BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Sluggerdad]

As I have said before, I think this is going to be a dogfight for the top 4 spots in the SCIAC this year.  There are a lot of very good returning players but with no rosters it's kind of tough to know exactly who will be where and if more guys left than expected.  These are the official (VERY UNOFFICIAL) players that make up my pre-season all SCIAC team.  Feel free to give me your thought.

IF- Kyle Sanchez- CLU
IF- Tyler Cook- Chapman
IF- Ben White- ULV
IF- John Wiehe- Chapman
OF- Tanner Nishioka- Pomona
OF- Ramsey Abushala- CLU
OF- Trey Smith- CMS
OF- Forrest Wiederman- Chapman
C- Evan Opperman- CMS
P- Matt Smith- Chapman
P- Feliz Minjarez- Redlands
P- Nick Byrd- ULV
P- Brett Early- ULV
UTIL- Simon Rosenbaum- PP

I saw the chatter about the catcher position earlier but didn't think much of it until I started looking deeper.  Yikes, there are some big holes to fill!

I'm sure there are some names that should be on here but these are the guys I really see having good years.

Kyle Sanchez left Cal Lu and is now playing for Berkeley.   

Oof!  That's a big loss for CLU.

Definitely.  That kid tore it up in the California Collegiate League this past summer.   Certainly would have been a big presence in a D3 lineup.  But the Cal Lu offense should definitely be a strength his year still.   They've got some seniors who have been serious contributors for four years.   Word is that  up to three of them may draw some draft interest this year.

[Purple Heys]

Word is that up to three of them may draw some draft interest this year.

That'd be cool to see...

[Purple Heys]

Preseason Practice is in full swing for all SCIAC teams right?  Kinda quiet around these parts.  Aren't any of you dads excited for the upcoming season?  How about you grumpy ex-players?   

[Sluggerdad]

I'm excited to see how good my son's school team really is.   They have set themselves lofty goals.   Coaches are telling themselves they have the talent to win it all this year.  We shall see.

[Sluggerdad]

I'm also looking forward to seeing if he can work his way up the depth chart, with the plethora of upperclassmen ahead of him.  Will be a big challenge.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Sluggerdad, I wish your son the best. Good luck this season.

[Purplebaseball]

Preseason Practice is in full swing for all SCIAC teams right?  Kinda quiet around these parts.  Aren't any of you dads excited for the upcoming season?  How about you grumpy ex-players?   

Purple Heys I heard Whittier had a scrimmage open to the parents today.  Did you attend?  Unfortunately I was out of town.  If so how did they look?

[Purple Heys]

Preseason Practice is in full swing for all SCIAC teams right?  Kinda quiet around these parts.  Aren't any of you dads excited for the upcoming season?  How about you grumpy ex-players?   

Purple Heys I heard Whittier had a scrimmage open to the parents today.  Did you attend?  Unfortunately I was out of town.  If so how did they look?

I did go and now I owe some money for the hit-a-thon, but it was a fun event and an entertaining fundraiser.

The team seems to have good esprit de corp, which is a positive. I'm excited to see how this plays out.

[Sluggerdad]

Was looking at some SCIAC Rosters just for comparison sake -- not that they are all up, but I noticed that Pomona-Pritzer has not a single freshman on their roster.  I'm thinking that must be an incomplete roster and that they have just not yet decided which freshmen have made the team.  I don't think they have a JV team to put frosh on.  Or maybe they're starting one.

[Appalachian Mtns]

New parent to the SCIAC baseball world this year.

I know that it is early and circumstances will change pitching rotations, but can those familiar with a specific program rate the top pitchers from #1 to #6 or so, and whether they are RHP, LHP, solely weekend starters, or mid-week starters, relievers, closers, hybrids, etc.

I am sure there are situations where the #1 and #2 will be considered 1A and 1B, but if willing, please give me your pre-season opinion to #1, #2, #3, etc.   I am hoping to know the top pitchers for each SCIAC team based on compiling the information from your individual knowledge of each team.  If you have an opinion on more than one team, please share that too.

If too onerous, I understand that as well.

Looking forward to getting to know the players and teams in the SCIAC, and it looks like this might be the best forum to get that information.

