BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[KSCfan]

ECSUalum..... pti is pardon the interuption on espn at 5:30pm weekdays. It has Michael Wilbon (hence wilbon comment) and Tony Kornheiser who are two sports writers and they argue for about a minute on about 20 different sports topics.  One of the things they always say is this team win it or did this team lose it, then they argue opposite points. Sorry for the confusion

On to word fist
Word Keene is pinching CT kids for a couple of reasons.  Most towns in Ct are about 1 to 3 hours away from Keene.  This allows students to go "away" to college, but still be close enough to home if the student needs to get home. I know that Keene to Hartford is only hour and a half.  Keene State is know for being a great Liberal Arts school that specializes in Education and Safety programs.  It too was once a Normal School, and if you look on the main drag of campus thier is a sign that says Keene Normal School.  Great chance to go away but not to far away.

Another factor is CT kids that have gone to Keene tend to move back and rave about the school.  I know that East Catholic High School which is known for great ball players just hired a new coach... Martin Fiori who played at Keene State College.  These coaches are obviously pro Keene State, and when they have a decent player they make sure to suggest Keene State to the player.  Im not saying that Coach Fiori is doing this, it was just my example of keene baseball players coming back to CT and planting the keene seed in enemy territory.

Now this next point is an interesting one.  Darth Halowaty is a very polarizing character in CT.  People tend to either love the man and buy into Eastern, or they go the other way, and want to go to another school and beat him.  I know of one player that was from colchester a while back who was not recruited by Eastern in high school.  He choose Keene State instead, and one of the main reasons was his hatred for Eastern, and his desire to beat Eastern.  Some kids like the opportunity to beat Eastern instead of join them.

Jconn- glad to see your back...I am struggling to see how UMB is going to finish higher than 4th.  Dont have the arms, dont have the bats.  Coach E is good for a couple of wins a year, but i feel like they are to dependant on to many young guys stepping up.  If they had to have one or two new guys step up thats one thing, but to need 5 to 6 to step up, thats a lot tougher.  Doesnt allow for Coach E to try different young guys to see who has the goods.

I see the league finishing like this

Keene State
Eastern
RIC
USM
UMB
Western
UMD
Plymouth

I see two teams from the LEC going to the Regionals..... Keene and Eastern.  Deep run by Southern Maine in tourney but fall short to Keene on final day

[ECSUalum]

KSCFan,

Thanks for the clarification

[lefthanders]

Jconn--

Once again thank you for stating the same thing you have stated for the last 2 pre seasons....Maybe if this board is still going strong in 10 years you will find something new to write...heck...maybe even UMess Boston might have another good year.

No disrespect to Coach E or any of their players, but sustained winning takes much more effort than striking lightning in a bottle.

The stats I listed before don't lie...a win is a win and sustained winning is difficult. KSC will have their day in the WS some day and it won't be lightning in a bottle....They have won over  a10 year period and 3 trips to the NCAA in the last 6 years (robbed last year).

so keep wishing on that star and maybe it will happen again for you, but if you ask the coach or the kids...I bet they would want to be way more consistent!!!!

LEFTHANDER OUT

[LEC Fan]

I think cost is also another factor in picking a school. KSC out of state is almost $30,000 a year. Without being able to offer athletic scholarships and limited academic scholarships that has to weigh in at some point. Wether or not it is a priority over the other factors that ECSUAlum laid out is a different question...what are other LEC schools yearly cost?  I found some quick info on the schools admissions website...

KSC In State- $21,500 (tuition,room&board,fees)
KSC Out State- $28,438  (ditto)

ECSU In State- $18,771 (tuition,room&board,fees)
ECSU Out State- $29,395 (ditto)

Surprised at the overall cost of college in general!!!!

[wordsmith]

I think cost is also another factor in picking a school. KSC out of state is almost $30,000 a year. Without being able to offer athletic scholarships and limited academic scholarships that has to weigh in at some point. Wether or not it is a priority over the other factors that ECSUAlum laid out is a different question...what are other LEC schools yearly cost?  I found some quick info on the schools admissions website...

KSC In State- $21,500 (tuition,room&board,fees)
KSC Out State- $28,438  (ditto)

ECSU In State- $18,771 (tuition,room&board,fees)
ECSU Out State- $29,395 (ditto)

Surprised at the overall cost of college in general!!!!

Just coming out from 12 years of college expense for 2 kids with Grad school included. Here are some more eye openers for the rest of the Top 5:

Southern Maine - In-State approx. $20k; Out-of-State - $31k

St. Joe's -    $42k/yr
WNEU -       $43k/yr
Wheaton -   $53k/yr
Tufts -        $55k/yr

No Out-of-State rates here as all are private schools.

