BB: MWC: Midwest Conference

[BigPoppa]

Any thoughts or predictions? Top teams, line ups, coaches, pitchers, fielders, base runners, hitters in the Midwest Conference this season.

OK golfguy. Often on these boards offering YOUR thoughts and opinions is a great way to start a conversation. It almost always works better than just asking other people for their takes over and over. It always seems to me that asking this type of question means you're hoping someone will mention your son/nephew/siginificant other/high school buddy/self.

Edgewood College swept a DH from Ripon today down in Florida, 4-1 and 5-3. EC starting pitching was good and the Eagles led the whole day except for a two-run top of the first inning from RC in game two. Ripon is 0-3, EC is 2-1.

Golf guy's son is off to a nice start at Grinnell.

[cubs]

Ripon drops another game today to fall to 0-4 on the season....  OUCH!!!

[TurtleHead]

Ripon drops another game today to fall to 0-4 on the season....  OUCH!!!

The north is definitely not looking like the stronger side of the conference this year.  Ripon 0-4  St Norbert 1-3.   {Beloit might actually have a shot at the north if they both keep playing like this.} Monmouth 6-1  Illinois College 7-2. 

Not sure about quality of competition but I don't think anybody expected Ripon and Norbert to struggle like this to start out the year. 

[BigPoppa]

Turtlehead- I agree 100%. Teams in the NORTH are 4-10 (.285) while those in the SOUTH are 14-57 (.737). 

[cubs]

Well you can add a couple more losses to the heap, as St. Norbert splits today to "improve" to 2-4, while Ripon loses again to drop to 0-5.

While I admit to not knowing a great deal about either teams opponents, it's not as if they are facing the Marietta's, Chapman's, Stevens Point's or Kean's of the world.  None of the teams they have faced are receiving votes in the Top 25 poll, much less actually in the Top 25.

[ballfan55]

Lawrence was swept yesterday.  So far the only undefeated team in the North is Carroll (of course they don't play until Sunday).

[cubs]

Ripon drops Game #2 yesterday and their opener today to fall to 0-7.  What has to be really disheartening is that their "ace" and returning MWC North Division Pithcer of the Year drops to 0-2 already after the loss today.

If you are a fan of the Red Hawks, you are really hoping they pick up a win at some point in Florida, because it doesn't get any easier once they return to Wisconsin.  They go to Stevens Point for a DH, and then host Whitewater and St. Francis for DH's before opening MWC play.

[BigPoppa]

They are staring an 0-15 (0-16?) start square in the eye!

[ballfan55]

You know Carroll opens against Augustana...on Augustana's SECOND trip to Florida.  With such bad economies these days how can a school afford that?

[BigPoppa]

You know Carroll opens against Augustana...on Augustana's SECOND trip to Florida.  With such bad economies these days how can a school afford that?

They usually take two shorter trips instead of one long one. It allows them to break it up a bit. It generally works as they always come home with a solid record.

[ballfan55]

6-1 so far. Plus four more games there this weekend it looks like it is working for them.

[cubs]

They are staring an 0-15 (0-16?) start square in the eye!

No double digit losing streak for Ripon....  They swept a DH from Greenville in a battle of 0-7 squads to improve to 2-7 on the season.  Now it's Greenville's turn to stop the streak, as they fall to 0-9 on the season.

While Ripon gets in the "W" column a couple of times, it's hard to put a whole lot of stock in them.....

[ballfan55]

Carroll got its first win at Dominican today 8-4.  Cale Ross got the win in relief after Tim Holan pitched 6 strong innings. 

[ballfan55]

After beating Dominican 8-4 for their first win of the season on Monday, Carroll took two from Cornell today - 5-0 and 9-7.

After Drew Volkmann and Cale Ross combined for the shut out in the first game the second game turned pretty wild at the end.  Sam Mulkey got the win, throwing 6 innings in relief.  Carroll fell behind 7-1 before a wild bottom of the sixth gave them the lead.  With the score 7-4 and bases loaded PH Tyler Fitzsimmons hit a ball that the RF tried to dive and catch but missed.  The runners on 2nd and 3rd scored easily, but the runner from 1st stopped at 3rd.  Fitzsimmons wasn't aware of this and headed for 3rd.  With both runners off the base the throw to 3rd went wild and both runners scored making it 8-7.  The next batter was George Simons who had a pitch sail behind his back.  He took a couple of steps out and the umpire went out and talked to the pitcher.  Two pitches later Simons doublerd.  The pitcher moved toward him at second and was ultimately ejected.

[golfguywaltham]

Grinnell wins 17-3 and 21-3 over Knox yesterday.