BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[DirtyJersey]

DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

[CCIWFAN6]

The All-CCIW Teams have been announced.  Congratulations to all the players that made the teams!

Pretty incredible that a team on its way to Appleton gets only 1 1st teamer and 1 2nd teamer.  Just shows you how mediocre they were during the regular season, and how special they have been during the postseason.

Congrats to everyone on this list.

[CCIWFAN6]

DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Consider me impressed, DJ. Any bold predictions for this weekend?

[Gregory Sager]

Hey Pappa remember back when you and I were having a little head to head banter at the beginning of the season?  I remember how crazy people thought I was for having Webster, Buena Vista and Ill Wesleyan, in my top 6.  (ex. Captain Morgan)  I also had Carthage in there as well.   By my count 4 of my top 6 made the regional.  Now I will admit my other 2 picks, Coe and Beloit, ( both picked by the coaches to win or be at the top of their conference) Choked Big Time.  All though if you remember right I thought Beloit was way over rated, and I thought you were wrong in crowing Carthage the champs even with obvious holes to fill.  I think I even said Ill Wesleyan could be the team to knock Carthage off. ( I know they were 3-3 on the year but they won the two that counted and are sitting in a good spot to take the central)  BV was not even in your top 8 now they are the top seed and playing well. Webster was your 6.  My whole beef with you was that there are good teams outside the CCIW that should be recognized. 
Now I just love to see you giving some of your love to other schools outside the CCIW.  BV is for real and Webster is a good team as well.  Congrats to you Pappa!  You have come a long way.  I look forward to next years preview.  ( if you want some info feel free to contact me )

O Ya.....our Arizona Freshman predictions:  Blumenrich (Grinnell) hit .250 with 1 2B in only 9 starts... Stien (Coe) hit .330 with 10 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 16 SB, and 1st team All-IIAC OF. 

DirtyJersey,
You seem to have some good insight into IWU.  Anyone that could surprise us either on the mound or in the box this year?

The Titans always seem to have a pitcher step up out of nowhere, from Lapinksi to Dobosz to Aronson to Kulavic.  Who will be this years player?

CCIWFAN,

That is an interesting question. Kulavic will be back to his old form as long as he has no health issues. However, I believe Jason Pankau will bust into the CCIW spotlight this season on the bump for the Titans. I am not familiar with any of the newcomers who are expected to be in the IWU lineup starting this weekend.  Offensively, I believe the Titans may be a lot like this year's White Sox...without a lot of pop beside Ladd, McIntosh, and Moore and not  relying on the homerun (something the Weenies have relied on a lot in the past 8 seasons) .


I am sorry, but I am going to pat myself on the back for getting Pankau right (and nothing else correct beside McIntosh), even though it is no surprise he had success because he has such a live arm. Go Titans!!! Goodluck!!

I expect Wheaton and Carthage to be the best hitting teams all season long.

Looks like it's Blow Your Own Horn Week here in the Central Region.

Congrats to all of the All-CCIW members, and especially to Co-Pitcher of the Year Pete Sparacino of NPU and his Vikings teammates Ryan Javech, Trevor Popp, Mike Giovenco, Zach Deutscher, and Devin Melecio. Incidentally, here's what the league looks like next year in terms of All-CCIW returnees: North Central, six; North Park, five (I'm assuming that Giovenco gets drafted again and signs this time); Carthage, four; Augustana, two; Wheaton, two; Elmhurst, one; Illinois Wesleyan, one; and Millikin, zero.

Probably doesn't mean much, but I note it, anyway.

[DirtyJersey]

hahha Congrats to all players who have been honored...

A special congrats to COY Fitzgerald. I am confident NCC will be in the CCIW tourney annually as long as he is there. NPU has also proved to be a true challenger.

CCIWFAN, your guess is as good as mine. As long as the pitching and defense shows up every inning for the Titans, they can get deep. I just hope they still have the right mindset and are not satisfied with being participants in Appleton.

[Titan Q]

Article about IWU heading into this weekend...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_38e01fb0-69f4-11df-ab4f-001cc4c03286.html


Sounds like the pitching order will be:

- Pankau
- Kulavic
- Kabbes

[BigPoppa]

Congrats to Carthage's Joey Aiello (soph) and Will Hodges (junior) on being named to the Rawlings/ABCA all-region team.

[Titan Q]

Article on IWU's win over #9-ranked Shenandoah...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_e81971b0-6adb-11df-9dfc-001cc4c002e0.html


The Titans face #2 Heidelberg tonight at 7:45pm.  Go Titans!

[Titan Q]

On IWU's win over #2-ranked Heidelberg...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_ce92c9a4-6bac-11df-822f-001cc4c002e0.html


And on IWU's two-sport standout Kraig Ladd...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/article_474776c4-6b9e-11df-aa63-001cc4c002e0.html



What an amazing run.

[usee]

I am not a baseball poster and I ask the following out of ignorance more than anything:

IWU is playing for the d3 title and the CCIW had 3 teams in the national field but as I read it the CCIW had not a single player on the d3.com all American team? Not even an honorable mention? Is that at all surprising? (I know IWU's run is a surprise).

[Pat Coleman]

Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.

[Titan Q]

On IWU's huge win over Linfield...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_d2a71d4c-6c6f-11df-94b0-001cc4c002e0.html


The game IWU has to play today, which I believe is new in the format, is very important.  Winning means getting two shots at a national championship tomorrow...losing sets up one game for the title.

Relatively speaking, the Titans are in great pitching shape.  They still have not used Alex Tossi or Joe Sweeney, two solid starters.  And ace Jason Pankau is pretty much a lock to go tomorrow.

This is just an incredible run.  Congratulations to Dennis Martel and the Titans on earning their way into the national championship game.  Stay loose and bring it home!

[usee]

Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.

Well, at least Ann Curry will be pleased to know a couple of Wheaton players made the team!

[Ralph Turner]

Hey, USee, I'll start by saying I am in the same boat as you, not really a Division III baseball guy. I come to help Jim Dixon out this time of year and support the D3sports.com brand, but I am more someone who looks after the operation and writes a few game stories in Appleton.

So I will speak from that level of knowledge and say that I believe the general perception was that the Central Region was down this year.

Thank you for the operation and the D3sports.com!

[devildog29]

Have always been a lurker on the baseball board, and with IWU's amazing run have been watching much closer lately.  This is pretty petty and unimportant, but has anyone ever noticed this Subject Title is incorrect?  We play in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, as opposed to the Collegiate Conference?  Ok, enough of my anal retentive musings.