BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Whatagame]

Good discussion, lots of hand-wringing about an 8 - 2 team though.  One thing I don't necessarily agree with is the verbiage of "easy" pitching.  Some guys may not throw hard, etc., but if they were easy pitchers, they would not be starting for good teams. 

I know as non-players we sit in the stands and see guys like this and think, "our guys should be killing this guy."  I've thought it as well, so I'm not meaning to be snarky. 

Ansett went 8 - 4 for Whitworth last season, started 12 games and threw over 80 innings, and the Northwest Conference had/s more than a few dudes on multiple teams that can swing the sticks.  Let's just say "crafty winner" or something like that.

[Spence]

Thanks Crash.  I am "painfully" aware of how many times Trinity has come up one game short on the trip to Appleton.
On the other hand, I have some satisfaction that our son helped get them to that game the first two times and set a standard that a successful season is measured by, at least,  playing in that game.  One can always look back and, for instance, believe they make it in 2012 if Lucero does not get hurt and could not pitch. One thing Coach Scannell teaches is to not make excuses...so I won't.
Using the Austin series as a benchmark, I feel this team has to improve in a number of areas to get to Appleton, with some of that coming on the shoulders of the seniors and a lot of it riding on the improvement of a lot of talented freshman.

Trinity teams are always well coached, pitch well, hit well and are very tough to beat. Not making excuses but injuries, bad weather at a regional, long trips to the regional, and long break before the regional has not helped either. But teams find ways to overcome.

I remember at team in 2009 lost their 2 time #1 AA pitcher and starting catcher during the regular season and still found a way to get to Appleton and 1 win away from playing on the last day in Appleton.

In 2011 another team lost the 3 time AA pitcher in Game 1 in Appleton but some how were 1 win away from a National Championship.

In 2002 another team lost the D-III career record holder for wins and strikeouts after 4 starts in the season and made it to the championship game.

[infielddad]

Is all this necessary?
In 2002, at the West Regional, Trinity lost their Assistant Coach. He  passed away during the night following their first round win and move into the winners bracket. The team woke up, got on the bus for the 10am first game, only to learn of the death.  When they arrived at the field around 9am, they were given the option to forfeit or play the game, delayed by one hour to 11am.
They played. Lost 5-2. Came back at night and beat Pomona-Pitzer who had two of the very best hitters in DIII that year.
Our son's roommate threw an absolute gem against P-P, giving up only a 3 run HR to Jase Turner. Our son had a bunch of hits and RBI's.
I have never been more in awe of a group of players and coaches in my life.
As a parent, Appleton never meant as much after that night.

[108 Stitches]

Good discussion, lots of hand-wringing about an 8 - 2 team though. 

Good point, thanks for the perspective.....

But you have to admit it drives you nuts to see 215lb beasts at the plate wrapping themselves around a 78MPH fastball...inning....after...inning...after....inning...

[Whatagame]

Good discussion, lots of hand-wringing about an 8 - 2 team though. 

Good point, thanks for the perspective.....

But you have to admit it drives you nuts to see 215lb beasts at the plate wrapping themselves around a 78MPH fastball...inning....after...inning...after....inning...

Amen, but we don't stand in the batter's box, there's gotta be some magic to that slow, wafting baseball.  Best of luck to TU this season!

[DMJSports]

Here is an interesting look at how individuals impact a team's performance.  The following analysis is not based on individual stats, but compares team performance with individual players in and out of the lineup.  This is an objective analysis using actual data from every game played by Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference teams this season.  Based on this comprehensive analysis, the following players are making the most positive impact on their respective team:

Austin: ALEN MICHAEL in the lineup correlates to improving Austin scoring rate by 0.2ppg and decreasing opponents scoring rate by 11.2ppg - a net gain of 11.5ppg compared to when MICHAEL is out of the lineup.  JORDAN HANCOCK (9.1ppg) also makes a strong positive impact.

Centenary (La.): not enough data available

Colorado College: IAN REWOLDT on the court correlates to improving Colorado College scoring rate by 8.6ppg and decreasing opponents scoring rate by 7.9ppg - a net gain of 16.5ppg compared to when REWOLDT is on the bench.  CHRIS LESNANSKY (15.3ppg), JAKE TRAMUTOLO (10.8ppg) and RYAN MILNE (8.3ppg) also make a strong positive impact.

Southwestern: MICHAEL CANTU court presence correlates to increasing Southwestern scoring rate by 8.0ppg and decreasing opponents scoring rate by 0.2ppg - a net gain of 8.2ppg compared to when CANTU is off the floor.  SEAN MYERS (7.4ppg) and CHASE KOCHER (6.4ppg) also make a strong positive impact.

Trinity: not enough data available

University of Dallas: DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to reducing University of Dallas scoring rate by 17.5ppg and decreasing opponents scoring rate by 30.2ppg - a net gain of 12.8ppg compared to when ASSINESI is off the floor.


