BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

Turn out the lights the party's over. Linfield is going to be a beast at home in the Regionals. This is one reason I like conf tournaments.

To potentially punish a team that has dominated the conference from start to finish? 

[108 Stitches]

Sure it happens all of the time all over the country from PAC-12, SEC, all the way down to most D-III conferences. There are ways to reward the top seeds. I don't know this for a fact but I would imagine it is unusual to NOT have a conf tourney. As Spence has pointed out it gives kids (particularly at the DIII level who are playing because they love the game) to have some very meaningful games. Trinity has also dominated their conference and I can't wait to see their conf championship, these are the best games next to the Regionals all year long. Players love it, fans love it, what is to not like about it?

[wildcat11]

what is to not like about it?

Conference tourneys diminish the importance of being the best team in the regular season.  That's a decent reason.

I'd say the same thing if Linfield was the 4th place team in the NWC.  I'm not disputing the fact conference tourneys can be very exciting but it doesn't make them right.  Now excuse me as I go yell at some kids for walking on my grass and tell my neighbor that he's playing that hip hop music too loud. 

[Jim Dixon]

Turn out the lights the party's over. Linfield is going to be a beast at home in the Regionals. This is one reason I like conf tournaments.

To potentially punish a team that has dominated the conference from start to finish?

Pool C is designed to give teams with a good season, playoff like.

[CrashDavisD3]

IMO Conference Tournaments to pick Pool A bids are good things. I view these as Round 1 of the playoffs. It creates chance for a team to continue playing. If the #1 seed does not win, I believe they should go to the top of the Pool C bid list and should get into the regionals with tie breakers being D3 Winning Percentage and SOS.

A #4 seed in a conference tourney has won a National Championship in the past. This would not have been possible without a conference tourney to pick a Pool A bid. I would limit the Conference tournaments top 4 teams in a conference.


Playoffs
Round 1 - Conference Tournaments
Round 2 - Regional Tournaments
Round 3 - NCAA Championship tournament

[NWBaseballFan10]

Heading into this weekend's games, Linfield sits in first with 3 wins as their magic number to clinch the conference title and a Pool A bid. Linfield is off from conference play with a non-league 3-game series against Pomona-Pitzer. Despite PP's record, I expect this to be a good series and it will be interesting to see how their lineup stacks up against Linfield's pitching (the numbers on both sides have been solid all year).

Meanwhile, two other conference series will paint a much clearer picture on how the conference standings will likely finish up. Fox travels to PLU and Williamette travels to Whitman. I expect Fox to win the series against PLU and I could see the other series going either way. Losses for Willamette will eliminate them from having any chance at the conference title and Fox needs to at least win the series to keep hopes alive for the Pool C bid (Although I would highly recommend they bring their broomsticks if they want to stay in the hunt).

[Westside]

It looks like it comes down to Linfield and Willamette for the league title. George Fox is now five games back after dropping a close game to PLU. Willamette continues to roll in conference as they have 11 straight wins. They still need some help as they sit three games back of Linfield (winners of 15 straight games).

Linfield moves to 5-0 against SCIAC teams after manhandling Pomona-Pitzer yesterday. It seems like it is being said every week, but Linfield's team is on an absolute roll. Getting Wylie back has changed the offense (in his last five games, 4 home runs and 14 RBI). Their three starters are all in the conference's top 5 for ERA. And, their defense has the 2nd best fielding percentage in the nation, a healthy .979% clip.

[Westside]

Should be a good one today between George Fox and Linfield. Linfield has a 3 game lead on Willamette with 4 games to play. A win today, or a Willamette loss would clinch the NWC. George Fox played a perfect game one yesterday, and they will need to do that again if they want to win the series. If they were to win out, Fox would have 29 wins (with four wins over Linfield). Would that be enough to get them a bid?

You probably won't see a better pitching match-up in the nation amongst game three starters:

George Fox's Tom Zarosinski is 6-2 with a 1.30 ERA and 71 K's (2nd in the nation).
Linfield's Aaron Thomassen is 7-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 43 K's and just 9 BB's.

[Westside]

Linfield beats Lewis & Clark, 2-0.

Haddeland has his most impressive start of the year with a complete game shutout. He only allowed 2 singles, and struck out six while walking none. His third CG shutout of the year.

Linfield wins game two, 9-0. Zach Brandon weathered two rain delays before finishing the day with 7 IP and only 2 hits allowed.

They just keep rolling along. They lowered their team era to: 2.06. And the team batting average is creeping up towards .300 (.295).

On the day, their pitching staff went a combined 18.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 12 K, 0 BB. Pretty impressive.

[wildcat11]

Poor Lewis and Clark...it just kept getting worse for them as that Linfield series went on.  BTW...can't believe how bad Willamette tanked once their shot at the conference title closed.  Wow.

