BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SCIACfan5]

So Jack, this is what I'm getting from your SCIAC previews '09:

Pomona-Pitzer (1st)
La Verne (2nd - 4th)
Redlands (2nd or 3rd)
Cal Lutheran (3rd - 5th)
CMS (4th or 5th)
Whittier (6th)
Occidental (7th)
Cal Tech (8th)

Also, you expect Chapman to dominate the West Region again. Does that mean win the West Regional Title for a 5th straight year? That would be an establishment of sheer dominance (and something I wouldn't be suprised to see if it happened). Although I'd like to see a SCIAC team represent the West. Was it Cal Lutheran who was the last to represent the West?

Anyway, I'm curious to see how SCIAC teams will do against a Yacko-less Chapman. He was their go-to pitcher in most tight games. Who will fill that role for '09? Whoever it is, I doubt he will do it as effectively.

This is going to be a fun season!

[Jack Parkman]

Thats pretty close to what I had thought at first but I will wait until the '09 rosters are put up to make an "official" pre-season ranking.  LaVerne has their '09 roster up and I honestly don't think they did a whole lot to help them out.  They are going to have to rely on their pitching and win that way, not by scoring 13 runs a game.

[Browneagle64]

So Jack, this is what I'm getting from your SCIAC previews '09:

Pomona-Pitzer (1st)
La Verne (2nd - 4th)
Redlands (2nd or 3rd)
Cal Lutheran (3rd - 5th)
CMS (4th or 5th)
Whittier (6th)
Occidental (7th)
Cal Tech (8th)

Also, you expect Chapman to dominate the West Region again. Does that mean win the West Regional Title for a 5th straight year? That would be an establishment of sheer dominance (and something I wouldn't be suprised to see if it happened). Although I'd like to see a SCIAC team represent the West. Was it Cal Lutheran who was the last to represent the West?
Anyway, I'm curious to see how SCIAC teams will do against a Yacko-less Chapman. He was their go-to pitcher in most tight games. Who will fill that role for '09? Whoever it is, I doubt he will do it as effectively.

This is going to be a fun season!

Cal Lu was the last SCIAC team to rep. the west. If i'm correct (or not, it would have been the 02 or 03 year. That team of course had steller bats and great pitching.

The Panthers will do just fine. Why? well since winning their 4th west Region in Talent Rich (Baseball that is ) Southern Cal, this gives good ball players from around here another school of choice and program to go to.
Chapman's pitching staff of Kitchens, Luzar and Sigmond looks scarry, and their batting ; well i'll let the panthers speak for themselves.

Should be a another good year for Chapman.

Speaking of, I don't think the Poets reach higher than 5th place. Here's a team that will struggle from the start and probabily start trying to climb to the top at the very end. Expect them to be in 5th place after the season. Not to much talent here. 

Believe me, in reading stories about So.cal players wanting to go to a small program/ school like Chapman in Local newspapers and wanting to further build a great program has been great (kids are starting to recognize the D3 baseball world.)

[Jack Parkman]

I believe it was 1999 when the last SCIAC team represented the West.  Cal Lu had a great run in the 90's but has been dominated by Chapman ever since.  I think the only other teams to represent the West in the W.S. are George Fox '04(National title) and Concordia University, Austin in '02.

[Jack Parkman]

Since LaVerne has posted their roster, I will do a short break-down of what they have in '09.

LaVerne brings back over 600 at bats from last year and almost 200 hits.  The guys returning were 197/614 for a .321 batting average.  That also includes 14 home runs, 38 doubles and 24 stolen bases.  I think it is obvious, LaVerne lost a TON of offense.

LaVerne brings back 70% of the innings from '08.  I think they will have a very similar pitching staff from '08, but will miss Jimmy Wilfong and Ryan Rose a lot.  Other than freshman, the only guy LaVerne brought in is a JC transfer from Texas who was 1-3 with an 8.54 ERA in 32.2 innings.

I coulnd't find any stats on JC transfer Kevin Ibarra or Victor Pinado.  I finally found Pinado's '07 stats from Rio Hondo.  He hit .356 with 15 doubles and 10 home runs.


After all of the rosters are up I will make my final prediction, but as of now, I don't see LaVerne winning the SCIAC again.

