BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[Whatagame]

Very successful weekend for the NWC in Arizona.  However, The Arizona Classic is unfortunately not as "classic" as it used to be.  Previous iterations of this event consistently comprised of 4 NWC,  4 SCIAC and 3-4 Texas squads.  This year it dwindled to 4 NWC and only 3 SCIAC, thus each NWC squad had to play a game against against another NWC foe.  I'm sure the NWC coaches would prefer this to not occur in the future.

I would have liked to have seen Emory travel to Arizona last weekend, rather than So Cal...

However, this situation did result in the weekend ending with a tense and wildly entertaining G. Fox/Whitman match up, with Fox prevailing 11-9.  Whitman left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, with that inning featuring a Cameron Young blast that was caught above the top of the left-center fence, and a Braff Sac Fly that was caught right at the wall.  Whitman's Braff ended the weekend batting well over .500, with 3 HR and 13 RBI.  He could have easily approached 20 RBI, as he absolutely crushed balls right at people for outs twice with the bases loaded, and narrowly missed 2 more HR on balls caught at the fence.

[wildcat11]

I was a little surprised the NWC left out Mahlum (PLU) on their list. The freshman was 2-0 with 12.2 IP, 16 K's, and 0 runs last week for the Lutes. It looks like Loomis was able to recruit a solid #2 starter to compliment Lubking this season.

I've never put too much stock into the NWC Student-Athlete of the Week awards...I'm not a huge fan of the spread it out process vs actual best performances, IMO.

[Westside]

Three takeaways from the first weekend in the NWC:

1) Whitman's offense is for real.

2) PLU's pitching performs from start to finish.

3) George Fox's Rapacz brothers were born with bats in their hands.

You can read about my thoughts here: http://collegeballnw.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/around-the-northwest/

[Whatagame]

Ok, weekend baseball coming up for the NWC.  Most teams are playing NAIA schools, however it is a really huge weekend I think for Whitman, as they are in Texas for five games in four days against D3 competition. (UT Dallas, Hendrix, Hardin-Simmons, DH vs. Schreiner)

This will be the second road trip weekend in a row for the team, which given the arduous travel out of Walla Walla, adds to the challenge.  A strong showing I think will kind of solidify their status as a team that really needs to be thought about in the NWC, which if you are a tenured Whitman fan, is quite a statement indeed.

Whitman defeated UT Dallas and Hardin-Simmons last season, so these guys will be ready for redemption.  I don't know anything about Hendrix or Schreiner.

My early observations about this team, a team that seems to be catching some attention and intrigue this season:

They have a potential 1st Team All Conference pitcher in Sr. Brett Lambert.  He just needs to stay healthy, but his stuff was absolutely electric in Arizona last weekend.  It's probably been a long time since you could say this about a Whitman pitcher.

Sr. 2B Cameron Young and Soph SS Ozzy Braff have potential Conference POY talent, Braff has the best opposite field stroke/power I've seen of any player in the conference.

The remainder of the order is solid, lots of experience, some good speed, lots of extra base hit potential, Moyes has as much raw power as anyone in the conference.  Aaron Cohen is potentially a dark horse lights-out weekend starter in conference.

Jr. Catcher Harned has quietly earned a reputation amongst the league coaches I think as one of the better, most athletic backstops in the conference. 

Defensively, the outfield has looked outstanding in terms of reaching the gaps, covering ground, making catches and making good decisions with throws.

The left side of the infield has been a bit rough, but given the brutal weather this winter and limited on-field time for practice, I think it will clean up. (the same thing regarding errors I think happened with Whitworth last weekend)

For conference play, I believe they will have a solid set of three starters, the key will be bullpen performance, but the pieces and talent is there.

The team should really hit though, and lots of people are quietly optimistic that these guys can do some real damage this year, potentially quite a turnaround story for the coaching staff and players that any conference follower I think should applaud.

[D O.C.]

But....how is their traveling fan base? 

[108 Stitches]

Not to put down travelling and playing games on the road a long way from home, but they are not exactly playing any of the top teams in the region. Hendrix would probably be best of the bunch,  but they have not played yet so not sure how they will be this year, usually a solid program however going into Hendrix is always competitive if they are playing there. If they came in and played TLU, Trinity, UTT, and competed against those teams, then it might be a different story. Chapman came in and lost to all of them, but played very competitive baseball and will be in the mix in the SCIAC IMO.

