BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Jack Parkman]

  Hopefully CalTech beats MIT on Thurs in the meeting of the minds.

Not likely as MIT beat Chapman 8-2 last night.

Exactly.  MIT athletics are pretty darn good all around.  Not saying it cannot happen, just don't think it will.

[Jack Parkman]

My CLU picks last week were off for game 2.  I honestly didn't expect they would get shut down in game 2; but knew game 3 would be a toss-up.

Series this week:

Whittier at CLU:    I expect CLU will bounce back and sweep Whittier.  They need to get better pitching from their 3rd starter.  If they get back any of their 3 starters, then I expect their lineup will bounce back and be as consistent as it was earlier in the year.    They do have 4 hitters in top 11 of SCIAC (including Crowl at .476), but were shutout 2x in their 5 games last week (counting Sun in AZ). 
All this as a preamble to predict CLU 3-0.

Redlands at Chapman:  Hopefully Smith goes Friday against Minjarez... that will be as good a matchup as Minjarez vs Scott Peters last Friday.
As an aside, looking at the SCIAC stats I was surprised to see Redlands with 3 of the top batters in top 10.  Their team average has raised to very healthy .357
I think Minjarez will win at home Friday and then they split on Sat.   Redlands 2-1. 


PP at Oxy:  Oxy's #2 and #3 are having pretty good years; both only 1 loss and ERA's in the 2.9-3.5 range.  But, their #1 Kling, isn't matching their performance.  None of PP's starting pitchers have stats that can match the Oxy stats (although Miles was doing pretty decent until the LV game). 
With PP they'll win based on their offense, not pitching.     I think PP takes game 1 at home on Friday and split on Sat.  PP 2-1.
But, I reserve the right to change my mind and switch to Oxy 2-1, because Oxy just seems to keep finding a way to win.


CMS at Caltech:   I'm predicting CMS wins the series 2-1.  Hopefully CalTech beats MIT on Thurs in the meeting of the minds.

I will keep this short...

Cal Lu wins 3 against Whittier.
Redlands takes 2 of 3 against Chapman.
Pomona sweeps Oxy.
CMS takes 2 of 3 from Caltech.

[CrashDavisD3]

Cal Lu sweep
Pomona sweep
CMS sweep
Chapman 2 of 3 Redlands

[Purplebaseball]

Well PH see what happens when Whittier puts a whole game together...Hitting, pitching and defense.  Whittier 9 CLU 5

[Jack Parkman]

Great win for Whittier yesterday.  Cal Lu better figure some things out or they are in serious trouble.

Chapman and Redlands was an absolute battle but I never expected Minjarez and Smith to get knocked around the way they did.  Redlands must sweep today.

Oxy booted the ball all over the place and Pomona got the timely hits.  Oxy needs to take both today of they could be in a little trouble with plenty of tough games remaining.

I had to do a double-take when I saw the La Verne score.  Still can't get a read on La Verne.

[CrashDavisD3]

Upset Friday. What's in store for Saturday in the wacky SCIAC. Anyone could finish in the top 4 for the SCIAC tournament spots except for the bottom 3.

[Purple Heys]

Well PH see what happens when Whittier puts a whole game together...Hitting, pitching and defense.  Whittier 9 CLU 5

This is a big thing for the Poets...they aren't mailing it in for the season. They've made a choice to compete...that makes me a Proud Poet Poppa!  (Isn't alliteration fun?)

[Purple Heys]

Then more on Saturday, as the Poets take the first game and threaten sweep, but alas, it was not to be.  CLU had no intention of rolling over in game 3.

Whittier's record betrays would they could have been...when they play outside their mental hurdles, they aren't a bottom 3 team.  Maybe not in the Top 4, but a threat at least...had they been able to put together the level of play on display this CLU series vs. Oxy and ULV, this team could legitimately be 8-7 right now, and with some luck and one more arm, 9-6, add one more consistent bat then 10-5.

As for CLU, these are games they can't make up; with PP, Oxy, and ULV having swept the Poets.

All in all a good weekend.  Now we shall see if they build on (not sit back on) this weekend and put Chapman on the hot seat.

[Purple Heys]

That second game win over CLU kept CMS from overtaking Whittier, for now, in the win column.

[CrashDavisD3]

STANDINGS
La Verne   12-3   15-9
Pomona-Pitzer   11-4   19-7
Occidental   13-5   17-9
Cal Lutheran   10-5   18-8
Chapman   10-5   17-9
Redlands   10-8   17-9
Whittier   3-12   5-21
CMS   3-15   5-24
Caltech   0-15   2-22

[Teddy_Ballgame]

STANDINGS
La Verne   12-3   15-9
Pomona-Pitzer   11-4   19-7
Occidental   13-5   17-9
Cal Lutheran   10-5   18-8
Chapman   10-5   17-9
Redlands   10-8   17-9
Whittier   3-12   5-21
CMS   3-15   5-24
Caltech   0-15   2-22

Tough to make much sense of the SCIAC right now...

