BB: MIAC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gustie13]

MIACBaseball, like the post, I agree UST should be the heavy heavy favorite to win their 6th straight reg season title. Buteyn (BU) is a guy to keep an eye on (went 7-2 3.88era in 05 then 3-4 4.88 in 06 and 5-5 4.07 in 07). UST-CSS are always competitive games with postseason implications.

I think Robinson is the only pitcher that, when gassing, hits 90.

[Iluvd3BBALL]

The Bethel Royals dominated Wartburg College of Iowa tonight winning both games.  Game 1 they won 15-7 behind a great hitting.  John Buteyn also earned the win allowing 4 earned runs through 4.  In game two senior pitcher Isaac Hamilton got the win going 5 innings and only allowed 2 runs.  Bethel won game 2, 13-2. 

[for2n8john]

Thanks for getting me up to speed on who to watch for this year on the mound. 
Mid to high 80's seems about right, but did see the report on Zimmerman last year.  I wasn't sure if there was one or two like him every year. 

Great velocity makes all your other pitches look that much nastier. But, I'm not sure many pitcher's want to throw their arms out by "gassing it up" in the 1st inning.    I've only seen one kid (16 y.o.) throw 90.  When he pitched, 20 scouts showed up to watch.  I only believe "90+" when I see Scouts there.  BTW, As soon as the coach walked out to the mound in the late innings, the scouts headed for their cars.  He was drafted by the Cubs.  -- "The hard is what makes it great." (Jimmy Dugan).

I see my first games of the season next week,  can't wait.

So, who are the SS with great range to their Right to watch? 

[Gustie13]

Anyone else find it interesting that Robinson and Leslie haven't pitched in USt's first 2 games? Matt Schuld and Erik Olson have started both DHs against CSS and UWSP. I've heard rumors that Leslie's and Bullis's arms aren't healthy... anyone know?

UWSP capitalizes on USt Sr SS Mark Boland's throwing error to score 3 unearned runs in winning game one 6-3 but Matt Schuld pitched a gem for USt in game two (7inn 4h 1er 8k), USt 4 UWSP 1.

[HarryDH]

I don't know about Leslie, but Robinson hasn't pitched because his Tommies are still taking part in the basketball playoffs. 

[tommiepitcher]

i used to play at UST. 

Lonnie hasn't pitched because he's d'n folks up in the ncaa tournament.
Leslie's arm is sore
I don't know about Bullis.

[d3ballguy]

Has anyone else noticed that Andrew Bennett (HU) has been playing CF every game so far this year, instead of SS? A freshman from Farmington, Tres Humerickhouse, is playing shortstop for the Pipers. 
What are everyones thoughts on that?
Anyone know anything about Humerickhouse?
Is he really good enough to beat out Bennett or is HU just that desperate for a centerfielder?

[Gustie13]

I had noticed Bennett playing CF, I wonder how he feels about Hummerickhouse's .667 field% at SS right now...
Tres Hummerickhouse plays townball for Elko, he's 24/25 years old. The Fr thing must be a misprint. He was 'supposedly' at a juco in CA. No idea if he was just blowing smoke though.

[supermiac]

Yeah, I was wonderin' about the SS situation at the Hamline-Loras game also...seems strange to me.
After seeing the majority of the first games for the MIAC teams and reading the briefs the next day, I've come to the conclusion that after maybe the first 1-3 seedings, the next four or five spots are clear as mud. I'll make some predictions though nonetheless.

1. St Thomas- in my mind, they are a head above every one else. Faced two very tough teams in their first series and still managed to split (despite not playing their best IMO). Excited to see Robinson pitch once the Tommies get booted from the basketball playoffs.

2. St. Olaf- Pitching is going to be solid like always, though I was a little surprised to see Mathison roughed up this early. Hitting should come around in time though. Maus and Jones are high-quality MIAC hitters. Still, there is potential for a lackluster season here I think. They really need players to step into the roles vacated by their 1-4 hitters last year if they want to get to UST's level.

3. Bethel (surprise surprise)- Hitting looks very good. Dominated a very solid Wartburg team both games of the DH. Pitching looks much better than last year. Hamilton is finally coming around like I thought he could. Could give the "more-talented" MIAC teams a ton of trouble this year.

4. Gustavus- Not sure how deep the pitching will be, but the hitting is very good. Roehrkasse is hitting very well, as are several other of the big boys in the middle of their lineup. Cicalello will be indispensable this year, especially getting their bullpen through the tough games.

5. Augsburg- Just looked at the first couple DHs they play in the Metrodome...tough way to start the season to say the least. Top to bottom, should be a solid team. Their pitching has a good chance to break through this year I think. Sam Weber and Jason Kickhafer are a good 1-2. SO catcher Craig Henry is a very special player I think; I'm interested to see how he does this year.

6. Concordia- Young team last year should develop into a good team this year so long as the pitching staff materializes unlike last year. Interested to see how C Kyle Johnson progresses; I think he should be a solid power hitter. Could potentially steal a playoff spot this year if things fall in place for them.

7. Macalester- Was able to see their first game against Loras on Sunday. P James Murray looked rusty, but still dominated the Loras hitters; asides from UST's Lonnie Robinson, I would say he is the next hardest thrower in the MIAC. Hitting looked better-than-usual too. Very young pitching staff though; could perhaps contend in the MIAC next year or the year after.

