BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

Also, I called OAC commissioner Tim Gleason a few weeks ago to ask why the OAC does coaches polls in almost every sport, but not baseball.  He said he didn't know, but it was a good question and he would bring it up at the next meeting.  Nothing like causing some waves! 

[ScotsFan]

Does Bash have a lot back?  Looks like the coaches are pretty high on the LG.  I thought the poll shook out pretty much as expected.  Anyone surprised by anything?  I guess I was surprised by Bash, but only because I don't keep up with them in detail, not because I disagree.  Woo and OWU obvious top two, close call between Kenyon and Denison, Earlham and Hiram at the bottom...seems about right to me! 

Nothing real surprising here.  Wooster is no surprise being a unanimous #1.  I'm kind of surprised they recieved all 10 votes though.  Usually you don't see coaches voting for themselves.   And I agree that OWU is clearly the 2nd best team in the conference.  As for surprises, I agree with being mildly surprised to see Wabash in there at #3, but I too don't really know a whole lot about what all the Lil Giants have returning so, in reality, it may not be much of a surprise at all.  Personally, I think Denison has the potential to be the dark horse this year.  They have a TON coming back.  It's just a matter of whether or not they can get past all of the coaching drama that has been going on down in Granville last off-season.

[Dr. Acula]

Hopefully Denison has put that coaching stuff to bed because that can be a really nice program if they find some consistency at the top.

As always, it's going to be very interesting in the NCAC West.  That half of the league is a battle every weekend.  Anyone hear any rumors about what will happen when Earlham leaves?  Add another school?  Scrap the divisions?  It seems like a lot of you guys would like to see that happen for competitive purposes, but isn't the geography the main issue there?

[ScotsFan]

Anyone hear any rumors about what will happen when Earlham leaves?  Add another school?  Scrap the divisions?  It seems like a lot of you guys would like to see that happen for competitive purposes, but isn't the geography the main issue there?

No one is being added immediately that I've heard of.  Hopefully, that means that we can at least get a one year reprieve from those damn divisions! 

As for who will replace the EC, it's basically just rumors that I've heard so far.  Depauw seems to be the strongest rumor I've heard FWIW.

[BASH6-4-3]

Here's what Wabash has to say about themselves and their pre-season #3 tab by the coaches: http://www.wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=7802

Basically they have all but 2 starters back from last year's team that made the NCAC tourney and took Wooster to 3 games in the conference playoffs.  Problem is the 2 starters lost to graduation were two of the most prolific players in Wabash history - Matt Dodaro and Jake Thomas.

Here's the inside scoop I'm getting.  Last year's freshman class was special.  If they develop, then Wabash Baseball will continue its rise in respect and wins.  Been there before.. its not a guarantee players get better each year in D3 where other things sometimes take priority over working towards baseball greatness.  So we'll have to see.  But, the names I'm watching this spring are all sophs: Lares (leadoff hitter), Holm (1st/DH - 6'5 260 - massive power) and Swart (starting pitcher).  These three played a lot last year and were playing big roles by the end of the season.  It should be fun to see how it all plays out.

[BASH6-4-3]

Earlham leaving the NCAC has sparked a lot of discussion on the football board the past couple of months.  As Scots Fan mentioned - nobody appears to be immediately stepping in and the possible suitors are all educated guesses as far as anyone on these boards are concerned.  FWIW John Carroll and Washington and Jefferson have also been mentioned as replacements.

From a Wabash standpoint, DePauw would make the most sense to be added.  Could you imagine the strength of the western division in baseball then? WC/DPU, Den/OWU & Witt.  Would be carnage.  However, adding W&J to the east would maybe balance power a little better?

For now I'm with everyone else on this board however and would scrap the east/west divisions and play everybody in conference 3 games each without an Earlham.

[Dr. Acula]

DePauw would work well because it would be a simple one-for-one switch and they could chug along with the 2 divisions.

W&J is intriguing.  That would bolster the east and also be a nice addition for football.  And from W&J's standpoint, the NCAC is obviously an upgrade.  If they have any plans of making tournament/playoff runs (especially in football) they may need to strongly consider it.

From an NCAC standpoint JCU would be a nice fit.  They're competitive in almost every sport, but they wouldn't come in and dominate any of them.  Not sure why they'd want to leave the OAC though. 

Then again, maybe if the divisions take a hiatus after Earlham leaves the baseball coaches/AD's may decide they like playing everyone.  Who knows.  Interesting to debate on the baseball board when it's 20 degrees out though.

[OWU_Dad]

Hello Bash,

As of today have you heard the status of WC's opener at AIA on Sunday?

While driving through Xenia today I stopped by AIA park and was disappointed to see it was still covered in snow. I thought they would have made an effort to clear the field, but that certainly is not the case?

If the game goes on as scheduled, I plan on making the trip to Xenia...I'm desperate for baseball!

[Gramps]

Gramps here, Florida is less than a week away for us.  I feel the same as you about the start of the season.  As I look out the window at the snow, I'm thinking of the warm breezes of Florida and the sound of the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowds, and the smell of peanuts, and the comraderie of the other fans. The Berg's first game is next weds vs NC Wesleyan.  All plans are made and all information digested. All that's needed is for the umps to bellow:

PLAY-Y-Y-Y-Y   BALL-L-L-L-L-L

[BASH6-4-3]

OWU Dad - games in Xenia were cancelled.

[BASH6-4-3]

Gramps -
I love your enthusiasm!

I'm with you with the sights and smells of the game that still turn me on even as I am quickly approaching middle age (yikes).  Add to the list the smell of pine tar, sunflower seeds and freshly cut grass.  Add the sounds of dugout chatter, leather popping and umpire yelling "Steeeeeerike" on the first pitch of a ballgame as he points a finger at the visitor dugout.  All of these make my heart warm even when I look outside at the snow on the ground.

[Dr. Acula]

Kenyon's DH in Chillicothe was scratched too.  Apparently people aren't huge fans of running through snow drifts while tracking down a fly ball. 

A couple OAC squads open tomorrow down south (Cap, JCU).  I think Hiram opens as well, but don't quote me on that.

[fantastic50]

Wooster's schedule includes a line for the NCAC Tournament (at Chillicothe, OH, April 29 - May 1).  Is there a new format this year, replacing the two-weekend, four-team, best-of-three series format?

[DelawareCityMan]

Play Ball ALL!!!!  It's Spring Time in OHIO and the Temps are achieving a balmby 43 degrees....Hey, LET'S PLAY TWO!!!!!!

I believe that the NCAC Tournament IS changing it's format for this season and it's REALLY going to be interesting to see the shake-up in the league's Regular Season for next year.  I understand that teams will be playing all other 8 members and will do it playing a DH on Sat versus one team and another DH on Sun versus a different team.  I bet travel and schedule make up will be a VERY interesting discussion when the time comes....

[ScotsFan]

Play Ball ALL!!!!  It's Spring Time in OHIO and the Temps are achieving a balmby 43 degrees....Hey, LET'S PLAY TWO!!!!!!

I believe that the NCAC Tournament IS changing it's format for this season and it's REALLY going to be interesting to see the shake-up in the league's Regular Season for next year.  I understand that teams will be playing all other 8 members and will do it playing a DH on Sat versus one team and another DH on Sun versus a different team.  I bet travel and schedule make up will be a VERY interesting discussion when the time comes....

Who does the NCAC have running the show?  How hard is it to look at the OAC as a model to go by next year?  Instead, it seems like the NCAC has to make things as difficult as possible?!