BB: SLIAC: St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[BigPoppa]

Ahhhhhh.... religion. The great uniter in this country. Nothing stirs the pot like a discussion of one's faith:) Maybe Martin Luther was wrong?

[#1PantherFan]

This award is nothing like NCAA DIII Player of the Year.  It says he was the best player out of a group of mostly lousy baseball schools.

I realize that Neece is probably not going to receive the NCAA DIII Player of the Year, but to say the schools who choose to include a membership in the NCCAA are lousy baseball schools is far from the truth. Many of them are NAIA schools and the ten schools currently playing in the NCCAA World Series in Mason, OH have sent 42 players on to play professional ball. What is so wrong with a person trying to acknowledge and recognize accomplishments by the players on their favorite college team? You never did answer what your connection to Webster U. was. If you would check my profile, you could easily determine by my e-mail address that I am the father of Matt Leefers, Greenville pitcher for the last four years. You choose to hide behind your posting name.

[mr_b]

This award is nothing like NCAA DIII Player of the Year.  It says he was the best player out of a group of mostly lousy baseball schools.

I realize that Neece is probably not going to receive the NCAA DIII Player of the Year, but to say the schools who choose to include a membership in the NCCAA are lousy baseball schools is far from the truth. Many of them are NAIA schools and the ten schools currently playing in the NCCAA World Series in Mason, OH have sent 42 players on to play professional ball. What is so wrong with a person trying to acknowledge and recognize accomplishments by the players on their favorite college team? You never did answer what your connection to Webster U. was. If you would check my profile, you could easily determine by my e-mail address that I am the father of Matt Leefers, Greenville pitcher for the last four years. You choose to hide behind your posting name.

I'd second this opinion.  The quality of the teams does vary a lot, but we've played a few (Malone and Atlanta Christian) and they have been very competitive.  I think Malone woon 40+ games in NAIA last year.

[BigToughGuy]

This award is nothing like NCAA DIII Player of the Year.  It says he was the best player out of a group of mostly lousy baseball schools.

I realize that Neece is probably not going to receive the NCAA DIII Player of the Year, but to say the schools who choose to include a membership in the NCCAA are lousy baseball schools is far from the truth. Many of them are NAIA schools and the ten schools currently playing in the NCCAA World Series in Mason, OH have sent 42 players on to play professional ball. What is so wrong with a person trying to acknowledge and recognize accomplishments by the players on their favorite college team? You never did answer what your connection to Webster U. was. If you would check my profile, you could easily determine by my e-mail address that I am the father of Matt Leefers, Greenville pitcher for the last four years. You choose to hide behind your posting name.

I have a serious question now that I know who you are.  Why did Massengill start game one of the SLIAC tournament?  That is an honest question because I think it was a huge coaching mistake not to throw your #1 (Matt) in game one.  Did they think they could squeak by Fontbonne and save Matt for Webster in game 2?

[#1PantherFan]

This award is nothing like NCAA DIII Player of the Year.  It says he was the best player out of a group of mostly lousy baseball schools.

I realize that Neece is probably not going to receive the NCAA DIII Player of the Year, but to say the schools who choose to include a membership in the NCCAA are lousy baseball schools is far from the truth. Many of them are NAIA schools and the ten schools currently playing in the NCCAA World Series in Mason, OH have sent 42 players on to play professional ball. What is so wrong with a person trying to acknowledge and recognize accomplishments by the players on their favorite college team? You never did answer what your connection to Webster U. was. If you would check my profile, you could easily determine by my e-mail address that I am the father of Matt Leefers, Greenville pitcher for the last four years. You choose to hide behind your posting name.

I have a serious question now that I know who you are.  Why did Massengill start game one of the SLIAC tournament?  That is an honest question because I think it was a huge coaching mistake not to throw your #1 (Matt) in game one.  Did they think they could squeak by Fontbonne and save Matt for Webster in game 2?

As one of our coaches said "we were in it to win it", meaning they were taking the steps they deemed necessary to win the tournament, not just surviving from game to game. Fontbonne did not see Massengill in our three game series and he was just as good as Matt many times this year. I'm sure Coach Kurich was second-guessing himself when he went with his #4 (DuHadway) against Eureka and was down 5-3 going into the seventh. As far as going with Covert against Eureka in game #2, Daniel has always had good success against the Red Devils and that game was no exception. For some reason we just didn't hit McConkey like we had in the past and just squeaked by. Matt then pitched great against Fontbonne and got us to the championship game where you've always got a chance.

