BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Viking Blue]

Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Sweeney come back. Only threw 6 innings on Thursday, and the Titans need a win.

No doubt about it.  If he's truly an ace, he's been lobbying for the ball tomorrow since the last out against North Park.

[Viking Blue]

I was laughing at myself today when I got home.  I followed these games so closely online today at work, I couldn't wait to get home and see the highlights on TV. 

Then I remembered it wasn't the big leagues, and there wasn't TV.   

For those of us over the age of 30, how cool is it to be able to follow games on line with live stats, etc?

[Gregory Sager]

For those of us over the age of 30, how cool is it to be able to follow games on line with live stats, etc?

I was just talking about this yesterday with CCIW commissioner Chris Martin. It wasn't all that long ago that, in order to find out what had happened with your favorite D3 team (or with other D3 teams in your favorite team's conference, not to mention other D3 leagues around the nation), you had to wait for the paper the next day and cross your fingers that the score would be in the agate type at the back of the sports section. Then came the Internet, and you could at least follow teams online, although everything was still after the fact. Then came live stats, which allowed you to follow the game statistically as it happened. Now there's live webstreaming (although baseball lags behind basketball and football as far as schools using this technology is concerned), which allows you to see and hear a D3 game broadcast either live or via archive.

D1 gets all the fancy advances first, and then the technology becomes commonplace enough for the cost to come down so that the D3 schools can buy it as well.

[Randy Borow]

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out.

[mr_b]

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out.

Obstruction was indeed the call.  But he did not award the runner the following base... not sure why not.

[Randy Borow]

On Javech's single in the fifth, right before the Sanchez granny, Matt Rice rounded third and was bumped by Wesleyan 3b Kevin Callahan. The ump at third called out, "Interference!", but decided not to award Rice home plate, because he claimed that Rice had not been aggressive in heading home (sort of the opposite of the Coduto play at first a couple of innings previous).

My guess is that the ump called, "Obstruction." Had he called interference, the runner would have been declared out.

Obstruction was indeed the call.  But he did not award the runner the following base... not sure why not.

I wasn't there, so I couldn't substitute my judgment for his, but if he believes the runner would not have advanced to the next base anyway, then he could choose to not award him such advance base. A runner who is obstructed when there is no concurrent play on him (commonly called Type B Obstruction) is not automatically granted his next advance base. We try to take in to account many factors, including, but not limited to, the speed and effort of the runner, where the ball is, etc.

[jester13]

Who would have thought in just 7 short years Luke would have turned that program around and playing for a CCIW Conference tournament championship?? That says alot for Luke and the quality of players that wanted to go somewhere and make a difference instead of going to an established program already. Congrats again guys and go get them.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Box score for the IWU win over Elmhurst:

http://iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1791&path=baseball

Something quite curious: all four runs were charged to Dave Parr, yet the loss was charged to Jeff Guzzi!  If it is just a box score error, it sure is a doozy!  Am I missing something?

[voiceofseason]

Thoughts on a potential pitching matchup for tomorrow?  Who does Martel have ready to go?

I have no special insight since I'm not there, but my guess would be Matt Hart or John Freuh.  Both have been spot starters and are capable. 

The wildcard could be Nick Mehn, who has been capable in the past but lost confidence earlier in the year and hasn't pitched well.  In fact, I'm not sure he's pitched at all in the last few weeks, so guess there could be an injury or something.  The last time I recall him pitching was a short stint against Augie where he was somewhat ineffective.

From IWU's perspective, they need to get to the "if" game and then it's likely pitcher by attrition.  I'm sure NP would be the same way - try to stitch in a couple innings by the best arms and mix and match the final nine innings.

[tjcummingsfan]

Why is IWU the home team in this game?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Why is IWU the home team in this game?

Since batting last is such an advantage in baseball, in tournament play 'home team' gets rotated.  IF there is a second game today, I assume NPU would be the home team.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)

[voiceofseason]

In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)

Kopp has started exactly ZERO games this year (14 appearances, 17.1 IP).  If they can get 5 innings out of him I would think that would be a great outing - he's usually an 8th or 9th inning guy.  But he is a senior, so nice he's getting this opportunity.

[Mr. Ypsi]

In the bottom of the third, Bobby Czarnowski breaks up a scoreless game with a three-run shot!

Kopp has looked shaky for the Titans - NPU has stranded 8 men in 3 innings - but the Vikes haven't broken through (yet?)

Kopp has started exactly ZERO games this year (14 appearances, 17.1 IP).  If they can get 5 innings out of him I would think that would be a great outing - he's usually an 8th or 9th inning guy.  But he is a senior, so nice he's getting this opportunity.

Well, he sure is dancing on thin ice - the Vikings strand 2 more in the 4th, but still no runs!

(That's 10 LOB in 4 innings - anyone have any idea what the record might be?)

Titans threatening in the bottom of the 4th - HBP, sac. bunt, triple means one run and man on 3rd with one out.  (I'm not at all fond of bunts, unless it is a late, low-scoring tie game!  Too big a risk of missing a big inning.)

Two-out single (McDermott) drives in the runner; 5-0 at the end of four.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The thin ice finally broke through - Vikes start the fifth with walk, double, two-run single.  Pat Hayn takes over the pitching duties.