BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[mideastfan2]

If they win today (which I really hope they do!!!), then they can lose tomorrow, and they would still be in GAME 15, which is the winner-take-all Championship.

If they win today, then win tomorrow as well, they would be in a situation where they would be playing a Championship on Tuesday, and would have to lose TWICE.

Today's game is the BIG ONE.  If they win, they are automatically in the Championship, and get technically rest McDowell and Miller, and they will both be rady for Tuesday!!

[David Collinge]

Because of the way the schedule is set, it turns out that the only way to win the championship by winning only 4 games is to actually lose today's game! 

No, today's game is a virtual must-win game for Wooster.  The situation you're thinking of applies to Game 13, scheduled for tomorrow and matching the winner of this evening's game and one of the winners from today's day session. 

If Wooster wins today, they will play tomorrow against a team TBA (Shenandoah, if they win this afternoon, or Chapman if they survive, otherwise Carthage; it can't be Kean).  If they win that game, they'd be in the championship needing to win one of two games for the title.  That adds up to 5 wins (Carthage, Kean, St. Thomas, tomorrow's game, and the championship.)  If they lose that game, they still go to the championship, but lose the margin for error--they'd have to win a single winner-take-all game.  That's just four wins in toto--Carthage, Kean, St. Thomas, and the championship.

If the Scots lose today, they would play tomorrow in an elimination game against a team TBA (same opponent as above scenario.)  If they win that game, they'd have to win two games on Tuesday to win the title.  Again, that's 5 wins: Carthage, Kean, tomorrow's game, and twice on Tuesday. 

I'm very pessimistic that the Scots have the pitching to win three games in two days.  Both Spahn and Sain McDowell and Miller would be on short rest, and still they'd need a win from DeGrand or Trapuzzano or whoever, probably in pressure-packed Game 15.  A win today behind a "staff" pitching effort means that wins from the two aces add up to a title.  The only question would be, do you use McDowell on Monday in the "throwaway" game, or save him for Tuesday?  If you save him, you have both aces available for one winner-take-all game Tuesday--reminiscent of the Diamondbacks in Game 7 of 2001. 

Either way, I like Wooster's chances a lot if they win today, and I don't like them at all if they lose today.

[wooscotsfan]

Because of the way the schedule is set, it turns out that the only way to win the championship by winning only 4 games is to actually lose today's game! 

No, today's game is a virtual must-win game for Wooster.  The situation you're thinking of applies to Game 13, scheduled for tomorrow and matching the winner of this evening's game and one of the winners from today's day session. 

If Wooster wins today, they will play tomorrow against a team TBA (Shenandoah, if they win this afternoon, or Chapman if they survive, otherwise Carthage; it can't be Kean).  If they win that game, they'd be in the championship needing to win one of two games for the title.  That adds up to 5 wins (Carthage, Kean, St. Thomas, tomorrow's game, and the championship.)  If they lose that game, they still go to the championship, but lose the margin for error--they'd have to win a single winner-take-all game.  That's just four wins in toto--Carthage, Kean, St. Thomas, and the championship.

If the Scots lose today, they would play tomorrow in an elimination game against a team TBA (same opponent as above scenario.)  If they win that game, they'd have to win two games on Tuesday to win the title.  Again, that's 5 wins: Carthage, Kean, tomorrow's game, and twice on Tuesday. 

I'm very pessimistic that the Scots have the pitching to win three games in two days.  Both Spahn and Sain McDowell and Miller would be on short rest, and still they'd need a win from DeGrand or Trapuzzano or whoever, probably in pressure-packed Game 15.  A win today behind a "staff" pitching effort means that wins from the two aces add up to a title.  The only question would be, do you use McDowell on Monday in the "throwaway" game, or save him for Tuesday?  If you save him, you have both aces available for one winner-take-all game Tuesday--reminiscent of the Diamondbacks in Game 7 of 2001. 

Either way, I like Wooster's chances a lot if they win today, and I don't like them at all if they lose today.

David - good summary (k+) of the potential scenarios and I agree with you completely that Wooster's best chance for a championship is by winning today's game vs. St. Thomas...that was the implied point of my post yesterday about the rest of the pitching staff stepping up.

If Wooster wins today and gets to 3-0, they will play a 4th game on Monday (Game #13 on the bracket).  If they lose that 4th game and 3 teams are still in the tourney, Wooster would then get the bye into Game #15 on Tuesday to play for the championship.  See the bracket sheet where it states, "the winner of game #11 receives the bye into game #15".  With this scenario, Wooster is still playing 5 games total for the tourney.  It is still a good scenario for the Scots because "the staff" pitches game #3 with McDowell in game #4 and Miller in game #5 assuming they can go on short rest.  Of course, if Wooster finishes with a 5-0 record, they also win the title.

If Wooster loses today and is 2-1, they go to the loser's bracket and they could have to play a total of 6 games with no additional losses to win the tourney.  Scots are short on pitching and not likely to win their last 3 games in a row to clinch the championship in this scenario.  So, a win today vs. St. Thomas is critical for Wooster's title chances.

GO SCOTS!

[mideastfan2]

I'm very pessimistic that the Scots have the pitching to win three games in two days.  Both  McDowell and Miller would be on short rest, and still they'd need a win from DeGrand or Trapuzzano or whoever, probably in pressure-packed Game 15.  A win today behind a "staff" pitching effort means that wins from the two aces add up to a title.  The only question would be, do you use McDowell on Monday in the "throwaway" game, or save him for Tuesday?  If you save him, you have both aces available for one winner-take-all game Tuesday--reminiscent of the Diamondbacks in Game 7 of 2001. 