[theoneandonly]

while all of you have been arguing about pointless topics, webster has been doing work in the tourney.. WHO is ready to see the SLIACS first appearance in the d3 work series? Just two more wins!

[theoneandonly]

CONGRATS to Stephen Neece on being selected as a third team All American

[#1PantherFan]

From the SLIAC Website:

May 26, 2010 - Baseball
NINE SLIAC BASEBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO 2010 RAWLINGS/ABCA ALL-CENTRAL REGION TEAM

ST. LOUIS - Nine St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) baseball players have been named to the 2010 Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region Team. Fontbonne University's Josh Kraemer and Josh Burlison, Greenville College's Stefan Neece, Matt Leefers and Bryan Hobbie and Webster University's Victor Valdez, Will Savage, David Mueller, Craig Schaefer all earned the honor.

Hobbie, a senior outfielder, was the lone player named to the Rawlings/ABCA Central Region Gold Glove Team. He posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in center field, recording 95 putouts and one assist in 96 total chances. Hobbie was also a Honorable Mention All-SLIAC selection this season.

Neece, Valdez and Savage were all named First Team Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region. Neece, a senior first baseman, was also the 2010 SLIAC Player of the Year and a First Team All-SLIAC selection. He led the Panthers this season with a .487 batting average, 67 RBI, 57 hits, 51 runs scored, 19 home runs and 11 doubles. He also posted a 1.085 slugging percentage, .663 on-base percentage, 11 stolen bases and a .991 fielding percentage with 327 putouts and 22 assists in 352 total chances.

Valdez, a senior outfielder, led the Gorloks at the plate with a .385 batting average, 70 RBI, 67 hits, 52 runs scored, 16 home runs, 13 doubles and three triples. As the starting right fielder, he also recorded a .982 fielding percentage with 50 putouts and five assists in 56 total chances. Valdez was also a Honorable Mention All-SLIAC honoree this season.

Savage, a senior pitcher, also received First Team All-SLIAC honors this season. He was the Gorloks' top hurler with a 9-0 record on the mound, including six complete games and three shutouts. Savage posted a 1.52 ERA in 82.2 innings of work and struck out a total of 72 batters. He also held his opponents to a .172 batting average.

Mueller, a sophomore pitcher, was the lone SLIAC player named to the Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region Second Team. Mueller, who was also a Second Team All-SLIAC selection this season, recorded a 2.08 ERA in 78.0 innings on the mound. He was 8-1 in 13 total appearances and pitched three complete games and one combined shutout. Mueller also tallied a total of 63 strikeouts.

Schaefer, Leefers, Kraemer and Burlison all received Third Team Rawlings/ABCA All-Central Region honors. Schaefer, a junior designated hitter, went 61-for-175 at the plate for a .349 batting average. He recorded 41 RBI, 41 runs scored, 12 doubles and nine home runs, while also going 5-of-5 in stolen base attempts. Schaefer was also a Second Team All-SLIAC selection this season.

Leefers, a senior pitcher, was the SLIAC Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-SLIAC honoree. He was 8-4 on the mound with one save, earning the decision or a save in 13 out of 14 total appearances. He posted a 2.31 ERA in 78.0 innings of work, while also recording six complete games and two shutouts. Leefers also recorded 53 strikeouts and allowed only 17 walks in 296 batters faced.

Kraemer, a senior third baseman, also received First Team All-SLIAC honors this season. He finished the season with a .390 batting average and recorded 60 hits, 57 RBI, 31 runs scored, 14 doubles and five home runs. His 57 RBI was also a team-high for the Griffins.

Burlison, a senior shortstop, led Fontbonne at the plate with a .434 batting average. He went 62-for-143 with 46 RBI, 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, six home runs and four triples. Burlison, who was a First Team All-SLIAC selection, also was 24-of-28 in stolen base attempts.

[#1PantherFan]

Congrats to Stefan Neece, 1B (Greenville College) and Will Savage, P (Webster University) for being named as 2010 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Americans on the First Team.

[#1PantherFan]

From the Webster University site:

Will Savage, coming off the finest pitching season in Gorlok baseball annals, has signed with the Milledgeville Capitals of the Peach State League in Georgia. The 2010 graduate made his debut for the Capitals on June 24, starting the game and leaving his team with a 3-1 lead after pitching six strong innings. He did not figure in the decision as the Capitals bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Savage allowed four hits and one run, in his six innings, while striking out four. Of the 84 pitches he threw in his inaugural professional outing, 54 were for strikes. He starts the season with a 1.50 ERA, picking up where his senior year as a Gorlok left off. Savage set numerous records for Webster baseball in 2010, including his season ERA of 1.52 and for victories in a season as he compiled a 9-0 record.