Word

[Jcon8958]

LeftHanders

You can sit there and rant and rave as much as your little heart desires but numbers are all that matter. Me personally I would rather get to the show then get so close and choke it away every time (even though KSC only really had 1 deep run in the regionals btw) Fact is KSC has won the same amount of LEC Tourney titles as UMB. So you can stick that sustained winning theory up your arse because I know it kills you all inside that UMB has been to a place that KSC never has been and to be honest has only really been close to once. Maybe you can take a page from the beacons and catch some "Lightning in a bottle"  NCAA regionals are all well in good but when you go 1-2,2-2 every single year you talk about it like you won the whole dam thing. NUMBERS DONT LIE. UMB may have only gotten there once but they got the job done unlike KSC who has yet to do that

JCONNN OUTTTTTTTTTTT 

[LEC Fan]

Thanks for the information Word...its funny to see the cost of some of these schools with the understanding that there is also scholarships and financial aid helping the D3 student athlete, then watch what has been happening with D1 and paying players to play!!!!!

On another note Keene opens up at the end of the week down in Long Island, WCSU has begun play down South and I am sure the rest of the LEC gets underway soon. Not surprised to see ECSU 4-0 but how does Marietta who has not played a game yet this year stay at #1 when there is a team that is 12-1 or others that are 4-0, 5-0 etc?

Last but not least (I really dont want to go back to work) Word has yet again read the crystal ball correctly. New England is expecting 6-12 inches of snow Wednesday into Thursday  thanks for the warning...

[ECSUalum]

You make it sound like we will be thrown back into the depths of winter   In NW CT 2-4 inches, 0 on coast.
Just enough snow in VT, NH, MA to keep the ski resorts happy.  All melted and gone in 2-3 days, maybe a couple more days of indoor practice, thats all   Spring is just 3 weeks away!!!!!

[lefthanders]

Jconn--

Once again, your inexperienced views and theories on playing and coaching are commical...MY GUESS IS YOU NEVER PLAYED....OR NEVER ON A GOOD TEAM!!!

Keene State will once again begin their season this weekend in Long Island...Hopefully they get off to a good start before their trip to Florida!

Lefthanders!

[rbgosfan]

Lefthanders, you should check some facts before posting. JConn not only played. He was FIRST TEAM ABCA ALL AMERICAN in 2006. He has a good idea of what he speaks.

[lefthanders]

thanks for the info rbgosfan, but I never seen a name on the All American list called Jconn...sorry for not checking the facts.

I'm not into arguing about things that carry no weight...The botton line is Keene State has won many games over the past 8-10 years pre-season, season, tounament, national tournament) and that deserves credit.

Umess Boston's run in 2010 was great, but winning over a period of time at the collegeiate level is difficult...It takes a great deal of work and commitment.

IMHO i don't believe you can compare these to programs...If you want to say that KSC doesn't have at regional title and trip to the WS...well than that is true. But, there are plenty of things that KSC has accomplished that Umess Boston hasn't....done arguing this mute point.

Time will tell once again where these 2 teams finish...i wish them bth good luck!

[wordsmith]

For what its worth boys and girls:

The Won-Lost record - head-to-head match-up between Keene St and UMass Boston since 2000.

Regular season:
Keene -16 wins  6 Losses (.727 winning %)
UMass - 6 wins 16 Losses (.272 winning %)

LEC Playoffs:
Keene - 4 wins  2 Losses
UMass - 2 Wins 4 Losses

Total Head-to-Head:
Keene - 20 wins  8 Losses  (.714 winning %)
UMass -  8 wins 20 Losses  (.286 winning %)

Keene has dominated the head-to-head over the past 7 years winning 12 of 14 match-ups in the regular season with 5 sweeps of weekend series and 4 playoff wins including ending UMass's seasons twice.

Keene State, in the same period has made 3 NCAA Regional appearances, one of which ended as Runner-up (2007). UMass has made one NCAA appearance, of which we are constantly reminded of by JConn, and rightfully so, which included a Regional title win and a much deserved trip to the WS.

Word

[lefthanders]

Wordsmith-

Thank you!

I do believe it was 3 NCAA appearances 2007, 2008, 2010 (NY)

[KSCfan]

The only thing that i can see Jconn being all American in is whacked out predictions and general stupid comments.  Im with left-hander all the way on this one, the facts dont lie,  You know what Providence college made the final four once under Rick Pitino, does that mean they are on the same level as Gonzaga who has never been to the final four.  Ask any recruit where do you want to go, Gonzaga or Providence and im sure 90% of them are going to the Zags.  Not the best example but you get my point. 

Keene State and Umess Boston are not even comparable.  If Umass Boston put together some strong years after the 2 AND OUT I WAS HOT DURING THE REGIONALS BUT STUNK UP THE WORLD SERIES run, then i would say yes, but so far i dont even think its comparable. 

rbgosfan if jconn did play then Lefthander was half right....he might of been a good player, but he sure didnt play for a good team if he played for umess boston.

and yes keene has had three regionals 2007 2008 2010NY.... should of made it in 2006 as well, but hey bad stuff happens espically if your shirt says beacons on the front hahaha

[wordsmith]

Wordsmith-

Thank you!

I do believe it was 3 NCAA appearances 2007, 2008, 2010 (NY)

You are so Correct.    Thanks 

Word