BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[countyroad]

I really miss Miller and Karpen.   

Who knows, maybe this weekend is the turning point.  I was hoping the last two weekends would be just that however.

[RSSmith]

Very disappointing. 10 Seniors and not one leader. These guys need to take a hard look in the mirror.

At this rate. they'll be lucky to make the NCAC playoffs. NCAA regionals may be a dream. If they continue at this place they may as well just say home.

This is indeed very disappointing.  I guess the few seniors lost to graduation did make that much of a difference.  I mean, Pettorini was raving about how last year, they didn't have his best team from a talent perspective, but from a chemistry perspective they may have been one of the best.  I surely didn't think the loss of only a couple of seniors would disrupt that strong chemistry that this team had a year ago, but apparently it did just that.

I'm really at a loss for what it's going to take to get this team going.  If they don't figure it out in a hurry, it's going to be too late.  Hard to believe the #6 ranked team (way too high of a ranking IMO) in the country may not even qualify for ANY postseason play.  But that is the hard reality if they don't find a way to at least take 3 of 4 from Oberlin this weekend.

Wooster and Salisbury are in similar situations.  Fast start with high national rankings, then about three weeks ago they both started losing to teams that they should not lose to.  Now they find themselves in the position of having to win their conference tournies (Salisbury has already lost once in the CAC tourney) since their in-region records are not so stellar as to guarantee them Pool C bids.

[old scot]

COW up on the Obies after 3, 5-0. McDowell toeing the rubber for the Scots.

Live stats available on the Yoemen web site.

Scot win game 1, 7-0. McDowell with a 4 hit 10 strikeout shut out.

[old scot]

Scots win game 2, 11-0. Barnes goes the distance giving up 3 hits and striking out 10 for the shut out.
Obies played some shoddy D with 4 errors in the first games and 5 in the second.

We'll see if the Scots can gather some momentum from today, carry it into tomorrow and the remainder of the season.

[countyroad]

The Scots certainly did what they needed to do today.  Way to go.

The pitching they face tomorrow will be much tougher.  Lets hope they keep momentum going alright.

[countyroad]

Nice start for the Scots in game one for today; up 3-0 after their half of the first.

Matt DeGrand is pitching against Jack Dunn.

Live Stats available again.
http://www.sidearmstats.com/oberlin/baseball/index.htm

[old scot]

COW finds its bats in game 1, winning 18-4, while banging out 19 hits.

We'll see if they can finish off weekend sweep and take game 2.

[ScotsFan]

Game one goes the way of the Scots to the tune of 18-4.

Taking the first 3 games of this pivotal series, the Scots will at the very least finish the weekend tied with Oberlin at 8-4. 

Allegheny split with Kenyon yesterday so the Gators now have 3 conference losses.  Allegheny took game one in Gambier this afternoon so if the Gators win game 2 and the Scots can't finish off their sweep of Oberlin, Allegheny will find themselves alone atop the East heading into the last weekend of the season.  However, if Wooster can finish off the sweep of Oberlin and Kenyon can beat Allegheny, it would be Wooster all alone atop the East.

[countyroad]

Off to a good start in game 2 today.  5-0 heading into the bottom of the 1st thanks to a Van Horn grand slam.

[ScotsFan]

Allegheny took 3 of 4 from Kenyon as they swept the Lords this afternoon.

Wooster finishes off the big sweep of Oberlin winning game four 11-4.  Tyler Fugate gets the win for the Scots. Wooster and Allegheny are now tied atop the NCAC East heading into the final week of the season.

Looking ahead, you'd have to say advantage Wooster as they host Hiram who is just 1-11 in NCAC play while Allegheny hosts Oberlin.

Nice weekend for Wooster as they took care of business and came away with a great result in sweeping all 4 games against previously first place Oberlin.  And they not only swept all 4 games, but they did it VERY convincingly!  Maybe this team has finally woken up!

[old scot]

Scots get the job done over the weekend by pounding the Obies. It was nice to see the the hitters back up the pitching. Oberlin may be improved , but Woo showed them they have a ways to go.
Hope the Yoemen can rally against Allegheny to take 2nd place in the East.

Overall, I'm still not sold on the Scots being a regional power. Sure, they beat the best the OAC has to offer, but lost to middle of the road OAC teams. They have not shown they can dominate.
Regional rankings should be interesting (and difficult to put together) in the Mid East. Hopefully, this is a sign of Wooster's upward peak.

[ScotsFan]

Hope the Yoemen can rally against Allegheny to take 2nd place in the East.

After seeing how Wooster completely dominated Oberlin, I'm not too confident on the Yeomen overtaking Allegheny for 2nd place.  Oberlin needs to take 3 of 4 from the Gators just to force a tie for 2nd. 

Does anyone have any idea how the tie-breaker would work in that case?  I would assume Oberlin would win the tie-breaker if they were to take 3 of 4 from Allegheny, but I'm not certain.

[old scot]

Scots Fan,
       I have no clue on tie breakers. It was just wishfull thinking that the Obies could challenge for second place. You know, a feel good story, with the team setting records for wins and the coach in his last year.

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself thinking Woo will sweep Hiram. They have dropped games to lesser opponents this year. That being said, If COW and the Gators sweep the weekend series, who is first and second in the NCAC East? Woo and Allegheny would be tied and they split the season series.
Does the NCAC award first place to the team that has not won the conference the most recent?

[Dr. Acula]

I emailed the NCAC a few days ago to ask about tie breakers.  I will pass along what they tell me (if they respond).

[ScotsFan]

That being said, If COW and the Gators sweep the weekend series, who is first and second in the NCAC East? Woo and Allegheny would be tied and they split the season series.
Does the NCAC award first place to the team that has not won the conference the most recent?

This is just a guess, but I'm thinking the tie-breaker would go to either best wins or worst losses.  If it's best wins, Allegheny and Wooster cancel themselves out.  Then you would look to Oberlin in 3rd.  Wooster swept the Yeomen so it would depend on what Allegheny does this weekend.  If Allegheny couldn't sweep Oberlin, Wooster would win the conference in that tie breaker scenario.

If it goes by worst loss, Hiram would be the barometer.  Allegheny already swept Hiram so Wooster would also need a sweep to keep pace with Allegheny.  If Hiram managed to find a way to upset Wooster in one game, Allegheny would win the tie breaker in that scenario.

If both Wooster and Allegheny sweep their series with Hiram and Oberlin I really don't know how they would break the tie.  Kenyon is the only remaining team to use and the Lords managed to take a game from both Wooster and Allegheny.

Things could get interesting if Wooster and Gheny both sweep this weekend...