BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, but the vast majority of OOC travel games are in February or early March.  Can the NWC teams offer the same weather assurances as SoCal, Texas (shudder! , or eastern destinations in the Old Dixie?  Other OOC games are midweek affairs during conference play, and are thus of necessity rather local.

[Ralph Turner]

In terms of baseball, I really think the travel issue is driven by necessity.  Teams clamor to travel to Southern California to play, so why travel. Kind of a shame for the players, because I think traveling with your teammates is part of the quintessential college athletics experience.  Its a big part of how great memories are made. 

In the past four seasons, Whitworth, who is a two-time regional participant and a WS participant during those four years, has hosted 0 (zero) out-of-conference D3 teams at their home field.  Given their accomplishments, which are only surpassed by Linfield over the past four years in the entire West Region, they certainly qualify as a worthy destination and opponent. Not to mention Spokane is a tremendous destination, what a contrast from that dismal Texas landscape, for instance.

Whitman, with one of the nicer little stadiums around, particularly from a fan perspective, has hosted one out-of-conference opponent, in 2012 (Eastern Connecticut State) and that series was because of special circumstances.

Without looking, I'm sure Willamette, UPS, Pacific etc. have probably hosted zero or next to zero out-of-conference teams over the past many seasons.  Linfield, PLU and Fox, the creme of the NWC crop, are lucky if they get to host one series a year.

A personal invitation to come to Tyler... The city is beautiful in spring, with roses and azaleas.

Now Abilene?  The sunsets in winter are unsurpassed, but that is another story...
(I personally get claustrophobic if I cannot see the horizon 30 miles in the distance.     )

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I hadn't heard of this until now, so if I missed this I apologize.  I skimmed the coaching carousel on d3baseball.com as well and did not see it. Whitworth posted the head coaching position.
http://abca.org/jobs/college_head_coaches

Edit to add this:
http://www.whitworthpirates.com/sports/bsb/2014-15/releases/20150421aowghw

I found this on Whitworths website. So this is old news.

[Westside]

Yea, it is a kinda cool story.

Their current head coach, Ramsay, has accepted a position at Washington State University, effective as soon as the season ends...

So he keeps on coaching as long as they keep winning! D1 will have to wait.

[Westside]

My end of the season notes and observations:

Quick congratulations to Tiras Koon and Chris Haddeland for being named Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. And congrats to PLU's Coach Loomis for being named Coach of the Year.

Willamette's Koon actually finished the season as a triple crown winner. As he led the conference in average (.402), home runs (12), and runs batted in (45). What a way to end a great career. Not really sure what happened to Willamette, but I expect them to bounce back next year.

What a career for Linfield's Haddeland (not saying it is over yet). I believe he is now the Linfield career leader in ERA, wins, strikeouts, innings, groundouts, and shutouts. And that doesn't really do justice to how dominant his last three seasons. Truly one of the all-time NWC, and West Region, greats.



While Haddeland is totally deserving of his award, Dan Scheibe of Whitworth stole the show this year. Scheibe was actually the pitching triple crown winner as he led the conference in wins (9), ERA (1.55) and strikeouts (100).

In regards to Whitworth, my early preview in January stated: "I think their season could rely on Scheibe being back to his dominant form. He was one of the biggest reasons Whitworth won the West Regional his freshman year (2-0, 13.1 scoreless in the regional). "

This looks like one of the keys, once again to Whitworth getting back to the regional. Scheibe's no hitter against Linfield was a huge difference maker and I believe the rest of the team fed off of that win as they rolled through the NWC tournament. And I truly think that Scheibe will be the best pitcher at the Regional. He is on another level right now.



I wrote in December: "PLU took second in the league last year in spite of having the worst offense in the conference. But they were so young; they only had one senior starting last year. I expect their offense to take a huge leap this year. "

Well, this was pretty spot on. PLU's offense carried them to the league title. Honestly, it is hard to wrap my head around the improvement that PLU made. And they did it all without Mahlum, the kid who will be their ace the next two seasons.

Seriously...

PLU 2014: .246 BA, 13 HR, 2 3B, 52 2B, .319 SLG %, .327 OB%, 24 SB
PLU 2015: .301 BA, 20 HR, 13 3B, 87 2B, .420 SLG %, .387 OB%, 31 SB

It is amazing what another year of experience and working can do.



