BB: SLIAC: St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[VideoDawg]

It would be too bad to have a great season, then stub their toe in the SLIAC Tourney and not get to go to the NCAA's. They should be rewarded for their play regardless of the SLIAC Tourney.

[BigPoppa]

It would be too bad to have a great season, then stub their toe in the SLIAC Tourney and not get to go to the NCAA's. They should be rewarded for their play regardless of the SLIAC Tourney.

The isssue you run into is that they have been terrible outside of the SLIAC.

[HangEmBangEm]

They did take down 2 nationally ranked teams and were within 1 run of the former no. 1 team in the nation.  Giving keystone one of their four losses. There record might not be great but they havent been THAT bad outside of the sliac if you ask me. They had a few bad games yes, but they also played alot of good teams.

[theoneandonly]

I hate to do it because i love the SLIAC but if you look at their games outside the SLIAC they are 3-11. I have to agree with BigPoppa on this one. in those 3 wins they took down, Illinois weslyan, Illinois college, and Keystone. Back during that time Keystone was not ranked, Illinois Welseyan (3-1)was ranked 16th but then fell out in the weeks to come, and Illinois College was never ranked. Now im not sure if Keystone is in region but i know Illinois Weslyan and IC both are so that right is only two in region wins, NOT INCLUDING conference games. So like stated above, they arent very strong out of conference. And its unfortunate. However if they for some reason are a bubble team, I hope they get put in, espically because of their performance in last years Regionals. Playing in the Regional Championship the year before should push a bubble team into the post season.

[BigPoppa]

They did take down 2 nationally ranked teams and were within 1 run of the former no. 1 team in the nation.  Giving keystone one of their four losses. There record might not be great but they havent been THAT bad outside of the sliac if you ask me. They had a few bad games yes, but they also played alot of good teams.

By my calculations (which may be off) I have Webster at 3-10 (which is about as bad as it can get) outside of the SLIAC. The did beat IWU and Keystone, but also had some bad losses in terms of other teams of natioanl level caliber (Aurora, Coe-twice, Cortland, Transylvania, Wartburg and WashU). Those are almost all teams that might be fighting for post-season berths and if Webster has to go head-to-head with them for a Pool C berth, how can the committee justify giving them one over the others that beat them?)

[theoneandonly]

websters record is 23-11 (20-0) so, 3-11. Unless ive goofed up.. This is straight off SLIAC.com... Unless you mean in region games, NOT INCLUDING CONFERENCE.

[OshDude]

They did take down 2 nationally ranked teams and were within 1 run of the former no. 1 team in the nation.  Giving keystone one of their four losses. There record might not be great but they havent been THAT bad outside of the sliac if you ask me. They had a few bad games yes, but they also played alot of good teams.

By my calculations (which may be off) I have Webster at 3-10 (which is about as bad as it can get) outside of the SLIAC. The did beat IWU and Keystone, but also had some bad losses in terms of other teams of natioanl level caliber (Aurora, Coe-twice, Cortland, Transylvania, Wartburg and WashU). Those are almost all teams that might be fighting for post-season berths and if Webster has to go head-to-head with them for a Pool C berth, how can the committee justify giving them one over the others that beat them?)

Unless Carthage or IWU doesn't win the CCIW Pool A, I doubt the Central gets more than one Pool C bid. I see a team like Millsaps rounding out the regional. If Wash U somehow gets a Pool B, I think one of your Pool A's (probably the MWC) will join us in Oshkosh. Still a long way to go, but it's hard to envision anything else happening.

With only 13 Pool C's, planets will have to align for the IIAC, MWC or SLIAC to get a Pool C. I think Webster should be third (Will they be? I somehow doubt it) in the first rankings, but I think that's merely good enough to be on the table when the last C gets in. And that third-place ranking is their absolute ceiling.

[BigPoppa]

They did take down 2 nationally ranked teams and were within 1 run of the former no. 1 team in the nation.  Giving keystone one of their four losses. There record might not be great but they havent been THAT bad outside of the sliac if you ask me. They had a few bad games yes, but they also played alot of good teams.

By my calculations (which may be off) I have Webster at 3-10 (which is about as bad as it can get) outside of the SLIAC. The did beat IWU and Keystone, but also had some bad losses in terms of other teams of natioanl level caliber (Aurora, Coe-twice, Cortland, Transylvania, Wartburg and WashU). Those are almost all teams that might be fighting for post-season berths and if Webster has to go head-to-head with them for a Pool C berth, how can the committee justify giving them one over the others that beat them?)

