BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[108 Stitches]

Well Purple Heys another long weekend for Whittier.    Game 1 we have 4-1 lead going into the 6th and can't hold it.  Game 2 2-1 lead going into the 8th and can't hold.  Game 3 give up a 10 spot in the 5th game over.  Starting pitching put up some good numbers..late relief let us down this weekend.  The only bright spot from the weekend the bats woke up a little bit putting up 29 hits over the contest.  Going to be a long year

A lot of times what separates the more successful programs is pitching depth. Many times a team will have at least one or maybe two pitchers who can keep a team in a game and once you get beyond those then the talent is not there. You see this in three game series where the first game can be tight and then slowly get worse over the weekend or a team may have a lead and give it up late in the game.

[Purple Heys]

Well Purple Heys another long weekend for Whittier.    Game 1 we have 4-1 lead going into the 6th and can't hold it.  Game 2 2-1 lead going into the 8th and can't hold.  Game 3 give up a 10 spot in the 5th game over.  Starting pitching put up some good numbers..late relief let us down this weekend.  The only bright spot from the weekend the bats woke up a little bit putting up 29 hits over the contest.  Going to be a long year

A lot of times what separates the more successful programs is pitching depth. Many times a team will have at least one or maybe two pitchers who can keep a team in a game and once you get beyond those then the talent is not there. You see this in three game series where the first game can be tight and then slowly get worse over the weekend or a team may have a lead and give it up late in the game.

Purplebaseball:  it already is a long year...we're finding new ways to lose, that's a bad circumstance.

108:  Too true...you can never have enough pitching and that is one thing  Whittier is struggling to find.

The good news (always positive) when we've had a full game of good (not great) pitching and good (not great) fielding, and good (not great) hitting, we beat two pretty good teams - Redlands and Bates.  We've not been able to get all 3 aspects together more often and win games - such as the 1st two games of the ULV series where we had the upper hand for the majority of those games.

As long as we struggle to hit in bunches, with runners aboard, we put more pressure on a thin pitching staff, and that's not a great place to be.

Still, there's plenty of season left and there's a lot of pride in that dugout.  Whittier's gonna keep competing.  Baseball's a cruel sport 0 when you are down it steps on you harder.  But then almost magically you can pull out of it and every batted ball drops in, every pitch nips the corner and you seemingly can't lose.

I'm just glad we are in SoCal and get to watch a double header at a fine facility like Hines Field at La Verne in such great weather.  And I am pleased as punch that my kid is competing in a great league against some great competition, and getting a great education on and off the field.

How bad can that be?

[Purplebaseball]

Agree 100%!  Well said..........

[108 Stitches]

Hopefully Drew (NJ) is enjoying the weather during their trip here to SoCal.

CLU 27 - Drew 3

Not much needs to be said.   They play another game tomorrow.

How many field goals did CLU kick?  CLU does have a Frosh team.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

I would think that given CMS reputation as a school they could field a very successful program, if the school put some money into the facilities, which are very substandard. 4 years ago there was some talk about the school putting in an updated sports facility; not sure what happened with that. I agree with Poppa that there should be some talented coaches in the area that would be a good fit for the program.

Honestly, their baseball field is fine. Not great, but not all that bad for a DIII school. They're in the middle of construction of a new sports complex for basketball and weights. But if you look at the rest of their sports, they typically field very strong teams. And I believe, generally, their admissions actually put weight on athletics (as well they should). The issue is unique to the baseball team. I genuinely believe they fielded one of the more talented teams in the SCIAC when I was there, but they didn't have the discipline, chemistry, or drive necessary for sustained success (but could throw up 15 runs, pitch a gem, and beat pretty much anybody on a given day).

