BB: UMAC: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[MIACLUV]

WHITE FLAG!!!!
Your conference has the 2nd & 3rd best teams in the state. Would like to see the battle in Duluth next weekend, should be a good one!

[paulisdeadman]

Friday's game will be a 6 o'clock start time.  The teams are having a cancer awareness game.  Both teams have lost great coaches in the recent past to cancer.  To honor them they will wear special jersey's with the coach's name and number on the back and have their kids throw out the first pitch.  Just want to say kudos to the coaches/teams for honoring these men and the many others that have fought the good fight, only to succumb to cancer.  Regardless of the outcome both teams will be winners on this night.

[BaseballFan]

WHITE FLAG!!!!
Your conference has the 2nd & 3rd best teams in the state. Would like to see the battle in Duluth next weekend, should be a good one!

I think a lot of UMAC followers may have already known that at the beginning of the season

[biggio34]

Anyone have any idea who might be pitching this weekend for Bethany vs CSS?  I'm guessing both teams will have their top 4 or 5 pitchers ready to go but it will be interesting to see what order the teams roll out their guys.  Can't wait for this series, it should be alot of fun!

[MIACLUV]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

[biggio34]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

And what pitcher would you target to set up this "mismatch"?  From what I have seen, the main CSS starters are all fairly comparable.  They don't necessarily have an ace.  It will come down to who can execute pitches for their team and what offense can step and get it done.  I think all the pitching matchups over the 3 games will be even with an advantage going to Bethany in the game that Hallanhan pitches.

[BaseballFan]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

I would probably switch Friday's game starters with the second game of Saturday...you cant bank on a pitcher going 9 innings unless he is Jordan Zimmermann, so you pitch your top 2 pitchers in the 7 inning games. Its going to take 2 guys in a 9 inning game anyways.  I have a feeling these games are not going to pitchers duels anyways. The pitchers that dont walk many batters (hurt Dorris last year in the UMAC tourney) and defense plays well will probably come out with at least 2 Ws

[biggio34]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

I would probably switch Friday's game starters with the second game of Saturday...you cant bank on a pitcher going 9 innings unless he is Jordan Zimmermann, so you pitch your top 2 pitchers in the 7 inning games. Its going to take 2 guys in a 9 inning game anyways.  I have a feeling these games are not going to pitchers duels anyways. The pitchers that dont walk many batters (hurt Dorris last year in the UMAC tourney) and defense plays well will probably come out with at least 2 Ws

What if you need to win all three games though?  Then you would throw your best pitcher who you feel is best suited to go 9 innings in the 9 inning game and if you need to go to the pen you have a decision to make based on the game.  If its close and you don't have a closer (which neither of these teams do) you probably bring in you next best starter to close.  And, if you are a WIAC team, you probably start that guy in the next game.

[BigPoppa]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

I would probably switch Friday's game starters with the second game of Saturday...you cant bank on a pitcher going 9 innings unless he is Jordan Zimmermann, so you pitch your top 2 pitchers in the 7 inning games. Its going to take 2 guys in a 9 inning game anyways.  I have a feeling these games are not going to pitchers duels anyways. The pitchers that dont walk many batters (hurt Dorris last year in the UMAC tourney) and defense plays well will probably come out with at least 2 Ws

What if you need to win all three games though?  Then you would throw your best pitcher who you feel is best suited to go 9 innings in the 9 inning game and if you need to go to the pen you have a decision to make based on the game.  If its close and you don't have a closer (which neither of these teams do) you probably bring in you next best starter to close.  And, if you are a WIAC team, you probably start that guy in the next game.

The WIAC quote is priceless:) I think the Bethany needs to play each game as if it is their last this weekend. CSS can play it a little safer based on their OWP.

[BaseballFan]

Based on what both teams have done so far this season:
Predictions:
Friday: Gerten vs Hallahan
Saturday: Lewis vs Dorris
Game 2 : Adams vs Henley

Looks like those have been the top 3 starters for each team so far, I see Gerten & Hallahan as the guys that can go deep into a 9 inning Friday game. I wouldn't be surprised if Bethany does change there things around and try to mismatch to see if they can get 2 of 3.
I may have to make the drive on Friday, Tommies don't play until Saturday.

