BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[dgilblair]

Didn't Charlie Furbush go from St. Joes last year to LSU?  He didn't sit out a year did he?

[kscer]

Furbush finished his year at St Joe's. Maybe that makes a difference.

Some comments on KSC this coming year:
They have several key issues that will determine how well they perform.
1. Who emerges as the catcher.
2. Who becomes the go-to guy in middle relief.
3. Will Maybe and Morin step up to their potential as starters. Either could be unbeatable.
4. Will Darak become a situational hitter in either the 3 or 4 slot, using his power when the opportunity presents itself.
5. Who will anchor the middle of the lineup and keep rallies going.

Infield is probably the best and most experienced in LEC and the outfield is solid. Perkins and Jones and Chevalier and Fournier should steal the opposition blind. Behind the plate will be key. Like Cooney at ESCU, you don't replace what they lost, you get something different.

[KSCfan]

KSCer couldnt agree more with your assessment of keene this year, i think that cipolla will step up into the catching role, he saw some at bats last year while playing left field and dh a little bit, i dont think that he will be the presence that grainger was in the middle of the lineup but defensively he should be fine, however he still is a little green with calling pitches behind the plate but im sure that is something the coaching staff will work with him on.

I aslo agree with your statement on KSC having four very good basestealers.  Last year Keene did not hit home runs like some of the other teams in the conferance and seemed to adapt thier offensive style to a lot of stealing and small ball type stuff im sure that you will see more of that as Ford and Darrak are the two only real power guys in the lineup

Morin and Maybe should be fine on saturdays i am more worried about the 3 and 4 starters.  After the fall it would look like  possibly Somberg and Riley would step up into that role who both showed they can be successful but struggled with being consistant.  But i agree look for the owls to be right in the mix again this year

[Jim Dixon]

Jim Dixon believes that Cavan, the star Chapman SS who is walking on at UC-Santa Barbara, will have to sit out a year.

I believe that Patnode must sit out.

About 5 years ago, McMurry had the freshman pitcher of the year in the ASC.  He got a scholarship to TCU (Mountain West Conference) and had to sit out a year.

I don't know the rules but a player can switch schools and still play the next year.  It happens in D1 all the time.  I believe that you have to have the school's permission you are leaving but then again refer to the first sentence where I say I dont know the rule.

[KSCfan]

any reactions to the D3's preseason all-americans?  I feel that Chevalier from Keene should of got a honorable mention.  Not only does he help anchor the middle infield with jones in the best middle infield in New England, he batted over 370 in a conferacne with great pitching (see Gilblair(ECSU), Conway(UmB), Henry(USM), and his perfomance in the regionals against the staff of Wheaton and Eastern CT, and closed games.   Oh and he was all new england last year as a sophmore, and hes only going to get better.  Any other people around new england or the conferance that got left off?

[kscer]

There are some comments on this topic on the General NE post. I don't think it's just a LEC issue

[KSCfan]

Great to see two little east teams in the top 25 from D3.  Interesting though that the ABCA had Southern Maine at 19 in its preseason poll, but the D3 poll didnt have them in the top 25.  I personally thought that 19 was a bit high for Southern Maine but do they deserve to be in the top 25?  I personally dont think so, they can mash but thier pitching isnt as good as Keene's and Easterns. 


Also Keene posted who they play in thier Arizona trip.  Some hard teams such as College of NJ and Hopkins who has pounded Keene the last two years in Arizona are on the schedule as well as William Patterson who is a very respectable team we should find out quick just how good keene is considering they open with a DH against C of NJ and then play Hopkins two days later.  Is it march yet?

[dgilblair]

ECSU may have found themselves a catcher for 08 or more pitching.  I think catcher is the biggest need at this point.  Associate head coach Bob Wojicks nephew from U of Maine.

http://goblackbears.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/wojick_chris00.html

[KSCfan]

Catcher/Pitcher is a tough combo!  Any idea what he would be more effective as?  DOnt know that much about him will look for some stats on him from umaine.

Also heard from several second hand sources that there was some trouble at eastern with a pitcher and a suspension.  Names where not released but i had heard that it was Eastern's ace.  Any ideas on who or what happened.?

[dgilblair]

A couple of the aces had to take a class during the break and are good now.  They did lose a possible outfield due to grades.  Everyone will be lacing up the cleats on March 1 to face Kean. 

Chris Wojick hasn't played that much the last two years.  He was injured, I think it was his knee but is healthy now.  Saw him play some in high school where he was a catcher and pitcher.  He throws hard but not sure what the coach has in mind.  I think he will get a chance to be the catcher this year. 

[kscer]

Catching full time and trying to pitch with any regularity is real hard. If the bat is good enough you catch, if the arm is better you pitch. Also it is a tough league to come into and catch without having been catching. It's interesting that both ESCU and KSC will be challenged behind the plate. Also what's this talk on the other board about season openers. We have snow sleet and freezing rain scheduled, not baseball. Almost six more weeks.

[LEC Fan]

Do the teams in the south and out west play more games than teams in the northeast? I just saw on the front page that there are games scheduled for today.

Is there a big advantage to be playing now?

[Jim Dixon]

Do the teams in the south and out west play more games than teams in the northeast? I just saw on the front page that there are games scheduled for today.

Is there a big advantage to be playing now?

There is a limit to the number of games.  Those that start on their spring break have plenty of time to get to 40 games.  If you start now, you can use few pitchers.  This is why the pitchers who win a lot of games are from the south or west as they get more chances to pitch. 

[dgilblair]

Catching full time and trying to pitch with any regularity is real hard. If the bat is good enough you catch, if the arm is better you pitch. Also it is a tough league to come into and catch without having been catching. It's interesting that both ESCU and KSC will be challenged behind the plate. Also what's this talk on the other board about season openers. We have snow sleet and freezing rain scheduled, not baseball. Almost six more weeks.

Your right, I don't think he will be doing both.  He has a good arm.  He hit well in high school but as we know that doesn't mean he will hit now. Not catching for the last couple years will show I'm sure. As long as he is improving I think he will be behind the plate at the start of the year.  If that fails, which I really don't think it will, he can go to the mound. Lets get all this bad weather out now.  Maybe we can get some temps in the 50's come March.   

[kscer]

.  Maybe we can get some temps in the 50's come March.   
[/quote]
Yeah, like march 29 in Willamantic