BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bufordscot]

Once again Wooster schedules a cupcake right before the Marietta game so they can rest their ace.  Wait, my names not Spence.  What's up with that?

[ScotsFan]

Once again Wooster schedules a cupcake right before the Marietta game so they can rest their ace.  Wait, my names not Spence.  What's up with that?

ROTFL!!! Nice!!! 

[woosterbooster]

Cupcake or schmuckcake, after that second doubleheader with Oberlin, Wooster has to drive 1200 miles back to Ohio from Florida.  Not only will their pitching staff be weary (not from the competition, but from throwing 28 innings in two days) but the whole squad will be.  Once again a major break for Marietta, who certainly had a hand in this scheduling somehow. 

[countyroad]

Is a new stadium/field for Wooster still in the plans?  I believe a few years ago it was mentioned as part of the long range plan along with a renovation of Timken Gym.  If I remember correctly the new stadium/field was not a priority.

Any new information from those "in the know?"

[ScotsFan]

Is a new stadium/field for Wooster still in the plans?  I believe a few years ago it was mentioned as part of the long range plan along with a renovation of Timken Gym.  If I remember correctly the new stadium/field was not a priority.

Any new information from those "in the know?"

I haven't heard anything new, but from what I remember, the new PEC was going to be extended to the east towards Art Murray Field and north of Papp.  If that is the case, I would think that relocating Art Murray Field would be a must to make room for parking for the new PEC and gym. 

Original plans were to close the golf course, I'm assuming to make room for new atheltic fields for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey as well as baseball, but those have been scrapped due to alumni raising hell. 

So, the last I heard was that they were going to do a little re-design of the course closing the first 2 holes and the driving range and re-locating them to the other side of Palmer St.   I'm assuming this would be where they would re-locate Art Murray field...

The Papp is getting lights and field turf this summer, so that would solve the problem of relocating soccer, lacrosse and field hockey fields.

And the last I heard, the renovations for the new PEC were to begin in 2010.  I'm not sure if that is still the target date or not.

[fantastic50]

Major renovations to the PE Center (including Timken Gym) and the Lowry Center (both of which date to the 1960s) are to be a part of a large project including construction of a new Campus Center.  The new building would potentially include a 200m indoor track, a large weight/fitness area, and an Olympic size swimming pool.  The building would likely be placed in between Lowry and the PEC, connecting the two.

Some preliminary architectural-type studies are still moving forward, despite the economic slowdown.  However, the next big step would be a major capital campaign (on the order of $50-$75 million, including all of the renovations) to fund this project.  This isn't really the time to be asking alumni or corporations for money, so there is no timetable at the moment.

However, such facilities are becoming an expectation at private colleges, not just for student-athletes, but for the student body as a whole, so I fully expect this project to move forward some time in the next decade.

[DelawareCityMan]

So with the weather turning just a little warmer these next couple of days and the team schedules all getting ready to board the buses for competition and sunshine, what say you hearld scribes as to who will finish 1-2 in the East and West, who'll come out of the Semi's and head to Springfield for the Championship........

Dang it, it's BASEBALL SEASON, so let's get after it a little.....

[BASH6-4-3]

DC Man - Dang right it's baseball season.  Thank God.  Winter gets a little deeper under my skin each year.

Here's my outlook for the 09 NCAC Season.

West- has become much more competitive the past few years with OWU, Denison, Witt & Wabash all capable of making it to the conference final 4.  I don't know what is back for the first 3 teams on this list but I do know that Wabash has more talent returning, especially on the mound than they have had in any season in the past 10.  I got to watch a little fall action and without a doubt they are the most talented team we have had in a long time.  Will this translate to more wins and a birth in the conference tournament?  Only time will tell.  It will mean that either OWU or Denison will be leap-frogged and I'm sure neither one will take that without a fight.  I'm optimistic that it can happen however this year as the LG's took 3 out of 4 from the Bishops last year and split with Denison so they are right there, they just need to be more consistent.

East - Wooster & whoever wants the consolation prize.  Wooster's proud program is at a cross-roads in my mind.  Their national power reputation I think is starting to erode by their late season swoons in the big games the past few years.  They can come back strong and make a statement in the tourney this year or they can continue their slide to very good team (ie sure bet for post-season) but just another team when it comes to the best 50 or so teams at the end of the year.

[DelawareCityMan]

BASH...Completely agree with the Winter sinking in a little deeper each year and I think you're right about Wooster starting to loose some of their luster each year.  OWU has beaten them 5 of their last 8 meetings, taking two Playoff series from them, yet the rest of the D-III world seems to think they are still the Golden Team.  OWU wins the NCAC for a 2nd year in a row in 2008 and as an In-Region League Champ, gets shipped off to the New York D-III Region, while Wooster remains In-Region with an "At-Large" bid...That made no sense at all.

The Scotts will probably not be challenged for the Division Title, though depending on  what happens with the Allegheny series in Florida they may have a little more pressure on them the last weekend of their League Season when they travel to Kenyon for 4 games.  I wouldn't be surprised though to see it again be an All Western Division, but as for who, my only sure bet would be that it won't include Earlham.

Wabash may have alot of returnees, but Dennison, Witt, and O.W.U. have alot of unknown Freshmen in their rosters.  The "unknowns" may play a big role in shaping the West this Spring...and it's going to be a complete "toss up" as to who'll make the Playoffs between the 4 remaining ball clubs.

[DelawareCityMan]

OH, and one other thing that I'm sure will enter into the Wesleyan situation....a few days before they started their workouts, the head coaching job was posted for a search, so that could really affect the recruiting process for them for future years.  Don't know if their new coach is in any trouble, but seems like an odd time to be saying we're going to start a search to replace you...

[BASH6-4-3]

Games played,....scores to report

Saturday in Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Southern 8
Wabash 2

Wabash 11
Huntingdon 7

Sundays games were snowed out .... ouch

Not a bad start against teams with 9 games under their belts and two months of outdoor practices.

[ScotsFan]

Well, in all the excitement of watching the Wooster basketball team punch their ticket to the NCAA's I overlooked that the baseballers got things going this past weekend.  They split a doubleheader with Case on Saturday in Chilicothe.  Wooster dropped a 2-0 decision in the season opener.  Barnes pitched well in taking the tough loss.  The Scots rebounded in game 2 winning 6-2 with Trap picking up the win allowing just on earned run.  Disappointing to not come away with a series sweep, but encouraging by how well the starters looked in both games. 

[old scot]

Spring is here, baseball is back.
Just previewed the Scot's schedule and stats thus far. D.H. split with Case ugh!!
D.H. split with the Berg, O.K.
So far the offensive stats, (B.A.) seem to be pretty impressive, although, there seems to be a lack of power with no homers thru the first 5 games. Maybe Woo will learn how to manufacture runs,
I don't think Woo will be as dominate as they usually are but, that could be a good thing. Playing and winning tight games during the season can only help them if they reach the post season.

[countyroad]

CoW swept a doubleheader yesterday beating Ohio Wesleyan 6-5 in game 1 and Charleston 19-5 in game two.  No stats available at this time.  I got both scores from the opponents web pages.  It would be nice to see the Scots get into a groove.

[countyroad]

Wooster pitcher Matt Barnes is in the hospital after doctors discovered blood clots in his arm.  He said to be feeling better now since the swelling and discolorization has faded.  There's no indication on how long he'll be out.  In response, Wooster is going to move Miller into the starting rotation and do bullpen by committee.  I wish Matt a speedy recovery.

All box scores have been posted to Wooster's website.
Wooster was off yesterday, but play Defiance today.