BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Rhodes looks vulnerable to me.

I think that the SCAC-East might be up for the takings.

[Rufio]

Ralph I am intrigued by your commit.  My question is who do you think in the SCAC-East could challenge Rhodes even with weakness showing through?

My guess would have to be Depauw, they always seem to field a good team that can compete with anyone on any given day. 
Oglethorpe won its first two games today so they were quick to rebound after a terrible first game.   I know the past few years a loss like the one to La Grange would of set them back.  Oglethorpe might be young enough not know any better than to just fight and claw victories this year in the SCAC, but to take the top spot the jury is still out.

Centre I really don't know much about their recruits or their team this year other than they no longer have the big bat of Moore.
and Sewanne... Im not sure they will be much improved from last year. 

[Ralph Turner]

DePauw and Oglethorpe, yes. Or I am making too much of this opening weekend for the Lynx.  Ozarks will do well to finish fourth in the ASC-East.

As I reviewed the SCAC-West, I thought that Austin College was the team to beat.

I am impressed with Coach Iwasaki and what he is building.  The facilities in Sherman have been upgraded, and  there is a huge quantity of good players in north Texas who will be attracted to AC.

Coach Iwasaki scheduled aggressively last season.  I think that his young team benefited from the challenge when it came to the playoffs.  They got hot and won the SCAC tourney.

[ffb]

Birmingham Southern wins 2 games against Greensboro.  Big wins for the group of freshman.  You know it was exciting for them as well as the coaches!

[frank_ezelle]

Two games is a little early to write off a team with as much talent as Rhodes.  Of course, Ralph didn't write them off, he simply pointed out that they have gotten off to a slow start and it might be a little early to give them the SCAC East title.  He also pointed out that these early games are all important for those teams who want the insurance of being in position for an at-large berth if they don't win the SCAC Tournament.  It was a big win for Millsaps to hold on in the 9th today to get the 6-5 win over the Ozarks.

As for the U. of the Ozarks, it's possible that they might be a little stronger than preseason perceptions.  They have enough pitching to hold Rhodes to 2 runs yesterday and Millsaps only had 4 hits today.  Either their pitching is pretty good or Millsaps and Rhodes are weak at the plate.  I also think LaGrange is a very good offensive team that needs to find more pitching than they showed against Millsaps.  I believe they issued 10 walks against Millsaps, a stat that tends to get a pitching staff in trouble all day.

It's good to see some wins from the SCAC this weekend.  Hendrix did get pounded 21-6 and 19-3 today, but I have a feeling that the University of Texas-Tyler is going to pound quite a few teams this season.  I know the theory of playing the best to be the best, but scheduling UT-Tyler is a very difficult 3-game non-conference series for a young team like Hendrix.

[Lou_Brown]

I think its a little to early to count Rhodes out! Two loses and all of sudden they won't win the east? LaGrange is legit, Ozarks is a good ball club. They'll get back on track.

Good wins for Oglethorpe on Saturday...fielding is an issue on the right side of the infield, but their SS is VERY good.

BSC won two games on Saturday...I've said it before, that team will be better than people think...they may be all freshmen but they are talented.

[consultant]

It's definitely early in the season.  Nevertheless, Millsaps just knocked of Rhodes 8-2 to improve to 3-0 on the year.  Rhodes falls to 0-3.  The Majors hosted a strong tournament field this weekend.  Very good wins for Millsaps early on.

[jekelish]

15-7 loss for the 'Roos against TLU today.  Schleizer threw for AC in his first start since...man, two years ago?  He only gave up three runs, but threw a ton of pitches.

Chermak didn't pitch this weekend for AC.  I think Coach Iwasaki is just resting his ace for as long as he can, and also trying to see what he's got for the remainder of his staff.

[frank_ezelle]

A team finally pitched to Hunter Owen this year after having been walked 7 times in the first two games.  He responded with 2 home runs.  Billy Murphy, the new starter at 2nd also added a home run.

Freshman Aaron Williams started for Millsaps and gave up 1 hit in 5 scoreless innings.  Jason Riggins, who didn't pitch any last year, pitched a scoreless 3.1 innings to finish up the game.  Millsaps plays Mississippi College this Tuesday and then they take on Emory in Atlanta for single games on Saturday and Sunday.  All of those games will be broadcast.

Link to box score:

http://www.millsaps.edu/athletic/baseball/mcb-021008.htm

[DPU3619]

My guess would have to be Depauw, they always seem to field a good team that can compete with anyone on any given day. 

Yeah.  I'll get back to you on that in two weeks when DePauw actually plays a game.  Pending the weather, of course. 

You guys are playing ball and we're due for a half foot of snow tonight. sigh.

[frank_ezelle]

Wes, not only playing ball, but playing ball in 60-70 degree weather.  It seems like we get this kind of weather early in the season and the really cold weather hits right about the time some of the northern teams come south for their spring break trip.

[Ralph Turner]

Wes, not only playing ball, but playing ball in 60-70 degree weather.  It seems like we get this kind of weather early in the season and the really cold weather hits right about the time some of the northern teams come south for their spring break trip.

Yes, the meteorological pattern that we have in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in February is a stable pattern in which we get a cold front that clears up the weather.  A day later, we get a warm front out of the southwest from the Pacific or up out of the Gulf; we get partly cloudy to cloudy skies and the another cold front comes thru.  This cycle happens every four days, especially if the jet stream keeps the really cold Arctic air out of this part of the country.

In March, we get the instability in the jet stream and allows the turbulence in the major weather systems.  March is ugly.  Only does it get better in April.

[frank_ezelle]

NOTE:  This game has been move to 6:00 Thursday night because of bad weather. 

MS College is scheduled to play at Millsaps this evening at 6:00 Central time.  The weather is a little iffy, beautiful at the moment but with an 80% chance of rain this afternoon and evening.  There will be two broadcasts available if the game is played:

MC Broadcast:
http://www.gochoctaws.com/Sports/admin/2006/Broadcast.asp

Millsaps Broadcast:
http://www.espnradio1240.com/

[frank_ezelle]

Southwestern trailed Howard Payne 4-3 after two innings and that was all the scoring in the game today. 

http://southwesternpirates.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/021208aaa.html

Southwestern hits the field again tomorrow with a single game against U. of Texas at Dallas.

[Lou_Brown]

Can't wait for the rest of the SCAC to start up. Most of the other teams get going this weekend. Hat to see Hendrix get off to a 0-7 start. I have to question the scheduling? Why would you take a young team to face off against Texas-Tyler THREE times in the early part of the year? Also, they have already played 7 games! How many games will they have in April?

Big series in Atlanta this weekend with Millsaps playing Emory. It will be Emory's first games of the season. They returned most their starting nine, but will rely on a plethora of freshmen pitchers. I would not like to be a freshmen and go up against the Millsaps' lineup as my first college start...It should be some fun baseball, and have a regional type atmosphere.