BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Purple Heys]

Okay, enough of the historic bottom of the SCIAC.

Posters - Let me know your predicted top half of the SCIAC in order of 1st thru 5th, and if you have one, share a brief reason for each particular prediction.  I am still learning about this conference.

1. Chapman - Offense is too explosive and Coach Laverty is an offensive genius. Too much fire power up and down the lineup between Larkin, Cook, Love, and Utility man Gavin Blodgett or Pudge as some of the guys call him. Pitching staff will be much improved from last season, except Tyler Peck to make a big impact on the rotation.
2. Cal Lutheran - Saito is always reliable to top the rotation and they always have guys step up and fill in, team will compete this year.
3. Redlands - Felix is a great guy to top a SCIAC rotation, but they're gonna need a lot of help to slow down the Panther offense this season.
4. Pomona-Pitzer - Nishioka is a dominant player that can change the game with one swing of the bat. It will help them a little, but the team simply has too many holes to win it all.
5. Occidental - No way they'll be able to repeat the same magic from last year, once again too many holes on the team especially in the pitching staff.

So...let me make sure I understand what you are saying, cuz it's coming in sorta fuzzy and it kinda seemed that he was hedging his bet here...Skip is picking Chapman to win the SCIAC, right?

[Appalachian Mtns]

Okay, enough of the historic bottom of the SCIAC.

Posters - Let me know your predicted top half of the SCIAC in order of 1st thru 5th, and if you have one, share a brief reason for each particular prediction.  I am still learning about this conference.

1. Chapman - Offense is too explosive and Coach Laverty is an offensive genius. Too much fire power up and down the lineup between Larkin, Cook, Love, and Utility man Gavin Blodgett or Pudge as some of the guys call him. Pitching staff will be much improved from last season, except Tyler Peck to make a big impact on the rotation.
2. Cal Lutheran - Saito is always reliable to top the rotation and they always have guys step up and fill in, team will compete this year.
3. Redlands - Felix is a great guy to top a SCIAC rotation, but they're gonna need a lot of help to slow down the Panther offense this season.
4. Pomona-Pitzer - Nishioka is a dominant player that can change the game with one swing of the bat. It will help them a little, but the team simply has too many holes to win it all.
5. Occidental - No way they'll be able to repeat the same magic from last year, once again too many holes on the team especially in the pitching staff.

So...let me make sure I understand what you are saying, cuz it's coming in sorta fuzzy and it kinda seemed that he was hedging his bet here...Skip is picking Chapman to win the SCIAC, right?

Looks like it to me.  Chapman has a strong program.  Skip might be picking a little with his heart, plus it could also be financially motivated since the Flamingo has Chapman at 5 to 1 odds to win the SCIAC and get the at large bid.

[Ralph Turner]

Looks like he does, too!

[Gray Fox]

I just looked at the CalTech roster.  They have twelve guys that can pitch in some way.

[SoCalBaseballfan]

I miss Chapman as a national power, but it appears that ship sailed when Coach T resigned. He came out OK in the end as he is currently teaching and coaching in Hawaii.

Yep a name from the past still making a difference in players lives. A great coach during his time at Chapman. His name mentioned in 2016 and 2015 here.
http://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/football/spring-ing-into-football-season-radford-rams/

http://www.therampage.net/uncategorized/2015/09/02/tereschuk-joins-english-department/

[SoCalSoxFan]

I just looked at the CalTech roster.  They have twelve guys that can pitch in some way.

Nice to see that CalTech has got their first win of season earlier this week (in January!!) 
For the official record, they are first SCIAC team to win this year!   Congrats.

[SoCalBaseballfan]

http://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2017/contrib/201702033ivhuv

[SoCalBaseballfan]

http://www.d3baseball.com/seasons/2017/contrib/201702033ivhuv

SCIAC Coaches Poll

1) Cal Lutheran

2) Occidental

3) Chapman

4) Redlands

5) Pomona-Pitzer

6) La Verne

7) Whittier

8) Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

9) Caltech

[SoCalBaseballfan]

SCIAC BASEBALL
http://thesciac.org/sports/bsb/index

[SoCalBaseballfan]

SCIAC BASEBALL
http://thesciac.org/sports/bsb/index

http://thesciac.org/sports/bsb/2016-17/standings

[Purple Heys]

First weekend in the books for some of the SCIAC teams.
Whittier, Redlands, Pomona, La Verne, Occidental, and Cal Tech in action.  Anybody see any of the games? 