Six teams finished with a .500 or better winning percentage in league this year. It was so balanced. I really think the competitiveness in the NWC is on the rise. There will be a lot of great players returning to the conference next season as well. the All-Conference team is littered with underclassmen. At the same time, I still think the bottom teams have a ways to go before they reach the upper echelon.



My way, way, way too early preseason rankings for next season 

1. PLU
2. Linfield
3. Puget Sound
4. Whitworth
5. Pacific

[wildcat11]

Bro is stepping down as HC for the 'Cats to pursue other coaching opportunities. Carny will re-assume the duties as HC.  Thanks you to Scott for everything he's done for the 'Cats!

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.html?id=5928&sport=bb

[NWBaseballFan10]

Bro is stepping down as HC for the 'Cats to pursue other coaching opportunities. Carny will re-assume the duties as HC.  Thanks you to Scott for everything he's done for the 'Cats!

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.html?id=5928&sport=bb

Bittersweet news out of McMinnville this weekend. Bro has been the face of Linfield baseball for the past 8 years and his leadership will be greatly missed.  I look forward to cheering on whichever MLB team is lucky enough to bring him aboard their staff and it won't be long before Bro is back in a MLB dugout.

[Jack Parkman]

Bro is stepping down as HC for the 'Cats to pursue other coaching opportunities. Carny will re-assume the duties as HC.  Thanks you to Scott for everything he's done for the 'Cats!

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.html?id=5928&sport=bb

Bittersweet news out of McMinnville this weekend. Bro has been the face of Linfield baseball for the past 8 years and his leadership will be greatly missed. It was an honor to play for him. I look forward to cheering on whichever MLB team is lucky enough to bring him aboard their staff and it won't be long before Bro is back in a MLB dugout.

Does that mean you know he is going the professional route and not college?

[NWBaseballFan10]

Bro is stepping down as HC for the 'Cats to pursue other coaching opportunities. Carny will re-assume the duties as HC.  Thanks you to Scott for everything he's done for the 'Cats!

http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.html?id=5928&sport=bb

Bittersweet news out of McMinnville this weekend. Bro has been the face of Linfield baseball for the past 8 years and his leadership will be greatly missed. It was an honor to play for him. I look forward to cheering on whichever MLB team is lucky enough to bring him aboard their staff and it won't be long before Bro is back in a MLB dugout.

Does that mean you know he is going the professional route and not college?

My guess is professional. Word has always been that he is interested in returning to the bigs. Scouts I have spoke to say he is on a number of teams radar and last season he was in the mix with the Dbacks, but it's always been speculated that he wouldn't leave Linfield until his son graduated so nothing transpired there.

Either way...wherever he goes the team or program that he coaches will benefit greatly.

[Jack Parkman]

It makes sense to know he is being courted by a lot of places.  How about Washington State?  Gets to stay in the PNW and have his own D1 program?

[wildcat11]

Folks at U of Portland are saying he may take over there but i just don't see him leaving Linfield for that job....i would be very surprised if that happened.

[infielddad]

Washington State opened up today.  Just a coincidence?

[wildcat11]

From the Press-Release:

"Scott  Brosius is not only a great baseball coach, he's also a great human being," Hellie said. "We are very fortunate that he has worked at Linfield for more than a decade and will always be grateful for how he's changed the lives of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. We are proud that he graduated from Linfield and know that even as he looks to re-enter a career in the Major Leagues, he will remain a Wildcat in his heart."

May not mean anything but just pointing it out.....

[NWBaseballFan10]

I wouldn't discount any D1 jobs, but I would think it would need to be a very appealing situation for Brosius to consider them. I have a hard time seeing that with Portland and Wash St. I would be very surprised if he chose a D1 program over a Major League position considering all the interest he has received over the last few years. I just can't see him leaving a school, program, and town that he loves for just any D1 program...

[Jack Parkman]

From the Press-Release:

"Scott  Brosius is not only a great baseball coach, he's also a great human being," Hellie said. "We are very fortunate that he has worked at Linfield for more than a decade and will always be grateful for how he's changed the lives of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. We are proud that he graduated from Linfield and know that even as he looks to re-enter a career in the Major Leagues, he will remain a Wildcat in his heart."

May not mean anything but just pointing it out.....

Dang, I didn't see that.  The only thing that stood out to me is the mention of a new coaching challenge.  Thanks for pointing it out.