BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[mans007]

New to the board but have an opinion. If "jags" dosn't want to come back i respect that. He knows what it takes to excel at eastern and if he dosnt feel like he has that in him he is respecting and helping out the program in that decision. With a new pitching coach and wojick now retired from his full time job, it is a new era at ecsu baseball. Usually had just holowaty recruiting now they have 3 full timers... watch out!! I sense a shot of adreniline in the program.  i've seen some of the talent coming in, the transfer from uconn is the real deal. would have been the closer for uconn this year. I love the job that the keene state coaching staff has done as well as usm and ric. eatern has made them better programs and in return has made eastern better.

[KSCfan]

Mans welcome to the board.   We are only days away from the first practices of the year.  Ahhhh baseball indoors, got to love new england.  Anyone want to throw out a preseason ranking, or a how they will finish this year.  Let the slandering of the other teams and the name calling begin!

[dgilblair]

New to the board but have an opinion. If "jags" dosn't want to come back i respect that. He knows what it takes to excel at eastern and if he dosnt feel like he has that in him he is respecting and helping out the program in that decision. With a new pitching coach and wojick now retired from his full time job, it is a new era at ecsu baseball. Usually had just holowaty recruiting now they have 3 full timers... watch out!! I sense a shot of adreniline in the program.  i've seen some of the talent coming in, the transfer from uconn is the real deal. would have been the closer for uconn this year. I love the job that the keene state coaching staff has done as well as usm and ric. eatern has made them better programs and in return has made eastern better.

Welcome 007.  You are probably right.  I'm sure he's working too.  As far as recruiting, Woj has always been a big part of that so not sure him retiring will help that much.  The new pitching coach.....can't remember his name but he's a sharp kid.  I don't know how long he plans to stay but he could help out.

KSC, heres my picks for pre-season.

USM
ECSU
KSC
RIC
WCSU
UMB
UMD
PSU

[santeezy06]

KSC, heres my picks for pre-season.

ECSU
USM
KSC
RIC
UMB
WCSU
UMD
PSU

Goodluck to all!

[mans007]

Picks:
ECSU - wins league by 2-3 games. Winning the league by this many games is VERY tough, but this team has a good blend of players who know how to get it done and a fine crop of young talent. I also love the desire of the veteran players to have few let downs.
USM- I like there talent but don't know if the program has the passion and know how to + talent to be a dominant as people think.
KSU/RIC - The staff at KSU has done a great job getting talent but I wonder if the staff and players know what it takes to go to the next level. The LEC is rich in tradition and don't think it's that easy to get over the "hump" of consistantly competing with that intensity. USM and ECSU live for that intensity. RIC is the party crasher. They will win games almost as a spoiler because they have good talent and no pressure on them.
THE REST - I don't think the rest of the league has enough to cause too much of a distraction to the top 3 teams. But... KSU and RIC will be hurt by these remaining teams in let down games to give ECSU a 2-3 game conference title. LEC tourney at ECSU and regional. Don't think the fact that ECSU knows the regionals are at there home dosn't give them a HUGE motivational factor. That, along with there talent gives them the distinct advantage.

[wordsmith]

OK here I Go: LEC - Preseason Picks ---> Lots of Chalk Here

LEC    - 13-1     TEE - Bless my soul Coach HolyWater and da boys win regular season and LEC Tourney
            11-3     USM - HOFEddy and the Boys of Flannel finish 2nd
              9-5     KSC - Swampees wade their way to a 3rd place finish
              7-7     RIC -  Boogie their way to a 4th place finish as Mascot RIC "celebrates"
              5-9     WorstConn - Soldier their way to a 5th place finish
              5-9     UMESS Chowds - Shooting for a higher finish Chowds Drive-By 6th and like the view
             4-10    PlyWood State - Hopes for a better season splinter in the late spring warmth
             2-12    UMESS DartBoard aims higher but misses the bullseye

Word

[KSCfan]

Here is how i see them finishing in the regular season.
1. ECSU
2. USM
3. KSC
4. RIC
5. UMB
6. WCSU
7. Plymouth
8. UMD

