BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotsFan]

Muskingum did beat Wooster last season, so they can play them tough.  Their spring opponents were not top tier by any means.  They still have won 13 in a row.

Muskingum lost twice to Wooster last season.  The Scots played them at Wooster and won 16-1 and then the Scots beat the Muskies at Muskingum 6-2 in the regular season finale.

Yes, Wooster's spring opponents weren't top tier by any means, but they did include 3 teams ranked in the preseason poll.  And, they have won 15 in a row which is never an easy task no matter how weak the competition may be.  They have eclipsed their previous best start in school history by 4 games now!

[countyroad]

Wow, I am confused with the 2005 season.  Man I'm getting old.

[Spence]

Muskingum did beat Wooster last season, so they can play them tough.  Their spring opponents were not top tier by any means.  They still have won 13 in a row.

Muskingum lost twice to Wooster last season.  The Scots played them at Wooster and won 16-1 and then the Scots beat the Muskies at Muskingum 6-2 in the regular season finale.

Yes, Wooster's spring opponents weren't top tier by any means, but they did include 3 teams ranked in the preseason poll.  And, they have won 15 in a row which is never an easy task no matter how weak the competition may be.  They have eclipsed their previous best start in school history by 4 games now!

No doubt...it's unfortunate that Rowan and Manchester haven't been up to their recent standard, at least so far. I'm not sure that we'll ever really have a fix on how good a tournament team Wooster might be until the tournament, at least pitching-wise, because their top pitchers will be throwing against their divisional opponents and I don't really seen any of those being much of a challenge.

[woosterbooster]

because their top pitchers will be throwing against their divisional opponents and I don't really seen any of those being much of a challenge.

March 29 at Baldwin-Wallace 3:30
March 31 at Kenyon* (2) 1:00
April 1 at Kenyon* (2) 1:00
April 4 MARIETTA 4:00
April 6 OBERLIN* (2) 1:00
April 7 OBERLIN* (2) 1:00
April 11 at Kent State 3:00
April 12 at Otterbein 4:00
April 14 WABASH (2) 1:00
April 15 WABASH Noon
April 18 MUSKINGUM 4:00
April 19 at Heidelberg 4:00
April 21 at Hiram* (2) 1:00
April 22 at Hiram* (2) 1:00
April 24 OTTERBEIN 4:00
April 25 at Denison 7:00
May 1 at Ohio Northern 4:00
May 2 at John Carroll 4:00

I've been wondering how this will play out.  For instance, the game against Marietta sits in a soft spot between weak league foes Kenyon and Oberlin.  If the Kenyon series goes well and the staff is not pushed, some of the front-line pitching may get to work short innings against Marietta, especially with only Oberlin on the horizon.

Then there's a big gap of non-league games, if you include Wabash as such since they're western division.  Wooster should be able to use the top of their staff on the road against Kent State and Otterbein.  I'm hoping that they do, just to see how they stand up.  The second time around against Otterbein, at Wooster, might be a different story, coming on the heels of the four-game series at Hiram.

The other thing to consider is that the roles on the Wooster staff, outside of Samson and Trapazzano, are probably not yet set in stone.  Barnes and DeGrand have been the 3 and 4 starters so far, and have done very well, but I'd be surprised if Mark Miller, who's allowed only 2 hits in 14 relief innings, isn't given a chance to open a ballgame.

[Spence]

I thought about that too actually but I wasn't about to give anyone any help on the idea!

[ScotsFan]

Wooster is the new #1 team in the land for this weeks poll!  They jump from 15 to 1 in just one poll cycle.  As I said on the D3 Baseball Polls board, I am a bit shocked to see Wooster jump all the way to #1 even with their great start. 

Also of note, Marietta dropped down to #25 which is a bit unfair also IMO.  I still feel that they are a legit top 10 team by far and I definately don't see a team like Transy as being ranked ahead of them.  And Ott went from preseason #1 to out of the top 25 in one poll cycle.  The Cards were definitely a bit overrated, but to drop them completely out of the top 25 is a bit much.

Here's the link to the poll:

D3 Baseball Poll for March 26, 2007

[BASH6-4-3]

Congratulations to the Wooster Scots on their great start and recognition in the latest poll.  We all know it's early and a lot of baseball to be played, but the recognition is still a plus for this conference.

