BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

North Park won its home opener against Concordia (WI) yesterday, 3-2. Pete Sparacino upped his record to 3-0 on the year for the Vikings. He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and held down the Falcons for six innings. The only run he allowed was a classic Holmgren AC right-field first-row cheapie, and he only gave up three hits. Merrick McGrady picked up his second save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth.

NPU, which improved to 7-3 on the season, plays a home doubleheader today against Lakeland (5-3).

[BigPoppa]

Carthage vs Elmhurst is setting up to be a nice opening weekend match-up in the CCIW. Elmhurst moved to 8-2 yesterday while Carthage sits at 8-3.

April 1

*Wheaton (Ill.) vs. Augustana (Ill.) at the Benedictine Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill., 3 p.m.


April 2

*Elmhurst at Carthage (DH), Noon

*Millikin at Illinois Wesleyan (DH), 1 p.m.

*North Park at North Central (Ill., DH), 1 p.m.

*Wheaton (Ill.) vs Augustana (Ill., DH) at Brunner Field in Moline, Ill., 1 p.m.

April 3

*Carthage vs. Elmhurst at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst Ill., Noon

*Illinois Wesleyan vs Millikin at Sunnyside Park in Decatur, Ill., 1 p.m.

*North Central (Ill.) at North Park, 1 p.m.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park looked impressive in a doubleheader sweep of Lakeland yesterday. The Park crushed the Muskies 19-1 in an opener that was abbreviated at seven innings due to the slaughter rule, and then took the nightcap by a 12-6 score. NPU pounded out 39 hits on the day, and 28 of the 31 runs that the Vikings pushed across the plate were earned against a Lakeland staff that had sported a 2.03 team ERA in the team's eight previous games.

North Park (9-3) has a doubleheader coming up on Saturday against Dominican (3-9).

[mr_b]

Congratulations are in order for North Park Coach Luke Johnson, who recorded his 100th career victory, as the Vikings swept Dominican on Saturday by the scores of 9-0 and 5-2.  In game one, Merrick McGrady allowed two singles over seven innings while striking out ten, and Angel Carrasco hit a grand slam.  In game two, Travis Boyer allowed three hits for the win and Alex Silverthorne worked three scoreless innings for the save.  Andy Athans finished the afternoon 7-for-8 with six doubles, three in each game.

[matblake]

Wheaton played #11 Chapman 3 times on Saturday losing all 3.  Here's the write up by Wheaton: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/index.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball and by Chapman: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/releases/0326

[Gregory Sager]

Three games in one day is a lot of baseball. But it's easier to tolerate 27 innings of baseball in the sunny climes of Orange, CA than it would be in northern Illinois during an early-spring cold spell. After operating the scoreboard for six hours apiece during Thursday's and Saturday's Vikings doubleheaders at Holmgren Athletic Complex I had to check my fingers and toes for frostbite.

[Viking Blue]

Congratulations to Luke.  He's done an amazing job with that team both on and off the field. 

On a completely separate note, does anyone connected to NP know what's up with Ryan Javech?  Is he hurt?  I see that he's only played in 4 games this year.  He was a big piece of last year's team.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU was scheduled to have a DH against Webster today, but SL got 5 inches of snow yesterday!  The IWU schedule says 'cancelled', rather than postponed; with conference play looming, I don't know if there will be any attempt to make up the games.

[BigPoppa]

IWU was scheduled to have a DH against Webster today, but SL got 5 inches of snow yesterday!  The IWU schedule says 'cancelled', rather than postponed; with conference play looming, I don't know if there will be any attempt to make up the games.

Carthage lost four games to weather this weekend. I think we will see a lot of mid-week games late in the season as teams try to boost their resumes and SoS.

[Gregory Sager]

Pete Sparacino upped his record to 4-0 today as North Park downed Benedictine, 5-1, in Lisle. The Vikings (12-3) will put their nine-game winning streak on the line tomorrow afternoon as they host Rockford (3-6).

[Gregory Sager]

North Park ran the winning streak to ten this afternoon as the Vikings dispatched Rockford, 9-2, at Holmgren AC. NPU (13-3) travels to Naperville on Saturday for a doubleheader against defending champion North Central (6-4) that will open the CCIW season for both teams.

Congrats to Andy Athans and Merrick McGrady of North Park for being named CCIW Players of the Week.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU was snowed out of a DH at Webster this past weekend.  The IWU website lists it as 'canceled' (not 'postponed').  They are scheduled to host a DH against Webster April 28.  With conference slates beginning, I'm guessing that 'canceled' IS correct, but does anyone know if any attempt will be made to reschedule it?  (If either team is 'on the bubble', these in-region games could make a difference.)

[matblake]

Wheaton beat Chicago yesterday.  Here's the write ups:
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2011/3/30/BB_chicago.aspx?path=baseball
http://athletics.uchicago.edu/news-2010-11/bb-wheaton-033011.htm

[Titan Q]

IWU picked up two in-region wins today over Beloit...

http://www.iwusports.com/news/2011/3/31/BB_0331115304.aspx?path=baseball


In game 2, freshman Bobby Czarnowski (Naperville Central H.S.) went 5-5 with his first collegiate HR. 

The Titans are 5-1 in-region heading into CCIW play Saturday.

[BigPoppa]

OPENING DAY IN THE CCIW! It's like Christmas for baseball fans!