Post-season honors piled up for Savage as he was named a 2010 Rawlings/ABCA First Team All-American, 2010 Rawlings/ABCA All-Central First Team, All-Tournament Team for the NCAA III Central Region, and SLIAC First Team All-Conference.

The Peach State is a rookie league made up of undrafted players, specifically college seniors who have no eligibility remaining.  Rookie players released by a major league team during spring training or by a minor league team during its season are also eligible. Players are only eligible to play in the league for one season. Teams will play a 42-game schedule.

Milledgeville is a city of 18,000 in central Georgia, northeast of Macon. The city served as Georgia's state capital before being burned by Gen. William Sherman's Union troops in the Civil War. The state capital was moved to Atlanta after the War. 

[theoneandonly]

Has everyone had a chance to take a look at the new SLIAC site. It is MUCH better than in the past. when you get a chance go take a looK! MAJOR UPGRADE!

www.sliac.org

[theoneandonly]

blackburn baseball has released their 2011 schedule:

Date Opponent Time Score Record
  March 2 vs. St. Louis Christian College  1:30 PM     
  March 3 vs. Robert Morris-Springfield  1:30 PM     
  March 7 @ Mississippi College  4:00 PM     
  March 8 @ Loyola University of New Orleans **  6:00 PM     
  March 9 @ Loyola University of New Orleans  6:00 PM     
  March 11 @ Huntingdon College  6:00 PM     
  March 12 @ Huntingdon College **  2:00 PM     
  March 16 vs. Benedictine University- Springfield  2:00 PM     
  March 18 vs. Eureka College  3:30 PM     
  March 19 vs. Dubuque College  1:00 PM     
  March 21 vs. Lincoln Christian University **  2:00 PM     
  March 22 @ Millikin University  3:00 PM     
  March 26 @ MacMurray College **  1:00 PM     
  March 27 vs. MacMurray College  3:00 PM     
  March 29 vs. Eureka College **  2:00 PM     
  April 2 vs. Webster University  2:00 PM     
  April 3 @ Webster University **  1:00 PM     
  April 5 vs. Washington University  3:00 PM     
  April 6 @ Eureka College  3:00 PM     
  April 8 @ Greenville College  3:00 PM     
  April 9 vs. Greenville College **  1:00 PM     
  April 12 vs. Principia College **  2:00 PM     
  April 16 @ Spalding University **  1:00 PM     
  April 17 @ Spalding University  1:00 PM     
  April 19 @ Principia College  6:00 PM     
  April 23 @ Westminster College **  2:00 PM     
  April 24 @ Westminster College  2:00 PM     
  April 26 vs. Fontbonne University  3:00 PM     
  May 4 @ Fontbonne University **  3:00 PM 

** designate double headers

[#1PantherFan]

Today's game between Greenville and McKendree has been cancelled.

[#1PantherFan]

From the conference website:

Defending Champ Webster Tops SLIAC Baseball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
St. Louis, Mo. – Defending St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) champion Webster University has been chosen as the pre-season favorite in the SLIAC Baseball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll. The Gorloks received five first place votes and had a total of 54 points.

Webster went 35-11 in 2010 and captured their fourth consecutive regular season Conference title. They also finished the season ranked No. 24 in the final ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III poll. Head coach Bill Kurich lost eight All-Conference players to graduation, but he does return All-Region players Craig Schaefer and David Mueller, along with four seniors and an outstanding recruiting class.

Also receiving first place votes in the poll was Spalding University (3). The Golden Eagles went 13-11 in SLIAC play last season and finished 19-20 overall. Spalding, who ranked third in the pre-season coaches' poll, is eligible for the regular season SLIAC title, but can not qualify yet for SLIAC Tournament play.

Fontbonne University was selected to finish second among the league coaches. The Griffins went 21-20 overall in 2010 and 14-10 in the conference. Greenville, who finished second last season with a conference record of 18-6 and 28-14 overall, rounded out the top four in the pre-season poll.

SLIAC Baseball Pre-Season Poll
1 Webster (5)
2 Fontbonne
3 Spalding (3)
4 Greenville
5 Westminster (Mo.)
6 Principia
7 Eureka
8 Blackburn
9 MacMurray

[BigPoppa]

The Key for Webster in 2011 will be beating non-SLIAC opponents to give themselves a better chance at a Pool C bid should they stumble in the SLIAC tourney.