BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Fox came down a little bit from their hot start.  L&C is ultra young and the results show it...yikes.

Going to try to make it out to the CCC/NWC challenge this weekend.  There should be a number of good games this weekend.

[wildcat11]

'Cats took down PLU tonight 3-1 in a non-conference game at Linfield.

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=4820

Aaron Thomassen (Soph.) moved to 2-0 on the season in only allowing 3 hits in 7 innnings.  Max Beatty took his first loss of the year (2-1).  Good win for Linfield.

[Westside]

It is a good sign for Linfield when their #4 (possibly 3) has dominated two games to start the season. The staff will be pretty formidable this year. As long as the offense can continue to get clutch hits, like tonight, they will win a lot of games!

[wildcat11]

It is a good sign for Linfield when their #4 (possibly 3) has dominated two games to start the season. The staff will be pretty formidable this year. As long as the offense can continue to get clutch hits, like tonight, they will win a lot of games!

A very good start for sure.  A team .333 avg is a big improvement so far over last year. Knock of OIT tomorrow and get ready for a big series with Pacific to open up NWC play.

[wildcat11]

Not writing off Whitworth because I'm sure they'll round into shape once NWC play starts but I think it's win the NWC or stay home at this point.

NWC coaches were right about Pacific in their pre-season poll. 

A lot of baseball to be played so I'm not going to toot Linfield's horn too loudly but they look very strong this season.

[LongBallGone]

I agree wildcat11.

Whitworth's sluggish start isn't helping their case at the end of the year for an at-large bid if they don't win the conference title. I'll cut them a little slack considering their schedule thus far has included a pair of strong teams out of the SCIAC and Texas-Tyler who is deserving of a Top 25 ranking.

Linfield does look strong. Only used 5 (nearly 4) pitchers this weekend in a 3 game series and the starters only allowed 4 earned runs. Team ERA rose from 1.01 to 1.10 (still respectable I'd say  ). Offense is cashing in runs a lot more consistently than last year. Lot of season left though.

PLU and Fox can't be written off though. Fox can swing it and PLU has a solid nucleus of 4-5 pitchers that give them a great chance to win games and series.

I'm excited to see how things play out. The depth of this conference has really grown over the last few years. We saw that this weekend as Willamette took one from PLU and the other two games were decided by 1 run each. I think it's safe to say that anyone in this conference is capable of stealing a game here and there (especially after L&C nearly did against Fox).

[wildcat11]

I think it's safe to say that anyone in this conference is capable of stealing a game here and there (especially after L&C nearly did against Fox).

To me that's going to be the difference between winning the NWC title or not.  Limiting those losses to the lower half of the conference.  The conference has grown and that's a great thing for sure.

[Whatagame]

Interesting weekend in the NWC.  It looks like the old days of an easy three game sweep versus the lower tier teams might be over?  Willamette looks very competitive, playing Linfield tight over the weekend, and taking game 3 on Sunday.  Whitman playing PLU very tough, taking game 2, losing game three 1-0, and leading game one into the 7th inning.  UPS took Whitworth into the 16th inning on Sunday, ultimately losing.  Pacific finally capturing their first win of the season, shutting out G. Fox on Sunday.  It's great to see the overall talent leveling a bit across schools.

[wildcat11]

That's accurate...no weekends off.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth with pretty predictable early season struggles due to the weather. Until they are much more talented or it stops snowing in Spokane, they will always struggle early in the year. But it does look like it's win the NWC or stay at home for them at this point.

One game may have been ugly but 3-0 is 3-0. @PLU and Linfield at home coming up on consecutive weekends. We'll know real quick if the Pirates can stay on top after last year's run.

[CrashDavisD3]

Who is better?

Linfield(12-3)
George Fox(12-5)
Pacific Lutheran(11-5)

[Whatagame]

Who is better?

Linfield(12-3)
George Fox(12-5)
Pacific Lutheran(11-5)

Alright Crash, stirring the NWC pot a bit!  This year it has proven pretty difficult thus far to earn a weekend sweep in the NWC conference, as there is more talent across all teams.

Right now, on paper, Linfield looks to be the most balanced team.  PLU has superior pitching, particularly Beatty and Lubking, but is having trouble scoring runs.

I wouldn't leave Whitworth out of the equation just yet.  Whitworth is actually atop the NWC standings, as they had their conference bye-week already, and then swept a scrappy UPS squad.  Whitworth plays at PLU this weekend, then hosts Linfield the following, so that should help shake things out. 

[Spence]

My top 25 has Linfield #1. Played solid competition and won most of the games.

[wildcat11]

Who is better?

Linfield(12-3)
George Fox(12-5)
Pacific Lutheran(11-5)

Too much season left to answer that question and you can add Whitworth to that list.  Their season isn't over and will bring it this weekend vs Linfield up in Spokane.  If the 'Cats take care of business it will be a big hurdle cleared.

[Whatagame]

Interesting day today.  UPS takes two from PLU.  UPS is a scrappy squad this year.  Linfield takes two from Whitworth, manhandling them in game two.  Whitman split with GF, winning 3-2 in game one on a on a walk-off hit, then losing game two in the 10th, after relinquishing a 1-0 lead with two outs in the 9th on a run-scoring wild pitch/passed ball. 

No easy days at the park in the NWC this year.