BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU lost late in the first game, 7-5, then won the nightcap, 9-4.  Losing the series to Elmhurst SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, but at 12-6, they're still pretty safe for the tourney.

After an 0-4 yesterday, Callhan went 4-5, including a HR, in the first game.  No box yet for the second game.

[BigPoppa]

IWU/NCC and Carthage/NPU make for great final weekend matchups:) The top four battling for playoff seeds and Pool C position.

In other news, another late-season collapse for Augustana.

[Gregory Sager]

NPU split with Wheaton today. The Vikings lost the opener, 7-2, and came back to win the nightcap, 9-7.

Only taking two out of three against Wheaton hurts; this was a series that NPU folks all thought provided a serious opportunity for a sweep. However, seeing Illinois Wesleyan lose two out of three to lowly Elmhurst certainly helps take some of the sting out of the failure to sweep the Wheaties for the Park; I'm still stumped as to how the 'jays managed to beat not only Pankau but Sweeney as well.

Since the scoreboard on the CCIW website hasn't been updated yet, here's how the standings look:

North Central	13-4	@ Augie, @ IWU, @ IWU, vs. IWU
North Park	12-5	vs. Augie*, @ Carthage, @ Carthage, vs. Carthage
Carthage	12-5	vs. Millikin, vs. NPU, vs. NPU, @ NPU
Illinois Wesleyan	12-6	vs. NCC, vs. NCC, @ NCC
Augustana	8-8	vs. NCC, @ NPU*, @ Millikin, @ Millikin, @ Millikin
Wheaton	6-12	@ Elmhurst, vs. Elmhurst, vs. Elmhurst
Elmhurst	4-13	vs. Millikin*, vs. Wheaton, @ Wheaton, @ Wheaton
Millikin	1-16	@ Elmhurst*, vs. Augie, vs. Augie, vs. Augie

* Date and time TBA. These games might not end up being played at all, particularly the MU @ EC game. The AC @ NPU game will definitely be played if the outcome will affect standings and/or tourney seeding.

Speaking on behalf of the Park, it'd sure be nice to see Augie take that third game from the Cardinals tomorrow in Moline.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, agree on Augie-NCC.  Also agree on mystification at Elmhurst beating both Pankau and Sweeney - as Yogi (probably didn't) put it: "good pitching beats good hitting, and vice versa".

Right now there are too many scenarios to list - tomorrow will sort it out (somewhat).  Even Augie cannot be counted out, finishing with 3 games against Millikin.

As IWU has H-toH tie-breaks over Carthage, NPU, and Augie, their chances of falling out entirely are slim - though a total sweep by NCC would be dangerous.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Shocker of the day - despite a 9-4 win in the nightcap, Kevin Callahan went 0-6!

Barring an 0-for-the weekend against NCC, I'd say he is still a lock for the MVP.  But it sure would be nice if he got back to destroying CCIW pitchers!

Even 1-2 against NCC would assure IWU a spot in the tourney (since they have the H-to-H against Augie), but I'm greedy - I want a title after series wins against Carthage, NPU and Augie!   AND I want hitter-of-the-year for Callahan AND I want pitcher-of-the-year for Pankau!

Given what happened before this weekend, I don't think that is asking too much!

Tough weekend.

[Viking Blue]

Shocker of the day - despite a 9-4 win in the nightcap, Kevin Callahan went 0-6!

Barring an 0-for-the weekend against NCC, I'd say he is still a lock for the MVP.  But it sure would be nice if he got back to destroying CCIW pitchers!

Even 1-2 against NCC would assure IWU a spot in the tourney (since they have the H-to-H against Augie), but I'm greedy - I want a title after series wins against Carthage, NPU and Augie!   AND I want hitter-of-the-year for Callahan AND I want pitcher-of-the-year for Pankau!

Given what happened before this weekend, I don't think that is asking too much!

Tough weekend.

You certainly seem quite happy.

[BigPoppa]

Carthage finishes the sweep wih a 12-2 win over Millikin.

The four playoff seeds in the CCIW will come down to the final weekend.

[CCIWFAN6]

This may be a slight overreaction to a bad weekend, but the question came up in my head if Friday night might be an indication that Pankau is a little tired/overworked.  His line was not terrible as he struck out 8 and walked only one, but giving up 8 hits to a team that is 2nd worst in the CCIW would seem to be surprising to me. 

He has been a workhorse all year, throwing complete games and then coming back later in the day/later in the week and pitching relief.  Add on the fact that he threw a lot of innings last year in the extended run to the National Championship.  As he will have a minimum of 2 starts left, might be something to keep an eye on.

[Viking Blue]

This may be a slight overreaction to a bad weekend, but the question came up in my head if Friday night might be an indication that Pankau is a little tired/overworked.  His line was not terrible as he struck out 8 and walked only one, but giving up 8 hits to a team that is 2nd worst in the CCIW would seem to be surprising to me. 

He has been a workhorse all year, throwing complete games and then coming back later in the day/later in the week and pitching relief.  Add on the fact that he threw a lot of innings last year in the extended run to the National Championship.  As he will have a minimum of 2 starts left, might be something to keep an eye on.

No question this may become an issue.  Not saying that it necessarily is, but one of the problems with being a D3 pitcher is that you usually are on a staff that does not possess more than 5 or 6 truly dependable arms.  When you get to spots late in the year, the competitive edge in a lot of guys may lead them to make decisions that are not in their best interests, and ask to go into games which they really should not be pitching in (i.e. pitching in relief the day after a start, etc.)

[Viking Blue]

Consequently, you may see some tired arms by the end of the year.  This is in no way a shot at any coaches who make the decision to allow their top guys to throw....it's the nature of the beast.  Seniors in college are 21-23 years old.  If they make the decision that they would rather pitch than rest, it's on them.

I speak from experience here, as I know for certain this came into play by the time I made my own start in the CCIW tourney.  What had been a great year turned into a very sub-par start.  I just didn't have much left in the tank.  But you have to get to the tourney before you start resting guys in order to win it....

[norfrank]

One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

[Viking Blue]

One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.

[mr_b]

One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.

I wasn't quite sure how the comment was being framed, but if it's being directed to Viking Blue, I can tell you that he had quite a bit of gas in the tank during his four years on the mound.  He holds the career record for games pitched;  fourth in games started; is tied for 7th all-time in wins; third in innings pitched; and ninth in career strikeouts.  And as Casey Stengel once said, "You kin look it up" (on my website) if you need further evidence.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

One might question, "How much was ever really in the tank"

No, they might not.  Keep your inidivdual slams to your myspace account, norfrank.

I wasn't quite sure how the comment was being framed, but if it's being directed to Viking Blue, I can tell you that he had quite a bit of gas in the tank during his four years on the mound.  He holds the career record for games pitched;  fourth in games started; is tied for 7th all-time in wins; third in innings pitched; and ninth in career strikeouts.  And as Casey Stengel once said, "You kin look it up" (on my website) if you need further evidence.

What a great website - and act of love - thanks for doing this.

[mwunder]

Carthage takes game 1 vs. Marian, 9-1.

The live stats site for game two shows Carthage with a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 3rd.  A few names in the starting line-up that I'm not used to seeing.