Either way, I like Wooster's chances a lot if they win today, and I don't like them at all if they lose today.

short rest won't hurt McDowell and Miller at all...see last weekend's Regional Results.  McDowell threw on Thurs and Sunday....and Miller threw on Saturday and Monday.

All four outings were extended innings of 8.1, 7, 9, and 9 innings respectively (and wins).

[wooscotsfan]

With Kean and Shenandoah eliminated earlier today, the 4 remaining teams are Wooster, St. Thomas, Carthage and Chapman.

Assuming that the tournament committee wants to avoid rematches in games tomorrow, the likely schedule will be Wooster vs. Chapman and St. Thomas vs. Carthage....regardless of the outcome of the Woo-St. Thomas game tonight.

[mideastfan2]

With Kean and Shenandoah eliminated earlier today, the 4 remaining teams are Wooster, St. Thomas, Carthage and Chapman.

Assuming that the tournament committee wants to avoid rematches in games tomorrow, the likely schedule will be Wooster vs. Chapman and St. Thomas vs. Carthage....regardless of the outcome of the Woo-St. Thomas game tonight.

+1  correct!

tonight's game will just determine the game times.

[David Collinge]

DeGrand is pitching beautifully tonight.  Because of his performance, if the Scots can hang on and win this game, it gives Pettorini the luxury of starting Trapuzzano tomorrow and saving both McDowell and Miller for Tuesday.  I half expected Trap to pitch in this game, but now I think it'll be bullpen guys if DeGrand needs help.

[fantastic50]

Has Wooster ever won an NCAA championship in any team sport?

[David Collinge]

Has Wooster ever won an NCAA championship in any team sport?

Men's golf, 1975.  If I remember correctly, the College hosted that event, resulting is a huge home-course advantage.  Greg Nye, long-time coach Bob Nye's son, was the top golfer on the squad and may have been the medalist in that event.

But that's it.

[mideastfan2]

Has Wooster ever won an NCAA championship in any team sport?

Men's golf, 1975.  If I remember correctly, the College hosted that event, resulting is a huge home-course advantage.  Greg Nye, long-time coach Bob Nye's son, was the top golfer on the squad and may have been the medalist in that event.

But that's it.

men's golf.....lol

the only Wooster trivia-bit that I've heard tonight from these horrible announcers.  Now, if you want to know anything about St. Thomas you're good to go with these dudes!!!

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 3  St. Thomas 0 

Terrific performance by Matt DeGrand who pitched 7 scoreless innings!   Justin McDowell works the last 2 innings to get the key win for Wooster and keep the Scots in the winners bracket.

Wooster will next play Chapman in the second game tomorrow afternoon.  Carthage and St. Thomas play in the first game.

GO SCOTS!

[mideastfan2]

I'm guessing Wooster will throw Trap and johnny whole staff tomorrow, and have the big guns both fueled and reay for Tuesday!!!

They are in the driver's seat big time now!

****  and they are my pick to win the tournament in the May Madness pool.  I've gotten 9 of 11 games correct so far!

[ScotsFan]

I'm guessing Wooster will throw Trap and johnny whole staff tomorrow, and have the big guns both fueled and reay for Tuesday!!!

They are in the driver's seat big time now!

****  and they are my pick to win the tournament in the May Madness pool.  I've gotten 9 of 11 games correct so far!

Holy ****!  I did not see this coming!  I have to tip my freaking hat to Matt DeGrand for coming up HUGE last night for the Scots!!!  I would have guessed that Trap was getting the start last night.  Assuming that Trap can still go, one has to assume he will be the starter and finish the game pitcher by committee in tomorrow's game... 

I'm assuming Trap is healthy enough to start that is.   

And that leaves fairly well rested AA's McDowell and Miller available for Tuesday!  It does appear that Woo is, most definitely, in the driver's seat...  8)

[wordsmith]

Good Luck to the Wooster Scots.

Am over here from the New England board and am a fan of Western New England as my son coaches there; also a big fan of Keene State as I live near their left field line.

However, as a native Ohioian, and a proud graduate of Doylestown High Crass of '72 I can easily root for the Scots. I stayed up late last night watching Wooster and liked what I saw.

My only concern would be the issue of mind-set and desperation...when a team is on the brink they sometimes play with nothing to lose, with an attitude of 'Hey what the heck, lets go out playing hard with our head up and have some fun.'

The position Wooster is in, while preferable, is emotionally the most challenging. They can, if not careful, ride into the Championship round with a "Hey we always got the next game' mindset. Coaching and team leaders setting the stage are IMO so critical today.

Soooo go Scots...Finish it

Word 8)

[old scot]

The Wooster pitching staff has been outstanding through the regional and the CWS so far. Great stuff.
The offense is swinging the bat well and Coach P has re-discovered the SAC bunt during the last two series.
The defense has also been uncharacteristically solid.
This is the perfect recipe for winning ball games.
Keep it up boys! Win it for all those who came before you, that built the foundation, building, and tradition of Wooster Baseball. Finish the penthouse that no other Wooster team has been able to do! Finish it, so we have a place to put the Walnut and Bronze! Most importantly, finish it for yourselves!