BB: MWC: Midwest Conference

[redhawker]

Ripon is a little overrated in my estimation.  They lost a l ot of talent including three good hitters, and three good pitchers.  They do have some excellant players coming back, but they are loosing a lot of the teams identy from a year ago.  The Moose was a big part of the team, along with the other seniors will be sorely missed.  The team will welcome back john dunlavy, who will be a big part of the offense along with McFarland and Olson.  The staff loses its Ace Tyler Haddock, but gets back the ace from two years ago in Bill Nolan.  The staff is not as deep as years past, plus there are some questionable arms.  Both Nolan and Baitinger are coming back from arm problems.  With all this said, i dont see the team ending the year ranked, they will have to battle for the conference championship.  How does everyone else look for this year?

[OshDude]

Anyone think the hiring of Chris Bosio as pitching coach at Lawrence will allow the Vikings to sneak into the conference tournament? They have always been a nice offensive club. The addition of a former MLB player who threw a no-hitter and and served as pitching coach can't hurt their chances.
They lose all-conference players Fitzsimmons, Wong and Clark on offense and Chase (and maybe Forseth to transfer) on the mound. Still a lot of talent around, though.
Also heard they picked up a transfer from Oshkosh who is projected to be their 9-inning starter (who also has not pitched for Oshkosh in two years) in the 7/9 inning doubleheaders.
Bosio was also at Oshkosh. As a result, coach Krueger might not be able to schedule Oshkosh for awhile, but nice pickups nonetheless.
Now that the LU men's BB team has hit the skids, might as well talk about the baseball team. Thoughts?
BTW, pretty awesome to be talking baseball in mid-January.

[BigPoppa]

Anyone think the hiring of Chris Bosio as pitching coach at Lawrence will allow the Vikings to sneak into the conference tournament? They have always been a nice offensive club. The addition of a former MLB player who threw a no-hitter and and served as pitching coach can't hurt their chances.
They lose all-conference players Fitzsimmons, Wong and Clark on offense and Chase (and maybe Forseth to transfer) on the mound. Still a lot of talent around, though.
Also heard they picked up a transfer from Oshkosh who is projected to be their 9-inning starter (who also has not pitched for Oshkosh in two years) in the 7/9 inning doubleheaders.
Bosio was also at Oshkosh. As a result, coach Krueger might not be able to schedule Oshkosh for awhile, but nice pickups nonetheless.
Now that the LU men's BB team has hit the skids, might as well talk about the baseball team. Thoughts?
BTW, pretty awesome to be talking baseball in mid-January.

Growing up in the Fox Valley, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Lawrence Univeristy. I am always amazed at how solid their youth and high school programs are in Appleton(best in the state...some of the best in the nation) but they cannot seem to get the local kids to enroll at Lawrence. It is a shame as it is a stellar academic school and could certainly get quality athletes into its baseball program, but for some reason, they all end up at Carthage and Oshkosh.

[BigPoppa]

The staff is not as deep as years past, plus there are some questionable arms.  Both Nolan and Baitinger are coming back from arm problems. 

What injuries are they returning from? How have they looked in the fall/winter so far?
I think we all know that a team will only go as far as it pitchers can take them.

Does anyone else in the conference have a chance to dethrone the Redhawks?

I see the MWC like this:

1. RIPON
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7...

Can anybody help fill this in for us?

[redhawker]

Well William Robert Nolan didnt pitch at all last year and he should be alright he didnt throw at all in fall, just to be on the safe side.  He is started throwing sets this winter.  Baitinger didnt pitch at all this summer and threw only once in the fall.  He is also throwing sets now, but nobody knows how long eithers arm will hold up, they havent thrown a 100 percent as of yet.  It will be interesting to see how it works for the two of them.
I would have to say that the conference is going to be more competitive than last year, although there were some close games ripon was undefeated.  I dont see them doing that this year.  I see St. Norbert and Lawerence beating them at least once.  I think it will be a dog fight between Norberts and Lawerence to get make the tourney, but who knows at this point.

[Captain Morgan]

Well William Robert Nolan didnt pitch at all last year and he should be alright he didnt throw at all in fall, just to be on the safe side.  He is started throwing sets this winter.  Baitinger didnt pitch at all this summer and threw only once in the fall.  He is also throwing sets now, but nobody knows how long eithers arm will hold up, they havent thrown a 100 percent as of yet.  It will be interesting to see how it works for the two of them.
I would have to say that the conference is going to be more competitive than last year, although there were some close games ripon was undefeated.  I dont see them doing that this year.  I see St. Norbert and Lawerence beating them at least once.  I think it will be a dog fight between Norberts and Lawerence to get make the tourney, but who knows at this point.

I think that Ripon is an average baseball team that plays in a terrible conference. Their record and stats are inflated every year as they are rarely challenged by anyone in the MWC. I am guessing that the majority of the MWC players could not play at either WIAC or CCIW schools (there are some exception, some great MWC players and some terrible WIAC/CCIW teams- UW-Superior, Wheaton, etc...).

I have to agree with Redhawk that Ripon is over rated at this point. He should know as he pitches for them.

[BigPoppa]

If you had to build an all-time team from each conference school, who makes the cut for each school?

[Emmys First Class]

Anyone know of any top notch players LFC has coming in? I know they lost some arms and a couple players with power on the corners. Where are they looking to finish this year?

[Jim Dixon]

First baseman Jake Shandri of Wartburg College and starting pitcher Bill Dictus of Edgewood College have been named the first NCAA Division III National Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week for 2007 as chosen by representatives of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association for the week of Feb. 26-March 4.

[cubs]

From all accounts, Ripon looked absolutely TERRIBLE on their Spring Trip, finishing with a record of 2-7, against what wouldn't exactly be considered stellar competition.  I'm sure they will get better as the season moves along, but this has to be a pretty disappointing start for a team with pretty high pre-season expectations.

At the same time, St. Norbert opened the season with a DH split against UW Oshkosh.  Maybe this is the year someone takes over the top spot from the Redhawks?

[cubs]

Saint Norbert College P Jake Gasser throws a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Worcester State College (Massachusettes) Friday morning.  SNC also won the nightcap 4-1 to improve to 7-3 on the season.

Now back to Gasser.....  On the season he now has two complete game shutouts (beat Hope 3-0 on Monday) giving up five hits and ZERO BB's, while striking out six in 14 innings of work.  One would have to think he is a PRIME candidate for pitcher of the week this week....

[WLCALUM83]

Found a link with a story you Ripon baseball fans might be interested in:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index=aspx?id=596168

[WLCALUM83]

Found an item about a Wisconsin prep baseball player headed MWC's direction:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=596506

[Gustie13]

big series between Ripon and St Norberts this weekend. Predictions?

[BigPoppa]

big series between Ripon and St Norberts this weekend. Predictions?

Ripon going away...