BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mr_b]

ABCA names 16 from CCIW to all-region squad

Congratulations to all who earned this honor!

[CCIWFAN6]

IWU's Callahan earns 1st Team AA Honors.  While not a 3rd baseman, Coach Martel used him there this year and it lead to him being a 1st Teamer. Congrats Kevin.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (WC) and Nick Soldano (NPU) for being 3rd team and honorable mention selections, respectively.

http://d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-allamericans-2012

[Gregory Sager]

Well, two and out was not the way North Park fans envisioned the regional turning out for the Vikings, but it doesn't mar a fantastic season that really saw NPU baseball take a couple more big steps forward. Now that the Vikes have had a taste of what it takes to win at the next level, they can put the knowledge to good use. Former Vikings star Tony D'Andrea said it best when he pointed out that the returning Vikings should remember the disappointment they felt in Whitewater and use it as motivation next year.

Farewell, and thanks, to all of the Vikings seniors. You were all a part of something pretty special -- the complete turnaround of a moribund program, and back-to-back conference championships, to boot. Job well done, guys.

I think that NPU is situated very well as far as next season is concerned. Six of the ten position players who were starting at the end of the year will be back next season, as will the CCIW's best pitcher and some pretty good up-and-coming arms. I would expect NPU to be a preseason top three pick again in 2013 -- but I also expect Luke Johnson not to sit back and rest on his laurels. He recruits hard, and he recruits well, and I'm sure that he will bring in some talent next season that will be in the mix for playing time from Day One.

[D3Vike11]

Well, two and out was not the way North Park fans envisioned the regional turning out for the Vikings, but it doesn't mar a fantastic season that really saw NPU baseball take a couple more big steps forward. Now that the Vikes have had a taste of what it takes to win at the next level, they can put the knowledge to good use. Former Vikings star Tony D'Andrea said it best when he pointed out that the returning Vikings should remember the disappointment they felt in Whitewater and use it as motivation next year.

Farewell, and thanks, to all of the Vikings seniors. You were all a part of something pretty special -- the complete turnaround of a moribund program, and back-to-back conference championships, to boot. Job well done, guys.

I think that NPU is situated very well as far as next season is concerned. Six of the ten position players who were starting at the end of the year will be back next season, as will the CCIW's best pitcher and some pretty good up-and-coming arms. I would expect NPU to be a preseason top three pick again in 2013 -- but I also expect Luke Johnson not to sit back and rest on his laurels. He recruits hard, and he recruits well, and I'm sure that he will bring in some talent next season that will be in the mix for playing time from Day One.

Already heard that the North Park has a strong catcher coming in and a an outfielder who will both make an impact right away for the Vikings.

[D3Vike11]

C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.

[mr_b]

Congratulations to all of the CCIW All-Americans.

I don't want to belabor the Sanchez v. Nathan discussion; I would bet most D3 teams would be very happy to have Nathan behind the plate and in the batter's box.  I just ran Sanchez's stats for the post-season (I didn't have time to do the same for Nathan -- I'll leave that to someone else), but in six games (four in the CCIW Tournament and two at Regionals, facing some very good arms), Tony was 11-for-25 (.440) with 9 RBIs, 7 runs scored, 3 doubles, a grand slam, and three walks.  That's a .500 OBP and a .680 slugging percentage.

I think to qualify for All-American status, you have to be first-team All-Regional, so Nathan could not have been considered for AA status in any event.  Maybe more surprising is that Kevin Callahan did not garner AA honors as well.  There were five first basemen and only one third baseman (Anthony Even of CUC) named to the three teams.

[voiceofseason]

C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.

Pretty sure the conference vote is conducted by CCIW coaches, who would have the most opportunities to view both players.  I'm not going to get suckered into a conversation where I have to take anything away from Tony Sanchez - I'm a fan of his back to Heartland days and think he's an excellent player, just as Nathan is.  But to make a statement like you did when the most informed parties (coaches) who witnessed the two play the most chose Nathan, well, I don't give much credibility to your statement.

I do still contend there should be two catchers named to the CCIW team, and they both should have been on there.

Thank you mr_b for providing a more rational viewpoint on things.

[BBFan62]

C Tony Sanchez named ABCA/Rawlings 2nd Team All-American. AJ Nathan...was not. There's the end of that conversation.

Also, congrats to Drew Golz (1st team), Trey Martin (3rd team), and Nick Soldano (3rd team) on being named All-American's as well.

Guys, BOTH catchers are great ballplayers and earned their respective status. So, I guess the only fair way to settle this is to have them race from home to second base and see who wins.
Oh wait, I said 'Fair", so I guess we have to have Nathan run backwards so when Sanchez gets to second Nathan can greet him with a candygram and they can shake hands and enjoy competing with each other. Opinions - they are fun and insane at the same time.

[Gregory Sager]

Guys, BOTH catchers are great ballplayers and earned their respective status. So, I guess the only fair way to settle this is to have them race from home to second base and see who wins.
Oh wait, I said 'Fair", so I guess we have to have Nathan run backwards so when Sanchez gets to second Nathan can greet him with a candygram and they can shake hands and enjoy competing with each other. Opinions - they are fun and insane at the same time.

No, I think that a much fairer way to settle this would be to see which one can hit a baseball farther than the other.

[norfrank]

Wheaton had two All-Americans and does not even make the CCIW tournament.  This plus another who made all region and two others on the All-Conference team. Given the fact there are so many stars on the team...what does this say about their overall performance?

[norfrank]

a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time

[Ralph Turner]

a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time

Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

[The General Public]

a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time

Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.

[izzy stradlin]

a glimpse of why to come in just a matter of time

Lee Driggers has accepted the position of head coach at East Texas Baptist University.

4 years of work and nothing but steps backward as far as the product on the field. I guess he got the field built but woop te doo.

I always wondered if Driggers would leave as soon as his son graduated.   Probably a good idea to hire someone who is looking for more than just four years to be near/coach his son. 

[norfrank]

And there we have it.