Unless Carthage or IWU doesn't win the CCIW Pool A, I doubt the Central gets more than one Pool C bid. I see a team like Millsaps rounding out the regional. If Wash U somehow gets a Pool B, I think one of your Pool A's (probably the MWC) will join us in Oshkosh. Still a long way to go, but it's hard to envision anything else happening.

With only 13 Pool C's, planets will have to align for the IIAC, MWC or SLIAC to get a Pool C. I think Webster should be third (Will they be? I somehow doubt it) in the first rankings, but I think that's merely good enough to be on the table when the last C gets in. And that third-place ranking is their absolute ceiling.

Agree 100% with you. IIAC, SLIAC and MWC tourneys will be for all the marbles and the ONLY bid for each conference. I think Carthage and IWU are locks to get and should be #1 and #2 tomorrow.

My Prediction:
1. Carthage
2. IWU
3/4. Webster/Buena Vista
5/6/7. Beloit/ Augustana/ St. Norbert

[BigToughGuy]

websters record is 23-11 (20-0) so, 3-11. Unless ive goofed up.. This is straight off SLIAC.com... Unless you mean in region games, NOT INCLUDING CONFERENCE.

Keep in mind that 2 of the losses were against non-DIII teams (UMSL & Missouri Baptist)  Say they win twice & lose twice in the conference tournament (I don't think they would go 2 and out).  This would possibly put them at 31-11 vs DIII opponents overall and 28-5 vs teams in the Central Region.

[theoneandonly]

Back to conference news:

Blackburn defeated MacMurray 7-2 last night. Ozee came in to finish out the game and looked solid. Look for him to be 1 or 2 in the rotation in the conference tourney, that is if the Beavers play well enough to stay in the top four. Last night they looked like a solid ball club, outfielders looked confident and they may have found a catcher in Tony Matecki. MacMurray has really changed their team from the past. They look like a much better hitting team, however what kills them is their lack of defensive stregnth. They have the confidence in the box but not out on the field.  Series wraps up today in Jacksonville.

[VideoDawg]

Eureka / Greenville should be an interesting game. Greenville is surging but Eureka should be able to give them a contest. Does the loser miss the tourney? It would seem that way for Eureka. If Greenville gets the loss the sand will continue to pour out of the top of the hourglass. 

[VideoDawg]

Congrats to Blackburn looks like they are taking care of business for now. Doubleheader today with Mac.

[#1PantherFan]

Eureka / Greenville should be an interesting game. Greenville is surging but Eureka should be able to give them a contest. Does the loser miss the tourney? It would seem that way for Eureka. If Greenville gets the loss the sand will continue to pour out of the top of the hourglass. 

The Panthers will not take them lightly. After being swept in the doubleheader 5-4 and 10-0 against us last week the Red Devils turned around the next day against Maryville and lost a close one 2-1. Two days later they got trounced in a doubleheader by Westminster 11-3 and 26-7. It depends on which Eureka team shows up. Just hope we're concentrating on this game and not looking ahead to the weekend against Fontbonne. Every game is important from here on out.

[#1PantherFan]

Eureka / Greenville should be an interesting game. Greenville is surging but Eureka should be able to give them a contest. Does the loser miss the tourney? It would seem that way for Eureka. If Greenville gets the loss the sand will continue to pour out of the top of the hourglass. 

The Panthers will not take them lightly. After being swept in the doubleheader 5-4 and 10-0 against us last week the Red Devils turned around the next day against Maryville and lost a close one 2-1. Two days later they got trounced in a doubleheader by Westminster 11-3 and 26-7. It depends on which Eureka team shows up. Just hope we're concentrating on this game and not looking ahead to the weekend against Fontbonne. Every game is important from here on out.

Greenville defeated Eureka 12-2 to shortgame them in seven innings for the scheduled nine inning game. Andy Rincker set down the first thirteen batters before a pair walks and a pair of singles garnered the Red Devils their two runs. Rincker then set down the final seven batters in a row. Meanwhile, the Panthers scored three in the first and solo runs in the second and third (Daniel Covert HR). The Panthers then put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh to seal the game. Ross Cook hit a two run shot in the seventh. Brian Stoff, Zach Miller, Brian Deadmond, Cook, and Covert all had 2 RBI's. Greenville improves to 9-9 in conference play to put themselves in the hunt for the fourth tournament spot. Face Fontbonne (9-6 before their game against Maryville today) for three this weekend.

[theoneandonly]

Congrats to Blackburn looks like they are taking care of business for now. Doubleheader today with Mac.

As soon as we start to give Blackburn some credit, they go out and lose NOT ONE BUT TWO to MAC, and you guys were correct, Greenville is not out of it yet.