[swede]

SCIAC Fans,

Be it Redlands, Laverne or whoever comes up to Mac town for the west regionals I sure could use a old jersey, hat or something from your team to help fill up my D3 room. I have numerous schools from around the country now but still am in need. As of now I don't have anything out of the SCIAC. If you or someone you know might come up please let me know and we can touch bases. Does not have to be anything new.

Linfield, George Fox and PLU are the schools to watch in the NWC.

[Jack Parkman]

Looking at the latest Baseball America D-I preview, it looks as if Alex Weber-Shapiro is slated to start at 1st base for UCLA.  What a step up for a guy who did really well in D-III.

[SCIACfan5]

Jack.

What do you think of the D3Baseball rankings including Chapman at #2 while Redlands and La Verne were notables?

And how many top 25 teams will be facing SCIAC teams this year? I know Ithaca almost always make it out here. I believe Pac Lutheran plays several SCIAC teams. And I read that Keene State will be facing PP in Phoenix.

[Jack Parkman]

Jack.

What do you think of the D3Baseball rankings including Chapman at #2 while Redlands and La Verne were notables?

And how many top 25 teams will be facing SCIAC teams this year? I know Ithaca almost always make it out here. I believe Pac Lutheran plays several SCIAC teams. And I read that Keene State will be facing PP in Phoenix.

To be honest with you, I see no reason why any SCIAC team should be mentioned in the top 25.

[BILLY CHAPEL]

I have to say i agree that no team from the SCIAC that is in the top 25 should be there, but one team that is not on the list should be there. That team is Cal Lu, they are going to break the slump this year and win the SCIAC. This isn't wishfull thinking this is truth talking. There pitching staff is to deep to compete with, and they have a solid lineup that will grind at bats from top to bottom! Leading the way Paul Hartman and David Iden

[SCIACfan5]

I expect Cal Lutheran to make some noise in the SCIAC as well, but I don't know if they have the talent to top La Verne, Redlands, AND Pomona-Pitzer.

But we'll just have to wait and find out!

[Ullcme41]

They have much more talent than the rest of that league!! 5 pitchers that scrape 90 two that hit 93, a solid lineup from top to bottom, with David Iden and Paul hartmann leading the group, and a big lefthanded bat with Dingman from Chico, Ott might come back healthy, and you got tough at bats through 9 with solid stick ur nose in the dirt players, trust me the boys can play!!! Not to mention two horses coming back from tommy jon in Mike Roe and Rob LeBaron who were starters in 2007 and pitched most of that year injured! They might not even START! You get those boys out of the bullpen in any game past the 6th, Seldin Roe LeBaron, Its good night thanks for making the trip!

And NO i dont play for Cal lu

[BigPoppa]

They have much more talent than the rest of that league!! 5 pitchers that scrape 90 two that hit 93, a solid lineup from top to bottom, with David Iden and Paul hartmann leading the group, and a big lefthanded bat with Dingman from Chico, Ott might come back healthy, and you got tough at bats through 9 with solid stick ur nose in the dirt players, trust me the boys can play!!! Not to mention two horses coming back from tommy jon in Mike Roe and Rob LeBaron who were starters in 2007 and pitched most of that year injured! They might not even START! You get those boys out of the bullpen in any game past the 6th, Seldin Roe LeBaron, Its good night thanks for making the trip!

And NO i dont play for Cal lu

WOW! If this is true (Which it isn't) then ALL of the experts are wrong.

[Ullcme41]

How do you go about saying it isn't true? So Dingman doesnt go there? Iden and Hartmann quit? LeBaron and Roe aren't back from Tommy Jon? Tigert and Casillas dont hit 93? and there lineup doesnt grind out at bats? 

Oh my bad i must have been making these players up, sorry experts

[BigPoppa]

How do you go about saying it isn't true? So Dingman doesnt go there? Iden and Hartmann quit? LeBaron and Roe aren't back from Tommy Jon? Tigert and Casillas dont hit 93? and there lineup doesnt grind out at bats? 

Oh my bad i must have been making these players up, sorry experts

We never claimed to be experts, but your attitude is wrong. Good luck this spring with anybody actually reading your wildly erratic rants.