BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

The Scots should have the advantage with a deeper pitching staff (Witt's 3rd starter has a 5+ ERA), but the Scots have to catch the ball if they're going to win. 

This proved to be prophetic as the Scots rode the arm of freshman Trappuzzano and outscored the Tigers even though they again committed too many errors.  Actually it was Enos who had one bad inning in the field which led to Witt's scoring in the 6th.  Enos committed 4 of the Scot's 5 errors in the game and 3 of his miscues came in the 6th which led to Witt plating one unearned run in the inning.  The other Scot error came from back-up catcher Josh Keller replacing Boseiger in the 9th.  For the 3 game series, Enos led the Scots with 6 errors which all occurred in game 1 and game 3 as Wooster did not commit and error in game 2.  The fact that Wooster was errorless in game 2 was quite surprising because Samson got Witt to ground into something like 18 ground ball outs.

I agree with the sentiments of BASH6-4-3 in that I thought this problem of Wooster's shaky defense at times would right itself as the season wore on, but, as evidenced by ELEVEN errors in two games this weekend, it obviously hasn't.  The Scots cannot afford to be that sloppy in the field as the competion gets stronger throughout the post-season.  And that starts this Thursday against OWU.  Wooster cannot count on their bats to carry them through at this time of the year.  Pitching and defense are what win you championships.  Good pitching will win out most of the time against good hitting.  As Derek mentioned, Wooster has some outstanding depth in the pitching department as evidenced this weekend vs. Witt.  For all intents and purposes, that series should have been over on Saturday, but to Witt's credit, they jumped on the Scot's mental lapses and pushed Wooster to the brink of elimination. 

The problem for Wooster is, as BASH6-4-3 elluded to, it doesn't look like these defensive problems are going to go away and that, in the end, could be the demise of this talented ball club.  Wooster definately has the pitching to get it done.  The defense behind that pitching is what will cost Wooster in the end I'm afraid.  Just look at game 1.   Of Witt's 8 runs, FIVE were unearned and all 4 runs Witt scored in the ninth were unearned!  It's tough to win close games when you are giving your opponents extra outs and so many unearned runs and it's only going to get tougher now.

[ScotsFan]

The Wooster radio station, during their broadcast of yesterday's double header, mentioned a few times that a Wooster loss would end their season, that they couldn't see how Wooster would get a Pool C berth if they didn't at least make the league finals.

I disagree.  I can hardly see how Wooster could be left out, what with 14 available Pool C bids compared to last year's 3.  Surely at least one would be given to the Mideast, and I don't see anyone within range of Wooster's record or national ranking.  It would sure be nice to see those regional rankings...

I was also trying to figure the radio guy's logic in stating that the Scots needed to win this weekend to get a NCAA berth.  It would seem to me that they're pretty close to a lock.  But let's hope that they win today and next week and take any deciions like that out of the equation.

I too heard this and was surprised to hear them say that if Wooster were to have lost to Witt in the NCAC semis it would have cost them a Pool C bid.  They were ranked in the top 5 all season long and were #1 for a good portion of the season.  If they weren't a lock for a Pool C bid, especially given the expanded field this year,  then something is drastically wrong with the selection committee.  Although, nothing the NCAA does that is questionable is really surprising!

I had posed this question earlier, but now that OWU and Wooster have advanced to the conference finals, do both teams warrant getting a bid?  As I stated above, Wooster has to be as close to a lock now that there could be to gaining an at large bid should they lose to the Bishops.  But, if OWU were to lose, do they get in?  My feelings are that they should get in despite not fairing well against the OAC.  Right now, the OAC has two candidates as well in OTT and Marietta.  Should OTT get the automaic from the OAC, Marietta would be hard to keep out, however, it Marietta wins the automatic, a Pool C for the OAC would be very much up in the air IMO.

BTW, the regional rankings are supposed to be released May 4th per the NCAA website.  Here is the quote from their website:

INDIANAPOLIS -- Technical difficulties will prevent the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee from publishing the regional rankings for April 27. The first published ranking is now scheduled for Thursday, May 4.

[Ralph Turner]

Scotsfan,

Iwill start analyzing the Pool C contenders after the regional rankings.

Please join me on the Pool C board.

[imderekpoe]

RIP Derek Poe.

I have decided to lay to rest the 'imderekpoe' user name and go back to my original 'cmhscots'.  (I guess I just got tire of being referred to as Derek!)

For anyone who cares (and I can't imagine who that would be!), I use 'imderekpoe' on the the messageboard for the english rock group Muse.  'imderekpoe' is an anagram for 'pere d'emiko' which is french for Emiko's Dad.  My daughter uses 'emiko45' on that messageboard, and it seemed appropriate based on some anagram-related stuff going on there at the time that I set it up.

