BB: UMAC: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[biggio34]

The Saints proved they can swing it.  To win three and score 56 runs in doing so showed how ticked they were about losing on Thursday night.  The entire lineup had productive at bats, they got strong pitching from Lewis and Kummet, and a new gun emerged as a possible contributor at the regional in Josh Hawkins. 

I tip my cap to the Bethany players.  They are a talented group of guys, especially offensively, and they were determined to show they belong.  Hopefully they continue to get better as this matchup could become an exciting rivalry for the UMAC.

A few notes...

I don't think the score is probably what dictated the removal of players from the Saints lineup in the first game vs Bethany.  I think the fact that when they got such a big lead early, there was still alot of innings left to play.  To ask your starters, who were on an incredible roll, to sit around and watch 6 or 7 innings of baseball and then expect them to get back up for a second game might have been a concern.  IMO, better to let them stay in the game until the 6th or 7th to keep them in it mentally more than anything else.  You certainly can't ask a team to roll over and start bunting or anything like that... that would be more embarrassing than 30-4.

[BASEBALLLOVER18]

What do we see the UMAC shaping up like this season?  I played a few years back in the UMAC and notice that things look like they have changed with the D3baseball.com midwest page having a Bethany pitcher on it and giving credit to Martin Luther ... is Bethany Legit?

[biggio34]

Bethany is legit, probably the conference favorite, but can they get it done?  Time will tell.  I look for them to have a great year though.  Good lineup and some new talent on the mound makes them a team to watch in 2010.

[dukes]

Bethany is legit, probably the conference favorite, but can they get it done?  Time will tell.  I look for them to have a great year though.  Good lineup and some new talent on the mound makes them a team to watch in 2010.

Conference favorite for what? Please specify as even though things in the UMAC have changed, CSS continues to be the hands down favorite to 1) win the conference 2) win the UMAC tourney. agree?

[OshDude]

Bethany is legit, probably the conference favorite, but can they get it done?  Time will tell.  I look for them to have a great year though.  Good lineup and some new talent on the mound makes them a team to watch in 2010.

Conference favorite for what? Please specify as even though things in the UMAC have changed, CSS continues to be the hands down favorite to 1) win the conference 2) win the UMAC tourney. agree?

I look forward to seeing how good the large incoming CSS class and the BLC transfers are, but yeah, I for one think CSS is the favorite. Wouldn't be shocked at all to see BLC win either the season or tourney, though. If that makes any sense ... I just think it's cool that there's even a discussion.

[biggio34]

I'll stop short of predicting Bethany as the regular season or tournament champs, but I am with Oshdude, I wouldn't be surprised by either, or both.

[dukes]

I do agree there are more questions this year and it will be more of a battle atop the UMAC with a large new class of CSS players and a new coach, but I would still lean heavily to CSS tradition of winning. In years past while CSS has lost a few UMAC games here and there, their consistency and depth has continued. It will make for a great thing to watch as the year starts.

[BaseballFan]

Well Bethany Lutheran returns a pretty good lineup that could pretty much hit with anyone in the midwest and also their top 2 pitchers. BLC needs to develop the rest of their staff and not just let those 2 guys carry the staff. They do face several MIAC teams but would of been nice to see if they could of got St. Thomas or the trio from the WIAC on their schedule.  You can really see by their scheduling though that they know they are close to a regional bid and doing everything possible to help their resume which is great for the UMAC

Scholastica lost a couple offensive players and probably one of the best defensive shortstops in the country, but did not lose any of their core players: Claugherty, Kolodge, Marshik, Gerten, Peterson & Peterson. However they did lose 2 of the top pitchers in the country and for probably for the first time in quite some time dont have that shutdown ace, but they do have pitching depth.

Should make for an interesting year

[dukes]

http://www.umacathletics.com/news/2010/2/25/BSB_0225100658.aspx

Coaches poll for UMAC favors Bethany Lutheran this year. What do you guys think? While I do agree they have have a great team, it still surprises me a little bit, but surely will be bulletin board material at CSS.

[BaseballFan]

http://www.umacathletics.com/news/2010/2/25/BSB_0225100658.aspx

Coaches poll for UMAC favors Bethany Lutheran this year. What do you guys think? While I do agree they have have a great team, it still surprises me a little bit, but surely will be bulletin board material at CSS.

Does not mean really anything, coaches could really care less about voting for this poll.  But it will catch the attention of the Saints players

[BigPoppa]

http://www.umacathletics.com/news/2010/2/25/BSB_0225100658.aspx

Coaches poll for UMAC favors Bethany Lutheran this year. What do you guys think? While I do agree they have have a great team, it still surprises me a little bit, but surely will be bulletin board material at CSS.

CSS has won 13 straight titles. While Bethany made nice strides last season, I am not certain they are ready to jump to the top of the UMAC.

[dukes]

http://www.umacathletics.com/news/2010/2/25/BSB_0225100658.aspx

Coaches poll for UMAC favors Bethany Lutheran this year. What do you guys think? While I do agree they have have a great team, it still surprises me a little bit, but surely will be bulletin board material at CSS.

CSS has won 13 straight titles. While Bethany made nice strides last season, I am not certain they are ready to jump to the top of the UMAC.

I agree. BaseballFan: while I agree that this matters very little, it still does matter because it shows a change in the conference because when those coaches had to pick between #1 and #2, those coaches had to pick. By them even voting for BLC over CSS, it shows that they are not as intimidated as in years past. And while it is easy to look at the talent on the roster, there is something to be said about a winning tradition. If I were BLC, I would have wanted to earn the respect of a #1 seed by winning, not by an off-season vote. Should be a great UMAC season to follow.

[biggio34]

http://www.umacathletics.com/news/2010/2/25/BSB_0225100658.aspx



...I would have wanted to earn the respect of a #1 seed by winning, not by an off-season vote.

Maybe they did earn their respect by winning.  I mean, Bethany did beat the Saints in one out of five games last year (the one being a 1-run game with some sketchy umpiring calls) and were only outscored 73 - 31 in the five games.  If that doesn't earn respect I don't know what does.

[Bronko7]

From the looks of it, the Smith kid looks like a nice player, but the pitcher they talk about in the press release hasn't done much since high school, so we shall see if the Bethany staff is all that improved. Dorris still is a real nice player and expect him to have a nice season, possibly even a little All-Region love could go his way, but I don't think he's ever beaten CSS. Just went to the box score from last years game that Bethany won in the conf. tournament and Dorris gave up 7 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings. Look for the BLC/CSS series to be a lot of scoring! Both offenses only lost player out of last years lineup. 

[LeftWingr]

This year should be pretty exciting. I'm anxious to see who steps up for CSS and takes charge of their staff. If they can find a solid 1 and 2 they'll continue their reign atop the UMAC. There really is a sense of winning tradition there and that plays a huge role in how players approach the game and their opponents. I don't see Bethany Lutheran winning the UMAC but I think each series with CSS will be exciting.