BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

In today's first final, NPU downed Elmhurst, 4-3.  I believe Elmhurst, now 6-11, is mathematically eliminated.  NPU moves to 11-7 and almost certainly is in the tourney.

Upset alert: after 6, 1-15 Millikin is ahead of NCC, 4-2.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.

[mr_b]

Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.

North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.

North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.

I suspected they might already be in, but I hadn't checked the tie-breakers.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Elmhurst beat Augie this afternoon, 8-4, making the nearly inevitable now definite: the conference tourney is coming to Horenberger Field.  Augie is now only one game up on NPU, but with Augie finishing against Millikin while the other Vikings finish with IWU, Augie is a pretty good bet to be the #2 seed.

[mr_b]

Ouch!  NCC falls (at home, no less) to previously 1-15 Millikin, 3-5, to join the pack of 10-loss teams.

If NPU can take even one game (at home) from IWU, they are in, as no one else can reach 12 wins.

North Park has reached 11 victories, and three other teams can get to 11: Carthage, North Central, and Wheaton. The Vikings hold the tie-breaker against Carthage and Wheaton, so according to my calculations, North Park should have already qualified.  It now appears to be a case of whether they will be seeded third or fourth, depending on whether the Cardinals can make the tournament.

I suspected they might already be in, but I hadn't checked the tie-breakers.

The CCIW website has only IWU and Augie as securing tournament berths so far. I'm trying to think of a scenario whereby NPU does not qualify, and I can't come up with one (unless I'm misinterpreting some order of tiebreakers).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since IWU has already clinched home field (the CCIW.org site also says IWU has only clinched a tie for first, when they have clinched undisputed first), so they have less to play for than your Vikings.  They could still get the second best conference record ever (and never underestimate sheer pride and competitiveness), but I think it is likely that the eastern Vikings win at least one game in the series (maybe more).  And I agree - I think you have already clinched (and are almost certainly #3) despite what the conference website says.

And I retract what I said about Elmhurst once they upset Augie.  IF they can sweep NCC, 10-11 just might get them a tie-breaker for #4 (but I haven't checked out the options for that scenario).  IF Wheaton loses @Millikin, then beats Carthage 2-1, they both finish 9-12, as does NCC, and Elmhurst wouldn't even need a tie-break!  BUT that is a lot of IFs!

More likely is if Wheaton defeats 2-15 Millikin, Elmhurst is eliminated, as the winner of the Wheaton/Carthage series would then have 11 (or 12) wins, which Elmhurst can't match.  If Wheaton wins tomorrow, Elmhurst can play spoiler for NCC, but could no longer win a spot in the tourney.

[cciwposter13]

Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA? 

[voiceofseason]

Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Not trying to be a homer here, but I'd have to believe Jeff Johnson and Nick Mehn of IWU would both be in consideration.  As pleasant of a surprise as Mehn has been this year after an off year in 2012, Johnson has been consistently impressive, is undefeated and sports a 1.55 ERA overall (might be a little higher in conference play, I don't have that info in front of me).  There's still a weekend left, but he would get my vote at this point, despite Mehn's low ERA.

[CCIWFAN6]

Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Kaufman, in CCIW play, is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA.  Mehn is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA, however, 3 of his appearances have been in relief. 

[voiceofseason]

Most likely wheaton and north park will be the last two teams in the tournament. Also, is freshman Mike Kaufman in the lead to earn cciw pitcher of the year with a 5-1 record and 1.73 ERA?

Kaufman, in CCIW play, is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA.  Mehn is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA, however, 3 of his appearances have been in relief.

Conference stats on CCIW site today:

Michale Kaufman   3-1  2.59 ERA  41.2 IP   27K  9BB
Jeff Johnson   4-0  1.98 ERA  41.0 IP  37K  6BB

I haven't seen Kaufman pitch.  Sounds like a good one - look forward to it.

[thunder38]

How each team gets in:

North Central
1. Sweep Elmhurst AND 2-1 result either way in Wheaton/Carthage series
2. Beat Elmhurst 2-1 AND Carthage defeat Wheaton 2-1

Carthage
1. Sweep Wheaton AND 2-1 result either way in Elmhurst/North Central series
2. Beat Wheaton 2-1 AND Elmhurst defeat North Central 2-1

Wheaton (Tuesday win at Millikin)
1. Sweep Carthage
2. Beat Carthage 2-1 AND North Central defeat Elmhurst 2-1

Wheaton (Tuesday loss at Millikin)
1. Sweep Carthage AND Elmhurst defeat North Central 2-1

Elmhurst
1. Sweep North Central AND Wheaton defeat Carthage 2-1

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton was cruising along, up 8-0 after 4.  Since then, they have not scored, while Millikin had 1 in the 5th and SEVEN in the 8th.  Going to the 9th tied at 8.

IF Wheaton loses this game, it sets up a fascinating possibility (however unlikely): if Wheaton then beat Carthage 2 out of 3, while Elmhurst beat NCC by the same margin, there would be a FOUR-way tie for 4th, at 9-12.  No way would I even attempt to disentangle that one!

[Mr. Ypsi]

To quote the immortal Emily Litella: "Nevermind".  Wheaton got one in the top of the ninth and held on to win, 9-8.

[thunder38]

Certainly would've been a fun one to try to dissect if it came about Ypsi. The Wheaton victory also eliminates the possibility of a three-way tie for the fourth spot so we will have a nice easy boring head to head tiebreaker if we have one.