BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton over Augie 8-0 in game 1.

[D3Vike11]

After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.

[voiceofseason]

After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.

Pretty eventful day in Bloomington.  IWU salvaged a split, but I felt like North Park definitely had the upper hand all day until the final two innings of Game 2.  Quite frankly, the bullpen didn't get it done for NP - both of their starters were very good today.

There was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.    

I look forward to game 3 tomorrow.

[D3Vike11]

After 5 innings in Bloomington, North Park is up 5-0. Joe Sweeney was knocked out early (again). On the other side Nick Soldano is pitching a gem so far only giving up 2 singles. If North Park can hold on it will be a big Saturday for the Vikings.

Wesleyan comes back to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th.

Wesleyan comes back to beat North Park 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th on a bases loaded walk off single by Bobby Czarnowski. The Vikings were in control of the entire game until the 8th inning. Disappointing way to finish what could have been a great day for North Park.

The two teams face off tomorrow at noon for the series finale. Each team NEEDS to win this game.

Pretty eventful day in Bloomington.  IWU salvaged a split, but I felt like North Park definitely had the upper hand all day until the final two innings of Game 2.  Quite frankly, the bullpen didn't get it done for NP - both of their starters were very good today.

There was plenty of gamesmanship, including the two coaches having a rather intimate (translation: nose to nose) debate in the first inning of Game 1.  I don't know what was said, but it appeared Coach Martel didn't like some things coming out of the NP dugout, and it appeared Coach Johnson didn't like some of the things coming out of Coach Martel's mouth.    

I look forward to game 3 tomorrow.

I'll take Luke Johnson in 2 Rounds in that fight.

[Gregory Sager]

Big game today in Bloomington. NPU can take a major step forward towards winning the CCIW again and hosting the league tourney with a win. Here's hoping that Paul Garcia has his good stuff today when he takes the mound for the Vikes.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In Bloomington, IWU went up 4-1 (Garcia left after 4), but NPU got 3 unearned runs on a hit, 2 errors and 2 SFs in the top of the fifth.  After 5, it's 4-4.

[Mr. Ypsi]

What is with the Titan defense all of a sudden?!

In the top of the 7th, NPU goes up 6-4 on 1 hit and THREE errors - 5 of NPU's 6 runs today have been unearned.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Titans get one back in the 7th, and get three in the 8th - final is IWU 8, NPU 6.

There is now a tie logjam at the top of the standings, with NPU, IWU, NCC, and Elmhurst all 9-6, with Augie 1 game back, Wheaton 2, and Carthage 3.  What a finish is looming!

[D3Vike11]

Updated Standings

North Park             9-6
Illinois Wesleyan     9-6
North Central          9-6
Elmhurst                9-6
Augustana              8-7
Wheaton                7-8
Carthage               6-9
Millikin                  3-12

My takeaways from this weekend:
Carthage looks to be in trouble. They need to sweep Millikin and win the Wheaton series to have a chance.
North Park's pitching is really struggling. Their bullpen gives up a 2-run lead in the 8th today after giving up a 5-run lead in the 8th yesterday.
Elmhurst has to be taken seriously. They now have some momentum going into their weekend series vs North Park. Who ever wins the series should cement a playoff spot. 
North Central came out and did what they had to do. Now they have a tough series against Wheaton.

[Mr. Ypsi]

How much must Elmhurst be kicking themselves about the Millikin series?!  Everyone else is treating the Little Blue like a Little League team, and the (very) Blue Jays turned them into BIG Blue!   They would have a veritable lock on hosting the conference playoffs if not for that disastrous weekend.

[D3Vike11]

How much must Elmhurst be kicking themselves about the Millikin series?!  Everyone else is treating the Little Blue like a Little League team, and the (very) Blue Jays turned them into BIG Blue!   They would have a veritable lock on hosting the conference playoffs if not for that disastrous weekend.

For the sake of everyone else, I'm glad they got swept then.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Remaining games - contenders:

NPU: Elmhurst (1 home, 2 away) NCC (2 home, 1 away)
IWU: Augie (2 home, 1 away) Elmhurst (2 home, 1 away)
NCC: Wheaton (2 home, 1 away) NPU (2 away, 1 home)
Elmhurst: NPU (2 home, 1 away) IWU (1 home, 2 away)
Augie: IWU (1 home, 2 away) Millikin (who cares where )
Wheaton: NCC (1 home, 2 away) Carthage (1 home, 2 away)
Carthage: @ Millikin, Wheaton (2 home, 1 away)

I tried to do the tie-breakers, but my eyes glazed over before I finished - though it is actually pretty easy since everyone plays each other 3 times, so no secondary ties.  Elmhurst has the tie-break against everyone they have already played.  Wheaton and Carthage are in a death match on the final weekend - I'm guessing a sweep is necessary for one to make the tournament.

[AndOne]

I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.

[BigPoppa]

I'm not very active in the baseball arena so I'm asking the baseball "experts."
What team has been the biggest surprise in terms of exceeding expectations so far this season, and which is the biggest disappointment as far as not living up to pre-season expectations?

I'm far from an expert, but I'd have to say Elmhurst on the upside, Carthage on the downside.

I'd have to agree. I saw Elmhurst as the 6th or 7th CCIW team and Carthage as the second best behind NPU. That's why they play the games!