BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gray Fox]

Final has PP advancing 5-2. Good job by CLU with cameras and audio.

Two cameras and replay.  It doesn't get much better in D3.

[108 Stitches]

I caught a couple of innings and agree with Fox probably the best DIII broadcast I have seen at the DIII level.  Great stuff.
Actually CLU's field is one of the best DIII you will find also with covered stands etc.

[108 Stitches]

Just got back to the house and checked, CLU up 10-4 bottom of the 7th. Looks like they are in control.

Actually three cameras on the Webcast. Very impressive. I have no idea why some programs do not have at least one camera and a webcast. Very good commentary also.

[Gray Fox]

Just got back to the house and checked, CLU up 10-4 bottom of the 7th. Looks like they are in control.

Actually three cameras on the Webcast. Very impressive. I have no idea why some programs do not have at least one camera and a webcast. Very good commentary also.

And it was FREE.  Good for those of us who only can watch part of a game.
All the teams should do this for all their sports.

[dahlby]

Comments regarding CLU's great coverage of the SCIAC baseball playoffs can be sent to Tracy Maple.
email at          tmaple@clunet.edu       I am sure that the comments will be appreciated.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Not a whole lot of surprise that CLU wins the tournament in the minimum three games. They were the best team in the SCIAC this year. Also a huge advantage going against a PP team that needed to improvise in its pitching, while CLU was able to throw a guy who'd been one of their best starters all year (don't get me wrong- they earned that advantage!).

If you think about it, this weekend was easier on the CLU staff than a regular season playoff series would have been. They were able to spread three games worth of pitching over three days instead of two. This allowed Roth to make appearance in all three games. And the success of their starters combined by the success of their hitters allowed the Kingsmen to use just 5 pitchers in three games (Morgan Garcia-Grisham gets 2.0 innings yesterday against PP to go with the three starters and Roth).

CLU's impressive showing is both a great sign and a slightly troubling one. Their offense took care of business, their starting pitchers were solid, and Roth is unreal. But what will happen to them in a regional where they will need to play a minimum of four games? Garcia-Grisham and Burden are the only two other guys who have starts on the year. Burden appears to have been shelled in both of his and has a total of 6.2 IP all season. Garcia-Grisham has very good numbers, but this weekend shows that he's probably their go to reliever in a situation where it's too early to bring in Roth or if Roth needs any rest. Mitchell Shields has great numbers in his ten innings, but only threw 4.2 in SCIAC, is he injured? Matt Johnston is the only other guy with 10+ innings, but has an ERA over 8.

I guess they can hope that by Saturday their game one starter (Petersen I assume) can go out there for a few innings? It will also help immensely if their starters can go the distance, or close to it in the early games. I have a feeling that provided CLU makes it deep in the regionals, they will be playing some very high scoring games at the end. And while the pitching issues certainly aren't unique to them- everyone has to stretch their staff at regionals- having three very good starters and one incredible reliever has prevented them from developing much out of the pen. It also got them the SCIAC championship, #2 seed in the regional, and a ranking in the top 15 in the country so I suppose that counts for something

[OxyBob]

From the Ventura County Star:

Cal Lutheran uses timely hitting and clutch pitching to secure automatic berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/05/cal-lutheran-uses-timely-hitting-and-clutch-to

OxyBob

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Well there are about 4 other threads debating PP-Fox-TLU, so I'll leave that conversation over there.

I would like to congratulate all the members of the SCIAC first and second teams, SCIAC MVP (and newcomer of the year) Jake Petersen-CLU, and Pitcher of the Year Aaron Roth-CLU:
http://thesciac.org/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/all_sciac

And special congrats to the Hens represented. Gentili and Munzer finish their illustrious careers as repeat offenders on the first team. This is Gentili's second selection in a row, after hitting .389 w/ 5 HR's, 37 RBI. Munzer has been all SCIAC all four years, and this is his second time on the first team after hitting .405 in conference and .384 overall (he's also been first team all-SCIAC in Soccer for at least the last two years, maybe the last 3 or 4). Sophomore ace and first baseman Jake Bruml gets a spot on the first team as well. Freshman Simon Rosenbaum gets a nod on the second team despite missing almost half the year. He had a spectacular freshman year at the plate and on the mound. Everyone is hoping he recovers quickly from his injuries and will be ready to contribute again next season.

http://www.pe.pomona.edu/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/201305104dgsi7

[OxyBob]

Article about CLU in the Ventura County Star:

CLU baseball team learns NCAA opponent
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/13/clu-baseball-team-learns-ncaa-opponent

OxyBob

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin write-up on PP's at-large bid:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/sports/ci_23236917/daily-bulletin-college-five-pomona-pitzer-rewarded-solid

Not that there was any doubt, but confirmation that Bruml is starting game one (in just about 2.5 hours!). Coach P points out that the two Saturday wins in the SCIAC tournament were important. I think it's pretty clear that if the Hens lose either game and don't get to Sunday, they probably aren't in this regional.

