BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Dawgsdad]

UTT won tonight against Hendrick and Booher pitched. This is a quote off the UTT write up of the game:

"Senior Blake Booher (Hurst, Texas) went seven innings on the mound for the Patriots and allowed only one unearned run off of six hits with five strikeouts. With the win, Booher improved to 4-0 on the year."

I have no idea what happened in the game against McM when he was pulled in the first inning after walking 2 batters. The fact that he came back so soon and went 7 innings shows that it was not an injury. It looks like Vilade did not like what he saw when Booher was pitching and just pulled him. All we can do is speculate but the good news for UTT is that he appears to be fine.

Perhaps it was just an off day - maybe something in his attitude and sent Vilade down the road he took... Glad no injury was the cause for his early departure...

[Ralph Turner]

The Definition of Regions is in the baseball handbook.

Administrative Region #3 includes these states:  (clockwise) VA, NC, SC, GA, FL. AL, MA, LA, AR, TN, KY, IN, MI, OH, WV.

Admin #4 is west of there.  #2 is NY, PA. #1 is DC, MD, DE, NJ, RI, CT, MA, ME, NH, VT.

Games amongst teams from these states are "in-region".

Mississippi College can play Rust as "in-region".

[BigPoppa]

Region question -

MC and LC are both physically located in the South region but play in the ASC which teams are predominantly located in the West region.  If MC played say Rust College, also located in Mississippi is that game considered in region for both one or none. Rust is an independent.  Can MC be eligible for consideration in both the South and West regions?  I would think not but it does present an interesting situation.

That is agreat question.  Here is what I think... If the ASC tourney winner is from Texas, they will go to the West regional.  If they are from outside of TX, they will go to the South.  The regional being in Oregon will really hurt the chances for a team other than the tourney winner getting into a regional.  I believe the SCIAC will get 2 teams in, the NWC will send 2 teams, Chapman will get in no matter what (based on reputation and location).  That leaves one spot open.  Would the NCAA consider another Texas school?  Maybe, maybe not.  Would the NCAA consider a team from the mid-west getting shipped to Oregon?  Who knows.  It is going to take 4 flights to fill the West regional.  No matter how you look at it, it's going to be very expensive.

My picks for the Western Regional are (in no order)

McMurry, Chapman, Cal Lu, Pomona-Pitzer, Pacific Lutheran, Linfield

2 SCIAC teams? WOW!!!! Bold pick. I would take a second ASC Team over a second SCIAC.

[Jack Parkman]

Region question -

MC and LC are both physically located in the South region but play in the ASC which teams are predominantly located in the West region.  If MC played say Rust College, also located in Mississippi is that game considered in region for both one or none. Rust is an independent.  Can MC be eligible for consideration in both the South and West regions?  I would think not but it does present an interesting situation.

That is agreat question.  Here is what I think... If the ASC tourney winner is from Texas, they will go to the West regional.  If they are from outside of TX, they will go to the South.  The regional being in Oregon will really hurt the chances for a team other than the tourney winner getting into a regional.  I believe the SCIAC will get 2 teams in, the NWC will send 2 teams, Chapman will get in no matter what (based on reputation and location).  That leaves one spot open.  Would the NCAA consider another Texas school?  Maybe, maybe not.  Would the NCAA consider a team from the mid-west getting shipped to Oregon?  Who knows.  It is going to take 4 flights to fill the West regional.  No matter how you look at it, it's going to be very expensive.

My picks for the Western Regional are (in no order)

McMurry, Chapman, Cal Lu, Pomona-Pitzer, Pacific Lutheran, Linfield

2 SCIAC teams? WOW!!!! Bold pick. I would take a second ASC Team over a second SCIAC.

Believe me, the only reason I [pick it that way is because of the flight cost.  I would assume it's much cheaper to fly from LAX to Portland, than it would be to fly a TX school up there.  It's that, and I think the 2nd place team in the SCIAC will finish with under 10 losses.

[TexasBB]

I would hate to think that pool picks are determined by financial considerations rather than the most deserving team. If an ASC team is has a better record in the region but is passed over due to finances then it throws the entire credibility of of the NCAA selection process into question. I personally don't think the NCAA would allow that to occur.

[Jack Parkman]

I would hate to think that pool picks are determined by financial considerations rather than the most deserving team. If an ASC team is has a better record in the region but is passed over due to finances then it throws the entire credibility of of the NCAA selection process into question. I personally don't think the NCAA would allow that to occur.

I do not disagree with what you are saying one bit.  However, the NCAA will save a buck wherever they can.  Is it fair? No.  Does it happen in every sport? You bet it does.
Here is a break down of the SCIAC and the CA Independents and where they rank as far as in-region games so far.

1. Cal Lutheran  8-1  .888 win%
2. Pomona         6-1  .857 win%
3. Redlands       6-2  .750 win%
4. Claremont     5-2  .714 win%
5. Chapman      7-4  .636 win%
6. Whittier        5-3  .625 win%
7. Occidental    8-7  .533 win%
8. La Verne      3-3  .500 win%
9. East Bay      5-7  .417 win%
10. Cal Tech    0-7  .000 win%

Almost all of these will change this weekend.  I will do my best to keep them updated to share and compare.

[RSSmith]

Region question -

MC and LC are both physically located in the South region but play in the ASC which teams are predominantly located in the West region.  If MC played say Rust College, also located in Mississippi is that game considered in region for both one or none. Rust is an independent.  Can MC be eligible for consideration in both the South and West regions?  I would think not but it does present an interesting situation.