[Whatagame]

Poor Lewis and Clark...it just kept getting worse for them as that Linfield series went on.  BTW...can't believe how bad Willamette tanked once their shot at the conference title closed.  Wow.

Yep, for a while there, make no mistake, Willamette was looking pretty solid. 

On another NWC note, although to some it may be a yawner, big props to Coach Kinney and staff, and the players at Whitman for their first winning season since....a long, long time.  20 - 18 - 1 record this season.  Plus, 36 wins over the last two seasons.  This from a program that averaged about 5-8 wins a season for about 20 years, even up to the 2012 season, which was a 5 win season.

[NWBaseballFan10]

On another NWC note, although to some it may be a yawner, big props to Coach Kinney and staff, and the players at Whitman for their first winning season since....a long, long time.  20 - 18 - 1 record this season.  Plus, 36 wins over the last two seasons.  This from a program that averaged about 5-8 wins a season for about 20 years, even up to the 2012 season, which was a 5 win season.

Whatagame, I definitely have to agree with you. As an observer of the NWC, it seems pretty clear that Coach Kinney has changed the culture and mindset surrounding Whitman baseball. I must admit I was surprised with their finish in the league standings, but I think that also indicates something about the depth and quality of the conference. The Missionaries went 3-0 against SCIAC teams down in Arizona (including two who will be competing in the conference tournament) and they were 4-1 on their trip to Texas. I'm not sure if that carries any weight for how the rest of the country (or simply the West) views the conference, but it should. They obviously showed that they could compete against respectable clubs and it will be fun to see this program continue to grow under Kinney's leadership.

[wildcat11]

Linfield knocked off Fox again yesterday with a 5-1 win but dropped the front end of a double header with Lewis & Clark State today 8-0.  Hopefully the 'Cats and get the split.

[NWBaseballFan10]

NWC All-Conference selections have been posted. Linfield sweeps all the top honors. Brosius is Coach of the Year, Fisher is Player of the Year, and Thomassen is Pitcher of the Year.

First Team

Pos - Name                                                             Class        Hometown / High School

1B – Derek Dixon, George Fox *.................................. Sr         Vancouver, Wash. / Columbia River 

2B – Nathan Suyematsu, Pacific................................... So        Tualatin, Ore. / Tualatin       

3B – Hunter Gallant, Willamette %............................... Jr          Rescue, Calif. / Ponderosa   

SS – Corey VanDomelen, Linfield *.............................. Jr          Tigard, Ore. / Tualatin         

C – Josh Rapacz, George Fox *.................................... Sr         West Richland, Wash. / Richland

C – Brad Breier, Willamette %...................................... Jr          Torrance, Calif. / South       

OF – Tosh Semlacher, Willamette %............................. Sr         Gold River, Calif. / Jesuit   

OF – Nick Fisher, Linfield *........................................ Sr         Lake Oswego, Ore. / Lakeridge

OF – Connor Savage, Puget Sound #............................. Jr          Bothell, Wash. / Inglemoor

OF – Alec Beal, Pacific Lutheran.................................. Sr         Olympia, Wash. / Timberline

SP – Chris Haddeland, Linfield *................................... Jr          McMinnville, Ore. / McMinnville

SP – Clay Gartner, George Fox #.................................. Sr         Clovis, Calif. / Clovis East 

SP – Trevor Lubking, Pacific Lutheran *........................ Jr          Buckley, Wash. / White River           

SP – Aaron Thomassen, Linfield *................................ Jr          Seattle, Wash. / Nathan Hale

RP – AJ Konopaski, Pacific Lutheran *......................... Jr          Port Angeles, Wash. / Port Angeles   

UT – Aaron Cohen, Whitman #.................................... Sr         Juneau, Alaska / Juneau-Douglas

DH – Ty Wyatt, Willamette......................................... Fr         Keizer, Ore. / McNary         


Second Team

Pos - Name                                                             Class        Hometown / High School

1B – Clayton Truex, Linfield........................................ Sr         Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington               

2B – Chris Zerio, Puget Sound..................................... So        Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill

3B – Nathan Backes, Puget Sound................................. So        Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet

SS – Ozzy Braff, Whitman........................................... So        Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto

C – Jake Wylie, Linfield *........................................... Sr         Eagle, Idaho / Bishop Kelly 

C – Nick Funyak, Puget Sound.................................... So        Billings, Montana / Billings West

OF – Zach Rapacz, George Fox.................................... Jr          West Richland, Wash. / Richland       

OF – Matt Zeller, George Fox %.................................. Sr         Milwaukie, Ore. / Rex Putnam                     

OF – Jeff Walton, Puget Sound.................................... Sr         Carmichael, Calif. / Del Campo

