BB: NWC: Northwest Conference

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I know the coach at Lewis and Clark, used to coach in the NCAC, at Wabash. He recruited most of the class that went to regionals for the first time a few years ago.

[WestisBest]

Really looking forward to the 2016 season and I'm sure the excitement level is high for all the NWC teams.

I've looked at the D3 preview and the NWC coaches poll for the predictions for the upcoming season and some I agree with, others, not so much.  But, that's why this time of the year is so fun!

What I do agree with is the choice of PLU as the favorite. The Lutes are deep and fundamentally solid.  Plus, they only lose 2 position players; though they do have to replace Bishop and Konopaski.  To me, the Lutes are the clear favorite.

After two full years watching all of these teams, I believe there will be a noticeable drop-off from PLU to the next tier. And that next tier seems, to me, to include Linfield and UPS.  There are a lot of leadership changes the Wildcats must absorb and implement this year.  Most importantly, Linfield has to run out some new starting pitching and replace a catcher, shortstop and cleanup hitter.  Those are some big holes to fill and expecting newcomers to step in and pick up where Haddeland, Thomassen, VanDomelen, Laboda and Jo Carroll left off is asking a lot.

UPS will hit and score runs, but the key to its success will turn on pitching.  Maier is very good, but the Loggers need to find two good, not just average, starters to compete with PLU and Linfield.  It would be a great story for Anthony Brady to come back from two Tommy John surgeries to be a dependable starter.  Don't know if that's in the cards, but for the kid's sake I hope so.  The bullpen is deeper than last year, which should help as the season wears on.

Getting past these two teams into the next tier really seems to be a crapshoot.  The NWC coaches gave Willamette and Whitworth each a first place vote, but I'm not sure what to think of either. I do, however, believe Ty Wyatt from Willamette may be a contender for player of the year honors. He was the all-NWC DH his freshman year, but sat out all of last year with an injury. He's healthy and played summer ball in the West Coast League.  If Whitworth can replace its pitching staff, they could be among the four post-season tournament teams.

George Fox, Pacific and Whitman could all end up from 5-8 in the conference.  I'm optimistic about Whitman. They played 17 freshmen last year and they showed some promise. If they can continue to improve, I believe they'll make some noise this year and could rise to the middle of the pack. If that happens, I could see them pushing for a top 4 spot in 2017.

Last year was a very competitive year and the post-season tournament gave many teams playoff hopes right up through the last weekend of regular-season play. I don't think this year will be any different, with the possible exception of PLU clamping onto the top spot early and leaving everyone else to battle for the remaining three spots.

[Sluggerdad]

Withworth opens against Cal Lu tomorrow.  That should be an interesting test for both teams.  Cal Lu is loaded with returning position players. They too have to replace some pitching.   But they are on a mission this year.  They feel like they underachieved last year.  Should be a good game.

[WestisBest]

I'll make the trek to McMinnville and Hillsboro this weekend to see UPS, G.Fox, Linfield, Pacific and L&C.

Given how wet it's been in the PNW so far, I imagine all the teams will be a bit rusty (pun intended!).  I don't know how many times Fox, L&C and UPS have actually been able to get out on a baseball diamond to practice/scrimmage.  Those teams all play on grass fields.

Old-time baseball wisdom says pitchers are ahead of hitters early in the season, but with all of these teams trying to find dependability on the mound, that adage could be tested this weekend.

[(509)Rat]

Good win for Whitworth over Cal lu 8-2

Especially considering the slow starts they seem to have many years that I have to imagine is in large part due to weather not letting them get outside to practice more than a few days every Jamuary.

[Jack Parkman]

Good win for Whitworth over Cal lu 8-2

Especially considering the slow starts they seem to have many years that I have to imagine is in large part due to weather not letting them get outside to practice more than a few days every Jamuary.

Gotta be excited to see a freshman go out and dominate a good hitting team on opening day.  I see a 4-0 weekend for Whitworth.

And how about PLU dropping 2 out of the gate.  Shocked to see that happen.

[Whatagame]

Great to get baseball started for the season. A lot of good analysis on the NWC on this thread already, and I also agree that PLU is the strongest team, and should be the class of the conference (despite yesterday's results) A wild card in D3 is of course previously unknown Frosh who present as impact players, and we have seen a number of standout starts by Frosh pitchers already. Notably, Willamette has rolled-out back-to-back high quality starts from two Frosh pitchers, and a Whitworth Frosh shut down Cal Lu. Possibly there were even more? I think George Fox has a chance to really swing it this year. At this point, I really see it being an absolute dog fight between Fox, UPS, Willamette, Linfield and Whitworth for the remaining 3 tournament slots, but I'll go PLU, Willamette, UPS and Linfield.

Regarding Westisbest's thoughts on Whitman, they did play tougher last year than their record indicated, losing I think upwards of 12 games by one run? Maislin should once again be one of the elite pitchers in conference, and I would look for Heywood to have a 1st Team, potential POY season offensively. The offensive and pitching depth just won't be there again. They graduated a starter last year who gave them nearly 140 IP of 3.7 ERA work over the previous two seasons, and Maislin and Heywood are now Seniors, and they just need to stockpile more good players and build depth at all class levels, Frosh to Senior so that there aren't big holes in the lineup when guys graduate - look at what happened last season after graduating a huge class of talent in '14. it's going to take continued recruiting and an influx of real athletic guys like they had in the '14 graduating class in order to recapture the momentum they had built during the 13 and 14 seasons.

Looking forward to a great season.

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth takes game 1 against Whittier 6-2, leading game 2 4-3 in the 3rd

[Whatagame]

Whitworth takes game 1 against Whittier 6-2, leading game 2 4-3 in the 3rd

NWC picking up with business as usual, laying the wood to the SCIAC

[(509)Rat]

Final of game 2 Whitworth wins 20-4

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good grief!  MLB pitchers and catchers haven't even reported to camp yet, and you guys are already playing real games!

Those of us in the midwest and east are extremely jealous!

[wildcat11]

Good win for Whitworth over Cal lu 8-2

Especially considering the slow starts they seem to have many years that I have to imagine is in large part due to weather not letting them get outside to practice more than a few days every Jamuary.

Gotta be excited to see a freshman go out and dominate a good hitting team on opening day.  I see a 4-0 weekend for Whitworth.

And how about PLU dropping 2 out of the gate.  Shocked to see that happen.

I saw Kingma (Whit's Frosh pitcher) throw at the Washington High School State Finals last year and when I found out he was going to Whitworth I just shook my head. Kid is a heck of pitcher and going to be a stud for the Rats for the next four years.

'Cats with a strong opening day in downing UPS and Willamette!

[(509)Rat]

Whitworth completes the CA sweep with 9-7 win over Whittier

[Westside]

Linfield starts the season 4-0, giving up only two runs in the four games.

Linfield's 4 starters this weekend: 23 IP, 0 R, 24 K, 5 BB.

That's a pretty nice start to the season, I would say.

[NWBaseballFan10]

Linfield starts the season 4-0, giving up only two runs in the four games.

Linfield's 4 starters this weekend: 23 IP, 0 R, 24 K, 5 BB.

That's a pretty nice start to the season, I would say.

Great opening weekend for the Cats! I questioned the pitching staff leading into the season, but I hope this weekend was a preview of what's to come.

Rough weekend for the Lutes, but hopefully they bounce back next weekend in AZ against a couple SCIAC opponents.

Speaking of SCIAC, good to see Whitworth roll through their opening weekend down in CA.

Exciting opening weekend overall for the NWC!