BB: NACC: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

5-6 NAthCon Final:

Concordia-Chicago 6, Carthage 5  (Cougars' Bickel drove in game-winning run with a single in bottom of 9th, per NAthCon box score.) 

One concern with the Cougars is, 4 CUC pitchers were used in that game--how much will that affect NAth Con tournament strategy in early games? 

[Ralph Turner]

5-6 NAthCon Final:

Concordia-Chicago 6, Carthage 5  (Cougars' Bickel drove in game-winning run with a single in bottom of 9th, per NAthCon box score.) 

One concern with the Cougars is, 4 CUC pitchers were used in that game--how much will that affect NAth Con tournament strategy in early games? 

Maybe that was just in lieu of mid-week work.

[WLCALUM83]

Both Concordia-Chicago and Rockford won their opening NAthCon tournament games today to set up a show-down:

(Props to Aurora's softball team:  after being shut out by UW-Oshkosh yesterday the Spartans defeated North Central IL today, 8-0, to stay alive. To the best of my knowledge it's the first ever NCAA D3 post-season tournament win in a spring sport for any NAthCon squad.)

Especially if the guys get shut out again, that's something I'll hang my hat on. Nice PR when you can get it, eh?

[soxfan14]

Rockfor beats Concordia-chi
10-8
Rockford takes a 8-1 lead and holds off concordia's comeback
Concordia lines out into double play with tying runs on in bottom of 9th
Concordia awaits winner of ben- Marian game tonight
Rockford awaits whoever emerges

[WLCALUM83]

Benedictine uses a 2-run 9th to eliminate Marian, 6-4.

Today, it's Ben vs. CUC (again)

The winner of that game must beat Rockford twice to take the tournament title. The loser is eliminated. The Regents need only one win, and the title is theirs.

[WLCALUM83]

Rockfor beats Concordia-chi
10-8
Rockford takes a 8-1 lead and holds off concordia's comeback
Concordia lines out into double play with tying runs on in bottom of 9th
Concordia awaits winner of ben- Marian game tonight
Rockford awaits whoever emerges

soxfan14, that CUC scenario sounds very familiar this year.
Went back and found out that in 5-6 Cougar losses (all but one in-conference) they had the potential tying and/or winning runs on base in their last at bat, or (as against MSOE) had the lead and lost it. A half-dozen more timely hits and 30-12 could have been 36-6.

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon Tournament Update:

Concordia-Chicago 8, Benedictine 0. (IL Eagles are eliminated)--Kudlick tosses a 4-hit shutout-per box score.)

Concordia-Chicago 11, Rockford 1

(Cougars and Regents play one more game--winner take all.)

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon Tournament Championship Game Final:

Concordia-Chicago's attempt at a tri-fecta falls short--

Rockford 8, Concordia-Chicago 3.

[baseman201]

Anyone think CUC has a chance for a pool C bid with a 32-13 record?

I hope they get in.

Quality wins over Carthage and Wheaton and few close calls with Augustana, North Central and Illinois Wesleyan.

What do you think?

[Just Bill]

I'm hopeful, but not optimistic.  I don't think they have the numbers to get it done.

[bigdog55]

Don't forget about 2 wins over Webster 1 over Wartburg and 2 over Gynned? Mercy.  All of these teams have automatic bids if I'm not mistaken.

[WLCALUM83]

Rockfor beats Concordia-chi
10-8
Rockford takes a 8-1 lead and holds off concordia's comeback
Concordia lines out into double play with tying runs on in bottom of 9th
Concordia awaits winner of ben- Marian game tonight
Rockford awaits whoever emerges

soxfan14, that CUC scenario sounds very familiar this year.
Went back and found out that in 5-6 Cougar losses (all but one in-conference) they had the potential tying and/or winning runs on base in their last at bat, or (as against MSOE) had the lead and lost it. A half-dozen more timely hits and 30-12 could have been 36-6.

NAthCon men get shut-out again--per D3 Baseball "Playoff Central" Link.

(at least NAthCon's 'penance' is finished.)

(BTW, hooray for Aurora's softball team, which knocked North Central IL and Simpson IA out of the D3 softball regional before being eliminated by UW-Oshkosh. 2 tournament wins are better than none.)

[baseman201]

So I assume next year there will be an automatic bid?

Can't believe CUC didn't get in, thought they had a chance.

[WLCALUM83]

So I assume next year there will be an automatic bid?

Can't believe CUC didn't get in, thought they had a chance.

Yes, the automatic bid kicks in for NAthCon baseball next year. After that, the only "major" sport that will have to wait for an automatic bid is NAthCon football.

In the "Daily Dose" column, it was mentioned that when CUC went 3-2 in the NAthCon tourney, that hurt that squad's overall in-region record.

Also, as I may have mentioned in a previous post, there were some 6-7 games in which the Cougars either had the potential tying/go-ahead runs on base in their last at-bat and couldn't deliver, or (as in their loss to MSOE) had a lead late, and lost it. Several more timely hits, and 32-13 could have been 39-6. Also, had they beat Rockford on Day 1 of the NAthCon tournament, it would have spared them the marathon session they went through the second day.

The opportunities were there. I wanted them to get in, too. 

[soxfan14]

If you look at every team that made it to the nac tour. you can probably find a handful of games that could have been turned into wins with a few more good bounces or timely hits or dare i say umpires bad calls(no they never make bad calls)
In all the talk and blogs it seems con/chi was the team that should have gotten consideration for the ncaa's.but remeber they entered the nac tour. as a 4 seed. and did lose 2 of 3 to Rockford.
How bout some props for Rockford They have finished first or tied for first in the last 2 regular conference games and have won the nac tour.both years.
They won 56 games over the last 2 years, two con. titles and no ncaa bids due to the loss of the AQ.
It a shame that the 6 seniors who have made great contributions over the last 2 seasons never had the chance in the ncaa.s
Here to looking forward to next season when there really be something at stake in the nac tour. in 09