BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[woosterbooster]

Wooster split a doubleheader with St. Thomas, dropping the opener 7-2 but winning game two, 4-2.  The Scots are now 9-2.

[woosterbooster]

The Oberlin website, surprisingly because it's rarely up to date on results, reveals that the Yeoman are 3-0 on the season, having swept a series from Notre Dame of Ohio.  They now leave for Florida where they'll jump right into a four-game league series against Wooster.  Maybe, for a change, they'll make it interesting against the Scots, but I'm not counting on it.

[wally_wabash]

Wabash's game tomorrow vs. Depauw has been postponed.  No makeup date has been scheduled as of yet.  I'm not so sure it's a great idea to reschedule the game at this point.  With the conference season weekend four-gamers starting April 1, the only time to squeeze Depauw in would be in the middle of the week.  With the conference games stretching the pitching out so thin as it is, I have my doubts as to how smart it is for Wabash to try and work this one in (the best day would be sometime during the week between the Earlham and Witt series...Wabash usually handles Earlham pretty easily and could conceivably hold out one of their top starters for the Depauw game who could then be ready to go again on the Sunday of the Witt series).  We'll see what happens. 

Wabash is still scheduled to play host to Heidelberg this weekend, but I wouldn't bank on that series happening either right now. 

Gotta love midwest spring baseball weather! 

[ScotsFan]

Wooster loses an ugly one yesterday to Sewanee 10-5.  The Tigers were only 5-9 on the season before beating Wooster yesterday and in their writeup, their coach described the win as, "...arguably the biggest win in Sewanee baseball history."  Wooster has now lost 2 out of their last 3 games and now faces New England College today.  So far this season, Wooster's pitching, which was supposed to be their strength, has let them down.

[ScotsFan]

I have not heard any results from the Wooster-New England game on Wednesday, but Wooster did manage to sweep the 1st of two double-headers from Oberlin yesterday.  According to the Oberlin web-site, John Oliver pitched a no-hitter in a 6-0 win in game one.  And in game two, Wooster belted 4 homers en route to a 17-6 win.  The Scots finish up their Florida trip today with another double header with the Yeomen.  Wooster then has back to back home dates slated for next Wednesday and Thursday against B-WC and Musky respectively.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster won that game against New England College 15-1.  I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing the games next Wednesday and Thursday, but it seems more like winter now than it did in January.  Gonna be ugly baseball watching weather.  And it'll probably be worse up in Meadville next weekend.

[ScotsFan]

WB,

According to the forecast, it's looking like we could be in for some nice weather for the Scot's home opener on Wed.  Highs in the mid-50's  and partly cloudy and it gets even better on Thurs. with highs in the 60's  !!!

As for the weather in Meadville, I don't think  it really matters what time of year it is there.   Just one question, is it ever nice there???  

[woosterbooster]

The forecast for Wednesday and Thursday has improved, and I'm really looking forward to getting out there.  As a matter of fact, it's nice enough today that I'm planning on checking out the Wooster High School opener at 4:30 PM against Cloverleaf.

[BASH6-4-3]

FYI:  Wabash College announces today that Coach Tom Flynn is resigning at the end of the season.  Asst. Coach Cory Stevens is named new head coach effective July 1.

[ScotsFan]

Wooster's last loss seems to have woken a sleeping giant.  Since that loss to Sewanee, Wooster has won 7 in a row and have outscored their opponents by an average of 13-2 per game over the win streak.  It looks like the pitching staff is really settling in as well.  Wooster's hurlers have only allowed one earned run over the past 2 games.  All 3 of BW's runs were unearned.  And Musky came into yesterday's game with Wooster averaging over 11 runs per game and Wooster held them to just one. 

Now its on to Meadville, or shoud I say Mudville.  The Gators are the closest thing to a rivavlry for the Scots in the NCAC east, but Wooster has dominated the series of late going 13-3 over the past 16 games against Allegheny.  The Gators struggled during their trip to the desert and are coming into this 4 game series with only a 3-10 record.  Still, the Scots can't afford to overlook the Gators this weekend.  It very easily could be a long weekend for the Gators.  They are only batting .220 as a team compared to Wooster's .380.  Also, opponents are only batting .249 against Wooster's pitching staff, which doesn't bode well for a team struggling to find offense.  I'd say the Scots should definately be thinking sweep, but anything less than taking 3 out of 4 would be a disappointment IMO.   

[formerd3db]

BASH6-4-3:

It appears that Wabash Baseball will be in good hands with Stevens as the new coach.  Continuity helps.  Just out of curiosity, though, what were the details as to Flynn's resignation?  You (or someone mentioned earlier) that he did so because his "family was moving to the San Francisco, CA area".  Did he take another coaching position there, or was it other family business reasons?  The Wabash athletic website including baseball doesn't give any details, at least none or any article that I could find.  Perhaps I was looking in the wrong area there.  Anyway, just curious and also to what your and other 'Basher's thoughts on all this are.  Thanks.

[BASH6-4-3]

former d3db:

My understanding is that Flynn is moving to the west coast for his wife's job.  No info on his future coaching situation.

As for the Stevens hiring I am excited that he may bring some new energy to the program and take it to the next level with the upper tier clubs in this conference.  People I have talked to are a little surprised an official search for a new coach did not take place but maybe our AD felt he had his man in C'ville all along.  It also has to be said that the current players definitely favored Stevens' promotion and the work being done for recruiting next year's freshman class was largely Steven's work - so the continuity card was definitely played.

[BASH6-4-3]

Kreds:

Are you still out there?  How are the Bishops looking?  Also, this Board needs a little non-Wooster/Wabash influence.

I was reading a post you made on the football board this week regarding your son's decision being a 2-sport athlete.  Sounds like his freshman year has been a learning experience and I inferred that he may be dropping baseball next season.  Has the jump from HS to college been larger in baseball than fball?  Or does he feel he needs to dedicate more time to football in order to get the playing time?  Just curious.

[kcreds]

BASH6-4-3:  OWU is playing well but had a setback against Otterbein. A team I wish the football team would play and start a rivalry with because they are so close. Jr. thought that he had a shot at playing right away because OWU had only a freshman catcher returning. He found out that once the team was set, he was on the outside looking in. He ended up 5th on the depth chart. By his comparison with the other catchers, all good by the way, he thought he would be 2nd or 3rd. My perspective is that he missed fall practice because of football and he came in behind. Coach Durant, former OSU catcher, changed Jr.'s catching style and as Jr. put it, he had to learn the position all over again. He has not been able to be with the team and has not received a uniform shirt. Obviously he is very disenchanted with baseball right now. It has, however, freed him up for spring football practice.  He has a legitimate shot at starting next year on defense so he is in fact going to focus all his attention on football and see how it goes. The football transition was easier for him but it also taught him a valuable lesson about effort. Time will tell and most posters probably have heard this story a thousand times so I apologize for making it 1001. Thanks for asking, it is therapuetic for me to post about it.   

[BASH6-4-3]

kcreds:
Thanks for the update and insight.
1000th or 1001th time its always worth rephrasing, especially when its first hand knowledge.  Unlike some fball posters, I'm ok with the "Jr." stories.