BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[KSCfan]

oh boys and gouls. 

We are a pretty good chunk into the season and here are some thoughts so far.  I will start with the owls.

13-5 on the year.  2-0 in the LEC.  This record is good enough to get them ranked in the New England.  They have won 5 straight and seem to be playing pretty well.  Big week this week as they have 3 games during week, and 2 very big ones against Eastern this weekend.  The hitting has been above average as owlsnest pointed out they lead the league in runs.  The pitching has been up and down.  Pelkey just set the wins record, they got a big start out of Coughlin on sat and Thiesing, Crutcher, and Perrault have shown good signs. Owls are showing signs of a deep staff and are going to need to be deep with 5 games this week.  Deep staffs make deep playoff runs. 

USM is sitting at 8-8.  I am very surprised by this.  I thought that the Huskies would be very good this year, and i still think that they are a very good team.  They split with RIC over the weekend, is this a sign that RIC is better, or a sign that USM is struggling.  Hockeyfan seemed to think that thier pitching is letting them down a little bit.  USM is always dangerous, and i could easily see the Huskies getting hot and putting on a run later in the season.

Eastern is 13-3.  They are getting great pitching and timely hitting.  Balowski and Roddick are killing the ball, and Eastern seems to have a very deep staff as bullpen staple Chamberlin got the start on saturday and shut down the flying jconnies.  Thier team era is 3.84  I am really looking forward to saturdays games down at Eastern CT as keene comes into town.  If one team can sweep the dh then they might be in the drivers seat for the LEC

Umass Boston sitting at 8-8.  They had a tough weekend losing to St Joes on Friday, and got swept by Eastern on saturday.  We had talked about how UMass had a tough week, and hopefully they can bounce back this week with games against Framingham, and Gordon.  THey have Western New England on Wednesday and that is always a tough task.  Beacons are young and talented need to win a few in a row here to get the train rolling. 

RIC is sitting at 11-8.  They have been playing very well, and split with USM this weekend.  Lapatin and Cummiskey have been giving solid starts, nothing amazing but enough to keep the anchorman in games when they  leave in the 6 or 7.  They have gotten some timely hitting and are putting together a solid season so far.  With Worcester, Brandeis, and Plymouth coming up the Anchorheads could be looking at a solid week. 

Plymouth is 8-8.  Best record they have had in a while and are looking to really put together a season that they can build on.  McIntosh and Cappiello are pacing the offense, and i for one hope that the panthers can put together a season that lands them in the LEC playoffs for the first time in a long time.  They have are 1-1 after splitting with UMD over the weekend. Have Rivier and RIC Friday and Saturday.  If they could take two out of three that would be solid.

Umass Dartmouth is 10-6.  That is a under the radar 10-6.  They split over the weekend, and are looking much better than they have in the past.  New Coach has given new attitude, and might make the corsairs the sleeper of the LEC.  They have USM this sat and a split would be a big help to playoff chances

Western is the ONLY team in the LEC under .500 at 7-11.  I dont mean this as a slight but rather an observation that the LEC is strong this year.  Western is not having a terrible year, and are one mini streak from getting back to .500. 

Just one mans thoughts, what are yours?

[wordsmith]

With the win over Salve on Sunday... Jeff Pelkey now holds the all-time win's record at KSC...

http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120401tn0r4e

Congrats to Pelkey who is a stud; but nobody did it with more panache than Rickey 'The Rocket' Stromgren. Guy weaved his way through the LEC with a 79 mph fastball and an attitude. King of the rope-a-dope if I ever saw one.

Fact is KSC had a very unique pitching staff in those days. Kind of like the Gas House Gang of Dizzy and Daffy Dean. (God Word you really R an old dude!!). Stromgren, Youngie, Mabey, Truk, Cook.....what a crew.

I've said it before, KSC rivaled Detroit cause they had a Truk, an Austin, a Chevy, and a Ford.

Word

[owlsnest]

NED3Baseball New England Poll- Week #2 from: http://ned3baseball.wordpress.com/

1. St. Joseph's (ME) (16-2)- Have won five straight and started conference play with four wins over the weekend.

2. Wheaton (15-3)- The Lyons received a wake-up call this morning, dropping two-of-three to Babson.

3. Eastern Connecticut (13-3)- Picked up four-straight wins at home this past week, including an impressive sweep of UMass Boston.

