BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Baseball_fan]

I predict that Millsaps easily handles Ogelthorpe. (2 games)

I think Rhodes will beat Trinity in a good series.  (3 games)

I think Austin will beat Centre.  Have never seen Austin play but if they can go 2-2 with Millsaps and finish 2nd in the West, I think they will beat Centre.  I think it will take 3 games however and be a close one.

Not sure on DePauw vs. Southwestern, Southwestern really turned it on lately and will have some momentum, but it will be a tough series and I will say DePauw takes it in 3 games.

[historymajor]

I agree that Millsaps takes Ogelthorpe. (2 games)

I think Rhodes will be beaten by Trinity in a great series.  (3 games)

I agree Austin will beat in 3 games.

I think DePauw will edge Southwestern in 3 games.

[frank_ezelle]

None of us have seen all the teams play and there is very little crossover information to go by so it is a guessing game where past history has to be taken into consideration.  Without having seen most of these teams play, my picks would be:

Millsaps over OU--Nothing is a given but I think most non-OU fans would make this prediction.

Rhodes over Trinity--I expect Trinity to be tough but Trinity is 4-10 over their last 14 games which includes 1-3 against Millsaps, 0-3 against Austin, and 2-2 with Southwestern.  They haven't won a series against the top three in the West so I can't favor them to win a series over a Rhodes team that is playing in Memphis.

Austin over Centre--Both teams have losing records overall but look at Centre's SCAC record.  They are 7-0 against Sewanee and OU and 0-8 against DePauw and Rhodes.  Now look at Austin's SCAC record.  They are 2-2 with Millsaps, 3-0 with Trinity, 3-1 with Hendrix and 1-3 with Southwestern.  There's no question that on paper it was a huge difference to finish 2nd instead of 3rd in the SCAC West.

Southwestern over DePauw--I haven't seen either team play so this is a pick based strictly on game results.  Mostly I'm going by who they have played over the last few weeks.  DePauw has the better record over that stretch and they did split with Washington, but they haven't had a lot of really tough games.  Southwestern has done well against a tougher schedule and it is this chance to play against a tougher schedule that has me picking Southwestern.

[frank_ezelle]

While the focus is on the crossover games this weekend, there is still a nice slat of games to be played this evening.  Millsaps has a huge game this evening with a trophy on the line.

Millsaps, MS College and Belhaven compete each year for the Cowboy Maloney Trophy and the winner of tonight's game between Belhaven and Millsaps wins the 2007 competition (if Millsaps wins both team will be 4-2 but Millsaps will be up 2-1 on the head-to-head). 

Belhaven is ranked #11 in NAIA at the moment and they have won 19 of their last 20 games.  Millsaps is ranked #22 in D-3 and they have won 16 of thier last 20.  It should be a heck of a game but unfortunately there seems to be no plans to broadcast the game or have live stats, etc.

[D3baseballdad]

Well now I must say that it is interesting to look over these predictions and see what you all have to say. I am new to this conference and have not seen any of the teams in the west except Hendrix. I have gathered from the history of the conference that the west has dominated things over the years.
I want to state something right up front. I have had the privilege of meeting some very well mannered young men from most of the teams in the east and the parents that have raised them should be proud. I am sure it is the same of the players in the west as well (I can say it with certainty about Hendrix).

I think looking over things that I agree with some of the predictions I have read but I will interject the following:

Milsap vs. OU: I don't think OU will roll over as bad as the rest of you seem to think. They have played a tougher schedule then you might realize. They play teams like Emory, Lagrange, Huntington, Reinhardt, Maryville and others. They will put up a fight that I can assure you.

Rhodes vs. Trinity:  I think Rhodes will take this one. Not sure how many games or how tough a contest but I see Rhodes out on top.

Austin vs. Centre: I think Austin takes it. Once again not going out on a limb and saying how many games, just giving the nod to Austin.

DePauw vs. Southwestern: I am a bit torn on this but I think I have to give this one to Southwestern.

Okay so there I have put it down on paper and so it goes.

Now on to real life................ I just want to say I hope you will all include the victims and family of those slain at VT in your prayers in the days that follow. I could not imagine losing my son to something like this, it would be devastating! Reflect on what is important, be thankful for your loved ones and cherish the time you have with your kids!!!

Looking forward to Memphis and the great baseball to happen this weekend!!

[frank_ezelle]

Nice post d3baseballdad, especially the part about real life.

One more bit of Millsaps news.  There's a story on the Millsaps website about the sweep of Hendrix but it has a lot about Nick Crawford breaking the NCAA record for being hit by a pitch and how this year's team compares with Millsaps wins of the past.

Regarding Nick, the casual observer might look at his .267 BA and not realize how important he is to Millsaps.  Combine his hits with 21 walks and 26 HBP and he has an impressive .446 on base percentage, just what you want from a leadoff hitter.  In addition, he has turned in many spectacular plays in the field this year while only committing 4 errors for a .978 fielding percentage.  He will be hard to replace.

