BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Teddy_Ballgame]

After a wild weekend in the SCIAC, and despite their being one day left of games, the seeding is set for the SCIAC tournament:
1. Cal Lutheran 24-4
2. Pomona-Pitzer 20-8
3. Redlands 17-11
4. Occidental 16-11*

*Oxy still has a game against CMS. Even if they win, which they probably will, Redlands has the tiebreaker over them for the 3rd seed

Defending SCIAC champs La Verne and perennial powerhouse Chapman are officially eliminated from postseason play. Both may have been down a bit from years past but still had solid teams, and I think their absence is a testament to the depth of the SCIAC this year.

Now from what I understand the tournament next weekend will be set up in a traditional 4 team, double elimination format. Cal Lu will play at home against Oxy, and P-P at home against Redlands. The winners play each other, and the losers play an elimination game. The remaining 1-1 teams will then play each other for a chance to beat the 2-0 team twice and take the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. I'm also assuming, but would appreciate clarification, that the higher seed keeps home field throughout the tournament?

[Richard Hamstocks]

I'm also assuming, but would appreciate clarification, that the higher seed keeps home field throughout the tournament?

It's my understanding that after Friday, all games are at Cal Lu.  That's a lot of (short schedule) travel otherwise. 

[BigPoppa]

The longer the Coach T situation plays out at Chapman, the more it seems he will not be back. If that IS the case, where does Chapman turn for its next head coach? I have two possibilities:

1. Jeff Sears- former Chapman assistant and current head coach at Servite High School.

2. Mike Grahovac- Chapman alum and current head coach NAIA Concordia-Irvine. Won the NAIA national title 2-3 years ago and may look to make a jump back to NCAA as the NAIA's Golden State Athletic Conference appears to be dwindling in membership.

Thoughts?

[OxyBob]

The longer the Coach T situation plays out at Chapman, the more it seems he will not be back.

I think you are right, but I wouldn't swear to it.

OxyBob

[Ron Boerger]

According to a post on the Coach T facebook group, ~1220 Pacific Daylight Time tody:

Bobby Evers > We Stand Behind Coach T!
   FYI Just got this text from Eddie:
   Tom officially resigned today. It is Tom's request that no one send any email, text or call chapman to voice their    unhappiness. That action will only hurt his chances to get a future job. Spread the word, no response at all

[Ron Boerger]

And now that post is gone.

EDIT:  VERY shortly after I posted this, the group was changed from "open" to "secret", and shortly after that I was apparently kicked out, or the group was removed altogether.  Oh, well.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

I'm also assuming, but would appreciate clarification, that the higher seed keeps home field throughout the tournament?

It's my understanding that after Friday, all games are at Cal Lu.  That's a lot of (short schedule) travel otherwise.

Turns out you're right, with one caveat. Sunday is the highest remaining seed left in the tournament- smart money says that means the game(s) will still be at Cal Lu, but it depends on who survives. Saturday definitely at Cal Lu (they will necessarily be the highest remaining seed since no teams will have been eliminated at that point).

Guesses for pitching matchups? You have to assume that everyone throws their ace on Friday- having to play from the loser's bracket makes things a lot more difficult. If so, that would mean:

Petersen (Cal Lu) vs. Hong? (Oxy)
Kling was Oxy's #1 for most of the year until they started Hong against PP last weekend. Kling is 2-3 (attribute that to having to face everyone else's best pitcher) with a 3.21 ERA, while Hong has a stellar 1.20 ERA with a 5-1 record. Hong started the year as their closer- he's also an everyday outfielder and leadoff hitter- before moving to the starting rotation. He's been the best so I assume he gets the ball. Petersen has been the Friday guy all year for Cal Lu, while batting .485- also playing outfield. Could be an interesting matchup. Both pitchers have faced their opponent once this year with the following lines:
Petersen 6.0IP 8H 3R 2ER 8K's (Petersen got the W in a 5-3 victory in which Kling started for Oxy)
Hong      1.0IP 1H 0R 2K's (Came in a 6-0 loss in the last game of the series, before he was moved to the rotation. This really makes me think they should throw Hong- CLU doesn't have much of a scouting report to go off of.)

Bruml (PP) vs. Smith (UofR)
Bruml has been PP's #1 all year, and particularly with the injuries to their previous #2 and #3 you have to assume he gets the ball. He's 7-3 with a 2.68 ERA overall. Smith has been Redlands' #1 all year and has the best numbers of their starters- 7-2 with a 3.96 ERA. However, he was roughed up a bit in his previous matchup with the Sagehens. Bruml faced Smith in that game and their respective lines were:
Bruml 6.0IP 9H 4R 3ER 1BB 3K's
Smith 5.1IP 9H 9R 6ER 2BB 4K's
I should note that the Sagehen bullpen imploded in that game. Bruml left after 6 with a 9-4 lead. The Bulldogs scored 9 runs in the next two innings to win 13-9.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

I should also note that Occidental plays today at CMS. With absolutely nothing on the line, playing a bad team, and with games this weekend, might be a chance to get someone some innings for their 7 pitchers with less than 10 innings on the year. Either have everyone go 1-2 innings, or give a couple guys some extended innings (3-4) as a bit of an audition for the weekend.