That said if they come in and blow out those teams then that would be a different story, will be a fun to watch and see how they do, love to see a team that has been down come up and play well but having a winning record against lower level competition won't say too much on how they will compete against the likes of GF and Linfield.

[Whatagame]

But....how is their traveling fan base? 

Well, since you asked, I'd describe them as a polite, yet enthusiastic little band of nomads.....

[NWBaseballFan10]

Nice comeback victory for the Missionaries today in Texas (7-4 over Hardin-Simmons). Another strong start by Lambert and a solid relief performance by Spilinek. The NWC also had UPS win its season opener today over Hendrix (5-4).

Whitman is down 9-2 verse Texas-Dallas at the moment however. Beyond that, it has been a solid start for the Missionaries and the NWC continues to look strong here in the early going.

[Whatagame]

Just saw that Linfield shutout very solid D2 Western Oregon 6-0 today.  WOW!! The most impressive win of the young 2014 D3 season I'd say, as Western Oregon had come in 4-2 on the season, taking 3 out of 4 from 18th ranked Cal State Monterey Bay.

[NWBaseballFan10]

My top headlines following this past weekends games:

1. Fox is the real deal. Every starter in the lineup is hitting above .300 and the team average is .365. Josh Rapacz is red hot and an easy early favorite for conference and regional player of the year. The pitching staff is being anchored by Clay Gartner (2-0, 1.38 ERA) and Tom Zarosinski (2-0, .60 ERA) who have both been terrific. Last season, they played in the shadows all year of Linfield, but this year things should (need) to be different. I would be really surprised if they don't crack the Top 20 in the next poll (even though those things don't matter anyway right  )

2. Linfield is also off to a strong start, but they haven't had quite the same flair that I have seen with Fox. The Cats split yesterday with a typically strong D2 program in Western Oregon. Haddeland has picked up right where he left off last season (1-0, 13 IP, 1 ER). Wylie (.391, 7 RBI, .783 SLG) has been the anchor in the lineup thus far as well. The bulk of Linfield's schedule won't come until late March/early April so unfortunately we still have a long wait to see how the other top contenders in the NWC measure up 

3. So far Whitman is off to a decent start in Texas (2-1 with 2 games still today). Hobson has been a real surprise IMO (1-1, 11.57 ERA). In the preseason I was touting this kid as one of the rising lefties in the West region, but he hasn't lived up to that so far (still early though). Lambert, on the other hand, has been very impressive and he gives the Missionaries a legitimate ace to throw out there every weekend. Offensively, there isn't much to dislike about this club here in the early going. Team average is .344 and I believe only 1 starter isn't hitting over .300.

4. Looking ahead, Fox travels to California to start a 3-game set with Oxy and a single game verse Pomona. Whitworth has a 4-game set with the College of Idaho who was embarrassed by Fox this weekend. Linfield, UPS, Willamette and PLU battles 3 non-D3 opponents. L&C and Pacific head to Texas to play 4 games each.

[wildcat11]

Last season, they played in the shadows all year of Linfield, but this year things should (need) to be different.

I don't know if they need to be different from a Linfield point of view.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Congratulations to Had del and for being named to the golden spikes watch list.
https://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=5260

[JahEazy]

8. Pacific (17-23) - Pacific loses their ace Rob Dittrick and top hitters Michael Arakaki and Trux French which will all be big shoes to fill. I believe I read  somewhere last year that Matt Delegato (1st team starting pitcher) had an extra year of eligibility that he considered using this year? I'm not sure how accurate that was, but if it's true then he will give the Boxers a much needed impact starter. Walker Olis returns after a strong freshman campaign and he should be the Boxers top hitter in 14'.

Pacific also lost a freshman starting pitcher from last year in Morton so either they'll be down on pitching, or a whole bunch of new guys will step up and be studs.

[wildcat11]

Congratulations to Had del and for being named to the golden spikes watch list.
https://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=5260

Very cool deal for Haddeland in being on the only DIII player on the list.

[D O.C.]

JahEazy....do you find this board kinder and gentler than the football board?