Here's the link:  http://www.millsaps.edu/athletic/baseball/041607story.shtml

[Bob_Lotts]

I'll throw in my two cents....or maybe one and half:

Milsaps over OU....Oglethorpe will put a scare into Millsaps but in the end experience will take over.

Trinity over Rhodes....This will be the series to watch. Rhodes is good but Trinity will be pumped for this one.

DePauw over Southwestern...This one was tough. SW playing some good ball of late, DePauw has won a TON of close games. Toss up series....

Austin over Centre...Centre can swing it but they are very thin in the pitching staff.

[consultant]

These predictions remind me of football season.

I like Millsaps over Oglethorpe in 2 games.  The Majors have too much of everything, and this team knows how to get it done in post season play.

I'm torn between Trinity and Rhodes.  Even a Trinity team that is way down this year is still good.  If things click for the Tigers, Rhodes may have to hope for an at-large berth.  However, I think Rhodes will prevail in three, but they'll have to limit defensive mistakes to do it.

I like Southwestern over DePauw in three.  This series may be the most entertaining.  They are two fairly evenly matched squads, with Southwestern playing for home field advantage at the Spring Sports Festival.

Austin over Centre in 2.  Austin may not blow away Centre, but they'll have just enough to get a sweep. 

[frank_ezelle]

Let me help Bob_Lotts out in promoting OU:

--OU has wins over LaGrange, Maryville (twice), Piedmont, and DePauw (twice) so they have beaten some good teams this year.

--They split with LaGrange, same as Millsaps and better results than Rhodes.

--They have a lot of losses but many are to very good teams and not by that much.  The losses to Rhodes were 10-7, 8-6, 8-7, and 10-9.  The losses to Emory were 6-2, 12-4, and 8-3.  The losses to DePauw were 10-6 and 6-5.  And that loss to LaGrange was only 14-10.  It's not like they are a team that loses by 10 runs or more everytime they play a good team.

The bottom line is that I agree with Bob that the Oglethorpe series is not an automatic win for Millsaps, but I also agree with Consultant that it is very unlikely that the Millsaps players will overlook OU when there is so much on the line. 

All this interest in the crossover tells me that once again the SCAC has gotten it right just as they did with the season ending basketball tournament.  It keeps more teams in the hunt and it certainly keeps the interest up for the entire season.

[historymajor]

Wow, Trinity knocks off #8 TLU tonight 5-4.... committee pitching, big HR by Verrios and MOmentum to carry the Tigers to Millington....  I'll take a tiger over a lynx in a fight anytime!

[frank_ezelle]

Adding to the WOW factor for the SCAC last night, Millsaps knocked off the NAIA #11th ranked Belhaven College team 10-9 to win the Maloney Trophy (an annual competition between these two schools and MS College).  It was a great game to play in preperation for the postseason and I'm sure the guys will be totally focused when they get to Memphis.

I'll get a link to the box score later and maybe even a photo, but I wanted to take a minute to just say how much I've enjoyed watching the Millsaps seniors play over the last few seasons.  They all seem to be great guys and as a group they are really something special that will be hard to replaced.  It appears to me that their immense talent on the baseball field is surpassed by their character and they represent their families and Millsaps in an outstanding manner.  This might have been the last game I get to see them play for Millsaps but I hope that I will be keeping up with them all the way through to the World Series in Wisconsin.  I couldn't think of a more deserving group.

[frank_ezelle]

The image is rather small but this photos is of the coaches and of the players who are probably playing their last season at Millsaps.  The three coaches are Doug Fortenbery and Cody McCain on the far left and Head Coach Jim Page on the far right.  In between on the back row you have Brent Buffa, Derrik Boland, Joe Blades, Taylor Jones, Justin Carter, Luke Morrow and Nicky Prather.  Kneeling up front are Jason Hadley, John Pacillo and Nick Crawford.

[Ralph Turner]

Two other scores to add to the WOW factor...

HSU beat AC 6-4 in a 5 inning rain-shortened outing, then AC lost to McMurry 22-4 in the nightcap as the McMurry pitching committee gave up one earned run.

[frank_ezelle]

Maybe in fairness to Austin College it should be pointed out that they threw the bottom of the pitching staff against McMurry:

--Duplessis had 16 innings prior to last night
--Serhant who was pitching for the first time all year
--Reisig had a total of 3 innings all season
--Finke had thrown 11 innings.

I think the Austin coaches were willing to take a pounding last night rather than use any pitchers that might be needed this weekend since all these pitchers were seldom used and all were at the high end of the ERA list.

[Doc Nelson]

If traditions of baseball excellence were a sure predictor, Trinity would beat Rhodes this year.  But I can't help but think that in 2007 Trinity is the 1965 Yankees and Rhodes is the 1969 Mets.  Based on their traditions, no one could believe that the Yankees would lose or the Mets would win.  But that's what happened.