Couple of thoughts....
I think that the reg season will come down to the final weekend.  As always the top three teams seem to battle down to the last weekend.  I disagree with predictions that Eastern will win by one or two games.  I think the loss of Jags to Eastern will make the race a lot closer than some seem to think.  Also Mans007 is new to the board and apparently new to the LEC.  How can you make the claim that KSC does not know how to take it to the next level. OVer the last three years since this flood of talent has come into KSC not KSU mans, they have had three straight years of 30 plus wins, and 2 straight NCAA appearances.  THey have played in the finals of the LEC tournament three straight years, and won it last year.  Two years ago they almost went to Wisconsin but lost to Eastern in the regional final.  I think you can ask around the league and you will get a general idea that KSC has clearly put themselves in the same league as Eastern and USM.  I know it has only been three years in a row, but i am willing to bet that KSC is here to stay at the top of the LEC.  That being said, I see the winner of the LEC tournament and who finishes second in the finals making it into the Eastern Connecticut State regional.  It will be tough to get three teams back in like last year.

[mans007]

KSCfan... I should not be suprised, you are a KSC fan, but... Be careful of the words you say..."time is the ultimate test of man" and three years does not a program make. I guess I will speak for the USM and ECSU fans when I say, it is absurd that you even make a comparison of KSU to the two other programs.  In Keene they talk about winning conference titles. At ECSU and USM they talk national titles. With six National Championships between these two teams it is a major disservice to even mention KSC in the same breath. I would go as far to say that UMassDartmouth has a better history then KSC (more regional appearences). So that being said, KSCfan i know your excited and you should be. But please, please, please don't compare the three programs. And just as a side note... I've been watching the LEC for as long as the LEC has had a baseball conference.

[wordsmith]

KSCfan... I should not be suprised, you are a KSC fan, but... Be careful of the words you say..."time is the ultimate test of man" and three years does not a program make. I guess I will speak for the USM and ECSU fans when I say, it is absurd that you even make a comparison of KSU to the two other programs.  In Keene they talk about winning conference titles. At ECSU and USM they talk national titles. With six National Championships between these two teams it is a major disservice to even mention KSC in the same breath. I would go as far to say that UMassDartmouth has a better history then KSC (more regional appearences). So that being said, KSCfan i know your excited and you should be. But please, please, please don't compare the three programs. And just as a side note... I've been watching the LEC for as long as the LEC has had a baseball conference.

In the immortal words of Doc Holliday from the movie Tombstone (only the very best western of all time).

"I beg to differ. We started a game we never got to finish, play for blood, remember?" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGpajGj07BU&feature=related

KSC has built a program over the past 6-8 years that has seen steady growth and improvement. Coaches have been made full-time, player recruitment has been emphasized, and the school, a recent Jostens winner (didn't see that on either TEE or USMuskies resume) http://www.keene.edu/kst/2005Fall/btw.cfm?I=11 has become a serious contender for talent throughout central and southern New England. I will also tell you that player and coaches alike from both TEE and the Muskies do not look forward to a trip to the Swamp. A split is often considered a successful trip and the emotional level it takes to play the Swampees is on par with a TEE-Muskie game. Over the past 4-5 years the three programs are quite even. IMHO

HOFEddy did not build his rep or success overnight, nor did Coach HolyWater. Coach Howe and Testosterone are well on their way to a WS bid in the next 2-3 years.

Word

[mans007]

As I've said before, I respect what the coaching staff has done at KSC. The past 5-6 years KSC can make an argument with USM i guess, but I believe the emergence of Wheaton has hurt in recruiting more than anyone. As far a the "TEE" you have a tougher argument. They have been to the world series in 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, respectively. I don't think anyone in the northeast should feel too bad, thats about as good as anyone in the country. So, I don't mean to sound negative towards KSC, but when it comes to top programs in the country, USM and especially ECSU are towards the top if not at the top.
*just as a side note*
1. I think teams don't like going to KSC because its always crappy out, and the field and atmoshpere is TERRIBLE!
2. Please!!!! don't even talk about the academics at KSC. For years they have been known as one of the worst 4 year academic schools in the east. Upgrading cafeteria food would make them a better academic school.

