BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[lordcharles]

Big Poppa any predictions on the CCIW this season? or your preseason poll?

Big Poppa's Preseason Poll:

01 Wooster
02 St. Thomas
03 Salisbury
04 UW-Stevens Point
05 Eastern Connecticut
06 Heidelberg
07 Pomona-Pitzer
08 Chapman
09 Kean
10 Trinity (Conn.)
11 Adrian
12 Texas-Tyler
13 Southern Maine
14 Carthage
15 Wheaton (Mass.)
16 Millsaps
17 Keystone
18 Shenandoah
19 Cortland State
20 Marietta
21 Illinois Wesleyan
22 St. Olaf
23 Cal Lutheran
24 St. Scholastica
25 Beloit

No Farmingdale ?

[BigPoppa]

No Farmingdale is correct.

[BigPoppa]

BigPoppa's Pre-season CCIW poll: (followed by my regional ranking). My regional poll can be found on the central region rankings thread.

1. Carthage (1)
2. Wheaton (3)
3. IWU (4)
4. Augustana (10)
5. North Park (18)
6. Elmhurst (21)
7. Millikin (26)
8. North Central (30)

[RedmanFan35]

Anyone have updates on the following Carthage questions:

1. Where did Carthage pitcher Jordan Jaehne-Llanas end up? From what I have heard from a VERY reliable source he is no longer enrolled at Carthage.

2. Trace Ruffie? What is his status for the upcoming season? Is he returning from his injury or not in 2010?

[RedmanFan35]

Yeah Big Poppa, you heard correct. Jahne Llanas isn't with Carthage. He was just recently picked up by an Independent League Team.

Ruffie is working hard to get back. His, Official status, is still up in the Air. The Kid has alot of Heart. I would'nt be surprised to see him back this year.

[CCIWFAN6]

I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

[BigPoppa]

I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

I can certainly see your point, as I feel the same way. Still, I think they have enough coming back to hold on until the younger guys can grab the reigns.

[BigG296]

I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

In the same respect, I don't see IWU being a contender this year unless they get some major input from freshman/transfers and the returners put up some career numbers.

Could this be the year Augie is able to take home a CCIW title?  Or maybe even have Wheaton sneak in there?  A lot of question marks this year.  I think the field is as wide open as it has been in a long while.

[izzy stradlin]

Coaches poll is out:

http://www.cciw.org/spring_baseball/2010preseasonpoll.php

Carthage gets the nod.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman!

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

[BigPoppa]

I'm surprised historical doormat Wheaton is getting such respect so soon.  Coach Driggers must be viewed as superman!

I think a lot of IWU's season depends on whether or not Kulavic is back 100%.

Wheaton returns five all-cciw players. They made a nice run last year and I persoanlly have them as the #3 team in the region right now behind Carthage and Beloit. If 2008 First-team all-American shortstop Brian Kolb can return anywhere near his 2008 numbers, they will be tough to beat.

Kulavic is a wild-card this year. He is the one player that can really tip the balance of the league.

[BigG296]

In all honesty, I think Wheaton should be ahead of IWU in that coaches poll.   I do see why IWU would get the benefit of the doubt over them....but I just don't see IWU finishing ahead of Wheaton this year (who would have ever thought those words would be spoken?)

[BigPoppa]

In all honesty, I think Wheaton should be ahead of IWU in that coaches poll.   I do see why IWU would get the benefit of the doubt over them....but I just don't see IWU finishing ahead of Wheaton this year (who would have ever thought those words would be spoken?)

My top 4 in the CCIW:
1. Carthage
2. Wheaton
3. IWU
4. Augustana

After that, it gets a bit messy.

[RedmanFan35]

I know this topic comes up every year, but I have a hard time being so optimistic about Redmen with the losses they have coming into this year. The reason Carthage, IWU, and for the most part Augustana have been remained in the top 3 or 4 spots in the CCIW standings every year is they are able to recruit quality kids into the program.  With that being said, losing your top two offensive threats along with your top two pitchers from last years team would lead me to believe they might be in for an up and down year.

[RedmanFan35]

Exactly Right. Huge losses during the off season. Look out for a few players, Namely, Will Hodges and Drew Roberts to pick up alot of the Offensive slack.They were a very young team last year, defensively they should be stronger this year.

I know in the profiles the last 2 years they had Mario Perez at 280lbs. He was actually 305 his freshmen year and 310 last year. This year he's 260. Expect something special.

Eric Rohe is going to be great. An extremely advanced Baseball Mind, with tons of talent.

Scott Danly is one year removed from, Tommy John, Surgery. He threw well last year. Look for him to be better this year.

Wildcards include Chris Krepline ( former all CCIW Pitcher ) and Trace Ruffie.

I wouldn't write them off yet.