BB: MIAC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[therocket21]

I agree with you MIACLUV that there is not a clear favorite as there has been in years past. I think St. Thomas will win the regular season and Hamline will win the MIAC tournament. I am going to throw out Anders Drurak as my pick to win MIAC pitcher of the year... giving Olaf back to back pitcher of the year awards. I like your pick of Dorgan for player of the year, but I think a Hamline player will end up winning Player of the year (either King or Buck in particular). Should be a fun and interesting season.

[D3guy99]

Wow, who would have ever thought someone would pick Hamline to win the MIAC tournament?  Let's not get ahead of ourselves, can they really repeat last year's magic?  They lost some big players in Powell, Rogers, Modrynski and Kreitlow, did they replace those guys?

Dorgan is an animal, he's probably the front runner for player of the year.  Dzurak, pitcher of the year? I doubt it.

My top four are UST, Macalester, St. John's, Concordia.

[TheSportsFan]

I see a lot of "top 4" predictions from this conference....does anybody have a full 1-11 rundown of expected finish?

[username]

@D3guy99...you must be absolutely crazy leaving Hamline out of your top 4.

[tommiegun]

I see a lot of "top 4" predictions from this conference....does anybody have a full 1-11 rundown of expected finish?

The Top 4 make the playoffs so it doesn't really matter who finishes 5-11, but I can assure you St. Mary's will be last.

[MIACLUV]

And the season is off with a Tommie sweep of St. Scholastica. Pitching dominated this two game set, as the Tommies rolled out three of their transfers to get the sweep. Steve Mehar (juco tranfer Iowa Central) started game 1 and pitched well giving up 2 in the 3rd, but settled in and went 6.1 only giving up the 2 on 7 hits. Game was turned over to Kubitschek (Mankato State transfer) who closed the door with 93-94 mph fastballs. Game 2 was started by what appears to be their #1 Dylan Thomas (juco transfer Des Moines Area CC) looking dominant to start striking out the side in the 1st and cruised into the 4th before CSS was able to plate 3. Thomas worked through to go 5.2 before getting into a jam in the 5th, but was bailed out by catcher JD Dorgan throwing behind a runner at first to kill a chance for CSS to widen the gap. Crazy play in the 6th got the Tommies back within a run in as a runner rounded 3rd and lost his footing and the CSS shortstops throw from shallow left was up the line allowing the Tommies to cut it to a 3-2 game. Some good aproach in the 9th gave the Tommies turned into a bases loaded 1 out oppurtunity for Dorgan who flied down the left field line past the diving left fielder to plate the tying an winning run.
Thoughts:
St. Thomas is LOADED on the mound. For a staff that returned the majority of it's innings pitched last season to add these arms isn't even fair. Mark Ulrich was the only returner that pitched in the two games for the Tommies. Offense is not as strong as years past, so there is some concern where run production is concerned, but if you aren't going to allow many, you done need to score many 
St. Scholastica is a good offensive team and the two pitchers used in the DH were definitely quality starters. Without a couple defensive lapses. it could have meant a sweep in their favor. Big question was why they never showed the Davis kid who pitched against the Tommies in the Regional last year? Limiting the amount they let the Tommies see him before a possible rematch in this years regional perhaps.   
Great baseball to watch early in the year between two of the top teams in the Midwest. Both teams are Top 15 for sure.

[therocket21]

I was very surprised and impressed by the new additions to the Tommies pitching staff. They are not going to miss Edwards at all with the new arms they can go to. I was also surprised not to see Davis last night for CSS. CSS has always went with their ace this first series of the year and I am pretty sure that Davis is the ace of CSS. I was also very impressed by the St Thomas center fielder. It is just like having another McQuillan for some years to come. I am anxious to see how much these two teams improve as the season progresses. Both teams have the pitching depth to win a regional, as evidenced last night.

[tomt4525]

I have a question for the MIAC faithful.  Since most of your teams play a few games in the Metrodome each year, I figured you guys have a good chance of knowing the answer.  I want to go watch my Pointers play in the dome against the Gusties but am unable to get there for most of the first game.  When I looked up information on this sporting event, it says they play from 7-10 pm.  It is supposed to be a doubleheader but does the Metrodome staff cut them off at 10??  If they can't finish the second game it probably isn't worth me making the trip over.  Thanks in advance

[HarryDH]

From my experiences I believe they get 4 or 4 1/2 hours to complete the double header.  While playing we did have one or two that we didn't finish and one where they even turned the lights out on us.  I've never heard of only a 3 hour limit though so unless the first game is super high scoring and lasts well over 2 hours you should be able to see at least 5 or 6 innings in the nightcap.

[tomt4525]

From my experiences I believe they get 4 or 4 1/2 hours to complete the double header.  While playing we did have one or two that we didn't finish and one where they even turned the lights out on us.  I've never heard of only a 3 hour limit though so unless the first game is super high scoring and lasts well over 2 hours you should be able to see at least 5 or 6 innings in the nightcap.

Thanks, I appreciate the response....sounds like I'll make the trip

[D3guy99]

Wow Hamline finally put out a sweep, bringing them to 4-4.  Is it still a perfect 2-0 UST, 1-1 Mac and 4-4 Hamline at the top? Who follows? St. Johns? St. Olaf? How does everyone see the early game results go and how does it give an indicator on how the MIAC will go?

[Just Bill]

Really surpriesd to see St. Olaf at 0-4. CSS is a quality team, but losing two to North Park was a shock. What's up with the Oles?

[BigPoppa]

Really surpriesd to see St. Olaf at 0-4. CSS is a quality team, but losing two to North Park was a shock. What's up with the Oles?

I really like North Park this year. I have them in my current poll at #15 (and in the preseason poll as well). I think they are an up and coming program that consistently has been on the verge of breaking through and may do so this year on the national level. They are not a slouch program. I would have been more shocked to see the Oles take a pair from North Park.

I think I am one of the few that is as high on them this year as I am... and the polls would agree. Not much love NPU in the polls yet, but I think that may change soon.

In fact, I rated them as #1 in the Central Region in the preseason (though many disagreed with me).
Central Preview:
1. North Park
2. WashU
3. Carthage

[tommiegun]

Good to see things are back to normal at UST after the dismal start to last season.  9-3; pitching and defense.  Conference champs. You heard it here first.

[badgerwarhawk]

Actually therocket21 said it on February 12th and D3guy implied it by listing St Thomas first in his top 4 February 13th.  Both over a month before you said it today.