[wordsmith]

As I've said before, I respect what the coaching staff has done at KSC. The past 5-6 years KSC can make an argument with USM i guess, but I believe the emergence of Wheaton has hurt in recruiting more than anyone. As far a the "TEE" you have a tougher argument. They have been to the world series in 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, respectively. I don't think anyone in the northeast should feel too bad, thats about as good as anyone in the country. So, I don't mean to sound negative towards KSC, but when it comes to top programs in the country, USM and especially ECSU are towards the top if not at the top.
*just as a side note*
1. I think teams don't like going to KSC because its always crappy out, and the field and atmoshpere is TERRIBLE!
2. Please!!!! don't even talk about the academics at KSC. For years they have been known as one of the worst 4 year academic schools in the east. Upgrading cafeteria food would make them a better academic school.

Dear mans007,

Where praytell did that stat come from?

One thing about this LEC Board, we all "hate" on each other but keep it above the line. We trash each other's teams, mascots, fields, and even coaching decisions. I think we try to stay away from individual attacks on players and in the 2 years i have been posting here I don't recall seeing anyone specifically trash an entire instutuion as you have. You my friend, in Post #5, have made a statement that you should back-up with facts.

Before you go off, I am not a graduate of KSC. I did have a close relative who was a player for 2 of the schools in this discussion, thus I do personnally know of the academic requirements and expectations of both. I also have close relatives who are attending or have attended private D-III institutions in the NorthEast. 

So mans007, what and where are the facts that support your statement that KSC is/was one of the worst 4 year academic schools in the East and how did KSC win the Jostens award given this status?

The KSC Alum and fans await your response.
http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/6623/Gothopotamus/


Word

[ECSUalum]

Here is my 5 cents worth:

As we all know keeping everyone healthy is always a big unknown for any team.

If Gilblair is back to AA form and Fontaine, Kukucka pitch like last year, with some improvement and Musson shows his D-I (ex UCONN), talent then ECSU pitching should be solid. Need Wojick and Tingly performance in the bullpen as well.
Now on the hitting side, TEE will need a huge year from Mel, and I think this will be so, and if Hobbes, Dalton, Dewing and Park, all improve, offensively we should be in good shape.

Defensively, as I have posted in the past, has not been the Warriors strong suit.  You just cannot win the walnut and bronze with sub par defense, PERIOD!!

With Sullen Maine bringing back most of thier players, (and heavy hitters), and from what I saw last year on the piching side, they look to be very strong,( as seen in the ABCA and D3 preseason polls).

I think it will be tight LEC race between USM and Eastern, assuming no major injuries, with KSC a close third and RIC fourth.

KSC has really made a strong push over the last few years and I expect , even thought this year may be a bit of rebuilding, due to loss of som key players, will be very competitive  going forward.  They really have very strong athletics, if you look at other sports.

KSC can improve thier baseball program in some ways by rebuilding thier bb facility to make it more inviting for recruits, but having said this, they seem to be recruiting well dispite thier field

I think acedemics, while important at a university can be left out of this disscusion.

The preseason LEC poll is just that PRESEASON, and to me not important, it is the final results that matter.

Look for TEE and Wheaton to fight it out in Mansfield in the NE Regionals, with TEE on to Wisconsin.   Look for possibly USM, (with an at large in NY Regionals?) and a fight with SUNY Cortland for a ticket to Appelton.

[ecfaninri]

Here is my 5 cents worth:

As we all know keeping everyone healthy is always a big unknown for any team.

If Gilblair is back to AA form and Fontaine, Kukucka pitch like last year, with some improvement and Musson shows his D-I (ex UCONN), talent then ECSU pitching should be solid. Need Wojick and Tingly performance in the bullpen as well.
Now on the hitting side, TEE will need a huge year from Mel, and I think this will be so, and if Hobbes, Dalton, Dewing and Park, all improve, offensively we should be in good shape.

Defensively, as I have posted in the past, has not been the Warriors strong suit.  You just cannot win the walnut and bronze with sub par defense, PERIOD!!

With Sullen Maine bringing back most of thier players, (and heavy hitters), and from what I saw last year on the piching side, they look to be very strong,( as seen in the ABCA and D3 preseason polls).

I think it will be tight LEC race between USM and Eastern, assuming no major injuries, with KSC a close third and RIC fourth.

