BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[BigPoppa]

IWU swept a doubleheader over Fontbonne this weekend in St. Louis.  Not sure this game showed us anymore than we already know about this team.  With victories of 12-0 and 10-2, they scored a lot of runs and their top 2 pitchers pitched well.  Where this team's season will be won or lost is in arms behind these top 2.

... and I am not sure that Fontbonne was a true test for the Titans.

[NCF]

North Central opened their season taking two of three from Franklin.

[warrior35]

Wheaton is playing pretty well after splitting with what seems to be 2 pretty good teams in Muhlenberg and Haverford (Muhlenberg is now 9-1 and Haverford was 32-10 last year), the loss to Heidelberg 9-8 in extras would've been a nice win for them... but they have since won 3 straight over Fredonia St. and Ohio Northern.  Would be great for them and the CCIW if they could get a sweep today and come home 7-3 with losses only to quality opponents.  I love this part of the season, b/c we get to pull for all the CCIW schools!  Even the ones we don't necessarily like the most, lol.  Hey, it's all for the sake of the CCIW.

[CCIWFAN6]

I have officially given up on the Titans season.  Over the weekend, they beat Millsaps twice in Jackson, MS.  Millsaps is one of the best teams IWU plays every year, and given the fact they have played 10+ games before the Titans have played 1, always seems to be the biggest test for them.  Over the past 11 seasons, they have swept the season series with them only once, in 2006, and missed the NCAA regional that year while finishing 4th in the league.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Quite the optimist CCIW 

[motorman]

Quite the optimist CCIW 

Reread his post, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek. There really needs to be a special font here for sarcasm.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I realized that he was not Serious and was just playing along. Hence the smiley face.

[NCF]

Quite the optimist CCIW 

Reread his post, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek. There really needs to be a special font here for sarcasm.

That would work across the boards!

[NCF]

North Central is now 4-2 and heading to North Carolina for their spring break trip this week-end.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU has now gone 3-0 thus far on its spring break trip to Fort Myers for the Gene Cusic Classic. On Saturday the Vikings pounded Mitchell, 16-2, behind another Steve Kuligowski gem. They followed it up on Sunday with an 11-6 win over Dubuque, and today North Park knocked off previously undefeated Salem State, 11-5.

NPU (7-2) is now off until Thursday, when the Vikings will continue Gene Cusic play by taking on Principia.

[BigPoppa]

I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip. I have taken a lot of flack for liking NPU as much as I do this year, but they have the look of a team that will be hard to beat as the season wears on.

It may not be long before other voters are swayed my way...

[D3Vike11]

First time poster here. Have been reading throughout my time playing in the CCIW, and am excited to start commenting with you guys. I'll keep my identity secret for the time being 

BigPoppa I definitely can see North Park being the team to beat in the CCIW. Although pitching they are struggling to find a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (Garcia got the first nod, but has been coming out of the pen after just 1 start, and McGrady is still recovering from his elbow injury), they are going to be a tough team to play down the stretch.

Luke Johnson is going for his 7th straight season with an improving record from the season before, which means they need to win at least 31 games this year! Can't wait for conference play to start!

[OshDude]

IWU (nine) and Mississippi College (10) combined to use 19 pitchers in their nine-inning game today. That ties two D-III records:
Most relief pitchers used, one team
Most relief pitchers used, both teams

IWU and Blackburn played a similar game in 2008, when the teams also combined to use 17 relievers.

[motorman]

I realized that he was not Serious and was just playing along. Hence the smiley face.

Sorry leftiesdad, I got taken in by the old double sarcasm ploy. I thought the smiley face was just you trying to cheer him up.

[mr_b]

I think NPU comes back north with no more than three total losses, but I can see them not losing at all down south and rolling into town with something close to an 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 record? Not sure how many they are playing on the trip.

We have three more games on the spring break: Principia, Monmouth, and Bethel.