BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BigPoppa]

The 86 Ks has nothing to do with the bat. Still, that is a ton of ks for a program like Wooster.

Do you think it is a result of pitchers being more apt to throw inside or is it related to the players themselves?

[old scot]

Scots close out the Fla. trip with a Wed. game against Manchester and Thurs. with Wis. Oshkosh. Travel day Fri. and Sat DH at Wabash and Sun. DH at OWU.

I would assume they would go straight to Wabash from Fla. then OWU before returning to Wooster. I think that will test this team both physically and mentally.

[old scot]

The 86 Ks has nothing to do with the bat. Still, that is a ton of ks for a program like Wooster.

Do you think it is a result of pitchers being more apt to throw inside or is it related to the players themselves?

I would say both. Most of Wooster's power graduated last year and they are playing alot of Freshman. It looks like its taking sometime for them to adapt to the college game.
Van Horn is the most established returning player in terms of power. He has 0 HR but, has been HBP's 8 times in 37 AB's.

[BigPoppa]

HBPs are the stat to watch increase this year as more pitchers will throw inside with less fear of it leaving the park.

[forheavendial4999]

Wooster always has a lot of HBPs. Two of the top 4 single season totals all-time, plus a couple of individual "achievers" beyond that.

[forheavendial4999]

Wooster always has a lot of HBPs. Two of the top 4 single season totals all-time, plus a couple of individual "achievers" beyond that.

In other news (couldn't figure out how to edit), Ohio Wesleyan beat Heidelberg, 4-2. After a slow start, maybe OWU is showing what led d3baseball.com to tab them a contender in the league. Wittenberg also beat Heidelberg.

And Allegheny split with St. Olaf, winning behind Davis and falling 15-14 in a wholestaff game. The Gators are 7-3.

Looks like it might not be a one-team league this year.

[ScotsFan]

Well, now that Wooster's tremendous run to the national championhip game in baskeball has ended just short of Woo's first NC in any sport, I guess it's time to switch gears and start getting back into baseball mode!   

Wooster always has a lot of HBPs. Two of the top 4 single season totals all-time, plus a couple of individual "achievers" beyond that.

In other news (couldn't figure out how to edit), Ohio Wesleyan beat Heidelberg, 4-2. After a slow start, maybe OWU is showing what led d3baseball.com to tab them a contender in the league. Wittenberg also beat Heidelberg.

And Allegheny split with St. Olaf, winning behind Davis and falling 15-14 in a wholestaff game. The Gators are 7-3.

Looks like it might not be a one-team league this year.

I think you need to have a certain number of posts in order to be able to edit IIRC.

And you are definitely correct in your assumption that this won't be a one team league this year.  I think OWU, along with Allegheny, Wabash and even Witt could all play roles in who ends up as the regular season champs.  Is the NCAC Tournament just the top 4 teams again this year, because that will make for a fun race to see who ends up in Chillicothe again this season.

Looking at the GL Region as a whole and scores involving the best teams in the region, I'm wondering if the new bats are more of a factor or if it is just the quality pitching that seems to be abundant among the best teams in the regeion.  It seems the Berg's bats have gone relatively quiet of late as they haven't scored more than 4 runs in their last 5 games and are just 2-3 in that stretch.  But the Berg's pitching has been keeping them in every game.  Marietta's pitching may just be the best in the GL Region.  The Pios are scroring just enough runs while their pitching has been lights out!  Adrian is also one of the best teams in the region and they just went toe to toe with Marietta and Heide in their last 4 games going 2-2 while handing Marietta their only loss of the season to date.  And no team scored more than 3 runs in any of those four games.  Wooster's problem has been lack of offense so far this season, but much like Heide, the Scots' pitchers have been keeping them in every game as Wooster's pitchers have yielded 5 runs or less in 4 of Wooster's 6 losses.

The NCAC will be off and running in a big weekend of games as the first full slate of conference games is scheduled to kick off, weather permitting!     Wooster will be at Wabash to get their first look at the Lil Giants' new baseball field in a DH on Saturday and are at OWU for a DH on Sunday.  OWU is hosting Kenyon for a DH on Saturday.  Witt is hosting Allegheny for two on Saturday and then hit the road for a DH at Wabash on Sunday.  And Allegheny finishes up their weekend with a DH at Denison.  Rounding out the conference action this weekend, Hiram is at Denison for two on Saturday and at Kenyon for two on Sunday.  Oberlin doesn't kick off conference play until April 2nd when they travel to Wabash.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really looking forward to this new format.  I like not having divisions anymore and hopefully it will stay this way!  Oh and it looks like the weather is cooperating as usual as old man winter has returned to make things a bit chilly for anyone going out to watch some NCAC baseball this weekend as it looks like temps will be only in the upper 30's across the region...        

[forheavendial4999]

Well, now that Wooster's tremendous run to the national championhip game in baskeball has ended just short of Woo's first NC in any sport, I guess it's time to switch gears and start getting back into baseball mode!   

