BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[old scot]

I'm not familiar with the history of the NCAC baseball East/West divisions. Was the conference always divided in this fashion?

I'm just throwing this out there for some opinions. I propose all 10 teams play a 2 games series against each other and then taking the top 4 teams for the tourney. I think that would give a better sampling of the strength of the conference, plus make the season more meaningful. Example: Woo sweeps 4 game series from Allegheny and Kenyon, virtually assuring them of the top spot in the East while 3 teams in the West are still battling for playoff position.
I know the travel may be an issue but, I would like to see more competitive baseball throughout the season.

[woosterbooster]

It hasn't been that long since the split into two divisions.  I'm sure somebody knows exactly, but I'd say somewhere between 7 and 10 years?  At first, after the split, there were three-game intra-division series, now it's four.  And, I'm pretty sure that you're correct, the split was done for travel purposes.  When the split occured, Allegheny's program was strong, so the east was always a two-team race.  Now, with them falling way off, the east is pretty horrible and certainly not competitive for the first spot.

[ScotsFan]

Kenyon's program seems to be improving.  At least they are much improved from the days when Wooster and Allegheny dominated the East.  Last weekend, that Saturday DH could have gone either way.  Wooster just managed a couple more timely hits than the Lords did.  And on Sunday, the lack of depth shown in a big way for Kenyon.

Personally, I would rather see something like old scot described where every team played 2 game sets like they do in the OAC.  Rotate the home and away season by season like in football.  I just think the 4 game series are too predictable.  The other teams in the division might give Wooster one or two close games, but then Wooster's depth kicks in and they ususally end up with blowouts on Sunday.  I think this would be very benificial to a team like Wooster to prepare them better for post-season play as well.  They would be seeing better pitching from the entire conference as opposed to a couple of Kenyon's or Allegheny's best and that's about it.  But, alas.  This appears to be what we are stuck with...

[Jim Dixon]

Young baseball coach at Denison University, coaching players he played with,
has the team winning again.

1. in the school paper this week:  http://tinyurl.com/2laox6

2. and earlier in the Newark paper:  http://tinyurl.com/2uysek

[old scot]

Scotsfan, I agree. Denison seems to have a nice team, along with Wabash. O.W. has split a series with the Scots. I just think a 10 team division would give the conference more credibility as far as strength of schedule.
I think Woo needs to schedule the Akrons, Kent States, Cleveland States, Ashlands, Daytons, Wright States etc. to get them playoff ready.

[old scot]

After 6 innings, Wooster and Otterbein tied at 5's. Scots defense has already committed 4 errors.

[old scot]

Listening to the Wooster game and some of the things that happened makes me wonder about the coaching or lack of it.
In the 7th, Woo leads off with a double. With 1 out the runner tries to steal 3rd and gets thrown out. Next batter singles. Loss of a potential run.
With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd the catcher picks the runner off first base.
These mistakes reflect lack of fundamentals not being taught by the coaching staff or lack of discipline by the team.
Getting caught trying to steal 3rd while in scoring position is unacceptable. Getting picked of first with a runner in front of you is just plain stupid.

[old scot]

Final from Otterbein, 7-6 Wooster win.

[ScotsFan]

Listening to the Wooster game and some of the things that happened makes me wonder about the coaching or lack of it.
In the 7th, Woo leads off with a double. With 1 out the runner tries to steal 3rd and gets thrown out. Next batter singles. Loss of a potential run.
With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd the catcher picks the runner off first base.
These mistakes reflect lack of fundamentals not being taught by the coaching staff or lack of discipline by the team.
Getting caught trying to steal 3rd while in scoring position is unacceptable. Getting picked of first with a runner in front of you is just plain stupid.

While I didn't listen to the game, I have to say what you have described is a bit disturbing.  Why would you try and steal 3rd with nobody out?  If the baserunner did it on his own, I hope he got a serious ass chewing in the dugout!  If he was told to steal by Pettorini, that is just poor coaching.  At the very least, bunt the runner over!  Oh, wait.  That would require fundamentals...

It seems that ugly word, fundamentals, has reared it's ugly head yet again!  Four errors through 6 innings.  Multiple baserunning gaffs.  This is stuff you would expect to see worked out in the first week or two of the season.  But we're well over half way into the season and there seems to be no improvement being shown?!  I'm already resigning myself for another early post-season exit.  Maybe they'll surprise me, but I'm not going to raise my expectations...

[wally_wabash]

I'm already resigning myself for another early post-season exit.  Maybe they'll surprise me, but I'm not going to raise my expectations...

It must be rough....making the NCAA tournament every single year.   

I'm sure there are some other teams that would love the opportunity if Wooster wants to decline the invitation and let somebody else try it out. 

[woosterbooster]

Being a fan of the now-lowly Giants, I was watching them earlier today in Milwaukee against the Brewers.  The Giants' starter was Jonathan Sanchez, and at one point one of the announcers mentioned that he had been a legendary NAIA pitcher, having thrown four no-hitters.  Then they said that Ohio Dominican had been his school, where he pitched for four years before being drafted in 2004.  Knowing that Wooster had been playing ODU back in those days, I checked the Scots statistical archive.  Sure enough, back in 2002 Sanchez went eight innings to down Wooster, 5-4, ending their winning streak at sixteen in a row.

http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/boxes/2001/ohiodominican.php

[old scot]

W.B., it could be worse, you could be a Pirate fan. Fifteen straight years of less than .500 baseball.
The last time they made the playoffs or had a winning record was 1992. Barry Bonds final year as a Bucco, pre-roids era.( not hemorrhoids)

[ScotsFan]

W.B., it could be worse, you could be a Pirate fan. Fifteen straight years of less than .500 baseball.
The last time they made the playoffs or had a winning record was 1992. Barry Bonds final year as a Bucco, pre-roids era.( not hemorrhoids)

I didn't know there were still Pirate fans out there!      At least the Pirates have been able to celebrate a World Series champion in the last oh, I don't know, 100 years or so...  Being a cubs fan, I'm beginning to wonder when next year will be now...

[BASH6-4-3]

Wabash hits a walk-off HR in the bottom of the 10th to down Denison in game 1.  The NCAC-West race has just gotten white-hot!

[BASH6-4-3]

Denison turns a 6-4-3 DP in the bottom of the 7th to gain the split with a 3-1 victory.  JD Wyborny throws a complete game one-hitter for the Big Red.

Denison moves to 7-3 in conference, Wabash is 4-2.  Same two teams tomorrow for another DH.