BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[Eye in the Sky]

All right,

So as far as the "youth movement" in Keene, don't look to much into it.

Check the box scores in after a few games in Florida, you may seem some familiar faces back in the Keene lineup. These are college teams, stuff happens, people miss games. That's how I see it. Longo, Bergstrum, Bates, are all guys that started for them last year and are returning, and would be more than shocked if they arent back a couple of games from now.

Good to see the young guns, non the less, step in and contribute in crappy weather, in their first college games. Seems like there is a lot of talent up and down on this Keene team. Hopefully the pitching can get the job done, I think that's where Keene's conference title hopes lie!

[LEC Fan]

I guess where I was going with that post was that each year they have a new incoming group of kids that have to jump in early and help the team out. I am not surprised that Keene played a lot of their young guys in this tournament, it just shows their depth with the younger class. This depth is what gives them the ability to be a good team year in and year out in the LEC (or as I laid out before, for the last 6-7 years) and therefore leading to the predicition that they will again be another good team.

[kscer]

Howe will play young talent early, in florida, and early non league to get them at bats, and to see if they are ready to play. I was surprised to see that Longo did not get an at-bat, as they said in the write up they expected him to supply power. I know he has struggled to become the hitter everyone expected him to be coming out of HS. Has not really adjusted to the pitching. Interesting about the age and experience of the pitching, and the middle infield seemed to settle in.

[mainefan]

USM was up 11 - 3 going into the 7th inning but the bullpen and defense couldn't get it done.

[wordsmith]

Howe will play young talent early, in florida, and early non league to get them at bats, and to see if they are ready to play. I was surprised to see that Longo did not get an at-bat, as they said in the write up they expected him to supply power. I know he has struggled to become the hitter everyone expected him to be coming out of HS. Has not really adjusted to the pitching. Interesting about the age and experience of the pitching, and the middle infield seemed to settle in.

Welp for what its worth here is Coach Howe's take on the "yute" movement.

http://www.sentinelsource.com/sports/local_sports/freshman-heavy-lineup-paces-ksc-baseball-win/article_518b64f7-5844-50ec-b459-cae5856f0f30.html


Word

[BobbyBeacon]

It's 2012, what happened last year?!?  I must have blacked out after the 2010 New England Regional Championship and don't remember anything after that!

The hibernating slumber has done me well and would like to wish a belated adieu to the 2011 UMB Senior Class who lead by example and are the most talented class/group to have hallowed King Field (and others) in Beaconville.  But time moves on and it's time for another long awaited spring!

This year's Beacons are going to be an exciting group.  Don't let the seeming lack of experience fool you.  The underclassmen from the 2010 College World Series team are now upperclassmen.  And the recruiting class from that historic CWS run is now upon us!  We could be in for another spring of Beacon Fever!

Mark McCormack leads a very tight knit, hard working group of seniors.  While Walsh was a tremendous athlete who turned himself into a monster of a hitter and Conway was, well, God's Gift to UMB, McCormack may be the best all-around baseball player to have graced Beaconville.  It is not a coincidence that the Beacons' started shattering offensive records in 2009, McCormack's freshman year.  He is the spark/catalyst of the offense, patrols centerfield with grace and has a knack for the clutch.  The rest of the lineup will fall into place and follow suit with a talented group of hitters, but ultimately it is going to be their defense that is going to carry them back to the top.  Usually a strength of the Beacons, the gloves faltered a bit last year and even their explosive offense couldn't catch up.

Many of you have said that the Beacons' pitching staff is deep, but too young and inexperienced.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there's an old saying that you "can never have too much pitching."  The staff is anchored by Dan Heefner and Tom Cole, both of whom played major roles in anchoring the Beacons 2010 CWS bullpen.  This "problem" of Coach Eygabroat's seems to be a pretty good one to have, especially in that first week down in Florida.  Obviously most would rather have quality than quantity, but the ability to mix and match to "collect outs" will be there.  Coach E will also have a better idea of the quality of that quantity upon the Beacons return to Beantown.

And a belated Congratulations to Coach Eygabroat and UMB28 on the newest members of their respective families (and Beaconville)!  Be careful New England, the Beacons have not only colonized much of New England but are now reproducing!!

[BobbyBeacon]

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

[BobbyBeacon]

Speaking of hibernation, there's an old saying that it's best to let sleeping Beacons lie.  Since I'm awake I thought I'd stir it up a bit.  All this talk about KSC being a part of the "Big Three" is nonsense.  You continue to rip and bash on JCon for denouncing your "great program" but, again, you HAVE NOT been to a College World Series.  The Beacons have.  Bottom line.  Period.  You have come close...oh, so close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

The UMass Boston Beacons, however, have won an LEC title, won a regional and been to a CWS!  Not to mention, they have done so without a baseball field, without dorms and Coach Eygabroat did it in his fourth year as Head Coach!  I agree that Coach Howe is a damn good coach, and view him as arguably the best in the LEC, but what Baseball Coach has done (could have done/can do) what Eygabroat has done at UMB?  Although they now have an improved practice facility, at an indoor facility in the neighborhood, he is still without a home field (at least one on/near campus).  While there have been many rumors and blueprints over the years, there finally seems to be a legitimate plan in place to build a baseball field/facility on campus for the 2013 season (assuming we make it through the Apocalypse).  Having heard such rumors and promises for the better part of the last decade, it is hard to believe, but if this finally happens - if UMass Boston and Coach Eygabroat finally get a baseball field, can you imagine?!?!  There will not even be a discussion about who the "Big Three" are... and Jcon will continue his prophecies! 