8. St. John's- May be unfair putting them this low so early. However, last year I think they overachieved as a team. They lose a great bit of talent and experience with last year's graduating class. Hard to foresee their pitching having great success. TJ Nelson is a solid pitcher; but after him, there really isn't much to look at. They could be a MIAC wild card though, as St. John's has very rarely fielded a poor squad in the past.

9. St. Mary's- The last three teams I have no idea where to put; however I do think they belong somewhere down here. St. Mary's does not have the outright talent that other teams in the MIAC possess at one position or another. However, most of their games with "middle-of-the-pack" conference opponents were very competitive. I highly doubt they will field a team to compete against the St. Thomas's and St. Olaf's of the world, but I would not write them off against maybe a Bethel or an Augsburg.

10. Hamline- YIKES. Who could have foreseen this. Honestly, I expected them to be much more competitive this year. I heard rumors of transfers and a strong freshmen class, but IMO that may have been overstated. I do believe they are a solid hitting team. Roiger, Sand, Humerickhouse, and Kaczrowski should help their lineup tremendously, and Bennett is, as well all know, one of the better players in the MIAC. However, their pitching has been atrocious. Fielding has also been sketchy, at best. I don't doubt that Verdugo will right the ship sometime soon, but if it doesn't happen, Hamline will struggle this year.

11. Carleton- I don't know much about Carleton. They didn't appear to lose that much to graduation, and they seem to have a large freshmen class. Guevin is a solid pitcher, but after him, there's a void where the starting rotation would be. As for hitting, last year was nothing special, so I don't know how special it can be this year.

[Gustie13]

SUPER,
Great post, here's my response:

1)UST - The only thing standing between them and another conf title is possible injuries, they are head and shoulders ahead of the other MIAC schools this year. The splits with CSS and UWSP were OK, but I think their lack of a primetime, stud power hitter will hurt them on the regional/national stage. Also, I have already heard of arm injuries to Bullis and Leslie.

2) StO - I'm surprised Mathison continues to play INF in Game 1 of a DH then pitch in Game 2 considering his arm troubles last year. His line against Wartburg wasn't good, and he came on in relief vs Grinnel today. I would be surprised if guys like Maus and Gagnon improved on their numbers from last year. If they have injuries to their pitching staff this year like last, they could fall further down the list.

3) GAC - Ranked here by default, I don't think any other teams have shown me that they're better than a team returning a lot of players from a miac tourney team. Could have a very deep lineup, even with the loss of Tony Konicek, and the season will depend on how consistent their pitching is.

4) BU - Good sweep vs Wartburg, bad split vs Elmhurst. I would have been more impressed with the Wartburg sweep had the Warts not just used their best pitchers against StO the day before. Impressive offensive numbers nonetheless. Probably would have been my #3 had they not split with Elmhurst, who I heard was not very good. Adams, Hamilton, and Buteyn have the potential to be good.

5) AUG - I would have liked to see a split vs LaCross after a split with Edgewood. Kickhaffer and Weber are a good 1 & 2 and Henry could be very good. I'm not sold on the rest of the offense's ability to produce, guys like Anderson and Zaun. Could definitely contend for the playoffs though.

6) SJU - Usually in the hunt, but lost 3 of their 4 best hitters. I don't like their one dimensional approach at the plate (PULL), but they usually have some good pitchers that keep them in he mix.

7) CON - Last year was a disaster, hopefully all that experience the youngsters got pays off.

8) HU - Now that he's got a professional head coaching gig on the side (Evansville), how much longer will Verdugo stick around if HU starts heading south? Roiger will be good, same with Bennett, but I don't know about the rest of the bunch.

9) MAC - I like Murrey and Simkins, but this team finished last in the conf in batting avg last year... I doubt they'll get much better.

10) SMU - Don't really see a whole lot to get excited about.
11) CAR - Ditto.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Anyone else find it interesting that Robinson and Leslie haven't pitched in USt's first 2 games? Matt Schuld and Erik Olson have started both DHs against CSS and UWSP. I've heard rumors that Leslie's and Bullis's arms aren't healthy... anyone know?

UWSP capitalizes on USt Sr SS Mark Boland's throwing error to score 3 unearned runs in winning game one 6-3 but Matt Schuld pitched a gem for USt in game two (7inn 4h 1er 8k), USt 4 UWSP 1.

well robinson is a little busy right now, so baseball takes 2nd priority

[Spence]

Maybe, but there's no way those numbers are legit. "You heard" is not exactly what I would call a reliable source.

Forgive me for being skeptical that there are half a dozen pitchers throwing in the 90s in the MIAA.

Well I only mentioned 4 guys and ment they could perhaps top 90 if they gassed it up, which means once or twice in the first inning. Typically they are around 87-88. And I think my crystal ball is a reliable source

Obviously, how hard a guy throws does not make him great, but it doesnt hurt!
[/quote]

Agree with the second part. Doubt that many guys in that conference touch 90. Doubt that many guys in any D-III conference touch 90.

[miacbaseballfan]

I'm new to the MIAC baseball message board. Does anyone know where I could find a list of MIAC baseball alumni who are currently playing professional baseball?

[BaseballFan]

I'm new to the MIAC baseball message board. Does anyone know where I could find a list of MIAC baseball alumni who are currently playing professional baseball?

Not really sure, probably just go to each teams website Im guessing they have updates on their professional players

[Jim Dixon]

I'm new to the MIAC baseball message board. Does anyone know where I could find a list of MIAC baseball alumni who are currently playing professional baseball?

You can start with this list but it does not include a lot of players with independent leagues.

http://www.odaconline.com/div3base/draft.htm