BB: SLIAC: St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[theoneandonly]

Blackburn has finally released their schedule at the following link:
http://www.blackburn.edu/Athletics/Baseball/Baseball.asp

Looks like they have the usual teams on their non-conference schedule minus the fact that they wont be playing Illinois Weslyan to end the season for the first time in as long as I can remember. Kind of disappointing actually. Anyway their Non-conference 13 game schedule looks like this:
St. Louis Christian (2), Millikin, Rhodes, Mississippi College (2), Loyola University of New Orleans (2), Huntingdon College (3), Lincoln Christian (2).

I predict them going 5-8 in non conference play beating St Louis Christan Twice, Millikin, and Lincoln Christan twice. From what it sounds like Blackburn will have a very small squad again this year losing some key players from last years team. I think they will end up around the middle of the conference between 4th-7th. I know Mike Neal will do what he can to get some players to Blackburn though so there is no telling what came in for the Spring semester until he releases his roster.

[STLXSLIAC]

Any key loses in players from last seasons teams that this years teams will have to overcome? Who's loses will have the biggest impact?

[theoneandonly]

Any key loses in players from last seasons teams that this years teams will have to overcome? Who's loses will have the biggest impact?

Looks like there were a lot of key losses from last season. Most noteably Fuiten from Webster. I dont think it will be too difficult to have someone fill the position in Websters line up but providing the impact that he did will be close to impossible to fill. Webster also lost Eric Broughton and Kyle Starnes.

Fontbonne lost Dan Horn who was an all conference catchers for the past two seasons. He really helped hold the 2009 conference champs together. Jack Grover will also be another key loss for them

Blackburn lost Josh Holman, which will leave a huge hole at first base.  He was the only player from Blackburn who was First Team All Conference. Also some recent insider news has told me that Matecki, Cadle, and Spala will all not be returning  this season which leaves a hole a 3rd base and two holes in the Outfield.

Greenville will lose Rinkerwho was a 2nd team all conference pitcher last season and Bryan Hobbie who was 2nd team in the outfield as well as two honorable mentions all conference players in Brian Stoff and Mike Scott.

Eureka will lose Keith Moore, Westminster will lose Mike Silver, Principia will lose John Raffles, and Macmurray will lose James Backstein and Mikie Sellers which are all key losses for the respective teams.

Look for a lot of transfers and young guys to shine this year. However this year will hold yet another strong Senior class that will in turn leave some major holes for the NEXT season, but until that happens... lets focus on this season!

[#1PantherFan]

Just found out that Bryan Hobbie will be returning to Greenville this semester to take some additional classes and use his final season of eligibility to patrol centerfield for the Panthers.

[theoneandonly]

Just found out that Bryan Hobbie will be returning to Greenville this semester to take some additional classes and use his final season of eligibility to patrol centerfield for the Panthers.

Pantherfan, generally you have 5 years of eligibilty, you can use 4 in one sports and 1 in another. Did Hobbie not play baseball for 4 years? I am just curious? It is a tough job market, the more classes/schooling you get at this point, the better.

[#1PantherFan]

Just found out that Bryan Hobbie will be returning to Greenville this semester to take some additional classes and use his final season of eligibility to patrol centerfield for the Panthers.

Pantherfan, generally you have 5 years of eligibilty, you can use 4 in one sports and 1 in another. Did Hobbie not play baseball for 4 years? I am just curious? It is a tough job market, the more classes/schooling you get at this point, the better.

He has played only two years of baseball and one year of basketball. So he could play two more years, but I believe he's trying to get into dental school.

[theoneandonly]

Just found out that Bryan Hobbie will be returning to Greenville this semester to take some additional classes and use his final season of eligibility to patrol centerfield for the Panthers.

Pantherfan, generally you have 5 years of eligibilty, you can use 4 in one sports and 1 in another. Did Hobbie not play baseball for 4 years? I am just curious? It is a tough job market, the more classes/schooling you get at this point, the better.