[UMB28]

Good to have you back bobby!!! Any predictions for player of the year? I vote for mark McCormack.  It looks like the kid has put on ten pounds of muscle and hasn't lost a step on his 60!
Should be one of the most well rounded beacon teams in recent years!  Should be pretty legit in every phase!  Enough of this talk it is now time to walk the walk!  My boys leave for Florida tomorrow morning eager to take on some fresh meat!!!

-28

[kscer]

I thought it's been too quiet with reasonable baseball talk around here for too long. Who woke up the comic relief from Boston.

[BobbyBeacon]

The Hooters faithful, that's "whooo."  All that slapstick about how good KSC is and how they're better than UMB, psshhh!

By the way, since KSCFan's bold "Big Three" claim and Word's projected College World Series bid(s), the Hooters have not made much noise.  Tick-tock, tick-tock, Cinderella, the Apocalypse is gonna be here before the Hooter's CWS bid!  Again, Coach Howe has done an absolutely tremendous job with that program up in Hooterville, but Coach Eygabroat has done more, with less, and in less time.

Call it lightning in a bottle, call it luck, call it what you want, but they did WIN the Regional (in pretty convincing fashion) and they did make an appearance in Wisconsin.  And now look at their roster, the numbers go up to 45!  Say, I don't know, a handful or so years ago, there were teams of 15 or 16 players...and they still competed with, and beat, the "Big -- ", whoever in the Little East Conference.  But when it came to tourney time, the Beacons were just outnumbered.  Speaking of glory days, do you remember those "dominant" Hooter's days?  I wonder the size of those hoot -- errr -- rosters.

I know it's "unreasonable" to fathom the Beacons as a top LEC program, let alone better than KSC, but since those bold Hooter's predictions the CWS Scoreboard reads UMass Boston 1 - Keene State Hooters 0... gotta love when you can put that UMess Boston degree to use (Critical Thinking/Reasoning classes + JCon's Prophecy Program = UMB degree... Mans007 must have been a transfer)!

And, of course, best of luck to the boys down in Beaconville, Florida!

[KSCfan]

Bobby Bobby Bobby-

Glad to see you back.  You have not read my previous posts have you.  I have always been high on Coach E and given him tons of respect about what he has done in Umass Boston.  I have also said that its amazing what he has done with no home field and no dorms to attract players.

As far as the world series run.... Yes Umass Boston has been to the WS. There is no arguing about that.  If i remember right, wasnt it two and screw.  And i dont think either game was partically close.  UMB got hot at the right time and rode the momentum.  No doubt about that.  Our point was clearly, what have UMess Boston done since?  Oh i know finish 5 games below 500 last year.  Yes that is sustained excellance, clearly a top three team in the best baseball conference in America has a sub 500 record.

Arguing with a UMass Boston fan on this board is the definition of insanity, making the same undisputable points over and over but expecting them to react different.  Im tired of arguing but dont think that i dont have 3/21 at Eastern, 4/4 hosting WNEC,  4/10 hosting Southern Maine, and 4/21 hosting Keene State circled on my schedule.  We will find out how good the beloved Beacons are.  Im willing to bet that UMB goes 1-6 during these 7 games

[WNECalum222]

UMB was a spark in the pan, they haven't showed the sustained excellence we come to expect from WNEC, Keene, and ECSU....I wouldnt mind seeing WNEC in the little east. It would make a great conference better.

[Jcon8958]

Let me first start off by saying Bobby and UMB28 good to have you back this KSC circle...well you all know what im saying there needed to end.

Anyway lets start with KSCFAN 1-6? are you outside of your mind? You all sit there and claim how us UMB fans are insane I dont know what the hell they put in the water up there in the woods of Keene but jesus tap dancing christ. SO why dont you take out that big black marker of yours and circle those games right up there.
In all honesty I would love to know how you can consider yourself so much better then UMB. YOU HAVE WON NOTHINGGGGGGGGG. YOU HAVE 1 LEC TOURNEY TITLE SAME AS UMB. YOU HAVE ZERO REGIONAL TITLES. The way you all speak you would think you go to the series every single year,and you call me crazy. Oh we win 30 games a year blah blah blah blah. I dont care if you win every game it does not matter if you cant get it done postseason time.

Prediction time right now come may after selection time there are going to be alot of sad KSC fans when they are on the outside looking in. Then it will be the oh we got screwed this that no respect for KSC. Its like listening to a bunch of high school girls who think they got screwed for not getting picked to be prom queen.

Anyway enough time wasted on you gentleman UMB heads down to FLA to kick off the season this weekend. LETS GET IT ON. 

[ECSUalum]

Howe will play young talent early, in florida, and early non league to get them at bats, and to see if they are ready to play. I was surprised to see that Longo did not get an at-bat, as they said in the write up they expected him to supply power. I know he has struggled to become the hitter everyone expected him to be coming out of HS. Has not really adjusted to the pitching. Interesting about the age and experience of the pitching, and the middle infield seemed to settle in.

Welp for what its worth here is Coach Howe's take on the "yute" movement.

http://www.sentinelsource.com/sports/local_sports/freshman-heavy-lineup-paces-ksc-baseball-win/article_518b64f7-5844-50ec-b459-cae5856f0f30.html


Word

How is the weather up in Keene today?  Any Snow, other than Cody Snow   Boys must be out on the field today, I hope!

BTW, I thought all the hot air was coming out of the southwest today, however, after reading the posts above it seems all the hottest winds are coming straight from Northeast, ie (UM) Boston direction hahahahahahaha