On the lighter side, focusing on secondary goals (team stats other than the primary objective - outscoring opponents).  Following are players making the most positive impact in these areas:

Team scoring: having SEAN MYERS on the floor correlates to Southwestern increasing its scoring rate by 11.8 ppg compared to when MYERS is on the bench.

Opponent scoring: having DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to University of Dallas decreasing opposition scoring rate by 30.2 ppg compared to when ASSINESI is on the bench.

Team field goal percentage: having SEAN MYERS on the floor correlates to Southwestern increasing its field goal percentage rate by 5.9 percentage points compared to when MYERS is on the bench.  MICHAEL CANTU-Southwestern (5.5) also makes a strong positive impact.

Opponent field goal percentage: having ALEN MICHAEL on the floor correlates to Austin decreasing opposition field goal percentage rate by 5.9 percentage points compared to when MICHAEL is on the bench.

Team made field goals: having SEAN MYERS on the floor correlates to Southwestern increasing its made field goals rate by 3.7 per game compared to when MYERS is on the bench.

Opponent made field goals: having DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to University of Dallas decreasing opposition made field goals rate by 8.2 per game compared to when ASSINESI is on the bench.

Team offensive rebounds: having ALEN MICHAEL on the floor correlates to Austin increasing its offensive rebounds rate by 4.7 per game compared to when MICHAEL is on the bench.

Opponent offensive rebounds: having CHRIS LESNANSKY on the floor correlates to Colorado College decreasing opposition offensive rebounds rate by 4.8 per game compared to when LESNANSKY is on the bench.

Team turnovers: having DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to University of Dallas decreasing its turnovers rate by 8.2 per game compared to when ASSINESI is on the bench.

Opponent turnovers: having DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to University of Dallas increasing opposition turnovers rate by 2.8 per game compared to when ASSINESI is on the bench.

Team steals: having DREW ASSINESI on the floor correlates to University of Dallas increasing its steals rate by 2.7 per game compared to when ASSINESI is on the bench.

Team assists: having MICHAEL CANTU on the floor correlates to Southwestern increasing its assists rate by 2.1 per game compared to when CANTU is on the bench.

Team defensive rebounds: having IAN REWOLDT on the floor correlates to Colorado College increasing its defensive rebounds rate by 5.6 per game compared to when REWOLDT is on the bench.

[Gray Fox]

DMJSports,
This would be a great post on the basketball board.

[DMJSports]

My apologies Gray Fox, thanks for pointing it out.   

[Just_Some_Guy]

DMJSports,
This would be a great post on the basketball board.

I was just reading along thinking this was going to be some interesting analysis and then I read that a player had a net impact of 11.5ppg and I was very confused w/ respect to baseball. Ha!

JSG

[CrashDavisD3]

DMJSports,
This would be a great post on the basketball board.

I was just reading along thinking this was going to be some interesting analysis and then I read that a player had a net impact of 11.5ppg and I was very confused w/ respect to baseball. Ha!

JSG

PPG = Popups Per Game or Pitches per Game 

[CrashDavisD3]

SCAC baseball 2013 - With the conference being so small after so many teams left, do they still get a Pool A bid or do they move into Pool B bids

If they do Why?  Only 5 teams and I believe only 4 are eligible for post season? Can someone educate me, since I dont know

[108 Stitches]

Good fortune....cookie.

It is only a transition year as more teams come in the following years. I certainly don't know the rules, but the AQ stays with a qualified conference, which the SCAC is.

On the opposite side of the equation, think about a team like Birmingham Southern who finally becomes eligible and has to wait for the SAA A.Q. for two years.

As they say life if not fair.

[Ron Boerger]

SCAC baseball 2013 - With the conference being so small after so many teams left, do they still get a Pool A bid or do they move into Pool B bids

If they do Why?  Only 5 teams and I believe only 4 are eligible for post season? Can someone educate me, since I dont know

As I  remember a conference in the midst of a reorganization has two years to get back to the minimum number of teams (7 I think) for an AQ.  As long as there are at least four core members participating in a sport the conference gets to keep the AQ it had previously earned.  As you mention, Centenary is still provisional D3 so not eligible for any post-season play until they complete that transition.

The SAA, as a brand new conference, has to wait two years before any AQs will be granted by the NCAA, again based on them having the minimum number of participants in each sport. 

[Ralph Turner]

BSC and the SAA teams will be evaluated in Pool B.  The NCAA allocates one bid in Pool B for every # of schools as determined by the access ratio (# of school in Pool A conferences divided by # of Pool A conferences.)

[Ron Boerger]

Lordy, Southwestern continues to struggle through 2013 with another run-rule game today, losing 15-2 to Trinity to drop to 1-16.   The first two games were more competitive, 4-0 and 6-1.  I didn't expect Coach Thomas to totally turn things around in his first season but their performance to date still comes as a shock.    This is the fifth loss by ten or more runs for the Pirates this season.