I would probably switch Friday's game starters with the second game of Saturday...you cant bank on a pitcher going 9 innings unless he is Jordan Zimmermann, so you pitch your top 2 pitchers in the 7 inning games. Its going to take 2 guys in a 9 inning game anyways.  I have a feeling these games are not going to pitchers duels anyways. The pitchers that dont walk many batters (hurt Dorris last year in the UMAC tourney) and defense plays well will probably come out with at least 2 Ws

What if you need to win all three games though?  Then you would throw your best pitcher who you feel is best suited to go 9 innings in the 9 inning game and if you need to go to the pen you have a decision to make based on the game.  If its close and you don't have a closer (which neither of these teams do) you probably bring in you next best starter to close.  And, if you are a WIAC team, you probably start that guy in the next game.

Its a big risk to take to throw your best in a 9 inning. Any of those guys could throw a CG in a 7 inning, big risk to think one could go to 9 and if you need to burn your second best guy to close now you have used your best 2 and have no one the next 2 day for 2 games (granted you could probably throw that 2nd guy 5 innings, but they arent that good to do that and be very effective). So you just put yourself at risk for going 1-2 instead of  2-1. I dont think Bethany is going in really believing they can sweep. they will be happy to go 2-1 and then come back and face CSS in the tourney and try to steal 2 wins again.

[BaseballFan]

Well here are your starting pitchers Hallahan vs Vogelgesang in tonights game at 6pm.

Should be a good night for a game and special night as both of these teams are remembering talented coaches who passed away due to cancer.

[paulisdeadman]

Well what do you say. Bethany loses 5-4 on a game winning walk. Hallahan throws another gem.  Tough loss. Its always tough to lose, but when you lose when an ump decides to shoebox you, its even tougher. For all of you that will say its just Bethany complaining, even the CSS announcers were baffled by the umps strike zone in the 9th.  Bethany needs to bounce back tom.   

[Bronko7]

I must have been listening to a different game, because I'm pretty sure I heard them praising the umpires calls. Having been to Wade Stadium before there is no better seat to judge the zone (corner to corner) than the roof of the grandstand directly above the plate! Height on the pitch is tough but they were pretty clear that the corners were being missed but not by much. Not quite following the logic of using Dorris in that game. Shows very little faith in the rest of that staff to use your #2 to close. Bethany needs 2 of 3 and that move will not help. It sounded like the Hallahan kid was great, but in a 9 inning game you can't expect him to go complete. I think they had said on the air that they estimated him at around 140 pitches with gas left in the tank. Right move to get him out for health reasons. Be interested to see how the pitching match-ups shake out tomorrow, though I'm pretty sure Dorris will get a start.

[biggio34]

Well what do you say. Bethany loses 5-4 on a game winning walk. Hallahan throws another gem.  Tough loss. Its always tough to lose, but when you lose when an ump decides to shoebox you, its even tougher. For all of you that will say its just Bethany complaining, even the CSS announcers were baffled by the umps strike zone in the 9th.  Bethany needs to bounce back tom.   

I listened in as well and not once did the announcers complain about umpires calls.  On multiple occasions on calls going for both teams did the CSS announcers praise the quality of the calls.  Specifically I remember a play at the plate in the middle innings when a Scholastica guy got thrown out trying to score from second on a single to left (I think)... anyway, according to the announcers the runner beat the throw, but the ump called him out correctly because the catcher blocked the plate nicely.  Who said anything about shoeboxing?

[paulisdeadman]

Maybe baffled was the wrong word. haha I agree that umpiring for game was very good. I mean anytime a guy has double digit K's he isn't getting squeezed. But I personally felt like it was a diff zone in the 9th. Please don't fine me for being critical of the umpiring. Anyway, that game is over now. It will be interesting to see how BLC bounces or doesn't bounce back today. Anyone go to the game? How was the crowd?  Hopefully they were able to raise money.