BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Jack Parkman]

Alumni Baseball in the SCIAC this Saturday - Sunny and upper 70's

An annual classic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmqyI0Wnsfw

"Lollygaging like a bunch of frat house joy boys" gets me every time.  The One Man Thrill Ride is an American treasure.

[Purple Heys]

Redlands opens at Vanguard tomorrow, and a nearly full slate of SCIAC teams playing non-conference teams on Friday - featuring 4 SCIAC/NWC games.  Looking forward to a fun season.

Mostly sunny and 80's.  Bring sunscreen.

[Jack Parkman]

Preseason poll for the SCIAC is out.  Full JP season preview will be out later tonight.

http://www.thesciac.org/sports/bsb/2017-18/releases/20180131k210i9

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Alumni Baseball in the SCIAC this Saturday - Sunny and upper 70's

An annual classic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmqyI0Wnsfw

Happy to report that, for the second year in a row, the PP alumni won the first (more competitive) game of the alumni game doubleheader on Saturday. In fairness to the current players, our starting nine featured six former SCIAC POYs, 3 All-Americans, and 1 National POY. The other three scrubs were First Team All-SCIAC at least once. We had five more first-teamers come off the bench (including one All-American). Despite that murderer's row of bats, Sagehen pitching held the alums to just 4 runs in nine innings before we hung a 10 spot in the 10th.

Always great to be back on the field. Was very impressed with SP Jeremy Jess who had a great freshman year last year. Kid hits spots and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Couple other very good arms for the Sagehens, and I think there were only two total errors between both teams in the two games combined. Could this finally be there year that PP is led by pitching and defense, and not their offense? We'll see, though I'm confident the offense will continue to come around, anchored by Bryce Rogan and Cade Hulse.

Also had reports that PP had an informal 12 inning scrimmage against Cal Baptist last Thursday. Hens struck out 17 batters against that very good D2 lineup, including a 3 inning/7k/0 run performance from Nicholas Radich. I expect him to have a nice bounce-back year this year and to be a solid arm in their rotation.

Best of luck to PP this weekend as they play host to four games against NWC foes in three days (Lewis and Clark, Whitman x2, Willamette).

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Preseason poll for the SCIAC is out.  Full JP season preview will be out later tonight.

http://www.thesciac.org/sports/bsb/2017-18/releases/20180131k210i9

Interesting- looks like Cal Tech got one 8th place vote. Wonder which coach thinks they'll crack the cellar? (I hope it's their own, but their play last year should certainly have been a wakeup call to the rest of the league)

[Jack Parkman]

SCIAC preview has been suspended but here are a few quick thoughts.

1. Cal Lu will be tough again, but they have been for the past 30 years.
2. I think Chapman is going to have a really solid year but their pitching seems suspect at times.  Maybe throwing 95% sliders doesn't work any longer.
3. Redlands has Minjarez back but judging by their roster, their pen is going to be a very young group. 
4. La Verne will be a tough team to face like they always are.  They have a few horses back that are expected to do big things this year.
5. Pomona lost Gerrics and Nishioka but have plenty of talent.  They always have and always will swing it but it comes down to their pitching.
6. Can Oxy bounce back from a tough year after sharing the title in 2016?  They lose DeRaad and a few others but they will play hard.  I don't see them making the SCIAC tourney.
7. Claremont's coach is in his 3rd year so how own guys are starting to fill the roster so this year could tell you the direction the program is headed.  They will compete but are likely a year away from being any type of threat at all.
8. Whittier just can't seem to show any consistency throughout the years.  They play the top teams tough each year but they can't seem to get out of their own way against the rest.  Sorry Heys, I don't expect much from the Poets this year.
9. Caltech is a different program than the past.  Coming off a 2-win SCIAC season they really are looking to add a few more W's to the mix.  I met Coach Mark at the D3WS and he seems like a really nice guy.  Hopefully they are able to add a few more W's this year.

Pitcher of the year- Minjarez from Redlands or Wehner from Cal Lu
Player of the year- Weinstein from Cal Lu or Aguilar from Redlands. 

I hope the SCIAC has a good year on a national level this year after beating up on each other in conference.  Great opening weekend and good luck to all.

[Skips Soldier]

Chapman will only be throwing 90% sliders this season...

Staff is led by 6 foot 5 inch Christian Cosby. Word is Cosby was up to 97 mph in the fall and I wouldn't be surprised if we see triple digits out of Cosby this season. Matt Mogollon and Joey Harmon look to round out Chapman's rotation. They'll give the Panthers consistent quality innings.

Look for Chapman's pitching to be much improved this season with several experienced veterans. This will be the year Chapman gets back into the national spotlight.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Chapman will only be throwing 90% sliders this season...

Staff is led by 6 foot 5 inch Christian Cosby. Word is Cosby was up to 97 mph in the fall and I wouldn't be surprised if we see triple digits out of Cosby this season. Matt Mogollon and Joey Harmon look to round out Chapman's rotation. They'll give the Panthers consistent quality innings.

Look for Chapman's pitching to be much improved this season with several experienced veterans. This will be the year Chapman gets back into the national spotlight.

At 97, any chance he gets drafted next spring? This should be  his year, with only 18 innings pitched from the pen, freshman and sophomore, years. Will he continue in the pen or be a starter this year?

[Jack Parkman]

Chapman will only be throwing 90% sliders this season...

Staff is led by 6 foot 5 inch Christian Cosby. Word is Cosby was up to 97 mph in the fall and I wouldn't be surprised if we see triple digits out of Cosby this season. Matt Mogollon and Joey Harmon look to round out Chapman's rotation. They'll give the Panthers consistent quality innings.

Look for Chapman's pitching to be much improved this season with several experienced veterans. This will be the year Chapman gets back into the national spotlight.

Sorry, but I don't buy it one bit.  I have no doubt that he could be throwing harder than in the past but his past number do not support the notion that he could be throwing as hard as an MLB closer.  If he is and I am wrong, shame on me, but it just seems unlikely.

[MIFDad]

Definitely a kid to follow. What was his velo before?  Looks like he was used very lightly last two seasons. Injuries, or too many arms in front of him?

Do D3 pitchers ever get drafted after Jr. year?

Lots of questions, I know.

[Whatagame]

Definitely a kid to follow. What was his velo before?  Looks like he was used very lightly last two seasons. Injuries, or too many arms in front of him?

Do D3 pitchers ever get drafted after Jr. year?

Lots of questions, I know.

Trevor Lubking, a LHP from PLU was drafted as a Junior in 2014.  I believe he was first D3 player drafted that year.

[MIFDad]

Interesting, thanks.

14th round.  It did not work out for him very well.  Never made it past Rookie league.

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=657237#/career/R/pitching/2015/ALL

[Jack Parkman]

It's somewhat rare for D3 guys to go really high in the draft but two pitchers I know of are Jordan Zimmerman and Jason Hirsh.  Both were 2nd round picks and made it to the big leagues, Zimmerman is still playing.

[Whatagame]

Didn't Brian Rauh get drafted out of Junior year in 2012?

[Whatagame]

Interesting, thanks.

14th round.  It did not work out for him very well.  Never made it past Rookie league.

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=657237#/career/R/pitching/2015/ALL

Assuming it was an injury, either way it doesn't end up working out for many/most draftees.  He was exceptionally nasty in college, a buzz saw.