BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

North Central eliminates host Augie, 8-4.

NCC and IWU play one (or two) for the tourney title tomorrow.  Neither is a viable Pool C candidate (and after going 1-2, Augie probably isn't either); looks like a one-team league this season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Cards are crushing the Titans, 10-0 after six.  Rather uncharacteristically, the Titans have committed more errors (5) than they have hits (4).

Does anyone know if the mercy rule is used in conference tournament games?

[Mr. Ypsi]

The answer is yes, as NCC mercies IWU in game one, 10-0.

[Spence]

Augustana was 3rd in the region, so if NCC wins then they might still be top 3. Wash U lost so they probably won't move ahead.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU parlayed a 6-run 4th inning into an 8-3 win, and the Pool A berth.

I'll cross my fingers than Augie can join them in the national tourney.

[Jack Parkman]

Really excited to play someone new in the Regional.  What type of team is Illinois Wesleyan?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Really excited to play someone new in the Regional.  What type of team is Illinois Wesleyan?

A very difficult question to answer, as they are so erratic.  In the CCIW tourney, for example, on the final day North Central had to beat them twice to advance.  In the first game, IWU committed three errors in the first inning, and got mercied (10-0) in 6.5 innings.  In the second game, IWU rode a 6-run 4th inning to an 8-3 win.  In the last conference game before the tourney, IWU was reduced to 'pitching by committee' - FIVE Titan pitchers combined for a 1-hit shutout. 

In short, on a good day, they can beat anyone; on a bad day they can be beat by anyone.

My HOPE is a run like 2010 (they had a losing record with one week left in the regular season; they won the national title).  On the other hand, despite a better record than in 2010, people who have seen them both live tell me they have less talent than in 2010.  My hopes are sky high; my expectations are much more modest.

Sorry I can't be more helpful; but they can pound you with 20 hits and/or shutout pitching, but can also be shutout and/or yield 15 runs.

[BigPoppa]

IWU always has solid pitching and good defense. Comparatively to the rest of the west regional, the Titans rank at the bottom in ERA, Batting Avg and fielding percentage.

[voiceofseason]

Like any regional, if a team gets hot, anything can happen. IWU has three pretty solid arms, but not dominating. It is what it is - lots of parity in college baseball.  I can't think the travel is going to help them any either (although I realize compared to the other side of the country, it's true of all the teams except the host).

[Jack Parkman]

Like any regional, if a team gets hot, anything can happen. IWU has three pretty solid arms, but not dominating. It is what it is - lots of parity in college baseball.  I can't think the travel is going to help them any either (although I realize compared to the other side of the country, it's true of all the teams except the host).

Absolutely.  I think it's great to have a new team in the West Regional and anyone can win this thing.  Thanks for the info.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Totally dominant pitching in the early going of IWU/Cal Lu.  After two innings, Jeff Johnson is still perfect; Jon Frericks was hit by a pitch in the first, and Adam Glogovsky led off the second with a single - the only hit by either team so far.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In the third, Tim Coonan got the second hit of the game, but did not score.  Jeff Johnson walked a man, so his perfect game is gone, but his no hitter (against the best hitting team in the West Regional) is still intact.

[Jack Parkman]

Geez, this game is moving right along.  Cal Lu not getting many good swings on Johnson right now.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In the fourth, Jarrod Juskiewicz walked with two outs, but was gunned down trying to steal second; Jeff Johnson's no-hitter is still intact after four.

The first four innings took 50 minutes!  I'd say this will be a quick game, except the way it is going it may still be a scoreless tie in the 16th!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Jake Petersen had his first 1,2,3 inning.  Jeff Johnson's no-hit bid ends after 4.2, with a double by Gabe Gunter, but he got no further.  Still a double shutout.

They may have to resolve this one by declaring any team getting a man as far as third wins!