BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[old scot]

I would have to say coach P can live with the weekend split, although he is probably not happy with it. We'll have to see if he can adapt to the low scoring offense(small ball) versus the 3 run homer he has been used to in the past.

I would have to say the Scots need to win the NCAC auto bid to reach the regionals this year. Hopefully, the Frosh grow as the year progresses and peak at playoff time. Thus far, the pitching has been adequate and the O needs to catch up and support the arms.

[old scot]

Info from another site states that Wabash pulled the "Bull Durham" rainout on Witt.

The sprinkler system was left on overnight and reduced the field to a skating rink. The worst part was Witt made the trip to Wabash before the DH was cancelled. Bad form Wabash!!!!!!!!

[macdade77]

Old Scot,
The new NCAC scheduling format require each team to play 16 league games. If a team can  split on the road and go at least 6-2 at home, then a 10-6 record should get them in the conference tourney. The Scots pitching has been solid this year. The problem has been situational hitting. We start 5 freshman who have shown improvement at the plate. I would venture a guess that Woo has stranded more RISP than almost any team in D3. We are taking way too many first pitch fastballs then seeing off speed stuff the rest of the count. However, this team is slowly making progress. And remember, it's more important to be playing well in May than April!!!

[forheavendial4999]

Has the pitching been good compared to the old standards, or the new normal with the bat changes?

At the last NCAA update (3/27), Wooster was 121st in ERA. They're 214th in runs per game, so you're right that the offense is more of a problem. But I would hesitate to say the pitching has been particularly good, even outside of the 17-run game Oshkosh had.

Looks like a wide open year in the NCAC.

[old scot]

MCDadde,
       I know where you are comimng from. Woo is putting the frosh on the field and it is like "sink or swim." Hopefully they can can rise to the challenge. They will only get better with time.
That being stated, Woo is a national program. The NCAC tourney bid should be a given and a strong pool C if they fail to win the auto bid.I don't think that will happen this year.( thus far performance) Pettorini expects the "standard to remain the same" no matter who is on the field.
This team has a chance to grow. I hope they do.

[macdade77]

Musky at Woo scheduled today for 4:00 has been postponed. No make-up date has been set . Woo is at B-W Thursday, at Allegheny for 2 on Saturday and then home Sunday for 2 against Hiram. I predict that the Scots will win 4 out of those 5 games. Any takers!!!!

[ScotsFan]

Musky at Woo scheduled today for 4:00 has been postponed. No make-up date has been set . Woo is at B-W Thursday, at Allegheny for 2 on Saturday and then home Sunday for 2 against Hiram. I predict that the Scots will win 4 out of those 5 games. Any takers!!!!

I'd be surprised if Woo gets their game in today with B-W.  There is still a lot of snow on the ground and the field is going to be slush even if the snow melts.  I could see the Scots splitting with 'Gheny and sweeping Hiram although a 4-0 weekend would be perfectly acceptable by me... 

[macdade77]

Scots Fan,
Today's game at B-W has been postponed. No word yet on a make-up date. Curiously, Woo's baseball home page indicates that Saturday's DH at Allegheny has also been postponed. I went to the Allegheny baseball home page and there is no mention of any postponement.

[wabashsid]

To clear up any mis-information (which seems to be plenty), Wabash players, coaches, and maintenance staff spent three hours attempting to get the field ready for Sunday's game versus Wittenberg. Coach Stevens from Wabash and Coach Lewis from Wittenberg were in contact during that time, with both hopeful that the field could be made playable. Two sections of the new sprinkler system at Wabash Ballpark activated overnight (one sprinkler head down the left field line and a group down the right field line). Wabash maintenance staff shut off the entire system as soon as the problem was discovered, but a sheet of ice had formed in right field that trapped water underneath.

The ice was totally removed about 30 minutes after the scheduled start, but both coaches and the umpires agreed that the wet conditions down the right field line made the game unplayable. Both Wittenberg and Wabash had open dates on April 17 and agreed to play the games that day.

Just thought the facts of the situation might be better than "Info from another site states that Wabash pulled the "Bull Durham" rainout on Witt."

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Current standings as of 04/04/11

http://www2.northcoast.org/sites/default/files/baseball/2010/Baseball%2004-04-2011.pdf

[old scot]

Scots win 3 of 4 over the weekend, taking 2 from the Obies and splitting with Witt. Woo stands at the top of the NCAC at 9-3  and 2nd is Witt at 7-3.

I'm a bit surprised that Woo threw their No. 1 and 2 pitchers against the Obies. I would think they would hold at least one back to face Witt??? (maybe both)

I would have to think Coach P is a little miffed with the split against Witt. Woo won game 1, 10-8 leading the whole game and broke out to a 4-0 lead in game 2 only to fall 9-8. Defensive lapses by the Scots let Witt back in the game.

Woo leads the NCAC in pitching with Witt No.2 Surprisingly, Allegheny leads in offense with Witt No.2 and the Scots at No.6. Still waiting for the young bats to back up the arms.

Scots are scheduled to play non conference games this week and will not return to NCAC play until next, with DH's against Denison and Allegheny.

[macdade77]

The Scots grabbed a 6-5 victory Wed. at W & J. Once again, Woo let a large lead slip away due to shoddy defensive play. In fact, 4/5 of W & J's runs were unearned. The team is swinging the bats better while the pitching has been consistent. Woo could be a sleeper team come tourney time if they can shore up the defense. Woo travels to B-W on Friday then hosts Case for two on Sunday.

Go Scots!
Expect Victory!

[forheavendial4999]

Wooster loses 8-3 to Denison.

Now there are 6 teams within 1 in the lost column. Wooster, OWU and Wittenberg have 4 losses, Denison, Wabash and Allegheny have 5.

Wooster           9-4   19-12
Ohio Wesleyan   8-4   17-12
Wittenberg      8-4   19-15
Denison           8-5   16-18
Wabash          7-5   16-20
Allegheny       4-5   12-13

Anyone know why McDowell only threw to 8 batters? I mean I know he struggled but he only allowed 1 run and he's your ace that pitched you to within a game of the championship 2 years ago.

[macdade77]

forheaven,
It's a mystery why Pettorini pulled McDowell. He gave up a run in the 1st on a bloop single but got out of the inning with a double play. He walked the lead off man in the 2nd who advanced to 2b on a throwing error by the 3b. Pettorini came running out of the dugout and made the call. No effort to even talk to the kid. Several Wooster parents were very upset with the hook. It seemed like the coach was deliberately trying to embarrass his Senior pitcher. Anyone who knows Woo baseball  knows that Coach P's on field handling of players and situations leaves a lot to be desired. McDowell has always got stronger as the came goes on.He certainly deserved better than what he got from his coach on Friday. There is a growing feeling among the team that Coach P has thrown his upperclassmen under the bus in order to prepare for the future! 

[forheavendial4999]

He's a weird one, that's for sure.

I thought maybe it was more an indication in lacking confidence that his offense could recover if McDowell gave up a few runs, but my goodness it's not like the rest of their pitching has been anything great either.

Very strange unless he was injured, which it sounds like you would know if he was.

In other news, Ohio Wesleyan sweeps Oberlin to go to 10-4 and lead the NCAC by percentage points going into their DH at Wittenberg that could be for the top seed. Wittenberg still has a DH with Hiram so you would assume they would be at 10-4 retroactively. Wooster is at Allegheny which split with Kenyon and is now 5-6, Wabash is at Kenyon.

With 7 losses it seems Denison would be out of it. Allegheny is probably out of it without a sweep against Wooster.

Any word when Wooster's game with Denison will be made up?