4. Tufts (11-3)- The Jumbos passed an early season test with a three-game sweep of Bates.

5. Amherst (10-4)- A three-game sweep of Hamilton has the Lord Jeffs off to a good start in conference.

6. Trinity (14-5)- The Bantams have won seven-straight games and opened NESCAC play with a sweep of Colby.

7. Western New England (13-6)- Just when you thought they were gone, the Golden Bears have roared back with eight-straight wins and are 6-0 in CCC play.

8. Salem St. (15-5)- The Vikings continued their strong start with a pair of conference victories over Fitchburg St. this weekend.


Hmm...I don't know how I feel about 7/8. WNEU has won 8 in a row..thoughts?

[kscer]

With the win over Salve on Sunday... Jeff Pelkey now holds the all-time win's record at KSC...

http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120401tn0r4e

Congrats to Pelkey who is a stud; but nobody did it with more panache than Rickey 'The Rocket' Stromgren. Guy weaved his way through the LEC with a 79 mph fastball and an attitude. King of the rope-a-dope if I ever saw one.

Fact is KSC had a very unique pitching staff in those days. Kind of like the Gas House Gang of Dizzy and Daffy Dean. (God Word you really R an old dude!!). Stromgren, Youngie, Mabey, Truk, Cook.....what a crew.


Word

Don't forget Tenney, Morin, Kohler, and Slack

[wordsmith]

With the win over Salve on Sunday... Jeff Pelkey now holds the all-time win's record at KSC...

http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120401tn0r4e

Congrats to Pelkey who is a stud; but nobody did it with more panache than Rickey 'The Rocket' Stromgren. Guy weaved his way through the LEC with a 79 mph fastball and an attitude. King of the rope-a-dope if I ever saw one.

Fact is KSC had a very unique pitching staff in those days. Kind of like the Gas House Gang of Dizzy and Daffy Dean. (God Word you really R an old dude!!). Stromgren, Youngie, Mabey, Truk, Cook.....what a crew.


Word

Don't forget Tenney, Morin, Kohler, and Slack

I can tell funny stories about all these guys since I coached most of them from Bambino up thru Babe Ruth & Legion. But Tenney, now that boy was a unit. 6'4" 170 lbs. of rotator cuff. He once lost a bet before a Legion game, so 'KB' urinated into Tenney's glove and Tenny had to pitch the entire game with a 'wet' glove. Lasted about 7 innings and Testo says to him after pulling him we need to p!$$ in your glove every game if you pitch like that.

Young was on the mound in a Legion game and was getting squeezed. He kept looking in at the umpire with that Jack Nicholson "Heeeerrrrreeeee's Johnny-trance-like stare and I could see the ump was about ready to toss him. So I head to the mound to talk to Young-ie. Eventually the ump comes out to break up the meeting. He's figuring I'm going to bark at him about his calls, but I go in another direction and walk back towards the plate and comment to the ump how I have to keep a close eye on Young since he sometimes skips taking his medicine when he pitches and it causes him to go into a trance. The ump swallows it hook, line, and sinker. He starts giving us the corners and Young pitched a complete game.

I know where all the bodies are buried.

Word

[Jcon8958]

Old Man in the words of The Rock do me a favor and know your role and SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

UMB did have a tough weekend (versus 2 of the top 3 or 4 teams in New England) fact is they did not play well when you score 2 runs on 6 hits and let up 23 runs your not going to win many games. But you move on to the next game whick is exactly what they did yesterday beating Westfield 10-7. They have 6 games in 6 days this week and there is no reason they cant win them all. This team is young there will be bumps in the road. They will be fine.

[WNECalum222]

Look out for WNEC, they've won 8 straight and have put up 93 runs during that winning streak. Pitching has been pretty good as well. Can't wait for the doubleheader against Wheaton this weekend

[wordsmith]

Look out for WNEC, they've won 8 straight and have put up 93 runs during that winning streak. Pitching has been pretty good as well. Can't wait for the doubleheader against Wheaton this weekend

Yea, but we all know how it will turn for WNEU. They tie with Curry for the League title; they lose the tie breaker and home rock ledge advantage; they lose the first game in the opening round of the League tourney then proceed to sweep the League tourney and head to Wilamantic.

