BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

West Regionals at McMurry.  Is the grass green in West Texas?  

The 2008 Regionals were played there.

George Fox came to Abilene.  

Irrigation.   

[cat_fan_08]

With all of this rain in Oregon, it's sure nice the cats have that turf infield to get outside early in the year. It really gives them an advantage over the other NWC teams that have to worry about tarps, turface, and diamond dry.

Who cares about irrigation, their surface is always green.

[Bearcat Press]

Congrats to Willamette DH Mitchell Rowan and Linfield outfielder Zach Boskovitch for being named preseason first team All-Americans by D3baseball.com!

[Piobark]

I think most of the other teams are in the gym - practicing when they can around other activities... like Basketball... or perhaps some outside work on the football field if it is turf... 

Turf baseball field sure would be nice this time of year. I prefer grass when the weather permits - but this year hasn't been one of those years...

[cat_fan_08]

With teams opening tryouts in January and games only a month after that, what do coaches focus on most to prepare?

[CrashDavisD3]

With teams opening tryouts in January and games only a month after that, what do coaches focus on most to prepare?

Looks like games in NWC conference start next week
http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/schedule

[Piobark]

Tryouts are really in the fall - teams have several weeks of workouts in the fall and decisions are made at that point. In January, with the rare exception of a mid year transfer, the team is already set.

What teams are working on now - at least the three NWC teams that I have personal knowledge of through parents and players, is getting into top shape, getting the pitchers ready to throw more pitches (e.g. deeper into games) and getting the batters used to the BBCOR bats. All three teams that I know of used the old bats or wood in the fall as they did not have access to the bats which met the new standard.

BTW - for what it is worth - the BBCOR bats appear to be just as dead as rumored... BP sessions are taking place and no home runs hit in an entire session... It is going to be a different game in a couple of weeks...

[CrashDavisD3]

With BBCOR bats I have seen a total of 2 home runs in Fall and January Intrasquad games. A few hit the fence a few in the gaps BUT most are just routine fly balls now. Big emphasis on moving runners over on sac bunts, hit and runs, steals. ERRORS are now HUGE and now even bigger than before.  Be ready for a lot of games where scores are 3-2, 4-3, 2-1, 1-0.

[cat_fan_08]

What are the new BBCOR bats made out of? Are they aluminum, wood composite...?

[CrashDavisD3]

What are the new BBCOR bats made out of? Are they aluminum, wood composite...?

NCAA allows wood and non wood bats in 2011.

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5208.msg1290882#msg1290882

[cat_fan_08]

I wonder how many players will actually choose to use wood bats.

[wildcat11]

Very cool honor for Coach Bro:

http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110207&content_id=16587838&vkey=news_usab&gid=

USA Baseball: Scott Brosius to lead 2011 18U team

Congrats Coach Brosius!!!!!!!!!

[BigPoppa]

I wonder how many players will actually choose to use wood bats.

I'd put the national over/under at one:)

[cat_fan_08]

I wonder how many players will actually choose to use wood bats.

I'd put the national over/under at one:)

I second that

[wildcat11]

Today is the day!  Let's go 'Cats!

Newsregister: First pitch: Thursday in Arizona