BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CCIWFAN6]

In the first of two, IWU downs NPU, 13-7.

For the Titans, Kevin Callahan continued his big hitting with two solo HRs (and was walked twice).  The Vikings perhaps should have saved those walks instead for Zach Scott, whose line was 5 4 4 6, with THREE HRs!  Nick Mehn had a rough outing, yielding 11 hits and 7 runs in 5 innings.  Jason Pankau relieved him and yielded NO hits or runs in 4 innings.

For the Vikings, Zach Deutscher matched Callahan's line with a 3 2 2 2 day, including 2 HRs.  Angel Carrasco and Brad Medina also homered.  Nick Saldano was treated quite rudely by the guests, yielding 10 hits and 10 runs in 5.1 innings.

The wind was blowing out to right field at Holmgren Field today about 15-20 mph.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The wind must have died in time for the second game - NPU had 1 HR, IWU had none!

The Vikings avoided the sweep with a 12-9 win in the nightcap.

Note to BigPoppa: Callahan is having a Ricky Angel-type season.  He was 2 for 3 in the second game, with two more walks.  I believe that puts his BA at .489, his OBA just over .600, and his slugging % over .900!   Be afraid; be very afraid!

[BigPoppa]

Augie sweeps Carthage today... ouch.

[jigsaw54]

Here are the CCIW's Top 5 as of April 17

Illinois Wesleyan  9-3   17-8
Augustana      8-3   19-5
Carthage              8-3   16-6
North Central      8-3   14-7
North Park      8-4   21-7

It's going to be a great finish for the tourney. 

[CCIWFAN6]

Carthage is leading 11-0 in the 7th over Augie, looking to end this game early.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Of the top 5 (IWU, Augie, Carthage, NCC, and NPU), each has so far played two of the others with two still to go.  While one or more may completely fall out of the picture (and Wheaton could conceivably join the chase), here is a VERY early look at the H-to-H tie breaks:

IWU over both Augie and NPU
Carthage over NCC (but under Augie)
Augie over Carthage (but under IWU)
NCC over NPU (but under Carthage)
NPU under both IWU and NCC

With so many games still remaining, I'm not even gonna bother with the 3 or more way tie breaks!

[norfrank]

There is no way in the world that Wheaton joins the playoff race.

[Mr. Ypsi]

There is no way in the world that Wheaton joins the playoff race.

Probably, you are correct.

But their last three series are Elmhurst (sweep?) and NCC and NPU (who seem the most vulnerable of the top five to me).  "Sneaking" in to the playoffs does not seem at all impossible to me.

At this WAY too early point, I'm gonna predict the playoffs will be IWU, Augie, and Carthage, with either NCC or NPU possible and Wheaton a long shot.

[mwunder]

At this WAY too early point, I'm gonna predict the playoffs will be IWU, Augie, and Carthage, with either NCC or NPU possible and Wheaton a long shot.

Not a big fan of going out on a limb are you??  :-)


Unrelated topic, but has a CCIW school ever had a worse season in the big three men's sports than Millikin is having this season?  I know some of the late 80's / early 90's seasons at Carthage weren't fun to watch at all, but I don't think they compared to this...a total of 9 wins???  OUCH!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hey, I said it is way early!

Milliiin IS having a horrible year (Joe Hakes, I KNOW you can turn this around!)  If anyone has had as bad a year in the last 3 decades I would have to guess Elmhurst (pick your year), NCC (before they became the monster in football) or NPU (after their basketball run was over).

[BigPoppa]

An un-named CCIW coach (not Augie Schmidt) told me in January that this was the most balanced the CCIW was in a long time and what we are seeing today is exacxtly what was expected. Five teams in a dogfight for four spots. I hate that Carthage's chances may come down to the final weekend vs NPU... NPU scare the bejeezus out of me. They are the type of team that is built to beat Carthage.

[79jaybird]

We have had many discussions doing football games that Elmhurst should look at the NAC.  For years,  other than Volleyball   we were sub 500 in the conference in (name that sport),  yet competitive enough to hold our own vs. teams like Benedictine, Concordia, Dominican, MWC opponents, etc.
The facts don't deny this
2 football titles
1 basketball title
and baseball which was powerful in the 70's/80's hasn't had much to hoot about

I know trends are cyclical, however Elmhurst has always seemed to cycle from dormat to 500 and back down again. 

[Thunder11]

First time poster here, after avidly reading your wonderful informative posts the last several years. Thank you all! As a Chicagoland resident, I have enjoyed watching the emergence of Wheaton baseball the last 3+ seasons in this great CCIW conference. I have had the privilege of watching most of the Wheaton (IL-WI) games as my soon to graduate son has played for the Thunder now for his 4th season.

Yes, the Thunder are a long shot for 4th slot into the CCIW tourney, but "norfrank" lets wait and see how the NCC series turns out this weekend before declaring their CCIW chances over. The rotation of Martin, Rahn and Golz (listed in order of the quality of their performances)has rounded into shape. It appears that Dennison may be moving into a relief role which he has done well in recently, after a series of dissappointing starts. The Thunder offense can rival any in the league, and is coming to life. The key may likely be the Thunder's ability to stop giving away outs against quality teams (both miscues and errors)since the defense has often shot the pitching in the foot. By the way ask any objective IWU fan or Coach Martel how close Wheaton was to sweeping that series. At the very least, Wheaton needs to take both the NCC and NP series and probably sweep one of them. No small task, since yes, both of those teams are quite good again this year. We are capable to do it, of course so are they. Having seen the whole Augie, IW and Carthage series, I am sure Wheaton has the talent to be one of the top 4 teams - let's see if they continue to play like it their last 9 conf. games. By the way I predict and hope that Augie, Carthage & the Titans will battle for the top 3 spots and being tourney host.

As time allows in next the week, I will share more observations about Wheaton's season, and why I think they can be a better team next year regardless how well they finish out this season - unless of course we pull out a "miracle on the diamond" as IWU did last year.

Again thanks to the providers and posters of this D3baseball forum!

[BigPoppa]

Wheaton is 6th in the CCIW(conference games only) in batting avg (.315), 6th in ERA (7.42) and 6th in fielding percentage (.942).

It seems to me that they are right where they should be in the CCIW race... 6th.

[BigPoppa]

Carthage and Lakeland DH today is snowed out. Rescheduled for 3pm on May 5th in Kenosha.