In weekend series so far this year Whittier beat CLU who beat Chapman who beat Redlands who beat La Verne who beat Pomona who beat Oxy... who beat Whittier. We've come full circle! Surprising to see that many teams show the ability to win series against the "top" of the conference (it it still the top if there are 2/3 of the teams are in it?). It's clear from the last few weeks (and CLU's struggles) there are no outstanding teams and no front-runner. However, there are a LOT of good teams. I'm not sure I remember the conference ever being this deep. Gonna make the race for the top 4 incredibly interesting.

This weekend's matchups:
Redlands v. Cal Tech
La Verne v. Occidental
Pomona- Pitzer v. Cal Lutheran
Whittier v. Chapman

The ULV-Oxy series should be interesting as both teams have shown very different sides of themselves of the course of the season. I think ultimately the Leo bats prevail. ULV 2-1.

CIT took a step back with three pretty decisive losses against CMS after showing upset potential and grabbing a few wins in the last few weeks. Redlands has been up and down, but they should get an easy sweep. UR 3-0

PP has been playing pretty well and CLU has been struggling. But the back and forth history of these two teams should make for a great series. I don't think there's a single outcome that would surprise me, but I will send out a warning to all opposing pitchers- Rosenbaum is getting hot. PP 2-1.

Whittier took two last week from CLU, and I'm encouraged by the reports from PH and Pb. This team has the potential to spoil some seasons. Still, Chapman has been playing quality baseball of late and finding ways to win. CU 2-1

[Purplebaseball]

Then more on Saturday, as the Poets take the first game and threaten sweep, but alas, it was not to be.  CLU had no intention of rolling over in game 3.

Whittier's record betrays would they could have been...when they play outside their mental hurdles, they aren't a bottom 3 team.  Maybe not in the Top 4, but a threat at least...had they been able to put together the level of play on display this CLU series vs. Oxy and ULV, this team could legitimately be 8-7 right now, and with some luck and one more arm, 9-6, add one more consistent bat then 10-5.

As for CLU, these are games they can't make up; with PP, Oxy, and ULV having swept the Poets.

All in all a good weekend.  Now we shall see if they build on (not sit back on) this weekend and put Chapman on the hot seat.

Well PH it looks the freshman bats of Macey, Mayfield and Lamar came through in the CLU series.  The freshmen  trio went 12-26 .461 with 7 RBI's.  If Whittier can get that kind of production out of the freshmen trio, Chapman might be in for a long weekend?

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman sweeps Whittier
Pomona 2-1 over Cal Lu
La Verne sweeps Occidental
Redlands sweeps Caltech

SCIAC top 4 for the SCIAC tournament is anybody;s guess. Only CMS, CalTech, Whittier are out.

[Purple Heys]

Then more on Saturday, as the Poets take the first game and threaten sweep, but alas, it was not to be.  CLU had no intention of rolling over in game 3.

Whittier's record betrays would they could have been...when they play outside their mental hurdles, they aren't a bottom 3 team.  Maybe not in the Top 4, but a threat at least...had they been able to put together the level of play on display this CLU series vs. Oxy and ULV, this team could legitimately be 8-7 right now, and with some luck and one more arm, 9-6, add one more consistent bat then 10-5.

As for CLU, these are games they can't make up; with PP, Oxy, and ULV having swept the Poets.

All in all a good weekend.  Now we shall see if they build on (not sit back on) this weekend and put Chapman on the hot seat.

Well PH it looks the freshman bats of Macey, Mayfield and Lamar came through in the CLU series.  The freshmen  trio went 12-26 .461 with 7 RBI's.  If Whittier can get that kind of production out of the freshmen trio, Chapman might be in for a long weekend?

All that and more my friend, I think all classes shined!  Some stellar senior play as Ben (on the mound in Game 2), Stevie and Cody Sr. barreling up at the plate. But lest we not fail to mention Juniors Whip, Dylan, and Cody strong with the bat and glove and Nick's quality game 2 start, and Gram and Mikey representing for the sophs.  But truly, it's nice when the 1st year players have plate success...it's like playing with house money.

This was a team effort if I ever saw it and it was particularly gratifying given the heartbreak of last week.

Now my hope is that they are not satisfied with this.  They need to treat this like their playoffs and put another dent in somebody else's season.  It will be tougher, because they now have Chapman's attention.

[Purple Heys]

Chapman sweeps Whittier

Umm...yeah...about that...   

Cal Lu sweep