In the NCAC West Denison sweeps Wabash 4-0 over the weekend.  My feeling is that Denison probably isn't that far down from the last few years.  Their spring trip record was unimpressive but the schedule was pretty competitive.  Coach Craddock is very respected and has done a wail of a job with that program.  I look to see the Big Red right there to the end in conference play.

[ScotsFan]

Any news on whether or not the Scots were able to continue their win streak in their home opener today?  I'm down in David Collinge's old neck of the woods in Baton Rouge for the week visiting family and friends.  I'm making my first trip to New Orleans tomorrow!  Won't be able to take in all that New Orleans has to offer with twin 3 year olds and a 20 month old in tow, but I'll make the best of it! 8)

[Spence]

Heck they might still be playing.

It was 18-12 Wooster after 7, and a scant 3 and a half hours after the start.

Sunset is about a quarter till, so they may not have gotten 9 in.

Ugly performance from both teams it sounded like.

[woosterbooster]

Both websites have the final score up as 18-12.  I was up there at BW and lasted through 4 1/2 innings of little league level baseball in cold and windy weather.  It was probably ten degrees lower than here in balmy Wooster.

Wooster scored twice (I think) in the top of the first but then proceeded to make three errors in the bottom of the inning.  Quimby dropped the first batter's ground ball, picked it up in plenty of time, then dropped it again.  When that guy decided to steal second, nobody covered and Boesiger's throw went into center field.  The center fielder let it get away from him and the runner took third (error number two, and the second hitter is still at the plate). 

I don't remember the next sequence of events, but the Wooster first baseman, Steiner, booted an easy grounder sometime in that same inning.  He made another error in the second or third, dropping an easy throw from Bubba O'Donnell at second. In the bottom of the fourth, the left fielder Sankal charged and ran by a single allowing three runs to score.  Five errors in the four innings that I saw Wooster in the field.  Not to mention a few wild pitches.

They pounded the ball and scored a lot of runs but if they want to make a run deep into the tournament they really need to focus on the other half of the game.  It's become a major problem in the last few years and won't go away without some serious work.

[ScotsFan]

Thanks for the update WB.  I totally agree on your assessment about the Scots' fielding woes.  Of the 12 runs allowed by Wooster today, only 7 were earned!  I just don't get why Wooster can't figure out how to field a little better!  It's almost like they have the attitude that they will just outmash the opponent.  That's all well and good for getting through the regular season with a sparkling record and winning NCAC titles, but when it comes to tournament time, it will bite them in the arse like it has year in and year out.

[Gimme]

They will field, Wooster always plays great baseball.

[woosterbooster]

Wooster made a ridiculous 9 errors in this ballgame.  Poor Jeff Kaatz worked the 7th inning for the Scots and had this happen to him:

C. Kidd struck out, reached first on a passed ball.

N. Luken struck out, reached first on a passed ball; C. Kidd advanced to second.

R. Kreisher reached on an error by lf; N. Luken advanced to second; C. Kidd
advanced to third.

M. Bolte walked, RBI; R. Kreisher advanced to second; N.
Luken advanced to third; C. Kidd scored, unearned.

M. Brisky reached on a fielding error by 3b, advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b; M. Bolte
advanced to third; R. Kreisher scored, unearned; N. Luken scored, unearned.

S. Slater struck out, out at first c to 1b; M. Bolte scored, unearned.

B. Storesina struck out.

G. Breedlove grounded out to ss.

4 runs, 0 hits, 3 errors, 1 LOB.

There's really not much else to be said beyond that.

Except this.  Talk about restoring order in a mayhem-filled game.  Freshman pitcher Mark Miller worked the 8th and 9th and set down 6 in a row.  He struck out 3 and managed to even resurrect the defense during his tenure as no errors were made.  Miller has now worked 16 innings and allowed only 2 hits this season.  20 K's.  ERA of zero.

[Spence]

Both teams went scoreless in the last two frames...my question is how much of it was pitching and how much of it was that baseball is hard to play in the dark.

[daoustian]

Wooster Booster -- unrelated note, but check this out and let me know what you think:
http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=4491.4050