  (U of I fans will get that one)

Mr Yipsi-  D3 is dominated by northern teams, northern being north of the Mason Dixon line.  Part of that is because the state of FLA has zero D3 teams and there aren't very many in other southern states although Emory in GA is currently ranked #1.  Of the current top 30 teams I count 5 as "warm weater" teams.  VA has 2, not sure if they count as warm weather.  While a CCIW team has yet to finish first or second they usually have a team at the D3 World Series.

Nope, Batavia IL. 

I had a felling those two could touch 90, probably consistantly at the end of the season.  I don't have much to compare them with, obviously they are better than BU's pitchers.  I hope to get to Kane County Stadium this Sunday to see AU.  With any luck Salter will pitch.