BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BigPoppa]

Redlands has certainly hit a bit of a funk right now. Hopefully they can straighten it out and get back on track.

LaVerne may be the new "team to beat" in the SCIAC.

[Browneagle64]

Sorry to hear that the dawgs lost yet another game. I am sure that they will bounce right out of the funk.

As for the Leo's, just as i had expected at the start of the season, i am sure the Leos will be looking for anyway possible to stay on top of the pack throughout the next three games.
Of course the Tigers will be clawing their ways up there after the take two away from the kingsmen this week.

[pomonaalum]

Looks like the 'Hens make an appearance in the Top 30 at #27...team is 17-7 and right in the thick of the SCIAC race, despite losing a game to Whittier last weekend.  Couple of big weekends coming up to determine who takes control of the SCIAC race.

[snoop dawg]

pomonalum........you hit the nail on the perverbial head! Loks like a dawg fight from here on in.

[pomonaalum]

Having already taken 2 of 3 from Cal Lu, the 'Hens have their own destiny in their hands.  2 big series against LaVerne and Redlands in the next two weeks.  Take 2 of 3 in each of those series and they're in pretty good shape, with the back half of the schedule being a little easier.

[Gray Fox]

OB,
Any info on the new football coach?

[Browneagle64]

Congrats to the tigers on another big win this weekend.
Just as i expect, the tigers did a fine job against a good ball club,yet still need to improve a bit more. After seeing the lead drop in friday's game, i still hope that the tiger pitching staff can hang in the game a little longer. However, the bats are ringing and scoring is being produced, so good job to the tigers in that part.

btw, since i didn't have time to write-up an eye witness report (ala Oxy Bob) because i had to attend the freeway series between the dodgers & angels, heres a recap of what the tigers did this weekend....Additionally, heres the standing for the sciac thus far as well:
Occidental took two of three games from nine-time SCIAC champion Cal Lutheran March 30-31, another step forward in the continuing improvement of the Tiger baseball program.  Cal Lutheran entered the weekend series with a 44-2 all-time record against Occidental but has now lost three of the last six meetings. 

The Tigers finished the weekend with a 14-13 overall record, 6-6 in SCIAC play.  Cal Lutheran (16-9, 8-4 SCIAC) fell to third place in the SCIAC standings, one game behind La Verne and two behind Redlands. 

Occidental came from behind in both victories, scoring five runs over the final six innings en route to a 6-3 victory in game one on Saturday.   Jayson Williams '07 allowed eight hits in eight innings and picked up his first win of the season, holding Cal Lutheran to just four hits over the last five.   Phillip Kafka '09, a transfer from UMass-Amherst, retired the Kingsmen in the ninth inning and collected his first Occidental save.

A pair of Cal Lutheran errors set the table for a three-run Occidental rally in the eighth inning.  Spencer Woolwine '09 delivered his second key hit of the series, a bases-loaded double that gave Oxy a 5-3 advantage.   Adam Franks '08 singled to lead off the ninth and scored an insurance run on an RBI base hit by Patrick Sarkissian '10.

Franks and Glenn Gray '10 recorded three hits apiece.  Matt Andersen '08 went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

On Friday at Anderson Field, Occidental held a five-run lead heading into the sixth inning but needed a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to pull out the 8-6 win.   The Tigers plated the tying run after a bases-loaded bobble at shortstop. Kingsmen closer Peter Birdwell plunked Woolwine and Franks walked to score the Tigers' final run.

Woolwine started a four-run rally in the fourth inning with a line drive home run down the right field line.  Gray singled to drive in two more and later scored on a base hit by Sarkissian.  Kafka shut out the Kingsmen over the final 2 2/3, recording his second win of the season. 

The Tigers left ten runners on base in the series finale, a 5-2 Cal Lutheran win.  Noel Banuelos '09 worked seven solid innings, allowing five runs on ten hits, and Marcus Stoiber '09 pitched a scoreless eighth.  Geoff Ball '10 recorded two of the Tigers' seven hits and scored an unearned run in the first inning.

