BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Purple Heys]

Tight game at Sparky Park...Poets' Freshman Turpen turned in another excellent pitching performance, but Cal Lu grinds it out.  I like what I'm seeing these last few games...we are gaining the ability to stay in close games and take our shot against good teams.

[NWBaseballFan10]

A walkoff grand slam heartbreaker for Caltech this afternoon I thought we were finally going to see that first SCIAC victory.

[Ralph Turner]

A walkoff grand slam heartbreaker for Caltech this afternoon I thought we were finally going to see that first SCIAC victory.

After taking the lead on an unearned run in the top of the 10th, too!

[Jack Parkman]

A walkoff grand slam heartbreaker for Caltech this afternoon I thought we were finally going to see that first SCIAC victory.

That just sucks.  I was really rooting for them to pull it out.

Oxy keeps it rolling with a sweep of Pomona.  Gerics didn't pitch this weekend for Pomona. Teddy, any knowledge of why?
Chapman sweeps Redlands which really hurts Redlands.  I don't see them losing again before the Final 4 games but they have some serious work to do to get a spot in the tournament.
Cal Lu swept Whittier in a very close series.  Whittier pitching did a good job of keeping them in it.
CMS sweeps Caltech.  So close to getting a Beaver win.
La Verne gives up 29 runs to PLU in 2 games.  Not sure I have ever seen that out of the ULV pitching.  Not a good sign.

[Purple Heys]

3 games of a hotly contested series, but Cal Lu showed more poise at key moments, which carried them to the sweep.  WC led in each game but could not seal the deal...that's us right now.

IMHO Cal Lu seems to be the most complete SCIAC team (pitching, hitting, defense, savvy) that we've played thus far, but by no means are they beyond our reach.

Now we get Chapman fresh off a 3 game sweep of Redlands.  No breaks. No days off.

[Teddy_Ballgame]

A walkoff grand slam heartbreaker for Caltech this afternoon I thought we were finally going to see that first SCIAC victory.

That just sucks.  I was really rooting for them to pull it out.

Oxy keeps it rolling with a sweep of Pomona.  Gerics didn't pitch this weekend for Pomona. Teddy, any knowledge of why?
Chapman sweeps Redlands which really hurts Redlands.  I don't see them losing again before the Final 4 games but they have some serious work to do to get a spot in the tournament.
Cal Lu swept Whittier in a very close series.  Whittier pitching did a good job of keeping them in it.
CMS sweeps Caltech.  So close to getting a Beaver win.
La Verne gives up 29 runs to PLU in 2 games.  Not sure I have ever seen that out of the ULV pitching.  Not a good sign.

Gerics was injured, but from what I've heard it's not particularly serious and he should be back shortly. Lord knows we need him the way things have been going... This weekend against Cal Lu will be tough regardless.

Also- very disappointing to see Cal Tech go all the way to extra innings, take a lead, and still miss that streak-breaking win (especially against CMS  ). They've done a pretty good job of putting runs on the board this year, and have largely avoided pitching/defensive implosions. I'm crossing my fingers that they get that first win before the PP series to close out the regular season. Go Beavers!

[Purple Heys]

Another pair of nail biters at Chapman, but this time we bent but didn't break in taking game 2 in 12 innings.  3 freshman pitchers did a nice job not allowing that one big inning.  Game 1 had the same arc, but a couple things broke one way instead of the other and Chapman took advantage.  Game could have gone either way.

Lots of extra-curricular shenanigans to add some spice to the series.  They resume the Friday game this afternoon.

[Purple Heys]

WC takes the series in the postponed wild one where the Poets tacked on 3 more in the second (after 9 in the first) and held on for 7 innings.

Cal Tech next, can't let up and give those guys 1" +/- .001"   

[Purple Heys]

Last Series this next weekend plus the Round Robin.

According to my calculations Oxy, Cal Lu, and Redlands are in; with Chapman holding a 5 game lead with 7 to play for the 4th spot.  Chapman can overtake Redlands and holds the tiebreaker between the two.  Whittier , and La Verne still have mathematical chances.  With ULV and Chapman head to head this week, the Leopards - losers of 10 in a row - have a last chance to right the ship and claw back in for an opportunity to defend their SCIAC Tourney crown.

