BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Get away day in C'ville...Denison wins game 3 of the series 4-0 while Wabash closes the series with a 2-1 win to split the four game set.  Wabash has four games in Richmond next weekend. 

[woosterbooster]

It's over.  After 71 consecutive victories over the Oberlin Yeoman, dating back to 1986, Wooster dropped the second game of today's doubleheader, 4-2.  Congrats to Oberlin, and may you have more luck this next time around, and produce another win over the Scots sometime before the 2030 season.

Anti-kudos, though, to your athletic department, or whoever is in charge of producing the web broadcasts and live stats that you bragged you would have for BOTH doubleheaders.  C'mon, you guys are supposed to be the flagship of academia in the NCAC.  Schools have been doing this for years now, it can't be that difficult.

[ScotsFan]

It's over.  After 71 consecutive victories over the Oberlin Yeoman, dating back to 1986, Wooster dropped the second game of today's doubleheader, 4-2. 

I'll echo my congrats to the Yeomen on ending that incredible streak! 

Some food for thought...  I would wager that none of those guys playing this season for the Yeomen were even born the last time Wooster lost to Oberlin. 

I guess all streaks come to an end sooner or later.  Unless we're talking about the Kenyon men's swimming team and their stranglehold on the DIII championships... 

[ScotsFan]

Well, nothing was settled between Denison and Wabash over the weekend.  Updated NCAC West standings among the top 3:

Denison - 8-4
Wabash - 5-3
OWU     - 7-5

OWU picked up a big 4 game sweep of The EC over the weekend to put themselves right back in this race for the NCAC tournament.

Denison appears to be safe in locking up a tournament spot as they host The EC for a 4 game set the weekend of the 19th.  If they sweep the Quakers, they're in.  If they only manage to take 3 of 4, however, that still keeps OWU's hopes alive and also opens the door for Wabash to take the West.  OWU is looking like they're going to need another sweep this weekend at Witt to give themselves a shot.  One more loss and I think the Bishops odds at finishing in the top 2 go way down.

Meanwhile, Wabash still has to play 4 game sets at The EC and they host Witt the following week.  However, they are the only team that still controls it's own destiny.  If they can sweep both The EC and Witt, they win the west.  But, even if the Lil Giants manage to take just 3-4 the next two weekends, they would still finsih with just 5 losses.  And OWU already has 5 so even with a sweep of Witt, the Bishops could finish no better than a tie with Wabash in that scenario.  And OWU dropped 3 of 4 to Wabash giving the tie-breaker to Wabash.  At least that's how I would assume it would go.

All in all, the west looks like it should be a fun race to watch over the next 2 weekends to see who ends up at Granville for the NCAC Tournament.

[ScotsFan]

The NCAC East is a more muddied picture because so many teams still have a lot of games yet to be played.  Wooster only needs one win over Hiram next weekend and one more Oberlin loss to clinch the top spot in the east.  They sit atop the standings at 11-1.  Kenyon is the only other team in the division with 12 games under their belt and they sit in 2nd at 6-6.  If Kenyon could manage a sweep at Oberlin this weekend, they would be looking pretty solid at the number 2 spot.  However, even with Allegheny only being 1-7 in conference play, they still have an outside shot at catching Kenyon.  With their remaining conference action being Oberlin and Hiram, it's not inconcievable for the Gators to go 8-0 which would leave them 9-7.  They would then have to hope for the Lords to drop more than 1 to surging Oberlin.    It's a tall order, but the Gators aren't done just yet...

Of course, Kenyon could end all of the drama by just taking 3 of 4 this weekend.

[bufordscot]

sure is quiet here since they booted Spence

[Ryder16]

so what pitchers have impressed everyone the most this year, I am especially anxious to hear about the West division

I will refrain from commenting as I have only seen Wooster, Oberlin, and Kenyon

[mideastfan2]

sure is quiet here since they booted Spence

lol.....someone is just asking for trouble when he returns (if he returns).

[old scot]

Just my observation of Wooster's season so far.
1) Pitching staff is good but not overpowering. The top teer pitchers don't seem to be dominating the opposition and the 3 thru 6,7 have not improved like the coaching staff had thought.
2) Offense has put up some decent numbers, a pleasant surprise. I would like to see them cut down on K,s and be more selective at the plate. Thus far they seem to be getting timely hitting to win some close games.
3) Defense, average or below. Much room for improvement.

I'm not familiar with pool c bids but, I think the Scots need to win the NCAC tourney to secure a bid. If they don't fair well in their up coming games against OAC opponents, I think this will be their only avenue to the regionals.
Finally, Woo's national ranking will probably drop to the mid teens where I think they belong. Hopefully the team can pick up its game at the right time of the season. Remember, its more important how you finish the year than how you start.

[BASH6-4-3]

An update on the very competitive NCAC West race for tourney spots (from a Wabash perspective of course).

http://www2.wabash.edu/blog/sidnotes/

Wabash may have squandered a golden opportunity by only splitting the 2 games with Earlham on Monday.  A lot of work left starting with 4 against Witt this weekend.

[woosterbooster]

So, the west looks like this:

Wabash 6-4 (4 home against Wittenberg, 2 on the road at Earlham)
Denison 8-4 (4 home against Earlham)
Ohio Wesleyan 10-6

I'm assuming Wabash wins a tiebreaker with OWU as they took that series.  OWU and Denison split, but the Bishops outscored The Big Red 21-7, if that means anything.  Denison and Wabash split, the Big Red winning the run-differential 13-9.

[wally_wabash]

Game 1 goes to Wabash by a score of 3-1.  Mike Korfhagen goes the distance for the LGs, limiting the Tigers to just four hits.  Three more wins and Wabash enters the NCAC postseason for the first time. 

Game 2 is in the books and Wittenberg gains a Saturday split with a 5-0 win.  Witt's Tim Antil twirled a 3-hit shutout for the Tigers.  The series will conclude tomorrow with two more games at Mud Hollow.  Wabash still needs 3 wins in their remaing four games (two with Witt, two with Earlham) to qualify for the NCAC tournament.

[Ryder16]

wooster wins 2 against Hiram, with neither game being close. the winds were blowing out at art murray field and both teams hitters took advantage ! congrats to the scots to being the first team to make the NCAC tourney !

I dont know if anyone was there or heard anything but one of hirams pitchers took a line drive off his throwing hand that was hit hard enough to roll nearly to the dugout after hitting him, he immediately left the game, anyone know the status of that young fella, I hope he is alright !

[Li'l Giant]

Sigh.....

[old scot]

L.G.,
      A picture is worth a thousand words. Better luck in the furture. I personally would like to see the NCAC play a 2 game set beween all the confernce teams rather than having a East/West division.