Prediction: If the games are in NORTON! Wheaton sweeps; If the games are at the TreHouse then its a split!


Word

[amh63]

There is a Amherst vs. Keene State game today at Keene.  The 3:30 PM game will be webcasted.

[WNECalum222]

Look out for WNEC, they've won 8 straight and have put up 93 runs during that winning streak. Pitching has been pretty good as well. Can't wait for the doubleheader against Wheaton this weekend

Yea, but we all know how it will turn for WNEU. They tie with Curry for the League title; they lose the tie breaker and home rock ledge advantage; they lose the first game in the opening round of the League tourney then proceed to sweep the League tourney and head to Wilamantic.

Prediction: If the games are in NORTON! Wheaton sweeps; If the games are at the TreHouse then its a split!


Word

Gotta make it interesting!! As long as you get there you got a shot.

Prediction for this weekend,
If at Tre - Wnec sweeps
If at wheaton - wnec sweeps

[KSCfan]

Really looking forward to the amherst keene game.  Should be a great game, and its in the swamp which is always nice.  I was just outside(granted im in boston) but it was nice. 

Going to the UMB game tonight at Malden Catholic to get first hand look at the young gunz beacons.  Starts at 7pm in Malden

[AllStar]

FINAL                1    2     3     4     5     6    7    8     9          R    H    E
AMHERST         0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0   0        1    8    2
>>> KEENE ST 0    0    0    1    3    0    0    0   X        4    7    2

WP:  Nick Winn         
LP:  Hayden Metz
SV:  Kyle O'Brien

Keene State extends their winning streak to seven games and improves to 14-5.  Amherst falls to 10-5.

[AllStar]

Other games in progress:

BOT 8th
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE 16, WORCESTER STATE 1

8th
UMASS-DARTMOUTH 7, NEWBURY 3

[BobbyBeacon]

First and foremost, obviously, a nice "welcome back," or cheers, to JCon from his trip across the pond.  While "The Riff-Raff" may disagree and think you're crazy  , spending St. Patrick's Day in Ireland probably beats that Southie "puh-uade" and am glad you (a) made it back and (b) still alive!

Unfortunately your trip abroad coincided with the Beacons spring trip and the "Flyin' Jconnies"  have seemed to struggle a bit out of the gate  .  However, that "magic fairy, sprinkle dusted" season started out fairly similar.  An average spring trip followed by an LEC opening sweep at the hands of Mansfield's Mashers left many doubting and writing off the Beacons.  What many don't realize is that the senior leadership and nice "surprises" from the underclassmen (see CWS recruiting class) have allowed this team to gel and gain that "it" factor that will [hopefully] show when it matters most (see "catching lighting in a bottle").  While experience means a lot, the upperclassmen who were a part of the CWS team will hopefully use that experience to help lead and carry the "Flyin' JConnies" the rest of the way.  Well, that and tightening up the defense because while the gloves cannot win games, they can not only keep you in them and give you a chance to win them, but save them as well.

I think a lot of the early season analysis seems to be pretty accurate but, don't forget, it's still early and LEC play just started!  While overall record and "strength of schedule" factor into the regional and national rankings, I think we can all agree that in-conference opponents are how we truly measure our teams/programs.  Plus, "getting hot at the right time" and winning the LEC tourney gets you that automatic bid to the World Ser --- oh no, you still have to win the Regional before advancing to the World Series!

With a game every day this week the Beacons -- err, Flying Jconnies, have a great opportunity get on a roll.  They're off to a good start as the bats seemed to come alive yesterday against Westfield State.  But, again, it's a long week capped off with a doubleheader out at Western.  Hopefully tonight's game against Framingham State will better prepare the Beacons for the Huskies next week as their game will also be under the lights at Beacon Stadium next Tuesday.

The Beacon Bandwagon just hit a pothole, but don't worry, it's up and running again!  Thank goodness we lost all that extra weight with everyone jumping off! 

[ECSUalum]

Eastern bullpen gives up 3 runs in 8th and Montclair St comes from behind to win 6-4