WC holds the tiebreaker against both teams should a 3-way tie happen or if the Poets tie with either one.  Chapman holds the tiebreaker over ULV.  WC has to get past CMS, who have proven to be dangerous...and it's not like the Poets exactly lit up Cal Tech this weekend.  Then WC must continue the improbable and win out in the R-R.  However, it's a chance, however unlikely, it's fun to be still in the mix.

As Captain Amazing once said, "Is it a good plan...no...but I think that's what I like about it."  Then he got zapped by the psychofraculator.   

[Purple Heys]

I said it last year and I will repeat it:  My hat is tipped to the Cal Tech coaching staff and their players.  That their players remain this motivated after they get to this point of the season, says something big of their character.  The improvement is observable.  They still have 3 games to go, and while I am not sure this year is the year; if they keep progressing, next year may indeed be the year.  And they very well could win more than one once they get going.

[Westside]

So Occidental is 24-1 over there last 25 games... I know the SCIAC is down this year, but has anyone seen them that can give me some more insight? Obviously, DeRaad is legit; but what about the rest of their offense? Will they hit when they face teams with good pitching? Freshman Will Martel is 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA, but he has only 21 strikeouts in 64 innings. Is it a bunch of off-speed stuff or does he just pitch to contact? Their fielding stats are below average... but they keep on winning. Someone give me the scoop to how they 26-5!

[Purple Heys]

So Occidental is 24-1 over there last 25 games... I know the SCIAC is down this year, but has anyone seen them that can give me some more insight? Obviously, DeRaad is legit; but what about the rest of their offense? Will they hit when they face teams with good pitching? Freshman Will Martel is 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA, but he has only 21 strikeouts in 64 innings. Is it a bunch of off-speed stuff or does he just pitch to contact? Their fielding stats are below average... but they keep on winning. Someone give me the scoop to how they 26-5!

This weekend's games vs. CLU will be the barometer for that.

[Ralph Turner]

So Occidental is 24-1 over there last 25 games... I know the SCIAC is down this year, but has anyone seen them that can give me some more insight? Obviously, DeRaad is legit; but what about the rest of their offense? Will they hit when they face teams with good pitching? Freshman Will Martel is 8-0 with a 1.69 ERA, but he has only 21 strikeouts in 64 innings. Is it a bunch of off-speed stuff or does he just pitch to contact? Their fielding stats are below average... but they keep on winning. Someone give me the scoop to how they 26-5!

Respectfully, everyone is saying that the West is down, (SCIAC, ASC and maybe the NWC with the perception that Linfield did not make the tourney).  The ASC was competitive with the SCAC which has 3 teams in and around the Top 25.

But, I saw most of the games at the West Region in Tyler and the Region was BALANCED!

Trinity went on the finish 3rd in Wisconsin.

I am not sure that we have a "break-out" dominant team, but I am looking at 12-15 teams in the Region that are in the top 100, even though we are the least numerous region.

[Purple Heys]

I am inclined to agree with Sir Ralph.  I think there are a lot of pretty good teams beating up on one another; with the next level down teams taking a bite or two along the way when they get their ace on the hill or get hot at the plate.

My thought is that the team that emerges is so battle worn just to survive the West Region, that they may get to Appleton with tired arms.

[Ralph Turner]

I am inclined to agree with Sir Ralph.  I think there are a lot of pretty good teams beating up on one another; with the next level down teams taking a bite or two along the way when they get their ace on the hill or get hot at the plate.

My thought is that the team that emerges is so battle worn just to survive the West Region, that they may get to Appleton with tired arms.

... or a core of 16-18 players who have had really tough games with lots of late inning tension such that they are ready for the challenge.

Purple,

from your observation, are the SCIAC contenders developing the #3, #4 and #5 starters and the #2 and #3 set-up men?

I think that was the difference in Trinity. They had developed a deep bullpen in the regular season that help with SCAC tourney, West Region and Nationals.  I think that is one of the strengths that we see in the WIAC, the NJAC, Cortland and New England teams... bullpen depth.