At the moment, Cal Lu is tied with Trinity 0-0 after 4 and a half. Trinity loaded the bases with 1 out in the third but couldn't get anyone home. Petersen has thrown 58 pitches (by my count) through 5 innings. Not sure where Lucero's pitch count is at, but he's only scattered three hits.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Cal Lu loses their first game 1-0 against Trinity

The run was unearned, as Woodruff hits a double that is misplayed in left field. An additional error on the shortstop allows him to come all the way around to score.

Petersen threw 8.1 very good innings, but Trinity's ace Lucero went the distance for the shutout. Walked none and retired the last 9 Kingsmen he faced.

Cal Lutheran will face Texas Lutheran tomorrow in an elimination game at 10am PST. Texas Lutheran lost a close one to Linfield 2-0.

[OxyBob]

Cal Lu loses their first game 1-0 against Trinity

Local coverage in the Ventura County Star:

Errors prove costly for CLU in Division III playoff opener
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/15/errors-prove-costly-for-clu-in-division-iii

OxyBob

[pomonaalum]

Tough out for the Hens...would love to see a breakthrough soon and to advance beyond the regionals.

Got me to thinking what the best Pomona-Pitzer team has been over the last decade or so.  2002/2003 with Jose Cortez and co, or 2010 with Drew Hedman/David Colvin, etc?

And what the all-time team would be

C:  Jose Cortez
IF:  Drew Hedman
IF:  James Kang
IF:  Emiliano Escandon
IF: Nick Frederick
IF: Brandon Huerta
OF: Zach Mandelblatt
OF: Jase Turner
OF: Eric Munzer
OF: Mike Witzansky
P: David Colvin
P: Adam Gardner
P: Spike Einsiedler
DH: Jarod Kula

Thoughts?

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Tough out for the Hens...would love to see a breakthrough soon and to advance beyond the regionals.

Got me to thinking what the best Pomona-Pitzer team has been over the last decade or so.  2002/2003 with Jose Cortez and co, or 2010 with Drew Hedman/David Colvin, etc?

And what the all-time team would be

C:  Jose Cortez
IF:  Drew Hedman
IF:  James Kang
IF:  Emiliano Escandon
IF: Nick Frederick
IF: Brandon Huerta
OF: Zach Mandelblatt
OF: Jase Turner
OF: Eric Munzer
OF: Mike Witzansky
P: David Colvin
P: Adam Gardner
P: Spike Einsiedler
DH: Jarod Kula

Thoughts?

Dear god that lineup would have been unreal. There are a couple guys I didn't really get to see play, and unfortunately stats for them aren't readily available so I'll take your word for it. But I don't think anyone can argue with inclusion of any of those guys.

I think I'd throw Gentili in their for consideration as an outfielder... I won't let you make me pick between he and Munzer because they're both great. Munzer probably better defensively, Gentili has a little more power. Both have been starting and all-conference guys since they were freshmen.

Might add Mike Silva as a backup catcher. Not sure how Josie was defensively, but you always gotta have an extra backstop anyway. And Silva's last year as a Hen he hit .372 with 9 bombs. James Campbell could be considered as well as a backup infielder. He put up pretty decent numbers his first three years and then last year as a senior hit .397 with 11 bombs. 11 homeruns from a righty in that park, after the bat change is pretty ridiculous. Clay Leonard might be in the conversation, particularly if you're looking for some extra biceps. And Kevin Hickey has to be on here somewhere too if this is truly an all time team.

And then for pitching, Kang can double as a closer. Mandleblatt was a starter all four years I believe.  Bruml probably gets put on that team by the end of his career as a dual guy. If this year was any indication of things to come, a healthy Rosenbaum finds his way on as a dual guy as well.

Man, this is fun. I'll leave your question re: Cortez/Turner team vs Hedman/Colvin team, but I think if it's one game the Colvin team gets the edge.

Anybody else wanna throw out some other all time (or at least memorable past) teams? Thinking about this for Chapman makes me shiver. Cal Lu has had some absolute studs too. La Verne's team would be good, and gritty...

[pomonaalum]

Escandon was a middle infielder who got drafted in the mid 90s, before the program got good.  Made it as high as AAA for a full season.   Think that Fullerton true toget him to transfer there, back in te Augie Garrido days, but he didn't go.

Jarod Kula was probably 96 or 97, big guy who came in as a power pitcher.  Legend is that he decided he wanted to take BP one day and and started hitting shots over the 345 sign, and became mostly a hitter.  "Kula bombs", they were called.

Witzansky and Kevin Hickey were the same class, '99, and both really good players.  Tough call between the two.  Hickey had the advantage at home of hitting left handed with the short porch, but a great swing and great hitter.

Agree that Bruml and Rosenbaum could be in the conversation by the time they are done.  Enjoying being able to watch via video once in a while, as we live on the other side of the country.

Great to see the program in such good shape these days. 

Speaking of Cal Lu, yeah, they'd have a great team even if limited to post scholarship days.   They had a kid, Anthony Olden, I think was his name, who hit a ball against us that probably lande somewhere in the Sontag theater, if it ever did land.   They also had a pitcher back then, Bell, who was low 90s and a big presence on the mound.