He has played only two years of baseball and one year of basketball. So he could play two more years, but I believe he's trying to get into dental school.

Oh, ok thanks for filling me in. Sounds like a pretty solid young man, with a bright future. Looks like Greenville may have a leader to stand behind this season once again.

[BigPoppa]

Big Poppa's Pre-season SLIAC Poll:



1. Webster (SLIAC)- They ran the table at 24-0 last season and then stumbled in the post-season, costing themselves a Pool A bid. Return six first team all-SLIAC players this season. Thoughts welcome...

2. Fontbonne (SLIAC)

3. Spalding (SLIAC)

4. Blackburn (SLIAC)

5. Greenville (SLIAC)

6. MacMurray (SLIAC)

7. Eureka (SLIAC)

8. Principia (SLIAC)

[theoneandonly]

Big Poppa, I dont know that there is much to say.. haha. You are pretty much spot on. Although I think that Blackburn could range between 4th and 6th. They lost a TON of talent from last season. The only seniors on the team this season are Ben Eilerman a pitcher and Jacob Hainsfurther a pitcher who they have attempted to turn into a fielder. He can hold his own but if he were to be a position player 2nd base would be the only spot I could see putting him. Also as you saw in a couple of previous posts, Greenville will return Hobbie and Neece, those are two HUGE players for them to return. You also left out Westminster. If I changed anything in your post it would go as follows:

Webster
Fontbonne
Greenville
Spaulding
Blackburn
Westminster
Eureka
Principia
Macmurray

[BigPoppa]

Big Poppa, I dont know that there is much to say.. haha. You are pretty much spot on. Although I think that Blackburn could range between 4th and 6th. They lost a TON of talent from last season. The only seniors on the team this season are Ben Eilerman a pitcher and Jacob Hainsfurther a pitcher who they have attempted to turn into a fielder. He can hold his own but if he were to be a position player 2nd base would be the only spot I could see putting him. Also as you saw in a couple of previous posts, Greenville will return Hobbie and Neece, those are two HUGE players for them to return. You also left out Westminster. If I changed anything in your post it would go as follows:

Webster
Fontbonne
Greenville
Spaulding
Blackburn
Westminster
Eureka
Principia
Macmurray

The SLIAC will be fun to watch this season. Is Webster going to repeat its dominace like 2009? Spaulding is a HUGE wildcard in this conference. I have a feeling they will be better than advertised and may shake up the SLIAC a bit.

[theoneandonly]

Big Poppa,
I think you are right the SLIAC will be a fun conference to watch, however I think as usual they will only have a couple of teams that are going to compete outside the conference. .. My preseason says 4th  for spaulding but I really think 4th through 7th is almost a toss up between the teams that are in those positions

[theoneandonly]

10 days and counting until game one of the sliac season!!!

[Dawg_ball]

Just found out that Bryan Hobbie will be returning to Greenville this semester to take some additional classes and use his final season of eligibility to patrol centerfield for the Panthers.

Pantherfan, generally you have 5 years of eligibilty, you can use 4 in one sports and 1 in another. Did Hobbie not play baseball for 4 years? I am just curious? It is a tough job market, the more classes/schooling you get at this point, the better.

He has played only two years of baseball and one year of basketball. So he could play two more years, but I believe he's trying to get into dental school.

Oh, ok thanks for filling me in. Sounds like a pretty solid young man, with a bright future. Looks like Greenville may have a leader to stand behind this season once again.

-don't forget about a certain somebody named Stefan Neece playing first base this spring...

[theoneandonly]

Dawg, dont worry, no one has forgotten.. just go back a further a few more posts and you will see there has been plenty of talk.

[#1PantherFan]

10 days and counting until game one of the sliac season!!!

It's not on the SLIAC site, but Greenville is supposed to play McKendree one week from today on the 24th in Greenville. My son is thinking that there is no way the field will be in good enough shape to play though.