BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[BigPoppa]

Not that it matters for the conference, but might matter for pool C: IWU downs Knox, 9-2.

After a rough early going, the Titans have won 8 of their last 9.  And Millikin at home tomorrow.

I still like the Titans in the CCIW. They were my preseason pick and I will stick with it (Man... that really hurt me to say).

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Dennis Martel on win #700!

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/baseball/iwu-baseball-team-gives-martel-th-career-win/article_7b3eade1-f65a-5340-b9fa-3231386fc493.html

[Gregory Sager]

NPU loses to Carthage in Kenosha, 3-2. Not a good day for the Vikings, as this is a very costly loss. Somehow, Carthage starter Alex Newberry -- he of the 0-3, 10.64 record -- managed to handcuff the Vikings for eight innings before they finally reached him. A costly baserunning mistake that led to an out on the basepaths in the top of the ninth led to NPU falling a run short, as the tying run was on third when the final out was made.

You have to tip your cap to a guy like Newberry who unexpectedly comes in and deals against your team, but -- no offense, BP -- this is a game that North Park should have won. Carthage simply isn't very good ... and now the argument can be turned around against the Vikings, since they dropped two out of three to the Red Men.

The bright spot was that John Nemcek pitched well in his first-ever start, except for a rough first inning.

They'll just have to put this one behind them and move on, I guess.

[Gregory Sager]

Augie beat North Central, 10-7, in Naperville.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!

[Gregory Sager]

IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!

Come on, Chuck. Have you looked at Millikin's game-by-game results and stats? Brandon Townsend's team is 5-16, 1-8 this season. Their team ERA is 6.74. The Big Blue are collectively batting only .250/.310/.342, while their opponents are at .313/.448/.392. MU's team fielding percentage is the worst in the league, and the Big Blue have turned the fewest double plays. The last thing on Earth that's gonna give Townsend nightmares is some opposing senior whom his team has already faced and whom he's never going to see again. If he's having nightmares, it's about how in the world he's gonna manage to squeeze double-digit wins out of his team this season -- if that's even possible.

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst got off the schneid in conference play today with a 10-8 win in 10 innings over Wheaton at Lee Pfund Stadium.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU completed the sweep of Millikin, 10-3.

The Millikin coach may be having nightmares about Bobby Czarnowski (much like Big Poppa used to have about Ricky Angel ) - he merely batted .629 (9 for 14) with 7 runs scored and 9 runs batted in!

Come on, Chuck. Have you looked at Millikin's game-by-game results and stats? Brandon Townsend's team is 5-16, 1-8 this season. Their team ERA is 6.74. The Big Blue are collectively batting only .250/.310/.342, while their opponents are at .313/.448/.392. MU's team fielding percentage is the worst in the league, and the Big Blue have turned the fewest double plays. The last thing on Earth that's gonna give Townsend nightmares is some opposing senior whom his team has already faced and whom he's never going to see again. If he's having nightmares, it's about how in the world he's gonna manage to squeeze double-digit wins out of his team this season -- if that's even possible.

You're right.  For some reason I thought Bobby was a junior.

[BigPoppa]

NPU loses to Carthage in Kenosha, 3-2. Not a good day for the Vikings, as this is a very costly loss. Somehow, Carthage starter Alex Newberry -- he of the 0-3, 10.64 record -- managed to handcuff the Vikings for eight innings before they finally reached him. A costly baserunning mistake that led to an out on the basepaths in the top of the ninth led to NPU falling a run short, as the tying run was on third when the final out was made.

You have to tip your cap to a guy like Newberry who unexpectedly comes in and deals against your team, but -- no offense, BP -- this is a game that North Park should have won. Carthage simply isn't very good ... and now the argument can be turned around against the Vikings, since they dropped two out of three to the Red Men.

The bright spot was that John Nemcek pitched well in his first-ever start, except for a rough first inning.

They'll just have to put this one behind them and move on, I guess.

No offense was taken:) I am a realist and can see things for what they are, not what I want them to be.

[Gregory Sager]

That's a rare gift in today's world, BP.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Carthage is right back in the race, downing Wheaton 8-5.  NCC lost to Elmhurst, 7-4.

So Carthage and NCC each 5-5, Wheaton 4-6, and Carthage and NCC are tied for 4th.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans take the first of the DH, 8-4, moving two games up on the field.  Jeff Johnson ran out of gas in the 8th, but Dan Truesdale prevented any further damage, gaining his first save.

The Titans pummeled previously undefeated Seth Davis for 7 earned runs in five innings.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Titans got the DH sweep, 11-8.  The Vikings returned the treatment given to Seth Davis in game one, pummeling Mart Hart for 7 earned runs in five innings, to go up 7-0 - but it was all Titans thereafter.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Other scores around the conference:

NCC and Elmhurst split, NCC 11-2, Elmhurst 4-2.
Carthage and Wheaton split, Carthage 5-0, Wheaton 5-2.
NPU showed no mercy to Millikin, 14-3 and 12-5.

The six contenders for the CCIW tourney:

1. IWU        10-1
2. NPU          8 -3
3. Augie        7 -4
4. NCC          6-6
4. Carthage   6-6
6. Wheaton    5-7

(7. Elmhurst   3-9)
(8. Millikin      1-10)

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm going to see Guys and Dolls tomorrow in Detroit, so I'll probably miss the Sunday games.  I'll give an update when I get back, unless someone else steps up to the plate.