BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[Jack Parkman]

Does Chapman's name and track record give them any wiggle room when it comes time to select teams for the playoffs?

I would hope not, and I think missing the playoffs this year would knock them down and humble them a little bit.

As sad as it is, yes, I do think their name helps them.  They lost 2 games to a below average CSU East Bay team and drop 2 spots in the poll??  Most teams would drop much more.  Chapman better hope Kitchens is healthy real soon.

[Bearcat Press]

Since I'm not the baseball reporter I'm not in charge of covering this, but Aaron Swick has been promoted to full-time head coach here at Willamette.  He's definitely grown as a coach as the season has gone on, and I think it would be a nice boost for the program to finish strong and be able to grab fourth place.  The Bearcats are riding an eight game winning streak into this weekend's series against UPS.

http://www.willamette.edu/athletics/news/article/2009/04/swick_receives_title_of_head_baseball_coach.xml

[cat_fan_08]

8-0 versus Whitworth, Whitman, and Corban.

[Bearcat Press]

8-0 versus Whitworth, Whitman, and Corban.

Which is exactly how they should have done.   You've got to play the teams in front of you, right?

[Ralph Turner]

Does Chapman's name and track record give them any wiggle room when it comes time to select teams for the playoffs?

I would hope not, and I think missing the playoffs this year would knock them down and humble them a little bit.

No.  Reputation is not a criterion.  Pool B is weaker this year.That will help them.

[Jack Parkman]

Linfield and Pacific Lutheran both drop a game today.  PLU lost in extras to Whitworth and Linfield got spanked by Lewis and Clark.

[wildcat11]

Jack,

'Cats are killing themselves right now as they dropped both to L&C today.  *sigh*

[Jack Parkman]

Jack,

'Cats are killing themselves right now as they dropped both to L&C today.  *sigh*

That is not good at all!  Linfield really has no room for error the rest of the way.

[Bearcat Press]

Jack,

'Cats are killing themselves right now as they dropped both to L&C today.  *sigh*

I'm not really sure WHAT I should make of this weekend: should I be encouraged by the fact that Linfield dropped at L&C, or should I be freaked out that Willamette lost a game at home 20-5?

Eh, I'm leaning towards the latter.

[D O.C.]

Hey! Somebody send on a "Hang In There!" to the LINFIELD women's softball team. 19-0 garners a #1 ranking....

[Bearcat Press]

If the standings hold, #1 Linfield vs. #7 Willamette will make for quite a series at the end of the season.

[Jack Parkman]

Linfield lost again   Does anyone want to step up and win the NWC?

[Bearcat Press]

Linfield lost again and again Does anyone want to step up and win the NWC?

Fixed your post.

[Jack Parkman]

West Region standings as of 4/19/09

1.  Pomona-Pitzer (23-1)    .958%
2.  Cal Lutheran  (23-4)     .852%
3.  George Fox  (26-5)       .839%
4.  UT Tyler  (29-6)            .829%
5.  Pacific Lutheran (25-8) .758%
     Linfield (25-8)               .758%
7.  Miss. Col. (16-7)           .696%
8.  Hardin Simm. (23-11)   .676%

Chapman is 14-11 (.560%) as a Pool B team.

Big series coming up in the SCIAC and NWC.  Pomona Pitzer and Cal Lutheran have a 3 game series next weekend and George Fox and Linfield have a 4 game set in the NWC. 
It seems that the only hope for Linfield is to sweep George Fox.  3 of 4 will do them no good.  Unless PLU really slips up, I think they are in the Regional.
Cal Lutheran can't afford many more losses.
UT Tyler needs to win the ASC Tourney to keep Cal Lutheran's hopes alive for a pool C.

[Ralph Turner]

I may have missed this.

Why is George Fox playing 41 regular season games!

32 NWC, 4 at UH-Hilo, 2 with Concordia Portland and 3 with CSU-East Bay.

The typical regular season is only 40 games!