That is agreat question.  Here is what I think... If the ASC tourney winner is from Texas, they will go to the West regional.  If they are from outside of TX, they will go to the South.  The regional being in Oregon will really hurt the chances for a team other than the tourney winner getting into a regional.  I believe the SCIAC will get 2 teams in, the NWC will send 2 teams, Chapman will get in no matter what (based on reputation and location).  That leaves one spot open.  Would the NCAA consider another Texas school?  Maybe, maybe not.  Would the NCAA consider a team from the mid-west getting shipped to Oregon?  Who knows.  It is going to take 4 flights to fill the West regional.  No matter how you look at it, it's going to be very expensive.

My picks for the Western Regional are (in no order)

McMurry, Chapman, Cal Lu, Pomona-Pitzer, Pacific Lutheran, Linfield

2 SCIAC teams? WOW!!!! Bold pick. I would take a second ASC Team over a second SCIAC.

Believe me, the only reason I [pick it that way is because of the flight cost.  I would assume it's much cheaper to fly from LAX to Portland, than it would be to fly a TX school up there.  It's that, and I think the 2nd place team in the SCIAC will finish with under 10 losses.

On American Airlines, it's $30 cheaper to fly to Portland from LA than from Dallas.

[Dawgsdad]

National Player of the Week honors goes to a ASC Player

www.d3baseball.com

www.thecollegebaseballblog.com/2009/03/05/ncbwa-division-3-players-of-the-week/

[dp643]

TLU 3 Concordia 2


Nice win for TLU to start the year. Staggs and Coburn both pitch great games with a couple of errors for both teams. Coburn struck out 11 I think.

Tom Williams and Macklin looked held in check today (which is not an easy feat).

[Just_Some_Guy]

TLU 3 Concordia 2


Nice win for TLU to start the year. Staggs and Coburn both pitch great games with a couple of errors for both teams. Coburn struck out 11 I think.

Tom Williams and Macklin looked held in check today (which is not an easy feat).

Interesting that neither coach seemed to roll out who I envision their #1's to be on the bump.  A little strategical ploy perhaps? That's a big win for TLU on the road.

Especially since TLU got a complete game out of Staggs who started the season hot, but had been pretty marginal his last two start,.

Any predictions for tomorrow? I think we have to give CTX the advantage with Johnson on the bump, even if he goes against Orosey. The 3rd game a toss up?

Must've been nice to see a solid pitching match-up after the vast majority of the games in the ASC have been slugfests this year.

So, here's an interesting thought considering neither team threw their #1 on Friday. You have to assume CTX puts Johnson on the bump knowing they need to even the series. If you're Burnett do you give Hull the ball and tell him to go compete like he did his freshman year. He has had (in the past) the stuff to give Johnson a run. Assuming Orosey can beat Whitley you can give Hull a chance to go get you one, and if he doesn't it's not the end of the world.

Just something to chew on.

How are the other games shaping up tonight?

JSG

And P.S. Congrats Papa Macklin, Jeremy's was on another planet the last weekend and very much deserved hitter of the week (Nationally and in the ASC awards).

[UTEx]

Schreiner wins game #1 against Howard Payne, 9-2.

Very nice outing by Ayala with seven strong innings.  Wehmeyer gets the save with two scoreless innings.  Sanchez had a big game going 4 for 4 with 3 RBI.

[TheBuzz]

Anyone have an update on the LETU-MC game?

[Dawgsdad]

An excellent game between TLU and CTX for sure. Both pitchers were stellar; Coburn did have 11 k's to Staggs 5. Staggs allowed 1 walk as well as a hit batsman. It was a pitching dual for sure.

Macklin, Williams, indeed were held in check, but can this last long? I don't think Williams hit anything out of the infield today - most were towering popups or he struck out. Staggs did hit him after having him 0-2 - oh well.  Macklin struck out once grounded into a double play and had one hard hit ball to near dead center but the wind kept it in. Hit a similar ball to right but it too was caught. More opportunity tommorrow...

CTX's Johnson is going to be tough tomorrow; he generally pitches the short game as CTX figures he can go the entire way... Orosey or Hull - good question. A freshman or a junior, one school of thought may be to go with youth since it may not be as affected by the pressure of such a match up. On the other hand the pressure could rattle a young pitcher... it's going to be fun no matter who it is...

I'm going out on a limb tonight and state the following - look for a similar type game tomorrow; at least in the first game... I know that there are a few (3 to 4) of the hitters on TLU that have seen the sort of stuff Johnson has and I am expecting that they will have an impact tomorrow.  Not much of a prediction I know but perhaps a safe one. I truly don't believe we're going to see a slugfest but a hard faught series which could go either way.  I will keep it at that...

JSC, thanks!!  Don't be surprised to see him on another plantary trip soon... He truly gets better the warmer it is and the better the pitching is - don't ask me why, it just happens...

[Blackcat00]

I thought both team played really well. Concordia shot themselves in the foot with that tag out at third with one out. The umpiring was pretty terrible on both ends. The biggest was the groundball down the line that clearly went over first. Williams was held in check, nothing out of the infield but he did hit a 500 ft foul. Johnson will have his usual 14 to 15ks but im not sure on the third game as Concordia hasnt done much on the third game. Great first game.

[Dawgsdad]

I thought both team played really well. Concordia shot themselves in the foot with that tag out at third with one out. The umpiring was pretty terrible on both ends. The biggest was the groundball down the line that clearly went over first. Williams was held in check, nothing out of the infield but he did hit a 500 ft foul. Johnson will have his usual 14 to 15ks but im not sure on the third game as Concordia hasnt done much on the third game. Great first game.

Blackcat00,

That base running error was huge - nice to have big third baseman    Another stat of importance in a close game LOB CTX 8 TLU 5....

http://www.tlu.edu/i/athletics/baseball/stats/2009/tlctxbb1.htm