KSC has really made a strong push over the last few years and I expect , even thought this year may be a bit of rebuilding, due to loss of som key players, will be very competitive  going forward.  They really have very strong athletics, if you look at other sports.

KSC can improve thier baseball program in some ways by rebuilding thier bb facility to make it more inviting for recruits, but having said this, they seem to be recruiting well dispite thier field

I think acedemics, while important at a university can be left out of this disscusion.

The preseason LEC poll is just that PRESEASON, and to me not important, it is the final results that matter.

Look for TEE and Wheaton to fight it out in Mansfield in the NE Regionals, with TEE on to Wisconsin.   Look for possibly USM, (with an at large in NY Regionals?) and a fight with SUNY Cortland for a ticket to Appelton.

[KSCfan]

Mans007- a couple of things. 
1.  To say that KSC is one of the worst colleges for academics in the east is amazing to me.  KSC is a very good state school that is just that, a state school.  Academics are very good at KSC as it is harder and harder to get into the school with the increasing standards to get in.  Im not going to sit here and say that some kids struggle with academics but i have a feeling that all of the schools of the Little East have those kids.  It is not exactly like Plymouth, Western, Eastern or any of them are schools for the super academics.  Thats what the NESCAC is for with Trinity, Williams, and so on and so on.  THe Little East is a state school conference and lets just leave the academics at that.
2.  You can point to the 6 national championships that Eastern and USM have won, and rightfully so, however ask Eastern how they felt last year when Morin went out and shut them down in the LEC tournament.  Im pretty sure that Eastern didnt overlook that game because they where focused on winning another National Championship.  THen the next day when KSC went out and beat USM twice the next day i guess that was luckly because USM was overlooking the confernece and thinking about Appleton.  The fact of the matter is that every team in the LEC focuses on the LEC.  As the LEC gives teams a chance to play regional type competition. 
3.  People hate playing in the swamp because it is the best home field advantage in the LEC.  The fans that line the LF line of a sat doubleheader are the best in the league.  They heckle with the best of them,  Just ask any LF, two years ago skeffington threw a ball into the fan section from RF after warming up because the fans rode him all game.  Or the USM parent that wanted to fight the fan that yelled out  "Ross was a bad choice" after Flaherty pulled him.  Yes the swamp is cold, and yes it is windy but good ball players want to play in Keene because of the fan suppourt, and the great coaching staff.  I admit Keene has only truly been a good team the last three years but i would squarely put Keene in the top programs of NE.  Those being USM, Eastern, Trinity, Wheaton, and Keene

[ECSUalum]

As I've said before, I respect what the coaching staff has done at KSC. The past 5-6 years KSC can make an argument with USM i guess, but I believe the emergence of Wheaton has hurt in recruiting more than anyone. As far a the "TEE" you have a tougher argument. They have been to the world series in 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, respectively. I don't think anyone in the northeast should feel too bad, thats about as good as anyone in the country. So, I don't mean to sound negative towards KSC, but when it comes to top programs in the country, USM and especially ECSU are towards the top if not at the top.
*just as a side note*
1. I think teams don't like going to KSC because its always crappy out, and the field and atmoshpere is TERRIBLE!
2. Please!!!! don't even talk about the academics at KSC. For years they have been known as one of the worst 4 year academic schools in the east. Upgrading cafeteria food would make them a better academic school.

Dear mans007,

Where praytell did that stat come from?

One thing about this LEC Board, we all "hate" on each other but keep it above the line. We trash each other's teams, mascots, fields, and even coaching decisions. I think we try to stay away from individual attacks on players and in the 2 years i have been posting here I don't recall seeing anyone specifically trash an entire instutuion as you have. You my friend, in Post #5, have made a statement that you should back-up with facts.

Before you go off, I am not a graduate of KSC. I did have a close relative who was a player for 2 of the schools in this discussion, thus I do personnally know of the academic requirements and expectations of both. I also have close relatives who are attending or have attended private D-III institutions in the NorthEast. 

So mans007, what and where are the facts that support your statement that KSC is/was one of the worst 4 year academic schools in the East and how did KSC win the Jostens award given this status?

The KSC Alum and fans await your response.
http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/6623/Gothopotamus/


Word

Word, That funnyjunk.com site is hilarious!!  ie all the Pictures !!!