BB: LEC: Little East Conference

bobm396 · May 01, 2007, 12:37:26 PM

Living in Ct. I have been following Eastern for a very long time. Not a huge fan of the boys in Willimantic, However has any one noticed the runs they have been putting on the score board lately. Is their hitting that good or has the pitching been that bad. My guess, We will find out this weekend. I believe Keene St has finals this week and graduation on Sun. Can you imagine how hostile that place may be with Eastern comming to town and all the students out of school waiting to graduate on Sun.
Should be a fun time in NH.

MSG77 · May 01, 2007, 01:49:48 PM

Haven't been on here too much this year - just breezed in and found this thread.

Allow me my $.02 on a variety of things

1. The term "Evil Empire" was originally used by Reagan as a reference to the USSR. It became a baseball term used to describe the Yankees mainly after Larry Lucchino used it in reference to them. It was in relation to the signing of Jose Contreras. It looked as if the Sox were going to sign him, but at the last minute the Yankees came in and got him. The Lucchino quote was "The Evil Empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America". The media took it and ran with it, labelling the Yankees as the "Evil Empire". http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/1226/1482493.html

It has been applied to ECSU because of their Yankee-like way of winning every year. Other teams hate them, but it is not without a level of respect. I have heard many people compare the USM-ECSU rivalry to Sox-Yanks. In many ways, I think it may have been stronger pre-02. Since then, Wheaton has emerged as a legitimate national power and the introduction of the autobids to the NCAAs has resulted in the Wheaton-ECSU rivalry growing. In the 13 years from 90 to 02, ECSU won 3 National championships and USM won 2. Before the autobids, they were both always in the NE regionals. So even though ECSU and USM play each other in the regular season, they haven't recently met in the NCAAs as well.

2. Should be a great first game on Saturday. Likely Gilblair vs Stromgren since KSU has to win both. If ECSU wins the first, I would not be surprised to see them throw some guys with limited innings to get some rest for the tourney as the second game will not affect the seedings or the hosting. I would be surprised if KSU wins both with the way ECSU has been playing of late. Although they have played them well over the last few years. Also interesting to note that if ECSU does sweep, it will be the first time a team has ever gone undefeated in LE play. Kind of hard to beleive that it would be this team. I think anyone would admit before the season started that they would not have predicted this. I think most would agree that the 02-04 teams for ECSU were a bit better.

3. Also a huge game on Thurs at ECSU as they take on Wheaton. It may be too late since Wheaton beat ECSU last week and has already won their conference tourney, but if ECSU could post a huge win (similar to last years 8-0) they might have a shot to earn the #1 seed in the NE regional, provided they win at least 1 Sat and win the LE tourney. If Wheaton win at ECSU, they will be locked in to the #1 seed. With the new 7 team regionals, the #1 seed has a HUGE advantage in regional play.

4. I think any neutrals should be rooting for ECSU to take at least 1 on Sat so they can host the tourney. Their facilities are better than KSU, and they have LIGHTS! I hate tournaments with games starting at 10AM and the possibility of the late games being delayed til the next day due to darkness. For both players and fans, it is a huge inconvenience. Although, short of the tournament being cancelled totally due to weather, I think everyone would agree it would be hard to top what happened last year in Maine!

Jcon - love the enthusiasm, even if it is a bit misguided

hockeyfan - I have a feeling the the "77" in your username has the same origin as mine.

kscer · May 01, 2007, 05:28:25 PM

MSG77...
I agree with everything you said. Howe is acutely aware that he used all his pitching trying to beat both USM and ESCU on the same weekend in 2005 and went into the tournament with no pitching and lost two before he realised it. The only reason I would want to play at Keene vs. Willamantic is the drive. You cannot compare the facilities.
In a sense this is a rematch of the game in Bangor. In that game, Stromgren gave up two runs in the first inning which he hadn't done all year. I doubt that will happen this year. That's an even game without those runs.

But this is what d3 college baseball is all about...

Catch08 · May 01, 2007, 09:57:49 PM

How good is my boy Mel Castilo at ECSU I play summer ball with him..if you havent seen this kid play you need to

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 12:07:17 AM

Final from tonight: USM 13 U-Maine 7...

Spence · May 03, 2007, 12:20:30 AM

If they're anything like Wooster fans, they'll be crowing about how they're the best in the country because they can beat a D-I team.

MSG77 · May 03, 2007, 12:51:16 AM

Quote from: hockeyfan77 on May 03, 2007, 12:07:17 AM
Final from tonight: USM 13 U-Maine 7...

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I guess "on any given day", but I didn't think USM was that strong this year. To put up 13 on a DI pitching staff is impressive (and a bit surprising). Any links to the box score (I'm too lazy to look it up), did Maine throw the last guys in the BP or was it legit?

TheGNAC · May 03, 2007, 01:44:54 AM

Maine started their #1, but he only went an inning. Typical staff day, but all their top arms got innings... USM didn't throw their #1 for 8 innings, either. Staff day on both sides, it seems.

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 02:49:33 AM

I don't know about U-Maine but USM threw their 4th...

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 02:50:24 AM

Quote from: Spence on May 03, 2007, 12:20:30 AM
If they're anything like Wooster fans, they'll be crowing about how they're the best in the country because they can beat a D-I team.

no, but USM has beat them in the last 2 meetings...

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 02:51:24 AM

Quote from: MSG77 on May 03, 2007, 12:51:16 AM
Quote from: hockeyfan77 on May 03, 2007, 12:07:17 AM
Final from tonight: USM 13 U-Maine 7...

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I guess "on any given day", but I didn't think USM was that strong this year. To put up 13 on a DI pitching staff is impressive (and a bit surprising).

USM can hit, but IMO they just don't have the pitching depth...

363dp · May 03, 2007, 07:59:48 AM

I am not sure this is what some may think. This is not the UMaine team that goes to the World Series. This UMaine team is the one that trailed Colby College last week in the 7 inning! The USM team is the same team that a Bowdoin frosh heald to one run the day before.

wordsmith · May 03, 2007, 09:09:33 AM

USM can hit, but IMO they just don't have the pitching depth...
[/quote]

USM also has issues with their defense; their middle infield is average at best and on some days below average; outfield is a bit below average with range and speed and arm strength(even with Borque in right).

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 12:56:06 PM

Quote from: 363dp on May 03, 2007, 07:59:48 AM
I am not sure this is what some may think. This is not the UMaine team that goes to the World Series. This UMaine team is the one that trailed Colby College last week in the 7 inning! The USM team is the same team that a Bowdoin frosh heald to one run the day before.

I don't care what others think, it's something i have noticed watching them all year...

hockeyfan77 · May 03, 2007, 12:57:49 PM

Quote from: wordsmith on May 03, 2007, 09:09:33 AM
USM can hit, but IMO they just don't have the pitching depth...

USM also has issues with their defense; their middle infield is average at best and on some days below average; outfield is a bit below average with range and speed and arm strength(even with Borque in right).
[/quote]

They have a very good SS in Nick, and the OF really isn't bad..I don't think it's hitting or fielding that is going to be USM's downfall...