Rivalries aside, I had a lot of respect for the guys that played over there and count many of them as friends. I'm sure they're as disappointed over the current situation as anyone. Nobody wants to see a program with that kind of history going through these struggles. Cummins was phenomenal player and I've heard a really good guy, and Pelzer and Sheely have tremendous resumes (both played several years of high level pro ball), so I think the coaching is in a better spot than it had been. I'm optimistic that they can turn things around soon, and hope they do.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Also- PP had the weekend off from SCIAC play, but got to host Ithaca today in the Bomber's season opener. Lane Miles pitched another great game, EJ Lopez hit his first bomb of the year, and the Hens pulled out a 5-2 win.

Ithaca and PP play again tomorrow, while CLU gets another game against Drew.

As Spring Break has begun in some areas, the SCIAC welcomes visitors throughout the week.

Tues 3/10 WC v. Drew, CMS v. Ithaca
Wed 3/11 Oxy v. Drew, Chapman v. Ithaca
Thu 3/12 CIT v. Drew (DH), Oxy v. Ithaca, Conordia (Wis.) v. CLU
Fri 3/13 UoR v. Rutgers-Newark, Oxy v. Spalding, UoR v. Ithaca, CLU v. Wesleyan (Conn.)
Sat 3/14 Oxy v. Rutgers (DH), WC v. Kean, UoR v. Spalding, CLU v. Linfield
Sun 3/15 CLU v. Southwestern, Chapman v. Spalding

Additionally, PP plays ULV next weekend and CMS plays Chapman.
*The CLU games are part of the Tucson Invitational.

[Jack Parkman]

SCIAC games on tap for the weekend. 

Oxy vs. Redlands- I say Redlands 2-1 as I think Minjarez will win on Friday and they split on Saturday.

La Verne vs. Whittier- I will go with ULV 3-0 but I think it's a pretty close series.

Chapman vs. Caltech- This starts a pretty good run for Chapman and they start clawing back in the SCIAC.

Cal Lu vs. Claremont- Cal Lu is way too much for a team with a 9+ ERA.

Pomona is on a bye from conference games.

Predicted standing after the weekend:

1. Pomona 8-1
1. Cal Lu 8-1
3. ULV 10-2
4. Oxy 9-3
5. Redlands 7-5
6. Chapman 5-4
7. Whittier 1-8
8. Caltech 0-12
8. Claremont 0-12

Well Well Well, I will toot my own horn here as I was perfect on my picks this weekend.  It wasn't easy for a few teams as there were some tight games.

Oxy/Redlands- Oxy got smoked in game 1 and showed some character coming back taking the morning game on Saturday.  Redlands seems like they are pretty scrappy as they won game 3 in extras.

LaVerne/Whittier- Gotta feel bad for the Poets as they had the lead late in games 1 and 2.  I think this shows that Whittier has something to build on for the rest of the year and will be a team that could be a spoiler down the road.

Chapman/Caltech- Chapman did what was expected in games 1 and 2 but needed to really pull it together in game 3.  It's crazy to see them down 8-0, only to score 19 straight and get the run-rule victory.  I really wish Caltech was able to pull it out and I don't think this is like many of the Caltech teams of the past.  I still think they win a SCIAC game this year.

CLU/CMS- CLU's pitching gave up 4 runs in the 3 games and got plenty of offense.  Some guys putting up big numbers for CLU and they did a good job holding CMS down.  I think there are some solid hitters for the Stags but the pitching just isn't there.

Good win today for Pomona as they beat a good Ithaca team.  The CLU/Drew game got out of hand and it's tough for a team like Drew to come out and play their 2nd game against a team that has played 10+ games and hasn't been practicing in a gym.  Some great match ups coming up over the next week with a lot of teams traveling. Good luck to all.

[SoCalSoxFan]

Hopefully Drew (NJ) is enjoying the weather during their trip here to SoCal.

CLU 27 - Drew 3

Not much needs to be said.   They play another game tomorrow.

How many field goals did CLU kick?  CLU does have a Frosh team.

