BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Naperville's in the middle of a protracted thunderstorm period.

[houdini]

And BP has to be grinning from ear to ear!!!!

That is an understatement!

So your smile went behind your ears?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Naperville's in the middle of a protracted thunderstorm period.

Thanks, Greg - I hoped that was it, and not that my reading comprehension and/or memory was shot!

What's the outlook for today's games?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Game five is underway; IWU leads NCC 1-0 after one.  Evan Blunk going for the Cards; usual closer Dan Truesdale for the Titans.  I don't know anything about Blunk, but IWU has apparently settled on 'pitching by committee', as I doubt a guy used to being a closer can be effective for more than a few innings.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I guess I forgot that D3 pitchers are much less specialists than MLB pitchers!   Dan Truesdale is still in and pitching very well - after five, IWU leads 6-2.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Dan Truesdale goes all the way to pick up a 6-4 win for the Titans; NCC is eliminated.  So it is #3 seed vs. #4 seed for the AQ, with #3 needing to win both game 6 and game 7; #4 seed Carthage only needs to win one of them.

Big Poppa's team vs. Mr. Ypsi's team - may the better pessimist win!

I have no clue who will pitch game 6 for the Titans, but if there is a game 7 tomorrow I'm hoping Matt Hart can return.

[BigPoppa]

I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.

[iwumichigander]

I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.

Mr. Ypsi and I would love you to be correct!  Let us at least do an Ernie Banks and play two

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am still not to confident in my beloved Redmen, though I'd love to be wrong.

Mr. Ypsi and I would love you to be correct!  Let us at least do an Ernie Banks and play two

And that is looking likely.  Hrdlicka pitched commendably for the RedMen (8 hits in 5.1 innings), but leaves with two on, one out, and trailing 3-0.  Reliever Casey does a no-no and hits a .238 hitter to load the bases with still one out - chance for IWU to blow this one wide open!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tim Coonan hit a SF to drive in run #4, but Casey struck out Derek Idstein to end the damage.

Anyone know - are Tim Coonan and game 6  pitcher Sean Coonan brothers?  cousins?  Whatever, both have come up big towards forcing game 7!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Idle speculation: if Wheaton rather than NCC had been alive for the rained-out game 5, what would have been the re-scheduling?  Is Wheaton absolute about no Sunday play, or will they bend for tournament play with unforeseen delays?  Game seven cannot be later than Sunday (selection day), but if on Saturday Wheaton would have faced a triple-header if they kept winning.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.

[iwumichigander]

Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.

could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.

could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

I'm hoping for Hart, but you think even Munyon and Truesdale would be available?

[iwumichigander]

Sean Coonan leaves after 6.2 innings, having given up two hits in each of the last two.  Coach Martel apparently saw something in the match-up, because he brought in Xander Horwitz, who had pitched 3 innings the entire season.  Mr. Horwitz gave up an RBI single, and was promptly replaced by Jonathon Vik, who ended the threat.  (I am NOT second-guessing Coach Martel - he has coached FAR more wins than I have, or would!)  After 7, IWU 4, Carthage 1.

could have been match-up or pitch count.  With a 4-0 lead, I would be inclined to roll the dice, pitch Horowitz to try and save arms for Sunday.  If Titans prevail, I would expect everybody to be available Sunday

I'm hoping for Hart, but you think even Munyon and Truesdale would be available?

Munyon or Truesdale I short situational relief, or close it out - yes.  It is Won or Done on Sunday.  But, no sore arms or injuries.