BB: MWC: Midwest Conference

[BigPoppa]

Carroll is such a young team they are hard to predict.  They can put up a lot of runs as evidenced by the last game against Beloit.  If a pitcher is on and the bats are hot they have the potential to beat any of the teams.  But that is a big if. 

Isn't it that way with ANY team?

[TurtleHead]

Beloit dropped a tough one this weekend to Carroll...definitely makes a repeat conference championship an uphill climb.

From what I can tell from the stats, it looks like there's a real dropoff between the 1-3 of the Beloit staff and their number 4.  Isn't this pretty much the same team from last year?  Who did they lose?

Norbert looks like the runaway favorite at this point.  Anybody out there think Carroll could take a game from SNC or Ripon as well?

Anybody been tracking this Andrew Heer kid?  The kid didn't even get any time last year and now he's got a slugging % up around 1.000.  Where'd he come from?

Something tells me you know MUCH more about him than you are letting on.

Heer was on the basketball team until his Jr. year.  Was back up third baseman last year. 

and yes BP the informant does know a lot more about this team then he is letting on.

[ballfan55]

Carroll is such a young team they are hard to predict.  They can put up a lot of runs as evidenced by the last game against Beloit.  If a pitcher is on and the bats are hot they have the potential to beat any of the teams.  But that is a big if. 

Isn't it that way with ANY team?

Very true, but the question was asked and I answered it as best I can.  You might get a day like they had in the last game against Beloit...or you might get a performance like they gave against Marian earlier in the week.

BTW Carroll announced a new AD today.  He is the current AD at UW-La Crosse, Joe Baker, (he wasn't the guy that caused the problems with the baseball program I don't believe).  On the baseball side, Baker was all-state in New Jersey and chose college over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[TheInformant]

Whatever guys - think what you'd like.

Next question...what do you think Jandron's chances are for 1st team all american?  Any draft potential?  The numbers are pretty impressive - right up there where Frost's were.

What's the deal with Hillesheim?  2 years ago he's lights out and the last 2 years he struggles.  Curious thing is how many unearned runs he seems to give up.  Is he the unluckiest guy in the conference or is this questionable scoring to keep ERAs down?

[TurtleHead]

Whatever guys - think what you'd like.

Next question...what do you think Jandron's chances are for 1st team all american?  Any draft potential?  The numbers are pretty impressive - right up there where Frost's were.

What's the deal with Hillesheim?  2 years ago he's lights out and the last 2 years he struggles.  Curious thing is how many unearned runs he seems to give up.  Is he the unluckiest guy in the conference or is this questionable scoring to keep ERAs down?

I would say Jandron's chances are pretty good.  If not as a position player definitely for Utility. 

Hillesheim I believe was the teams #3 pitcher that year (may be wrong).  Was then switched to #1.  As you know there is a big difference. 

[TheInformant]

Good point TurtleHead.  Making that jump is tough.  Kinda makes me question the toughness factor though...somebody boots a ball behind ya and you allow the floodgates to open.

Jandron's gotta be close to a lock at this point for Utility All American. Anybody out there close with the Norbert program know if scouts spend a lot of time in DePere?  I remember when they used to show up to see Frost

[ballfan55]

Carroll will host St. Norbert this afternoon as a make-up for Saturdays rain out.  St. Norbert will host Carroll NEXT Monday it appears.  SNC and Beloit face off next Sunday in a double header and Carroll and Elmhurst play a single game next Sunday...with neither team playing on Saturday (finals?).  Of course more rain is scheduled for next weekend right now.

[TheInformant]

After a season of very good weather, the rain postponed a lot of action this past weekend.  Besides the schedule mentioned above, Beloit will have 8 games in 6 days.  Should be interesting to see how their arms hold up after that.

Factor in finals for all teams and it should be a busy last week or 2...

[TurtleHead]

We really need to get rid of the divisions for Baseball.   I would be very surprised if any team from the south wins a game against the north in this years tournament.

[Maverick]

South Division Standings (thru 4/25)

Grinnell  8-0
Illinois C.  6-4
Monmouth  4-4
Knox  0-10

Grinnell with another sweep of Illinois College on Saturday to remain in first place in the South and Monmouth swept Knox again to continue to stay alive in the post-season race.

Monmouth @ Grinnell and IC @ Knox for this coming Saturday.  Should be interesting to see how things play out...if Monmouth can beat Grinnell twice to keep their playoff hopes alive another week, if Knox can surprise IC and find a way to win one which could throw a wrench into the south standings depending on other outcomes, or if Monmouth/Grinnell/IC all finish at 8-4 for a 3-way tie atop the south division (still a couple weeks away from that scenario however).  Not saying it's gonna happen, but it's possible...

[hickory_cornhusker]

Turtlehead, wasn't that the feeling going into the 2008 Tournament abd Knox took the whole thing winning three games on Saturday to pull it off.

It would be nice to get rid of division but with the spring weather in this part of the nation so unpredictable it is hard to justify Grinnell making a Fox River Valley road trip and not get a game in because of rain/snow. We lost all weekend in the north division and this has been a relatively good year.

[TurtleHead]

Turtlehead, wasn't that the feeling going into the 2008 Tournament abd Knox took the whole thing winning three games on Saturday to pull it off.

It would be nice to get rid of division but with the spring weather in this part of the nation so unpredictable it is hard to justify Grinnell making a Fox River Valley road trip and not get a game in because of rain/snow. We lost all weekend in the north division and this has been a relatively good year.

Yes that was the feeling in 2008, but when you consider in 4 of the last 7 the north has had both teams in the finals I wouldn't say that I am reaching. 

As far as the schedule.  Every other conference in both the midwest and central region play everyone in the conference.  Granted they either do a 3 or 2 game schedule but they do play.  Some of them like the Nathcon have teams all over the place as well.   

I doubt it will happen because of missed class time, but I can dream.

[TheInformant]

Early report shows Beloit takes 2 from Lawrence - both DeGeorge and Norman throw complete games (the 4th and 5th in Beloit history)

St. Norbert splits with Carroll - losing the first before winning the 2nd 14-0

[ballfan55]

Those that wondered if Carroll could take one from St. Norbert you have the answer.  Cale Ross pitched well in game 1 going 8 innings and Matt Busse hit a big three run home run in the 7th to put Carroll up for good 7-6.  Steve Belknap then pitched the 9th, walking two before getting Yost to fly out to center to end the game.

In the second game wildness by Carroll's first pitcher, several errors, and great pitching by Stoppenbach for SNC turned the tables and SNC won 14-0 in 7 innings.

Game time for the second half or the series has not been completely set yet.  Finals are having a big impact on the teams.

[TheInformant]

Big win for the Carroll program - let's see if they can get another one from Norberts.  Hopefully they can take 1 or 2 from Ripon as well.

It should be interesting to see how this last week or so pans out...advantage lies in whatever team has the most arms.  Beloit got 2 complete games last night, which should help out going into 6 more games over the next 6 days.

Hillsheim allows another 6 unearned runs...just about half his runs are unearned at this point in the season.