Mike

[woosterbooster]

Welcome aboard, Mike! :-)

Sorry about calling you Derek, but addressing you as imderekpoe sounded silly and required lots of typing.  Maybe you should choose an interim handle such as iwasntreallyderekpoeitwasactuallysortofananagram. :-)

Jack

[imderekpoe]

Sorry about calling you Derek, but addressing you as imderekpoe sounded silly and required lots of typing. Maybe you should choose an interim handle such as iwasntreallyderekpoeitwasactuallysortofananagram. :-)

Well, I certainly don't blame you for calling me 'Derek'! 

Back to baseball...
According to Wittenberg's website, Game 1 is at 6:00 pm on Thursday and Game 2 is at 2:00 pm on Friday.  Game 3, if necessary will be 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2. 

[woosterbooster]

Ok, I remember that format from two years ago when I last made the trip.  It leaves you with trying to figure out what to do in Springfield on Friday morning until game time.

[David Collinge]

I feel a lot better now about not understanding the "imderekpoe" reference.     I am far too unhip to spot homages to English rock bands, but airport identifiers are a sub-specialty of mine.   

Here's a quote from today's Daily Record (from an article that has already received a comment on the DR's website by our own Wooster Booster, BTW):

With 36 victories and an excellent in-region record (26-3), it's almost inconceivable for the No. 1-ranked Scots to be left out even if they fall in their best-of-three series with OWU.

"I think we're in now," Wooster coach Tim Pettorini said. "I told our kids that today, but we know we've got to beat Wesleyan to get the No. 1 seed." [emphasis added]

Not to mention the conference championship.   

[Li'l Giant]

'imderekpoe' is an anagram for 'pere d'emiko' which is french for Emiko's Dad.  My daughter uses 'emiko45' on that messageboard, and it seemed appropriate based on some anagram-related stuff going on there at the time that I set it up

I need some aspirin....

[David Collinge]

The new ABCA poll is out.

Wooster is #2, behind the College of New Jersey.  It's a good week to be a "The College Of." 
Ohio Wesleyan in the "also receiving votes" category.

Otterbein is at #22, Marietta is at #26.

Other area schools that may show up in Terre Haute include
#12 Manchester
#16 Aurora
ARV WashU.

[woosterbooster]

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam might be moved to the Mideast Regional?  Huh.  Besides, I'd thought they were DII... 

I know, I know, they were the ARVN, but I took some poetic license.

[BigPoppa]

I agree that Wooster is in regardless, but one thing that is overlooked is the fact the rankings we talk about are not the NCAA rankings, they are the ABCA's rankings. Whether or not the NCAA's are close to that is anyone's guess. I guess we will find out tomorrow(maybe).

I have always had a soft spot for Wooster as we had a few battles during my playing days... including a Spring Break brawl in Panama City, Fl to open the 1995 season.

[BASH6-4-3]

I think we are all in agreement Wooster is in the next round regardless of the outcome the next 2 days.  I was hoping that OWU would also be in with a strong showing this week even if they lose the conference title but unfortunately I think the OAC will have the final say.  Otterbein, MT. Union, Marietta and Heidelberg all have good resumes and they are collectively undefeated against OWU.  Their top 4 conference tourney is next weekend.
In short, OWU better take 2/3 from Wooster.

[ScotsFan]

I was hoping that OWU would also be in with a strong showing this week even if they lose the conference title but unfortunately I think the OAC will have the final say. Otterbein, MT. Union, Marietta and Heidelberg all have good resumes and they are collectively undefeated against OWU. Their top 4 conference tourney is next weekend.
In short, OWU better take 2/3 from Wooster.

I agree.  OWU has had a nice season, and with the expanded field, they have a legitamate claim for a Pool C,  but their record vs. the OAC could come back to bite them in the end if they don't take the automatic bid over the next 2 days.  I'd like to see the NCAC get 2 teams in, but, at the same time, I really don't want Wooster to lose their chance at being the #1 seed in the regional which would probably happen if Wooster were to lose the series to OWU. 

There is a definate advantage to garnering the #1 seed in the regional.  According to an article in The Daily Record a few days ago, the way the bracket is set up, the #1 seed would play it's first game against a team that had already played one game earlier in the 1st day.  And the winner of that game would then have an off day the next day.  So, as much as I would like to see OWU in the national tournament, I have to admit the only way I would like to see it happen is by them getting a Pool C, which right now, doesn't seem too likely.

[David Collinge]

First NCAA regional rankings are out. (Link here)

The Mideast rankings are as follows:
1. Wooster (29-3 reg., 36-7 overall)
2. Marietta (18-3, 26-8)
3. Manchester (19-4, 28-7)
4. Otterbein (17-7, 22-13)
5. Washington & Jefferson (19-8, 25-9)
6. Grove City (20-8, 24-10)
7. Adrian (18-6, 24-12)

That doesn't bode well for OWU's Pool C chances.