[Purple Heys]

First weekend in the books for some of the SCIAC teams.
Whittier, Redlands, Pomona, La Verne, Occidental, and Cal Tech in action.  Anybody see any of the games?

I'll start:

Whittier went 2-2 for the weekend which makes for their best start in at least 4 years.  Noted that WU and PS probably do not represent the cream of the NWC crop, but they are not Little Sisters of the Poor either...there was good talent on those teams and they were well-coached.

Enough to be happy with, but plenty of improvement to be made if they want to truly compete.  Could easily have been 3-1 (or better) on the weekend.  Whittier can not be that sloppy on defense and get away with it and it showed.  SCIAC play will be no different.  If the Poets can clean those things up; and build on the things that went well, then they will be a threat.  For a team that I have seen be a notoriously slow starting team, it was nice to see how the new faces performed and how the returnees have upped their game. Excited to see how they fare against Oxy in the league opener.

Note to Oregon Teams:  Please take your weather back with you. 

[Purple Heys]

Observations from reading box scores and recaps:

1) Cal Tech going 1-3 against NAIA La Sierra.  Beaves beat them once last year, so we can't take this year's win as a surprise.  I would guess they are disappointed they didn't get the split as they played one other close.  Hard to not see them as improved...will it be enough?  Also will their new All-Turf Field play to their advantage...on the flip side, will it work against them when they have to play on the real stuff.

2) Oxy getting mercied by Centenary - not a good look but that was Game 1 for them and the Gents were on Game 4.  On the other hand the Gents were on Pitcher #4...We should get a better read on the Tigers this weekend

3) Redlands split with Centenary - Bulldogs ace pitched as advertised, #2 not quite as expected

4) Pomona - hit the crap out of the baseball, the Angels need to sign that hitting coach.  Eye-popping hitting stats on the score sheet, .401 Team BA for the weekend.

5) La Verne - too small a sample size but played nose up with what looks like a pretty good Centenary team

[Jack Parkman]

Observations from reading box scores and recaps:

1) Cal Tech going 1-3 against NAIA La Sierra.  Beaves beat them once last year, so we can't take this year's win as a surprise.  I would guess they are disappointed they didn't get the split as they played one other close.  Hard to not see them as improved...will it be enough?  Also will their new All-Turf Field play to their advantage...on the flip side, will it work against them when they have to play on the real stuff.

2) Oxy getting mercied by Centenary - not a good look but that was Game 1 for them and the Gents were on Game 4.  On the other hand the Gents were on Pitcher #4...We should get a better read on the Tigers this weekend

3) Redlands split with Centenary - Bulldogs ace pitched as advertised, #2 not quite as expected

4) Pomona - hit the crap out of the baseball, the Angels need to sign that hitting coach.  Eye-popping hitting stats on the score sheet, .401 Team BA for the weekend.

5) La Verne - too small a sample size but played nose up with what looks like a pretty good Centenary team

1. I think it's great the Caltech got turf.  I could see other SCIAC schools using it to make up games if necessary.

2.Oxy getting smoked was definitely not a good look.  Playing your first game of the year is always tough but for a team to get thumped like that is a little concerning.  I would figure all of your pitchers would be available, especially since they don't play again until Saturday.  It will be interesting to see how they play this weekend in AZ.  Sul Ross is pretty bad but George Fox and Linfield will be a challenge.  Either way, it's nice to see Oxy step up their OOC schedule as that is the #1 reason they got left home last year.

3. Minjarez was lights out.  Will they limit his workload after coming off an injury last year?

4. Pomona started out hot last year too.  They have always been able to hit but it all comes down to their pitching and most importantly, their defense.

5. LaVerne is always a mystery.  Don't know what to expect from them.

As far as the rest of the SCIAC, I have no idea how everyone will stack up.

[Westside]

Anyone else think it is kinda funny that the SCIAC and NWC schools are pretty much traveling to a neutral site (AZ) to play against each other? Probably could've saved a bunch of money by just going to California.

Also, I think that Oxy struggles a bit this year, and Pomona will bounce back and have a good season.

Also, I love watching Minjarez and Gerics throw. They are two of the best in the country.

I am excited to see Linfield's opener against Cal Lu. Always nice getting to face someone like Saito (I assume) to start the season.