[Purple Heys]

Was looking at some SCIAC Rosters just for comparison sake -- not that they are all up, but I noticed that Pomona-Pritzer has not a single freshman on their roster.  I'm thinking that must be an incomplete roster and that they have just not yet decided which freshmen have made the team.  I don't think they have a JV team to put frosh on.  Or maybe they're starting one.

Seems rather odd to have no freshman. Maybe they will be adding them soon...freshman players and new incoming transfers seem to get their mugshots and bios added last.

[Westside]

New parent to the SCIAC baseball world this year.

I know that it is early and circumstances will change pitching rotations, but can those familiar with a specific program rate the top pitchers from #1 to #6 or so, and whether they are RHP, LHP, solely weekend starters, or mid-week starters, relievers, closers, hybrids, etc.

I am sure there are situations where the #1 and #2 will be considered 1A and 1B, but if willing, please give me your pre-season opinion to #1, #2, #3, etc.   I am hoping to know the top pitchers for each SCIAC team based on compiling the information from your individual knowledge of each team.  If you have an opinion on more than one team, please share that too.

If too onerous, I understand that as well.

Looking forward to getting to know the players and teams in the SCIAC, and it looks like this might be the best forum to get that information.

I think that Redlands is pretty easy to figure out since they only had one senior on last year's roster. Barring any newcomers that steal the show this year, or transfers I don't know of, they should look like:

Starters:
#1 RHP Felix Minjarez (So.)
#2 RHP Matthew Acosta (So.)
#3 RHP Michael Collins (Sr.)

Hybrid (Starter/Reliever):
#1 LHP Noah Jones (So.)

Relievers:
#1 RHP John White (Jr.)
#2 RHP Adam Stead (So.)

They have a ton of underclassmen that will get the majority of the innings. So they should make a big leap from last year to this year.

[Sluggerdad]

Was looking at some SCIAC Rosters just for comparison sake -- not that they are all up, but I noticed that Pomona-Pritzer has not a single freshman on their roster.  I'm thinking that must be an incomplete roster and that they have just not yet decided which freshmen have made the team.  I don't think they have a JV team to put frosh on.  Or maybe they're starting one.

Seems rather odd to have no freshman. Maybe they will be adding them soon...freshman players and new incoming transfers seem to get their mugshots and bios added last.

Yeah I'm assuming it's something like that.  Would be unbelievable for them not to have a single freshman rostered.   I actually know a kid who I fully expect to be on the roster.  A HS teammate of my son's.  Very strong player.

[Sluggerdad]

Was looking at some SCIAC Rosters just for comparison sake -- not that they are all up, but I noticed that Pomona-Pritzer has not a single freshman on their roster.  I'm thinking that must be an incomplete roster and that they have just not yet decided which freshmen have made the team.  I don't think they have a JV team to put frosh on.  Or maybe they're starting one.

Seems rather odd to have no freshman. Maybe they will be adding them soon...freshman players and new incoming transfers seem to get their mugshots and bios added last.

Yeah I'm assuming it's something like that.  Would be unbelievable for them not to have a single freshman rostered.   I actually know a kid who I fully expect to be on the roster.  A HS teammate of my son's.  Very strong player.

They do indeed have some frosh on the team!  They updated the roster.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

Looking forward to the start of the season! Glad to see teams taking advantage of opportunities to travel... PP will open with four games in Texas against some quality in-region competition (Mary Hardin-Baylor, Concordia TX, and George Fox plus South region Rhodes).

Managed to get back to Claremont this weekend for the annual alumni game. While our alumni pitchers have dropped a few ticks of velo over the years, I was impressed by the way the squad swung the bat all game (even against former pro pitcher David Colvin). With the aid of a clearly crooked umpiring crew, the current players managed to barely squeak out a 25-3 victory. The alumni played hard and had more fun, though, so I think we were the real winners.

The Hens lost a lot of good starters from last year, particularly in the infield, but they should reload well. Nishioka will be playing second base and Rosenbaum has moved to third base. Those two and Kevin Brice will lead a solid offense. Expect healthy contributions from a few new left-handed swinging starters as well (names escape me at the moment). The question this year, as always, will be the pitching. Lane Miles has left the program after being the Friday guy most of last year. David Gerics and Cameron Yen will be the anchors and I expect them to both have great years. If a few of the other returners and/or freshmen can step up on the hill, I think the Hens will make the SCIAC tournament and can definitely push for the conference title and/or at large NCAA bid.