Wooster always has a lot of HBPs. Two of the top 4 single season totals all-time, plus a couple of individual "achievers" beyond that.

In other news (couldn't figure out how to edit), Ohio Wesleyan beat Heidelberg, 4-2. After a slow start, maybe OWU is showing what led d3baseball.com to tab them a contender in the league. Wittenberg also beat Heidelberg.

And Allegheny split with St. Olaf, winning behind Davis and falling 15-14 in a wholestaff game. The Gators are 7-3.

Looks like it might not be a one-team league this year.

Looking at the GL Region as a whole and scores involving the best teams in the region, I'm wondering if the new bats are more of a factor or if it is just the quality pitching that seems to be abundant among the best teams in the regeion.  It seems the Berg's bats have gone relatively quiet of late as they haven't scored more than 4 runs in their last 5 games and are just 2-3 in that stretch.  But the Berg's pitching has been keeping them in every game.  Marietta's pitching may just be the best in the GL Region.  The Pios are scroring just enough runs while their pitching has been lights out!  Adrian is also one of the best teams in the region and they just went toe to toe with Marietta and Heide in their last 4 games going 2-2 while handing Marietta their only loss of the season to date.  And no team scored more than 3 runs in any of those four games.  Wooster's problem has been lack of offense so far this season, but much like Heide, the Scots' pitchers have been keeping them in every game as Wooster's pitchers have yielded 5 runs or less in 4 of Wooster's 6 losses.

Bats are definitely making a huge difference. Home runs are way down. Giving up 5 runs or less doesn't really say that much anymore I don't think. You mentioned Marietta...they've scored less than 5 runs 7 times already. They were not a great but a pretty good offense last year and return most of their team. Christopher Newport has played 26 games and only allowed more than 5 runs 3 times all year and one of those it looks like they put in a down the line reliever in a non-competitive game. It'll be more clear when the first round of nationwide stats comes out, but it's pretty clear it's making a big difference.

And I think Adrian will end up with 30+ wins again. It'll be interesting to see if they can maintain their current level after Domschot and Partyka are gone, but those two give them a chance against just about anyone.

[old scot]

Witt and OWU take down Heidelberg. Denison dumps Marietta and Wooster seems to be struggeling early on. This should be a wide open race for the NCAC title.
Good luck  to all teams this weekend. Competition should be great

[OC_SID]

Just a little FYI:

In baseball, the NCAC, OAC, MIAA, etc. are part of the Mideast Region. There's no such thing as a Great Lakes region in baseball.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster, after getting thrashed by Oshkosh 17-1, leaves the south with an 8-7 record.  I was told that this is the highest number of losses that the Scots have accumulated down there in about 20 years.

Luckily, two of their wins were league games against Kenyon, which could turn out to be very important down the road.  Now comes the toughest, and most crucial, part of their schedule.  After today's game, they hit the road for Crawfordsville, a trip of 1127 miles.  They then play a league doubleheader on Saturday against Wabash followed by another of the same against OWU on Sunday.  Brutal.  As was said above, this will reveal much about what we have this season and where they might be able to go.

[ScotsFan]

Just a little FYI:

In baseball, the NCAC, OAC, MIAA, etc. are part of the Mideast Region. There's no such thing as a Great Lakes region in baseball.

Yes, I do know this.  As I noted in my post above, I still have hoops on the brain!    

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Bishops and Scots split DH on Sunday:

http://bishops.owu.edu/2010-11/ba0327.html

Second game was a 14 inning affair. I was there for the first and 7 innings of the second. It was nice to be watching baseball again.

[ScotsFan]

Bishops and Scots split DH on Sunday:

http://bishops.owu.edu/2010-11/ba0327.html

Second game was a 14 inning affair. I was there for the first and 7 innings of the second. It was nice to be watching baseball again.

Wooster also split with Wabash on Saturday going 2-2 on the weekend.  I think Wooster will take that coming off of a 1000+ mile bus ride back from Florida. 

Again, the story for the Scots was hitting.  Wooster was held to 3 runs or less in regulation in 3 of their 4 games last weekend.  The pitching was more than good enough to win all 4 games if the bats could have been there to back up the arms.

In other league action, Denison Swept Hiram on Saturday and split their DH with Allegheny to sit at 3-1 in the conference.  Allegheny was swept by Witt on Saturday and sit at 1-3 and Witt's DH at Wabash was PPD to April 17th so Witt is currently 2-0 in conference while Wabash is 1-1.  OWU also could only manage a split with Kenyon on Saturday and are 2-2 after the opening weekend in conference.  Kenyon finished off the weekend with a sweep of Hiram and now sit at 3-3 while Hiram dropped to 0-4.

Conference Standings after week 1:

Witt - 2-0
Denison - 3-1
Wooster - 4-2
Kenyon - 3-3
OWU - 2-2
Wabash - 1-1
Allegheny - 1-3
Hiram - 0-4
Oberlin - 0-0

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Thanks,
I was looking for the standings on the NCAC website but did not find them.