[Browneagle64]

 W L PCT.
La Verne 9 3 .750
Redlands 5 2 .714
Cal Lutheran 8 4 .667
Pomona-Pitzer 5 4 .556
Whittier 6 5 .545
Occidental 6 6 .500
Claremont-M-S 3 7 .300
Caltech 0 11 .000

[Browneagle64]

It looks like my surprise team pick of 07 is no longer a big surprise. I guess last months match with current SCIAC leader, La Verne, really got to them.
Here's there recent score:
  Apr. 3  LaGrange   11   Claremont-M-S   10 

[Tom Brady]

Eagle-  I really didnt follow that last post very well.  I would assume the surprise team is OXY but they really are not too far from the cellar.  I was in shock to see they took 2 of 3 from CLU but thats the best part of baseball, anyone can win on any given day.  I didnt see any of the games but the box scores show a lot of errors and some late inning meltdowns by CLU. 
The SCIAC is shaping up to be a battle till the end.  Who is going to step it up and take the crown?  I really don't see any favorite right now because everyone keeps beating up on each other.  Good luck to all this weekend.

[Browneagle64]

WT

What I was trying to say is that it looks like CMS's team is on a big slump. They were projected to be in the top of the SCIAC this season, but, it looks like that will not happen. Eventhough, the stags started the season on a high note, after several games in which they played well and just blew it apparently did several things to them. One thing for sure is that the stags probabily lost some confidence. THat's all i was trying to say.
As for my surprise team, of course it would be oxy. I mean just look at their current record: they do well against a solid cal lu ball club and then come back out to the field 3 days later and stink it up against S.D. christian college 15-4, whom by the way, the tigers beat 5-4 2 months ago. Care for another surprise from my team??   

[Browneagle64]

With the arrival of a struggling Whitworth team to the Rock today, I expect the men in orange and black to draw big wins. Eventhough the pirates come from a decent league, the team appears to not be doing as good as it used to be in the past. As a result, the tigers will do their best to catch this dazed and confused team off guard and pull out a win.

Btw, La Vernes going to have a tough time trying to pull off a big win against the panthers this weekend, but i do hope that they do win at least one game.
THursdays Leo v.s panther game.  L, 2-8/L, 4-8

[dgilblair]

Redlands has certainly hit a bit of a funk right now. Hopefully they can straighten it out and get back on track.

LaVerne may be the new "team to beat" in the SCIAC.

Redlands
3-5 their last eight.......guess I was on to something Big.
Now you can take those bad KARMAS of me .......LOL

[pomonaalum]

Make that 3-8 for Redlands in their last 11 after being swept by Pomona-Pitzer this weekend (according to the SCIAC website)  PP now 4-0 against Redlands this year w/ an earlier win in a March tourney.

La Verne is 9-3, with PP right behind at 8-4, but LaVerne owns the tie breaker by virtue of taking 2 of 3 last weekend.  Both teams have CalTech left, but PP looks to have a little "easier" schedule with Oxy and CMS as well, vs. Whittier and CalLu for LaVerne.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

From the Oxy website, Io Triumphe Tigers!

Baseball Sweeps Twin Bill vs. Whitworth

Los Angeles (April 7, 2007)

Occidental ended a three-game slump in dramatic fashion Saturday at Anderson Field,  scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 7-6 victory over Whitworth College. The Tigers won game two of the doubleheader 6-4.

Oxy improved its overall record to 16-15 and can equal its highest win total since 1990 with four wins in the next nine games. Whitworth fell to 10-17 overall.

Occidental scored four runs in the first two innings in game one, taking a 4-0 lead on a home run by Tyler Colville '07 to lead off the second. Starting pitcher Jayson Wiilliams '07 was untouchable through the first four innings but Whitworth put together a two-run rally in the fifth on a pair of singles, a walk and a wild pitch.

The Pirates mounted a four-run rally with two outs in the seventh after three straight base hits, a defensive miscue in right field, and a double by third baseman Alex Scarpelli.

Adam Franks '08 singled to lead off the ninth and pinch runner Seth Goss '08 scored on a base hit by Patrick Sarkissian '10, who went 3 for 5 with three runs batted in in the game. Whitworth leftfielder J.J. Jones made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch to rob Glenn Gray '10 moments later but Ryan Snell walked the next three Tigers to provide the game-winning run.

Phillip Kafka '09 allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings of relief, recording his second win in eight days. Occidental has claimed five victories in its last at-bat this season.

Marcus Stoiber '09 pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve a 5-4 lead in game two. The Tigers scored an important insurance run on a single from Matt Andersen '08 in the fifth. Sarkissian clubbed a three-run homer in the third while Andersen, Franks, and Gray recorded two hits apiece.

Kafka retired the Pirates in order in the seventh to pick up his second save of the season.

Occidental enters the stretch run of its conference season with a 3pm date against Redlands Friday, April 13 at Anderson Field. The Tigers travel to Redlands for an 11am doubleheader on Saturday April 14th.