BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwumichigander]

OMG, IWU lost (at home! ) to Rockford today.

So much for a pool C - win or go home.

As of today they are still second in the Central Region...if the Elmhurst loses didn't push them off the Pool C charts, I don't think this will either....


CENTRAL         
1   Coe                   22-9   24-10
2   Illinois Wesleyan   20-9   22-12
3   Buena Vista       19-11   20-13
4   Carthage           16-5   23-8
5   Augustana (Ill.)   14-11   21-11
6   Washington-St. Louis   28-15   29-17

I don't think the Rockford loss will push them off the list; conference and overall record similar to other ranked teams; and, last year's national title will carry some weight for some on committee (whether it should or not).

[mwunder]

Park jumps on Perez for 3 in the first....not a good start depending on where you allegiances lie.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Titans DO love the big inning!  Bottom of the third in a scoreless game, they send SIXTEEN batters to the plate and score ELEVEN runs.  With Pankau on the mound (after 3, he has a one-hit shutout going), I think it is safe to say that the Titans have clinched a spot in the tourney!

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the end of 6, IWU 15, NCC 0.  Does the mercy rule kick in after the next half inning (assuming NCC doesn't finally get to Pankau)?

Update: if NCC finally comes through, it won't be against Pankau - with a 15-run lead, McCullough has come in to pitch.

[mwunder]

NP up 11-3 in the 7th.  Medina is 4-3 with 4 RBIs for the Parkers...Perez only lasted 12 outs.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's a final in B'town, and the Titans have clinched a spot in the tourney: 15-0.

The last two games are for the seed (and, perhaps even home field).

Augie will have to find a different route into the tourney.

[mwunder]

Vikings 13 - Red Men 6 in game 1.

That would put NP all alone at the top of the CCIW at 13-5.  Three teams tied for second at 13-6 if my math is correct.

[Mr. Ypsi]

After 4 in the 'nightcap', IWU 2, NCC 0.  The bottom of the third was again the time for the Titans, but this time only 2 instead of 11!   At the risk of jinxing him (I assume he is not following the boards at the moment ), Joe Sweeney has a no-hitter so far.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And a tip of the cap to my favorite MLB pitcher - Justin Verlander has a perfect game going after 4 (I assume he's not following these boards either ).

Sweeney issued a walk, so his no-no is not perfect.

[mwunder]

Sparacino has a perfect game going through two.  NPU up 1-0 (2 errors in the same inning on Aiello led to an unearned run).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hopefully it will not matter (Titans are up 6-0 after 6), but do not understand that play at all.  With two outs and runners at first and third and friggin' Kevin Callahan at the plate, they tried a double steal!  Runner out at home, leaving the best hitter in the CCIW at the plate.

I applaud aggressive baseball, but sometimes Earl Weaver was right - wait for the 3-run tater!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sweeney gets the no hitter!!   Titans win 8-0.

Verlander lost his perfect game with a walk in the 8th, but still has a no hitter going into the 9th.

A marvellous day for this Titan and Tiger fan, with the only possible downside being that Callahan may need a big day tomorrow to win the Triple Crown for the conference - he had a lousy day and may lose the BA depending on how #2 (sorry, forgot who that was) did/does.

Pankau IMO iced the Pitcher-of-the-year today.  Despite today, Callahan probably iced Player-of-the-Year a couple of weekends ago.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Joe Sweeney (JR, Fenwick H.S.) on the no-no!  Talk about coming up big in a huge game.

[mwunder]

Carthage wins 3-2.  4 of the 5 runs were unearned.

Carthage and IWU back on top at 14-6.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Attempting to determine home field for the tourney (please check my calculations):

Having a winning record against everyone (except freakin' Elmhurst! ), IWU hosts if they win tomorrow.

If IWU loses, Carthage hosts with a win tomorrow.

I don't think NPU or NCC can host with any scenario.  And I can't find a scenario where Augie makes the tourney - I think they have been eliminated.  (Which makes me wonder if they will bother with the Augie/NPU make-up game.)

If IWU loses and NPU beats Carthage, I'm pretty sure IWU hosts, having a winning record against all teams they might tie with.  (It would be so much simpler if IWU had not laid an egg against freakin' Elmhurst! )

Sorry, jaybird, for saying 'freakin' Elmhurst' so may times in one post!