Chapman will finish their season at Cal Tech today, while La Verne closes against Whittier. If there's any silver lining for the seniors on that Chapman team after a year of turmoil and disappointment, they should be able to close their college careers with a win and hopefully a decent stat line. I don't know enough about the situation with Coach T to comment on specifics, but you have to feel for those seniors.

Finally, congrats to my buddy Erik Munzer (CF) on being named to d3baseball.com's team of the week. He had a tremendous close to the regular season, and is now hitting .394 on the year after a really tough start (1 for his first 18). Here's d3baseball's write up:
"Munzer helped Pomona-Pitzer go 3-1 in the SCIAC's pool play format for the final week of the regular season, locking up the 2 seed and home field for the first round of the playoffs. He batted .778 (14-for-18) with eight RBI and seven runs scored. Munzer celebrated his Senior Day by reaching base in his first 10 plate appearances in home games against La Verne and Whittier (8-for-8 with a walk and a HBP) before finally being retired in the bottom of the eighth."

[Ron Boerger]

CrashDavis sent this:  according to the Chapman student paper, Coach T has resigned:

http://www.thepantheronline.com/news/tereschuk-resigns-as-baseball-head-coach

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Occidental pulls one out against CMS 9-8, uses 8 pitchers in the process- presumably to keep everyone fresh and available for the weekend.

La Verne beats Whittier 4-3 in extra innings to finish with a 16-12 record in SCIAC, 22-16 overall.

Chapman ends a very difficult season with a 15-1 win over Caltech in 7 innings. While it was their first losing record since Coach T came aboard, they did finish with a winning record in SCIAC.

[CrashDavisD3]

I expect some upsets in games in the SCIAC conference tourney but in the end I expect Cal Lu to win. Their bats will score enough runs to beat everyone.  Cal Lu .365 BA is averaging over 9 runs per game.

http://www.clusports.com/stats/baseball/2013/teamcume.htm

[NWBaseballFan10]

Just wanted to add my thoughts on the sad news coming out of Chapman that Coach Tereschuk has resigned. It's an unfortunate end for a Coach who has done so much for a program on and off the field. Every Chapman player I've ever spoke to has had nothing but praise for the man and I've yet to come across anyone whose felt otherwise. I think he deserves an enormous amount of praise for the success he was able to manage on the field and also for the ways he impacted the lives of so many individuals off of it. He will truly be missed within that University.

And on a side note, I just still haven't grasped this trend in our society and the NCAA that has forced so many great coaches away from their respected schools. There has been a huge shift in recent months surrounding college coaching and I'm sorry to say that I don't think it's over yet.

[108 Stitches]

Another case of PC culture gone awry IMO.

I for one want my son playing for a tough coach who teaches him lessons that he can not get elsewhere. I am thinking that he will survive being called "female genitalia"..... my goodness what has the world come to.  I am thinking there are a couple of programs in the SCAC who could use a coach like Coach T. He may well jump to Division 1 as it was not long ago there was an article in the OC paper as the best coach in So Cal regardless of level. USC would do itself well hiring him.

Best of luck to Coach T!

[Jack Parkman]

Am I right to assume the "female genetalia" was not the P-word, it was actually the C-word??

[CrashDavisD3]

Just wanted to add my thoughts on the sad news coming out of Chapman that Coach Tereschuk has resigned. It's an unfortunate end for a Coach who has done so much for a program on and off the field. Every Chapman player I've ever spoke to has had nothing but praise for the man and I've yet to come across anyone whose felt otherwise. I think he deserves an enormous amount of praise for the success he was able to manage on the field and also for the ways he impacted the lives of so many individuals off of it. He will truly be missed within that University.

And on a side note, I just still haven't grasped this trend in our society and the NCAA that has forced so many great coaches away from their respected schools. There has been a huge shift in recent months surrounding college coaching and I'm sorry to say that I don't think it's over yet.

Another case of PC culture gone awry IMO.

I for one want my son playing for a tough coach who teaches him lessons that he can not get elsewhere. I am thinking that he will survive being called "female genitalia"..... my goodness what has the world come to.  I am thinking there are a couple of programs in the SCAC who could use a coach like Coach T. He may well jump to Division 1 as it was not long ago there was an article in the OC paper as the best coach in So Cal regardless of level. USC would do itself well hiring him.

Best of luck to Coach T!

Well said.  I watched up close the outstanding qualities of this coach since 2006 and the real loss is to the remaining players for Chapman and what they will miss and learn. I am glad for those players who had a chance to experience the opportunity to play for a man who loves the game, has fire and passion for the game and for his players on and off the field. Only the few who did not play and could not endure a coach that demands and expects the best from his players and pushes his players to achieve things they could not achieve in other programs. It is a very sad reflection on our PC society today and how a few can ruin so much for the majority these days. I am sure Coach T will survive and thrive in another program soon. He won championships at the high school level and the college level. Watch for him to do the same soon somewhere else. I do not expect Chapman to be winning any SCIAC championships in baseball anytime soon.

Any D1 program in the country that wants to win and win now would be thrilled to give him the opportunity to coach for him.
He is tough and demanding. So was Lombardi, so is Garrido at Texas and so are other winners in all walks of life.

Chapman may have done him a favor by facilitating this change by putting an outstanding coach out on the open market. Let the bidding begin.