BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[CA_dreamin]

Agree that Thursday's game of Pomona-Pitzer's Colvin and Chapman's Rauh should be one of the highlights of the season.  Bet there will be some radar guns out there.

I think its too early to be annointing Pomona Pitzer.  Pacific hit .275 against them, only down a little from last year, and Pacific had a team era of 9 last year, so scoring 27 runs in three games runs isn't heroic.  It's hard to know yet how much to adjust for the bats.

Also, I don't think you can write off Cal Lu, Oxy, and LaVerne from first weekend losses to NAIA opponents. But Whittier taking two from Chapman was an interesting development.  Their pitching was especially impressive.

[PP 4 MTaF]

An interesting weekend of baseball indeed.  Whittier taking 2 of 3 from Chapman was downright unpredictable.  While I don't think the Poets will be a force in the SCIAC, it will be interesting to see if they can play the role of weekend spoiler taking a game or two from the teams that will be leading the pack. 

While Pomona-Pitzer was "expected" to take this series, it was still impressive to watch them dominate Pacific.  Colvin was as-advertised on the mound throwing a strong 7 (gave up an early couple as he has seemed to do here and there in the past...for him it may just be a matter of finding a groove a little earlier).  As ppfm pointed out Frederick went off on the weekend, the senior slugger looked to be in a class of his own.  Also providing hopefully what are good signs to come were freshman Timothy Novom and Travis Bowers...always exciting when a couple freshman get thrown in the mix and take stride. 

Looking forward to a great game with Chapman...hands down the West Region's GAME OF THE WEEK.

[BigPoppa]

Is it too early to say that Chapman/Pomona game will have some post-season implications? wish I could be there to watch two all-Americans battle it out on the hill. I'll take Chapman 3-2 in this one.

[PP 4 MTaF]

This is a big game for Chapman in the sense that Chapman needs to win their in-region games to receive an at large bid to the regional tournament; this game is even bigger for Chapman since they just lost 2 to Whittier.  With that being said Chapman and Pomona have battled it out in regular and post season play over the last several years and I expect this year to play out the same way.  Plus look at those arms on the hill! 
I got Pomona 5-2

[CrashDavisD3]

Despite losing 2 our of 3 to Whittier, Pitching for Chapman remains very strong with a team ERA of 2.76 with 6 pitchers have a ERA of 0.00 and 1 having a ERA of 2.25. with opposing team OBA of.216. Chapman pitchers threw 22 shutout innings over the 3 game series with Whittier. Only 1 pitcher has a higher ERA. Pomona's team ERA is 3.00

BUT Chapman hitting is below the Mendoza line with a team .192 BA  while leaving 26 runners on base will not get things done along with 5 errors and team .960 fielding average with 2 missed plays on the field resulting in the 2 runs in a 2-1 game. Pomona's team BA is .349 and team fielding is at a .983 clip.

Clearly the early season numbers favor Pomona. BUT I also expect Chapman's hitting to pickup with veteran Chapman players getting back to expected levels of production. As always expectations of Chapman are very high and maybe a little pressure was being felt by the players.

In 2009 after 9 games Chapman was 5-4 after losing 2 of 3 from Whittier and La Verne.  Chapman also in 2009 lost 3 of 4 to Pomona.

That year Chapman won the West Regionals and finished 3rd at the DIII Championships only 1 win away from the National Championship game.

Chapman does indeed need to turn the ship around now or dig a big hole if it loses the next 2 against Pomona. It has less impact on Pomona who must win the SCIAC for a Pool A bid and this is a non conference game but is in region which does make it important for a Pool C bid for Pomona.

[CrashDavisD3]

TODAY 2 PM Chapman @ Pomona   Rauh vs Colvin   

A battle between 2 potential 1st team All American Pitchers

[BigPoppa]

TODAY 2 PM Chapman @ Pomona   Rauh vs Colvin   

A battle between 2 potential 1st team All American Pitchers

Can't wait to see the results pour in.

[CrashDavisD3]

7-6 Pomona over Chapman in the 6th... So much for a pitching duel...BUT fences at PP are ridiculously short in RF...Heard some errors contributed to runs

[CrashDavisD3]

Tied 7-7 Pomona/Chapman in the 8th....A real battle.

[CrashDavisD3]

7-7 Tied Chapman/Pomona in the 9th....I guess the 2 PreSeason All American pitchers did not shut down the offenses. Errors and Walks

I dont have details of game just the score.

[CrashDavisD3]

Pomona(4-0) wins 8-7 over Chapman(1-3). Chapman has now lost 3 consecutive games with 2 being 1 run losses. Both teams match up again on 2/14. Chapman has dug a HUGE hole they will have to climb out of if the wish to be a Pool B bid this year.  

[CrashDavisD3]

Pomona(4-0) wins 8-7 over Chapman(1-3). Chapman has now lost 3 consecutive games with 2 being 1 run losses. Both teams match up again on 2/14. Chapman has dug a HUGE hole they will have to climb out of if the wish to be a Pool B bid this year. 

Chapman was 1-3 after 4 games in 2003...That was the year Chapman won the last game played in DIII baseball in Appleton WI that year.

[BigPoppa]

Chapman's 1-3 start is not a concern to me. To be honest, Pool B contenders are hard to find most year so Chapman will still be sitting pretty once the post-season rolls around.

[CA_dreamin]

Agree that Chapman is too good to not right the ship and get the nod to post season.  But with 1-3 in sciac, they should be glad that they aren't in the league this year.

Made the trek out to Claremont to see the game.  Not a pitching duel as expected, but both Colvin and Rauh are quite impressive.  Unofficial line was Rauh 7R, 6ER, 8h, 8k,2bb, 5IP. Colvin: 6R, 5ER, 11H, 6K, 2BB. 

Hit totals are a little deceiving.  A lot of bloop singles, seeing eye grounders thru the hole.  Having said that, both pitchers were very willing to challenge hitters, and both got burned by that.  Colvin looked more polished, a little more velocity, a little more movement, little more command of off speed.  A treat to watch both, though.

Chapman defense did not help Rauh, with 2 errors in first three batters. Pomona-Pitzer defense was not flawless either.

A great finish though, with pinch hit single and a frosh getting the GWRBI.

[CrashDavisD3]

Agree that Chapman is too good to not right the ship and get the nod to post season.  But with 1-3 in sciac, they should be glad that they aren't in the league this year.

Made the trek out to Claremont to see the game.  Not a pitching duel as expected, but both Colvin and Rauh are quite impressive.  Unofficial line was Rauh 7R, 6ER, 8h, 8k,2bb, 5IP. Colvin: 6R, 5ER, 11H, 6K, 2BB. 

Hit totals are a little deceiving.  A lot of bloop singles, seeing eye grounders thru the hole.  Having said that, both pitchers were very willing to challenge hitters, and both got burned by that.  Colvin looked more polished, a little more velocity, a little more movement, little more command of off speed.  A treat to watch both, though.

Chapman defense did not help Rauh, with 2 errors in first three batters. Pomona-Pitzer defense was not flawless either.

A great finish though, with pinch hit single and a frosh getting the GWRBI.

In 2009 Chapman had a losing record vs SCIAC teams and would have finished 4th in the SCIAC that year BUT got a Pool B bid, won the West Regional and finished 3rd in the DIII Championship tournament. Joining the SCIAC would make it tougher for Chapman to get a post season bid without winning the SCIAC or have a great season to get a Pool C bid.