BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

My innate pessimism as a Cubs fan is apparently beginning to bleed into my feelings as a North Park baseball fan.

[Viking Blue]

I'd rather take on a team next weekend that's feeling its oats a bit at the moment (a la Carthage or Wheaton) than a team that has the same sense of panic and frustration as NPU. A desperate team is more likely to draw comfort and inspiration from the home crowd and familiar surroundings than it is from going into a hostile environment.

Greg---you may be slightly over-analytical here.  I would much rather play a team that's not playing good baseball rather than one that is hot.  I don't care if that game is at our place, their place, or on the moon.

[mwunder]

Carthage scores 5 in the 3rd with two outs and no one on to win at Marian in the first game of their double-header today.

[Gregory Sager]

I'd rather take on a team next weekend that's feeling its oats a bit at the moment (a la Carthage or Wheaton) than a team that has the same sense of panic and frustration as NPU. A desperate team is more likely to draw comfort and inspiration from the home crowd and familiar surroundings than it is from going into a hostile environment.

Greg---you may be slightly over-analytical here.  I would much rather play a team that's not playing good baseball rather than one that is hot.  I don't care if that game is at our place, their place, or on the moon.

Me? Slightly over-analytical? That's never happened before.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park (23-7) beat Rockford (13-14) this evening up in the Forest City, 7-4. Freshman starter Wes Mleziva picked up the win. The top of the order did most of the damage for NPU, as new leadoff man Matt Rice went 4-4 with a pair of steals and three runs, Zak Worsley went 3-3 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBI, and Ryan Javech and Tony Sanchez each had two hits and accounted for three of the other four RBI.

[warrior35]

Wheaton (17-12) upsets Concordia, IL (21-8) today 12-10.  Good win for the Thunder as they try to build momentum going into a tough stretch of games.  Also, Trey Martin appears to be pitching a couple innings again, but only in relief.  Makes me wonder if he was having some shoulder issues to start the year?

[Gregory Sager]

That's a good win for Wheaton.

I've been told that Martin has floating bone chips in his arm that are restricting the number of pitches for which Driggers can use him.

[Gregory Sager]

Is anybody following this marathon Carthage @ Marian second game of the day-night doubleheader? It's still 3-3 in the 13th inning, and if Carthage wins the Marian coach may just put a gun to his head when he gets home. His team was unable to score with the bases loaded and only one out not once, but twice in the extra frames. In one of those thwarted innings, the Sabres baserunner on third apparently got picked off. How in the world does that happen in that situation?

[Gregory Sager]

Baseball's a funny game. After beating up on North Park pitching last weekend, Augustana (18-10) could only muster five hits in a 2-1 home loss to a Loras (15-13) team that they had beaten twice in Florida earlier this season. Augie's second and third errors of the game, which came on a play with two outs and a Duhawks runner on second in the top of the ninth, cost the Doggies the ballgame.

[Gregory Sager]

Carthage (14-12) finally won the marathon in the 17th inning (and at 10:18 pm), 4-3, on an unearned run. Marian (14-12) had the tying run on third, but couldn't get him across.

[warrior35]

Baseball's a funny game. After beating up on North Park pitching last weekend, Augustana (18-10) could only muster five hits in a 2-1 home loss to a Loras (15-13) team that they had beaten twice in Florida earlier this season. Augie's second and third errors of the game, which came on a play with two outs and a Duhawks runner on second in the top of the ninth, cost the Doggies the ballgame.

It is indeed. Something about Augie the past few years, I think they've had the talent to make the conference tourney every year... they've just struggled mentally.  They should get back on track today with Knox.  That shouldn't be a tough win for them.  If not, they better watch out with a Wheaton team coming to town that's won 6 straight and coming off a very quality win.  Could be ugly for Augie.

[BigPoppa]

Carthage (14-12) finally won the marathon in the 17th inning (and at 10:18 pm), 4-3, on an unearned run. Marian (14-12) had the tying run on third, but couldn't get him across.

... and after a LONGGGGGGG night at Marian and the 17 inning second game, Concordia-Chicago comes to town today. I wonder which arm Augie will send out there today (if they have any left at all)

[BigPoppa]

By the way, I got my official intro to the new Carthage stadium in the mail yesterday. It will be called Augie Schmidt Field (honoring both Augie III and Augie IV in the process). A fully turfed infield to go with the upgraded stadium seating, lights  and new pressbox will be a welcome addition to the campus starting this summer. It should be ready by next spring. I think this addition makes Carthage a viable host for Central Region tourneys in the future. I amlooking forward to visiting it once it is finished.

[warrior35]

By the way, I got my official intro to the new Carthage stadium in the mail yesterday. It will be called Augie Schmidt Field (honoring both Augie III and Augie IV in the process). A fully turfed infield to go with the upgraded stadium seating, lights  and new pressbox will be a welcome addition to the campus starting this summer. It should be ready by next spring. I think this addition makes Carthage a viable host for Central Region tourneys in the future. I amlooking forward to visiting it once it is finished.

Turf only on the infield?  Does that include the mound?  I think it will be a nice upgrade, even though Carthage already has a pretty good baseball facility for the North.  But, I'm glad they're staying ahead of the curve.  Stadium seating would be great for them.  How many will it seat? I don't necessarily understand turfing just the infield, I think the extra money you save in cost for upkeep of grass returns itself for just a little bit more turf to put it on the whole field... but maybe I'm wrong.  I do agree that either way, it will put them in contention for hosting a regional. 

[79jaybird]

Can some of these upgrades and facility tweaks rub off on Elmhurst? I mean my Alma Mater continues to miss the boat when it comes to facilities and giving their athletes a shot?  I remember running after a fly ball in Butterfield Park and stumbling on some tire tracks in left field.  We lose countless of recruits (in all sports) because compared to other local schools (not just CCIW), are facilities are no comparison.