OF – Kramer Lindell, Linfield *.................................... Sr         West Linn, Ore. / West Linn

SP – Derrick Mahlum, Pacific Lutheran......................... Fr         Mill Creek, Wash. / Archbishop Murphy       

SP – Ian Buckles, George Fox %.................................. Jr          Kent, Wash. / Kentridge

SP – Zach Brandon, Linfield......................................... Sr         Cottage Grove, Ore. / Marist

SP – Colin McCusker, Pacific...................................... Jr          Olympia, Wash. / Timberline

RP – Jackson Watt, Willamette.................................... So        Rocklin, Calif. / Whitney     

UT – Lucas Stone, Puget Sound *................................. Sr         Ashland, Ore. / Ashland

DH – Danny Clifford, George Fox *.............................. Sr         Canby, Ore. / Canby


Honorable Mention

Pos / Name                                                             Class        Hometown / High School

1B – Tiras Koon, Willamette........................................ Jr          Honolulu, Hawaii  Iolani School

2B – Derek Blankenship, George Fox............................. Jr          Baker City, Ore. / Baker       

2B – Cameron Young, Whitman #................................ Sr         Wenatchee, Wash. / Wenatchee         

3B – Eric Lawson, Linfield.......................................... So        Mill Creek, Wash. / Archbishop Murphy       

3B – Tommy Massari, Lewis & Clark........................... Fr         Palmdale, Calif. / Quartz Hill

SS – Zac Israel, George Fox......................................... Sr         Lake Stevens, Wash. / Lake Stevens   

SS – Nick Motsinger, Whitworth %.............................. Jr          Spokane, Wash. / University

SS – Tommy Kawamura, Willamette............................. Sr         Renton, Wash. / Lindbergh   

C – Josh Davis, Whitworth %...................................... Jr          Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Oaks Christian         

C – Maclean Harned, Whitman..................................... Jr          Seattle, Wash. / Seattle Prep

OF – Walker Olis, Pacific #......................................... So        Burlington, Wash. / Burlington Edison           

OF – Brandon Chinn, Willamette %.............................. Sr         Salem, Ore. / Sprague

OF – Jimmy Madden, Whitman.................................... Sr         Huntington Beach, Calif. / Edison

OF – Collin Nilson, Pacific Lutheran............................ Jr          Milton, Wash. / Fife

OF – Jo Carroll, Linfield............................................. Jr          Bend, Ore. / Mountain View

SP – Chris Bishop, Pacific Lutheran.............................. Jr          Rochester, Wash. / Rochester

SP – Spencer Ansett, Whitworth................................... Jr          Spokane, Wash. / Ferris       

SP – Cory Mack, Whitworth........................................ Jr          Spokane, Wash. / Central Valley       

SP – Tom Zarosinski, George Fox %............................ Jr          Lake Oswego, Ore. / Lake Oswego     

SP – Peter Hoffman, Willamette #................................ Jr          Hayden, Idaho / Lake City

SP – Steve Wagar, Puget Sound................................... Jr          Yakama, Wash. / West Valley

SP – Brett Lambert, Whitman...................................... Sr         Dayton, Wash.  / Dayton     

RP – Taylor Isadore, Whitworth.................................... Sr         Leavenworth, Wash. / Cascade           

RP – Connor Harris, George Fox.................................. Sr         Sandy, Ore. / Sandy

RP – Sterling Spilinek, Whitman................................. Sr         Douglas, Wyo. / Douglas     

RP – Zach Manley, Linfield......................................... Sr         Coburg, Ore. / Sheldon       

RP – Cody Walker, Linfield......................................... So        Hood River, Ore. / Hood River Valley

DH – Thomas Wakem, Whitworth................................ Jr          Spokane, Wash. / University

UT – Corey Davis, Lewis & Clark................................ Sr         Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmon

[Westside]

Not bad when Linfield's game three starter wins that award.

The regional is going to be stacked again, but Linfield has to feel good with home field and a pitching staff that was unreal this year (2.16 Team ERA).

A quick look at the guys most likely to throw in the Regional (and I expect some other guys will need to step up):

Starters:
Chris Haddeland: 10-1, 1.08 ERA, 100 IP, 74 K.
Zach Brandon: 7-1, 1.87 ERA, 72.1 IP, 41 K.
Aaron Thomassen: 9-1, 1.92 ERA, 75 IP, 51 K.

Relievers:
Zach Manley: 2-0, 1 SV, 1.19 ERA, 22.2 IP, 19 K.
Joe Stevick: 0-2, 1 SV, 3.18 ERA, 22.2 IP, 13 K.
Cody Walker: 2-0, 3 SV, 1.20 ERA, 15 IP, 14 K.
Justin Huckins: 1-0, 2.84 ERA, 6.1 IP, 6 K.