They swapped out 7 starters from 5th inning on; and it went from 9-0 to 16-0 that inning.  In total, scored 18 runs from 5th inning on.  One of their subs, Todd, ended up 3-3 with 6 rbi's, included grand slam.  In total subs 7-13 plus 5 walks.   
It's early in Drew's season, only their 2nd game.  They threw 6 pitchers and some of them struggled with location.  They hit 5 batters and plus walked a total of 9 .  Fielders are still adjusting, 6 errors.

It's a start of a long SoCal trip for Drew, playing CalLu, Oxy, CMS, Whittier and Cal Tech(2x).   
Ithaca is on a similar SoCal trip.  It will be interesting to see how they do.  They lost to PP yesterday 5-2.  They continue with PP today before playing CMS, Chapman, Oxy and Redlands. 
     

[CrashDavisD3]

So far it looks like Cal Lu and Pomona is fighting it out for the 1 spot

Middle of La Verne., Occidental, Redlands and Chapman

The bottom of Whittier, CMS, and Cal Tech.

My prediction is Cal Lu will be the Pool A bid team from the SCIAC

Pomona/La Verne will fight for a Pool C bids

Rest of the SCIAC will be at home at the BBQ during May.

http://thesciac.org/sports/bsb/index

[Purplebaseball]

Wow...Cal Lu needs extras to beat Drew in 11 innings today 8-7.  Big turn around for Drew today.  Did Cal Lu take them for granted today?

[SoCalSoxFan]

Wow...Cal Lu needs extras to beat Drew in 11 innings today 8-7.  Big turn around for Drew today.  Did Cal Lu take them for granted today?

It was a case of their #5 starter and first reliever starting poorly.  Down 6-3 going into bottom of 2nd.  Starting pitcher walked 3 in 1/3 inning, first reliever gave up 4 in 1 1/3. 
After that their 3 relievers held Drew to 1 run in the next 9 1/3 innings, including their closer L. Kiyabu going 5 scoreless, hitless for the win.

[108 Stitches]

It is not that unusual for early season ball as teams are working through their rotations. What separates the better teams are having the depth to bring in their "go to guys" late in a game to secure a win, which they did. 

[SoCalSoxFan]

It is not that unusual for early season ball as teams are working through their rotations. What separates the better teams are having the depth to bring in their "go to guys" late in a game to secure a win, which they did.

108, I agree. 

And, we'll probably see more of this scenario from CLU this week/weekend in Tucson and next Tues against Rutgers-Newark.   I expect they'll throw the same 5 starters during those 5 games with opportunities for bullpen work in several of the games.

[Jack Parkman]

Nice to see Claremont pick up their first win of the year yesterday after beating Ithaca with a walk-off homer in extra innings.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Nice to see Claremont pick up their first win of the year yesterday after beating Ithaca with a walk-off homer in extra innings.

Great news. I think they'll definitely snag a few more this year, and likely with pretty similar final scores (9-8 yesterday).

Also- Trey Smith (Fr. OF) went 3 for 5 w/ 2 Runs, 4 RBI, and 2 HRs including the walk off. Kid's got six bombs already this year with a .313/.390/.657 slash line. Freshman Nolan Anderson also hitting .353 with a couple bombs.

In fact, the only senior getting consistent ABs is Michael Gose (the third of the Gose brothers to play for the Stags- is that the end of the line??), and there's only one senior getting any consistent innings on the mound. Granted, Gose is hitting over .400 on the year, but the senior pitcher has an ERA over 10. It's reassuring for their future that they've got a lot of youth on that team and they're being throw into the fire young, so they'll have plenty of in-game experience as they get older.

Side note: just noticed that last week's D3 team of the week did not feature Redlands Freshman SP, and SCIAC Male Athlete of the Week, Felix Minjarez. Kid threw a no-no against a good La Verne team (.313 team BA this year) and gets no love! Granted, the three pitchers all threw fantastic games- I believe all one-hitters- but still. Is that a problem with the UoR SID not campaigning hard enough, or a selection oversight?